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

"Fei'er, wake up, it's time to take your medicine." Mittel Xue gently shook Ya Fei awake and fed her a Qi-nourishing pill.

Ya Fei swallowed the pill in a daze and soon fell into a deep sleep again, a healthy blush appearing on her face.

Looking at her daughter sleeping peacefully, Mittel's eyes were filled with tenderness. She gently stroked her slightly torn dress, which was still stained with the blood and dust of the previous night.

"Change it. Wearing this to see your benefactor might offend him."

She picked up the pale purple dress; the fabric was smooth to the touch, made of the finest brocade, with delicate patterns embroidered in silver thread on the collar and cuffs, both elegant and luxurious. Even more thoughtfully, a brand-new set of underwear was placed beneath the dress.

Mittel Xue blushed slightly; this Senior Su had considered everything so thoroughly.

She walked behind the screen, took off her tattered clothes, revealing the bruises on her body that had not yet completely faded.

The scenes from last night flashed before my eyes again—the tragic death of her husband, the pursuit by her family, the despair in her desperate situation… If it weren't for that senior's timely appearance, she and her mother would probably be…

Mittelsha shook her head, forcing herself to stop thinking about those horrific images. She changed into the pale purple dress, which surprisingly fit her perfectly, as if it had been tailor-made. The dress was cleverly cut, showing off her figure while maintaining an air of elegance.

Looking at herself in the mirror, the woman in the mirror, though still somewhat pale and with bloodshot eyes, had already regained seven-tenths of her former charm.

She simply tied her long hair up and secured it with the hairpin that matched her dress, instantly making her look much more refreshed.

"Mother, you are so beautiful..."

Before she knew it, Ya Fei had woken up and was lying by the bedside looking at her with her big eyes full of admiration.

Mittel turned around, a genuine smile appearing on her face—the first one she'd shown in days: "Fei'er's awake? Come, let Mother change you into new clothes."

The pink children's outfit was equally exquisite and adorable. When Ya Fei wore it, she looked like a delicately sculpted fairy. The little girl twirled in front of the mirror, temporarily forgetting the horror of the previous night.

“Mother, that senior in white is so handsome.” Ya Fei suddenly said, “I woke up once this morning and secretly peeked at him. He’s so handsome.”

Mittel nodded gently: "Let's go thank them."

Mittel looked out the window; the sun was nearly at its zenith. She took a deep breath and calmed herself.

It's time to meet that mysterious senior.

Regardless of their motives for saving them, Mittelshee would forever remember this kindness. But what fate awaited them, mother and daughter?

She didn't know, but she had to be strong—for her daughter, and for the relatives who had died in the family feud.

Chapter 132 Yao Chen's Psychological Trauma

In the courtyard, the chessboard on the stone table is strewn with black and white pieces, like stars scattered across the sky.

Su Baichen played black, and Yao Chen played white. The two sat facing each other, and only the crisp sound of chess pieces hitting the board echoed in the afternoon tranquility.

"Yao Chen, do you have any information about other strange flames?" Su Baichen's gaze remained fixed on the chessboard, but his voice carried a hint of seriousness.

*Snap*—The black piece falls, like a stabilizing force.

Yao Chen paused in mid-air with the white chess piece in his hand, then placed it firmly on a corner of the chessboard: "Hmm, I do have some. Do you want them?"

*Snap*—The white piece responded with a sound, like snow falling into a cold pool.

Su Baichen chuckled and took out another black chess piece from the jar, rubbing it between his fingers: "Right, my disciple has been practicing the Divine Travel Fire Refining Technique, he'll definitely need to find a different kind of fire in the future, right? It's never a bad thing to gather more information now."

“This won’t do.” Yao Chen suddenly raised his head, his brows furrowed, and his weathered face showed disapproval: “You’ve paved the way for your disciple too smoothly! On the path of cultivation, if elders always pave the way through thorns and brambles, how can juniors appreciate the true scenery?”

Su Baichen remained silent for a moment, then placed the black piece in the center position before slowly saying, "Yes, I know. Once the two of them reach the Douhuang level, I will let them travel for a few years, broaden their horizons, and experience the joys and sorrows of life."

“Yes, one can never grow without experiencing hardships.” Yao Chen nodded, but his gaze gradually drifted into the distance. In his insightful eyes, a faint sadness quietly spread, like ink dripping into clear water, slowly and stubbornly expanding.

Seeing this, Su Baichen understood. Yao Chen was thinking of that rebellious disciple, Han Feng, again.

He observed his old friend without making a sound—Yao Chen's hand holding the chess piece tightened slightly, his knuckles turned white, and the corners of his mouth, which were usually always carrying a gentle smile, were now tense, as if he had sunk into a deep pool of memories that he did not want to touch.

How could I not think about it?

Yao Chen doted on Han Feng to the core, treating him like his own son. From the basic techniques of alchemy to the inheritance of advanced cultivation methods, from the principles of interpersonal relationships to the ultimate skills of self-defense, Yao Chen taught him almost everything he knew.

Han Feng's path was paved smooth by his master, with few obstacles. Yao Chen always cleared away the obstacles that the disciple should have explored on his own; Yao Chen never wanted the disciple to suffer the setbacks that he should have experienced firsthand.

The road has become smooth, but people's hearts have gone astray.

When Yao Chen finally refused to pass on the forbidden cultivation technique to Han Feng, the spoiled disciple became psychologically twisted, believing that his master was hiding something and harboring resentment.

In the end, a long-planned betrayal, a poisoned stab to the back, shattered the bond between master and disciple.

The feeling of being betrayed by a disciple you treat like your own child is unbearable for anyone.

Yao Chen was no exception; the chill in his heart was bone-deep, a despair that even the strange fire could not warm.

"Alright, alright, stop daydreaming." Su Baichen's voice pulled Yao Chen back from her reverie.

"You've lost now!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the black piece lightly tapped the chessboard, like the finishing touch on a painting. The entire game instantly became clear—the large white group was cut in half, resulting in a complete loss for the white player.

Yao Chen stared blankly at the chessboard for a long time, then shook his head with a wry smile. He took two white pieces from the chess jar and gently placed them on the edge of the chessboard, indicating that he had conceded defeat.

"Oh well, I lost, here you go!"

As he spoke, he took out a jade box from his storage ring and casually tossed it to Su Baichen. The jade box drew an arc in the air, and inside were the rare medicinal herbs they had collected in the valley, which were originally the prize for their bet.

Su Baichen did not reach out to take it, letting the jade box land steadily on the corner of the stone table. He began to tidy up the chessboard on his own, sorting the black and white chess pieces into their respective jars, his movements unhurried, as if performing some kind of ritual.

“Actually,” Su Baichen suddenly spoke, his voice casual yet clear, “I think the best way to forget a disciple is to take on another one.”

He raised his eyelids and glanced at Yao Chen: "As long as you put more effort into character development this time and examine him carefully, you shouldn't repeat the same mistake. People always have to look forward; you can't just stop walking because you've fallen once, can you?"

Yao Chen felt a surge of warmth in his heart as he listened to his friend's words. He knew that Su Baichen was worried about him.

But when he thought of Han Feng's eyes, which were filled with resentment at the end, and the cold touch of the dagger that had pierced his chest, Yao Chen finally smiled bitterly and waved his hand.

"Sigh, I won't accept it anymore, I won't accept it anymore." His voice was hoarse, as if it had been sanded with sandpaper: "It's already closed. My heart can't take a second time going through that. That feeling... is too painful."

Su Baichen sighed softly as he looked at his old friend. He could understand Yao Chen's feelings—when you give someone your whole heart and soul, all your trust without reservation, and what you get in return is a poisoned blade, that kind of wound cannot be healed with just a few words.

"Alright, alright, let's not talk about it anymore." Su Baichen suddenly raised his voice, pretending to be relaxed, "What does it matter to me whether you take on disciples or not? Why should I care so much? Do you think I'm bored?"

After saying that, he waved his hand, and the chessboard and chess set disappeared, replaced by a set of jade tea utensils. The teapot, teacups, tea pitcher, and tea spoon were laid out in an orderly fashion.

Su Baichen took out spring water from his storage ring and poured it into the pot. With a light tap of his fingertip, a cluster of purple flames ignited at the bottom of the pot. In just a few breaths, the sound of pine trees rustling in the wind could be heard from inside the pot as the water was about to boil.

Just then, Su Baichen suddenly turned his head towards the courtyard gate and said loudly, "Hey, you two over there, you've been eavesdropping for so long, it's time you came over!"

Upon hearing this, Yao Chen also turned to look.

A mother and daughter emerged from the shadows at the courtyard gate. Mittelxue held Yafei's hand, her face showing a hint of embarrassment at being caught eavesdropping, but she quickly regained her composure.

They had actually arrived long ago, but having overheard the conversation inside from outside the courtyard gate, they dared not disturb them and waited quietly.

Mittel Xue led her daughter to the stone table and respectfully bowed to Su Baichen and Yao Chen: "Junior Mittel Xue, along with my daughter Ya Fei, greets the two seniors. We are deeply grateful for your life-saving grace, which we will never forget."

Her voice was gentle yet firm, and her manners were impeccable, demonstrating the refinement of a woman from a prominent family.

Seeing this, Ya Fei followed her mother's example and bowed respectfully, saying in a clear voice, "Junior Ya Fei greets the two seniors!"

Although the little girl was young, she already had the demeanor of a mature woman. Her bright eyes would occasionally peek at the two of them, full of curiosity and admiration.

Seeing this, Yao Chen smiled gently and waved his hand, saying, "You don't need to thank me; it was he who saved you."

He pointed to Su Baichen, who was brewing tea: "I just accompanied him and watched from the sidelines."

Upon hearing this, both mother and daughter were taken aback, and then turned to look at Su Baichen.

Mittel Xue's heart was stirred up - it wasn't this venerable old master who saved us, but this young man who looked to be no more than twenty years old?

But aren't they far too young? To be able to rescue them from such a dangerous situation, their cultivation level must be unfathomable.

She scrutinized Su Baichen: dressed in simple white robes, his dark hair flowing freely, his features clear and bright, exuding an otherworldly air. At this moment, he was intently arranging the tea set, his movements fluid and graceful, radiating an indescribable composure. Such a person was indeed unlike any ordinary person.

Upon hearing Yao Chen's words, Ya Fei's face instantly blossomed into a bright smile, her large eyes sparkling as she looked at Su Baichen:

My heart was overflowing with joy. Wow! It really was this handsome older brother who saved us!

From the moment she first saw him after waking up that morning, she felt that this older brother was particularly amazing, and now her thoughts were confirmed.

The little girl's thoughts were simple and direct, and her admiration was clearly written on her face.

Su Baichen seemed oblivious to the mother and daughter's gazes, remaining focused on the tea ceremony in his hands. The water had boiled three times, and he lifted the teapot to brew it. The emerald green tea leaves unfurled and tumbled in the hot water, and a delicate tea aroma rose with the steam, spreading throughout the courtyard and mingling with the fragrance of bamboo leaves.

Su Baichen poured two cups of tea, pushing one towards Yao Chen and picking up the other for himself.

"Your injuries have almost healed; you just need to rest for a few more days."

Su Baichen picked up his cup and took a sip: "As for those who are chasing you, they shouldn't be able to find this place anytime soon."

Mittel Xue quickly stood up and bowed again: "Senior, your kindness is beyond measure. If you have any requests, I will do my best."

"Hmm." Su Baichen put down his teacup, his gaze sweeping over Mittel Xue and landing on Ya Fei beside him, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.

"I saved people because I took a liking to this little girl."

"Fei'er!" Mittel Xue's heart skipped a beat when she heard that Su Baichen had taken a liking to her daughter.

"Don't misunderstand, it's not what you think. I can read faces. Just by looking at your daughter's face, I can tell that she will have great success in business in the future. What I'm interested in is her future business potential."

Upon hearing this, Yao Chen silently sipped his tea, watching this scene. The gloom in his heart seemed to be somewhat diluted by the aroma of the tea. He gazed at the distant sky beyond the courtyard wall.

My inner thoughts: "This rascal is trying to fool me again. You can read faces? Face reading my ass! Face reading, I've known you for so many years, do you really think you can read faces?"

Then Yao Chen paused, as if he had thought of something. Finally, he shook his head and drank the tea in his cup in one gulp.

"This guy might actually be good at reading faces; his two apprentices are quite good."

"Sigh, it's so frustrating to compare yourself to others."

This tea, slightly bitter at first taste, but sweet in the aftertaste, is just like the long journey of life.

Chapter 133 Mittel Snow's Self-Salvation

Upon hearing the real reason why Su Baichen saved them, Mittel Xue finally relaxed a little.

She secretly rejoiced that the mysterious and powerful figure before her was at least not the kind of person who indiscriminately killed innocents or was capricious and unpredictable. For the mother and daughter who were currently in dire straits, this was a stroke of good fortune amidst misfortune.

However, before she could fully exhale, Su Baichen's next words were like a bucket of ice water poured over her head.

"Oh, right, I forgot to tell you, your Ya family's businesses are being eroded, and the Mittel family still takes the lion's share."

Mittel's face turned pale instantly. She was not unaware of the Ya family's current predicament—everything that had happened in the past two days had probably already spread.

Those "partners" who had once greeted them with smiles swarmed in like sharks smelling blood.