Watching Gu An worry about him, Zhang Chunqiu felt deeply gratified.
With his descent from the mountain approaching, the person Zhang Chunqiu was most reluctant to leave was not his master, but Gu An, his junior brother.
He was too obedient, too honest.
Zhang Chunqiu shared Li Ya's feelings, worrying for Gu An and fearing that he would be bullied in the future.
"I've stayed in Medicine Valley for forty years. It's time for me to descend the mountain. My aptitude for cultivation is mediocre; there is no hope of Foundation Establishment for me in this life. Rather than wasting away here, I might as well go down the mountain and enjoy the rest of my years. Junior Brother Gu, take up the position of eldest disciple. That brat Meng Lang loves to slack off—he can't be the eldest disciple." Zhang Chunqiu patted Gu An's shoulder and spoke earnestly.
Gu An hesitated. "But... without you, Eldest Brother, I'm afraid I..."
Cheng Xuandan said, "If you don't dare, let Meng..."
"It's not like I can't do it!" Gu An hurriedly interrupted.
Zhang Chunqiu, who had been about to comfort him, froze.
Cheng Xuandan gave Gu An a deep look but said nothing further.
Gu An gave a fake cough. "I can't let down Eldest Brother's goodwill. Fine. Actually, I'm afraid that if Meng Lang becomes eldest disciple, he'll order me around every day."
Hearing the latter half of his words, Zhang Chunqiu could not help laughing.
The atmosphere immediately eased. Zhang Chunqiu began encouraging Gu An, who listened attentively.
After chatting for a while, Zhang Chunqiu gathered up his robe and kowtowed to Cheng Xuandan. After three resounding kowtows, he rose and left, leaving Gu An alone with Cheng Xuandan.
"Do you see? Medicine Valley cannot keep people. If you don't wish to remain in Medicine Valley for the rest of your life, you may say so in advance. Your master may not be unable to lend you a hand." Cheng Xuandan spoke with calm eyes.
Gu An hurriedly said, "This disciple is willing to remain in Medicine Valley for a lifetime."
"Don't be so quick to answer, because it truly may be a lifetime."
"Master, your disciple dares not lie. I truly want to stay here for life. Perhaps in the eyes of others, Medicine Valley is full of dirty, exhausting work, but to me, these are the most carefree days of my life. Master takes great care of me, and my fellow disciples are all kind to me. I truly am willing to stay here for a lifetime."
Gu An spoke earnestly. At such a juncture, he had to show his sincerity.
Cheng Xuandan said faintly, "You ought to have some backing. It was no coincidence that you survived Greed-Hatred Demon Ghost's hands. And yesterday, the direction from which the spiritual energy of heaven and earth erupted was also toward your courtyard."
Gu An panicked. "Master, I truly have no backing. My only possible backing is Third Young Miss of the Ji Family, Ji Xiaoyu, but I'm merely her household servant."
"The Ji Family?"
Cheng Xuandan's eyes widened. This was the first time Gu An had seen his expression change so drastically.
Gu An saw wariness, fury, and terror upon his face. All manner of negative emotions converged, making his features appear savage and frightening.
This is bad!
Could this old thing have a grudge against the Ji Family?
Gu An grew uneasy, feeling that he had gone too far.
"I see. From now on, you are the eldest disciple of this Medicine Valley." Cheng Xuandan took a deep breath and said.
A sudden turn for the better!
Gu An sighed in relief. Whether Cheng Xuandan meant it sincerely or not, he would become the eldest disciple first!
Even if Cheng Xuandan harbored ill intentions, he did not have long left to live.
Gu An was even less afraid that Cheng Xuandan would plot against him. Could Cheng Xuandan's frail body take more of a beating than Greed-Hatred Demon Ghost?
"This disciple will certainly be diligent and never disappoint Master's expectations." Gu An immediately promised.
Cheng Xuandan waved his hand. "Go call Meng Lang and Xiao Chuan."
Upon hearing this, Gu An immediately bowed, then turned and left.
One incense stick later.
Gu An, Meng Lang, and Xiao Chuan came down from the pavilion. Xiao Chuan was utterly thrilled, calling him Eldest Brother with every other breath.
Meng Lang, meanwhile, was indignant. He angrily said, "How did you become eldest disciple? Why not me? My cultivation is higher than yours, and my birth is better than yours!"
Gu An was not angered by his words. He turned back with a smile. "Meng Lang, being eldest disciple is no easy task. Once you take it on, it lasts a lifetime. Master saw that you possess a heart set on cultivation, which is why he had me take the role."
"Really?" Meng Lang's anger faded.
"Of course. Look at our eldest brother—he stayed here for forty years. How many forty years does a person have in a lifetime?"
Meng Lang fell silent. The look in his eyes changed, and the gaze he turned upon Gu An was filled with sympathy.
He patted Gu An's shoulder and said, "Gu An, you've been wronged."
Xiao Chuan also fell silent.
He too secretly harbored dreams of cultivation, so naturally he did not wish to remain here for life.
Gu An pretended to be silent, but inwardly he was laughing himself silly.
Meng Lang really was easy to fool.
And so, Gu An's life as the eldest disciple began.
Cheng Xuandan had him oversee every affair in Medicine Valley. Gu An directly handed planting and cultivation over to Xiao Chuan and Meng Lang, while he himself specialized in harvesting.
Perhaps Meng Lang felt guilty, for he unexpectedly raised no objections.
Harvesting occurred less than twice a month, so Gu An spent most of his time cultivating. Yet he always concealed his cultivation and never let anyone see through him.
Three months passed in the blink of an eye.
Without anyone knowing, Gu An reached the fifth layer of Qi Refining.
The Divine Wood Pure Yang Technique, refined to consummate mastery, truly was formidable!
Gu An did not spend as much time cultivating as Meng Lang. He reserved time for himself to read.
Autumn leaves carpeted Medicine Valley, and the surrounding peaks were dyed in autumn hues, carrying a natural desolation that drifted through the mortal world.
Gu An stood before a wooden railing, looking at the third-grade medicinal herbs nearing maturity as he stroked the White Spirit Mouse in his hand.
He suddenly heard something and turned his head. Cheng Xuandan was walking in from the valley entrance, followed by two people, a boy and a girl who looked fourteen or fifteen.
He instinctively used Lifespan Inspection.
[Ye Lan (Qi Refining, First Layer): 14/110/130]
[Lu Jiujia (Qi Refining, Second Layer): 15/140/190]
Not bad!
Two more people had come to do odd jobs!
The corners of Gu An's lips lifted as he immediately strode toward Cheng Xuandan.
He reached Cheng Xuandan and cupped his fists in salute.
Lu Jiujia and Ye Lan could not help looking curiously at Gu An. Gu An had already possessed handsome features, and now that he had grown up, nourished by the Dragon Force Divine Origin Technique and the Divine Wood Pure Yang Technique, he carried an outstanding temperament that reminded them of the Taixuan Sect cultivators they had seen.
"An'er, these two are your junior brother and junior sister. You will settle them in." Cheng Xuandan left those words behind and departed.
An'er?
Gu An nearly got goosebumps, but he still saluted Cheng Xuandan's departing back.
He turned to Lu Jiujia and Ye Lan. The two hurriedly saluted him with great respect, which pleased him greatly.
Not bad!
They had better manners than Li Ya and Meng Lang. Back then, those two had shown Zhang Chunqiu no courtesy at all.
Gu An immediately took a liking to his junior brother and sister. He began introducing himself and had them introduce themselves as well.
Lu Jiujia had dark skin and wore tattered clothes, looking like a farm boy, but his eyes shone brightly with spirit.
Ye Lan was slight of build. Though she wore rich clothing, her appearance could only be called pretty.
"Come, Eldest Brother will first take you to settle in." Gu An smiled. Seeing his gentle attitude, the two were no longer so nervous.
On the way to the disciples' courtyard, Ye Lan could not help curiously asking about the other disciples in Medicine Valley.
Gu An introduced them truthfully.
Afterward, he called Meng Lang and Xiao Chuan over, letting the four meet one another.
Unlike Zhang Chunqiu, Gu An truly wanted to manage his fellow disciples' relationships well, because he intended to become the valley master.
The arrival of Ye Lan and Lu Jiujia reminded Gu An of Zhu Moyan and Greed-Hatred Demon Ghost.
No!
I have to resolve this soon, lest Junior Brother and Junior Sister encounter danger.
With this concern weighing on his heart, Gu An began teaching his junior brother and sister how to work.
That night.
He closed his door, took out Chu Jingfeng's Spirit Stone, and injected a thread of spiritual power into it. The Spirit Stone began to grow hot.
It was Gu An's first time using this sort of cultivation technology, and he found it quite novel.
A few breaths later, Chu Jingfeng's voice came from within. "Who is it?"
Good fellow, how many people did you give Spirit Stones like this to?
Suppressing the urge to complain, Gu An said, "Senior, I am Gu An from Medicine Valley."
Chu Jingfeng fell silent.
Gu An sensed a trace of awkwardness. Fortunately, Chu Jingfeng soon spoke. "Do you have information on Greed-Hatred Demon Ghost?"
"I do!"
Gu An answered in a firm, ringing voice, then recounted everything he had seen and heard.
After he finished, Chu Jingfeng asked in a deep voice, "Is that true?"
"It is true, without a single false word. He is not far from our Medicine Valley, and I fear that he may harm us." Gu An spoke seriously.
"Good. Leave this matter entirely to me. I will go to the Outer Sect and find his Cave Mansion address. I will not trouble you again."
"Thank you, Senior, for understanding. If this matter is resolved smoothly, I also hope that you will not mention me. This junior's aptitude is mediocre; I do not wish to invite trouble. I only wish to live out my life in peace."
"Mm. I know what to do."
After saying that, Chu Jingfeng cut off the Spirit Stone connection.
Gu An placed the Spirit Stone on the table and carefully reviewed his interactions with Chu Jingfeng and Zhu Moyan, confirming whether there had been any flaw.
What a nuisance.
I hope this matter passes smoothly.
I only want to farm.
Gu An thought to himself. Compared to fighting and killing, he preferred the peaceful life of picking herbs.
After tipping off Chu Jingfeng, Gu An patrolled every day while keeping an eye on his junior brothers and sister, afraid they would leave Medicine Valley.
Three days passed without incident.
Until the fourth night, Gu An sensed signs of spiritual energy erupting outside Medicine Valley. Faintly, he could also hear the sounds of weapons clashing.
They're fighting!
He quietly slipped out and made his way to the valley entrance. He wanted to guard this place and prevent Greed-Hatred Demon Ghost or any evildoers from sneaking into Medicine Valley and slaughtering his junior brothers and sister.
The battle in the distance was fierce. By the time Gu An reached the valley entrance, it had yet to end.
There were too many peaks along the way, leaving Gu An able to judge the battle only through his exceptional hearing.
Suddenly.
Gu An seemed to sense something. He abruptly turned around and looked back into Medicine Valley.
His gaze settled on a pavilion, where Cheng Xuandan stood by a window, watching him from afar.
Bright moonlight spilled down. Against the dark pavilion, Cheng Xuandan resembled a vicious ghost, making Gu An's scalp prickle.
This is bad!
He discovered me!
Gu An frowned, suddenly unsure what he should do.
As he hesitated, Cheng Xuandan slowly closed the window. Yet those eyes, like two ghostly glimmers, left Gu An deeply uneasy.
Gu An was not afraid of Cheng Xuandan himself. What he feared was Cheng Xuandan exposing the matter.
But on second thought, that should not be the case. If Cheng Xuandan truly had ties to the Great Cultivator behind Greed-Hatred Demon Ghost, why summon Chu Jingfeng to protect them?
That would be superfluous!
If Handyman Disciples like them died, then they died. The other party would not even need an excuse to report it to the sect.
Before you continue