Chapter 40. Each Grain Rain has its own beautiful scenery.
As the saying goes, there are no free lunches in the world, and naturally, 100,000 spirit stones must also come at a price.
But it is, after all, 100,000 spirit stones.
This is why Shen Lixia and Qiao Yanshen are standing in front of the Cangling Palace.
Each of the two storage bags contained 100,000 spirit stones, a paltry sum compared to the amount they had received from the sect. They then understood why Tang Huairou had seemed unmoved when Simmons had previously extorted double the spirit stones she used to save her in Kuizhou.
Yan Xueya was generous, but her requirements were also strict. She told them to go to Guyu Peak as soon as they got the gifts, saying that she had already spoken with Ruan Luoying and that the two of them should stay there for the next few days to learn body training.
Guyu Peak enjoys a spring-like climate year-round, with a warm and humid environment and dense forests. The mountain path has been repaired several times because Ruan Luoying enjoys taking walks, making it a perfect place to stroll slowly, admire the blooming flowers, see the pink and white flowers intermingling, and smell the fragrant wildflowers spreading all over the mountain.
Their task was to run up and down these winding mountain roads.
"How many?!"
Shen Lixia stood at the foot of the mountain, looking at the high steps in front of her. She couldn't suppress her voice and startled a tree full of birds, as well as the small messenger in Qiao Yanshen's hand.
The messenger was a green parrot with glossy feathers, like tender, vibrant green leaves, carrying the immense love of both master and apprentice.
It stopped preening its feathers and cried out in dissatisfaction, "Fool! Fool!"
Shen Lixia was furious: "If you keep yelling like that, I'll burn your hair off!"
The parrot, however, didn't stop and kept chirping in different ways. Qiao Yanshen helplessly reached out and pinched its beak, while saying to Shen Lixia, "Little bird, don't fight. Besides, we still have to run about twenty laps later, so it's best to conserve our energy."
The girl cried out in agony. The master in her heart, who had been a savior in white robes, suddenly transformed into a deadly fiend, slamming a thousand pounds of pressure onto her.
Twenty round trips!
Even though Shen Lixia was an active person, she found it hard to endure such tedious and repetitive physical training. Her gaze swept up and landed on a gurgling stream, and she made up her mind.
Today, Qiao Yanshen no longer wore her usual flowing robes, but instead donned the same fitted outfit as Shen Lixia: a blue and white outer garment with a black lining, sturdy wrist guards, and dark blue straps fastened on both sides. She raised her hand and gathered her long hair into a high ponytail with a nimble movement.
Shen Lixia stared, unable to look away, her eyes sparkling as if she had seen a new style. This was the first time she had seen Qiao Yanshen change his style of dress, and she cherished it very much. She wished she had a camera right away to capture the boy with his long hair blowing in the spring breeze amidst the falling petals and freeze it for eternity.
Unfortunately, there was no camera here, so she could only see with her eyes and reflect with her heart, greedily sketching every detail—the hesitation and excitement between her brows as she prepared to begin this arduous training, the fluttering hem of her dress that made her look exceptionally spirited… Her calm eyes were illuminated by the daylight, like a few rays of brilliant sunlight suddenly appearing on a deep lake, reflecting a shimmering luster.
Unfortunately, Qiao Yanshen had no intention of lingering, just like all things in nature that change and never stop for the gaze of the onlookers, belonging only to herself.
She raised her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, turned to the boy behind her, and said, "Let's begin."
Shen Lixia suppressed the strange, burning, tingling sensation spreading through her chest, pursed her lips, and nodded with a smile.
It would be wonderful if I could paint a portrait of her.
The thought immediately struck me as amusing. It seems that even those who don't appreciate the beauty of nature can be inspired to write poetry or create art when they see pure beauty.
Shen Lixia took a deep breath and followed her, "You're here."
The two walked through the scattered wildflowers and leaves, their figures one in front of the other climbing up the steps.
Inside the Cangling Palace, Ruan Luoying gazed thoughtfully at the faint light emanating from a small jade artifact on the table.
This illusory light was not empty space, but a mirage.
The illusion is like a miniature world, pieced together from four distinct plots of land: snowfield, jungle, desert, and lake.
With a thought, Ruan Luoying caused a torrential downpour in the jungle and surging waves in the lake; changing direction, the desert was filled with scattered gold, and the snow-covered mountains collapsed.
The scene depicts mythical beasts moving about, sometimes snuggling together, sometimes fighting, and the pursuit and hunting are extremely realistic.
With all five elements in place, the three unique spiritual roots of wind, thunder, and ice can also find suitable places.
"As expected of something so good that Xiaochi and Xiaoyi made together." Ruan Luoying smiled. "Let's use it for this competition."
She withdrew her spiritual power and put the jade back into her bag after the illusion dissipated.
At this moment, the bottom of the plate made a soft sound as it touched the wooden table. The young man in blue put down the flower tea, and the faint fragrance was refreshing.
Ruan Luoying picked up a teacup, took a sip, and smiled, saying, "Jinyu's tea skills are becoming more and more refined."
This was the name she gave to the student before her.
Tang Huairou shook her head, "Compared to Master, I am far inferior."
After saying this, she bowed and sat down opposite Ruan Luoying. Seeing that her master looked tired, she asked with concern, "There are many affairs in the sect these days. Master, you can give Jin Yu some instructions. Don't overwork yourself."
"I am indeed tired, but if Xiao Jinyu could kiss Master, it might relieve a lot of the fatigue." Ruan Luoying squinted her eyes and smiled.
She possessed a captivating beauty, her eyes shimmering with a warm, hazy light. The slight upturn of her eyes was like a gentle spring breeze, perfectly complementing the green mark between her brows, like a new leaf, a gift from the goddess of spring. When her thin lips parted slightly, her tone was soft, yet her pronunciation was clear and precise, giving off a gentle and elegant feeling, making one willing to listen even in the most noisy times.
"Master, I am no longer a child." Tang Huairou sighed helplessly.
"Even when it was about the same height as now, they would still pester their master to stay with them during thunderstorms."
“A hundred years have passed in the mortal world, and even a child has turned to dust. Master, please do not treat me as a child anymore. I am now the senior sister of the sect.”
Her cultivation had reached the late stage of the Golden Core realm, not far from breaking through, and she was indeed ahead of her fellow disciples.
"Alright, alright..." Ruan Luoying tapped the table lightly, the regret in her eyes disappearing, as if she were acting out a play. "How are those mineral veins that I asked you to keep an eye on doing now?"
Tang Huairou pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice, "Most of them are fine, but two of them have slightly depleted spiritual energy. I tried to inquire through astrology, but there was no response. I asked around in other sects, and they all showed similar signs, which is quite unusual."
Mineral veins are an important asset for sects, as they can yield spirit stones, spirit ores, and nourish various natural treasures. Taihui possesses several mineral veins, and the sect also owns several mines, so it should have no worries about this matter. However, the spiritual energy seems to be declining now, so we have to pay some attention.
“Although the celestial phenomena have been generally stable recently, there are some strange things going on.” Ruan Luoying’s expression turned serious. “It seems it’s time to activate the Star Gazing Platform again… after the Sect Master returns.”
Tang Huairou nodded, glancing at the sky outside the hall. "Then Jinyu should go and deal with the files first. The [unclear] is about to begin, and we need to know the situation within the sect in detail before we can proceed."
Ruan Luoying raised her hand, stopping the boy who was about to get up: "No rush, I've already tidied up a bit. Go check on those two first, I suddenly have a bad feeling."
Tang Huairou nodded, though he had prepared some rebuttals in his mind, he swallowed them back before he could speak.
First, those two might indeed do something amazing, and she really couldn't guarantee that; second, Tang Huairou had always been extremely obedient to Ruan Luoying, after all, her master had been taking care of her since she embarked on the path of immortality in her childhood.
At that time, Ruan Luoying was still interested in watching the sect entrance trial, so she saw the child crying and calling for her mother in front of the sect's stone tablet. She took the child's hand and led her to the small town to buy sugar paintings and hawthorns. After a few pieces of candied fruit were eaten, her tears turned sweet, but her longing only intensified.
Ruan Luoying asked knowingly, "Why are you crying? Being able to cultivate immortality is a good thing; everyone is hoping for it."
The child, tears welling in his eyes, held her hand tightly, as if afraid of being abandoned. His face was streaked with tears, glistening in the sunlight, making him look so pitiful and heartbreaking. He resembled a shivering little animal, yet possessed eyes as bright as wild watercress in summer.
"I... I came here to cultivate immortality, and then I won't see my mother again. They all say that three days for immortals is three years on earth, and if I stay here for a while, I'll never see my mother again..."
After saying that, she became very sad again, and tears rolled down her cheeks like broken beads.
A day for an immortal is a day for an mortal; there's no difference. Perhaps that's how it is in the upper realm. But those who cultivate to the upper realm have all endured hundreds or thousands of years, their mortal relatives long since turned to dust and bones, having reincarnated dozens of times.
Ruan Luoying lowered her brows, a subtle emotion rising in her heart. She bent down to wipe away her tears and said softly, "Then you will become my apprentice, and I will let you see your mother, okay?"
The child stopped crying, sniffed, and asked softly, "When can I see you?"
"You can do as you wish. If it's really not possible, I'll stay with you in the mortal realm to cultivate until your mother passes away peacefully, then we can talk about returning to the sect. A hundred years is nothing to me—but you must cultivate to the Foundation Establishment stage, otherwise your lifespan will be no different from that of an ordinary person."
After she finished speaking, she quietly looked at the child in front of her, waiting for her reply. The afterglow of the setting sun lengthened their shadows, swaying and drawing ever closer.
The silence lasted for a long time, and just when she thought the other party was about to refuse, the child's clear voice suddenly rang out: "Your disciple Tang Huairou wishes to pay homage..."
“True Lord Cangling, Ruan Luoying.”
"I wish to take True Lord Cangling as my master!"
She knelt down, kowtowed three times, and performed a proper apprenticeship ceremony. Ruan Luoying nodded in satisfaction—she had taken a liking to this gifted child from the beginning, but if a person has no intention of cultivating the Tao, then forcing them will be ineffective; it is only good if the other person is truly willing to walk this path.
Their figures eventually overlapped, just as lives intertwine.
Afterwards, Ruan Luoying indeed kept her promise, accompanying Tang Huairou as she wandered between the mortal realm and the sect, until her mother passed away. The two burned incense and offered sacrifices at the tomb, amidst the melodious chirping of birds and the blooming of wildflowers. It was an exceptionally warm spring day, the lake water calm, as if foreshadowing the return of all things to oneness and the absence of distracting thoughts. Tang Huairou finally truly returned to the sect and devoted herself to cultivation.
"Jinyu?"
The call pulled her out of her memories. Tang Huairou looked up and met Ruan Luoying's concerned gaze. She couldn't help but bite her lip awkwardly, hold her breath for a moment, and her heart beat slightly faster.
The tea lost its flavor amidst the floral fragrance emanating from the person in front of me, as if my mouth was filled with a delicate and sweet aroma.
"I'm sorry, Master, Jinyu was lost in thought."
"It's nothing." Ruan Luoying seemed a little worried and placed a small bottle in her hand. "This is a calming pill. If you haven't been resting well lately, take one."
"Thank you for your concern, Master."
The elfin-like woman raised an eyebrow slightly, then reached out and lifted the boy's chin, as if she were teasing a cat, her eyes filled with tenderness.
Tang Huairou seemed to know what she was about to do, sighed softly, and closed her eyes. The soft touch was on her forehead, fleeting and leaving no trace, yet she clenched her hands, trying to control her breathing. The fragrance of flowers, instead of calming her, ignited a burning desire within her, filling her heart with a heavy heat.
"Alright, go ahead."
Ruan Luoying withdrew her hand, and the boy immediately stood up. His hair could not hide his reddened ears. His steps were steady until he stepped out of the palace gate, when a hint of panic showed.
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Author's Note: Sister Tang posted on the Taihui Forum today: "What should I do if I suspect I have a teacher-student complex? Urgent! Will drinking traditional Chinese medicine help?"
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