"Chen Changan."

"You should leave."

Leave?

Chen Changan gazed at his master, a stunningly beautiful woman in a long purple dress, her aura noble and her features exquisite. His eyes were filled with confusion.

"Master, why?"

"I want to stay by your side. I can't bear to leave you," Chen Changan said, his voice full of reluctance.

At his words, a flicker of emotion crossed his beautiful master's face. It wasn't sentiment, however, but a desperate attempt to suppress her profound annoyance.

"Ten thousand years!"

"A full ten thousand years!"

"Do you have any idea how I've lived through them?" his beautiful master demanded, her voice cold.

"Of course I do."

"For the past ten thousand years, with me by your side, you've been spared from solitude. It's been a blissful ten thousand years, filled with joy and happiness every day!" Chen Changan said with a smile.

Joy?

Happiness?

Surrounded by bliss?

Pah!

Mu Yunyao stared at the beaming Chen Changan, fighting the urge to slap that smile right off his face.

Ten thousand years ago, Mu Yunyao stumbled upon a six-year-old Chen Changan. She noticed his constitution was unlike anything she had ever seen and decided to take him in as her disciple.

Little did she know, this would be the beginning of her nightmare.

Chen Changan's constitution was indeed special, and he was exceptionally intelligent. He could memorize anything Mu Yunyao taught him after hearing it just once. And yet...

As time went on, Mu Yunyao discovered that no matter how hard Chen Changan cultivated, he was unable to make any breakthroughs. He couldn't even take the first step into cultivation.

Having already taken him as her disciple, Mu Yunyao couldn't simply stand by. She proceeded to teach Chen Changan everything she knew, the culmination of her life's work.

Chen Changan lived up to her expectations, mastering everything she taught him. The problem was, he had only committed it all to memory; he still couldn't cultivate.

Mu Yunyao scoured the world for every rare and precious treasure imaginable, but her efforts were ultimately futile.

In the end, Mu Yunyao had no choice but to give up. She had resigned herself to letting Chen Changan live out a peaceful mortal life by her side, but to her astonishment, the boy turned out to be ageless and immortal...

It would have been one thing if he were quiet and obedient, but he was a restless spirit who couldn't sit still. For ten thousand years, Mu Yunyao's life had been a living hell. She had finally reached her breaking point and decided to kick him out.

"Master... you really want me to leave?" Chen Changan's own expression shifted when he saw how serious she was.

He had been with Mu Yunyao for ten thousand years, ever since he was six. The thought of being separated from his master had never once crossed his mind.

"Go on. You've been here for ten thousand years; it's time for you to leave."

Seeing his crestfallen expression, Mu Yunyao felt a twinge of pity. But her rational mind screamed at her: *this little rascal needs to scram, now!*

"Master," Chen Changan said with great emotion, "I've been with you for ten thousand years. I have no family, no one to depend on. Though the world is vast, there's no place for me in it!"

"Yes, you do!"

Mu Yunyao cut him off. With a wave of her hand, a map materialized out of thin air.

Pointing to a location on the map, she said calmly, "I've already looked into it for you. Though ten thousand years have passed, your Chen Family bloodline endures. You can go home and visit your descendants."

This move caught Chen Changan completely off guard. It seemed his master was truly determined to get rid of him—she had even prepared for this!

"A master's command cannot be disobeyed."

"Since you have ordered me to leave, I can only obey, despite my reluctance!"

"I only hope that you can find happiness on your own in the days to come. If so, I can leave with peace of mind!"

Seeing the rare, solemn look on his face, Mu Yunyao sighed inwardly with a sense of helplessness.

After all, he had been with her for ten thousand years. It was impossible not to have formed some attachment.

"Go on. You've been by my side since you were six and have seldom ventured out."

"Remember, the world is a treacherous place. Don't be too quick to trust others." A pang of regret hit Mu Yunyao as soon as the words left her mouth.

Wasn't that warning a bit unnecessary? This little rascal was nothing but a bundle of schemes himself!

"Yes, Master!"

Chen Changan replied, then looked at Mu Yunyao with an expression of utmost sincerity, causing her to frown.

*He's still not leaving? What is he waiting for?*

"I know you can't bear to part, but the time has come. Go on."

"Yes, Master!"

The exact same tone, the exact same answer, but Chen Changan still stood rooted to the spot.

"Is there something else?" Mu Yunyao asked.

"Master, we have a bond of ten thousand years!"

"I know."

"But I'm about to leave."

"I am aware!"

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"Once I leave today, it could be an eternity before we meet again!"

"Just what are you trying to say!" Mu Yunyao's patience was wearing thin.

"I can't just leave empty-handed, can I?"

"Master, shouldn't you... give me a little something?"

Mu Yunyao could face any situation with the tranquility of still water, but when it came to this monstrous disciple of hers, she was always overcome with the urge to strangle him. The problem was, the little monster was ageless and immortal. Despite her own invincible power, she couldn't lay a single scratch on her completely uncultivated disciple.

"For ten thousand years, you've eaten my food, drunk my wine, and used my possessions."

"And now, on your way out, you want to fleece me for more?"

"You really are a fine disciple to your master!"

"Thank you for the compliment, Master. But I still think you ought to give me a little something."

"Ought to? What do you mean?"

"Think about it, Master. As your disciple, wouldn't I bring shame upon your name if I appear too destitute? Besides, I haven't returned to the Chen Family in ten thousand years. It wouldn't be right to show up empty-handed. Master, after spending all this time with you, I'm truly penniless."

Penniless?

Mu Yunyao scoffed internally. While it was true Chen Changan had been with her for ten thousand years, he was hardly the honest, well-behaved type. He would often sneak off for three to five months. Though his collection of treasures couldn't compare to hers, he was by no means 'penniless'.

"Fine!"

"Take it!"

Eager to be rid of this pest, Mu Yunyao cut to the chase and tossed a storage ring to Chen Changan.

"It contains items I've collected over the last millennium. None of them are ordinary."

"It should be more than enough for you to maintain appearances out in the world," she said with a resigned sigh.

"Thank you, Master!"

Chen Changan chirped, happily stowing the ring away. He then stood his ground, a pleasant smile fixed on his face, not moving an inch.

"What now?" Mu Yunyao could feel her anger about to boil over.

"Master, as you know, I am hopelessly dull and have no cultivation whatsoever."

"The world outside is a dangerous place. Shouldn't you be concerned for my safety?"

Dangerous?

*Is there anything in this world more dangerous than you?*

"Have you forgotten what you are?"

"Even I can't kill you! There's no one in this world who can harm a single hair on your head!" Mu Yunyao's voice was now laced with impatience.

"Face!"

"Master, this is a matter of reputation."

"Think about your status! And then think about mine!"

"I might be immortal, but I can't win a fight!"

"Wouldn't it be humiliating to lose?"

"Wouldn't that reflect poorly on you?" Chen Changan wore an expression that screamed, *I'm only thinking of your good name.*

"Out with it. What else do you want?"

"Heh heh, I was thinking I could use a bodyguard. What do you say?"

"A bodyguard? You want *me* to be your bodyguard?"

"How could I dare trouble you, Master?"

"I want... the Kirin!"

---

Proofreader: Peter Pan