Great Bamboo Peak.
Before Shou Jing Hall.
A few monkeys tossed pinecones from the pine trees, letting out the occasional shriek.
With his hands behind his back, Tian Buyi paced back and forth before the hall, his brows knitted into the shape of the character for "chuan."
His loose Daoist robe swayed with his movements, making him look somewhat comical.
"Did the eldest brother fall into a ravine or something?"
"He went to buy a few things, and he's still not back!"
Tian Buyi stopped, snorting heavily.
"Don't you know Daren?"
"Maybe something held him up at the market down the mountain, or... perhaps he ran into some trouble."
Su Ru smiled helplessly and spoke in a gentle tone.
"Trouble?"
"What trouble could he possibly run into?"
"I think his skin's just itching for a beating!"
"Ah..."
"Not a single person on Great Bamboo Peak gives me any peace of mind!"
Tian Buyi flung his sleeve and plopped back into the Grand Tutor Chair, fuming.
Su Ru shook her head and was about to offer a few more words of consolation.
Suddenly.
A rapid whistling sound came from the sky.
Why did that sound... like someone fleeing for their life?
Tian Buyi's ears twitched. A flicker of confusion crossed his round face, quickly followed by anger.
"Well, well, Song Daren!"
"If you're back, then just come back! Why make such a racket?"
"Are you afraid people won't know how little cultivation you have?"
Before Tian Buyi had finished speaking,
a streak of Crimson sword light plummeted like a meteor and slammed into the square before Shou Jing Hall with a "BOOM."
Dust billowed everywhere.
The monkeys shrieked in terror and scattered, clutching their heads.
"Master! Mistress!"
"I'm back! I have big news! The best news ever!"
Song Daren hadn't even steadied himself, yet his booming voice was already making the tiles on Shou Jing Hall tremble.
He had someone slung over his back and the still-glowing Ten Tiger Sword in his hand. He looked both disheveled and wildly excited.
Tian Buyi was just about to erupt.
But when he saw a child of about ten clinging to Song Daren's back,
he forced the scolding that had reached his lips back down, turning it into a cold snort.
"What kind of behavior is that, rushing around in such a panic?"
"What's that thing on your back?"
"What, you went down the mountain and came back with an illegitimate child?"
At that,
Su Ru paused in surprise, her gaze settling on Ye Xuan.
The child's clothes were tattered, and his little face was deathly pale. He looked as if the reckless speed of their sword flight had frightened him.
"Master!"
"Please, don't scold me!"
"Just look!"
"Just look at this child!"
Song Daren was sweating profusely with anxiety.
He pulled Ye Xuan off his back and shoved him in front of Tian Buyi as if presenting a treasure.
Tian Buyi frowned and glanced at Ye Xuan with the utmost reluctance.
Just one glance.
His little eyes, usually narrowed into slits, instantly widened until they were round.
His body, which had been slumped in the Grand Tutor Chair, sprang up as if he'd been pricked by a needle.
His speed was utterly at odds with his build. He was as nimble as a two-hundred-pound monkey.
"This..."
Tian Buyi rushed to Ye Xuan, his plump hands darting out like lightning to seize the boy's wrist.
Ye Xuan felt a warm current flow into his body.
It was Tian Buyi's spiritual power, probing his meridians.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Tian Buyi's hand was trembling.
The expression on his round face shifted from shock to wild joy, then grew almost contorted.
"This... How is this possible?"
"His meridians are as clear as jade, without a trace of impurity..."
"Born with extraordinary talent... no, this is the very essence of heaven and earth!"
Tian Buyi murmured to himself, his voice trembling.
"Child, what's your name?"
A moment later.
Tian Buyi suddenly looked up, his eyes burning as if he might devour Ye Xuan whole.
His voice turned so gentle it could have dripped with honey, utterly unlike the roaring man from moments ago.
Su Ru stared at him in stunned silence.
Was this really her short-tempered husband?
In all the centuries she'd known him, she'd never seen Tian Buyi make such a face!
He looked just like a lecher who'd laid eyes on an unparalleled beauty, or a miser who'd spotted a mountain of gold and silver.
"I... I'm Ye Xuan."
"I'm an orphan... I... I want to cultivate immortality."
Ye Xuan struck just the right note of timidity, tinged with a little hope.
"Cultivate! You absolutely must!"
Tian Buyi waved his great hand, grinning from ear to ear. The creases on his face bunched up like a chrysanthemum.
"Starting today!"
"You're my disciple, under Tian Buyi!"
"Anyone who tries to stop me will have to fight me for it!"
"What a promising child!"
"What a promising child!"
"Now let's see how that old bastard Cang Song can keep showing off to me!"
After saying this,
Tian Buyi even circled Ye Xuan twice in excitement, rubbing his hands as he muttered to himself.
"Master!"
"Then... what rank will the child be?"
Song Daren stood to the side, grinning foolishly with an expression that said, "I knew this would happen."
"Don't be stupid!"
"Of course he'll be Seventh!"
"Daren!"
"You did well this time! Very well!"
"I never thought even your blockhead could have a day when it finally started working!"
"Go to the storehouse later and collect two bottles of Dahuang Pill!"
Tian Buyi waved his great hand, in high spirits. Even Song Daren looked much more pleasing to him now.
"Thank you, Master!"
Song Daren was overjoyed.
Dahuang Pill was a miraculous medicine for healing injuries.
His master usually treated it like a treasure, yet today he'd been rewarded with two whole bottles!
Tian Buyi had no attention to spare for Song Daren now.
His little eyes were fixed on Ye Xuan as if he were looking at a priceless treasure.
"So you're Ye Xuan?"
"Profound upon profound, the Gate of myriad wonders!"
"What a wonderful name!"
The more Tian Buyi looked at him, the more pleased he became.
The child wasn't just blessed with extraordinary talent; he was also bright and handsome. Everything about him was pleasing to the eye.
"Come, come!"
"Let's hear you call me Master!"
Tian Buyi bent down, his round face nearly pressed against the tip of Ye Xuan's nose.
"Master!"
Ye Xuan bowed with all the respect he could muster and called out clearly.
"Ah!"
"Good! My good disciple!"
Tian Buyi burst into laughter, his voice making Shou Jing Hall buzz.
Su Ru came over as well, looking Ye Xuan up and down with affection in her eyes.
She knew her husband's troubles. Great Bamboo Peak had few disciples, and those with outstanding talent were rarer still.
It was no wonder he'd lost his composure at the sight of such a fine jade in the rough.
"Buyi!"
"Don't scare the child."
"Ye Xuan, I'm your Mistress."
Su Ru chided him, then gently stroked the top of Ye Xuan's head.
"Greetings, Mistress!"
Ye Xuan called out obediently.
His Mistress really was beautiful, with a gentle bearing that didn't diminish her spirited air. No wonder she could keep Tian Buyi, that stubborn old mule, in line.
"Good boy."
"Here, take this as a welcome gift. You can play with it."
Su Ru took a jade pendant from her robes and placed it in Ye Xuan's hand.
Ye Xuan glanced down at it. The pendant brimmed with spiritual energy and was clearly no ordinary object.
"What are you standing around for?"
"Take your junior disciple brother and get him settled!"
"Give him the best room!"
"If your junior disciple brother loses even a single hair, I'll hold you responsible!"
Only then did Tian Buyi remember something. He turned and shouted at Song Daren.
"Yes, yes!"
Song Daren nodded repeatedly.
From now on, whatever his master said went.
"Wait!"
"Don't spread the news yet!"
"Especially not to the people at Dragon Head Peak!"
Tian Buyi suddenly called them back, his eyes shifting as he lowered his voice.
He meant to keep quiet and make his fortune!
"Don't worry, Master. I understand!"
Song Daren thumped his chest in assurance.
As he watched Song Daren lead Ye Xuan toward the rear hall,
Tian Buyi stood where he was, unable to wipe the smile from his face.
He gazed at the sunset on the horizon and suddenly felt that the evening sky was especially red today.
It seemed the feng shui at Great Bamboo Peak had improved too!
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