Tongtian buried his face in his hand helplessly and looked at Duobao, annoyed. “You just take whatever is given to you?”
The little rat put on a cute look: Ah? What else was I supposed to do?
Master, you should ask around—when has this rat ever come back empty-handed?
Yuanshi took a light sip of his tea. “Duobao is a Treasure-Seeking Rat by nature. How could he possibly refuse treasures delivered right to his doorstep?”
Tongtian: ???
He looked left and right. No matter how he looked at it, these words shouldn't have come from his second brother.
Strange. Was Second Brother... possessed by some evil spirit today?
Could a Quasi-Saint even be possessed?
Seeing the deep suspicion on Tongtian's face, Yuanshi: “...”
My younger brother really needs a good lesson. To think he's actually suspecting me.
Duobao's rat face was filled with incomparable gratitude. Oh my goodness, he never expected that Second Martial Uncle would actually understand him one day!
This rat's years of practicing proper etiquette weren't in vain!
Tongtian looked completely helpless. “Fine, Duobao. Put the treasures away.”
“Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng treated you well, which means there is now a bit of karma between you. You must remember to repay her in the future.”
“Mhm, mhm~”
Duobao nodded solemnly. He would naturally repay her. After all, the senior's every word and action toward him came from the heart, and she hadn't looked down on him at all just because he hadn't taken human form yet.
Most importantly, the senior had given way, way, way too much!
He remembered it all in his heart.
The little rat solemnly patted his tiny chest. Don't worry, Master, he had already thought of how to repay her.
That little house of Senior's with rather poor aesthetics... just wait. Sooner or later, this Great Rat King would help Senior replace it.
Once he gathered enough materials, he would beg Second Martial Uncle to refine a new home for Senior~
Yuan Heng: “...” Please stop roasting me, stop roasting me.
However, Duobao did not put the treasures away. Instead, he pushed them toward his master and two martial uncles. His meaning was clear: he wanted to show respect and filial piety to his elders.
Tongtian chuckled at the sight. “Ah, my treasure, your master and two martial uncles are all your elders. How could we take your things?”
“Ah, no, no, I said no.”
“Alright, since you insist, your master will pick two. When your eldest martial uncle refines them into pills, I'll share two with you~”
Duobao, who had actually not moved a muscle the entire time: “...”
Taiqing and Yuqing, who witnessed Tongtian's thick-skinned behavior: “...”
If you're going to beat your younger brother, you have to do it early.
Taiqing massaged his forehead helplessly, while blue veins were already throbbing on Yuqing's forehead. “Tongtian!!!”
“Ah, ah... Second Brother, what are you doing?! Put down your fist, put it down... Ah!”
After a miserable shriek, a flock of birds and beasts scattered in panic.
Taiqing looked at the flustered little Duobao on the table. “Just put the treasures away. If you ever need pills, you can come find your martial uncle.”
Duobao nodded, cupped his tiny paws, and bowed. ‘Thank you, Martial Uncle.’
As the saying goes, if one wanted to survive on Mount Kunlun, one had to know who the real boss was~
Ouch, Master was getting beaten so hard by Second Martial Uncle.
The little rat cracked open some melon seeds...
A moment later, Yuanshi returned looking refreshed, dragging back his bruised and swollen younger brother.
Duobao went back to cultivate. Tongtian sat back down and shook his head, restoring his handsome face to its original state.
“By the way, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, during this trip, Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng asked me a question that I couldn't quite answer.”
Hearing this, both Taiqing and Yuqing grew interested. What kind of question could stump Tongtian?
“I would like to hear the details.”
Taiqing set down his teacup, and Yuanshi's expression also turned serious.
Only then did Tongtian explain in detail. “Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng asked me: if there is a fierce tiger in the mountains, heavily injured and on the verge of death, and I encounter it, should I save it or not?”
Yuanshi spoke with certainty, “Given your temperament, you must have answered that you would save it.”
Tongtian nodded. “Second Brother knows me best... I said that since the vulnerable tiger had a fated connection with me, I would naturally save it.”
“But then she asked me: once the tiger recovers and returns to the mountains, it will hunt deer and eat rabbits. Saving one life ends a hundred others... And that completely stumped me.”
Tongtian's face was full of confusion. He scratched his head and looked at his elder brothers, eager for knowledge.
“For a tiger to hunt is its natural instinct. Besides, how else would it survive if it didn't hunt? Should I stifle its nature just because I saved it?”
Taiqing and Yuqing exchanged a glance, understanding dawned in their minds. However, they had no intention of saying anything to answer Tongtian's question.
The corner of Taiqing's lips curled up slightly. “Excellent.”
Tongtian immediately became excited. “Eldest Brother also thinks I'm right, doesn't he~”
Taiqing: “...”
He massaged his forehead helplessly. Silly younger brother.
“What I mean is, the question Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng posed to you is excellent.”
Tongtian instantly became dejected. “Oh.”
Taiqing stood up and adjusted his sleeves. “Your second brother and I cannot answer this for you... You must figure it out on your own.”
“On the day you truly understand, your Dao shall be realized.”
Yuanshi looked at his third brother, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. “Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng truly lives up to the title of 'Fellow Daoist' to you.”
Tongtian: ???
What did Eldest Brother and Second Brother mean by this?
Tongtian was a bit baffled. He racked his brain for a while, but really couldn't fathom the meaning behind it, so he temporarily put it aside.
Whatever, if he couldn't figure it out today, he would think about it tomorrow. Sharpening the axe doesn't delay the woodcutting.
Still, Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng was indeed a wonderful person. Since she had given Duobao so many gifts, as his master, he should also return the favor~
What would be good to send?
“Achoo—”
Yuan Heng rubbed her itchy nose. “Just who is roasting this immortal?!”
She had just made a rocking chair and was lazily sunbathing on it when, lo and behold, she sneezed one after another.
It really gave her no peace.
Pah! Could it be that fellow Duke of the East holding a grudge and secretly cursing her in his heart?!
Yuan Heng curled her lip. She had truly never in her life seen such a petty male immortal. A loss was a loss, so why was he still talking behind her back?
Duke of the East: !!!
What a massive scapegoat!
Heavenly Dao, please discern the loyal from the treacherous!
Yuan Heng rose from the rocking chair. It seemed slacking off was out of the question for now. There was still some time before the lectures at Purple Heaven Palace resumed, so she might as well go into closed-door cultivation.
She called over Ling Nü and Susu, who were frolicking in the sea of flowers. “Children, I am going into closed-door cultivation for a while. The two of you be good and watch the house.”
The two children cupped their hands together and bowed in unison. “Yes, Daojun, we have noted your words.”
Yuan Heng raised her hand and gently patted their small heads. “Good children. If there is anything in the courtyard you want to eat, just go pick and eat it. No need to save it for your Daojun.”
“But remember to act within your limits.”
Some things in the courtyard were not yet something these two weaklings could handle.
Hearing this, delight spread across the faces of Ling Nü and Susu. “Thank you, Daojun~”
Yuan Heng nodded slightly to them. With a single thought, she went to cultivate in her crude little house.
Ah, her little ones were truly adorable~
Susu: Wuu wuu wuu, what kind of wonderful life did Ling Nü live before... Thank you, Ling Nü, for recommending me, and thank you, Daojun, for your mercy!
He was finally experiencing happiness too~
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