Yuan Heng snuck a glance at Yuanshi, who looked perfectly refreshed and sharp even while wearing his mask.
She then looked over at Tongtian, who was not far away, dutifully sweeping the ground with a broom.
She patted her chest in lingering fear. It was terrifying; she had almost ended up as another poor soul forced to do manual sweeping without using any magic.
Yuanshi lightly tapped his fingers on the table, a rare trace of lightheartedness appearing at the corners of his mouth. Looking at his well-behaved, neatly kept Junior Sister drinking her tea, he felt inwardly satisfied.
He spoke up and asked, “Junior Sister Yuan Heng, have you encountered any difficulties in your cultivation over these past three thousand years?”
Difficulties?
Did she have any?
Yuan Heng thought about it and shook her head instinctively. “Replying to Senior Brother, um... it's actually been quite smooth. No difficulties at all, my cultivation has progressed quite a bit, and I've fully mastered all the basic techniques Master taught me.”
“The only thing that didn't go very smoothly was the Dao of Pill Refining...”
Hearing this, Taiqing looked at her, his expression full of gentleness. “There is no need to deprecate yourself. Junior Sister, you are very talented in the path of pill refining.”
Hehe~ ˶＞ᗜ＜˶
Upon hearing this, Yuan Heng's eyes instantly curved into crescents. “Thank you, Senior Brother Taiqing. I will work hard!”
She looked up and stole a glance at Yuanshi, who was waiting for her to continue, and added in a small voice, “And I'll probably not have a very smooth time with the Dao of Artifact Refining in the future, either.”
In truth, she was filled with dread; she simply couldn't see any future for herself in either of these two paths.
Yuanshi: “...”
After a brief silence, Yuanshi spoke again, “Junior Sister, why don't you try refining a Dharma treasure right now? This way, I can give you some guidance.”
He had a premonition that this was bound to happen sooner or later.
Yuan Heng's eyes lit up. “Really? Thank you, Senior Brother Yuanshi.”
Her Senior Brothers were truly so understanding.
But then she suddenly remembered that she had left in a hurry and hadn't brought any materials for artifact refining. She looked at her upright and self-disciplined Senior Brother.
“Um... Senior Brother Yuanshi, I came in a rush this time and didn't bring any materials. How about... next time?”
This was truly a case of trying to cook a meal without rice, my friend.
With a wave of Yuanshi's hand, a small mountain of precious materials piled up out of thin air. “No matter. I have plenty. Junior Sister, feel free to take whatever you need.”
Woah~ (☆▽☆)
“Okay! Thank you, Senior Brother~”
Filled with excitement, Yuan Heng pulled out her multi-purpose Qiankun Cauldron and began sorting through the mountain of precious materials.
In the end, she selected Lunar Mysterious Crystal, Meteorite Obsidian, and Darklight Jade.
Looking at the materials she had chosen, Yuanshi was somewhat curious. “Junior Sister, have you decided what you want to refine?”
Yuan Heng nodded, her small face filled with excitement. “Mhm! Senior Brother Yuanshi, I've decided. I want to refine something that can cover my eyes, just like the mask you are wearing.”
Sunglasses! She was about to become the coolest kid on the block.
It would definitely look super stylish~
Having finished speaking, Yuan Heng set to work, pacing in circles around the Qiankun Cauldron.
Once she finished speaking, Yuanshi instinctively raised a hand to touch his own gilded mask. Just like his...
The corners of Yuanshi's mouth curled up slightly. His Junior Sister certainly had excellent taste.
Seeing her start up the cauldron again, Tongtian hastily tossed aside his broom and ran over to join in the fun. “Yuan Heng, what good idea have you come up with now?”
“Senior Brother Tongtian, I'm doing serious business. Senior Brother Yuanshi said he would guide me in artifact refining.”
Tongtian raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a hint of teasing, “Ah~ then you must listen carefully, Junior Sister. Second Brother is quite accomplished in artifact refining. He will definitely be able to guide you.”
“Mhm, mhm.”
Yuan Heng nodded. “I will definitely learn diligently!”
After all, regardless of whether she would fail to learn it, having a proper attitude was always the right way to go~
Yuanshi looked at Tongtian as he spoke, his hand holding the teacup pausing for a brief moment. “Third Brother, do not think that saying a few nice words will make me go soft on you. Behave yourself.”
“Ah... Second Brother, you are so heartless~”
Yuanshi: “...”
This was bad. As soon as his Third Brother wiggled his tail, Yuanshi knew exactly what he was up to.
He had a premonition that if he didn't relent, he was about to lose face in front of Junior Sister Yuan Heng.
Sigh... Forget it.
Yuanshi looked at his Third Brother. “Very well, Third Brother, I will let it go this time. Do not let it happen again.”
“Hooray~ Thank you, Second Brother.”
Taiqing: “...”
So who was the one endlessly pampering their younger brother without any principles?
Tongtian swiftly used magic to clean up the rest of the mess, then huddled up to Yuan Heng again. “Junior Sister, what treasure are you going to refine?”
Thinking of her jaw-dropping entrance in the future, Yuan Heng said excitedly, “It's a treasure that looks very beautiful and domineering when worn! Should I refine one for you too, Senior Brother Tongtian?”
“Sure, sure!~”
Yuanshi: Hmm... Junior Sister said earlier that it would be just like his mask... By extension, that meant he looked very beautiful and domineering in his mask.
Cough, cough...
How could Junior Sister praise someone so directly?
It would be better for her to be more reserved and dignified, but... oh well, he could teach her slowly.
As Yuan Heng refined, she muttered to herself, “Obsidian, smelt over a gentle heat, remember not to use a fierce fire, dissolve the impurities, dissolve the impurities...”
The Three Pure Ones watched quietly. Every now and then, Yuanshi would speak up to explain the reasons behind her actions.
“The nature of ore is rigid; if the fire is too strong, the stone's texture will disintegrate...”
“The Lunar Mysterious Crystal is mainly used for blocking glare and serves as the core... It cannot be fully melted. You must preserve the crystal core to retain its light-constraining divine ability...”
Yuan Heng nodded thoughtfully, a solemn look on her small face that was a carbon copy of Yuanshi's.
“Mhm, mhm, Senior Brother Yuanshi, I've noted it down.”
Inside the cauldron, the light flickered as the power of creation flowed within. Yuanshi occasionally offered a word or two of advice, helping her stabilize the equilibrium inside.
He watched Yuan Heng, who was staring at the Qiankun Cauldron without even blinking, and finally summarized.
“Junior Sister, you must remember that refining artifacts is like cultivating the Dao; the key lies in moderation. If you blindly chase creation while neglecting the fundamental nature of the materials, all your efforts will go down the drain.”
Keeping her small face stern, Yuan Heng nodded. “Thank you, Senior Brother. Yuan Heng will definitely keep this engraved in her heart.”
Tongtian: “...”
Why was Junior Sister being so solemn? She looked exactly like his Second Brother.
Soon, accompanied by a clear and resonant hum, the lid of the Qiankun Cauldron popped open, and two pairs of "sunglasses" slowly floated out from within.
—Mysterious Obsidian Glare-Shields.
Yuan Heng had finally obtained what she wanted. She joyfully put them on her face and casually handed a pair to Tongtian.
Wearing their sunglasses, the two turned to Taiqing and Yuanshi with identical grins on their faces. “Senior Brothers / Big Brother, Second Brother, do we look domineering?”
Taiqing & Yuanshi: “...”
The corners of both their mouths twitched slightly. Taiqing gently closed his eyes, as if unwilling to look any longer.
Yuanshi stared at the two of them, reflecting on what his Junior Sister had said earlier—that it was just like his, and looked very beautiful and domineering...
Did his Junior Sister have some sort of misunderstanding about him?
Sizing up the two expectant faces, Yuanshi gave a rather strained nod. “It looks... nice.”
Sometimes, he truly didn't know whether his Junior Sister had led his younger brother astray, or vice versa.
Could the two of them be eccentric kindred spirits who had finally found each other?
Yuan Heng had no idea what Senior Brother Yuanshi was thinking. She only knew that she had succeeded in artifact refining on her very first try! She probably had some talent in artifact refining after all.
Mhm... a very satisfying departure~
Tongtian and Yuan Heng admired their new toys for a while before putting them away. Then, everyone sat down together to chat.
Yuan Heng immediately expressed her gratitude to her Senior Brothers. “Thank you for your guidance and hospitality, Senior Brothers~
The girl offered a cup of tea to them, and then, completely wasting its fine flavor, chugged it down in one gulp.
The Three Pure Ones: “...”
“Junior Sister, there is no need to be so polite.”
Though their Junior Sister was so small, she was actually quite hearty and straightforward in her actions.
Tsk, tsk.
Rate on N.U.
