This humble Taoist priest, Qianhe, begins his quest for immortality by slaying demons and monsters.

Chapter 58: Four Eyes' Clever Tongue, Zhong Bai Goes Crazy for Gossip

Fortunately, Aunt Zhe came over to smooth things over at that moment.

"Wencai, what are you standing there for? This is really your master's senior brother. Quickly call him Uncle-Master!"

"Oh, this disciple Wencai greets his senior master!"

Upon hearing Wen Cai's respectful greeting, Shi Jian's tightly furrowed brows relaxed somewhat.

"Junior Brother Lin has indeed taken on a good disciple..."

When he said this, Shi Jian gave a forced smile. It was clear that he could tell that Wen Cai was not very bright and that such a person was not suitable for cultivation. In Shi Jian's opinion, Lin Fengjiao's choice to take him as her disciple was a disgrace.

Upon hearing Shi Jian's veiled sarcasm, the smile on Zhe Gu's face vanished instantly.

Lin Fengjiao was, after all, the man she loved. How could she tolerate being mocked like this by Shi Jian?
"Senior Brother, you are mistaken. Senior Brother Lin only took Wencai in as a disciple because he was pitiful as he had no father or mother. He kept him in the mortuary and he won't be short of food."

To put it bluntly, this is a meritorious deed. Does Senior Brother think that this is also unacceptable?

Or should we just leave Wencai out there and let him fend for himself?

The two consecutive rebuttals made Shi Jian's expression somewhat unnatural, but he still calmly replied, "Since you are a disciple in name only, there is no need to call me senior uncle, after all, you have not yet formally become a disciple of Maoshan!"

Hearing this, Wencai couldn't help but shed tears.

At this moment, Lin Fengjiao, who had gone inside to make tea, also came to the courtyard.

Upon seeing this scene, his expression immediately turned cold.

"Junior Sister Zhegu, what's going on!"

Seeing Wencai still with tears in his eyes, even Lin Fengjiao, who is usually good-tempered, couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed at this moment.

Aunt Zhe quickly recounted the whole story, and after listening, Lin Fengjiao's gaze grew even colder.

"I see, senior brother. In the end, Wencai is still my own disciple in name only."

I believe I still have the authority to accept a disciple under a nominal name.

As for whether Wencai can become a disciple of Maoshan in the future, the senior disciple is currently not qualified to inquire about that!

Lin Fengjiao's words were tinged with anger, and Shi Jian's gaze immediately deepened upon hearing them.

"If that's what you say, then so be it. I didn't come here today to start a conflict with you."

Hearing that my junior brother is moving to a new house today, even though he looks down on me and didn't invite me, I still came anyway.

"After all, we're from the same sect. As your senior, I won't blame you for such a small matter."

Hearing this, Lin Fengjiao felt somewhat helpless. Well, she finally understood why Shi Jian was causing trouble; it turned out that it was because he hadn't invited Shi Jian.

But... given their relationship, is it really necessary to invite them?
You may think this in your heart, but you can't say it out loud.

"Senior Brother, it's not that I didn't want to invite you, but I heard that you went into seclusion to break through to the fifth level of Qi Refining after you came down the mountain. I was afraid that you wouldn't have time to come, so I didn't bother you."

When asked about his breakthrough during his seclusion, Shi Jian smiled.

"I am grateful for your thoughtfulness, junior brother, but I ended my seclusion a few days ago."

"The barrier of the fifth level of Qi Refining cannot stop my heart's pursuit of the Dao!"

As he spoke, Shi Jian's aura was revealed, and the faint sense of oppression made Lin Fengjiao feel somewhat helpless. After all, his fist was bigger, wasn't it?

......................................................

Inside the pavilion.

Si Mu and Zhong Bai watched this scene unfold quietly, choosing not to intervene.

"Hiss! Junior Brother Qianhe, I wonder if Shi Jian and Senior Brother Lin will fight over this?"

"Hehe, Junior Brother Qianhe, if Senior Brother Lin and Shi Jian were to fight, would you choose to help Senior Brother Lin, or help Shi Jian, or remain neutral and just sit here and watch the show?"

Zhong Bai was speechless at the way Si Mu was watching and observing.

"Senior Brother Simu is being a bit presumptuous. Whether it's Senior Brother Lin or Senior Brother Shijian, it's impossible for them to fight right now."

Don't forget what day it is today.

As for which junior brother I should help...

"Tsk, of course, he grabbed Senior Brother and threw him between Senior Brother Lin and Senior Brother Shi Jian so that Senior Brother Simu could mediate the fight."

"Pfft! Junior Brother Chizuru, you... Waaaaah, Junior Brother Chizuru, you really... Okay, it's my fault..."

Looking at Zhong Bai's calm smile, for some reason, even as his senior brother, Si Mu felt a little uneasy.

Heaven knows how much fear lurks beneath that calm smile.

The thought of Zhong Bai's unfathomable cultivation and terrifying lightning magic made him feel hopeless in this lifetime.

"Sigh, let's make a fuss. In fact, Senior Brother Shi Jian is just a bit too competitive."

Don't you see how Senior Brother Shi Jian was constantly fighting Senior Brother Lin on the mountain? Wasn't it because Senior Brother Lin's strength posed a challenge to him?

I think that when you, Junior Brother Qianhe, become famous throughout the world and make Senior Brother Shijian realize the vast difference between you and him, Senior Brother Shijian will finally behave himself.

Hehe, but when that time comes, Junior Brother Qianhe mustn't forget his senior brother...

Hearing Simu say this, Zhong Bai did not deny it. Indeed, Shi Jian was just very competitive. If someone from Maoshan appeared who he could never catch up with, Shi Jian might not repeat the same mistakes in the future.

As for himself, as long as he doesn't do anything reckless, with the help of the Demon Extermination Panel, he is destined to be a peak that Shi Jian can never surpass in his life!
Zhong Bai was well aware of this, so he couldn't be bothered with Shi Jian at the moment and let Shi Jian fight Lin Fengjiao to the death first...

Over here, Zhong Bai and Simu were chatting enthusiastically.

On the other side, the atmosphere finally eased a bit.

"Junior Brother Lin, I didn't expect Junior Brother Qianhe and Junior Brother Simu to be here as well. Junior Brother Lin, please go ahead with your work. I'll go and greet the two junior brothers."

When Shi Jian saw Simu and Zhong Bai, a smile clearly appeared on his face.

It's true that he's determined to fight Lin Fengjiao, but Shi Jian isn't stupid. If he wants to secure his position as the leader of Maoshan Sect in the future, he needs to cultivate good relationships with the other disciples, especially Simu and Zhong Bai in front of him.

Four-Eyed Master, Immortal Changsheng, is the chief elder of the Corpse Driving Hall, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Zhong Bai's master, True Person Qian Yuan, is a True Person at the peak of Foundation Establishment and the chief elder of the Law Enforcement Hall!
Regardless of the circumstances, both Simu and Zhongbai have two powerful backers who wield significant influence in Maoshan.

Therefore, Shi Jian was particularly warm and gentle towards Simu and Zhong Bai.

“Junior Brother Simu, Junior Brother Qianhe, it has been more than a month since we parted ways at Maoshan.”

I wonder how my two junior brothers are doing after they went down the mountain?

If things aren't going well, I, your senior brother, can lend a hand.

"Four Eyes greets Senior Brother!"

"Qianhe greets Senior Brother!"

Although Si Mu sometimes calls Shi Jian "Shi Jian" in private, and doesn't even add "Senior Brother" to his address, he still has to be polite in front of him.

They were all disciples of the same group from Maoshan. When Shi Jian became the master, according to custom, he would be called the senior brother by the disciples of the same group.

Shi Jian thoroughly enjoyed the greetings from Simu and Zhong Bai, and even felt much more relaxed.

"Hey, junior brothers, don't be so polite. This seriousness makes me unsure how to interact with you."

Shi Jian smiled nonchalantly, but Si Mu revealed his true colors at that moment.

"Speaking of helping each other, my junior brother Qianhe and I might have needed the help of our senior brother some time ago."

Senior Brother, you don't know this, but my official road is located in a remote mountain forest, where a nest of Crimson Serpent Demons is hidden. The most powerful of these serpent demons is even comparable to a mid-Foundation Establishment stage demon general!

At that time, my junior brother Qianhe and I almost...

"If only my senior brother had been here back then. With his divine might, even the Crimson Serpent Demon General would have had to give him some leeway."

Zhong Bai rolled his eyes, unable to hold back; staring into each other's eyes could really be disgusting.

This clearly shows that Shi Jian is only at the fifth level of Qi Refining, and is far from being able to help them...

"Forehead……"

Shi Jian was also speechless. He was just being polite. What was wrong with Si Mu? Did he really want him to meet a Foundation Establishment Demon General?
Sorry, Shi Jian wasn't stupid; he didn't want to go and die.

Taking a deep breath, Shi Jian said, "In that case, it must have been extremely dangerous at the time. However, the fact that my two junior brothers are sitting here unharmed today must mean that the sect elders have arrived."

"Hey, Senior Brother guessed right!"

That Crimson Serpent General was incredibly ferocious at the time, wishing he could exterminate both his junior brother and Junior Brother Thousand Crane.

Finally, the ancestral tablet that my junior brother always carried with him manifested its power, and the chief elder of the Corpse Driving Hall, who was also my grandmaster's grandmaster, Qinghe Ancestor, appeared!

They managed to prevent the red-striped snake from advancing an inch.

Finally, my master arrived and severely injured him. Oh, and my junior brother Qianhe's master, Uncle Qianyuan, also arrived. The scene was like a thunderbolt from a serpent's lair!

Upon hearing this, Shi Jian became somewhat solemn. The fact that both Qian Yuan Zhenren and Chang Sheng Zhenren arrived in time was enough to demonstrate how much they valued Simu and Zhong Bai.

Just as Shi Jian was deep in thought, the four eyes revealed the dagger!

"Senior Brother, who knows if there were other snake demons in that snake cave at the time? Junior Brother is quite worried and afraid."

My master can't protect my junior brother every moment. If a demon soldier or even a demon general were to come and take revenge on my junior brother, that would be terrible.

Senior Brother's thunder magic is unparalleled; I really wish I could ask Senior Brother to conduct a search of the area around my dojo. That way, I could feel at ease.

puff!
Zhong Bai, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but smile, though the smile didn't reach his eyes. He just quietly appreciated Si Mu's acting skills and Shi Jian's reaction.

"This...this..."

At this moment, Shi Jian was in a dilemma. He was the one who made the boast first, and if he said he wouldn't go, wouldn't he be contradicting himself?

If he goes there and there are no remaining snake demons, that's fine. But if a late-stage demon soldier or even a demon general comes out, then he'll be like a lamb entering a tiger's den, courting death!
Simu was inwardly laughing wildly. He was half telling the truth and half lying. He didn't know if there were any snake demons hiding around the dojo, but if Shi Jian was willing to investigate for him, Simu would be happy to do so.

"Sigh, never mind, junior brother's request is a bit difficult for senior brother."

After all, the eldest brother has just broken through to the fifth level of Qi Refining. If they were to encounter a demon general, the junior brother couldn't bear the responsibility...

"No! What are you saying, Junior Brother Four Eyes!"

It's just a routine inspection; Senior Brother is confident!

You have to swallow the fruit you grow yourself, even if it's broken. I have to say, Shi Jian is commendable in this respect. Hmm, keeping his word?

When Shi Jian actually agreed to his request, a look of surprise flashed in Si Mu's eyes.

He really didn't expect Shi Jian to agree; if it were him, he would definitely have declined.

Forget about saving face, Si Mu doesn't care. His life is more important, isn't it?

"Really? Senior Brother, as expected, the Sect Leader has a keen eye for talent. No wonder he chose you as his disciple. With your word being as good as his bond, I admire you immensely!"

Zhong Bai ate some melon on the side. It has to be said that people like Simu are very popular.

Use the appropriate methods to deal with different personalities. For example, with Lin Fengjiao, you can use relentless pursuit to deal with Si Mu; with Zhong Bai, you analyze the pros and cons and exchange advantages for advantages; and with Shi Jian, you cater to his preferences and flatter him...

When it comes to understanding human nature, Si Mu can be described as a master shrewd person!
"It's alright. If you're in trouble, I'll help you. We're fellow disciples, and I can't bear to see you living in fear."

Alright then, after Junior Brother Lin's housewarming celebration today, I will accompany you to the temple. With me there, Junior Brother can rest assured!

"Understood, Senior Brother!"

Si Mu beamed with joy; he was genuinely excited and happy, while Shi Jian, standing beside him, was finding humor in his misery.

Waaaaah, around 22,000 words in seven chapters, I'm completely out of steam. Tomorrow I'll probably update around midnight again, maybe four chapters for 12,000 words? Or five chapters for 15,000 words? Hehe, I don't know either. Your subscriptions and monthly tickets are my inexhaustible motivation to keep updating!

Thank you so much to all my readers for your subscriptions and monthly votes!
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(End of this chapter)