Brother Xiong and Brother Xiong exchanged glances.
Didn’t they say that upon joining the Luoyun Mountain sect, the master would bestow new names?
Why hadn’t their senior sister and senior brother given them new names and just told them to stand at the back?
“Any other questions?” Yun Qingxue asked, puzzled, when the two bear demons didn’t move.
“Um, Senior Sister, you haven’t given us new names yet!” Brother Xiong cautiously reminded her, and Brother Xiong quickly nodded in agreement.
The two bears felt uneasy. If they were promised new names but didn’t receive them, did it mean they were being looked down upon? That they weren’t truly accepted as part of the sect?
Their silly expressions made Yun Qingxue chuckle again. “Your names happen to align perfectly with the ones the sect would bestow. Go stand at the back.”
This explanation eased the bears’ worries, and they happily took their places beside Cuihua.
Looking at the three bear demons behind her, Yun Qingxue couldn’t help but smile. All they were missing was a Baldhead Qiang to complete the cast of *Boonie Bears* ^_^
The rest of the disciple recruitment proceeded smoothly. By sunset, all the waiting little demons had completed their interviews.
In a single day, they had accepted 128 new disciples.
For Luoyun Mountain, which previously had only a handful of members, this sudden influx brought a lively atmosphere.
Next, Mo Changxing arranged accommodations for the new junior brothers and sisters.
Together with Jin Lin, he emphasized the benefits of challenging their master to improve their cultivation.
Watching the 128 pairs of eyes gleaming with excitement under Jin Lin and Mo Changxing’s persuasion, Yun Qingxue couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for her master.
She could easily imagine how busy her master would be upon returning, thanks to Jin Lin and Mo Changxing’s relentless encouragement…
A moment of silence for the master…
As dusk fell, Yun Qingxue turned and headed toward her quarters.
“Senior Sister…”
A timid voice called out.
Yun Qingxue stopped and looked around, spotting a slightly comical-looking young man standing in the twilight.
His eyes glowed faintly yellow.
She recognized him instantly—it was the black cat demon she had accepted that afternoon. To make it easy to remember, she had named him Tom.
That’s right. Along with him, she had also accepted a mouse spirit named Jerry…
“Tom, do you need something?” Yun Qingxue asked kindly.
“S-Senior Sister…” Tom lowered his head nervously. “C-could… could you change my name?”
“Why? Don’t you like it?”
Tom and Jerry were classic cartoon characters, after all!
“No, no!” Tom quickly waved his hands. “The name you gave is excellent! But…”
He stole a cautious glance at Yun Qingxue before lowering his gaze. “But I’m a man… not a woman. ‘Tom’ sounds like ‘Tang Mu’ (Mother Tang). Maybe… maybe you could call me ‘Tang Gong’ (Father Tang)?”
Yun Qingxue:
*If I call you ‘Eunuch Tang,’ would you dare to answer?*
“This name has nothing to do with gender. Do you know its meaning?” Yun Qingxue asked with a gentle smile.
Tom shook his head.
“‘Tom’ carries connotations of open-mindedness and intelligence—it’s my expectation for you. Sigh…” She let out a long sigh. “If you really don’t like it, I can change it.”
“R-really? So ‘Tom’ has such profound meaning and isn’t about gender?” Tom asked uncertainly.
“Of course!” Yun Qingxue nodded earnestly. “If you’d rather be ‘Eunuch Tang,’ I won’t stop you.”
Tom hesitated. “Alright, thank you, Senior Sister! I was being ignorant—please don’t blame me! Then… I’ll go listen to the teachings of our senior brothers. Take care, Senior Sister!” With that, Tom happily walked away.
Yun Qingxue stuck out her tongue in amusement and was about to continue on her way when another voice, slightly shrill, called out to her.
“Senior Sister!”
She looked around but saw no one.
Had she imagined it?
Frowning, she asked softly, “Who’s there? Show yourself!”
“S-Senior Sister!” A small, wiry figure emerged from the darkest corner.
His beady eyes darted around nervously.
Yun Qingxue recognized him—the other half of the *Tom and Jerry* duo, the mouse spirit Jerry. She smiled faintly. “Jerry, do you also want to change your name?”
“No, no, no!” Jerry waved his hands frantically, adding flatteringly, “I’m very satisfied with the name you gave me!”
“Then what do you need?” Yun Qingxue was genuinely curious.
“Well…” Jerry scratched his head, his small but sharp eyes gleaming. “Senior Sister, could I… change my living quarters?”
“Why?” She raised an eyebrow.
Jerry forced a laugh. “Senior Sister, you know cats and mice are natural enemies. Sharing a room with Tom… it’s terrifying!”
“But you’re both spirits now.”
“Senior Sister! Even as spirits, mice still tremble at the sight of cats!” Jerry said pitifully.
Yun Qingxue thought for a moment. “But the arrangements were made by my senior brothers. If you want to switch rooms, you’ll have to ask them.”
At the mention of Mo Changxing and Jin Lin, Jerry visibly shuddered.
After witnessing them slap two little demons away during the morning interviews and reducing a green snake spirit to ashes with a single move, those two were scarier than any cat in Jerry’s eyes!
Besides, what were a mouse’s natural talents? Not just digging holes—reading people was one of them!
He had long noticed that those two terrifying figures only softened when speaking to this senior sister.
So, if he wanted to switch rooms, it was better to discuss it with her!
“Senior Sister…” Jerry put on his most pitiful expression.
“Jerry, if you’re really scared, why not dig a hole in your room and sleep there at night?” Yun Qingxue suggested.
Jerry’s eyes lit up.
“Besides, if Tom truly wants to stay in Luoyun Mountain, he won’t harm you. After all, harming a fellow disciple is a serious offense.”
“Senior Sister makes sense! Then I won’t be afraid! Hahaha! I’ll be the first mouse to live with a cat!” Jerry’s pitiful demeanor vanished, replaced by smug excitement.
Yun Qingxue sighed inwardly. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.”
“Take care, Senior Sister!” Jerry waved cheerfully, convinced by her reasoning.
He decided then and there—he wouldn’t move out! If anyone tried to separate him from Tom, he’d fight them!
Damn, just thinking about being the first mouse to cohabitate with a cat filled him with pride!
Jerry was bringing glory to all micekind!
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