Watching the Mountain

After Yue Qingyu’s departure, Xu Ran found himself with plenty of free time and returned to his daily routine of cultivating and spending his days at the Scripture Pavilion.

He didn’t have much to do at the Scripture Pavilion. His days were spent studying and comprehending the experiences of his predecessors or researching Cultivation Techniques and Magic Techniques. It was purely theoretical; he was accumulating knowledge for his future path of mastering the Ten Thousand Laws. The saying ”to learn but not to practice” perfectly described his current state.

When it came to Magic Techniques, he continued to focus on the Ten Thousand Woods Transformation Spell. He didn’t mind that he was still stuck on the First Layer, with no insight whatsoever into the subsequent layers.

As a Divine Technique, even the First Layer of the Ten Thousand Woods Transformation Spell was already comparable to some profound, high-level Magic Techniques. Moreover, since it encompassed offensive, defensive, and control abilities, it was more than enough for his needs.

That was why, no matter how many other Magic Techniques he came across in the Scripture Pavilion, he limited himself to studying and researching them rather than practicing.

This lent him an air of leisurely ease at the Scripture Pavilion. As for the pavilion’s official business, disciples rarely disturbed him. His colleagues were always the busy ones; all he had to do was sit there.

His colleagues were incredibly envious, but there was nothing to be done. Everyone else working in the Scripture Pavilion was a white-haired elder who looked to have one foot in the grave; Xu Ran alone was absurdly young.

Even if they were envious, they couldn’t copy him. It wasn’t as if they would buy a Rejuvenation Pill just for the sake of lazing around. They had come here for a peaceful retirement, and being *too* idle wasn’t actually their goal.

Today, however, Xu Ran’s peaceful days were finally interrupted.

Just as he was sitting in a corner, leisurely reading a book, a soft, sweet voice suddenly broke his concentration.

”Excuse me, are you an Elder of the Scripture Pavilion?”

Xu Ran looked up to see a young girl in the standard blue-green Daoist Robe of Qing Xuan Peak. She was staring at him timidly with large, limpid eyes.

Xu Ran had never truly understood what people meant by a ”clear gaze,” but looking at the young girl before him, he was beginning to.

’Timid, adorably naive, and clear-eyed,’ he thought. ’She looks like she’d be easy to fool.’

’It’s the first time I’ve met someone you can peg so clearly after just one glance.’

Xu Ran shook his head, clearing the random thoughts from his mind. He nodded at the girl and replied, ”I am. What can I do for you?”

The girl’s face lit up. She raised her hands and performed a formal hand-seal greeting, then spoke in that same soft, sweet voice.

”Outer Disciple Jiang Ling’Er of Qing Xuan Peak greets you, Elder.”

Xu Ran gave a slight nod, waiting for her to continue. But to his surprise, after her introduction, she simply nodded at him again, turned around, and left.

He was completely baffled. ’That’s it? She’s gone?’

He quickly called after Jiang Ling’Er, ”Didn’t you need something from me?”

Hearing this, Jiang Ling’Er flinched and turned back to say timidly, ”This disciple... this disciple isn’t familiar with you yet, Elder. I’ll tell you what I need once we know each other better.”

With that, she scurried away, leaving Xu Ran standing there in utter bewilderment.

’So, what just happened?’

The next day, he finally understood what Jiang Ling’Er had meant by ”getting to know each other better.”

As he was reading in his usual corner, the girl peeked her head out cautiously. After a quick glance around, she pulled a bundle wrapped in yellowed, oil-stained paper from her robes and held it out to him.

Xu Ran gave her a questioning look.

She blinked, motioning for him to open it.

After a moment’s silence, Xu Ran quietly took the bundle. As he unwrapped it, a sweet fragrance wafted up, and he froze.

”Roasted sweet potatoes?”

Jiang Ling’Er nodded repeatedly, like a little chick pecking at grain. ”A sign of my respect for you.”

’To be honest,’ Xu Ran thought, ’I never imagined that someone in the Cultivation Realm would try to curry favor with me using roasted sweet potatoes.’

He looked at the expectant expression on Jiang Ling’Er’s face and, after a moment of silence, picked up a sweet potato, peeled it, and began to eat.

’Sweet, fragrant, soft, and tender. Not bad at all.’

Just as he was about to ask Jiang Ling’Er to state her business, he realized she had already run off again.

For three days straight, Jiang Ling’Er came to deliver roasted sweet potatoes, only to scurry away immediately after.

On the fourth day, when she approached with more roasted sweet potatoes, Xu Ran waved her over and said, ”My surname is Xu.”

Jiang Ling’Er’s face lit up. She quickly bowed and said, ”Greetings, Elder Xu.”

Xu Ran nodded slightly. ”Alright, we’re acquainted now. You can tell me what you need.”

At his words, Jiang Ling’Er flinched again, staring at Xu Ran with her large, watery eyes, her expression conflicted.

She bit her pinky, hesitated for a moment, and then said, ”Are we really acquainted already? How about... this disciple spends a few more days with you, and then I’ll tell you?”

Xu Ran’s eyes widened. ”If you don’t say it now, you’ll lose your chance.”

’Spend time together?’ he fumed inwardly. ’You call this spending time together? You run off the second you hand over the sweet potatoes. It’s a wonder we’re not complete strangers!’

Seeing his expression, Jiang Ling’Er flinched but seemed to finally summon her courage.

”This disciple... would like to ask for your guidance on a matter regarding a Cultivation Technique.”

Xu Ran stared at her, speechless. ’All this, just for that?’

”Which Cultivation Technique? Let’s hear it.”

Jiang Ling’Er obediently took out a small booklet. Xu Ran took one look at it and paused, slightly taken aback.

”Isn’t this just the standard Beginner’s Technique? Why didn’t you ask an instructor at the Instructor Hall?”

Jiang Ling’Er shook her head vigorously. ”I’m too scared.”

”Why not?”