Why did you provoke me?

In the evening, the other three groups returned. They talked about how difficult the day had been. "You know, being tired isn't so bad, but not getting anything out of it is really disheartening," Xue Yuling complained.

Yu Meng looked at them; she knew these three were already quite good. If, while Dali was working, someone stubbornly refused to leave her side, how could she possibly get any work done that day?

However, these three people are clearly well-mannered and have good character.

Since we're going to pass on the skill of peeling stone skin, it's not unreasonable to teach these three people first.

Yu Meng glanced at Dali, then nodded.

Dali turned to look at Li Yiqing, "Cousin, how about we let the three of them come with me tomorrow?"

Li Yiqing remained silent, glancing at Yu Meng without saying a word. Yu Meng was eating her roasted potato with her head down, as if it were an incredibly delicious treat.

Sun Hongmei was the first to stand up. "How can that be? We haven't even formally become apprentices yet; how can we just teach anyone?"

Xiao Xue nodded in agreement. "We can't set a precedent by doing this."

Xue Yuling blushed. "Sister Dali, I was just saying it casually, I didn't mean it that way. Don't make us lose face later."

Dali looked at Li Yiqing, "Cousin?"

"Here's the thing, our families are all in the same boat, we share the same fate. I want Dali to pass on this skill of peeling stone skin, to enhance my reputation as Li Yiqing. But she's my sister-in-law, and I can't let her suffer. What do you think? The three of you will temporarily be her nominal disciples. As for how you'll show her respect, I won't interfere."

Yu Meng looked up. "A disciple under a pseudonym? What does that mean?"

"I know that," Sun Hongmei said from the side. "My cousin is a teacher's student."

"To put it bluntly, if you want to teach me the core issues, I can listen, but if you don't want me to listen, I can only stand outside the door."

Xiao Xue couldn't help but laugh. "You're making it sound so pitiful. But it's not far off. A true disciple is meant to inherit the lineage of their teacher."

Upon hearing this, Dali quickly waved her hand. "Then let's just sign the name. I don't have any master or apprentice. Besides, I'm learning as I go, doing missions along the way."

"Dali, don't underestimate yourself," Li Yiqing said casually from the side. "With your skill in peeling stone skin, even a typical level three mold maker wouldn't be able to do it. Besides, you already have finished products." He pointed to the beaded bracelet on Jiang Mingfeng's wrist.

Sun Hongmei and the other two had already seen the beaded bracelet on Jiang Mingfeng's wrist, but they didn't know what it was made of; they just found it very attractive.

Jiang Mingfeng tucked the string of beads into his sleeve. "This is a token of our love from my wife, I can't show it to you."

"Sister Dali, that's not made of stone skin, is it?" Sun Hongmei stared intently at Jiang Mingfeng's wrist. "Sister Dali, I want to be your true disciple, the kind who doesn't change her sect."

Dali looked at Li Yiqing helplessly. Wasn't she supposed to be a nominal disciple? Why is she suddenly becoming a real disciple?

Sun Hongmei's eyes lit up, "I'm not very talented, but if I can learn the craft of making beads from stone skin, I'm willing to give half of my earnings to my master."

Xiao Xue and Xue Yuling also fell into deep thought.

Dali glanced at Yu Meng furtively. Yu Meng kept her head down and didn't say anything.

Li Yiqing spoke up, "Let's discuss this matter again when we get back to the city. But you agree to my becoming a nominal disciple, right?"

Sun Hongmei looked at Dali, but didn't say anything more.

"Since you have no objection to becoming nominal disciples, then it's alright if Dali receives 10% of the profits from the products made from your stone skins!" Li Yiqing asked.

Yu Meng had never heard of these things before; she didn't know that teaching disciples could have such benefits.

"This isn't right. How can I take their things, especially so many?" Dali waved her hands repeatedly.

"Dali, although the peeled stone skin can be sold directly for money, that's a minor skill. What you need to teach them is how to make beads or other things from the stone skin. It's the rule in this industry that you take a cut of the profits from the finished products they make. And you won't take much."

"Mingfeng?" Dali looked at him. "Should I accept it or not?"

"Well, you're asking me? I don't know anything about your industry," Jiang Mingfeng said, scratching his head. "How about we just listen to our cousin?"

Dali nodded, "Okay, I'll listen to my cousin. Tomorrow you'll all learn the most basic techniques from me."

Several people nodded.

"In a moment, I will draft a contract for accepting registered disciples," Li Yiqing said from the side.

Sun Hongmei, Xiao Xue, and Xue Yuling all nodded.

Dali walked over and sat down in front of Yu Meng. "Little sister, all of these were originally yours."

Yu Meng leaned against Dali and said, "From now on, I can just tell my older sister what I want, and she'll buy it for me."

Dali nodded emphatically, "I'll buy it for you, big sister."

Jiang Mingfeng moved closer to Li Yiqing and asked, "Cousin, um, will Dali have a lot of money in the future?"

"Have you ever seen a skilled unmasking artist who's poor?" Li Yiqing tapped his forehead with her finger. "Don't take your good fortune for granted. You need to treat Dali even better from now on, understand?"

"I know, I know. Cousin, how come I'm so lucky?" Jiang Mingfeng narrowed his eyes and the corners of his mouth turned up.

Li Yiqing kicked him, "Don't show off in front of me."

Jiang Mingfeng skipped away.

Li Yiqing had been observing Yu Meng discreetly. The little girl's expression hadn't changed at all; she remained as languid as ever.

Jiang Mingfeng is right. Don't try to guess what Yu Meng is thinking; not only will you not understand it, but you'll also start to question the meaning of life.

On the morning of the fifth day, no one went far. They found a flat place, and each person held a stone. Dali carefully taught them the movement patterns of their fingers.

Yu Meng watched from afar, and seeing that nothing was wrong, she turned and left, wanting to go for a walk elsewhere.

Li Yiqing was in the same group as her, so of course she had to go along. "Where are we going this time?"

"Just wandering around, not sure yet." Yu Meng walked quickly ahead, her eyes scanning everything around her. A stone rat pounced on Yu Meng, but before it even got close, it tumbled to the ground. Li Yiqing's eyes narrowed. When did Yu Meng make her move? She was so fast.

He bent down to pick it up, thinking he could add a meat dish when he got home.

At this moment, Yu Meng stopped. She had noticed something peculiar. It was a flower blooming on the stone wall. Let's call it a 'flower' for now. It was a dull gray color with several darker lines. It looked like a flower carved into the stone.

Yu Meng walked up to it, stretched out her hand, and a surge of vitality rushed over. Yu Meng's eyes lit up, and she covered it with both hands. Lines appeared in her mind and wrapped the thing tightly.

At this moment, Yu Meng's hand speed, honed through regular practice, became a blur.

Looking at the medicinal stone in her hand, Yu Meng smiled. Her trip had truly been worthwhile. She had obtained something truly valuable.