Chapter 40: Gifting A Robe, A Manual, And A Treasure Gu
After Fang Shu left the Medicine Hall, he inquired around in the dojo’s front courtyard, asked clearly about Senior Sister Yu Er’s location, and then headed straight toward her.
He was now successful in Blood Refining, and had also become an official disciple of Du Gu Guan. Although he was anxious to save his uncle, he still reported to the dojo.
Moreover, Du Gu Guan might provide him with some conveniences. Fang Shu wouldn’t foolishly refuse help from Du Gu Guan.
“You want to leave the dojo for a period of time, and go outside the town, with an uncertain duration?”
Senior Sister Yu Er heard Fang Shu’s words, her delicate brows immediately furrowed, and she asked, “Must you go, and are you really in such a hurry? You’ve only just completed Blood Change and haven’t cultivated any powerful magic.”
Fang Shu replied in a deep voice: “I must go, and cannot delay.”
Senior Sister Yu Er heard this response. Although she still didn’t know exactly what had happened to Fang Shu, she didn’t pry too much, but helplessly put down the work in her hands and beckoned Fang Shu along:
“Follow me. Since you’re going out, you should at least tell your master.”
Senior Sister Yu Er’s suggestion suited Fang Shu perfectly. He immediately followed happily behind her toward the Inner Courtyard.
Not long after.
Fang Shu waited in the Assembly Hall. Du Yu Er had already left, and he had told his request to the Dojo Master.
The other party held a cup of Tea, sitting leisurely on the grand chair and sipping:
“Speak. What exactly is the matter that has you, just after entering the dojo and before even starting formal training, rushing out of town?”
The Dojo Master was now his master, so Fang Shu held nothing back. He told the Dojo Master everything: his second uncle was currently in the mine, having signed a one-year Long-term Contract, half a year had already passed, and he must go redeem his uncle.
The Dojo Master, originally expressionless, furrowed her brows slightly less after hearing his story, and looked at Fang Shu with a bit more favor.
“So that’s how it is. Your Second Uncle sold himself to the mine to support your Entering the Dao. Now that you’ve achieved Immortal Cultivator status, you should indeed hurry to save him.”
The Dojo Master did not stop Fang Shu’s actions and said indifferently:
“Since that’s the case, I won’t stop you. As for the first lesson after you became my disciple, it can wait until you return.”
Fang Shu immediately responded: “Yes, thank you, Master, for allowing it.”
“Follow me.”
When Fang Shu looked up, the Dojo Master had already stood up at some point, and the teacup in her hand was properly placed on the table, her movements ghostly swift.
The other party beckoned Fang Shu while walking with hands behind her back toward the back of the Assembly Hall.
The two arrived at a Quiet Room, where the Dojo Master told Fang Shu to wait there.
She hunched over, rummaging through boxes and cabinets in the Quiet Room, saying:
“You’re in such a hurry to leave. Originally, the tailor in town should come to measure you and custom-make a set of our dojo’s Daoist Robe. But now, I can only dig out an old set of clothes for you.”
Soon, the Dojo Master brought out a gray-black Cultivation Practice Daoist Robe.
It had “Du” embroidered on the chest and “Gu” on the back, simple in style, quite lightweight, suitable to wear inside clothes as a sleep robe or draped outside.
The Dojo Master casually tossed out the upper and lower pieces of the Cultivation Practice Daoist Robe:
“Catch. This was worn by a disciple I took in back then. Don’t disdain it.”
Fang Shu felt it upon catching and found the Daoist Robe quite light, silky in texture, extremely tough, not perfectly fitted in size but barely wearable.
Though old clothes, there was no musty smell at all, instead quite fresh, clearly due to superior material and proper storage.
So he unhesitatingly accepted the Daoist Robe, untied his own robe, and draped it on.
The Dojo Master looked him up and down, eyes narrowing slightly, and instructed:
“This is made from fire silkworms weaving new silk after consuming fire cloth. Though not a Magic Tool, it has some uses: the fabric is very breathable, can defend against some mortal weapons, and if soiled, just burn it with fire to make it clean as new.
As for size and fit, you can also burn it with fire to shrink it smaller; to make it larger, just pull hard.”
Fang Shu understood and immediately cupped his hands in thanks:
“Yes, thank you, Master, for gifting your disciple this treasure robe.”
The Dojo Master withdrew her gaze from him, took out a Calling Card from the Quiet Room, used her finger as a pen, and without looking up, asked Fang Shu about his Second Uncle’s details: which mine he was in, and his exact name.
Fang Shu answered one by one. When he finished speaking, the calling card was flicked to him.
The Dojo Master said indifferently:
“Take this card. As long as it’s not a big issue, they should give some face and let you redeem him directly.”
Fang Shu took the calling card and glanced at it, his face immediately lighting up with joy, and a weight lifted from his heart by half.
“Yes, Master!”
With this letter of introduction personally guaranteed by the Dojo Master, plus Fang Shu being a First Calamity Immortal, redeeming his Second Uncle should be no trouble.
Having obtained the dojo robe and the Dojo Master’s calling card, Fang Shu prepared to take leave and not disturb further.
But the Dojo Master saw his action and called: “What are you rushing for? It’s not over yet.”
Under Fang Shu’s puzzled gaze, the Dojo Master tapped her left ear, tilted her head slightly, and suddenly tiny red dots flew out from her ear, changing form in mid-air.
These tiny red dots looked familiar to Fang Shu. Upon closer look, they resembled the Ant Master used last time for Transmitting Techniques.
Only this time, they came from her ear instead of her mouth, and were slightly larger in form.
The Dojo Master whispered a few words to the tiny red dots, pointed at Fang Shu, and ghostly plucked a hair from him, handing the root to the tiny red dots.
The next moment, the tiny red dots dragged Fang Shu’s hair, gnawed it off with a rustle, then pounced fiercely toward him.
This startled Fang Shu, but fortunately, the red bugs didn’t pounce on his face; they landed on his hair and silently burrowed in, disappearing.
Then, the Dojo Master slowly introduced:
“These are the Blood Fleas under my command. You can call them Flea Master. With them accompanying you, as long as your luck isn’t too bad and you don’t encounter Qi Refining monsters, you should return intact.”
After saying this, the Dojo Master waved Fang Shu off, indicating he could finally leave.
Fang Shu clutched his hair. Though Flea Master sounded itchy, a sense of security instantly welled up in his heart.
His voice cheerful, he Make a Bow to the Dojo Master again: “Thank you, Master.”
The Dojo Master didn’t glance at him again, only uttering two words:
“Get going.”
Fang Shu didn’t dawdle and respectfully took his leave.
Once out of the Quiet Room, his expression returned to calm, but the joy in his heart was genuine.
Walking toward the hall exit, he thought to himself: “Having a backer behind you truly provides shade.”
Not long after.
Fang Shu went to Snake Master to retrieve some personal items, then hurried out of the dojo.
But just before leaving, he turned back, found Du Yu Er in the dojo Medicine Hall, gave her a simple greeting, and then quickly departed.
What he didn’t notice was that when he appeared in the old Daoist Robe, Du Yu Er’s gaze toward him was somewhat different from usual.
As Fang Shu turned to leave, Du Yu Er stared at his back, somewhat dazed.
Then a woman emerged from the Medicine Hall, her voice interrupting Du Yu Er’s reverie:
“This kid is so ordinary. Though he made a splash during Tribulation, why stare at him like that, Senior Sister?”
Her brows furrowed, she looked indifferently at Fang Shu’s back. Clearly, she had heard Fang Shu’s voice from the next room and recognized him.
If Fang Shu were still there, he would recognize this woman as Qin Min—Qin Bao Er.
Du Yu Er withdrew her gaze, shook her head, and said casually: “Just reminded me of some old dojo matters.”
“Sister, you’re here again today for medicine? I’ll dissolve it for you.” Du Yu Er smiled.
Qin Min stared closely at Du Yu Er’s face, saw it didn’t seem fake, just a momentary daze, and let go of her suspicions.
The woman handed over the Ointment, her face slightly flushed, and said with her back turned: “Troubling you again today, Senior Sister.”
But as she lay on the bamboo bed waiting for the massage and application, Qin Min’s thoughts stirred, and she couldn’t help thinking of Fang Shu’s back.
But she only thought of it briefly, not taking Fang Shu to heart at all.
“Entering the Dao in half a year isn’t bad, but still just mortal flesh and blood.”
Qin Min felt no Competition urgency toward him.
She closed her eyes, quietly enjoying the Nourishment from the dojo’s secret medicine and the service from the dojo’s young lady, helping her quickly complete the Refining Essence stage of Cultivation.
