Am I the old man who's always by my apprentices' side?

Chapter 371 "The Weak Woman" Lin Fengxian
Meanwhile, Lin Fengxian was unaware that she had been exposed.

She carefully inspected the doors and windows in the room, then took out a black jade pendant and stroked it a few times before her face darkened. She casually tossed the baby onto the bed, her tone unusually flustered: "Master, that immortal Zhang has been making frequent big moves lately. Has he really not discovered you?"

An aged voice suddenly came from the baby's mouth: "Hmph, if you had found out, you would have found out long ago. Would you have allowed us to stay for so long?"

Lin Fengxian breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but then continued somewhat impatiently, "But I've been searching for so long and haven't found any passage. If there isn't one, my husband..."

The aged voice snorted coldly, interrupting Lin Fengxian's words, and threatened, "You are also someone who has glimpsed the path of immortality, so why are you so impatient? I have already said that as long as I find the passage, gather the spiritual energy, and restore my strength, reviving your husband will be as easy as snapping my fingers!"

Lin Fengxian then said, "Since this Immortal Zhang is so powerful, could he possibly have a way...?"

"Hmph! The secret method to resurrect the dead requires a lot of living people as a catalyst. How could those so-called righteous cultivators be willing to help you? If you don't believe me, just ask them! If they find out you have this idea, they'll probably kill you too!"

Lin Fengxian added, "If I could join the White Stone Immortal Sect and visit its library, that would be wonderful. I've heard it houses countless books, and all inner disciples of the White Stone Immortal Sect are welcome to enter. Perhaps I could even glimpse some secret techniques..."

"If you can get in, that would be best. However, it will be at least three to five months before the next Immortal Destiny Conference. I have waited for so many years, so I can wait, but your husband may not be able to!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Fengxian was shocked: "Master, didn't you say you could definitely revive him?"

"That only works if his soul is still intact. The secret technique I taught you can only protect him for three to five years at most. How long he can live depends on his obsession."

"Dong dong dong."

As the two were talking, there was a sudden knock on the door.

Bi'er's voice came clearly from outside the door: "Miss Lin, Young Master Ye invites you to the courtyard for a chat."

Lin Fengxian quickly touched the black jade pendant, tucked it into the baby's inner garment, and then hurriedly opened the door, saying softly, "I understand, I'll go this way. Thank you for passing on the message, Miss Bi'er."

Murong Ruyan disliked Lin Fengxian, and naturally Bi'er disliked her as well. However, she was from the palace and had excellent service skills. She quickly and politely curtsied, bowing her head and saying, "Then this servant will not disturb Miss Lin any longer. This servant will take her leave."

After speaking, Bi'er didn't linger for a moment longer and turned to leave Lin Fengxian's house.

"Please take care, Miss Bi'er."

Lin Fengxian spoke in a gentle tone, but a hint of disdain was in her eyes.

I am just an ordinary mortal.

Lin Fengxian watched Bi'er leave, the contempt in her eyes quickly vanishing, replaced by a perfectly balanced look of vulnerability and unease. She then turned back, gently picked up the baby who had been left on the bed, tidied the swaddling clothes, and stepped out of the room.

Carrying the child, she gracefully entered the small garden of the guest courtyard. There she saw Ye Shuyun standing with his hands behind his back under a peach tree, his posture upright. His moon-white robe made him look even more handsome and otherworldly. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting dappled light on him, making him look like a fairy in a painting. Lin Fengxian was also somewhat dazed.

But Lin Fengxian quickly composed herself. She approached Ye Shuyun, curtsied, and said softly, "Greetings, cousin. May I ask what brings you here?" Ye Shuyun turned around and looked at Lin Fengxian with the same gentle and aloof demeanor, but there was a hint of scrutiny in his eyes that was more subtle than usual.

He gently helped her up and said in a warm voice, "Cousin, there's no need for such formalities. I've just been busy with sect affairs these past few days and haven't had a proper chat with you. Now that I have some free time, I wanted to ask if you're settling in well here. If there's anything inconvenient, please feel free to tell me."

His tone seemed no different from usual, still that of a gentleman, but Lin Fengxian keenly sensed that her cousin's gaze seemed to linger on the baby in her arms for a moment longer than usual.

A slight chill ran through her, but a blush rose on her face at the opportune moment. She lowered her head and spoke in a softer voice: "Thank you for your concern, cousin. Xian'er is doing well. Princess Murong has made extremely thoughtful arrangements, and Miss Bi'er has served her diligently. There has been no inconvenience whatsoever."

As she spoke, she gently shook the child in her arms, her voice tinged with the melancholy of a new mother: "But Bao'er... seems to be somewhat unwell about the spiritual energy of this place, and he doesn't sleep very well at night."

Ye Shuyun looked at Bao'er in response to her words. The child was still unusually quiet, with his big, dark eyes wide open. He didn't cry or fuss, but just looked at her quietly. He was so calm that he didn't look like an infant at all.

Remembering his master's admonition, he remained calm and gentle, saying, "Children always need some time to adapt to a new environment. I'll go to Lingyao Peak later to ask if there are any mild calming spices or herbs that might help Bao'er."

"Thank you, cousin!"

Lin Fengxian raised her head, her eyes filled with gratitude and admiration: "Cousin, you are now a cultivator, worlds apart from me, yet you still care for me so much. I... I really don't know how to repay you..."

As she spoke, Lin Fengxian choked up a little.

"We are related by blood, so there's no need for thanks." Ye Shuyun sighed softly, her expression somewhat complicated, and comforted her, "Just stay here in peace. If you encounter any difficulties, feel free to tell me. If I can help, considering the relationship between the Lin and Ye families... and the friendship we shared when we were young, I certainly won't refuse..."

"Sigh, I've never thought about your difficulties all these years, nor have I been able to help you in any way. It's my dereliction of duty as your cousin. I hope you won't blame me, and please don't... don't get stuck on this..."

Ye Shuyun wanted to say something more, but after opening her mouth, she was afraid of being too blunt and alerting the enemy, so she had to shut her mouth and sighed softly again.

In his heart, no matter what Lin Fengxian wanted to do or how much she had hidden from him, it couldn't be entirely her fault for pushing a weak woman to this point.

Lin Fengxian's heart trembled slightly upon hearing Ye Shuyun's words. She couldn't help but glance at Ye Shuyun quickly, but when she met his dark and unfathomable eyes, she quickly lowered her head, swallowed hard, and stammered in a low voice, "Thank you so much for your concern, cousin. It's just that I've had a hard life. It's already a great favor that you've taken me in."

"There's no need to take it so seriously; it's just a place to stay."

Ye Shuyun casually offered another word of comfort before continuing to ask, "Speaking of which, what are your plans now, cousin? If you are interested in the path of immortality, perhaps you could start studying the basics of immortality early on, and then give it a try at next year's Immortal Fate Conference. In the future, you will be my fellow disciples and will have a real place to settle down."

Lin Fengxian curled her lips into a self-deprecating smile: "Can a woman like me, with a child, really join the White Stone Immortal Sect? Even if I can pass the trial formation, what will happen to Bao'er?"

Ye Shuyun smiled gently and explained, "Cousin, you're overthinking it. There are already disciples in the outer sect who bring their families. Her daughter is old enough to go to school, yet she can still freely enter and leave the White Stone Immortal Sect."

"So you can rest assured that as long as you can pass the trial formation and join the White Stone Immortal Sect, no matter how great the difficulties, the sect will not be heartless."

(End of this chapter)