On the first day after Xu Yan left, Li Xuan got up early and went out. He didn't see the figure that usually practiced relentlessly, and there was no one to cook for him. He had to feed the chickens and plant vegetables himself.
Something felt off.
On the second day after Xu Yan left, Li Xuan began to worry.
"My foolish disciple, he didn't die in the Evil Forest, did he?"
"He's been there twice and returned safe and sound each time. It should be the same this time, right?"
...
On the fifth day after Xu Yan left, Li Xuan went to the hill outside the village and looked in the direction Xu Yan had gone. Nobody had come.
He let out a sigh of relief.
"Even if I have been exposed, anyone coming to capture me, a fraudster, wouldn't arrive this quickly."
"I wonder if I will be exposed."
"Ah, Xu Yan is a blockhead, but he comes from a privileged background. There must be someone smarter around him, right?"
"If I'm found out, won't I be in hot water?"
Li Xuan felt in a mess; He was considerably worried.
...
On the tenth day after Xu Yan left, Li Xuan watched from the hill. If anything seemed amiss, he planned to hide and flee.
"This disciple, he didn't die in the Evil Forest and fail to return, did he?"
"Or has he been confined?"
Li Xuan berated himself in frustration as his mind raced: "Crap! I didn't want to deceive him, it's his fault for being thick-headed. I can't be blamed for this."
"I'm really doing badly for myself. Shameful!"
Li Xuan sighed. He was a transmigrator who was disgracefully muddling through!
...
On the eleventh day, Xu Yan finally returned.
"Master, your disciple has returned!"
Looking at Xu Yan who respectfully greeted him, and seeing only him with no others appearing to bind up this fraud, Li Xuan let out a sigh of relief.
"Hmm, it's good you're back!"
With a nonchalant expression, as though he already knew of Xu Yan's return.
"Master, this is a token of your disciple's appreciation."
Xu Yan placed two long boxes on the table.
"I appreciate it!"
Li Xuan opened a box with a calm expression.
Inside was a sword with a gold hilt, adorned with patterns of auspicious clouds and mythical beasts, and inlaid with nine gems of red, white, and blue.
A treasure indeed!
Just a glance told Li Xuan that the sword was priceless. He was ecstatic, "This foolish disciple is richer than I thought."
Showing no signs of being moved, he reached into the box and lifted the precious sword. It was hefty.
The hilt was set with nine more gems, making eighteen in total. The gems alone were a small fortune.
The hilt also had two larger red gems on it.
Li Xuan gently slid the sword out of its sheath. A flash of gold caught his eye—the sword was made of pure gold!
He placed the sword back into its sheath, then back into the box.
Despite his outward calm, his heart was shaking with excitement.
"I've struck it rich! This sword is a heirloom. Now I can flee to the Wu Country without worry."
With an approving look, he said, "It's the thought that counts. I'm glad you thought of me. Even though this sword is ordinary, it will be enjoyable to play with."
Upon hearing this, Xu Yan was overjoyed, "As long as you like it, Master!"
"My master truly is a hidden expert. Even a priceless sword does not move him, and he sees it as nothing more than a toy."
His reverence for his master grew yet again.
Li Xuan opened the second box. Inside was a flawless Jade Ruyi. His eyes sparkled slightly — this Jade Ruyi was clearly a treasured item!
"Excellent!"
Nodding his head, Li Xuan expressed his satisfaction.
"Master, I also brought some rare medicinal herbs with me."
Xu Yan said as he unpacked the bundle.
Li Xuan raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself: "Did he also realize that these rare tonics improved his physical condition and were beneficial for cultivation?"
"As always, you should carefully use these herbs."
Li Xuan glanced at them. There wasn't any Nine Leaf Yuzhi or Thousand-Year Ginseng. There were two Five-Leaf Yuzhi and three Hundred-Year Ginseng plants, both considered rare medicinal herbs.
"Yes, Master!"
Xu Yan stored the medicinal herbs properly, began tidying up the room, and prepared to cook.
Li Xuan was pleased. This apprentice of his was sensible, and knew to get to work as soon as he came back.
"Hmm? What happened? His face is filled with dejection. Did something happen?"
Suddenly, Li Xuan noticed that Xu Yan seemed rather dejected as he worked. His heart jumped slightly. Could it be that someone had reminded him during his visit home, causing him to harbor doubts?
Or was it perhaps he felt disheartened because he hadn't sensed any effect from the tonics and hadn't made progress in training in a while?
"He can't stay like this. We have come this far. If I do not continue to deceive him, things will easily backfire."
"I have to boost his confidence!"
With these thoughts, Li Xuan asked: "What's the matter, my disciple? Are you upset about your cultivation?"
Xu Yan paused his cleaning, looked dispirited, and confessed. "Master, it's not about cultivation. On my recent visit home... I was dumped."
What?
Dumped?
Li Xuan was stunned, thinking to himself: "Dumped? Your name is Xu Yan, not Xiao Yan - there isn't a tragic story here. You have nothing to worry about."
"What happened? Why did she break off the engagement?"
With the concern of a Master for his disciple, he asked.
With a disheartened look, Xu Yan muttered, "She said I'm not very intelligent, and that being with me was too humiliating."
She's not wrong, you're certainly not the brightest bulb!
Li Xuan muttered to himself.
Standing up, he patted Xu Yan's shoulder. Regardless of anything, he had to console his disciple.
"You are my disciple, it's her loss for not seeing your worth."
"You're right, Master, that's what I thought too."
"Did you shout back at her that thirty years on each side of the river amounts to the same, and that she shouldn't underestimate the poor youth?"
Li Xuan asked after clearing his throat.
Xu Yan looked at his master in confusion, "Master, I'm not poor!"
Shit!
Li Xuan's eyebrows twitched, his heart felt like it had been pricked!
Immediately pulling a serious face, he said: "My disciple, where do you see yourself as not poor? Is the poverty I'm referring to about money? No! It's about poverty of cultivation, poverty of strength, poverty of martial arts knowledge!"
Xu Yan was flushed with shame, "You're right, Master. I am poor, very poor!"
Quickly adding, "But don't worry Master, I haven't lost heart. Although I didn't shout back 'Don't underestimate the poor youth!', I did tell her, 'You may ridicule, insult, and abandon me today, but one day you will regret this and won't be able to reach me!'"
As he finished, Xu Yan raised his head with determination in his eyes.
Li Xuan's mouth twitched, thinking to himself: "This kid, why do I get the feeling of a chosen one? It must be an illusion!"
"Mmm, the fact you have such determination is really good."
Seeing the remaining hint of frustration in Xu Yan's eyes, Li Xuan added: "Being dumped might not be all bad for you. Remember, you may be knocked down, but it just gives you the opportunity to come back stronger."
"Every exceptional individual in history faced setbacks."
"The cultivation path is all about understanding. When the mind is clear, understanding will naturally come!"
Patting Xu Yan's shoulder, Li Xuan gravely said: "There's a saying 'No woman in the heart, the cultivation brings divine progress.' Now that you've been dumped, there are no women in your heart, no distractions, you are surely going to make great progress!"