Immortality begins with raising apprentices

Chapter 101 Qiu Yun's Followers, Peach Mountain Herb Garden

"Fellow Daoists, it's been a long time."

Chen Ye looked around at the outer disciples. These young people looked embarrassed, completely unexpected that the rogue cultivator they had been teasing not long ago had become a steward in the blink of an eye.

One of the disciples had a big smile on his face:
"Steward Chen, I was blind to your greatness before and offended you greatly. Please forgive me! This is just a small token of my respect. Please accept this congratulatory gift."

As he spoke, he took out a small jade box from his storage bag and stuffed it into Chen Ye's hand without saying a word.

The other disciples also stepped forward, some bowing in apology, others offering small gifts.

Looking at these overly enthusiastic outer disciples, and then at the various jade boxes and small bags stuffed into his hands, Chen Ye was both amused and exasperated.

He was not one to hold grudges, and he had long forgotten about the previous minor arguments.

However, one shouldn't hit a smiling face.

Chen Ye accepted the gifts one by one and exchanged a few polite words with everyone.

Just then, Li Qiuyun finally pushed through the crowd and walked up to Chen Ye.

Then, this usually cold-faced senior sister blushed slightly, curtsied to Chen Ye, and her voice carried an unusual hint of shyness:
"Deacon Chen, congratulations on passing the test..."

She paused, and only after much difficulty did she muster her courage:

"According to sect rules, a newly appointed steward can designate an outer disciple to assist him and guide him in becoming familiar with sect affairs. I, Li Qiuyun, am willing to serve Steward Chen. I wonder... if Steward Chen would agree?"

Upon hearing this, Junior Brother Liu's expression changed drastically.

Even the outer disciples around him looked at Chen Ye with envy, jealousy and hatred.

Who is Li Qiuyun?
She's a famous ice queen among the outer disciples!
Not only is she beautiful and has a stunning figure, but she also possesses the cultivation level of the sixth level of Qi Refining. At only twenty-three years old, she is about to break through to the late stage of Qi Refining.

Chen Ye did become a steward, but Li Qiuyun will eventually enter the inner sect and her future is limitless. How can a steward of spirit plants compare to her?

Moreover, although he was only accompanying a disciple.

However, during this period, the two will have close contact with each other for three months, which has already made many outer disciples envious.

You should know that Senior Sister Li is usually aloof and indifferent. Even if a disciple tries to tease her, she won't bother to say much...

Chen Ye naturally noticed the unfriendly gazes around him, as well as Junior Brother Liu's eyes that seemed to be spitting fire.

But he just smiled slightly, his gaze falling on Li Qiuyun's pretty face, which showed a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.

To be honest, he had a good impression of Li Qiuyun.

Of course, most importantly, I still owe Li Qiuyun a favor...

"In that case, I'll have to trouble Fellow Daoist Li," Chen Ye said with a cupped hand and a smile.

Upon hearing this, Li Qiuyun's tense face immediately blossomed into a delighted smile, like the first melting of ice and snow, and the blooming of spring flowers.

That smile made some of the male disciples around him flutter in their hearts.

Junior Brother Liu took a deep breath and forced himself to suppress his discomfort.

That's it.

Senior Sister Li only accompanied them for three months.

Given Senior Sister Li's personality, it's impossible for her to have an ambiguous relationship with someone who is about the same age as her father.

“Fellow Daoist Chen, let’s go back to our camp first. This place is too crowded and noisy for us to talk. Oh… Fellow Daoist Chen seems to be having Qiu Yun come along? Then Qiu Yun may come along as well.”

A calm voice interrupted Junior Brother Liu's reverie.

It was Steward Tian who spoke.

No one dared to be negligent, and they all bowed to Steward Tian.

Deacon Tian nodded, his gaze falling on Chen Ye with a hint of admiration:
"Fellow Daoist Chen, oh no, I should now address you as Deacon Chen. Your performance in the assessment has truly broadened my horizons. In the future, if I have the time, I hope to exchange more insights on spiritual plants with Deacon Chen."

Chen Ye replied politely, "Steward Tian, ​​you flatter me. I was just lucky. I will need your guidance in the future."

Deacon Tian laughed heartily: "Of course, of course. Let's go, this is not a place to stay for long."

After saying that, he turned around and led the group into the market.

The group left the bustling square, crossed several streets paved with bluestone, and arrived at a quiet courtyard in the heart of the market.

This courtyard was clearly a property of the Lingyin Sect in Yunxifang. There were two disciples in the late stage of Qi Refining guarding the gate. When they saw Tian Nong, they both bowed respectfully.

Deacon Tian nodded slightly and led Chen Ye and the others straight inside.

The courtyard is quite spacious, with blue bricks paving the ground and a few green bamboos dotting the landscape, creating a serene and elegant atmosphere.

Outer disciples were already waiting there. Upon seeing the group enter, they quickly stepped forward to lead the way and arranged for Chen Ye and Li Qiuyun to rest temporarily in an elegant guest room.

"Deacon Chen, Senior Sister Li, please rest here for a while," the outer disciple who was leading the way said respectfully.

"Thank you for your trouble," Chen Ye nodded.

After the disciple left, only Chen Ye and Li Qiuyun remained in the guest room.

The atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment.

Li Qiuyun was, after all, a woman, and this was her first time being alone in a room with a man like this. No matter how aloof she was, she couldn't help but show a little nervousness on her pretty face and her eyes darted around.

She secretly glanced at Chen Ye and saw that his expression was normal.

Thinking to himself that he was being petty, Qiu Yun took the initiative to break the silence: "Steward Chen, I am deeply grateful for your magnanimity in handling today's matter."

Chen Ye waved his hand and laughed, "Fellow Daoist Li, you flatter me. Since we are now fellow disciples, such a small matter is nothing to mention. In fact, I should thank Fellow Daoist Li for condescending to help me. Otherwise, as a newcomer to the sect, I would have been completely clueless and would not have known what to do."

His words were partly polite, and partly sincere.

Lingyin Sect is, after all, a large sect with a long history and many rules.

Without someone familiar with sect affairs to guide them, they would indeed take many detours.

Upon hearing this, Li Qiuyun felt much less resentful because of the teasing she had received from Junior Brother Liu and the others.

She smiled, and a touch of gentleness softened her otherwise sharp features:

"Steward Chen, you are too kind. Although I have been a disciple for several years, I only have a superficial understanding of sect affairs. However, please rest assured, I will do my best to share your burdens."

“That’s good.” Chen Ye nodded and smiled.

The two chatted casually for a few more minutes, mostly about the local customs and traditions of the Lingyin Sect, as well as the division of functions among the various peaks within the sect.

Lingyin Sect was located in Nanhe County of the Yan State.

Inside the gate, there are thirty-six peaks.

There is also a saying that there are twelve inner peaks and twenty-four outer peaks.

As the steward of spiritual plants, Chen Ye will be going to the Herbal Peak, one of the twenty-four outer peaks.

Bencao Peak may not have been well-known in the Yan Kingdom.

However, his herbal medicine shops were scattered throughout the major markets of the Yan Kingdom. Just then, the voice of an outer disciple came from outside the door:

"Senior Sister Li, Deacon Chen, and Deacon Tian would like to invite you two over for a chat. They have important matters to discuss."

The two dared not delay and immediately got up, following Junior Brother Liu to the main hall of the courtyard.

Inside the main hall, Steward Tian was sitting in the main seat, sipping tea, with two composed inner disciples standing beside him.

Upon seeing Chen Ye and Li Qiuyun enter, Steward Tian put down his teacup, a strange smile appearing on his face:

"Deacon Chen, Junior Nephew Li, please be seated."

After the two were seated, Steward Tian slowly spoke: "I invited you two here today because I have something to ask you. Perhaps... it can also be considered an opportunity."

He paused, his gaze falling on Chen Ye with a hint of scrutiny:

"Deacon Chen, your mastery of spirit plant cultivation during the assessment was truly astonishing. May I ask... Deacon Chen, could you tell me from whom you learned this art?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Ye's expression remained unchanged:

"It's all a matter of practice. These three techniques are all basic techniques. Steward Tian should be able to see them clearly. There are no other methods."

Deacon Tian nodded slightly; it was indeed the three basic spiritual plant techniques.

He considered himself to have some discernment.
But the Cloud and Rain Technique and the method of inducing childbirth are easy to explain, it's just that the technique is extremely exquisite.

But that small, swift blade had a certain unusual quality to it...

However, in the cultivation world, there is no shortage of extraordinary encounters, which have always been the private affairs of cultivators.

Deacon Tian did not press further, but instead said:

"Actually, the main reason I invited Deacon Chen and Junior Nephew Li here today is not only because I am quite curious about Deacon Chen's spiritual plant technique, but also because of another matter."

"As you, Steward Chen, are aware, the Lingyin Sect's outer sect competition has been postponed due to recent celestial anomalies. Several important spiritual fields within the sect have also suffered severe damage and significant losses due to this cold disaster. The herb garden in Taoshanfang, in particular, has been the first to be affected."

He sighed, a hint of worry in his expression:

"It's a long story. This herb garden was originally under my management, but I need to focus on Foundation Establishment soon... Therefore, I would like to recommend Deacon Chen to participate in the rescue of the spiritual herbs on the peak of the herb garden. If this matter can be accomplished, it will not only solve the sect's urgent problem, but it will also be a great achievement for Deacon Chen, and his future prospects in the sect will be limitless!"

Li Qiuyun listened from the side, secretly surprised.

The medicinal herb garden in Taoshanfang is called Linsong Valley.

Among them are many rare second-tier spiritual plants!

How could a newly recruited plant master find such a good job!

She remembered that the newly appointed steward of Yuexi Lake Ward this year was assigned the job of managing the spirit rice.

To be honest, it's like being a beast of burden, using the Cloud and Rain Technique to tend to the spiritual rice...

"Thank you for your kindness and trust, Deacon Tian!" Chen Ye stood up and solemnly cupped his hands in greeting. "I am willing to go to the herb garden to share the burden of the sect!"

He did want to refuse,
Because a windfall is always unsettling.

Butler Tian is a second-tier spirit plant master, and thus his superior.

Even if Chen Ye disagrees and displeases him, he can still freely mobilize Chen Ye through the sect.

This is the downside of joining a sect: there's always someone above you...

"Good!" Deacon Tian clapped his hands and laughed. "With Deacon Chen's words, I am relieved! After the three-month period, I will have someone invite Deacon Chen to Linsong Valley."

He paused, then looked at Li Qiuyun:
"Qiuyun, Taoshanfang and Yuexihufang are located in the same prefecture. If you are interested, you can serve as Steward Chen's guard... This is a good job, and you can even go home to visit your family when you have time. Of course, the premise is that you must advance to the late stage of Qi Refining as soon as possible."

For a spiritual plant master like Chen Ye, who is "powerless to even kill a chicken".

When on official business, the Lingyin Sect would issue missions to outer disciples or inner disciples in the late Qi Refining stage to accompany and protect them.

Chen Ye was secretly surprised upon hearing this.

It should be noted that among independent cultivators, those who reach the late stage of Qi Refining are already considered prominent figures.

But now... she has become his attendant and bodyguard.

Moreover, the combat strength of sect disciples is relatively higher than that of independent cultivators.

Li Qiuyun remained silent for a moment, then hesitated before saying, "Steward, please allow me some time to consider this..."

“That’s easy. After all, returning to the sect only takes three months, but going to Taoshanfang would take half a year. We really need to think about it carefully.”

Deacon Tian saw this and knew all too well what Li Qiuyun was worried about.
It would be fine if she accompanied Chen Ye back to his clan.
But when they went to the Taoshanfang Herb Garden, they were alone with a man and a woman...

After the two said goodbye,

Deacon Tian, ​​his previous seriousness gone, leaned back in his chair with a sigh of relief.
"Damn it... those two bastards didn't explain clearly, it turns out this person is backed by the Little Witch!"

"Since she intends to bring these two together, surely this action won't displease her..."

He was still shaken.

Ordinary outer disciples might only have heard of Bai Susu's bad reputation.

But these stewards from the inner sect suffered greatly as a result…

And on the other side.

The fat butler breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the dust had settled.

If Chen Ye fails to cure him, he will not only be accused of favoritism and corruption, but if the news reaches the sect's ears, he will inevitably be punished.

At the same time, it will also attract the attention of a mysterious golden retriever...

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but eagerly call over Junior Brother Liu and take his hands in his.

Junior Brother Liu looked bewildered, then felt a chill run down his spine: "Deacon Zhao, what's wrong with you...?"

"Thanks to you, Junior Nephew Liu! If you hadn't been reminding us in the Internal Affairs Hall every day that Chen Ye and Uncle Bai had some dealings, I would probably have offended Uncle Bai today!"

Upon hearing this, Junior Brother Liu instantly understood the reason for the unusual behavior of these stewards, and his vision went black.

I almost stumbled and lost my balance.

The portly deacon cried out in distress and quickly helped Junior Brother Liu up, his face full of concern.
"Junior Nephew Liu, what's wrong? Could it be that you've been overworked while on duty?"

"No no……"

Under the fat butler's astonished gaze,

Junior Brother Liu's smile was more like a grimace.

At this moment, he wished he could slap himself.

Tell him to shut up!

(End of this chapter)