Bai Lingxiao: "..." Little brat!

Hearing this, Zhang Jingmo laughed loudly. He picked up Lu Guijiu and sighed, "Not a little kid anymore. In a few more years, you'll be too embarrassed to let your master hold you."

Lu Guijiu said, "No way, I want Master to hold me forever. If Master can't hold me anymore, then I'll hold Master instead!"

The brilliant smile on Zhang Jingmo's face froze a little upon hearing these words, apparently thinking of certain mental images...

But this stiffness in expression only lasted a moment. Zhang Jingmo quickly regained his composure, of course also putting Lu Guijiu, who was in his arms, back on the ground.

Zhang Jingmo said, "Senior Brother, let's prepare for the pill refinement."

Bai Lingxiao nodded and said, "If there's anything I can help with, just say so."

Zhang Jingmo naturally wouldn't stand on ceremony. He indeed needed Bai Lingxiao's help in refining the Molten Fire Pill this time.

After saying a few more words to Bai Lingxiao, Zhang Jingmo took Lu Guijiu back to his own cave abode.

Not having seen each other for five years, the child had become a youth. While asking Lu Guijiu if anything major had happened during these five years, Zhang Jingmo also checked Lu Guijiu's cultivation. Although Zhang Jingmo had long been mentally prepared for Lu Guijiu's talent, he was still shocked.

In five years, Lu Guijiu had actually advanced from the third level of Qi Refining all the way to the fourth level.

On the path of cultivation, the further along, the greater the difficulty. An eleven-year-old at the fourth level of Qi Refining - one could probably count such monstrous geniuses in the entire continent on one hand.

And the most terrifying thing was that Lu Guijiu was not greedy for speed, but advanced step by step, steadily, yet still reached such a level.

Although unwilling to admit it, Zhang Jingmo was truly discouraged by Lu Guijiu.

Back then, he himself had only reached the fourth level of Qi Refining in his fifties, and Foundation Establishment was a matter of several hundred years later... If going by Zhang Jingmo's speed, Lu Guijiu could probably prepare for Foundation Establishment within a hundred years.

Seeing Lu Guijiu's dependent appearance, Zhang Jingmo suddenly had an idea. He took out a small mirror from his Sumeru Ring and handed it to Lu Guijiu.

Zhang Jingmo said, "Disciple, look and see what's in the mirror."

Lu Guijiu didn't know it was a Soul-Searching Mirror. He took the mirror and looked, then asked in puzzlement, "Master, why are you in this mirror?"

Zhang Jingmo: "...Look more carefully, what else is in this mirror?"

Lu Guijiu lowered his head to look, staring for a long time before smiling and saying, "There's nothing else, I only see Master."

Zhang Jingmo: "..." For some reason, he suddenly had an ominous feeling.

Lu Guijiu said, "Mm, Master is even smiling at me in the mirror, it looks really nice." Lu Guijiu thought Zhang Jingmo's image was sealed in the mirror and said, "Master, can you give this mirror to me?"

Zhang Jingmo was silent for a moment before saying faintly, "Take it." He never wanted to see this mirror again.

Having obtained Zhang Jingmo's permission, Lu Guijiu was overjoyed. He thought to himself that if he missed his master in the future, he could take out the mirror and look. The master in the mirror smiled so sweetly, completely unlike his usual cold demeanor.

Lu Guijiu treated the mirror as a gift from Zhang Jingmo and carefully put it in his bosom. He said, "Master, I will work hard in my cultivation. When I become strong, Master must take me along when you go out in the future."

Zhang Jingmo's mind was still on the matter of the Soul-Searching Mirror. Hearing Lu Guijiu's words, he absentmindedly made an "mm" sound.

At this time, Zhu Yan, who had gone out for a stroll, returned. It had found some spirit beasts and ate its fill. Now flying back, it directly landed on Zhang Jingmo's shoulder and even stretched out its sharp beak to lightly peck at Zhang Jingmo's ear.

Only then did Zhang Jingmo come back to his senses. He said, "You mischievous creature, went to indulge in eating again."

Zhu Yan chirped a few times, seeming very pleased with itself. Standing beside them, Lu Guijiu watched the interaction between Zhu Yan and Zhang Jingmo, and suddenly asked in a distant voice, "Master, what is this? Is it your pet?"

Zhang Jingmo thought that children usually like small animals, and he assumed that Lu Guijiu had taken an interest in the little bird. He said, "This little bird is called Zhu Yan, a kind of spiritual fire. I went out this time just to find it."

Lu Guijiu pursed his lips, seeming to want to say something.

Seeing his hesitant appearance, Zhang Jingmo asked, "What's wrong?"

Lu Guijiu said, "Master, can you bend down? I have some private words to say to you."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jingmo half-squatted down and said, "What private--" He only said half of his words, because after Lu Guijiu leaned close to his ear, he bit Zhang Jingmo's earlobe, not too lightly or heavily.

Cultivators have extremely sensitive senses. Being bitten by Lu Guijiu like this, Zhang Jingmo's whole body got goosebumps. He was about to reprimand him with widened eyes.

But unexpectedly, this little devil Lu Guijiu actually complained first, as if Zhang Jingmo had done something unforgivable. He said in a mournful voice, "Master is the worst, leaving me for five years to find a bird, five years!!!" The boy stretched out his fair and tender palm, forcing Zhang Jingmo to clearly see those five fingers.

However, this was just the beginning. Lu Guijiu continued to list Zhang Jingmo's evil deeds, saying, "Uncle Bai is so fierce, forcing me to practice sword every day. I miss Master so much, but Master never came back to see me. I thought Master didn't want me anymore..." As he spoke, he actually shed tears.

Seeing this, Zhang Jingmo was a little flustered. He said, "You're a big boy now. If you have any grievances, just say it. Why are you crying?"

Lu Guijiu didn't give Zhang Jingmo face and still cried with a hoarse voice, "You even let that bird peck you. You don't let me kiss you, so why do you let it peck you-- Master, do you dislike me, do you like that bird more?"

Zhang Jingmo was somewhat speechless. Before, he just felt that when Lu Guijiu cried, he had no way to deal with it. Now, he was quite certain that he really couldn't handle the crying Lu Guijiu.

Lu Guijiu's tears seemed to fall endlessly, constantly pouring out his grievances, without any trace of his cold and tough future self.

Zhang Jingmo had a terrible headache and could only pick up Lu Guijiu to comfort him properly.

Lu Guijiu placed his chin on the same shoulder where Zhu Yan had stood before, fiercely glaring at Zhu Yan flying in mid-air where Zhang Jingmo couldn't see.

Zhang Jingmo, holding the sobbing Lu Guijiu, wondered in his heart how after he went out for a trip, Lu Guijiu became even more prone to crying when he returned. He didn't know how Bai Lingxiao taught him.

Of course, Zhang Jingmo would never know that during the days he was away, no matter how harshly Bai Lingxiao trained Lu Guijiu or how severe his injuries were, he never shed a single tear.

It seemed that all of Lu Guijiu's grievances would only erupt in front of Zhang Jingmo. But thinking carefully, it made sense. Why bother crying in front of someone who doesn't care about your tears?

After Lu Guijiu cried himself tired, Zhang Jingmo wiped his little face with water and sighed, "From now on, Guijiu is a big boy. If you encounter anything, don't easily shed tears."

Lu Guijiu pursed his lips, unwilling to speak.

Zhang Jingmo said, "Master had no choice but to go out this time. In the future, when going out, I will take Guijiu with me."

Only then was Lu Guijiu satisfied, reaching out to hug Zhang Jingmo again.

While patting Lu Guijiu's back, Zhang Jingmo said, "After Master refines the Molten Fire Pill, I'll take you out to cultivate together. You also promise Master not to cry easily, okay?"

Lu Guijiu said angrily, "Then Master don't bully me."

Hearing this, Zhang Jingmo didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Obviously, he was the one bitten by Lu Guijiu, but in Lu Guijiu's words, it became him bullying Lu Guijiu?

Lu Guijiu said, "Otherwise, Guijiu will be very sad." Seeing Zhang Jingmo not answering, he pouted his mouth, about to cry again.

Left with no choice, Zhang Jingmo had to agree, thinking in his heart that this little guy Lu Guijiu really knew how to take a mile when given an inch...

With Zhang Jingmo's compromise, the master and disciple finally restored a peaceful atmosphere. However, Zhu Yan, who had just returned, was called out by Zhang Jingmo to forage for food again.

Zhu Yan liked freedom in the first place. Hearing Zhang Jingmo's instructions, it naturally felt happy. Chirping twice, it flew away directly.