Lover's Tears: The End of Time | Chapter 36 | The Reluctant New Disciples | Novela.app

Chapter 37 - The Reluctant New Disciples Following the imprisonment of Fan Shaohuang, Qiao’er found herself the unexpected beneficiary of the dark cultivation he had previously absorbed. Her power surged, the stolen essence flowing through her meridians and settling into a formidable foundation. With this newfound strength, Guantian Court was firmly restored to her and the green-eyed zombie’s control. The Taoists of the Hao family, having thoroughly offended the Cuiwei Mountain sect, found themselves with no other choice but to align closely with Guantian Court, seeking a shield against the inevitable retribution of their former peers. As the ranks of Guantian Court’s "auxiliary forces" swelled, the green-eyed zombie’s standards for the motley crew of lesser zombies, shrimp, and crabs grew increasingly stringent. Initially, the aquatic minions weren't overly concerned; they knew the green-eyed zombie detested the smell of fish. However, a terrifying new development soon shattered their complacency—the Gui Che had developed a modern, sophisticated palate for seafood. The poor creatures lived in constant fear of becoming a snack for one of the bird’s nine heads. Eventually, they discovered a universal law of survival: curry favor with the boss. Much like a failing student desperately flattering a professor to scrape by, the minions realized that if they stayed in Qiao’er’s good graces, the green-eyed zombie would turn a blind eye to their occasional lapses in discipline. Whether one was a living human or a deceased corpse, a crab or a tiny shrimp, managing upward relationships proved to be a life-or-death matter. Despite Qiao’er’s soaring cultivation, which now left even Fan Shaojing in the dust, the reputation of Guantian Court had taken a devastating hit. Rumors of the righteous Cuiwei Mountain sect leader’s "crusade" against the temple had spread like wildfire. In the eyes of the public, any place targeted by such a prestigious sect was surely a den of iniquity. Consequently, the incense burners before the temple gates grew cold, and pilgrims became a rare sight. To make matters worse, the young Taoist acolytes left behind by Fan Shaohuang had all been escorted back to Cuiwei Mountain by Fan Shaojing. Guantian Court was now a ghost town, populated only by a handful of "monster" disciples. Qiao’er felt a profound sense of helplessness regarding their dwindling numbers. The green-eyed zombie, however, remained indifferent. It preferred the silence, finding the lack of human chatter refreshing. If it had one regret, it was likely the disappearance of the "incense money" that usually filled their coffers. During the day, Qiao’er was often alone in the temple. The monster disciples would retreat to the cool depths of the sea to escape the summer heat. Even the green-eyed zombie spent much of its time on the seabed. During the days when it had been injured and bedridden, the only "achievement" the other zombies had made under the Red-eyed Zombie’s leadership was designing a line of underwear specifically tailored for the Dragon race. Rumor had it that the Red-eyed Zombie had even received invitations from female dragons to research the most suitable brassieres for their kind. While this had fostered a deep, if bizarre, friendship with the Dragon race, the news had nearly caused the green-eyed zombie to dissipate from sheer rage. When the green-eyed zombie wasn't around, the days felt long to Qiao’er. Between her sessions of cultivation, she looked for ways to stay busy. The incense at Guantian Court could not be allowed to die out; "unclaimed incense" was a precious resource that could be converted into spiritual power or used to forge immortal affinities and plant seeds of merit. Realizing that the temple lacked a human face, she decided it was time to recruit some new Taoists. The green-eyed zombie didn't object; it never opposed anything Qiao’er decided. Thus, that night, Qiao’er mounted the Gui Che and flew to a nearby fishing village to scout for "talented" candidates. After circling the village several times with no luck, they spotted a small beggar curled up under the eaves of a house, fast asleep. Moved by a sudden burst of compassion, Qiao’er nudged him awake. "Would you like to come to Guantian Court to practice cultivation?" The little beggar squinted at her, his eyes half-closed. He muttered a single sentence: "Cultivation? Too much hard work. Not going." Qiao’er was baffled. "Surely it’s better than your current life of hunger?" The beggar rolled over, his voice dripping with impatience. "But it wouldn't be as free and easy as I am now." Before Qiao’er could argue further, the Gui Che delivered a swift, powerful kick that sent the beggar tumbling. "If the boss says you’re going, you’re going!" the bird screeched. "Keep talking and I’ll peck you to death!" One of the bird's heads snatched the beggar up in its beak, while another head turned to Qiao’er with a fawning tone. "Boss, we can go now." The beggar dangled from the beak, wailing, "Help! Kidnapping! Help!" One acolyte wasn't enough, but the beggar’s screams were so loud they scared off every other vagrant in the vicinity. After searching for a while longer, Qiao’er finally encountered a thief frantically trying to pry open a door. The man’s skills were clearly lacking; he was drenched in sweat, yet the lock remained stubbornly shut. Qiao’er sighed. "Thievery is wrong. It is shameful to seek gain without labor. Why not come to Guantian Court and cultivate with me?" The thief, already frustrated by the lock, spun around with a roar. "Beat it! Can't you see I'm busy here?!" He sounded quite young. Qiao’er opened her mouth to persuade him, but the Gui Che repeated its previous tactic. A heavy foot sent the thief sprawling, and another beak clamped down on him. "Haha! Got another one!" Qiao’er was still worried that two weren't enough when a figure suddenly leaped from a second-story window nearby. He was a young man, currently entirely unclothed. In the moonlight, his skin appeared as pale as jade, lending him a certain roguish charm. A woman’s scream echoed from the balcony above, followed by a man’s furious shout: "You scoundrel! How dare you defile my wife! Don't you run!" The Gui Che’s nine heads looked at Qiao’er with a mixture of pity and judgment. "Boss... is this the third one?" Qiao’er felt a wave of sorrow. She had set out to find Taoist disciples, but all she had managed to collect were these "dead cats and rotten rats." When they returned to Guantian Court, the Hao family Taoists were busy giving lessons to the zombies. The three captives were still struggling and cursing inside the Gui Che’s beaks. The bird’s nine heads were more than a match for the three of them in a shouting match, but as they soared through the air, the bird only said two things that silenced them instantly. One head leaned in and whispered, "Don't force me to talk while I'm holding you by the mouth." Then, another head turned with a terrifyingly polite tone: "Anyone who makes another sound gets an immediate release—with free air-drop delivery, dear customers!" The moment they entered the courtyard of Guantian Court, the three men froze in terror. *What kind of hell is this?* they thought, staring at the crowd of monsters. The little beggar burst into tears. "I don't want to stay here! I want to go back to begging!" The petty thief quickly chimed in, "I second that!" The young philanderer wasn't far behind. "Count me in for a 'No'!" As Qiao’er prepared to explain, the Gui Che stepped forward. "Boss, don't trouble yourself with these trivial matters. Leave them to me!" It then turned to the monsters lounging on the beach and bellowed, "These three were disrespectful to our Boss!" In an instant, the monsters swarmed forward. The zombies grinned, cracking their massive, boulder-sized fists, while the shrimp and crabs clicked their razor-sharp pincers menacingly. In the chaos, the philanderer only had time to howl, "Not the face! Not the fa—!" After a flurry of fists, feet, and pincers, the Gui Che poked one of its heads into the middle of the pile. It looked down at the three bruised and battered men and asked very politely, "Ahem. Excuse me, gentlemen, but would you like to stay at Guantian Court? We are a very fair and democratic institution. We never force anyone against their will." The thief, being the most straightforward of the bunch, managed to gasp, "Really?" The Gui Che nodded and immediately pulled its head back. Another round of thumping and screaming ensued. When the bird asked again, the other two shouted in unison with absolute conviction, "We’ll stay! We’d rather die here than leave!" And so, Qiao’er gained three "dedicated" disciples. From that day forward, Guantian Court had three new laborers, and the monster minions had three new punching bags. Because the philanderer was the most handsome, he was chosen as the Eldest Disciple to serve as the "face" of the temple. Since ordinary names lacked the necessary Zen-like elegance—and would further damage the temple's image (if it had any left)—Qiao’er gave the matter deep thought. She eventually bestowed upon them names based on the stars. The philanderer was named Yaoguang. The thief, being honest in his own way and quite agile, was named the Second Disciple: Tianquan. The little beggar, being the youngest and least skilled, became the Third Disciple: Kaiyang. The (eccentric) history of Guantian Court turned a brand new page, marching boldly toward a very... unique future.