Watching the Mountain

Ye Qingxue arrived.

A sweet smile graced her face, and she carried none of the majestic presence befitting a Golden Core Powerhouse. But she didn’t care in the slightest. In front of her Senior Brother Ye Shan, she was just an ordinary girl.

And so, she moved like one, her steps light and cheerful. She was like a little rabbit, hopping and skipping, twirling once, and then hopping and skipping again.

Her mood was as fiery and sweet as the blood-red dress she wore.

’The last time Senior Brother asked to meet me was nineteen thousand, five hundred, and thirty-five days ago. It’s been so long... but that doesn’t matter, because he asked to see me again today!’

When Xu Ran saw Ye Qingxue approaching with such a sweet, joyful gait, a vein throbbed on his forehead. He had a bad feeling about this.

And just as he’d expected, one moment Ye Qingxue was calling out to Ye Shan with a sweet smile, "Senior Brother."

Her voice was so sweet it could make your teeth ache.

The very next moment, however, her gaze fell upon the young boy, Ye Shu, standing beside Ye Shan. Her expression froze, and her eyes narrowed.

A dark, blood-red aura began to seep from her body, followed by a killing intent so potent it was almost tangible. The world around them instantly fell silent.

Watching from the side, Xu Ran couldn’t help but recall the feeling of facing Ye Shan’s Sword of Death.

It was like being trapped in a crimson hell—oppressive and suffocating.

He finally understood why Ye Qingxue was called the Pill-Digging Witch. ’The digging is just what she does,’ he thought. ’The "Witch" part is who she is.’

’Is this the Cultivation Technique she created herself?’

’So it’s true,’ he thought. ’These obsessive types really do emit a black aura.’

Fortunately, Ye Shan spoke up just in time. "Junior Sister," he said, "sense it for yourself. This child does not share my bloodline."

Hearing this, Ye Qingxue’s imposing aura faltered. She stared intently at Ye Shu, who stood beside Ye Shan. A moment later, the dark, blood-red energy receded, and she was once again a sweet, lovely girl.

"Senior Brother, I’m so sorry. I think I lost control of my cultivation for a moment. You don’t mind, do you, Senior Brother?"

She was like a younger sister who had misbehaved, trying to earn her brother’s forgiveness with a cute pout.

Xu Ran, who had been watching from the side, let out a sigh of relief. That instant had been the closest he’d ever come to death. Not even sparring with Ye Shan had filled him with such a hellish, chilling terror.

Ye Shan waved his hand. "No need to explain, Junior Sister. I know perfectly well what kind of person you are."

"Th-that’s not... Senior Brother, please let me explain, I really..." Hearing his words, Ye Qingxue panicked, wringing her hands helplessly.

’Did I just ruin the one chance Senior Brother gave me to meet with him?’

She was so anxious she was on the verge of tears.

Just then, Ye Shan spoke slowly, "I have a favor to ask of you."

"Anything, Senior Brother," Ye Qingxue said, instantly perking up. Her eyes burned with anticipation as she stared at Ye Shan.

’This is the first time in forever Senior Brother has asked me for help! I have to do a perfect job and make him happy.’

Watching Ye Qingxue’s reaction, Xu Ran couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh to himself.

’This Witch... she’s acting so servile. It’s almost pitiful.’

Ye Qingxue had been eagerly anticipating her senior brother’s request. But when he finished explaining that he wanted her to take the boy as her disciple, she hesitated.

’I just want to be alone with Senior Brother. I don’t like having anyone else around.’

’But... this is something Senior Brother is asking of me...’

Her gaze fell on the young boy, Ye Shu, and she began to study him closely.

’This child looks a bit like Senior Brother did when he was young. Especially his eyes... they’re so dark and bright, so beautiful. Just like Senior Brother’s.’

Seeing his resemblance to Ye Shan, her resistance softened, though she still hesitated.

"But Senior Brother, I’ve never taught a disciple before. I wouldn’t even know where to begin."

Ye Shan waved his hand, his expression calm. "That’s fine. Just raise him as if he were our child."

"Our... child?" Hearing this, the Little Witch’s face flushed crimson. She lowered her head and mumbled shyly,

"S-Senior Brother, why... why would you suddenly say something like that? We... we haven’t... not yet... Hehehe."

Ye Shan’s expression remained calm as he continued, "You’ve noticed it too, haven’t you? The boy resembles both of us. His eyes are like mine, and his chin and forehead are a bit like yours."

Ye Qingxue froze, her gaze falling back onto Ye Shu to study him once more.

She had only noticed his resemblance to a young Ye Shan, but now, hearing his words, she looked closer... and realized he was right.

Ye Shu’s forehead and chin did bear a faint resemblance to her own.

’So... he really is Senior Brother’s and my... ch-ch-child?’

Ye Qingxue’s face grew even redder, and her entire body felt scalding hot, as if she’d been doused in boiling water. She could even hear the wildly joyful pounding of her own heart.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down before speaking. "I can take him as my disciple, but... having you accompany me for only one day is not enough."

She held up three fingers, then, after a thought, lowered one. She didn’t dare push her senior brother too hard.

"Two days. How about two days? If you agree to that, Senior Brother, then I’ll do it."

Hearing the Little Witch’s offer, Xu Ran couldn’t help but palm his forehead, utterly speechless.

’The Little Witch is just pitiful,’ he thought. ’She’s so starved for affection that she’ll take any scraps she can get.’

Ye Shan seemed to ponder this for a long time before finally nodding. "Alright. Two days it is."

Xu Ran shook his head again. ’Ye Shan has really changed for the worse. Back then, he’d casually toss me Elixirs, but he’s so harsh and devious with his junior sister. This isn’t the Ye Shan I knew at all.’

The Little Witch was overjoyed, but then she asked hesitantly, "So when you say I need to raise him to a standard that satisfies you, what exactly does that mean?"

"My standards aren’t high. If he can achieve just ten percent of the flair I had in my youth, I’ll consider you to have passed."

The Little Witch immediately shook her head. "That’s impossible! Senior Brother, given your extraordinary flair, there’s no one in this world who could even match one ten-thousandth of it, let alone a full ten percent!"

"You exaggerate, Junior Sister. I, Ye Shan, may be proud, but I don’t underestimate the rest of the world. There are others who can compare to me."

"How could that be possible? I don’t believe you."

"Have you forgotten, Junior Sister? There’s still Senior Sister Yue."

At these words, the Little Witch’s imposing manner faltered. She considered herself peerless in appearance, temperament, and talent.

But Senior Sister Yue seemed otherworldly. In her presence, even Ye Qingxue had to concede inferiority.

"Senior Sister Yue doesn’t count. She’s a woman."

Ye Shan smiled faintly. "Then what about the Evergreen Sword Saint who recently rose to fame in the Sect? To say he has half of my old flair wouldn’t be an overstatement, would it?"

"Well..." The Little Witch hesitated.

Then, Ye Shan continued with a smile, "Oh, right. I forgot to tell you, Junior Sister. That Evergreen Sword Saint? He was trained by my Junior Brother Xu, right here."