Morning.
Lin Zhao, carrying two bags of spiritual rice, brought Nü Zhi and Gu Yanshu to visit Danxia Mountain. As soon as they reached the summit, Xu Ming'an flew out from the main hall. Upon seeing Xu Ming'an, Lin Zhao's eyes lit up. He handed the spiritual rice to Nü Zhi, circled around Xu Ming'an, and examined him. "Well, well, you've broken through! A Grand Cultivator of the Sixth Realm!"
"Ah..."
Xu Ming'an scratched his head, embarrassed. "Yes, I've finally reached the Sixth Realm. I'm ashamed... Please don't call me a Grand Cultivator; I know my own limitations!"
Inside the Taoist temple, two young Taoist acolytes, Xiao Man and Xiao Han, also rushed out. Seeing Lin Zhao, they both solemnly clasped their hands in greeting and then shouted happily, "Brother Lin Zhao!"
"Mhm, mhm."
Lin Zhao patted the heads of the two children. "I've come this time to give you two children some spiritual rice, two big bags. This should last you a long time."
"We haven't finished the last batch yet."
Xu Ming'an said, "The children don't eat that much."
"You'll eat with us this time," Lin Zhao said.
"Me?"
Xu Ming'an pointed a finger at himself, looking incredulous.
"Your cultivation realm is so low; you need to eat more spiritual rice to cultivate well," Lin Zhao raised his eyebrows and smiled. "Didn't someone just say they knew their own limitations? And now you really think you're a Grand Cultivator..."
Xu Ming'an said awkwardly, "Alright, then I'll have a bowl every day."
"Mhm."
Lin Zhao nodded.
"Stay for lunch, although it's still early," Xu Ming'an said. "I'll kill two chickens at noon and make a big pot of chicken with edamame. I'll also check the fish traps by the stream. If there are fish, I'll make a fish stew, and then some other dishes."
"Mhm, whatever works."
Lin Zhao smiled. "I'm not picky about food."
At this moment, Xu Ming'an looked at Gu Yanshu and was surprised, "Who is this?"
"Don't worry about it."
Lin Zhao smiled. "Just entertain me and Nü Zhi."
"Okay."
Xu Ming'an smiled happily. "I'm going to check the fish traps. Do you want to come with me?"
"Sure, let's go!"
"Alright!"
The two friends immediately descended the mountain path. As for Nü Zhi, she stayed behind to help look after Xiao Man and Xiao Han. Chi Zhongyu sat further away, greeted Lin Zhao, and continued to cultivate his sword intent. From afar, Chi Zhongyu glanced at Gu Yanshu and, for no reason, felt an urge to cut him down with his sword.
Gu Yanshu, carrying the Xünlu Sword on his back, had a cold glint in his eyes. In fact, when he saw Xu Ming'an, he knew that this person must be Lin Zhao's friend. Their personalities were similar; they appeared as gentle as water and detached from worldly affairs, but in reality, they were calculating and harbored hidden intentions. If one were to call Xu Ming'an simple-minded, that would be true, but in Gu Yanshu's eyes, this person was as naive as a fool and would eventually meet an ugly end.
As for Chi Zhongyu, Gu Yanshu met his gaze and felt that this person deserved to die.
...
On the mountainside, by the stream.
Although Xu Ming'an was now the master of Danxia Mountain, with the land deed for the entire Danxia Mountain issued by Chen Xi of Yunzhou, and Xu Ming'an continuously refining pills, the Danxia Sect was no longer lacking in money. However, Xu Ming'an was truly simple-minded. He preferred a life of tranquility and non-action, not wanting to be too influenced by the mundane world. Therefore, the mundane affairs of the Danxia Sect were largely handled by the elders, while Xu Ming'an focused on alchemy. He personally took care of his food and daily living. The esteemed Sect Master personally checked fish traps and killed chickens to entertain his best friend.
"Ah..."
Lin Zhao picked up a fish trap. "There's a goby in here, not small at all. It'll be delicious braised or in soup. And there's a loach. Let's cut it into pieces and cook it together."
"Either is fine, either is fine."
Xu Ming'an smiled. Lin Zhao's sudden visit today made him worried about not having enough good food to entertain. Now, with these fish traps full, there was enough for a feast. So, Lin Zhao was responsible for unloading the catch, while Xu Ming'an took a willow branch and threaded the fish onto it one by one. Lin Zhao, with his extensive experience, immediately processed a few fish, throwing the unused innards back into the fish trap as bait. He then picked a few fruits from a tree to use as bait and put all the fish traps back.
Afterward, Xu Ming'an carried the two strings of fish. A pot-stewed fish and a bowl of fish soup for lunch were now guaranteed.
On the mountain.
Nü Zhi stood by the cliff, with Xiao Man and Xiao Han playing behind her. She didn't pay them too much attention. Further away, Chi Zhongyu still sat with his eyes closed, cultivating his sword intent. As for Gu Yanshu, for some unknown reason, he sat with his arms crossed, watching Xiao Man and Xiao Han play hopscotch. He squinted at the young girl and said, "Your name is Xiao Han?"
"Mhm!"
"Oh~~~"
Gu Yanshu casually probed the girl's state of mind and said, "You're already so beautiful at such a young age. When you grow up, you'll surely be a great beauty. Xiao Han, listen to me. When you grow up, never trust a man's words. Men have always been fickle. If you grow up to be a beauty, never believe anything a man says unless he gives you enough gold. Otherwise, everything he says is a lie! Take my advice, a man who doesn't spend money on you doesn't truly like you."
"Oh..."
Xiao Han didn't quite understand, but she felt that this uncle's words made some sense.
Gu Yanshu looked at the young boy, Xiao Man, and said, "Xiao Man, listen to my advice too. Cultivate well and don't think about anything else. When you grow up, stay away from women. Brothers are like limbs, and women are like clothes. Especially those women on the mountain, they are all very arrogant. If you pursue them, they won't take you seriously. On the contrary, if you focus on cultivating and reach a high realm, with your arms full of gold, countless women on the mountain will flock to you. You must never fall in love with any woman in the world. Once you do, your Dao heart will be shattered, just like that waste over there."
"???"
Chi Zhongyu opened his eyes, his whole body radiating killing intent.
Just then, a figure floated down and landed beside Gu Yanshu. A light punch sent Gu Yanshu flying, spitting blood. He was then suspended on a tree by a strand of Nü Zhi's sword intent, unable to move.
Lin Zhao's gaze was icy. He glanced at Gu Yanshu from a distance, his killing intent intensifying.
"Kill me!"
Gu Yanshu laughed tragically. "You want to use me to temper your Dao heart? Dream on! I, Gu Yanshu, can die, but I will never be a pawn on someone else's chessboard."
"Be quiet."
Nü Zhi immediately sent another strand of sword intent to seal Gu Yanshu's mouth.
Lin Zhao took a deep breath, feeling a headache. He rubbed Xiao Man and Xiao Han's heads on either side. "Alright, don't listen to that person. The words of someone who has gone astray are filled with worldly malice."
"Mhm."
Xiao Man and Xiao Han nodded together.
Lin Zhao crouched down, looking at the two children, and said, "In this world, whether men or women, they should be independent and love themselves. Our lives are long, and we will meet many people, and also meet people who make our hearts flutter. If you like each other, you should strive to be together. After all, life is very short, and it passes in the blink of an eye. Don't leave yourself with too many regrets. As for whether the other person's cultivation realm is high or if they have a lot of gold, are these important? As long as you like each other, this liking is enough. As for conditions like cultivation realm or gold, if you consider them too much, it will no longer be pure liking. There are many things in this world, but true affection is rare. When you encounter it, cherish it."
"Mhm!"
Xiao Han nodded vigorously. She understood a lot and felt that Lin Zhao's words were right.
Xiao Man was more slow-witted. He scratched his head, his little head actually thinking more about whether lunch would be particularly lavish. As for Lin Zhao's words, he didn't understand them yet, but he remembered them all.
...
Xu Ming'an and Lin Zhao were picking beans, while Nü Zhi plucked some edamame from the vegetable patch and sat with Xiao Han and Xiao Man to shell them. In the distance, Chi Zhongyu still sat on the millstone, motionless.
"Tsk tsk."
Lin Zhao picked beans and smiled. "Old man Chi is amazing, expecting to be served hand and foot. Does he still think he's the young master? Go wash the rice; it's time to cook."
"..."
Chi Zhongyu scratched his head. He was, after all, an eleventh-realm Sword Immortal. He normally didn't have to do these things, but he was unwilling to refute Lin Zhao's words. In fact, watching Lin Zhao and Xu Ming'an busy themselves, Chi Zhongyu felt that this was quite good and that he should join in. However, Chi Zhongyu had lived a life of luxury since childhood and was thin-skinned, so he felt embarrassed to help. Now, with Lin Zhao's words, he immediately went to wash the rice and cook.
Not long after, the aroma of chicken filled the kitchen. Chicken stewed with edamame was indeed incredibly fragrant.
"Where is that person?"
Xu Ming'an carried a large plate of edamame-braised chicken to the front hall and glanced at Gu Yanshu, who was fixed to the tree.
"Don't mind him."
Lin Zhao had never had a good impression of Gu Yanshu. Gu Yanshu's malice knew no bounds. Since that was the case, Lin Zhao could only show him malice. The worldly delights were placed before Gu Yanshu. If he was willing to accept them, there was still hope. If he insisted on rejecting them all, then there was nothing that could be done; Lin Zhao would have to take the final step.
And regardless of the outcome, what Lin Zhao pursued was a clear conscience.
...
The Demon Realm, Ancestral Mountain.
In the council pavilion, the Demon Ancestor's face was ashen.
Not far away, a young sword cultivator in a green vine-colored long gown frowned and slowly entered the council pavilion. "Lin Zhujie greets the Great Demon Ancestor."
"Hmph~~~"
The Demon Ancestor's gaze was indifferent. "Lin Zhujie, I've heard that you've been repeatedly delaying your actions in Shuzhou, hindering important matters for our Demon Clan, and even avoiding clashes with human cultivators time and again. Is this true?"
Lin Zhujie frowned. After a few seconds, he replied, "It is true."
"Why are you unwilling to fight?" the Demon Ancestor asked.
Lin Zhujie gritted his teeth. "I cannot bear it. Lin Zhujie only wishes to kill those who deserve to be killed. These people truly do not deserve to be killed!"
"Well said, 'I cannot bear it'!"
The Demon Ancestor slammed his palm onto the giant rock table in the council pavilion, causing the entire Ancestral Mountain to tremble. The next moment, the Demon Ancestor's ethereal figure swept forward. His index and middle fingers joined, piercing into Lin Zhujie's chest like sword tips.