I Just Want to Hoe the Field!

Before Ling Ju came, she had thought only that the great immortal from the Upper Realm named Jing Pu had told Ling Jing to hoe the fields and dig up the soil.

But now that she had actually met Jing Pu and felt his heaven-shaking power, Ling Ju wondered if she had been too hasty in her judgment. Perhaps this matter had nothing to do with Senior.

From what she could see, Senior was not someone who acted recklessly or failed to understand reason.

How could Senior not understand Ling Jing's identity or what he ought to be doing?

Thinking of this, Ling Ju pressed her red lips together. Perhaps... she really had wronged Senior...

Maybe her younger brother simply insisted on hoeing the fields...

But Ling Ju still couldn't understand why her younger brother would suddenly want to hoe the fields.

Ling Ju was a little angry with embarrassment. This was all Ling Jing's fault.

After Ling Jing had dug that mountain peak into a collapse, Ling Ju had planned to go ask him what on earth had happened. But who could have guessed that he would suddenly disappear again? She hadn't been able to hold back and had come here first, only to find that her younger brother had already run ahead.

She hadn't even had a chance to properly question him.

Still... no matter what, Ling Jing had only started liking farm work after coming here. Senior must know the reason. She would ask Senior in a moment what was wrong with Ling Jing, then ask Senior to help talk some sense into him.

After all... Ling Ju knew very well that although Ling Jing was afraid of her, that was all it was. There were some things she could only scare him out of doing for a while. If Ling Jing truly set his heart on digging up the fields and did it in secret, no one could stop him.

But judging from the way Ling Jing had treated Senior before, he respected Senior deeply. Senior's words ought to carry weight.

Thinking of this, Ling Ju let out a small sigh of relief. Thank goodness things hadn't gone sour just now. She hadn't said anything too offensive to Senior.

At that moment, Jing Pu had no idea what these people were thinking. After a flurry of brushstrokes, a painting filled with the breath of spring took shape on the paper. There was nothing particularly special about the scenery he had chosen: it was simply his little courtyard.

Of course, it was the little courtyard as he imagined it, not the heaps of graves outside.

At last, after completing the painting in one smooth burst, Jing Pu set down his brush. He didn't speak to anyone else, instead clasping his hands behind his back and admiring it on his own.

After looking at it for half a minute, Jing Pu nodded with satisfaction, then took out his seal and added his signature.

Once he had finished all that, Jing Pu cleared away the things on his desk. Then he looked at Di Chen, who had been staring at the painting and practically drooling, and smiled.

"Elder Di, are you satisfied?"

Di Chen was so excited he could barely contain himself.

"Delighted! Delighted!"

Seeing how pleased Di Chen was, Jing Pu was happy too. After all, he had completed the painting with his own hands. Naturally, it gave him a great sense of accomplishment to see someone else like it so much.

Jing Pu smiled and said, "Then please take it with you, Elder Di."

Ling Ju had watched every glance and smile of Jing Pu's. She wasn't a lovestruck fool; as the Holy Maiden of the Jade Pond, she had met all manner of astonishing talents. Still, this Senior before her was truly captivating.

Di Chen nodded excitedly again and again, then stepped forward and shakily picked up the painting. But it was pressed against the desk, making it difficult to lift. On top of that, Di Chen's hands were trembling wildly, as if he were suffering from nicotine withdrawal. He could barely pick it up.

Jing Pu smiled helplessly and shook his head. Elder Di really did love old paintings. He smiled and said, "Let me help you, Elder Di."

With that, Jing Pu went over to help Elder Di.

Watching this from the side, Ling Ju couldn't help feeling moved. Senior was so gracious and courteous, without the slightest trace of arrogance.

Ling Ju had met great immortals from the Upper Realm before, but none had been like Senior, with a clear, bright spirit, mingling effortlessly with the world.

This tranquil serenity, untouched by worldly ambition, was something Ling Ju had never encountered before. It was truly intoxicating.

Senior was not only a great immortal from the Upper Realm in terms of cultivation; his state of mind was equally beyond anyone's reach.

Ling Ju marveled that simply staying with Senior—even doing nothing all day—would greatly elevate her state of mind.

Senior truly was unmatched beneath heaven...

After helping Di Chen put the painting away, Jing Pu suddenly noticed Ling Ju, who had been watching him all along.

Was this Holy Maiden of the Jade Pond here to ask for a painting too?

It didn't seem like it. When she had arrived, the Holy Maiden hadn't looked very happy...

Jing Pu turned to Ling Ju beside him and asked curiously, "Holy Maiden... is there something you need?"

Ling Ju came back to herself and hurriedly dipped into a slight curtsy.

"Senior, please just call me Ling Ju."

Jing Pu also felt that calling her "Holy Maiden" sounded a little odd. He grinned and said, "All right, Fairy Maiden Ling Ju. Is there something you need?"

Ling Ju glanced at Ling Jing, who stood beside them with his head lowered, then at the two elders clutching Jing Pu's painting and looking extremely excited. She gave a soft snort.

When Ling Tiannan and Di Chen came back to themselves, they realized what Ling Ju wanted to do. They quickly turned to Jing Pu and said, "W-we'll take our leave now, Senior?"

It looked like she had something private to discuss. Jing Pu nodded. "Take care, Elders."

After the two elders left, Ling Ju glared at Ling Jing beside her and said, "Wait for me outside!"

Ling Jing didn't dare say a word in front of Ling Ju. He immediately went out and closed the door.

It really did look like she had something to discuss...

Jing Pu came back to himself and pointed at a chair in the study. "Let's sit down and talk."

After they sat, Ling Ju got straight to the point.

"Senior, has Ling Jing been hoeing... hoeing the fields here every day lately?"

"If so, could you please stop him from hoeing the fields? He's an Imperial Prince, after all. It's not right for him to come here and do farm work..."

At that, Jing Pu froze. The look he gave Ling Ju was practically the look of a man seeing his savior.

Oh, thank goodness! Someone normal had finally shown up!

Jing Pu immediately nodded, sounding excited. "Of course! I've wanted him to stop for ages, but I can't talk him out of it!"

Hearing Jing Pu say this, Ling Ju couldn't help gritting her teeth. Sure enough, it had been Ling Jing's own idea to hoe the fields!

She had thought Senior had something to do with it. Thank goodness, thank goodness she hadn't let things get awkward just now.

Thank goodness... thank goodness...

Just then, Jing Pu suddenly took the Dragon Heart Soft Armor from inside his robe and said, "This is yours, right? Before you all arrived today, Ling Jing suddenly brought it over and practically shoved it into my hands. Take it back."

Seeing the Dragon Heart Soft Armor, Ling Ju instinctively touched her waist. A moment later, she took it back with a scarlet face, her expression full of embarrassment and anger.

Her younger brother... really was hopeless!

But just as Ling Ju was about to say something else, Ling Jing suddenly pushed open the door and stared at her in alarm.

"Sis! You can't interfere in this! I want to hoe the fields! What are you saying to Senior?!"