The Beloved Master's Mad Dog Disciple - Chapter 23

He Yongshi had taken nearly all the Outer Sect Disciples of the Imperial Tranquility Sect with him, leaving behind only a few dozen elderly disciples on the verge of death. Everyone had assumed that the Outer Sect Disciples would no longer be involved in any journeys described in the book. However, Xiang Yu, the Medicine Child responsible for tending the spiritual herbs on the mountain, had been left behind because she was guarding the medicinal fields alone and hadn’t encountered He Yongshi.

When she heard that Shen Yanting and the others were embarking on a Cultivation Journey down the mountain, accompanied by Fu Yunqing, she earnestly begged to join them.

Xiang Yu was remarkably similar to Fu Yunqing. Both were trapped within the Imperial Tranquility Sect, yearning for the outside world. Her greatest ambition had always been to quickly complete her Foundation Establishment, choose her Dao, and become a disciple of Feng Yingbo, the only person who had truly seen the entirety of the Cultivation World.

She had never considered approaching Shen Yanting, finding her too cold and intimidating for a junior disciple like herself.

Little did Xiang Yu know that the very person who would decide to bring her along was the Shen Yanting she feared so deeply.

After sword cultivators choose their path, they must condense Sword Intent capable of communicating with their swords to advance to the Golden Core Stage. Reaching this stage allows them to travel long distances by riding their swords. However, Fu Yunqing, at the mid-Core Formation Stage, and Xiang Yu, at the mid-Foundation Establishment Stage, were unable to fly on their swords. Their physical condition also prevented them from enduring prolonged periods suspended in the air alongside Bo Xuenong and the others. Feng Yingbo proposed traveling by carriage, which would not only accommodate Fu Yunqing and Xiang Yu’s limitations but also conceal their cultivation levels, allowing them to appear as ordinary people. Without this disguise, Fu Yunqing and Xiang Yu’s low cultivation levels would likely attract unwanted attention.

Shen Yanting approved Feng Yingbo’s suggestion and distributed Jade Concealment Beads to each of them, capable of completely concealing a cultivator’s aura.

This reminded Bo Xuenong of the Jade Soul Pearl and Spirit Endowment Banner she had seized from Guan Caimei. The Spirit Endowment Banner was now useless; its power vanished twelve hours after the banner’s creator died. However, the Jade Soul Pearl, which could alter one’s aura and suppress cultivation levels, remained functional.

While the Jade Concealment Bead completely hid a cultivator’s aura, making it seem superior, it was actually tied to the user’s own aura. Bo Xuenong could use the bead to conceal her presence from Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, but Fu Yunqing could only hide from Golden Core Stage cultivators, and Xiang Yu could only hide from Core Formation Stage cultivators.

After careful consideration, Bo Xuenong retrieved the Jade Soul Pearl and handed it to Xiang Yu. She deliberately sealed the pearl’s power and instructed Xiang Yu to wear it in a conspicuous place. This way, even if others sensed she was a cultivator, the sight of the pearl would make them suspect she was suppressing her cultivation level rather than immediately recognizing her as a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, deterring them from acting rashly.

This was the first time Bo Xuenong had put so much thought into someone other than Shen Yanting. Shen Yanting felt both gratified and vindicated, realizing that her efforts to bridge the distance between them had been worthwhile. After all, from Shen Yanting’s perspective, the only catalyst for Bo Xuenong’s change had been that moment when she carried her on her back the previous day. Little did Shen Yanting know that Bo Xuenong’s recent ability to overhear her thoughts had been disrupting her long-held convictions. Nor did she realize that Bo Xuenong wasn’t acting out of concern for Xiang Yu, but rather to prevent Xiang Yu from becoming a liability to her and Shen Yanting. Shen Yanting’s life mattered, and her thoughts mattered too—so they both had to survive.

Xiang Yu was the weakest among them.

Preventing other cultivators from discovering Xiang Yu’s vulnerability would save them a great deal of trouble.

Feng Yingbo had gone into town to buy a carriage. Bo Xuenong stood half a step behind Shen Yanting near Yan Ting, watching Fu Yunqing together.

Fu Yunqing was instructing Cui Huaizhou and the others on Sect matters, knowing full well they wouldn’t listen, yet she still went through the motions.

Cui Huaizhou, who had never shown much respect for Fu Yunqing, didn’t interrupt her today. Everyone understood that once Fu Yunqing left, she likely wouldn’t return to the Imperial Tranquility Sect.

By the time Fu Yunqing finished speaking, Feng Yingbo had been waiting at the foot of Imperial Peak Mountain for quite some time.

Fu Yunqing, who had initially felt guilty, saw the two horses, their eyes rolling back in exhaustion, and the words on her tongue changed. “How did you even get the carriage back here?”

“By flying, of course.”

Fu Yunqing pressed her hand to her forehead. “You’re truly…”

Feng Yingbo shrugged, her beautiful, innocent eyes gleaming. “How was I supposed to know horses are afraid of heights?”

Showing no remorse for her blunder, Feng Yingbo muttered under her breath, “If I’d known, I should have just caught a demon instead.”

Bo Xuenong thought Feng Yingbo’s suggestion was viable and immediately moved to act. “Then I’ll go catch one.”

She genuinely believed Feng Yingbo’s plan was viable, but Feng Jin completely misunderstood, her inner thoughts leaping out in alarm.

Why isn’t Eldest Senior Sister faking a smile anymore?! Could she be resenting Feng Yingbo’s recklessness? Dead System, Eldest Senior Sister killed Guan Caimei—I should get points for that, right? Hurry up and exchange them for Beast Tamer Pills and Beast Essence Pills!

Exchange for medicinal pills?

What exactly was this Dead System? How could it provide pills, especially such specialized ones?

While Beast Tamer Pills and Beast Essence Pills were both entry-level Grade 7 pills, like Healing Pills, Beast Tamer Pills were used to control beasts lacking sentience, while Beast Essence Pills replenished the spiritual energy of demon beasts. Outside the Beast Tamer Zong’s beast cultivators, no other cultivators had any use for these pills.

With over ten thousand Grade 7 Pill Formulas, Pill Cultivators seeking to refine their skills through repeated pill refinement would never choose such obscure formulas to advance their pill patterns.

Apart from the alchemists employed by the Beast Tamer Zong, few Pill Cultivators ever touched these two types of pills. Yet Feng Jin could simply ask the Dead System for them?

What was Feng Jin’s true background? What were her intentions?

And what was the origin of this Dead System?

What did Guan Caimei’s death have to do with them?

Bo Xuenong was plagued by too many questions, her gaze never leaving Feng Jin for a moment. She desperately searched for traces of another person within Feng Jin, but no matter how intently she observed, no other presence emerged. Instead, she saw Feng Jin tiptoeing toward the two horses, her eyes pleading and her inner voice chanting incessantly:

Don’t see me, don’t see me.

She looked like a thief.

The problem was, this charade wouldn’t fool anyone.

Bo Xuenong subtly shifted closer to the horses, turning sideways to block Feng Jin’s hand as she tried to slip the medicinal pill into the horse’s mouth.

“All done!” Feng Jin beamed, pleased with her stealthy administration of the pill. She turned to tell Feng Yingbo and the others that the horses were fine, only to startle at the sight of Bo Xuenong standing behind her, even though Bo Xuenong’s back was turned. “Ah! Eldest Senior Sister… what are you doing behind me?”

If Bo Xuenong hadn’t been there, everyone would have seen Feng Jin feeding the horses the pill.

This newly discovered confidante seems rather dim-witted, Bo Xuenong thought, secretly disdainful of Feng Jin. Yet, unlike before, she felt no urge to kill her.

Bo Xuenong didn’t respond to Feng Jin’s words. Instead, she pointed at the horses, which had just risen to their feet. “Sixth Junior Sister, the horses seem to be healed.”

Before Feng Jin could reply, her inner thoughts erupted:

Of course they’re healed! System-produced items are always top-quality. Wait! I think I gave them too much Vitality Restoration Pill.

Feng Jin wasn’t the only one who noticed. Bo Xuenong had seen it too.

The two chestnut horses, which had been on the verge of death moments ago, were now not only fully recovered but also growing increasingly sleek and glossy. Their matted fur began to shed, and, most alarmingly, all eight hooves started lifting off the ground, gradually floating upward. Bo Xuenong quickly grabbed the reins to restrain them, while Feng Jin, too panicked to question Bo Xuenong’s reaction, frantically demanded answers from the Dead System about how to fix this mess.

By the time Feng Jin had managed to barely stabilize the horses, Shen Yanting and the others had already been drawn over by the commotion.

Shen Yanting caught a whiff of medicinal pill, glanced at Feng Jin with surprise, but said nothing.

Fu Yunqing and Xiang Yu, however, were simply delighted. “The horses recovered so quickly!”

“Good job, you two,” Feng Yingbo said, deeply relieved. She patted the horses’ backs gently. “Since you’re being so well-behaved, I won’t bother hunting the Horse Demon.”

Bo Xuenong and Feng Jin had been secretly working all morning, yet it seemed the two horses had somehow become self-aware.

Feng Jin couldn’t suppress the twitching of her face. She raised her hand and pinched her cheek hard. “Do they need to thank you too?”

“Why not?” Feng Yingbo readily took the bait, leaning closer to one of the horse’s ears. “Good horses, my Jin’er says you should thank me. If you ever learn to speak, don’t forget!”

“……” Bo Xuenong had always worn a thick mask around Feng Yingbo and the others, constantly giving perfunctory responses to everyone except Shen Yanting. She had long known Feng Yingbo wasn’t a proper master, but she now realized she had underestimated the extent of her absurdity.

Feng Jin, accustomed to her master’s eccentricities, pushed Feng Yingbo onto the carriage first. “Let’s get going.”

After they boarded, Feng Jin pushed down the wooden bench from inside the carriage. It landed perfectly beside the carriage, bridging the gap between the carriage and the ground. She pointed to the bench. “If we’re pretending to be ordinary people, we should start now. Using this bench to climb in will make you look more like worldly young ladies.”

“Oh,” Fu Yunqing and Xiang Yu replied. They had both grown up in villages near the Imperial Tranquility Sect and had never ventured into larger secular realms. Naturally, they followed Feng Jin’s instructions without question, stepping onto the wooden stool to board the carriage. Only then did they think to ask, “Xiao Jin, you’ve never been to the secular world either. How do you know all this?”

“Well, of course…” Feng Jin lowered her head, pulling Feng Yingbo forward. “Master told me.”

“Huh? Did I say that?” Feng Yingbo blinked in confusion, about to ask when she had said it. But seeing Feng Jin’s pitiful, head-bowed posture, she instinctively nodded. “Right, I did say that.”

Bo Xuenong heard something different entirely. She heard Feng Jin’s inner thoughts:

I can’t exactly say, “That’s how it’s done in dramas…” They wouldn’t even know what dramas are.

Hmm… They really don’t.

Another question piled onto her growing list. Bo Xuenong resolved to find a chance to press Feng Jin for answers. Her gaze flickered to Shen Yanting, who stood beside her, also not yet aboard the carriage. She took a half-step back, bowed respectfully, and gestured toward the carriage. “Master, please board first.”

Shen Yanting’s memories flashed back to the previous day, her brow twitching violently.

She didn’t move immediately. Bo Xuenong was scrutinizing the wooden stool beneath the carriage. Its surface looked hard and rough; stepping on it would undoubtedly feel stiff and uncomfortable. Shen Yanting’s palms were soft and smooth, and her soles must be the same. Even through her shoes, it couldn’t be pleasant.

Bo Xuenong’s eyes darted around as she suddenly recalled the moment yesterday when Shen Yanting had clung tightly to her back, allowing her to carry her the rest of the way.

Fragrant arms had wrapped firmly around her neck, and Shen Yanting’s soft body had pressed snugly against her back. For a fleeting moment, Bo Xuenong had even entertained the illusion that her Master might actually rely on her.

Compared to the wooden stool, her Master would surely prefer her back.

Stepping on her would definitely be more comfortable than stepping on the stool!

Bo Xuenong instinctively challenged the stool, taking a step forward with the idea of replacing it. “Master, if you find the woo—”

“No need,” Shen Yanting interrupted sharply, her voice cutting through the air. Seeing Bo Xuenong’s fingers brush against her back, an ominous premonition surged within her.

Shen Yanting didn’t use the stool. Before she could even reach the carriage, she leaped lightly and floated effortlessly onto the vehicle.

It wasn’t that Shen Yanting refused to cooperate with Feng Jin; she simply had an inexplicable feeling that if she delayed boarding any longer, Bo Xuenong might actually lie down right there…