"Ah, how did I end up with a disciple like you?" Dao Lord Jinghe shook his head at her with a sigh. "Think of me, Qin Jinghe, with a lifetime of brilliance, that what's-it-called, what's-it-called..."
"Master!" Mo Tiange glared at him. "I just want to ask a few things, is there a need for this?"
"Ah, so unfilial, actually speaking to your master like this..."
"Master!" If she didn't stop him, he'd just keep sighing endlessly!
Dao Lord Jinghe glanced at her, seeing her face full of annoyance, then grinned mischievously. "Tiange, my disciple, I think this suits you better. Look at you suddenly kneeling and asking for punishment earlier—it made your master feel all uneasy inside..."
"..."
Mo Tiange was at a loss for words. What kind of master was this? Meaning that if she wasn't fierce, this master felt too comfortable and got all restless?
"Alright!" She put on a stern face. "Master, I'm asking you, was everything alright while I was gone? What about Zhenji? Has he achieved Foundation Establishment yet?"
"Oh, fine, everything's fine. I didn't let anyone touch your little cave abode. Zhenji achieved Foundation Establishment in the fourth year after you left, and he's doing very well now."
Hearing that Zhenji had already achieved Foundation Establishment, Mo Tiange felt slightly relieved. Back then, although she had privately left some Foundation Establishment Pills for him, Zhenji's Spirit Roots were somewhat inferior, so it was hard to say if he could succeed. Twenty-two years had passed; Zhenji would be over forty now. If he still hadn't achieved Foundation Establishment, that would be troublesome—some cultivators didn't fail to establish their foundation because they entered old age, but often because repeated failures led to instability in their mental state, gradually pushing Foundation Establishment further away.
"Master, have you been instructing him all these years?"
"Ah? Instruct him? Why would I have the mind for that!" Dao Lord Jinghe waved the book in his hand dismissively.
Mo Tiange frowned. "Don't tell me you just let Zhenji fend for himself?!"
Seeing her expression about to turn angry, Dao Lord Jinghe chuckled ingratiatingly and said softly, "Disciple, don't be angry. Although your master didn't look after that clumsy boy, I found someone to take care of him for you. Don't worry!"
"Found someone?"
"That's right. Your senior brothers had nothing better to do, so I found one to watch your kid for you."
"..." That was indeed something he would do. Back then, hadn't he dumped her on Martial Uncle Xuanyin for a long time? It was only later, because of other matters, that he had no choice but to accept her as his disciple.
Sighing, Mo Tiange said, "Master, since you have nothing more to ask, shall I go back and rest first?"
"Yes, yes." He nodded hurriedly. "Rest well. If there's anything, I'll have them call you."
"Oh, right, which senior brother is Zhenji with? I'll go fetch him back first."
"This..." Dao Lord Jinghe looked at her cautiously. "Zhenji is forty years old now, not a child anymore. Are you still going to fetch him? Give the man some face!"
"No matter how old he gets, he's still my nephew." Mo Tiange said. Moreover, in terms of age, she could indeed be Zhenji's mother. Thinking of this, she cast a suspicious glance at him. "Master, tell me the truth, what did you do to Zhenji?"
"Nothing at all!" Dao Lord Jinghe said righteously, putting on a serious face. "How about I have someone call him back later? I promise you'll see him soon."
Mo Tiange looked at her master for a while, then finally nodded. "Alright, I hope you're not lying, Master."
"Heh heh, how could I? Go rest! You look tired."
With this seemingly concerned tone, Mo Tiange was persuaded. "Understood."
She turned and walked a few steps, then turned back again. "By the way..."
Dao Lord Jinghe jumped. "Ah?"
"Master. Do you have to be so startled?"
"No, I'm not startled." Dao Lord Jinghe rubbed his nose, his gaze shifting. "I already said I'd call Zhenji back. What else do you want to ask?"
"... I just wanted to ask, what major event happened that prompted the sect to send out the communication talisman this time?"
Hearing this question, Dao Lord Jinghe immediately calmed down. "That? It is indeed a major event, but not a bad one. It's rather complicated. I'll tell you later. Go rest first." This time, his expression was firm.
Mo Tiange thought about it. Although her master was unreliable, he never delayed important matters. Since that was the case, she'd leave it to him.
"Alright, Master. I'll trust you this once. Don't let me down."
"I know!" Dao Lord Jinghe impatiently shooed her away. "Just got back and already so clingy. Go rest!"
With him acting like this, she really didn't quite believe there was nothing fishy going on. Sighing inwardly, Mo Tiange walked towards her Mingxin Residence.
After she left, Dao Lord Jinghe hurriedly called out, "Mingxia!"
"Here!" Mingxia rushed over.
"Quick, go to that brat's place and get Zhenji back!"
Mo Tiange naturally didn't know what Dao Lord Jinghe had said. She entered her small cave abode and found everything unchanged.
The pond in front of the house, the medicinal herb field behind it. A row of five small rooms. The small hall still only had a few tables and chairs, a tea set, and two books she used to read often tossed on the table. In the alchemy room sat the crude alchemy furnace she bought for fifteen spirit stones when she first started learning alchemy. The artifact refining room, which she had never used, was empty, with nothing inside. In the resting room, Zhenji's bed was still there, but his personal belongings were gone. Finally, her cultivation room remained as it was before, but was kept clean and tidy.
It seemed someone had been cleaning regularly during her absence. She certainly didn't think the maidservants did it out of kindness. It was probably her master's orders, or perhaps Zhenji did it himself?
Thinking of this, she curled her lips slightly, picked up a beast-skin book from the shelf, and flipped through it casually. Here, after all, there were still people who remembered her.
"Auntie, Auntie!" A somewhat unfamiliar voice came from outside.
Mo Tiange turned around to see a young man at the entrance of the cultivation room. He appeared to be in his twenties, with pleasant, handsome features and two small dimples when he smiled.
"Auntie!" Seeing her, he was overjoyed. Mo Tiange thought he might jump up like he used to, but he only hurried to her side. "You're finally back!"
The Ye Zhenji before her was now a Foundation Establishment cultivator. His face was still youthful, his temperament still gentle and kind, but the feeling he gave off was much more mature.
She looked at him for a long time, finally saying just one thing: "Zhenji, you've grown up."
Ye Zhenji scratched his head, smiling sheepishly. "Auntie, you've been gone for so long. Of course I've grown up. By the way, why haven't you sent any news for so long? Did you encounter danger? Is everything alright? I was worried sick, but Grandmaster always said I was worrying for nothing..."
Mo Tiange sat down on the meditation cushion, watching him automatically sit down in front of her, chattering away asking about what happened after they parted. She felt a warmth in her heart, as if under the gentle winter sun.
"Auntie, why aren't you saying anything?" Ye Zhenji finally noticed her silence after asking a whole bunch of questions.
Mo Tiange had been smiling all along. Only now did she reply, "Auntie saw you were talking so happily, so I let you speak your fill first."
"Auntie!" Ye Zhenji's face fell. "You're just like Master!"
"Master?" Mo Tiange slightly furrowed her brows.
Ye Zhenji ignored that this was actually a question and eagerly pressed on, "Auntie, you still haven't said how the past twenty-two years have been for you!"
"I..." She smiled, thought for a moment, then answered, "I did encounter some things, but also gained some opportunities. In the end, it was a close call but no real danger. I didn't contact you because I was trapped in a place for a long time, but that's all in the past now. No danger." After describing it lightly, she asked, "What's this about a master you mentioned? Who has been instructing you all these years?"
"It's Master!" Ye Zhenji seemed somewhat puzzled by her question. "After you left, Auntie, it took me several years to achieve Foundation Establishment. As soon as I succeeded, Grandmaster got impatient and sent me to Master." At this point, he pursed his lips, clearly dissatisfied with his grandmaster's actions, then smiled again. "Luckily, although Master seems very stern, he's actually quite good. He's been very busy these years, but he's always taken good care of me..."
Mo Tiange had a bad premonition. "Who is this master you're talking about?"
"Who else could it be? I only have one master." Ye Zhenji looked confused.
Mo Tiange slowly furrowed her brows and fell silent.
"Auntie?" Ye Zhenji called cautiously.
"It's nothing." She slowly revealed a smile. If there was a problem, it wasn't Zhenji's fault. She had been schemed against by that old rascal. It was truly strange. She avoided everything, not wanting to get involved with that senior brother, so why did that cheap master insist on scheming against her? Well, now it was done. The nephew she raised like a disciple had become someone else's disciple. 'Master, Master'—how affectionately he called him, nothing like before...
Realizing what she was thinking, Mo Tiange was stunned for a moment, then curled her lips in self-mockery. What kind of mindset was this? Jealousy? Because she hadn't returned for over twenty years, Zhenji now had someone possibly as important to him as she was, so she felt displeased? Or was it because—that person was him?
Aware that her thoughts were taking a dangerous turn, it seemed that as soon as she returned, some well-controlled emotions were spreading uncontrollably. She couldn't help but look around. There was clearly not a trace left anymore.
"Zhenji," she asked slowly, "how have you been these years? How has your master treated you?"
Seeing she didn't look unhappy, Ye Zhenji relaxed. After thinking for a moment, he also answered slowly, "That year when you sent me to the Ye Family, Auntie, I stayed there for half a year before returning. With Xiaohuo by my side, nothing happened on the journey. After returning, I passed the trial smoothly and obtained the Foundation Establishment Pill. With Grandmaster's permission, I went into seclusion to establish my foundation, but I didn't succeed."
Seeing him spread his hands, Mo Tiange was puzzled. "Didn't I give you something to take out when you were establishing your foundation?"
"Auntie, are you talking about that bottle of pills?" Ye Zhenji scratched his head, looking embarrassed. "I... was too excited the first time and forgot."
"..." Seeing him like this, Mo Tiange shook her head helplessly. "You, of all things to forget, you forgot something so important."
Ye Zhenji said, "I'd never established my foundation before, I was just too excited for a moment..." At this point, he also couldn't help laughing. "After I failed, I discovered you had secretly left Foundation Establishment Pills for me. But everyone knew I had failed, and it wouldn't be good to go into seclusion again right away. Also, it's not good to enter seclusion again immediately after failing, so I waited another three years... This time I finally succeeded."
"Hmm, at least you're not completely foolish."
"Auntie!"
Seeing his bashful expression, Mo Tiange couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, alright, continue."
Ye Zhenji gave her an embarrassed look, then continued, "After I achieved Foundation Establishment, I encountered many problems in my cultivation and went to ask Grandmaster. At first, Grandmaster instructed me in great detail, but after being asked too many times, he got impatient. He said, 'Your master is already at late Core Formation, and he doesn't have a single disciple to serve him. How can you, as his disciple, be so idle?' Then he dumped me on Master."
"... And how did your master treat you?"
"Master is very good." Speaking of the word 'master,' Ye Zhenji's expression was no longer full of disdain like over twenty years ago, but held reverence. "Master isn't much of a talker and doesn't like dealing with people. Those who don't know him always think he's cold and arrogant, but that's not true. When I first went, I didn't understand anything and was quite afraid of him, but later I realized Master is very good. He's so busy, yet he teaches me cultivation very patiently, never getting impatient. Grandmaster said he was sending me to serve Master, but Master never even had me pour tea or hand him water..."
Ye Zhenji talked on and on for a long time. From beginning to end, Mo Tiange didn't say a word.
"Auntie? Are you unhappy?"
After a long while, Mo Tiange finally sighed. "No, this... is good for you."
That old fellow had gotten his way after all. He probably hadn't had good intentions from the start when he made that suggestion, right? Well, it was fine. Someone was good to Zhenji; she should be happy. As for that old fellow... hmph, don't think he's really won!