Immortality begins with raising apprentices

Chapter 110 Luo Li's New Home, Niece Qiu Yun

Li Qiuyun led Chen Ye into the Herbal Peak.

It was early spring, and the outside air was still chilly.

However, the Lingyin Sect possesses a second-tier spiritual vein and is protected by a mountain-protecting array, making the peak warm as springtime and lush with vegetation.

"Uncle Chen, this is the Herbal Peak."

Li Qiuyun introduced in a clear voice.

"The Herbal Peak has more than 300 outer disciples who are responsible for tending to the fields of various spiritual herbs. In addition, there are more than 40 stewards who assist in managing the general affairs of the peak. The peak master of the Herbal Peak is named Pang Taining, and we all respectfully call him Peak Master Pang."

She paused, then added, "According to sect rules, newly recruited stewards will not be assigned any tasks for the first five days. Uncle Chen can take this opportunity to familiarize himself with the environment of Herbal Peak."

As they spoke, the two arrived at an elegant courtyard.

A wooden plaque hangs above the courtyard gate, bearing the three characters "Luo Li Yuan" (落梨院).

There are a dozen or so pear trees planted in the courtyard. Although they are not yet in bloom, their branches are outstretched and their leaves are lush and green. One can imagine the beautiful scene of pear blossoms in full bloom and petals falling in the depths of spring.

A clear pond sits in the courtyard, where several koi carp sway their tails leisurely. Stone tables and benches are arranged in a pleasing manner, adding to the tranquility.

"Master, this place is so beautiful!"

As soon as Qingjun entered the courtyard, she cheered and jumped for joy, having completely forgotten the restraint she had shown in the General Affairs Hall.

She loosened her grip on Zhiwei's clothes and, like a happy little bird, ran around in the yard, sometimes looking at the pear tree, sometimes squatting by the pond teasing the carp, extremely happy.

"Alright, stop playing around and come inside for a look," Chen Ye said with a smile, beckoning to his two apprentices.

The interior was simply but clean, with tables, chairs, and beds all provided, and the windows were bright and clean.

Sunlight streamed through the carved wooden windows, casting dappled shadows on the bluestone-paved ground.

"Master, where are we staying?" Qingjun looked around the room curiously, her little face full of anticipation.

Chen Ye pointed to the side rooms on both sides of the main house: "Each of you can have a room. Choose one yourself, but clean up the house first."

"Great!"

Qingjun cheered and immediately grabbed Zhiwei's hand, excitedly running off to clean their new home.

Chen Ye and Li Qiuyun were not idle either.

With the four of them working together, the Rakuri-in courtyard was transformed in no time.

Looking at the tidy courtyard, Li Qiuyun smiled slightly, but then said to Chen Ye with some reluctance, "Uncle Chen, I... I need to go home first. My home is on Zixia Peak nearby, and my father is an instructor there."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ye was somewhat surprised: "Oh? I thought Qiu Yun, your background was nothing special."

Li Qiuyun quickly explained, "Uncle Chen, please don't make fun of me. My father was just an outer disciple in his early years. He failed to break through and stayed in the sect as an instructor, responsible for teaching some new disciples in the early stage of Qi Refining. He has no distinguished status whatsoever."

Chen Ye immediately understood.

If we compare a sect to a school, then Li Qiuyun's father is like a primary school teacher.

The job is stable, but the pay and status are only average.

Even so, this is still a respectable status that many independent cultivators can only dream of.

……

After bidding farewell to Chen Ye and his apprentice, Li Qiuyun embarked on her journey home with a mix of trepidation and excitement.

Unlike the lush and vibrant flowers of Bencao Peak, Zixia Peak is relatively quiet and secluded.

Most of the disciples on this peak practice flying swords, and many outer disciples who practice flying swords greeted Li Qiuyun warmly when they saw her.

While dealing with her familiar disciples, Li Qiuyun quickened her pace and hurried home with practiced ease.

Although her family lived in Yuexi Lake Ward, her father was an instructor at Zixia Peak, so naturally they also had their own courtyard at Zixia Peak.

Along the way, the peaks were verdant and shrouded in mist, a sight that should have been pleasing to the eye, but now it only felt heavy in her eyes.

She knew her father's temperament all too well. Having failed to qualify for the competition and not broken through to the late stage of Qi Refining, what awaited her was definitely not a gentle breeze and light rain.

Sure enough, the moment I stepped into the house, that familiar sense of oppression hit me.

Li Yanfeng stood with his hands behind his back under the old pine tree in the courtyard. His figure looked particularly desolate and stern in the afterglow of the setting sun.

"You're back?" Li Yanfeng didn't even turn around; his voice was icy cold, devoid of any warmth.

“Father…Father,” Li Qiuyun greeted him stiffly.

"Why aren't you at the late stage of Qi Refining yet?"

Li Yanfeng slowly turned around, his tone full of disappointment.

"You failed to qualify for the sect competition again? If it weren't for your good fortune in getting Deacon Chen's recommendation, you would probably have had to stay in that remote and impoverished place for another six months! You've completely disgraced me, Li Yanfeng!"

"Father, I..."

Li Qiuyun was about to explain that the late stage of Qi Refining was no easy feat, and that she should be given a few more months...

But Li Yanfeng retorted sharply, "Still trying to talk back?"

"My lord, please calm down! My lord, please calm down!"

Hearing the commotion, Madam Li rushed over and immediately stepped forward to offer words of comfort.

She took Li Yanfeng's arm, her tone gentle, but her words carried a hint of reproach:

"Qiuyun, don't blame your father... Sigh, he's just worried too much. Who told you to be so disappointing? On the path of cultivation, one step behind leads to another. Your father wasted years trying to break through to the late stage of Qi Refining, enduring countless hardships and scornful looks, only to end up as an instructor, wasting his life. If he had entered the inner sect back then, he wouldn't still be at the eighth level of Qi Refining, unable to even find a way to secure more cultivation resources for you!"

But... Father is nearly fifty years old, and he's still only at the eighth level of Qi Refining.

Li Qiuyun felt increasingly wronged as she listened, but she forced herself to suppress it.

After all... her father didn't have such good conditions back then.

As Madam Li spoke, her eyes reddened. She gently patted Li Qiuyun's hand and continued earnestly:
“Your wife and I have scrimped and saved, splitting every spirit stone in half to make the most of it. We just wanted you to make something of yourself and bring honor to our family. We pulled so many strings to get you a job as a street-stationed disciple. It’s a leisurely job that doesn’t require any hard work or danger… How can you be so ungrateful and unwilling to put more effort into your cultivation?”

Li Qiuyun lowered her head, her voice choked with sobs: "Father, Mother, I know... It is Qiuyun who is unfilial."

But she was also reluctant to spend spirit stones...

She had reluctantly bought that mid-grade first-tier magic sword from Chen Ye to enhance her combat power for the sake of the competition.

At this moment, she suddenly missed the days when she was by Chen Ye's side; at least there, there wasn't so much pressure and blame...

Li Yanfeng's anger subsided slightly, but he frowned again as he looked at his daughter:

"I heard that Deacon Chen is an old man? You should be careful not to let him take advantage of you! Otherwise it will affect your future. You should at least marry an inner disciple in the future... I think Zhao Qing is not bad."

Zhao Qing was one of the disciples who performed exceptionally well in this outer sect competition; he was that effeminate man.

When Li Qiuyun heard her father mention Chen Ye, and recalled her own thoughts just now, her cheeks flushed. She hurriedly explained, "Father, please don't make wild guesses! Deacon Chen... Deacon Chen has two daughters! He treats me like a nephew or niece, and has no other intentions."

"Oh?"

Li Yanfeng then nodded.

His daughter's explanation was unclear, leading him to believe that Chen Ye was already married and settled down, and that the two girls were Chen Ye's daughters.

Seeing that her Daoist companion's complexion had improved, Madam Li quickly stepped forward and took her daughter's hand:

"Hurry home... You've never been away from home for half a year before. In a few days, I'll take you back to our old home by Moon Rhinoceros Lake to meet our elders."

As night fell, the Rakurin courtyard became quiet and peaceful.

Several pear trees cast dappled shadows under the moonlight, and the pond's surface, as smooth as a mirror, reflected the bright moon. Occasionally, a gentle breeze would blow, creating ripples on the water.

Under the pear tree, beside the stone table.

Two small girls huddled together, playing chess by the moonlight.

The girl's soft laughter or annoyed mutterings added a touch of liveliness to the night.

Inside the kitchen, several plates of delicate pastries were already prepared.

Chen Ye took off his apron, looked at his two apprentices in the courtyard, and sighed inwardly:

"Living peacefully like this doesn't seem so bad?"

He silently looked at the two girls, then suddenly sighed.

But this cultivation world is destined to be turbulent.

Right now, it's just the last peace after the storm.

Leaving aside the Dark Ages five hundred years later,
Over the next five hundred years, the cultivation world will gradually descend into chaos.

For example, the Lingyin Sect,
Far away, the Demonic Sect of Qi Kingdom is eyeing them covetously; nearby, the Myriad Puppet Sect and the Spirit Hidden Sect are locked in a fierce confrontation.

After watching for a long time, Chen Ye picked up the tray of pastries and arranged the delicate dishes one by one on the stone table. He said softly, "Alright, you two little girls, come and try the pastries your master made when you've had enough fun. Your master will be busy from now on and won't have much time to play with you."

Qingjun couldn't resist the aroma any longer.

She sniffed, her bright black phoenix eyes darting around the various pastries, and asked curiously, "Master, where is Sister Qiuyun? I haven't seen her all day. Isn't she coming to eat some pastries?"

"Sister Qiuyun...she had something to do at home," Chen Ye replied casually.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a soft knock came from outside the courtyard gate.

"Uncle Chen, are you there?" It was Li Qiuyun's voice.

Chen Ye was somewhat surprised and got up to open the door.

Li Qiuyun stood prettily at the door, her expression tinged with sadness, but when she saw Chen Ye, she forced a smile: "I...I told my parents that I wanted to come out and cultivate."

She paused and added,
“Within the Lingyin Sect, there are special cultivation rooms for spirit-gathering arrays, but... it requires contribution points.”

Chen Ye understood what was going on when he saw her slightly nervous expression.

Seeing her nervousness, he teased her, "Oh, my dear niece, do you miss Qingjun and Zhiwei that much?"

"Uncle Chen! What do you mean by niece or not niece..."

Li Qiuyun blushed slightly as he teased her. She stomped her foot lightly, bit her lip, and pouted. Her usual heroic spirit was gone, replaced by a girlish charm.

The two little girls were very happy to see Li Qiuyun arrive and quickly pulled her to sit down.

They're still quite young, and they enjoy being around people.

Even those who are only slightly aware are no exception.

Despite her aloof demeanor, Zhiwei will pretend to casually talk to Chen Yezhen if he ignores her all day.

"Uncle Chen... I won't eat, I just wanted to come and see the two girls... Hmm?"

Before Li Qiuyun could finish declining, her delicate nose twitched, and the tempting aroma of the pastries instantly whetted her appetite.

"Sister Qiuyun, please try it! Master's cooking is excellent!"

Qingjun was the most enthusiastic. She had already noticed the fatigue between Li Qiuyun's brows. At this moment, she grabbed the largest and most beautiful lotus-shaped spiritual fruit pastry and stuffed it into Li Qiuyun's slightly cool hand like a treasure, her little face full of pride.

The little girl even felt a sense of pride.

A warm touch came from her fingertips, accompanied by an increasingly rich and sweet aroma. Li Qiuyun felt the bloating in her stomach caused by her anger instantly replaced by a strong appetite.

Looking at Qingjun's bright, expectant phoenix eyes, and then glancing at Zhiwei who was also silently watching her, and Chen Ye who was smiling without saying a word, her cheeks couldn't help but feel a little hot.

"Then...then I'll just try a small piece," Li Qiuyun said somewhat shyly in a low voice. In the end, she couldn't resist the temptation of the food, or perhaps she didn't want to disappoint the children.

She took a small bite of the spirit fruit pastry. The pastry melted in her mouth, the filling was sweet but not cloying, and the refreshing fragrance of spirit fruit instantly bloomed on her taste buds, bringing an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

The frustration I felt during the day from my parents' scolding actually dissipated a little in this sweet aroma!

"Mmm...it's delicious!"

Li Qiuyun's slightly dim eyes suddenly lit up, and she couldn't help but take another big bite, savoring it carefully.

"This...this is Uncle Chen's cooking?"

This young female cultivator, known for her beauty as Purple Cloud and Ice Cloud, was now wolfing down her food; where was her ethereal grace?
The way he ate was somewhat similar to Qingjun's.

Seeing this, Qingjun was even happier and picked up another piece of osmanthus cake and handed it to her: "Sister Qiuyun, this is delicious too! Master said that this is called 'Osmanthus Shadow Under the Moon,' and it sounds so nice!"

"Mmm!" Li Qiuyun hadn't even finished her previous bite when Qingjun continued to feed her.

Even ordinary spiritual fruits have this kind of taste.

Li Qiuyun couldn't even imagine how wonderful the food would taste if Chen Ye used high-quality ingredients!
After the snacks were finished, the night grew deeper.

The surroundings were so quiet that only the chirping of insects and the rustling of leaves in the wind could be heard.

Seeing the three girls' lingering expressions, Chen Ye cleared his throat and lowered his voice: "The moonlight is just right tonight, how about... Master tells you a few stories?"

"Master, you can tell stories? Master...you're amazing! You can play games and tell stories!" Qingjun's eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this.

Chen Ye quickly clarified, "Ahem, these... these are all things that Master learned from his hometown."

Upon hearing this, Li Qiuyun smiled and said, "Uncle Chen, don't be modest. Your hometown is Yunxifang... I've lived in Yunxifang for so many years and I've never seen anything unusual."

After Kong Hongxuan was killed and Ping Zhuo died, she and the sect's stewards investigated Chen Ye. His hometown was clearly Chengping County, which was next to Yunxifang.

Chen Ye paused for a moment, but this matter was difficult to explain, and there was no need to continue clarifying it.

never mind,

Anyway, there are so many predecessors who have copied, so one more won't make a difference.

Chen Ye cleared his throat and began to speak slowly: "A scholar named Ning Caichen, on his way to take the imperial examination, spent the night at Lanruo Temple..."

Listen, listen,

The little girl became wary: "Master...this story sounds terrifying!"

Before she could finish speaking, the older girl tugged at her arm: "Shh, don't disturb Master."

"Woo..."

Qingjun glanced fearfully at the shadowy pear trees casting in the moonlight around her, as if a white-clad female ghost might emerge from behind those shadows at any moment.

Unlike the frightened little girl, Zhiwei and Li Qiuyun listened with great interest.

These ghostly and demonic things, as well as matters of love between men and women, unexpectedly suited the tastes of these two girls!

The night wind blew, and the shadows of the pear trees stretched and writhed.

The night in Rakurin passed quietly amidst the man's deep voice.

(End of this chapter)