Zhu Xingyao half-knelt, his eyes filled with pain, drenched in cold sweat as he begged for mercy. “Master, it hurts.”
How could his meridians, only at the Foundation Establishment stage, withstand a Mahayana Venerable’s spiritual energy crashing through them so recklessly?
Shen Xiuyun knitted his brows. His cultivation showed no abnormalities?
There was no trace of another person’s aura on his body.
Was he being too sensitive and paranoid?
What if that thing was hiding in his sea of consciousness?
Should he check Zhu Xingyao’s sea of consciousness to confirm?
“A-Yao, let your master see your sea of consciousness.”
“Master, a cultivator’s sea of consciousness can only be opened to a dao companion. Master, are you trying to…” Zhu Xingyao trailed off, stopping right at the crucial point.
Hearing the words “dao companion,” Shen Xiuyun hesitated a little. He could only ask, “Have you been feeling unwell recently?”
Zhu Xingyao said, “Yes. I always have nightmares at night.”
“What do you dream about?”
“I dream that your disciple has fallen into demonic cultivation, committing grave errors. I dream that I’ve killed Master.” Zhu Xingyao’s expression was frantic and helpless, not looking like an act. “Master, that wasn’t your disciple, was it? How could your disciple possibly do such a thing?”
So, this was the reason for Zhu Xingyao’s abnormal behavior recently?
Had he dreamed of the events of his previous life?
Zhu Xingyao leaned weakly against Shen Xiuyun’s shoulder, his body trembling.
“Master, I’m so scared… Master.”
After a long while, Shen Xiuyun’s tensed body slowly relaxed, and he gently patted Zhu Xingyao’s head.
“Don’t be afraid. You won’t turn out like that.”
Because I won’t allow it!
“Mm, A-Yao won’t. A-Yao is very obedient.”
Where Shen Xiuyun couldn’t see, Zhu Xingyao’s smile was wild and unrestrained.
After returning to the meditation chamber, Shen Xiuyun asked the System about yesterday’s turn villain value. Upon learning it had been cleared, he let out a long sigh of relief.
If even sleeping together couldn’t clear it, then he would…
System: 『Host, I’ve received a few strategy guides sent over by the main System. Would you like to take a look?』
Shen Xiuyun drank a few sips of water to soothe his dry, sore throat, and hurriedly said: 『Yes, yes, yes, give them to me quickly!』
The System was finally providing something useful.
System: 『Item transfer in progress. Delivered.』
These were “premium goods” compiled overnight by the great Yun Xiao-fei-che, who insisted they absolutely had to be sent to Shen Xiuyun to advance the relationship.
Hopefully the Host could, well, put them to good use.
Smack!
Several thick, beautifully packaged volumes fell onto the bed out of thin air, looking impressive at a glance.
Shen Xiuyun unwrapped the packaging. There were four books in total:
“How to Teach Your Disciple ‘Respect for Master and Reverence for the Dao'”
“One Thousand and Eight Signs Your Disciple Is Turning Villain”
“On How to Respond After Your Disciple Turns Villain”
“High-Risk Profession: Master… How to Be a Master Balancer”
Unbelievable!
Going by the titles alone, one could tell just how “reliable” the contents were.
Shen Xiuyun was brimming with confidence. This mission was as good as done.
He placed the books on his desk, deciding to find time to study them thoroughly after teaching Zhu Xingyao sword practice.
In the days that followed, while teaching Zhu Xingyao sword practice, Zhu Xingyao kept having accidents due to being too “diligent.”
For example, practicing swordplay too hard in the cold night wind and catching a fever, requiring Master to stay up all night nursing him.
For example, being too eager to comprehend the technique and advance his cultivation to the next level, causing his spiritual energy to go chaotic and nearly suffering qi deviation into demonic cultivation.
And even more absurdly, forcibly attempting inedia at the Foundation Establishment stage and starving himself into a dead faint.
Incident after incident, one after another, left Shen Xiuyun completely numb.
How on earth did he end up being so accident-prone?
The child was clearly more obedient than in his previous life, so why was he even harder to raise?
Shen Xiuyun didn’t understand.
After multiple accidents, Shen Xiuyun warned, “You are not allowed to secretly overexert yourself anymore.”
You’re seriously cultivating with your life on the line.