The next morning's attempt turned out exactly as Sumin had expected.
Only when she was near her senior brother could she experience that same feeling from yesterday, drawing energy into her body and achieving sudden enlightenment.
Sulan had just gotten up when he saw Sumin's joy written all over her face. He was completely baffled.
What was up with this girl? Why did she look at me first thing in the morning with that "the WiFi finally connected" expression?
Had I really become so handsome that everyone loved me and flowers bloomed wherever i went?
Sulan wondered to himself, but didn't let it show.
Having lived two lifetimes, why would he wear all his thoughts on his face?
Sumin had volunteered to make breakfast. Though it looked simple, it tasted pretty good.
As Sulan ate, a warm feeling washed over him.
Having a junior was really great.
Plus her talent was so hopeless that didn't need to worry about her suddenly rising up and kicking me off Heavenly Jade Peak.
Being around her was completely stress-free and relaxing.
When master returned, the two of us could work together as fellow slackers to keep her happy, everyone wins. Worst case scenario, with junior as a shield, master wouldn't come for me first, right?
The more Sulan looked, the more satisfied he felt. The more he thought about it, the better his mood became.
Though Sumin held her bowl, her gaze kept stealing glances at him.
He could have chosen a junior with far superior talent at the Immortal Selection Assembly and taken the easy path, but instead he'd picked her.
To help her cultivate, he not only taught her techniques but used special methods to assist her practice.
He never said it out loud, but he'd quietly sacrificed so much.
"The peach and plum trees say nothing, yet a path forms beneath them."
Being his junior, she was truly blessed beyond measure.
But just how was Senior managing to do this?
Sumin was curious, but since he didn't explain, she couldn't very well ask directly. She could only express her gratitude this way.
She knew clearly that even if she spent her whole life serving him tea and water, she could never repay the kindness of this opportunity he'd given her.
That he sought no reward showed his noble character. If she didn't show gratitude, she'd be completely ungrateful.
Her bright eyes seemed to hold a thousand words.
"Senior Brother, you're so good to me!"
A huge question mark appeared over Sulan's head.
What was going on?
After thinking it over, he figured the problem probably lay with that tai chi and body-refining technique he'd taught her yesterday.
After all, his junior had been practicing it first thing this morning.
Putting himself in her shoes, because of her trash spiritual roots, she'd probably endured plenty of cold stares over the years. He might be the first person willing to teach her anything.
Here I am planning to trick her and sell her out, and she's still helping me count the money.
Such an innocent, sweet girl was rarer than phoenix feathers in the cultivation world.
Sulan suddenly felt his conscience ache for another moment.
"It's nothing worth mentioning." He waved dismissively, covering his guilt.
Sumin didn't see it that way at all.
Behind each of Senior Brother's small gestures lay talent and effort beyond ordinary people's imagination.
"Senior Brother..."
Her voice was gentle with a trace of shyness.
Seeing her hesitant expression, Sulan immediately caught on.
Ah, so she had something to tell me.
All that guilt for nothing!
"What is it?" If it was just some small wish within his power, Sulan could consider granting it.
Junior's needed a bit of spoiling. After all, when the crucial moment came, he'd need to put her in front to draw master's fire.
Sumin set down her bowl and folded her hands, twisting her pale fingers together.
She knew the request she was about to make was pushing her luck somewhat.
"Senior Brother, could Sumin... stay by your side always?"
After confirming that he was the reason she could cultivate, she'd agonized over this for ages.
His kindness to her was as weighty as mountains. Only by improving her strength could she help him and repay his kindness. But to cultivate, she needed to stay near him, which would only deepen her debt...
It seemed like a cycle, one she could never escape.
Sumin's heart suddenly raced, pounding so hard it almost seemed ready to leap out, as if waiting for him to pronounce judgment on her.
Out of shame, she wanted to look away, but forced herself to meet his eyes directly.
"Sure." As a straight guy, Sulan didn't overthink it and answered immediately.
In fact, his junior voluntarily asking to stay by his side was absolutely perfect.
The two of them happily holed up on Heavenly Jade Peak, it fit his original plan perfectly!
Besides, by any standard, his junior definitely qualified as a beautiful girl.
Who didn't like pretty girls? He couldn't think of a single reason to refuse!
"R… Really?" Sumin was so excited that her bright watery eyes sparkled like brilliant stars.
She moved from her seat across the table to beside Sulan, head lowered, unable to hide the smile at the corners of her mouth.
"Of course it's true. Actually, I want to stay here on Heavenly Jade Peak with you too."
Hopefully we can slack off until the end of time, Sulan silently added.
Hearing this, Sumin blushed from cheeks to her ears.
Could Senior Brother's words have some hidden meaning?
No, no, no, impossible!
Sumin was quite confident about her appearance. But faced with the graceful, handsome young man who looked like a banished immortal, her heart held only gratitude and humility.
Even becoming his junior couldn't change the fact that she had trash spiritual roots.
In other words, as she was now, she was nowhere near worthy of him.
Setting aside those messy thoughts, his attitude toward her could be perfectly summed up as like an older brother caring for family.
Since he had taken her in and made all these thoughtful arrangements, she'd cultivate properly and not disappoint his efforts.
If she became more outstanding, she could share his burdens. That way, maybe I could... slightly repay his kindness.
The girl set this goal for herself.
Her current feelings had nothing whatsoever to do with her past obsession with showing them all.
After breakfast, Sumin planned to start practicing immediately, but Sulan stopped her.
"You just ate, don't exercise right away. Let it digest first."
Sulan didn't know if cultivators worried about such things, but his junior was just an ordinary person, so better to take it easy.
Everything in moderation. If she injured herself practicing, that would completely defeat the purpose of him teaching her.
Besides, ordinary people's techniques for strengthening the body wouldn't make her into an immortal no matter how much she practiced.
As fellow losers, why push so hard?
Losers working themselves to death, what was the point of that?