Immortality begins with raising apprentices

Chapter 170 Taking on a Disciple, Qingjun Zhiwei's Cold Violence (Day 1 words)

Bai Susu thought for a long time but couldn't think of anyone who would dare to insult her.

Could it be... that this guy surnamed Chen was secretly cursing her in his heart?

The blonde girl scratched her face, completely baffled.

"Master Bai, we owe you a great debt of gratitude this time," Chen Ye said gratefully.

He never expected that Bai Zhenchuan, with his foul temper, would come to Linsong Valley today.

Seeing that Lin Song Valley was completely empty, he waved his hand and told him to go ahead and recruit people.

Originally, Chen Ye only wanted to recruit ten people.

With Lin Qiongyu's father, Lin Jinghua, taking the lead, they were able to recruit some desperate cultivators.

But now, with Bai Susu, a true disciple, in charge, the Wei family's deterrent power has been further reduced, and in just half an hour, they have recruited ten people!

Furthermore, Chen Ye specially selected twenty of the most skilled peach farmers from the Wei family's peach orchard!
After all, Chen Ye was a petty and narrow-minded person...

"Alright, alright, stop looking like you've never seen anything like this before."

Bai Susu waved her hand impatiently, interrupting Chen Ye's thanks. Her bright golden eyes held a hint of confusion.

"By the way, does your Linsong Garden really need so many people to help? Thirty... I'm afraid even the sect wouldn't pay you such a large sum."

Chen Ye smiled and said, "Master Bai, you may not know this, but in reality, only fifteen cultivators are used to handle the daily spiritual plants of Lin Song Valley. The other fifteen are recruited by me personally in the name of Lin Song Valley, and their remuneration is naturally paid by me."

Now that Chen Ye has embarked on the path of alchemy and has the advantage of having the large medicinal herb garden of Linsong Valley as his backing, he should naturally make good use of it.

He recruited fifteen spirit plant growers specifically to cultivate his own alchemy spirit plants in the vacant medicinal fields of Linsong Valley.

In this way, alchemy will no longer lack low-grade spiritual plants.

"Is this so..."

Bai Susu nodded thoughtfully, swung her fair legs, and sneered.
"Hmph, how dare you say such a thing as plundering sect resources to my face!"

Chen Ye complied as always, satisfying the girl's vanity.

The posture was so respectful, as if they were worshipping a deity:

"All my actions are due to the divine power of Master Bai, which is why I dare to have such presumptuous thoughts."

He paused, then added, "If I succeed in refining the elixir in the future, I am willing to share the profits with my true disciple."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Susu finally revealed a hint of satisfaction in her bright golden eyes.

What she wanted was never that small percentage of profit.

What she wanted was this man before her, a heartfelt and unreserved submission and reverence for her.

"Hmph, you know what's going on."

Bai Susu gave a soft hum, jumped off the stone bench, put her hands behind her back, and walked around Chen Ye once with her fair legs. Finally, she said lazily in a condescending tone:

"A paltry profit is beneath my notice. However, since you're so keen, I'll take responsibility for it. If anyone asks later, just say these fifteen people were sent by me. As for the Wei family, if they dare cause trouble..."

A cold smile, utterly incongruous with her delicate and pretty face, curled at the corners of Bai Susu's lips.
"...Then you should tell them to come directly to me."

"Thank you very much for your instruction, Master Bai!"

Chen Ye, moved to tears, cupped his hands in gratitude once more.

Sigh, young girls are so easy to please, especially someone like Bai Susu...

As long as you say a few nice words, they'll take full responsibility and support him.

With Bai Susu's promise, he was able to establish a firm foothold in Linsong Valley.

No matter how powerful the Wei family is, they are ultimately just a subordinate family.

Bai Susu, on the other hand, is the true pride of the Lingyin Sect, destined to become a Golden Core True Person, or even a Nascent Soul True Monarch!

As long as he doesn't commit a heinous crime like treason, he can rest easy with her protecting him.

"Alright, alright," Bai Susu waved her hand impatiently, "I just came here for a stroll because I had nothing else to do. Now that things here are settled, I should head to the Three Thousand Mountains to take care of some important matters..."

Chen Ye's heart skipped a beat.

Bai Susu suddenly disappeared a while ago, and now that she has reappeared, she is heading to the Three Thousand Mountains without stopping.

Could it be... that something major has happened recently?
"May I ask, Master Bai, what have you been busy with these days?" Chen Ye looked up at Bai Susu.

"How dare you! Are you trying to extract information from me?!"

Bai Susu frowned, clearly displeased.

In her view, Chen Ye was just a pet she kept, and there was no reason for him to inquire about his owner.

However, when Chen Ye looked up and saw that familiar face, her heart skipped a beat.

Chen Ye paused, then gave a gentle smile and explained:

"A while ago, Master Bai left without saying goodbye, which worried me quite a bit... Moreover, my two disciples have missed Master Bai quite a bit since we last met..."

"Hmph! Using your disciple as an excuse, is that it? I think you're the one who wants to... cough cough."

As Bai Susu spoke, she belatedly realized what she had said.

That sounds... kind of weird.

How dare she! She looks so much like her father, yet she dares to have such inappropriate thoughts about me!

She abruptly turned away, leaving Chen Ye with a huffy back view, in order to hide her slightly flushed cheeks:

"In short, it has nothing to do with you! It was just an accident that happened to that Golden Core cultivator from the Refining God Sect when he was undergoing his Nascent Soul tribulation..."

Having said that, she gave Chen Ye no further chance to speak, and transformed into a golden streak of light, disappearing into the horizon.

Nascent Soul Tribulation...

Chen Ye looked in the direction she had left, as if suddenly realizing something.

He had almost forgotten about it.

In the original storyline, this True Person of the Refining God Sect failed his first tribulation in the Three Thousand Mountains, which triggered chaos in the Yan Kingdom...

"So, Bai Susu's trip to the Three Thousand Mountains might not go very smoothly..."

……

Pulling himself out of his thoughts, Chen Ye turned his gaze back to the group of fruit farmers before him, whose expressions were excited and whose eyes had been rekindled with hope.

He said loudly, “Gentlemen, this place is crowded and noisy, so it is not a good place to have a detailed discussion. Please go home first, pack your bags, and meet at the east entrance of the market in an hour. I will send someone to lead you to Linsong Valley.”

"Alright!" the crowd responded in unison, and then dispersed.

The scene was somewhat chaotic for a moment.

"Qiongyu".

Looking at the scene before him, and then at the young deacon beside him who had given his family hope, Lin Jinghua was filled with gratitude. He whispered,
“This Deacon Chen is truly a great benefactor to our Lin family. Why didn’t you tell me before that you and Deacon Chen were old acquaintances?”

Upon hearing this, Lin Qiongyu's heart tightened.

She couldn't tell her father that she had come to his house late at night intending to sell her body, but was forced by him to take the lead.

Therefore, when she persuaded her father beforehand, she did not mention Chen Ye's matter in much detail.

She could only force a smile and explain softly in a tactful way, "Father, Deacon Chen... he used to be our neighbor and received some small favors from our family. Now that he holds a high position, he still remembers our old friendship, which is why... that's why he's willing to lend us a hand."

"That's it! That's it!"

Lin Jinghua suddenly realized what was happening, and then became even more excited.
"Deacon Chen is truly a kind and righteous man! No, I must... I must go and thank him in person! This is fifty spirit stones!"

As he spoke, he pushed through the crowd and walked toward Chen Ye.

"Father! Don't go!"

Lin Qiongyu was caught off guard. She tried to grab her father, but it was too late.

She was filled with panic, fearing that her father's departure would expose her pitiful lie.

She was even more afraid that the meticulous and ruthless man would reveal his terrifying and hideous face in front of her father.

The girl looked around nervously.

The father was bent over, smiling broadly as he spoke to Chen Ye.

The man stopped and listened patiently to Lin Jinghua's somewhat incoherent words of gratitude.

Throughout this time, his gaze would occasionally drift towards her.

Lin Qiongyu's heart tightened, and her slender white hands unconsciously clenched into fists, fearing that Chen Ye would reveal the whole truth.

And...the shameless things he himself did.

She knew her father's character well; if he knew the truth, he would never allow his daughter, himself, to grovel in order to save his own life...

"I see."

The man's voice showed no impatience whatsoever. Instead, he personally helped the old man who was about to bow to him to his feet, his face beaming with a sincere smile. He patted the old man's shoulder and laughed heartily.
"Old Lin, you flatter me. It's only natural for neighbors to help each other in the past. From now on, we'll be neighbors again. I hope you'll be generous with your advice and work with me to make this Linsong Valley a thriving place!"

His words were impeccable, saving face for Lin Qiongyu while also giving Lin Jinghua a great deal of respect. The honest fruit farmer was so moved that he burst into tears and repeatedly agreed.

"he……"

Lin Qiongyu was stunned, staring blankly at the man in the distance who was chatting happily with her father in the sunlight.

Although, although Chen Ye... Senior Chen coerced and tempted him.

But sometimes... at least she's gentle.

A strange flutter stirred in her heart, just like when she was at Yunxi Fang Yunshang Pavilion.

but,

After Chen Ye finished speaking, her heart felt as if it had fallen into an ice cave:
"I heard that you have a young daughter who suffers from a cough. Why don't you let me take a look at her? I do have some medical skills."

The man's smile was sincere and warm, revealing not a trace of malice.

But Lin Qiongyu felt a chill run down her spine.

Xu Qingjun... Lu Zhiwei... and Bai Susu.

They all have one thing in common—they're cute!
Besides, she considered herself quite beautiful, but this man never showed the slightest desire for her from beginning to end, and even when she offered herself to him, he showed cold indifference!
Logically speaking, this is absolutely impossible.

Unless this man has something he can't talk about, or has some very unusual quirk...

"What? Miss Lin is unwilling?" Chen Ye raised an eyebrow as he looked at her face, which had turned deathly pale in an instant.

"No... not!"

When Lin Qiongyu came to her senses, the little bit of excitement that had finally arisen in her heart was instantly replaced by endless panic.

She wanted to refuse, but she didn't dare.

She was afraid that if she refused, the man would become enraged and do something even more terrible.

“My...my sister...she just has a common cold, no need for Steward Chen to worry about her.”

She used all her strength to barely manage to squeeze out those words.

Chen Ye looked at her as if she wanted to avoid him at all costs, feeling puzzled and unable to understand why.

Wasn't she trying to save her sister?

Why are you suddenly reluctant at this point?
But whether she wanted to or not, Chen Ye was determined to see her sister.

Because...

The experiences of this family are remarkably similar to those of the Cold Flame Cultivator in the original text.

The only difference is that the Cold Flame Cultivator's sister died in another place.

But if Lin Qiongyu is her sister, then it's possible that her arrival created a butterfly effect, allowing Lin Qiongyu, who was supposed to die, to survive.

Before Chen Ye could answer, Lin Jinghua, who was standing to the side, was already in tears, overwhelmed with emotion.

He grabbed Chen Ye's hand and said in a trembling voice, "Deacon Chen! Your...your great kindness and virtue, my Lin family...will never forget!"

In his view, this Deacon Chen not only gave them a way to survive, but also gave them dignity.

Now, he even has to treat his youngest daughter's illness himself!
What benevolence and righteousness! What noble character!
“Father…” Lin Qiongyu felt a chill in her heart as she looked at her father’s grateful expression.

"you shut up!"

Lin Jinghua turned around abruptly and glared at his daughter, his expression a mixture of disappointment and anger.

His daughter used to be so sensible, why is she so ungrateful today?
He said sternly, "How can you show such an attitude towards Deacon Chen after treating my Lin family like this? Hurry up and thank Deacon Chen!"

"Old man Lin, there's no need for that."

Chen Ye smiled and helped Lin Jinghua up. He patted the old man's shoulder, but his gaze passed over him and landed on Lin Qiongyu's pale face. He said gently:

“Miss Lin is probably worried about my medical skills, which is only natural. However, the longer your sister’s illness is delayed, the more dangerous it will become. We… should not delay any longer.”

His words were so considerate and thoughtful that they made Lin Jinghua feel that he was magnanimous and understanding.

But to Lin Qiongyu, it was nothing short of an ultimatum.

"Perhaps...perhaps Deacon Chen doesn't have any quirks...his care for his two disciples is genuine..."

Lin Qiongyu took a deep breath, but at this point, she had no other choice.

"Qiongyu, I understand..."

It's as if I would eat her sister.

Chen Ye shook his head inwardly, then turned and instructed the old man in black to lead the fruit farmers to Linsong Valley.

With Li Qiuyun and Qingzhi in charge of Linsong Valley, they are enough to keep things under control, and there is no need to worry about the fruit farmers causing chaos.

……

Led by Lin Jinghua's enthusiasm, Chen Ye and his group walked through the bustling crowds of Taolin Market and arrived at a quiet alley.

The Lin family's house was similar to the environment of Yunxi Fang, showing that generations of accumulation had ensured that their residence was not simple.

If it weren't for the youngest daughter contracting a cough that exhausted their spirit stones, the whole family wouldn't be in such dire straits.

"Deacon Chen, please...please come in."

Lin Jinghua pushed open the wooden door somewhat awkwardly, his face showing a hint of restraint.

Chen Ye nodded and went inside first.

The room was dimly lit, and the air was filled with a strong smell of Chinese medicine.

In the innermost corner, a petite figure sat quietly in a wheelchair.

Chen Ye's gaze was instantly drawn to it.

The girl looked young, and a faded quilt was covering her legs.

She had a delicate, porcelain-doll-like face, but it was sickly pale—yes, definitely sickly, not the kind of paleness that Zhiwei had when she saw the sun for the first time.

Her long, slightly wavy hair, as black as ink, fell smoothly over her shoulders.

Its pupils were pitch black, and it was deathly silent. If it weren't for the barely perceptible rise and fall of its chest, one would almost think that it was just a lifeless doll.

"This... is your younger sister?" Chen Ye's voice unconsciously softened considerably.

Gee...

It's strange, Lin Jinghua is quite ordinary-looking, but his two daughters are both exceptionally beautiful.

Lin Jin, in particular, is even more outstanding than her sister.

If she grows up a bit more, she'll be absolutely stunning.

"Yes...yes." Lin Qiongyu looked at her lifeless sister in the wheelchair, and her eyes reddened again.

Lin Jinghua sighed, "This child has some kind of illness... He coughs incessantly every night, but neither ordinary doctors nor herbalists can do anything about it. Only lung-clearing powder can relieve his pain."

Lin Qiongyu fell even more silent upon hearing this.

Previously, Master Hu had sold her a Xuan Yin Pill, claiming that her sister's illness could be cured with this pill.

But she never expected that the Profound Yin Pill was actually a fake pill... she was cheated out of her spirit stones for nothing.

"A cough? A common illness, how could it be like this..."

Chen Ye pondered, and the more he listened, the more convinced he became that it was Han Yan who had caused the harm.

Seeing Chen Ye treating his youngest daughter, Lin Jinghua felt both grateful and apprehensive.

He rubbed his hands together and said to Chen Ye, "Steward Chen, you...you are a compassionate healer, so I...I won't disturb you while you're casting your spell. I...I'll go to the east entrance of the market and take everyone to follow Fellow Daoist Li to Lin Song Valley."

He was also a perceptive person, knowing about the methods of immortals, and generally disliked outsiders watching.

Moreover, he also needed to travel to Linsong Valley with the fruit farmers, so he couldn't afford to waste too much time.

"Alright." Chen Ye nodded. "Don't worry, Old Man Lin, I will do my best."

Lin Jinghua bowed deeply to Chen Ye again before leaving with his wife, expressing his gratitude profusely, and gently closing the old wooden door behind him.

For a moment, only Chen Ye, the silent girl in the wheelchair, and her sister beside her, who looked nervous and at a loss, remained in the dimly lit room.

The atmosphere in the dimly lit room instantly became incredibly oppressive.

As Lin Qiongyu looked at Chen Ye, her gaze seemed to be fixed on her sister, and the humiliation and fear in her heart grew wildly like vines.

If this is a medical consultation, why the intrigued look in your eyes...?

She gritted her teeth, slowly bent her knees, and knelt at Chen Ye's feet.

Her smooth black hair fell down, obscuring all expressions on her face, leaving only a section of her delicate, snow-white neck visible.

"Thank you for your help today, Senior Chen... In the future, Qiongyu will definitely serve you as a servant to repay you."

Now that she had already embarked on Chen Ye's path, in order to avoid future retaliation from the Wei family, she had no choice but to go all the way and become even more closely tied to Chen Ye.

In addition,

Even if Chen Ye isn't interested in her, if he could relieve his own pent-up desires, wouldn't he refrain from doing anything to his sister?
Chen Ye was stunned for a moment. He frowned and only understood part of Lin Qiongyu's meaning.

This woman wants to completely submit to him.

Normally, Chen Ye wouldn't accept this. Why would he, with nothing better to do, protect someone insignificant?
But the situation is very different now.
Her younger sister seems to be the legendary Cold Flame Cultivator.

Therefore, deepening the relationship with the Lin family is not a bad idea; on the contrary, it would be beneficial to Chen Ye.

It's important to know that this Cold Flame cultivator, in the original storyline, directly experienced a power surge to the level of a Pseudo-Core True Person!

Although her sudden burst of power caused her cultivation level to remain at the Pseudo-Core stage forever.

However, if Chen Ye were to recruit this person now and train him a little,

The future will likely produce another Nascent Soul True Monarch!
Assuming, by any chance, that his sister is not a cultivator of the Cold Flame Cultivator, protecting the Lin family would not require Chen Ye to pay any price.

This deal is guaranteed to be profitable!
“My two disciples are at the age where they need to be served. Since you have this intention, from now on, go to their side and be their maid.”

Chen Ye pondered for a moment, then nodded.

His status and position were already extraordinary, and as his disciple, she should naturally have maids serving her.

This matter cannot be entrusted to Li Qiuyun. She is, after all, a cultivator from a sect, young and in the late stage of Qi Refining, with a promising future. How can she spend her days serving young girls?

As for Granny Li, she is old and frail. She can help her apprentices in their daily lives, but she is not capable enough, let alone suitable, for serving them. To the two apprentices, Granny Li is a respected elder, not a servant.

Lin Qiongyu, who had worked at Yunshang Pavilion and was young, was perfect for serving his two apprentices.

Moreover, Lin Qiongyu values ​​her family and relatives, and now that her entire family is moving into Linsong Valley and under Chen Ye's control, there's no need to worry about Lin Qiongyu harboring any disloyalty. Indeed, she's an excellent candidate for a maid…

Lin Qiongyu's kneeling body trembled. She bit her red lips slightly and whispered, "Thank you, Master..."

"Uh……"

Chen Ye's lips twitched. Wait, why is this guy calling me "master" right now?

A young girl calling someone "master" repeatedly inevitably makes people feel uneasy.

However, recalling that Lin Qiongyu used to bark like a dog, Chen Ye suddenly realized that this woman was very good at putting herself in an extremely humble position in order to please him.

This people-pleasing personality should be able to keep my two apprentices happy...

He shook his head and said, "No need for that. Just call me Steward Chen from now on."

"Yes……"

The girl in the wheelchair in the dark corner watched this scene quietly.

The light fell on the girl kneeling on the ground.

She was slender and delicate, with long black hair falling to the ground, her forehead almost touching the man's feet.

This is her older sister.

Extremely humble, pitiful, fragile and touching.

Now, they're calling this man "master"...

Lin Jin's eyes remained as lifeless and empty as ever.

But her small, pale hand, which was resting on the armrest of her wheelchair, moved almost imperceptibly.

Chen Ye ignored Lin Qiongyu, who was kneeling on the ground, her mind racing.

He composed himself and turned his gaze back to the silent girl in the wheelchair.

"Alright, get up." He said calmly to Lin Qiongyu, "I'm going to treat your sister now."

Upon hearing this, Lin Qiongyu trembled, then slowly stood up from the ground and stepped aside, becoming as obedient as could be.

Chen Ye slowly stepped forward, squatted down beside the wheelchair, and reached out his hand to touch Lin Jin's thin wrist.

The moment the fingertips touched the girl's cold skin, the girl, who had been completely unresponsive to the outside world, suddenly pulled her hand away without warning!

Goosebumps immediately appeared on her fair skin.

"This..." Chen Ye was stunned and stopped what he was doing.

"I'm...I'm sorry, Master."

Seeing this, Lin Qiongyu quickly stepped forward and explained in a low voice,

“Today she… She usually doesn’t let anyone touch her except me, not even my mother… she won’t allow it.”

Uh……

They weren't exactly obedient.

They said they wouldn't call me "master," but they insisted on doing so anyway.

Chen Ye ignored her, frowned, and forcefully grabbed Lin Jin's cold and thin wrist in his palm, disregarding the rejection in the girl's eyes.

"Don't be afraid."

Chen Ye's voice remained calm, but it was precisely this calmness that made him seem devoid of emotion.

"..."

Lin Qiongyu, who was standing to the side, opened her mouth as she watched this scene, but in the end, she could only lower her eyes helplessly, turn her head away, and could not bear to watch anymore.

yes……

How could a younger sister possibly expect even a fraction of the tenderness he showed his two precious disciples?

Even he himself, from the moment he knelt down, was nothing more than a tool in his hands that could be used at will.

Chen Ye focused his mind on examining Lin Jin's condition.

A wisp of pure Evergreen Cultivation energy flowed slowly from his fingertips into the girl's delicate meridians.

"As expected... it's most likely Han Yan."

As spiritual energy entered his body, Chen Ye's expression grew increasingly solemn.

A strange and domineering spiritual power was actually lurking between Lin Jin's internal organs!

This is the culprit that caused her to be paralyzed on one side of her body and suffer from a persistent cough!

Although he was unaware of the existence of "Frost Flame".

Since this type of spiritual fire resides within Lin Jin's body, it has a corresponding self-protection mechanism, preventing outsiders from easily noticing it.

However, based on the cold and yin nature of this spiritual energy and Lin Jin's background, Chen Ye could conclude that this person was the Cold Flame cultivator from the original story!
Chen Ye pondered in his heart:

"The Cold Flame, whose true name is unknown, is no less powerful than any famous strange fire, judging from the power it possesses. It only resides in the Xuan Yin Body... This kind of physique has always been an excellent material for a cauldron, and similarly, it is also an excellent vessel for nurturing strange fires, especially since the Xuan Yin Body is compatible with the attributes of the Cold Flame."

"In other words, Lin Jin is a Xuan Yin Body... However, it is not immediately apparent because the cold flames are obscuring the spiritual energy within his body. Of course, if dual cultivation with him can yield twice the results with half the effort, then his Xuan Yin Body can be fully confirmed."

Amidst a flurry of thoughts, Chen Ye's gaze fell upon the girl.

Lin Jin is undoubtedly extremely beautiful, with a beauty that is almost morbid and fragmented.

Her features were so exquisite that there wasn't a single flaw.

Her long, butterfly-wing-like eyelashes cast a soft shadow under her eyelids, adding to the delicate and pitiful look of her already fragile face.

Her long, slightly wavy hair, as black as ink, fell smoothly over her shoulders, contrasting sharply with her snow-white skin.

She makes you want to hold her in the palm of your hand, yet you can't help but... want to crush her with your own hands and see if her empty eyes will be stained with a different color.

Hmm... it's already here.

The girl's body trembled slightly as her wrist was forcibly touched, and her unfocused pupils revealed disgust and resistance.

Chen Ye released her hand, seemingly oblivious to the girl's trembling, and proceeded to gently rub her head.
"I've already made up my mind about your sister's illness... It's very difficult to cure it completely. But the paralysis and cough are not without a chance of being resolved."

Upon hearing this, Lin Qiongyu's eyes lit up.

They can even cure paralysis!

She immediately knelt down again, tears streaming down her face, "Thank you... thank you, Master!"

"Besides that... I'm considering taking your sister as my disciple. What do you think?" Chen Ye asked suddenly, feeling the head trembling in his palm and a hint of tears welling up in the girl's empty eyes.

Ha, this guy's got a pretty fragile personality, he's about to cry?

Fortunately, Lin Jin was usually quiet and reserved, and Chen Ye's body blocked her view, so Lin Qiongyu did not notice that her sister was already on the verge of tears.

"Taking...taking on apprentices?"

Lin Qiongyu's voice became stuttering, for she knew how much Chen Ye doted on his two disciples!

It turns out, she misunderstood Chen... misunderstood her master!

He only wanted to take on a disciple, which is why he looked at his sister with interest and kept sizing her up!
"Yes! Of course I do!"

Without a second thought, Lin Qiongyu quickly agreed on behalf of her sister. Afraid that Chen Ye would change his mind, she knelt down again and kowtowed repeatedly, her voice trembling with tears.

"Master's kindness is something Qiongyu will never forget!"

Chen Ye found it amusing to look at her like this.

Actually, taking on apprentices was a freebie for him.

If word gets out about Lin Jin's physique and her unique fire, even Nascent Soul True Monarchs would be vying to take her as a disciple—perhaps genuinely, or perhaps for other reasons...

"But with her personality... I'm afraid she wouldn't be willing?"

Chen Ye rubbed the girl's head with his palm, looking at the girl who was trembling but remained silent, and asked with a smile.

"She's willing! She definitely is!"

Lin Qiongyu quickly said,
"Today she's just... just been sick for a long time and is shy. Once... once she's better, she'll definitely take good care of you, her master!"

"Oh……"

Chen Ye responded, glancing at Lin Jin's slightly trembling lips as if he were not paying attention.

But why did he feel that Lin Jin was extremely unwilling...?

But none of that is a problem.

He, Chen Ye, specializes in dealing with troubled girls!

Now, he has two disciples at home, and neither of them is less difficult to deal with than Lin Jin.

Now, aren't they completely obedient?
Wait... I still have two apprentices at home!
Uh, he took on apprentices, his two apprentices must be happy, right?
After all, I have another playmate...

Chen Ye felt a chill for no reason and coughed lightly:
"Ahem, this matter depends on your performance. Don't spread it around yet, and especially don't let my two disciples know!"

Lin Qiongyu was taken aback. Why could she detect a hint of fear for her disciple in her master's words...?

It must be an illusion!

This is a test from her master!

……

Linsong Valley, Inner Valley.

It was very late at night.

The moonlight, like water, spilled into the quiet courtyard, stretching the shadow of the old pine tree even longer.

Two figures, one tall and one short, sat side by side at a stone table in the courtyard.

"Senior sister, why hasn't Master returned yet?"

Qingjun swung her short legs, propped her chin on her hands, and asked the question for the nth time tonight.

Zhiwei didn't speak. She just stared quietly in the direction of the courtyard gate. Her cool little face showed no emotion, but her slightly pursed lips revealed her inner unease.

Master... could he really be bewitched by that woman named Lin Qiongyu?

The thought of this possibility filled Zhiwei with an indescribable sense of unease.

"Senior sister," Qingjun said quietly when she saw that she was silent, "do we... really have to do that?"

Zhiwei's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

She remembered the "plan" that her junior sister had whispered in her ear mysteriously that evening.

"Senior sister! I have a great idea that will make Master obey us from now on!"

"What method?"

"We'll just...ignore him! When he comes back, none of us will talk to him, we'll just do our own thing! Let him know we have tempers too! Then he'll definitely try to coax us and listen to us!"

"Is it really possible...?"

"Hmph! Master only has two disciples like us. If he doesn't fool us, who else would he fool!"

Zhiwei's first reaction was that the plan was... extremely naive.

But upon closer reflection, it seems there really is a possibility of success.

After all, their master cared about them so much...

Is it really okay to just take advantage of Master's concern?

Moreover, she had secretly listened to her master's movements through the jade pendant today and discovered that her master had been busy dealing with the herbalist's matter.

Master is already so busy, and you still have to give him a hard time...

Thinking of this, Zhiwei couldn't resist the urge to eavesdrop on her master again.

She hasn't been eavesdropping for half the afternoon!
Never mind... now is not the time to eavesdrop.

Zhiwei hesitated for a moment, but remembering that her master was willing to disregard his own feelings in order to meet Lin Qiongyu, she gritted her teeth.

Looking at the tightly closed courtyard gate, he finally nodded gently.

"Ah."

Just then, the courtyard gate creaked open.

Chen Ye's somewhat weary figure appeared at the door.

coming!

Qingjun and Zhiwei exchanged a glance and immediately, like two well-trained kittens, entered "battle mode".

Qingjun jumped off the stone bench with a "whoosh," grabbed Zhiwei's hand, ran to the corner of the courtyard, took out their favorite game of Gomoku, and started playing intently...

They didn't cheer and rush to greet them immediately, as they usually do.

They didn't even raise their heads, as if they hadn't seen their master return at all.

Chen Ye was stunned by the bizarre scene before him.

What's wrong with these two little girls today?
He walked to the stone table, looked at the two small figures around the chessboard, playing with "intense concentration," and deliberately cleared his throat: "Ahem, your teacher is back."

Qingjun paused slightly in her hand holding the black piece, then placed it down again. Without looking up, she said, "Oh, Master is back. Senior Sister, it's your turn."

Zhiwei didn't even lift her eyelids. She simply stretched out her slender fingers, picked up a white chess piece, and gently placed it on the chessboard with an elegant yet indifferent gesture.

"..."

Now, Chen Ye was completely baffled.

Do his two disciples know that he wants to take on new disciples?
Impossible, absolutely impossible. No one else knows about this.

Besides, these two girls wouldn't have secretly planted any listening devices on him, would they?
Even if there were listening devices, it's impossible for them to be listening all day long...

He assumed that it was because he returned late that day, or because he hadn't brought them anything new or interesting, that had upset them.

He didn't point it out, but simply sat down at the stone table, poured himself a cup of tea that had long since gone cold, and then deliberately let out a long sigh in a somewhat weary tone.

"Ugh……"

The sound was long and full of stories.

But this time...

His "bitter trick" seems to have failed.

The two little ones around the chessboard didn't even lift their eyelids.

Qingjun held onto the black piece, gesturing in the air for a long time before finally landing it with a "snap" in a seemingly insignificant position, muttering, "Checkmate!"

"..." This is Gomoku (Five in a Row).

Chen Ye's eyelids twitched. Some time ago, he had indeed taught two little girls chess, but now they were clearly playing Gomoku.

Zhiwei, on the other hand, was completely absorbed in the game of Go, oblivious to everything else. With her slender fingers, she picked up a white piece and placed it gracefully, completely blocking Qingjun's so-called "checkmate." The whole process was smooth and efficient, without the slightest delay.

In short, the two girls were completely unyielding.

Chen Ye coughed twice and decided to change his strategy.

"Ahem, today at the market, I brought back some good things for you." As he spoke, he took out two strings of crystal-clear candied hawthorns that emitted a faint fruity aroma from his storage bag.

This was the only shop he had found selling this special kind of candied hawthorn after searching the entire Peach Grove Market.

What is special?
The special hawthorns inside are spirit hawthorns, each costing a full twenty spirit sands—there's no way around it, anything with the word "spirit" on it will see its price skyrocket.

In the past, whenever he took out this candied hawthorn, which could be called the ultimate weapon, Qingjun would always be the first to cheer and rush over.

But today...

"Senior Sister, it's your turn."

Qingjun glanced at the two strings of bright red candied hawthorns indifferently before turning her gaze back to the chessboard.

However, a small hand nearly crushed the Gomoku game.

Damn it!! Damn it!! I have to hold back!

Zhiwei didn't even glance at it.

Chen Ye was completely out of options.

Looking at the two girls who were determined to have a "cold war" with him, he could only shake his head helplessly in the end.

brat...

Chen Ye initially intended to place the spirit candied hawthorn on the table, but after thinking about it, he reluctantly put it back into his storage bag.

"Alright, alright," he stood up and said, feigning nonchalance, "Since none of you want to talk to your master, then I'll go back to my room to cultivate and refine pills. You... should also get some rest."

After saying that, he didn't linger any longer. He turned around, walked into the quiet room, and gently closed the wooden door behind him.

……

Until the wooden door was completely closed, Chen Ye's presence also completely disappeared from the courtyard.

The two girls, who had been "concentrating" on playing chess, both breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Senior sister! We did it!"

Qingjun dropped the chess piece in her hand and immediately threw herself into Zhiwei's arms, her face beaming with excitement. "Look, look! Master is anxious! He's so anxious!! He must be angry with us!"

Zhiwei gave a soft "hmm," her expression hesitant: "But, Master is so tired today..."

Speaking of this,

The little girl's excitement dimmed as she looked at the delicacies prepared in her storage bag.

This is the reward she prepared to treat her master!

It took her half a day to prepare this delicious meal...

only……

From now on, I can cook delicious meals for my master every day.

But opportunities to teach your master a lesson are few and far between!
The little girl perked up, clenched her soft, white fists, and said somewhat guiltily:
"It's all because Master didn't listen! We'll reward Master properly tomorrow when he behaves!"

Thinking of this, Qingjun couldn't help but feel smug.

She seemed to have already seen it: tomorrow morning, her master would bring them a hot breakfast, coax them gently, and ask them what they wanted.

Then they can...do whatever they want!

From now on, Master will never dare to upset Qingjun again, nor will he dare to attract unwanted attention!

"Hmph! If Master doesn't love us, we'll find another Master and make Master angry!"

Even Zhiwei's usually aloof face couldn't help but bloom with a smile as gentle as melting snow.

"Yes... From now on, Master will focus on cultivation and will not be tempted by beauty."

The two girls exchanged a glance, and in each other's eyes they saw a hint of joy called "victory".

At the same time, they feel at ease.

They did it all for their master!
　Thank you to reader 20250630220046671 for the 200 coins!

　　14,000 words!!! Promise fulfilled!!!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)