Your first uncle, often referred to as Xiao Sen, he was a practitioner who specialized in life energy manipulation.
This specialized physique of Xiao Sen's—our clansmen theorized that it was most likely caused by Ah Heng's poison immunity physique.
Having been made to swallow poison of various types—some of the medicinal effects of the poison, had most likely been passed onto Ah Heng's children.
In any case, Xiao Sen—who possessed this physique, was able to drain life energy from his enemies, while also using it to heal himself and others. In a battle of attrition, he was often the one to come out on top.
The wife of Xiao Sen was a woman named Qīnghán.
The circumstances of their meeting were during the opening of a secret realm.
At first, they were enemies who were at each other's throats—for the sake of obtaining a rare opportunity.
However, due to a mishap—triggered by other practitioners, the secret realm began to seal itself off early.
Unable to make it out on time, the two were trapped inside the secret realm for an entire year.
By the time the two had managed to escape, their relationship had turned from enemies to acquaintances.
However, as soon as they had managed to escape from the secret realm, they parted ways without exchanging another word.
Returning from the secret realm at the age of ten to 11, Xiao Sen went into closed-door cultivation for half a year.
Throughout Xiao Sen's stay in the secret realm with Qinghan, they had gone their separate ways at first—to acquire whatever opportunities that they could find.
And it was only until they were left with areas—that they couldn't explore with their own strength alone, that they would team up to challenge it together.
While Xiao Sen was in closed-door cultivation, Qinghan—during this time, had become a disciple of the Sacred Demon Gates.
And it was there that Qinghan had met Qianqian, who was visiting her father at the time.
Taking a liking to Qinghan, Qianqian decided to accept the former as her disciple.
...…
"…"
Narrowing his eyes, and tilting his head, the 13-year-old child can't help but feel like this is most likely his first uncle's turning point in life.
Seeing the expression on his son's face, the father remarks—
"The unique cultivation method and divine art hybrid technique that the Sacred Demon Gates possessed—it allows the practitioners of it, to increase their cultivation base at an extraordinary rate when they devour life energy from others."
"First uncle became… A furnace?"
"It's more accurate to call it dual cultivation without illicit activities involved—since the cultivation method practiced by Qinghan, was capable of leeching life energy off with only a tiny bit of contact. Regardless, Qianqian had arranged for the two to live under the same roof for some time—with the promise that she would grant Xiao Sen more resources. Considering how he wasn't exactly selling his body for resources; Xiao Sen didn't see any reason to refuse. That is, until he and Qinghan gradually became more mature in age."
Clearing his throat, the father adds—
"Details of their at-home activities aside. The two eventually married one another, and from then on… Xiao Sen's outward appearance tends to be off on a daily basis, while Qinghan's cultivation base soared greatly. …Their bedframe—usually crafted from the bones of a powerful dragon, had to be replaced on a weekly basis."
Having heard about his other relatives' marriages, the child can't help but remark—
"First uncle's marriage life was… Surprisingly normal."
"So much so that everyone in the household, who was married, and had suffered badly for it—had ended up cursing at him for how well he actually had it. Even now, I can recall him saying, "none of you know what it is that I need to put up with on a nightly basis. Being stuck between pain and pleasure, it's something that is difficult to describe with words." To most of the people in our household—his haggard state and words are no different from him bragging about his night life."
"…"
Glancing at his father's right hand—which is now completely covered in scale patterns, the child frowns.
This scale pattern—that is spreading constantly, it's something that the child had noticed since he was ten years of age.
Noticing his son's gaze, the father smiles, and says—
"I sincerely hope that you, my pride and joy—who has accompanied me this far, would be able to find happiness."
Blinking his eyes, the child replies—
"…I think my life right now is already good enough."
Laughing lightly, the father says—
"That's because you haven't seen the greater world."
"…If I were to venture out one day, and had seen all that there is to see, would this place still be here to welcome me back?"
"…"
Instead of replying, the father smiles kindly.