Chapter 296: My Sister Doesn’t Know Any Better, Please Forgive Her
“Who’s your sister?”
“Stop being so presumptuous.”
Mu Sanniang’s voice was colder than ever.
Chen An was stunned. He lowered his head, trying to discern any unusual emotions from the girl’s small face.
But Mu Sanniang hid her feelings well, or rather, she was always accustomed to wearing a poker face.
Those two sentences were quite hurtful.
And to make matters worse, she had torn their relationship apart in front of an outsider, showing no mercy.
Chen An thought that if it were a boy his age, he surely wouldn’t feel good right now.
Even he, knowing the true meaning hidden behind Sanniang’s words, still felt his heart tighten, a dull ache blooming within him.
Beside them, Dao Xuan Zhenren didn’t rush to speak, merely observing silently.
He was curious about what choice this little boy would make in such a situation.
Would it be disappointment from rejection?
Or anger from being unable to accept it?
But to his surprise, the boy’s face showed no negative emotions at all.
Instead, he smiled.
The boy lowered his head, bringing his face close to the girl’s ear.
His voice was soft, with no hint of anger.
“Sister isn’t being good today. Children who don’t listen get spanked.”
Hearing this, Mu Sanniang bit her lip, her expression finally faltering.
She wiped her eyes with her hand, her voice already laced with a hint of tears.
“Who asked you to interfere!”
“And I’m not your sister…”
The girl struggled, trying to get up.
However, she had expended too much energy climbing the mountain and now had little strength left, so she could only let Chen An hold her tightly.
The little boy held her very tightly, just as he had when he carried her up the mountain.
The smile on his lips deepened.
He slowly stood up and bowed towards Dao Xuan Zhenren.
“My sister doesn’t know any better, please forgive her, Immortal Master.”
After speaking, Chen An wasted no more time and turned to descend the mountain.
Since the Tai Xuan Sect was unwilling to take Mu Sanniang in, he naturally wouldn’t stay alone.
As he had said before, he would just go and seek refuge with the Joyful Union… no, that’s not right, the Great Heaven and Earth Yin-Yang Harmony Sect.
At least Jiang Qiuchi was willing to take them both in.
As for cultivation matters later on, he would figure something out.
With these thoughts resolved, Chen An felt a sense of clarity. The mountain wind blowing against him no longer felt biting, but refreshing.
In his embrace, the girl seemed to sense his actions and began to struggle more violently.
Her small face, no longer expressionless, now showed a trace of anxiety.
“Let me down…”
“An An, be good, okay? I can wait for you in Yunji Town by myself. Just come down to see me when you have time…”
These words in Chen An’s ears brought back a wave of unpleasant memories.
He remembered that dilapidated small courtyard.
He remembered the promise that young girl had made under the locust tree.
So Chen An glared at her, waved his little hand, and slapped her on the rear.
“If sister dares to talk nonsense again, I’ll punish you severely when we get back tonight!”
The slap wasn’t hard, but it made a crisp sound. The girl felt a slight blush on her face.
Ignoring the embarrassment of being disciplined by her younger brother, she stubbornly raised her head, unwilling to let him give up this hard-won immortal opportunity.
Mu Sanniang opened her mouth, wanting to say something.
At this moment, a man’s laughter echoed from behind them.
“Little doll, where are you going?”
It was Dao Xuan Zhenren.
He stroked his beard and chuckled, clearly in a good mood.
Chen An turned around, his expression one of puzzlement.
Seeing this, Dao Xuan Zhenren stopped playing coy and said with a smile, “I only said your sister couldn’t enter the Inner Sect, I didn’t say she couldn’t join my Tai Xuan Sect.”
“I have a compromise. Would you like to hear it?”
Dao Xuan Zhenren’s words made Chen An’s eyes light up.
He quickly stopped in his tracks and respectfully said, “Please guide me, Immortal Master.”
Dao Xuan Zhenren chuckled twice and continued, “You will, of course, follow me into the Inner Sect and inherit my legacy. As for your sister, I can make an exception and allow her to join the Outer Sect of my Tai Xuan Sect as a menial disciple.”
“What do you think?”
Upon hearing this, Chen An’s expression froze.
“Menial disciple?”
He asked reflexively.
“Yes, menial disciple.”
Dao Xuan Zhenren nodded and explained, “Although she will be an Outer Sect menial disciple, there will be a selection every three years. As long as she performs exceptionally well, she can enter the Inner Sect and officially cultivate our Tai Xuan Sect’s secret techniques.”
“Moreover, in the Outer Sect, there will still be instructors who give regular lectures, teaching basic cultivation techniques and guiding new disciples. She will just need to do some chores like tending to the spirit fields and caring for spirit beasts.”
As Dao Xuan Zhenren spoke, his tone was not arrogant, but factual.
Because this girl’s aptitude was indeed too poor.
Even entering the Outer Sect, she would far from meet the requirements.
For example, those young men and women still struggling to climb the mountain below were the ones who should be the prime candidates for Outer Sect disciples.
Seeing a flicker of hesitation on the boy’s face, Dao Xuan Zhenren added, “You don’t have to rush to refuse. Think it over carefully.”
“Besides, once you join the Tai Xuan Sect, whether Inner or Outer, you are only separated by a mountain. It’s better than you and your sister being separated by the mortal and immortal realms.”
The conditions offered by Dao Xuan Zhenren were undoubtedly very sincere.
In fact, as the esteemed sect master, he was willing to haggle with a child here, which was enough to leave the attendant beside them wide-eyed with astonishment.
He was also thinking to himself, it seemed this little boy’s potential was far beyond his imagination!
The atmosphere in the pavilion fell into a brief silence.
The boy’s expression flickered.
After a moment, a slightly hoarse female voice sounded.
It was Mu Sanniang’s voice.
“I am willing.”
Chen An lowered his head and looked at her.
The girl’s eyes were wide open, her small hands tightly gripping his clothes.
Her eyes, rarely, held a plea.
“Brother, let it be this way. I am already very satisfied with this outcome.”
Chen An’s expression remained conflicted, and he refused to speak.
To be honest, he also knew clearly that this was likely the best outcome they could achieve at the moment.
But he still found it somewhat difficult to accept.
Chen An frowned and thought carefully. Suddenly, he turned to the man with the sword behind him and asked, “Immortal Master, if I join the Tai Xuan Sect, can I still visit my sister in the Outer Sect anytime?”
The boy’s meticulousness and concern did not annoy Dao Xuan Zhenren; instead, it made him even happier.
Pure-hearted and exceptionally talented.
From all perspectives, he was a rare gem found once in a millennium.
And for such a small request, Dao Xuan Zhenren certainly wouldn’t object.
He said, “There has always been the rule that the Outer Sect cannot arbitrarily enter the Inner Sect.”
He didn’t finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.
Thus, Chen An no longer hesitated and said in a low voice,
“Thank you, Immortal Master.”
Dao Xuan Zhenren raised an eyebrow. “Immortal Master?”
Chen An paused, then corrected himself.
“Thank you, Master!”
