Starting My Cultivation With Time Management

Chapter 1021: Chapter 17 Really Seems Like_2

“You have quite a keen eye,” Xu Yinglian said indifferently.

Though the other party’s words were reasonable and well-founded, making them difficult to refute, this stifling feeling was all too familiar.

Considering that many Illusion Techniques could change one’s appearance these days, Xu Yinglian’s initial feelings of depression and discouragement dissipated entirely. She gave Chen Guanshui a meaningful look, then gracefully departed.

Chen Guanshui was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when he saw Xu Yinglian not leaving hastily but instead approaching the flock to converse with the shepherd orphans wearing dirty robes.

The children, clearly attracted to beauty, took an immediate liking to the sister who, though veiled, appeared exceptionally gorgeous, each wide-eyed, eager to speak with her.

“Tell me,” Xu Yinglian took out another Elixir Bottle, “Tell me about that brother, and I’ll give you candies.”

Where was there any need for candies? The children were already scrambling to speak:

“Lazy!”

“Sleeps all day!”

“Never works!”

“Even Da Huang is more diligent than him!”

Da Huang was one of the sheepdogs responsible for herding the sheep.

Hearing so many familiar adjectives, Xu Yinglian’s sense of déjà vu grew stronger and stronger.

Of course, none of these constituted conclusive evidence because the world was full of lazybones, and one couldn’t claim a connection to Qiu Changtian just by seeing one.

But women often don’t need evidence. Xu Yinglian, relying on her intuition… no, it should be her Seven Crafty Exquisite Heart, judged that this shepherd must have some connection to Qiu Changtian.

She gracefully returned to Chen Guanshui’s side and said:

“I’m new here and heading to White City, I need a guide.”

“I’ve never been to White City,” Chen Guanshui said hurriedly.

“No problem, a local is still better than an outsider like me.” Xu Yinglian naturally wouldn’t let him go.

“I’m also from out of town,” Chen Guanshui quickly said.

“Oh?” Xu Yinglian immediately asked, “Where are you from then?”

“Yangzhou,” Chen Guanshui knew now was absolutely not the time to hesitate, otherwise the odds of being suspected of lying would increase rapidly, so he decisively said, “I’m from Guangling County, Yangzhou.”

“Yangzhou?” Xu Yinglian pondered for a moment, then said, “I won’t let you guide without compensation.”

She took out an Elixir Bottle and said:

“The Elixirs inside… taking one can extend your life by a year, up to ten pills, how’s that for payment?”

According to ordinary logic, seeing Elixirs that can extend life, not to mention expressing gratitude, even kneeling down to curry favor with the other party wouldn’t be too much.

However, Chen Guanshui neither wanted to express gratitude nor curry favor with Xu Yinglian.

On one hand, he really didn’t need any life-extending Elixirs; on the other hand, having been in disguise for so many years, Chen Guanshui truly didn’t want to continue acting exaggeratively.

The reason he was willing to nestle among the nomadic tents was that there was no need for disguise here, allowing him to live freely as himself—no one could force him, not even Xu Yinglian!

“I don’t need it, thanks, Immortal,” Chen Guanshui sighed and said, “I’ve always felt that living that long is actually meaningless… Immortal, you see, we nomads live off the land, and every winter is like crossing the gates of hell. Whether the lifespan is a hundred or ninety, next spring may not be seen; what’s the point of extending life?”

Xu Yinglian pondered for a moment and then said again:

“If you want to cultivate, I can give you a Breathing Technique. As long as you can learn the Spell, resisting the cold shouldn’t be difficult.”

“Does the Immortal think I’m cut out for cultivation?” Chen Guanshui burst into laughter.

“Not really,” Xu Yinglian said bluntly, “but you seem like a liar… someone who can naturally lie as easily as eating and drinking.”

Chen Guanshui felt a stir in his heart, realizing that Junior Sister Xu had already started suspecting him.

No matter how much he refused, Xu Yinglian would hold on like clinging to a lifeline, definitely not letting him go easily.

It would be better to follow her for now, find a chance to slip away on the road, and never stay here again.

With this thought in mind, Chen Guanshui readily said:

“Alright, but put away the Elixir Bottle, I really don’t need it.”

Seeing him relent so quickly, Xu Yinglian was somewhat surprised. But she soon brushed it aside, merely saying:

“Get the mounts ready, take me to White City.”

“No mounts,” Chen Guanshui shook his head, “These herds aren’t mine, I can’t take their horses.”

“No wonder,” Xu Yinglian tentatively said, “I noticed the children don’t seem to like you much.”

“I said I’m a stranger here, it’s normal for children not to like outsiders,” Chen Guanshui calmly replied, “The herd owner chats well with me, though, asked me to help look after them for a while.”

“Is it alright for you to leave with me now?” Xu Yinglian asked in surprise.

“No problem, I’ll return once I’ve led the way for the Celestial Immortal,” Chen Guanshui responded.

This response had no openings, making Xu Yinglian’s thoughts sink slightly. She thought that although this man is open-minded, he lacks any arrogance and is far different from her senior brother.

Could it really be that she was mistaken…

She quickly suppressed the wild notions in her mind and continued to test him by saying:

“The children say you are lazy.”

“It’s not my mount, why should I work hard?” Chen Guanshui countered her.

Xu Yinglian fell silent.

Although she was clever, she was not as skilled in bantering as Chen Guanshui, so she quickly became speechless, only asking again after a while:

“Without mounts, how will we get there? We can’t possibly walk, can we?”

If Chen Guanshui retorted with “Don’t you know Sword Control Technique?”, he would be caught out. Even though Sword Control Technique is widely known among cultivators, how could mortals have any concept of it?

Of course, Chen Guanshui didn’t fall for the trap, instead he said:

“Let’s head to the White Water River and find a passing fishing boat to hitch a ride… Does the Celestial Immortal have any silver tael?”

“I do,” Xu Yinglian naturally didn’t have mortal currency on her, but she could manage basic Illusion Techniques.

Chen Guanshui called the oldest child over, instructed him that he’d be out for a few days, then led Xu Yinglian to the riverbank.

The White Water River wasn’t wide, but its current was quite swift. They waited for half a day before a solitary boat passed by, loaded with bundles of firewood, sunk deep in the water.

The boatman initially wasn’t willing to let them aboard, but upon seeing the silver coin Xu Yinglian conjured up, he decisively discarded some firewood to make space for them.

Xu Yinglian, being a cultivator, effortlessly jumped onto the fishing boat, landing steadily.

Chen Guanshui was much clumsier, waiting for the boat to approach the bank before leaping forcefully to grab the ship’s side—nearly miscalculating the distance and falling into the water.

Xu Yinglian watched coldly, thinking that in terms of both skill and physique, this person was merely at the level of a mortal.

Yet, none of this could be trusted, for her senior brother was also skilled in disguise… Thinking of this, her heart began to ache slightly again.

The solitary boat drifted down the river, both banks a constant yellow-brown, occasionally revealing numerous herds.

Xu Yinglian stood at the bow, looking at the scenery on both shores, pondering silently.

Chen Guanshui, on the other hand, chatted with the boatman for a while, somehow borrowing the boatman’s fishing rod, and began fishing in the river.

“Fishing in flowing water?” Xu Yinglian asked in astonishment, “With the boat moving and the bait shifting, how could you possibly catch a big fish?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Chen Guanshui replied indifferently, “If they wish, they’ll take the bait.”

If they wish, they’ll take the bait… Xu Yinglian silently repeated, thinking she truly had taken the bait as well.

Unwilling to give up any clue related to her senior brother, so even a tiny, subtle illusion, she rushed toward the bait like an eager fish.

Thinking of this, her mood quickly became sullen, losing the interest in conversation.

The boat drifted for about half a day until it finally reached White City.

Old city walls were built along the water, smoke curled within the walls, outside was a sprawling market, countless Han people, Qiang people, herdsmen, wandering merchants loudly befriending each other, the surroundings extremely noisy and bustling.

Xu Yinglian finally stabilized her emotions, instructing Chen Guanshui:

“Follow me to White City; I need to take care of some things.”

Source: .com, updated by novlove.com

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