Morning.
Mist swirled around the mountain-peak villa, and the sound of dew dripping from leaves echoed incessantly. With a lotus pond, a sword mountain, and the treasure cauldron where onions and garlic were being grown, the spiritual energy of the entire mountain-peak villa was exceptionally abundant. It was therefore unsurprising that Tong Yu, Zhang Luobai, and Zhuang Yirong, cultivating in such an environment, made rapid progress.
Early in the morning, Dong Cang made bowls of eel noodle soup.
Fu Zhi, Chu Yu, Tong Yu, Zhang Luobai, and Zhuang Yirong each ate a bowl. Lin Zhao ate two, Chen Ben ate three. Mu La, who was training soldiers in the army, had not yet returned for breakfast. As for Old Daoist Wang, he ate one bowl and licked his lips as if he still wanted more. Dong Cang immediately smiled and asked, "Elder sir, weren't you full?"
"Mmm!"
Old Daoist Wang nodded heavily. "But don't make me another bowl. I'll wait for lunch!"
"Alright."
Dong Cang, with her gentle nature, smiled and nodded. Having one more person to eat was just one more pair of chopsticks; she didn't mind. Moreover, Dong Cang was skillful and had the cultivation of an almond fairy, so cooking was a simple matter for her.
Lin Zhao counted his magic treasures and was full of ambition before Tianranju, preparing himself.
"You're going to the Ghost Realm again?"
Fu Zhi frowned and said, "You were severely injured last time. What if you encounter danger again this time? Why don't... I accompany you to the Ghost Realm?"
"It's fine."
Lin Zhao smiled and shook his head. "You don't need to go. The Ghost Realm is very chaotic right now. If a twelfth-realm Sword Immortal like you were to appear there, those chaotic Ghost Kings might turn their attention to you, and that would be troublesome. It's better for me, a ninth-realm Sword Cultivator, to go. They won't pay much attention to me. I'll be more careful next time."
"Mmm."
Fu Zhi could only agree. At the mountain-peak villa, Lin Zhao had the sole authority to make major decisions. After all, in terms of vision and planning, no one at the mountain-peak villa could compare to him, and everyone trusted his decisions.
...
"Dong Cang."
Lin Zhao shouldered his two swords and glanced at Dong Cang, who was washing dishes outside. He smiled and said, "You seem even more beautiful today, with a radiant glow. What's going on? Is there some happy news?"
Dong Cang was startled. "No..."
"Oh."
Lin Zhao didn't ask further, merely glancing at Dong Cang. He felt she was indeed different from before, with both her appearance and demeanor elevated. He wondered if this was related to that lazy old Daoist who only knew how to read fortunes and interpret characters. At that moment, the old Daoist was shouldering his travel bag and leaning on his walking stick, preparing to descend the mountain.
"Lin Zhao."
Old Daoist Wang stood on the mountain path and smiled. "Are you going on a long journey today?"
"Mmm."
Lin Zhao nodded. "I'm going west to find someone. Are you heading down the mountain, senior?"
"That's right."
Old Daoist Wang grinned. "It's a bit embarrassing to eat and drink for free at the mountain-peak villa every day. I'm planning to set up a stall in the town to read fortunes and interpret characters for people, earning some coppers to give to Dong Cang to buy groceries. After all, we're all family now!"
"Ah?"
Lin Zhao looked astonished. They were family already?
As they descended the mountain together, a sprightly figure flew towards them on the mountain path. It was Chen Ben. This sixteen-year-old martial warrior was tall and strong, but his face still held a trace of childishness. He smiled and said, "Brother Lin Zhao, there's a grand martial arts competition among the cavalry in the camp today. My master sent me to ask if you have time to attend."
"I don't have time."
Lin Zhao smiled and said, "I have other matters to attend to, so I won't be able to make it."
"Oh, I understand."
"Wait!" Chen Ben was about to leave when the old Daoist called out to him. "Young friend, you have a distinguished look and a noble countenance. If you don't mind, this old Daoist would like to read your palm?"
"Does it cost money? If it costs money, I'm not interested. I don't have any." Chen Ben replied.
"..."
The old Daoist narrowed his eyes and smiled. "No money, no money. Extend your hand, and I'll take a look."
"Alright, thank you, senior."
Chen Ben extended his hand.
The old Daoist took one look and pushed his hand away. He counted on his fingers and said, "Poor thing, you're destined to be a bachelor. You won't have a wife in this lifetime, alas... you have absolutely no luck with women!"
Chen Ben wasn't angry. He just scratched his head, looking quite shy, and said honestly, "I'm still young, it's okay if I don't have luck with women. Besides, Brother Lin Zhao doesn't have luck with women either, and he's living just fine and admired by everyone?"
"Ah?"
The old Daoist glanced at Lin Zhao beside him, wondering if this foolish boy had some misunderstanding about his Brother Lin Zhao. But he continued to smile and said, "Yes, yes, no luck with women is fine. As long as it doesn't affect your boxing and swordplay, that's all that matters. I, an old man who has traveled the jianghu for most of my life, have come to one conclusion: immortal cultivators on the mountains, once they get married and have wives, will invariably become weaker. Alas, women only affect the speed of your punches and sword swings. It's better without them!"
Chen Ben deeply agreed!
Lin Zhao also felt there was some truth to it!
Immediately, the three went their separate ways. Lin Zhao took his sword and headed to the Ghost Realm again. Chen Ben returned to the military camp. Old Daoist Wang went to the town to set up his stall and swindle people.
...
Down the mountain, in the town.
Old Daoist Wang set up a stall in front of a tavern. The tavern's business was mediocre. It was rumored that the owner usually diluted the wine too much, which was discovered by a group of jianghu cultivators. These cultivators dared not kill him, as the town had its rules. With several cultivators of the Upper Five Realms guarding it, as long as one was not irredeemably evil, no one dared to kill anyone in Tianchi Town.
However, those jianghu cultivators were also tough. They cursed the unscrupulous owner day after day in front of the tavern for half a month before leaving. It was said that not long after they descended the mountain, they encountered mid-level cultivators of the demon race and perished. Therefore, the aunts and elders in the town were spreading the word that those jianghu people were actually good people who were killed by the black-hearted tavern owner.
As a result, the tavern's business became worse and worse. After Old Daoist Wang's persuasion, they ceded a table to him to set up his stall. Thus, Old Daoist Wang began his business in the town.
Early in the morning, Tong Yu took Zhang Luobai and Zhuang Yirong down the mountain to send them to the academy.
As they passed the tavern, Zhang Luobai recognized him at a glance and quickly cupped his fists. "Fellow Daoist, I didn't expect you to be setting up a stall here for fortune-telling."
Saying that, he patted his satchel with bravado. "If you can guess what this Sword Immortal's satchel is carrying today, I'll take it out and let you eat it."
"Oh?"
Old Daoist Wang narrowed his eyes, cursing the little rascal's mischievousness in his heart. Zhang Luobai's satchel contained no food today. Instead, there was a piece of dried horse dung. If he guessed correctly, would he really have to take it out and eat it? As for Zhang Luobai, there had recently been a hornet's nest on an old poplar tree at the academy. He heard that smoking the hornets would make them less aggressive, so he picked up a piece of dried horse dung yesterday. Dried horse dung burned produced plenty of smoke, which was perfect. If Daoist Wang could guess it, it would serve as his lunch. It was a pity he couldn't get rid of the hornet's nest.
"Alas..."
The mischievous child sighed. He thought that Dean Gu had just taught him the golden saying about worrying before the world worries. The hornet's nest at the academy was so large. As the only one-realm Sword Immortal in the academy, it was his responsibility. It was a pity that the horse dung couldn't eliminate the hornet's nest, but it would end up being Daoist Wang's lunch.
"I cannot guess."
Old Daoist Wang counted on his fingers and said, "There are unfathomable mysteries hidden in young friend's satchel, so profound that even ghosts and gods cannot fathom them!"
"Hahahaha~~~"
Zhang Luobai burst into triumphant laughter.
Old Daoist Wang's gaze then fell on Zhuang Yirong. He smiled. "Yirong, your teachers won't lecture for a while yet, so there's no rush. How about I take a look at your palm? If I read it well, you can give me the two honeyed date zongzi you're hiding in your satchel, how about it?"
"Ah?!"
Zhuang Yirong was greatly surprised. How did this old gentleman know she had two honeyed date zongzi in her satchel? Those were left for her by her master after breakfast. He said that female martial warriors also consumed a lot of energy, so she should eat more. When she ate zongzi during class, Dean Gu would definitely not blame her, as long as she didn't eat too loudly.
At this moment, Zhuang Yirong regarded Old Daoist Wang as a genuine old immortal. She extended her hand and said, "Old sir, how is my destiny?"
"Oh my!"
Old Daoist Wang took one look and slapped his thigh. "Yirong, this is incredible, truly incredible! You have a naturally noble destiny. You may one day have the status of an Empress. Tsk tsk tsk. Follow your master and Master Lin Zhao diligently from now on, study and practice diligently, and you may become the highest-ranking person in the entire mountain-peak villa."
"Ah?!"
Zhuang Yirong blinked her large eyes. "How high?"
"Mmm... this high! Anyway, it's very high!"
Old Daoist Wang casually gestured with his hand, then beckoned. "Bring me the two honeyed date zongzi. If my words prove untrue when you grow up, come and find me, and I'll return ten honeyed date zongzi to you!"
Zhuang Yirong happily took out two zongzi and held them high. "Here, here!"
"Alas..."
Tong Yu sighed, covered her forehead, and was speechless. The two new generation disciples of their mountain-peak villa seemed a bit silly!
"Alright!"
Tong Yu coughed softly. "Hurry up and go to the academy. No more dawdling. Yirong, carry your satchel properly! Zhang Luobai, put away your wooden sword and don't get into fights with the big yellow dogs and big white geese on the road, or I won't be polite!"
When this senior disciple said she wouldn't be polite, she truly wouldn't be polite. Zhang Luobai had no choice but to obey.
At this moment, Old Daoist Wang's gaze turned to Tong Yu.
Tong Yu's body trembled, and she frowned. "I'm not telling fortunes. Don't even think about it."
Old Daoist Wang smiled. "Tong Yu, I don't want to tell your fortune either. Your destiny is filled with dense mysteries, even containing heavenly secrets. This old Daoist doesn't want to reveal heavenly secrets. But you don't need to be disappointed. How about I tell you a story about a Daoist priest catching ghosts?"
"..."
Tong Yu's whole body trembled, and she said in a low voice, "Tell me when I get back..."
...
On the mountainside, in front of the Lord Su's shrine.
Lord Su slapped his thigh in annoyance. "Tong Yu, Tong Yu, are you supposed to listen to that old fellow's stories so casually? Or perhaps my stories as Lord Su are not moving enough?"
Beside him, Han Buyu pinched his nose. "It's the same few stories repeated over and over. Still trying to trick Tong Yu out of her five-spice peanuts?"