Seeing the vital energies of the man and the rat perfectly fused, Cheng Xiaofan couldn't help but break out in a sweat. He wondered if, as an earth-element cultivator, Ye Shisan would eventually train himself into a burrowing rat.
How could the vital energies of a human and an animal merge?
However, one thing was certain: Ye Shisan and the burrowing rats shared a commonality to some extent, which was their affinity with the earth element.
"Old Ye, how did you know they were burrowing rats?" Cheng Xiaofan asked Ye Shisan after a long pause.
Ye Shisan said excitedly, "The old Taoist who raised me often mentioned burrowing rats, saying that if I met a noble patron one day, I might even encounter burrowing rats belonging to the same earth element!"
"The old Taoist also told me that as long as I had the patronage of a noble person and was accompanied by burrowing rats, it wouldn't be long before someone as simple-minded as me would make significant breakthroughs in earth-element cultivation!"
Hearing this, Cheng Xiaofan was slightly stunned.
The old Taoist who adopted Ye Shisan was indeed an extraordinary individual.
It was as if he had foreseen that Ye Shisan would meet him.
A person with such foresight would likely make even Liu Bowen feel inferior.
"Old Ye, do you remember the origin of that old Taoist and his Taoist name?" Cheng Xiaofan asked again after a moment's thought.
Ye Shisan scratched his two heads with both hands, saying with some frustration, "To be honest, Mr. Cheng, ever since this old Taoist adopted me, he never allowed me to inquire about him."
"I stayed with this old Taoist for nineteen years. I only knew he treated me very well, but I never knew who he was until he was killed!"
"..." What could Cheng Xiaofan say to this?
In this world, Ye Shisan was indeed a uniquely simple soul.
He had been adopted for nineteen years and guided onto the path of cultivation, yet he never knew who his benefactor was. To call him naturally foolish would be inaccurate, as he was not foolish at all.
Before long, the nine burrowing rats had bonded with Ye Shisan.
The fiery red burrowing rats were seen jumping on his two heads, perching on his shoulders, and lying in his arms, constantly tugging at his beard...
Ye Shisan was so delighted that both his eyes narrowed into slits.
"Old Ye, do you like these little friends?" Cheng Xiaofan asked with a smile.
Ye Shisan quickly replied, "I like them, I like them very much! This is truly fate. Thinking back now, the old Taoist who raised me was truly amazing. He already showed me the way back then!"
"Mr. Cheng, you are my great benefactor!"
Since there was still plenty of time, Cheng Xiaofan led Ye Shisan to the top of Tiantian Mountain and, pointing to the gastrodia elata growing on the mountain, he smiled and said to him, "Old Ye, these gastrodia elatas were planted by the burrowing rats. Normally, they are here, helping me manage this Tianti Mountain."
"From now on, I will entrust the management of this Tiantian Mountain to you!"
"Please rest assured, Mr. Cheng, I will manage this Tiantian Mountain well!" Ye Shisan said loudly, patting his chest.
The two of them toured the mountain. Seeing that the sun was already setting, they descended the mountain.
Upon returning to the bamboo villa, Cheng Xiaofan smiled at Ye Shisan and said, "It's getting late, and I need to head back. With the burrowing rats accompanying you here to cultivate, I believe you will achieve even faster breakthroughs in earth-element cultivation."
"Thank you, Mr. Cheng!"
Ye Shisan's two faces broke into a smile like golden chrysanthemums. "Anyway, I, Ye Shisan, will follow you for the rest of my life. It's safe here."
"In the past, I was almost chased and killed in my dreams every night. Ever since I met you, I haven't had such dreams!"
Hearing this, Cheng Xiaofan frowned and asked, "Can you remember what the people who chased you in your dreams looked like?"
Ye Shisan shook his head and said, "In my dreams, their features were distinct, but as soon as I woke up, I forgot what they looked like."
This was quite normal. Many people encountered all sorts of individuals in their dreams, experiencing joy and sorrow, love and loss.
However, upon waking, they not only forgot the people they met in their dreams but even struggled to recall what they had done.
Despite this, Cheng Xiaofan remained concerned about the hidden figures who had conducted experiments on Ye Shisan, and thus paid special attention to his dreams.
Some dreams could indeed intertwine with reality.
Just like Shen Ruobing, who had dreamt of returning to C City and being ambushed by Ye Kezi by Bai Mang Lake. If Cheng Xiaofan hadn't accidentally entered her dream and saved her, she might have died in her sleep.
"Old Ye, don't worry, no one dares to bully you on my territory!" Cheng Xiaofan reassured Ye Shisan.
Ye Shisan smiled honestly, "I know, Mr. Cheng is so capable, surely no one would dare to cause trouble here!"
Cheng Xiaofan smiled slightly and said, "Old Ye, just focus on your cultivation here. I'm heading back now, you'll have to make your own dinner tonight!"
"I'll be visiting often, so let me know if you need anything!"
"Chirp—"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Sky-Breaking Eagle landed beside Cheng Xiaofan.
"Woof woof!"
Just as Cheng Xiaofan was about to mount the Sky-Breaking Eagle, Taoqibao, the mischievous dog, emerged from the side and leaped onto the eagle's back.
Master, I was exhausted carrying someone on the way here. I need to rest on the way back.
"Be quiet, stop dawdling!" Cheng Xiaofan yelled at it.
He knew very well that this dog was just trying to take advantage of the Sky-Breaking Eagle.
Scolded by his master, Taoqibao immediately fell silent.
The Sky-Breaking Eagle took flight with the man and the dog. Following Cheng Xiaofan's spiritual instructions, it circled slowly above Bai Mang Lake.
As the Sky-Breaking Eagle circled Bai Mang Lake, Cheng Xiaofan unleashed his spiritual sense, using his intuition to warn the fierce wild beasts with a certain degree of spiritual sentience in the surroundings that a new person, a friend of his, had arrived. He instructed them not to reveal themselves casually and scare his friend.
Anyone who disobeyed would face his wrath!
Returning to the back mountain, the sun was just setting.
The sky ablaze with sunset hues illuminated the undulating mountains and the entire Zhuxi Village in a fiery red. Smoke curled up from the village rooftops.
"Guguglo!"
"Sister, sister!"
"Chirp chirp!"
"Big brother, big brother!"
Various bird calls echoed from the surrounding woods.
Perhaps influenced by humans, or for some other reason, the birds' chirping sounded remarkably like human speech.
The birds darted about in the trees, each call more jubilant than the last, as if they were flirting and cooing like humans.
Cheng Xiaofan listened to the birdsong for a while and couldn't help but smile slightly, murmuring to himself, "Listening to these bird songs is truly fascinating, it becomes more engaging the more I listen!"