The fragrance of damp silk robes
"Weeping in sorrow."
The True Man Xuantong silently recited the mantra, while Benben, fast asleep, lay on his lap.
With eyes that see in all directions and ears that hear in all directions, he knows everything that happens in the peach grove.
"Thank you for bestowing this name upon me, Senior Sister." Rong Yan beamed with joy, a stark contrast to her tearful demeanor just moments before.
"Cry of Sorrow." He tried to summon the spirit sword, and Cry of Sorrow flew out and plunged into the peach grove. In a flash of wind, a tree collapsed with a crash.
The ground was shaken up, and the petals fluttered down, landing on Rong Yan's shoulder.
Lin Yueyao slowly reached out and gently brushed it off.
The junior brother has grown up too fast. He used to be about waist height, but now his head is already up to her shoulder height.
His hair could only be styled into a loose bun, and because it reached his waist, it was half-tied up with many strands hanging down.
The fine, wispy strands of hair are soft and easy to manage.
Lin Yueyao stared at him, remaining silent.
Rong Yan then said, "The assessment is approaching, could you help me prepare?"
"What are you preparing?" Now that her resentment had subsided, Lin Yueyao's tone was calm, but her expression still appeared cold and distant.
"Just tell me what I need to prepare for the assessment, senior sister. I won't trouble you."
Logically speaking, asking Master Xuantong about these matters would be the same. This time, Lin Yueyao did not refuse. She turned and walked deeper into the peach grove.
The direction she walked was towards her bedroom.
No one ever approached Lin Yueyao's residence, not even Master Xuantong.
The master and disciple lived under the same roof. Although they were completely open with each other, they couldn't help but be influenced by the speculations of outsiders. Therefore, they always discussed matters in the Wenyuan Hall.
For the first time ever, Rong Yan was brought along, and Rong Yan carefully followed.
The area around the dormitory was kept clean, and there was a stream on the bank with a covered bridge over it. Under the bridge, there were plump trout.
The water source is Shuiyuntai, and the fish in the water grow by eating flower petals. They are spiritual and will beckon and swim closer, swaying their tails.
After crossing the covered bridge, you will find a building that looks like a small palace.
Lin Yueyao opened the door and went inside first.
The furnishings in the room looked messy, but upon closer inspection, one could find that there was an order to the chaos, with nothing else in the places where clothes were kept.
Lin Yueyao sat down awkwardly and frankly went to the left side of the bed to rummage through her things. Her eyes fell on the bed curtain, which was half-lifted and hanging at the head of the bed. Inside, there was a light fur coat and silk quilt, which smelled sweet.
I used to think that my senior sister was aloof and rarely showed her delicate, feminine side.
Suddenly noticing the woman's intimate belongings beside him, Rong Yan's face flushed, and he straightened his posture to hide his embarrassment.
You can't just look at this randomly.
After rummaging through the room for a while, Lin Yueyao placed various bottles and jars, talismans, knee pads, and a pair of boots on the table.
As her senior, it was only natural for her to prepare these things.
Even if she doesn't do it, Master Xuantong will make the preparations.
Between master and disciple, there has never been a distinction between "you" and "me".
"Are they all for me?"
"It will come in handy," she said, putting the items away and letting Rong Yan put them into the spirit pouch he carried with him.
Rong Yan did as instructed, listening to his senior sister's instructions as he put the medicine in.
"Use talismans to protect your body, apply ointment externally, and wear knee pads."
"Have you written it down?"
"I've written it all down." After putting everything away, Lin Yueyao left the room in front of him.
Sitting in the room, Rong Yan didn't dare to look around. Touching the heavy spirit pouch, he felt so happy because it was full of his senior sister's care for him.
She heard the sound of splashing water outside and followed the sound to her door. Lin Yueyao took off her shoes and socks, lifted her skirt, and revealed her feet as white as frost.
Actually, you don't need to go into the water. You can send someone to inquire about the situation, but if you don't handle it properly, the live fish will have a more delicious flavor, while the dead fish will taste much worse.
To ensure Rong Yan had enough food during the assessment period, Lin Yueyao personally went into the river to catch ingredients.
After standing on the bank for a while, Rong Yan rolled up his trousers and waded into the river.
The flowing water just covered the insteps and reached the calves, giving the feet a cool and stimulating sensation.
The siblings stood in the water, working together to catch the same fish.
The biggest difference between immortals and mortals, besides lifespan, the ability to subdue demons, and the ability to cultivate to become immortals, is the convenience in trivial matters; they don't have to do anything themselves.
Even when catching a fish, perhaps because her mind had been in turmoil these past few days, and also to avoid disturbing the fish, Lin Yueyao dipped her feet into the water without using her spiritual power.
Choosing to catch fish with your bare hands requires a lot of eyesight and agility.
A fathead fish swam between the two of them.
Both siblings saw it. Lin Yueyao gestured for him not to move. Just as she bent down and dipped her fingertips into the water, the fathead fish was completely unaware.
Rong Yan made a rash move, and the fathead fish swam away with a whoosh.
Lin Yueyao straightened up, expressionless, reached into the riverbed, scooped up some mud, and smeared it on his face.
"Senior Sister." Rong Yan, whose face was covered in smears, couldn't see clearly. He wanted to fight back, but the pebbles at the bottom of the river were too slippery. Instead of falling, he plopped down into the water.
He looked up at her with an innocent expression and pleading eyes, "Senior sister, I can't get up."
Lin Yueyao rolled her eyes at him, then reached out to save him. Rong Yan grabbed her hand and pulled her forcefully into the water.
"Thump—"
Water splashes everywhere, the summer breeze carries the fragrance of peach blossoms, and the cool river water wets your clothes, extinguishing the heat in your heart.
The two fell into the water, and the senior sister pinned half of his body down.
With his fire elemental root body burning hot, Rong Yan blushed and became somewhat delirious as he felt his senior sister's body temperature.
Lin Yueyao got off him, sat down calmly beside him, and splashed water in frustration.
A cool water droplet kissed her lips, and Rong Yan chuckled at her, retaliating in kind.
The riverside and the bedroom are Lin Yueyao's residences. Without the barrier of True Person Xuantong, no one would know what might happen.
With no one else in the world, I let down my guard and kept splashing water on the other person.
Having grown accustomed to her senior's cold demeanor, her current gritted teeth only added to her vividness.
Tired from fighting, Rong Yan lay down on the grass by the shore and sighed, "Senior Sister should smile more."
"You look so beautiful when you smile."
Lin Yueyao lay down beside him, her hair sticking to her forehead. After resting for a while and regaining her strength, she dragged Rong Yan into the water again and beat him up.
This is what happens when you plot against her.
Exhausted, Lin Yueyao collapsed onto the grass, giving a weak smile.
Sitting in the water, Rong Yan looked at her smile and unconsciously smiled back.
As the sun began to set, the two sat there until it got dark.
Rong Yan was soaked to the bone when he returned to the men's quarters. He even had to use the cold jade bed for the night, and unsurprisingly, he caught a cold.
Catching a cold during the hottest days of summer is the hardest thing to bear.
"How did you catch a cold?" Master Xuantong was throwing peaches in the peach grove.
The peaches were plump with pink flesh. I didn't eat many, but it was nice to wash them and give them to Benben.
Benben reverted to his original form, hopping around on all fours as he ran wildly through the woods.
Master Xuantong threw out a peach, and Benben jumped up, took a bite, ate it with great relish.
The peach contains a trace of spiritual power, which is just enough to neutralize the clumsy demonic nature.
“Master, it’s a wolf, not a dog,” Lin Yueyao repeated silently.
"Of course I know. This child is not bad-hearted. Keeping him around is just to keep me company and pass the time." Master Xuantong was still not finished. "My beloved disciple said that Xiao Yan'er is sick. What happened?"
"I went fishing yesterday and fell into the river," she explained calmly, while the howling of a clumsy wolf could be heard in her ears.
"Why would you catch fish for no reason?" The Misty Sect hasn't fallen so low that its disciples need to tighten their belts and rely on themselves.
The assessment is coming up soon, and it wouldn't be good if we missed it.
"Have you gone to see your junior brother?" Master Xuantong's gaze focused on Benben.
"I've seen it."
"I have a good medicine here. My dear disciple, please brew it for me and send it to Xiao Yan'er."
"It's already been delivered."
Master Xuantong was surprised, "My beloved disciple is becoming more and more composed in his actions. I am quite impressed."
"How long do you plan to play, sir?"
Benben wagged its tail and panted, looking nothing like a wolf demon; it had clearly been tamed into a watchdog.
"I know this demon was enlightened by my beloved disciple. Since the peach grove is short of a guard, let it stay here to temper its temperament. What do you think, my beloved disciple?"
She didn't care, but she was afraid that Rong Yan would be unhappy.
"It is Rong Yan's mount," Lin Yueyao repeated the fact.
"It was subdued by you, so whatever your beloved disciple says goes." Master Xuantong returned the choice to her. She glanced at her master; even the old man knew how to downplay the seriousness of the matter.
"......"
"Could it be that because you're so silly, your beloved disciple is going to favor Xiao Yan'er?" Master Xuantong smiled kindly.
Lin Yueyao gave him a complicated look. "I should be the one saying that."
"In my heart, my beloved disciple is naturally unmatched." He praised her, and then said, "Once Benben is properly trained, I will send her to Xiao Yan'er."
After saying that, he chased after Benben and left the spot.
With nothing else to do, Lin Yueyao went back to her room to meditate.
As the sun set, the vegetarian restaurant ordered food and sent it to Rong Yan.
After recuperating for these past few days, with herbal medicine taken without fail, Rong Yan's spirits have improved considerably.
He sat on the edge of the bed, frowned as he finished drinking the dark medicine, ate some food, and then asked about Benben.
Lin Yueyao explained, "She'll stay with her master and be sent back after a while."
"Senior sister, I'm afraid I won't pass the assessment."
He looked at her with concern, his bright eyes sparkling with uncertainty.
Lin Yueyao wasn't good at comforting people; she even found it difficult to smile, and her only moments of losing her composure were because of Rong Yan.
"No, he won't." She tucked him in and told him to go to sleep early.
"Really?" Rong Yan looked at her anxiously, "Senior sister wouldn't lie to me, would she?"
"No." She sat by the bed, watching over Rong Yan.
At some point, Rong Yan closed his eyes and fell asleep.
She got up, went outside, looked up at the sky. The moonlight was still bright; the summer moon was big and round, a perfect time for family reunion.
When did things change? She, who once hated evil spirits so much, actually kept Benben by her side, and even showed resentment because of her master's interference in her love life.
She did harbor resentment towards her master for his excessive concern for Rong Yan, but she also treated him with utmost sincerity because of his instructions.
Why is it that she can be so patient with such a little kid?
She got angry several times because of this brat, which is not like her usual style.
Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river.
Life is unpredictable, and there are many changes between people.
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