Battle Through the Heavens: Starting with Cao Ying as an apprentice

Before Su Baichen could speak, Yun Yun sighed softly, "Miss Ying'er, this is just how the world is. Injustices happen every moment, and the root cause is not a few poison masters, but the law that the strong are respected."

Her voice was clear and cold, yet it carried a sense of desolation as if she had seen through the ways of the world.

Cai Die replied calmly, her voice carrying a barely perceptible magnetic huskiness: "Fairness and reason are built upon absolute strength. Without power, even the right to grieve and indignation is a luxury."

Two women, in their own way, silently taught young Cao Ying a lesson: on this vast and cruel continent, kindness needs an edge, and justice needs a powerful force to support its realization. When the weak depend on others for survival, how can they speak of fairness and justice?

This is the true face of the outside world, bloody yet undeniably real—the strong set the rules and dominate everything; while the weak often have little to no right to choose how to survive, and can only struggle to survive in the shadow of the strong.

Chapter 74 Speculation

After listening to the discussion at the next table, a strange light flashed in Su Baichen's deep eyes.

While everyone else was focused on the tragedy itself, his thoughts, like those of a hawk, were locked onto the little girl who had survived the poisonous fog.

His slender fingers gently caressed the rim of the teacup, his mind already analyzing the unusual aspects behind the incident.

No one in the entire village survived, except for this little girl—this was no accident.

Su Baichen leaned back slightly in his chair, his heart churning with emotion. Based on his years of experience, there were only two plausible explanations for this situation.

The first possibility is that the girl herself was the one who poisoned the food. If so, she must have had the antidote to survive that indiscriminate disaster.

But Su Baichen quickly dismissed the idea—how could a young child have such a vicious mind? As for the possibility that the girl had been possessed, it was even more unlikely. If it were the work of a cunning cultivator, they would not have left such an obvious flaw, and the cleanup would have been so sloppy.

“Then, only the second possibility remains.” A glint flashed in Su Baichen’s eyes, and he unconsciously sat up straight.

The girl must possess a special constitution, capable of resisting or even absorbing that deadly poisonous fog. Thinking of this, an ancient and powerful name for this constitution surfaced in his mind: the Calamity Poison Body!

If the girl was indeed the Little Fairy Doctor he was searching for, then everything would make sense. The Calamity Poison Body is a special constitution that appears only once every thousand years. To it, mere poisonous mist is not only harmless, but also a tonic that nourishes its constitution.

Moreover, an even bolder conjecture suddenly entered Su Baichen's thoughts.

If the girl is indeed Little Fairy Doctor, then this incident of poisonous fog destroying the village may hide another unknown possibility.

Su Baichen turned his head and looked at Yun Yun, who was sitting quietly to the side.

Today, Yunyun wore a light purple dress with a silver ribbon tied around her waist, which perfectly accentuated her graceful figure.

She sat there quietly, like a meticulously painted ink painting, completely out of place in the noisy atmosphere of the inn. Su Baichen secretly transmitted his voice, "Go and ask, ask where that girl is now?"

Upon hearing this, Yun Yun nodded slightly. As she rose, her skirt fluttered gently, and she walked gracefully to the next table. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow on her. Su Baichen watched her retreating figure, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Having such an attractive maid as Yun Yun certainly saved him a lot of trouble.

Moreover, during their time together, Su Baichen discovered that Yun Yun's talent was actually quite high; she had recently broken through to the sixth-star Dou Wang level.

The only reason why it took her more than ten years to reach the Three-Star Dou Huang level is that the Yunlan Sect dragged her down and slowed down her cultivation speed!

When talking to those people, Yun Yun's voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, but her questions went straight to the heart of the matter.

After Su Baichen and the others finished their meal, they were about to leave when Yun Yun returned shortly afterward with the information she had gathered. She said softly, "Master, we have found out where that little girl is."

"Hmm, where is it?" Su Baichen maintained a calm demeanor on the surface, but his heart was in turmoil. He had come here specifically to find the Calamity Poison Body, and now he had a definite clue.

Yun Yun reported in detail: "I heard from them that the girl was adopted by a traveling female doctor, and that female doctor settled down in the north of Qingshan Town."

She paused, then added, "The female doctor's surname is Liu. I've heard she's quite skilled and has a small reputation in the area."

Upon hearing this description, a look of understanding flashed in Su Baichen's eyes. This perfectly matched the intelligence he possessed.

Little Fairy Doctor was indeed adopted by a physician when she was young, which is why she is skilled in medicine, kind-hearted, and even yearns to become an alchemist to gain recognition and respect from others. At this moment, Su Baichen is 90% certain that the surviving little girl is the Little Fairy Doctor he is looking for.

"Alright, Yunyun, go and confirm the female doctor's address later."

Su Baichen stood up, flicked his sleeves, and continued, "I'm going to rest now. We'll go tomorrow."

Finding Little Fairy Doctor was important, but Su Baichen felt there was no need to rush. Now that the target had appeared and his whereabouts were clear, it was better to suppress his eagerness for the time being; after all, the other party couldn't escape.

He had been busy with various matters lately and had not been able to calmly refine the Heavenly Profound Pearl for many days. Tonight was the perfect opportunity. The Heavenly Profound Pearl could only conceal its aura at present, and this ability was gradually becoming insufficient for his needs. He longed to unlock the other mysterious abilities of the Heavenly Profound Pearl as soon as possible.

Just as Su Baichen was about to step onto the stairs, a soft, sweet voice came from behind him: "Master!"

Su Baichen turned around helplessly, and what came into view was the delicate face of his disciple Cao Ying. Today, Cao Ying was wearing a light purple dress, which, combined with her slightly chubby face, made her look exceptionally cute.

But Su Baichen knew all too well what a quirky and mischievous personality was hidden beneath that sweet exterior.

"What are you doing?!" Su Baichen's tone carried a hint of indulgent helplessness. He knew this disciple all too well; Cao Ying was exceptionally intelligent, yet also possessed the curiosity and liveliness befitting her age.

Moreover, he now had a pretty good idea of ​​what Cao Ying was going to say next.

Ignoring Su Baichen's helpless attitude, Cao Ying skipped over and tugged at his sleeve, blinking her big eyes as she said, "Can I go with Sister Yun? I can help Sister Yun too!"

Her little face was full of expectation, and she clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture.

Hearing Cao Ying claim that she could help her, Yun Yun couldn't help but show a doubtful expression. She had known Cao Ying for a long time and knew that although the girl was exceptionally talented, it was hard to believe that she could actually help her.

A fighter helping a fighting king?! What a ridiculous joke.

Su Baichen looked Cao Ying up and down, patted his apprentice's head, and a playful smile appeared on his face: "What can a short, three-inch nail like you, who's less than a meter tall, do to help her?"

He deliberately dragged out his words, and seeing Cao Ying's sullen expression, he continued to tease her: "Are you going to use your sharp tongue to drive her crazy, or your adorable appearance to 'win her over'?"

Su Baichen chuckled and shook his head, saying earnestly, "Besides, you? Helping others? Do you think I don't know your own abilities?"

"Others' efficiency is greater than two when one plus one is used, but if that one is you, then the efficiency will be reduced by the amount you spend."

Then, Su Baichen's gaze fell on Cao Ying again, and he said with a mixture of affection and teasing in his eyes, "So, you should just stay at the inn and cultivate. As for gathering information, Yun Yun is enough."

Finally, Su Baichen could no longer suppress the smile that had been playing on his lips.

Chapter 75 The Involution of the Butterfly

When Cai Die heard Su Baichen's evaluation of Cao Ying, she finally couldn't help but laugh out loud, and almost dropped the food in her hands.

Her colorful eyes curved into crescents as her gaze shifted back and forth between the sulking Cao Ying and the indifferent Su Baichen, finding the master and apprentice pair quite amusing.

Yun Yun covered her mouth and laughed, but she couldn't hide the amusement in her eyes. She watched Cao Ying blush as her master scolded her, and couldn't help but recall the scene when she was reprimanded by her master back in the Yunlan Sect.

However, in contrast, Su Baichen's "sharp tongue" towards Cao Ying clearly carried an undisguised doting affection.

The most outrageous thing was the eight-colored Sky-Swallowing Python sitting on the table. This usually arrogant beast was now laughing so hard that it was doubled over, its colorful tail slapping against the table with a "slap slap" sound.

It had always been at odds with Cao Ying, and they often quarreled over the small toys that Su Baichen had given them. Seeing the little girl get the short end of the stick, it naturally laughed without any restraint.

"You, you, you, how could you say that to me, Master!" Cao Ying jumped down from the stone bench, her silver ornaments jingling as she moved so fast.

Her small frame, less than a meter tall, looked exceptionally petite in the spacious courtyard, and her huffy expression resembled that of an annoyed porcelain doll.

Cao Ying put her hands on her hips, trying to strike a dignified pose, but her innocent baby face and big round eyes only made the gesture more adorable.

Her voice was clear and melodious, but trembled slightly with anger: "How can a master talk about his own disciple like that! Where am I short? I'm petite and charming!"

"Where am I being sarcastic? I'm just being straightforward!"

"How could I possibly be a hindrance? Last time I clearly helped the Second Elder master how to repair things!"

However, the more she tried to explain, the happier everyone laughed.

Seeing everyone laughing at her, Cao Ying finally couldn't take it anymore. She suddenly raised her small fist and charged at the culprit—her unscrupulous master, Su Baichen. Her movements were like the tinkling of silver bells, much like an enraged little beast, full of momentum yet somewhat comical.

However, Su Baichen simply reached out and placed his hand on Cao Ying's forehead.

No matter how much Cao Ying waved her short arms and legs, she couldn't get even a fraction closer to him. The scene was quite amusing: the tall and slender Su Baichen stood motionless, while the tiny Cao Ying stretched her arms and legs in front of him, yet she could never touch even a corner of her master's clothes.

"Damn it, I'll fight you!" Cao Ying's face turned bright red. She tried to bite Su Baichen's hand, but he gently tapped her forehead with his finger, causing a tingling sensation. She had to take two steps back.

Su Baichen looked at his first disciple, a barely perceptible tenderness flashing in his eyes.

"Alright, alright, stop fooling around." Su Baichen finally withdrew his hand, saying with a hint of helplessness in his voice, "Remember to go early and come back early, don't go crazy outside."

He paused, then looked at Cai Die beside him: "Cai Die, you come along too. Keep an eye on Cao Ying and don't let her go crazy."

Having said that, Su Baichen raised his other hand and gently flicked Cao Ying's forehead. His movement seemed forceful, but when it landed on Cao Ying's forehead, it was as light as a feather. Then he turned and left, his white robes fluttering gently in the wind, like an immortal.

Cao Ying covered her forehead and made a face at Su Baichen's back: "Damn it, you always bully me. Wait until I grow up, and I'll see how I take good care of you."

Her voice was soft, but it was clearly audible in the quiet corridor.

Su Baichen, who had reached the end of the corridor, paused slightly, shook his head, but did not turn around.

He knew his little apprentice all too well; the so-called "filial piety" was probably just a way to trick him back. Thinking of this, a barely perceptible smile crept onto his lips.

Seeing her master leave without looking back, Cao Ying stomped her foot in anger. Then, her eyes lit up, and she suddenly grabbed Cai Die and Yun Yun and ran outside: "Let's go quickly, before Master changes his mind!"

Cai Die stumbled as she was pulled, and said helplessly, "Xiao Ying, slow down, the young master won't go back on his word."

Yun Yun frowned slightly, but seeing Cao Ying's excited expression, she couldn't help but relax. It had been a long time since she had gone out, and this was the first time she had been allowed to go out.

Standing quietly at the window upstairs, Su Baichen watched the three women's departing figures, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

He turned to look at the Eight-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python and laughed, "They're all gone, now it's just the two of us!"

------

On the street, Cao Ying was like a wild horse, full of curiosity about everything. The streets were lined with all sorts of stalls, selling spiritual herbs, weapons, and all kinds of exotic foods.

Cai Die and Yun Yun followed behind Cao Ying, watching her run and jump around, occasionally picking up items from the stall to ask questions, just like a little bird released from its cage.

"Yunyun, how did you meet the young master? And why do you call him master?" Caidie finally asked the question that had been on her mind for a long time. She turned to look at Yunyun, her eyes full of curiosity and inquiry.

The butterfly's thoughts drifted back to a month ago.

That day, Su Baichen was accompanied by this aloof and ethereal woman.

When Yun Yun first arrived, her injuries had not yet healed, and her pale face could not conceal her stunning beauty. At that moment, alarm bells rang in Cai Die's mind, thinking that her position in Su Baichen's heart was about to be replaced by this newcomer.

To be fair, Cai Die knew herself to be a competent maid.

She was not as adept at managing the affairs of the snake people as the Second Elder, nor as meticulous and thoughtful as the other maids.

She was playful, loved to laugh, and sometimes caused trouble, but Su Baichen never scolded her. Instead, he let her play freely in his territory.

But Yunyun's arrival shattered Caidie's peace of mind. This new woman was not only stunningly beautiful and had an outstanding temperament, but also seemed to know many things that Caidie did not.

Thus, a silent competition began between the two women.

When Su Baichen ordered tea to be brewed, Cai Die would always rush to get the best spirit tea leaves; when Su Baichen needed to deliver a message, Yun Yun would always volunteer to demonstrate her extraordinary skills; even when Su Baichen was reading, the two of them would compete to tidy up his desk and add oil to the lamp.

The most miserable one was the Second Elder. This loyal worker, who was originally responsible for most of Su Baichen's miscellaneous tasks, had his job taken over by two women, and was now frowning all day long, afraid that he would lose his value.

We're out of pills!

Hearing Cai Die's question, Yun Yun, being as intelligent as she was, immediately understood the probing meaning behind it. She sighed softly, her gaze drifting to the cheerful Cao Ying in the distance, but her expression was somewhat dazed and sad.

“Young Master, he is my savior. He gave me a new life.” Yun Yun’s voice was very soft, as if it might be blown away by the wind at any moment.