Chapter 61: Fellow Daoist Li Shouldn’t Be That Kind of Person... Right?
Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Fellow Daoist Li Shouldn’t Be That Kind of Person... Right?
Immortal Peach Mountain, inside Li Ping’s abode.
In the Talisman Making Room, Li Ping was focused on drawing a Tier Two Lower Grade Spirit Talisman.
Behind him, Bai Lin watched gingerly as Li Ping’s brush danced across the paper. She didn’t even dare to breathe too loudly, afraid of disturbing his work.
Bai Lin watched as Li Ping held the Talisman Brush in one hand and pressed down on the Talisman Paper with the other. The soft, Talisman Ink-soaked tip of the brush glided across the smooth paper, leaving behind an incredibly complex and arcane circuit.
The intricate spiritual power circuit made her dizzy just from a single glance.
’An Elder focused on his work.’ Bai Lin’s gaze shifted to the side of Li Ping’s face.
In Bai Lin’s eyes, even though he was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, this Elder wasn’t aloof like other High-tier Cultivators. His attitude toward her was very kind; he was a good person.
His only shortcoming was his rather ordinary appearance, but that wasn’t a major flaw. Besides, looks aside, the Elder was very young—not like her Old Ancestor, who was so old he could barely walk.
Moreover, the Elder had a certain charm and was multitalented.
Although she called him "Elder" out loud, in her heart, she didn’t think he was that old. To her, he was like the big brother next door. So she shouldn’t be calling him Elder, she should be calling him...
At this thought, a blush crept up to her earlobes, and she felt incredibly shy. ’What are you thinking, Bai Lin?’
Just then, Li Ping finished drawing the Tier Two Lower Grade Spirit Talisman.
His gentle voice reached her ears, interrupting her wandering thoughts. "Clean up the Talisman Room in a bit and put away the Spirit Talismans. When the cultivator from the Meng family arrives tomorrow, complete the transaction with her as usual."
"Yes, Bro... Elder!" Lost in her thoughts, Bai Lin nearly used the wrong address. She caught herself halfway through and quickly corrected it.
Li Ping gave the girl a strange look before smiling and adding, "The New Year is in a few days. You haven’t been home for almost a year, have you? I’ll give you a few days off so you can go back and visit."
"Ah? Thank you, Elder!" After a moment of surprise at Li Ping’s offer of a holiday, Bai Lin quickly thanked him profusely.
She had been away from her family for nearly a year. Although her life in the Immortal City was fulfilling and happy, she deeply missed her relatives and the friends she grew up with.
Now that she could go home, her joy was practically written all over her face.
...
Li Ping was very satisfied with his little housekeeper, Bai Lin. With her around, he no longer had to personally handle matters like the trades with the Meng family, which saved him a lot of time.
During this period, aside from occasionally visiting Master Hu to chat and build their rapport, he rarely went out, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to cultivation and Alchemy.
Over the past year, he had refined nearly all the medicinal ingredients for the Qi Nourishing Pills into finished Pills.
He had also nearly finished absorbing the Innate Spiritual Mechanism from the Tier One Upper Grade Pills his Nourishing Life Skill Power required.
And this was with him focusing his main efforts on cultivation, only practicing Alchemy to relax when he got tired of training.
Otherwise, he would have been even faster.
The reason he had proactively offered Bai Lin a holiday today was twofold.
First, he genuinely wanted her to go home and see her family and friends. After all, she had been working for a year; making her work overtime during the New Year—was he even human if he did that?
Second, the cultivators from the Friends Association were coming to his abode for a gathering on New Year’s Eve. This matter had to be kept secret and no outsiders could know, so he had deliberately sent Bai Lin away.
Li Ping sighed softly. "Before I knew it, it’s already been two years since I reached Foundation Establishment."
...
After completing the trade with the Meng family as Li Ping had instructed and casting a Spirit Rain Art on all the Spirit Medicines, Bai Lin eagerly asked Li Ping for her leave.
Although she felt the Elder treated people well and was very comfortable to be around, right now, having been away from home for nearly a year, she was desperate to see her family.
Li Ping smilingly agreed to her request and watched her retreating figure skip away cheerfully.
...
Although there were no major gangs of marauding cultivators operating near the Immortal City, many Loose Cultivators wouldn’t mind playing the part of a robber if the opportunity arose.
Therefore, Bai Lin, a mere Early-stage Qi Refining Female Cultivator, naturally didn’t dare to leave the Immortal City and return to the Bai family alone. She had to wait for a family elder to travel with her.
Since Li Ping was never short on Pills, he would occasionally give her a few bottles offhandedly when assigning her tasks.
Bai Lin herself wasn’t in the habit of spending Spirit Stones recklessly. After working in the Immortal City for a year, she was surprised to find that she had saved up a total of 150 Spirit Stones.
Of course, the bulk of it—120 Spirit Stones—came from selling the Beauty Pills.
During the few days she spent waiting, she went on a shopping spree in the market district, spending nearly 100 Spirit Stones to buy gifts for all her family and friends.
Even the Late-stage Qi Refining elder traveling with her was surprised that she had so many Spirit Stones.
As they flew, Gaoji Mountain came into view in the distance, and Bai Lin’s eagerness to return home grew even stronger.
...
Deep within Gaoji Mountain, beside a misty pool several dozen yards across...
The Bai family’s Old Ancestor was still lying on his recliner, leisurely and listlessly basking in the sun with his eyes closed in rest.
With little of his life left, cultivation had lost its meaning. Most of the time now, the Bai family’s Old Ancestor simply preferred to lie back and reminisce about his life.
The rest of the Bai family knew their Old Ancestor had toiled for the family his entire life and didn’t have much time left, so few people disturbed his rest on a normal day.
But today was an exception.
Bai Mingde hurriedly flew down on his Dharma Artifact, landing beside the pool. He then put the artifact away and walked up to the Old Ancestor, bowing respectfully. "Old Ancestor."
The Bai family’s Old Ancestor opened his eyes, looked at him with a kindly expression, and teased, "What is it, Mingde? You look so serious. Who’s gone and upset you?"
He wasn’t worried that something had happened to the family. If there were a true family crisis or an enemy attack, Bai Mingde wouldn’t have the time to come find him; he would have directly released the warning signal.
"No one has upset me." Bai Mingde quickly shook his head, then revealed the true source of his trouble. "Old Ancestor, Lin’Er returned today."
"So Fellow Daoist Li let the little lass come back for the New Year," the Bai family’s Old Ancestor said, not understanding the issue.
Bai Mingde continued, "But if I’m not mistaken, Lin’Er is still a virgin."
At this, the expression of the Bai family’s Old Ancestor changed. As if talking to himself, yet also questioning Bai Mingde, he said, "Oh? Could it be that Fellow Daoist Li dislikes the girl and sent her packing?"
"No." Bai Mingde’s expression was grave. "According to Lin’Er herself, Elder Li holds her in high regard, has given her many things, and treats her very kindly. She shouldn’t be lying. The gifts she brought back for her family and friends this time are worth, I estimate, over 100 Spirit Stones."
As he said this, a deep worry filled Bai Mingde’s eyes.
’It’s a good thing that Elder Li values Lin’Er and is willing to trust her. But that wasn’t the only reason the Bai family sent Lin’Er to Elder Li’s side. With their current master-servant relationship, if the Bai family truly faced a crisis in the future, what could they possibly use to ask for Elder Li’s help?’
Bai Mingde took a deep breath, having apparently made up his mind. "Old Ancestor, after the New Year, I want to send Yun Jun to Elder Li’s side along with Lin’Er to serve him."
Bai Yunjun was his grandson, and also widely acknowledged as the most handsome among the younger generation of male cultivators in the Bai family.
Of course, Bai Mingde’s heart ached at the thought of making his beloved grandson offer such a sacrifice, but... everything was for the family!
Hearing this, the Bai family’s Old Ancestor immediately shook his head. "Nonsense. Fellow Daoist Li shouldn’t be that kind of person... I think."