The black-furred bundle jumped off the cushion and came to the courtyard.
The cold wind blew against her bangs, and she silently lowered her gaze.
Her small face still showed no expression, yet her heart was not as calm as it appeared.
A bit... unhappy.
Chen Ye, when had he ever been willing to speak harshly to her before?
But these days...
Unless it was to guide them in cultivation,
he would spend the entire day in the cultivation room, not coming out at all.
Sometimes, Lu Zhiwei would open her eyes.
She inexplicably hoped to see his busy figure around the house.
But at home, there was only Qing Jun sleeping soundly...
Did she do something wrong?
Or has Chen Ye... ultimately gotten tired of these two burdens?
Is that why he doesn’t want to see them?
The little girl’s mind was turning with countless thoughts, the more she thought, the more aggrieved and uneasy she felt.
She lowered her head, her long bangs covering her eyes, making it hard to see her expression.
Chen Ye seeing her unwilling to acknowledge him, thought perhaps the little girl was still sulking.
He felt a bit helpless, yet amused.
This girl, usually so cold and detached, actually had quite a lot on her mind.
A woman’s heart is like an ocean needle.
Even for little girls, it’s no exception.
Chen Ye wasn’t upset, he just spoke gently, "This time, Master went out and found something good for you."
Zhiwei heard this and finally raised her head.
In her dark eyes was a hint of confusion.
Chen Ye, like performing a magic trick, took out an old book from the storage bag:
"This is the ’Frost Splendor Record,’ a superior water series cultivation technique, directly pointing to Foundation Establishment! I went out of my way to find it for you."
The black-furred bundle’s gaze instantly turned dazed.
Chen Ye was full of expectations that this disciple who dreamed of cultivation would be overjoyed.
But Zhiwei’s reaction was beyond his expectations.
She, who had been keeping her head down, slowly walked to him.
Suddenly lifted her small foot and gently kicked his leg.
No, not a kick.
More like... a rub with the tip of her foot?
Chen Ye was puzzled.
Then the black-furred bundle quietly, like a wronged little kitten,
leaned her little head against his leg, and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito:
"Master, I’m sorry..."
"Hmm?" Chen Ye was taken aback, "Why sorry?"
Zhiwei said nothing, just buried her face deeper.
She felt she was too awful.
Before, when Master would scold or hit them daily, she only felt fear and numbness.
Occasionally receiving a trivial kindness, she would be overwhelmed with favor, anxious and afraid that the next moment would bring deeper despair.
But now, Master was so good to them, caring and patient, even tirelessly working for her cultivation...
Yet she, because of a careless remark from Master, felt upset!
And Chen Ye was completely clueless,
Just felt that this eldest disciple of his was getting harder to understand.
He bent down, gently rubbed her fluffy little head, jokingly said, "Master always wants to hold Zhiwei’s thigh, how come Zhiwei is holding Master’s thigh now?"
The black-furred bundle was dazed: "Holding thigh?"
She looked down at her slender little legs, pondering.
...
The awkwardness of the girl from last night didn’t leave too many traces in the next day.
At least, on the surface.
Chen Ye got up early, slowly breathing on the accumulating snow in the courtyard.
Feeling the ample spiritual power circulating after breaking through the fifth layer of Qi Cultivation.
The Evergreen Technique of limit break continued endlessly, absorbing the thin yet pure spiritual energy from heaven and earth, nourishing his meridians.
[Evergreen Technique Limit Break: 535/800]
These four days, another eight Qi Nourishing Pills were consumed.
Reaching the next realm seemed just around the corner!
Additionally, to Chen Ye’s pleasant surprise.
The Heavy Body Technique was also nearing perfection!
[Heavy Body Technique Great Success: 190/200]
When it came to Heavy Body Technique, Chen Ye had some worries.
Will breaking through to perfection turn him into a muscle-bound monster...
He glanced at the window of the bedroom, where faint sounds of two little ones dressing could be heard.
Chen Ye chuckled, turned, and entered the kitchen.
He was now flush with spirit stones, but Grain Avoidance Pills are still Grain Avoidance Pills, nowhere near as good as hot meals?
Especially demon beast meat, greatly beneficial to cultivation.
Soon, the kitchen was filled with the rich aroma of meat and the sweet scent of rice porridge.
"Master, good morning."
Zhiwei’s small figure appeared at the kitchen door, already dressed, and even did her own hair, though still a bit messy.
The black-furred bundle lowered her head, her voice thin and carrying an undetectable tension.
Chen Ye was stirring the pot of meat porridge, turned around with a smile upon hearing, "Morning, Zhiwei awake? Go call Qing Jun, it’s time to eat."
"Okay."
Zhiwei responded but didn’t immediately leave, just stood at the door, nervously twisting the corner of her clothes with her small hands.
Chen Ye seeing her like this, understood.
This girl, still tangled over last night’s matter.
He deliberately slowed his stirring of the porridge, casually asked, "Last night... did you sleep well? Did Master disturb you?"
Zhiwei suddenly raised her head: "No! Master didn’t disturb us!"
She paused, her voice lowered again: "Master... thank you for the cultivation technique yesterday."
"If you like it, that’s good." Chen Ye smiled warmly.
Looks like this cold black-furred bundle isn’t completely unwarmable.
He served two bowls of steaming hot demon beast meat porridge, handing one to Zhiwei: "Here, eat while it’s hot, finish to have energy for cultivation."
Zhiwei carefully took the bowl, the steam fogging her long lashes.
She held the bowl, sipping slowly, her actions elegant and graceful.
But today, Zhiwei’s appetite was especially good.
Even after her small belly was full, she still managed to finish another bowl with determination.
Seeing Master’s confusion.
The older girl’s voice was as soft as a mosquito: "Zhiwei, wants to grow up faster..."
Chen Ye felt quite emotional: "People, when they are young, always want to grow up, but after growing up, they yearn for childhood."
The older girl carefully watched Chen Ye’s busy cooking back,
pleased by a sense of inexplicable comfort.
But she felt Master’s words were not right: "Who, after growing up, would miss childhood?"
Chen Ye remained noncommittal.
Suddenly thought of a poem from his past life, memories waiting to be recalled, at the time it was already bewildered...
He stirred the meat porridge, smiling, "When Zhiwei becomes a mighty fairy in the future, don’t forget, in an inconspicuous market in the Yan Kingdom, there was a loose cultivator cooking meals and making porridge for Zhiwei..."
At this time, Qing Jun also came in, rubbing her eyes and yawning.
She saw the fragrant meat porridge, rubbing her eyes and immediately lit up, "Master, master! Meat porridge! Qing Jun wants some!"
Chen Ye chuckled, serving her as well a large bowl: "Eat slowly, little one."
Seeing his two young disciples with him, Chen Ye felt at peace.
No matter how the outside world blew with snow, how the sects fought, how terrifying the celestial tribulations were.
Having these two little ones with him made life flavorful.
After breakfast, Chen Ye called his two disciples to him.
He first turned to Qing Jun: "Your opportunity hasn’t arrived, but you can’t neglect the basics. That’s crucial."
Qing Jun has the True Dragon Bloodline, and Chen Ye plans to see if she has talent in body cultivation.
If she does, he will then find a proper path for her future Body Refining Technique.
Speaking of which, Qing Jun took the thin booklet with disinterest, flipping through two pages.
Body refinement and such, what’s the fun compared to the swish of golden light?
Chen Ye nodded with satisfaction.
Next was the main event.
That was to teach Zhiwei the water series cultivation technique and its magic techniques.
He laid out the storage bags of Kong Hongxuan and his brother in front of him.
Although Kong Hongxuan’s cultivation was destroyed and the Treasure Armor confiscated, he still had considerable possessions.
Among them, were naturally water series items.
With excitement barely contained, Chen Ye looked forward to sharing these with Zhiwei, knowing it would be a perfect fit for her skills.
Qing Jun then rubbed her eyes and wandered in, yawning.
When she saw the fragrant meat porridge, her eyes immediately lit up: "Master, can I have some meat porridge too?"
Chuckling at her enthusiasm, Chen Ye served her a big bowl as well: "Easy there, make sure to chew and savor it."
Watching his two young disciples, Chen Ye felt a deep satisfaction.
No matter the wind and snow outside, the sect’s struggles, or the fear of celestial tribulations.
With these two little girls by his side, life was fulfilling.
"""