Ji Shiyu’s eyes spun with mischief, her crooked thoughts moving faster than anyone else’s.
She immediately shouted, “He—he’s my friend, my best friend! He’ll be responsible for teaching me! Right, Senior Brother Yun?”
“Junior Brother Yun’s friend? You should’ve said so earlier!”
Huo Tian Tian clapped her hands, beaming, her attitude changing completely.
Well, aside from the Senior Sister, no one else had ever brought in a completely clueless newbie.
For Yun Liu, this shouldn’t be a problem, right?
Huangmao rolled her eyes, never expecting that the reputation of the Ointment Boy would be so useful!
Huo Tian Tian tugged at Yun Liu’s sleeve, pushing Ji Shiyu in front of him.
“Ta-da! Just recruited an apprentice for you to help out—an old acquaintance of yours!”
Ji Shiyu’s bright, sparkling eyes stared intently at Yun Liu, making his back go cold.
Staying here meant making money and getting fed.
A win-win situation—why not?
No, wait, a triple win—he could also work alongside a group of beautiful Senior Sisters from Clear Mist Peak!
“Please, Senior~Brother~Yun!”
Yun Liu shuddered and shook his head, goosebumps all over.
The way she called out “Senior Brother Yun” was so saccharine it was almost unbearable.
“And you are?”
Huangmao shook her head exaggeratedly.
“Keep pretending, go on. Just because you put on some clothes, you think I won’t recognize you?”
Huo Tian Tian rubbed her face, feeling that this Junior Sister’s words had a deeper meaning.
Could it be that her relationship with Junior Brother Yun was closer than it seemed?
Don’t tell me she’s getting into trouble again.
If she brings a wolf into the house and the Senior Sister comes back, won’t she get her butt kicked?
At this moment, Yun Liu just wanted to tear apart that mouth with no filter.
“If you’re sick, go get treated. If you’re broke, go beg. I don’t need a clumsy burden.”
“What? A buried burden! How could you say something like that? Where’s your conscience? Back then, we worked together seamlessly—you’d lure the monsters, I’d clear the field. Now you put on your pants and don’t recognize anyone, huh!”
If there’s such a good thing, why not share it with the sisters?
Trying to hog it all for yourself?
The girls from the Medicine Hut found it hilarious, their expressions complicated.
The golden-haired girl looked familiar—she must be the legendary Mistress.
Senior Sister Qin’s rivals sure are many!
Yun Liu dug at his ear.
“Pay me back first before you spout that kind of nonsense.”
“If you don’t help me find a job, how am I supposed to pay you back?”
“…….”
Huangmao argued righteously, even if her reasoning was shaky.
You really are a piece of work!
Originally, this side quest was meant to unlock the alchemy specialization. In the game, if the protagonist was interested, she could use Qin Yao’s letter of introduction to start as an apprentice at the Rosy Fragrance Pavilion.
Who would’ve thought that, without the side quest, Ji Shiyu would barge in here and stir things up?
Was the one blocking the side quest and playing smart actually him?
The Phoenix Hatchling watched the two bicker as usual, but seeing that the opportunity was about to fly away, she grew anxious and came up with an idea in a flash.
“Shiyu, I have an idea that can help you stand undefeated in this Fortune contest. The question is, do you have the resolve to burn your bridges?”
A solemn voice from Ao Tian echoed in her mind—the King of Inspiration was at it again.
“Spit it out, quick! Is there anything in this world I wouldn’t dare do?”
“It’s simple—walk up to him, cup your fists and perform the sword salute, just like we learned in sword etiquette class. Then repeat after me.”
The Ji’s Command Technique was incredibly effective.
Ji Shiyu rubbed her hands together, didn’t think twice, and did exactly as instructed.
She bowed with her sword in front of Yun Liu, startling him.
“Ji, drifting half her life, only regrets never meeting an Enlightened Lord. If Senior Brother does not mind, I wish to swear you as my Sworn Father. From this day forward, I will follow Master with all my heart, braving fire and water, never turning back… Eh?”
“…….?”
Yun Liu was instantly petrified.
The protagonist… just acknowledged a father?
Ji Shiyu spoke these words righteously and solemnly, but after a long moment, she realized something was wrong.
Her lips trembled, her pretty face growing redder and redder.
Sensing something was off, she spun around and grabbed the yellow chicken by the neck.
“You—you—you—you bastard! What the hell did you make me say!?”
Acknowledge a “thief” as father?
This is your so-called brilliant plan!
What a broken cauldron, what a sunken boat—she’d practically sold out her mother back on Star Isle!
The Yao Lu Disciples were stunned, wanting to laugh but holding it in, each clutching their stomachs.
This Junior Sister… was just too adorable!
Such an unprecedented interview was a first even in the entire cultivation world—utterly explosive!
It really seemed she came from a poor family and desperately needed this job.
“Junior Brother Yun, she’s so sincere—just accept her already, pffft hahahahaha!”
“Yeah, a teacher is like a father—makes perfect sense.”
The Senior Sisters struggled to keep from laughing.
With Junior Brother Yun’s alchemy cauldron skills, taking a little apprentice was nothing.
Why did the scene of formally acknowledging a master have to be so funny?
Now the pressure landed on the boy who almost became a dad.
His face turned from green to white, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
He was just a nobody, racking his brains to stay far from the Phoenix Ao Tian, but someone just had to cling to the very core of Fortune and never let go.
No need to guess—this must be another of Ao Tian’s harebrained schemes.
It always managed to help the protagonist break through crises at critical moments.
Its unpredictability was second to none, making it the villain’s most terrifying and baffling enemy!
As for its methods, best not to mention.
That dumb bird would use any trick, sometimes a stroke of genius, sometimes totally unnecessary—a true enigma.
Big Brain Ao Tian sighed inwardly.
With such a disastrous start, if it didn’t step in, the opportunity would be long gone.
“Then tell me what to do! It’s not easy for me either, you know. You don’t care, but can’t you think about me? I underwent Nirvana and descended to the lower realm just to be a fat bird who eats and waits to die? The Fortune is right in front of us, so close but out of reach—it’s maddening!”
Throughout the entire Misty Realm, only Ao Tian worked tirelessly, always thinking of how to help its master gather the Fortune of the Nine Provinces and ascend to the Immortal Realm—worrying itself sick.
A little Spirit Beast like this couldn’t possibly have any bad intentions!
Fast-forward to a world where only I am exhausted…
“But—but I can’t!”
Ji Shiyu covered her face—even someone as shameless as her felt embarrassed now.
This was truly humiliating.
Running away from home and acknowledging a father for no reason, selling her mother for glory—if her mom back on Star Isle found out, wouldn’t her Dao heart shatter?
“Besides him, who else can save you now? I’m telling you, since you left home, I’ve been keeping the accounts. With your aptitude and daily expenses, you’re burning through money.”
“Originally, your private stash could’ve lasted until the Golden Core stage, but now you’ve got barely any Spiritual Medicine left. At this rate, you’ll be out of food in a few days. You can’t possibly beat Xiao Xinran just by bitter cultivation!”
“I… I…”
Huangmao was at a loss for words.
“All the signs point to Yun Liu as your Fortune. Only by latching onto him can you thrive in East Pole Province!”
“So what do I do now?”
“What do you do? Hmph, unless you want to slink back home in shame, you’d better pray he takes you in, silly girl. If he helps you, everything will be solved. If not, we might not even make it through the month.”
One girl and one bird, exchanging thoughts inside the protagonist’s mental outhouse, hitting the target with every word.
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