"Master... why do you have to leave for so long?"
The little girl lowered her head, finally walking slowly to Chen Ye’s leg.
It was already hard enough to live with Master and Sister; why do we have to separate again?
She pouted, crystalline tears swirling in her eyes, yet stubbornly refusing to fall.
Six months, maybe even years...
Little Qing Jun will become Big Qing Jun!
"Did... did Qing Jun make Master angry? Qing Jun won’t talk back to Master anymore, and won’t secretly step on Master’s face... Master, please don’t go?"
As she spoke, she hugged Chen Ye’s waist, looking up with her little face, pitifully gazing at Master,
"As long as... as long as Master doesn’t leave, Master can kiss Qing Jun however you want in the future!"
Zhiwei also silently clenched her clothes, she looked up, her cool black eyes now covered with a layer of mist.
Her voice was hoarse: "Master, if it’s because of Spirit Stones, Zhiwei has saved quite a bit..."
"What foolish words are these."
Chen Ye softened at the sight of his two disciples looking so pitiful, unable to maintain his stern expression any longer.
He reached out, one arm for each, pulling the two little girls into his embrace, sighing: "When did Master ever say I would leave you behind?"
"Huh?"
The two little girls froze simultaneously, lifting their little faces in unison, looking at him through tearful eyes.
Qing Jun sniffled, hesitantly asking: "Mas... Master’s meaning is..."
"The meaning is,"
Chen Ye tapped her little nose, pinched Zhiwei’s cheek, a playful smile appearing on his face,
"You two little tagalongs, of course you’re coming with Master to Peach Mountain District. Luoli Courtyard is nice, but if Master isn’t there, how can it be home?"
"Wah—!"
The reversal came too quickly; Qing Jun’s little mind couldn’t process it for a moment.
She stared blankly at Chen Ye at first, then reacted, her little mouth trembling, crying even more fiercely, but this time, they were tears of joy.
"Bad Master! Smelly Master! I knew you were just scaring Qing Jun!"
The little girl cried while using her little fists to hit Chen Ye’s chest, venting all her grievances and worries from the past few days.
Zhiwei’s eyes reddened too, she buried her little face into another side of Chen Ye’s shoulder, silently shedding tears, her slender shoulders gently shaking.
Chen Ye panicked, losing his usual calm demeanor.
He wished he could slap himself.
Blamed for having a slick mouth!
He didn’t expect that merely delaying his explanation would make his two disciples cry like this, hastily comforting them clumsily.
Li Qiuyun found it amusing to see Chen Ye clumsily comforting his two disciples.
Serves him right!
This Uncle Chen... everything’s good, he just loves to tease people!
Now he’s reaping the consequences?
She suddenly had an idea, seeing the two little girls quiet their tears, she stepped forward, crouched down, and imitating Chen Ye, playfully planted a light kiss on Qing Jun’s smooth forehead.
"Alright, alright, don’t cry, Sister Qiuyun will give a kiss too."
At this, Qing Jun’s actions of hitting Master ceased abruptly, she dazedly touched her own forehead, then looked at the smiling Li Qiuyun.
Forehead...
Being kissed by both Master and Sister Qiuyun...
Didn’t that mean, Master kissed Sister Qiuyun?
The little girl inexplicably felt a slight twinge of jealousy in her heart, though she wasn’t quite sure why, she instinctively felt that Master’s kisses belonged to her alone.
Of course,
This jealousy had nothing to do with matters between the sexes.
Just like how children might get jealous when their parents show favor to other kids, or when a younger sibling gets jealous because an older brother starts a relationship.
It was purely possessiveness.
Li Qiuyun, being so perceptive, saw the little eyes of Qing Jun shift and guessed seven or eight things.
Who would’ve thought that a playful gesture would make this little vinegar pot unhappy?
Seeing Chen Ye’s stiff expression, she immediately felt apologetic.
The young female cultivator was suddenly a bit embarrassed, her cheeks slightly red, belatedly feeling a trace of shyness. She quickly thought on her feet, and turned to plant a kiss on the dazed Zhiwei’s cheek as well.
"Alright, one for each, no bias!" she forced herself to sound composed, then pointed an accusing finger at Chen Ye, feigning anger, "Uncle Chen too, how can you be biased? You’ve kissed Qing Jun, so why not Zhiwei? That’s not fair!"
"Ah?" Chen Ye was stunned by her actions.
Even though kissing a child’s forehead and cheek is a normal thing, Zhiwei is usually so mature and composed, with a cool personality... Were he to actually kiss her, would she regard him as a scoundrel?
But looking at Li Qiuyun’s unwavering gaze and the accusatory look from Qing Jun — though the little girl wanted to express that Master shouldn’t kiss —
Chen Ye gritted his teeth.
So be it, they’re both my disciples! I have to show no favoritism!
Zhiwei saw Chen Ye walking towards her, those clear eyes containing a bit of timidity, her little face tightened, instinctively stepping back half a step, her voice faint: "Zhiwei... Zhiwei is not a child..."
"In front of Master, you’re all kids!"
Chen Ye said, allowing no refusal, crouching down to give Zhiwei’s cool yet delicate cheek a gentle kiss.
The big girl shyly lowered her head, feeling a bit awkward.
Chen Ye was satisfied.
Ah, indeed.
If not now, when they’re grown, there’ll be no more chances!
Seeing both disciples settled down, Chen Ye finally relaxed, standing up, he told them:
"Alright, go pack your things now. We have two days before heading to Peach Mountain District, in these two days, Master will spend all the contribution points on hand, to avoid waste."