The Oldest Disciple: Farming Intimacy to Become Immortal

Chapter 190: Mirror Lake Outing

“It’s a toad statue carved from Biyan Stone.”

Also known as Biyan Jade, the stone was considered a high-quality treasure in the mortal world. Up here on the mountain, however, it was rather ordinary.

“Ah, Senior Brother has a good eye!” The portly stall owner’s face split into a wide, ingratiating grin.

Li Meng gave the man a meaningful look.

The fat disciple grinned back in understanding. “Right you are! One moment!” He produced a purple wooden box and carefully placed the statue inside. With a casual flick of his sleeve, he sent the box gliding through the air toward Li Meng. “Ten Spirit Stones. No bargaining.”

Yuan Baobao shot the vendor a sharp glare. Her own slender hand swept out, and a gust of Qi deflected the box back to the stall. “If there’s no bargaining, there’s no sale. Ten Spirit Stones? You might as well rob me. Two.”

The stall owner’s expression darkened. This Junior Sister was ruthless. Who bargained by slashing the price straight to the bone?

His face a mask of pained reluctance, he flicked his sleeve again. The box sailed back toward Li Meng. “Fine, I’ll take a loss. Five Spirit Stones.”

Yuan Baobao’s jade-like hand swept out once more, intercepting it. “Biyan Stone isn’t valuable. Three.”

“The stone may be common, but craftsmanship this exquisite is rare! It’s worth five, easily!”

The wooden box became a blur, flying back and forth between them like a shuttlecock.

For the next few minutes, the energetic haggling continued. Finally, a supremely satisfied Yuan Baobao pulled her Senior Brother away from the stall.

“I… is it *that* easy for me to sell anything?” the fat disciple muttered, watching their retreating backs with a resentful gaze. If only the pretty Junior Sister had been a bit more generous.

“For you, Junior Sister.” Li Meng handed her the box.

Yuan Baobao accepted it with a graceful smile. “Thank you, Senior Brother!” She stowed the box away, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink as she sidled closer and looped her arms around his.

Neither of them was hiding their identity today, and she found she didn’t care who saw. Even if Senior Brother Xuan were to…

A shadow of melancholy passed through her eyes. She hadn’t confessed things to Senior Brother Xuan yet. She didn’t know how. She needed to wait for the right opportunity.

*Huff.* She took a deep breath, banishing the tangled thoughts. Today, she wouldn’t think about anything else. Her only duty was to enjoy Senior Brother Li’s company.

“Oh, Senior Brother! Isn’t that candied hawthorn? You only see that in the mortal world!” She pointed ahead to an Outer Disciple shouldering a pole laden with the bright red treats.

While Inner and Outer Disciples practiced Inedia and had no need for mortal food, the occasional novelty was still welcome.

“Senior Brother, I want some!” She turned her beautiful, pleading eyes on him.

Li Meng chuckled. “Alright, alright. Senior Brother will buy it for you.”

Her eyes curved into happy crescents. Beaming, she tugged him toward the vendor.

They spent the rest of the afternoon wandering the bustling market. Magical Artifacts and Pills held little interest for them, but they amassed a small collection of odd and charming trinkets. Only when the sun began to dip below the western peaks did they finally leave Mirror Lake behind.

Two streaks of golden light flew side-by-side through the cloud-wreathed mountains. Yuan Baobao stole glances at Li Meng’s profile, a fresh blush warming her cheeks as she thought about the night to come. Shyness and anticipation warred within her.

Half an hour later, they arrived at Spirit Stream Peak. Hovering on the wind outside its boundaries, Li Meng surveyed the place.

“Junior Sister, your cave abode is impressive.”

The peak was an island in the sky, surrounded on all sides by splitting river branches that wrapped its base. The surrounding geomancy made it a natural convergence point for water energy. While such favorable landscapes weren’t rare in the Sect, for an early Foundation Establishment disciple to claim one was no small feat.

Yuan Baobao smiled. With a single-handed seal, she summoned a Formation token from her Storage Bag. It glowed with a soft, water-blue light.

The mists shrouding the peak stirred and parted, revealing a clear channel leading to the summit. “I suppose I just got lucky. I found this peak while wandering around. Come on in, Senior Brother!” A flash of shyness returned to her eyes.

Li Meng chuckled, stroking his beard. “After you.”

They flew into the passage one after the other. The full moon had already climbed, silent and unseen, into the sky. Tonight, Spirit Stream Peak was far from quiet.

***

The next morning, in a room on the pavilion’s upper floor, Yuan Baobao stood beside the bed dressing. Inch by inch, her snow-white form disappeared beneath silken robes.

Li Meng sat cross-legged on the bed, leisurely enjoying the breathtaking view.

Feeling the heat of his gaze, she gave a sly smile and deliberately turned her back to him, slowing her movements to a tantalizing pace.

Li Meng watched her little performance, a smirk touching his lips. “Careful, little lass. Your Senior Brother’s restraint has its limits.”

Yuan Baobao giggled, the sound crisp and bright in the room. She finished dressing with deft efficiency and threw a coquettish glance over her shoulder. “Your limits will have to hold!” With that, she scampered to the door. A soft *click* echoed as she slipped out.

Li Meng smiled, rising from the bed without haste to dress himself.

***

The sun was high over the courtyard in front of the peak-top pavilion. The two sat opposite each other at a tea table.

“Senior Brother,” Yuan Baobao began, “after becoming an Inner Disciple, there’s a chance to be taken in by a Golden Core Elder. When I was at the main hall a few days ago, I met a Senior from the Broken Cliff Peak lineage. He expressed interest in making me his Registered Disciple. I didn’t agree right away—I know nothing about him. Senior Brother Xuan said I missed a Fated Chance.” She shrugged. “I don’t see it. My triple spiritual root aptitude isn’t anything special. Why would he want me? What do you think I should do?”

Li Meng’s hand, holding his teacup, trembled slightly.

*Broken Cliff Peak.*

He immediately thought of one person: Elder Su Zhe, who had confronted him just yesterday.

Was a Golden Core Elder from that lineage approaching Yuan Baobao connected to him? With her triple spiritual root aptitude, she shouldn’t normally attract such attention… unless the Elder had his own motives. Some chose disciples on a mere whim, a personal affinity.

Then he remembered. “Junior Sister, I thought you and Junior Brother Xuan were already disciples of Senior Wen and Senior Han?”

Yuan Baobao pouted slightly, taking a sip of her tea. “We were expelled. After we returned from Qian Family Fortress, Master kicked us both out.”

Li Meng offered an awkward smile. That sounded exactly like something Senior Wen would do. Yuan Baobao’s fierce protectiveness of him on the airship had probably rubbed the proud Elder the wrong way.

He took a sip of his own tea, his tone turning serious. “Junior Sister, don’t get too close to anyone from Broken Cliff Peak. I… have some history with that lineage.”

*History?* Curiosity sparked in Yuan Baobao’s eyes. Her Senior Brother wasn’t one to seek trouble. She couldn’t imagine what had happened, but she didn’t press him. After her experience with Senior Wen, she had no desire to blindly accept another Elder’s offer, Fated Chance or not.

“Understood, Senior Brother.”

Li Meng set his cup down, his expression growing pensive. Perhaps he was overthinking it. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that Elder Su’s timing was… peculiar.