Su Henglin hurriedly returned to Guyu Hollow, dusty from his journey, and met his junior brother Yang Shufeng at the mountain gate, who had also rushed back. Both men’s expressions carried worry and a hint of anxiety.

“Junior Brother Yang, did you also receive the Master’s letter?”

Yang Shufeng nodded: “Yes, but I don’t know why Master is so urgent for us to return. Has something happened in the hollow?”

“We’ll know after we quickly return and pay our respects to Master.”

The two entered the mountain gate and found that nothing seemed amiss. The disciples in the hollow were still doing their things as usual, with no signs of worry on their faces. Some even laughed and congratulated them.

The two brothers were completely puzzled—congratulations for what?

An older senior brother smiled at them: “Your long-lost Sister Liao has returned and is staying in Elder Ji’s bamboo forest courtyard.”

Su Henglin and Yang Shufeng were both shocked. They were Ji Wuduan’s disciples who had met Liao Tingyan in the past. Though they hadn’t spent much time together, they still remembered this pitiful junior sister.

The two exchanged a glance, their eyes showing confusion and surprise, but also some happiness.

“Master, we heard that Junior Sister Liao has returned?” Su Henglin, as the second eldest senior brother, wore a particularly dignified and gentle gray-green robe, his appearance even more mature than his master Ji Wuduan. He had just led his junior brother to the bamboo forest courtyard when he saw two people lying on bamboo chairs.

A man and a woman—the woman was naturally the somewhat familiar Junior Sister Liao, but the man…!

Liao Tingyan heard the sound and lifted her eye mask, only to see two men fall to their knees with a thud. Sima Jiao glanced at the two men and lazily turned over.

Liao Tingyan felt that the big boss probably had a skill buff that made “others kneel upon seeing him.”

“Two… senior brothers? Please rise and speak.” Liao Tingyan turned her head and called toward the house: “Master, two more senior brothers have returned.”

“Coming.” Ji Wuduan came out from the house, saw the expressions of his two disciples, and felt both helpless and amused. He could only step forward to bring the two inside to explain things properly.

Ancestral Master Cizang had been staying at Guyu Hollow for two days with no indication of any violent intentions. He generally just sat or lay around, and though his expression remained blank when dealing with people and he didn’t like to respond, everyone from the Hollow Master to all the elders who knew his identity was immensely grateful. What a benevolent attitude! Compared to the Gengchen Immortal Mansion that he had brought down, they were incredibly fortunate! They even suspected that Ancestral Master Cizang might have put down the butcher’s knife and instantly become a Buddha.

Ji Wuduan had seven disciples. The first five were accepted at Qinggu Heaven, Liao Tingyan was his sixth disciple, and the seventh and eighth disciples were accepted after arriving at Guyu Hollow.

Three disciples had already returned. They had also seen Ancestral Master Cizang’s true appearance on the day of the disaster, and when they returned to Guyu Hollow to find that same world-destroying Ancestral Master Cizang lying in their home sleeping, they were terrified. Thus, Ji Wuduan’s comforting of his disciples had become quite routine.

After reassuring his two disciples, he asked them: “During this trip out, did you find any spirit sources?”

Both disciples showed shame, “Neither of us found any.” Spirit sources were rare, and they hadn’t been able to find any news in two years outside.

Ji Wuduan sighed secretly but didn’t say much more, only saying: “If that’s the case, don’t force it. You’re both tired from your journey now, so go rest first. Also, since you’ve both returned, we’re holding a banquet for your Junior Sister Liao tomorrow. Don’t forget.”

Only then did the two remember Liao Tingyan. Liao Tingyan had entered the sect for just over three months before encountering the Ancestral Master leaving seclusion and leaving Qinggu Heaven. They hadn’t interacted much, and while they did have feelings for her, these weren’t deep. Now, the two disciples couldn’t help feeling anxious.

“Junior Sister Liao and… that one, what exactly is their relationship?”

Ji Wuduan said: “Ancestral Master Cizang claims to be disciple Tingyan’s Dao companion.”

The two were shocked again. Dao companion—this status wasn’t easily established, especially considering that person’s identity and temperament. How could they have imagined he would be willing to give someone the status of Dao companion?

“Don’t overthink it,” Ji Wuduan adjusted his mood and instructed his disciples. “You two should treat disciple Tingyan with care and familiarity, respect Ancestral Master Cizang, and generally avoid approaching him.”

Seeing her two senior brothers greet her with shock and fear before leaving, Liao Tingyan poked Sima Jiao’s shoulder and said softly: “They’re all very afraid of you.”

Sima Jiao: “Anyone who knows my name fears me.”

It seemed true. When she thought she was Sister Yan, many people in the Demon Realm would mention the Winter City Demon Lord with fear. Now in the Cultivation World, it was even more so.

It seemed only she wasn’t afraid.

Even when she was Sister Yan and heard so many terrifying deeds about the Demon Lord, she wasn’t very afraid in her heart. When she heard the name, Sima Jiao, she didn’t find it frightening. Perhaps it was a subconscious feeling?

She pulled her bamboo lounge chair closer to Sima Jiao and nestled her head against his neck.

Sima Jiao closed his eyes and pressed one hand on her head, finding the back of her neck and pinching it gently. “So, are you afraid now?”

Liao Tingyan: “Hee hee hee hee hee hee!”

Her master, who had come out to ask if his disciple wanted lunch, silently retreated. Seeing his disciple and the Ancestral Master intimately leaning together like a pair of young lovers whispering to each other, he felt embarrassed and didn’t dare approach.

But he truly admired his formerly quiet disciple now. She dared to steal kisses from Ancestral Master Cizang, dared to hug Ancestral Master Cizang’s waist, and even dared to braid Ancestral Master Cizang’s hair—what extraordinary courage!

Many Guyu Hollow disciples had returned. Unlike the few senior brothers who had seen Ancestral Master Cizang, most didn’t know Sima Jiao’s identity. The elders who knew the inside story openly invited them to meet Elder Ji’s recovered disciple and to drink together at a banquet to strengthen relationships. However, privately, these disciples had been repeatedly warned by their masters and elders to display a demeanor that was neither servile nor arrogant, yet warm and reliable, and to show the friendship of fellow disciples—nothing more was said.

Guyu Hollow banquets were usually quite casual, but this time, considering Sima Jiao, the elders decided to organize them properly with prestige, following the former standards of Gengchen Immortal Mansion.

It was Ji Wuduan who felt this wasn’t quite appropriate and especially went to ask Liao Tingyan.

When Liao Tingyan heard this, she said: “If that’s the case, there’s no need to go to so much trouble. We can all just have a barbecue together. I have many barbecue grills here. I heard that all the senior brothers, junior brothers, uncles, and granduncles each have vegetables, fruits, and livestock they excel at growing. Everyone doesn’t need to bring any meeting gifts, just bring some of the vegetables they’ve grown or raised.”

Liao Tingyan was also afraid of these fellow disciples. Previously, a group of elders came to present meeting gifts, and looking at those items, she almost thought that Big Boss Sima was a notorious bandit leader, forcing these people to offer their most valuable possessions to avoid disaster. It was truly both laughable and lamentable.

If one didn’t consider Ancestral Master Cizang’s identity, the type of relationship-building banquet Liao Tingyan described was more suitable for Guyu Hollow’s situation. Ji Wuduan considered it carefully, saw how Ancestral Master Cizang indulged his disciple and finally decided to follow Liao Tingyan’s suggestion.

So Guyu Hollow held its largest barbecue party ever. Not everyone had tried this type of banquet style before—it was quite novel, and everyone responded enthusiastically. Even before it began, many people arrived with their ingredients.

“Senior Sister Liao, which of our green spirit melons do you think is better?” Two young cultivators with similar appearances asked in unison.

Liao Tingyan took a piece of melon in each hand, ate a bite of each, carefully savored them, and pondered silently.

These two junior brothers specialized in plant cultivation. They had grown the same type of green spirit melon. The two were twin brothers with a good relationship, but they also liked to grow the same things and then compare them. Countless people in Guyu Hollow had been forced to judge for them.

Tonight’s banquet was in Liao Tingyan’s name, so naturally, she was stuck with this task too.

“Senior Sister Liao, who do you think grew green spirit melons worthy of the name!” the two junior brothers asked in unison again.

Liao Tingyan held up the left piece of melon, “This melon is sweet.” Then she held up the right piece, “This melon is crisp.”

“I think they should be called green spirit sweet melon and green spirit crisp melon.”

The two junior brothers looked at each other, suddenly burst into laughter, shouted thanks to their senior sister, and ran off. Then they sent over more cut melons.

“Junior Sister Liao, and your Dao companion, come, taste this small celestial yellow beef that your senior brother raised. My junior sister just carefully marinated and roasted it with spices—the flavor is excellent.” A senior brother came to deliver roasted meat.

The portion was generous, and the aroma was rich. A junior brother holding another portion of beef couldn’t help drooling, “Senior Sister Liao, try it quickly! My senior brother rarely kills his precious celestial cows for food. Even we can hardly taste this beef!”

As he spoke, he pushed his portion toward Sima Jiao, “Senior Brother, eat!”

This action made the eyelids of the nearby elders, who were pretending to drink, twitch continuously. These elders worried that disciples unaware of the situation might offend Ancestral Master Cizang, so they could only sit nearby and pay constant attention. Seeing this scene, they desperately wanted to pull the little disciple away and quickly remove the meat. They knew that Ancestral Master Cizang didn’t touch those foods! What if he became angry?

At this moment, Liao Tingyan pulled the portion in front of Sima Jiao to herself, “His portion is also mine.” After all, her big boss boyfriend didn’t eat food. He was that type of unworldly immortal youth who could survive on wind and dew.

The elders secretly sighed in relief.

The little disciple exclaimed with a “Wow,” enviously saying: “That’s great! Having a Dao companion means you can eat double portions. I also want a Dao companion! Senior Sister Liao, is it hard to find a Dao companion?”

Liao Tingyan thought for a moment, “It shouldn’t be difficult.” She hadn’t even looked, and her Dao companion had appeared on his own—it was practically handed to her.

Sima Jiao laughed once, a laugh with unclear meaning, causing Liao Tingyan to give him a strange look.

Little disciple: “Really? Why can’t many of our senior brothers find Dao companions?”

The barbecue area immediately resonated with a chorus of coughs. The single-dog senior brothers gathered around the barbecue grills, each handling the food they had brought. Hearing this, they all felt a faint heartache.

Female disciples in Guyu Hollow were truly rare. Female disciples from outside sects preferred sword cultivators and magic cultivators. They weren’t fond of their type. Moreover, many Guyu Hollow disciples were obsessed with farming and had no time to meet female disciples.

“Junior Sister Liao, come try this grain wine. My junior sister and I brewed it ourselves. The spirit grain used for brewing is different from ordinary spirit grain outside—it’s a mutant variety I grew. This wine tastes excellent, doesn’t cause drunkenness even when consumed in large quantities, and is also somewhat beneficial to the body.” A gentle senior sister came to deliver drinks.

Following her came seven or eight senior and junior sisters, bringing many nourishing and beautifying drinks like flower honey and flower paste. One junior sister even gave her many handmade natural spirit grass cosmetics and shared her experiences using them for a long time.

Even a nearby elder who occasionally stole glances at them came over and gave a large jar of honey.

“This honey is rare—it’s pure Qiling flower honey. My master once asked for it for a long time but couldn’t get even a few spoonfuls. Junior Sister Liao is truly lovable, which is why Grand-Uncle is willing to part with it.” A disciple, not understanding the situation and thinking his grand-uncle was being uncharacteristically generous, smiled and made a few comments, only to be dragged away by the elder, who glared at him while pinching his neck.

The senior and junior brothers at the nearby barbecue grills called out: “These vegetable dishes also have a unique flavor. Would you like some, Junior Sister?”

Liao Tingyan went over and brought back many vegetable dishes. A junior brother asked her: “Senior Sister, this is a sweet melon I grew. Would you like to try grilling it? It’s delicious!”

Several senior brothers pressed him aside and smiled at Liao Tingyan, “This kid’s taste is different from ours. Don’t listen to him.”

“Niece, come, try this roast duck. We’ve raised many green flower ducks in our hollow. The meat is tender and fresh—these are excellent spirit ducks. Even Sauce Fragrance House sources from us.” An uncle also came to deliver the duck.

When Liao Tingyan heard this, she asked in surprise: “The sauced duck from Sauce Fragrance House is raised in the hollow? I love eating that sauced duck!”

Yes, the sauced duck she frequently patronized in Hejian City in the Demon Realm was imported from the Cultivation World, produced by Sauce Fragrance House. In that Demon Realm where dark cuisine ran rampant, she had relied on that sauced duck to survive for so long. Unexpectedly, her connection with her sect was so deep that suddenly, because of this sauced duck, she developed a great deal of fondness and sense of belonging toward Guyu Hollow.

That was the sauced duck she had eaten for many years! And it was raised by her uncle!

Sima Jiao sensed her inner excitement and his eyebrows moved slightly. Was her sense of belonging generated too easily?

Liao Tingyan: Heh, there are so many delicious things here—organic, naturally raised, and cultivated vegetables, melons, fruits, and meats. I love it.

Hearing her words, her uncle immediately laughed happily, “Since you like it, I’ll catch more for you. Next time, if you want to eat some, just go to Cloud Lake behind the mountain and catch them yourself.”

At this point, his smile slightly faded, “It’s just a pity that in recent years, the spiritual energy behind the mountain isn’t as rich as before, and the flavor of the green flower ducks isn’t what it used to be.”

Liao Tingyan paused while gnawing on the duck, “Uncle, what’s going on?”

This uncle didn’t know Sima Jiao’s identity. Hearing his new niece ask, he explained: “The retreat of spiritual energy is a normal phenomenon. Perhaps it’s influenced by the earth’s veins, or perhaps it’s just spiritual energy depletion. I don’t know how much longer Cloud Lake can raise green flower ducks. If the spiritual energy decreases further, I’ll have to find another place for those ducks, but good places like this aren’t easy to find. In a few years, those green flower ducks might be gone.”

The elders were desperately signaling him to shut up and leave quickly, but this uncle completely missed the fact that his master and a group of elders behind him had twitching eyes. He had been worrying about this matter so much lately that when asked, he inevitably said more.

“But the Hollow Master and elders are looking for solutions. If we find spirit sources and bury them behind the mountain, over time, perhaps new spirit veins will emerge, temporarily slowing the spiritual energy reduction. Unfortunately, spirit sources are precious and not easily obtained. A group of disciples and elders have taken turns going out to search but haven’t found any.”

Liao Tingyan’s expression turned serious. This wasn’t a small matter. If the sauced duck she had eaten for many years stopped production, just thinking about it made her feel uncomfortable.

Sima Jiao: “…”

He rubbed his forehead.

The uncle waved his hand again, “However, this matter doesn’t concern you youngsters. Since you’ve returned, just enjoy the food and drink! Come, eat more!”

That night, Liao Tingyan ate a lot. The accumulated spiritual energy in those foods even made her feel somewhat full.

A full stomach led to… contemplating life.

Liao Tingyan grabbed Sima Jiao’s hand, “Big Boss, do you think there’s hope for the spiritual energy behind the mountain where those delicious ducks are?”

Sima Jiao: “Yes.”

Liao Tingyan: “Really! But isn’t solving this problem very difficult?”

Sima Jiao had her take out her cosmetic box, casually opened a drawer, and took out a white pearl necklace. Under Liao Tingyan’s puzzled gaze, he pointed at the necklace strung with eighty-eight beads, “These are the spirit sources they’ve been searching for years without finding even one.”

“Two beads would be enough.”

Liao Tingyan: “???”

She had previously thought this necklace was ugly.