Chen Ye awkwardly cleared his throat, feeling a tingling sensation on his scalp.
He tried to pry off the little ornament, Qing Jun, hanging onto his leg, but the little girl was holding on tightly.
"Qing Jun, get up now, what does this look like..."
"No! Master, you tell me! Who is she?"
Qing Jun suddenly raised her tearful eyes, stubbornly staring at Chen Ye,
"This girl is really pretty, and Master is such a big bad guy! Could it be... she’s Master’s new child bride!?"
Her words were shocking, even Bai Susu, who was watching the drama unfold, couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.
As far as Bai Susu knew, Lin Jin had already reached the age of marriage, but due to being sick for so long, she looked younger and frail. There’s no way she could be a child bride.
"Xu Qingjun! Stop talking nonsense!"
Chen Ye’s old face turned red, feeling both angry and embarrassed, he really wanted to knock open this little head to see what was inside.
He quickly looked at his ever-silent first disciple, trying to explain: "Zhiwei, things aren’t what you think..."
Zhiwei pursed her lips, her voice lower than usual:
"Zhiwei knows she’s not Master’s child bride, but..."
She paused, raising her eyes, her gaze sharp,
"Master, she is the new disciple you took in, right? Should we call her Junior Sister?"
The words "Junior Sister" came out of Zhiwei’s mouth, making Qing Jun forget her tears, staring at Master with her small mouth agape in shock:
"Isn’t having Qing Jun enough for Master?! Bastard Master, you want to raise three..."
Zhiwei’s perceptiveness surpassed Chen Ye’s expectations.
No need for Chen Ye to explain, she had already guessed Lin Jin’s identity.
Chen Ye sighed deeply, giving up on resisting, allowing Qing Jun to cling to his leg, his gaze swept over his two beloved disciples as he honestly said:
"Zhiwei is right, her name is Lin Jin, she’s the new disciple I took in."
"Why did you keep it from us?"
Zhiwei pursued, her eyes slightly reddened.
She disliked Master sneaking around secretly hiding someone.
Just like that day, she could only dumbly eavesdrop on Master and Sister Susu, powerless, this feeling of everything being out of her control was too unsettling...
And Zhiwei, after all, was someone who liked to keep everything under her control.
"Why bring her along? Does it mean you won’t want Qing Jun in the future?"
Qing Jun asked, her voice tinged with sobs, filled with panic.
Why does Master take in disciples? Is it because he thinks Qing Jun is too naughty and beyond hope...
"No!"
Chen Ye immediately denied in a firm tone, squatting down, gently lifting Qing Jun’s face, wiping away her tears, and looking at Zhiwei,
"Master never had the thought of not wanting you! Jin’er, she... her situation is very unique."
The little girl with jet-black hair bit her lip.
In the whole wide world, how many unfortunate ones are there?
Master, can you actually manage it all?
She felt skeptical about this, as Master was never someone overwhelmed by sympathy.
Seeing Master so distressed, she couldn’t bear to speak up.
Even if it meant feeling uncomfortable herself, she didn’t want Master to feel distressed.
Chen Ye began to explain the whole story to his disciples, Qing Jun’s mouth gaped wider as she listened.
This girl named Lin Jin, how pitiful she was...
But what does it have to do with her?
The little girl’s cheeks puffed up, almost about to explode.
But she was a clever little girl, immediately wiping her tears in front of Master: "Boo-hoo, so pitiful..."
Chen Ye felt deeply gratified: "Qing Jun surely is a good child."
"Yes, yes!"
The little girl felt she wasn’t a good child, but she couldn’t let Master know that.
Her eyes lowered slightly, hiding a cunning intent.
At this point, she had already seen the situation clearly.
Once Master’s mind is made up, it won’t change.
Even if, the disciple expresses unwillingness...
Master was never an indulgent master, back then, he even heartlessly used the Bone-Scraping Whip to punish Senior Sister.
Qing Jun understood from a young age, to get what she wanted, she could only rely on her own relentless methods.
Just like before, she acted vulnerable in front of Master, gradually making him lower his guard, almost making him drink the poisonous tea she offered...
To sum it up,
The two little girls each had their own thoughts.
One cared deeply for Master, the other harbored secret intentions.
For the moment, they didn’t continue to tangle over it.
How could Chen Ye possibly know, the minds of his disciples were even more complex than he imagined?
He was brimming with pride.
Just as expected from him!
Two little ones, easy to handle!
Seeing the young girl seemingly convinced, Chen Ye cautiously said:
"So, Master wants to accept Jin’er as a disciple, is that okay?"
After these days of observation.
Chen Ye wanted to simply accept Jin’er as a direct disciple, thinking that although Jin’er was naturally withdrawn, she was also a good child.
The little girl changed the subject, sniffling and whimpering: "Wuwuwu! Her legs, can she really not walk anymore?"
With tearful eyes, she raised her little face to look at the master, wanting him to know how much she pitied Lin Jin at this moment!
The master was indeed moved, holding her little face, saying softly: "She can walk, after the master treats her for a while longer, she will be able to walk on her own."
However, the master felt a bit strange in his heart.
Is the little disciple’s compassion so overflowing? Besides, didn’t she see Lin Jin walking back then...
Qing Jun lowered her head again, her small face rubbing against her master’s leg, masking the killing intent in her phoenix eyes, choking up:
"Then, Qing Jun will reluctantly allow her to stay in Luoli Courtyard! But! She can’t live in Qing Jun’s room! Nor can she take Qing Jun’s Spiritual Peach!"
Chen Ye breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the little girl was the hardest to deal with earlier.
But now it seems, Qing Jun is quite obedient!
He patted Qing Jun’s head: "Don’t worry, there are enough rooms in Luoli Courtyard to live in, and no one dares to take your Spiritual Peach."
He stood up and looked at Bai Susu, who had a face of "wonderful, truly wonderful" watching the scene.
Chen Ye’s old face sank, damn it, in the end, he had to let the Golden Furred Ball watch the joke.
The blonde girl lightly laughed with a hand covering her lips: "Hehe... It’s quite troublesome, right? I think Lisong Valley still needs a mistress. How can you, as a big man, take care of them?"
"Gulp!" The little girl cried out sadly, "Master! Qing Jun is so obedient, she doesn’t need anyone to take care of her!"
"Stare——" The older girl’s expression was dark as water.
Chen Ye’s vision darkened momentarily, damn Bai Susu!
He had a hard time coaxing the two little ones!
He ignored Bai Susu and glanced at Lin Jin.
Lin Qiongyu’s eyes were full of gratitude.
And the long lashes of Lin Jin, who was leaning her head down on the wheelchair, trembled slightly, and the corners of her mouth, covered in shadow, seemed to imperceptibly... curl up?
So quickly that Chen Ye thought it was an illusion.
Hmm... Jin’er’s smile must be expressing happiness!
Chen Ye felt a sense of accomplishment, finally letting this solitary girl show a smile.
Alright, everyone stop blowing wind on the deck. There’s still a distance to the sect, go back to the cabin to rest," Chen Ye issued the command.
Qing Jun immediately pulled Zhiwei’s hand: "Sister, sister, let’s go back and play!"
She pulled Zhiwei and walked toward the cabin, stealing a glance at Lin Jin’s wheelchair as they passed.
Zhiwei obediently followed, but when passing Lin Jin, her footsteps subtly paused... A new struggle began.
Only then did Bai Susu leisurely stroll over, nudging Chen Ye with her elbow, whispering teasingly:
"Doing well, old Chen, how do you feel about the chaos in the backyard? Tsk tsk, being a master for you... quite challenging. Three little girls, each one more difficult than the last. I think you should find someone to help out. If not, I can reluctantly help you take care of them."
Chen Ye glared at the gloating Golden Furred Ball, seeing her as having bad intentions!
Someday, he’ll have to educate Bai Susu properly!
He rubbed his brow, looking at the direction of the cabin door, feeling a myriad of emotions.
This Luoli Courtyard, afraid it would be hard to maintain peace.
...
A day later.
The Spiritual Ship sliced through clouds and mist, the front suddenly clearing.
Only to see several majestic immortal mountains suspended above the sea of clouds, connected by rainbow bridges.
Waterfalls among the mountains poured down like galaxies, celestial cranes gathered, Spiritual Qi so dense it almost solidified, misty white fog lingered among the jade towers, an aura of celestial wonder.
Lingyin Sect, arrived.
Revisiting an old place, yet the state of mind is entirely different.
Chen Ye was filled with emotion.
The last time he came to Lingyin Sect, it was as a Spirit Plant Steward, looking up at this vast Immortal Sect.
Now, he was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, about to become a core member of this giant sect.
After the flying ship passed the array verification, it flew straight to a White Jade Plaza, landing steadily.
Chen Ye first stepped down from the deck.
As soon as he stood firm, a group of cultivators wearing Law Enforcement Hall’s black Taoist robes immediately greeted him.
The leading person’s aura was calm, unexpectedly also a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
He respectfully cupped his hands in a salute to Chen Ye and Bai Susu: "Welcome, True Inheritor Bai, Guardian Chen, back to the sect! The Law Enforcement Hall has been ordered to wait here for a long time!"
Guardian Chen.
These simple three words made Chen Ye’s heart steady.
It seems the sect no longer suspects him of colluding with Demon Cultivators.
Chen Ye exchanged polite remarks, his gaze sweeping through the crowd, discovering a familiar face.
Bai Wuji slightly smiled, cupped his hands:
"Taoist Friend Chen, been well since we last met. Half a year passed, already a Foundation Establishment True Man, truly a cause for celebration."