Chapter 10 The Disciple's Engagement is Broken Off (Please Collect, Follow the Read)

On the first day after Xu Yan left, Li Xuan rose early and went out the door. He did not see that diligently training figure and there was no one to cook food, feed the chickens, or tend to the vegetables; he had to do it all himself.

He simply felt uncomfortable all over.

On the second day after Xu Yan left, Li Xuan began to worry excessively again.

"I hope my foolish disciple hasn't died in the Evil Forest," he thought.

"He has been there twice and returned safely both times; he should be fine this time as well, right?"

On the fifth day after Xu Yan left, Li Xuan went to the hill outside the village, looking in the direction Xu Yan had left. He saw no one coming.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

"Even if I've been exposed, they wouldn't catch on to me this quickly."

"Will I eventually be found out?"

"Alas, Xu Yan, this silly lad, is a bit slow—born into no ordinary family, surely there must be someone with a working brain, right?"

"If I get found out, wouldn't I be in serious trouble?"

Li Xuan's mind was a mess, filled with worry.

By the tenth day since Xu Yan had left, Li Xuan was back on the hill, vigilant, ready to hide and flee if anything seemed amiss.

"This disciple, he didn't die in the Evil Forest and fail to return home, did he?"

"Or perhaps, he was confined?"

The more he thought, the more his mind was in disarray. Li Xuan cursed under his breath: "Damn it! It's not like I wanted to deceive him; it's his own lack of wit. How can it be blamed on me?"

"I'm really living a pathetic life, how embarrassing!"

Li Xuan sighed. As a transmigrator, he was embarrassingly incompetent!

On the eleventh day, Xu Yan finally returned.

"Master, your disciple has returned!"

Seeing Xu Yan bowing in respect, all by himself, with no crowd appearing to seize him, Li Xuan instantly relaxed.

"Hmm, good to have you back!"

His expression was indifferent, as usual, as if he had always known Xu Yan would return.

"Master, this is a small token of my appreciation."

Xu Yan placed two long boxes on the table.

"You are thoughtful!"

Li Xuan's expression remained calm as he opened one of the boxes.

Inside was a sword, its sheath entirely golden, carved with auspicious clouds and mythical beasts, inlaid with red, white, and blue treasure beads, a total of nine.

What a treasure!

The worth was immeasurable, and Li Xuan was internally thrilled; this foolish disciple was even wealthier than he had imagined.

His face still showed no sign of being affected.

He lifted the precious sword from the box; it was rather heavy.

On both sides of the sheath, nine treasure beads were inlaid, making a total of eighteen treasure beads, the value of these alone was considerable.

Atop the hilt, two larger red treasure beads were inlaid.

Li Xuan slightly drew the sword from its sheath, a flash of gold appeared before his eyes—it was a sword cast entirely of gold!

He sheathed the sword and returned it to the box.

Though his face seemed calm, his heart was actually quivering with excitement.

"I'm rich, this sword could be a family heirloom, making my escape to Wu Country worry-free."

Allowing a trace of admiration to show on his face, he said, "It's good that you have this intention, I am very pleased. Although this sword is mundane, it is not bad to admire for a while."

Xu Yan was immediately overwhelmed with excitement, eagerly saying, "As long as you like it, Master!"

"Master truly is a reclusive expert, to be so unmoved by such a valuable precious sword, seeing it only fit for casual admiration."

Li Xuan felt his admiration for his master rise yet again.

Li Xuan opened the second box, inside was an impeccable Jade Ruyi. His eyes lit up slightly, this Jade Ruyi was clearly a treasure!

"Not bad!"

He nodded, expressing his satisfaction.

"Master, I also brought some precious medicinal herbs."

Xu Yan said as he took down his bundle.

Li Xuan's brow raised slightly, thinking to himself, "Has he also realized, after consuming these rare tonic herbs, that his body has improved? Does he think they are beneficial for cultivation?"

"As usual with these tonic herbs, weigh them as needed."

Li Xuan glanced at them; there were no Nine-Leaf Yuanzhi or Thousand-Year Ginseng, but there were two Five-Leaf Yuanzhi and three Hundred-Year Ginsengs, each also a rare medicinal herb.

"Yes, Master!"

Xu Yan put away the herbs and began tidying up the house, preparing to cook.

Li Xuan was pleased internally, appreciating how sensible his disciple was, getting to work as soon as he returned.

"Hm? What's going on? Why does he look so dejected? Did something happen?"

Suddenly, Li Xuan noticed that although Xu Yan was working, his expression was quite downcast, causing him to feel a thump in his heart. Had someone reminded him during his return home, making him doubt himself?

Or perhaps, has he not sensed any vital energy or entered into Skin Refinement for a long time, faced some setbacks at home, and therefore felt dejected?

"I can't let him continue to be disheartened. We've come this far, not continuing to deceive would be asking for trouble."

"I must lift his spirits!"

Thus, Li Xuan spoke, "Disciple, why are you despondent? Is it something related to your cultivation?"

Xu Yan paused from wiping the table, his voice somewhat discouraged, "Master, it's not about cultivation. It's that I... I was rejected in a marriage proposal during my visit home!"

Huh?

A marriage rejection?

Li Xuan was stunned, muttering to himself, "A marriage rejection? Your name is Xu Yan, not Xiao Yan, so no worries, an underdog triumph isn't likely; truly a sad story!"

"What happened? Why the marriage rejection?"

He asked with a concerned expression toward his disciple.

With a gloomy face, Xu Yan mournfully said, "She said I was not smart enough, and being with me was too embarrassing."

She's right, your brain really doesn't work well!

Li Xuan mumbled internally.

He stood up, patting Xu Yan on the shoulder, feeling he should comfort his disciple regardless.

"As my disciple, her rejecting you shows her lack of discernment."

"You're right, Master, I was thinking the same."

"Did you not shout back, 'Thirty years can change the east and west rivers, do not deceive the young when they are poor'?"

Li Xuan coughed and asked.

Xu Yan gave his master a puzzled look, "Master, I am not poor!"

F*ck!

Li Xuan's brow twitched, and he felt a stab in his heart!

Immediately with a serious face, he said, "Disciple, how are you not poor? Did I say you lack wealth? No! It's the poverty of cultivation level, the poverty of strength, the poverty of Martial Arts knowledge!"

Xu Yan immediately looked ashamed, "Master's admonition is correct. I'm poor, very poor!"

He then added, "But rest assured, Master, I haven't lost my resolve. Although I didn't shout 'do not deceive the young when they are poor', I did tell her, 'Today you mock, insult, and abandon me, one day you will regret it profoundly, and realize you cannot aspire to attain me!'"

Towards the end, Xu Yan lifted his head slightly, his eyes determined!

Li Xuan's lips twitched, mumbling internally, "This kid, why does he feel like a child of destiny? It must be an illusion!"

"Hm, disciple, it's very good that you have such spirit."

Seeing Xu Yan's eyes still held some despondency, Li Xuan added, "This marriage rejection may not be a bad thing for you; remember, it is through setbacks that one becomes courageous."

"None of the legendary heroes of old rose without rising through setbacks."

"On the path of cultivation, understanding is key, clarity of mind brings self-awareness!"

Patting Xu Yan's shoulder seriously, Li Xuan said, "Disciple, there's a saying, 'With no thoughts of women in your heart, your cultivation will seem divine'. Now that you've been rejected in marriage, with no woman in your heart, your mind unburdened, great progress is inevitable!"