CHAPTER 419: CHAPTER 234 BOTTOM-LINE THINKING, TO WHOM DO I RETURN_4

Jiushan Sect disciples greeted him with smiling faces and a bow.

Some addressed him as ’teacher,’ others as ’real person’...

Those who called him ’teacher’ were naturally the disciples studying agriculture under him.

And those who called him ’real person’ were aware of the significant contributions he had made for the Jiushan Sect.

Both did so with intimacy and respect.

His aptitude was not impressive, nor was his cultivation high; never mind in a sect like Jiushan, with Nascent Souls... ah, Divinity Transformations, even in his original Qianhe Sect, he had never received such respect.

Usually, he would return each greeting earnestly, greatly enjoying this respect.

But today he was somewhat perfunctory, or rather, seemed apprehensive to face them.

It was only when passing by the Hall of Heroes that he slowed his pace and glanced inside.

His gaze fell upon the statues of himself and several disciples.

He looked for a long time before slowly lifting his foot to head towards the Medicine Garden.

His several disciples had been waiting in the Medicine Garden for a while, surprised at his unusually late arrival.

"Is Master unwell?"

One female disciple, noticing his pale complexion, couldn’t help but ask.

"Not at all."

Master Qian looked at the various crops in the experimental fields of the Medicine Garden—

There were grains like rice and wheat that could serve as staples or feed livestock.

There were fruits and vegetables that could be used as side dishes.

And there were also spices.

These were new crops they had researched, but many were not suitable for large-scale promotion; among them, specialties like Thunder Pepper were selected from hundreds or thousands of candidates.

This experimental field could be said to be soaked with his painstaking effort and sweat.

The disciples watched him gaze at the experimental fields for a long time, uncertain and puzzled:

Master seems too strange today.

"Do you wish to leave?"

"Leave? Leave where? Leave Master?"

A disciple asked.

"Leave the Jiushan Realm."

"No, we do not wish to leave."

Master Qian glared at the disciple, as if knowing he was toying with him, then shook his head, "There may be a great calamity in the Jiushan Realm..."

Seeing his serious expression, the disciples exchanged glances, their faces filled with solemnity.

"Are we... going to run again?"

The female disciple spoke in a soft voice.

"No harm, it’s with Master Zheng’s permission." Master Qian explained.

Hearing the name Zheng Fa, everyone felt an even greater weight in their hearts, knowing the matter must be serious...

"What about you, Master?"

A disciple asked.

Master Qian didn’t answer, appearing to be in a dilemma.

"Brothers, you go ahead, I won’t leave," the female disciple suddenly said.

"Hmm?"

"I have a... relationship with a brother from the Jiushan Sect."

"...Who?" Another male disciple asked but seeing her shake her head, he didn’t pursue the question, simply saying: "I’m not leaving either."

Even Master Qian was somewhat perplexed.

"I inquired during the previous Hundred Immortals Conference... outside, it’s too chaotic." The male disciple spoke, "Many people I know are of unknown life or death. If the Jiushan Realm faces a calamity, it’s worse outside. What chance does a Qi Cultivation disciple with no background have to survive out there?"

After speaking, he glanced at the experimental fields: "At least I know that Master Zheng will not let me die in vain."

"..."

Master Qian looked at his disciples, seeing that they all seemed to be persuaded by this one, their faces expressing firm resolve.

"And what about you, Master?"

Master Qian looked at them and suddenly smiled, saying, "The disciples I’ve taught, the fields I’ve sown, everything that allows me to stand tall is here, where can I go?"

...

Zhang stood in the distance, watching this scene, then suddenly turned her head, whispering to the flying sword beside her:

"Actually, to make people not want to betray... it doesn’t always have to rely on fear, right?"

The flying sword trembled, as if unable to speak.