Watching the Mountain

Chapter 76: Chapter 69: Xiyue’s Tenderness

No one else knew about the matter between Xu Ran and Qing Xuan Master, so naturally, no one came looking for him.

Not even Wang Xiaohu had come to see him since their last encounter.

This allowed him to return to his quiet life, spending his days either in the Scripture Pavilion or cultivating.

To his delight, Little Xiyue, who had been away exploring ancient ruins and Cave Mansions, had finally returned.

She had been gone for so long that Xu Ran had been constantly worried she might have run into danger.

In the Cultivation Realm, exploring ancient ruins and Cave Mansions was one of the most dangerous activities. Not only did many of these sites contain hazardous Restrictions, but there was also the risk of a sudden sneak attack from one’s companions. Every time one teamed up to explore an ancient Cave Mansion, it was a test of human nature.

Even after successfully exiting an ancient Cave Mansion, one had to worry about others finding out or being seen, which could lead to being murdered for whatever treasures they had found.

That was why Xu Ran had been firmly against it when Little Xiyue first said she wanted to explore an ancient Cave Mansion. If she wanted any treasure, she could have just told him, and he would have redeemed it for her from the Sect Treasure Vault. After all, he had plenty of Contribution Points.

Unfortunately, Little Xiyue had been just as resolute. She said that treasures and rewards were secondary; what she truly wanted was to experience the process of exploration and to study the Array Restrictions within those ancient Cave Mansions. For an Array Master like her, it was a rare opportunity for hands-on learning.

She had also said that she’d relied on her master to provide for her when she was little. Now that she was grown up, she couldn’t keep letting him support her.

This made Xu Ran sigh inwardly. ’Why do children have to grow up? It would be so much better if she stayed little forever. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about this and that all day long.’

”How was your expedition to the ancient Cave Mansion? Were you injured?”

At Xu Ran’s question, Little Xiyue rolled her eyes in exasperation. ”Master, shouldn’t you ask about my gains first? Besides, everyone who went with me to explore the ancient Cave Mansion were fellow disciples. We were the only ones with the treasure map and the key to open it. We didn’t fight anyone, so how could I have gotten hurt? You worry far too much.”

”Even without outsiders, the ancient Cave Mansion itself isn’t safe. There were so many Restrictions and various traps. Some even have guardian Demon Beasts.”

”I’m an Array Master, Master. You’re underestimating me.”

”Alright, alright. In that case, what were your gains this time?”

Xu Ran waved his hand. Any gains were completely unimportant compared to Little Xiyue’s safety.

Still, her words put his heart at ease, so he indulged her and asked about her gains.

At this question, a joyful expression lit up Little Xiyue’s fair little face. She squinted, her eyes crinkling with a smile as she replied:

”The gains were excellent! The ancient Cave Mansion was quite old, but many of the things set up inside were very well-preserved. The Array Restrictions, especially, were a real eye-opener. I only took so long because I was studying those Array Restrictions; otherwise, I could have returned much earlier.”

”I see. As long as you had some gains, that’s what matters.” Xu Ran casually agreed, happy for her in his heart.

In the days after Little Xiyue’s return, Xu Ran noticed that she was always frowning, looking quite distressed.

When this continued for several days, Xu Ran finally couldn’t help but ask, ”Is something bothering you?”

Little Xiyue shook her head, her voice tinged with frustration as she replied, ”I just ran into a few problems while studying Arrays and can’t figure out how to solve them.”

Xu Ran paused. ”What problems? Tell your master. Perhaps I can give you some ideas.”

In truth, when it came to the subject of Arrays, Little Xiyue was Xu Ran’s teacher, and a clumsy student her master was. She had been teaching him for a long time, yet he had only barely managed to reach the threshold of a Tier One Array Master.

However, upon hearing Xu Ran’s words, she didn’t hesitate in the slightest and laid out her problem.

She didn’t expect her master to be able to help her, but since he had offered, she had to tell him out of politeness and respect. If she didn’t, it would crush his enthusiasm and make him sad.

”Your disciple has been researching some large-scale Arrays recently. The problem is with the long-distance transmission of Spiritual Power from earth-veins and balancing spatial nodes...”

Little Xiyue knew her master well, so as she explained the problem, she did her best to use simple, straightforward language, lest it be too profound and leave him completely bewildered.

After hearing Little Xiyue’s problem, Xu Ran paused. He understood the issue she had raised, and a phrase instantly popped into his mind: ’Local area network.’

”I think perhaps you could try giving up on concentrating the Spiritual Power in a single direction, and instead let the adjacent earth-vein nodes...”

From the very beginning, Little Xiyue listened attentively. Even if what her master said was wrong, she would still hear him out with the utmost seriousness.

She immediately fell into deep thought. After a long while, she snapped out of her contemplation and stared at Xu Ran with a look of delighted surprise, exclaiming, ”Master, you’re truly a genius!”

Hearing Little Xiyue’s words, Xu Ran was momentarily stunned. He asked, almost in disbelief, ”So you’re saying that the approach I just mentioned is actually feasible?”

”Of course! It solves all the problems. Master, you’re amazing!”

At that moment, Xu Ran finally understood how a father must feel when his daughter’s praise makes him feel like he’s on top of the world.

He wasn’t the type of person to get carried away by a single compliment, but if the one praising him was Little Xiyue, it was another matter entirely.

The feeling was truly wonderful.

Little Xiyue was momentarily taken aback by Xu Ran’s reaction, then she fell into deep thought, her heart filled with complex emotions.

As she grew older and experienced more, a certain question had come to her mind.

When she was young, her personality was both sensitive and headstrong. This had caused her master to always tiptoe around her, carefully accommodating her to avoid any action or word that might touch her sensitive heart and make her unhappy.

She knew that, because she had been abandoned as a child, she had been incredibly difficult to get along with and even harder to grow close to.

But ever since she had come to be with her master, he had never once touched upon the things she resisted in the depths of her heart, nor had he ever said a single word that would make her erupt or become unhappy.

He always indulged her disposition and respected everything about her.

Just thinking about it made her realize how much thought he must have put in to ensure she never felt wronged.

After all, she was only someone her mother had entrusted to him. He didn’t actually need to be so serious and responsible, but he had done it anyway.

Thinking about it now, she realized that she, his disciple, had never once let her master enjoy the fun of being a master; she had only ever been unilaterally cared for by him.

So much time had passed, and Little Xiyue suddenly felt that her childhood self had been rather ridiculous. ’So what if I was abandoned by my birth parents? What was there to care so much about?’

’Since someone was willing to take me in, I should have let down my inner defenses, wholeheartedly accepted his kindness, and grown close to him. Instead, I put on a stern face and acted resistant. Why did I have to be so headstrong?’

’What past experience could ever compare to the person right here beside me?’

Especially when she thought about her master’s talent... She didn’t know how far he could go on his path of cultivation, or how much longer he had to live.

But she felt that, as his disciple, she had a duty to ensure her master could enjoy the fun of being a master in the time he had left.

’Master has always been the one accommodating me. Now, it’s my turn to accommodate him.’

Little Xiyue’s eyes curved into a pair of beautiful crescents. She nodded vigorously at Xu Ran and said with a serious expression:

”It seems your disciple was too narrow-minded before. When I encounter a problem, I should consult you more often, Master. You may not understand Arrays well, but you can still point your disciple in the right direction.”

”Of course. I am your master, after all.”