Chapter 221: The Ninth Year

Su Chong rarely disobeyed. But now that it concerned Su Xiaolu, he couldn’t hold it in anymore. Su Chong mustered up his courage and said, “Master, can you punish me on behalf of Xiaolu?”

Gui You looked at Su Chong. The kid was good at everything but one thing. He was too protective.

The girl’s talent was not as good as his. She even dared to not pay attention under his nose. So what if he hit her twice to punish her?

Gui You did not speak. Su Chong pursed his lips and said, “Master, don’t hit Xiaolu. She’s still young. Punish me. Double the punishment is fine.”

He had hit Su Xiaolu with a stone six times today. Although it was not enough to really hurt Su Xiaolu, it was painful.

After taking so many hits, his heart ached.

It must be swollen. His skin was thick and he was not afraid of pain. He could even take double the punishment.

Su Xiaolu was touched. She quickly said, “Brother, no. Master Gui You should punish me. I was distracted and not focused. I should be punished.”

Gui You jumped down from the courtyard wall and walked to Su Xiaolu and Su Chong. He looked at Su Xiaolu indifferently and asked, “Tell me, why were you distracted several times today?”

There was a hint of worry between Su Xiaolu’s eyebrows. She said, “Master Gui You, I’ve dreamed of Master several times recently. I don’t know how he is now. It’s the new year today and there are many dishes today. I remember that Master likes them too, so I was… distracted.”

After returning from the academy examination with her brothers and the others, Su Xiaolu dreamed of Old Wu four times. Every time she woke up, she felt lost.

Today was New Year’s Eve, and there were many dishes that Old Wu liked to eat. Su Xiaolu could not help but think of him again.

Old Wu didn’t like crowds, she knew that.

But the old man was happy to be able to eat his favorite dishes during the New Year together. She wondered how he had spent the past few years, if he had eaten his favorite dishes. She couldn’t help but get distracted as she thought about it.

After Su Xiaolu finished speaking, Gui You did not speak for a long time. Su Xiaolu did not dare to be distracted anymore and focused on circulating the mental cultivation techniques.

Gui You looked at Su Xiaolu for a long time before saying, “You seem to have sensed something. Come down. Calculating the time, your master should be here soon. You don’t have to practice anymore. Go and pick him up.”

He had received a letter from Old Wu last month. The letter said that he would return to visit his little disciple this year and would arrive before the New Year’s Eve dinner.

Su Xiaolu had been training very hard recently, but she was always distracted today.

Listening to Su Xiaolu, Gui You felt something and did not hide it from her.

“Wh-what?”

Su Xiaolu was in disbelief. She got off the stake and looked at Gui You in surprise.

Gui You laughed. “Go quickly. The old man should be halfway there, but I’m not sure if he’s taking the orthodox path. If he goes through the mountains and forests, you might not meet him. Everything depends on fate.”

The little girl’s eyes lit up, and her emotions were written all over her face. For a moment, Gui You felt very touched.

Su Xiaolu had already rushed out.

“Thank you, Master Gui You—”

Her voice came back tinged with delight.

Gui You looked at Su Chong, narrowed his eyes, and stared at Su Chong for a long time.

Su Chong felt a little uncomfortable. “Master, why are you looking at me like that?”

Gui You rubbed his chin and pondered for a moment before asking, “Kid, if you and I didn’t see each other for a few years, would you be as ecstatic as your sister?”

It was nothing. He just suddenly felt a little envious of the old man.

The little girl had snow-white skin, red lips, bright eyes, and white teeth. Her eyes were the most beautiful. She was so happy that anyone who saw her would be touched, and Gui You was no exception.

Su Chong blushed and said with difficulty, “Master, I can’t do it.”

Su Chong would not lie. He really could not.

He would be happy to see him again after not seeing him for a few years, but he definitely wouldn’t be as happy as Su Xiaolu.

Gui You sighed. “Forget it. You’re a big man. I get goosebumps just looking at you bouncing around like that. The little girl is different from you after all.”

“There’s a difference between a daughter and a son.”

Gui You sighed and turned to go into the house.

Su Chong was relieved that Gui You didn’t ask him to copy his sister.

Su Xiaolu ran out of the house and flew far away.

Her Qinggong was very good. She could jump lightly between the mountains and forests. When her vision was higher, she could also see the situation on the road.

In less than 15 minutes, she saw Old Wu walking slowly with a medical kit on his back.

Su Xiaolu’s eyes turned red as she shouted at him, “Master.”

Old Wu, who was traveling, stopped and looked at Su Xiaolu. He saw Su Xiaolu flying out lightly, crying.

The little girl had grown taller and looked better. She pounced on him and hugged him.

Old Wu’s expression froze and his entire body tensed up. He didn’t know whether to push her away or not. After all, it had been a long time since they last met.

Sigh… How annoying. Women are so troublesome.

Su Xiaolu knew that Old Wu was afraid of women. He was as stiff as a log and she was too agitated. Su Xiaolu let go of Old Wu and smiled. “Master, are you not leaving this time?”

Old Wu was relieved. He muttered, “Didn’t I ask Gui You not to tell you? There’s no integrity at all.”

Seeing Su Xiaolu become a little crybaby, Old Wu’s heart softened. He said gently, “Master came this time to bring you to train. You haven’t received any news in the past few years. Now that you have a foundation in martial arts, I think it’s about time.”

It was also time for the world to know that he had a disciple.

Su Xiaolu nodded and took Old Wu’s arm.

“Okay, I’ll listen to Master.”

She wasn’t averse to going out to train.

Old Wu asked, “Gui You said that both of your brothers became Elementary Scholars.”

Su Xiaolu nodded. “Yes, yes. Eldest Brother and Second Brother are very good. And Zhou Heng. He also passed the Elementary Scholar exam.”

Old Wu’s eyes darkened. “Zhou Heng also passed the Elementary Scholar examination?”

Gui You hadn’t mentioned that.

However, he did not tell Gui You about Zhou Heng’s identity.

Su Xiaolu nodded. “Yes, he went for the exam with my eldest brother and second brother. Teacher Lin said that they can participate in the imperial examination together in another three years.”

“How are your parents?”

Old Wu asked.

Su Xiaolu smiled and said, “Father and Mother are in good health. Uncle Hu had a new son this year. He’s a boy called Chen Xing.”

On the way home, Su Xiaolu told him about the family.

Old Wu listened with relish and nodded from time to time. “Not bad, not bad.”

When they arrived at the door of the house, Old Wu smelled the fragrance of food and herbs in the air. Old Wu asked suspiciously, “Can your third sister really make the medicinal cuisine recipes? Girl, don’t lie to Master.”

Old Wu still refused to believe that it was their fault that they could not make good medicinal cuisine!

Su Xiaolu smiled and nodded with certainty.