In the previous life, how life at Yuntian Sect had begun was already a blur for Xiao Lingyu. In fact, most of his memories were tied to that one person. In this life, after tossing and turning half the night, Xiao Lingyu finally fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, when he opened his eyes and saw Chu Mingwei sitting at the bedside, the shock on his face needed no pretense.
“Brother Mingwei?” The soft voice of the child was filled with surprise.
Chu Mingwei smiled gently at the astonished little boy and reached out to adjust the blanket over him. “It’s still early, little junior brother. Sleep a little longer.” After a moment, he added, “These days, sect affairs are busy. Uncle Wu may not have time to look after you, so he specially asked me to take care of you for a while.”
Xiao Lingyu listened obediently, but in his mind, a battle with the old ghost had already erupted.
“Someone sneaked into my room while I was asleep, and you didn’t notice?”
The old ghost muttered guiltily, “I was asleep too, wasn’t I?”
“Do ghosts even need to sleep?” Xiao Lingyu retorted.
The old ghost bristled, “Even ghosts are entitled to rest, you know? Besides, you didn’t notice either—where’s your vigilance?”
“I was unsettled revisiting old places; it’s normal I didn’t notice,” Xiao Lingyu replied.
The ghost huffed, teasing, “We’re two of a kind. Neither of us can complain.”
“Hmph!”
“Hmph!”
Both turned their heads in defiance.
An entire dispute in the mind lasted mere moments in the real world.
Xiao Lingyu tried to close his eyes and pretend to sleep a while longer, but with Chu Mingwei sitting there, it was impossible. After a while, he whispered, “Brother Mingwei, I can’t sleep.”
Chu Mingwei, gazing at the little boy’s dark, crystal-clear eyes, felt a wave of softness wash over him. He said gently, “If you can’t sleep, get up. I’ll ask Wu Chun to prepare breakfast for you.”
Once Xiao Lingyu admitted he was awake, he continued staring at Chu Mingwei. He had expected that when he got up, Chu Mingwei would give him some space, but Chu Mingwei didn’t move; he remained calmly at the bedside. Xiao Lingyu, seeing no distinction in Chu Mingwei’s eyes between a six-year-old and anyone else, saw no need for etiquette or restraint.
In mutual misreading, Chu Mingwei thought the boy needed help dressing. Naturally, he reached forward and lifted the blanket, exposing Xiao Lingyu in his undergarments.
The suddenness froze Xiao Lingyu on the spot. Realizing what had happened, his entire body flushed crimson, like a boiled shrimp. His hands instinctively formed seals, and the old ghost shouted, “What are you doing?!”
The old ghost’s interruption saved Xiao Lingyu from an overreaction. Knowing his current helpless age, Xiao Lingyu could only lower his head in feigned embarrassment.
The old ghost, taking on the role of an amused observer, teased, “Little Yuzi, what’s the fuss? It’s just a glance—nothing was revealed.”
“Shut up!” Xiao Lingyu snapped, red with rage. The old ghost, laughing mischievously, muttered, “Are you saying you’re still… innocent?”
“I said, shut up!” Nearly at the breaking point, Xiao Lingyu watched the old ghost vanish with a chuckle, leaving him blushing alone on the bed.
Chu Mingwei couldn’t help but smile at the little boy, his entire body red. He carefully picked Xiao Lingyu up and, with a gentle patience, dressed him in one intricate outer garment after another. Xiao Lingyu’s body stiffened in his arms, his mind racing with countless thoughts.
By the time washing up was complete and breakfast was served, the red flush had begun to fade. Acting like a normal child, he shyly thanked Chu Mingwei, “Thank you, Brother Mingwei.”
Seeing the boy’s bashful expression, Chu Mingwei couldn’t resist ruffling his hair again, instantly bringing back the flush. To the sect’s many disciples, having such a small junior brother was a rare delight.
Under Chu Mingwei’s gaze, Xiao Lingyu felt he couldn’t eat. Quickly, he pushed a small steamed bun toward him, pretending to offer it, “Brother, you should eat some too. Spiritual energy might be fine, but buns taste better.”
Chu Mingwei intended to refuse, but seeing the expectant eyes of the little boy, he instinctively reached for it. Although he was accustomed to drawing on spiritual energy after reaching the Refining Realm, this was his first taste of mundane food since then. Surprisingly, the bun’s flavor was irresistible.
Finally, the little boy’s focus shifted to breakfast. Xiao Lingyu ate quickly, knowing that Chu Mingwei had planned to show him the sect today to prevent him from getting lost.
Despite being intimately familiar with Yuntian Sect, Xiao Lingyu had to play the part of a curious newcomer. He ate his breakfast with urgency, eager to explore. Chu Mingwei, seeing his impatience, helped wipe his mouth, eliciting a stiff yet polite thank-you from Xiao Lingyu.
Living two lifetimes, Xiao Lingyu could sense that Chu Mingwei’s actions held no ulterior motives. Originally, he wanted Chu Mingwei to survive simply to alter past events—but now, the desire for his well-being had become personal, independent of anything else.
Chu Mingwei, unaware of the storm of thoughts in the child’s mind, summoned his flying sword and lifted Xiao Lingyu, beginning their tour of Yuntian Sect.
Xiao Lingyu, fully resigned, relaxed in his arms, finding a comfortable position. He remembered how stiff he had been the day before, and this time, he allowed himself to settle.
They traveled from Yilan Peak, with Chu Mingwei introducing the peaks of various elders and the ones Xiao Lingyu might visit in the future. Reaching the Spirit Beast Garden, Chu Mingwei intended to help him choose a docile mount, since at his age he could not yet manage a magical implement, and it would be inconvenient to carry him everywhere.
The moment the words “Spirit Beast Garden” reached Xiao Lingyu, he remembered the little white pig he had tucked away in his Spirit Beast Bag. From the journey from Wu City, since carrying it was inconvenient, Master Wu had provided him a bag to store it. Yesterday’s chaos had made him forget it entirely. If not for Chu Mingwei’s idea, he might have never remembered.
“Little Yuzi, you really forgot such a precious Spirit-Harmonious Pig?” the old ghost exclaimed.
Xiao Lingyu snorted, “You forgot it too. Why didn’t you remind me?”
“Uh…” The old ghost was at a loss, then finally said, “Hurry and let it out. If anything happens, you’ll regret it.”
“Why the rush? It’s been in the bag for a day and night, it can stay a little longer,” Xiao Lingyu replied nonchalantly.
“Not just a little longer! The Spirit-Harmonious Pig isn’t a regular spirit beast. It can’t stay in a spirit beast bag for long.”
“Not a spirit beast? Then what is it?”
“An ancient anomaly—how could a mere spirit beast compare? Enough talk; release it immediately!”
Xiao Lingyu’s heart skipped a beat. He touched the bag hanging from his clothing and opened it. A white shape shot out, tumbling across the ground with frantic energy.
Even Chu Mingwei, having seen countless spirit beasts, was surprised. “What kind of spirit beast is this? Wait… it isn’t one? It has no spiritual energy. What exactly is it?”
Xiao Lingyu watched the little pig stumble about, and with a twitch of his lips said, “Just a normal pig.”
“Pig?” Chu Mingwei asked in astonishment. With a wave, the little pig, still spinning in place, flew into his hands. After careful inspection, he confirmed: it was indeed an ordinary pig.
Gently returning the pig to Xiao Lingyu, Chu Mingwei ruffled his hair, “Since you like small and cute pets, I’ll help you pick a similar one later.”
Xiao Lingyu, filled with exasperation, glared at the little white pig. The pig, sensing his displeasure, immediately went still, obediently lying in his arms. Its tiny front hooves rested on his arms as it twisted its rear and puckered its mouth, trying earnestly to win Xiao Lingyu’s favor.
Even the old ghost was baffled. “This shouldn’t be… Ancient records say Spirit-Harmonious Pigs are intelligent, able to speak, and extremely clever. Has this one not matured yet? Why does it look so… dumb?”
The little pig, straining to please Xiao Lingyu, glanced at his face, continued wriggling, and squealed pitifully, determined to win his affection.
“Wuwuwu, this little creature is terrible! The little pig will be exhausted! Oh, great ancestor, the little pig will never run around again! The outside world is too dangerous! The little pig wants to go home! Wuwuwu!”