In the beginning, the fellow disciples were all around the same age and cultivation level.
Naturally, there was comparison among them.
At this time, Jiang Lin's cultivation was soaring, and he was favored by elders from all sides.
He was naturally considered a benchmark and object of comparison by the younger generation.
Conflicts thus arose.
During that period, many disciples sought out Jiang Lin for sparring, hoping to see their own progress and potential.
They even more so wished to defeat Jiang Lin and become the one everyone expected.
But the reality was—
How would you know you were truly useless if you didn't compare yourself?
The elders were also pleased to see such healthy competition.
It was good for them to be tempered.
It was best to curb the arrogance of the inner disciples and favored disciples.
Don't always think that having good talent and resources means you can slack off and be complacent due to favoritism.
Then, batches of disciples were sent to the medicine hall.
But,
As Jiang Lin's cultivation became increasingly outstanding, gradually surpassing the heights that his peers could currently reach.
This kind of comparison silently disappeared.
When a person is similar to you in ability, it sparks competitiveness.
And you use it to temper yourself.
But when a person far exceeds your capabilities, it becomes difficult to foster a desire to compare.
Only respect and admiration remain.
After observing for a while, the elders also stopped using Jiang Lin as a target for tempering disciples.
It wouldn't be good if it crushed the disciples' confidence.
However, recently, for some unknown reason, more and more disciples in the sect started eating Roujiamo.
Even in the small town below the mountain, many Roujiamo vendors appeared.
Sometimes, when elders spoke with disciples, they could smell the aroma of meat.
Some masters were very strict and, upon discovering this, intended to reprimand them.
"Haven't you all achieved辟谷 (Bigu, abstaining from grains)? Why are you still eating such common mortal food? I've said..."
Before he could finish his lengthy lecture, he heard one of the disciples quietly mutter:
"But Senior Brother Jiang said he broke through his bottleneck by eating Roujiamo..."
That was Senior Brother Jiang!
The foremost among the younger generation in the sect!
The lecturing master paused, glaring at the disciple.
"Do you really think eating Roujiamo will help you break through? That was his talent, effort, and enlightenment, it just happened to be the right time!"
He raised his hand and tapped the heads of the three disciples. "Cultivate well, focus, and don't always think about such trivial matters!"
The three disciples: "...Understood, Master."
The next day, the youngest disciple saw his master secretly run down the mountain.
When he returned, he carried the scent of meat.
—Who doesn't have a bottleneck period?
...
Jiang Lin had heard some of what was happening in the sect but paid it no mind.
Instead, his travels increased.
He went out at least three to four times a year, each trip lasting at least half a month.
Even,
During his travels, he took in two disciples.
His eldest disciple was named Su Shenxue. She had a quiet, somewhat gloomy disposition.
She would either sit in a daze or cultivate diligently.
Her pupils seemed to have seen blood.
When fellow disciples from Jiang Lin's generation teased her, she would only stare at them gloomily and directly.
Following basic etiquette, she said emotionlessly, "Greetings, Martial Uncles."
"Hehehe... Greetings, Martial Niece."
"Never mind, let's go."
"Um, Martial Uncles have other matters, so we'll be leaving now."
The senior disciples chuckled awkwardly, then quickly left.
They felt that this child made them somewhat uncomfortable.
But if you were to say she was wrong, there was nothing inherently wrong.
It was just... a strange feeling.
Jiang Lin saw this from afar and said nothing.
While other fellow disciples didn't understand the situation of this eldest disciple, he did.
That day, he was traveling.
As he flew overhead, he saw a smear of blood red from afar.
Upon closer inspection, it was indeed a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
He flew closer to investigate. Most of the people were dead.
Only one young girl still had a breath, forcing her eyes open, looking at the scene with dead, watery eyes.
Imprinted deep within her pupils, etched into her mind.
Seeing this scene, Jiang Lin sighed softly.
He murmured, "It seems your fate was not to die."
Years ago, he was rescued from a pool of blood by his master.
Years later, he extended his hand and pulled the little girl from the mountain of corpses.
There was the aura of demons present at the scene.
But it was very faint, likely having left long ago.
"Come with me," Jiang Lin said.
As he spoke, the girl's watery eyes moved.
Her black pupils looked at him.
Her eyes seemed to contain many emotions: struggle, anger, crying, powerlessness, hatred...
But upon looking again, it seemed as if there was nothing.
Jiang Lin took the girl back to the sect.
Before leaving, he also dealt with the mountain of corpses and sea of blood.
His master learned of this and came to see.
After reaching the doorway, he said to Jiang Lin, "This child's heart is too heavy; I fear she may bring trouble."
Jiang Lin replied, "We have a connection."
His master glanced at the girl inside, whose injuries had not yet healed, then looked at Jiang Lin.
He sighed and said no more.
He left some calming items and departed.
...
"Shi Fu, Shi Fu~! Come quickly, look, a bird! A bird!"
Jiang Lin was standing in the courtyard, lost in thought while looking at the two pear trees, when a chubby, fair-skinned boy ran over.
He tugged at Jiang Lin's sleeve, pointing in another direction, babbling incoherently.
Jiang Lin collected his thoughts, walked with him, and patiently corrected him, "It's Shi-Fu. Master."
"Mm-hmm, Shi Fu!"
The chubby, fair-skinned boy nodded dismissively, continuing to pull Shi Fu in another direction.
Drool was about to drip from his mouth.
"Shi Fu, there's a bird!"
Unlike his eldest disciple, his second disciple was lively and energetic, full of vigor.
His name was Que Sixi.
His eyes were round, and his face was plump.
It made one want to pinch it.
Que Sixi lived in a very lively and prosperous area.
Most people there lived by the river.
Every night, there were lanterns, painted boats, and the faint sounds of string and wind instruments.
Jiang Lin stayed there for a period and even observed a few literary gatherings—gatherings held by scholars.
During that time, he happened upon a wealthy merchant whose house was haunted.
He resolved it casually.
After eliminating the ghost, he turned around.
He saw a very endearing child.
He was plump, dressed in colorful clothes, and holding a bag of dark red preserved fruit.
He was slurping it while watching Jiang Lin fight the ghost.
He showed no fear at all.
Seeing Jiang Lin look at him, the little boy happily clapped his chubby hands, "Good! Do it (again), do it (again)!"
His saliva was almost falling from the corner of his mouth.
Afterward, the wealthy merchant rushed over, speaking words of reverence and thanks to the immortal,
While subtly having his son show himself to the immortal in various ways, seeking attention.
Jiang Lin stayed there for a few more days and then left.
When he departed, under the merchant's gratified and teary eyes, he took the boy back to the sect.
His master learned of this and rushed over.
He looked the boy up and down. The simple and honest Sixi also stared at him without blinking.
After a while,
His master looked at his eldest grand-disciple, who had already started learning an instrument, and then at the honest and lovable second grand-disciple before him.
He couldn't help but ask, "Disciple ah... what criteria do you use for accepting disciples?"
Jiang Lin thought for a moment. "A good feeling?"
Of course, they also had to have the aptitude for cultivation.
His master was silent for a moment. "Very good, very good."
It was unclear whether he meant the second grand-disciple was very good, or Jiang Lin's method of choosing disciples was very good.
His master left a meeting gift, hands clasped behind his back, and turned to leave.
He muttered, "Very good, very good..."
...
(ps: I'm late. I had a lot to do today. One update~ Good night❀.)