Senior sister, stop working and go home for dinner.

Chapter 401 When Can I Be Called a Disciple?

The air inside the restaurant was steaming, the aroma of porridge mingling with the sweetness of steamed buns, filling the entire room. The refugees initially hesitated to eat much, only daring to sip slowly. But when Fatty Li brought out several more baskets of steamed buns, they finally mustered their courage and began stuffing their mouths full. The children, their faces covered in food, were gently wiped away by their mothers, who scolded them, before they continued to devour their food.

Fatty Li watched that scene and suddenly smiled.

"Doesn't this look like when we first arrived?" he said.

Wang Rui paused for a moment, then smiled: "It looks like it."

Back then, they had just traveled from three thousand years in the future and were completely bewildered by everything. Later, the villagers of Xiaoshi Village arrived, and they looked the same. Then came the second batch, the third batch... and every batch was like that.

On this unfamiliar land, they built trust little by little with the most basic concept of "being full."

As Wang Rui was thinking, he suddenly heard Fatty Li speak up: "Ruizi, there's something I want to tell you."

Wang Rui turned his head.

Fatty Li looked at the group of refugees and said in a lower voice than usual, "Starting tomorrow, Xian Shan Fang will be relying on you, Sun Wei, Zhang Hao, and the others."

Wang Rui was taken aback: "Brother Li, what do you mean by that?"

Fatty Li didn't answer immediately. He paused for a moment before saying, "I'm going into seclusion."

"Seclusion?"

"Hmm." Fatty Li nodded. "Master said that we all need to focus on cultivation for the next period of time. Those who can go into seclusion should do so, and those who can break through should do so. I've been stuck at the Qi Sensing stage for some time now, and if I don't start moving around, I'm afraid I'll fall behind."

Wang Rui opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know what to say.

He knew what "seclusion" meant. It meant that Fatty Li would not appear at Xian Shan Fang for a long time, would not get up early in the morning to cook porridge, would not stand at the door to greet people who came to eat, and would not be busy in the kitchen, sweating profusely, yet still smiling and shouting "Add more fire!"

"Then... what about me?" Wang Rui asked, his voice a little strained.

Fatty Li looked at him without saying a word.

Wang Rui suddenly understood.

He looked down at his toes. The sneakers he was wearing, which he had brought from modern times, were quite old, with mud stains on the uppers that he couldn't wash off.

"I haven't officially started yet," Wang Rui said softly.

Fatty Li patted him on the shoulder.

"Rui Zi, don't rush."

Wang Rui didn't look up.

Fatty Li withdrew his hand and sighed, "I know what you're thinking. From the time you transmigrated until now, you've done as much work as anyone else. Greeting newcomers, registering them, showing them around, explaining things to them... you've been running around doing everything!"

Wang Rui's shoulders trembled slightly.

"But Rui Zi," Fatty Li softened his voice, "cultivation is something that can't be rushed. Master has his reasons."

"What considerations?" Wang Rui finally raised his head, his eyes a little red. "Brother Li, I'm not afraid of hardship, really. I've seen too much in the past two months. When those refugees knelt down and called him 'Immortal Master,' I stood on the side, not knowing whether I should respond or not. I'm not an Immortal Master, I'm just... just a handyman."

He paused, then lowered his voice: "I just want to know when I can openly tell them that I am also a disciple of the Cloud Hidden Sect."

Fatty Li remained silent for a long time.

Inside the Xian Shan Fang restaurant, the group of refugees were still eating, and no one noticed the conversation taking place in the corner.

"Rui Zi," Fatty Li finally spoke, his voice unusually serious this time, "Don't worry. Since Master said he would accept you as disciples, he definitely will."

Wang Rui looked at him.

Fatty Li said, "In the two years I've followed my master, although I've been inconsistent in my spiritual practice, there's one thing I've seen very clearly: my master never makes promises lightly. What he says, he will do, no matter how difficult it may be."

He paused, then continued, "Right now, our foundation is unstable, and Master has too many things to take care of. We need to settle these refugees down the mountain, we need to be wary of Qingyang Valley, and he himself needs to go into seclusion to break through to the next level..."

Wang Rui didn't speak, but lowered his eyes and stared at the shiny cement ground.

"Rui Zi," Fatty Li patted him on the shoulder again, "Do you trust me?"

Wang Rui raised his head.

Fatty Li had a smile on his round face, but his eyes were very serious.

"...A letter," Wang Rui said.

Fatty Li laughed: "Then you should believe me. I'll keep track of Master's situation for you. I'll be the first one to ask him after I come out of seclusion."

Wang Rui opened his mouth and said, "Thanks, Brother Li."

"Still calling me Brother Li?"

"Senior brother."

Just then, footsteps came from outside the door, mixed with laughter.

The two turned their heads and saw several young disciples dressed in the attire of the Feng and Jiang families carrying several large baskets, walking towards the Immortal Cuisine Shop.

"Master Li!" The one leading the group was Feng Gang, a member of the Feng family. He was the same Feng family member who had initially gained fame by claiming to have a "good relationship with Feng Xiaolu."

Feng Gang smiled and said, "We've brought ingredients to Xian Shan Fang!"

Fatty Li went up to them, took the basket, and looked inside.

Good heavens! The place is overflowing with spiritual vegetables and fruits, as well as some medicinal herbs whose names I don't know. Every single plant is brimming with spiritual energy and looks excellent.

"So many?" Fatty Li was somewhat surprised.

Feng Gang wiped his sweat and said with a smile, "That's not all. Senior Chen Anran has been giving us more in quantity and variety lately. Before, it was only three to five kilograms per batch, but now it can't even fit in one basket."

A Jiang family disciple chimed in, "That's right, we've gone up the mountain several times these past few days, and each time we've brought a huge haul."

As Li Pangzi listened, his heart suddenly felt a little hot.

He looked up and glanced in the direction of the mountain.

Master.

Although he didn't say anything, Fatty Li knew that his master understood everything.

Who are these suddenly appearing spiritual ingredients for? They are for the two hundred-plus refugees living down the mountain. Master is using his own methods to help them survive and thrive here.

Wang Rui stood to the side, listening to the disciples' conversation and gazing at the baskets of ingredients brimming with spiritual energy.

He suddenly remembered what Fatty Li had said earlier—"Master never makes promises lightly."

Maybe.

Perhaps one day, he will be able to stand here with dignity and tell everyone that he is a disciple of the Cloud Hidden Sect.

"Junior brother," Fatty Li suddenly called out to him, "What are you standing there for? Come help unload the goods!"

Wang Rui snapped out of his daze, responded, and quickly walked over.

He hoisted a basket of spiritual vegetables onto his shoulder; it was so heavy that it made his shoulders feel slightly sluggish. But he didn't put it down; he simply changed his posture and continued walking inside.

Inside the restaurant, the refugees had finished eating and were helping to clear the dishes. Several children stood around the doorway, curiously peering at the baskets of fresh ingredients, whispering, "What are those?"

Fatty Li stood in front of the stove and began to think about a new menu.

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