Master Suiyuan lifted the lid of the rice jar, and the remaining rice inside did not cover the bottom layer.

He simply cooked all the rice and also stir-fried two dishes for Xiaoxinghe.

Little Xinghe climbed onto the stool on his own and waited obediently for dinner.

Master Suiyuan served the food to the table.

Little Xinghe's face was full of surprise, "Thank you—Master!"

Her voice was childish and sweet, with a long, drawn-out ending.

Master Suiyuan was practically grinning from ear to ear, but he insisted on keeping a composed demeanor.

"Alright, hurry up and eat."

"Master, you should eat too!"

"Master won't eat it. Master wants to save room for roast chicken tonight."

What is roast chicken?

Master Suiyuan licked his lips. "You're too young to eat now. I'll take you to eat when you're older."

"Then why can Master eat it?"

"Master is an adult."

"I want to be an adult too!"

Master Suiyuan smiled and said, "Alright."

The dojo wasn't profitable, people don't believe in these things anymore, and besides, what he learned back then was really just so-so.

Now, with the need to maintain Xinghe, the dojo is operating at a loss.

That night, a big order came in. It was from a referral by one of his regular customers, who said that a friend of theirs had encountered something unclean at home and offered a high price.

It's just a bit far.

It would take a day and a night to go there and back.

Master Suiyuan thought about it for a long time and decided to accept it.

Xinghe is still small; there will be many more places where we need to spend money in the future.

He called over Little Star River, "Star, do you want to grow up and eat roast chicken?"

When it comes to food, Xinghe's eyes light up like light bulbs.

"want!"

"Master is going on a long trip. An aunt you've met before is coming to keep you company. Be a good girl and stay home for a day, and Master will bring back a roast chicken."

Xiao Xinghe readily agreed, "Okay!"

After taking care of everything at the Taoist temple, Master Suiyuan put Xinghe's food rations for the next two days in the kitchen. He also asked an aunt down the mountain for help, giving her two hundred yuan to watch over Xinghe.

Little Xinghe was very well-behaved, and his aunt readily agreed.

Master Suiyuan underestimated the fierce ghost and was injured.

Thinking of Xinghe, he quickly bandaged his wound, bought a roast chicken, and hurriedly returned to the mountain.

Xiao Xinghe sat on the threshold, gazing in the direction of the mountain.

She was a little angry. "Master is a big liar."

I promised to be back before sunset.

Xinghe remained motionless, sitting there until she counted over a hundred stars, at which point she finally saw a human figure.

Little Xinghe's face lit up with surprise. She jumped up and took her first steps.

"Master!!"

She ran up to him, hugged Master Suiyuan's leg, and clung to his lap.

"Master! You're late! But I forgive you."

Her voice was soft and sweet, like a little sweet bun.

Suiyuan's face was slightly pale due to excessive blood loss.

He smirked and took out the roast chicken from his pocket. "The line to buy roast chicken is too long."

"Hot—"

Before he could finish speaking, a sweet, pungent taste of rust rose in his throat.

Tears welled up uncontrollably from the corners of my mouth.

Little Star River stared blankly at the spot of blood.

Large tears fell, first a suppressed sob, then a loud cry.

"I don't want roast chicken, I want the chef! I want the chef!"

"I'm never eating roast chicken again!"

"Master, please don't abandon me!"

People often come to the Taoist temple for help, and Xinghe, who is only three years old, knows just as much as others.

Master Suiyuan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "It's jam. Xingxing isn't afraid."

Little Xinghe hugged Master Suiyuan tightly, the little bundle nestled against his shoulder, all warm and cozy.

Tears smeared a large tear stain on his clothes.

"No, I won't eat anymore, I'll never eat again! Master! I want Master."

Xinghe burst into tears; this was the first time she had cried since arriving at the dojo.

Master Suiyuan comforted him for a long time, saying that Xinghe was very clever and cunning. Although he looked small, he was actually incredibly smart. Master Suiyuan had no choice but to tell the truth.

"Alright, alright, I just got a little tricked while dealing with the evil spirits. But your master is very powerful. I used the Five Thunder Spell to shatter the evil spirits into pieces."

Once Xiao Xinghe was certain that Daoist Suiyuan was alright, she remained nestled in his arms, her eyes red.

"But isn't the Five Thunder Spell a spell for dealing with plant-based spirits?"

Master Suiyuan: "..."

He said, "It's not powerful enough!"

"Cough cough, I remembered wrong, it's the Curse-Breaking Curse."

"The curse to ward off misfortune is remarkably effective against malevolent energy and evil spirits—"

Master Suiyuan gritted his teeth and covered Xinghe's mouth, "I am the master, what I say goes!"

Little Star River tilted its head and thought for a moment, then hummed in agreement.

*

Little Star River was incredibly excited; this was her first time going down the mountain.

Wearing the new, unpatched clothes that Master Suiyuan had bought for her, she held his hand and skipped and hopped down the mountain.

The tiny figure, barely reaching knee height, chattered incessantly.

"Master, what's down the mountain? Are there tigers? Are there flying cars?"

"Does a flying car have two little wings?"

"What are those skyscrapers they're talking about? Very tall ones with malevolent energy?"

Xiao Xinghe's knowledge of the outside world all came from the worshippers who came to the Taoist temple to offer incense. In her mind, the world down the mountain was very strange.

Master Suiyuan answered all the questions.

Not long after I answered, Xiao Xinghe would ask the same question again, like a broken record.

While complaining about the little repeater, Master Suiyuan patiently explained.

Not long after arriving at the foot of the mountain, Master Suiyuan encountered Sister-in-law Quan, who was in a great hurry.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!