Qu Fuyi raised an eyebrow. "So, what are you planning to do?"
Lu Pianpian bowed respectfully to him. "Master, I dare not hide it from you. Actually, before I rescued her in the river cave, I saw her once in town. However, at that time, she was chained to a tree and her freedom was restricted. She looked like someone's servant, and her background seemed rather pitiful."
"So you want her to stay in the sect?"
Lu Pianpian nodded and said, "She said she wanted to stay in the sect and be our maid, but we cultivators don't care about rank and status like people in the mortal world. We can't make her work like a slave just because we saved her. That's not the mindset a cultivator should have. So I humbly ask Master to accept her as a disciple so that she can stay rightfully."
"What does that woman look like?" Qu Fuyi shoveled the pomegranate seeds in her hand into her mouth, chewed them, and swallowed them. She said seriously, "It's not that I value appearance, but each of you three disciples is exceptionally beautiful. If she is just ordinary-looking, I'm afraid she will feel ashamed of herself if she stays in the sect for too long."
Lu Pianpian exclaimed excitedly, "Changming...she's so beautiful!"
"I understand. I will go see him at dinner tonight."
Sure enough, during dinner that evening, Lu Pianpian led Huan Changming out of his room and brought him in front of everyone.
Huan Changming bowed to each of them, saying, "My name is Changming. I greet the Immortal Lord and the Immortal Maiden."
Qu Fuyi nodded in satisfaction. "You have a good appearance. I have already heard about your situation from my second disciple, Pianpian. If you are willing to acknowledge me as your master, then stay."
Huan Changming lowered his eyes, his hands, hidden in his sleeves, trembling. He forced himself to kneel before Qu Fuyi and said, "Master, please accept my bow!"
"Alright, from now on you will be my fourth disciple." Qu Fuyi gave Lu Pianpian a look. "Quickly help your junior sister up and sit down, the food is getting cold."
Lu Pianpian did as she was told, and had Huan Changming sit next to Qu Surou. She then introduced the two people at the table to Huan Changming, saying, "This is my senior sister, Qu Surou. You've met her before."
Huan Changming obediently greeted her, "Hello, Senior Sister."
Lu Pianpian then introduced Huan Juntian, who was standing next to her, "This is my junior brother, named Huan Juntian. He was also outside the river cave that day."
Huan Changming slowly turned his gaze from Qu Surou to Huan Juntian's face and smiled, "Greetings, Third Senior Brother."
Huan Juntian nodded to him.
Qu Fuyi clapped her hands. "Alright, alright, everyone, let's eat!"
During the meal, Lu Pianpian kept piling food into Huan Changming's bowl, fearing he would feel awkward, until Huan Changming said shyly, "Senior brother, I can't eat anymore."
Lu Pianpian smiled shyly and stopped putting food into his bowl.
Today, Lu Pianpian is in charge of cooking, and it's also her turn to clean up afterward.
Seeing Lu Pianpian carrying bowls and chopsticks into the kitchen, Huan Changming quickly stood up and followed, saying, "Senior brother, let me help you."
Lu Pianpian wanted to decline, but Huan Changming had already taken several empty plates from her and walked in front of her. "Let's go."
Lu Pianpian smiled and said, "Okay."
Qu Surou glanced at Huan Juntian, who had just stood up and then sat down again, and teased, "You're out of luck."
Huan Juntian remained indifferent, "I don't know what Senior Sister is talking about."
"Keep pretending." Qu Surou's eyes had seen through too much. "You're such a quiet, unassuming guy who's about to be poached."
A note from the author:
Qu Surou: I know so many things, I can't keep it to myself anymore, I really want to tell someone.
Chapter 8
Upon arriving at the kitchen, Lu Pianpian took over the task of washing the dishes, not letting Huan Changming lift a finger.
Huan Changming stood opposite Lu Pianpian and watched him wash the dishes.
Of Qu Fuyi's three disciples, all of them were outstanding in appearance, but only Lu Shaoyan possessed an ethereal, otherworldly aura.
For example, right now, although he is doing something very mundane, it has not diminished his otherworldly aura at all. On the contrary, Huan Changming feels that because of his otherworldly aura, even the mundane task of washing dishes has become pleasing to the eye.
Huan Changming found his idea somewhat laughable, but he couldn't deny its absurdity.
"Changming...Junior Sister, why are you looking at me like that?"
Huan Changming didn't even realize when his gaze had become so blatant.
When Lu Pianpian noticed, he put on a gentle look. "Senior brother, I was just wondering, you told me your name is Lu Shaoyan, so why do Senior Sister and Master both call you Pianpian?"
The issue of his name was a hurdle that Lu Pianpian could never overcome in his life. He looked down at the bowl in his hand and said in a muffled voice, "Pianpian was the name my father gave me. It was fine when I was a child, but when I grew up, I felt it was too feminine, like a girl's name, so I changed it to Shaoyan."
However, the other three people in her sect had been calling her Pianpian since they were children, and even though Lu Pianpian tried to correct their way of addressing her, she ultimately failed.
His senior sister even mocked him, saying that he changed his name to "Shuoyan" (meaning "silent") to pretend to be profound.
"Not effeminate at all. I think the word 'elegant' suits you very well, Senior Brother."
Lu Pianpian looked up in surprise, "You're not joking, are you?"
"How could I joke about my senior brother's name? It's just that everyone in the sect calls him 'Pianpian,' but I'm the only one who can't. Isn't that a bit unfair to me?"
"You want to call me Pianpian?"
"I'd like to call you Senior Brother Pianpian." Huan Changming tilted his head and chuckled as he looked at Lu Pianpian. "Senior Brother Pianpian, is that alright?"
Huan Jun was cold by nature and always addressed Lu Pianpian as "Senior Brother".
Lu Pianpian was easily embarrassed, and her ears burned a little at being addressed so intimately by her junior sister who had just entered the room. "This..."
A hint of disappointment flashed in Huan Changming's eyes. "I overstepped my bounds. I've only known you for less than half a month. I'm sure that addressing you like that has displeased you... Please don't be embarrassed, just pretend you didn't hear what I just said."
"Junior Sister Changming, that's not what I meant. Please don't misunderstand. You can call me whatever you like."
It's just a title and doesn't mean anything. Since Junior Sister wants to call her that, Lu Pianpian is naturally willing to oblige her.
Huan Changming's smile returned, "Thank you, Senior Brother Pianpian!"
Seeing her innocent and genuine smile, Lu Pianpian was deeply moved and couldn't help but smile back.
After leaving the kitchen, Lu Pianpian escorted Huan Changming back to her room, saying, "Junior Sister Changming, you should get some rest."
"I'm sorry to trouble you, senior brother, I'll have to share a room with third senior brother again."
"It's alright. I'll have someone build a new room in a few days, and you won't have to make do with my room anymore."
"Then thank you in advance, senior brother. But I don't think it's a bad idea to stay in your room."
Lu Pianpian smiled and scratched her face. "That's good. Goodnight, junior sister."
Saying goodnight is a unique custom of this sect. Huan Changming followed the local custom and said, "Goodnight, Senior Brother Pianpian."
Huan Changming closed the door after Lu Pianpian entered Huan Juntian's room.
He didn't light any candles in the room, as if afraid that someone would see the expression on his face.
Excitement and restlessness were palpable even in the darkness in his dark blue pupils, which seemed to express the sheer exhilaration and uncontrollable excitement of their owner.
After witnessing Lu Pianpian's power, Huan Changming realized how weak and pathetic he had been before, and how easily anyone could control his life and death.
But things are different now!
Now he has become Qu Fuyi's disciple. In time, he will be able to possess the same power as Lu Pianpian. At that time, he will repay all the humiliations he suffered in the past, one by one. None of those people will escape!
Huan Changming simply didn't expect the apprenticeship process to go so smoothly. He hadn't even had a chance to use his cunning and schemes, and his wish had already been fulfilled so quickly.
It's likely that the kind-hearted immortal lord spoke up for him quite a bit, and if he wants to maintain his foothold in this sect in the long run, he'll have to rely on that person.
"Immortal Lord, graceful..." Huan Changming murmured softly as he lay on the bed, "Ah."
The next morning, Lu Pianpian led Huan Changming to Qu Fuyi's residence.
"Junior Sister Changming, are you standing firm?" Lu Pianpian asked while riding her sword.
Huan Changming grabbed Lu Pianpian's clothes at the waist with both hands, "Stand firm."
"good."
With a thought, Lu Pianpian steadily flew towards the mountain peak. He usually flew very fast when he was alone, but he was afraid that his junior sister would not be used to it, so he slowed down.
Huan Changming gazed at the scenery below, which was becoming smaller and smaller. It seemed as if all the insects, fish, birds, beasts, trees, and creatures were under his feet.
He had never experienced this feeling before, yet his blood inexplicably began to boil.
"Junior Sister Changming, this is Master's residence."
The sword landed steadily. Huan Changming silently surveyed Qu Fuyi's courtyard, which was no different from the one where Lu Pianpian and the others lived, and was insignificant compared to the luxury of the Li Kingdom's palace.
Qu Fuyi came out of the house with a bottle of pills, poured out one and handed it to Huan Changming, "Eat it."
Huan Changming did not take it immediately. Qu Fuyi smiled and said to him, "What, are you afraid that your master will harm you?"
"Your disciple wouldn't dare."
Huan Changming took the pill and swallowed it. Qu Fuyi asked him, "Do you feel anything inside your body?"
Huan Changming carefully examined it for a moment, then shook his head. "No."
Qu Fuyi poured out a few more pills for Huan Changming, but Huan Changming's body showed no change after taking them. Qu Fuyi wondered, "I gave you Qi Gathering Pills to help you draw Qi into your body. Logically speaking, after taking so many Qi Gathering Pills, even someone with a poor constitution should be able to draw in some Qi. This is really strange..."
Lu Pianpian stood anxiously to the side, "Master, could it be that your Qi Gathering Pill has been sitting for too long and has lost its effectiveness?"
"This is something I refined without sleeping all night last night, it's very fresh!" Qu Fuyi rolled her eyes at her second disciple, pulled Huan Changming's hand and led him to a small pond. She flicked her sleeve and imbued the water with spiritual energy, then asked Huan Changming, "Changming, can you see anything different about this pond right now?"
Lu Pianpian wanted to secretly tell her junior sister that the Master had used his spiritual power to write the two characters "Changming" on the surface of the pond in the center.
Huan Changming stared intently at the lake for a long time, his hands clenched into fists under his sleeves. "I didn't see anything."
This is the lowest level of illusion technique for distinguishing between spiritual and mortal objects. If even the slightest clue could be seen, it would prove that the other party has the potential to embark on the path of immortality. However, Huan Changming could not even see the slightest abnormality.
Qu Fuyi shook his head repeatedly. Although he did not make his intentions clear, Huan Changming could already tell what was going on from his expression.
He maintained his smile and asked softly, "Master, am I... no longer allowed to join the immortal sect?"
Qu Fuyi sighed, "You can't sense the slightest fluctuation of spiritual energy around you. Your physique is one in a million... Changming, the path of cultivation is not suitable for you. You should give it up."
Huan Changming's smile froze upon hearing this. Seeing this, Lu Pianpian quickly asked Qu Fuyi, "Master, is there no other way to help Changming draw qi into his body?"
Qu Fuyi never minced words when answering such questions, saying directly, "No, everything has a spirit. Whether one can perceive or not depends entirely on the individual; no one else can help her."
Qu Fuyi comforted Huan Changming, "Even if you cannot cultivate immortality, you can still stay in the sect as long as you are willing."
Huan Changming bowed respectfully to Qu Fuyi, "Thank you, Master."
After paying his respects to Qu Fuyi, he walked down the mountain in a daze. Lu Pianpian was afraid that something had happened to him and wanted to follow him, but Qu Fuyi stopped her, saying, "Let her be alone."
Lu Pianpian and her companions always traveled to and from the mountains by flying on their swords, so there were no roads in the mountains.
Huan Changming had just recovered from a serious illness when he tripped on the rugged mountain path and fell into a hole dug by an animal.