Chapter 83: Luoyue Peak Mobilization Plan (5K, First Update)

"Did you remember that?"

"While I'm out, you don't need to worry about anything else; just ensure these guys don't starve to death."

"Feeding them once a day is enough. Less is fine, but definitely not more."

Handing the key to Junior Martial Nephew Duan, Ren Yidao patted her shoulder and earnestly exhorted Duan Xiaoling:

"People like them, I know best."

"If they dare to eat too much today, they'll dare to rebel tomorrow!"

Duan Xiaoling looked at the incredibly serious Ren Yidao, then looked at the group of listless prisoners behind him.

She fell silent.

Duan Xiaoling knew the background of this group and understood that they had brought this upon themselves, making them completely unworthy of sympathy.

However, looking at the constant movements of their hands, the unconscious smiles on their faces, and the despair in their eyes.

She felt that these people might not deserve this much...

"Did you remember that?"

"... I remembered."

"Good, then I'll leave them all to you. I now appoint you as the Executive Deputy Commander of the Merit Party project."

Don't worry about whether you have real power, and don't worry about how big this company is.

In short, you are now President Duan!

"Work hard, you are the star of tomorrow!"

Skillfully painting a beautiful future for Duan Xiaoling, Ren Yidao slapped one "pie in the sky" after another onto the face of his Junior Martial Nephew.

Things like "Luoyue Peak Five-Year Listing Plan," "Lingxu Peak and Luoyue Peak Joint Investment Plan," "Stock Dividends and Option Rewards"...

Whether you understand it or not is not important.

What is important is that you know our company has a future development plan; it's a legitimate company!

Dazed and enduring it for a long time, Duan Xiaoling finally couldn't help but ask when Ren Yidao said, "Applause for those who understood!":

"Senior Uncle Ren, why did you choose me? Couldn't Senior Uncle Jian do it too?"

Jian Xinxin is right here in the prison, why go far to find me?

It wasn't that Duan Xiaoling was unwilling to do this, but she truly didn't understand Ren Yidao's thought process.

"Because you are the most suitable candidate."

To this, Ren Yidao did not continue to spout nonsense.

"Senior Brother Jian is indeed capable, but his heart is much darker than mine."

"If something really delayed the feeding time, he wouldn't have a single ripple in his heart even if he really let all these people starve to death."

That was the situation before; Jian Xinxin faced a group of prisoners about to starve to death without even blinking, never once considering the matter of giving them food.

"But you are different. You still... well, at least you still have a heart, you're much more reliable than him."

The fact that you are easier to order around, let's not say that out loud.

"Besides, I think you can learn some management methods from here."

"Haven't you already performed the Descent of the Gods? You should be able to discover the changes in Senluo Hell by now, right?"

It would have been fine if Ren Yidao hadn't mentioned it, but as soon as he did, Duan Xiaoling's expression changed, and she glared fiercely at Ren Yidao.

"What exactly did you do to me?"

She grabbed Ren Yidao's collar viciously and questioned him loudly:

"How could my Dao God turn into that look!!?"

Some time ago, Duan Xiaoling also successfully selected her Divine Path.

The bell rang, seven times.

Except for a certain handsome guy from Lieyang Peak who became increasingly withdrawn after counting seven rings, most of the disciples were quite shocked.

This result exceeded many people's expectations, including her mother, Duan Hong.

According to Peak Master Duan's original estimation, Duan Xiaoling's talent could reach at most six bell rings, and that was under the most perfect assumptions.

Who knew it actually reached seven!

What changed her talent?

Duan Hong could vaguely guess the truth, but until now, she dared not be certain.

Could it really be because of him?

Furthermore, there is one more point: the situation of Duan Xiaoling's Dao God is very special, even within the Divine Path Sect.

Her Dao God is not an independent deity, but a group.

That group of various evil ghosts and yakshas in Senluo Hell together formed her Dao God!

Regarding this, Duan Xiaoling had a breakdown.

She could not accept it at all!

Who would have thought that an ethereal fairy in white would become filled with ghostly aura once she started fighting.

She cannot accept it!!!

Duan Xiaoling's eyes turned red, and she shook Ren Yidao's body forcefully.

It wasn't that she wanted to cry; it was rage.

She wanted to beat him up severely!

"Ahahaha, it seems you are very happy!"

Swaying back and forth, Ren Yidao didn't feel there was anything wrong with what he did.

Why are you looking at me like that?

I let the bell ring one extra time; shouldn't you thank me?

Heh.

Even your mother would have to thank me!

Right, speaking of which, next time let's go to Senior Sister Duan's place to mooch some benefits.

Benefits are something you'd be a fool not to take~

……

After giving Duan Xiaoling a simple training session, Ren Yidao did not leave the prison directly, but instead slipped into Jian Xinxin's private space.

"Senior Brother! I am going to Wentian!"

He barged in on his own, leaned in next to Jian Xinxin with a smile, and diligently began grinding ink for him.

"Do you need me to bring you back any local specialties?"

Jian Xinxin did not lift his eyes once, his entire spirit focused on the brush, his strokes moving like a dragon soaring and a snake slithering.

"……"

After making noise for a while, Ren Yidao tactfully shut his mouth.

He even stopped grinding the ink in his hand, restrained his aura, and quietly appreciated the art before him.

With a flick of the wrist, the brush tip stretched in an unexpected direction, sweeping down.

Ren Yidao had not dabbled much in the Dao of painting, but he still possessed basic discernment.

Even judging solely by the fine-brush technique, Jian Xinxin could already be called a master, not to mention the divine charm contained within.

Exhilarating!

This was not the first time Ren Yidao had watched Jian Xinxin paint, but it was the first time he had seen him put such heart into it.

Unlike the lifeless appearance he had when creating the countless portraits of women in his daily life, at this moment, Jian Xinxin's eyes were burning with fervent passion.

One could even call it intensity!

It was hard for outsiders to imagine that beneath Jian Xinxin's cold and serious exterior, there hid such a surging heart.

With a subtle curve at the corners of his mouth, Jian Xinxin smiled unconsciously; he was enjoying the creative process with his whole heart and soul.

After watching for a while, Ren Yidao's eyes narrowed slightly, wanting to speak but hesitating.

He saw something else.

Jian Xinxin was burning some kind of power Ren Yidao could not perceive, melting his own life force into the scroll.

Fusing his own divine sense and life source into the painting.

Ren Yidao frowned again and again, but in the end, he did not speak to stop him.

Jian Xinxin was not a child without a mature mind; he knew what impact his actions would have on himself.

What's more, this was a decision Jian Xinxin had made himself, and it was not for him, as the Junior Brother, to criticize.

Even if he was easygoing and unpretentious on most days, he was still the Second Senior Brother of Luoyue Peak.

"……Good!"

Just as Ren Yidao made up his mind, Jian Xinxin finished the final stroke and tossed the brush directly into the brush-washing jar.

A layer of fine sweat appeared on Jian Xinxin's forehead, and his complexion looked weak, yet his spirit was exceptionally high.

He picked up the seal, spat a mouthful of essence blood onto it, and then pressed it firmly onto the corner of the scroll.

"Excellent!"

"I shall name you 'Shi Nü Tu'!"

Amidst his loud laughter, the woman in the painting with lowered brows also let out a soft laugh, covering the lower half of her face with a fan.

Heh.

But before the lady could finish laughing, her expression suddenly stiffened.

Because in her field of vision, a pair of giant eyeballs was staring straight at her!

"Ah!"

Ren Yidao ignored the shrill wail of the lady in the painting; he examined it carefully for a while, then turned his head and asked the panting Jian Xinxin:

"Is the prototype for this lady Junior Sister Li?"

Since it was painted according to Li Lingling, this painting must be an entry-level protective item for Li Lingling.

Too tired to even speak, Jian Xinxin just nodded slightly, then continued to close his eyes and regulate his breath.

After a long while, Jian Xinxin recovered a bit of energy, and his emotions calmed down.

He returned to his usual serious appearance and spoke expressionlessly:

"Take this painting and give it to Junior Sister Li."

Hm?

"Why don't you give it to her yourself?"

Why?

Are you shy?

Jian Xinxin looked at Ren Yidao, and only after confirming that he truly did not understand the reason did he sigh.

"In this room, you are the only one who keeps coming over."

His calm voice was full of helplessness; at this moment, Jian Xinxin gave Ren Yidao the illusion of an empty-nest elderly person.

"Junior Sister Li doesn't come over, I can't contact Junior Sister Yu, Senior Sister is unreliable, and you... although you aren't much better than her, at least you still have some dignity as a human."

Hm?

Hm???

Although it sounds like you're praising me, why does it sound so awkward?

Are you scolding me!

I, Ren Yidao, am a person of great virtue; how could I fall to the point of being compared on the same level as Jing Yueqin!!?

Although he felt indignant in his heart, Ren Yidao was still somewhat surprised.

Is Jian Xinxin telling a cold joke?

He actually knows how to joke!?

What kind of day is it today?

Senior Brother not only didn't keep a cold face, but he even told me a cold joke.

Could it be... he has me in his heart!

Does Senior Brother like me?

"Senior Brother!"

Raising his hand to press down on Jian Xinxin's shoulder, Ren Yidao turned his head away to avoid looking into his eyes, and only after a moment of silence did he speak with difficulty:

"It is impossible for us!"

Our genders are not right, there is no possibility in this lifetime!

Jian Xinxin:?

Raising his hand to push the troublesome person, who was about to lose his composure, to the side, he patted his shoulder with disgust.

Bad luck!

Ren Yidao, having been blatantly shown disgust, was not annoyed and asked with a smile:

"It feels like you are in a pretty good mood today, Senior Brother?"

Perhaps it was the lingering warmth left after creating to his heart's content, but Jian Xinxin felt a bit more human to Ren Yidao.

"Senior Brother, are you really not going to Wentian?"

I have an acquaintance there!

Raising his head to glance at his smiling Junior Brother, Jian Xinxin shook his head without answering, and instead said:

"Do you know? There is a Mei Garden outside the south of Wentian City."

Mei Garden?

Ren Yidao was truly unclear about this, and was somewhat curious about the meaning behind Jian Xinxin bringing this up.

"Do you need me to help you bring back some saplings?"

Shaking his head, Jian Xinxin took a small wooden box the size of a palm from his sleeve and handed it to Ren Yidao.

"Since you are going to Wentian, then help me bury this box under a blooming plum tree in the Mei Garden."

"Senior Brother, it is July now? Plum blossoms shouldn't be blooming, right?"

Jian Xinxin smiled and did not explain.

"You will understand when you go."

"Rest assured, the scenery there will definitely not disappoint you."

Ren Yidao thought for a moment and did not refuse; after tucking the wooden box away, he turned and walked outward, saying as he walked:

"Then I will take your word for it. If I feel dissatisfied when the time comes, when I return, you must accompany me to Chongzhou City to drink flower wine!"

"To be precise, you will drink flower wine, and I will hold a Recording Stone to watch you drink flower wine."

I will arrange seventeen or eighteen young ladies to surround you.

I don't believe you will be able to keep your composure then!

Jian Xinxin:?

"Uh, that... wait a moment!"

"Come back!!!"

Yu Yu is very depressed.

I'm going to be depressed!

"How could it be like this?"

She sat on the bed hugging her legs, looking depressedly at the sky outside the window, and muttered to herself:

"Clearly I was the one who came first, whether it was entering the sect or becoming a disciple, I was the first."

"But now..."

"I am truly foolish, really."

"Junior Sister Li said she was unable to cultivate the Dao, and I actually believed it."

And the result.

How long has it been since Li Lingling just entered Luoyue Peak, and she has already successfully chosen her path and performed the Descent of the Gods!

Her Dao God is even a yellow snake with wings.

This... I am so envious!

No, no, no, what should I do?

Surpassed by a Junior Sister who just entered the sect, my dignity as a Senior Sister is about to be lost!

No, I cannot continue to be depressed like this.

You must be strong.

Knock knock.

"Ying!"

Yu Yu, who was mentally preparing herself, was startled by the sudden voice and habitually hid her body inside the quilt.

With only her head left exposed, she asked:

"Who?"

"Yu'er, open the door, it's Dad."

?

Who?

Although confused in her heart, Yu Yu, having recognized Ren Yidao's voice, still honestly undid the Restriction on the Cave Abode.

This was one of the only two tricks she had been able to master since joining the sect.

Opening the door and closing the door.

"Ah! Oh no!"

Only after subconsciously opening the door did Yu Yu realize she was still in her sleeping attire, wearing nothing but an undergarment!

!!!

Walking into the room, Ren Yidao raised an eyebrow at the unknown creature curled into a ball on the bed.

What kind of look is this? Quite unique.

Having missed the chance to get out of bed and change, Yu Yu was now in a dilemma.

She could only try her best to wrap herself tightly in her little quilt and peek out to give her Foster Father a silly smile:

"Hehe, Foster Father, is there something you need?"

Hehe?

There were too many things to poke fun at in this scene; Ren Yidao couldn't grasp the main point to tease for a moment.

"Nothing, I just came to check on your situation. What's wrong with you? Why are you hesitating about whether to go to Asking Dao?"

Sitting casually on the edge of the bed, Ren Yidao looked at his ball of a foster daughter in confusion.

Unlike the others on Luoyue Peak, Yu Yu had lived for a long time as a citizen of the Beigan Dynasty.

And now that an opportunity to go to the capital for Asking Dao was placed before her, she was actually hesitating.

Why was that?

Bringing up this topic, Yu Yu's mouth pouted, and she shrank even smaller.

"I want to stay in the sect to cultivate."

"The reason?"

"I'm worried that I will fall further behind..."

Yu Yu had never felt inferior before, but now a feeling she couldn't suppress was brewing in her heart.

Like a dark cloud, it kept gathering above her head, pouring down a rainstorm.

Turning his head to look around, Ren Yidao smiled under Yu Yu's puzzled gaze.

He said:

"Since that's the case, you must come with me even more."

"You've been on Luoyue Peak for a while now; it's time to truly initiate you."

Light gradually brightened in her eyes, and the armor of the little quilt Yu Yu had wrapped tightly around herself also gradually softened.

"Really!?"

"Really. We won't take the teleportation array to Asking Dao this time; on the way, I will help you two catch up on your studies."

Whoosh!

"Yay!"

Jumping out of the quilt in excitement, Yu Yu happily hugged Ren Yidao.

How could she not want to go?

She clearly wanted to go desperately, but still forced herself to be sensible.

Raising his hand to stroke Yu Yu's hair, Ren Yidao sighed silently.

"Still just a child."

Thinking this, Ren Yidao's gaze moved downward...

Hmm?

After appreciating it for a while, he silently shifted his gaze away.

"A child? Hmm... not necessarily."

Sure enough, things shouldn't just be judged by their surface.

The water here is too deep!

Having conquered the left and right guardians of Luoyue Peak, the brave Ren Yidao finally launched a challenge against the final BOSS.

"Stop talking nonsense, surrender! Come out with me."

Grabbing that slender waist that could be spanned by one's hands, Ren Yidao pulled hard toward the back.

Clinging tightly to the head of the bed, Jing Yueqin's body was stretched straight, yet she still put up a desperate resistance.

"Oh my~ about that, hmm... I am the Peak Master, after all! My duty is to guard Luoyue Peak; I can't just leave whenever I want!"

"Heh."

Ren Yidao smiled.

A cold smile.

Can't leave whenever you want?

This line of yours might fool Yu Yu, but you're trying it on me too?

If you can't just go out whenever you want, then how did you trick me into coming home? How did you trick Yu Yu into coming back?

Are the flowers and plants on this Luoyue Peak all blown here by a strong wind, or what?

"Hah!" (Exerting force!)

"Hmph—" (Holding firm!)

The two of them remained in this stalemate for half a day, until finally, Ren Yidao was the first to concede.

It wasn't that his physical strength was lacking.

It really wasn't!

It was because he realized that this time, Jing Yueqin wasn't acting spoiled, waiting for someone to coax her; she truly had no intention of compromising at all.

Setting her down, Ren Yidao frowned slightly.

"You're really not going out?"

"Mm, you all go have fun; I won't be going."

"The reason, can you tell me?"

Jing Yueqin looked at Ren Yidao without speaking, instead revealing a gentle smile and opening her arms.

"…Sigh."

Seeing her act this way, Ren Yidao sighed and pulled her into his embrace.

She didn't want to say.

Since that was the case, there was no need to keep pressing her.

Feeling the warmth transmitted from her soft body, Ren Yidao's mood became somewhat low.

He had roughly guessed the reason for Jing Yueqin's worry.

Wentian was not Chongzhou City; once she lost control and went berserk there, there would only be one outcome.

Death.

She wasn't afraid of death, but she didn't want to die just yet.

She hadn't found their master, and she couldn't bear to leave her little junior brother behind.

"Yidao…"

"Hm?"

Gently biting Ren Yidao's earlobe, Jing Yueqin whispered softly:

"You are going to be away for a while, so I will be lonely."

His eyes narrowed; Ren Yidao caught a familiar scent, and a pink light flashed in his pupils.

He hugged Senior Sister tighter and chuckled.

"Don't worry, I will leave you with plenty of memories, enough to last you through this lonely time."

…

…

The next morning.

"Remember to bring me a gift when you come back~"

"Heh, I'm not bringing you anything!"

Your gift was already given to you yesterday!

There's nothing left.

Not a single drop left!