Descending the Mountain
Uncle An was rigid and clung to traditional values. He wasn’t the type to let Dustfallen Sect’s disciples descend the mountain unless a strict criteria was fulfilled. Fortunately, Feng Haochen explained cultivators needed to train and rest, convincing him to let them go out once every four to five months. All Mu Yu really did was join his seniors on fiend hunts in forests to sell them for spirit stones and whatnot in addition to shopping jobs in a city.
They all sought out delicacies whenever they descended the mountain. After all, forcing down Uncle An’s cooking was dreadful. Uncle An insisted on personally cooking as he deemed it a waste of their time.
“I want roasted thighs at Beauty Restaurant,” demanded Kongkong.
“Bring a level one fiend for spirit stones, then,” answered Cheng Yan.
Kongkong smiled slyly and shook Cheng Yan’s thigh, using his most adorable pose and childish tone. “First Senior Brother, you’re the best. You could kill several with a single wave of your hand, couldn’t you? The number you slay will be the number of roasted thighs.”
“You think fiends are fodder?” Cheng Yan flicked Kongkong on the head and shook his head. He always looked out for them when they went out in case they got lost. Since they were growing, he always bought them whatever they wanted, but he wouldn’t do so blatantly.
“I need to buy two pairs of trousers.” Xiang Nan paused to think, then added, “Uncle An ruined my clothes after he said he’d check my cultivation.”
Maybe it was a hobby of his or something, but Uncle An would randomly give them special training, which was personalised swordplay and cultivation tests. Uncle An didn’t pull punches the way Cheng Yan did. As a result, they were always left with bruised faces. The only way to pass the tests was to convince Uncle An they had improved since the last test. What happened if they hadn’t? He’d “treat” them to a personally cooked meal. They suspected Uncle An was cognisant of how horrible his cooking was to come up with the idea. The penalty was amazingly effective. None of them played around out of fear of the torture. Funnily enough, Uncle An’s cooking never improved.
“What about you, Ling’er?” inquired Cheng Yan.
“Definitely going to the academy,” answered Mu Yu.
They all expected Lan Ling’er to go to the academy and ask if there was any news of Lie Shang because it was something she had to do every time. The academy was a good news source since disciples from other sects frequented it daily.
Mu Yu judged Lan Ling’er’s efforts to be futile. It had been six years. If Lie Shang wanted to return, he would’ve returned already. Mu Yu was confident Lie Shang met with mishap. Lan Ling’er, however, wouldn’t buy it.
“What’s it got to do with you?” cursed Lan Ling’er, shooting Mu Yu a glare as per routine.
Mu Yu questioned, “First Senior Brother, may I visit my village?”
Mu Yu didn’t expect the village chief he missed to know he joined Dustfallen Sect and predicted the elder would be disappointed he didn’t crack the legendary Green Pine Sect. Village Chief Bu wouldn’t be able to “display” him. On second thought, he realised he shouldn’t have even considered the last part because he wasn’t a display item! Mu Yu knew his sect was far from a negligible sect. All of Dustfallen Sect’s disciples were actually orphans. He knew his seniors were impressive, and his shifu didn’t care for prestige. He, consequently, couldn’t care less about prestige.
“You plan on waking or walking? Don’t fly. You’ll embarrass us with your low flying,” snidely remarked Lan Ling’er.
Mu Yu shrugged. “I’ll climb.”
“In that case, you two will be heading the same way. Go together to support each other if needed,” suggested Cheng Yan.
Cheng Yan trusted Lan Ling’er would be safe as she went to the academy all the time and was experienced. However, she protested, “Huh? I’m not going together with him. He’s a slow poke. I’ll look bad going with him!”
“Ling’er. We’re all fellow siblings. The world of cultivation isn’t as peaceful as it is at home. I’m worried about Mu Yu. He lacks experience travelling on his own”
Lan Ling’er groaned and shot Mu Yu another glare. She acquiesced since Cheng Yan spoke up, nonetheless. Besides, she understood even Feng Haochen would’ve made the same demand.
Truth be told, Mu Yu didn’t want to go with Lan Ling’er, either, lest he put up with her barrage of badgering. Regardless, he obeyed his senior.
“Junior Brother, stay close. Don’t go crying if you get lost.”
Mu Yu was quite sick of Lan Ling’er treating him as a bratty kid, especially when she was only two years older than him. The fact she had her growth spurt before him and stood taller bugged him, too.
“Unlike a certain senior brother of mine, I actually know my way home. Wait, he’s not directionally challenged, is he?” Mu Yu shot back.
Lan Ling’er jumped to her feet and huffed. The others shook their heads in response to the duo’s bickering. None of them could intervene due to the sensitivity of the topic. Eventually, Cheng Yan griped, “Can’t you refrain from mentioning Lie Shang?”
“I can’t,” instantly responded Mu Yu.
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