Chapter 2

Lan Ling'e had a dream.

In the dream, she was taken as a disciple by an old immortal, who brought her back to the immortal's abode and introduced her to a handsome senior brother who had emerged from the water...

Uh, it seemed this wasn't a dream, but something that had just happened.

In a daze, Lan Ling'e heard her master's voice again, but this time the master sounded rather fierce, quite different from the kind old immortal in her memory.

"Rascal! Have you grown so bold that you dare to scheme against your master now!"

Then, Lan Ling'e heard that warm and elegant voice:

"Master, please calm down. I was just being cautious and happened to be practicing the Water Escape technique, so I set up this anti-thief arrangement in the lake.

I didn't know you would return today, so I didn't have time to remove it. Please forgive me, Master."

The senior brother spoke calmly, making one want to listen to him more.

Then, Lan Ling'e heard her master sigh deeply.

By the bamboo bed, the old Taoist patted his hands, full of helplessness, and complained: "Changshou, this is within the mountain gate. What use is it to set up such an arrangement?

And to guard against thieves, our Little Jade Peak is almost as poor as its name suggests! Who would come to rob us?"

Changshou?

Is the senior brother named Changshou?

What a simple and humble Taoist name, reflecting his simple and pure good wishes.

Lan Ling'e suddenly realized that although she could hear the commotion outside, she couldn't open her eyes at all, feeling very heavy and weak.

The senior brother spoke again, his voice so warm, giving her a feeling like her mother...

"Master, your words are a bit biased. There are still dangers within the mountain gate.

The competition between the peaks has been intense in recent years, and the elders of the mountain gate don't pay much attention to such matters. I am the only, no, the second disciple of our lineage, so necessary caution is needed.

Our Little Jade Peak has a low presence within the sect and no backing. Someone might try to take our territory and scheme against us."

After the senior brother finished speaking, the old master complained again:

"Our Sect of Immortals has strict rules. How could such things happen?

Forget it, forget it! I can't argue with you! You have so many twisted reasons! And your cultivation hasn't improved at all!

Wait here for Ling'e to wake up, take my token, and take her to the main peak to register her as a formal disciple and receive her identity card and monthly allowance!

Really, it's infuriating!"

The old Taoist swept his sleeve, got up from the bamboo chair, and stumbled, his face turning red.

"It's infuriating!"

"Master, please be careful."

"Hmph! I'm going to meditate and comprehend the supreme Dao!"

Daoist Qiyuan stomped his foot hard, his figure turning into a wisp of green smoke and disappearing from the thatched hut.

In the blink of an eye, the neighboring thatched hut suddenly rang with a clatter, clearly the result of the Daoist losing his balance after dispelling the spell.

"Ah..."

The young man standing by the door sighed softly.

With this sigh, the little girl lying on the bamboo bed opened her eyes slightly, seeing the figure of the young man who was now looking down in thought.

The senior brother is so tall.

"Master's foundation is still too weak, lacking the power of the divine soul. He may not be able to withstand the heavenly tribulation of becoming an immortal."

What do these words mean...

Drowsiness came again, and Lan Ling'e closed her eyes lightly, soon hearing clearer footsteps.

Although she was only nine years old, due to her early intelligence and being born into a noble family, she had learned etiquette from a young age and had a vague understanding of various matters.

This situation of a man and a woman alone, and a stranger approaching her, was considered improper by Lan Ling'e.

But if it was her senior brother, who would be like a close older brother to her, it didn't seem so bad...

"Junior Sister Lan, I am your senior brother Li Changshou.

I am now helping you to relieve the effects of the Soft Immortal Incense. If you can hear me, please don't think I'm a pervert. I am a man with a very upright worldview.

Uh, what am I saying? She just started cultivating, how could she resist the effects of the incense."

Pervert? Worldview?

These terms related to cultivation are hard to understand...

The senior brother is truly a cultivator!

Lan Ling'e tried to respond to avoid being too rude in front of her senior brother, but she had no strength at all, only her thoughts were active.

Suddenly, she felt a large hand gently placed on her forehead, and a cool and refreshing breath flowed into her body, making her feel very comfortable.

The senior brother is healing me...

Lan Ling'e's thoughts became somewhat chaotic, drifting into a hazy yet real state.

Li Changshou looked at the little girl lying on the bed, frowning in thought.

Although Master had talked for a long time about wanting to take another disciple, and he had prepared mentally for the arrival of a junior sister or brother, there were still a few things he was quite concerned about.

'Let me check her soul.'

Li Changshou released a cool breath, gently touching the source of Lan Ling'e's life.

Hmm, her soul and body are perfectly harmonized, with no sense of discord. She hasn't been possessed.

Her potential seems good, with water and wood affinities, but I don't know her temperament yet.

At this age, her personality should already be formed. I hope she's not the type who causes trouble everywhere...

However, she might grow up to be a beauty. Beauty often brings trouble, which could be a source of conflict, and I need to avoid it as much as possible.

'Let me check if she has any hidden demonic seeds or similar things.'

Hmm, this is also a necessary check, although the probability is low, it's better to be safe than sorry.

At the same time...

Eh?

Feeling the large hand leave her forehead and slowly slide over her, the drowsy Lan Ling'e's face turned slightly red.

Senior brother...

Isn't this a bit too...

This is somewhat impolite...

Soon, Li Changshou nodded. After his thorough examination, the junior sister should have no problems. She hasn't been possessed, hasn't been planted with demonic seeds, hasn't been cursed or enchanted, and is indeed a good seed for cultivation.

The entrance examination is officially passed!

Next, it's about preparing the training course for the junior sister, which also needs to be well-prepared.

Hopefully, the junior sister isn't the type who likes to cause trouble, so the probability of me getting entangled in karma can remain the same...

Li Changshou sat by the bed, slightly lost in thought, then laughed wryly and muttered:

Lan Ling'e didn't understand, but she felt that Master was right, the senior brother was a bit strange.

Perhaps the cool breath had taken effect, and Lan Ling'e felt a bit of strength returning. She couldn't help but want to open her eyes, her mouth slightly open, and let out a soft hum.

The scene before her eyes became clear, and Lan Ling'e finally saw her senior brother up close. Indeed, he had a well-defined and increasingly handsome face, more beautiful than the guards around her mother.

But, the expression on the senior brother's face at this moment was somewhat... worrying...

The senior brother's eyes were so scary!

Gulp!

Lan Ling'e swallowed, feeling small, helpless, and pitiful.

The young cultivator sitting by the bed asked softly: "Did you hear everything just now?"

Lan Ling'e was immediately flustered, trembling and responding: "No, no... um..."

What's wrong with the senior brother? Did I do something to upset him? Is there something he's dissatisfied with about me?

"Senior brother..."

The young man by the bed slowly stood up, looking down at the delicate little girl, his gaze slightly hesitant but quickly turned into a low voice:

"Look at me.

What I said just now, don't tell anyone."

"Okay, I will," Lan Ling'e responded softly, her face turning red, feeling a bit at a loss.

Then, she saw her senior brother shake his head, slowly stand up, and walk to the window, lost in thought.

He is called Li Changshou. When he became a disciple, he insisted on keeping his Taoist name as Changshou;

Not much different from what Lan Ling'e guessed, Li Changshou wanted to live longer, ideally as long as the heavens and the earth.

At this moment, Li Changshou was recalling the information he had revealed while talking to himself.

The biggest flaw should be the words "last life."

Damn!

After over a hundred years of precautions, he didn't expect to expose his secret to the new junior sister! It's also because he had kept the secret in his heart for too long, and couldn't help but talk to himself!

Turning to look at the little girl trying to sit up on the bamboo bed, Li Changshou touched his chin.

Indeed, he should silence her, silence her!

On the bamboo bed, Lan Ling'e, who had just managed to sit up, caught a glimpse of her senior brother's cold gaze and couldn't help but shiver...

"Senior brother?"

"What I said just now, absolutely don't tell anyone!"

"Okay, Ling'e remembers!"

"Don't tell anyone, including Master!"

"Okay, senior brother..."

"Alright, let's make a vow, in the name of the supreme Dao!"

"Eh? Eh..."

In the slanted sunlight, the little girl sitting on the bed gradually had black lines on her forehead. Under the supervision of the technical advisor, she raised her small hand and began to recite the long, thousand-character, carefully considered...

Vow of the Dao.