Collecting Disciples for a Hundred Years [Transmigration] - Chapter 12

Ji Chan slightly furrowed her brow.

It was just a matter of delivering an item—why did Li Xuan have such an expression?

Moreover, since Song Junyu was right in the village, why didn’t Li Xuan deliver it herself instead of asking Ji Chan to do it on her behalf?

Could it be that there was poison inside the pouch?

But Li Xuan was holding the pouch in her own hand. If it were poisoned, she would have been the first to suffer. Besides, Song Junyu’s cultivation was not low. Most mortal poisons would have little effect on her.

Ji Chan glanced at Li Xuan again.

Li Xuan lowered her head, her cheeks flushed, unwilling to meet Ji Chan’s eyes.

The pouch was exquisitely embroidered, small and delicate, clearly crafted with care.

Ji Chan narrowed her eyes: she felt there was something odd about Li Xuan’s demeanor, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.

Despite her confusion, Ji Chan still accepted the pouch Li Xuan handed to her.

Li Xuan visibly relaxed.

Perhaps because she felt Ji Chan had helped her, Li Xuan stayed by Ji Chan’s side afterward, preventing the boys from coming over to say things like wanting to marry Ji Chan.

“I envy you so much!”

The boys made funny faces and ran off. Li Xuan turned to Ji Chan and said, “If it weren’t for my father, I would beg Immortal Song to take me to Qing Ping Sect. Even if I were just a maid there, serving tea and water for Immortal Song, I would be more than willing.”

Li Xuan frowned with worry. “You don’t know this, but my father has arranged a marriage for me. In a few years, I’ll be marrying the son of Butcher Li in the city.”

Ji Chan was mute and couldn’t reveal her secrets to others, so Li Xuan felt safe confiding in her.

“Butcher Li’s family is wealthy. Marrying his son would at least ensure I never go hungry.” Li Xuan sighed softly. “But I feel that in this life, one shouldn’t just strive to fill their stomach. I have hands of my own.”

Ji Chan lowered her eyes slightly, seemingly listening attentively to Li Xuan’s words, but her mind was wandering.

The lives of mortals were much shorter than those of cultivators, and because of this, they placed greater importance on their inner desires.

Li Xuan wasn’t wrong. Compared to Li Xuan, the life Ji Chan led by Song Junyu’s side seemed like something many people could only dream of.

After escaping from the Yihong Pavilion that day, she had never imagined her life would turn out like this. Her current life was far better than anything she had ever envisioned.

Ji Chan’s eyes widened slightly.

At that moment, the confusion that had been weighing on her heart began to dissipate. It seemed she had finally seen clearly into her own heart and understood the elusive feeling that had always lingered within her.

—She didn’t believe she deserved any of this!

It was as if she were born to dwell in eternal darkness, struggling through hardships to survive, never meant to receive any favor or genuine care.

Though Song Junyu seemed unreliable on the surface, that woman had a certain talent for making those around her feel joy, like the brightest sunlight, drawing people in and making them reluctant to leave.

Ji Chan had truly been touched by that sunlight, basking in it yet feeling anxious, like a creature from the depths yearning for the sun in the sky, afraid the light would never shine on her again, and so choosing to retreat into the darkness first.

Perhaps it was because she hadn’t been a good person in the past that she was so resistant to others’ kindness, even feeling wary.

But now, living in this body, did it mean she no longer needed to dwell on a forgotten past?

Ji Chan couldn’t help but reach out her hand.

This body had slender fingers, with delicate and thin skin, allowing the faint blue veins beneath the knuckles to be visible—a physique that had endured little hardship.

Sunlight poured through the gaps in the leaves above, transforming into bright spots of light that fell into Ji Chan’s palm.

Suddenly, Ji Chan felt a trace of warmth and, almost instinctively, clenched the shimmering light spots dancing in her hand.

–

By the time Song Junyu returned to find Ji Chan, the sky had nearly darkened. Li Xuan, who had been eagerly waiting and chatting with Ji Chan about Song Junyu for a long time, had already gone home disappointed to prepare dinner.

After Ji Chan had practiced her sword techniques expressionlessly on the tree at the village entrance, cutting down countless leaves, the young boys in the village only dared to watch from a distance, no longer daring to approach and spout nonsense.

Seeing Song Junyu return, Ji Chan sheathed her sword and handed Li Xuan’s pouch to her.

“Xiao Xuan’s needlework is getting better and better!”

Li Xuan often gave small trinkets to Song Junyu, who was touched by the gesture. After accepting the pouch, she praised it warmly and carefully tucked it into her Qiankun bag.

She didn’t really need the pouch; what she treasured was Li Xuan’s heartfelt intention.

“Xiao Chan, let’s get ready to return to the sect!”

After storing the pouch, Song Junyu called out to Ji Chan to open the flying boat and sat at the bow.

Once the flying boat was activated, Ji Chan looked up and couldn’t help but glance at Song Junyu.

Song Junyu’s demeanor seemed normal, but upon closer inspection, there was something peculiar about it. Her face still wore a smile, but the warmth didn’t reach her eyes.

Ji Chan was accustomed to Song Junyu’s carefree, seemingly unburdened nature and had never seen her like this before.

Had something happened?

As she pondered this, Song Junyu suddenly turned around and looked directly at Ji Chan—

“Xiao Chan, come here for a moment.”

Ji Chan hesitated briefly, recalling her earlier resolve to let go of the past and settle peacefully in Qing Ping Sect. She lowered her head and sat beside Song Junyu.

Song Junyu took her hand.

A gentle stream of spiritual energy flowed into her body.

As always, due to her Meridianless Body, the spiritual energy could not be retained within Ji Chan and quickly dissipated.

She looked up, unsure of Song Junyu’s intentions, but met Song Junyu’s slightly delighted gaze.

“Xiao Chan!” Song Junyu gave her a deep look but offered no explanation for her sudden action. Instead, she withdrew her hand, leaned against the edge of the boat, and spoke softly—

“I want to abandon my current path—”

–

Song Junyu had only recently advanced to the late Foundation Establishment stage and hadn’t yet adapted to the changes brought by her breakthrough.

That day, while treating the villagers, she belatedly realized that she seemed to have gained some new abilities. Whenever she used her spiritual energy, she could perceive the villagers’ physical conditions on a deeper level, and her sensitivity to the properties of medicinal herbs had also heightened.

But possessing such abilities was of little use.

Several elderly villagers were suffering from incurable diseases, and after diagnosing them, Song Junyu could only silently leave behind some pills to ease their end-of-life suffering. Her mood remained somber.

If they had received treatment earlier, these elders would not have lost their lives.

However, the medical system in this world was far too backward and overly reliant on the immortal sects. The common people held a devout and unwavering belief in these sects, preferring to kowtow toward them and spend exorbitant sums on all sorts of so-called spiritual talismans whenever they felt unwell. Only when their suffering became unbearable would they seek treatment from the immortal sects.

Regardless of whether the immortal sects were willing to treat them, by that point, most were already beyond saving.

Song Junyu wanted to do more for these people. At the very least, having experienced the comprehensive modern medical system and having studied medicine herself in recent years, she could disseminate some basic self-rescue and self-protection methods among the populace, rather than standing by and watching them lose their lives due to a lack of awareness.

This wasn’t a recent idea.

It had been nearly a century since she arrived in this world. Over the years, Song Junyu had lived a relatively peaceful life, secluded in the deep mountains. Yet she was well aware of the state of the outside world—with internal strife among the immortal sects and invasions by demonic factions, it was the ordinary people, devoid of spiritual power, who suffered the most.

Even under such circumstances, the common folk still piously worshipped the members of the immortal sects…

“I don’t have any great ambitions for swordsmanship or power—only the desire to protect myself. But I do have some skill in medicine and artifact forging, so perhaps I can help these people while ensuring my own well-being.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t force you to follow my path. It’s just that your master here has no talent for swordsmanship, and with nothing better to do all day, I might as well pursue something I’ve always wanted to do.”

“If you choose to specialize in the way of the sword, you can still come to me with questions in the future. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll ask your Uncle Lin Ying for you…”

Ji Chan was perceptive, and fearing the young girl might overthink things, Song Junyu decided to share her plans upfront.

Perhaps her plan was too shocking, as Ji Chan stared at her wide-eyed, a rare look of bewilderment on her face.

Meeting her gaze, Ji Chan lowered her head and after a long while, softly murmured, “Mm.”

Song Junyu smiled, deciding to give Ji Chan time to process the news. She turned to gaze at the moonlight and hummed an unfamiliar tune.

A fire seemed to blaze in Ji Chan’s heart, and she couldn’t help but lift her head to glance at Song Junyu once more.

The flying vessel pressed onward, as if sailing deep into the heart of the moonlight.

Dressed in a plain white robe, without a trace of makeup, and with a languid expression, Song Junyu bore none of the imposing dignity expected of a master.

Yet, for some reason, Ji Chan felt that Song Junyu at this moment was even more captivating than when she had first seen her, resplendent in her cloud-silk robes.