The Old Bachelor

Tang Xiaoyu thought for a moment: "We were a bit immoral. This was just like when someone interrupted us while we were doing our favorite thing."

"Oh, then we should talk less with Dao Ancestor in the future, so as not to disturb his good deeds."

Why did Tang Xiaoyu feel so strange!

"Well, Dao Ancestor is very satisfied with you. You have to cultivate diligently and not let the old man Dao Ancestor down."

The two maidservants said in unison: "Yes, Abbot."

"Alright, go on your own now!"

After an hour, laughter of the maidservants came from the back hill. Tang Xiaoyu was at a loss.

"Xiao Hei, come back here."

Soon, Xiao Hei came back with the maidservants holding wild flowers in both hands.

"What did I ask you to do? Did you forget? You should finish today's cultivation before playing!"

"Abbot, we were wrong."

Xiao Hei was unwilling: "Scold me if you want to scold someone. Why scold my disciples? This is all my fault. I took them out to play."

Tang Xiaoyu was even more angry: "I'm talking about you. Did you think I was really talking about them?"

"Let me tell you, you mess up whatever you do every day. You're number one at gossiping and bragging. You eat whatever and leave nothing. You only know how to run around wildly."

Xiao Hei weakly said, "Am I that useless?"

"What do you think?"

"I'll give you a task. Get them to the Qi Refining Realm within seven days. If they reach it today, you can play freely for the remaining six days. If they still can't reach it in seven days, then none of you get to play anymore."

Xiao Hei asked doubtfully, "Didn't you teach them?"

Tang Xiaoyu was a little embarrassed. How could he say he had taught them for half a year but they still didn't understand?

"Don't dwell on the past. Let's start now."

"Alright, watch me get them to the Qi Refining Realm in one day."

Tang Xiaoyu contemptuously said, "Who do you think you are? One day?"

"Just wait and see!"

Time passed bit by bit. Tang Xiaoyu sent off the last villager and closed the gate, preparing to see how they were doing.

However, before he could even take two steps, the voices of the maidservants and Xiao Hei came from the back hill again.

"Damn it, you bastard, can't you be serious for once?"

Soon, Tang Xiaoyu walked back to his room and started doubting life.

"I'm not even as good as a dog? What exactly have I been doing for the past half year? I can't go on living."

Time passed quickly. The two maidservants learned quickly as well. In a flash, half a year went by and Tang Xiaoyu had been self-doubting for half a year too.

The good news was the 100,000 taels were used up.

The temple didn't change, nor did the path down the mountain. Only the town changed a lot.

For this, Tang Xiaoyu even slapped himself twice on the face: "That's what you get for boasting. This is what happens when you can't keep your mouth shut."

One day, the female official came to ask for help: "Daoist Tang, please subdue the demonic beast."

Tang Xiaoyu eagerly asked, "What happened?"

"It's like this. There have been reports from villagers about a fierce beast in the mountains that injured several hunters."

"We put up a bounty for experienced people to go kill it, but it turned out to not be just a fierce beast but a demonic beast. It injured dozens before we could only order people to retreat..."

"The government hopes that Daoist Tang can take action and subdue this demonic beast."

Tang Xiaoyu nodded, "No problem. Just tell me the approximate location. I'll give you an answer tomorrow."

"Then we'll have to trouble Daoist Tang. It's in the mountains where Qingfeng Village used to be."

"Alright, go back and wait for news!"

"I have another thing."

"What is it?"

"Do you think I can join Qingshan Daoist Temple?"

Tang Xiaoyu thought for a moment, "As long as your conduct is upright and your mind is pure, and you have a respectful and determined heart towards the Dao, then you can join."

The female official happily said, "These are my few strengths. Does this mean I can join the temple?"

"Alright! I'll take you in as a menial disciple first. After passing the probation, you can be promoted to outer disciple."

"Disciple Yang Xue pays respect to the abbot!"

"Rise."

Tang Xiaoyu seemed to think of something and asked, "Are you betrothed or married? If so, then it's still not possible."

Yang Xue dejectedly said, "This disciple has long seen through the mundane world and does not wish to be troubled by it anymore."

Tang Xiaoyu was stunned, "What? Seen through the mundane world? I feel like you're just a spinster who couldn't get married, so you wanted to become a nun instead, right?"

Yang Xue was a little embarrassed, "How did you know... Abbot, why state it so directly?"

"From the first time I saw you, I was wondering what kind of man would suit you. But as it turns out, there simply isn't a suitable one."

Tang Xiaoyu shook his head, "Alas! It seems you really have affinity with our Daoist school. I'll formally accept you as a menial disciple."

"Thank you, Abbot. This disciple will definitely repay the abbot's kindness in taking me in."

Tang Xiaoyu continued, "Just now I was still wondering why you came to pass the message when you were already waiting here!"

"Finish up your own affairs first before reporting back!"

Yang Xue said, "I've already handled everything. I brought my belongings too."

Tang Xiaoyu was speechless, "Alright! Go tidy up your own room."

"Yes, Abbot."

Watching Yang Xue leave, Tang Xiaoyu now had to consider how to earn money for the temple.

"Everything requires money, yet I blocked the easiest way to earn money. What should I do?"

"First, bring back the demonic beast, then see how much benefits the officials give before deciding what to do next!"

At dinner, Tang Xiaoyu briefed them about the matter.

"Xiao Hei, bring Shanshan and Wenwen to catch your brother back tomorrow."

"Remember, it has to be alive, and they must be the ones to subdue it."

Xiao Hei was unwilling, "What brother, it can only be considered a fellow species at best! Also, how can I let my precious disciples do such dirty work?"

Tang Xiaoyu sternly said, "I'm not discussing this with you, I'm assigning you a task. Understand?"

"Also, don't bring the bad habits of Sanqing Sect here. You should understand what I mean. I'm not as easygoing as before now."

Xiao Hei nodded, "Understood, Abbot. I guarantee the task will be completed."

Tang Xiaoyu eased his tone, "Mm. The main point this time is to temper Shanshan and Wenwen, and test the results of your teaching at the same time."

Tang Xiaoyu looked at Yang Xue, "Yang Xue, Shanshan is your senior martial sister, Wenwen is your second martial sister, you're their junior martial sister. Understand?"

"Understood, Abbot."

"Alright, I'm going to rest. You guys go about your business!"

"Rest well, Abbot."

After Tang Xiaoyu left, Xiao Hei said, "Xiaoyue, were you forced into marriage? Or were you dumped? Earlier I thought you were joking. I didn't expect you to really run off and become a nun."

Yang Xue sighed, "How can you speak like that? If I was forced into marriage or dumped, I wouldn't have become a nun. I just couldn't get married, so I came here to be a nun!"

Wenwen consoled, "Junior martial sister, don't be upset. Look at the abbot and my master, they are still bachelors now. Doesn't it make you feel better?"

Xiao Hei immediately lost the desire to speak upon hearing that. So he was also a joke.

Yang Xue looked at Xiao Hei, then glanced towards Tang Xiaoyu's room. She suddenly felt happy, "You're right. I do feel better now. I'm much younger than them, yet they are still bachelors at such an old age. That makes me seem very normal!"

Xiao Hei wanted to struggle a bit, "I'm younger than you."

"You're like a grandpa among dogs." Yang Xue mercilessly said.

Only now did Xiao Hei realize that the biggest joke was himself.