Today’s Third Update

  The moment Elder Sun’s gaze swept over him, Yun Che felt an invisible pressure envelop his entire body, as though he were being seen through inside and out. It was as if even the deepest secrets hidden in his heart were laid bare under that glance. His mind tightened, and he silently thanked himself for having hidden the stone bead properly.

  Elder Sun frowned slightly. His sharp, hawk-like eyes circled Yun Che several times, yet he detected none of the unusual spiritual fluctuations or sinister auras he had anticipated. His expression darkened as he asked bluntly,

  “Yun Che, when did you return to the sect?”

  Yun Che immediately bowed, his voice respectful, tinged with just the right amount of nervousness.

  “Reporting to Elder, this disciple returned late last night. This morning I heard from Senior Brother Liu at the chores office that Elder had been looking for me, so I dared not delay and came at once to pay my respects.”

  Elder Sun’s face remained gloomy. Without another word, he reached out and seized Yun Che by the shoulder. An irresistible force surged forth, and Yun Che felt his feet leave the ground instantly. Seven-colored auspicious clouds appeared beneath Elder Sun’s feet once more, lifting the two of them skyward. Their speed was more than ten times faster than Yun Che’s use of a Swift Step Talisman. Violent gale winds rushed into his nose and mouth, making him feel as though he might suffocate.

  Fortunately, the flight did not last long. The clouds descended in front of Yun Che’s crude gray-robed disciple dwelling. Elder Sun casually set him down and did not enter the room. Instead, his powerful divine sense spread like flowing mercury, instantly covering every corner of the interior.

  “Hm?” Elder Sun let out a soft sound. His figure flickered as he stepped inside. With a grasp through empty air, a plain gourd—used for daily drinking and placed beside Yun Che’s bedroll—flew into his hand.

  Yun Che maintained an outward appearance of humility and confusion, but his heart clenched tightly. Inside that gourd was the spring water he drank every day—water that had been soaked with the stone bead. Though the bead itself was not inside, the water had long been infused with its influence, possibly retaining traces of an abnormal aura. His thoughts raced as he rapidly calculated his response.

  Elder Sun turned the gourd over repeatedly, examining it with care. He even brought it to his nose and inhaled deeply. After a moment, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, yet his expression grew even darker as he stared at Yun Che and demanded sternly,

  “Yun Che! What is contained in this gourd?”

  Yun Che displayed an appropriate mix of bewilderment and grievance, quickly replying,

  “Elder, this is water from the Cold Nether Pool behind the mountain. The water is quite remarkable—whenever this disciple drinks a few mouthfuls after hauling water all day, my spirit feels refreshed and my fatigue vanishes. I once read in my youth that all immortal things possess spirituality. I never expected even mountain spring water to be so… If Elder likes this water, there are ten Xuan-ice stone vats behind the chores office, each as large as a room, all filled with water this disciple carried back bucket by bucket.”

  He deliberately rambled on, even allowing a hint of complaint to seep into his tone, behaving like an ignorant, wronged menial disciple.

  Elder Sun twisted open the stopper and sniffed again. An extremely pure, cool fragrance—slightly sweet and faintly imbued with an indescribable vitality—filled his senses. His face changed abruptly. Shock flickered through his eyes, along with a barely concealed greed, as he barked,

  “Who asked about the water?! I’m asking about the gourd itself! Where did you get it? Speak!”

  Yun Che froze, wearing an even more foolishly confused expression.

  “Elder… is there something special about this gourd? I found it floating downstream while fetching water from the Cold Nether Pool. It looked like a good size, so I picked it up to use.”

  Elder Sun narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp as blades as it lingered on Yun Che’s face, seeking any trace of deceit. He rubbed the gourd thoughtfully. Though it appeared ordinary, its inner walls were faintly saturated with a subtle, warm spiritual essence.

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  This gourd has been soaked in spiritual spring water—or some other spiritual object—for years, he mused. Though it has not been refined into a magic artifact, its material has been nourished. It is only natural for mortals to grow vigorous by drinking water stored within. The boy is not lying… but—

  Could the strange withering of my Blue Star Grass and Purple Night Orchids truly be related to this gourd, tainted with a special aura? Certain rare spiritual objects do indeed conflict with one another. Still, this must be verified carefully.

  At that moment, his expression shifted again. His gaze fixed on the joint where the gourd’s mouth met its stem. There, a short segment of dried vine protruded—its color still fresh, utterly inconsistent with something long submerged in water.

  “So!” Elder Sun’s face hardened, cold light flashing in his eyes. He stared darkly at Yun Che.

  “Bold boy! You dare deceive me! This broken vine is fresh—it was snapped only recently! Yet you claim you found it in the water! Do you think my Profound Frost Sect is too small to accommodate a ‘great Buddha’ like you?”

  Yun Che’s face flushed with indignation and urgency. His voice rose as he protested,

  “Elder! This disciple would never dare deceive you! I truly found the gourd in the water! As for why the vine looks new, how could I know? Perhaps it was discarded by some senior brother or sister upstream or knocked loose by a mountain beast. If Elder desires this gourd, you need only say so—I will gladly offer it! Why falsely accuse me? I haul ten vats of water daily, often go hungry, and have long been unable to endure this suffering. Were it not for my parents’ expectations, I would have returned home already! This cultivation—forget it!”

  His words grew increasingly heated, tinged with reckless resignation, while skillfully portraying himself as a wronged and oppressed labor disciple.

  Elder Sun glanced at the hardened sweet potatoes in Yun Che’s pack, then at the gourd in his hand, silently sneering.

  This boy plays the part well. I must have the gourd—but if I forcibly seize a menial disciple’s “fortune” and drive him away, my already fragile reputation will be ruined. Worse still, if others learn of this gourd’s peculiarity, they will surely investigate, and I cannot monopolize the benefits…

  His eyes flickered.

  And he still hasn’t spoken the whole truth. There may be more than one gourd. If I can uncover the source and obtain all of them… my cultivation would advance greatly. This matter cannot be known to a second person.

  With that thought, his expression softened abruptly. He sighed deeply, feigning concern.

  “So you’ve been living in such hardship at the chores office, barely able to eat once a week? This old man has neglected his duties. Since I now know, I cannot ignore it. A registered disciple is still a disciple of the Profound Frost Sect—how could they be treated so harshly?”

  Seeing Yun Che still sulking, Elder Sun cursed inwardly but smiled warmly on the surface.

  “Yun Che, this gourd is of some use to me. I will take it—but I will not do so for nothing. Are you willing to enter my service as a disciple attendant?”

  In Elder Sun’s eyes, this was already an immense favor.

  Yet Yun Che stiffened his neck and replied bluntly,

  “No! An attendant is a servant. My parents sent me here to cultivate immortality, not to become someone’s slave. If they knew I served as a lackey in the sect, they would break my legs! Elder may take the gourd if he wishes. This disciple will pack and return home!”

  He even made to grab his belongings.

  “You—!” Elder Sun nearly choked with fury. Suppressing the urge to strike him dead, he reconsidered.

  An attendant’s status is too low. If discoveries arise later, it would be inconvenient…

  With a cold snort, he said impatiently,

  “Very well! Even rotten wood can be carved! I shall make an exception and accept you as a registered disciple! I will inform the Sect Master at once. Pack your things and wait outside my garden!”

  With a flick of his sleeve, he mounted the clouds and departed in a streak of light.

  Once the clouds vanished, Yun Che’s aggrieved expression vanished instantly. Calm returned, and a cold smile curved his lips.

  Old fox…

  He saw through it clearly—Elder Sun merely coveted whatever lay behind the gourd.

  Yet… this was not without opportunity.

  Wild gourds are plentiful in the mountains. With the stone bead, I can make more.

  If this could be exchanged for access to true cultivation methods, the deal would be worth it.

  Excitement surged within him.

  After packing his meager belongings, he left the remaining sweet potatoes and the Swift Step Talisman for Zhang Hu. Casting one final glance at the hut that held his earliest hardships and secrets, Yun Che shouldered his bag and walked away.

  As he passed the courtyard, the white-robed youth sneered softly,

  “A trash master… taking in a cliff-falling waste disciple. How fitting.”

  Yun Che did not stop. His eyes lowered, cold light flickering within.

  Standing at the fragrant garden gate, he waited—for his new “master” and for the beginning of a path filled with danger, intrigue, and unseen darkness.

  The mountain wind blew. His shadow stretched long.

  Though the bead was gone, the fire in his heart had never gone out.

  Some are forged through calculation and quiet tests of resolve.

  Yun Che bows his head—not in surrender, but to walk further ahead.

  but with the courage to endure, observe, and strike at the right moment.

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  and walk this dangerous path with Yun Che.