"Click, click, click!"
When Sheng Sheng opened her eyes again, she was greeted by a familiar scene, and the familiar sound of an abacus clicking reached her ears.
She instinctively turned toward the source of the sound and saw a Daoist priest with an immortal-like aura sitting by the window, instantly putting her at ease.
"Sheng Sheng, how are you feeling?"
The immortal-like uncle gave Sheng Sheng a kind smile.
In one hand, he held a brush to record accounts, while the other hand flew over a golden abacus, his fingers moving so fast they left afterimages, producing a rapid, crackling sound.
[I’m much better. I can walk, run, and jump around without any issues.]
Sheng Sheng touched her throat. The bandages had been removed. She opened her mouth and said, "Un…cle!"
She could really speak again!
Sheng Sheng’s face lit up with excitement. "Uncle, I can talk!"
Uncle smiled proudly. "Of course! After all, you took the Medicinal Pills I specially refined. How could mere Demonic Qi ruin your voice? Ridiculous!"
"Thank you, Uncle."
Sheng Sheng jumped off the bed and hugged Uncle’s leg tightly.
[Uncle really is the best!]
Wah, Uncle, you have no idea what kind of messy Medicinal Pills I had to take after you were gone!]
[My mind was even messed up by someone using Soul Searching, turning me into a little fool!]
In her previous life, Sheng Sheng had suffered for most of her days, living almost entirely under the schemes of others, never finding peace.
Now, back in the embrace of a relative she could rely on, she was filled with grievances she wanted to pour out.
"…"
Uncle’s fingers paused on the abacus. A vein twitched at his temple as he suppressed his anger.
So angry, so angry! He really wanted to find someone to vent his frustration on!
But he couldn’t reveal that he could hear Sheng Sheng’s thoughts!
Uncle casually picked Sheng Sheng up and placed her on a chair, handing her a dried persimmon.
"Speaking of which, your Second Senior Sister recently sent a message to your Eldest Senior Brother, asking him to take you down the mountain. Do you want to go, Sheng Sheng?"
Uncle continued to furiously work the abacus to distract himself, sparks flying from the golden beads.
For once, it wasn’t about skill—it was all emotion.
"I want to go!"
Sheng Sheng’s eyes sparkled. The dried persimmon in her mouth was sweet and fragrant, melting on her tongue.
With one bite, she knew it was from the persimmon tree Uncle had planted himself.
The familiar taste filled her with nostalgia, and she took several eager bites.
Sheng Sheng thought to herself that Second Senior Sister had gone to find Master.
If Eldest Senior Brother took her along, then she could meet Master too.
[I must go!]
[Only I know what’s about to happen. I have to find a way to stop Luo Yuyang from getting close to Master!]
"Hehe, no rush. Your Fifth Senior Brother is about to come out of seclusion soon. You can all go together then."
Uncle stopped his accounting, moved his chair next to Sheng Sheng, and began tying her hair.
"Huh? He’s coming out already?"
Sheng Sheng bit into the dried persimmon, looking utterly confused.
Hadn’t she only slept for a day?
How could Fifth Senior Brother, who had just entered the Sword Burial Valley, be coming out of seclusion already?
Had she slept for several months?
No way!
A flicker of alarm flashed in Sheng Sheng’s eyes.
Fortunately, Uncle reassured her the next second.
"You slept for seven days. Your Fifth Senior Brother was only one step away from the Golden Core Stage. After you gave him a little push, he went to the Sword Burial Valley to cultivate for a few days, and that should be enough."
"That brat is just too lazy, always trying to slack off and wasting such great talent. Now that you’re here, I doubt he’ll slack off anymore."
Uncle smiled kindly, but Sheng Sheng could read cunning and deceit in that immortal-like face.
【No, Martial Uncle would never be so sinister!】
Sheng Sheng shook her head, the two pigtails tied by Martial Uncle swaying back and forth on top of her head.
"Is Fifth Senior Brother feeling guilty because I got hurt when he took me to Linmo Abyss?"
"It's clearly not his fault!"
"It's my own carelessness that got me injured by the Magic Beast."
Too many years had passed, and Sheng Sheng couldn’t clearly remember the events of her childhood.
She vaguely recalled that she had approached the white Magic Beast that looked like a rabbit, which was why her neck got injured.
If Fifth Senior Brother hadn’t noticed in time, she probably would have died young.
【Come to think of it, that Magic Beast seemed to be Luo Yuyang’s beloved pet, no wonder it loved bullying me so much later on. Tsk, who would have thought we had a grudge from way back then.】
Sheng Sheng remembered the Magic Beast she saw many years later, nestled in Luo Yuyang’s arms.
A Magic Beast with an owner loved to bully others, relying on its master’s influence, and especially enjoyed picking on her.
And every time she fought back, Luo Yuyang would appear, apologizing to her with a face full of remorse.
Then the people around would immediately side with Luo Yuyang and blame her.
They called her an ungrateful wretch, someone who would even harm her benefactor’s pet…
But the very person they called her benefactor was the root cause of her ending up alone and helpless.
"Hehe, you could say that."
Martial Uncle ruffled Sheng Sheng’s pigtails, his expression kind.
Sheng Sheng accidentally caught sight of the familiar sect names written in Martial Uncle’s ledger:
Tianyanzong, Jianzong, Heavenly Secrets Pavilion… all of them were among the current seven major sects.
Several of them had grudges with her from her past life.
Sheng Sheng felt puzzled and was about to ask, "Martial Uncle, what are these…"
Martial Uncle smiled and changed the subject: "Since you’re going down the mountain anyway, why not head to Linmo Abyss and capture that Magic Beast that hurt you? Let’s get revenge for Sheng Sheng, okay?"
"Okay!"
Sheng Sheng’s train of thought was interrupted, leaving only hatred for the beast in her eyes.
If they could eliminate that creature in advance, it would be a good thing for the Cultivation World!
【That thing would later kill many Cultivators, devouring their Cultivation Base and flesh, transforming into human form.】
【Only Luo Yuyang thought it had no choice, but didn’t she consider whether the Cultivators it killed were innocent or not!】
【Now that there’s a chance to nip this danger in the bud, we must not miss it.】
Sheng Sheng smiled happily.
Indeed, having someone to rely on felt the best.
"What did Martial Uncle say to make Little Junior Sister so happy?"
Wen Rugu’s voice came from the doorway. He stood there, with brilliant sunlight shining behind him, falling on his figure like a dream, as if he were an immortal.
"Eldest Senior Brother, I missed you so much!"
Sheng Sheng jumped down from her chair with a delighted expression, eagerly rushing over to him.
"It seems Little Junior Sister is already fine…"
Wen Rugu instinctively caught Sheng Sheng, smiling gently.
But his gaze soon froze on the messy pigtails atop Sheng Sheng’s head.
Wen Rugu fell into silence.
"Little Junior Sister, why are you only greeting Eldest Senior Brother? Can’t you see your dear Fifth Senior Brother?"
The person following behind Wen Rugu leaned his face closer.
It was pitch black, with even his short red hair standing on end, looking like an afro, as if he had been struck by lightning.
Moreover, he now wore a black collar around his neck, with golden patterns floating on the surface and a purple gem embedded in it.
This made Sheng Sheng think that her dear Fifth Senior Brother was wearing a dog collar.
"Not at all, congratulations to Fifth Senior Brother for advancing to the Golden Core Stage!"
Sheng Sheng clung to Eldest Senior Brother’s neck and gave Fifth Senior Brother an innocent, guileless smile.
I don't know if it's because of the influence of her body, but she feels her temperament is also becoming younger and more childish.
"Fifth Senior Brother is truly amazing, actually advancing to the Golden Core Stage in such a short time."
Sheng Sheng was a bit envious; her aptitude was very poor.
In her previous life, she remained at the Golden Core Stage until death, unable to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.
Upon hearing this, Guan Yuanbai proudly smiled: "Of course, I am the exceptionally talented Guan Yuanbai!"
Moreover, I am also the Child of Destiny!
The future hope of the Yunmiao Sect!
Guan Yuanbai thought to himself.
"Fifth Junior Brother, you should go wash up first."
Wen Rugu could tell at a glance what Guan Yuanbai was thinking.
His simple face revealed all his thoughts.
"Alright, Eldest Senior Brother."
Guan Yuanbai, who had just advanced to the Golden Core Stage, said cheerfully: "Little Junior Sister, I'll play with you later."
"Mhm, see you later, Fifth Senior Brother."
Sheng Sheng waved goodbye to him.
Wen Rugu sat down holding Sheng Sheng: "Uncle Master, I have a very important matter I'd like to discuss with you."
"What is it?"
The Uncle Master put away his precious account book and golden abacus, looking at him with an air of immortal grace.
Wen Rugu sincerely suggested: "I would like to ask you not to help Little Junior Sister tie her hair next time."