The water glistens.
As soon as Chen Shuangbai returned to Jade Screen Peak, she sensed a powerful aura.
But this aura was also present in his three disciples, which was unlikely to be present unless they were in frequent contact with them.
Therefore, this tactic was devised: to have several people bring this person over so that Chen Shuangbai could take a good look at him and interrogate him thoroughly.
If Juanniang harbors evil intentions, or carries resentment or malevolence, and uses some kind of sorcery to bewitch his disciples, Chen Shuangbai will not care about the disciples' feelings and will kill her on the spot to prevent future troubles.
Under the [ Jade Palace Bright Abyss True Pupils ], Juanniang's foundation was fully revealed to Chen Shuangbai.
Although his cultivation level was low, his aura was clear and pure, without a trace of bloodlust, indicating that he was following the orthodox path of a spiritual immortal.
Let's look at personality...
Although she had been through many hardships, she was kind-hearted but timid. Coupled with her shy appearance and the words of her disciples pleading for her, Chen Shuangbai lowered his guard considerably.
After a moment's hesitation, Chen Shuangbai slowly spoke, saying, "Get up first."
Upon hearing this, Juanniang felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She quickly kowtowed again before standing up, but still kept her head down, not daring to meet Chen Shuangbai's gaze.
Seeing this, Chen Fuguang's three disciples knew that their master must have made his own decision, so they said nothing more and just watched quietly.
Sunlight streamed in from outside.
The light illuminated the entire pavilion.
Juanniang stood rooted to the spot, not daring to move, her eyes lowered as she stared at her toes, awaiting the judgment of the True Person above.
Waiting until the sun is high in the sky.
The handsome and ethereal figure above, resembling a celestial True Person from the moon, finally spoke slowly. However, it was not to deliver a final judgment on Juanniang, but rather to summon the Foundation Establishment demon who was clad in feathered robes but whose true demonic form was a terrifying Snow-Plumed Eagle eagle.
"My lord."
Feiguang transformed into a young man draped in a flowing, golden-trimmed robe and landed before Chen Shuangbai. He then heard his master instruct him, "Go back to the sect and find Lu Zhiyuan at the Expenditure Hall. Briefly explain the situation and ask him to retrieve a Attendant Dharma Contract from the Registration Hall."
Feiguang had no doubts and immediately transformed into a streak of platinum light, soaring into the sky.
The three disciples breathed a slight sigh of relief upon hearing this.
To be honest, Chen Shuangbai and the others were quite bored in the mountains during the years they spent at sea. Although Juanniang's cultivation was low and she was timid and gentle, she had a pair of skillful hands.
Especially since his three apprentices were young, it was understandable that they loved delicious food.
Juanniang was trying to please them, but it wasn't intentional flattery; rather, she was genuinely grateful for their kindness in taking her in.
Gao Yi had just joined Jade Screen Peak and witnessed this scene. Instead of finding it boring, he felt that his master had handled it very well.
He came from a merchant Aristocratic Clan, and even though he was young, he had an intuition for such things that was beyond the average person.
He wasn't quite sure what Dharma Contract was, so he tugged at Lu Xiangyuan's sleeve and whispered, "Third Senior Sister, what is Dharma Contract?"
Lu Xiangyuan glanced at the new fourth junior brother, who looked at him with curiosity, and lowered her voice to explain, " Dharma Contract is a kind of agreement used by the sect to bind its servants."
"Once you sign the Dharma Contract, you are bound by it, but that also means you have a status and cannot easily betray it."
Gao Yi nodded thoughtfully and said nothing more.
Not long after, Feiguang returned with a Attendant Dharma Contract.
The Dharma Contract shone with a faint golden light, covered with densely packed runes, and clearly bore the Zhang Yin of the Expenditure Hall and the Registration Hall.
Feiguang handed it to Juanniang. This fox demon was also intelligent. She understood what it was after just one glance. Her hands trembled as she took it and without hesitation, she suppressed a wisp of her demon soul into it.
Then, Feiguang handed it back to Chen Shuangbai.
Chen Shuangbai glanced at her with his Divine Sense, then left his Divine Sense imprint before looking at Juanniang and saying, "From now on, you will officially join my Jade Screen Peak and become my servant."
Juanniang knelt down again, her voice choked with emotion yet resolute, and said, "This little demon Juanniang to thank the True Person Immortal for his True Person kindness! In this life, I will do my utmost to repay your kindness!"
Chen Shuangbai shook her head and said, "I don't need you to repay me, I just need you to do your job well."
"Yes, Your humble servant obeys."
The three apprentices stepped forward and tugged at Juanniang's sleeves, also out of joy.
Chen Shuangbai witnessed this scene and was quite satisfied.
The affection between people does not come from nothing, but grows slowly from the little things in daily life, from every word and action to every meal and every stitch.
Jade Screen Peak is vast; it can accommodate even hundreds of people.
Although this fox demon was an "outsider," she was at least kind-hearted, all of which was under Chen Shuangbai's watchful eye.
He had been somewhat worried about his disciples, who, having lived in a cage for so long, had forgotten their origins and that they were human.
Chen Shuangbai also wanted to find an opportunity to properly teach them, so that they wouldn't only remember cultivation and gaining power, but forget about cultivating their State of Mind.
In retrospect... Juanniang's appearance did teach them a lesson.
They still have kindness in their hearts and know how to have compassion for the weak; that is enough.
The path of spiritual cultivation is long and arduous. While talent is certainly important, one's character is the key to determining how far one can go.
If one blindly pursues power while losing the kindness and empathy inherent in humanity, how is one any different from those bloodthirsty Devil Cultivator Evil Cultivator and Demon Cultivator?
Chen Shuangbai watched his disciples laughing and enjoying themselves. After waiting a moment, he said to everyone, "Alright, come and eat, lest it get cold!"
"Yes, Master!"
Lu Xiangyuan trailed off, glanced at the delicacies on the jade table, and felt there wasn't enough. Then she tugged at Juanniang's hand and said, "Sister Juanniang, why don't you make some more?"
Juanniang suppressed her joy and quickly replied, "Of course! Of course!"
"Please True Person a moment, I'll be right there!"
This servant was truly skillful. Even though she was Demon Cultivator and had only gleaned a few cooking techniques from the books Chen Fuguang lent her, she was able to cook with remarkable skill and flair.
Before long, she gently placed a dish of stir-fried spiritual vegetables, a bowl of Silver-Scaled Fish, and a plate of crystal-clear lotus seed cake on the jade table.
She then stepped back and said in a low voice, "In my haste, I only prepared these few simple dishes. I hope you True Person and junior immortals, will not find them lacking."
Chen Shuangbai took a small piece of lotus seed cake and ate it. A sweet lotus fragrance bloomed on her tongue, with a faint coolness that invigorated her.
"Sweet and not cloying, melts in your mouth, perfectly cooked!"
Juanniang then laughed, a genuine laugh.