After Descending the Mountain, Seven Big Brothers Spoil Me - Chapter 564

Chapter 564: Who Cares to Be the Temple Master
She spoke as if his prowess, inviting envy, wasn’t perfectly natural. Luo Jin cast a sidelong glance at her, leisurely savoring his watermelon.

Unlike Zhouzhou, who had buried her entire face in the fruit, he elegantly extracted a spoon from her bag, eating with the air of an aristocrat.

Lifting his hand, he rapped the little chubby girl on the head, his tone cold, “I’ve always been exceptional.”

“Ah, yes, yes,” Zhouzhou replied absentmindedly, devouring the watermelon with gusto. Luo Jin clicked his tongue, pinching the ends of her hair in mild annoyance.

Ungrateful the little chubby girl. He had suspected that her previous praise was mere flattery.

Indeed, she was a heartless charmer, her sweet words insincere. He rolled his eyes, yet his gaze towards Zhouzhou remained affectionate and indulgent.

Qingyang observed this scene, a tinge of bitterness welling up inside. It seemed he was no longer needed. Luo Jin was now cherished by someone else.

Yet, despite the pang of loneliness, he felt a surge of happiness for him. Qingyang’s sorrow deepened when he realized that Luo Jin hadn’t glanced his way, understanding he had misunderstood for years and lacked the face to approach him.

Turning to the law enforcers, he said, “Thank you for your efforts. Proceed as you see fit.”

The enforcers, adept in dealing with such matters, swiftly apprehended and cuffed Shouren, taking him away with practiced efficiency.

Zhouzhou blinked, taking another bite of her watermelon to steady her nerves. Shouren, now truly panicked, cried out, “Master, save me! I was merely momentarily confused!”

But that was a lie. Over the years, how many talismans had he sold, how many wrongs had he committed?

A brief lapse in judgment wouldn’t have led him to use that talisman against the very master who had raised him.

Qingyang closed his eyes, his heart heavy with bitterness. This was the disciple he had taught. The little chubby girl was right; he was a fool.

Despite his age, he had failed to discern right from wrong, causing hurt to his little disciple over such a person. He deserved this fate! Overcome with emotion, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Luo Jin paused, turning swiftly to catch him before he fell, frowning at the deepening signs of death on his face. He carried Qingyang inside with determined strides.

Zhouzhou, sensing the urgency, quickly followed, her plump little form nimbly pushing through the crowd.

She placed her small paw on Qingyang’s pulse, then retrieved a pill from her bag, placing it in his mouth.

Soon, Qingyang revived, his complexion noticeably improved. Yet, Zhouzhou and Luo Jin knew this was temporary.

Qingyang, too, understood that after eighty years of life, he had no regrets. Seeing his little disciple again made him realize he still had attachments.

He grasped Luo Jin’s hand, apologizing tearfully, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

His voice choked with emotion, tears streaming down his face. Despite his pitiful appearance, Luo Jin remained expressionless. After a moment, he sighed, “There’s no need. Those matters are long past.”

He spoke calmly, “I used to care, but I’ve come to realize it doesn’t matter. I did have my faults, and it’s natural they doubted me, given my poor relations with my fellow disciples.”

Zhouzhou chimed in, “So many were jealous of Brother Fox? Xuanzhen Temple must be lacking then.”

At their Sanqing Temple, the senior brothers eagerly encouraged her to excel, happy to have help with their tasks. She couldn’t fathom their mindset.

If she were Shouren, she would have cooperated with Brother Fox, combining their talents for mutual benefit, one drawing talismans and the other selling them, just as she did with Brother Dafu.

Luo Jin found her innocent words amusing, her light-heartedness dispelling his sorrow. Such was the charm of the little chubby girl. Being with her was always relaxing.

Seeing this, Qingyang felt a measure of relief. At least his little disciple had someone to care for him, sparing him a life of loneliness and pain.

The awkward reunion, fraught with past wounds, couldn’t erase the bond they once shared. Qingyang, concealing his guilt, said, “Child, I’ve wronged you. Forget me and start anew.”

Luo Jin looked at him, then slowly nodded, “Very well.” He added, “When I was born, you took me in. This time, I will see you off.”

A rare smile appeared on Qingyang’s face, and Luo Jin smiled back. In the face of death, past grudges seemed trivial.

No matter what transpired, Qingyang had raised him for many years. This act would repay that debt.

Zhouzhou, witnessing this, also smiled. She knew Brother Fox was kind-hearted, willing to extend goodwill even after being wronged.

She said nothing more, contentedly munching her watermelon. Her juice-streaked face made Luo Jin wince, and he led her to wash up.

A timid young Taoist informed them that their rooms were prepared, leading them away. As they walked, he couldn’t help but steal glances at Luo Jin, curiosity piqued by the former senior brother’s reputation.

The recent incident had spread quickly through the temple. Everyone now knew that their usually honest and kind senior brother was a hypocrite, while the once-maligned brother turned out to be a good man.

The shock left everyone bewildered. Yet, with the enforcers involved, there was no room for doubt.

They were known for their strict justice, never wrongfully accusing the innocent or sparing the guilty.

Amidst the temple’s turmoil, Zhouzhou and Luo Jin settled in as if nothing had happened.

The temple residents marveled at Zhouzhou’s voracious appetite, wondering if she might deplete their food supplies.

Suddenly, a bell rang through the temple. Luo Jin and Zhouzhou turned sharply towards the sound…