Master, I Want to Go Down the Mountain!

Great Bamboo Peak.

Scripture Depository.

"Buyi."

"Don't just stand there in a daze."

"Seventh has made a breakthrough unlike anything our Great Bamboo Peak has ever seen. This is cause for celebration."

Su Ru stood to one side, her beautiful eyes shimmering.

Watching her husband make such a comical face, as if he'd swallowed a raw egg, she couldn't help covering her mouth and chuckling.

Tian Buyi finally came back to his senses.

The flesh on his chubby face bunched up. He'd meant to put on a stern face and say a few harsh words, just to maintain the dignity of the peak master.

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't keep the corners of his mouth from rising.

"Ahem!"

With his hands behind his back and his round belly thrust out, Tian Buyi circled Ye Xuan three times.

The way he looked at him—

It was like he was gazing at a priceless treasure, afraid it might get scratched or damaged.

"Master, now that I've reached the fifth layer..."

"What about the thing we agreed on?"

Ye Xuan could tell the time was right.

He blinked and looked at Tian Buyi with an innocent expression.

The smile on Tian Buyi's face instantly froze.

Of course he remembered.

Half a year ago, Ye Xuan had clamored to go down the mountain and gain experience.

To get the boy off his back, he'd casually said, "We'll talk about it when you reach the fourth layer."

That had just been a stalling tactic!

What kind of proper disciple could reach the fifth layer in only half a year?

A normal person would be in their twenties or thirties by the time they cultivated to the fourth layer, the Object Moving Realm!

Then it would be safe enough to let them go down the mountain.

But now?

Tian Buyi lowered his head.

He looked at the little kid in front of him, who only came up to his chest.

Ten years old!

The boy was ten at most!

He was so adorable, his cheeks looked like they'd drip if you pinched them.

Let him go out and gain experience?

He'd probably be snatched up by some wolf granny the moment he left Qingyun Mountain!

"No!"

"Absolutely not!"

"How old are you?"

"You're not even old enough to keep your pants tied properly. What are you going down the mountain for?"

"The world is full of danger, and people's hearts are hard to read. You think you're still playing house up here?"

Tian Buyi shook his head like a rattle drum, his thick eyebrows nearly meeting in a frown.

"Master!"

"A gentleman's word is as good as gold!"

"You're the dignified peak master of Great Bamboo Peak. How can you go back on your word?"

Ye Xuan had expected his short, chubby master to renege.

He spread his little hands and spoke without the slightest hint of panic.

Tian Buyi was at a loss for words.

His chubby face flushed the color of liver.

He sneaked a glance at Su Ru beside him.

She was looking at him with an amused smile, clearly enjoying the show.

"I... I meant..."

"I meant that as the standard for ordinary disciples!"

"Look at your Senior Brother and the others. Didn't they all train for twenty or thirty years before going down the mountain?"

"You may have some cultivation now, but your judgment... Anyway, you're still too young!"

"If you run into a demon cult member, they won't think twice before killing you!"

Tian Buyi stammered for a while.

At last, he waved his chubby hand and really did start acting shamelessly.

"Master!"

"Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles."

"Your disciple has an Innate Dao Body. I can still make progress by cultivating behind closed doors, but I'll always lack real combat experience and insight."

"Besides..."

"Surely you don't want me to have all this cultivation and end up as a hothouse flower?"

"If I lose my nerve at the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament..."

Ye Xuan didn't get annoyed.

He leisurely straightened his sleeve.

Those words—"Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament"—had struck Tian Buyi right where he was weakest.

What was Tian Buyi's greatest obsession in life?

Making a name for himself at the tournament!

Beating that old Daoist Cang Song from Dragon Head Peak, who always walked around with his nose in the air!

Tian Buyi fell silent.

He paced back and forth across the room.

The wooden floorboards creaked in protest.

"If you want to go down the mountain, it's not out of the question."

"But!"

"You have to stay for another three days!"

"During those three days, I'll personally teach you a few life-saving techniques!"

"What good is knowing how to make a fireball?"

"If you run into a tough opponent, they'll cut your fireball in half with one sword strike!"

"If you don't learn them, you're not going anywhere!"

After a long while,

Tian Buyi came to an abrupt stop, turned around, and stared hard at Ye Xuan.

Ye Xuan's eyes lit up.

As expected, this chubby man was all bluster but soft-hearted.

He was worried Ye Xuan would get into trouble outside, so he was going to give him special lessons and teach him some secret techniques.

The next morning.

Great Bamboo Peak dining hall.

The morning mist still hung over the mountains, but the dining hall was already filled with warmth and steam.

Song Daren was busy preparing breakfast with a few of his junior brothers.

A big basin of white rice porridge, a few plates of crunchy pickled vegetables, and dozens of steaming-hot steamed buns.

A simple morning meal for cultivators.

Everyone took their seats in turn.

Tian Buyi and Su Ru sat at the head of the table.

Ye Xuan sat obediently beside Tian Ling'er, clutching a big steamed bun and eating with gusto.

The atmosphere was a little strange.

Usually,

Tian Buyi would keep a stern face while eating, or lecture his disciples about their cultivation.

But today,

The chubby man kept stealing glances at Ye Xuan as he munched on his bun.

Then he'd let out a chuckle for no apparent reason.

Afterward, he'd immediately put on a stern face again, pretending nothing had happened.

Song Daren and the others were on tenterhooks.

"What's gotten into Master?"

Fourth, He Dazhi, lowered his voice and nudged Du Bishu beside him with his elbow.

"Did something happen last night... with Mistress?"

Du Bishu waggled his eyebrows, a lecherous look on his face.

"Smack!"

A chopstick flew over with perfect aim and rapped Du Bishu on the forehead.

"Can't you keep your mouths shut, even while you're eating?"

Tian Buyi snorted.

Du Bishu rubbed his forehead and lowered his head to drink his porridge, looking utterly aggrieved.

Tian Buyi cleared his throat.

He put down his bowl and chopsticks and slowly swept his gaze over everyone.

His expression, caught between wanting to brag and trying desperately to hold back, was written all over his chubby face.

"I have an announcement."

The disciples immediately sat up straight.

Even Tian Ling'er, who'd been competing with Ye Xuan for the pickled vegetables, stopped eating.

"Seventh will spend the next few days in seclusion with me to study magic."

"We'll put his bamboo-chopping lessons on hold for now."

Tian Buyi pointed at Ye Xuan, who was carefully peeling an egg.

"Yes, Master."

Song Daren paused, then nodded earnestly.

"But Junior disciple brother only joined the sect half a year ago. Isn't it a little early for him to learn magic?"

"His foundation is still unsteady..."

"Early?"

Tian Buyi cried out, his voice suddenly rising by an octave.

It was as if he'd finally found an outlet for his excitement.

"Do you think he's like you lot, with your heads as thick as tree stumps?"

"I'll tell you!"

"Seventh broke through to the fifth layer of the Yuqing Realm last night!"

As soon as the words fell,

The whole dining hall sank into deathly silence.

Even the birdsong outside seemed to stop for a moment.

"Clatter!"

The spoon slipped from Du Bishu's hand and dropped into his bowl. Porridge splashed all over his face, but he didn't react.

Song Daren's mouth hung open, and the half a steamed bun in it fell onto the table.

The book in He Dazhi's hand slid free and hit the ground with a smack.

Everyone looked as if a bolt of lightning had struck them squarely on the head.

They were scorched.

Every last one of them.

"F-fifth layer?"

Song Daren stammered, wondering if something was wrong with his ears.

"The fifth layer."

Tian Buyi was very pleased with the effect.

He repeated himself slowly, his tone dripping with the disdain of someone looking down on a bunch of country bumpkins.

"Gulp."

Someone swallowed.

The sound rang out especially clearly in the quiet dining hall.

Everyone's gaze mechanically turned toward the small figure still peeling an egg.