Chapter 1 Give Me the Red Envelope

Down the mountain, firecrackers were popping joyfully, waves of sound rolling up to the mountain gate, scattering the cold morning air. It was rare for Mount Longhu to be this lively; the kitchens were busy, the front hall was busy, and there were even twice as many people sweeping snow as usual.

Yet, there was one person who didn't look busy at all.

On a large, sheltered rock halfway up the mountain, Zhang Guanchen sat cross-legged, his hands tucked into his sleeves, eyes squinting as he soaked up the sun. The look of leisure on his face made him seem like an old man who had been living on the mountain for many years.

He was three years old this year.

His shell was three, but the soul inside was much older.

His past life had been just so-so; his studies were average, and his fate wasn't particularly good. But when he opened his eyes, the world had changed. He had become a newborn baby, carried back to Mount Longhu by Celestial Master Zhang Zhiwei from the outside.

At first, there was chaos, then shock, and finally, peace.

This mountain had Qi, and the world had Outsiders. Life was completely different from his past life; it was no longer a life where he could see his end at a single glance. The path ahead had suddenly widened, so wide that his heart itched with anticipation.

It itched terribly.

Since he had been given a second chance at life and had stumbled upon such good Luck, who would be willing to live a mediocre life? Zhang Guanchen didn't crave mountains of gold or silver, nor did he want a safe, quiet old age. He just wanted to climb higher.

To go where others could not see.

To reach the heavens.

The wind rolled in from the mountain path, causing his hair to sway gently. He was half-closing his eyes, pondering how to walk this future path, when suddenly a shout smashed over from afar.

"Zhang Guanchen!"

The shout was full of vigor, shaking a couple of tufts of snow from the branches.

Zhang Guanchen lifted his eyelids, instantly perking up. He curled his lips, thinking to himself that it was time. Ninth Senior Brother was truly sensible; during the New Year, he was likely coming to bring warmth.

On the mountain path, Ninth Senior Brother Rongshan strode over. His build was as sturdy as a small mountain, and his Daoist robe was stretched tight across his frame. His whole face wore an expression of 'I can't do anything with you.'

"I knew you were hiding here. The mountain is so busy, yet you're here, finding a windy spot to sunbathe."

Zhang Guanchen sat steadily, not feeling guilty at all. Instead, he raised his chin righteously and gestured toward the front hall.

"Senior Brother, that's not right. I'm doing this because I care about you."

Ninth Senior Brother was stunned for a moment.

"Care about me?"

"Exactly." Zhang Guanchen sighed, his tone very mature. "If you were to order a three-year-old child around, it would sound terrible if it got out. Others would think Mount Longhu is so short-staffed. I'm helping you protect your reputation."

Ninth Senior Brother glared at him, unable to hold it in for long, and was amused to the point of laughing.

"You're quite thoughtful of me."

"Of course." Zhang Guanchen nodded, very sincerely. "With the friendship between us, if I don't think for you, who will?"

Ninth Senior Brother stood in front of the rock with his hands on his hips, exhaling through his nose. He really couldn't do anything about this little brat. Somehow, this child always had a comeback for everything, and could always keep up with his banter.

He suddenly hid his hand behind his back, his expression changed, and he lowered his voice.

"Fine. Since you are so considerate of your Senior Brother, I can't go without showing some appreciation."

Zhang Guanchen's eyes lit up immediately.

There was a chance.

Ninth Senior Brother slowly pulled his hand out. Between his fingers was a red paper envelope, dazzling under the winter sun. He even shook it twice on purpose, unable to hide the smugness on his face.

"See this? A good omen for the New Year."

Zhang Guanchen jumped off the rock in a flash, his movements incredibly fast. Despite his small size, he performed the New Year greeting perfectly.

"Ninth Senior Brother, may you have great prosperity in the New Year, may everything go your way, may your cultivation soar, and next year, give me an even bigger one."

Ninth Senior Brother beamed with joy upon hearing this.

"Deal. Your mouth is quite sweet. Come back with me to help, and this red envelope is yours."

Zhang Guanchen reached for the red envelope.

"Give it to me first."

Ninth Senior Brother immediately pulled his hand back.

"Do the work first."

The two stared at each other, the air seemingly taut.

Zhang Guanchen suddenly stopped talking. His gaze went over Ninth Senior Brother's shoulder, staring fixedly at the sky behind him. His little face turned pale, his lips pursed tightly, and he froze on the spot.

Ninth Senior Brother's heart skipped a beat.

"What are you looking at?"

Zhang Guanchen didn't answer, only raised his hand to point behind him. His eyes were full of panic, and his breathing even quickened by two beats. His appearance was incredibly realistic.

Ninth Senior Brother felt a chill down his back and instinctively looked back.

The sky was high and the clouds were light, the mountain breeze was clean; there was nothing there.

When he turned back, his hand was empty.

The red envelope was gone.

Zhang Guanchen had already retreated two steps, clutching the red paper envelope in his hand. He grinned, showing his teeth, and gave it a very annoying wave.

"Senior Brother, you practice the Golden Light Mantra, not some wood-headed technique. Don't practice your brain into a stupor."

Ninth Senior Brother's face darkened, and he almost lunged at him on the spot.

"You brat, give the red envelope back!"

"No." Zhang Guanchen hid the red envelope behind his back, his eyes full of vigilance. "Once something is in my hands, trying to take it back would damage the harmony between fellow Disciples."

Ninth Senior Brother snorted and crossed his arms to watch him open it. He wasn't panicked at all; in fact, he was barely holding back a laugh, just waiting to see the show.

Zhang Guanchen pried open the mouth of the red envelope and peeked inside.

His smile slowly faded.

Inside, lying all alone, was a one-jiao note.

The wind blew across the cliff, and the atmosphere suddenly went quiet.

Zhang Guanchen looked down at the money, then looked up at Ninth Senior Brother. The expression on his face slowly became very complex, probably because he hadn't expected someone could be this shameless.

Ninth Senior Brother coughed, feigning composure, and reached out to take it.

"I can't give this to you. I put the wrong one in. This is for Master."

Zhang Guanchen didn't budge.

Ninth Senior Brother continued to make things up, getting smoother with every word.

"This money is a big deal. It's worth a fortune. People down the mountain are fighting over it. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say you could buy half a mountain with it. You're too young right now to suppress this kind of wealth, so hand it over to Senior Brother for safekeeping."

Zhang Guanchen squinted.

"Buy half a mountain?"

Ninth Senior Brother nodded like he was pounding garlic.

"Yes."

Zhang Guanchen suddenly laughed. It was a very light laugh, so light that it made Ninth Senior Brother feel a bit uneasy.

"Ninth Senior Brother."

"Huh?"

"Do you really think I'm three years old?"

Ninth Senior Brother's mouth twitched.

Zhang Guanchen held up the one-jiao note and looked at it against the light. He sneered and nodded repeatedly, as if he had finally recognized the sinister nature of people's hearts.

"I understand now. You aren't trying to fool me; you are trying to test the bonds of our sect."

Ninth Senior Brother was stunned.

"What do you mean?"

Zhang Guanchen carefully stuffed the money back into the red envelope, his movements slow and deliberate, but his words were not slow at all.

"It means that you actually dared to offer one jiao to Master as a tribute, and you even wanted me to help you cover it up. Ninth Senior Brother, this isn't about being poor; this is about having guts."

Ninth Senior Brother's whole face tightened.

"What nonsense are you spouting? That wasn't for Master."

Zhang Guanchen lifted his little face, his eyes excessively clear.

"Who said that just now?"

Ninth Senior Brother opened his mouth, but was speechless for a moment.

Zhang Guanchen shook the red envelope again, the smile on his face becoming increasingly amiable.

"I have both human and material evidence. If you don't believe me, let's go find Master right now and let him judge. Let's see if he believes you or me, an honest child."

Ninth Senior Brother's forehead was almost sweating.

If this little ancestor really went to tell him, Celestial Master Zhang Zhiwei probably wouldn't do anything over one jiao, but Ninth Senior Brother's reputation would be gone. During the New Year, he'd be the laughingstock of his Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters for a whole year.

He hurriedly changed his tune, squatted down, and squeezed out an amiable smile.

"Guanchen, let's talk this over."

"Talk it over?"

"Let's talk it over." Ninth Senior Brother patted his chest, guaranteeing, "From now on, I'll save the good food on the mountain for you first. I won't ever trick you out of a red envelope again. Let's just pretend today never happened."

Zhang Guanchen looked at him without saying a word.

Ninth Senior Brother felt uneasy under his gaze and added another sentence.

"Next month, I'll take you to the back mountain to raid bird nests."

Zhang Guanchen still didn't make a sound.

Ninth Senior Brother gritted his teeth.

"Plus a skewer of candied hawthorn!"

Zhang Guanchen finally nodded slowly, speaking with earnest advice.

"Ninth Senior Brother, it's not that I'm difficult to talk to. It's just that you, personally, aren't very steady. I have to keep an eye on the conduct of our sect."

Ninth Senior Brother closed his eyes, his fists clenching.

Sooner or later, he would press this little thing into the snow and rub him around a couple of times.

Zhang Guanchen stuffed the red envelope into his sleeve, jumped off the rock, and clapped his hands. He felt refreshed, as if he had just won a great battle, and even the mountain breeze seemed more pleasant than before.

"Let's go. Didn't you say everyone has arrived?"

Ninth Senior Brother was stunned for a moment.

"You're willing to go?"

Zhang Guanchen gave him a sidelong glance.

"I have to go. If I don't, the red envelopes from the Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters will all be taken by others."

Ninth Senior Brother's mouth twitched, and he resigned himself to it.

The two walked back along the mountain path, the snow crunching under their feet. The lively sounds from the front hall became clearer and clearer; the scent of incense, the aroma of food, and the smell of firecrackers were all mixed together, dispelling the cold loneliness of the mountain.

Zhang Guanchen didn't take large steps, but he felt quite comfortable inside.

The start of this life wasn't earth-shattering, but this Mount Longhu felt more like home than any place he had been in his past life. There were people who scolded him, people who teased him, and people who protected him.

This feeling was quite good.

Just as they walked outside the courtyard gate, voices from inside drifted out. Several familiar voices were mixed together—some thick, some deep, some laughing—all of them people from the sect.

"The Company has truly established itself. Openly, they do courier services; secretly, they clean up the messes of Outsiders. This method is actually quite practical."

"After so many years of chaos, someone has to step up to clean up."

"Where is that child, Guanchen? Last year he wasn't even as high as my knee. I wonder if he's grown any taller."

"Old Nine went to fetch him. Don't worry, he can't run away."

"I heard Master brought back another child this time he went out?"

Zhang Guanchen's steps faltered.

A new child.

It was likely Zhang Lingyu.

He blinked, his heart warming up. The person he had only seen through paper and screens in his past life was now going to stand alive and well in front of him on this mountain. That feeling was truly quite wondrous.

Ninth Senior Brother pushed open the door and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"I've brought him."

The people in the hall looked over in unison.

The Senior Brother sat at the head of the table; his beard and hair were white, but his eyes were gentle and kind. Second Senior Sister wore a simple Daoist robe, her eyes and brows filled with a smile. The other Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters each had their own demeanor. The room was packed, and at a glance, they were all his own family.

Zhang Guanchen immediately entered character, cupped his hands, and bowed.

"Happy New Year, Senior Brother."

The Senior Brother laughed heartily, having been prepared. He pulled a red envelope from his sleeve, handed it over, and casually rubbed his head.

"The name has changed, but the person is still the same. Very spirited."

Zhang Guanchen took the red envelope, his little face serious.

"Change the name, and your Luck will flourish for three years."

The room burst into laughter.

Second Senior Sister waved him over, gave him a red envelope, and pinched his cheek.

"Your mouth is still so glib. You look much more handsome than last year."

Fifth Senior Brother smiled and interjected.

"What child isn't handsome? You're being biased."

"So I'm biased, so what? Can you do anything about it?"

The room was lively. Zhang Guanchen made a round and collected seven or eight red envelopes. His sleeves were bulging, and the joy on his face couldn't be hidden, though this happiness wasn't for the money.

It was the feeling of being cared for by others.

That kind of thing is the most nourishing.

Ninth Senior Brother had intended to pretend he didn't see him, but when Zhang Guanchen turned his head, he suddenly clutched his knees, gasped, and his voice sounded a bit weak.

"Sigh, I'm getting old. My legs and feet aren't as nimble as they used to be. My legs go numb after walking just a few steps."

Several Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters couldn't help but laugh.

"How old are you even?"

"You're old already?"

"What will happen in two years then?"

Ninth Senior Brother's eyelid twitched; he always felt that whenever this kid opened his mouth, nothing good followed. Sure enough, Zhang Guanchen looked at him next, his eyes full of urging.

Ninth Senior Brother's face twitched, and he bit the bullet to go fetch a chair.

"Sit."

Zhang Guanchen immediately put on a moved expression.

"Ninth Senior Brother is so good to me."

Ninth Senior Brother gave a forced smile.

"It's only right."

Zhang Guanchen still didn't settle down after sitting; he dangled his feet and spoke up.

"Bring me another cup of something sweet, warm. My stomach is delicate."

The room suddenly went quiet for a moment.

Everyone's gaze fell onto Ninth Senior Brother's face one after another.

Ninth Senior Brother's face was almost frozen, but when he thought of that red envelope containing only one jiao still in the other's sleeve, he could only grit his teeth and turn to pour water for this little ancestor.

Second Senior Sister watched and laughed.

"Old Nine's temper has grown this year. So patient."

Fifth Senior Brother touched his chin and clicked his tongue.

"I don't think his temper has grown; I think someone has a handle on him."

Ninth Senior Brother stumbled while carrying the water.

Zhang Guanchen took the cup and took a sip as if nothing had happened, laughing his head off inside.

If nothing else, having this leverage over Ninth Senior Brother was enough to keep him comfortable for a while.

Just then, footsteps outside the door stopped.

The hall suddenly fell silent.

Zhang Guanchen looked up.

Celestial Master Zhang Zhiwei pushed Elder Tian's wheelchair into the door. The Old Celestial Master wore a simple Daoist robe, not revealing anything, but the moment he appeared, the relaxed atmosphere in the room naturally tightened.

It wasn't fear; it was respect.

Elder Tian sat in the wheelchair, his expression gentle, his eyes filled with a smile. Beside the two, a little boy with very clean features followed. He was older than Zhang Guanchen, stood straight, and had a reserved expression.

Zhang Guanchen's heart stirred.

He had come.

He had really come.

Celestial Master Zhang Zhiwei swept his gaze over, landing on Zhang Guanchen, and spoke indifferently.

"Have you had enough of hiding to find leisure?"

Zhang Guanchen immediately jumped off the chair and knelt down with a thud, very nimbly, his forehead almost hitting the ground.

"Disciple wishes Master a Happy New Year, wishes Junior Martial Uncle a Happy New Year. I wish Master a cultivation that reaches the heavens, and I wish Junior Martial Uncle good health. May everything go smoothly in the coming year."

He kowtowed without any hesitation.

The new child by the door was clearly stunned, likely not expecting this Senior Brother, who looked even younger than himself, to be so serious about bowing.

Celestial Master Zhang Zhiwei looked at him for a moment.

"Get up."

Zhang Guanchen got up and went over to Elder Tian's wheelchair, gently rubbing against the back of his hand, his movements very affectionate.

Elder Tian smiled, the corners of his eyes smoothing out.

"I heard you've grown in ability again this year, and even taught Old Nine a lesson?"

Ninth Senior Brother behind him almost spat out his water.

Zhang Guanchen looked innocent.

"Junior Martial Uncle, it's a rumor."

Elder Tian laughed non-stop.

Celestial Master Zhang Zhiwei didn't pick up on that, just turned his head slightly to look at the child beside him.

"Lingyu, get to know everyone."

The child pursed his lips, first cupping his hands respectfully to the elders in the room, then letting his gaze fall on Zhang Guanchen, his eyes filled with a bit of caution and appraisal.

Zhang Guanchen was also looking at him.

This was Zhang Lingyu.

Alive.

And he was a little Lingyu who was a bit nervous, standing straight, not knowing where to put his hands.

A surge of boldness suddenly rose in his heart.

From today on, he was also someone who had a Junior Brother.