Moonlight filled the courtyard.
Little Tingting floated up from Li Yu's arms, hovering in midair. Pure silver radiance blossomed from within her, casting everything in the courtyard beneath a layer of silvery glow.
"This is making far too much commotion."
Li Yu frowned slightly and waved his hand, releasing a curtain of light that enveloped the entire courtyard and concealed the brilliant moonlight.
The moonlight grew brighter and brighter. Little Tingting, floating in midair, was almost impossible to make out. She had completely turned into a mass of radiant moonlight, as though the moon in the sky had fallen into the courtyard.
"Benefactor, this is..."
Old Jiang gaped at the sight, utterly dumbfounded.
"The Taiyin Physique, the Cold Moon Physique. This is truly peerless talent!"
Li Yu gazed at Little Tingting, who had nearly transformed into a full moon, and clicked his tongue in admiration.
"Benefactor, Tingting won't be in any danger, will she?"
Still uneasy, Old Jiang turned to Li Yu and asked.
"Don't worry. She couldn't be any better."
Li Yu turned and smiled at Old Jiang. "The Taiyin Physique has manifested. She is undergoing a complete rebirth!"
"Good, good, hehe."
Old Jiang gave a dry laugh. Even though he understood Li Yu's words, he was still worried. He paced back and forth through the courtyard, at a complete loss.
Fortunately, Old Jiang did not have to wait long.
A moment later, the moonlight filling the sky gradually withdrew, and Little Tingting's figure slowly descended.
When the moonlight had completely vanished, Little Tingting's lovely figure appeared before them.
"Grandpa? Big Brother?"
Little Tingting opened her eyes. A faint gleam of silver moonlight shimmered within her dark pupils.
"Tingting, how do you feel?"
Old Jiang rushed forward and swept Little Tingting into his arms, looking her over again and again. Only after confirming that she was completely unharmed did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"The Taiyin Physique truly is extraordinary!"
Li Yu looked at the transformed Little Tingting. Her skin was crystalline like jade, with a faint moonlit sheen emerging from it. Spiritual energy flowed through her body like liquid mercury, and her physique was like ice skin and jade bones. Li Yu could not stop marveling.
"Big Brother, thank you."
Little Tingting walked up to Li Yu, opened her bright eyes wide, and looked up at him. Her porcelain-doll face carried an innocent smile. She was simply too adorable.
I'm not a lolicon! I'm not!
Li Yu drew a deep breath and drove the messy thoughts from his mind before smiling and nodding at Little Tingting. "Little Tingting, Big Brother didn't lie to you. Your illness has been cured."
"Thank you, Big Brother. Big Brother is amazing."
Little Tingting looked at Li Yu with worshipful eyes, then suddenly giggled. "But Big Brother can't even comb his own hair. That's so silly."
"Uh..."
Li Yu was left speechless.
"Hehe."
Little Tingting smiled and tugged on Li Yu's sleeve. "From now on, I'll comb Big Brother's hair for you."
"Mm! Then I'll have to trouble Tingting."
Li Yu smiled and rubbed Little Tingting's head, then turned to Old Jiang. "Sir, didn't you call us to eat just now? Come on, let's go have dinner!"
The three of them chatted and laughed as they headed into the little shop at the front.
Old Jiang served the food. Just as the three were about to eat, a shrill scream suddenly rang out from outside the door.
"Ah..."
"I discovered a Source Ore, and you're actually trying to kill me to silence me! Your Li Family will die a horrible death!"
The voice outside startled all three of them.
"Someone's being killed?"
Little Tingting shrank into her grandfather's arms in fright, her little face turning pale.
"Don't be afraid. Big Brother is here."
Li Yu comforted her, then said to Old Jiang, "Sir, I'll go take a look."
With that, Li Yu stood and walked toward the door.
He reached out and pulled open the shop door. A man covered in blood lay collapsed before it, barely clinging to life, as though he had only half a breath left.
"How interesting."
Li Yu looked at the scene and shook his head with a cold sneer.
Silenced by the Li Family? Then he happened to escape to Old Jiang's shop? Then he happened to have only half a breath left? And he happened to be able to reveal the secret of a Source Ore?
How stupid would I have to be to fall for a trick like this?
But... since he was bored anyway, he might as well play along with them!
With a flick of his finger, he scattered a speck of spiritual light toward the man lying in the pool of blood. The man's wounds rapidly healed, and within moments, the dying man had recovered.
"Thank you, Immortal Master, for saving me. Thank you, Immortal Master, for saving me."
The middle-aged man, dressed like a herbalist, fell to his knees before Li Yu and repeatedly kowtowed.
"Get up."
Li Yu waved his hand, releasing a gust that lifted the middle-aged man to his feet. Looking at him, Li Yu asked, "Tell me. What exactly happened?"
"Reporting to Immortal Master, this humble one is Zhang San, a herbalist from the town. Some time ago, this humble one discovered a piece of 'Source Stone' in a cave."
Zhang San answered respectfully, "At the time, this humble one wanted to sell it to the Li Family for some money to support my household. Unexpectedly, the Li Family not only refused to pay, but even tried to kill me to silence me. Seeing that things were going badly, this humble one escaped."
"Then why did you flee here?"
Li Yu looked at Zhang San with a smile, his tone exceptionally gentle.
"This humble one heard that an Immortal Master had come to the Jiang Family and had even beaten up members of the Li Family. This humble one thought that as long as I made it here, the Li Family would surely not dare to act against me."
Zhang San looked nervously at Li Yu. "Immortal Master, you won't blame me, will you?"
"So that's how it is."
Li Yu nodded, silently sighing to himself.
This Zhang San was most likely innocent. He had merely been used by someone else.
The Li Family's scheme was not particularly clever. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that something was wrong. But... this was Source Stone! How many cultivators could resist such temptation?
Even if they knew there was a problem, they would still entertain a lucky hope, thinking that with their own abilities, swallowing the bait and spitting out the hook would not be difficult.
Those who were more arrogant might even believe that, with their strength, no matter how great the conspiracy, they could suppress it by force.
But Li Yu was different!
Source Ore was mainly distributed in the northern regions. What major Source Ore deposit could possibly exist near Yan State? Why would something like this tempt him?
Still, if this performance was to continue, Li Yu naturally had to cooperate.
"Source Stone? Where was it found?"
Li Yu put on an intensely interested expression, staring at Zhang San with shining eyes as he said eagerly, "Quickly, tell me."
"Immortal Master, this humble one found the Source Stone in a cave on a cliff, fifty li east of East Mountain."
Zhang San answered honestly.
"Mm. I understand."
Li Yu nodded and waved to Zhang San. "Your injuries have healed. Hurry home."
"Yes! Yes! Thank you, Immortal Master! Thank you, Immortal Master!"
Zhang San repeatedly gave his thanks, rose to his feet, and left.
"Hehe."
Li Yu turned and glanced in the direction of East Mountain, a faint smile on his lips. "I wonder what surprise the Li Family has prepared for me there. I'm really looking forward to it!"