Chapter 83: Don’t Be Anxious, Master Will Teach You
It wasn’t until he arrived at Shen Songhe’s residence that Feng Shi discovered Cao Ni had also come.
Under normal circumstances, Shen Songhe rarely gave the three of them direct guidance. They were mostly left to their own devices; they only needed to find their Master if they encountered difficulties.
Calling the three of them together this time likely meant there was a necessary reassignment.
In front of his two Senior Brothers, Feng Shi’s performance was no different from any ordinary disciple. After all, if they noticed anything amiss, it would lead to a series of complications.
Shen Songhe was reclining on a rattan chair, his posture lazy. He wore a snow-white cloak loosely draped over him, embroidered with subtle cloud patterns.
Seeing this, Feng Shi looked up at the tall shadows of the trees in the courtyard. On the branches, some of the leaves on the smaller twigs had already turned slightly yellow.
Unknowingly, the summer heat on the mountain peak had dissipated. The weather was gradually turning cooler; it wouldn’t be long before the Start of Autumn.
Feng Shi thought in a daze that the last Great War between Immortals and Demons had taken place during the early autumn season.
At that time, Shen Songhe’s Golden Core had shattered, and his body had been damaged as a result. Although he had been nurtured by many spirit pellets and wondrous medicines from the Chongshan Sect over the past century, he still couldn’t avoid becoming frail and sensitive to the cold once autumn and winter arrived.
It was likely going to rain in the next day or two; the sun wasn’t scorching, and the wind was strong. This was probably why Shen Songhe was covered with a cloak now.
After instructing Cao Ni to head to a certain secret realm for training, Shen Songhe’s gaze drifted toward Xiao Yuhui. He uncharacteristically spoke a few more words:
“Yuhui, follow the instructions I gave you previously and go to the Cold Domain to train. Your cultivation hasn’t progressed for many years and has been stagnant for a long time. You should gain something from this trip.”
Feng Shi’s scattered attention was pulled back by their conversation. He was a bit surprised to hear that Xiao Yuhui was going to the Cold Domain.
No wonder Xiao Yuhui looked unwell when he came to find him this morning.
The Cold Domain was so far away that it would take several months just to get there by spirit ship. The conditions were harsh, and once one went, there was no telling when they would return.
However, that place truly forged people and was a great spot to seek a breakthrough.
Feng Shi looked at Xiao Yuhui: Two seconds of silence for you.
But Xiao Yuhui didn’t seem to want to go. He said in a deep voice, “Master, the opening of the Wenxin Secret Realm is in two years. This disciple is afraid…”
Shen Songhe waved his hand. “There is no need to worry. The entrance to Wenxin this time is close to the Cold Domain. You can just head there directly to rendezvous when the time comes.”
“…”
With things having been put this way, Xiao Yuhui pursed his lips. He subconsciously looked at Feng Shi beside him, his fists clenching at his sides. A moment later, he cupped his hands and bowed. “Yes, Master.”
Feng Shi kept his head down, boredly grinding a leaf on the ground with his toe, missing the look directed his way.
He waited for a long time afterward, but Shen Songhe didn’t seem to be making any arrangements for him.
Feng Shi looked up and took the initiative to ask, “What about me, Master?”
Shen Songhe’s gaze had already been fixed on him. Hearing this, his lips curled slightly, and his voice was clear and cold. Without a hint of self-awareness regarding Feng Shi’s dislike for him, he said, “You will stay on the peak. Master will teach you how to draw talismans.”
Feng Shi: “…”
The other two disciples: “…”
Feng Shi: Actually, I can learn by myself, thanks.
But in front of the other two, he didn’t show it. He merely bowed and accepted, “Yes.”
Shen Songhe waved his hand, signaling that they could leave.
Feng Shi was the fastest, walking at the very front.
Unexpectedly, Shen Songhe called out from behind, “Wait.”
“Shier, stay behind.”
No matter what, Shen Songhe was their Master, so none of the three dared to voice any objections.
At least, that was how it appeared on the surface.
Feng Shi ground the leaf under his foot into powder and turned back without a word.
By now, having seen so many details, was there anything Xiao Yuhui didn’t understand? His gaze dimmed slightly, but he didn’t dare say more.
Over these past two days, he had become certain that his Master’s feelings for his Junior Brother were unusual.
However, not long ago, his Junior Brother had almost been expelled from the sect for offending his superior.
Now, his Junior Brother’s personality had changed drastically. Not only had he formed a Golden Core at nineteen and gained great fame, but his relationship with Master had also become so intimate…
Everything had changed too quickly. Even he himself…
Xiao Yuhui closed his eyes, suppressing those thoughts that shouldn’t be there.
Yet, in the next moment, he couldn’t help but imagine that once he reached the Cold Domain, he would cultivate diligently to improve his strength and complete his apprenticeship early. Perhaps then he could…
His Junior Brother was so outstanding; his future Dao companion should be just like him.
Thinking this, Xiao Yuhui took one last look at Feng Shi, who was talking to Master with his hands behind his back in the courtyard, and turned to leave.
/
Seeing that everyone had left, the expression on Feng Shi’s face grew even flatter. He said to Shen Songhe, “Master should rest well. This disciple has things to do.”
“Is Shier not going to learn talismans anymore?”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Fine. Is Xiao Feng not going to learn talismans anymore?”
“…”
Feng Shi glared at him. “I never said I wanted to learn in the first place.”
Shen Songhe covered his mouth and coughed a few times before sitting up straight.
With a light sweep of his sleeve, a mist of clouds swirled around his wrist. A complete set of talisman-making tools and a desk were placed before the two of them.
The yellow paper, cinnabar ink, and wolf-hair brushes were all of the highest quality. Even the water used to wash the brushes was spiritual spring water.
It seemed he really did intend to teach him with care.
Feng Shi looked at Shen Songhe’s slightly pale face, his emotions complex.
He felt that he was an open and upright person, not someone stubborn.
If this was just a simple lesson between master and disciple, Feng Shi felt there was no need to deliberately avoid it; doing so would only make him seem guilty and over-sensitive.
Thus, he no longer refused.
Shen Songhe divided the paper and brushes into two sets and prepared the cinnabar ink. After doing this, he reached out and patted the spot on the rattan chair beside him, smiling at Feng Shi. “Come and sit.”
Such a small rattan chair, yet he insisted on squeezing together. He was blatantly trying to take advantage.
Goodbye!
Feng Shi turned to leave.
“Wait!”
Feng Shi stopped. When he looked back, he saw that Shen Songhe had indeed set out another chair. Its position was neither too close nor too far from his rattan chair.
That was more like it.
Feng Shi gave a light hmph, turned, flicked his robes, and sat down. He washed his hands and said indifferently, “Then I shall trouble Master.”
A doting look appeared in Shen Songhe’s eyes, but he didn’t let the other notice. He merely picked up a brush first, circulated his spiritual energy to infuse the ink, and spread out a piece of talisman paper. “Watch while I demonstrate once.”
Feng Shi nodded obediently, watching his every step seriously.
Shen Songhe’s posture while drawing talismans was upright. His fingers were long and slender like cold jade. When he held the brush, his joints and fingertips, which were usually flushed pink, turned slightly white.
His facial expression was also clear and cold, his petal-like lips slightly pursed.
Feng Shi couldn’t help but lose his focus. His gaze drifted to that exquisite face that was comparable to a 3D model, thinking to himself: It’s one thing for this guy to have a good face, but how can even his hands look so erotic?
Sensing his gaze, Shen Songhe said softly with a smile on his lips, “Look at the talisman. Don’t just look at Master.”
As he spoke, his brush strokes were smooth. With a turn of his wrist, a talisman was completed in a single stroke.
Feng Shi hurriedly retracted his gaze, his expression so indifferent it was as if the person who had been peeking just now wasn’t him.
The red script on the yellow paper immediately formed a seal, emitting a brilliant golden light. A moment later, the light faded, and a simple basic spiritual talisman was finished.
Shen Songhe set down the brush, lifted the talisman, and placed it before Feng Shi’s eyes. “This is a basic Spirit-Attracting Talisman. Try to trace it once.”
Feng Shi nodded with great confidence. After all, he had already self-studied an entire manual of beginner talismans. He calmly picked up the brush.
“…”
Dammit, how could he forget? Drawing talismans required a brush!
Feng Shi, who had grown up using pencils, mechanical pens, and ballpoints and possessed zero artistic cells, could only write tidy characters. He had never held a traditional brush.
Thus, Shen Songhe watched as his little disciple was stumped by the very first step.
Because he didn’t know how to hold the brush, he couldn’t draw the talisman.
How cute.
Shen Songhe let out a light laugh.
Feng Shi kept adjusting the posture of his hand but still couldn’t hold the brush steadily. Being mercilessly laughed at by Shen Songhe made him feel a bit embarrassed. His brow twitched, and he wanted to throw the brush down and quit.
“Don’t be anxious.”
Shen Songhe’s voice was as deep as water as he stood up and approached.
Translator’s Note: Shen Songhe is really playing the long game here! He’s sending his rivals (the other disciples) away to distant lands so he can have some “quality time” teaching Feng Shi one-on-one. And let’s be real, Feng Shi is totally distracted by how good-looking his Master is. Stay tuned for the “hands-on” lesson!
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