Chapter 118: Do You Want to Learn?
The next morning, when Shen Songhe woke up, the little bear in his arms was gone.
With it, that familiar scent at the tip of his nose had also vanished.
Sunlight amplified the smell of dust as it drifted in through the window.
In the courtyard, the shade was lush and green. The chirping of birds filled the air, and through it, the faint sounds of his other two Shixiong laughing and playing could be heard.
Shen Songhe sat up from the bed, dressed himself, and stood up.
His snow-white undergarments highlighted his red lips and white teeth.
These were new clothes Feng Shi had prepared for him; the fabric and style were exceptional. On the hem and cuffs, two elegantly posed white cranes had been meticulously embroidered.
With the sect’s jade plaque and jade ring at his waist and a small jade hairpin in his hair, he looked noble and beautiful.
Just as he lowered his head to fiddle with the jade plaque, the door to the room was pushed open.
“Awake?” Feng Shi set down the egg custard he was holding. With a light flick of his fingers, a yellow talisman paper appeared between his slender fingers.
The talisman ignited on its own. He tossed it onto the floor, and a wooden figurine with stiff limbs appeared.
The figurine came to life the moment it hit the ground. It moved nimbly, folding Shen Songhe’s messy bedsheets before turning to tidy up the room.
Shen Songhe found it magical. His gaze followed it closely, though his face remained expressionless.
Feng Shi naturally noticed this. He smiled and beckoned him, “Come and eat.”
Shen Songhe obediently retracted his gaze and came over, climbing onto the stool beside Feng Shi. His posture was perfectly upright.
Feng Shi lightly patted his head while scooping out the egg custard to let it cool. “Starting today, you must begin your cultivation,” he said.
“Those in the Chongshan Sect primarily practice the Way of the Sword, so practicing the sword is a must. However, your Shixiong knows other things as well. Would you like to learn them, Xiao He?” As he spoke, he held up another talisman.
“Like what you just saw—do you want to learn?”
Shen Songhe’s bright eyes blinked. He nodded demurely and opened his mouth submissively so Feng Shi could place a small spoonful of custard inside.
When he realized what was happening, a hint of shyness flickered in his eyes. He reached out to take the spoon to feed himself.
Shen Songhe was currently about five years old; there was indeed no need to feed him. Feng Shi didn’t insist, though he felt a slight pang of regret.
The system had just issued a mission, requiring him to teach Shen Songhe how to draw talismans.
At that moment, Feng Shi’s mind was filled with nothing but “MMP.”
Teaching each other—it was truly a strange cycle.
Back when he was learning to draw talismans from Shen Songhe, he had been insanely jealous of Liu Yi.
He had even fantasized about what the scene looked like when Liu Yi taught Shen Songhe.
He hadn’t expected to experience it firsthand so soon.
After finishing the meal, Feng Shi took Shen Songhe to the bamboo forest at the back of the mountain to practice.
Xu Yan and Qiu Changzhou, having received direct instruction from Huan Qing, were fairly decent in strength. Currently, they were locked in an intense fight within the forest.
“Xu Yan, damn it, I’m going to kill you! I’ll definitely win this time!”
Mm…
Feng Shi listened to Qiu Changzhou’s exasperated cursing.
To be precise, it was Qiu Changzhou being pinned down and beaten by Xu Yan.
Feng Shi pulled a wooden sword from the Qiankun bag at his waist and handed it to Shen Songhe. “Use this sword for now, Xiao He. When you grow a bit older, Shixiong will find a better one for you.”
Shen Songhe nodded. Feng Shi followed Huan Qing’s arrangements and began teaching him step-by-step.
Two months later, Shen Songhe—who possessed an innate advantage due to his spiritual beast origin—was already able to draw Qi into his body. Feng Shi then began making time to teach him how to draw talismans.
Time flew by.
Shen Songhe was now eight years old.
Qiu Changzhou and Xu Yan had entered their adolescence. They often paired up to run wild in a fit of rebellion, joining forces with the two Shijie under the Second Martial Uncle to turn the entire Chongshan Sect upside down.
Because of this, Feng Shi was frequently summoned by the Sect Master for a “heart-to-heart” talk.
But rebellious youths are the type to do exactly what they are told not to do.
Especially the senseless Qiu Changzhou; he was impossible to manage.
That summer, the heat was stifling. Even Feng Shi grew lazy.
He was on the verge of a breakthrough. To avoid harming innocents, he sent Shen Songhe down to the disciples’ quarters where Xu Yan and the others stayed. He ordered the three of them not to come up the mountain so he could focus on facing his breakthrough.
He had suppressed it for too long; this Lei Jie would likely not be simple.
While Feng Shi was occupied, Qiu Changzhou and Xu Yan went wilder, scurrying everywhere.
They even wanted to drag Shen Songhe along.
Despite his young age, Shen Songhe was very serious and followed Feng Shi’s words strictly. In these three years, he had never stepped foot off the mountain, spending every day diligently cultivating.
When Qiu Changzhou and the other came to call for him, he was reviewing the sword techniques Feng Shi had taught him a few days ago.
Though he wasn’t tall and still used a wooden sword, his power was already not to be underestimated.
Dressed in clothes as white as snow, his movements were fluid as he shifted through stances, like a falling bamboo leaf caught in a swirl. His aura was sharp and biting.
“Little Shidi, I heard that many new spiritual beasts have arrived at Second Martial Uncle’s place. You haven’t seen them yet. Shall Shixiong take you to have a look?”
Qiu Changzhou liked this little Shidi the most. Even though Shen Songhe never deigned to speak much to him, he still tirelessly came to greet him with a smiling face.
Today, the weather was gloomy. The sky was so dark it seemed to be brewing a torrential downpour. In the distance, the muffled sound of thunder could be heard from the mountain peaks.
Shen Songhe’s movements did not stop, his eyes coldly lowered. “I’m not going.”
Shixiong was about to break through. He heard that enduring the Lei Jie was very painful; he didn’t want to be too far away from him.
“Aiya, go, just go! You’ve never gone out with your Shixiong before. I told the two Shijie that my Shidi is extremely beautiful, but they didn’t believe me! You have to go and give me some face!”
As Qiu Changzhou spoke, he shamelessly reached out and snatched the sword from Shen Songhe’s hand. He then huffed, “This sword is too low-quality, and you’re still using it. How about Shixiong gets you a new one?”
Watching the sword leave his hand, Shen Songhe’s expression shifted slightly. He immediately struck Qiu Changzhou’s wrist.
He didn’t hold back his strength. Qiu Changzhou winced in pain and let out a low cry, releasing his grip.
Shen Songhe took the wooden sword back.
Qiu Changzhou rubbed his wrist. Looking at the boy’s frost-like face, he complained aggrievedly, “Shidi, you’re too heartless! I’m your Shixiong!”
Shen Songhe remained unmoved. He simply put his small wooden sword away carefully, his voice crisp. “Big Shixiong said that after he breaks through, he will find a new sword for me.”
Qiu Changzhou’s pained face instantly turned back into a grin. Hearing this, he scratched the back of his head and laughed, “Oh, oh, that’s good then.”
“But are you really not going? It’s truly fun!”
Shen Songhe finally spared him a glance, but still said, “Not going.”
Xu Yan leaned against a thick bamboo stalk nearby with his arms crossed. He waited for Qiu Changzhou to finish his foolishness before speaking slowly.
“Cultivators are very weak after a breakthrough. I heard Second Martial Uncle has many good medicinal pills. Second Shidi, why don’t we go have a look and ask for some for Big Shixiong?”
In reality, Feng Shi could refine them himself and didn’t lack any.
Qiu Changzhou: “Great, great!”
He turned his head, only to see that Xu Yan wasn’t looking at him. Those words, clearly, were not meant for him.
Shortly after.
the fellow disciples of Songtao Peak went down the mountain together, including Shen Songhe.
The three of them rode on immortal birds, heading toward Zhu Chen’s Banyue Peak.
Behind them, the clouds above Songtao Peak were thick and heavy. Faint threads of electricity pierced through the clouds, testing the air below. The entire Chongshan Sect was gradually enveloped by dark clouds as thin threads of cooling rain began to fall.
Feng Shi’s Lei Jie was about to arrive.
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