Mu Yijie's eyes flickered slightly.
At first, he regarded Yong Shanling as a fallen girl. Later, he thought she was a sly little fox good at disguising herself. But the words she just said carried a sense of solemnity and remoteness, which made people's hearts involuntarily calm down.
"I'll stay by Uncle Mu's side to protect you from now on and take care of your family as well. I'll definitely live up to the salary Uncle Mu pays me!"
"Since that's the case, shouldn't you come home with me now?" Mu Yijie asked.
"This..." Yong Shanling rolled her eyes. "You have to give me one night to prepare. Besides, cough," she deliberately put on a straight face. "A strange and gifted person like me can't just go home with you without any sense of ceremony!"
"A sense of ceremony? Do I have to hold a special party for you?" Mu Yijie raised his eyebrows.
"No, no. I'm not such a showy person." Yong Shanling waved her hand shyly, then continued muttering while pinching her fingers. "At least, Uncle Mu should come to invite me in person tomorrow. This way, it makes me seem more capable, and it also shows Master that I can handle things on my own!"
Mu Yijie was silent for a moment, then actually nodded in agreement.
He had witnessed Yong Shanling's abilities. The master who had raised her must be a real immortal figure!
"Take out your phone. Let's exchange contact information." Mu Yijie ordered.
Yong Shanling carefully typed the three characters "Mu Yijie" in WeChat with one finger. She touched her chin in satisfaction and said, "Uncle Mu has a nice name. It sounds free and unrestrained, not bound by worldly things."
"Flattery won't get you a raise." Mu Yijie said expressionlessly and noted down Yong Shanling's address in his memo.
"Then I'll leave first. Uncle Mu, remember to pick me up tomorrow morning!" Yong Shanling waved and skipped out of the door.
She hailed a taxi. Ten minutes later, it stopped in front of a quiet and dim alley. After getting off, she walked in twists and turns like walking through a maze, but her pace didn't slow down at all.
She had been walking this road for more than a decade. The old street was in a remote location, like a forgotten place in the bustling city, but it was home and paradise to her.
After passing through the alley, a long street paved with bluestones appeared in front of her.
It was almost dawn at this time. There was a steaming wonton stand by the roadside. The nimble old lady warmly greeted Yong Shanling to sit down and have a bowl of wontons. The old man doing Tai Chi lovingly stuffed a bag of fresh cucumbers into her hands.
From one end of the street to the other, Yong Shanling hugged all kinds of fruits and vegetables. She bumped open the familiar iron gate with her body.
"Master, come and help! I can't carry them anymore!"
"What are you shouting about? You never stop being noisy."
The old man in a white mandarin jacket with a long white beard slowly stepped over the threshold. He folded his arms and leisurely watched Yong Shanling messily pile the things on the table. He even yawned.
"Why were you out all night? Did you fail and were too ashamed to come back?"
"Absolutely not!" Yong Shanling glared at the old man discontentedly. "It was just a Ran Yu fish. Except for being a bit strong, it was a piece of cake. I only took twenty minutes!" she boasted.
"It takes you twenty minutes to catch a bighead carp. Don't ever say you're my disciple when you go out in the future. I can't afford to lose that face!"
"Master!" Yong Shanling stamped her foot hard. But she was used to the old man undermining her confidence since childhood. At first, she would be depressed for days, but now she had developed an indestructible spirit.
"By the way," she took out a dusty cloth bag from her pocket and waved it in front of her master. "There was an unexpected bonus this time. I caught a wisp of the Fen Shen of the Gu Diao. It can be used for making medicine."
"Gu Diao?" A glint of light flashed in Zhou Chengzi's half - closed eyes. "Where did you catch it?"
"Hehe, Master, I have great news for you!" Yong Shanling scooted up to Zhou Chengzi like an eager puppy and said excitedly, "I've found an employer!"
"An employer?"
"Yes! It's the kind of great and kind person you've mentioned. This Gu Diao and that bighead carp were both attracted to him! I've decided to accept his employment and be his personal bodyguard for a year."
"A truly kind person? May the heavens bless..."
"I didn't believe it before, but after seeing him, I know there are really good people in the world. He's shining with golden light all over." Yong Shanling nodded seriously.
Zhou Chengzi was silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. Suddenly, he reached out and flicked Yong Shanling hard on the forehead. "You little girl. You're still a half - baked learner, yet you dare to take on jobs. Be careful that your poor skills won't be able to protect the employer and you'll end up having to pay compensation!"
"Absolutely not. I think I'm very capable." Yong Shanling was indignant. "Some people even call me a little immortal!"
"Your meager skills can only deceive those who are even more ignorant than you!" Zhou Chengzi deliberately grunted twice. "If they ask you for compensation then, don't come to me. I don't know you as my disciple!"
"Then do you still want this bighead carp or not! If not, I'll kill it and eat the meat!" Yong Shanling pretended to go to the kitchen.
"Stop! This is for selling. You wasteful little girl!" Zhou Chengzi took the constantly moving cloth bag and patted it gently. The Ran Yu fish inside immediately stopped making any noise.
"How is your employer treating you?" Zhou Chengzi casually asked while cutting small gourds from the gourd vine.
"He's very nice. He's good at taking care of people and has a good temper. He's coming to pick me up tomorrow." After Yong Shanling said this happily, she touched her face, moved closer to Zhou Chengzi, and said coquettishly, "Master, why don't you also be his bodyguard? Then we won't have to be separated."
"What nonsense. This is your business. We in this line of work have to follow the rules!" Zhou Chengzi blew his beard and stared. "It's not proper for a master and a disciple to go and freeload!"
"But I'll miss you. Well, well, I'll come back to accompany you once a week from now on." Yong Shanling was making calculations in her mind.
"Aren't you going to be a personal bodyguard? Do you still expect weekends? Dream on! Go cook quickly!" Zhou Chengzi waved his hand and chased Yong Shanling away.
Listening to the humming sound coming from the kitchen, he first smiled, but the smile faded quickly. Then he frowned and sighed.
"What a troubled time. Demons are appearing in the world. Is the world going to be in chaos? A truly kind person who appears only once in a thousand years. Is it this girl's fortune or misfortune?"