The sun had just revealed itself when a certain trio entered the Obsidian Forest. Following two children was an old man with a head full of white hair. His wrinkles revealed he had smiled often in his long life, granting him a remarkably friendly appearance.
"So early… Don't you guys think you're a bit too eager to see me?"
"We can't see you, but your voice is very pleasing to listen to!" Ji Yun's wide smile clearly portrayed her eagerness. However, the other two visitors did not appear nearly as cheerful.
Before Lin Tao could retort, Shui Renshu cupped his hands together in greeting, "It is truly a pleasure to meet a great, legendary guardian spirit like yourself." The polite greeting may have appeared genuine if not for his sarcastic smile.
'What great pleasure? Your eyes are clearly scanning the surroundings! Please conceal your suspicion a bit better, old man.' Bai Lian ignored the hints of distrust from the old man's eyes. "Naturally, it is an honor to meet this guardian spirit, young timeworn one."
"How shameless. Calling the old man young, yet asking us to call you big sis," remarked Lin Tao.
'Who's fault do you think it is that I'm now old enough to call that old man young!' Despite her inner discontent, Bai Lian calmly responded, "Despite my many years, I am still quite young at heart."
Lin Tao sported a skeptical look, but did not get the chance to retort.
Shui Renshu interjected into the conversation, "I can't help but wonder why a great legend such as yourself would be gracing these two disciples of mine with your presence."
Bai Lian had already expected such a question from the master of the two children. "From the moment these two entered my humble forest, I could see it. These two children were fated for greatness. Their destinies have ordained many encounters full of fortune for them and it was only the red strings of fate that had tied us together, allowing them to meet this guardian spirit. Otherwise, how could they have the great fortune to encounter me." The gentle voice was laced with great pride.
The trio was stunned silent. 'Ah, even Ji Yun's stunned. Should I have toned down my explanation?'
"If meeting you is considered a great fortune, then how come we have yet to benefit from this meeting?" After being teased by the spirit a few times, Lin Tao's impression of her had plummeted. The idea that meeting this strange spirit was a blessing appeared quite dubious to him.
A bell-like giggle resounded throughout the minds of the trio. "Even though I have been weakened, this guardian spirit refuses to be blindly tied down by fate! From our past two encounters, I observed Little Tao and Little Yun's character to decide if I truly wish to offer my blessings."
"And your conclusion?" The old man probed, while wearing a wide grin. It was clear he took great pride in his two disciples and did not expect rejection.
"I'm quite fond of these two children. I am willing to bestow them my medical teachings."
"Tao has the talents to become an alchemist, but I don't have such talents. My affinity lies in becoming an array master," Ji Yun's voice was missing its usual cheer.
'Talent for alchemy or arrays is quite rare. These two children might actually be amazing. At least my earlier explanation will appear a bit more credible.' The soothing voice eased its way into the minds of the trio, "One does not need to be an alchemist to perform the medical techniques I plan to bestow upon you. Although the medicines will be of liquid form, their effects do not lose out to pills."
"That sounds very similar to the special medicines once sold by the Bai Clan. Unfortunately, the girl who made those medicines had died a few years back and no one knew the medicine recipes." The old man smile grew wider and his eyes squinted until they were mere lines.
'Old foxes like this are suspicious of everything. Fooling the old man will be harder than the children,' Bai Lian silently surmised. "That young girl's name was Bai Lian. Years ago, she had stumbled into these woods despite being so weak. She wished to fight against her fate. Her life was destined to become a tragedy. I reached out to her in hopes of helping her overcome her fate. Yet, I was useless. Despite the medical teachings I bestowed upon her, she could not escape her sorrowful death." The guardian spirit's voice embodied a sense of melancholy. Undisguisable regret and despair was ingrained into her every word as she recalled the pitiful girl.
Lin Tao and Ji Yun recalled how miserable the spirit had been the previous day when thinking about her current powerlessness, being unable to protect what she cared about. They opened their mouths to console the grieving spirit, but before they could speak, a thunderous laughter decimated the solemn atmosphere.
"HAHAHA! Indeed you were useless! That girl was murdered right under her loving family's noses. Yet, the emperor refuted all accusations against the crown prince. Her family was ready to start an uprising for their little girl. It was truly a tragedy! A spirit like you who brings tragedy dares to offer your guidance to my beloved pupils? Will you be blessing them or cursing them?" The old man directed a challenging gaze towards the lake.
Lin Tao and Ji Yun were shocked by their master's words.
"Read the mood, old man!"
"Master! Don't you think you're going too far?"
'I was wondering how such a young boy like Lin Tao could become such a bully. Now I know where he gets it from, but seriously… this old fox is much more heartless than the boy.'
The two children grew anxious by the prolonged silence. With each passing second of silence, the worry in the young pair's hearts escalated.
"Master, if you don't apologize to granny, then I won't forgive you," fumed Ji Yun.
Having gotten use to being a granny, Bai Lian thought 'such a good girl. Very good. Don't forgive that old fox for wounding my delicate heart.'
"Alright, alright, I'll apologize. I offer the great spirit my utmost deepest apologies." Contrary to his words, the wide grin on Shui Renshu's face and challenging gaze had not dampened in the slightest.
A resolute voice chimed in the minds of the trio, "On my honor as the guardian spirit of the Obsidian Forest, I absolutely will not allow a tragedy to befall Little Tao or Little Yun."
"You can't protect these two when you're stuck in this forest."
"But you can."
"Do you even have the power to protect the children within your own forest?"
"Do not underestimate this great spirit. Although I have been weakened, I can at least do that much." There was not a shred of doubt within the calm voice, invoking a sense of security within the two children.
The old man roared in laughter. "I will allow it. You may bestow your knowledge upon my disciples. However, if you allow anything to happen to them, I will burn down this forest! HAHAHA!"
'That's not a very funny joke, old man… This old fox turned a great blessing into a cursed present that I'm forcing on them. If I'm not careful, he'll turn this legendary guardian spirit into a demonic spirit,' Bai Lian dejectedly grumbled to herself.
"Master! Does that mean we're allowed to meet granny everyday?" Ji Yun beamed with joy as though Shui Renshu had already agreed to her request.
"You may go after training with me in the morning. Speaking of which, we hurried over to meet with this great spirit, so you guys have not completed your training for today." The cheer Ji Yun had originally felt dimmed down as she recalled the training she still needed to do. Lin Tao shook his head as he observed the crestfallen girl.
After the trio had left, Bai Lian pondered over Shui Renshu's words, 'He said they were ready to revolt, but he did not say they actually did. While describing my death as a tragedy, he would naturally mention my family following me to their graves if they had really met their ends. They should be fine…' A sense of relief washed over the white lotus as she began cultivating.