After Yin Jiao tied up the two little fellows, Jin Jiao stepped forward and cut three sections of pine, each as tall as a person's waist.
"Big brother, doesn't Master need one? Why did you get three?"
Jin Jiao smiled back.
"Didn't you notice this thing is perfect for bathing? Let's make one for ourselves too!"
Yin Jiao smiled slightly at the words. The two then returned to Taiqing Palace together.
In Taiqing Palace, Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao saw Bai Yao lying on the ground, utterly disheartened, upon their return.
Seeing someone arrive, Bai Yao quickly covered himself with his hands.
Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao glanced curiously at Bai Yao, then ignored him.
"Master, we've brought what you wanted!"
As Jin Jiao spoke, he presented a large section of pine.
Tai Shang glanced at it, nodded with satisfaction, then lightly tapped the wood. The section of pine transformed into a bathtub.
Tai Shang flicked his horsetail whisk, and a spring of water flew from Taiqing Peak into Taiqing Palace, landing steadily in the wooden tub.
Tai Shang then placed his hand into the wooden tub. The Six Ding Divine Fire appeared in his palm, instantly causing the spring water in the tub to boil.
Tai Shang looked at Bai Yao, who was still lying on the ground.
"Alright, Yao'er, get in."
Upon hearing this, Bai Yao looked at Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao with difficulty.
"Master, they..."
Seeing Bai Yao dawdling, Tai Shang spoke impatiently.
"Hurry up, what are you waiting for? What you have, Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao also have. They aren't interested in looking at you!"
Bai Yao was still somewhat hesitant. Seeing this, Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao said with a smile.
"Alright, alright, we won't look. Is that okay?"
With that, the two raised their hands to cover their eyes.
Seeing this, Bai Yao quickly climbed into the wooden tub.
As Bai Yao entered the tub, he suddenly felt his numb body, previously struck by lightning, relax considerably.
Seeing Bai Yao enter the tub, Tai Shang took out the greenish-blue pill he had refined earlier and placed it into the tub.
As the pill dissolved, Bai Yao saw the colorless spring water in the tub instantly turn green.
"Master, what is this you've put in? It feels so comfortable!"
Tai Shang replied when Bai Yao asked.
"This is a pill I refined for you. It will be beneficial for your body refinement!"
Upon hearing this, Bai Yao immediately exclaimed excitedly.
"Master, I want to learn alchemy too! Teach me!"
Tai Shang immediately shook his head.
"You don't have the talent. Among all the disciples, only your senior brother Xuan You has this talent! However, since you want to learn, you can go to the herb garden in your free time and learn about spiritual herbs from Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao!"
Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao chimed in.
"Okay, okay! If Young Master Bai wants to find us brothers, just come to the herb garden. We're usually there!"
After speaking, Jin Jiao suddenly turned to Tai Shang.
"Master, when did you take in Young Master Bai? We didn't even know!"
Tai Shang smiled at this.
"I not only took in Bai Yao, but I also have three disciples outside. When they return, I'll let you get acquainted with them!"
"You know Bai Yao too. He's the 'idiot' your brothers mentioned. I disliked the name 'idiot,' so I named him Bai Yao!"
Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao seemed to have discovered a new continent.
"Wow, you're the idiot! But you looked black and white and plump when you were in your beast form!"
After speaking, Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao pinched Bai Yao's cheeks.
Bai Yao's face darkened when he heard the name "idiot." If these two hadn't taken advantage of him when he couldn't speak, he would have definitely given Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao a piece of his mind!
Tai Shang watched as Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao held Bai Yao's head and tousled it incessantly, soon turning Bai Yao's hair into something resembling a bird's nest.
"Alright, stop fooling around. Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao, give this little one a bath. Look how grimy he is!"
After speaking, Tai Shang entered the side hall next to the main hall to meditate.
Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao smiled mischievously at this.
"Hey, hey, hey, don't touch my waist!"
"Hahaha, it tickles! It tickles!"
"Don't move, Master told us to wash you!"
"You can't touch there, no!"
...
Tai Shang heard the sounds of laughter and play coming from the main hall, shook his head, shielded his five senses, and focused on his meditation.
After a while, Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao emerged with Bai Yao washed clean and plump. The three then came before Tai Shang.
Tai Shang looked at Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao.
"Jin Jiao, Yin Jiao, for this period, you will take Bai Yao to the herb garden and teach him how to manage those spiritual herbs. After that, go to the cultivation tower on Sanqing Peak and diligently practice the lightning techniques I have taught you. Jin Jiao will cultivate Yang Lei, and Yin Jiao will cultivate Yin Lei. You may only emerge once you have grasped the basics!"
"Yao'er, during this time you are studying with Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao, you can focus on the 'Taiqing Creation Scripture.' As for body refinement techniques, I will have Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao assist you!"
After speaking, Tai Shang sent them away.
When Bai Yao, Jin Jiao, and Yin Jiao arrived at the herb garden, Yin Jiao immediately took out the two little fellows. As soon as the two little fellows saw Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao, they kicked their legs and chirped incessantly at Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao.
Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao paid no mind to the two little squirrels and continued to tease them.
Bai Yao watched the two squirrels, one black and one white, incessantly curse Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao, while Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao kept provoking them. They were each doing their own thing, neither interfering with the other.
Bai Yao could no longer stand it and spoke up.
"They're cursing at both of you! And you're just grinning like idiots!"
As soon as Bai Yao spoke, the air fell silent.
The two little fellows, who had been chirping non-stop, also quieted down. They looked at Bai Yao in disbelief. They hadn't expected Bai Yao to understand their language, nor had they expected to understand what Bai Yao said.
Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao turned to look at Bai Yao and asked in disbelief.
"You can understand them?"
Bai Yao nodded, holding his head high with pride.
"I can communicate with all beasts under heaven. This is my innate divine ability!"
Upon hearing this, Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao asked curiously.
"What did they say?"
"They said you two ruined their home and captured them. They were cursing very nastily!"
Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao turned to look at the two little fellows, their gazes filled with suspicion.
The two little squirrels shivered involuntarily under Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao's stares.
They had originally thought no one could understand their language and had thus been unrestrained in their insults towards Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao. They had never expected Bai Yao to act as a translator!
Now, their lives were in the hands of these two, and they dared not speak ill of them any longer.