"Steward, according to my rough estimate, these resources are worth over twelve thousand Spirit Stones!"
Twelve thousand Spirit Stones!
Even though Chen Ye was prepared, he couldn’t help but gasp.
Previously, he worked tirelessly to make pills, and he could only earn five hundred Spirit Stones a month!
It would take selling two years’ worth of pills to compare to the current income!
Moreover, Chen Ye himself has around ten thousand Spirit Stones.
Calculated this way, he already has a fortune of twenty thousand Spirit Stones.
"It seems... for now, I don’t have to arduously make pills anymore."
Chen Ye felt a bit bewildered; the impression was vivid and lasting.
Six months ago, in Lisong Valley, he was almost working day and night making pills to earn Spirit Stones.
He even had no time to spend with his disciple...
But now, he no longer needs to worry about Spirit Stones.
"Good... very good."
Chen Ye took a deep breath, stood tall, and cupped his hands, saying,
"This matter shall be entirely entrusted to Steward Liu. I have important tasks, so I won’t stay long."
He wasn’t worried about Steward Liu playing tricks.
The Herb Pavilion is strictly managed; at Peach Mountain District’s Herb Pavilion alone, the annual Spirit Stone flow exceeds one hundred thousand Spirit Stones.
If any steward could embezzle, then the Herb Pavilion couldn’t possibly be ubiquitous in the Yan Kingdom.
The sect has its own ways to supervise Herb Pavilion stewards.
"Yes! Yes! Farewell, Steward!" Liu Quan hurriedly bowed, seeing them off.
Only when the two figures disappeared did he restrain the smile on his face.
Rich!
Though he only gets half a portion, that’s also six hundred Spirit Stones, among which two hundred Spirit Stones can reach his hands.
Be aware, he only earns fifty Spirit Stones as monthly salary!
"Hmm... seems I can change to a top-grade Magical Artifact now..."
Thinking about this, his face turned strange.
Steward Chen... just how did he acquire these twelve thousand Spirit Stones?
It would take him earning for over a decade to accumulate that many Spirit Stones!
...
Returning to Lisong Valley, it was already dusk.
Chen Ye dismissed the Medicinal Farmers who came to greet them and led Lin Qiongyu directly back to the Inner Valley.
Just as he stepped into the small courtyard, two small figures leaped towards him like swallows returning to their nest, one on each side.
The two little girls had slept all day and were finally well-rested.
Seeing that Master had returned, each grabbed an arm of Chen Ye, nearly tearing him apart.
This was no joke.
Both disciples were already in late Qi Cultivation, especially Qing Jun, though she was small, she possessed significant brute strength!
He was indeed in Foundation Establishment, but that was cultivation, not the physical aspect.
Not to mention, he couldn’t use Spiritual Power to shield himself when greeted with a hug from his disciples, could he?
"Master!"
"Master."
"Hmm..."
The two disciples fully exerted their Spiritual Power to vie for Master’s attention, but it made things difficult for Chen Ye, who maintained his calm demeanor to uphold the dignity of being a Master,
"Don’t usually see you this affectionate, what’s this about today?"
He intended to tease the two young ones into releasing him.
Unexpectedly,
Even the ordinarily shy Zhiwei refused to let go, softly saying,
"Disciple... disciple woke up without seeing Master, worried about Master’s safety..."
Oh.
Chen Ye understood the underlying meaning of the eldest child’s words.
He was an expert in understanding young girls!
Zhiwei wasn’t actually worried about Master’s safety; if she truly were, she wouldn’t demand hugs upon seeing him.
In truth, it was because the days of being displaced and living insecurity inside the Grotto Heaven made Zhiwei lack a sense of safety.
Upon waking and not seeing Master’s figure, she became anxious and thus refused to let go once she held onto him.
Chen Ye softened his voice, "Master is right here, not going anywhere."
The black-haired little girl murmured a response before letting go.
Qing Jun imitated this, "Me too!"
Upon speaking, she squinted at Master, hoping for some sweet words from him too.
Chen Ye’s face darkened, "You are also worried about Master’s safety?"
The little girl wrinkled her delicate nose, clearly displeased: "Master, you, you, what do you mean? Can’t Qing Jun be worried about Master?"
Saying that, the little girl mischievously tightened her grasp around the master’s arm, holding it very tightly.
Silly Chen, does he think that Qing Jun doesn’t know, having his arm squeezed must hurt, right?
The little girl started to look forward to her master kneeling and begging her: "Good disciple, master’s best disciple, please spare master just this once..."
Chen Ye gasped from the pain, hurriedly knocking a big flick on Qing Jun’s head, making the little girl’s eyes well up with tears, yet she stubbornly refused to let go.
He just knew it, this little girl is something else!
She saw Senior Sister hugging, so she wants to hug too!
Such an unreasonable and rude little girl!
Now, seeing the master not cooperating, she wants to bully him?
Chen Ye was just about to teach the little girl a lesson,
when Zhiwei suddenly said: "Lin... Sister Lin, long time no see."
The little girl’s ears perked up, catching the keyword, she sneakily glanced over, and was immediately stunned!
Why, after half a year, is this woman still in Lisong Valley!
Chen Ye took the opportunity to break free from the little girl’s embrace, secretly giving Zhiwei an approving look.
The eldest disciple pursed her lips into a slight smile, her black eyes sparkling, her obedient and dignified appearance made Chen Ye feel comforted.
Thank goodness, there’s still a good disciple.
Lin Qiongyu bowed: "Long time no see, young masters."
Initially, Qing Jun was a bit angry, she didn’t like unrelated people disturbing her.
But upon seeing Lin Qiongyu’s humble appearance, her anger mysteriously faded.
She only likes to bully those more powerful than her, like the unpleasant Susu, not wanting to bully such weak people...
Qing Jun flashed a big smile: "Sister Lin, long time no see! Don’t call me young master, just call me Qing Jun."
Not bad,
Chen Ye was greatly relieved, it seems the naughty little girl isn’t as wicked as he thought.
Seeing Lin Qiongyu looking at him inquisitively, Chen Ye nodded.
Only then did Lin Qiongyu relax, her face lit up with a warm smile: "Yes! Qing Jun... Sister, I missed you and Zhiwei too."
She spoke sincerely.
In the past, taking care of the two little girls had already become a habit.
Without them, life felt a bit dull.
As for Lin Jin...
Actually, being with her sister often made Lin Qiongyu feel pressured.
"Sister Lin, has Master bullied you?"
Qing Jun ran to Lin Qiongyu’s side, holding her hand, her big eyes rolling around as she whispered,
"If Master bullies you, you must, must tell Qing Jun!"
The young girl was overwhelmed with surprise, she didn’t expect Qing Jun to care about her so much!
"No, Steward Chen is very nice..."
Lin Qiongyu waved her hands repeatedly, glancing at the man talking to Zhiwei not far away, her pretty face unconsciously blushing.
The little girl’s sweet face darkened: "Still saying Master didn’t bully you!!!"
"Eh... eh??" Lin Qiongyu was stunned, her face reddening further, "Really, he didn’t bully me."
The little girl looked at the face of the black-haired girl turning red, grinding her teeth with anger: "Ugh... bullied you this much, still saying he didn’t bully you!!"
On the other side.
"Master."
While Qing Jun wasn’t around, Zhiwei gently tugged on Master’s sleeve.
"What’s up?"
"Uncle He’s daughter is still in the valley. Now that Master has emerged, you should go see her. Ever since Aunt Mao left, Shuyao has been living alone in her courtyard, not willing to speak with Granny Li or Sister Lin."
Zhiwei softly reminded.
Hearing this, Chen Ye’s heart sank.
He had just come out of the grotto heaven and was busy with various things, unexpectedly forgetting about Little Shuyao for a moment.
He glanced at his thoughtful eldest disciple beside him, couldn’t help but sigh: "To have a disciple like Zhiwei, I’m truly blessed for three lifetimes."
Upon hearing Master’s praise, the black-haired little girl smiled lightly, inadvertently glancing at Qing Jun who was noisily bantering with Lin Qiongyu, quietly straightening her posture.
She suddenly became solemn: "Master, Uncle He was previously in the Eighth Layer Heaven, but now that the grotto heaven collapsed, how is Uncle He’s situation?"
Chen Ye reassured: "Songyang Cave Heaven is different from the Ninth Layer Heaven. After collapsing, cultivators can fall back to the Three Thousand Great Mountains. Just like before, Bai Susu and others could mistakenly enter the grotto heaven due to the celestial tribulation. Between the grotto heaven and reality, there’s only a barrier."
At this point of the conversation, Chen Ye still felt a few worries.
However, most of the strong ones within the grotto heaven were situated in the Ninth Layer Heaven, with only Hee Qi outside.
After the grotto heaven collapsed, he was the first cultivator to escape from Songyang Cave Heaven.
By rights, he should be safe.
Besides, Chen Ye couldn’t possibly find his whereabouts within the vast Three Thousand Great Mountains, thus leaving it to fate.
"Apart from Hee Qi, that Yuan Haoxuan and the female demon cultivator, they’re nowhere to be found either..."
Chen Ye pondered.