Chapter 31: Monthly Assessment
Bai Yu had never imagined that he would have another chance to relearn the arcane arts. At his age, when a man should already accept the mandate of heaven, he had long since stopped caring about cultivation or making progress. He never forced it, never demanded anything of himself. As the little girl Yun said, he had already given up on treatment. After all, no matter how hard he tried, it was useless—why bother studying anymore?
So he had never thought there would come a day when he would study the arcane arts again, and with his life on the line no less. He had no choice; the Patriarch was watching him! Ever since he realized that half of the books Yun stacked up in the study were actually prepared for him, his life had been a torment.
He had no idea what Yun had said to the Patriarch, but the elder who never left the tower except to eat actually agreed to test his cultivation.
The Patriarch did nothing else, only came once every month. He didn’t lecture, didn’t scold—he simply beat him. And it was always a beating to the death. Bai Yu faintly felt that in just a few months, his old bones had been dismantled and reassembled countless times. Every time he walked or drank water, he swore he could hear creaking sounds.
The old man wanted to cry but had no tears, and could only weakly complain to Yun Jiao, “Girl, can you tell the Patriarch not to use his fists during the next assessment? Besides, I’m studying the arcane arts, not martial arts. Who starts off by punching people?” And he always aimed for the face.
Without turning her head, Yun Jiao replied casually, “So you mean you’d rather the Patriarch use arcane arts on you?”
The old man froze, suddenly remembering the ghost horde that nearly turned to ash with a mere wave of his hand. He shivered violently. “No no no, I didn’t mean that, I never said that… don’t say nonsense!”
What a joke—if the Patriarch used arcane arts on him, he might as well reincarnate directly. “I mean, when the Patriarch instructs me next time, could he… be gentler?” At least don’t hit the face!
Yun Jiao suddenly turned her head and stared straight at him. “What? Are you injured? What kind of injury? Where does it hurt? Did it damage your meridians, consciousness, or dantian? Do you want me to take a look?” She swept her eyes up and down over him.