"Went out?"
Chen Ye scanned with his divine sense and found the door to his room slightly ajar.
He pushed the door open and entered.
The room was softly lit, and a faint fragrance of incense lingered in the air.
It was the calming incense he liked most, crafted only from the oldest agarwood.
No need to guess, his eldest disciple must have tidied up the room for him again.
Chen Ye felt comforted in his old heart.
As a master, he was rather lazy and seldom tidied his room.
Fortunately, his eldest disciple was there to help.
At this moment.
The eldest disciple was bent over, carefully taking out the Taoist robes Chen Ye usually wore, smoothing out every crease meticulously, and neatly packing them into the pre-prepared luggage.
Her movements were slow and gentle.
Slender, fair fingers brushed across the collars and cuffs of the robes, showing an exaggerated degree of mindfulness.
"Zhiwei?"
Chen Ye softly called out.
The figure stiffened slightly, then turned around casually.
Zhiwei’s eyes were bright and her expression normal, she calmly said:
"Master, you’re back."
"I calculated the time, Master should be back from trying the technique now. Knowing the trip to Luoxiao Grotto Heaven is approaching, and the journey is long, I thought I’d prepare the luggage for you first."
Chen Ye chuckled: "For such matters, you needn’t trouble yourself. Besides, as a cultivator, if need be, I can just use a cleaning technique; no amount of dirt can withstand a single spell."
Moreover.
When the time comes, it will be you, the disciple, going to Luoxiao Grotto Heaven, and at most, I will act as a team leader guarding outside.
"That won’t do."
Zhiwei paused slightly in her movement, she looked up and pursed her lips,
"Although the cleaning technique can remove dust, what if the clothing gets damaged, what then?"
Hmm.
The disciple has a point too, then let her be with this trivial matter.
Yet, Chen Ye suddenly remembered something, he pondered:
"By the way, now that you and your two junior sisters have reached Foundation Establishment. Being in Foundation Establishment, handling these trivial matters is a waste of time. After all, you are now Foundation Establishment cultivators, it is somewhat of an underutilization. Why not have Lin Qiongyu come to replace you, allowing you more time for cultivation?"
The smooth Taoist robes were pinched into several folds by the girl’s fingertips.
"Lin Qiongyu..."
Zhiwei lowered her eyelids, softly repeating the name.
Her voice was light, revealing no joy or anger,
But if looked closely, a shadowy gloom could be seen rising deep within her eyes.
That is the eldest daughter of the Lin Family.
Though with mediocre talent, she has a pitiful appearance, and when looking at the Master, her eyes always carry a nauseating sense of admiration and shyness.
Back then.
At Herb Peak, it was this woman serving the Master.
Besides.
Before in Yunxi District, this woman even tried to seduce the Master...
Heh, if she couldn’t stop Bai Susu, surely she could deal with Lin Qiongyu?
"Indeed. I inadvertently saw her below the stage during the magical battle with Zhao Shan, hence I recalled her."
Chen Ye continued to say.
That day, he did not wish to have more entanglements with Lin Qiongyu, but now seeing Zhiwei always busy with household chores, he thought of bringing her back to continue as a maid.
It would also be good for Lin Jin to reunite with her sister.
"Absolutely not!"
Almost instinctively, the black-haired girl blurted out, her voice cold and hard.
Chen Ye was taken aback, somewhat surprised as he looked at his eldest disciple: "Why not? Lin Qiongyu’s work is also meticulous..."
Realizing her loss of composure.
Zhiwei took a deep breath, lowered her gaze, walked to the Master, took his outer robe, and spoke softly:
"The Master’s daily life is always handled by the disciple."
Chen Ye did not agree: "Hmm? I remember, initially it was Lin Qiongyu..."
"All of the Master’s habits... only Zhiwei understands."
Zhiwei seemed not to have heard, she spoke while gently tidying Chen Ye’s collar,
"Only Zhiwei can serve the Master well. Master, please do not speak further, Zhiwei’s mind is set."
This...
The disciple’s words seem respectful, yet they carry an almost overbearing sense of oversight from a lesser to a superior.
Chen Ye was momentarily speechless.
He lowered his head.
Only to see Zhiwei kneeling on the ground, focused on tying the silk sash around his waist.
"Zhiwei..."
Chen Ye knitted his brows slightly, wanting to step back a bit to create some distance from this overly intimate posture,
"I am only afraid of delaying your cultivation. After all, now you are in Foundation Establishment, and in the future, you will aim for the Golden Core, you cannot waste time on these trivial matters such as cleaning and mending."
"If Lin Qiongyu handles these, you could free up your hands..."
Suddenly —
Zhiwei’s hands tying the silk sash tightened abruptly.
The girl slightly raised her head, stared directly at the Master:
"Master. Do you think... my skills cannot compare to Lin Qiongyu’s? Or do you find being served by me... very bothersome?"
"Nonsense."
Chen Ye helplessly rubbed his forehead,
"I’m thinking of you. Lin Qiongyu, after all, is accustomed to such tasks, and she’s also Jin’er’s sister. If she comes, she can..."
"She’s an outsider."
Zhiwei coldly interrupted Chen Ye’s words.
This was the first time she interrupted her master so impolitely.
But she didn’t seem to care.
The disciple hugged her master’s waist, whispering:
"Master’s personal belongings are imbued with master’s aura and Taoist charm. If they are handled by others, stained with all sorts of chaotic energies... Zhiwei will feel..."
"Very dirty."
Dirty?
Chen Ye was stunned.
It was just washing clothes and doing chores, not performing rituals, so where’s the dirtiness?
Is this child... a bit too obsessed with cleanliness?
"Fine."
Chen Ye sighed, ultimately relenting.
With these few disciples, he was always more lenient than strict,
"Since you reject outsiders so much, as you wish. Just remember, don’t neglect your lessons because of this."
Upon hearing this promise.
Zhiwei’s tiny face broke into a smile, as if the cold-eyed girl from earlier was only Chen Ye’s illusion:
"Yes, thank you, Master, for indulging me!"
To her.
"Taking care of everything for master personally, seeing master wear the clothes I washed, eat the spiritual meals I prepared, even the aroma sachets by the bedside are filled with my scent..."
"It gives the disciple more peace of mind than any meditation or qi cultivation."
Unfortunately, there’s a Little Qingjun in the family.
Always eager to cook... yet Qing Jun’s culinary skill seems even better than hers.
This is the one area where Zhiwei rarely feels defeated.
She doesn’t comprehend.
Why does a young girl like Qing Jun possess such top-notch culinary skill?!
...
In another month’s time, they would be going to Luoxiao Grotto Heaven.
This holds significant meaning for the three disciples, as it’s their first adventure together outside.
Moreover, this adventure is extraordinary, the renowned Luoxiao Grotto Heaven, located where the Five Sects converge.
Therefore,
Even the most restless Qing Jun is now practicing with the flying sword in the courtyard.
And Jin’er, pacing back and forth, furrowing her brows, hesitantly jotting down notes in her little notebook.
Reminding herself of what needs to be prepared these days; what to be mindful of when going to Luoxiao Grotto Heaven.
In the shadow of the courtyard corner, a fluffy white ball moved.
A completely snow-white little fox lazily stretched out, climbing out of its nest.
It flicked its bushy tail, its spiritually imbued fox eyes curiously surveying its surroundings.
"Awo?"
The little fox tilted its head.
Normally at this time, the little girl named Jin’er would have already come to feed it with spirit fruit, or the fierce girl Qing Jun would be poking its belly.
But today, why is nobody paying attention to it?
The little fox felt something was off.
This atmosphere is too strange!
What are these people planning now?
Can’t they just quietly stay in Cangli Courtyard?
Especially since that wicked girl’s physique awakened; its bloodline has been gradually drawn out, further reviving.
Initially, it would take quite some time for its strength to fully restore.
But now, it estimates another six months to a year to achieve peak strength!
As for now...
The little fox sneered.
If Chen Ye dares to bully it again, it would definitely show him the might of a fake pill fox!
Exactly.
Currently, it’s already a fake pill level spirit beast!
It’s just unfortunate that Chen Ye hasn’t bothered it lately... otherwise, it would really teach that damned fellow a lesson!
The little fox’s eyes turned, deciding to go gather some intelligence.
At present, it can’t leave the wicked girl...
With that thought, the fluffy ball elegantly trotted over to Jin’er, nuzzling her leg with its head.
"Ah, Little White, don’t be naughty."
Without turning her head, Jin’er quickly reached out to pat its head,
"Senior sister asked me to prepare more pills, after all, we’re going to Luoxiao Grotto Heaven. If we get hurt and there’s no medicine to take, it’d be terrible... Go play by yourself, okay."
Luoxiao Grotto Heaven!?
The little fox’s ears twitched, utterly shocked!