Chapter 74: The Only One Who Reached Out a Hand.
[Third Disciple: Chen Baiqing]
[Distributed Cultivation Method: Purple Charm Immortal Spirit Art]
[Completed Mission Two: True Martial Hall]
[Rewards have been distributed to the system backpack]
[Completed series mission, obtained one realm of cultivation improvement]
[Golden Core Perfection elevated to—Nascent Soul Realm]
[Released new series mission one: Forge the True Martial Hall]
[Reward: Enlightenment Room]
[Series mission two: Recruit disciples to reach four]
[Reward: Martial Arts Hall]
After Chu Xingchen finished reading the system messages, he felt a surge of pure spiritual power instantly fill his Golden Core. With his spiritual sense, he saw the Golden Core begin to shake violently.
The Golden Core then quickly began to transform into a stream of light and shed away, specks of spiritual light forming a pure white lotus pedestal.
A figure somewhat resembling a chibi version of Chu Xingchen, with eyes closed, sat on the lotus platform without any reaction. All the spiritual energy that had originally circulated within his body from the Golden Core now flowed completely into the Nascent Soul.
Even though Chu Xingchen had now broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm, his two disciples had no perception of it.
The Nascent Soul Realm internally contains the evolution of life within oneself, already divided into the internal and external worlds.
Although Chen Baiqing's hands were both being held at this moment, her eyes were still filled with a dazed look as she glanced around, seemingly not yet fully returned to her senses.
Chu Xingchen asked softly: "Do you still remember who you are?"
Hearing her master's words, Li Yingling turned her head in disbelief—Master?! What does that mean? Don't tell me you kidnapped this child from somewhere?
Chen Baiqing came back to her senses and looked at Chu Xingchen with confusion:
"I remember. My name is Chen Baiqing."
"That's really your name?"
Chen Baiqing was even more confused: "Isn't that... what you said? Master?"
Chu Xingchen was instantly speechless.
"Although I don't know exactly what happened." Chen Baiqing tilted her head slightly to look at Chu Xingchen and said, "But my last memory... is of you saving me."
"You said, a few spirit stones couldn't be exchanged for a life."
"You even cursed at the end... damn expensive."
Li Yingling, who was listening from the side, was very moved at first, but that last sentence was a bit... it made one want to take back the feeling of being moved.
Chu Xingchen asked in surprise: "Weren't you unconscious? You heard that too?"
"I... I just heard that part, and then I really passed out." As Chen Baiqing spoke, her small body scooted back slightly.
Letting go of Chen Baiqing's small hands, Chu Xingchen asked:
"What else do you remember?"
Chen Baiqing lowered her head and pondered slightly.
"I remember... I was sold..." Chen Baiqing's voice faltered slightly, then she said in a low voice: "Mother said, only by selling me could everyone survive."
She then raised her small face and said: "So now, have I been sold to you? Then you probably bought me at a loss. I was actually very cheap."
Facing Chen Baiqing's answer, the master and disciples fell silent for a moment.
Chu Xingchen asked seriously: "Do you know what 'master' means?"
Hearing this, Chen Baiqing frowned in thought, then dejectedly shook her head.
Reaching out, Chu Xingchen gently rubbed Chen Baiqing's little head and said:
"It means, you have found a new home. From now on, you will live with us."
"Live together?"
Chen Baiqing raised her little head to look at Chu Xingchen's gentle smile. She hesitated to speak, then quieted down.
Allowing her little head to be gently rubbed by Chu Xingchen.
Since waking up this time, Chen Baiqing did not understand why, but when she faced a person, she seemed to be able to instantly perceive their emotions toward her.
Moreover, she trusted this instinctive ability from the bottom of her heart.
She had clearly perceived the emotions of the three people before her just now.
When she opened her eyes, she saw who should be her senior brother. Her perception of him was that he was somewhat cold and emotionless. It could not be said to be malicious, but there was clearly no extra goodwill either.
Added to that, his gaze was a bit too fierce, which had startled Chen Baiqing.
As for that senior sister, Chen Baiqing could only feel that her emotion toward her seemed to be a gentle sympathy.
As for her master, she could still perceive a trace of emotion just now, but now she could not feel it at all.
Chen Baiqing did not quite understand the specific meaning of "master." The only related term she could think of was "father," but as for her father...
Her memory of him was no longer clear. Just like her original name, her memory was a complete mess after waking up this time, as if she had lost a lot of it.
Only the most profound memories in her mind were remembered vaguely.
She did not understand where she had been sold to again, but at least this place seemed to be a good family.
They would not make her take medicine that would cause her whole body to ache, nor would they tell her to shut up when she cried out in pain.
Chen Baiqing still remembered the words those people used to threaten her.
"If you cry anymore, we'll send you back and let your whole family starve to death!"
That sentence was like a mute pill, making Chen Baiqing not even dare to make a whimpering sound. She remembered her mother's tear-filled and helpless eyes.
She did not want them to starve to death.
Chen Baiqing was not familiar with terms like "master."
But she understood "servant girl." The one who bought her was the "master."
Her mind was muddled just now and she did not figure it out, but now she understood. The master who bought her was the "master"!
As Chu Xingchen's large hand lifted from her head.
Chen Baiqing looked at him cautiously and asked, "Master, what am I supposed to do here?"
Hearing this, Chu Xingchen looked up and explained gently:
"I am not 'master,' I am your master. For now, you will eat, sleep, and find your senior sister to play with when you have nothing to do."
Chen Baiqing was stunned. Before she could understand what this meant, she saw Chu Xingchen walk toward the door and say with a smile:
"To celebrate the arrival of a new disciple today, I will personally cook."
The master is cooking?
Chen Baiqing still remembered what her mother had told her to remember firmly—when you go to the master's house, remember to be diligent, or you will be sent back.
She quickly struggled free from Li Yingling's hand, jumped off the bed barefoot, and said with a trembling voice:
"Mas... Master, I'll do it. I often cook at home too."
Chu Xingchen turned back in surprise, only to see Chen Baiqing looking at him with a pleading expression, her two small hands tightly clutching her ragged clothes.
Chen Baiqing's voice was soft, sounding very unconfident as she said: "I... I know how to stir-fry vegetables and cook rice."
"Yingling, go buy clothes and shoes for your junior martial sister. Xingtian, go buy some candies and preserves." After instructing his two disciples, Chu Xingchen extended a hand to Chen Baiqing, "Then shall we cook together?"
An adult would feel uneasy in an unfamiliar place, let alone a young girl.
Rather than letting her sit and wait in fear, it was better to interact with her more and let her get familiar with her surroundings.
Chen Baiqing looked at the sincere expression on Chu Xingchen's face. Even though she could not read his thoughts at this moment, she reached out without overthinking.
She took hold of the only hand that was extended to her.
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