The caution and surprise hidden in this question were known only to the three senior brothers who had met Li Niang.
Shopkeeper Lin: “That is what they say. I have never seen it myself, but it must be true. For Kunling Mountain to sit on the throne of the number one spirit plant sect in the world, their spirit plant cultivation methods must be extraordinary. To say nothing else, that technique alone called ‘Withered Wood Meets Spring’ cannot be found in a second place under heaven. If they can make withered wood return to spring, what is making flowers and plants bloom by comparison?”
His tone was envious. After speaking, he lifted his wine cup and took a small sip, praising the wine.
Gao Yunjie lifted the wine jar again and poured him more wine.
Yu Qing, whose head had been propped up, was slowly laid back down by Chong’er’s hands, but he still pricked up his ears and listened with rapt attention.
Mu Aotie’s feet touched the ground. He pulled a towel and slowly wiped the sweat from his muscular body.
Nan Zhu, who was also holding a wine cup and sipping slowly, seemed to be lost in thought. Soon he continued to press the question, “Shopkeeper Lin, does Kunling Mountain cultivate a lot of orchids?”
“Cultivate a lot of orchids?” Shopkeeper Lin was taken aback, then shook his head, “I would not know. How would I be clear? I have never been to Kunling Mountain.”
Nan Zhu said in surprise, “Did you not just say countless secluded orchids bloomed slowly in an instant?”
Shopkeeper Lin said with an “oh”, “That was just hearsay. The rumours indeed say countless secluded orchids bloomed in an instant, not any other flowers or plants.”
Nan Zhu asked again, “Can Kunling Mountain’s technique for making flowers bloom and withered wood meet spring be used anywhere, or only within Kunling Mountain?”
This question caused the micro-movements of both Yu Qing and Mu Aotie to freeze. Even their gazes stopped moving. Their intent to listen was obvious.
Yu Qing even subconsciously reached up and pinched Chong’er’s hand that kept moving, signalling him to pause his fussing with his head.
Chong’er looked at his hand gripping her own. She slightly withdrew her hand but did not pull it free. She quietly pursed her lips, then let his hand hold hers. Taking advantage of the fact that he could not see her, she stared carefully at his face.
Shopkeeper Lin chuckled, “I do not know about that either. But it must certainly be within Kunling Mountain. Did they not say that Kunling Mountain is a spirit valley cultivated through the combined efforts of generations of ancestors? It is within that extraordinary great formation that gathers the spiritual energy of heaven and earth that withered wood can meet spring. That great formation probably cannot be carried around to run everywhere, can it? What do you think?”
Nan Zhu nodded thoughtfully in agreement, “Well said, well said.”
Shopkeeper Lin’s gaze slightly hardened. He felt that this man’s agreement was rather perfunctory. He immediately asked suspiciously, “Brother Nan, from what you are saying and asking, you seem to care very much about Kunling Mountain’s spirit plant methods. Do you also understand spirit plant techniques?”
Do not mention him. Gao Yunjie’s gaze had already been darting toward Nan Zhu. After so many years as martial brothers, who did not know who? He had already noticed that Old Seventh’s questioning was a bit off. It was not Old Seventh’s usual pointless rambling. It seemed to have a purpose.
Nan Zhu, coming back to his senses, hurriedly said, “No, no. I am just curious about this kind of mystical thing. How could I have that ability?”
Gao Yunjie also tossed out a seemingly casual remark, “It is not Shopkeeper Lin’s first time dealing with him. Do you still not know him? He is just verbose. He likes to stick his nose into everything.”
“Eh? Hahahaha.” Shopkeeper Lin could not help laughing loudly. He laughed without replying, tacitly agreeing in his heart. This fatty was indeed the kind of person who talked too much nonsense. “Brother Nan, if you like it, why not take this opportunity to visit Kunling Mountain? Perhaps you will have a chance to broaden your horizons.”
Nan Zhu waved his hand modestly, “How would I have that qualification?”
Shopkeeper Lin disagreed, “Although we are a bit old, this ‘Rising Sun Conference’ has nothing to do with age. As long as you have not participated before, and your cultivation has not reached the Upper Profound realm, anyone can register to participate. You do not necessarily have to compete for any ranking. Just visit Kunling Mountain. You should know that great sects have the airs of great sects. Under ordinary circumstances, it really is not something anyone can trespass upon. This time they are opening their doors to welcome guests from all under heaven. It is precisely when they do not discriminate between the noble and humble status of visitors. If you want to see, this is the opportunity.”
These words caused Nan Zhu to become entranced, and also caused the eavesdroppers to look distracted.
Speaking of this, Shopkeeper Lin could not help but smile again, “Of course, if you can compete with the outstanding talents of the world and make a name for yourself by winning a ranking, the rewards are not small either. In past conferences, the money sponsored by all parties added together is no small sum. Those who can enter the top ten receive rewards amounting to hundreds of millions.”
For him to say this, it was clear he had slightly heard about their previous debt situation.
Speaking of money, Nan Zhu gave an unnatural chuckle and waved his hand, “Making a name for myself is too much. In life, it is better to keep a low profile. Having enough money is good enough.”
Shopkeeper Lin nearly burst out laughing. He really wanted to ask him, are you lot still keeping a low profile? Not to mention the so-called number one talent under heaven and the matter of Little Cloud Realm, just not long ago you had brought down one of the top ten spirit plant great sects in Jin Kingdom. And you still have the nerve to say keep a low profile?
But it was precisely because he thought of this that he reacted again. Thinking about it, these fellows had offended quite a few people. Their temple was not big, but those they offended were all true gods. If not for the backing of the Top Scholar family background, anyone else would probably have been crushed by a single finger long ago. If they openly ran to the “Rising Sun Conference” to show off, it would probably be no different from seeking death. Only someone with a brain disease would go. Were his words not encouraging them to send themselves to their deaths?
Realising in an instant that he had spoken wrongly, he immediately stopped mentioning it. He quickly raised his cup to change the subject, “Drink, drink. I toast you two.”
The two martial brothers raised their cups in return.
After a round of toasts, the jar of wine was finished. Shopkeeper Lin left satisfied.
Gao Yunjie saw off the guest and hurried back. He just happened to see Mu Aotie and Nan Zhu, who were putting their clothes back on, hesitantly approaching Yu Qing.
He also hurriedly walked over and joined the group, asking, “Are you lot hiding something from me?”
He was a bit sensitive to this phenomenon of possibly being excluded. The consciousness of seniority by years of service was always in his heart.
Yu Qing stood up. He looked around and saw two one-eyed people popping their heads out to sweep the courtyard in the side yard. He immediately crushed the letter in his hand into powder, turned around, and went back to his own courtyard.
The others immediately followed.
Wu Hei, who was sitting on the steps, was slightly startled. He also realised something. He immediately got up and walked over. Little Hei came bouncing over with a staff on his shoulder. He casually stuffed a stack of papers into his hands, “Copy it again.”
A disaster from the sky! Little Hei looked at the things suddenly forced into his hands. He did not know who he had offended or provoked. He was clearly shocked. In the end, his shoulders drooped. He hung the big staff behind his back. An arm cannot twist a thigh. He went to the study with his head hanging down.
The adults then gathered one after another in the small hall of Yu Qing’s courtyard. Chong’er was signalled to stand guard at the door to keep watch. Here, she clearly belonged to the kind with no say.
Those who should come and those who should not come all crowded in. No one had the face to tell anyone to leave.
After the hall was quiet for a while, Nan Zhu finally could not help but ask in a low voice, “Old Fifteenth, your brain works well. Tell me, could it be that place?”
Yu Qing glanced at the gazes fixed on him from all around. He stroked his little beard, “You ask me, who do I ask? How would I know?”
The eavesdropping Gao Yunjie could not hold it in any longer, “What riddles are you playing? What exactly are you hiding from me?”
Yu Qing glanced at him disdainfully. He thought to himself, there are many things hidden from you. Why should every single thing be reported to you?
He most disliked Second Brother Gao putting on airs of being the eldest in front of him. He also disliked the tone of seniority by years of service. He was the rightful sect leader and eldest. If not for him, where would Linglong Temple have gotten such a large estate in Youjiao Port?
“Old Seventh!” Gao Yunjie focused his attention on Nan Zhu.
Nan Zhu looked around. He wanted to pretend he had not heard. But seeing Second Brother Gao’s eyes about to spit fire, he cowered again. He sighed, “Actually, it is nothing. It is just that Li Niang provided some clues about the Hundred Flowers Immortal’s cave dwelling…”
He rattled out the content of the clues they had heard at the time.
Actually, the so-called clues were only a few sentences. After returning, the three senior brothers had deliberately concealed this part. It was not that they wanted to keep it private. It was that they themselves had not yet decided whether to continue searching. More importantly, they were afraid that other fellow disciples would run off to search.
They had been to Little Cloud Realm. They had been to the Golden Ruins. They had also experienced the turmoil of the Dark Sea journey. They knew the dangers of touching these things. If one day the hidden illness on their bodies truly drove them to a dead end, they did not want the remaining people of Linglong Temple to take risks for them again.
Especially Yu Qing. He knew well that Linglong Temple only had two true transmission disciples left. If there really was a problem, he could not drag Little Martial Uncle into it too. Some things were self-inflicted. Back then, Little Martial Uncle had repeatedly advised him not to be too greedy. He had not listened and insisted on stirring things up. The result was what it was now. How could he implicate Little Martial Uncle again?
It was he who had instructed Nan and Mu not to speak. The two had also deeply agreed.
After hearing the so-called clues, Wu Hei frowned and fell silent. He was fine, but Gao Yunjie was clearly unhappy, “Such a big matter, and you actually hid it from me?”
Nan Zhu had his own reasons. He sighed, “Second Brother, it is not that we wanted to hide it from you. You also heard it. The so-called clues from that Li Niang were just a few sentences. They were far too unreliable. Do you think it is meaningful for us to follow this blindly? If it gets out, who knows what trouble it would cause.
We had already put it behind us. Who knew that today Shopkeeper Lin would casually mention Kunling Mountain’s spirit valley, and how it seems to collide with the clues Li Niang provided?”
Yu Qing suddenly said, “Not long after Li Niang told us a vague clue, this Shopkeeper Lin came over and supplemented the clue, essentially pointing us in the direction. How could it be such a coincidence?”
Nan and Mu exchanged glances. They both guessed Old Fifteenth’s concern. This was the case of once bitten by a snake, ten years afraid of a well rope. The shadow of Qiao Qie’er had clearly not yet completely drifted away from Old Fifteenth’s heart.
The others also felt a slight chill in their hearts. Gao Yunjie’s indignant attitude instantly dissolved. He hesitated, “You suspect there is a problem with Shopkeeper Lin?”
Yu Qing: “Who knows?”
Nan Zhu suddenly clicked his tongue, “It feels a bit unconvincing again. What is Li Niang’s purpose in doing this? If she truly knows the definite destination and wants people to search for it, even if she truly has restrictions on her body as you said and cannot leave the Dark Sea, there is no need to arrange for us to go. Would not Gu Qingzhao and Qing Ya and the like be far more reliable than us?
Naturally there is even less need to reveal the news to us. Would it not be better to handle it quietly and secretly on her own? Look at her manipulation of Qing Ya and the others in the Dark Sea. The power she can mobilise is definitely stronger than our few measly claws. And we are not under her control.”
Everyone frowned. They had to admit that Old Seventh’s words were reasonable. This was indeed a question that could not be avoided. Li Niang truly had no need to do this.
Yu Qing muttered, “Could it really be a coincidence?”
Wu Hei suddenly spoke, “To know whether Kunling Mountain’s spirit valley and the Hundred Flowers Immortal’s immortal mansion are related, actually we only need to clarify one thing. Whether that great formation in the spirit valley that gathers the spiritual energy of heaven and earth can truly make withered wood return to spring.”