"Senior Brother Zhao, what... do you mean by this? Not human, then is he a demon?"
Bai Wuji was momentarily stunned. That True Man Ye, a genius in the Refining God Sect not seen in centuries, how could he be a demon?
Guardian Zhao took a deep breath, glanced around, and after ensuring the soundproof barrier was foolproof, he whispered:
"This matter is very likely true. Precisely because this person is a demon cultivator, he chose to transcend his tribulation in the Three Thousand Great Mountains. This place is sparsely populated, and combined with the Refined God Sect’s treasure, it can conceal anomalies and prevent others from discovering his true form."
Upon hearing this, Bai Wuji was even more shocked:
"The Refining God Sect... actually dares to let a demon cultivator hold a high position! If this matter gets out, the Refining God Sect will become the laughingstock of the entire Immortal Cultivation Realm of Yan Kingdom, even the Lingxu Realm!"
"Silence!"
Guardian Zhao quickly interrupted him.
"Junior Brother Bai, this matter, only the heavens know, the earth knows, you know, and I know. Without conclusive evidence, it must not be spread!"
Bai Wuji took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger within.
He suddenly thought of something, and his expression changed drastically: "If that’s the case... Su Su... was it because she uncovered this matter, that she... went missing?"
"This is exactly what we are most worried about."
Guardian Zhao nodded, his expression grave.
"I fear that when True Inheritor Bai went to aid True Man Ye, she glimpsed the truth and was thus silenced by True Man Ye..."
Bai Wuji’s heart sank entirely.
He looked at the distant mountains, akin to a haunted land, feeling a chill seeping to his very bones.
"If she’s dead, I want to see the body, if alive, I want to see her! If it truly is the Refining God Sect’s plot, then our Bai Family will not let it rest!"
...
Though there were undercurrents in the Yan Kingdom, at this moment, they had nothing to do with Chen Ye.
After all,
he was merely the overseer of a medicinal garden under the Lingyin Sect.
The strife of the Cultivation Realm had nothing to do with him.
The Lingyin Sect likewise would not send a Spirit Plant Cultivator like him to the front lines—if that day truly came, it would mean the Lingyin Sect was already at its most precarious.
Chen Ye was, to some extent, still worried about this.
As the saying goes, "no egg is left intact under a toppled nest."
He didn’t want his hard-earned, peaceful life, where he could tend to fields with his two precious disciples, to be easily disrupted.
But worry was just worry.
Life still had to go on.
The next day, at dawn.
Lisong Valley, back mountain.
Sunlight bathed the lush green hills, while the stream in the valley trickled down, washing the pebbles along the shore.
Wildflowers bloomed in full glory, and a little girl eagerly plucked a dandelion, sucking the sweet stem into her mouth.
Unknowingly, it was now midsummer.
It had already been half a year since Chen Ye arrived in this Cultivation Realm.
The weeds grew denser, feeling particularly soft underfoot.
Unnamed Spirit Fruits, shiny red, hung on small, fist-thick trees, captivating the little disciple’s gaze.
"I’m so tired! Master, can we play at the back mountain today?"
The little girl wiped the sweat from her forehead, her voice lazy with a hint of playful complaint.
Chen Ye turned around, extending his hand: "Mm, as promised, we will play today."
"Hehe..."
The little girl quickly placed her soft white hand into her master’s large hand.
Her hand was warm and slightly sweaty, feeling smooth and tender in his grasp. The smallness of her hands made Chen Ye feel like as long as he held onto his disciple’s hand, she would never leave him—for her hands were so small that once he held them, she could never escape.
Chen Ye knew this was just his illusion.
Perhaps all parents have such illusions.
Watching the young ones who rely on them, who would have thought that one day they would spread their wings and walk their own path...
"Master... Zhiwei is not tired."
Zhiwei kept her head down and spoke, yet still let her master hold her hand.
Her cheeks were warmed by the sun, and she felt that being held by her master this time felt different from before.
"Can’t I hold your hand even if you’re not tired?"
Holding the two little girls wasn’t a challenge for Chen Ye; he just felt a bit melancholic.
Time in the Cultivation Realm always passed quickly; half a year had gone by in a blink.
Perhaps in the future, as soon as a cultivation technique is blinked, the two disciples would grow up and no longer depend on him like today.
Previously, Chen Ye always thought about relying on the disciples once they were grown, but now he wished they would always lean on him.
After all... being needed was a pretty nice feeling.
"Hmph, master just wants to hold Senior Sister’s hand."
The little girl pouted, quite unhappy.
How annoying, Senior Sister was taking advantage of her!
If it wasn’t because she said she was tired, why would master hold Senior Sister’s hand?
Realizing this, she suddenly started to regret it, wishing she hadn’t said she was tired.
"Oh?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Ye looked down, glancing at the little disciple glaring at him angrily.
He intentionally stopped, releasing their hands.
"If that’s the case, then I won’t hold it anymore."
"!"
Qing Jun was taken aback, seeing her master’s hand retreat, her little mouth pouting, and her big bright eyes instantly filled with tears.
And Zhiwei also suddenly raised her head, a trace of panic in her clear, cold black eyes.
Hmph! Hmph!
Like acting tsundere in front of the master, like being stubborn in front of the master, huh!
Too bad...
These two little girls were already tightly controlled by him.
Chen Ye wanted them to understand that only the master rules the disciples, where is the logic of disciples ruling the master?