"…Is this the new disciple you've taken in?"

Xue Han was busy checking accounts in his spacious study, while across from him sat an uninvited master and disciple pair.

He had left them waiting for quite a while.

Rong Zheng was not one to sit still; as time dragged on, she felt as if there were nails on the chair, making her feel uncomfortable all over.

Unable to hold back, she leaned closer to Tao Mian and whispered.

"Shi Fu, are you really good friends? Or did we take a wrong turn and end up at an enemy's place?"

Tao Mian was about to explain when Xue Han interrupted.

Shopkeeper Xue looked up with a smile.

"The young lady has quite the eye for people."

Rong Zheng's mouth opened slightly.

"So, it really is an enemy?"

"Don't listen to his nonsense," Tao Mian waved his sleeve, cutting off the baseless conversation, "Xue Han, you're capable, I'm here to ask for your help—"

Xue Han refused without a second thought.

"No."

"…" Tao Mian felt wronged, "I haven't even said what it is yet!"

"No matter what it is, no."

"…"

The two had known each other for quite some time, and both understood each other's nature.

Shopkeeper Xue's "no" wasn't a real "no"; he just wanted to negotiate terms.

But Tao Mian dreaded negotiating terms with him.

"Go ahead, what do you want me to do this time?"

The Immortal was ready to go all out; he had promised his disciple to teach her the Tong You Technique and couldn't go back on his word.

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He didn't want to be the kind of adult who makes promises to children but doesn't keep them. Usually, Immortals were unreliable in words but would do what needed to be done.

Moreover, he could see that Rong Zheng was someone who valued promises greatly.

Seeing his decisive response, Xue Han put down the account book in his hand, smiling.

"I haven't decided what I want you to do yet."

"That's great, you can just—"

"Don't get your hopes up. I want a promise from you."

"…"

Tao Mian fell silent.

More than any specific request, he feared these vague "promises."

"Are you going to make me die if you ask me to?"

"You won't die, I know," Shopkeeper Xue leaned back comfortably in his rosewood chair, "Rest assured, I won't make you do anything too difficult."

"Including taking you as a disciple?"

"…Why do you have to bring that up?"

"My bad."

An Immortal is indeed an Immortal, seeing through the world more clearly than others, and his speed at kneeling was exceptionally fast.

Shopkeeper Xue tapped his fingers lightly on the table, as if searching for the right place in his mind.

"You've come at the right time. Recently, a friend of mine came to visit, and during our conversation, he mentioned some unclean things happening in one of his estates. He asked me to think of a way to find a master.

Since you've offered, I won't waste any more effort. I'll draft a letter for you to take, and the steward there will naturally let you stay."

Tao Mian hadn't expected things to go so smoothly, and Rong Zheng was already nodding like a pecking chick.

"Little Tao, Little Tao, let's go with this."

Tao Mian had no choice but to agree.

Shopkeeper Xue told them not to rush off and to wait until dawn to set out.

They could rest at the Xue residence, giving him time to prepare the carriage and horses.

Rong Zheng hadn't expected her master's friend to be such a reliable person.

She was escorted away by the maids of the Xue residence to change and rest.

Now, only Tao Mian and Xue Han were left in the room.

After Rong Zheng left, there was a knock on the door from outside; it was a servant from the Xue family.

Xue Han went out for a while and had a brief conversation with the person. It seemed they gave him something.

Tao Mian heard the sound of paper being flipped.

A moment later, Xue Han said, "I understand," and sent the person away.

He then returned to the study, a stack of papers in his hand.

Tao Mian noticed that Shopkeeper Xue intended to leave him alone to talk.

Before Xue Han could say anything, Tao Mian spoke first.

"Let's skip the worn-out topic of whether I should take a disciple. Xue Han, let's talk about something else instead."

Xue Han's smile faded, a sign of his good mood.

"Even if you wanted to hear it, I wouldn't be willing to talk about it. You never listen to advice anyway. The only thing I'm grateful for now is that no matter what you do, you won't die."

Tao Mian shivered.

"How about you take that back? You have a knack for jinxing things; who knows, one day I might really…"

"Even if that day comes, it would be your disciple who gets you killed," Xue Han said without hesitation, then suddenly gritted his teeth as if imagining something, "If you really get killed by your own disciple, I might as well crush your bones and scatter your ashes right here."

"Why are you acting up again?" Tao Mian felt goosebumps all over, "Alright, alright, let's talk business."

"…Then let's talk about your new disciple."

"Why are we circling back to this? Didn't we agree not to bring it up?"

"I didn't say I was going to stop you; I just found out some things and wanted to give you a heads-up."

Xue Han flicked his right wrist, and a brand-new wanted poster unfurled from its rolled-up state.

The face on it was one Tao Mian was all too familiar with.

Even the two dimples were inked in, clearly Rong Zheng's face.

"The Floating Pavilion has made a big announcement, claiming that the former leader of the Twelve Shadow Guards, 'Kite,' betrayed the Pavilion Master and is on the run. There's a bounty of a thousand gold for information. Tao Mian, the Floating Pavilion in the demon realm is practically untouchable. The new Pavilion Master, Du Hong, is a troublesome character, not someone you want to offend.

Your disciples always have big backgrounds. Honestly, when I heard from my subordinates that this little girl was the leader of the Shadow Guards, I wasn't even surprised. But this time is different from the past. No matter what, your disciples always grew up by your side, loyal and devoted to you.

This time, you've taken in a traitor.

She won't just bring you trouble; she might even betray you.

Her relationship with Du Hong is complicated, not something that can be explained in a few words.

If we speak broadly, the demon realm is part of the Demonic Realm. You've seen with your own eyes what kind of items are auctioned at the Thousand Lantern Tower.

Even though we agreed not to talk about taking disciples, as your long-time friend, I wanted to give you a warning.

Otherwise, I'm afraid the next time I see you, it might be in a display box at the Thousand Lantern Tower."