The news that Chu Mingwei was taking Xiao Lingyu down the mountain for experience came as a shock to Wu Yunzi. In his eyes, his young disciple was only sixteen. Although his cultivation had reached the Void Realm, he was still far too young to descend for practical experience. Beyond the sect, the world was a chaotic mix of good and evil, and demonic disciples were cunning and deceitful. Lingyu had always been under Wu Yunzi’s protection, completely unaware of the dangers of the outside world. What if he suffered because he couldn’t discern people’s intentions?
Faced with Chu Mingwei’s firm assurances, Wu Yunzi did not believe him. With a wave of his hand, he placed Chu Mingwei outside the restriction barrier of Yilan Peak.
Chu Mingwei hadn’t expected Uncle Wu to outright refuse the request for his junior brother to leave the mountain. Even with the sect leader’s orders and his own guarantees, it was still not permitted. He forced a wry smile, turning his head just in time to catch the pleading look in Xiao Lingyu’s eyes—an unspoken desire to experience the world beyond the sect. Chu Mingwei’s heart softened. His previously wavering resolve hardened, and he nodded reassuringly to Xiao Lingyu, promising that he would indeed take him down the mountain. The joy that erupted on his junior brother’s face was unmistakable.
Xiao Lingyu truly wanted to descend the mountain. Even if he intended to remain obedient and cautious in this life, he could not endure a decade of confinement within the Yuntian Sect. Sometimes he wondered whether his carefully cultivated image of obedience had been too successful—everyone treated him like a naive boy. His master wanted to know his whereabouts twelve hours a day. In his previous life, he could have openly ventured down the mountain; in this life, he hadn’t even set foot in the markets at the foot of Yuntian Sect.
Thus, when Chu Mingwei proposed taking him down the mountain, Xiao Lingyu’s joy was indescribable. But he hadn’t anticipated his master’s immediate refusal, citing concern that he might suffer outside. The old ghost’s laughter at his master’s words was so loud that Xiao Lingyu briefly wondered if the old man might go mad from it.
Unable to voice his wish to descend in front of his worried master, Xiao Lingyu could only direct pleading eyes at Chu Mingwei. Senior Brother, you’ve got to come through for me! That thought alone filled his mind as he looked at Chu Mingwei.
Tasked with persuading Wu Yunzi, Chu Mingwei repeatedly braved the barrier, only to be cast out each time. Even with his perseverance, Wu Yunzi refused. Left with no choice, Chu Mingwei invoked the names of Meng Fan and others, promising that they would accompany him and Xiao Lingyu, ensuring his safety.
Seeing his young disciple’s pleading eyes, and after assessing the martial prowess of those mentioned, Wu Yunzi reluctantly agreed to let Xiao Lingyu descend. He handed Xiao Lingyu three magical treasures, instructing him to refine them in preparation for self-defense during the journey.
No matter how worried Wu Yunzi remained, the next day, Chu Mingwei led Xiao Lingyu out of the Yuntian Sect.
Even with Xiao Lingyu’s experience in a previous life, stepping out of the sect brought an unmistakable excitement to his face.
The old ghost, habitually ready to dampen spirits, opened his mouth, “I say, Xiao Yuzi—” but before he could finish, Xiao Lingyu silently formed a hand seal. A muting talisman took effect, producing only a faint “woo-woo” sound as the old ghost was abruptly silenced.
Zhu Yurun, quietly nestled in Xiao Lingyu’s arms, witnessed the old ghost’s plight. A flicker of sympathy crossed his face before he quickly assumed a submissive smile, wagging his tail incessantly toward Xiao Lingyu.
“Old ghost, I wanted to help you, but I can’t. The little monster is too fierce. I don’t want to end up back in the dark bag, so I can only watch it bully you. Next time, I’ll stand up for you!”
The only response was a continued “woo-woo” from the little white pig.
Zhu Yurun’s tail wagged even more enthusiastically.
Chu Mingwei looked at the little white pig in his junior brother’s arms and couldn’t help but smile. Xiao Lingyu retained his youthful fondness for small, cute pets. He had heard that near the Phantom Demon Realm, a species of night-glowing fox existed—small, docile, and capable of changing its glow with the night, beloved by many female cultivators. Judging by his junior brother’s temperament, he would surely enjoy one. It seemed a trip to the markets was in order.
While Chu Mingwei pondered buying a pet for Xiao Lingyu, the junior brother was scheming his own visit to the markets.
Over the years, Zhu Yurun had evolved, revealing another hidden talent: a self-contained spatial pocket within his body. A treasure-seeking pig by nature, Zhu Yurun could locate rare spiritual or mineral objects. Without this pocket, all discoveries would have to serve others. Though ancient cultivators once captured many treasure-seeking pigs, Xiao Lingyu had never heard of one abandoning its finds, implying a unique storage method.
The first time Zhu Yurun produced a century-old Meditation Lotus from this pocket—stolen from the Yuntian Sect’s spiritual garden—Xiao Lingyu was overjoyed to hold a lotus free of Zhu Yurun’s drool. In subsequent years, even with his quick reflexes, he could not avoid Zhu Yurun’s saliva. Knowing he no longer had to dodge it, he looked at the little pig with tenderness, inadvertently scaring Zhu Yurun into an all-night spree, raiding seven spiritual gardens and stealing every spiritual plant over a hundred years old.
The next morning, Xiao Lingyu awoke to Zhu Yurun’s flattering smile and a room piled with spiritual flora.
Though unsure of the pig’s exact thoughts, Xiao Lingyu gladly accepted the bounty, storing it all in Zhu Yurun’s spatial pocket. Due to the pig’s unique nature, items stored remained fresh as if newly harvested, without any risk of wilting or dispersing spiritual energy.
The spiritual garden incident caused a commotion within the sect. In anger, Sect Leader Ling Xiaozi dispatched the Enforcement Hall to watch the remaining gardens day and night. Zhu Yurun, however, remained confined in Xiao Lingyu’s room, leaving no chance for further mischief. The case became one of the Yuntian Sect’s top ten unresolved mysteries of the year.
Thanks to Zhu Yurun, Xiao Lingyu had amassed considerable spiritual resources. Though he occasionally felt guilty for the sect leader’s hair loss over stolen plants, he still indulged the pig’s exploits. Since none of the treasures leaked outside, all profits would go toward buying gifts for Wu Yunzi and Chu Mingwei, easing his remaining guilt.
For this descent, Xiao Lingyu was determined to visit the markets and auction houses. While he plotted how to convince Chu Mingwei to take him, Chu Mingwei reasoned that since descending the mountain was rare, and Wucheng lay ahead, it made sense to explore the nearest market first, gaining worldly experience while also seeking information on the night-glowing fox.
Both shared the same thought, yet Chu Mingwei spoke first: “Lingyu, do you want to check out the nearest market?”
When Xiao Lingyu was a child, Chu Mingwei affectionately called him “Yu’er.” At the time, Xiao Lingyu found it somewhat feminine, but seeing the same warm smile from Chu Mingwei as he did from Wu Yunzi, he silently endured it. As he grew, he requested the name be changed, and Chu Mingwei obliged, calling him Lingyu.
Hearing “market,” Xiao Lingyu’s mind immediately sparked with a sense of tacit understanding. Even without the old ghost’s teasing, he sensed something peculiar in the thought.
Despite his internal conflict, a look of joy spread across his face, prompting Chu Mingwei to privately rejoice at his decision.
Planning to visit the market would delay arrival in Wucheng. Chu Mingwei sent a transmission to Meng Fan and the others, informing them of the route change.
Xiao Lingyu noticed the transmission and asked, “Aren’t Senior Brother Meng and the others supposed to go with us?”
Chu Mingwei felt a fleeting irritation, replying instinctively, “What, Lingyu? You don’t want to be alone with me? Or don’t trust my protection?”
Xiao Lingyu tilted his head, puzzled. “I trust you, Senior Brother. But you promised the others would come with us before the master. If the master thinks you deceived him, wouldn’t that be unfair to you?”
Seeing his junior brother’s concerned expression, Chu Mingwei’s irritation vanished. He replied cheerfully, “Ah, so you’re worried about me. Don’t worry, Lingyu. Meng Fan and the others are heading to Wucheng too; we just won’t travel together. We’ll meet up there.”
Xiao Lingyu didn’t care whether Meng Fan and the others arrived; as long as Chu Mingwei could account for them to their master, he was satisfied. He had confidence in Chu Mingwei’s skills—any mishap could be handled by him alone.
With mutual understanding reached, the two shared a glance and turned toward the nearest market. As for how frustrated Meng Fan and the others might be upon receiving the message—was that their concern? Not at all.