"Exceptional talent"... for these words to come out of Yun Ming's mouth was truly rare in the world; even Xuan Mingzi was only rated as "barely acceptable."
Senior Apprentice Xu Zhimo was merely "not bad."
As the only one on Yun Kui Mountain who could perceive the spiritual ley lines of heaven and earth, Yun Ming's words were often treated as law, even more effective than the masters' words.
But this guy would say to everyone he met, "Little one, I see your bones are extraordinary; you are certainly good material for martial arts."
Over time, everyone treated it as a joke.
"Is it truly exceptional?"
Xuan Mingzi stroked his beard, deep in thought.
It was only right for a Taoist priest to descend the mountain to save people and adopt orphans, but the mountain gate needed to be passed down, and he was already old.
It was better to plan for a successor early.
The Qing Ming Sword's cost of use was the deprivation of the five senses and memory; the greater the power gained, the heavier the price.
If one day Yun Kui Mountain became strong enough, Xuan Mingzi only wished to seal this sword forever, though... that was actually impossible.
Human life has an end, but a sword has no lifespan.
This was also the reason the Qing Ming Sword has been passed down to this day; each generation's Sword Master watered it with his life, and it has been so for thousands of years.
But at least... before Yun'er grew up, he, this old man, couldn't die so early, to avoid his unfilial Apprentice dancing on his grave after his death and having to listen to his nagging.
Tsk, thinking about it... it's hard to tell who is the Master and who is the Apprentice.
Xuan Mingzi lowered his gaze, full of tenderness, looking affectionately at his beloved Apprentice.
Yun Ming shivered all over, his mouth twitching, goosebumps threatening to appear; the old man looking at him like this definitely wasn't planning anything good.
Could it be that he was caught stealing the wine the mayor gave the old man? At his age, drinking is bad for his health.
For his Master's good, he stole it and shared the spoils with a few "Senior Apprentices"; normally, the seniority of Apprentices on Yun Kui Mountain was based on the order of entry.
But this rule didn't apply to Yun Ming.
So everyone just addressed each other as they pleased.
He guiltily avoided Xuan Mingzi's gaze, instinctively looking at the two sisters.
The not-so-numerous spiritual ley lines in heaven and earth surrounded the two of them.
Although they had no cultivation method, it was subtly improving their bodies, which was why the two children could last until now.
"It's just the two of us here, why would I fool you?"
"Amitabha, Amitabha, Heaven bless my Yun Kui Mountain!"
Xuan Mingzi's smile gradually became uncontrollable, while Yi Xuan in his arms blinked curiously, still clutching an unfinished char siu bao.
She and her sister had great talent?
She didn't understand... but wasn't it natural for her sister to have talent? Her sister was so smart and ran so fast.
In Yi Xuan's eyes, her sister was the most amazing.
Unstoppable laughter echoed through the empty mountain forest, and Xuan Mingzi's steps quickened. He decided to take on more jobs before the New Year to give the children a good one.
"Tsk, this old man, running so fast, isn't he afraid of spraining his back?"
Yun Ming was in a bad mood, but he still sped up to follow.
He was also a cultivator of the Yun Zhuan Realm, but he was still young, and physically, he was still far behind Xuan Mingzi, a Grandmaster.
"Senior Apprentice and Master have such a good relationship..."
"Heh, I'd love to usurp power and pull this old man's beard."
Yun Ming pouted, taking a few steps to catch up, yelling at Xuan Mingzi to watch his health. He didn't want to hold a funeral during the New Year, with a black-haired person sending off a white-haired one.
The result, naturally, was a good scolding.
Senior Apprentice's mouth is really stubborn... Yi Jiang thought, lying on Yun Ming's back.
The cluster of Taoist temples on the mountainside gradually came into view, and with it, more signs of life. The green pines added a touch of color to the winter, preventing it from being too monotonous.
Before finally stepping into the flat courtyard, Yi Jiang saw many children her age or slightly older, presumably also Apprentices of Yun Kui Mountain.
She clenched her hands, then suddenly asked,
"Senior Apprentice, who has better talent, my sister or I?"
Yun Ming raised an eyebrow, turning his face but only seeing the girl's determined red eyes, wondering what strange things she was thinking.
"Want to hear the truth?"
"Senior Apprentice saying that, it seems I am not as good as Yi Xuan."
"Too smart can be a bit boring, Little Junior Sister... don't worry, your talents are second only to mine, but even so, the Masters won't show favoritism to anyone."
"However... you must protect that little girl Yi Xuan~"
Yi Jiang thought of her sister's clumsy appearance and couldn't help but feel a little worried, but this was always better than those days of wandering the streets.
And for all of this, she had to thank the person in front of her.
However, Yi Jiang currently had nothing to repay him with. She wanted to reach out and cup Senior Apprentice's face for a kiss, but she looked at her dirty hands.
Then she looked at the clean and pretty junior sisters in the courtyard and decisively chose to give up, only whispering softly into Yun Ming's ear,
"I'll have to trouble Senior Apprentice to take care of us more in the future."
Yun Ming was noncommittal, even a little amused.
The girl's small actions were naturally observed by him, his emotions fluctuating. Entering a new environment, he had become the only familiar person to the two sisters.
Master was everyone's Master.
But Senior Apprentice was different, right?
Children who were too smart weren't cute; it was the silly ones like her sister who were most endearing.
Yun Ming pursed his lips, struggling with his conscience.
He was only about twelve years old, only three or four years older than Yi Jiang? In short, it was reasonable and legal, and he definitely had no intention of raising his Junior Sister, ah, no, of taking her as a child bride.
"Since you're troubling Senior Apprentice to take care of you, aren't you going to show some appreciation?"
"Standing before you is the next sect leader of Yun Kui Mountain. You want Senior Apprentice's special care?"
"..."
Yi Jiang did have that thought, but she had no capital, and she hadn't expected Senior Apprentice to point it out directly.
The girl stammered, unable to speak for a moment.
Finally, she could only bury her face and nod secretly.
In front of Senior Apprentice, it was as if all her thoughts were seen through; she had to be more honest.
Yun Ming stared at the girl, seeing the tips of her ears turn red, not even numbed by this cold snowy day, truly a favorite of heaven and earth.
Just like him.
"Isn't this cute too? Don't overthink it."
"But the necessary bribes can't be left out, can they? Yi Jiang also wants her sister to live more comfortably later, right?"
Yun Ming turned his face, withdrew one of the hands supporting the girl's bottom, pointed at his own cheek, and then pouted.
He teased the little girl with a playful smile.
The meaning couldn't have been more obvious.
"Senior Apprentice is strange right now..."
"How am I strange? Hurry up... while Master isn't looking, miss this chance and it's gone~"
An indescribable emotion surged in Yi Jiang's heart.
Just now, Senior Apprentice had been righteous, but now he was like a big bad wolf wanting to eat a little white rabbit, yet his clean and handsome face made it impossible to feel any aversion.
How strange... she had originally wanted to kiss him, but now it felt like Senior Apprentice was luring her.
She took a deep breath, suppressing the jumbled thoughts in her mind, and lightly kissed the young man's cheek.
"Tsk, I asked you to bribe me, and you took advantage of me... expelled from the sect."
"Ah, Senior Apprentice..."
Yi Jiang looked up, her eyes instantly misty with tears, but she only saw the mischievousness in Senior Apprentice's eyes. How could she not understand?
Senior Apprentice was teasing her.
"What's wrong?"
"Senior Apprentice is bad..."