"Master is so childish! We're all adults, and you're still saying you can't bear to part with us…"

The silver-haired little girl lightly jumped off the wooden stool, tilting her small head. Her frail and petite body looked even thinner wrapped in oversized clothes.

She raised her little face, like white porcelain, and suspiciously looked her master up and down:

"Hmph, Master is definitely lying! Always fooling the disciples..."

"When have I ever lied to you?"

Chen Ye was displeased.

He had always treated these two disciples with sincerity.

Never taking advantage of their young age to deceive them casually.

Nor did he rely on their dependence, attempting to control them in the palm of his hand, even intentionally fostering their independence.

So how could he be fooling them?

Seeing this little one not only unappreciative but also daring to slander, the subtle displeasure in Chen Ye's heart from being called childish finally found an outlet.

His unhappiness made him want to discipline the little girl, so he flicked his finger against the swirl of hair on her silver head:

"Naughty! Did you steal Master's clothes to wear?"

Chen Ye's gaze swept over her fingers, barely visible after rolling up the sleeves multiple times, and his mouth twitched slightly,

"Like a little mouse draped in an adult's robe…"

Qing Jun, after being knocked on the head and called a little mouse by Master, became even more upset. She deliberately shook the overly wide sleeves:

"Master speaks so unpleasantly, it should be a little squirrel… Besides, Master's things are originally the disciple's! The disciple can wear them if she wants! The master himself belongs to the disciple too!"

She spoke righteously, dragging her master's robe clumsily as she walked, putting her little hands on her waist:

"When Qing Jun goes to Dragon Sleep Mountain, she'll take this robe along! It's Qing Jun's robe now!"

The little girl's cute appearance caused Chen Ye's originally stern expression to subconsciously soften, and he gave a light hum, acting as if annoyed while turning his gaze away: "Sophistry."

"Clearly, it's Master being unreasonable! Wasn't it fooling Qing Jun when Master scared her every day? Always tricking Qing Jun by saying you'd eat braised Qing Jun or roasted Qing Jun…"

The little girl was full of grievance; back then, she really believed it!

"This…"

Chen Ye found himself lost for words, utterly unable to argue back.

Since he couldn't refute, he decided to admit it!

Swallowing his frustration, Chen Ye took hold of her collar and lifted her up. Under the wide robe, two small legs kicked back and forth:

"Alright, today Master will enjoy a delicious Qing Jun. Perhaps the tempting little legs…"

"Wah! Senior Sister, save me! Master wants to eat the little girl!"

The little girl was shocked, trembling, hiding her white feet in the robe, yet not willing to admit defeat,

"That dreadful Taoist Chen, Qing Jun has finally seen your true colors!"

She had always believed: Taoist Zhang liked little girls; that's why he would eat them! Master wants to eat her, so the master is Taoist Chen!

In her still innocent mind, she believed that the elder sister next door was eventually eaten by Taoist Zhang and the others.

Otherwise… why was there only a pool of blood left in the next room after that day, and no more sight of the elder sister?

Zhiwei silently hugged her knees, curling into a small ball, a slight smile on her lips.

Qing Jun's arrogance seemed to inherit from the master.

The reason Master was unhappy was actually because he said he couldn't bear to part with Qing Jun, but Qing Jun seemed not to care at all.

And the reason Qing Jun wanted to take Master's robe to Dragon Sleep Mountain was another kind of reluctance to part, wasn't it?

What she wanted to take wasn't merely a robe…

Chen Ye was about to tease Qing Jun again when his gaze inadvertently fell on the quiet Zhiwei nearby, and his expression subtly changed.

"Zhiwei, come here."

Chen Ye beckoned his eldest disciple over, casually placing the seemingly flustered little girl back on the stone table.

Qing Jun sat on the stone table, pouting unhappily.

She felt a bit disappointed—she still wanted to tease Master a bit more, but alas, the big fool just loved seeing her look pitiable under bullying, so she might as well oblige him.

Meanwhile.

Zhiwei obediently stood up and walked over to Chen Ye:

"Yes, Master."

Chen Ye extended his hand, placing it on her slender wrist, gently channeling a pure stream of spiritual power into her body.

As soon as the spiritual power entered, he noticed the spiritual power surging through Zhiwei's meridians was much more robust than it was a month ago.

"Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer?"

A month ago, Qing Jun had mentioned that she and her senior sister would reach Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer in about a month.

But how could a little girl accurately predict her breakthrough timing?

In Chen Ye's mind, he estimated the two disciples would need about two months to reach Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer.

This level of talent…

"When did you break through?" Chen Ye asked.

"Replying to Master, when Master was in seclusion, about ten days ago, Zhiwei felt something at night and broke through." Zhiwei spoke flatly, as if reciting something insignificant.

Ten days ago!

The breakthrough time was even shorter than Chen Ye expected.

Upon hearing Zhiwei's explanation,

Chen Ye's mouth twitched slightly, felt something at night?

What regular cultivators toil over their bottleneck for years, and his main disciple breaks through just by some feelings?

Seems his main disciple is copying his speech patterns, huh?

He told Mao Qingzhu he made a lucky breakthrough, and Zhiwei says she had a feeling… Well, like master, like disciple.

"Well done, well done, worthy of being my proud disciple." Chen Ye was greatly pleased, ready to offer more praise, but then his expression suddenly tightened.

No way.

If something is abnormal, there's a reason…

In Zhiwei's puzzled gaze, Chen Ye once again reached out, grabbing her small hand hidden back in her sleeve, examining closely.

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