"Master, Chen Fan returned to report last night. He had already revealed his Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation and was now an Inner Disciple of the Qingyun Sect.
"However, the fortuitous encounter he claimed to have in order to conceal his cultivation seemed to have drawn the covetous eyes of others.
"Still, everything remained under his control for now."
"Mm, got it." Chen Ze was not particularly concerned about Chen Fan's affairs.
Sending him to the Qingyun Sect had merely been a casual arrangement. As for how far he could go, Chen Ze did not really care.
"Ling'er, how did yesterday's little tune go?"
When Chen Ze asked that, Zhao Ling'er became a little embarrassed. Her cheeks flushed faintly, and she spoke hesitantly. "I-I think I learned it?"
"Is that so? Then hurry and sing it for me." Chen Ze, who had been lounging leisurely on his recliner, suddenly became interested.
"Um..." Zhao Ling'er was still somewhat unable to let herself go.
Girls were naturally a little shy, and having to perform in front of someone made Zhao Ling'er seem even more restrained.
"It's fine. There are only the two of us here. If you don't sing well, I'll teach you again."
"Yes."
Then Zhao Ling'er began to sing, though her voice was a little soft.
"Peach leaves, pointed tips; willow leaves blanket the sky..."
"It's fine, sing louder. You're singing very well."
Chen Ze was not merely comforting Zhao Ling'er. She truly sang quite well.
Zhao Ling'er nodded and began again. "Peach leaves, pointed tips; willow leaves blanket the sky. This old fellow in his place, listen closely to what I have to say.
"This affair took place at Jingxi Indigo Factory. At the Indigo Factory's Firearm Battalion, there was an Elder Song the Third..."
As Zhao Ling'er sang, Chen Ze's fingers kept tapping against the armrest of his recliner. From time to time, he even nodded, as though helping her keep the beat.
After Zhao Ling'er finished the song, she shyly raised her head to look at Chen Ze.
"Good." Chen Ze clapped and praised Zhao Ling'er.
"See? You sang very well. Sing like that from now on.
"Come, come, come. I'll teach you two more new little tunes."
At that moment, Chen Ze was incredibly glad that he had taught Zhao Ling'er to sing little tunes.
Even in Wannan City, where there was no pleasure quarter to listen to songs, he could still lie at home and hear Zhao Ling'er's melodious voice in the future.
Zhao Ling'er cried out in surprise. "Ah? Master, are we still learning today?
"Aren't we going to the new shop today? The signs and decorations you mentioned still haven't been made."
Chen Ze seemed to remember something then and slapped his thigh. "If you hadn't reminded me, I nearly forgot. Fine, let's go arrange the matters at the new shop first, then come back and continue."
He should have found people to renovate the shop yesterday.
But Steward Lin had suddenly appeared yesterday. Dealing with Steward Lin had made him forget all about renovating the shop.
Chen Ze had already risen to his feet and was about to head outside the residence.
He could not wait to arrange the shop's renovation and return as soon as possible to teach Zhao Ling'er new little tunes.
"Master, slow down! Wait for me." Zhao Ling'er could not understand why Chen Ze had suddenly become so fired up.
"Hurry up! There's still so much to do."
"Master, slow down."
Far away at the border of the Dagan Dynasty, Zhao Yun stared blankly at the hundred or so people who had been following behind him.
"Didn't I already make it clear to you?
"You're free now. Go wherever you want. There's no need to follow me like this." Zhao Yun looked helplessly at the hundred or so people.
At that moment, one person from among them stepped forward and said, "Benefactor, you saved our lives. We must repay you. Please let us follow at your side!"
After he spoke, another person stepped out from the crowd. "That's right! Benefactor, you brought us here, but we are strangers in this place and don't even know where to go. Please let us stay by your side!"
"Benefactor, you pulled us out of the sea of suffering. You can't just leave us here to fend for ourselves, can you?"
Zhao Yun was filled with endless vexation. Chen Ze's task for him had been to travel and gain experience on his own.
He had originally planned to visit those cultivation sects and broaden his horizons, then venture into those Monster Forests along the way.
He would first travel throughout the entire Dagan Dynasty and record everything he saw and heard along the way. He knew Chen Ze liked hearing such things.
But what he had not expected was that the hundred or so miners he had rescued from the Mysterious Iron Ore mine simply refused to leave, as though they had latched onto him.
"This..." Zhao Yun was at a loss as well, unsure what to do with these people.
Just then, one of the people who had spoken earlier suddenly dropped to his knees.
When the hundred or so people saw someone kneel, they seemed to understand his intention and followed suit.
In an instant, over a hundred people knelt neatly before Zhao Yun.
"Benefactor, please take us in!
"From now on, we will follow behind you and look to you as the horse's head leads the way."
"Benefactor, if you refuse, we'll remain kneeling here forever."
Zhao Yun was placed in an even more difficult position.
If Chen Ze had been here, he definitely would have cursed.
"Bastards, this is naked moral blackmail. But I have no morals, so I'm not afraid of your blackmail." After saying that, Chen Ze would certainly have flicked his sleeves and walked away.
But the one facing these miners now was Zhao Yun, not Chen Ze.
Although he possessed the same wisdom as Chen Ze, he did not have Chen Ze's experiences from his previous life.
"Get up first and let me consider it."
"No. If Benefactor does not agree, we will kneel here forever."
"That's right, kneel here forever."
The voices of over a hundred people rose and fell one after another, making Zhao Yun even more troubled.
Helplessly, Zhao Yun said solemnly, "Fine. Since you've decided to follow me.
"Then I have three conditions. If you can agree to all three, I'll allow you to follow me from now on."
Seeing that Zhao Yun was showing signs of relenting, the hundred or so people hurriedly pricked up their ears to listen.
"Benefactor, speak. Forget three conditions—even a hundred conditions, we'll agree to them all."
Zhao Yun had originally wanted to name three conditions and make them retreat in the face of difficulty, but these people simply would not yield to pressure or persuasion.
Zhao Yun pondered inwardly. It seems I need to make these three conditions much harsher.
"Get up first, then I'll state the three conditions."
The hundred or so people looked at one another, yet not a single one stood up.
Seeing this, Zhao Yun grew a little angry. "If you keep acting like this, then there's no need for me to mention my three conditions."
Upon hearing Zhao Yun say that, the person who had led the kneeling hurriedly took the lead in standing up as well.
He feared that Zhao Yun might become displeased, abandon them, and leave on his own.
Only after Zhao Yun saw everyone stand up did he speak. "My first condition is that I agree to let you follow behind me.
"But you will handle your own food, clothing, lodging, and travel in daily life. I will not take care of you."
The hundred or so people looked at one another again, finding Zhao Yun's first condition rather baffling.
Everyone spoke in unison. "No problem."
They had never intended to rely on Zhao Yun to provide for their food, clothing, lodging, and travel.
They all had hands and feet, and they also had cultivation.
They had endured such bitter days in the Mine Tunnel before. Now, matters like food, clothing, lodging, and travel could not possibly stump them.
Their thoughts were actually very simple. They only wanted to find an opportunity to repay Zhao Yun for saving their lives.
Before you continue