Chapter 4, The Helpless Master

Living alone on Zizhu Peak, no outsiders dared to disturb him, which is why Luo Yinfan often went days without speaking. However, he now noticed that the frequency of his speech had significantly increased, with the two words he uttered most often being these. The little figure always appeared before him at the fastest speed, seemingly having been waiting for him to call, filled with anticipation. This made him both angry and amused. Could it be that his little disciple actually enjoyed being punished?

Though of ordinary appearance, there is an inherent charm in every gesture and movement, exuding a distinguished demeanor that is slightly reserved. The words spoken are warm and approachable, yet all the senior and junior brothers of Nanhua hold him in deep respect. He appears to be in his twenties, yet consistently gives an impression of remarkable steadiness and reliability. In Chongzi's eyes, this bears some resemblance to Luoyinfan.

Mu Yu gently patted her on the shoulder and stood up: "What brings you here, not at Zizhu Peak?"

Luo Yinfan was secretly observing in the dark, feeling astonished; did the little disciple truly enjoy being punished

That is the letter he wrote to the leader of Qinghua Palace last night, which has been properly sealed with a cover and enchanted with celestial spells

As Wen Ling was about to further humiliate her, a gentle voice from behind said: "The esteemed Zunzhang Chonghua possesses keen insight in choosing disciples, and surely has his own reasons for doing so; it is not for us to discuss privately."

Among the disciples of Nanhua Mountain, his reputation was already well-established. Now, seeing him in person was indeed heartwarming. Chongzi felt grateful and earnestly blinked her eyes, saying: "Chongzi will remember this"

Even with Luo Yinfan's good temper, he still feels helpless. Could it be that this disciple is sent by heaven to test him?

Wen Ling stepped forward to stop her: "Chong Zi, do you dare to show disrespect to your elders"

The heavy purple is inexplicable, answer truthfully: "No."

Looking at that turtle, Luo Yinfan felt a chill run down her spine. Fortunately, this letter had not yet been sent out; otherwise, the Nanhua Sect would have suffered a great embarrassment.

Initially, it was thought to be mere childish play, but as the occurrences increased, he could not help but begin to suspect that this disciple was doing it intentionally

A bad thought is slowly taking shape

Chongzi is very disappointed

The Hall of Six Harmonies still appeared exceedingly solemn, with many disciples coming and going, and faint sounds of chanting could be heard from within. Chong Zi was most afraid of him, and dared not enter, quickly avoiding it. Unconsciously, he followed the corridor and turned to the entrance of another grand hall, where he raised his eyes to see three large characters written on the hall door.

An ominous premonition arose, and Luo Yinfan quickly summoned the spirit crane back.

Two days later, Luo Yinfan finally broke down

Being embraced so warmly by her disciple, Luo Yinfan felt somewhat unaccustomed. Unaware of her thoughts, she lowered her head and noticed that the disciple was covered in dirt, which caused her to frown.

Indeed, the letter is still intact; however, there is surprisingly a large turtle drawn on the cover, and it is made with ice platform ink! It turns out that in order to prevent anyone from tampering with the letter midway, the immortal sect specially created ice platform ink, which cannot be erased by any spell when used for writing.

Zhong Zi was momentarily taken aback, then looked up again.

Seeing her look of grievance, Luo Yinfan's heart softened, and she kindly advised, "You must not do this again; go on now." Suddenly realizing that she had said this dozens of times before with little effect, she immediately added, "If you continue to be naughty, I will certainly punish you severely."

Zhang Da opened his mouth wide.

... ...

Several female disciples burst into laughter

"Master is truly kind, and Zhong Er will definitely be obedient." Zhong Zi hugged his leg, her large eyes sparkling with a mischievous light

If one gets angry so easily, then they are not Luo Yinfan

... ...

The purple bamboos stretch across the mountains, and the sea of clouds is vast and boundless; even when seen, it becomes dull and flavorless.

Outside the hall, cries soon resounded, growing increasingly louder

How can one arbitrarily take what belongs to the master

Luo Yinfan was stunned for a moment, then went out with disheveled hair to verify. Indeed, she saw Zhong Zi crouching by the edge of the Four Seas, playing with the water using a hairpin.

All the senior brothers and sisters have their own tasks, yet only Chongzi is idle and feeling downcast. She tries to avoid going to Nanhua Peak, not only because she dislikes the scent of Lingzhi, but mainly because she has noticed that the senior brothers and uncles seem to be wary of her, likely due to what the sect leader said about her ominous aura. Only Mu Yu continues to treat her the same, but unfortunately, as the chief disciple, Mu Yu has to handle affairs and cultivate, making it difficult for Chongzi to shamelessly disturb him.

For several consecutive days, the dark red token kept appearing in her vivid dreams. In the dream, the token truly seemed to have eyes, always watching her with a smile. She often woke up in fright in the middle of the night, but fortunately, she was a little beggar, accustomed to sleeping under the eaves of others. Nightmares were not particularly terrifying to her. After half a month, the impression in her mind gradually faded, and she finally forgot about it.

He looked sternly at the person in front of him and said: "Go outside the hall and kneel; you may rise only after kneeling for two hours!"

One day, he entered the palace and found something unusual

Indeed, it quickly became quiet outside

... ...

It seemed that he had been waiting outside for a long time, and the young apprentice rushed in at the fastest speed: "Master called for Chong'er?"

Chongzi hesitated to speak, reluctantly leaving the palace.

Other senior brothers and sisters can meet the master whenever they wish, even the stern Master Min is willing to allow Wen Lingzhi to stay by his side

Have you gone too far? Chongzi became increasingly anxious and tentatively called out again: "Master?"

Chongzi quietly got up and went outside

Zhong Zi knelt down obediently without any hesitation

Isn't it a bit too harsh to punish a child like this? Luo Yinfan was already feeling anxious, and upon hearing the sound, he got up to take a look. Sure enough, it was his little disciple who was crying: "What happened?"

The master and apprentice became pure white

The next day after getting up, Luo Yinfan remembered that she had forgotten to collect the items in the palace. She went out to the palace for a while, and upon returning, she discovered that someone had been in her room. Indeed, the ink hairpin she used for her daily hairstyle was missing.

Zhongzi had no choice but to kneel down

Mu Yu crouched down and smiled at her: "Zhong Zi does not pay attention to them, and Master Zhong Hua has never accepted disciples. Now that he is willing to take you as his apprentice, you are the best. Remember that, okay?"

The things of the Demon Lord are truly terrifying, and it seems that the Heavenly Demon Order wants to speak with her! Chongzi is in a state of panic, having firmly decided never to go to the Ancestor Hall again, she quickly runs towards Zizhu Peak. On the way, she encounters Min Yunzhong, whose gloomy expression nearly frightens her into a cold sweat.

Something happened in the palace. Everyone remained in their positions, there was no ink on the chairs, and the table was spotless and free of dust. The messenger crane hovered above, seemingly hesitating, and after a while, it finally picked up the letter and prepared to fly away

Before long, cries could be heard from outside

Seeing her genuine remorse, Luo Yinfan patted her head: "Go on down."

The master has already seen that she is doing it on purpose ? Chongzi was stunned

A palm-sized token hovered above the offering table, shaped like a curved blade, made of an unknown material, with a strange dark red sheen flowing on its surface

Chongzi had been waiting outside the hall for a long time, having already made up her mind. Upon seeing him, she immediately ran over with a beaming smile and embraced him: "Master!"

Then why be mischievous

The Heavenly Demon Order hung high in the air, as if it had grown a pair of eyes, intently staring at her, seemingly summoning her, and it even moved slightly.

The deep purple made my heart race even more: "Master Mu, let us go outside"

Wen Ling turned her eyes and asked, "You have been in Nanhua for such a long time, have you seen the Ancestor Hall?"

He gently inhaled and called out: "Chong'er! Chong'er!"

Chongzi is a ten-year-old child who only feels that she is being impolite to herself, and naturally does not like it. She lowers her head and is about to leave

In the days that followed, Chongzi's life became even more monotonous

Luo Yinfan quickly discovered that this little disciple, although seemingly obedient, was not quite as she appeared. As the days went by, her mischievous nature seemed to be gradually revealed. Luo Yinfan usually rose very early, but every time she arrived at the main hall, the little disciple had already been there ahead of her, causing considerable damage. Either the paperweights were missing, or the pens were broken, with sheets of paper strewn all over the floor. Sometimes, the entire hall was left in complete disarray.

Luo Yinfan took the jade hairpin and turned to enter the hall

Luo Yinfan has never taken on a disciple, but having been a disciple herself, she has witnessed her masters and senior brothers discipline their students. She understands how a master should express dissatisfaction when a disciple is disobedient. Therefore, she straightened her face and threw the letter in front of her, saying: "Kneel down!"

He looked at her, remaining silent

Zhong Zi shrank back behind him: "What if someone else steals it and does something bad?"

Of course, this was not a big deal for Luo Yinfan; with a wave of the hand, everything returned to its original state.

Zhongzi raised her small face, her cheeks streaked with tears: "Master, I... my feet hurt... it hurts."

Luo Yinfan would certainly not get angry with a child, but his young disciple was so unruly that he did not even regard his master, which was truly contrary to the teachings of a disciple. It was necessary to impose a proper punishment, so he darkened his face and said: "Disrespecting your elders, I punish you to kneel here for two hours"

Zhongzi Dao: "I came to find Qin Ke... to play with my senior brother, is he not here?"

Zhongzi let out a sound of "ah", filled with disappointment

... ...

The fact that someone ran away is merely a minor issue; what could possibly happen on Zizhu Peak that could be concealed from Luo Yinfan? Soon, Chongzi was brought back and knelt in the main hall

Chongzi saw him and quickly ran over: "Master"

At a glance, it appears quite well; the area before the steps outside the hall is completely empty, and there is actually no one to be seen!

Mu Yu furrowed his brow for a moment, then smiled: "It doesn't need to be repaired; the current state of Chongzi is just fine." He raised his hand and pointed to the plaque above: "Those three characters are read as 'Zushi Dian'; I will take you in to have a look."

In front of her stood the foremost disciple of the Nanhua Sect, Min Yunchong's most favored student, and also the person most trusted by the sect leader. Wen Lingzhi naturally knew what to do and quickly bowed her head in greeting, appearing quite ashamed: "Lingzhi spoke carelessly, thank you, Senior Brother Mu, for your guidance"

The thoughts of children are all reflected on their faces, and Mu Yu noticed something was amiss: "What is wrong with you?"

Luo Yinfan finally bent down, placing both hands on her shoulders, and softly said: "Why do you deliberately act this way? I took you as my disciple with the hope that you would learn well. Why are you so disobedient and unprogressive?"

The female disciples immediately fell silent

Upon hearing this, Wen Ling and the female disciples felt as if they had received a great pardon and quickly departed.

Mu Yudao: "Those who share the same demonic blood as that Demon Lord can naturally awaken it, but the Demon Lord has no blood relatives"

That night, Luo Yinfan taught her the method of breathing exercises. The next day, it was discovered that she was already able to gather spiritual energy on her own. After that, he no longer inquired about her matters, nor did he assign her any other tasks. Each day, he either left early in the morning and returned late at night, or spent the entire day handling affairs within the hall. The grand hall was inaccessible to Chongzi; the only time she could enter was when he was not present. Chongzi had tried calling out to him a few times, and upon hearing her, he would lift the spell to allow her in, ask if there was anything wrong, and then let her out.

The mischievous little apprentice is surprisingly obedient and compliant. Luo Yinfan was taken aback, and her anger immediately dissipated by half. After a moment, she said: "How did I teach you back then, and what did you say yourself about listening to your master? Have you forgotten?"

You still dare to run under my watch! Luo Yinfan sat down at the desk

The ancestral hall is not as grand as the Hall of the Six Harmonies, yet it possesses a certain solemnity and dignity, appearing somewhat desolate. The offering table in front is spotless, upon which rests a large incense burner. Several portraits hang on the walls, and there are many rolled-up scrolls neatly stacked below. Inside the main hall, only two or three disciples are gathered in one place conversing. Upon seeing Mu Yudu approach to pay respects, Mu Yu gives a few instructions, and they then withdraw to attend to their own tasks.

These are merely the mischievous antics of children, which cannot be considered a grave mistake. Luo Yinfan certainly would not impose severe punishment; she simply could not bear to see Ling He looking at her with such a pitiful gaze every day. After several instances, she ultimately decided to offer some words of advice. Phrases like "this should not be done" had already been repeated dozens of times, yet her young disciple's forgetfulness was as formidable as his propensity for mischief, often treating her lessons as mere background noise and continuing to act as he pleased.

This time, Chongzi accompanied the court and was punished to kneel, surprisingly quiet and well-behaved, neither making noise nor causing a disturbance, simply gazing at him with her large eyes, seemingly entranced

The master said that I am not yet able to cultivate

Feeling inexplicably scrutinized by her, Luo Yinfan could no longer restrain himself and, for the first time in his life, took the initiative to inquire about someone else's psychological issues: "What do you want to do?"

Mu Yu let out an "oh" and explained: "That is the Heavenly Demon Order, a token of a Demon Sovereign. Five years ago, during the battle between the immortals and demons, the Celestial Sovereign employed the ancient celestial techniques passed down by the primordial deities and ultimately slayed the Demon Sovereign under his sword. The Demon Gods were scattered, and the Celestial Sovereign was severely injured and perished as a result. This Heavenly Demon Order has since belonged to Nan Hua.

... ...

Having said that, she ran out the door, leaving Mu Yu with a look of bewilderment

Chongzi finally pouted and began to cry softly

No.

Zhong Er! Zhong Er!

The face before her was breathtakingly beautiful, accompanied by an expression of anticipation. Chongzi could no longer refuse and nodded with a choked voice

Since entering under the tutelage of Min Yunzong, Lingzhi's status in the Nanhua Sect has changed significantly. At this moment, she is preparing to go to the Liuhe Hall with several female disciples when she unexpectedly encounters Chongzi. She has always been preoccupied with the matter of Qin Ke protecting Chongzi at sea, which has lingered in her mind. Later, upon seeing Chongzi being accepted as a disciple by Luoyin Fan, her resentment grew even stronger. Thus, when she encounters Chongzi now, it is inevitable that she wishes to tease and humiliate her.

Mu Yu did not reprimand much and nodded: "The Master is in the Six Harmonies Hall, hurry there."

It has been proven that his intuition was accurate

Since stepping through the palace doors, Chong Zi had a vague sense of unease. At this moment, she realized what was causing her discomfort, so she inquired, and upon hearing the words, she was so frightened that she stuttered: "Is it... the Demon... the Demon Lord's?"

As if caught in the act of wrongdoing, Chongzi's face immediately flushed red, and she lowered her eyelids, revealing a hint of guilt.

Luo Yinfan felt a bit worried, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately sighed, deciding to go out and take a look

He merely regarded it as a child's unintentional act, gently waving his sleeve, and in the blink of an eye, not only he but also the stains on the heavy purple garment vanished completely

Mu Yu asked: "Did Master Chonghua not teach you any immortal techniques?"

I am afraid, "Zhongzi did not dare to speak out, hesitating, 'Master Uncle, I will go back first.'"

She worked hard to learn well and gain her master's favor, but the better she learned, the less her master seemed to care for her

Zhongzi stood in confusion, unable to read.

Mu Yu nodded: "It bears the Oath of Ten Thousand Demons, which is used to command all demons"

This unprogressive disciple! Luo Yinfan decided to ignore it

The snow-white robe was immediately marked with several small black handprints

Chong Zi let out a sigh: "Is there really no one besides the Demon Lord who can use it?"

Luo Yinfan had a headache; in fact, he had never encountered such a situation before. No matter when or where, all disciples of the immortal sect treated him with utmost respect, and no one dared to act recklessly. At this moment, he found it truly difficult to understand why the disciples of his senior brothers and uncles were so obedient and followed the rules, while his own disciple was so unruly. It seemed that not everyone could be a master; without the proper methods, it was indeed very challenging to teach.

"Master Mu, what is that?" Chong Zi suddenly tugged at his sleeve, as if she had seen something extremely terrifying

"Zhongzi, what do you want to do?" Someone pushed her

The white robe trailing on the ground, he descended the steps slowly, treading on the clouds scattered all around, drifting away, just as he had appeared at their first meeting, so far from her, as if he would never be within reach.

Turning around, she saw the newcomer. Chong Zi first felt a sense of familiarity, and after a moment of thought, she finally remembered who she was

Luo Yinfan sighed and stood up to walk in front of her

The beautiful eyes looked down at her, filled with deep helplessness and disappointment. The same posture reminded Chongzi of that immortal brother from many years ago. If he knew that she was not studying well, he would surely be disappointed as well

It is not that I absolutely need that ink stick, but rather that I suddenly find myself without something I am accustomed to using, which feels quite unusual

Feeling the anger of the person in front of her, Zhong Zi finally became uneasy and raised her face: "Master..."

... ...

For instance, she would spill ink on the chair, catch the messenger crane and hold it tightly in her arms, or simply drench the white paper with tea. She might even take his immortal brush and draw on the ground, depicting either a turtle or a rabbit, all the while wearing a proud expression and asking him whether it was good or not

After two or three months of daily practice of breathing techniques, nourished by the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, the little girl with yellow hair and sunken cheeks who first ascended the mountain has long since disappeared. Her hair is now black and shiny, her oval face has gained some flesh, and her complexion is gradually becoming rosy. She appears vibrant and lively, especially her large eyes, which are distinct in black and white, with bright pupils. When still, she looks obedient and charming, but once she starts to move around, she becomes quirky and clever, revealing a hint of mischief, likely indicating some mischievous ideas.

The grand hall doors opened, and a snow-white figure appeared at the steps.

After all, she is still young; mischief is the nature of children. Luo Yinfan could not bear to scold her any further and reached out to help her up: "Now that you understand the lesson, you must correct your ways in the future"

Zhongzi bowed his head and said: "I admire Master Uncle."

In a hurry to rewrite a letter, Luo Yinfan shook her head and sat down at the desk, picking up the pen again. For some reason, the pair of bright, round eyes suddenly appeared before her, and an even greater sense of foreboding rose in her heart

Chongzi merely drooped its small head, remaining silent

Mu Yu smiled as she pulled her out: "You need not be afraid. It can command countless demons, and being so important, the Demon Lord naturally fears it being taken away. Therefore, he used the forbidden techniques of the Demon Palace to seal it. Aside from the Demon Lord, no one can awaken it. Now that the Demon Lord's spirit and form have perished, there is no need for concern, and the Master will place it here, both to commemorate the Celestial Lord and to serve as a warning to future disciples."

Zizhu Peak rarely sees outsiders, and the vast Chonghua Palace is cold and desolate, with not a single figure in sight. After a few days, the novelty of Chongzi has worn off, and with no new tasks to engage in, boredom quickly sets in. In fact, aside from the prohibition on leaving the mountain without permission, the disciples of Nanhua enjoy considerable freedom of movement. In the midst of this monotony, she suddenly remembers someone, and early in the morning, she sneaks down Zizhu Peak, excitedly heading towards the main peak, the Liuhe Hall.

Luo Yinfan was at a loss whether to laugh or cry: "Chong'er! Chong'er!"

It is time to teach the young apprentice a lesson

Chongzi sat down on the stone steps in a dejected manner, propping her chin on her hand, her big eyes spinning restlessly.

Zhong Zi then remembered that she was a disciple of Min Yunchong, and in terms of seniority, she was of the same generation as Luo Yinfan. Therefore, she should have paid her respects and addressed her as "Shishu". Reluctantly, she lowered her head and assumed a respectful posture, asking, "Shishu, did you call me for something?"

Mu Yu led Zhong Zi to the offering table and introduced: "This is the place where the Nanhua Sect venerates its ancestors, hence it is called the Ancestor Hall. Every year on the ninth day of the ninth month, it is the founding day of the Nanhua Sword Immortal Sect, and all disciples of Nanhua must come here to pay their respects to the ancestors"

Chongzi was so embarrassed that her face turned completely red, and it seemed that this matter would soon spread throughout Nanhua. In fact, having been a beggar, she was no stranger to being mocked by others, but she could not allow her master to be ridiculed as well

Mu Yudao: "The master has commanded him to go to Yuchen Peak to practice swordsmanship, and no outsiders are allowed to disturb him. You probably won't see him for the next few years."

Luo Yinfan said gently: "I will play by myself, I will go out for a while"

Luo Yinfan, filled with regret, pulled her up from the ground and said: "From now on, you must not be naughty, you must listen, do you understand?"

Wen Ling disdainfully remarked: "Not even able to recognize characters, this is not the ancestral hall, yet you still have the audacity to call yourself a disciple of the esteemed Chonghua."