It’s Okay to Be a Little More Willful

Just as the Wuling Immortal Sect Master had said, this disciple recruitment ceremony indeed became the grandest, most lively, and most talked-about one.

The news that Xu Jinghuai, Youyun Immortal Venerable, as the Venerable of this age in the Cangnan Realm and a legendary figure, had for the first time since becoming a Venerable openly declared that he would accept disciples and had taken his first disciple at the ceremony, swept across the entire Cangnan Realm like a tidal wave.

Although it was heard that Youyun Immortal Venerable would only take three personal disciples, and one spot was already taken at this ceremony, it did not deter the thought that there were still two remaining slots.

Thus, many immortal sprouts from all corners of the world were moved to action, preparing to seek mentorship, fearing that they would arrive too late and have the remaining spots snatched by others.

But that was a story for later.

At this time, the disciple recruitment ceremony also concluded with the allocation of all immortal sprouts. Those who were not selected were not directly turned away, but given a choice: either stay and become outer disciples of the Wuling Immortal Sect, or return home and seek mentorship from other immortal sects.

After all, immortal sprouts screened out from the Wuling Immortal Sect’s recruitment ceremony might not be so bad; they could still find a place in other immortal sects.

A portion of the people on the Immortal Platform decreased, leaving only those who were determined to join the Wuling Immortal Sect. After performing the unified master-disciple礼, this disciple recruitment ceremony concluded perfectly.

With the recruitment ceremony over, the elders and peak masters of Wuling Immortal Sect all returned to their respective peaks to train the disciples they had just taken.

Xu Jinghuai was no exception, preparing to take Xia Jin back to his Youyun Peak.

However, his little disciple, it seemed, didn’t want to leave.

Xia Jin’s small hands clung tightly to Xu Jinghuai’s left hand, her sparkling eyes constantly looking below the Immortal Platform, wanting to say something, but then she secretly glanced at Xu Jinghuai, and said nothing.

Whether before or after transmigration, Xu Jinghuai was a happy, carefree straight single dog, never having any experience raising a child. At this moment, his little disciple’s demeanor clearly suggested she wanted to say something to him.

So, after his high-negative-EQ brain quickly pondered, he couldn’t figure out what his disciple was thinking. Thus, Xu Jinghuai decided to be direct and simply ask.

“Disciple, what are you looking at?”

The girl was startled by Xu Jinghuai’s sudden question and quickly shook her head, even accidentally blurting out her true thoughts for a moment: “Ah… Immortal Venerable… I, I wasn’t thinking of home…”

“Hmm…”

As soon as the words left her mouth, the girl realized she might have let slip something. She quickly covered her mouth with both hands, lowered her head, and made cute whimpering sounds.

Xu Jinghuai, meanwhile, rubbed his chin.

‘So this girl is homesick, huh…’

‘Indeed, such a small child, being homesick is a normal temperament for children of this age.’

With this thought, Xu Jinghuai spoke.

“Disciple, where is your home?”

Xia Jin looked up, shyly replying, “Replying to Immortal Venerable, it’s… it’s on Putong Street.”

“Putong Street…”

‘Tsk, a place name I haven’t heard of…’

Xu Jinghuai didn’t dwell on this for too long, then asked, “Do you want to go home?”

“This master wants to hear your true thoughts.”

Xia Jin, who originally intended to sensibly shake her head and say no, was stopped by Xu Jinghuai’s words.

Then, the girl lowered her head again, beginning to wring her skirt.

After a long moment, Xia Jin finally answered honestly:

“…I do.”

Xu Jinghuai nodded, then leaned down slightly, wrapping an arm around Xia Jin’s waist and lifting the little one up.

Xia Jin was startled by Xu Jinghuai’s movement, instinctively leaning against Xu Jinghuai’s chest, her small hands clutching the lapel of Xu Jinghuai’s shoulder, like a frightened little rabbit: “Immortal, Immortal Venerable… this is…”

“Disciple, aren’t you thinking of home?”

Xu Jinghuai said as a matter of course, “Since that’s the case, then lead the way for your master. I’ll take you home for a look. Anyway, with my speed, a round trip won’t take long.”

Xu Jinghuai was quite confident in his speed.

Before his cultivation was so high, when choosing between specializing in various destructive immortal spells or various immortal-grade movement techniques, Xu Jinghuai unhesitatingly chose to specialize in movement techniques.

‘Are you kidding? Even if you learn the most amazing immortal arts, it’s all fake. If you run out of mana, aren’t you still at the mercy of others?’

Movement techniques are different. Even if I encounter a strong enemy and see the situation is unfavorable, I can still run away. A wise man knows when to retreat; only a hothead would fight to the death.

And when he reached the Immortal Venerable realm, Xu Jinghuai did not neglect his practice. Now, if Xu Jinghuai claimed second place in movement technique mastery in the Cangnan Realm, no one would dare claim first.

Xia Jin looked up at Xu Jinghuai, feeling her heart pound rapidly. Young as she was, she didn’t know what kind of emotion this flutter was.

Her crystal-blue eyes were now covered with a thin mist of water, making them even more sparkling and clear. Her slightly chubby little face was flushed, and she parted her small lips: “Immortal Venerable, can you really indulge Jin’er like this…?”

Xu Jinghuai nodded: “Of course. As the saying goes, ‘a teacher for a day is a father for life.’ As your master, I should embrace everything about my disciple. So, in front of your master, it’s fine to be even more willful, you know.”

“Even more willful… it’s… fine?”

Xia Jin murmured the phrase softly, a little dazed, her heart filled with emotion.

“Mmm, it’s fine.”

But Xu Jinghuai was still laughing playfully at this moment, completely unaware of the irreversible change this statement would cause in Xia Jin’s future personality.

If he could return from the future to the present, Xu Jinghuai would definitely give his present self a few big slaps.

Back to the main topic.

Under Xu Jinghuai’s soothing, Xia Jin’s relationship with Xu Jinghuai grew closer, and she became a little bolder than before.

With Xia Jin leading the way, Xu Jinghuai walked through the air, and it didn’t take long before they arrived at Putong Street, which Xia Jin had mentioned earlier.

It was a remote village not far from the Wuling Immortal Sect, with two towns separating the journey.

However, this distance was considered close for Xu Jinghuai. Xia Jin had no cultivation and was still an ordinary person. To come to the Wuling Immortal Sect to participate in the disciple recruitment ceremony, even by carriage, would take several days.

Xia Jin had come to the Wuling Immortal Sect alone.

For such a young child to travel far alone, it was clear how difficult it must have been, and it also showed how sensible Xia Jin was.

He set down Xia Jin, whom he had been holding.

The remaining path was very short, so there was no need to fly, lest they miss seeing the houses from high up and overshot their destination, having to walk back.

One large and one small walked down the village street. The flagstones paving the street varied in size, inevitably making some areas uneven and bumpy.

However, this did not affect either of them. Xia Jin was a native child of this place, familiar with all the roads.

All the tumbles she had taken before were imprinted in her mind, so there would be no scenes of her tripping on flat ground or similar mishaps.

As for Xu Jinghuai, it was even less likely.

If an Immortal Venerable could trip while walking, he might as well find a block of tofu to bash his head against and restart his life.

‘What kind of pathetic Immortal Venerable? Bah, how embarrassing.’