It's not easy being a Master

14

It was too cold and snowy outside so Shen Zhixian turned slightly sideways to point inside the rooms. “Let's go inside?”

Yan Jin shook his head and said, “Disciple just wanted to ask Master something. Teacher Shao from third peak wants to hold a small sword comprehension exchange, and he invited this disciple to go to third peak to participate…”　

“A small sword comprehension exchange?” Shen Zhixian muttered to himself. This was a small meeting wherein the disciples under the elders of the main peaks gathered together to discuss sword techniques and exchange sword experience. This practice of exchanging and learning from each other could improve progress and comprehension.

In the past few years, Shen Zhixian had watched the youth grow up little by little, and he realized that the young man was becoming more reticent day by day. He was very annoyed, afraid that he was raising a person perfect for blackening. At present, it was already very rare for Yan Jin to even want to participate in these group activities. Therefore, he readily agreed to allow Yan Jin to participate.

“Will Yan Shen also be present?”

Yan Jin nodded.

Shen Zhixian urged, "Stay away from him."

In the past years, he’d deliberately given Yan Shen the cold shoulder. However, Yan Shen was still unscrupulous in his heart and continued to backhandedly encourage and brainwash people into giving Yan Jin a hard time. Despite Shen Zhixian’s overt and covert warnings, these incidents had not dissipated but had instead intensified.

Sooner or later, he would find evidence that would allow him to directly punish Yan Shen. 　　

Yan Jin murmured an assent. 　　

Shen Zhixian knew his character well and knew that he was a man of few words. As a result, he merely waved his hand to allow Yan Jin to leave. 　　

As Yan Jin was about to leave, Shen Zhixian suddenly remembered something. “I’ve asked Third Elder to set up an array for me. On your way back, you can bring it with you."

Third Elder was an expert in array formations. Recently, Shen Zhixian had begged him to set up a warmth array to help with the cold chill of heavy winter. Even if he wasn’t afraid of the cold, he still didn’t like breathing in the cold air when he sleeps!

After Yan Jin left, Shen Zhixian found that his sleepiness had disappeared. After pondering for a moment, he briskly walked toward the back of the mountain, saying to himself, “Might as well take the little grass bud and go soak in the hot springs. I’ll bring a plate of fruit and a jug of wine.”

The former sect leader was truly very good to the original Shen Zhixian. Not only did his peak have the most spiritual qi, the terrain was easy to defend and difficult to attack. There was also a hot spring in the back mountain. The hot spring was full of spiritual qi, such that one could feel it on approach.

Shen Zhixian fell in love with this hot spring as soon as he discovered it and would often come to soak in it every few days.

The jade pot grew warm as it floated along the surface of the hot spring, and the jade plate was ladened with various fruits cut into small pieces. The sweet fruity aroma and the scent of clear wine blended together, creating a pleasant, decadent fragrance.

Xiao Caoya plunged into the bottom of the spring before surfacing and shaking its small leaves, scattering water droplets on Shen Zhixian’s face.

Shen Zhixian poured a handful of water over the small grass bud and drowned it all over again.

It took awhile for them to stop playing around. Finally, Xiao Caoya lazily spread itself on the shore, basking in the sun. Shen Zhixian leaned against the water’s edge as he sat on a stone ledge with his eyes closed, thinking.