From the pitch-black void, light slowly began to emerge, more and more of it. Yun Jiao’s senses expanded without limit, her mind flashing like a revolving lantern through vast regions. The lights gathered into mountains, rivers, lakes, oceans, even the myriad beings of the Three Realms. The more expansive it grew, the smaller the living beings within appeared—like humanity compared to the universe. Only those colored lights remained constant, eternal.
A profound reverence rose in Yun Jiao’s heart as she entered a mysterious state. The questions that had long troubled her suddenly cleared away. It was as though a door had been flung open in her mind. But before she could probe deeper, Ye Yuan had already withdrawn his hand.
In the next instant, she emerged from that mystical state. Opening her eyes, she instinctively touched her chest, where traces of that overwhelming awe still lingered.
“Your doubts—do you understand them now?” Ye Yuan’s deep voice asked.
Yun Jiao froze, then nodded after a moment. “I understand. Thank you, Ancestral Master.” After such a direct demonstration, how could she not?
“Good.” Ye Yuan nodded in satisfaction. A disciple with comprehension. “Your aptitude is quite good. In the future, you must devote yourself to cultivation and not waste such talent.”
“Yes, Ancestral Master!” Yun Jiao nodded seriously and gave thanks again. Toward her teachers, she was always polite.
Since he didn’t seem in a hurry to leave, she quickly seized the chance to ask several other questions. Ye Yuan answered them all, as though there was nothing he didn’t know. To Yun Jiao, it was her first time seeing such a professional mentor. It completely cleared away her earlier doubts that Qingyang Sect might just be a charlatan’s sect.
“Thank you for clearing my doubts, Ancestral Master. I have no further questions.” Yun Jiao felt refreshed, lighter than if she had finished ten sets of practice exams at once. At last, she politely hinted that he could leave.
“Mm.” Ye Yuan nodded solemnly, but he still didn’t move.Thinking he hadn’t understood, she tried again. “It’s nearly noon. I won’t take up more of your time.”
“Mm.” Still serious. Still unmoving.
“Ancestral Master, I’ve finished asking all my questions.”
“Mm.” Still serious. Still unmoving.
“Ancestral Master, I need to change clothes and cook soon.”
“Mm.” Serious. Still unmoving.
Finally, Yun Jiao realized something was off. “Ancestral Master… do you still have business here?”
“No.”
Then why? Yun Jiao replayed the conversation in her head, unable to figure it out. She asked cautiously, “Did I ask something wrong just now?”
“No.”
“Was my understanding mistaken?”
“No.”
“Was my attitude poor?”
“No.”
“…” Then why are you still sitting in my room like a clove of garlic?! Yun Jiao’s mouth twitched. She looked at his ever-serious face, then at the empty bowl on the table. A ridiculous thought struck her. After a moment, she tentatively asked, “Ancestral Master… would you like to stay for a meal?”
“Yes!” Ye Yuan’s eyes lit up instantly. He answered without hesitation and even handed her the empty bowl.
Yun Jiao: “…”
So you just wanted to freeload a meal! Why didn’t you say so earlier?!
Her feelings were complicated as she accepted the bowl, trying to think of what to say.
Just then, the old man barged in, blurting, “Girl! What’s for lunch to—” He froze mid-sentence when he saw Ye Yuan sitting at the table. His legs gave out, and with a thud, he knelt on the spot. The words jammed in his throat, “Wh-wh-what…”
Dear heavens!!! Our ancestral master has… has manifested again!!
Bai Yu felt like he was dreaming. For decades of his life, the Ancestral Master had always been an unreachable legend, existing only in the stories told by his teacher when he was young. His understanding of the Ancestral Master was limited to that spirit tablet atop the tower, carved with the title Qingyang Guangji Tianzun.
Never had he imagined he would one day sit and eat at the same table with the Ancestral Master. And not just once—but three meals a day, every day.
He had even once thought the Ancestral Master’s real name must be Qingyang or Guangji. Until three days ago, he learned it was actually Ye Yuan. That revelation came only because the girl said the vegetables in the kitchen would spoil, so she made three jars of pickles—one for each of them. To avoid confusion, she suggested labeling them with names.
Without a word, Ye Yuan waved his hand and conjured a purple talisman, slapping it onto the largest jar. The characters written in flowing script: Ye Yuan.
Meanwhile, Bai Yu could only pick the smallest jar: “…”
Rubbing his perpetually half-empty stomach, he thought, It must be that the Ancestral Master finds descending novel and entertaining, so he’s gotten addicted to it. How else could he appear so often? And always at mealtime, no less!
“Who said he lives in the Immortal Realm?” Yun Jiao suddenly cut in.
“Huh?” Bai Yu blinked. Wasn’t the Ancestral Master long since ascended? If not the Immortal Realm, then where?
“Didn’t you know?” Yun Jiao pointed at the tower and explained casually, “He’s always been living inside the spirit tablet at the top of the tower. Isn’t that where he always floats out from?”
“…”
You’ve got to be kidding me!
The Ancestral Master doesn’t live in the Immortal Realm?! He’s been here the whole time—in the tower! All these years in the temple, and he never noticed?! Was he blind?!
(╯°Д°)╯︵┻━┻
Yun Jiao ignored the old man’s collapse and carried the dishes into the room. As expected, the habitual mealtime freeloader was already seated properly at the table. He had even, without a sound, set the bowls and chopsticks. His expression was so profound that he didn’t look like a moocher at all, but rather someone attending a scholarly seminar.
“There’s no chicken soup today,” Yun Jiao mentioned offhandedly.
Immediately, the light in Ye Yuan’s eyes dimmed, even the glow of his aura seemed to fade. His face remained unchanged, but somehow he radiated… grievance?
“But there is mushroom cream soup. Want to try it?” Yun Jiao added despite herself.
His gaze finally fell on the steaming bowl she set down. He sniffed lightly, and the dimmed light in his eyes gradually brightened again. After a pause, he nodded, “Mm. I’ll try it then.” He spoke with solemn dignity, as if doing her a great favor by agreeing.
Yun Jiao: “…”
Do all Ancestral Masters act this tsundere when freeloading meals?
(End of Chapter)