Seeing that Tang Youyou only had food on her mind and didn't mention at all how she had broken his trap just now, it piqued his interest.
"Little girl, you've concealed your identity and come to the Qingyun Sect. What on earth is your purpose?"
Hearing this, Tang Youyou waved her hand and respectfully explained, "What purpose could I, a junior, possibly have? I just want to come here to study so that I can become a doctor in a pharmacy in the future and earn money to support my family."
Tang Youyou's words were quite sincere, making the old man somewhat skeptical. "So, you've already chosen a senior elder in mind?"
Hearing this, Tang Youyou didn't know whether to nod or what to do. She just stood there, silent for a long time.
Seeing that she refused to speak, the old man continued on his own, "Basically, everyone who comes here is for the Grand Elder. You should be the same, right?"
The Grand Elder? That conceited and fierce man? He wasn't even qualified in her eyes.
However, Tang Youyou would never say such the truth out loud. She looked at the old man beside her with a mischievous smile and said, "I, a junior, didn't come for the Grand Elder. I came for the Fourth Elder, who is rumored to be indifferent to fame and fortune."
She said this because this old man knew too much and could live in the small cottage behind Rong Xun. A person who was so leisurely and unrestrained was either a hermit or a highly respected eccentric.
And this old man was probably the Fourth Elder who was rumored to never show his face.
However, although this man was strange, he was also reasonable.
He wasn't as odd as her former master.
It was really true that immortals in ancient times often had strange quirks. This Fourth Elder in front of her must not be an ordinary person. He might even be more highly respected than the first three elders.
But this was just her guess. Whether it was right or not would depend on the man's reaction.
As it turned out, the old man was indeed pleased by her words. However, he still put on airs and looked down at Tang Youyou with an aloof expression.
"Kid, then tell me what makes this Fourth Elder so admirable to you?"
...
For a moment, both of them fell silent. Tang Youyou thought for a long time and finally started to shower the old man with compliments. She pulled out every flattering phrase she could think of, regardless of whether it was useful or not.
Hearing Tang Youyou's "sincere words", the old man nodded, stroking his beard with one hand and keeping the other behind his back.
"Well, not bad, kid. I'll give you a chance to become a disciple of the Fourth Elder. Would you like that?"
Hearing this, Tang Youyou nodded repeatedly. "Of course. It's my long - cherished wish. If I could achieve it one day, I would be extremely excited."
"Good. Then I'll take you as my disciple."
Hearing this, when Tang Youyou lowered her head, a faint smile flashed across her lips. When she looked up again, the smile had disappeared.
With tears in her eyes, she said, "Elder, I have a mentally - handicapped elder brother at home. He's been a slow - witted since childhood and can't take care of himself. But he's a natural genius in medicine and can make very good pills. So..."
Seeing Tang Youyou's hesitant look, the Fourth Elder spoke again, "So, you want him to come here with you and be my disciple too?"
Hearing this, Tang Youyou nodded silently. "Exactly. I just thought that if I could bring my elder brother here, even if he just did odd jobs around me, I wouldn't feel guilty about my mother's instructions."
Hearing this explanation, the old man was touched. However, he still cautioned, "It's okay, but once he's here, I won't show any special favoritism to anyone."
Hearing this, Tang Youyou nodded. "Naturally. We definitely won't disgrace the elder. My elder brother has advanced to the next round of the exam. There shouldn't be any problem."
After she finished speaking, the old man nodded. At the same time, they heard Tang Youyou's hungry stomach growling. He was a bit stunned.
Then he turned around and walked into the small wooden cottage behind him. He came out carrying a stone pot from which the aroma of the food wafted out, making Tang Youyou immediately turn to look at the old man.
With a sweet smile on her face, she looked at the old man and pretended to be innocent as she asked softly, "Fourth Elder, where did you get this from? The smell is so appetizing."
Hearing this, the old man became even more proud. He tilted his head back and laughed, "Little girl, the Qingyun Sect has stopped recruiting female disciples for three years. It must have been quite hard for you to conceal your identity, right?"
Hearing this, Tang Youyou didn't know what to say for a moment. After a brief silence, she just nodded. She always felt that in front of this "bad guy", there was nothing about her that could be hidden.
"Yes, I, a disciple, came to the Qingyun Sect to study because of my personal affairs. On the one hand, it's to supplement the family income. On the other hand, it's to look for a high - ranking relative."
For Tang Youyou, she wasn't lying. But for the old man, these words had a different meaning.
He nodded upon hearing this, placed the stone pot on the simple stone table beside him. When he lifted the lid, the aroma shot up immediately.
The smell was no worse than the hot - pot she had been longing for day and night.
Tang Youyou quickly sat down on the stone stool beside her. She saw the old man walking towards the bamboo forest and casually breaking off some bamboo branches to make a pair of chopsticks.
Of course, the pair in her hand was made in the same way.
Seeing this, Tang Youyou smiled and said, "I didn't expect that in this extremely luxurious Qingyun Sect, there would be a carefree person like you who returns to nature."
The meaning of the "carefree person" in her words hit the old man's heart.
The old man laughed and said, "Little girl, I can't bear the title of 'carefree person'. Now I just want to study things to acquire knowledge. As for returning to nature, it will take many years."
Yes, the old man understood the meaning of what Tang Youyou said.
Hearing the old man's answer, Tang Youyou was naturally happy. She nodded and said politely, "That's very good."
Then she started to dine with him.
After the meal, Tang Youyou got up to say goodbye. When leaving, the old man looked at her, frowned and left only a few simple words.
"Girl, you must stay alive in tomorrow's competition. Sometimes, unorthodox methods are not necessarily wrong. As long as they work."
Hearing his meaningful words, Tang Youyou kept them firmly in mind. Then she didn't bother him anymore. After thanking him, she returned to Rong Xun's residence.
But the moment she stepped into the residence, she was suddenly pulled by a force and crashed into a solid chest.