244: Chapter 244 Recommendation

As soon as these words were spoken, the joy on Su Dadan and Liu Qing's faces instantly vanished, replaced by a look of bitterness and lingering fear.

Liu Qing couldn't help but sigh. He glanced around and, seeing that although there were many pedestrians on the street, no one was paying attention to them, he lowered his voice to speak.

"Senior, why don't we find a place to talk before catching up further?"

Ye Jing nodded. He played the host and invited the two to a tea house, where they found a private room and sat down.

After taking their seats, Su Dadan first picked up his teacup and gulped down two mouthfuls. His cloudy eyes were filled with misery.

"Senior, to be honest with you, Brother Liu and I both fled from our families. Because of our poor Aptitude, our families didn't value us, so we thought of heading out to see the world. Although life has been hard and difficult, it has also been free.

"However, as travelers who have wandered far from home for many years, we never expected that this wandering would lead to our homes being gone and everything being destroyed!"

Liu Qing also had a look of deep sorrow, his voice trembling: "It's all because of that Xuanyou Sect. They wiped out my Family; every member, old and young, was slaughtered to refine some Sacrificial Vessels."

These words had been bottled up in their hearts all this time.

"We brothers were left homeless. Then last month, a group of Cultivators from noble families who had escaped came out to rob us. We fought with our lives to escape, but all our belongings and Magical Artifacts were stolen. We could only beg and wander all the way until we reached this Yanggu County."

Hearing this, Ye Jing thought of what he had experienced along the way and looked at them, sighing in his heart.

He immediately said, "How about this? I have a few shops in Tiangong Market, and my grandson is doing business there. If you don't mind, I can recommend you go there to help out."

When these words reached Su Dadan and Liu Qing's ears, they were both filled with surprise, and their originally dim eyes suddenly burst with light.

Su Dadan even slammed down his teacup, his knees going weak as he knelt down toward Ye Jing.

"Se-Senior! You are saving the lives of us brothers!

"I, Su Dadan, have never begged anyone in my life. From now on, if you tell us to go east, we will never go west. Even if it means going through fire and water, neither of us will have a single word of complaint!"

Liu Qing was also moved to tears, kneeling down alongside Su Dadan.

"We will never forget Senior's great kindness! The Xuanyou Sect caused my Family's ruin and death. We brothers have been barely surviving for so long and have long since had enough. Now that we have a place to settle down, even if we have to work like oxen or horses, we must repay your kindness!"

Ye Jing said calmly, "It's just a small favor. I never do a losing business. If you truly seek refuge and do your work dutifully, you naturally won't be mistreated."

The two nodded like chickens pecking at rice, saying repeatedly, "We will keep Senior's teachings in mind! We brothers don't have many skills, but we can do manual labor and all sorts of odd jobs. We will definitely be honest and dutiful and will never cause trouble for Senior and the Young Master!"

Ye Jing nodded, then took out two bags of Spirit Stones from his Storage Pouch and pushed them in front of the two. There was also some silver inside.

This caused the two of them to freeze instantly.

"This is a bit of travel money. Go and get yourselves a set of clothes first, and buy some dry rations. Then I can arrange for you to head to Tiangong Market to find my grandson Ye Tianhui and settle in."

Su Dadan and Liu Qing looked at the silver before them, their eyes turning red once more.

Their hands trembled, and they didn't dare to reach out and take it.

They repeatedly declined: "Senior, you have already found us a way to survive. How can we accept your money? This is absolutely out of the question!"

"If I tell you to take it, then take it."

Ye Jing's tone brooked no argument.

"If you go to Tiangong Market in those tattered clothes, it will invite gossip. Tidy yourselves up first so that when you work in the shop later, you can hold your heads high."

Seeing Ye Jing's firm attitude, the two could no longer refuse. They carefully put away the silver and bowed deeply to Ye Jing again, their words filled with overwhelming gratitude.

Ye Jing led them to a secluded mountain forest and immediately summoned a First-Order Mid-Stage Mountain-Opening Rhinoceros that Ye Yi had given him for his hundredth birthday.

This rhino was an earth-attribute Yao Beast with the Divine Ability of Mountain-Splitting Earth-Tunneling. It would be safest for it to take Su Dadan and Liu Qing to Tiangong Market underground.

Moreover, a First-Order Mid-Stage Yao Beast was comparable to a Cultivator at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer or above, so ordinary Cultivators wouldn't dare to attack.

Su Dadan and Liu Qing looked at this massive creature, which was a full three zhang tall, their faces filled with horror.

The rhino's horn was as thick as a giant pillar, and it had thick, earthy-yellow armor. Every breath it took rumbled like thunder, and a fierce aura rushed toward them; it was clearly no ordinary creature.

"This... is this a Yao Beast?!"

Liu Qing cried out in a low, trembling voice, his legs instinctively shrinking back.

They were just ordinary Loose Cultivators with cultivation bases only at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer. They had never seen a Cultivator tame a Yao Beast, and for a moment, they were filled with fear.

Seeing this, Ye Jing spoke calmly, "This is a First-Order Mid-Stage Mountain-Opening Rhinoceros, an earth-element Yao Beast. It is skilled in earth-tunneling and stealth, being both fast and discreet. Letting it take you to Tiangong Market will ensure your safety on the road."

As he spoke, the massive Mountain-Opening Rhinoceros submissively lowered its head and curled its body onto the ground, creating a loud thud.

This also made Su Dadan and Liu Qing extremely flustered.

But seeing Ye Jing reach out to stroke the Mountain-Opening Rhinoceros's horn and how harmoniously they interacted...

They truly believed that the Senior before them had successfully tamed this massive creature.

This Senior before them could casually take out Spirit Stones to give them, provide them with a place to stay with a single word, and even tame a Yao Beast to use as a mount. His status was far beyond their imagination.

Could he be an Elder of some great Sect?

But they didn't want to speculate too much about their benefactor.

"Senior... your great kindness is something we can never repay in this life!"

The two bowed again, this time with complete devotion.

Ye Jing waved his hand, "Go. Find the Ye Family Shop in Tiangong Market and give them my name; someone will naturally settle you in.

"Remember, being dutiful and doing your work steadily is better than anything else."

"Yes! We will follow Senior's instructions!"

The giant beast stomped its four hooves, a shallow crack appearing on the ground. Earth-element spiritual light enveloped its body, and it actually dove directly into the ground, leaving behind only a slight vibration before disappearing into the mountain forest.

Having done all this, Ye Jing didn't linger. He immediately transformed his figure into a breeze and leaped forward.

In just a breath's time, Ye Jing arrived at Lingyun Valley in the Qinling Mountains. He was now a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and his use of the Wind Walking Art could be described as perfection.

Although he hadn't returned home for over a month, the valley now had green bamboo fences and houses made of wood and stone, neatly arranged in the heart of the valley. Even the outer perimeter had houses built for storage and transport, giving it the feel of an immortal's residence.

Just as Ye Jing returned, two figures came out to meet him. Leading them was a tall, upright man with a handsome and elegant face and a strong build; this was his second son, Ye Yi.

Ye Yi had been cultivating in his Immortal Cave when he sensed Ye Jing's familiar and gentle spiritual energy, so he immediately came out to greet him.

"Father! You're finally back!" Ye Yi stepped forward quickly and bowed deeply to Ye Jing, his tone filled with joy and concern.

"I've been counting the days and thinking you should be returning soon. Sure enough, I sensed your aura."

Ye Jing stopped his Wind Walking Art, and the sharp aura of a Cultivator around him instantly vanished, turning him back into the gentle appearance of an ordinary old man. He raised his hand and patted Ye Yi's shoulder.

Seeing the fatigue in his son's eyes, he knew that during this past month, Ye Yi must have carried the heavy burden of managing Lingyun Valley alone. He said softly, "It's been hard on you. Is everything stable in the valley? No lowlifes have come to cause trouble, have they?"

"Thanks to Father's blessing, everything is fine."

Ye Xuan quickly responded, stepping aside to reveal the figure behind him. "Sister-in-law is waiting in the main hall. Knowing you were about to return, she was watching at the valley entrance since early morning. By now, she has likely prepared hot tea and snacks."