Chapter 24 (1/2)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Clang!

Clang!

In the quiet afternoon, the Immortal Du Sect’s smooth, thin mountain-protecting array formation covered the land.

A series of rhythmic blows echoed throughout the Little Qiong Peak—the mountain which was a great deal shorter than the rest.

In the forest five kilometers north of the three straw huts by the lake, a huge tree shook with every blow.

A young lady stood under the tree. She was dressed in her training attire, which was embroidered with orchids and gra.s.s. Her hair was tied up with purple silk. Currently, she was waving her big axe non-stop. Yet, she looked inexplicably graceful.

Through gritted teeth, this young woman spoke with ‘kind regards’.

“You won’t let me use Dharmic powers, what if my bulging muscles grow on my legs and arms?! I’m a female cultivator! Really… and you said you would watch me log. Where are you?! You’ve gone back to meditate! Hmph, stinky Senior Brother. I will uproot you, break your trunks and branches, cut off your roots and leave no inch of gra.s.s behind! Break!”

Crack!

The old tree swayed back and forth slowly, before it finally tumbled to the ground, scaring all of the birds in the forest.

All of a sudden, she heard a voice from behind her.

“Are you… Little Ling’e?”

Lan Ling’e jumped up, holding her axe. Immediately, she became cautious. When she landed on the ground, she turned around and looked up at the person floating in the air. For some reason, she looked familiar.

The female immortal was seated cross-legged on a ten-feet-long wine gourd, and was dressed in a dirty-looking hemp garment. ‘D*mn, her hemp garment looks like it’s going to be torn apart at any moment. Oh, so it’s Aunt-Master Jiu Jiu!’

Lan Ling’e quickly set her axe down and cupped her hands in a Dao salute towards Aunt-Master Jiu Jiu. In the back of her mind, she recalled several model greetings that her senior brother had taught her. From among them, she chose the most appropriate one and gently said, “Your disciple Ling’e pays her greetings to Aunt-Master Jiu Jiu. Your disciple’s cultivation is low, and I did not welcome you fast enough. Please forgive me, Aunt-Master.”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry. Don’t stand on ceremony,” replied Jiu Jiu. Immediately, she developed a liking towards this martial niece standing underneath her, who was polite and courteous with her words.

Jiu Jiu kept her huge wine gourd and jumped down from the sky.

“Is your Senior Brother here? I am looking for him.”

“Senior Brother should be cultivating,” answered Lan Ling’e gently and submissively. “Aunt-Master, may I invite you to go in and wait, while I ask Master to come out of seclusion to welcome you? This humble house always falls short in showing hospitality. Aunt-Master, please forgive us.”

“Ai, don’t go to all that trouble. I came just to look for your Senior Brother. Your Master is about to ascend to immortality. Let him stay in seclusion, and don’t disturb him.”

Jiu Jiu waved her hand, and then turned around to survey her surroundings. “Little Ling’e, what are you logging for?”

“It’s a method of cultivation. Aunt-Master, I have embarra.s.sed myself in front of you.”

Lan Ling’e’s reply came quickly and naturally. Yet, she felt confused inside.

‘What is this Martial Aunt looking for my Senior Brother for?’

Cultivators enjoyed long lifespans after ascending to immortality. There were also many cross-generational Dao couples in the sect.

The martial aunt standing in front of Lan Ling’e had a beautiful face and a full figure. Although she looked unkempt, she was naturally pretty, and had great potential as well.

‘More importantly, Aunt-Master Jiu Jiu went on an expedition with Senior Brother before… Something’s fishy!’

Lan Ling’e immediately became wary. The cogs in her mind spun, as she thought of a way to find out why Jiu Jiu was here.

However, before she could speak, several waves appeared in the ground a short distance from her. Li Changshou’s figure slowly emerged. Then, he cupped his hands and bowed to Jiu Jiu.

Shortly after, Jiu Jiu and Li Changshou were seated cross-legged at either side of the short table in Li Changshou’s straw hut.

Jiu Jiu had come to give Li Changshou his reward for this Priming Meet. At the same time, she brought Jiang Jingshan’s thank-you gift to Li Changshou. Two storage Dharma treasures sat on the sort table.

Li Changshou did not stand on ceremony and accepted them both.

In the storage ring that Uncle-Master Jiang gave to him, Li Changshou saw a hill of Dharma treasures and spirit stones. His heart filled with appreciation.

As he surveyed the Little Qiong Peak’s earth meridians earlier, Li Changshou worried about the resources he would need to build the various array formations. However, after receiving Uncle-Master Jiang’s gift, half of his problems were solved.

Li Changshou asked, “Aunt-Master, why didn’t you go to the South Continent?”

“Ai!” Jiu Jiu sighed. Listlessly, she slumped on the table. Her eyes looked dull. “I wanted to go and play around, but when I got back to the mountain, they questioned and reprimanded me until now. I just came out from the Punishment Hall. I’m worrying now. The elders have punished me with an alcohol ban lasting three years. Ah, they might as well tie me to the Lightning-Conducting Pillar to be struck for three years…”

Li Changshou could not help but smile. It was only then that he realized Jiu Jiu’s little Dharma wine gourd was gone. The elders of the sect must have taken it away.

Just then, Lan Ling’e entered the house carrying tea. When she saw this scene, she pursed her lips.

‘They look so casual. This Martial Aunt gets along so well with Senior Brother. There is something wrong with her indeed.’

Lan Ling’e served the tea, and then carried her own meditation cus.h.i.+on to her senior brother’s side. She knelt down and sat on her feet obediently, and even intentionally placed her arm on her senior brother.

Jiu Jiu saw this and stared at Li Changshou. “Eh? Changshou, your condition?”

“Nothing happens when Junior Sister touches me. I think it’s because we have known each other for a long time,” replied Li Changshou calmly. “When females other than Junior Sister touch me, I will start to convulse.”

“Cough! Cough, cough!”

Lan Ling’e began coughing uncontrollably. Her pained expression could probably be attributed to her efforts to try and keep in her laughter.

“Oh, I see.”

Jiu Jiu did not become suspicious. She remained slumped on the table as she sighed listlessly. Both her eyes were still devoid of light.

“Three years. How can I endure three years? How can I go into seclusion without wine? How can I cultivate? I won’t even be able to sleep. I will have no energy to do anything. This rascal, Yuan Qing. Why did he have to set all of these up? He could have just gotten himself into trouble. Now, I have to endure three years of punishment as well.”

Li Changshou frowned and pondered deeply as he rubbed his chin and sighed.

When Lan Ling’e saw this expression on her senior brother’s face, she instinctively moved aside and sat upright. She looked steadily forward, not daring to say a single word.