The two returned to the cave dwelling, but the atmosphere inside was somewhat peculiar.
Yao Dai, Zongzheng Huangyue, and Xin Jiuxian were sitting on chairs, their expressions polite but distant. They were making small talk, having gained a basic understanding of one another—at least on the surface. As for Hua Cishu...
He was squatting in a corner without saying a word, keeping his back turned to everyone.
The moment Wen Li walked in, Yao Dai’s head whipped around in pleasant surprise.
“Master!” She immediately rushed over and hugged Wen Li’s arm with affectionate intimacy.
Zongzheng Huangyue stood up and gave a calm greeting. “Master.” Her gaze flickered briefly toward Yao Dai’s arm hooked around Wen Li, her eyes narrowing slightly before she looked away as if nothing had happened.
Xin Jiuxian, being a woman of few words, said nothing, merely staring intently at Wen Li.
Wen Li scanned the room and noticed Hua Cishu still squatting silently in the corner. She looked toward Zongzheng Huangyue.
“After you and Second Senior Brother left, Master, he just squatted there by himself and hasn’t spoken to anyone,” Zongzheng Huangyue reported via a Divine Sense transmission.
Wen Li sighed. After coaxing the older one, she now had to coax the little one. She turned to Zongzheng Huangyue.
“Take the three of them to the Tingyin Pavilion canteen for dinner.”
Xie Tinglan’s brow furrowed slightly. He knew she was going to comfort that brat, but he pressed his lips together and remained silent.
“Mm,” Zongzheng Huangyue nodded. She looked at the disgruntled Xie Tinglan, then at Yao Dai—who looked gentle on the outside but was clearly annoyed—and finally at the frail, indifferent Xin Jiuxian. “Let’s go.”
The three of them knew this was Wen Li’s wish and didn’t dare say more, following her out. Xie Tinglan, the tallest, was in the front, followed in order by Zongzheng Huangyue, Yao Dai, and Xin Jiuxian. Their heights formed a perfectly even, descending line.
Once everyone was gone, Wen Li slowly walked over and crouched down, turning the little figure in the corner around.
“Let me see. Where are you hurt?”
To think this fellow had the guts to take on both Xie Tinglan and Yao Dai at once; he really wasn't afraid of a beating. Wen Li carefully tilted Hua Cishu’s chin up to take a look. Whoa. His face was covered in blue and purple bruises, a patch of his red hair was scorched, and his clothes were filthy with mud. It was a comical sight.
However, the little fellow’s eyes were brimming with tears. A small wet circle had formed in the dirt on the ground beneath him—who knew how much mud he had churned up with those tears. He looked absolutely pitiful.
“Master, I’m fine...” Hua Cishu murmured in a raspy voice, looking up at her cautiously while still crouching on the ground.
Earlier, when she was about to take Xie Tinglan away, he had been whining about the pain, yet now he claimed to be fine.
“Fine? If your face gets disfigured, you’ll have scars for life. Are you sure you’re fine?” Wen Li took the medicine bottle he was clutching in his palm. She could guess he hadn’t taken any while waiting for her. She opened the bottle and poured four pills into his hand. “Take them. This medicine is sweet.”
Hua Cishu stared blankly at her without taking the pills. “Master, do you like my face the most?”
He knew his face was very handsome. In the past, those from the Demon Race would always avoid his face when they hurt him elsewhere. Master also frequently said he was good-looking, and he often used this face to enchant her.
“What would I need your face for? The face is on your body. Surely you don’t want to have scars all over it when you become famous in the future? You can choose not to care about your looks, but learning to cherish yourself is a necessity.”
Wen Li chuckled and sat directly on the ground to be at eye level with him. She took a pill from his hand and fed it into his mouth, her tone softening. “Everyone has an eye for beauty, but your face isn't your only virtue. I do like your face, but I like you as a person even more. Even if you were ugly, I would still have taken you as my disciple.”
The sweetness of the pill spread in his mouth. Hua Cishu pursed his lips. “Master, do I have other virtues?” To him, he had no spiritual energy and was the most useless of all her disciples.
“Of course you do.” Wen Li affirmed patiently. She took out a tin of ointment and used her fingertip to apply some to his cheeks and arms. “For example, you’re great at digging holes. The holes you dig are the fastest and largest, and they never collapse. If it weren't for you, Fourth Disciple and I wouldn't have known how to get out of the Wuho Tomb. And you’re very good at making me happy. When I’m upset, I feel better as soon as you speak.”
“Also, when you revert to your original form, you aren’t restricted by spiritual energy and can move freely. If we encounter danger in the future, I’ll surely have to rely on you to save me.”
Hua Cishu bit his lip and couldn't help but ask, “You know I’ve never trusted you, right?” This was the first time he had been so honest with Wen Li about his thoughts.
“Whether you trust me or not is your business. It’s not important. What matters is that you are my disciple. You can learn skills from me, so that even if you leave me later, you’ll have the ability to protect yourself.” The cool ointment under Wen Li’s fingertips melted over the red marks on his cheeks, providing a soothing chill.
Hua Cishu narrowed his long, narrow phoenix eyes, the vulnerability in them replaced by a hint of dark suspicion. “Why? I don’t believe anyone would be good to me for no reason. All your other disciples have talent, while I’m just a half-human, half-demon waste.”
He had always been suspicious of her unconditional kindness. He felt the need to repeatedly test her limits and see how far her kindness went, waiting to see how long she could keep up the act.
Yet, he couldn't help but crave this kindness. He kept thinking that even if she harbored ill intentions, he still wanted to occupy her absolute favoritism. But seeing her other disciples today—especially the Second Disciple, who also had a special bloodline and wasn't human yet was stronger and more obedient—had made him feel inferior. He had felt a desperate urge to create conflict between them to see who she would choose first.
And yet, when she arrived, she had chosen to comfort him first instead of the other.
Wen Li could tell exactly what was bothering him. After finishing the ointment, she manifested Hold On in its dagger form and moved it toward him.
Hua Cishu instinctively retreated, his eyes filled with wariness, sadness, and disappointment. It seemed he hadn't expected her to move against him so soon.
“What are you thinking? I’m going to cut off that scorched hair. You can’t go out looking like that.” Wen Li helplessly placed Hold On into his hand. “If you don’t trust me, then do it yourself.” She produced a mirror and held it up for him.
Hua Cishu frowned as he gripped the dagger. He slowly looked at his reflection in the mirror—his face was covered in bruises and red marks, his hair was charred black, and his beautiful clothes were covered in mud.
His eyes reddened, but he still took the dagger and cut off the scorched hair himself, letting it drop to the floor. His once-fine hair was now a messy tangle. He lowered his head, lost in thought.
“It’s true that no one will be good to you for no reason. In this world, aside from blood relatives who might treat you with sincere parental affection, others will only be good to you because of what you can provide—be it interests or emotional value. Your wariness is a good thing. Remember: don’t trust anyone, and don’t trust me either.”
Wen Li reached out to smooth his remaining hair, took off the silver bell, and began braiding his hair again.
Hua Cishu’s pupils dilated as he looked up, his eyes full of astonishment.
“I can tell you quite frankly that I took you in as a disciple because your destiny is tied to mine. Saving you was also saving myself. It’s true that I have an ulterior motive, but you will be treated the same as my other disciples here; you will have whatever they have. I can provide you with resources you've never had before,” Wen Li continued. “You don’t have to trust me, but you need to listen to me.”
Hua Cishu fell silent. After a long while, he asked, “And if I don’t agree?”
“Do you want to hear the truth or the lie?”
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