A cat that lingers beside a saint

Back at the Taoist temple.

Su Bai immediately ran to the old Taoist priest.

"Master, someone has broken in!"

The old Taoist priest remained calm. Ever since he heard Su Bai say yesterday that he had almost been discovered, he had guessed that this day would come.

"I haven't seen a single living person in the mountains for so many years. What's going on these past few days? Why are so many people suddenly appearing? Could it be that some treasure has been born in these mountains?"

Su Bai grabbed the old Taoist's clothes, quickly climbed onto his shoulder, licked his paws, and muttered to himself.

"Could it be like those mythical stories Master used to tell, where the birth of a treasure attracts a large crowd to watch, and then a group of people fight over it, resulting in a chaotic and bloody battle?"

The old Taoist priest was speechless.

He was just telling stories. Since they were stories, how could they possibly be true?

Besides, he knows this area best; how could he not know if there are treasures here?

Even if it really exists, it's not up to outsiders to snatch it.

"How about I give it a try?"

"Maybe I can snag some good stuff?"

The old Taoist priest glanced at him.

"What was that thing in your mouth when you came back?"

Upon hearing the old Taoist's words, Su Bai finally remembered what he had come back for.

He chuckled, then stuck out his tongue, and a small cyan sword came out of his mouth.

Seeing the small blue sword covered in Su Bai's saliva, the old Taoist couldn't help but feel a hint of helplessness.

"You just keep it in your mouth like that? Aren't you afraid of cutting your tongue off?"

Su Bai chuckled and spat out the small sword, then waved it in front of the old Taoist priest with his paw, saying, "No, this sword has a bit of a spirit; it can grow big or small, and it can even be used to sharpen teeth."

"Oh, right, I also gave it a name, the Qingping Sword. What do you think, not bad, right?"

Upon hearing this, the old Taoist priest was taken aback.

Qingping Sword...

How does this little thing know it's called the Qingping Sword?

Could it really be fate?

The old Taoist didn't speak, but simply held Su Bai and patted his head, his gaze following the trajectory of the Qingping Sword.

"Alright, stop showing off. I'll find you a rope, thread this sword through it, and hang it around your neck."

"This way you won't have to put such good stuff in your mouth; it would be such a waste."

Is it a waste?

Su Bai pursed his lips; he thought it was fine to put it in his mouth.

When facing an enemy, he can launch a surprise attack, catching the opponent completely off guard. The opponent would never expect that he has such a powerful weapon in his mouth.

The old Taoist priest didn't waste any words. No matter what Su Bai said, he disagreed with Su Bai putting the sword in his mouth like that.

Strangely enough, Su Bai thought that he was the only one in the world who could touch this sword.

After all, Master said that truly good treasures are spiritual beings, and they only recognize one master in their lifetime. If the master dies, the treasure will also go with the master.

However, although the sword seemed to have recognized Su Bai as its master, it remained completely still when held by his master.

After hesitating for a moment, Su Bai leaned forward and asked, "Master, did you give me this sword?"

The old Taoist rolled his eyes and said, "Do you think I'm the kind of rich person? Go and search this Taoist temple yourself. If you see anything you like, take it. Don't blame me for not warning you, you're likely to find something good here."

Su Bai chuckled and sat down next to the old Taoist priest, gripping his clothes tightly with both hands: "Master, I think that bell at the entrance of the Taoist temple is quite nice. Why don't you give it to me?"

In fact, Su Bai had been eyeing this bell for quite some time.

But he simply couldn't get it down. Even when he lay on the eaves, biting with his mouth and grabbing with his claws, he couldn't pull it down.

In Su Bai's opinion, the bell was definitely a good thing.

The old Taoist priest's lips curled up slightly.

After all, he had watched him grow up, and the old Taoist priest saw through his little schemes at a glance.

However, this bell really can't be given away. It's not that I'm reluctant to part with it, but Su Bai's cultivation level is still a bit lacking.

Even if you gave it to him, he wouldn't know how to use it.

"You little thief, I only have this one good thing, and you've already set your sights on it."

"It's not that I don't want to give it to you, it's just that your cultivation level is too low right now. Even if I gave it to you, you wouldn't be able to use it properly. Once you've reached the stage of refining your spirit and transforming into emptiness, you can take this bell if you still want it."

Upon hearing this, Su Bai's eyes lit up immediately: "Master, you keep your word?"

"When have I ever lied to you?"

……

Ever since someone broke into the mountains, Su Bai has hardly left the Taoist temple.

According to his master, his current cultivation level is actually not that great.

In this world, there are countless talented and extraordinary people. It would be almost impossible for his skills to rank among the best in the outside world.

Once you step out of this Taoist temple, you might die outside one day.

Su Bai was still very obedient to advice.

Since my master is no good, then he's no good. I might as well just stay in the Taoist temple and continue my cultivation.

For several days in a row, Su Bai stayed in the Taoist temple, and he was really getting restless.

But just as he was about to tell his master that he wanted to go out for a walk, he saw that his master had changed his clothes.

The tattered, patched Taoist robe has now been transformed into a clean and tidy blue Taoist robe.

If it weren't for the fact that his face was still covered in stubble, Su Bai would have thought he was quite handsome.

"Is Master going out?"

Su Bai's eyes flashed, and he quickly jumped into the old Taoist's arms, staring at him carefully for a while before picking up the Qingping Sword and saying, "How about I trim your beard for you too?"

The old Taoist priest was taken aback, glanced at him, and said, "I'm just going out to buy some wine, not to go on a blind date."

Su Bai naturally didn't believe the old man's words. Who would change their clothes before going out to buy wine?

Judging from this, she's definitely going out for a blind date.

However, since his master was unwilling, Su Bai naturally wouldn't force him.

"I warned you, if you're really going out to see your old flame, you'd better shave this beard, lest she find you repulsive."

The old Taoist rolled his eyes, raised his hand and patted the boy's head, saying, "I'll be right back. Don't go out these next few days. Just stay here in the temple and cultivate peacefully. When I return, I'll bring you some good things."

"Aren't you taking me with you?" Su Bai was taken aback. Was he going to be left alone in the Taoist temple?

The old Taoist priest knows neither cultivation nor magic. How long will it take him to get to this huge mountain?

It would be better to take me with you; at least I'll have company on this journey.

"If we both leave, who will look after this Taoist temple?"

"If when we come back we find our house has been taken over, wouldn't we have nowhere to live?"

Su Bai fell silent; what he said seemed to make a lot of sense.

Standing at the entrance of the Taoist temple, watching the old Taoist priest's figure gradually disappear into the distance, Su Bai curled his lip and said, "If the old man doesn't want to take me, he should just say so. Why all the beating around the bush?"