Ch 108

Chapter 108: Master and Disciple

The news that Mu Chen possessed an eighth-grade aptitude once again triggered the sourness in Ye Rong's heart.

Everywhere she turned, someone was singing Mu Chen's praises. The more she heard it, the more bitter she felt.

Ye Shi ending up with Mu Chen—it was all because of the Ye family.

If not for the arranged engagement between the Ye and Mu families, would Ye Shi have even had a chance to get close to Mu Chen?

Ye Rong clenched her fists, reminding herself: the engagement wasn't sealed yet. That meant—there was still hope.

Among the Ye family's younger generation, she felt she was the most suitable to marry Mu Chen. She had looks, grace, and pedigree.

Back then, Mu Chen was arrogant and distant. He hadn't even treated Ye Shi well.

The moment Ye Rong learned about their current relationship, she nearly ground her teeth to dust.

If only the engagement contract had been with her, she would be the one standing beside Mu Chen now.

She imagined it: being Mu Chen's fiancée, adored by the masses, surrounded by luxury. Spirit stones, priceless talismans on the black market, rare pills—all hers.

Just thinking about it made her lightheaded with envy.

All of it—because of one careless decision by her parents—had fallen into Ye Shi's hands.

She stared coldly at the thin stone token in her hand, full of resentment. Even her "loving" parents weren't spared from the blame.

---

"Ye Rong, not picking a task today?" A fellow student nudged her.

"I'm going now," she replied, suppressing her irritation.

"What's the point of assigning her tasks?" someone nearby mocked. "She's a rich young lady. Doesn't need the money anyway."

"Rich?" another girl blinked in confusion. "She doesn't look rich at all. Seems kinda poor, actually."

Ye Rong's face burned red from embarrassment.

Cultivating took massive amounts of primal stones. While there were a few wealthy students at Saint Star Academy, most came from humble homes.

To help out, the academy gave out paid tasks for students to earn spirit coins.

Upperclassmen could take dangerous but high-paying missions—beast hunting, herb gathering. But newbies like Ye Rong could only take on menial jobs: cleaning, helping instructors, kitchen duty, fieldwork...

Ye Rong had once taken up a library task, which she constantly complained about—but everyone else envied her.

After all, it paid 20,000 spirit coins per month. Not bad for a poor freshman.

But for someone like Ye Rong, once the Ye family's princess, 20,000 meant nothing. And now... it was barely enough to get by.

She thought about Ye Shi, who didn't lift a finger and had hundreds of thousands of spirit stones at his disposal. The bitterness in her heart deepened.

She'd begged her father for more resources.

His response?

> "Look at Ye Shi. He latched onto Mu Chen and never worries about anything. And you? Still leeching off the family. Useless!"

Even worse, she'd messaged Mu Chen, shamelessly asking for some primal stones.

He dodged and dodged, and finally replied:

> "Ask Ye Shi. Maybe he'll lend you some."

Ye Shi?! Borrow from him?

If she could've, she already would've!

That guy was rolling in wealth, yet wouldn't spare her a single coin. Truly ungrateful!

---

By the time Ye Rong reached the mission hall, the easy and well-paying jobs were all gone.

She stormed out, fists clenched, face pale with rage.

Bone-removal? Seriously?!

They wanted her to kill chickens and sheep? Her, a young lady?

Even worse, they said Ye Shi used to work in the kitchen and got really good at it through hardship.

Ye Rong nearly spat blood.

Ye Shi was used to hard labor from a young age. But her? No way would she do something so degrading!

---

"This is the Body Refining Liquid of Nine Transformations. Nine bottles. Take one each day for nine days," said Mu Chen.

Ye Shi took them seriously, nodded. "Got it. I'm going into closed-door cultivation for a while."

Mu Chen raised a brow. "All of a sudden?"

Ye Shi pouted. "I don't want to fall too far behind you…"

Mu Chen chuckled. "So that's what it's about. You're working hard, huh."

"Mu Chen… if I fall too far behind, will you stop liking me?" Ye Shi asked, eyes wide and a bit pitiful.

Mu Chen flicked his forehead gently. "Where do you even get these thoughts?"

"Oh—by the way! I heard you bought a bunch of fifth-grade spirit fruits. What for?" Ye Shi asked curiously.

Mu Chen nodded. "How'd you know?"

"Master told me. You're making desserts for him?" Ye Shi tilted his head.

Mu Chen sighed. "Not for your master… for mine."

Turns out, Jing Zhiyan had found out about the fruit. And now Mu Chen had to make desserts for Jing Zhiyan and wine for Xiong Wei.

"For your master?" Ye Shi wrinkled his nose. "Tch."

Mu Chen raised a brow. "What, did he offend you?"

Ye Shi huffed, "I just found out that Zhuang Yu is living like a prince in the quarry. Everyone likes him. He doesn't even have to work!"

Mu Chen blinked. Yep, that sounded about right.

"There are plenty of wines out there—can't you just buy one?" Ye Shi asked.

Mu Chen shook his head. "This one's special. Luoyan Wine. It requires catalyzing with different kinds of flame to maximize its effects. Best to make it myself."

Ye Shi tilted his head. "Must be expensive, huh?"

"Very. All fifth-grade ingredients."

Ye Shi gritted his teeth. "That old man… you're basically sponsoring him."

Mu Chen laughed. "Well, he gave me the recipe for Luoyan Wine. It's not a bad deal."

The wine helped with cold resistance, elemental flame control, and cultivation boost. Priceless.

He couldn't use it now, but once he broke into Wuling Realm, he could finally try it.

"That old man's got some nerve. Next time, add a laxative in his wine!" Ye Shi growled.

Mu Chen blinked. "Seriously?"

"Of course! He's already so fat. A little laxative might even help him slim down. You're doing him a favor!" Ye Shi grinned wickedly.

Mu Chen: "…"

---

"Have you seen your disciple?" Jing Zhiyan asked Xin Ruge.

"He's in seclusion," she said, tilting her head. "Didn't you know?"

Jing Zhiyan gritted his teeth.

Usually, he'd beg Ye Shi to cultivate and get ignored. But the moment he casually joked,

> "If you don't work hard, Mu Chen might dump you…"

Ye Shi had run straight into seclusion.

"Also…" Jing Zhiyan muttered, "Why did that brat buy so many roast chickens and snacks before going into retreat? Planning to eat his way through cultivation?"

Xin Ruge raised a brow. "Master, are you… jealous?"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Jing Zhiyan barked.

She just smiled and said nothing.

A moment later, a student ran in. "Master Jing! Mu Chen is here. He brought something for Ye Shi, but Ye Shi's in seclusion…"

"I'M still here!" Jing Zhiyan shot up. "I'll accept on his behalf!"

Later, Jing Zhiyan returned looking very pleased.

"Mu Chen's a great kid," he sighed. "Said it was for Ye Shi, but everything was made from fifth-grade ingredients. Clearly meant for me. What a treasure! Can't believe he ended up with a fool like Xiong Wei for a master."

---

Stone Quarry.

Hua Shu stared at the pale-faced Xiong Wei and asked, "Brother Xiong, what's wrong with you?"

Xiong Wei growled, "Don't ask. I won't talk about such shameful things."

"Oh come on, don't be shy," Hua Shu said with a smile.

Xiong Wei clenched his teeth. "Mu Chen, that little bastard… laced my wine with laxatives!"

Hua Shu blinked. "You didn't notice?"

Xiong Wei let out a dry laugh. "I did. But it was such a good wine, I didn't want to waste it."

It had been fine wine—boosted blood circulation, helped with cold resistance. One of the best brews he'd ever tasted. Except for the laxative.

"You knew it was spiked and still drank it?" Hua Shu asked.

Xiong Wei scratched his head awkwardly. "Well… I'm a frugal man."

Frugal, huh?

Hua Shu looked at him oddly. That was next-level stinginess.

Xiong Wei gritted his teeth. The dose wasn't strong, so if he drank it slowly it would've been fine.

But… he got too excited and downed the whole pot.

"Did you offend your disciple somehow?" Hua Shu asked.

Xiong Wei snorted. "That brat Ye Shi must've instigated it. Just like that fox Jing Zhiyan—always full of shady tricks."

Back when Ye Shi worked in the quarry, he'd constantly threaten to poison him.

Who would've thought… in the end, Mu Chen really did it.

What a disciple. So loyal. So ruthless.

---