[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-don-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult":3,"chapter-don-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-don-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-chapter-26":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Don't Mock the Poor Old Man: Gains a Year of Cultivation Every Day!",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2312518,4520,"Chapter 26: Su Yan","don-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-chapter-26",26,"\u003Cp>“Jiang Laobai, Shi Lei shixiong… what time do they usually arrive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xiaohé hesitated at the gate for a moment, feeling it too awkward to just wait, then stepped closer, attempting to strike up a conversation with the old man standing by the door, who looked like a stone statue; her voice softened deliberately, tinged with tentative flattery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye didn’t even bother to fully open his eyelids, appearing deaf and blind, as if dozing off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xiaohé got no reply and retreated awkwardly to her original spot, gripping the string of the oil-paper parcel tighter, her gaze now more urgent, fixed on the far end of the long street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, she didn’t have to wait long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A steady, rhythmic footstep approached from afar, shattering the morning’s stillness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Lei’s figure appeared around the corner, still running in a light jog, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead in the morning light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shi Lei shixiong, good morning!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xiaohé’s eyes suddenly brightened; her face instantly bloomed with an overly radiant smile, like a skylark finally returning to its nest, and she stepped forward briskly to greet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lin shimei?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Lei instinctively halted his steps, looking at the girl blocking his path; his brow twitched almost imperceptibly, then smoothed back into calmness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze swept over her forced smile and the steaming oil-paper parcel in her hand—no surprise, no emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shi Lei shixiong, I got up extra early this morning and made these sesame buns just for you—they’re still warm! Please try one…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xiaohé thrust the parcel forward eagerly, her eyes filled with anticipation, even a hint of silent pleading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Shi Lei didn’t take the parcel; he waved his hand gently and said flatly, “Thank you, Lin shimei, for your kindness, but I’ve already eaten breakfast—I can’t eat another bite. Keep it for yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without so much as another glance at her face, now frozen in shock, or the dismay rising in her eyes, he stepped aside and walked past her without pausing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he passed the gate, he stopped briefly, bowed respectfully and earnestly to Jiang Ye—who still seemed half-asleep—and then turned, walking unhurriedly into the Wu Yuan’s main gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xiaohé’s outstretched hand remained frozen in midair; the steam from the oil-paper parcel rose gently, blurring her face, now drained of color.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stood there dazed, staring at the direction where Shi Lei had vanished, as if all strength had been drained from her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slightly chubby cheeks that had moments ago held a forced smile now held nothing but bitterness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cold humiliation and despair from last night, when Hu Tian had publicly rejected her and insulted her, had kept her awake all night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She finally understood: only the simple, honest Shi Lei was someone she could control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So this morning, she made the buns herself, hoping to warm his cold heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had imagined many possibilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had imagined he might rage at her, sneer coldly, or even break down in grief…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had secretly hoped he would curse her out—anything, as long as it proved he still cared, that he still felt something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she never imagined this… this calm, indifferent rejection, this utter detachment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such complete stillness was more unsettling, more painful than any outburst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because it meant Shi Lei might never forgive her again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, this young Shi Lei does have some character.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye, who had appeared to be dozing but had seen everything, nodded slightly inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Lin Xiaohé, her face twisted with bitterness, looking pitifully fragile—he didn’t even bother to look at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This outcome was entirely her own doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The morning light grew stronger; more disciples arrived at the Wu Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Jiang Ye’s half-closed eyelids flickered slightly; his gaze crossed the crowd, fixed on the other end of the long street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A finely decorated carriage, bearing the Su family’s emblem, approached slowly and came to a gentle stop before the Wu Yuan’s gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So Su Yan is coming to train today…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye felt a flicker of surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last night’s “battle,” though he’d been passive, had been intense—the Miren drug was too potent; after it was over, Su Yan had been thoroughly worn down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t expected her to show up for training the very next day after such a “heavy blow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage curtain parted, and a slender figure leapt down lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Su Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today she wore a well-tailored, high-quality lake-blue martial suit; the fabric was crisp, perfectly contouring the girl’s lithe curves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her features remained exquisite, but her gaze now carried a subtle maturity beyond her youthful innocence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye quickly lowered his head, refusing to look further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since last night, just seeing her dressed like this made him imagine the exquisite form beneath the fabric.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all—he had seen it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good morning, Jiang Laobai.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yan greeted Jiang Ye as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar scent drifted toward him; Jiang Ye’s aged face, normally composed, flushed faintly—he raised his head slightly and returned her greeting: “Miss Su, you’re here early today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Su Yan stepped toward the Wu Yuan’s gate, her eyes met Jiang Ye’s ancient gaze—and her spirit jolted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strong sense of dissonance surged within her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncontrollably, the shameful scene from last night flooded her mind—especially the thin, stern-faced white-haired elder, whose features slowly merged with Jiang Ye’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But only for an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yan quickly shook her head, forcing the chaotic thoughts down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Am I mad…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint blush rose on her gentle, radiant face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was she thinking?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had just linked this gatekeeper to that white-haired elder…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jiang Ye before her was ancient, frail, his expression kind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that white-haired elder stood tall as a spear, his aura sharp as an unsheathed blade, his face cold and savage, his strength beyond the Dark Force realm—unfathomable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Age, physique, aura, cultivation—there was no similarity at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could she have conjured such a ridiculous notion?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be from last night’s trauma—her spirit still unsettled, giving rise to this absurd illusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She steadied herself, forced calm, cast one last complex glance at Jiang Ye, then walked into the Wu Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye watched Su Yan’s slender figure disappear into the distance, his eyes half-lidded, ancient gaze flickering with quiet complexity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no idea what she was thinking—if he had, he’d have marveled at how terrifying a woman’s intuition could be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once all disciples had gathered, Liu Qingshi unusually called together both inner and outer courtyard students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today he wore no training attire, but a solemn dark-blue long robe, his expression grave, commanding without raising his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingshi did not speak immediately; the brief silence deepened the oppressive atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every disciple felt the invisible pressure emanating from a Hua Jing master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, his deep, resonant voice boomed like distant thunder across the inner courtyard’s training ground, each word clear:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhang Xu—deceitful heart, vile character—violated the Wu Yuan’s iron laws!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Effective immediately, he is expelled from the Wu Yuan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forever banished from the sect!”\u003C\u002Fp>",1171,"2026-06-20T12:57:27.461Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","202936ad2ccdee54a01c29fde5e3dcb711e23bb61ccbe035e5f85a194b89100e","don-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-chapter-27","don-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-chapter-25",268,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdon-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-cover.jpg"]