"Teacher!"
Gu He was sipping tea in the gazebo when the Little Fairy Doctor approached slowly, leading Qing Lin by the hand.
Setting down his teacup, Gu He smiled at the two. "Have you chosen your rooms yet?"
"Yes. Junior Sister's room is right next to mine," the Little Fairy Doctor replied, her delicate face bright with joy. Ever since Gu He's return, her smile had yet to fade.
"Good."
Gu He nodded in satisfaction, then turned his gaze to the timid little girl beside her.
Softly, Gu He said, "Qing Lin, from now on, this will be your home. I and senior sister will be your family. There are no strict rules here, so don't feel restrained."
Qing Lin nodded obediently, her small hand tightening around the Little Fairy Doctor's. She already seemed much more at ease.
Clearly, during the process of selecting their rooms, the Little Fairy Doctor had taken great care of her, making Qing Lin gradually warm up to her second senior sister. A sense of belonging to the Misty Cloud Sect had begun to take root in her heart.
Holding Qing Lin's hand, the Little Fairy Doctor stepped into the gazebo and deftly refilled Gu He's tea. "Teacher, now that you're back, you probably won't be leaving again anytime soon, right?"
Gu He gave a slight nod. "Indeed. For the time being, I have no plans to travel."
With three disciples now under his guidance, he had no immediate need to venture out.
That said, he hadn't forgotten his agreement with Queen Medusa.
Three months from now, he would make time to visit the Snake-Human's territory and offer her heavenly flame.
At the thought of Queen Medusa, Gu He's gaze shifted to Qing Lin. After a brief hesitation, he retrieved a scroll from his spatial ring—the Snake Spirit Art, Queen Medusa's cultivation technique.
"Qing Lin, come here."
Holding the scroll, Gu He beckoned to the young girl.
Qing Lin blinked in surprise but obediently stepped forward, her emerald-green eyes flickering with curiosity.
"I promised you three gifts upon our meeting, and I've yet to fulfill the last one. Consider this cultivation method the final gift."
He handed the Snake Spirit Art scroll to Qing Lin.
Qing Lin carefully accepted it, cradling it in her arms like a treasure.
Originally, Gu He had planned to wait until Qing Lin reached the Dou Practitioner Realm before giving her the scroll.
But then he recalled that one of the three meeting gifts had a chance to trigger the 10,000-fold return mechanism.
Since he wasn't sure what else to give her at the moment, he decided to present the Snake Spirit Art early. If he waited, he might miss the opportunity for the system's reward.
Seeing Qing Lin's cherishing expression, Gu He reminded her gently, "Qing Lin, you haven't broken through to the Dou Practitioner Realm yet, so you can't practice this technique. You'll have to wait until you officially become a Dou Practitioner before you can begin cultivation."
"I understand, Teacher."
Qing Lin nodded earnestly. She never questioned Gu He's words.
Gu He smiled. "Then you must train diligently and reach the Dou Practitioner Realm as soon as possible. Only then can you truly begin your cultivation journey."
"I will work hard!"
Qing Lin clenched her small fists, silently vowing to train with all her might—she would not disappoint her teacher.
[Ding! Detected that the host has bestowed Qing Lin with the low-grade Earth-level cultivation technique, Snake Spirit Art.]
[Congratulations, host, for triggering the 6,900-fold return mechanism! You have obtained the low-grade Heaven-level cultivation technique—Heavenly Snake Art!]
[The Heavenly Snake Art, a low-grade Heaven-level technique, has been deposited into the system space. Host, please check at your convenience.]
Low-grade Heaven-level?
Heavenly Snake Art?
Gu He's heart stirred slightly, but unlike usual, he didn't immediately check the system space.
From what he knew, the Heavenly Snake Art was a technique only those with Snake-Human bloodline could cultivate.
As such, he didn't feel particularly excited about it.
At that moment, the Little Fairy Doctor seemed to recall something, her eyes glinting with intrigue as she looked at Gu He.
"Teacher, some time ago, Senior Sister Nalan came looking for you."
"She said… she wishes to take you as her teacher."
The Little Fairy Doctor studied Gu He with curiosity.
When she first heard Nalan Yanran express this desire, she had been utterly shocked.
In her eyes, Nalan Yanran was the Sect Master's direct disciple, destined for a brilliant future—she was even a likely successor to the Misty Cloud Sect's leadership.
With such status, why would she seek to become Gu He's disciple?
Would the Sect Master even allow it?
The Little Fairy Doctor had been puzzled for a long time, and now, she wanted to hear her teacher's thoughts.
"Nalan Yanran?"
Gu He instantly recalled the bet he had made with her in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
He had promised that if she became his disciple, he would help her reach the Dou King Realm within three years.
It seemed Yun Yun had already spoken to her.
And judging by Nalan Yanran's attitude, she was clearly willing to accept him as her teacher.
Soon, it appeared, he would have another disciple under his wing.
The thought brought a faint smile to Gu He's lips.
With Nalan Yanran's addition, he would have four disciples.
And that meant his own cultivation speed would rise even more terrifyingly.
"I've already discussed this matter with the Sect Master."
"If all goes well, you'll soon have another junior sister."
Gu He's tone was light, his mood evidently pleasant.
The Little Fairy Doctor was momentarily stunned. After a brief silence, she murmured, "So that's how it is…"
She could see it now—her teacher seemed to have a certain… fondness for taking in disciples.
From herself, to Junior Sister Qing Lin, and now even Senior Sister Nalan.
Every time Gu He left, he seemed to return with a new disciple in tow.
Now, even Nalan Yanran—the Sect Master's own direct disciple—was not spared.
The Little Fairy Doctor couldn't help but wonder: 'Why does the teacher accept so many disciples?'
She had pondered this before regarding herself.
Gu He was the renowned Pill King of the Jia Ma Empire. Why had he taken an interest in her?
There was only one explanation—her Woeful Poison Body.
Her unique physique had made her worthy of becoming his disciple.
As for Junior Sister Qing Lin…
The Little Fairy Doctor glanced at the small, delicate girl standing beside Gu He, a realization dawning.
'This little junior sister must also have some extraordinary constitution, right?'
But then, why did the teacher accept Senior Sister Nalan?
As far as she knew, Nalan Yanran didn't possess any special physique… did she?
Doubts swirled in the Little Fairy Doctor's mind.
Yet despite her confusion, she harbored no ill will.
To her, it didn't matter what her teacher's intentions were—so long as he treated her sincerely.
In the time they had spent together, Gu He's care and guidance had left a deep impression on her heart, filling her with gratitude.
Had he not taken her in, she might still have been the wandering Little Fairy Doctor of Qingshan Town—never the third-tier alchemist she had become in such a short time.
…
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