Chapter 82

Lin Du helplessly smiled and made way for him, setting up a spirit-gathering formation with a flick of her hand.

Although the Supreme Sect’s spiritual veins were abundant, each of the Nine Peaks had its own major spirit-gathering formation. The library wasn’t meant for cultivation, but setting up a small formation would help Yuan Ye advance more quickly.

The advancement continued into the evening. Lin Du was worried about Yuan Ye and even missed dinner. She could only send a message to Mo Lin, asking him to save two portions of dinner.

Since Mo Lin couldn’t cultivate and had nothing to do, he personally delivered the food to the library’s entrance.

Lin Du decided to sit on the stone steps outside the library and eat.

“Uncle Junior Master, you don’t need to blame yourself for my matters.” Mo Lin had walked up and now sat with her on the stone steps.

Lin Du’s consciousness was still in the library, and she picked up two chicken legs hidden under the rice. “Why are there two chicken legs today?”

Mo Lin caressed his sword staff. “I gave you Yuan Ye’s portion. He just advanced, so he doesn’t need too much spirit food.”

Lin Du chuckled and didn’t hold back. This kid really knows how to talk, which made her unable to complete the tasks she had planned for the afternoon.

“I plan to set out the day after tomorrow. The sooner, the better. Fortunately, a senior disciple from the sect is currently traveling in Yunnan. Once we arrive, there will be someone to look after us, and the new disciples won’t be joining us.”

Mo Lin wasn’t very good at persuasion, and he pondered his words. “The Sect Leader said you would be going as well?”

“Yes, I won’t be a burden to you.” Lin Du swallowed her food and took the opportunity to speak. “We’re leaving the day after tomorrow, and tomorrow will be enough time for me to prepare. I’ve been engraving those small formation plates for a while; they should be sufficient. I’ve sorted out the materials for the commonly used major formations and have a rough idea of Yunnan’s map and customs. Anything else can be dealt with on the road…”

She knew Mo Lin wanted to persuade her to stay within the sect. “Have you forgotten? I’ve already reached the Great Perfection of the Qin Heart Realm. Breaking through to the Golden Core Realm requires an opportunity. It’s different from Foundation Establishment. Some obstacles can’t be avoided or resolved without facing them directly.”

This last statement successfully persuaded Mo Lin. If this was Uncle Junior Master’s issue, then to reach the Golden Core, she would need to resolve her mental barriers. If Lin Du didn’t go, it might be even worse.

When the cold stars fell from the sky, Yuan Ye finally completed his advancement. After hastily finishing the meal, the three of them dispersed.

When Lin Du returned to Luo Ze, Yan Ye was also looking for her, and their eyes met.

“You seem quite well. It looks like educating children is best left to experienced people.”

Yan Ye used his spiritual sense to observe his apparently composed disciple, who seemed very spirited. He felt relieved.

Lin Du sat down opposite Yan Ye. “I need to discuss something with Master.”

“Perfect timing, I also have something to tell you,” Yan Ye said with a smile.

“I’ll be going into seclusion for a while.”

“I’m going on a long journey the day after tomorrow.”

Both spoke simultaneously, then paused, each processing what the other had said.

“I don’t think this is acceptable,” Yan Ye spoke first. “Is this how Feng Chao educated you? This isn’t reasonable.”

Lin Du nodded. “I think it’s reasonable, very reasonable. It’s the senior sister who asked me to go to Yunnan. Master, you can use this opportunity to focus on your seclusion, and I can handle my business. Is that reasonable?”

“Reasonable? Reasonable my foot! I won’t allow you to go.” Yan Ye reached out to knock Lin Du on the head. “Have you been listening to the suona too much and messed up your brain? Cang Li also shouldn’t be going. Let me have another look at your brain.”

Lin Du didn’t dodge, and her forehead hurt from the knock. She then said, “I’m not a child. I know what I’m doing. Just like you, Master. You never really thought about how to teach me, did you? You had to take me as a disciple due to destiny, and everything else was left to me. I will teach myself well.”

Just like the past twenty-something years, she had always taught herself well.

Yan Ye’s hand, which hadn’t fully retracted, paused in mid-air. His face showed a rare smile of frustration, then gradually settled into a long silence.

After a while, so long that Lin Du felt her previous words might have been too hasty, she finally said, “I’m sorry, Master.”

At that moment, she heard a soft apology.

Yan Ye said, “Sorry.”

“I’m sorry. I really don’t know how to teach a child and never thought about how to teach you.”

“You’re right. I knew I had to have a disciple due to destiny, and that destiny was you. So, to ascend, I had to take you as my disciple.”

Lin Du listened to the rare, slow, and sincere tone and was momentarily stunned.

“This is my first time being a master, and it will be the last. So, Lin Du, can you tell me how to be a good master to you?”

Yan Ye used to think it was an inescapable fate. He didn’t like noisy children who knew nothing and were extremely clumsy. Did he really need a blind person to teach a clumsy and clueless child?

When he first met Lin Du, he was somewhat confused by the destiny.

He had received news from He Gui, informing him of a child with an ice spiritual root, just like him, but born with deficiencies. Should he take the child in?

He reflexively agreed. In the Seventh-level Taiqing Realm, he had deep insights into the rules of Heaven and couldn’t even tell if it was him or destiny making the agreement.

When he first met Lin Du, he clearly saw the resentment and rebelliousness hidden beneath the child’s aloofness and pretense, like a prickly hedgehog.

More troublesome than he had anticipated.

But later, he discovered this disciple indeed had extraordinary talent. Even the books he threw at her were read and remembered obediently, with few questions. Teaching her was surprisingly easy, but she was unfortunately frail, like glass in the palm.

“I used to only think about not letting you die. Now, I just hope you do well anywhere.”

“So, Lin Du, tell me how I should teach you?”

Lin Du was stunned for a long time. She didn’t even dare to look up at Yan Ye. Even though she knew he couldn’t see her, his eyes likely had no emotions, only a gray and cold shadow.

“But I’m also a first-time disciple. I don’t know.”

She thought, “Then, maybe just let me go? Perhaps if I go out and see how other people teach their disciples, I’ll know?”

Yan Ye was so amused by her that he laughed. “So you really want to go?”

“If I don’t go, I might not even pass this first trial,” Lin Du said stubbornly, feeling a bit sorry for Yan Ye. “I’m not an obedient child.”

“No, you’re very good.” Yan Ye paused, “Much better than I expected, exceptionally good, unparalleled.”

Lin Du wasn’t used to this strange atmosphere and praise. “Are you sure you used the right words?”

Yan Ye nodded. “Indeed, not unparalleled. I’m the first genius, and you’re the second, so let’s say there are two in the world.”

Lin Du: Now you’re making up words?

“Never mind. I left a trace of my spiritual will in your consciousness. Did you feel it?” Yan Ye, for once, found something tricky, even more so than the most difficult formation. “Touch my spiritual will if you need anything, and I will come immediately.”

Lin Du nodded. “I’m well-prepared. Senior Sister also gave me many spirit talismans, and I have all the necessary pills. My formation materials are complete, and I have maps and power distributions of Yunnan.”

Yan Ye then remembered something. “Previously, I said I would make you a weapon, but it’s still just a prototype. I had people make several blades with special materials, engraved with different types of formations. It’s a spiritual weapon that can be used directly and can also be combined into various formations. It’s faster than setting up temporary killing formations. Just throw it as you wish, but it requires spiritual power to connect. I haven’t figured out how to improve it yet.”

“Anyway, since you understand the properties and formations, I won’t explain further.”

Lin Du took the box and saw various unhandled short blades inside, with faintly visible engraved formations. She sighed in amazement, not expecting she would have a day to practice with such ‘Xiao Li’s Flying Daggers’.