Immortality begins with raising apprentices

Chapter 10 The Unbelievable Disciple

The dilapidated house was small, with only two bedrooms and a kitchen. One of the bedrooms was a cramped storage room.

He usually slept in his bedroom, on his bed, while his two disciples slept together on a straw mat.

Chen Ye carried the ingredients into the kitchen, which was similar to the rural earthen stove in his previous life. It was clean and tidy, and there was a lot of dry firewood piled up.

This was beyond his expectations.

Since his predecessor hadn't used the kitchen in a long time, Chen Ye assumed it was a mess.

It seems this is all thanks to the hardworking Xiao Qingjun.

He poured the rice into the empty rice container, and sorted out the ingredients he didn't need and put them in the cupboard.

Fortunately, the weather is freezing cold now, so there's no need to worry about the food spoiling.

Chen Ye was standing by the water vat, about to scoop water to cook rice, when he suddenly paused, his expression froze.

He looked at his reflection in the water and felt a tightness in his chest.

Why... does Chen Ye look so much like him?

The person in the water has distinct facial features and a sharp brow bone.

His complexion was sallow, with dark circles under his eyes, and his beard was unkempt, making him look like a down-on-his-luck middle-aged beggar.

He leaned on the edge of the water vat, smiled at the water's surface, and then cried.

The haggard middle-aged man on the water's surface was also laughing and crying, his eyes staring directly at him.

"Am I Chen Ye, or Chen Ye?"

Having absorbed the memories of his predecessor, is he still the same person he always was?

Chen Ye smiled bitterly, scooped up a ladle of water, and the person in the water instantly disappeared into the ripples.

……

The rich aroma fills the air, making your mouth water.

The two girls looked at the bustling kitchen at the same time.

Suddenly, Qingjun muttered, "Master healed Qingjun's injuries yesterday, and today he even bought Qingjun some delicious osmanthus pastries."

The white-fuzzy ball's tone carried a hint of hope.

Zhiwei hugged her knees tightly and sighed softly, "Qingjun, never have unnecessary expectations of bad people. The more abnormal he is, the more it shows that he has ill intentions."

His voice, still quite immature, sounded as if it contained shards of ice.

Zhiwei was deeply worried. If Chen Ye failed to cure the spiritual herb, he would definitely vent his anger on Qingjun and her...

That's why she reminded Chen Ye today.

But this man remained as stubborn and self-righteous as ever!

He actually spent most of his savings to buy a rare herb that was about to die.

Does he really think he's a plant master?
funny……

Zhiwei clenched her teeth, a flame burning in her dark pupils.

Qingjun blinked her big, dark grape-like eyes and said in a soft, sweet voice, "But this time, it's different from before. Master is so gentle..."

Zhiwei covered her cheeks, tears falling into the dust, and she said in a trembling voice, trying to suppress her emotions:

"He's a complete bastard! Qingjun, don't you understand? Why do you still believe him!"

"He just wants to see our unrealistic expectations, to occasionally throw a sliver of pity at us, making us think there is hope, only to destroy it with his own hands, and to make things even worse!"

Qingjun's blinking eyes gradually dimmed: "But, sister, what can we do?"

At least when he was deceiving them, he acted like a master.

The white fluffy ball murmured softly:

“Sister, deceiving yourself is useless, but at least it won’t make you fear the future. Just like how the Red-Eyed Pheasant buries its head in the ground before being captured. In the end, it suffers less.”

"Qingjun, even if he truly repents, so what? Can he erase his sins and become a Buddha simply by laying down his butcher's knife?"

Zhiwei sniffed, looked around, and carefully took out five spirit sands from her bosom, stuffing them into Qingjun's little fist.

Her tone calmed down at this point:
"Master won't let me do odd jobs at the Myriad Pills Pavilion, he must be planning to sell me. Keep these five spirit sands safe." Qing Jun was struck dumb, and suddenly realized.

Could it be that when Master was drunk before he said he was selling his disciple, he wasn't selling her, but his sister?

No wonder he was willing to let his sister come back from Miaodan Pavilion.

The five seemingly insignificant spirit sands in her palm felt incredibly heavy. Qingjun knew without a doubt how much effort her sister had put into accumulating these five spirit sands at the Myriad Pill Pavilion.

"Uuuuuu——"

The white fluffy ball started to sob.

Zhiwei feigned strength: "Silly girl, don't cry. Maybe your senior sister will go to a good family and escape this sea of ​​suffering?"

But how could I possibly go to a nice family?

Both girls knew perfectly well that they either had to go to a brothel or become prostitutes.

Qingjun became increasingly distressed, and forgetting that her master was still at home, she couldn't stop crying.

"Don't cry, don't cry. Waaah..."

As the little black fluffy creature was comforting Qingjun, it suddenly couldn't hold back anymore. A snot bubble popped out of its nose, and two lines of tears slid down its thin little face.

……

"?"

When Chen Ye came out full of joy, he saw the black and white dumplings hugging each other and crying bitterly.

He looked down at the steaming dishes in his hands, expecting his disciple's reaction, but he never expected this.

Could it be Old Man Zhang?

Chen Ye angrily slammed down the dishes and rolled up his sleeves:

"What's wrong? Did that old Taoist priest come to bully you? Master is going to settle the score with him!"

"No...no..."

Zhiwei sobbed and wiped away her tears, speaking softly.

Qingjun, however, rushed forward and hugged his leg, looking up with her dirty little face and sobbing:
"Master, if you're going to sell someone, sell Qingjun, not my sister! My sister can still earn spirit sand for you at the Myriad Pill Pavilion, but Qingjun is just a stupid child who can't do anything!"

Chen Ye was completely bewildered. He knelt down and wiped away the little girl's tears: "What?"

The older girl turned pale and knelt before him, kowtowing repeatedly: "Master, Qingjun is too young, we can't sell her!"

Chen Ye's head was about to explode.

I've told Qingjun several times that I won't sell, so why don't they believe me?

Chen Ye helped Zhiwei up; the older girl's forehead was bruised from kowtowing so much. He sighed as he looked at her.
"Don't mention this again. I won't sell either Qingjun or Zhiwei! And here, take this; it's your wages for this month at Miaodan Pavilion!"

He took out his money pouch from his pocket and placed it in Zhiwei's small hand.

The little black fluffy ball of fur trembled its long eyelashes, and when its tears stopped, it stared blankly at the money bag in its hand.

It was very heavy, much heavier than the five spirit sands she had saved up.

She then heard the man's embarrassed voice: "Zhiwei, your master is a bit strapped for cash lately. In a few days, I'll return all your previous wages to you."

Did I mishear?

Her wages over the past five months totaled a full one spirit stone!
A frail girl like her could only be sold for one spirit stone!
Zhiwei nervously licked her dry lips, but before she could say anything, she saw her master reach out and take the money pouch back.

"Phew—" Upon seeing this, Zhiwei let out a long breath.

Unexpectedly, the next moment, her master's large hand grasped her hand again, and he placed a round and crystal-clear spirit stone into her palm.

"Never mind, I'll give it to you in advance."

Chen Ye only realized this after seeing Zhiwei's stunned expression:

Aren't they just worried that they'll be sold off for spirit stones?
As for his past character, no matter how much he explained, the two girls wouldn't believe him.

Since that's the case, Chen Ye might as well just return Zhiwei's wages to her directly, which would easily dispel their concerns.

(End of this chapter)