Other People’s Children

Along the way, after the earlier liveliness, the relationship between Xu Jinghuai and Xia Jin grew closer, and there were some topics to discuss.

Xu Jinghuai also took this opportunity to ask about Xia Jin’s family situation and why she had come to the Wuling Immortal Sect to seek apprenticeship.

From Xia Jin’s mouth, he learned that Xia Jin’s family consisted of four people: Xia Jin was an only child, her parents were alive and well, and she also had a grandfather.

As for why she had come to the Wuling Immortal Sect to seek apprenticeship, it was because at the beginning of the year, twelve-year-old Xia Jin had reached the age of adulthood.

Xia Jin’s parents held an adulthood ceremony for her, and invited an old man skilled in divination to calculate Xia Jin’s fortune.

The old man calculated that Xia Jin’s fate had a share of immortality, and as long as she went to the Wuling Immortal Sect to seek apprenticeship, she could become an immortal, live a long life, and never worry about food and clothing for the rest of her life.

What were immortals?

To ordinary mortals who could not cultivate, they were an unreachable existence.

Upon learning that their daughter could have this share of immortality, Xia Jin’s family was overjoyed, giving thanks to the ancestors for being spiritual, and gathered together to discuss the matter after the evening’s adulthood ceremony, deciding to send Xia Jin to the Wuling Immortal Sect to seek apprenticeship.

Of course, the family also greatly respected Xia Jin’s wishes, having asked Xia Jin for her opinion.

The sensible Xia Jin could feel her family’s expectations for her. At the same time, she also had a trace of longing for the immortals in her family’s descriptions, who could fly to the heavens, escape into the earth, and roam the four seas. She agreed.

With a unanimous vote from the family of four, Xia Jin came to the Wuling Immortal Sect, finally becoming Xu Jinghuai’s disciple.

After listening to Xia Jin’s entire apprenticeship journey, Xu Jinghuai had only one feeling.

‘Damn, that old swindler is awesome!’

When he met Xia Jin’s family later, he had to ask the old swindler for his Daoist name, and he would also go to him for a divination.

He wanted to calculate when he would get out of being single.

Just like that, amidst the idle chat, they arrived at a restaurant-inn. Xia Jin stopped: “Immortal Venerable, we’re here, this is my home.”

Xu Jinghuai nodded, surveying the restaurant before him.

Along the way, most of the houses he saw were small, one or two-story bungalows made of earth bricks. This restaurant, however, was a rare three-story building.

It seemed that his disciple’s family was not the protagonist-template poverty, but should be considered somewhat well-off.

But of course, if they didn’t have some wealth, how could they afford to hire a swindler?

At this moment, Xu Jinghuai suddenly sensed a gaze beside him. He came back to his senses, saw that Xia Jin was still by his side, and subconsciously asked, “Disciple, aren’t you going in to take a look?”

Xia Jin shook her head: “The restaurant hasn’t closed yet. My parents are still busy. If Jin’er suddenly returns now, it will definitely distract them and disturb their work.”

So this is what’s known as “someone else’s kid” from the legends…

This girl is too sensible!

Xu Jinghuai exclaimed inwardly.

Grumble~

Just then, Xu Jinghuai suddenly heard a strange sound.

Looking over, Xia Jin’s face had unknowingly turned red again, and she covered her stomach with both hands.

Uh… this is…

Hungry?

Emmm, it seems it’s indeed time for mortals to eat lunch.

He almost forgot that he had completely abstained from grain and had no concept of eating anymore.

But his disciple was different. She hadn’t officially embarked on cultivation yet and was still a mortal, and would get hungry if she didn’t eat.

Xu Jinghuai took Xia Jin’s small hand and smiled: “Let’s go.”

“If you’re hungry, we’ll go eat something. No need to act tough and pretend nothing’s wrong.”

“And since you’ve already returned, it’s better to report your safety to your family sooner rather than later. Your parents will surely be more at ease, won’t they.”

That gentle smile was like a warm spring breeze, all the gentleness in the world gathering here. Just as he had said before, he would embrace all her willfulness. Holding his large hand, all that remained was endless peace of mind…

She wanted to rely on this large hand even more.

“Mmm…”

Xia Jin nodded, the blush on her face not fading, but becoming even more pronounced.

Xu Jinghuai only thought that Xia Jin was embarrassed by being exposed as hungry, causing her to blush with shyness.

After all, in the anime he used to watch, those girls mostly acted this way in such situations.

He led Xia Jin into the restaurant. He didn’t see it much from the outside, but only when he truly entered the restaurant did Xu Jinghuai realize how prosperous the business was.

After entering, there were basically no empty seats on the first floor of the restaurant; they were all filled with people eating.

The entry of the pair, one large and one small, barely attracted anyone’s attention.

Of course, the waiter in the restaurant did see them.

Seeing that new guests had arrived, he immediately went up to greet them, putting on a business-like smile. Before he could finish speaking, he saw Xia Jin beside Xu Jinghuai in one glance.

“Two guests… eh? Miss?! Why are you back?”

“Didn’t you go to seek an immortal master?”

Before Xia Jin could answer, the waiter’s gaze fell on their joined hands, then followed their hands up to Xu Jinghuai’s handsome face.

In an instant, the waiter’s mind started a brainstorming session.

Finally, he gasped and said something shocking: “Miss, you wouldn’t have been deceived by the sweet words of this gigolo on the way, would you?”

“Miss, you’re confused!”

Gi… gigolo?

Even Xu Jinghuai, with his Dao Heart nurtured for thousands of years, felt a ripple upon hearing the word “gigolo.”

Although he knew he was indeed very handsome, wasn’t “gigolo” mostly derogatory? And the waiter’s words made it sound like he was abducting an ignorant young girl…

In his world, if you said such a thing, you would be immediately invited to the station for tea by the friendly police officers, hey.

Seeing that the other party had misunderstood their relationship, Xia Jin became somewhat anxious, and hurriedly explained: “Uncle Huang, you’ve misunderstood. It’s not like what you think…”

“I’ve already arrived at the Wuling Immortal Sect and paid respects to an Immortal Venerable. This is the Immortal Master who accepted me as his disciple, Youyun Immortal Venerable. The Immortal Master flew me back.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, before Xia Jin could react, the waiter she called Uncle Huang’s expression changed drastically, and he knelt down in front of Xu Jinghuai with a “thud.”

“Un… Uncle Huang?”

“Immortal Master, please forgive me! This humble one’s eyes failed to recognize Mount Tai. This humble one’s mouth was reckless, slandering the Immortal Master’s reputation. This humble one knows his mistake! I beg the Immortal Master to spare my life!”

Uncle Huang knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly towards Xu Jinghuai.

When he heard Xia Jin introduce Xu Jinghuai as an Immortal Master, his brain, which had been filled with anger, instantly cleared.

The man before him was actually an Immortal Master from the Wuling Immortal Sect?

And still the well-known Youyun Immortal Venerable who was famous throughout the entire Cangnan Realm?

At this moment, only one thought echoed in Uncle Huang’s mind.

‘It’s over!’

‘He actually said those words in front of an Immortal Master?’

Such disrespectful and courting-death words and actions would not be enough even if he were to die ten thousand times!

The instinct to survive directly made him kneel and beg for mercy.

Uncle Huang didn’t dare to doubt the truthfulness of Xia Jin’s words, because the miss had no need to deceive him like this.

It must be said that Uncle Huang’s actions were undoubtedly very decisive and correct. For immortals like Xu Jinghuai who had good temperaments, if you realized your mistake and apologized in time, they wouldn’t take it to heart.

Of course, if you encountered someone with a bad temper, you might not even have the chance to admit your mistake before being sent to the underworld to report.

Uncle Huang was considered very lucky.

“It’s nothing, this Venerable didn’t mind. Get up.”

Xu Jinghuai reached out and remotely operated immortal power, lifting the kneeling Uncle Huang from the ground.

Uncle Huang widened his eyes. Just this move alone was not something ordinary people could do, but an immortal’s technique. Xu Jinghuai’s identity as an Immortal Master was directly confirmed in Uncle Huang’s mind, and he immediately became even more respectful.

“Thank you, Immortal Master! Thank you, Immortal Master!”