"Bribes, huh?"
"Then I'll have to calculate carefully. Last night, you and Yi Xuan absorbed about 30% of my spiritual power, and it took another 30% to clear your meridians..."
"This is an opportunity that even tens of millions of dinnar can't buy. How do you plan to bribe me, Yi Jiang?"
Yun Ming pressed his finger against the little girl's lips, his eyes full of laughter.
He hadn't expected Yi Jiang to take his words seriously.
No matter... "Come on, call me a good Master and let me hear it~"
"Good Senior Brother~"
Yi Jiang continued to blink innocently, pretending not to understand what he was saying, but her small hand directly grabbed his finger.
Her pearly teeth gently bit down.
"Senior Brother bullied me, touching my lips. I'll tell Senior Sister."
Yun Ming didn't know whether to laugh or cry, quickly pulled his finger out, and flicked her forehead with a knuckle, chiding her in an annoyed tone.
"You girl, you're really ill-mannered."
"Senior Brother was the one who was mean to me first, asking me to bribe him... and even hitting my bottom."
"What are you muttering about? I'm truly afraid of you..."
Yun Ming bent down slightly, letting her wrap her arms around his neck.
What bad intentions could Yi Jiang have? She just wanted to kiss Senior Brother to express her gratitude and deepen their sibling bond.
Her fingertip brushed his lips, as if in deliberate retaliation.
"Hmph, you little rascal, you took advantage of Senior Brother again."
"Then Senior Brother is a big rascal. Since you brought me up the mountain, you must be responsible to the end~"
"If Senior Brother wants a bribe, he can always have one."
Yi Jiang slowly withdrew her hand, tilted her head, and spoke playfully. Who would take a child's words seriously?
Just like some people.
Always using jokes as a way to say what they truly feel.
She walked back into the house, her steps light, with the morning sun behind her.
Yun Ming gazed at the petite figure; he was truly growing fonder of this little girl.
If he didn't know she was a local, he would suspect Yi Jiang was also a transmigrator... How could it be?
He shook his head with a chuckle, then turned and walked towards the brilliant morning light. There was still much to do today... As he stepped out into the courtyard, Bai Xian was already waiting.
"Unintentional viewing..."
She covered her mouth, leaning against the wall, a somewhat mischievous smile on her face.
"But Yun'er, it's not good to prey on such a young child~"
"Bribes, kisses... Is Yun Kui Mountain already playing such games these days? Rearing? I heard from little Qing Xuan that it's even with twin sisters."
Yun Ming's coolness lasted less than three seconds. He immediately looked around. Good, Senior Sister wasn't here.
He began to pinch Bai Xian's cheeks.
"Uncle, you have the nerve to talk about me? How old do you think I am?"
"No, no. At least spiritually, you're an adult..."
"You know that too, yet you still let me help you change your underwear? Do you really treat me like a child?"
Bai Xian didn't resist, but just mimicked Yi Jiang's action, taking one of the young man's fingers into her mouth and saying indistinctly,
"You child, you're really ill-mannered."
"..."
Can't get past it, can you?
Yun Ming couldn't bear to look. Little Uncle's expression was simply awful, even though he was already used to Little Uncle's charm.
But even this was a bit much to handle.
He hastily pulled his finger out, a strand of saliva still clinging to it... "I say, Uncle, if you do this, I'll really misunderstand."
"You don't need to misunderstand, that's exactly what I mean."
"Sigh! Still joking..."
Yun Ming saw the mischievous glint in Bai Xian's eyes and knew he absolutely couldn't take her seriously.
"I'm not joking, you know. I calculated with my fingers, this is a five-hundred-year-old destined romance... Otherwise, did you think I, your Uncle, am a casual person?"
It was getting more and more ridiculous.
Yun Ming sighed helplessly, raising both hands in surrender.
"Uncle, I was wrong. I shouldn't have pinched your face, shouldn't have been ill-mannered, shouldn't have..."
"Oh, then let's settle our accounts. I, your Uncle, guided you in spiritual cultivation, gave you so much pocket money, and even helped you resolve the aftermath of the Qing Ming Sword's human-sword fusion."
"How will you repay, or rather... bribe me, your Uncle?"
Bai Xian lifted Yun Ming's chin, full of aggression.
"This humble nephew has nothing to repay you with, except to be your ox or horse in the next life~"
"You're asking for a beating!"
Hahahaha... Laughter echoed across Tiannan Peak.
Yun Ming knew that Uncle's special trip up the mountain wasn't just to bicker with him, but bickering with Uncle was always enjoyable.
He was cornered against the wall by Uncle.
"Quick, say, 'This humble young man has nothing to repay you with, except to offer himself.'"
"Uncle, no! I'm really still young, next life!"
"Good, you said it. Just you wait."
...The Scripture Pavilion, sounded very impressive.
In reality, most of it was ancient texts gathering dust. Cultivation methods had long been updated, and important spells now had electronic teaching versions.
Yun Kui Mountain wasn't afraid of them being spread.
After all, these things couldn't be learned just by studying them yourself.
Many times, one needed the guidance of a Master and seniors to get started in cultivation.
Even if someone talented and exceptional learned them, it would still be a good thing. Not spreading them carelessly was also out of fear of good intentions leading to bad outcomes.
Who held power was a very important matter.
"You usually dislike reading these the most, so you don't have to force yourself. You might not even be able to help much."
Bai Xian flipped through various ancient books, not looking up, just leaning back-to-back with Yun Ming.
"Ultimately, it's my fault that Uncle's movements are so inconvenient. I would have looked for a way to resolve that cluster of intrusive thoughts even if Uncle hadn't come."
"With your foundation, you might as well help me with a shoulder rub or a leg massage... Even if it can't be resolved, as long as I don't enter the Void, this cluster of intrusive thoughts can't truly harm me."
Yun Ming said no more, turning to massage Bai Xian's shoulders as they both looked at the ancient methods recorded in the books.
The two were very close... Yun Ming's chin was almost touching Bai Xian's ear, but neither showed any unusual reaction, only chatting occasionally.
"By the way, aren't you going to report your mistakes to Qing Xuan..."
"Senior Sister sent a photo of her beating up Senior Brother, telling me not to worry and to stay with you."
"Sigh, everyone acts like I'm dying... Oh, remember to send me that photo. Let me have a good laugh."
A smile touched Bai Xian's lips, and she asked again.
"Aren't you going to see Hong Dou? She told you not to look for her, and you just don't?"
"I understand Hong Dou; if she says weekend, it's weekend."
"Besides, I messaged her saying that Little Uncle was gravely ill and needed my care."
"She believed that?"
Hong Dou naturally believed it. Yun Ming never joked with her like that, nor would he make things up to coax her.
She was very worried, but didn't ask further.
When she and her father were needed, Yun Ming would naturally say so.
Yun Ming ignored Little Uncle's sideways glance and gently brushed the hair from her forehead. Her skin felt very cold when he touched it.
It was always cold, but today it was exceptionally so.
"Ill-mannered."
"Mm, ill-mannered... Uncle, if you're tired, you should rest. Here is fine, or back at my place is fine... I'll stay with you."
Yun Ming lowered his gaze, his eyes obscure.
The message he received from Senior Sister was that Little Uncle had suddenly fainted, which was why she went down the mountain to check on her condition.
Master had entrusted her with this matter beforehand, telling her not to publicize it and preferably keep it from Yun Ming until he returned.
But Ye Qingxuan felt... Master treated Yun Ming too much like a child.
She was responsible for Sui Bian Temple and many matters down the mountain, while the mountain was left to Xu Zhimo.
Although he was unreliable on a daily basis, Senior Brother was Senior Brother after all.
As for Yun Ming, he would let him stay with Little Uncle, considering it a punishment for his recklessness this time.