The young martial uncle was quite fond of Big Head now. He immediately leaned in, reaching out to take it from Yu Qing’s hand to have a look.
Whoosh! Big Head vanished in a flash, already perched on Yu Qing’s back.
The young martial uncle paused for a moment, surprised by its speed. It was gone before his eyes could even focus.
Yu Qing reached behind him, gently grabbed Big Head, and placed it back in his palm. “Young martial uncle, just look. Do not touch it. You are not familiar with it, so it will not let you catch it.”
The young martial uncle had no choice but to clasp his hands behind his back. He leaned in close to observe, twisting his head from side to side for quite a while before letting out a sigh. “Just a tiny little thing, yet it can fight evil demons, dispel the malignant energy from the celestial peaches, and even go for reinforcements.” He looked up and scanned the three martial brothers. “I say, are the three of you not exaggerating a bit too much?”
Nan Zhu sighed. “Martial uncle, it is truly real. There is no exaggeration at all.”
The young martial uncle was merely making conversation. If it could make two sides that usually clashed both agree, it was likely genuine. He was just very surprised. “It cannot speak, yet it can find its way over long distances to fetch help. Especially for such a small creature, this is quite extraordinary. It seems to have awakened spiritual intelligence! For creatures of this kind, awakening such intelligence is very rare. Tell me, you did not feed it a Sin Spirit Pill, did you?”
“Heh.” Nan Zhu almost laughed like a pig. “Young martial uncle, before we entered the Small Cloud Realm, we were poorer than dirt. How could we possibly afford something as precious as a Sin Spirit Pill?”
Yu Qing nodded slightly at this explanation, showing his agreement. “We have never fed it that.”
The young martial uncle let out an “oh”, then suddenly asked, “Tell me, how old is this thing?”
Yu Qing understood his meaning. He suspected it might be an ancient spirit that had gained sentience. He shook his head. “How would I know? It burrowed out from underground. It cannot talk, so I have no way to verify it. The key point is that even ancient texts barely mention this creature. There are only a few fragmented references. There is simply no accurate way to compare it. The Dark Cliff side once recruited fire crickets. Perhaps they know something, but I cannot say for sure.”
The young martial uncle looked around and asked, “Where are the celestial peaches?”
Nowadays, the Miaoqing Hall lacked nothing more than these things. Yu Qing immediately led him out of the main hall and into his room.
Pushing open the bedroom door, they saw a tall row of wooden crates stacked against the wall.
Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie knew this market best. Their rooms were also stacked high with the same things. They called it guarding the celestial peaches, but in reality, it was “stealing what they were guarding”, purely for the convenience of eating them to cultivate.
Yu Qing lifted the lid of a crate, revealing the celestial peaches neatly arranged in the grid compartments inside.
Nan Zhu picked one up and examined it, unable to stop clicking his tongue in admiration for quite a while. “As expected of celestial peaches. They are so huge. I heard when they arrived here, you were selling them for five hundred thousand taels each?”
“There was no other way. If we did not sell them at a high price, it would not even cover the shipping costs…”
Yu Qing then explained the situation of how the celestial peaches were brought out of the Small Cloud Realm and delivered here. Speaking of this, he did not hold back his words. He accused Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie of picking a fight for Tie Miaoqing because they had fallen for her. Their rash words had led to a mortal feud with Long Xingyun.
The other party had claimed he let a woman interfere with important matters. He could not swallow that insult and had to fight back.
Although, when saying this, he felt a bit guilty himself, remembering an ambiguous moment with Tie Miaoqing in the room, and even leaving a written note behind.
However, as soon as he said this, Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie immediately looked uncomfortable.
Nan Zhu immediately retorted. “The feud with Long Xingyun started long ago. He came to avenge his sworn brother. Stop trying to pin this on us.”
Yu Qing: “So you mean you do not actually like Tie Miaoqing, and I was overthinking it, right?”
Nan Zhu’s face instantly turned red. “Everyone appreciates beauty. She is good looking. What is wrong with me and Ninth Brother liking her? We did not do anything shameful.” He immediately turned to change the subject. “Young martial uncle, we risked our lives together to get these things. This fellow sold them for a lot of money, several hundred million. Ninth Brother and I only asked for one hundred million each, and all future income would go to him. Instead, he was only willing to give us one hundred thousand taels as labour fees, and he even attacked us. One of my ribs was broken, and it still has not healed.”
The martial brothers kept arguing, leaving Chong Er somewhat shocked nearby. Even he found it hard to imagine how such rivalrous senior brothers could go out together and take such huge risks for a mission.
The young martial uncle kept glancing from side to side, looking at one then the other. He certainly did not care about who liked whom or whose ribs were broken. He spoke up to interrupt, bringing the conversation back to the main topic. “Have you all eaten these celestial peaches?”
The three martial brothers, who had been arguing until they were red in the face, paused for a moment, then either acknowledged with a sound or nodded.
The young martial uncle raised and lowered his open palm in front of him, as if circulating his energy. “Did it have any effect?”
Hearing this, the three martial brothers immediately changed their expressions and nodded repeatedly.
Yu Qing chuckled. “Actually, for most of our time in the Small Cloud Realm, we hid in the celestial peach orchard and ate them. After about a year, my cultivation has already broken through to the High Martial realm. I am not far from the peak of the High Martial stage. As long as nothing unexpected happens, breaking through to the Xuan stage this year is no problem.”
Nan Zhu also said excitedly. “Ninth Brother and I have also stepped into the High Martial realm.”
The young martial uncle was surprised and somewhat sceptical. He quickly reached out, grabbed their wrists one by one, and circulated his energy to check carefully.
Very soon, he knew they were not exaggerating, and slowly let go.
He naturally knew their cultivation levels. To progress so quickly in just one year was deeply shocking. His gaze immediately fell on the celestial peaches, his eyes full of amazement. “As expected of immortal snacks. They actually have such miraculous effects. It is good that they did not sell out. It is a good thing. We should keep them for our own use.”
Yu Qing immediately waved his hand. “Young martial uncle, I am afraid we will not finish them all. There are still over seventy thousand left. At our current cultivation levels, even if we cultivate day and night without stopping, each person can refine at most ten per day. Even if everyone in our entire sect came to eat them and cultivate, how many could we consume in a year? The biggest problem right now is that we only know these celestial peaches can be stored for about a year or so.”
He turned and walked to the corner again, pointing at three peaches placed on a table, signalling for them to come over and look.
The young martial uncle and Chong Er immediately walked over to observe. They saw that the skin of those three peaches was no longer round and plump. It had already wrinkled.
“Martial uncle, I picked these three celestial peaches as soon as I entered the orchard for testing. They have been kept for less than a year and a half, and they have already reached this state. I am afraid these peaches cannot be stored for too long. Naturally, we should eat as many as we can. It would be a pity if the uneaten ones spoiled. So, selling some to convert into money is actually quite good.”
The young martial uncle nodded and turned back. “Chong Er, do you see? Your three senior brothers did not work in vain. You are in for a treat. Judging by their cultivation progress, if you honestly stay here and eat celestial peaches for two years, you will definitely be able to break through to the Xuan stage. Why are you not thanking your three senior brothers yet?”
Chong Er nodded, immediately turned to face the three, and bowed with his hands clasped. “Thank you, three senior brothers.”
Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie both inclined to return the bow. Nan Zhu, in particular, looked exceptionally kind and approachable. “We are all family. Little martial brother, do not be polite. If you need anything in the future, just let us two know. As long as we two senior brothers can do it, we will not refuse.” While speaking, he also secretly glanced at the young martial uncle’s reaction.
“Yes, thank you, senior brother.” Chong Er bowed slightly again.
The young martial uncle had already fixed his gaze on the insect on Yu Qing’s shoulder. “Then do not just stand there. Let Big Head boil some water. I have travelled a long way. Let me have a fresh taste.”
“Alright.”
Yu Qing had just agreed when Chong Er suddenly said with a face full of anticipation. “Young master, let me do it. Can I try?”
He was very much looking forward to becoming familiar with Big Head again, especially after hearing about its great abilities. It had not disappointed his fondness for it.
The young martial uncle said: “What young master? He is your senior brother now…” His voice paused slightly. His gaze shifted between Yu Qing and Chong Er. Suddenly, he waved his sleeve impatiently. “Oh, fine, fine. Call him whatever you like.”
The people present were all somewhat bewildered.
Nevertheless, Yu Qing still grabbed Big Head and placed it in his palm, letting Chong Er try on his own.
Chong Er immediately brought his face close to his palm and called out. “Big Head, Big Head, do you still recognise me?”
Big Head instinctively backed away in Yu Qing’s palm.
Chong Er felt slightly disappointed, but he did not give up. He pointed at his own face. “Big Head, it is me. Chong Er, who picked up bones for you to eat everywhere on the way to the capital.” His hands occasionally made the motion of picking up a thread.
Big Head tilted its head and looked at him. Suddenly, it took a step forward on Yu Qing’s palm and let out a “di di di” chirping sound.
Yu Qing was immediately surprised. It really recognised him? Big Head had been by his side for so long that he could sense the intention behind some of its movements.
Chong Er also seemed to sense something. He extended his palm towards Big Head. His fingertips touched Yu Qing’s fingertips. He stared intently at Big Head and called softly. “Big Head, come over. Come here.”
Big Head tilted its head from side to side occasionally, looking at him for a while. Finally, it gave a hop and landed in Chong Er’s palm.
“Good Big Head. Truly a good Big Head.”
Chong Er was so happy that he almost jumped for joy, looking utterly delighted.
The young martial uncle smiled. Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie glanced at each other.
Yu Qing stroked his little moustache. He really had not expected that a young page boy from another family, a servant who used to attend to him, could by chance become his junior martial brother. He realised this boy had truly stumbled upon great fortune.
The situation was obvious. If he had not met him, he would most likely have been a servant for his entire life.
Seeing Chong Er looking for a kettle and water again, Yu Qing had to remind him. “Um, Chong Er, Big Head can now understand some gestures and some spoken words. You do not need to throw it into the water anymore. Guiding it with gestures or words will work fine.”
“Yes, young master. I understand.”
Chong Er nodded repeatedly and got busy with his hands.
Yu Qing then invited the young martial uncle outside, wanting to speak privately.
After reaching a secluded corner, he finally spoke in a low voice. “Is he a direct disciple?”
“Where would you find a direct disciple that easily?” The young martial uncle shook his head, seeming somewhat regretful. “He does not have the talent to cultivate the Sound Character Mantra. However, I have carefully observed and tested him for three years. He is a decent person. Rest assured, there will be no problems.”
Yu Qing believed that with his Sound Character Mantra, observing a person for two or three years would reveal any flaw in their character clearly. He did not doubt this at all. Yet he could not help but look utterly astonished. “If he lacks that talent, why did you accept him as a disciple the moment you met him? I thought you had seen something in him. Since when did our Linglong Temple become so careless in accepting disciples? I cannot agree with you handling it this way.”
The young martial uncle looked him up and down. “If I can accept him, it is naturally because I saw something.”
Yu Qing: “What did you see?”
“You are blind!”
The young martial uncle threw out those words and turned to go back inside.