NOVEL NEXT WORLD chapter 203
203. Ruo’er, the Immortals, and Lin Nuo
(3,000 characters, long!)
Li Ruo’er’s actions were observed by the two immortals. It was rare for someone to interact so naturally with numerous spirit beasts, and for spirit beasts with different temperaments to get along harmoniously.
These two immortals came from Purple Valley Peak, a renowned immortal mountain, a place of fairyland. In the peak, there are some immortals with high cultivation, unlike Tianling Mountain, which establishes sects and factions. Immortals also take disciples, but the requirements are extremely high. One must have immortal roots, talent, and also catch the eye of the immortals.
From the centuries of experience of Purple Valley Peak, those who are selected to enter Purple Valley Peak are guaranteed to embark on the path of immortality and become renowned immortals.
The immortals of Purple Valley Peak have exchanges and connections with Xuanyun Sect. Every few years, the immortals of Purple Valley Peak visit Xuanyun Sect to see the progress of Xuanyun Sect over the years, and also to provide some guidance. Sometimes, they also bring some mystical spirit stones to Xuanyun Sect.
If Xuanyun Sect has outstanding disciples who catch the eye of the immortals of Purple Valley Peak, they can go to Purple Valley Peak for cultivation, which is what many disciples of Xuanyun Sect long for.
The two immortals, one male and one female, would be over fifty years old in human age. However, having absorbed the immortal spirit of the peak and valley and being protected by immortal arts, they still look very young, like handsome men and beautiful women in their twenties.
“Is she really just a maid? Has she ever received any cultivation?” the male immortal asked.
“No, she has always been serving as a maid to the inner disciple Lin Nuo. Although she is of the fox clan, she lacks the wisdom root and is not suitable for cultivation,” replied Sect Master Zhao.
“May we talk to her?” the female immortal asked.
“Yes, if she is willing.”
So the three of them changed their direction and turned towards Li Ruo’er.
The spirit beasts, seeing Sect Master Zhao bringing the immortals over, sensibly made way, including the white tiger raised by Sect Master Zhao, which approached Sect Master Zhao.
Sect Master Zhao petted the white tiger, and the white tiger retreated to the side.
“Mm~? Greetings, Sect Master~!”
Li Ruo’er greeted politely. The approachable Sect Master Zhao smiled and said:
“Hello, Ruo’er. Thank you for taking care of so many spirit beasts.”
“It’s nothing, they just suddenly came over, and I fed them some meat floss cakes. But unexpectedly, they liked it~”
“Mm? They actually eat common snacks?”
Sect Master Zhao found it strange. These spirit beasts are picky eaters, how could they like common snacks?
It seems this little girl really has a knack for taking care of spirit beasts.
“Little girl, what’s your name?” the female immortal asked.
“My name is Li Ruo’er, sister~”
The well-behaved Li Ruo’er responded.
“Li Ruo’er, good. My name is Dong Xiyan, I am an immortal from Purple Valley Peak. Little girl, you haven’t cultivated, how can you manage so many spirit beasts?” Dong Xiyan asked.
“Mm… it’s not really managing, I just communicate with them normally.”
“Communicate? You understand their language?”
“Yes, actually they are quite lonely usually, so I just chat with them~” Li Ruo’er smiled.
“Can understand the language of spirit beasts.”
Dong Xiyan looked at her male immortal companion, and they nodded to each other.
Dong Xiyan squatted down and continued to speak to Li Ruo’er:
“Little girl, may I check your immortal quality?”
“Ah, Immortal Quality? What is that~?”
Li Ruo’er was very puzzled. She had never cultivated before, and terms like Immortal Quality and Spiritual Roots were all confusing to her.
Dong Xiyan responded, “It refers to whether one has the physique suitable for becoming an immortal.”
“Ah, I’m just an ordinary maid, it’s impossible for me to become an immortal.”
Li Ruo’er waved her hands repeatedly, knowing her own limitations. She didn’t have the wisdom root, couldn’t cultivate, let alone become an immortal.
Moreover, the young master had once said that he dreamed of becoming an immortal, but even he hadn’t achieved it, so it was even more impossible for her. (Lin Nuo: ???)
“Ruo’er, just give it a try. The method won’t harm your body, and it won’t take much of your time,” said Master Zhao, stroking his beard with a smile.
“Um… alright then…”
Li Ruo’er was kind-hearted and not good at refusing others, especially when facing immortals and the sect master. Since Master Zhao had said so, it wouldn’t hurt to try.
“What should I do?”
“Little girl, just sit properly, and I’ll perform a small ritual for you.”
Dong Xiyan said, and Li Ruo’er followed her instructions, sitting quietly and obediently. She was a bit nervous, as she had never experienced such things before.
Dong Xiyan’s hand fell on Li Ruo’er’s palm, closed her eyes, and softly chanted incantations. Soon, a spiritual light emanated from Li Ruo’er’s hand, and Dong Xiyan began to use spiritual methods to probe Li Ruo’er’s Immortal Quality.
The examination was quick, and the ritual ended in a short while.
Dong Xiyan didn’t reveal the conclusion, but slightly stood up and signaled to the male immortal beside her. The two then walked to the side to discuss something.
“How is it?” the male immortal asked.
“This little girl is an Immortal Fox, has an Immortal Root, and isn’t as unsuitable for cultivation as Master Zhao said. In fact, she has some cultivation, but it’s not high.”
“Has cultivation? Didn’t they say she hadn’t cultivated before?”
“That’s why it’s strange, but it also shows this girl’s extraordinariness. She seems young, and with careful guidance, her potential could be tapped. Moreover, she’s not a disciple of Xuanyun Sect, and they haven’t trained her. I plan to take her in, and it wouldn’t be considered stealing Xuanyun Sect’s talent. What do you think?”
“Is it possible? Even if she agrees, can we take her back to Zigu Peak? Would our master and other immortals accept her?” the male immortal asked worriedly.
“That’s not a concern. Although her cultivation is low now, she has the potential to be a promising talent in the future, especially since she’s an Immortal Fox. It shouldn’t be a big problem.”
After discussing with the male immortal, Dong Xiyan decided to try taking Li Ruo’er back to Zigu Peak.
Dong Xiyan informed Master Zhao of the results of the Immortal Root examination, and Master Zhao was surprised:
“Ruo’er actually has cultivation, but she hasn’t undergone any training.”
“Maybe her young master taught her,” Dong Xiyan said. “Master Zhao, do you think this is feasible?”
“She’s not a disciple of our sect, so you don’t need my permission. You can ask her directly.”
“Alright.”
Dong Xiyan walked back to Li Ruo’er, squatted down slightly, and smiled:
“Little girl, you have an Immortal Root. Although your cultivation is low now, with proper training, you might become an immortal in the future. Would you like to come back to Zigu Peak with me to cultivate?”
“Ah? Cultivation…!”
Li Ruo’er was flattered and surprised. She never thought she would be detected to have an immortal root, let alone go for cultivation.
But if she could cultivate, she might get closer to the young master, and have the opportunity to go out with him in the future, instead of just staying at Tianling Mountain silently waiting for the young master to return as a little maid.
However, she had some concerns and said:
“But I can’t make the decision. It needs the young master’s consent. If the young master is willing to let me go, then we can talk about it. After all, I am the young master’s little maid.”
“Yes, Lin Nuo should make the decision,” Sect Master Zhao interjected. “Lin Nuo is quite famous in the sect, and he is an open-minded disciple. If you talk to him properly, he might agree. However, he is not at Tianling Mountain right now.”
“No problem, we can wait for him to come back.”
The matter was settled for now. The two immortals stayed at Tianling Mountain, waiting for Lin Nuo to return, and then they would discuss the matter of cultivating Li Ruo’er together.
…
Yugu Town, Huitian Casino.
“You owe so much, how are you going to repay it?”
“Let me gamble one more time, one more time, I can win it back.”
“Win? Pay back what you owe first.”
Several strong men pressed down a poorly dressed man. The casino owner shoved the IOU in his face, so he could see clearly how much he owed.
Unknowingly, he had owed thousands of gold coins, which was a huge amount. Even families with better financial conditions would find it hard to come up with so much money.
“How are you going to repay this money?”
“I… let me gamble one more time, I can win…”
“Fine, put your fingerprint here, and I’ll let you gamble one more time.”
The owner took out a piece of paper. The gambler didn’t look at it much and pressed his fingerprint on it. Then the owner let him gamble one more time, but he lost again.
“Alright, tie him up and throw him into some underground workshop as a laborer.”
The owner ordered, and his men immediately tied up the gambler and locked him in a small room.
The owner smiled and looked at the paper with the gambler’s fingerprint.
The paper clearly stated that his adopted daughter would repay part of the debt. As a result, he lost again, and his adopted daughter was also lost.
“Li Ruo’er, where is she now?”
“Reporting to the boss, she is now serving as a maid for Lin Nuo, the third son of the Lin family, and has gone to Tianling Mountain Xuan Yun Sect with him. It is said that this Li Ruo’er is from the fox clan.”
“Fox clan? That is valuable. If she is an immortal fox, she is even more valuable.”
The owner laughed, “Xuan Yun Sect, good. There must be many valuable things in this sect. Take this IOU and go to Tianling Mountain. Find Lin Nuo in person. If he can help repay the debt, extort him a bit more. If not, take Li Ruo’er away. The disciples of Xuan Yun Sect are always upright and honest. I don’t believe he can default on the debt.”
“Yes, boss!”
Several strong men took the IOU and immediately set off for Tianling Mountain. Yugu Town was not far from Tianling Mountain, so they should arrive soon.
Extort Lin Nuo a bit, and if that doesn’t work, take Li Ruo’er. With the IOU in hand, the disciples of Xuan Yun Sect wouldn’t dare to default on the debt.
……
Almost at Tianling Mountain, but Lin Nuo had no spiritual power left to control the flying sword, so he had to dismount and walk back.
“If I had the resources, I would definitely create a sword that could fly continuously.”
Lin Nuo complained. Now, having changed into a white robe and removed his makeup, he was a clean-looking disciple of the Xuanyun Sect.
However, flying with a sword was still a bit embarrassing.
Suddenly, he encountered several strong men on the road.
These people seemed familiar.
Hmm?
He seemed to recall some things, some unpleasant memories.
Those men approached him and asked:
“Brother, are you a disciple of the Xuanyun Sect?”
“Yes,” Lin Nuo nodded.
“Do you know Lin Nuo?” the big man continued to ask.
Hmm?
It seems to be you guys, no mistake, the debt collectors.