"Master... Zhiwei is not tired, but... but I want to be held by Master."
The eldest disciple was the first to lose patience. After all, she was the one who boasted first...
She extended her slightly cool little hand, pulling her master’s pinky, looking up at him with her small face.
"Master, me too!"
The little girl mimicked the action, ran to the other side of the master, hugged Chen Ye’s leg, and rubbed her small head coquettishly.
"Alright, alright, since it’s a request from you both, Master can only reluctantly agree."
Chen Ye sighed, secretly pleased.
As expected of him!
However, the two disciples’ eyes darkened subtly.
Master is so unfair!
They knew they were just speaking casually... yet he insists on showing off his mastery to bully them!
At this moment,
both Zhiwei and Qing Jun had an unprecedented desire to tear apart the dignity of the man before them known as Master.
In any case,
amidst playful banter along the way, they finally reached their destination.
"Master, look! There’s a waterfall over there!"
Qing Jun suddenly pointed ahead excitedly.
Not far ahead, on the mountain cliff, a waterfall like a white silk cloth was cascading down from tens of feet high, falling into a pool below, splashing countless sparkling droplets, refracting brilliant rainbow light under the sun.
"Come on, let’s play in the water!"
Chen Ye laughed heartily, leading the two disciples towards the pool.
The water by the pool was shallow and clear, the colorful pebbles at the bottom visible.
The two little girls, upon seeing the water, were like fish returning to the sea.
They lifted their skirts, stepped carefully barefoot into the cool stream water with their little white tender feet.
"Hehe, it’s so refreshing!"
Qing Jun giggled, scooped up a handful of clear stream water, and splashed it onto Zhiwei.
Zhiwei was hit directly, and her plain white dress immediately got wet.
"You!"
Zhiwei’s face, rarely, showed a bit of childish embarrassment and annoyance.
The master is right there!!
Unwilling to be outdone, she also scooped up a handful of water and splashed it back at Qing Jun.
Chen Ye leaned against a big blue stone by the shore, not disturbing them.
But his gaze suddenly shifted.
From the little bundle Qing Jun casually placed on the shore, out popped a sneaky little head.
The little fox elegantly emerged from the bundle, shook its smooth, snow-white fur.
Then, it set its gaze onto the colorful spiritual fish leisurely blowing bubbles in the stream below.
Its figure flickered, remarkably like a white lightning bolt, silently diving into the water!
In just a moment, it emerged from the water clutching a spiritual fish larger than itself, securely landing on the grass by the shore.
It pinned the still-struggling fish under its paw, slowly eating it.
Chen Ye watched it all unfold.
"Strange... this little fox seems to lack cultivation, and yet its speed rivals that of an ordinary Middle Period Qi Cultivation demon beast,"
Yet, being drawn to Qing Jun’s True Dragon Bloodline, how could it be an ordinary fox?
Chen Ye had a thought and silently approached the feasting little fox.
"Woof?"
The little white fox seemed to sense danger, its entire fur standing on end, mouth clutching half a fish, ready to flee.
But Chen Ye’s movements were faster.
He reached out and grabbed its furry nape.
Lifting the whole fox up.
"Little thing, you’re quite sharp."
Chen Ye brought the still struggling little fox in front of him, examining it closely.
He discovered that, apart from its pure white fur and eyes akin to black pearls, it seemed... ordinary.
He channeled a trace of spiritual power inside, only to find it empty, indeed lacking any true cultivation.
"This is strange... it has spirituality, yet no spiritual power?"
Chen Ye furrowed his brow, observing the little fox, finding its quickness and cuteness inexplicable.
He gently fiddled with its fluffy fur, lifted one of its hind legs, checking briefly.
Yes, it was a female fox.
"Little one, go on and play."
Unable to discern anything, Chen Ye prepared to release the little fox.
Yet the little fox, earlier struggling incessantly, suddenly... stilled.
It only fixed its black pearl-like eyes on him, an embarrassed and annoyed expression in them.
"???" Chen Ye was utterly confused.
Then, an even more bewildering scene unfolded for Chen Ye.
The snow-white little fox began to act shyly like a proper lady, still covering itself with its paws.
"Not a lad?"
In a moment of hesitation, the little fox seized the chance, darted away from his grasp, disappearing in a streak.
Chen Ye stared at the fox, vivacious one moment, demure the next, feeling his perception of the world shaken like never before.
"Damn, got careless, but there’ll be a chance for study later..."
Chen Ye paused, deciding to let it go for now, his gaze falling on
...
The next day.
Chen Ye was in the courtyard of the Inner Valley, instructing the two disciples in swordsmanship cultivation.