Chapter Eight: The Peach Blossoms Bloom Radiantly

If he continued to fall like this, he would become a complete wreck.

After struggling so hard to find someone to offer merit, he was unwilling to let him go so easily.

He painfully rose and headed toward the main peak, determined to find him himself. If the useless one was willing to come back, that would be best; if not, he had plenty of ways to make him.

“Disciple, what’s wrong? Why has your cultivation regressed?” Liu Ruohan stepped forward with great concern.

“Master, I have been worried about Senior Brother Lin and thus unable to concentrate on my cultivation, resulting in some fluctuations in my realm,” Qin Hao forced a worried expression.

“Damn it! It’s that useless fellow again. Rest assured, disciple, once he returns, I will punish him severely,” Liu Ruohan said through gritted teeth.

“Please, Master, allow your disciple to descend the mountain to seek Senior Brother Lin,” Qin Hao knelt and kowtowed earnestly.

This showed how sincere he was; after all, he only kowtowed like this for himself, so it was truly heartfelt.

“Sigh... very well. Be careful outside. Here is a spiritual talisman from me; it will protect you when you encounter strong enemies,” Liu Ruohan said, handing him a jade pendant taken from a storage ring, sighing deeply.

“Yes! Thank you, Master. I shall descend the mountain immediately.”

With that, Qin Hao left Peach Blossom Pavilion, just as Su Xiangling departed.

Liu Ruohan murmured softly, “It seems that retrieving that useless one will be quick. When that time comes, I’ll see what excuses you have.”

Elsewhere, before Lin Chen even left Xining Town, he encountered an elderly man with a full head of dark hair.

Beside him was a little girl like a porcelain doll, with two pigtail buns and sparkling big eyes, incredibly adorable.

However, her clothes were tattered, though clean and neatly washed, even a bit faded.

Begging earnestly, the old man insisted that the little girl accompany Lin Chen to cultivate.

“Sir, I myself endure wind and rain. If you let her follow me, she will suffer,” Lin Chen said with some hesitation.

The old man took a deep breath before slowly speaking, “My days are numbered. She has nowhere else to go. I beg you to take her in.”

Lin Chen did not refuse immediately but squatted down to patiently ask, “Little sister, your grandfather wants you to follow this brother. Do you wish to?”

“No. I want Grandpa,” the little girl refused without hesitation.

“See, she doesn’t want to. Besides, I’m just a beggar. Do you think she’ll have a good life with me?” Lin Chen explained slowly to the old man.

Suddenly, with a thud, the old man knelt and kowtowed, “Please take her.”

His eyes were full of reluctance, yet his decision was resolute.

Nearby, Fox Mei’er watched the little girl with a gentle face, eyes moving from nose to mouth.

She truly liked the little girl from her heart. Unfortunately, she was only a remnant soul; otherwise, she would have agreed immediately.

Lin Chen was deeply troubled. Having already left Peach Blossom Pavilion, the cultivation methods he had learned no longer made sense to use.

As for the techniques in the system, they were naturally formed and the little girl might not be able to cultivate them.

Just as he hesitated, the old man seemed to perceive his concerns and said, “Daoist, just give me some food; don’t worry about whether she can cultivate.”

Lin Chen helped the old man up and slowly said, “Alright! Take this one or two gold coins to handle your affairs.”

He then took out one or two gold coins and handed them to the old man.

The old man immediately retreated, saying, “Absolutely not. Being able to take her is already a blessing for this old man.”

With that, he turned and fled swiftly, moving with a speed no elderly person should possess. Lin Chen scratched his head, feeling cheated.

But it was too late to regret; the old man had vanished without a trace.

The little girl sat on the ground, crying loudly. Lin Chen tried to comfort her, but it was useless.

For a time, he didn’t know how to soothe her. Although he had the soul of a 25-year-old, he was still inexperienced in comforting children.

She kicked and rolled on the ground, throwing a tantrum. As night approached, she finally stopped crying under Fox Mei’er's comforting.

After they had left, the old man peeked out from a street corner, mumbling with a chuckle, “Heh heh heh... little one, this is as far as I can help you. From now on, it’s up to you.”

Then, like an arrow released from a bow, he disappeared into the town without a trace.

The journey was uneventful, except that the burden on the old donkey grew heavier.

Lin Chen dismounted and looked around to ensure no one was nearby before preparing to water the flowers.

Suddenly, Fox Mei’er’s light voice whispered, “Young master! Need me to help? You can’t see and might wet your pants!”

Lin Chen spat coldly one word: “Go away!”

He was utterly displeased, but thankfully Fox Mei’er only teased him with words.

Under the moonlight, they continued onward. The little girl was already fast asleep on the donkey’s back.

To others, it seemed as if she was sleeping suspended in the air, but Lin Chen clearly felt that Fox Mei’er had carried her all the way.

It was evident Fox Mei’er truly liked the little girl, whose name was Li Baoping.

As for her origins, she remembered nothing except that ill-intentioned old man.

Near dawn, they finally arrived at Qinghe Town. For some reason, Qinghe Town always felt like home.

With the rising sun illuminating the land, farmers went busily to their fields.

Lin Chen planned to find a place to settle with the little girl. Having such a young one following made wandering and rough living unsuitable.

Soon, they found a suitable courtyard. Inside stood a simple pavilion surrounded by four round stone stools arranged around a stone table.

Peach blossoms filled the sides of the pavilion, blooming in full glory, and the breeze carried their fragrance.

Further in were three exquisite rooms: the main house faced the orchard, with two side rooms built opposite each other.

Standing before the main house, all that met the eye were peach blossoms, and the valley outside bloomed with them as well.

Indeed, the name Peach Blossom Pavilion derived from the vast sea of peach blossoms covering the hills.

Lin Chen smiled, touching the little girl’s forehead. “Baoping, this will be our home now. Do you like it?”

Li Baoping nodded faintly but showed no joy from the new house, still burdened by the sorrow of parting.

Seeing this, Lin Chen comforted her further, “Your grandpa just wanted to go out and have some fun. When you grow up, we’ll find him together.”

“Grandpa said his days were numbered, didn’t he?” Li Baoping looked up at him softly.

“That’s what makes me angry. That old man lied to us. Have you ever seen someone with only a short time left run so fast?” Lin Chen said, clapping his hands.

Hearing this, Li Baoping finally smiled and said, “Brother Lin, don’t be mad. When we see grandpa next time, we’ll pull his beard together.”