Chapter 126: MASTER IS LIKE THE FATHER I NEVER HAD

Li Yan thought about his Master’s question for a moment before answering. The mission had been frightening, but he had no intention of pretending he regretted going.

He had entered the mountain expecting a difficult fight, but facing a rank-nine demonic lizard had made him realize how quickly a battle could turn against a person.

"It was a bit scary," Li Yan admitted in a low voice. He stared at the Sealing Phoenix Jade his master in his palm, his thumb rubbing over the phoenix carving. "During a battle, you have to protect yourself first, but you also have to think about protecting the people beside you. If you only care about yourself, someone beside you might get hurt. If you focus too much on everyone else, you might end up getting yourself killed instead. It was difficult to find the right balance."

He paused, his eyes darkening a little.

He thought about the people who had entered the mountain with him. Some had fought seriously from the beginning, swords drawn without hesitation, while others had conserved their strength and waited for someone else to do the dangerous work. The difference had been obvious once the battle became difficult.

And Li Yan had no intention of forgetting what he had seen.

"It was not a bad experience, though," he continued, looking up at Fu Hanzheng. "It was actually quite educational. I learned where my limits are, and I also learned more about the true feelings of the people around me. When things are going well, everyone can act like they are willing to stand beside you, but when the situation becomes dangerous, you find out who is actually willing to help and who is only thinking about themselves. If you are not careful, someone can push you straight toward death and still pretend they had nothing to do with it."

Fu Hanzheng’s eyes flickered when he heard that last sentence. A cold light flashed through his depths, but his face still wore a smile. He laughed, apparently finding Li Yan’s conclusion more amusing than disturbing.

"Clever child. It seems this time you did not go out for nothing."

He leaned back slightly and looked toward the garden outside, raising his voice.

"Anyu, can we get some rice cakes and plum cakes? You should also stop what you are doing and join us. There is no reason for you to work while the rest of us sit around talking."

A calm, familiar voice came from the garden, followed by the sound of rustling through the spirit herbs.

"Master, this disciple is almost finished weeding here."

"Almost finished is not finished. Come over when you are done. Your Junior Brother is awake."

"Yes, Master."

Li Yan watched his Master speak to Anyu with a familiarity that was different from the way Fu Hanzheng usually dealt with people in the Apothecary Department. There was no sternness in his voice at all, and even the sharpness between his brows had relaxed. Li Yan had seen how strict Fu Hanzheng could be when teaching him, especially when he made mistakes with herbs or handled a spiritual plant carelessly, so seeing this side of his Master made him curious.

Anyu soon appeared carrying a wooden tray with several plates of rice cakes and plum cakes, the fragrance of plum blossoms still faint on them. He placed them on the table before bringing over cups of warm tea, his movements practiced and steady. Then he looked toward Fu Hanzheng with the expression of someone who already knew his Master would continue talking instead of allowing him to return to his work.

Fu Hanzheng gestured toward the shaded area beneath the old spirit plum tree. "Let us sit there. It is more comfortable than staying inside."

They moved to the more spacious sitting area beneath the tree, where the shade covered a stone table and several low chairs. Anyu placed the cakes on the table and poured the tea before taking a seat beside them. Li Yan picked up a piece of rice cake and took a small bite. It was soft and sweet, melting on his tongue, and some of his tense nerves finally relaxed.

After a moment of silence, Fu Hanzheng smiled. A memory seemed to flash by, the details making his lips curl up uncontrollably.

"Haha..."

Li Yan blinked. "Master?"

"Speaking of training," Fu Hanzheng said, his eyes full of mischief as he glanced at Anyu. "Anyu’s first experience was quite funny. I never thought I would see my ever-so-serious eldest disciple crying for his Master and clinging to my robe, refusing to let go."

Puff—!

Anyu, who had just taken a sip of tea, choked. His face immediately reddened all the way to his ears. He hurriedly picked up the cup of tea and pushed it into Fu Hanzheng’s hands as though giving his Master something to do would make the subject disappear.

"Master! That was so long ago. This disciple... this disciple does not cry anymore."

"Of course you do not. You are all grown up now." Fu Hanzheng accepted the cup with a low laugh and studied his eldest disciple for a moment. His gaze softened. "Now you can protect your Master instead."

There was a wistful look in his eyes when he said it, and Li Yan suddenly understood why.

Fu Hanzheng was not merely teasing Anyu about something embarrassing from his childhood. He was remembering the small child who had once depended on him for everything, and comparing him to the calm, reliable young man sitting beside them now. The expression on his face resembled that of a father watching his son grow old enough to leave home and make his own way in the world.

Anyu lowered his eyes and drank his tea, clearly unwilling to continue the conversation about his childhood. However, the embarrassment on his face had softened, replaced by something warmer, and he no longer looked as though he wanted to escape back into the herb garden.

Li Yan watched the two of them for a while, his chest feeling warm from the tea and the afternoon sun filtering through the leaves, before curiosity finally got the better of him.

"Master, if you do not mind this disciple asking, how long have you and Senior Brother Anyu known each other?"

Anyu’s expression eased slightly when he heard the question. He seemed to consider the answer rather than giving it immediately, then glanced at Fu Hanzheng before looking down at his cup. When he calculated the years that had passed since they first met, he himself seemed surprised by how much time had gone by.

"I met Master when I was ten years old," Anyu finally said, his voice quiet but steady. "It has been ten years since then."

He paused, his fingers tightening slightly around his teacup.

"Master is like the father I never had. I do not think I would ever be able to repay him for all he has done for me."