Chapter 2739 Meng Bai's Playtime With The Naughty Trio
2739 Meng Bai's Playtime With The Naughty Trio
Seeing the boy's excitement, Lin Mu couldn't help but remember his own thoughts when he had first gone out and explored the world. There was something about stepping into a new forest, filled with unknown creatures and plants, that made the heart race with exhilaration—and perhaps, for some, terror.
"Go take a look around, but don't go far," Lin Mu said. "You three can go out too." He released the twins and Ashy, who immediately perked up.
"Stick with Meng Bai," Lin Mu ordered. "And no trouble." He added with a firm look.
"YESSSSS! PLAYTIME!" The twins hissed excitedly as they latched onto Meng Bai's shoulders.
"NEW FOREST! NEW BUGS!" Ashy practically vibrated with excitement at the thought of all the new delectable grubs waiting to be discovered.
"WHOA! WHOA! WHOA!" Meng Bai yelped, flailing as the twins suddenly lifted him into the air. "AHHHHHHHH!"
The poor boy barely had time to comprehend what was happening before he was whisked away, his cries of protest fading into the forest. The twins had zero regard for his comfort, twisting and turning midair like a pair of overly enthusiastic kites with an unwilling human passenger.
"MASTERRRRRRRRR!" Meng Bai's desperate plea echoed through the trees, but Lin Mu, far from concerned, simply chuckled.
"He'll get used to it. He needs a bit of tough treatment," Daoist Chu laughed, watching the spectacle unfold with great amusement. "It'll get him used to the hard life."
"Indeed." Monk Hushu nodded sagely. "I still remember my time as a servant boy at the temple when I first joined." His eyes held a hint of nostalgia.
"You were a servant?" Lin Mu asked, surprised.
"Amitabha, everyone starts as a servant. Before learning scriptures, one must first learn the way of life. Only after enduring hardship and labor can one understand the true essence of the teachings." Monk Hushu explained, stroking his beard.
Lin Mu pondered this, comparing it to the upbringing of noble and cultivation clan heirs. Many of them were raised in luxury, their every need met by servants and elders, making them arrogant and disconnected from the struggles of common folk.
Of course, exceptions like Crown Prince Feng Shun and Crown Princess Shang existed, but their wisdom stemmed from rigorous training and discipline. Unlike the sheltered nobility, the Immortal Court enforced a strict regimen where even royalty had to fend for themselves in dangerous territories.
They endured wild expeditions, sleeping under the stars with nothing but their own skills to survive. They hunted for food, battled unknown beasts, and navigated treacherous terrains, proving their worth with every step. Compared to that, Lin Mu's own lifestyle seemed almost… comfortable.
Shaking off his thoughts, Lin Mu turned to Little Shrubby. "Breakfast time."
"On it!" Little Shrubby had already been thinking about food.
"Amitabha, truly a serene place," Monk Hushu murmured, taking a deep breath of the crisp morning air.
A couple of hours later, the twins finally dropped off Meng Bai, who stumbled back to camp looking like he had just survived a war.
"Master… that was… so scary," Meng Bai panted, his hair sticking out in all directions.
Lin Mu smirked. "But did you have fun?"
Meng Bai hesitated before admitting, "Yeah… I suppose. They showed me some beasts and plants, then went off to play with the local wildlife." He shuddered. "And by play, I mean they tossed a bull into the air and used it for a game of catch! ASHY WAS KEEPING SCORE!"
Meng Bai waved his arms animatedly, reliving the horror. "The bull was CRYING! I swear, I saw actual TEARS! And the worst part? The twins looked disappointed when they realized they had to put it back down alive!"
Lin Mu raised an eyebrow. "At least they didn't kill it."
"I'm pretty sure it wished they had!" Meng Bai exclaimed. "It ran off as soon as it hit the ground—probably straight to a butcher to end its life."
"What else did you do?" Lin Mu asked, hiding his amusement.
Meng Bai groaned. "After they got bored of traumatizing livestock, Ashy took us bug hunting. She can sniff out the tiniest worm hiding underground and track beetle larvae deep inside tree trunks. Then, they played DARTS!"
Lin Mu's eyes narrowed. "Darts?"
Meng Bai nodded vigorously. "Ashy pointed at a tree, and the twins would launch themselves at it, trying to hit the exact spot she chose—JUST BY GUESSING! They demolished more than a dozen trees before they got 'good at it.'" He shook his head in exasperation. "I'm pretty sure they've contributed more to deforestation today than humans do in a month."
Lin Mu sighed. "And you?"
"Oh, they wanted me to play too," Meng Bai grumbled. "They wanted to launch ME at the trees and see if I could grab the fruit at the top. I barely convinced them NOT to do it! Besides, why do they need me to grab them... THEY CAN FLY!"
Lin Mu rubbed his temples. "I'll… have a talk with them."
"Please do," Meng Bai pleaded. "I'd rather not become part of their experiments!"
"I'm so tired," the boy groaned, gulping down water as if he had crossed a desert.
"Just rest for now," Lin Mu said, eyeing Little Shrubby, who was close to finishing breakfast preparation.
The group then settled down for a well-earned meal, sharing laughter and stories about their absurd morning. Just when Meng Bai thought he was safe, however, Lin Mu and Daoist Chu reminded him that relaxation was temporary.
"Alright, back to training," Daoist Chu announced cheerfully.
Meng Bai groaned in protest but was promptly handed a brush and ink.
"You can train while sitting. We even set up a table on Shrubby's back for you to practice your penmanship," Lin Mu added with a grin.
Meng Bai let out a long, suffering sigh. "This isn't training… it's torture."
But deep down, he knew he wouldn't trade this for anything. For good or for bad, it was his life now, and he needed to endure it all to become strong enough to stand beside his master and not be a burden.