Teasing Yao Lao

Seeing the two about to leave, Yao Lao finally grew anxious and hurriedly called after them.

"Wait, you two! This cultivation technique can evolve. Are you sure you don't want it?"

As he spoke, Yao Lao took out the cultivation technique and solemnly placed it in Xiao Yan's hands.

"Xiao Yan, I bestow this cultivation technique upon you."

Xiao Yan frowned without saying a word. He quietly opened the manual to examine its contents, but he had barely turned the first page before it was snatched back.

"My disciple, I'll keep this cultivation technique safe for you for now. You're still too weak to withstand its energy."

"To keep your body from exploding and killing you, I'll hold on to it for now. Your main goal at present is to find a way to become Dou Zhe. Once you do, you can practice this technique."

Xiao Yan nodded thoughtfully.

Xiao Mo could no longer take in any of this. The system's chimes were ringing through his mind.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, on obtaining the upper-grade cultivation technique, Ice Soul Art.]

[Ding! Congratulations, host, on obtaining 100 shop points.]

[Ding! Congratulations, host, on obtaining one good brother affection point.]

The enormous rewards had gone straight to his head.

Yao Lao might not be able to provide upper-grade cultivation techniques, but the system could.

He already had two upper-grade cultivation techniques. As long as he could become a Dou Zhe soon, he could start practicing them.

Then his cultivation journey could get on the right track as soon as possible. That meant he had to prod Xiao Yan in more ways and trigger more missions.

He swiftly turned and grabbed Xiao Yan's arm.

"Xiao Yan, are you hungry? Want something to eat?"

"Xiao Yan, are you cold? Want some new clothes?"

"Xiao Yan, are you hot? How about I find you a new sleeveless vest?"

Yao Lao was busy coaxing the two into studying cultivation techniques under him, telling them they would surely become powerful enough to dominate a region someday.

Yet before he could even show off his abilities, Xiao Mo's barrage of flattery interrupted him.

Xiao Mo kept circling Xiao Yan like an old mother hen. Even Yao Lao couldn't help wondering whether the fellow was some kind of pervert.

Could he have fallen for my young disciple?

At that thought, Yao Lao immediately stepped forward, pulled Xiao Yan behind him, and planted himself between the two.

"That's enough, Xiao Mo! What does whether he's hot, cold, or hungry have to do with you? Can you let your master finish speaking first?"

"And always remember, you're fellow disciples. You must never harbor any other forbidden feelings. Understand?"

Yao Lao rubbed his temples, feeling that the road ahead was long and the burden heavy. Had he known it would be like this, he would never have taken in such an unreliable eldest disciple.

"Master, senior brother is only worried about me. He didn't mean to disrespect you or your teachings."

Xiao Yan was utterly innocent and hadn't considered any other possibilities. He simply assumed their master was angry because Xiao Mo had suddenly interrupted him.

Xiao Mo, however, understood what Yao Lao was implying and promptly shot the old man a scornful eye roll.

"Master, I like girls, plain and simple. I'm not interested in men, all right? I'm just genuinely concerned about my junior brother. Can't you keep something decent in that head of yours?"

Yao Lao regretted it. He should never have accepted this blabbermouth. The fellow fired off one line after another, leaving him unable to get a single word out.

Yao Lao snorted coldly. In any case, both boys had decent characters, so he probably didn't need to say much about respecting their master and his teachings.

He tapped Xiao Yan's finger and gave the two one final reminder.

"Both of you, remember this: never mention me in front of outsiders. Act as though you don't know me at all. Understood?"

"I'll be inside the ring the whole time. If you need anything, just call 'Master,' and I'll come out."

With that, Yao Lao ignored their astonished expressions. His figure flashed, turning into a cloud of black smoke that slipped into the ring in an instant.

The two exchanged looks.

Xiao Mo pulled Xiao Yan's hand over and gently rubbed the ring.

"Isn't this thing basically Aladdin's magic lamp?"

The corners of his mouth lifted into a mischievous grin.

"Master, come forth!"

A cloud of black smoke surged out and swiftly took Yao Lao's form.

"What did you call me for?"

Xiao Mo beamed at his master as he polished the ring until it gleamed.

"I wanted to see whether the incantation worked. Sure enough, Master, you're a man of your word."

Yao Lao's face darkened. After shooting him a fierce glare, he slipped back into the ring.

Xiao Mo chuckled at Xiao Yan, then called again.

"Master, come forth!"

Yao Lao, who had only just entered the ring and hadn't even had time to rest, emerged once more before the two.

"What is it this time?"

Xiao Yan feigned alarm and pointed at a dark shape in the woods ahead.

"Master, I think someone's eavesdropping over there."

Unable to contain his temper any longer, Yao Lao stepped forward and swung a palm down at the top of his head.

Xiao Mo hurriedly dodged with a laugh and soon ducked behind Xiao Yan.

"Master, you can't go around hitting your disciples!"

Thoroughly infuriated, Yao Lao snapped out a warning.

"Xiao Yan, I'll only come out when you call me. If you dare join your senior brother in making fun of me, just see if I don't teach you both a proper lesson."

Yao Lao's figure flashed, and he slipped back inside.

Xiao Mo tried several more times, but the old man refused to appear again. Speechless, he shrugged.

"The older he gets, the bigger his temper. He won't even let us joke around."

Watching Xiao Mo behave like this left Xiao Yan rather speechless as well.

How had I never realized how obnoxious and shameless he was?

Still, having a senior brother like this beside him really did make him smile much more.

His mood had lightened considerably too, all thanks to Xiao Mo.

Xiao Yan's gaze settled on him, carrying a hint of tenderness and warmth.

"Thank you."

He spoke softly.

Xiao Mo hadn't heard him clearly. He only saw his lips move, so he hurriedly asked.

"What did you just say? I didn't hear you."

Xiao Yan quickly shook his head and swallowed the rest of his words.

"Nothing. I didn't say anything..."

Just as the two were fooling around, a fragrant breeze suddenly drifted over from afar.

A warm breeze blew straight toward them.

When they turned, they saw a purple figure springing across the rocks along the cliff, flying toward them.

Xiao Xun'er came to a graceful stop before them. A trace of a smile shone in her eyes as she reached out and took Xiao Yan's wrist.

"Brother Xiao Yan, how are you feeling? Are you still upset?"

Xiao Mo hurriedly rubbed away the goosebumps on his skin.

He had no interest in watching other people flaunt their affection, so he greased his soles and slipped away, vanishing before the two could react.

Once he was far enough away, he immediately headed deeper into the mountains.

"I remember getting ten chances at the draw last time, and I haven't had a chance to use my cultivation techniques either. Now's the perfect time to see what other treasures the system has."

He quickly hid in a small nook in the mountains. Only after making sure there was rock behind him and no blind spots did he open the system interface.