The days passed one by one, and soon, Peach Blossom Mountain was about to enter winter.

Then, one morning, a loud shout came from the Immortal's room.

Shen Bozhou, who had just returned from meditating on the platform, was about to head to the kitchen to make breakfast. Hearing his master's call, he didn't even have time to change his clothes and strode over quickly.

"What happened..."

Shen Bozhou's gaze moved from top to bottom, only to see the Immortal lying on the ground, holding an open insect cage in his hands, his face full of despair, and his hands trembling.

"My dear Golden Concubine, what happened to you!! You actually left this Immortal alone! From now on, I will be a lonely soul on this Peach Blossom Mountain, with only Yellow Chicken, the messenger bird, the thousand-year-old cockroach, the graves of Yi Gou, Er Ya, San Tu, and Si Dui, the distant Wu Hua, and the nearby Liu Chuan to keep me company! I'm so lonely!"

"......"

The incident happened so suddenly that Shen Bozhou didn't even know where to start with his retorts.

Tao Mian had actually bestowed the title of Golden Concubine on that black-shelled bug.

And—

"Immortal Master, please get up. If you want to say you're lonely, you don't need to add that long list in front. Stop acting, the Golden Concubine bug is dead and can't come back to life."

Tao Mian would perform a scene every now and then, and Shen Bozhou had gradually become desensitized to it.

"Liu Chuan! How can you say such cold words! It really angers me. From today on, let's not speak to each other!"

"Okay. Want to eat?"

"Yes."

"......"

Despite the act, the golden-nosed beetle was truly motionless.

During breakfast, Tao Mian picked up a small stick and poked the bug's head and rear, but the little bug didn't respond at all, just being pushed around by the stick.

"......Is it really dead?"

Tao Mian couldn't believe it.

He went into the study to check, searching everywhere, but found no explanation for this.

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Later, he wrote a letter to Xue Han.

Shopkeeper Xue provided a seemingly reliable explanation, saying the golden-nosed beetle was probably hibernating.

—After hibernation, the bug can't smell the Water of Heaven. In that case, you might as well wait for spring to search again.

With Shopkeeper Xue's words, Tao Mian confidently did nothing for the entire winter.

......

As the grass and trees sprouted, the spring mountains came into view. The long-awaited season of revival finally arrived.

A burst of rain urged the flowers, and a few rolls of thunder awakened the small black bug from its long hibernation.

The insect cage rolled twice on the table, fell to the ground, and tumbled towards the door.

The master and disciple duo, chatting idly inside, were drawn to the noise and simultaneously stopped their conversation.

Tao Mian quietly followed, squatting beside it. The woven vine insect cage lightly bumped against the high threshold, as if trying to go out but not knowing how.

He was a bit surprised, slapping his knee with his palm.

"Little Six! Come quickly! This bug has been idle for so long and is finally willing to work!"

Shen Bozhou, infected by Tao Mian's joy, also smiled and squatted by the threshold with his master.

The two grown men hunched over, heads bent, intently studying the little cage's direction.

"This little thing really knows how to drag its feet, even more than I do." Tao Mian picked up the insect cage, tapping it with his fingernail.

Then he turned to Shen Bozhou and said.

"Let's go, Little Six, let's take advantage of this wonderful springtime and go on a journey outside the mountain!"

Shen Bozhou packed his belongings, also preparing his master's.

Besides some essential dry food, medicine, and a money pouch, he carried a sword.

This sword was a gift from his master's close friend, Ah Jiu, the master of Xuanji Tower, named Frost Cold.

"Drunk with flowers, three thousand guests; one sword, Frost Cold, fourteen states."

Ah Jiu hoped the sixth disciple would rise to prominence and achieve great things.

The sword was excellent, but Shen Bozhou worried he wouldn't know how to use it, letting the precious sword gather dust.

Tao Mian said there was no such thing as gathering dust. The sword nurtures the person, and the person nurtures the sword. Having a good sword by your side can keep many disasters at bay.

Before leaving, Shen Bozhou drew the sword halfway from its scabbard, the cold light flashing, the bright blade reflecting his face.

He silently hoped that this journey wouldn't be in vain, that it would help him complete his spiritual roots soon. That way, he could contribute to the sect instead of always receiving his master's care and concern.

Tao Mian called his name from outside, and Shen Bozhou responded, bringing his things along.

The path down the mountain required walking, and the master and disciple followed the small road.

Tao Mian was still examining the little bug.

He held the insect cage between his fingers, shaking it up and down, muttering—

"Such a small bug, crawling so slowly, when will it finally—oh my!"

Just as the Immortal released his grip, the bug, as if injected with adrenaline, shot out with the vine cage in tow!

Tao Mian was caught off guard, realizing it too late, and chased after the bug at full speed.

On the way, they encountered a few villagers. The villagers took off their straw hats and greeted the Immortal.

"Little Tao Immortal, practicing light skills so early in the morning?"

"......"

Tao Mian didn't have time to respond, so Shen Bozhou greeted the villagers on his behalf.

Since recovering his health, Shen Bozhou had been helping the villagers with their tasks. Initially, they didn't trust him, but Tao Mian led him, apologizing door to door, ensuring he wouldn't trouble the villagers again.

The people of Peach Blossom Village were simple-minded. Seeing this young man strong and capable, helping them with many things, they gradually warmed up to him, calling him Little Shen.

"Good morning, Little Shen!"

"Have you eaten, Little Shen?"

After responding to each greeting, Shen Bozhou followed in Tao Mian's footsteps, continuing forward.

By now, they had reached outside the village, and Tao Mian finally caught the insect cage, tidying his windblown hair.

"Finally caught it..."

To make traveling easier, Tao Mian tied a red string to the cage, wearing it on his hand. Wherever the bug flew, he and his disciple would follow.

After traveling for six or seven days, they arrived at an unfamiliar region.

The spiritual energy here was abundant, suggesting a cultivation sect had established itself in this area. Tao Mian told his disciple to avoid revealing their identity as Immortal sect disciples on someone else's turf.

"Disciple understands, to avoid conflict with them."

"No, mainly to prevent them from getting jealous," Tao Mian said proudly. "Even if their master cultivates for a few more centuries, they might not become Immortals. But look at you, by sheer luck, you found such a reliable Immortal to be your master. Who wouldn't lose sleep over this?"

"......Immortal Master is absolutely right."

The two were chatting idly in a corner of the marketplace when they suddenly heard a commotion ahead, as if a dispute had arisen.

Tao Mian's curiosity for excitement was piqued again.

"Quick, quick! Let's go see! Otherwise, the excitement will be over by the time we get there!"