Chapter 027: Lickspittle x Scoundrel x Saintly Complex (9)

Chapter 027: Lickspittle x Scoundrel x Saintly Complex (9)

The Master said, "To do one's work well, one must first sharpen one's tools."

During the next watered-down class, Keding was reflecting on his tactical issues.

With limited real-world experience, he found the increased difficulty of the mission somewhat challenging.

The teacher droned on, reading from the PowerPoint slides, while students snoozed in rows below, undisturbed.

Keding slumped on the table, slightly annoyed, and turned to see Lao Zhang scrolling through Xiaohongshu.

"You're still using this app?" Keding had little understanding of the software: "Isn't it all about makeup and luxury goods?"

"There's plenty of bathroom literature too," Lao Zhang continued scrolling, chin propped up. "It's perfectly reasonable to read bathroom literature during such classes."

Keding: "...!"

I've learned something!

He opened his phone and quickly downloaded several popular social media apps, seeking help from enthusiastic netizens.

[Help Wanted] My friend is obsessed with a scoundrel and tolerates all his outrageous behavior. How can I help him? Urgent!

OP: My good friend is... overly tolerant. His current partner not only cheats but also has a terrible temper and refuses to take responsibility, acting like a spoiled brat who hates everyone.

My junior sister and I have tried to persuade him many times, but he keeps feeling sorry for that scoundrel, thinking how pitiful he must be because of his unhappy childhood and lack of care as an adult.

All-knowing netizens, please tell us how we can help him!

1L: Respect, bless, and don't let the scoundrel back into the market. Thanks.

2L: What a combination! Saintly complex x Dark and brooding? Lock them together!

3L: Respect, bless (with flowers), just don't let anyone die at my doorstep.

4L: Fast-forward to domestic violence and infidelity. Oh, already cheating, huh? Your friend really loves him; I'm so touched.

...

By the time the first half of the class ended, the replies were all sarcastic, with no one trying to salvage the relationship.

While waiting in line for lunch, Keding checked his phone again and saw a new reply.

36L: We need to determine if it's love-brain or a saintly complex. If it's a saintly complex, does he feel sorry for everyone who's pitiful, or just that one scoundrel?

If it's the former, there's still hope. For the latter, forget it; even Buddha won't save someone who's biased.

OP's Reply: It's the former! He's always been kind to the elderly, the weak, and the disabled. He's taken care of many stray animals and has a great reputation among people!

But in front of that scoundrel, he has no boundaries, always being soft-hearted and willing to be manipulated by that jerk. My friends and I are getting desperate watching this.

36L's Reply: Then he's clearly bored. In palace dramas, whenever the emperor looks troubled over distant wars, the empress steps in.

"Emperor, isn't it time for a new selection of concubines? Let's bring some fresh faces into the palace—"

Pull your buddy into studying for exams! Focus on your career instead of that scoundrel!

OP: !!!!

OP: Thank you, I get it now!

36L's Reply: No need to thank me, sis. Wishing you and your buddy happiness!

OP: You too! May you live safely and prosper every day!

With the phone closed, Keding regained his determination.

"This time, I understand. I can't wait to take a nap!"

The system remained speechless: "Is Xiaohongshu used like this nowadays?"

"I'd call it outsourcing wit." Keding smiled broadly.

The next day, Xiao Baiqiong secretly visited his senior uncle and grandfather, earning a reward for taming the monkey population on Mount Emei.

He planned to distribute recruitment posters and organize a grand apprentice recruitment event!

Previously, the monkeys on Mount Emei had caused havoc, robbing visitors of their belongings and food, making it dangerous for outsiders to enter.

Although the Longevity Sect had a prestigious name, they usually took apprentices casually.

Few apprentices joined each year, mostly picked up by the masters during their travels.

Xiao Baiqiong unified the monkey population and taught them how to peacefully gather various foods, earning him significant merit.

Now, the monkeys even plow fields in exchange for corn, benefiting farmers without livestock, bringing smiles to their faces.

How much grain can monkeys eat! With nimble hands and the ability to understand human instructions, they are more useful than old oxen!

For this reason, the elders of the Longevity Sect prepared silver and spiritual treasures to reward this wise and considerate young man.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Baiqiong asked for nothing in return and instead wanted to post notices everywhere to recruit more apprentices and strengthen the sect.

A good deed indeed! This was a definite boon!

With the elders' approval, Xiao Baiqiong printed numerous flyers and called upon the monkeys to help distribute and post them throughout nearby mountain towns, ensuring widespread visibility.

He still felt it wasn't enough, so after rewarding the monkeys with roasted chicken and rice wine, he brought two sacks of corn kernels to negotiate business with the pigeons.

For a while, notices of the Mount Emei Immortal Sect widely recruiting new disciples were flying everywhere, even reaching as far as Guangxi, where people came in admiration.

The Longevity Sect—that was a renowned Immortal Sect!

Not only were there no more monkey troubles, but they were also recruiting nearly a thousand new disciples!

Must go! Must definitely go!

Meanwhile, Rong Zijin and Si Jinghua were once again entangled; she practiced swordsmanship while he painted her eyebrows, their relationship rapidly warming up, as if all past grievances were no longer worth mentioning.

Feng Qinqin watched this and sighed inwardly.

"Senior Brother, I'm always worried that Uncle Si will lose control again, claiming his pain and turmoil require him to seek solace elsewhere."

"If history repeats itself, won't Master... cry herself blind?"

Xiao Baiqiong patted his junior sister's shoulder.

"Don't worry, our Master is about to be busy."

On June 30th, the first round of the recruitment conference officially began.

In front of Yunluo Palace, ten venerable masters stood side by side on the platform, able to grant flowers or fans to any incoming disciples. The former represented a polite dismissal, while the latter invited them to stay long-term.

Mount Emei, towering thousands of feet high, saw a line of aspiring disciples stretching from its foot to its peak. Inns within a five-mile radius were bustling with business, even hiring monkeys to wash dishes, paying anywhere from three chicken legs to five large steamed buns per day.

All the newcomers were unfamiliar faces, including people from various professions, men and women, young and old, among them couples and father-son pairs, bringing their families to seek immortality together.

Each person had one incense stick's time to introduce themselves and their abilities before the ten masters decided their fate.

The scene was truly lively, attracting many children who climbed the mountain just to see the faces of the masters. Some children were recognized for their exceptional spiritual roots and were immediately accepted.

For a while, the farmers around Mount Emei made a fortune, doing endless business every day, their faces glowing with happiness.

The Patriarch specially cast spells to improve the mountain path, turning the difficult heavenly steps into gentle slopes, ensuring the safety of out-of-province visitors.

Among the many seekers, the system suddenly spotted some familiar faces.

"That person, isn't he the male concubine villain from later in the novel?"

"And that man, how did he get from the capital to Mount Emei? Si Jinghua hasn't reincarnated yet!"

Keding swung on a swing high above, biting into a roasted corn cob: "He might find reincarnation difficult."

"Originally, according to the original story, Si Jinghua would suffer greatly, be trapped by love, die tragically, and then reincarnate as an emperor."

"I've already brought them together early, saving them from three hundred chapters of tortured love."

System: "...I can no longer predict what will happen next."

Over ten days, the various Daoist palaces became much fuller.

As Keding had guessed, the new disciples Si Jinghua favored were all enigmatic and coy, each with smoldering eyes, clearly capable of engaging in playful activities with their master.

For every such disciple, he accepted one.

"Master Chongri—grant fan!"

"Master Chongri—grant fan!"

Some disciples, although spiritually gifted, weren't particularly eloquent or good-looking.

"Grant flower!"

Rong Zijin showed little interest in strong and intelligent individuals and merely glanced at those who were articulate. Instead, she asked concerned questions when she saw the elderly, weak, or disabled, even taking out her own money to help with their travel expenses.

She preferred to let others have the excellent candidates and instead focused on those left behind.

"Immortal Venerable Yiyue—grant fan!"

In the end, her master accepted a blind child, a lame child, and another with five spiritual roots.

Feng Qinqin silently prepared the dormitories for the new junior brothers and sisters, quietly wiping away tears with Xiao Baiqiong.

"When I was little, Master picked me up during a famine."

"I was so hungry I couldn't speak. Then Master squatted down, took my hand, and said, 'Nuan Nuan, shall we go have some chicken soup?'"

Xiao Baiqiong patted her again.

"With these kids' appetites, we'll be eating plenty of chicken bones."

Feng Qinqin turned her tears into laughter: "Who wants those scraps? Feed them to your monkeys!"

The three new disciples were very young, two girls and one boy, living with their senior brothers and sisters in the same hall, supporting each other.

Rong Zijin was not the type to leave things to chance. Even for small matters like bedding and meals, she personally ensured everything was properly arranged for the children.

She made a guide stick for the little boy and placed warning wind chimes in dangerous areas, instructing him to stay away from those spots.

The little girl's lameness was recent, and with proper care, there was hope for recovery. Rong Zijin massaged her injured leg day and night, pouring her spiritual energy into it without hesitation, helping the tendons to heal sooner.

The children, full of innocence and joy, revered and loved Rong Zijin, softly calling her "thank you, Master."

For a while, Suyuzhai seemed to bask in perpetual spring, filled with laughter and joy.

With three new disciples to care for, akin to kittens, she spent less and less time staying at Luoyueyuan.

Sometimes, even after their intimate moments, Rong Zijin would fall asleep in Si Jinghua's arms, only to hastily sit up and put on her robe before rushing out.

Si Jinghua instinctively reached out to grab her.

"Zijin, where are you going again?"

"I can't leave Chunchao alone; I need to check if she's having nightmares again." Rong Zijin had already pushed the door open: "Go back to sleep; don't wait for me."

Left behind, Si Jinghua could no longer maintain his composed expression.

In the deep of night, the system, which was also in sleep mode, was abruptly awakened by beeping sounds.

"Twenty more credits! Another transaction! Just these past few days alone, it's added up to over ninety!"

Seeing that the young man was still snoring, the system shook him with its vibration mode.

"Baby! Did you hear that? The beautiful sound of money coming in! Waaah!"

"Heard it... heard it..." Xiao Baiqiong held the little blind child in his arms, soothing the child to sleep with intermittent words, too exhausted to speak clearly: "Huh..."