If it weren’t for his two disciples gradually growing up, Chen Ye would never have had the thought of seeking a dao companion in recent years.
He has a proficiency panel as a golden finger; as long as he works hard, he can make progress.
Chen Ye happens to be a self-disciplined and diligent person. Barring any accidents, Foundation Establishment is a piece of cake for him, and his future is bright.
In addition, he cultivates the Evergreen Technique, granting him a long lifespan.
Therefore, the existence of a dao companion is nothing but a burden for Chen Ye.
One reason is that it affects his focus on increasing proficiency.
The second reason is that Chen Ye, with his long lifespan, might have to watch his dao companion grow old and die... unless he finds extraordinarily gifted female cultivators as companions, only then would their cultivation keep up with his own.
Yet the question arises,
How could those prodigies take a fancy to him, Chen Ye?
With two kids, and as a middle-aged man...
Even if Chen Ye establishes the Foundation at forty, he would still pale in comparison under those dazzling lights.
Take Bai Susu, for example, who is like a solitary star as cold as the moon; her fame for establishing Foundation at nineteen is a towering mountain pressing on the hearts of her peers in Yan Kingdom, high and unattainable.
But as he looks beside him, the two little girls have unknowingly sprouted like bamboo shoots after a rain.
Zhiwei is gradually shedding her childishness, and Qing Jun is no longer a naive girl.
Within Lisong Valley, with the master and disciples together, it can still be concealed; as they grow older, their figures become more delicate, and then they must have precautions between males and females.
A single man with two blossoming young girls, no matter how careful, it ultimately causes inconvenience and could easily stir gossip.
"...There’s no rush."
Chen Ye withdrew his thoughts, rubbed his eyebrows, and secretly calculated,
"There’s still Qiongyu in the valley to take care of their daily needs. The urgent task is to establish the Foundation as soon as possible to gain some say before planning ahead."
His moment of deep contemplation was caught by the black-haired girl beside him.
Zhiwei thought her master must have taken her earlier words to heart and smiled a sly crescent.
"Looks like Master also agrees with Zhiwei. Don’t let your thoughts wander in the future. Isn’t it enough to have two disciples accompany you? Strive to cultivate, establish Foundation early, or you’ll be overtaken by Zhiwei!"
"You cheeky girl, wanting to catch up with your master? At your Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer, you know nothing about the bigger picture!"
Chen Ye, though agitated, laughed at the remark, thinking that if he had a golden finger, he wouldn’t be surpassed by two little girls.
Otherwise, he would find a place to hang himself!
Zhiwei nodded earnestly, her clear eyes fixed on Chen Ye, counting on her fingers:
"Back when Master was at Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, Qing Jun and I had just introduced Qi into our bodies, still struggling with sensing it. Now Master is at Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, while Qing Jun and I are both at Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer..."
The implication being their cultivation is progressing faster than Master’s.
Chen Ye’s face flushed slightly.
This cheeky girl doesn’t give any face to her master.
Does she perhaps want to taste some punishment from Master?
He decisively reached out and pinched Zhiwei’s soft and slightly cool ear lobe, giving it a few teasing rubs as a mild punishment:
"The path of cultivation isn’t as simple as one plus one equals two. The higher you go, the harder it gets. Let’s see how long you’ll be stuck at Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer!"
"Uh..."
The black-haired little girl pursed her lips, unconvinced,
"But, Zhiwei thinks she can reach the Late Period of Qi Cultivation very soon!"
Chen Ye: "..."
His chest felt tight again.
The reunion of master and disciple should be a happy occasion.
But why does he keep getting struck by his eldest disciple?
Hmph!
Chen Ye understood.
It’s definitely because this girl, ever since reaching Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer, seeing herself nearing Master’s realm, started disregarding him!
Although his heart quietly recited all sorts of grumbles about his eldest disciple,
Chen Ye still held Zhiwei’s little hand, led her to the stone table, sat down, and upon seeing the girl’s thinner little face, sighed:
"Alright, I won’t argue with you. You’ve worked hard during these times. Qing Jun went to Moon Rhinoceros Lake, and Master was caught by the sect, leaving you alone in Lisong Valley."
In these half months, while he was indeed a prisoner,
in a certain sense, his eldest disciple was also a prisoner trapped in Lisong Valley...
Zhiwei silently put her other little hand on top of Master’s hand and softly said:
"Zhiwei lived well in Lisong Valley, with Granny Li taking care of her... Master need not worry about Lisong Valley. Before I left, I already troubled Uncle Lin and Brother Li, leaving Qingzhi behind to assist them. During these days, some bad guys tried to make trouble, but Qingzhi drove them away."
Seeing this girl reaching Luoli Courtyard, she doesn’t forget Lisong Valley.
Chen Ye understood; Zhiwei never cared about external things. The reason she worries so much is solely because she stands from Master’s standpoint.
He smiled gently: "Lisong Valley may be Master’s dedication, but ultimately it’s just a Medicine Valley. Master is only concerned about you two."
The existence of Lisong Valley could provide Chen Ye with a sea of Spirit Stones monthly.
But Spirit Stones are ultimately external things...
However, with Qingzhi guarding Lisong Valley, basically, no one can touch the foundation of Lisong Valley.
Chen Ye isn’t at all worried about the Wei Family’s sly annoyances.
Compared to this, Chen Ye might as well worry about the sect reclaiming Lisong Valley...
Ultimately, it’s under the protection of the sect; many matters are beyond one’s control.
Chen Ye was about to sigh when Zhiwei suddenly reached out a small hand, covering Master’s mouth: "Master, don’t sigh anymore. Isn’t it nice to have Zhiwei accompanying Master now..."
Precisely because there is an eldest disciple beside him, Chen Ye worries more about her safety, hence the inclination to sigh.
However...
These days he indeed lost his bearings, as a Master should never in front of them reveal any sign of confusion.
Chen Ye rubbed Zhiwei’s head: "Mm, only it’s a pity without Qing Jun."