“There’s a woman from Yunhua Sect by Shishu’s side.” The disciple’s voice gradually weakened, and his head lowered, not daring to meet the Sect Master’s gaze.
Seeing Jinyue’s such intense reaction, Song He, who was sitting beside him, said: “I’ve met that Miss Kong Hou from Yunhua Sect. She has outstanding talent and a lively, easygoing personality—she’s a very likable young lady.” Although she likes to secretly read storybooks, young girls having some personal hobbies isn’t a big mistake. “Shizhi is emotionally detached and doesn’t understand worldly matters. Traveling with this young lady is actually a fortunate thing.”
Jinyue thought to himself that a few days ago when Heng Yan sent a letter saying something about thanking him for taking care of things, he had just taken it as politeness and didn’t expect it to be true. Most disciples of Yunhua Sect are easygoing and free-spirited. Traveling with his disciple, she’s probably suffering more grievances. Thinking of Yunhua Sect’s protective nature, if Miss Kong Hou truly suffered any grievances with his disciple, they probably wouldn’t give him any face.
After thinking it over, he immediately sent a message to Yuxiao Sect’s branch shop in Yicheng, telling them to send people to guard at the city gate. When his disciple entered the city, they should prepare plenty of things that young ladies like. If his personality isn’t likable, he could only try to please her with gifts.
After arranging all this, he also prepared generous gifts and had the sect’s personally transmitted disciples personally deliver them to Yunhua Sect to express his gratitude. When you eat someone’s food, your mouth goes soft; when you take someone’s gifts, your hands grow short. He hoped that seeing his sincere gratitude, Yunhua Sect wouldn’t make a fuss.
Unaware that he had caused his old master such worry, Huan Zong took out the clean little brush used for refining artifacts and making talismans, and sat cross-legged on the ground with Kong Hou, brushing oil on the mushrooms. He didn’t even mind that two drops of oil had splattered on his robe’s hem.
A rack was set up over the firewood, and the fire had been made smaller—everything was ready, just waiting for the mushrooms to go on the grill.
“Huan Zong, should we brush on the salt now, or when they’re almost done?” Kong Hou placed the mushroom skewers on the grill, and the mushrooms sizzled. Huan Zong stared at the mushrooms on the grill, was silent for a moment, then placed his mushroom skewers on it as well: “Either is fine.”
Before long, the mushrooms released a fragrant aroma after being roasted. Huan Zong turned the mushrooms over and said to Kong Hou: “Kong Hou, in the carriage on the left side, the first drawer has two bottles of jade honey, and the second drawer has several storybooks by Miaobi Ke. Could you help me get them?”
“Sure!” Kong Hou placed the blackened mushrooms she had burned into a plate beside them and got up to walk toward the golden house’s door. As soon as her back foot stepped out the door, Huan Zong turned his head to look at Lin Hu, who twisted his head, pretending not to see his gaze.
Huan Zong continued to stare at him in silent.
Lin Hu turned his head: “Young Master, it’s not good to deceive a young lady.”
Huan Zong lowered his head and stared at the already well-roasted mushroom skewer in Lin Hu’s hand without saying anything.
Under the pressure of Huan Zong’s gaze, Lin Hu silently exchanged the mushrooms in his hand with Huan Zong’s. Wiping the oil from the back of his hand, Lin Hu silently sighed. The cultivation world outside was truly a big dye vat—even a good young master had learned such shameless tactics.
Hearing footsteps behind them, the master and servant very tacitly withdrew their gazes. Huan Zong picked up the brush and brushed oil on the already roasted mushrooms, as if nothing had happened.
“Huan Zong.” Kong Hou came in carrying the storybooks and jade honey. “It smells so good! Huan Zong, did you finish roasting them?”
“Mm.” Ignoring the look Lin Hu was giving him, Huan Zong took the honey and lightly brushed it on the mushrooms. “I’ve never made these before. If it doesn’t taste good, just spit it out.”
Kong Hou took the mushrooms, blew on the hot steam above them, then stuffed a piece in her mouth. Lin Hu, watching this scene from the side, silently thought that this Miss Kong Hou was also quite bold—she dared to put anything in her mouth.
“Delicious!” Kong Hou gasped from the heat. “The honey’s clear fragrance mixed with the mushroom’s tender freshness—it’s simply divine. Huan Zong, you’re really amazing, you can do anything!”
“As long as you like it.” Huan Zong sat with his back perfectly straight, not looking at Lin Hu’s gaze.
“You and Senior Lin should try some too.” Seeing that Huan Zong and Lin Hu weren’t eating, Kong Hou shared the mushrooms with them. “Don’t waste them.”
After finishing the roasted mushrooms, Huan Zong took out a gourd bottle and poured water for Kong Hou to wash her hands: “These things are fine to try, but don’t eat too much—it’s not good for your body. As for the remaining mushrooms…” He looked at Lin Hu. “Have Lin Hu take them to stir-fry.”
Although Kong Hou was somewhat reluctant, seeing that the immortal-like Huan Zong’s robe hem had gotten splattered with oil from roasting mushrooms, she felt that having him accompany her in doing such things was simply sinful.
“Alright.” Kong Hou nodded and looked around. “Can I look around the area?”
“We’re friends.” Huan Zong’s black and white eyes looked at Kong Hou. “You don’t need to be so polite with me.”
Looking at Huan Zong’s such earnest eyes, Kong Hou was stunned for a moment: “Oh.”
Seeing her dazed appearance, Huan Zong stood up and smiled at her: “Go ahead.”
“Then I’m going!” As a young cultivator who hadn’t seen much of the world, Kong Hou held great interest in many things in the cultivation world. The golden house imitated a palace layout, so it had outer and inner halls, and exquisite lanterns hung under the eaves.
When Kong Hou was small, her mother had told her a story about an emperor and his empress. The emperor and empress were childhood sweethearts. The emperor told the empress that he would build the world’s most beautiful and magnificent golden palace for her.
She didn’t remember whether the emperor ultimately fulfilled this promise, only that when Mother told this story, her expression was somewhat melancholy. At that time she didn’t understand, but now recalling this matter, she somewhat understood. Perhaps the emperor didn’t fulfill his promised vow, which was why Mother hadn’t told her the story’s ending.
The golden bells under the eaves tinkled and chimed. Kong Hou suddenly became happy again—she had seen the magnificent golden palace the emperor had promised the empress! She lifted her skirt hem, lightly tapped her toes, and leaped onto the roof.
The wind on the roof was somewhat strong. She gazed at the pitch-black valley in the distance. The palace beneath her feet was the only light in this darkness.
“Young Master.” Lin Hu looked at Huan Zong, who had come out in changed clothes. “It’s time for your medicine.”
Huan Zong silently took the pill, and after swallowing it, suddenly said: “It would have been better if Kong Hou hadn’t joined Yunhua Sect.”
Lin Hu was shocked. What did Young Master mean by this?
“If she were my disciple…” Huan Zong stopped, imagining what the experience would be like if he raised Kong Hou from childhood.
“Young Master, Miss Kong Hou’s personality isn’t suitable for Liuguang Sect.” Lin Hu said tactfully, “Don’t you think that’s the case?” Liuguang Sect was full of cultivation fanatics—how could they raise such a young lady? Only Yunhua Sect could nurture a girl with this kind of personality.
“That’s true too.” Huan Zong coughed lightly a few times. “She’s better off at Yunhua Sect.”
“Huan Zong! Huan Zong!”
Kong Hou’s urgent calls came from the northeast corner. Without thinking, Huan Zong flew onto the eaves and flew toward Kong Hou’s direction.
Kong Hou stood on the eaves. Seeing Huan Zong arrive, she stood on tiptoes, her expression excited as she pointed into the distance: “Look over there quickly!”
Huan Zong landed beside Kong Hou and was immediately grabbed by the sleeve. Following the direction she pointed, he saw many small dots flashing blue light in the valley. When the wind blew, they would gently sway on the ground, like a sky full of stars from the Milky Way.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” Kong Hou stared transfixed at the beautiful scenery in the night. “Just now that area was pitch-black, then when a gust of wind passed, suddenly so many stars appeared. What is this?”
“These are Blue Silver Flowers.” Huan Zong’s throat felt somewhat dry. “Legend says this flower’s blooming period is even shorter than an epiphyllum’s—it can only bloom for one incense stick’s worth of time. When not blooming, it’s no different from ordinary weeds.”
Legend said that those who saw this flower bloom would welcome good fortune.
“No wonder it’s so beautiful.” Kong Hou pulled Huan Zong to sit down. “Then let’s watch quickly, or it’ll be gone soon.”
A great wind arose, blowing the Blue Silver Flowers’ petals. The entire valley became like the Milky Way, so beautiful that one couldn’t look away. But it was only for a brief moment. Soon these dots of light began to disappear, finally returning to darkness.
“They’re gone.” Kong Hou cupped her face, somewhat disappointed. “Beautiful things are always fleeting.”
“No need to mind. Eternal beauty is never cherished. Only what’s fleeting can be heart-stirring.” Huan Zong stood up and extended his hand before Kong Hou. “The rooftop is cold. Let’s go down.”
“Alright.” Kong Hou obediently placed her hand in Huan Zong’s and jumped down from the roof with him.
Perhaps because she had witnessed a scene of flowers blooming in extreme beauty, Kong Hou slept very soundly the entire night. In her dream, she seemed to have grown a pair of glowing wings and flew across the eight wildernesses and six directions, the four corners of heaven and earth.
When she opened her eyes, the sky was already bright. The congee she drank in the morning had a faint floral fragrance, with spiritual energy so rich it made her entire body comfortable.
“Senior Lin, today’s congee is really delicious.” After finishing her fourth bowl, Kong Hou finally put down her bowl. “What’s it made from?”
“Blue Silver Flower petals. Many petals fell last night, so I collected them all.” Lin Hu pulled out a package of petals. “Do you want some?”
What beauty, romance, and good fortune—before delicious congee, all turned into two sentences: Can it be eaten? How should it be eaten?
“Yes!” Kong Hou accepted this large package of petals without hesitation, stuffed it into her storage ring, and decided that once they reached Yicheng, she would send it back to the senior brothers and sisters in the kitchen so they could make it for people in the sect to taste.
Good things should be shared.
“I have plenty more here. Let me give you another package.” Seeing Kong Hou’s happy appearance, Lin Hu silently pulled out another package.
“Thank you, Senior Lin.” Kong Hou didn’t stand on ceremony with Lin Hu and asked him for several more packages. There were quite a few people in the sect—she needed more petals to be enough for everyone to eat.
Watching the two of them dividing up the dried petals package by package, he felt that last night’s amazement and emotion had turned into smoke and clouds at this moment. The legendary Blue Silver Flowers that could bring good fortune to people had all been eaten by them. The good fortune had probably… also been eaten until nothing remained.
Heng Yan, who received Liuguang Sect’s generous gifts early in the morning, was very confused. These years, although their relationship with Liuguang Sect had been quite good, it hadn’t reached the point where Liuguang Sect would inexplicably send such generous gifts. These magical artifacts, medicinal materials, spirit stones, and dharma robes—taking out any single item could make countless cultivators go crazy, yet Liuguang Sect had sent such a large pile.
Accustomed to maintaining a gentleman’s friendship as light as water with Liuguang Sect, their sudden enthusiasm made him feel very uneasy.
Glancing at Liuguang Sect’s personally transmitted disciple sitting below, he smiled and said: “Sect Master Jinyue is too polite. Such generous gifts—we really don’t dare accept them.”
“Please don’t disdain them, Sect Master.” The personally transmitted disciple respectfully performed a grand bow. “Our sect master says this modest gift is to thank your sect’s Xianzi Kong Hou for taking care of our sect’s shishu along the way.”
Heng Yan felt somewhat baffled. What had their Kong Hou done outside? Not long ago, Qingfeng Sect had eagerly sent a large pile of thank-you gifts to their door, and today Liuguang Sect was sending gifts again.
Had gift-giving recently become very popular in the cultivation world?