CHAPTER 185: CHAPTER 158 DISCIPLE, RETURN TO THE SECT_2

Before long, the time for their stationed duty was almost up.

Fifty years ago, Su Mei abdicated the throne to a talented and virtuous young man. Accompanied by Ye Qingqing and carrying Chen Jiuge’s Affiliated Token, she went to assist Li Qiwen in handling the Tongxin enterprise.

Over these years, Chen Jiuge, in the guise of an ordinary person, covertly dealt with some of the natural disasters in the Great Cheng Dynasty.

Fifty years of travel had made Chen Jiuge’s Dao Heart even more stable, and his aspiration for longevity had grown even firmer.

By a small mountain stream, Chen Jiuge sat on a piece of bluestone, his feet dipping into the cool waters, savoring his last moments of leisure.

"Master, your lunch," a simple-looking young man named Chen Dahu offered a piping hot scallion pancake.

"Master, your wine," a demure girl named Chen Xi, with an equally innocent face, offered a wine gourd.

A bite of the hot scallion pancake, followed by a swig of strong wine, made Chen Jiuge sigh with emotion. I never expected that the children who were once so small would now be so grown up.

These two were survivors of a massive flood twenty years prior. The flood had struck too swiftly, and despite Chen Jiuge’s immediate response, the losses had been significant. After dealing with the flood’s aftermath, he had spotted two infants, a boy and a girl, floating downstream in separate barrels. Moved by this, Chen Jiuge adopted them. To his surprise, both possessed a talent for Cultivation—and a rather remarkable one at that. In just twenty short years, both had successfully achieved Foundation Establishment.

Thus, he took them as his disciples.

"Xi, Dahu, it’s time for us to go," Chen Jiuge said, sensing an unfamiliar Great Cheng aura appearing outside the Imperial City.

"Junior Brother Chen, I’ve arrived."

"Senior Brother Lin En? How can it be you?" Chen Jiuge looked at the arriving Lin En with pleasant surprise.

Lin En sighed and said, "It’s a long story. In short, I am the new State Preceptor. Please look after me, Junior Brother."

"What are you saying, Senior Brother?" Chen Jiuge replied, somewhat discontented. "Right, Senior Brother, these are my disciples, Chen Dahu and Chen Xi. You two, quickly pay your respects to your Martial Uncle."

"Greetings, Martial Uncle," the two dutifully saluted.

"Good children. Your Martial Uncle isn’t as wealthy as your master, but take these two Magic Artifacts as a meeting gift," Lin En said with a smile, presenting two Magic Artifacts brimming with Spirit Light.

Watching their delighted expressions, Chen Jiuge smiled. Indeed, during his travels, he hadn’t revealed many of his Cultivation resources.

After settling all matters, Chen Jiuge bid Lin En farewell. Although he hadn’t seen Senior Brother Lin En in a long time, his desire to return home was stronger. They would have to meet properly next time.

「Eden Garden」

Moluo Shaye, cradling a Medicine Rabbit, was in high spirits. She had bought this rabbit with Spirit Stones saved over many years of hard work. It was her very own, and naturally, she cherished it dearly.

"Shaye, it’s just a Medicine Rabbit, isn’t it? If you’d spent less money elsewhere, couldn’t you have bought it sooner?" Chen Tingting asked, somewhat bewildered. Over the years, Chen Tingting’s Cultivation had already reached Divinity Transformation. Thanks to the convenience of working at Eden Garden, the Spiritual Beasts under her care were above average among the disciples in both strength and potential.

"It’s different. This is my first Spiritual Beast," Moluo Shaye said affectionately, stroking the Medicine Rabbit’s small head.

"Good taste. Bunnies are indeed the cutest," Yue Meng said, holding a Fire Crystal and agreeing completely.

"Yue Meng, what brings you here? Could it be that this batch of Elixirs is already refined?" Chen Tingting was rather surprised. This was nearly a third faster than before.

"Of course! Did you mistake me for that fool Da Bai? He is still only a Fourth-Rank Artifact Refiner, while I, Yue Meng, have already successfully become a Seventh-Rank Alchemist. Please address me as Master Yue Meng from now on," Yue Meng boasted, presenting a bottle of Seventh-Rank Elixir.

"Master Yue Meng, you are amazing!" Moluo Shaye and Chen Tingting flattered her wholeheartedly.

"By the way, where’s your Little Flower?" Yue Meng asked after delivering the Elixirs.

"Little Flower? She’s probably with War Song, most likely in the Gravel Forest," Chen Tingting replied, somewhat puzzled.

"I’ve already looked, but she wasn’t there. Never mind. When Little Flower returns, tell her I have something to discuss with her."

Despite her puzzlement, Chen Tingting nodded in agreement.

Returning to the Mission Hall, Chen Jiuge felt a wave of emotion as he looked at the familiar scene before him. Another century has passed.

"You two, come with me to get your Sect Tokens first," Chen Jiuge said to his two young disciples, who were already dazzled by their surroundings.

Zhu Yinghuang had already handled their admission procedures into the Sect. They just needed to go register and collect their Tokens. Of course, they could only start as Outer Disciples, the lowest rank, since Chen Jiuge himself wasn’t an Elder yet.

After dealing with the Tokens, missions, and other miscellaneous tasks, about an hour had passed.

"Let’s go. I’ll take you to see my cave mansion," Chen Jiuge said proudly.

The stunning beauty of Eden Garden completely captivated the two young disciples. "Master, is this an Immortal Realm?"

In reply to his young disciple Chen Xi’s question, Chen Jiuge just patted her head and said, "Your Master hasn’t even achieved immortality yet, so this can hardly be considered an Immortal Realm."

Li Kui, who was a Hou, interjected from the side, "Hmph, an ordinary True Immortal wouldn’t possess such a vast Grotto-Heaven Magic Treasure."

"Hahaha." Chen Jiuge laughed, feeling quite proud. He had built this Eden Garden piece by piece. The resources and manpower consumed in its creation were simply unimaginable to ordinary people.

"There are also quite a few of my Spiritual Beasts inside. I’ll find an opportunity for you to meet them one by one. You don’t need to be afraid; they are quite easy to get along with."

"By the way, Li Kui, don’t bully Yue Li here. I’m afraid you’ll be the one to suffer if you do," Chen Jiuge said, thinking of Yue Li as he turned to caution Li Kui.

"Suffer? Hmph, I’m not afraid," Li Kui said with disdain.

Chen Jiuge didn’t say much more. As a Hou, one of the Ten Fiercenesses, Li Kui was indeed very strong. However, Chen Jiuge’s own Spiritual Beasts were no weaklings either. If four or five of them ganged up on him, Li Kui would most likely suffer a loss.

Chen Jiuge’s return brought joy to some Spiritual Beasts in Eden Garden, sorrow to others, and even prompted some to act tsundere.

Chen Jiuge patted the tsundere Yue Meng and asked, "During my absence, did they behave?"

Yue Meng shook off Chen Jiuge’s hand and said, "Naturally, they behaved. Those who didn’t were all suppressed in their Cultivation and sent to the ecological sphere for tempering."

"Little Ziteng, you’ve grown quite a bit," Chen Jiuge remarked, looking at the little girl at the top of the Myriad Age Vine. She now appeared to be five or six years old.

"Hug," Chen Ziteng said, reaching out with her plump little hands.

Seeing this, Chen Jiuge warmly picked her up.

"I want one too! I want one too!" Luwu Tianque, who had just returned not long ago, also stretched out his arms upon seeing this.

Looking at the round, chubby Luwu Tianque before him, Chen Jiuge seriously doubted whether this fellow had been diligently cultivating all these years. Although his Cultivation level seemed very high, already at the Mahayana realm, his physique suggested he had been indulging in pleasures rather than training.

Reluctantly picking up Tianque and feeling the considerable weight in his arms, Chen Jiuge became even more convinced that this fellow definitely hadn’t been cultivating properly.

At this grand gathering, Chen Jiuge introduced his two young disciples, Chen Dahu and Chen Xi, as well as Li Kui, to the various Spiritual Beasts. Everyone’s attitude was quite friendly. This surprised Chen Jiuge, prompting him to glance at Yue Li; the boy actually hadn’t snitched.

Over the next few days, urged by Chen Tingting, Chen Jiuge began to review the ledgers of Eden Garden, the various account books sent back by Li Qiwen, and information regarding personnel transfers and new recruits. It all gave him a splitting headache.

"I have an idea," Chen Jiuge said thoughtfully, putting down the ledgers, lists, and development plans in his hands.

「Seven days later.」

A travel-worn Su Mei, welcomed by Chen Tingting, arrived at Eden Garden.

Seeing the now even more captivating Su Mei, Chen Jiuge’s face lit up with a smile as he said, "I’ve finally managed to get you here."

Upon hearing this, Su Mei felt a surge of pride. He finally couldn’t resist my, a Female Cultivator’s, beauty! Hahaha, I’m about to turn things around and become the master here!

"This will be your task from now on."

Looking at the pile of documents that was taller than a person, Su Mei felt her head spin. "This much? I recall that Manager Li only sent back about this amount."

"Never mind that. Just handle it all. I’ll give you the greatest authority and increase your salary." Chen Jiuge’s old face reddened; he truly wasn’t cut out for managing these affairs.

Su Mei, her dreams of becoming the master shattered, tearfully accepted the job with double the salary and double the workload.

As they say, ’the pavilion closest to the water sees the moon first.’ Compared to those senior sisters who only know how to fight and kill, I’m already much better off, Su Mei consoled herself.

However, looking at the immense pile of documents, she still felt a wave of despair.