Chapter 968 - 455: Returning to the Sect; Breaking Free to Become a Butterfly

Hearing their master’s promise, the disciples all broke into bright smiles.

Speaking of which,

for them, they’d had many "homes" along the way, but Lisong Valley was the most peaceful one.

Back in Yunxi District, they had been far too poor;

at Lingyin Sect, they were all terribly busy—Master had many tasks, and the disciples had to study on Baopu Peak.

But in Lisong Valley,

all they needed to do was run wild all over the mountains to their hearts’ content.

Their master was the Valley Master of Lisong Valley, so that made the disciples the little tyrants of Lisong Valley!

How could that not be carefree?

Before long, plate after plate of fragrant, colorful, and delicious mortal dishes were brought to the table like flowing water.

Roast chicken, soy-braised pork knuckle, steamed perch... Mortal food contained barely any Spiritual Qi, but it made up for that with rich flavor and an abundance of homely warmth. Qing Jun turned into a food-guarding tiger, attacking from both sides, eating to her heart’s content.

Zhiwei and Jin’er weren’t gluttonous by nature, but they relished the atmosphere of sharing a meal with their master.

Chen Ye picked up a piece of fish and carefully savored its mortal flavor, his state of mind growing ever calmer.

The five-colored little sphere inside his body was slowly rotating. With each turn, it drew a wisp of pure Spiritual Qi from the void, automatically nourishing his limbs and bones.

This feeling of growing stronger at every moment without even needing to go into seclusion was truly wonderful.

"Now that matters here are settled, Emotion Crossing Sect is worn out dealing with the Li Family, and the war between Yan and Qi may finally pause for a while. Once Brother Bai... tsk, what should I call him, anyway? Brother Bai? Or Elder Bai, True Man Bai? Forget it. Once my old father-in-law wakes up, Lingyin Sect will have another main pillar, and there’ll be many things I won’t need to worry about."

"In that case, I’ll finally be able to settle down and cultivate for a few years... Since I’ve rescued my old father-in-law, the sect probably won’t assign me any more tasks."

Chen Ye thought to himself.

He decided that once he returned to the sect, he’d go into seclusion for several years, staying there until he broke through to Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer.

By the time he emerged, perhaps these three little ones before his eyes would have turned into two "big ones" and one little one.

"Huh? Master, why did you just look at Qing Jun with such disdain!"

The little girl was a bit upset.

Detestable Master!

He already dared despise Qing Jun now; she didn’t dare imagine what he might dare do in the future!

That was what she thought in her heart, but her hands sneakily pulled out a small mirror. She looked left and right—she was still as carved-jade-and-pink-cheeked, as cute and charming as ever!

Could it be that when she’d been gnawing on the soy-braised pork knuckle just now, she’d gotten sauce on her face, and Master disliked her for not being ladylike enough?

"You little thing, what goes on in that head of yours all day long?"

Chen Ye flicked the little girl’s smooth forehead, then took a handkerchief and wiped the grease from the corner of her mouth.

"Your master’s just afraid you’ll eat too much, and once we get back to Lisong Valley, you’ll be so fat you’re a round ball who can’t even fly up a hill!"

"Ow!"

Qing Jun grumbled in wounded protest,

"Qing Jun is never gonna get fat like a ball. Qing Jun is still growing. I’m gonna grow taller than Senior Sister!"

Hmph!

If she wasn’t growing taller now, it was definitely because Master kept hitting her head every day.

Granny Li had said before,

you can’t hit a child’s head, or they won’t grow tall!

Zhiwei just shook her head fondly and picked up a piece of fish belly to put into Qing Jun’s bowl.

In truth...

she actually envied Qing Jun for being able to stay small forever.

Chen Ye withdrew his hand with a smile.

He picked up the Spirit Tea by his side, took a light sip, then turned his gaze to Qin Jiaming, who was sitting next to him, propping her cheek with one hand and watching their master-disciple banter with a gentle smile.

When this demoness quieted down, dressed in a red dress with a delicate, pretty face, she really did look like an innocent girl-next-door.

But Chen Ye knew very well what kind of troublemaker this girl was at her core.

Now that this farewell meal was almost over, it was time to ask about her plans and part ways as soon as possible, so she wouldn’t get in the way of his future grand plan of quiet cultivation at Lingyin.

"Divine Son..."

"Mm, big brother, I’m not a Divine Son now, you know. Just call me Jiaming."

"Miss Qin..."

"Ah, big brother, have you forgotten so quickly who it was that saved you? And who it was that shared one-ninth of her fortune with big brother? And who it was that helped big brother clean out Tuoba Zhenshi’s treasures?"

"...Jiaming, we’re now deep in the Yan Kingdom’s heartland; those people from the Qi Kingdom could never chase us this far. What plans do you have next? Are you planning to travel around the Yan Kingdom for a while, or find some hidden place to go into seclusion and restore your cultivation?"

It’d be best if she left quickly, each going their own way, forgetting each other in the rivers and lakes!

Chen Ye prayed in his heart.

Hearing Chen Ye’s words, the disciples who were busy eating all pricked up their ears, each with a different expression.

Qing Jun’s eyes stayed fixed on the food, her chopsticks motionless. If not for her ears twitching a little, one might really suspect this girl had been struck on an acupoint.

Jin’er secretly glanced over, nervously twisting the hem of her clothes, as if listening to some matter of life and death for their master-disciple relationship.

Even Zhiwei, who seemed calm on the surface, pressed her thin lips together slightly, clearly caring in her heart.

Qin Jiaming took in the reactions of all four master and disciples.

If it were an ordinary person, they’d probably feel uneasy at a time like this.

But her smile only grew, a hint of slyness flashing in her eyes.

The girl gently set down her bamboo chopsticks, rested her cheeks in both hands, put on a pitiful look, and said softly:

"Big brother’s words are really heartless. Jiaming is homeless now, you know. I definitely can’t go back to Emotion Crossing Sect. If that old hag finds out I took off with the precious pill, she’ll skin me alive. And here in the Yan Kingdom, Jiaming doesn’t know a soul; I have no one to rely on..."

Here, she deliberately drew out her words, looking at Chen Ye with smiling eyes:

"So of course Jiaming is going back to Lingyin Sect with big brother!"