Chapter 271 How Could I Bear to Come Back?

"You wish! You call him 'senior brother' and expect me to become his disciple? You're dreaming!"

Mei Yang was furious. If he hadn't just been stabbed, he would have given them a good talking to today.

"Who said I wanted to become an apprentice and cultivate Taoism? I've taken a liking to you and want to spend my life with you. And you're trying to use cultivation Taoism to fob me off."

He pointed at the Taoist priest and looked at Song Chunxue, "So you've taken a liking to a Taoist priest?"

"..."

"Didn't you say that sworn brotherhood was just a facade? Then what about fellow disciples?"

Despite the pain, Mei Yang questioned Song Chunxue, "Do you really look down on me that much?"

"..." This is really bad. To do this in front of her senior brother, Song Chunxue wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

The Taoist priest stood up and stepped forward, pressing several acupoints on Mei Yang's body.

Mei Yang initially thought he was going to teach someone a lesson, so she raised her hand to block him and winced in pain.

But after being tapped a few times, he suddenly felt no pain.

"Brother, if you don't want to die, hurry home and lie down to recover from your injuries," the Taoist priest said indifferently. "Otherwise, even if my junior brother insists on marrying you, you won't live to see that day."

Black Rabbit poked her head out and said cautiously, "Yes, Brother Yang, what they said is right. If you keep acting like this, your life will be in danger. I'd better help you home to recover, otherwise your aunt will worry."

Mei Yang glanced at Song Chunxue, then patted his waist and walked out, saying, "Wait for me to come find you."

Song Chunxue pretended not to hear, wondering if she should fake fainting and go home.

Upon hearing Mei Yang and Black Rabbit go downstairs, Master Zhang turned his head and looked at Song Chunxue meaningfully.

"Senior brother, wh...what's wrong?"

"Junior brother likes this type?"

"How is that possible!"

The Taoist priest didn't believe it, and frowned as he did a quick calculation with his fingertips.

"The roof of the Taoist temple where my senior brother is temporarily staying is leaking and the room is very damp. He may need to stay at my junior brother's house for a few days. I wonder if you would be willing to do me a favor?"

Song Chunxue nodded, "That's convenient. Why don't you stay at my house from now on, senior brother? You'll have someone to take care of your meals and tea. My fourth son is going with the caravan and doesn't want to eat lunch by himself. If you're here, I'll make some soup and rice."

Having gotten used to eating noodle soup, I always feel like I haven't eaten anything if I just eat it dry at noon without drinking the soup.

But she didn't want to go to the kitchen to start a fire and make the pots and pans dirty, and then have to wash them later.

I feel that one person doesn't need to make such a big fuss.

Seeing her senior brother deep in thought, Song Chunxue added, "Besides, we are all cultivating the Tao now. I haven't even learned all the characters yet, and I need your guidance in many areas. It would be very convenient for us to live in the same courtyard."

"Senior brother, it's cold on the mountain, and you can't eat or sleep well. You can stay at my house from now on."

Master Zhang looked at Song Chunxue and shook his head slightly, "That's not appropriate."

"What's wrong with it?"

Song Chunxue ignored him and said, "Let's go back and feed the chickens. After your afternoon nap, you can start cultivating. Don't delay."

Master Zhang stood up.

"Oh, right, I need to buy some dried donkey meat for the fourth brother, and some honey to eat on the way, so he won't choke."

*

When Sanwa entered the house that evening, he saw the Taoist priest sitting in the courtyard drinking tea and reading a book.

She ran over happily.

"Master, when did you get back?"

Sanwa couldn't help but smile as he looked the Taoist priest up and down. "Taoist priest, you've changed into new clothes. You look much younger, and even fairer. The Central Plains are such a nurturing place, how could you bear to come back?"

The Taoist priest put down his book and couldn't help but look at the third child.

"This child talks a lot, chattering away. You've also gotten fairer, more handsome, and taller."

He couldn't help but stroke his well-groomed beard. "How have you been at school lately? How are things going with your classmates?"

Sanwa lowered his head and touched his forehead. "It's okay."

“That’s not good,” the Taoist priest stood up. “Go to your mother’s room and get some yellow paper. I’ll draw two talismans for you to carry with you.”

Sanwa nodded quickly, "I'll go right away."

Song Chunxue poked her head out of the kitchen and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong? Did you notice something, Senior Brother? Was Sanwa bullied at school?"

The Taoist priest shook his head slightly and remained silent.

Soon, Sanwa came running out carrying four or five pieces of cut yellow paper.

The Taoist priest got up and followed Sanwa to his room.

The Taoist priest drew three talismans, giving two to the three children and keeping the last one in his sleeve.

"Did you have a verbal argument with someone?"

Sanwa remained silent.

"Don't always give in, and don't meddle in other people's business. If you are bullied, you should fight back. Don't think that you are inferior to others." The Taoist priest raised his hand and patted his shoulder. "Although you have only come to the county to study now, you are more hardworking than most people. You will be better than them."

Sanwa smiled and nodded, then solemnly bowed to him in thanks, "Thank you for your guidance, Daoist Master. I understand now."

The Taoist priest walked out of the house. "My tea is ready."

Sanwa followed behind and sat opposite him, wanting to drink with him.

He hadn't felt it before, but now that the Taoist priest had returned, he felt like a family member had come home.

Sanwa really wanted to chat and drink tea with the Taoist priest.

"Master, I'd also like some tea."

The Taoist priest broke off a piece of buckwheat bread and said, "Don't drink tea. You won't sleep well tonight, and it will affect your studies tomorrow morning."

Hearing this, Sanwa nodded obediently.

He then took a book and sat down at the stone table, keeping the Taoist priest company.

"When did you return, Daoist Master? How many days did it take you on the journey?" Seeing someone he knew well, Sanwa couldn't help but ask a few more questions. "Will you be staying with us, Daoist Master?"

The Taoist priest was amused by him and couldn't help but reach out and touch the top of his head.

"You're like a sparrow, asking so many questions. Let me think about it."

He took a sip of tea and replied earnestly, "I came back yesterday. It took me about ten days to get here. I'll be staying here for the next few days."

Hearing this, Sanwa nodded in satisfaction.

"That's good, that's good," Sanwa said happily, like a child, but he was afraid of disturbing him. "What is my mother preparing to entertain the Taoist priest tonight? I'll go and see, and help my mother light the fire."

"Go."

The Taoist priest smiled slightly, watching the three children's retreating figures, and couldn't help but sigh, "It's better for children to study."

Not long after, the fourth brother barged in, carrying a withered apricot tree trunk that he had brought from who-knows-where on his shoulder.

"Oh, the Taoist priest is back!"

The fourth brother dropped what he was holding and ran towards the Taoist priest; his unconscious smile was the most touching.

The Taoist priest was relieved; thankfully, the children welcomed him.

"Master, I've missed you so much."

The fourth brother rushed over and grabbed the Taoist priest's shoulder, sighing, "It feels like the Taoist priest has been gone for quite a while. I thought he was going to travel somewhere else and wouldn't come back."

"But why did you come back, Taoist priest? Our place is poor and dry, and we eat a lot of yellow soil every year. It is said that in the water towns of Jiangnan, even without farming, people can survive on wild animals from the mountains."

The fourth brother answered to himself, "It must be because the Taoist priest has developed feelings for us and is thinking of us that he came."

The Taoist priest burst into laughter at his amusement.

“That’s right, you’ve told me everything. What can I say? You’ve said it all more clearly than I have.” With that, the Taoist priest took out a talisman from his sleeve and handed it to him. “I heard you’re going on a long journey. Keep this talisman with you and it will protect you from bad luck.”

The fourth brother accepted it with both hands, bowed broadly, and said, "Thank you, Taoist priest."

"By the way, Taoist priest, may I have a few wealth-attracting talismans?"

The Taoist priest shook his head. "No, it's more important to stay alive when you're out and about. Don't bring the lucky charm, and don't bring the one your mother drew for you either."

The fourth brother nodded, then asked in confusion, "Why?"