The Programmer Cultivator

"Um, if I recall correctly, shouldn’t the Cyan Feather Green Ship have a dedicated Wind Attribute floating platform?" Zhang Deming asked, watching the disciples board one after another.

Song Huidong nodded and said, "As one of the Sect’s signature Magical Artifacts, how could it not have such basic functions? The Cyan Feather Green Ship’s Floating Array Platform is even extra-large."

"Then what are we doing here? Wouldn’t it be more convenient and faster to have them use the floating platform?" Zhang Deming asked in confusion.

Song Huidong glanced around and said in a low voice, "This seems to be a custom. As for why, I have no idea."

Hearing this, Zhang Deming was slightly taken aback. ’A sense of ceremony? For show? Or what the hell?’

"Masters, the boarding is guarded by a dedicated team from the Array Department, so there is no need for you to worry. Please, come this way with me." A Tai Chi Disciple came to Zhang Deming and Song Huidong’s side, bowed respectfully, and spoke.

The two of them paused for a moment. They then stopped paying attention to the boarding disciples and followed their guide into a large hall. Inside, several other disciples were already seated quietly.

On the main seat of the hall, Guan Shouxin was resting with his eyes closed. The disciples in the hall were clustered together in pairs or small groups. Each of them sat quietly, waiting in silence.

The guiding disciple came to a low table not far from the main seat, looked at Zhang Deming and Song Huidong, and said, "Although the Cyan Feather Green Ship is quite fast, we are acting as an Honor Guard this time, so we won’t be traveling very fast.

Therefore, it will take roughly half a day to a full day to reach the Bai Shu Sect. So, you two Masters can rest here."

Zhang Deming and Song Huidong glanced around, nodded, and said, "Alright."

The disciple bowed and retreated.

Zhang Deming looked at Yang Guangfu and Qin Shizhong, who had been following behind him, and said, "You two don’t have to keep following me. If you have nothing to do, you can go and mingle with the Inner Sect Disciples outside."

Yang Guangfu revealed his signature friendly smile and said, "Thank you for your concern, Master, but I would rather remain here and serve you.

Most of the disciples outside are newly promoted in recent years. I don’t really have any connection to them, so we probably wouldn’t have much to talk about.

So even if I went out, I would just be standing around awkwardly. If you don’t find my presence a bother, Master, I’ll just stay here and attend to you."

Zhang Deming paused, looked at Qin Shizhong, and asked, "And you?"

Qin Shizhong also smiled and said, "I’ll stay and attend to you as well, Master."

Zhang Deming replied, "Suit yourselves."

With that said, Zhang Deming and Song Huidong sat down on the round cushions before them, while Qin Shizhong and Yang Guangfu stood quietly behind.

Of the two, one was Zhang Deming’s signal tower, and the other he had brought along in case he needed someone to run errands.

Song Huidong glanced at the two standing behind them, then waved a hand to activate a sound-proofing Protective Array around their table. He then turned to Zhang Deming and asked, "Junior Brother Zhang, you still don’t have any Children to attend to you at your Flying Spring Waterfall Tower? I seem to recall giving an order about that before."

The expressions on Qin Shizhong and Yang Guangfu’s faces shifted slightly, and they snuck a glance at Song Huidong.

Zhang Deming paused for a moment and replied, "Yes, I was asked about it before. I’m used to living alone, so I declined. Besides, bringing these two along works just as well."

"Haha, you really should take a few. Many of the junior members from the various Inner Sect families are fighting tooth and nail to get assigned to our Spirit Nurturing Peak. It’s not a difficult matter.

If you like living alone and aren’t used to having people attending to you in the Flying Spring Waterfall Tower, it’s fine to arrange for them to stay outside.

Once you accept the Children, you don’t necessarily have to keep them with you at all times. But if you need an errand runner when you go out, or just someone by your side, it’s much more convenient."

Behind them, Yang Guangfu shot Song Huidong a resentful look, his face a mask of bitterness. He desperately wanted to say:

’Master Song, how much did those families pay you to be pushing people on us this hard! Our Flying Spring Waterfall Cliff is already crowded enough. We don’t even have room for our mounts anymore. Give us a break!’

Zhang Deming smiled and said, "That’s true. We’ll see. I was just worried it would be a hassle. Besides, I don’t really like being surrounded by a bunch of little kids all the time. No matter how well-behaved they are, it just feels... strange."

Song Huidong paused at his words, then asked doubtfully, "Strange? Don’t tell me, Junior Brother Zhang..."

Seeing Song Huidong’s odd expression, Zhang Deming’s face twitched. "Senior Brother Song, what on earth are you thinking? It seems managing Spirit Nurturing Peak has really... broadened your horizons."

Song Huidong paused for a moment. "Then what did you mean?"

"Maybe it’s because I came from the secular world and my own Spirit Root isn’t good," Zhang Deming said. "I just feel that kids that age haven’t even reached the years of sensibility yet. They should be in their innocent years, not ordered around like that."

Song Huidong gave Zhang Deming a stunned look. "Junior Brother Zhang, that way of thinking is truly...

The ones who can be sent to our Spirit Nurturing Peak to serve as Children are either geniuses from the major Inner Sect families or outstanding prospects found by the Spirit Root Detection Department.

With their precocious Spirit Roots, kids like that already have mature minds by the time they’re eight or nine. They’re not that young anymore.

Besides, a Child Attendant... all they do is serve tea and water. For anything slightly more strenuous, don’t you have a whole group of disciples at your cliff? Would you really let a Child do hard labor?

Plus, by being around you often, they can gain a lot of benefits. It’s a close relationship, just like with an Inner Disciple. How is it that when you talk about it, Junior Brother Zhang, you make it sound like you’re going to abuse the Child?"