Regardless of what the other disciples were discussing in private, the Tenth Peak was really getting lively.
There were six new disciples, and three senior brothers took two of them each. At first, A Bao had been making it clear that he wanted to follow Wen Yun, but he couldn't find Wen Yun after going up the mountain, so he was taken away by the equally gloomy Bai Yushan.
The three masters of the Spirit Transformation Stage who were taking care of the children rolled up their sleeves and worked tirelessly to widen the courtyards at the foot of the mountain, until they looked much better.
However, Bai Yushan was very troubled.
He just pointed casually when passing by the woodshed and said to Abao: "That's the place your uncle Wen used to love to stay." Then the little girl took the quilt and went to sleep in the woodshed that night. When she came out the next day, her whole face was covered with cigarette ash, three points darker than before.
This is not the end. Several other children also always wanted to talk to Wen Yun, the protagonist of the legendary story, and they would look up all day long and ask when they could see Uncle Wen.
Xu Wanfeng was so annoyed that he could not do anything until late at night. He took a pot of wine and went to Yue Xingzhou's yard halfway up the mountain. He never expected that as soon as he came in, he saw Bai Yushan with the same bitter face.
The three brothers gathered together, looked at each other, and finally all let out a long sigh.
"Too miserable." Xu Wanfeng consciously filled the glass for his senior brother, pouring out all his complaints at this moment: "I originally wanted to ask Ziyun to go watch the sunrise, but now I have to take care of the children every morning. If I continue to take care of them, it will be winter soon. I am afraid that I won't be able to see the sun anymore."
It’s not that these children are naughty or spoiled. These children from poor backgrounds are the most diligent and sensible. However, no matter how sensible they are, they are still children. These old men who are hundreds of years old are also accepting disciples for the first time. They have no idea how to teach them.
Can such a young child get up before dawn to practice swordplay like an adult? Should he learn how to absorb spiritual power first or practice swordplay first? How should I explain to them why they can’t call the white-haired old man at the Ninth Peak next door “grandfather” but should call him “nephew”
As a teacher, there can't be any ambiguity.
Yue Xingzhou said nothing. He tilted his head back and drank the wine in the glass in one gulp. It was obvious that the experience of taking care of the children in the past two days had made him very desperate.
Bai Yushan hesitated and said, "I think they all like Junior Sister Wen very much. Besides, she is younger than us and not much different in age from these kids. Why not ask her to teach?"
Speaking of Wen Yun, the three of them looked up at the top of the mountain in unison. That was the cave where Ye Shubai had been in seclusion before. Outside the cave was an extremely elegant courtyard, where Wen Yun lived now.
It was obvious that most of these kids came for her, but she was too lazy to come down after going up. They didn't dare to go up to look for her, so they could only accept their fate and do the hard work.
"Junior Sister Wen is so loved by Master. I remember that he likes quietness and we are not allowed to go up to disturb him when there is nothing to do. She can actually live upstairs." Bai Yushan sighed, and his words were full of sourness, and he did not hide his envy at all.
Yue Xingzhou smiled kindly and coaxed his junior apprentice: "Yushan, you and I are both hundreds of years old, and Junior Sister Wen is just a child in her teens. Not only does the master have to take good care of Junior Sister, but we also have to take good care of her."
Bai Yushan nodded solemnly in agreement, but when talking about Wen Yun's age, he couldn't help but sigh, "Junior Sister Wen is so abnormal. I thought it was amazing that Master had formed a Nascent Soul at the age of thirty, but she has also formed a Nascent Soul at the age of fifteen or sixteen. No wonder Master values Junior Sister so much."
"Yes, that's why Master always keeps her by his side and teaches her personally, right?"
The two of them drank as they talked. Xu Wanfeng ate some melon seeds and fell into deep thought after hearing these words. He touched his chin and spoke hesitantly, "That being said, why do I always feel that Master's attitude towards Junior Sister is not normal?"
"After all, she is a female disciple, so she must be different from the three of us."
"No, the problem is that Master doesn't treat Junior Sister Wen like a disciple at all!"
Seeing the blank looks of the other two, Xu Wanfeng cracked melon seeds quickly while explaining to the two old bachelors earnestly: "I also have some past events that I cannot share with outsiders. You two should know them well, so I am very discerning when it comes to sex between men and women."
"Master... There's something wrong with the look in Junior Sister Wen's eyes. The tone he uses when talking to her isn't right either. Even the posture he uses when standing next to her isn't right."
He thought he had spoken directly enough, but the two men were still confused.
Xu Wanfeng threw away the melon seed shells, clapped his hands and whispered, "It seems to me that our Master has some unusual thoughts about Junior Sister Wen!"
“Bang—”
Bai Yushan was so frightened that the huge sword in his hand fell and hit his foot. He still sat there in shock before he could react.
Yue Xingzhou finally got a chance to drink two glasses of wine. He was drunk and burped. His face turned red and he slammed the table: "Really... this is outrageous. I don't approve of this marriage!"
"Oh?" Xu Wanfeng's eyes lit up, and he instantly felt that he had sensed something unusual, so he immediately asked, "Why don't you agree? Do you have any hidden agenda towards Junior Sister Wen?"
"Junior Sister Wen, she—" Yue Xingzhou was drunk and mumbled angrily: "She is only sixteen years old, she is still a child, how could Master have the heart to do that to her!"
As he was talking, he shakily performed a sword-controlling technique, burping as he leaped onto the flying sword, still saying proudly that he would make the master realize that he couldn't treat the little girl like this...
Xu Wanfeng's face changed drastically, and he secretly said "Oh no!" He actually forgot what his senior brother would be like when he was drunk. He quickly called Bai Yushan to chase him back. However, Yue Xingzhou was his senior brother after all, and his cultivation would increase dramatically every time he got drunk. So the two of them tried their best to drive their flying swords, but they couldn't catch up with the man who flew to the top of the mountain without hesitation. They could only vaguely hear his voice of courting death.
"Master, please let Junior Sister Wen go. Please don't be disrespectful to your elders!"
Wen Yun originally lived in the woodshed just to guard the huge pile of precious wood. Now that the woodshed is empty and full of mustard seed sacks, of course he would not force himself to sleep in it anymore.
It just so happened that Ye Shubai had a soul contract with her and they couldn't be too far away, so she simply occupied the latter's villa with a clear conscience and lived there peacefully. As for Ye Shubai, he also had the intention of becoming a sword spirit, so he obediently moved to the small house next door.
This yard was very nice, almost exactly the same as the small courtyard where she had stayed in his memory. Even the white plum tree was transplanted here. Five hundred years had passed, and the originally slender and delicate trunk had become much thicker. It was not yet winter, and the slightly yellow branches and leaves had not fallen completely, hanging gracefully on the wooden roof. Like the owner of the yard, it was exceptionally beautiful and dignified.
The trees can grow stronger with the passage of time, but the mattresses in the room need to be replaced with new ones.
Wen Yun has been missing for the past few days. In fact, he was not hiding on the top of the mountain discussing swordsmanship or magic with Ye Shubai, but instead took him out of the mountain gate quietly and went to the nearest Wanbao Pavilion to bring back a lot of good things.
The newly brought back bed was carved from deep-sea soft stone. It was said to be warm in winter and cool in summer, and it was also soft in texture. With a bed, there had to be bedding, which was made of natural silk and was light as a feather. The pillow was even more amazing, not an ordinary porcelain or wooden pillow, but Wen Yun's favorite soft pillow, filled with soft crane down.
All of them were fine items custom-made by Wen Yun privately. The styles and materials were all specified by her, and they were worth tens of thousands of spiritual jades. Of course, Ye Shubai took out the mustard seed bag.
Wen Yun placed these things one by one in the main room, then lay down on them and rolled around. He sighed with satisfaction and said, "Try it. Is this bed more comfortable than the ones you slept on before?"
Ye Shubai stood at the door but didn't come in. His figure was half hidden outside the dark door. "I won't go in. You should get some rest. I'll call you to practice sword tomorrow."
Wen Yun wanted to share this precious bed he designed with others, so he waved to Ye Shubai and said, "Don't leave. Come and lie down for a while. I'll give you my seat."
As she spoke, she stood up and moved. Ye Shubai was silent for a while, but still sat on the edge of the bed as she was told, but his back was straight and his eyes were not looking to the side, looking extremely dignified and old-fashioned.
Wen Yun couldn't bear to watch this. How could he appreciate the benefits of the new bed like this? She simply taught him to sit on the bed and jump, and asked proudly, "How is it? Is it comfortable?"
Ye Shubai was sitting uncomfortably on the side, and said stiffly: "Comfortable."
Just as he finished speaking, a blazing fire suddenly lit up outside, and a tremendous amount of spiritual power surged in and rushed straight into the yard.
At the same time, Yue Xingzhou's loud rebuke rang out: "Master! How could you do such a beastly thing!"
The two windows in this room are very large. When they are opened, you can see the green mountains and clouds. With the moonlight and the breeze, the view is vast and far-reaching. It couldn't be more wonderful.
Of course, having too broad a vision has its downsides.
For example, Yue Xingzhou saw the scene clearly at this moment, and for a moment he angrily blamed his master: "Junior Sister Wen is only fifteen years old, and you actually have improper intentions towards her. This is unacceptable!"
Wen Yun had already smelled the alcohol on him, and while climbing out the window to help him, he corrected him, "It's sixteen. I'll be sixteen after tonight. Why, Senior Brother, are you going to give me a birthday present?"
However, Yue Xingzhou ignored him and only advised his master with great sorrow not to harm the little girl.
Fortunately, Xu Wanfeng and Bai Yushan arrived at this time. The two of them lowered their heads, not daring to look Ye Shubai in the face. They carried the eldest brother on their backs and fled down the mountain while apologizing for the crime.
The courtyard returned to silence. Even the crow on the branch was startled by Yue Xingzhou's movement and flew away. Only Wen Yun was left standing there with a slightly embarrassed look on his face, pondering what the senior brother had just said.
"I think he may have some misunderstandings and is unaware of the simple relationship between us." Wen Yun covered his lips and coughed, looking at Ye Shubai uncomfortably. The latter had walked out of the yard at some point, but the light was extremely dim where he was standing, so he couldn't tell the expression on his face.
He said nothing and stood silently in the night wind.
In order to ease the stagnant atmosphere, Wen Yun had no choice but to continue talking nonsense: "How about this, I'll move down with the bed when it's daybreak. I heard that the new kids like me, so I can get close to them..."
Before he finished speaking, Ye Shubai stopped him: "No need."
He paused before continuing, "It's just Xingzhou's drunken talk. Don't take it seriously."
Wen Yun was actually too lazy to move. She always liked to get up in the middle of the night to try out some strange magic when it was quiet. It was not convenient to move in crowded places. Since Ye Shubai said so, she no longer insisted.
This time she didn't drag him along to play around. She said goodbye politely and wanted to stay in her room. But she had only taken half a step inside when Ye Shubai, who was standing in the courtyard, suddenly called her, "Wen Yun."
Looking back, he did not mention what happened just now, but said gently: "Tomorrow is your birthday, I have a gift for you."
Wen Yun was an open-minded and realistic person. His attention was immediately drawn to him. He turned around and ran to stand beside him, looking up expectantly and asked, "Are you going to retrieve the 100,000 spirit jades that I turned into ashes?"
“…” Ye Shubai was speechless for a moment.
She smiled at his reaction and tugged at his sleeve to comfort him: "I was just teasing you. You don't need to pay 100,000 spiritual jades. I'll be happy with anything you give me."
This was true. Wen Yun had always been alone. He couldn't even tell how old he was in his previous life. He could only remember a rough estimate. He had no idea of his exact birthday. He only vaguely remembered that it was in winter.
So every year when the first snow of winter fell, the little fire dragon would get out of the dragon bone wand and transform into its original form, sneaking into the treasury of a king or the cabinet of a noble, and taking out the sparkling gems as a birthday present for Wen Yun.
It was the only one that would give her a gift.
Just as she thought of Charmander, she saw Ye Shubai reaching out his hand to her. At the same time, a golden flame lit up from the darkness.
Lying peacefully in the palm of his hand was a small piece of bone, which had absorbed enough magical power without anyone knowing when. Its original bleak color that looked like it would turn to ashes at any time faded away and turned into a gorgeous golden color, emitting wisps of golden light from time to time. It was obviously a top-notch treasure.
"Huh? It has recovered so well!" Wen Yun took the dragon bone from Ye Shubai in surprise. She originally thought that the little fire dragon would take decades to recover, but she didn't expect it to recover so quickly!
But soon, she sensed an extremely familiar force of law on the dragon bone...
Is this the law of life and death
Wen Yun's own body had long been smashed to pieces by the turbulence of time and space, and the dragon bone staff that entered the magic circle with her did not escape the same fate. Only this small piece of bone remained.
Unfortunately, it was even more unlucky. It was transported back five hundred years in time in the turbulence of time and space, and was brought to a magic world without any magic power by a magic cultivator. If Wen Yun had arrived a little later, the last bit of the little fire dragon's soul would have dissipated.
It would probably take another five hundred years for it to recover by absorbing magic power on its own. Even if the giant magic stone was used up, it might not be enough. Now that it can recover so quickly, it can only be done by mastering the way of life and death.
"You said before that you could save it. Does that mean you can use the power of the law of life and death?" Wen Yun's heart tightened. She looked up at Ye Shubai in panic, with extremely complicated emotions in her heart.
She also mastered the power of laws, so she naturally knew that this kind of divine power was not something that mortals could easily use. It was fine to use it for a short period of time like when she bound Elder Ouyang before, but if she used it for a long time, she would be taking a huge risk.
Wen Yun still remembers the light that seemed like a divine punishment after she used all her strength to cast the forbidden spell using the laws of time and space. That light caused the originally error-free forbidden spell of time and space to become extremely chaotic, and completely wiped out her existence in the magic world.
She also remembered the saying that was circulated among many magicians at the time - the power of law can only be touched by gods.
The rich laws of life and death on the dragon bones obviously took a lot of effort to save. Whenever she thought about the risks Ye Shubai had been taking for his staff spirit these days, she felt very uncomfortable.
She looked up at Ye Shubai, and for a moment she didn't know what to say. She just felt a myriad of thoughts surge up in her mind, feeling both happy and worried.
Ye Shubai lowered his head and looked at the sadness on Wen Yun's face. His eyes were heavy and he said calmly, "I'm fine. Tomorrow is your birthday. It's a rare occasion for you to be together. Let him spend it with you."
He glanced at the dragon bone again and said calmly: "Now that you can reveal yourself, come out. Don't let her worry about you."
As soon as the words fell, a dazzling flame suddenly burst out from the dragon bone, and a very arrogant voice of a young man came out from it: "Oh, only a supreme being as powerful as me can be reborn in that flame..."
It muttered a lot and finally snorted. Wen Yun could even imagine the fat dragon's head held high.
"Now you can kneel down and greet my return, stupid magician!"
Although he said this, the flame twisted but never took on a human form.
Wen Yun looked again and again, but still didn't see the familiar Fat Dragon. She wondered: "Why don't you come out and let him see what you look like."
The little fire dragon snorted: "I am the blood of gods, how can I let mortals see me!"
As soon as these words came out, Wen Yun immediately flicked his finger at the keel: "Get out and kowtow to your savior to apologize!"
The little fire dragon muttered something in dragon language, and Wen Yun cursed back in dragon language, his tone was extremely fierce, yet extremely intimate.
Wen Yun was no longer the cold and arrogant person he appeared to be in front of outsiders. The expression on his face and the tone of his voice were all the same straightforwardness that he had only shown to himself before.
It turns out that she is not like this only in front of him.
Ye Shubai stood there, watching the scene quietly. It seemed as if a piece of solid ice was falling heavily in his chest, so cold that it froze his blood and pierced his heart causing dull pain.
The night wind had grown much colder without him noticing. He took a step back, turned around, and completely disappeared into the shadows where the moonlight could not find him. He walked away from her step by step with his back to her.
At this moment, Wen Yunqing shouted: "The grace of saving my life is like reborn as a parent. From today on, he is your father!"
A flame suddenly rose from behind Ye Shubai, and another young boy cried unwillingly, "Don't hit me! I know, I know, I'll go over and repay you right away!"
Ye Shubai paused for a moment.
He felt an unusually strong wind blowing from behind him, and all the dead leaves and gravel on the ground flew towards him in a mess.
Looking again, he saw that the moonlight was bright above his head. In the moonlight, he saw a terrifyingly large shadow looming over his head.
It is indeed big and scary.
He had never seen a human figure before... He looked like a fat pig with wings.