NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6
Upon receiving Shen Shi’s message, everyone immediately stopped what they were doing and rushed to the mountain peak. Having skipped breakfast and run up the mountain path, the disciples, with their relatively shallow cultivation levels, were quite exhausted. Breathless upon reaching the top, they were surprised to see Shen Shi and Yue Li already there.
“Greetings, Master. Good morning,” they each said, bowing respectfully.
“Greetings, Senior Sister Yue Li. Good morning,” they also respectfully greeted Yue Li, an inner disciple.
After finishing their greetings, they stood there, panting and weak-kneed, their eyes inevitably drawn to Yue Li.
Yue Li, dressed in the white attire of an inner disciple, had a calm and gentle smile on her face. Her neatly arranged hair, embellished with a simple hairpin, flowed down to her waist, giving her an almost celestial appearance. She smiled, “Why are you all staring at me? There’s nothing on my face.”
Shen Shi, seated on the White Jade Warm Bed, appeared almost ready to doze off again, while the disciples looked at him, unsure of the reason for this assembly.
“Master, all the disciples are here,” Yue Li said softly, her eyes conveying a gentle warmth towards Shen Shi, especially considering the events of the previous day.
“Yes, from now on, I want to see you all here every morning. Each day, you are to practice here for an hour at dawn. Do you understand?” Shen Shi calmly addressed the disciples.
“Yes, Master,” they all responded, though somewhat puzzled by his sudden interest in their cultivation routines.
Shen Shi internally praised himself for taking steps to cultivate a positive image among his disciples, ensuring they wouldn’t speak ill of him to Xiao Qi and thus tarnish his reputation.
“Begin your cultivation,” instructed Shen Shi, giving the impression he was about to leave them to their practice.
Han Xian’er, however, looked reluctant. “Master, I should go back to my duties. I might disturb my sisters here.”
Shen Shi turned to look at Han Xian’er, who lowered her head in response. She remembered that Shen Shi had never imparted any cultivation techniques to her due to sensitive issues.
“How old are you now, Xian’er?” asked Shen Shi, who was now unburdened from such concerns.
“Fourteen, Master,” she replied, her tone laced with a hint of despair. At fourteen, many cultivators would have already started their journey, and her body’s meridians were almost set.
“Fourteen, that is indeed not young,” Shen Shi mused. He was surprised by her height, pondering if children in this world grew so quickly. Seeing the small stature of Cang Yu Ling, Shen Shi then reconsidered his thoughts.
Han Xian’er’s eyes dimmed further upon hearing Shen Shi’s words, seemingly losing hope. “Perhaps I am destined to be a servant on this mountain until my death, unable to save my mother.”
“You have fire and wood dual spiritual roots, right?” Shen Shi spoke up just as Han Xian’er was about to give up. “It’s not too late. With dedication, nothing is impossible.”
He encouraged her, his words stirring her spirits despite the tears in her eyes.
Shen Shi held her hand, which was rough from menial work, contrasting with his own which were soft, a result of his dual spiritual roots nourishing his body. He led her to the White Jade Warm Bed.
“Sit here,” he said with a smile.
Han Xian’er hesitated to sit where her Master usually did, out of respect and humility. She felt it was not her place as a disciple to sit alongside her Master.
“That’s okay. Sitting there will aid your cultivation,” Shen Shi insisted, though she remained unmoved by his words.
“Then I’ll sit beside it,” Han Xian’er said, her face still wet with tears, as she sat down beside the Warm Bed, smiling.
Touched by her gesture, Shen Shi patted her head encouragingly.
“Alright, if you insist,” he conceded, not wanting to pressure her further.
Shen Shi then sat on the Warm Bed himself, placing his hand on Han Xian’er’s head, and began reciting the incantations for the basic cultivation methods.
Yue Li and the others watched this harmonious scene in amazement.
“Is this really our Master?” Xuan Yu wondered aloud, unable to believe the transformation.
Cang Yu Ling, still nursing her swollen nose, looked on enviously at Han Xian’er.
Yue Li smiled wistfully, “You don’t know how gentle our Master used to be. But after certain events, he changed. Now, it seems he’s returning to his former self.”
“Was Master always so gentle?” Cang Yu Ling asked, curiosity piqued.
“Yes, but then things happened, and he changed. Now, it appears he’s emerging from those shadows,” Yue Li replied
, smiling.
As Shen Shi continued to recite the incantations, a gentle light enveloped Han Xian’er, who closed her eyes and entered a state of meditation.
“This method of direct initiation is a privilege not even inner disciples usually receive. It’s amazing that Master is using it on Xian’er,” Xuan Yu observed in awe.
“True,” agreed Yue Li. “With this initiation, the barriers impeding Xian’er will be removed. Considering her talent, she might catch up with us soon.”
“I want this from Master too!” Cang Yu Ling said, still eyeing Han Xian’er enviously.