Chapter 771: Obedient disciple enters the embrace 05

Having finally filled his stomach, Fei Mian rubbed his slightly bloated belly and gave a sweet smile to Fu Chuan and Fu Li.

Thank you, senior brother.

Fu Li tidied up the bowls and chopsticks, put them back in the food box, and muttered: "It seems the little junior brother is starving; although today is the sect's minor trial, meals are still supplied as usual, just served half an hour later than usual."

Has the little junior brother not gotten anything to eat?

Upon mentioning this, Fei Mian's smile gradually faded, he curled up in Jin Chen's embrace and fell silent, seeming unwilling to bring it up.

Seeing his state, Fu Li realized he probably shouldn't have asked that, quickly exchanged a glance with his brother, and laughed it off.

It's fine, I was just asking casually; it's no problem if the little junior brother doesn't want to talk.

He lifted the food box and tugged at his brother's sleeve.

Fu Chuan clasped his hands and said, "Elders, we'll take our leave first."

He gently patted the person's back in his arms to soothe them, and Jin Chen gave a faint nod.

You're full, yet you're not happy?

After everyone had left, Jin Chen then lowered his head and asked.

No, no.

Fei Mian widened his eyes and said, "I'm very happy."

He didn't want Jin Chen to think he was hard to please, so he quickly said obediently, "It's not that I don't want to talk to my senior brother; it's just that this morning, the Sect Leader said the outer disciples of the Sword Cultivation Institute must finish cleaning the courtyard walls before they can eat, and there wasn't much work to begin with."

But, but I was stopped by Senior Brother Xie Xi...

So I missed lunch, finally finished cleaning, and then Zhang Guang and the others beat me up with punches and kicks.

Originally I planned to eat more at dinner as usual, even if I'd be stuffed, it's still better than being hungry.

He really dislikes the feeling of being hungry.

Jin Chen took out a set of clothes, had Fei Mian stand up to compare sizes, then continued: "From now on, you must not miss any of the three daily meals; you seem somewhat shorter and smaller than ordinary youths."

Although he is already twelve, he looks no different from a ten-year-old child, really too frail.

Having Fu Chuan and them bring meals every day isn't a solution; the supplies at Yunquan Institute are still lacking, so someday we need to go to Heavenly Ridge Main Peak to get some items for raising a child.

Go change your clothes; this afternoon we'll check your basic skills and spiritual roots.

All right, Master!

Fei Mian received the clothes, and following Jin Chen's indication, entered the inner court.

Master said, Yunquan Institute has no outsiders; he resides in the main house, and the several side rooms are for him to choose from.

Fei Mian held the clothes, hesitated while pacing in front of the house, and ultimately chose the room closest to Master.

The interior décor is exquisite; it's the most beautiful place Fei Mian has seen in his short twelve years.

Master said, from now on Yunquan Institute will be his home.

After his mother died, he finally has a home again.

Thinking of his mother, Fei Mian wanted to cry again, but Master was still waiting outside; he dared not waste too much time, bit his lip to hold back tears, and hurriedly took off all his clothes.

He rubbed the scar on his belly, hesitated whether to tell Master, but also feared Master would think him overly sentimental, that a real man couldn't even bear this bit of pain.

Actually it doesn't hurt much anymore; there's just residual sword energy left inside, and he hasn't learned how to dispel it yet.

It's probably fine; maybe it won't hurt tomorrow.

Fei Mian patted his belly to comfort himself; his tender little face was full of resolve.

Surely nothing will happen.

On the other side, Jin Chen sat cross-legged on a jade stool, searching his mind for those old secret manuals, but found none that could be directly given to Fei Mian for use.

0731 gradually came online.

【Elder Sir~ I have two manuals on cultivating mutant dark spiritual roots here, obtainable for just 200 points~】

【……You just suddenly disconnected; you must have gone to loot the shop, right.】

Earning points really is a hassle.

【Hehe, seeing through but not saying it out loud, Elder Sir!】

【Exchange.】

【Got it! The manuals have been dispatched to the warehouse, 200 points deducted!】

0731 cheered and jumped for joy.

【Host, there are so many exotic beasts in this world; can I come out to play?】

【It's been a long time since it last came out to play!】

【After descending the mountain.】

【Got it!!】

Master……

Jin Chen raised his gaze and saw a snow-white dumpling-like figure running from the bamboo grove; though his hair was a bit messy, after being washed clean his appearance was exquisite and unmatched—just one glance and it was easy to see he would grow into a breathtaking beauty.

Suddenly he understood why, in the original plot, after Fei Mian grew up and fell into demonic cultivation, the various immortal sects would call him a bewitching demon.

Come here.

Jin Chen beckoned to him.

Fei Mian, who had been a little embarrassed, lifted his smiling face and ran over quickly.

Master!

He ran to Jin Chen's side, his cheeks flushed.

You don't know how to tie your hair?

Jin Chen took off the silver-patterned hair tie and retied his hair for him.

I don't know how……

Fei Mian stared blankly, lifting his head to look at Master; he seemed to have just seen Master smile, huh—was it an illusion?

"What are you spacing out for?"

After tying up his hair, Jin Chen lightly tapped the little one's nose, feeling somewhat worried.

How come the little one seems not so bright these days?

From now on, raising him will require even more attention—don't let him turn stupid.

"Nothing."

Fei Mian came to his senses, the corners of his mouth tightening into a smile again, utterly adorable.

"Follow this Venerable."

Jin Chen rose, taking his hand and walking toward the Study.

The Study lay hidden beneath the dappled shade of Zhu Lin; the purple gold incense burner beside the desk, shaped like an auspicious beast, exhaled a light watery fragrance, exceptionally refreshing.

The chessboard table sat below the desk's steps; the black-and-white jade chess pieces placed upon it had a warm, lustrous hue, elegant and dignified.

Leading the person to sit behind the desk, Jin Chen produced the spirit‑testing stone and set it on the table, saying, "Let's test again."

"Okay."

Fei Mian gazed at the spirit‑testing stone, inevitably recalling the day when so many people looked at him with surprise and contempt.

But now, only he and Master were in the Study.

He gathered his courage, bit his fingertip, and placed his hand on the spirit‑testing stone.

In an instant, a flash of light passed.

The aura of the variant dark spiritual root and the wood spiritual root intertwined, neither rejecting the other.

This also meant that even if Fei Mian devoted himself to cultivating the variant dark spiritual root, he didn't necessarily have to abandon cultivating the wood spiritual root.

The two could complement each other.

"Master, they all say variant spiritual roots are useless."

Fei Mian lowered his head, his tone despondent.

"Nonsense."

Jin Chen tapped his head, saying, "Don't listen to others' wicked words."

A cold, clear voice asked, "What do you think of this Venerable's profound power?"

Pitifully rubbing his sore head, Fei Mian furrowed his brow and said, "Master is incredibly strong—the strongest person in the Xuanzong Sect."

As recorded in the Immortal Master's Chronicle, a Spiritual Order Elder not only attains the Great Dao at a young age, retains eternal youth, and possesses surpassing strength; nowadays, few in the world can match them.

"This Venerable possesses a variant ice spiritual root."

"Master actually has a variant spiritual root too!"

Fei Mian, disbelieving, lifted his gaze to meet Master's eyes, saying, "But I've heard… you are said to have an ultimate water spiritual root."

"Hmm, this Venerable also once felt embarrassed and made it up while wandering the world."

"Where does any so‑called ultimate spiritual root come from?"

Fei Mian: "……"

He didn't know how to react for a moment, so he obediently nodded and repeated it again.

"But now Master is so formidable that no one dares to speak ill of you anymore."