Chapter 2: Senior Brother's Entry Review

Lan Ling'e had a dream.

In the dream, she was taken as a disciple by an elderly immortal, brought back to his residence, and met a handsome senior brother who had leaped out of the water...

Wait, this didn't seem like a dream; it was exactly what had just happened.

In her hazy state, Lan Ling'e heard her master's voice again, but this time he sounded fierce and overbearing, far from the kindly old immortal she remembered.

"You brat! Have you grown wings? Now you're even scheming against your master!"

Then, she heard that warm and elegant voice:

"Master, please calm down. I was just taking precautions and happened to be practicing the *shui dun* technique, so I set up this anti-thief array and went to the lake to cultivate. I didn't know you would return suddenly today and couldn't remove it in time. Please forgive me."

His words were spoken slowly and steadily, making one want to listen even more.

Soon after, Lan Ling'e heard her master let out a long sigh.

At the edge of the bamboo bed, the old Daoist clapped his hands and complained helplessly, "I say, Changshou, we're inside the mountain gate. What's the point of such arrangements? Anti-thief? Our Xiaoqiong Peak is so poor that we might as well change the 'Qiong' to 'Qiong' meaning poor! Who would bother coming to steal from us?"

Changshou?

So, her senior brother's name was Changshou?

What a simple and unadorned Daoist title, revealing his pure and straightforward aspiration for a long life.

Lan Ling'e suddenly realized that although she could hear the sounds around her, she couldn't open her eyes at all—her eyelids felt incredibly heavy, and she had no strength in her body.

Senior brother spoke again, his voice so warm, reminding her of her mother...

"Master, your words are a bit biased. There are still dangers within the mountain gate. Recently, competition between peaks has been intense, and the sect elders don't pay much attention to it. I'm the only—wait, no, the second disciple in our lineage, so a bit of caution is necessary. Our Xiaoqiong Peak already has a low presence in the sect and no strong backing. Someone might try to seize our territory and plot against us in secret."

As soon as senior brother finished, she heard the old master grumble:

"Our Duxianmen has strict rules—how could such things happen? Fine, fine! I can't argue with you! You're always full of these twisted ideas, and yet your cultivation hasn't improved much! Stay here and wait for Ling'e to wake up. Take my token and bring her to the main peak to register on the roster, get her formal disciple identity plaque, and collect the monthly allowance! This is infuriating!"

The old Daoist swept his sleeve and stood up from the bamboo chair. The effects of the medicine probably hadn't worn off yet, as he stumbled again, his face flushing red.

"This is infuriating!"

"Master, take it slow."

"Hmph! I'm going into seclusion to contemplate the supreme wondrous Dao!"

Qi Yuan Daoist stamped his foot hard, his figure turning into a wisp of green smoke and vanishing from the thatched hut. In the blink of an eye, a clattering noise came from the neighboring hut, clearly from the Daoist losing his balance after dispelling the spell.

"Ah..."

The young man standing in the doorway sighed softly.

With that sigh, the girl lying on the bamboo bed opened her eyes a sliver and saw the figure lost in thought.

Senior brother was so tall.

"Master's foundation is still too weak, and his divine soul isn't strong enough. He might not survive the heavenly tribulation of becoming an immortal."

What did these words even mean...

Drowsiness washed over her again, and Lan Ling'e unconsciously closed her eyes gently. Soon, she heard increasingly clear footsteps.

Though she was only nine years old, she had awakened her spiritual intelligence early and grown up in a noble mortal family, learning etiquette from a young age. She had a vague understanding of many things. In this situation, with a strange man approaching her alone, it seemed improper by the rules of propriety.

But if it was her senior brother, who would be like a real elder brother, maybe it wasn't so bad...

"Lan Shimei, I am your senior brother, Li Changshou. Now, I'll help alleviate the effects of the Ruan Xian Xiang for you. If you can hear me, please don't think of me as a pervert—I'm a man with upright values.

Uh, what nonsense am I saying? She's just starting her cultivation and can't resist this drug at all."

Pervert? Upright values?

These specialized terms for immortals were so hard to understand...

Senior brother was truly worthy of being a cultivator!

Lan Ling'e wanted to respond to avoid appearing rude in front of him, but she had absolutely no strength—only her thoughts were active.

Suddenly, she felt a large hand gently placed on her forehead, and strands of cool, refreshing energy flowed in from there, spreading instantly through her whole body, making her feel extraordinarily comfortable.

Senior brother was healing her...

Lan Ling'e's thoughts became a bit chaotic for some reason, drifting into the clouds, both hazy and vivid.

Li Changshou looked at the little girl lying flat on the bed, furrowing his brow in thought.

Although Master had mentioned for a long time that he wanted another disciple, and Li Changshou had mentally prepared himself for the arrival of a junior sister or brother, there were still a few things that concerned him.

'Let me check her soul while I can.'

Li Changshou released a wisp of cool energy, gently touching the source of her life essence.

Hmm, her soul and body were perfectly harmonious, with no signs of possession. Her aptitude seemed quite good, with affinities for water and wood elements. But I wonder about her temperament.

At this age, her personality should already be formed. I hope she's not the type who stirs up trouble everywhere...

Moreover, judging by her appearance, she might grow into a beauty. From ancient times, beautiful women often bring disaster—this could be a potential conflict point that I need to avoid.

'Let me also check if there's any demonic seed or something hidden.'

Hmm, this is a necessary check, even if the probability is low. Better to prevent problems before they arise.

At the same time...

Eh?

Feeling that large hand leave her forehead and slowly glide over various parts of her body, the drowsy Lan Ling'e's face turned slightly red.

Se-senior brother...

Wasn't this a bit too...

This seemed rather improper...

Soon, Li Changshou nodded. After his thorough examination, his junior sister appeared fine—no possession, no demonic seeds, no poisons or curses planted, and indeed a promising seedling for cultivation.

The entry check was officially passed!

Next, he needed to prepare for training courses for his junior sister. Hopefully, she wasn't the kind who liked to cause trouble, so his chances of getting entangled in karma could stay about the same...

Li Changshou sat by the bed, a bit lost in thought, then chuckled to himself and murmured:

"Well, I guess I understand why there are so many lolita enthusiasts in my previous life. She's so cute—who could resist?"

Lolita enthusiasts? Cute? Previous life?

Although Lan Ling'e didn't understand, she felt that Master was right—senior brother was a bit odd.

Perhaps due to the effects of that cool energy, Lan Ling'e regained a tiny bit of strength and couldn't help but try to open her eyes. Her little mouth parted slightly, letting out a soft hum.

As her vision went from blurry to clear, Lan Ling'e finally saw her senior brother up close. He had a well-defined, strikingly handsome face, even more attractive than the guards around her mother.

But at that moment, her senior brother's expression was a bit... unsettling...

Senior brother's gaze was so intimidating!

Gulp!

Lan Ling'e swallowed hard, feeling weak, helpless, and pitiful.

She heard the young cultivator sitting by the bed ask softly, "You heard everything just now?"

Lan Ling'e panicked a little and stammered, "N-no... um..."

What was wrong with senior brother? Had she done something to upset him? Was there something about her that he didn't like?

"Senior brother..."

The young man slowly stood up, looking down at the delicate little girl, his gaze hesitant for a moment before he said in a low voice:

"Look at me. Don't mention what I said earlier to anyone."

"Oh, okay," Lan Ling'e replied softly, her face flushed and unsure.

Then, she saw her senior brother shake his head, slowly stand, and walk to the window, staring out absentmindedly.

He was Li Changshou, and when he became a disciple, he had insisted on keeping his Daoist title as Changshou; it wasn't far from what Lan Ling'e had guessed. Li Changshou simply hoped to live longer, ideally as long as heaven and earth.

At that moment, Li Changshou was recalling the information he had inadvertently revealed in his self-muttering.

The biggest slip-up was probably the words "previous life."

Damn it!

After over a hundred years of caution, he never expected to expose his secret in front of his new junior sister! He must have kept it bottled up for too long and started talking to himself.

Glancing back at the little girl on the bed trying to sit up, Li Changshou stroked his chin.

It seemed he really had to silence her to keep it secret. Silence her!

On the bamboo bed, Lan Ling'e, who had just managed to sit up with effort, caught that cold, piercing gaze from her senior brother and couldn't help but shudder...

"Senior brother?"

"What I said earlier—absolutely don't mention it to anyone!"

"Mm! Ling'e remembers!"

"Don't tell anyone, including Master!"

"Okay, senior brother..."

"Then swear an oath, in the name of the supreme Dao!"

"Uh? Uh..."

In the slanting sunlight, the little girl on the bed gradually broke out in a sweat. Under the supervision of her senior brother's guidance, she raised her small hand and began reciting that lengthy, thousand-word oath that considered every possible scenario and condition...