Great Bamboo Peak.
Night had fallen.
The night on Qingyun Mountain was so still that the only sound was the rustling of wind through the bamboo sea.
In an elegant room on Great Bamboo Peak, candlelight flickered.
Song Daren truly was a fine Senior Brother.
He had not only cleared out this well-lit guest room, but had even prepared bathwater.
Ye Xuan soaked in the warm wooden tub.
It felt wonderful.
Every pore on his body seemed to open, greedily drawing in Great Bamboo Peak's abundant spiritual energy.
With his eyes closed, he leaned against the tub and idly traced the water's surface with his fingers.
"Phew..."
He let out a long breath.
At last, the tension that had gripped Ye Xuan all day began to ease.
Looking back on everything that had happened, he still felt a little shaken.
He had been too reckless.
Knowing the plot had made him think he could wander around at the foot of Qingyun Mountain without a care.
If he hadn't been incredibly lucky and run into Song Daren, he might still be feeding the wolves in some ravine.
Or worse.
He could have been mistaken for a spy and killed on the spot.
After all, the world of cultivation was no place where people followed the law.
Killing someone to seize their treasure was commonplace, and it wasn't strange for someone to kill you just because they didn't like the look of you.
Next time... I absolutely can't take a gamble like that.
Ye Xuan warned himself.
An information advantage could be a cheat code if used well, but used carelessly, it could be a death sentence.
In a world where human lives were worth no more than weeds, keeping a low profile was the way to survive.
Still...
Taking a risk for a chance at fortune had paid off this time.
Innate Dao Body!
Those four words had dropped from the heavens like a lucky break and left Ye Xuan reeling.
That wasn't in the original story!
Could this be the legendary transmigrator's perk?
Ye Xuan raised his hand and studied it closely in the dim candlelight.
There wasn't anything special about it.
It was still the same hand, with five fingers.
His skin was just a little paler and softer than before. It hadn't exactly sprouted flowers.
But he could clearly feel the spiritual energy around him rushing into his body like a pack of hungry dogs spotting a pile of meat.
He didn't even need to guide it deliberately. The energy came in on its own!
The sensation...
It was like using a pump to draw water.
No wonder that old fox, the chubby Tian Buyi, had been so excited he'd practically danced in circles.
"Innate Dao Body... heh..."
Ye Xuan couldn't help chuckling to himself.
With this physique,
and his knowledge of the plot,
he might even have a shot at becoming Great Bamboo Peak's chief disciple—or even the future head of Qingyun Sect.
Of course,
he'd have to focus on quietly building his strength first and not go looking for trouble.
Although that chubby Tian Buyi was fiercely protective of his own, he really did have a terrible temper.
If Ye Xuan truly angered him, he'd probably get a serious beating.
And that was nothing compared to Daoist Cangsong, who had been keeping a close eye on Great Bamboo Peak. That old schemer was a real snake.
If he learned that Great Bamboo Peak had an Innate Dao Body, who knew what kind of trouble he might cause.
That was probably why Tian Buyi had repeatedly stressed that this had to remain a secret.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
A knock at the door interrupted Ye Xuan's thoughts.
"Junior disciple brother, are you finished bathing?"
"Master called you to dinner."
Song Daren's honest, booming voice came from outside.
"Coming, coming!"
Ye Xuan quickly climbed out of the tub.
He hastily dried himself off and pulled on a slightly oversized Taoist robe.
He tidied his hair in the bronze mirror.
Looking at the handsome young man in the mirror, with sharp brows and bright eyes, rosy lips, and pearly teeth, Ye Xuan nodded in satisfaction.
With looks like these, even if he couldn't become an immortal, he could go down the mountain and make a living as a pretty boy.
He opened the door.
Song Daren was standing there with a cheerful smile.
"Senior Brother."
Ye Xuan greeted him obediently.
It never hurt to act well-behaved around this Senior Brother.
"Come on, everyone's waiting."
Song Daren looked over the freshly cleaned-up Junior disciple brother and liked him more and more.
The Junior disciple brother was quite handsome—much easier on the eyes than that monkey, Sixth.
The two of them walked one behind the other along a gravel path toward Shou Jing Hall.
A large round table had already been set in the hall.
Tian Buyi sat at the head of the table, still short and stout, gnawing on a chicken leg with grease all over his mouth.
Su Ru sat beside him, sipping her tea elegantly and occasionally putting food on the plate of her daughter, Tian Ling'er.
The other disciples of Great Bamboo Peak sat in order below them.
Second, Wu Dayi, looked refined and scholarly.
Third, Zheng Dali, was powerfully built, like an iron tower.
Fourth, He Dazhi, was waving a folding fan in his hand. He looked every bit the scheming strategist.
Fifth, Lu Daxin, was bent over his bowl, shoveling in food with barely any presence.
And then there was Sixth, Du Bishu, the liveliest of them all, winking at Tian Ling'er and muttering something to her.
"Master, Mistress."
"I've brought the Junior disciple brother."
Song Daren led Ye Xuan into the hall and bowed respectfully.
In an instant,
everyone's eyes turned to Ye Xuan.
"Good, good, good!"
"Come sit, come sit!"
Tian Buyi put down his chicken leg, wiped his mouth carelessly, and smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits.
His enthusiasm left the other disciples staring at each other in bewilderment.
Was this really the same Master who usually kept a stern face and scolded them at the drop of a hat?
Why did he seem like a different person?
"Greetings, Master and Mistress!"
"Greetings, Senior Brothers and Senior Sister!"
Ye Xuan stepped forward and bowed without either groveling or acting arrogant.
His manners were impeccable. There wasn't a thing to fault.
"Mm, good."
"Come sit beside Daren."
Su Ru nodded approvingly.
Ye Xuan took the seat as instructed.
"Ahem!"
Tian Buyi cleared his throat, and the noisy hall instantly fell quiet.
He looked around at everyone, then let his gaze settle on Ye Xuan. His expression grew serious.
"Today!"
"Our Great Bamboo Peak has a new disciple!"
"This is your Junior disciple brother, Ye Xuan!"
"From now on, you're all to take good care of him. If I find out anyone dares to bully him..."
Tian Buyi's gaze sharpened as he glared at Du Bishu.
Du Bishu shrank back, looking wronged.
Why was Master looking at him?
He hadn't done anything bad!
"Especially you, Sixth!"
"Put away all that gambling junk of yours!"
"If you dare lead your Junior disciple brother astray, I'll break your legs!"
Tian Buyi pointed at Du Bishu and scolded him.
"Master, I'm innocent!"
"When have I ever led anyone astray?"
"I was just... just cultivating a refined taste!"
Du Bishu let out a wail.
"Refined taste, my foot!"
Tian Buyi snapped irritably.
But when he turned to Ye Xuan, his face immediately brightened with a kindly smile.
"Seventh!"
"Don't mind your Sixth Senior Brother. He's a good-for-nothing!"
"If you want to learn anything, just ask your Senior Brothers!"
"If they can't teach you, come to me or your Mistress!"
The way he changed faces was faster than turning a page.
The disciples were all green with envy.
They were all his disciples, so why was the favoritism so blatant?
"Thank you for your kindness, Master."
Ye Xuan hurriedly stood and expressed his gratitude.
That chubby Tian Buyi really was treating him well.
Ye Xuan knew it was because Tian Buyi had his eye on the Innate Dao Body, but the benefits he was receiving were real.
"Enough, enough!"
"We're family. No need to stand on ceremony."
"Let's eat before the food gets cold."
Su Ru smiled and waved her hand.
The atmosphere at the table gradually grew livelier.
Great Bamboo Peak might not have many people,
but that was exactly why
the disciples were all the closer, with no backstabbing or scheming among them.
Everyone chimed in, and Ye Xuan soon felt at ease with them.
"Junior disciple brother, I'm Fourth, He Dazhi!"
"Junior disciple brother, I'm your Second Senior Brother, Wu Dayi!"
"Junior disciple brother, Junior disciple brother, I'm your Senior Sister!"
"..."
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