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

Chapter 372 Miss Lin, I've brought you medicine for your sore throat.
The person Ye Shuyun was referring to is indeed a real person.

She was Yang Muqing, the wife of Pei Zhao, the first cultivator in Chang'an to independently study the "White Stone Immortal Dao Book" and successfully cultivate by drawing Qi into his body.

Pei Zhao was alright. As a cultivator who oversaw the teleportation array, he could frequently travel between the White Stone Immortal Sect and the White Stone Immortal Sect. Yang Muqing also never stayed overnight at the sect. When she didn't have classes or accept any commissions, she would use the teleportation array to return to her home in Chang'an City. After all, Pei Xiaoman was still too young and couldn't bear to be separated from her mother.

Even so, Pei Xiaoman often pestered Pei Zhao to come and see her mother. For various reasons, Pei Zhao would often take Xiaoman to stroll around the White Stone Immortal Sect—as long as one had the ability to enter, the area in front of the Lingxiao Palace Square was open to the public, and even the items in the market on the west side could be purchased by non-disciples of the sect.

Because they often encountered Pei Xiaoman in the Lingxiao Palace square or market of the sect, everyone gradually became familiar with Yang Muqing's affairs, and Ye Shuyun was no exception.

Telling Lin Fengxian this at this time was also out of a hope that her cousin could return to the right path.

After all, Master is incredibly powerful and a true immortal. As long as my cousin can join the White Stone Immortal Sect, what difficulties could he not solve?

Lin Fengxian sighed, a barely perceptible glint of shrewdness flashing in her eyes, but her expression remained soft and weak as she said, "Alas, I am but a weak woman, I'm afraid I have no ability to pass through the trial formation. If only my husband were still alive..."

At this point, Lin Fengxian seemed to suddenly remember something, raised her head and looked at Ye Shuyun with hope, and asked, "Cousin, since Immortal Zhang is a true immortal with great supernatural powers and boundless magic, then... can he also bring my husband back to life?"

"When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out; they cannot be brought back to life."

Ye Shuyun shook her head with difficulty and replied, "If they were about to die, it would be easier to guide them to become ghost cultivators or create a puppet body for them to temporarily reside in, and then find another way. But so much time has passed, even if the Wu brothers' souls are still there, they are probably worn away and there is no way to save them."

"Moreover, given the scarcity of spiritual energy in this world, the Wu brothers will not survive more than a few days before returning to the world."

"But cousin, don't be too sad. People always have to look forward. When people die, their souls are scattered in the world, but they are always with us. I'm sure the Wu brothers wouldn't want you to be so stuck in the past."

Lin Fengxian lowered her eyes in disappointment and said softly, "Thank you for comforting me, cousin. You're right, people... always have to look forward..."

A gentle breeze rustled the peach branches, causing a few petals to drift down. The two stood quietly beneath the tree; it was a scene of breathtaking beauty, yet…

"Hey? Third Junior Brother? You're here too!"

Although the courtyard gate was open, out of politeness, Chang Ping'an did not rush in. Instead, he tiptoed and peeked into the courtyard, where he saw Lin Fengxian and Ye Shuyun.

Ye Shuyun was somewhat surprised: "Senior Brother?"

Chang Ping'an shook the wooden box in his hand and replied with a smile, "Oh, I'm sorry to bother you, Miss Lin. My second junior sister asked me to bring you some medicine. It's a new medicine for sore throats developed by the disciples of Lingyao Peak. They say it's very effective!"

As he spoke, he stepped into the courtyard, then shoved the wooden box into Lin Fengxian's arms, adding, "If your throat feels uncomfortable, take one pill. It's said to be very effective. Miss Lin, please don't be shy. I'll get you more after you finish this one!"

"Is your throat... bothering you?"

Ye Shuyun looked at Lin Fengxian with a puzzled expression, then at Chang Ping'an, somewhat confused.

“I don’t understand either. My second junior sister’s throat was also sore a few days ago. They’re both sick at the same time! This medicine was brought by my second junior sister. I heard that Miss Lin’s voice sounded a bit off last time, but our sect doesn’t have any medicine for the throat, so I asked Zhong Hui to help me get some honeysuckle, saying that it’s good for the throat when steeped in water…”

Chang Ping'an scratched his head first, then patted his chest and said proudly, "See, as soon as the medicine from Spirit Medicine Peak was produced, I sent it over to your cousin!"

Then, he turned to Lin Fengxian and chuckled, saying, "Miss Lin, Ruyan doesn't have any bad intentions. She's just stubborn but soft-hearted. Look, she asked me to bring you medicine to soothe your throat!"

Lin Fengxian gritted her teeth inwardly, then put on a fake smile and bowed, saying, "Hehehe... Actually, Xian'er is much better now. Thank you, Senior Brother Chang, and thank you, Princess..."

"That's fine! But you can keep it, just in case!"

As Chang Ping'an spoke, he let out a breath as if he had completed an important task, then bid farewell to the two of them, saying, "Alright, then I won't disturb you any longer. I have to rush back to the Immortal Alliance. You two chat!"

After saying this, he cupped his hands in greeting, turned around, and left the guest courtyard.

After Chang Ping'an left, Ye Shuyun also took two steps back, cupped her hands and said, "Since my cousin is unwell, she should rest more. I won't disturb her any longer." This was a farewell.

Lin Fengxian curtsied and said, "Take care, cousin."

Ye Shuyun nodded slightly and walked towards the courtyard gate.

But when he reached the stone table, he suddenly stopped, sighed softly, took out a few books from his Qiankun bag, and placed them on the stone table.

"Cousin, these are some basic cultivation techniques and secret manuals that I have found. With your aptitude, it may not be long before you can guide Qi into your body."

"Before, I was confined to the inner quarters and never practiced martial arts. Now, it's the perfect time to practice immortality."

"After all, the White Stone Immortal Sect is an immortal sect. Many places in the sect that are commonplace for cultivators are still somewhat dangerous for you. For example, the ice lake that the sect leader just sealed. Disciples or cultivators in the sect will naturally be fine if they go there, but if a mortal body goes there, it will probably freeze to death in no time."

“Cousin, although I am your cousin, I cannot look after you every moment. Besides, you are still young and have a bright future ahead of you. Even if the Lin family is indifferent to you, the Ye family... will still have a place for you.”

When Ye Shuyun said these words, he did not turn around, nor did he see the complicated expression on Lin Fengxian's face.

"Cousin, please take care."

After saying her last words, Ye Shuyun walked away from the guest courtyard with her usual demeanor, while Lin Fengxian stood under the peach tree, holding the wooden box, watching Ye Shuyun's departing figure, her face covered in tears.

"You didn't let him persuade you, did you?"

An aged voice came from the swaddling clothes, tinged with sarcasm: "As expected, beauty still moves people's hearts. It seems you don't have that deep affection for your husband."

"Do not."

Lin Fengxian's voice was a little hoarse. She reached up and wiped away her tears with her sleeve, then whispered, "He knows."

The aged voice immediately instructed, "Leave the White Stone Immortal Sect. With the nourishment of spiritual energy these past few days, my soul is now stable. Leave first, and we'll think of a solution later."

"I'm not willing to leave like this."

Lin Fengxian's eyes darkened, and she said, "Didn't my cousin say that the ice lake that Immortal Zhang just created is a sealed lake? Let's go and investigate first, and see if we can find any clues."

"Too dangerous."

Lin Fengxian scoffed, "Don't you want to find the passage sooner and recover your strength? Besides, it's just me taking a risk. Even if your physical body is destroyed, you can still possess someone else, right?"

"Traitor! Do you think possession is so easy?"

Lin Fengxian took the black jade pendant out of the swaddling clothes, glanced at it lightly, and continued, "Master, stop pretending. You know very well what kind of people we are. I helped you find the passage, and you helped me revive my husband. I even have my eye on his body. My cousin's body is not bad. At least his appearance is very good."

"Hmph, you're really willing to do that. Your cousin treats you quite well!"

"So what? He's just taking pity on me. Do I need his pity? In his eyes, what's the difference between me and a stray cat or dog on the street?"

Lin Fengxian carried the baby into the room, pausing only when she passed the stone table. She didn't pick up the books, but instead closed her eyes slightly.

Then, as if she were persuading others, and also as if she were persuading herself, she murmured: "Why is it that he, who is blind, can have an encounter with the immortals, while my husband, who is so talented and beautiful, died tragically before the rise of the immortal path?"
"This is what they owe me!"

……

(End of this chapter)