Immortality begins with raising apprentices

Chapter 163 Returning Home in Glory, Competing for Favor (Day 1 words)

Half a day later.

Yunxifang, a shantytown.

The endless Three Thousand Mountains were shrouded in cold mist, and the dilapidated and desolate shacks on both sides were uneven.

As the carriage slowly made its way through the muddy, familiar streets, the atmosphere inside became somewhat subtle.

"Master, did we... live here before?"

Qingjun lifted the carriage curtain and looked out at the low, dilapidated, and crooked houses, as well as the ragged children chasing and playing at the alley entrance. Her little face was full of disbelief.

She had only been away from here for a few months, but the home she remembered, though dilapidated, was still somewhat familiar. Now, after witnessing the grandeur of the Lingyin Sect and the serene elegance of Linsong Valley, it seemed so unfamiliar and... unbearable.

Chen Ye pulled up the carriage curtain for Qing Jun, and looked at everything in front of him with mixed feelings, feeling as if he had been transported to another world.

seem,

The days when he busily repaired the damaged roof with his straw raincoat seem like yesterday.

The carriage stopped in front of their old home, which had long been deserted.

The scene before her eyes startled Li Qiuyun slightly.

It was a dilapidated house hastily built with blue bricks and thatch. The thatch on the roof was blown sparsely by the wind, the walls were covered with moss and cracks, and a broken wooden door creaked in the cold wind, as if it would fall apart at any moment.

“This place…I’ve been here before.”

Li Qiuyun was lost in her memories when she suddenly couldn't help but chuckle softly.
“At that time, I was inspecting the scattered repairs in the shantytown, and Uncle Chen’s house happened to be within the scope of my inspection. Uncle Chen was very careful back then... He looked me up and down through the crack in the door several times before daring to push the door open.”

It's truly unbelievable that the once anxious and uneasy rogue cultivator has now become the one I'm protecting.

Chen Ye complained, "Are you really that scared? What do you mean you only dared to push open the door after all..."

He pushed open the half-closed wooden door and went in first.

The scene inside the house filled him with even more emotion.

The damp air carried a faint musty smell.

Sunlight streamed through the holes in the roof, casting dappled beams of light onto the dusty ground.

He seemed to see that rainy night again, when he woke up with a start on this earthen bed, the rain running down the holes in the roof and hitting his face with its coldness.

He seemed to see again the silver-haired little girl huddled in the corner, trembling all over, yet still wanting to serve him tea.

"Master?"

Zhiwei had arrived beside him without him noticing. She looked at her master's somewhat absent-minded profile and called out softly.

This is where her and her junior sister's nightmare began, but it is also where they...regained a new life.

"It's nothing. It seems that no other rogue cultivators have come to stay here these days."

Chen Ye snapped out of his daze. He looked around at the small house that had witnessed all his disheveled and uneasy moments at the beginning of his transmigration, and sighed.
"I just feel that although this place is dilapidated, it should be cleaned up properly. After all, it was the first home for the three of us, master and disciples."

As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves.

He didn't use any magic; he simply found a broom and began sweeping the dust off the ground, just like any ordinary mortal.

Seeing this, Zhiwei quietly found a rag and carefully wiped the wooden table covered with scratches.

Seeing her master and senior sister busy, Qingjun hesitated for a moment, pouted, picked up a small broom taller than herself, and started sweeping in their place. However, her movements looked more like she was fighting with the dust.

"This is……"

Chen Ye's gaze was suddenly drawn to a dusty oil paper package that had rolled into a corner.

He bent down to pick it up and brushed off the dust.

Upon opening it, a refreshing medicinal fragrance wafted out.

Inside the oiled paper package, the dark green ointment, though dried and lumpy, was still instantly recognizable to Chen Ye:

This was the very same elixir ointment he had initially thought had been stolen by Old Zhang!
"strangeness."

Chen Ye stroked the oil paper package, his mind filled with doubts.

"I remember this ointment was in a larger earthenware jar... Could it be that after that old Taoist priest stole the ointment, he specially found an oiled paper to wrap it up and put it back in my house? Uh... that's probably impossible."

He glanced at his two busy apprentices and already understood most of what was going on.

It was most likely stolen by one of his disciples.

He could understand that his apprentice at that time might still be wary of him, and might even have had the idea of ​​packing up and running away.

As for now...

Chen Ye shook his head, put the oil paper package into his storage bag, and didn't disturb his two disciples.

Let bygones be bygones.

……

Avoid Water Street.

When Chen Ye led his two apprentices to Li Dagen's courtyard, before they even knocked on the door, a dark figure rushed out of the yard, barking loudly.

It was Yuan Yuan, the big, shiny black dog.

When it saw Qingjun, it showed no ferocity whatsoever. Instead, it excitedly wagged its bald tail and circled around her, occasionally rubbing its wet nose against Qingjun's little hand.

"Yuanyuan! I miss you so much!"

Qingjun giggled and hugged Yuanyuan's neck tightly, rubbing her little face against its soft fur. The two of them were incredibly affectionate.

Just as Yuanyuan's tail was wagging incessantly, its dog eyes inadvertently caught sight of Chen Ye standing behind Qingjun.

While his two disciples weren't paying attention, Chen Ye revealed a sinister smile. This dog should be glad it was a female beast, otherwise Chen Ye would definitely be eating dog meat hot pot!
Hmph! Even I haven't been treated this way by my disciple!

In an instant, Yuan Yuan felt an invisible icy chill shoot straight up its spine from the mud.

The bald tail that was wagging so happily suddenly froze and instantly became tucked between its legs.

"Woo... Roar!"

Yuan Yuan's black fur stood on end. It bared its sharp teeth, arched its body, and stared intently at Chen Ye.

It will never forget that the man shaved its proud, fluffy tail clean!

"Yuanyuan, don't be fierce!" The little girl tugged at the big black dog's neck, puzzled. Why was Yuanyuan suddenly panting?
She stole a glance at her master, only to see his gentle smile. She then lightly tapped Yuanyuan's head.

"Disobedient little dog!"

The little girl glanced at her master again, her gaze meaningful.

Chen Ye didn't notice the little girl's gaze; he just found the dog amusing.

That beast really holds a grudge.

He didn't mind, and leisurely took out another excellent-looking spirit peach from his bag, waving it in front of Yuanyuan:
"Alright, alright, Yuanyuan, don't be angry. I brought you some delicious food today as an apology."

The peaches were plump and red, emitting a sweet fragrance, which made Yuan Yuan, who was still grimacing, unconsciously quiet down the low growl in her throat.

It twitched its black nose, cautiously approached, sniffed the spirit peach, and then looked warily at Chen Ye.

Although it was a dog, it knew that this man was more of a dog than it was!

"Yuanyuan, eat up! These are peaches that Master bought, they're so sweet!" Upon seeing this, Qingjun quickly took the peaches from her master's hands, squatted down, and held them to Yuanyuan's lips.

With her little master vouching for her, Yuanyuan's wariness finally dissipated.

It hesitated for a moment, but ultimately could not resist the temptation of the delicious food. It opened its mouth and carefully took the spirit peach.

"Who do we have here? It's Steward Chen who's back!"

Grandma Li came out of the house upon hearing the sound and saw Chen Ye, who was tall and imposing, and was filled with emotion.

After three days of separation, you should look at each other with admiration.

The current Chen Ye is completely different from the scoundrel in the shantytown he used to be!
"Mother-in-law, how have you been lately?" Chen Ye asked with a smile, cupping his hands in greeting.

"Okay, very good!"

Grandma Li's face lit up with a smile. She pulled Zhiwei aside and looked her over closely.
"Oh my, Zhiwei has grown taller and is more chubby than before. You really know how to raise a child, Chen."

She then looked at Qingjun, who was playing happily with the dog, and said with a laugh, "You crazy girl, stop bullying Yuanyuan, look how tired it is!"

As they were talking, Li Dagen came out of the house. When he saw Chen Ye, he greeted him warmly: "Brother Chen! You're finally back!"

The group sat around a small table in the courtyard, and Chen Ye chatted with them, learning about the changes in Yunxifang over the past few months.

Since Chen Ye joined the Lingyin Sect, Yunxifang has experienced three beast tides, one large and two small, and even a Foundation Establishment demon beast has appeared.

Fortunately, a Golden Core cultivator from the Lingyin Sect intervened and managed to suppress the beast tide.

Other than that,

Another thing that Chen Ye was concerned about was that Luo Heng of the Jade Lizard Society had successfully established his foundation, while Ji Yueze of the Stone Mirror Society had disappeared without a trace. Chen Ye thought to himself, "How could Ji Yueze have disappeared? With his background, obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill should be a piece of cake for him. He wouldn't have run away just because Luo Heng established his foundation."

He cared a lot about Ji Yueze.

Previously, when he left the sect for Yuexi Lake Market, Ji Yueze sent two Qi Refining stage cultivators to assassinate him.

"Brother Chen, it's all thanks to you. Ever since you joined the Lingyin Sect, no one in the entire Yunxi Fang has dared to look down on me, Dagen!"

The old man was filled with emotion; he hadn't expected that Chen Ye would have such a close relationship with the Jade Lizard Association President.

After Chen Ye left, the Jade Lizard Society approached him and introduced him to many jobs, allowing him to obtain sufficient resources for cultivation without having to risk his life in the Three Thousand Mountains.

Grandma Li also brought over hot tea, her face beaming with joy: "Yes, young Chen, I really have to thank you. Now that Dagen is doing well, our lives are so much better than before."

Qingjun clenched her soft, white fist, looking fierce:

"It's all thanks to Qingjun! If Qingjun hadn't cooked for Master every day, Master would have starved to death! Then he wouldn't have been able to help Grandma!"

Chen Ye chuckled: "Indeed, it's thanks to Qingjun and Zhiwei..."

"Eh?"

Hearing her master's words, the little girl was stunned for a moment, then sheepishly withdrew her little fist.

Was it really his own achievement?

The little girl thought her master was just coaxing her; she was just habitually trying to banter with him.

But the two disciples were unaware of this.

If it weren't for the Black Old Man's family taking good care of his two apprentices, would Chen Ye have treated them so well?
Especially Granny Li; if it weren't for her, the two little ones' childhoods would probably have been much more tragic.

It's even possible that before Chen Ye even arrives, the two white-hearted dumplings will have already turned into black-hearted dumplings.

He waved his hand and got straight to the point: "I have come here today not only to visit, but also to ask you for a favor."

Chen Ye then briefly explained the current situation of Lin Song Valley and his plan to recruit manpower, and finally said sincerely, "Lin Song Valley is in dire need of reconstruction and is lacking trustworthy manpower. I wonder... if Granny and Da Gen would be willing to come with me?"

"This……"

Grandma Li and her family were shocked upon hearing this.

Go work at the sect's medicine garden?

This is a blessing that countless independent cultivators could only dream of!
and many more……

Chen Ye actually had the ability to arrange for them to enter Lin Song Valley Medicinal Herb Garden?
Upon hearing this, Granny Li immediately perked up and said, "Go! Of course I'll go! You couldn't find such a good thing even with a lantern!"

She knew better than anyone that this was not just a job, but a tremendous opportunity!

The spiritual energy in Linsong Valley is much richer than that in this market town, which is very beneficial to cultivation.

……

After exchanging pleasantries with Granny Li and her family, Chen Ye did not immediately return to Linsong Valley.

His real purpose in coming to Yunxifang this time was to visit Donggou Valley!

Donggou Valley is the source of Chen Ye's first large collection of spirit stones.

The demonic cultivators once cultivated magical potions here. After the demonic cultivators fled, these magical potions ended up in the market of Yunxifang.

Chen Ye used to obtain spirit stones by healing these magical potions.

The demonic cultivators behind this East Valley are the very same demonic cultivators from the Crossing Love Sect who kidnapped Qingjun.

This person was always a thorn in his side.

As the saying goes, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle..."

Chen Ye pondered silently, preparing to go alone, but before he could finish the thought, Qing Jun's loud and boisterous voice rang out:

"Qingjun also wants to go to the Jade Lizard Gathering!"

The little girl had somehow gotten close to him, her little hands tightly gripping the hem of his clothes, her face upturned with a determined expression.

Chen Ye looked at her, and a thought struck him.

Why did that female demon cultivator, in the midst of the chaos, manage to abduct Qingjun so precisely?

Logically speaking, it shouldn't be possible for a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like Demon Cultivator to discern Qingjun's true dragon physique—if Qingjun's identity were so easily revealed, this little girl would have been devoured long ago, leaving not even bones behind.

Perhaps... taking Qingjun along might lead to some clues.

With that in mind, Chen Ye changed his mind: "Very well, then Qingjun will go with me."

He turned to look at Zhiwei, but Zhiwei shook her head. She glanced at the lively Qingjun, a hint of guilt flashing in her dark eyes, before she regained her composure: "Master, I want to... stay with Granny Li and learn some skills from her."

She wanted to learn some needlework from Granny Li so she could sew some clothes for her master herself.

But for some reason, Zhiwei always felt that she was secretly vying for favor behind the scenes, so she felt guilty towards Qingjun.

Of course, she wasn't vying for favor!

Anyway, I'm just killing time...

Chen Ye didn't insist, but said gently, "Alright. Then you stay here and don't wander off."

In the end, the three who went to the Jade Lizard Society were Chen Ye, Li Qiuyun, and an excited Qing Jun.

The streets of Yunxifang have regained some of their former liveliness after the beast tide receded.

The three walked side by side, chatting and joking along the way, creating a relaxed atmosphere.

"Uncle Chen, walk carefully."

Li Qiuyun had somehow naturally taken Chen Ye's arm without him noticing.

The girl's eyes darted away, her eyelashes trembling.

It seems that Uncle Chen only saw himself as a junior who needed to be taken care of, just like the two little girls...

But... but she's not a junior, and she's not a girl either!

The girl's soft body pressed against Chen Ye's arm without leaving a trace, feeling the warmth emanating from him, and a blush involuntarily rose on her pretty face.

"Qiuyun, you..."

Chen Ye was stunned. Hiss... It was clearly a sunny day, how could there be such a huge thunder?
Li Qiuyun feigned ignorance: "Uncle Chen, what's wrong?"

As she spoke, she naturally hugged Chen Ye's arm tightly, and chuckled softly:

"Qiuyun just wanted to express her affection for her senior..."

Her heart was pounding; she never imagined she would be so bold.

But if you don't take the plunge, you'll really be a "niece" for life!
"Sister Qiuyun, aren't you hot holding my master's arm?"

Qingjun's voice came faintly from the other side.

The little girl had squeezed in at some point, also grabbing Chen Ye's other arm, and deliberately rubbing her head against it, pushing Li Qiuyun outwards.

Li Qiuyun was both amused and embarrassed by her childish behavior, and could only laugh and say, "Uncle Chen's arms are so broad and thick, it's very cool to hold them."

"Hmph!" Qingjun wrinkled her little nose and hugged her master's arm even tighter, not wanting to be outdone.

hateful……

Master is still young, he cannot marry a mistress!

We should wait until Qingjun grows up... We can only consider finding a master's wife when Qingjun grows up!
Chen Ye was sandwiched between these two "accessories," one big and one small, and felt utterly overwhelmed.

Meanwhile, Junior Brother Liu, who was patrolling the street not far away, witnessed the entire scene.

Junior Brother Liu rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, his fingers trembling slightly.

He looked at his beloved Senior Sister Li, who was always aloof and reserved, now affectionately linking arms with an older man like a young girl, chatting and laughing.

How did Senior Sister Li become like this?

What exactly did Chen Ye do in these three months?
As a result, Senior Sister Li actually... actually had to compete for affection with a little girl!

"Senior Brother Liu!"

The disciple beside him exclaimed in surprise and rushed forward to help the swaying junior brother Liu.

Junior Brother Liu felt dizzy, but he forced himself to stand and said with a weak smile, "It's nothing, I guess I've been patrolling the streets for too long today and I'm mentally exhausted..."

But what can be done about being unwilling?
Junior Brother Liu gritted his teeth. Right now, he only dared to watch from afar, not even having the courage to go up and question them.

"Chen Ye! If... if you dare to betray Senior Sister Li, I will definitely not let you off the hook."

In the end, he could only helplessly curse in his heart, thus deceiving himself.

　As the title says, there will be another chapter tonight.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)