After all, the three members of the Chen family currently had no cultivation and, like him, were merely background figures.

Subconsciously, Xiao Shou no longer saw them as a threat.

For the first time since transmigrating, aside from his disciple Fu Young, he felt less guarded around others.

Even his tone became more relaxed as he teased Chen Yufei.

"You are eleven? I would not have guessed."

That was true.

Chen Yufei looked only nine or ten. He’s thin and small and nothing like an eleven year old kid.

"Senior Xiao..."

Chen Yufei blushed slightly.

He seemed to want to say something but felt too embarrassed.

After hesitating, he said instead, "Please sit and have some tea first. I will go prepare food. Second brother, take good care of Senior Xiao."

"Alright. I will take good care of our guest."

Chen Qingzhi nodded, though the vigilance in his eyes did not lessen at all.

Hearing this, Xiao Shou waved his hand.

Even though he knew that the brothers’ condition might not be solved with just two mid-grade antidote pills, he still took out two and placed them on the table.

"You do not need to trouble yourselves. I am quite tired right now and just want to rest."

"These two mid-grade antidote pills are for you. Consider them my payment in exchange for the Spirit Sand with you."

"Ah... but Spirit Sand is not worth much. You can ask me to do something else."

Chen Yufei shook his head hurriedly, feeling puzzled.

So what Senior Xiao had said earlier was not about taking him in as a servant to exchange for the two mid-grade antidote pills?

Xiao Shou had no idea what the child was thinking. If he knew, he would probably feel a bit wronged.

Did he look like the kind of person who exploited child labor?

Even back in the modern apocalyptic world, during the three months he was still alive, the base had maintained order.

Children were never forced to do harsh labor.

In fact, Xiao Shou’s temporary job had been guiding them in self-study in a makeshift classroom.

Hearing Chen Yufei’s words, Xiao Shou smiled again.

He had not misjudged him.

This child had a good temperament.

If he were brought back and properly nurtured, he would surely become an outstanding disciple of Xiao Shou’s sect.

However, his two older brothers were not simple either.

Whatever their future encounters might be, more than a hundred years later, one would become a Golden Core cultivator, and the other a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Would they really agree to let him take their younger sister away?

As for recruiting both of them into his sect, Xiao Shou had not even considered it.

His plan had always been to recruit children.

Children were easier to cultivate in terms of loyalty and their personalities were simpler.

They would not develop the mindset of looking down on small sects or blindly obeying disciples of major sects.

Adults, on the other hand, already had fully formed values and perspectives. Changing those fixed ideas was not easy.

So Xiao Shou had never included taking in adults as disciples in his plans.

As for An Yu, that had been Fu Young acting first and reporting later.

Xiao Shou had always been fond of Fu Young who he had personally saved and lived with for years. Combined with how adorable Little An was, he had not objected.

At this moment, Xiao Shou turned the matter over in his mind.

He decided to wait until tomorrow to find an opportunity to see if he could persuade the two brothers.

He was truly exhausted today.

Last night, he had spent more than ten hours digging a spirit vein, and afterward he had been suppressed by the pressure of a Deity Transformation Venerable.

His entire body now felt drained and he had no energy left to think further.

He yawned and said, "Ah... there is nothing else I need. If you feel uneasy, then just gather more Spirit Sand for me. First, find me a room so I can rest properly. I am really exhausted today."

"Since Senior has said so, Yufei, take Senior to the guest room to settle in. If there is anything to discuss, we can talk after Senior has rested."

Chen Qingzhi spoke first, he clearly relieved when he saw Xiao Shou’s genuine fatigue.

Chen Yufei nodded immediately when he heard that even his second brother agreed. He smiled gently, then took Xiao Shou’s hand and led him away.

"Senior Xiao, I will guide you."

"Mm, such a good child."

Xiao Shou patted Chen Yufei’s head, then casually flicked his hand, sending the teacup drifting lightly back onto the table.

Only then did he follow Chen Yufei out.

After the two of them left for a short while, Chen Qingzhi saw Chen Zhiyi walking over slowly and somewhat unsteadily.

He asked somewhat anxiously, "Brother, that man... how is he? He is not an enemy, right?"

"Bone age 24. His cultivation level appears to be at the twelfth layer of Qi Refinement at the great completion stage. However, his meridians are wide, his spiritual energy is pure, and his dantian is developed to about half that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator. It seems he cultivates a special technique. However, his spiritual energy has no evil traits. In fact, it is purer than most techniques. He is not an enemy."

Chen Zhiyi spoke slowly as he sat down and poured himself a cup of tea.

Chen Qingzhi let out a breath of relief, then asked with some worry, "Will he be able to hear us with his cultivation?"

"No. The barrier in this house was set up at the peak of my Foundation Establishment stage. It is not as simple as you think."

After saying that, Chen Zhiyi sighed helplessly.

"That foolish Yufei. I only said we needed two mid-grade antidote pills, and he has been running around every day trying to earn spirit beads. Now that we have the antidote pills, we still need to find a reason to explain things to him."