Inside the Wanmin Restaurant hall, mist permeated the air.
In the dead of winter, a group of people gathering to enjoy a warm, satisfying meal was, in itself, a very happy thing.
Although there were no entertainment activities up and down Yun Kui Mountain, most of the Apprentices, who were orphans, never felt bored; listening to their senior brothers and sisters chat about things from down the mountain was their greatest pleasure.
However, today was very strange; the senior brothers who usually talked the most seemed to have collectively disappeared. According to informed sources, they had just walked out of the hall with their meals.
It seemed they had gone to find their Master.
Could it be they were going to discuss the New Year's activities? Besides gathering to watch TV, during the New Year, they could also watch their senior sisters and brothers perform, and the second senior brother would buy sparklers and firecrackers... This couldn't help but raise everyone's expectations.
With nothing else to do, they all went to greet the two junior sisters who had just joined the sect today. Once inside the mountain gate, everyone was brothers and sisters.
Yi Xuan fumbled to respond, finally shrinking behind her own sister and the Head Senior Sister, like a cowering ostrich, which made people laugh.
"Yi Xuan, it's alright, everyone has left... Hurry and eat, or it'll get cold soon."
"Mm..."
Hearing 'eat,' Yi Xuan instantly perked up, her eyes shining as she stared at the meal on the table.
"Rice porridge, steamed buns, eggs..."
Before coming here, she wouldn't have dared to dream of such a thing, and her sister had the same portion; both of them could eat their fill.
She used a spoon to bring the porridge to her mouth, but then, not finding it enough, she simply drank directly from the bowl, not minding the heat. But it tasted strange... strangely fragrant, and with a hint of medicinal herbs.
She smacked her lips; it was quite chewy, it was meat, so fragrant... Wait, so much meat.
Yi Xuan cried.
A child's reason for crying is very simple: such happiness.
So delicious!
"Sister, it's soft... Mmph..."
Before she could finish, the Head Senior Sister covered her mouth.
Ye Qingxuan put a finger to her lips, shushing, indicating not to make a sound, and glanced at the surrounding junior brothers and sisters, all of whom looked as usual.
She knew; this was exclusive to the three of them.
No wonder Ke Ke had kept winking at her earlier and had specifically prepared meals for the three of them. But where was Yun Ming?
And precisely the most boisterous group of junior brothers were also absent. This made a slight unease rise in Ye Qingxuan's heart, when boisterous people weren't boisterous anymore.
It wasn't because they were tired, but because they were preparing for something big. A certain Sui Bian Temple Uncle had once commented so.
"Senior Sister, was this specially prepared for us?"
Yi Jiang was intelligent; following her senior sister's gaze, she naturally noticed the situation around them. Tasting the meat porridge, a warm current seemed to flow through her heart.
It must be Senior Brother Yun Ming... This wasn't hard to guess. Throughout Yun Kui Mountain, the only three she was familiar with were Xuan Mingzi, Ye Qingxuan, and Yun Ming.
The Head Senior Sister looked puzzled, so it shouldn't be her.
Master wasn't suitable for specially looking after the two of them, so it naturally had to be Senior Brother Yun Ming.
Although Senior Brother was a bit strange, he truly kept his word.
Everything was explained, every question answered.
It seemed she would have to build an even better relationship with him in the future... "It should be Senior Brother Yun Ming's arrangement. Hurry and eat, it won't be good once it gets cold."
"Mmm, Sister, Senior Brother is a good person!"
"Only just realizing it now? You should tell Senior Brother in person."
"I'm afraid Senior Brother won't like me..."
The two girls chattered on endlessly. On their first day at Yun Kui Mountain, they had seen many new and curious things, as if they had an inexhaustible supply of topics.
Ye Qingxuan just smiled and said no more. This meat was usually brought by Yun Ming to "honor" her and to supplement Ling'er's body, but it seemed there would be two more mouths to feed now.
And that greedy girl Ke Ke... She looked out the door; the wind and snow were gradually stopping.
Tonight, it seemed she wouldn't be able to sleep well. Yun Ming was up to some strange idea again, and she needed to find out.
Meanwhile, in the Hall of Nurturing Heart.
This was Xuan Mingzi's usual residence. He was forcibly escorted back into his room by a group of Apprentices to eat, and that rebellious Apprentice was still clutching the stolen wine.
Alright, alright, the wool comes from the sheep's back. Are they planning to bribe me with my own things?
He had raised Yun Ming for seven years and naturally knew his Apprentice's character. He never came without a purpose; he was probably up to something again.
"Rebellious Apprentice, put your Master down! What? Are you trying to rebel?!"
"How dare we? Isn't it because Master works hard every day, and we, your junior and senior brothers, can't bear it? Please sit, please sit quickly."
"Junior and senior brothers, quickly bring up the wine and dishes."
Xuan Mingzi felt an uncomfortable stirring in his heart. This rebellious Apprentice was suddenly so attentive that he truly wasn't used to it, but seeing the fine wine poured into the cup...
He didn't say any harsh words.
Looking closer, oh... they even had some meat and cold dishes. The rebellious Apprentice usually went down the mountain with him; how did he not know the other had bought these?
No, where did this child get the money? Did that girl Qing Xuan give it to him? A while ago, Qing Xuan acquired a large sum of money, but when asked about the source, she would just darken her face and tell him to mind his own business.
It couldn't be... Impossible, impossible. Qing Xuan wouldn't do something that betrayed her body and looks. If she really did, he, as her Master, would be to blame a thousand times over.
"Master, you eat first..."
"Heh heh, good Apprentice, why not speak your mind first?"
"No rush, no rush. Senior brothers, let's raise our cups and toast Master with tea instead of wine."
Seeing everyone raise their cups, Xuan Mingzi could only reluctantly comply with his Apprentice's wishes. The fine wine went down smoothly, how delightful.
It felt as if he had returned to the days of his youth, when he commanded the winds and clouds.
"I tell you, back then Yun Kui Mountain swept across all directions..."
"Your Master, I, was an unparalleled genius..."
"Countless junior sisters adored me, but alas..."
Yun Ming flattered him again, but inwardly he was cursing. This was why he didn't let the old man drink; his alcohol tolerance was truly bad.
Once he got tipsy, he'd blurt out everything.
Yet he still loved to have a couple of drinks. It was a shame he was one of the strongest cultivators of his generation; it just wouldn't do.
The dark clouds gradually dispersed, and the moon hung high in the sky.
The Hall of Nurturing Heart was still filled with laughter. The white-haired old Daoist, unable to stand straight, picked up a pen and signed a note for his Apprentices to go down the mountain and play.
He had wondered what it was about; it turned out they just wanted to go down the mountain.
"It's almost New Year's, don't enter the Void again, especially you, Yun Ming."
"Don't randomly accept gifts from residents down the mountain, it's not good..."
Xuan Mingzi babbled drunkenly, finally collapsing into his Apprentice's arms and falling into a deep sleep, a slight smile on his face, muttering.
"My Apprentice has the potential of a great emperor."
"Good Apprentice, hehe..."
All the junior and senior brothers covered their mouths, stifling laughter, which made Yun Ming a little embarrassed. He hardened his heart and, with the demeanor of the second senior brother, commanded.
"Clear everything off the table, quickly. If anyone leaks a word this time, hehe..."
The young man was not old, but his authority had long been established.
The junior and senior brothers were still counting on him to get rich and live well, so they patted their chests and guaranteed that even if the Head Senior Sister held a sword to their necks, they wouldn't say anything.
Yun Ming secretly nodded. After everyone had finished cleaning up and left, he also settled Xuan Mingzi onto the bed and stealthily replaced the Qing Ming Sword with a prepared sword.
This was the first time he had touched the Qing Ming Sword.
Before, Master had repeatedly ordered him not to touch it, and he didn't know why... He always felt a power calling from within the sword. Damn it, could this thing have a sword spirit?
Yun Ming didn't think much of it, planning to study it thoroughly once he got back. It was already late, and there probably weren't many people outside.
It was the perfect time to sneak away.
He used his light footwork, a slight push from his feet, moving like the wind, without a sound. As Guan Yun Courtyard grew closer, his heart grew more excited.
Little money, wait for me~
Suddenly, a clear voice rang out from above.
"Yun Ming, returning from Master's place so late?"