Chapter 117: Miserable Days

“Ah... Master! Master!” When I woke up and saw my situation, this was my first reaction, and I started wailing like a ghost.

To be precise, I was woken up by itching. As I slept, I suddenly felt my face itching. I could not help scratching it and then slapping at it, and I literally beat myself awake like that.

When I first woke up, I was still not fully conscious and had not realized what was going on. But when I subconsciously opened my hand and looked at it, I immediately felt like I was going crazy. My hand was covered in ants.

My face was still itching. I wanted to rinse it with water, but when I lowered my head, I saw the surface of the large wooden bathtub I was soaking in. It was covered in a dark layer, and who knew how many ants had died floating on it.

I panicked and looked around. There were so many, so many ants on the ground that my vision spun as they desperately crawled toward my wooden tub.

Are these ants trying to eat me?

This kind of bizarre situation was so strange it surpassed even the hungry ghost worms. I had no choice but to scream for my Master at the top of my lungs.

The mountain was quiet, and my voice echoed far away. The first person who ran over was actually Ling Ruyue, that little girl. I originally wanted to stand up, but when I saw it was her, I immediately sat back down, leaving only my head above the water, and shouted, “What are you doing here?”

“Serves you right.” Ling Ruyue stuck out her tongue at me and then happily bounced away. Her back looked extremely carefree.

My temples throbbed with anger. I suddenly remembered her strange behavior earlier, patting my towel and then patting my body. Was it her?

My Master had once said that there are countless kinds of techniques in this world. Even in Daoism, every lineage has its own methods. Outside China, there are Nanyang sorcery techniques, and in the West there are also their own systems of magic.

It is just that their technological development is too fast, and the number of clergy who truly understand pure magic is decreasing. Instead, they tend to focus more on developing the potential of the human body, like so called special abilities and the like.

While I was lost in thought, my Master arrived, and Ling Ruyue’s grandmother came with him.

My Master immediately saw the ants all over the ground, his expression strange and helpless, while Ling Ruyue’s grandmother looked much more serious.

My Master sighed helplessly and said to her, “Ling Qing, your granddaughter is about to turn my place into an ant nest.”

So her grandmother was called Ling Qing. Why do the grandmother and granddaughter share the same surname? But I had no time to think about that, because the ants were crawling onto my face again.

Ling Qing did not speak. She simply walked up to me with a serious expression. I did not know what she did, but I only smelled a strange scent, and then the ants stopped crawling toward me.

“I will go find Ruyue.” Ling Qing said this and turned to leave.

My Master looked at her with a strange expression and suddenly said, “Isn’t Ruyue just like you? Back then my stomach pain nearly killed me.”

Ling Qing glared at my Master and turned to leave.

At this point my Master finally walked over to me with a mischievous smile and said, “San Wa Er, how does it feel?”

“When I get up, I am definitely going to teach that girl a lesson using Daoist techniques.” I gritted my teeth. I was not stupid. From their conversation, I already knew today’s disaster was caused by Ling Ruyue. I just did not understand what she actually did or what method she used.

“Teach someone a lesson? With your third rate skills? If you do not want to suffer more, you should just let this go.” Old Man Jiang glanced at me, his expression extremely annoying.

“Is what she learned stronger than Daoist techniques?” I was really unconvinced.

“Heh, what she uses is Gu technique. It is very easy to start learning, at least the basic things are simple. Unlike us, who must cultivate painstakingly and accumulate power. You should give up on that idea now.” Old Man Jiang said casually.

Gu technique? A chill ran down my spine. I suddenly thought of those hungry ghost worms, which were bred by masters of Gu technique. It was simply...

Thinking back to what had just happened to me, I decided that revenge should wait ten years if needed.

“Master, how did she get the ants to come after me?” I was still curious.

“I am not very skilled in Gu technique, but I know that little girl’s methods. She does not have much power yet. The lowest level of Gu techniques are very simple. She probably just patted something on you, and the ants came. For example, if your body carries the scent of a threatened queen ant, it naturally releases a strong odor.” Old Man Jiang said with a smile, looking rather amused.

I said nothing. I suddenly felt that Gu technique was quite convenient. As long as you know the key, anyone could use it. I should not act rashly for now.

Of course, much later on, I would realize how naive my understanding of Gu technique was at this moment.

“Master, look at me like this. Can you prepare a fragrant bath decoction for me?” Since revenge was hopeless, I might as well get some benefit first.

“You brat!” My Master laughed and scolded.

In the hall of Bamboo Forest Cottage, my Master, Ling Qing, Ling Ruyue, and I were all there.

My Master and Ling Qing were naturally seated. My hair was still dripping wet. I stood proudly beside Ling Ruyue, while the little girl pouted with a very unwilling expression.

“Ruyue, if there is a next time, I will confiscate everything on you. Have you forgotten the rules?” Ling Qing was lecturing her.

I stood there smugly, thinking, see, my revenge has been served.

“Grandma, I did not do it on purpose. He started bullying me first.” Ling Ruyue pouted, and tears immediately fell.

Old Man Jiang immediately became uneasy and felt heartache. He said to Ling Qing, “Forget it, she is just a child. There is no need to be so harsh.”

I cursed inwardly. Was he ever this lenient with me? I have not even tasted his iron palm.

Then Old Man Jiang pulled Ling Ruyue over and wiped her tears, asking, “How did San Wa Er bully you? Grandpa Jiang will stand up for you.”

Ling Ruyue put on a very well behaved expression and said, “Grandpa Jiang and Grandma were talking. I went to play by myself. I saw the older brother practicing, so I went to play with him. But he told me to stay aside and said that I only have slightly bigger eyes and fairer skin, and that he does not like me at all.”

I was stunned. This little girl was too skilled. With just a few sentences she made herself sound so innocent. Even though that was what happened, the way she said it completely changed the tone.

Under Old Man Jiang’s protection, Ling Qing could not reprimand her too much. She could only look at Ling Ruyue’s pitiful expression seriously.

But Old Man Jiang suddenly slapped my head. Slap. I took it squarely.

“San Wa Er, you really have grown bold. Bullying a little girl who is only eleven years old. She is not well behaved, but are you well behaved? If you are so capable, why not make your eyes bigger and your skin fairer? You look like a monkey!”

I was furious. After my mother, even my Master had become a firm traitor.

I glared fiercely at Ling Ruyue. This little girl was quite good at acting. I had no manners left at all. I really wanted to hit her.

“Ruyue, you must get along well with your Third Brother. In two days, Grandma will go with Grandpa Jiang to handle some matters. You will stay on the mountain with your Third Brother, and he will take care of you.” Ling Qing’s words were like dropping a bombshell.

“No way, I have to take care of her?”

“No, I want to go with Grandma!”

Ling Ruyue and I spoke almost at the same time.

Old Man Jiang slammed the table and stood up, shouting at me, “If you dare not take good care of Ruyue, when I come back and she is missing even a single hair, you will copy the Dao De Jing ten thousand times!”

And Ling Qing simply said calmly, “Ruyue, if you disobey this time, I will confiscate all your Gu techniques, including your pets.”

I did not want to submit. I absolutely wanted to resist.

But Ling Ruyue said softly, “Including my Huafeifei?”

“Yes.” Ling Qing replied calmly and seriously.

Ling Ruyue fell silent.

But Old Man Jiang still had something to say. “San Wa Er, look how well behaved this little girl is. If you dare say no, tonight you will copy the Dao De Jing!”

“Then who cooks?” I asked. With a girl coming, surely they would not expect me to cook.

“You!” Old Man Jiang did not hesitate at all.

“Then who washes the clothes?” I was almost crying. I still held on to a little hope.

“You!” came the emotionless reply.

My face fell in despair. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ling Ruyue. She was pursing her lips with a sweet obedient smile, but her eyes were clearly full of triumph.