"Master! I'm not interested in your beard, okay~"
"How could your most beloved little disciple possibly do something as outrageous as bullying her master and betraying the ancestors?"
"I'm here to see you about something else."
A girl stepped inside.
She wore a pristine white Daoist robe.
Her snow-white long hair was half tied behind her head, and between her brows was a small cinnabar mark.
Her delicate face, brimming with immortal aura, immediately puffed up with mild dissatisfaction as she spoke.
Once he realized she hadn't come to shave his beard, the old man finally let out a sigh of relief and slowly sat down on a nearby chair.
This old man was none other than the Old Celestial Master of the Zhengyi Sect,
Zhang Yuwei himself.
A peerless figure of the age—
Yet in front of this girl, he was nothing more than an ordinary old man.
Even if she did cut off his beard, he could only endure it in silence.
After all—
She was his most cherished little disciple.
"As long as you're not shaving my beard, that's fine… that's fine!"
The Old Celestial Master put on what he thought was a warm, benevolent smile and waved at her.
"Zhenzhen, sit."
"Tell your master—what are you planning to do this time?"
"But let me say this first—"
"You absolutely cannot burn down the Celestial Masters' Estate again."
"Otherwise, your senior brothers and sisters will have to sleep on the streets…"
Rolling her eyes elegantly, Zhang Zhenzhen plopped down on the ground.
"Master, don't talk nonsense."
"The last fire wasn't my fault!"
"I was just practicing Thunder Arts and accidentally struck the roof, that's all."
Old Celestial Master: "...…"
"Alright, let's drop that."
After a brief silence, the Old Celestial Master decisively changed the subject.
Arguing with his little disciple was pointless.
He'd only end up losing.
"Zhenzhen, tell me—what do you really want this time?"
Scratching her head, Zhang Zhenzhen giggled.
"Master~ I want to go down the mountain!"
"Down the mountain?"
The Old Celestial Master froze.
Seeing his reaction, Zhang Zhenzhen quickly explained, worried he might refuse.
"Didn't you always say that cultivators should 'enter the world'?"
"If one never enters the world, how can they talk about transcending it?"
"Ghosts are rampant right now—"
"Isn't this the perfect chance for me to gain worldly experience?"
"I already talked it over with Eighth Senior Brother."
"I'll go stay with him!"
"Master, don't stop me!"
Stop her?
How could he possibly stop her?
He couldn't wait for her to leave!
Once this menace was gone, the mountain could finally have some peace…
The Old Celestial Master let out a long breath, forcibly suppressing the joy in his eyes.
Of course, he couldn't say that out loud.
Otherwise, before leaving, she'd definitely shave his beard clean.
He put on a reluctant expression and sighed again.
"Since you've already decided… then go."
"Cultivators should indeed take it upon themselves to slay demons and eliminate evil."
"With such resolve, how could I stop you?"
"I just… feel a bit reluctant, that's all."
"Hehe~ Master, what's there to be reluctant about?"
"Transportation is so convenient these days—I can come back anytime~"
Zhang Zhenzhen said cheerfully.
But the moment the Old Celestial Master heard that, his heart skipped.
Come back?!
"You don't have to!"
"With that determination, just video-call your master occasionally, isn't that enough?"
"You're not young anymore!"
"Our Zhengyi Sect emphasizes natural balance—we're not like the Quanzhen Sect, forcing disciples to renounce relationships."
"This trip down the mountain is perfect—"
"Let your Eighth Senior Brother introduce you to a boyfriend. Fall in love, isn't that great?"
"At least let your master see a disciple-in-law while he's still alive, hm?"
The Old Celestial Master suddenly put on a teasing grin completely unbefitting his lofty status.
In truth, he just wanted her to go torment someone else.
Master and disciple indeed.
His thinking aligned perfectly with Jingfeng's.
And—
This struck right at Zhang Zhenzhen's weak spot.
She had gone down the mountain precisely because of that handsome guy her Eighth Senior Brother mentioned.
In an instant, a blush spread across her face.
"Master! You're so improper!"
"Where's your Celestial Master dignity?!"
"Dignity is for outsiders."
"In front of you lot, I'm just an ordinary old man."
"Alright, enough talk—go pack your things."
"And try to bring me back a disciple-in-law!"
Waving his hand, the Old Celestial Master laughed heartily.
"Aiya—Master!"
"I'm leaving!"
Face burning red, Zhang Zhenzhen fled the courtyard at top speed.
The Old Celestial Master let out a long breath—
Then burst out laughing.
"Gone… gone at last!"
"Finally no one's obsessing over my beard!"
"And my treasures don't have to be hidden anymore—I can finally take them out to bask in the sun…"
"No, wait—I should spread the good news!"
With that, the Old Celestial Master walked straight toward the front hall where the disciples were doing morning lessons.
Two hours later—
The Junior Aunt of Longhu Mountain goes down the mountain!
All the disciples escorted her together.
After she left—
The Celestial Masters' Estate was filled with gongs, drums, and firecrackers.
Meanwhile — Jinling
The man being unknowingly targeted by the Junior Aunt—
Ning Chen—
Was already driving his Yin Spirit Vehicle toward Xuanwu District.
At the affiliated family housing of Jinling First People's Hospital—
Inside a fully renovated three-bedroom apartment.
Ning Chen lay comfortably against Hongdou's soft, rounded thighs.
While enjoying her feeding him fruit, he scrolled through online forums.
His parents weren't home yet.
Perfect timing to look up information about the strange incidents on Jiangxi Road.
The more prepared he was, the safer his parents would be.
After all—
He had the ability, yet if he did nothing and let them risk encountering ghosts—
Wouldn't that be unfilial?
Unfortunately, after scrolling for a long time, he found nothing useful.
After eating another fruit fed by Hongdou, Ning Chen sighed.
"Ugh…"
"A bunch of brain-dead netizens—just meme-spamming."
"Not a single piece of useful info."
Hongdou smiled softly and handed him a strawberry.
"Young Master~ what's there to sigh about?"
"Let's just go take a look tonight."
"If there really is a ghost, just kill it."
Ning Chen ate the strawberry and leaned deeper into her embrace, putting away his phone.
"True."
"Forget it—no more searching."
"Tonight, we'll go take a look together."
"If there is one, I'll catch it and help you level up."
"Once I get into Jingfeng's group, finding ghosts won't be this troublesome."
"Then I'll just catch ghosts for you to eat!"
Just as he mentioned Jingfeng—
His phone chimed.
Opening it, he saw a message from 'Eighteen-Centimeter Great Treasure Sword'.
That was Jingfeng's ID.
Ning Chen's eyes lit up immediately.
"Brother Ning! The Daoist's junior sister already brought the treasures down the mountain!"
"She'll probably reach Jinling in a few days!"
"The Spirit Management Bureau reward money has also been transferred to you—check it!"
"And about the group—we're getting you added soon. Watch for the invite!"
He tapped the voice message.
Jingfeng's shamelessly excited voice played.
After listening, Ning Chen's lips curved upward.
He honestly hadn't expected it—
That guy actually managed to trick his junior sister into bringing the treasures out.
This man was reliable.
A real doer.
Damn impressive.
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