Parting Ways

It was already past noon, the sunlight slanted westward, and a thin mist rose in the mountain forest.

Her chest felt warm, and Xiang Ling occasionally kicked her feet and hummed a couple of times, as if she were drunk.

Meng Yuan pressed his hand against the saber hilt and quickly returned the way he came.

After a hurried run through the mountains, Meng Yuan felt that he was somewhat different.

His strength hadn't increased much, but it was more enduring. Moreover, his ears and eyes were much sharper, and the Blood Qi circulated smoothly throughout his limbs and bones, making him feel lighter.

His Dantian seemed a bit wider, and the Lower Thirty-Three Heavens also seemed slightly larger. It was as if the river channel was wider and the river water flowed more smoothly.

"It seems now that the Green Fruit can improve physical constitution, which is of great benefit no matter which path one cultivates."

"My Lower Thirty-Three Heavens are fully open, and most of the nutrients were absorbed by the Essence Flame, so the improvement wasn't too much. But if it were an ordinary person, or a little spirit like Xiang Ling, the improvement should be significant."

Meng Yuan summarized as he returned.

In less than half an hour, he was out of the mountains. Seeing the Pasture Manor and village in the distance, Meng Yuan finally felt a little relieved. He picked up Xiang Ling again and held her in his arms like a child.

The little fellow was soft and boneless. Her body was slightly warm, her nose was wet, and her eyes were closed. She was mumbling something in a daze.

Meng Yuan had also eaten the Green Fruit, so he naturally knew it was not poisonous. Moreover, it contained some kind of spiritual energy that was quite beneficial to those who consumed it.

He was fine not only because his Lower Thirty-Three Heavens were fully open and his bones and muscles were strong, but also because most of the nutrients were absorbed by the Essence Flame.

But Xiang Ling was different. She was an ordinary spirit. Besides being able to chatter away with her mouth, she had no other abilities.

Xiang Ling was now like someone who was weak and couldn't handle the nourishment, as if she had overeaten.

Meng Yuan had no experience dealing with this kind of thing, and Master Nie wasn't around, so there was really nowhere to ask for advice on how to handle it.

"Xiang Ling?" Meng Yuan thought that Xiang Ling's godmother should have taught her how to deal with the effects of eating the Green Fruit.

"Ah?" Xiang Ling responded groggily.

"How are you doing?" Meng Yuan asked, leaning close to her little ear.

"I'll be fine after a nap," Xiang Ling's voice was very lazy. She didn't even open her eyes, and she nudged her nose upwards. "Hold me tight."

"Okay." Meng Yuan felt much more at ease. He immediately tucked Xiang Ling back into his clothes and covered his chest with one hand.

Back at the Pasture Manor, Zhao Datou was quite curious when he saw blood on Meng Yuan.

He knew that Meng Yuan had gone to see the Grandmother. He had thought that at most, he would lose his virginity on this trip, but he didn't expect there to be blood.

However, his complexion didn't look like he had been drained dry. Instead, he was radiant and kept pressing his chest, not knowing what treasure he was hiding.

"Little Meng, you have a bright future. Just try it for a taste, but know when to stop," Zhao Datou advised.

"I know." Meng Yuan smiled and didn't explain further. "Don't tell anyone about this."

"I understand!" Zhao Datou quickly agreed and then asked, "Are you going back to the city today?"

"I'll stay another day." Little Xiang Ling hadn't woken up yet, and Meng Yuan didn't dare to take her into the city, so he planned to wait another day until Xiang Ling woke up.

"That's fine too." Zhao Datou didn't think much of it. "Since you're not in a hurry to leave, there are some newborn calves and lambs in the manor. Can you help geld them?"

"Didn't the manor find another veterinarian?" Meng Yuan asked curiously.

"He's an external hire, lives in Clearwater Town, and doesn't stay at the manor permanently." Zhao Datou sighed. "He only comes when there's something to do, and we have to pay him on the spot. It's really inconvenient. I thought since you're here, you could lend a hand and save the Princess Consort some money, right?"

Meng Yuan was busy taking care of the child at the moment, but it didn't prevent him from castrating, so he agreed.

The two of them went to find Manor Head Sun. Manor Head Sun was naturally willing when he saw Meng Yuan's sincerity.

Meng Yuan didn't waste any time and started working immediately. From cattle and sheep to chickens and ducks, one by one, their testicles were removed. Those of chickens and ducks were like grains of rice, while those of cattle and sheep were like fingertips. They were all cleanly gelded.

His skills were proficient, showing that he hadn't lost his family's craft.

Seeing this, Manor Head Sun pulled his son aside and whispered, "I can see it now. He's with Xun Mei now, and he seems to be doing well in the Royal Residence, but he's actually very uncomfortable inside. He wants to come out and geld a couple whenever he has nothing to do! Remember, if he comes again in the future, we'll get some pigs, dogs, chickens, and ducks for him to have his fill!"

By evening, Meng Yuan had finished his work, and Xiang Ling was still sleeping soundly.

After dinner, Meng Yuan returned to his former residence. Since there was no veterinarian in the Pasture Manor now, this place had been empty.

He first took Xiang Ling out of his clothes. She was still sleeping soundly, but her body was no longer hot, and her breathing was even.

Meng Yuan wiped her wet nose, untied her little bundle, put her on the bed, and then went outside to practice his saber.

The Gale Wind Saber Technique had long been practiced to perfection. This time, the True Qi circulated more smoothly between his Dantian and various acupoints. As he practiced it repeatedly, Meng Yuan felt that its power had increased by a few points.

But the feeling of stagnation was still there, always feeling like something was missing.

Meng Yuan couldn't figure it out. Anyway, he would ask Master Nie when he returned.

He fetched two buckets of well water and carried them into the room. Meng Yuan took off his clothes and washed himself while thinking about the Essence Flame.

Now that the Essence Flame had reached the second stage of perfection, it consumed more than the first time. Without the Green Fruit, it would probably take another half a month.

However, since the Essence Flame was difficult to nourish, the effect of this body tempering must be better.

Meng Yuan was not in a hurry for a day or two. He planned to talk to Master Nie before tempering his body again.

"Little Gelder, shame on you!"

Just as he was thinking, he heard a clear voice from behind him.

Meng Yuan turned around and saw Xiang Ling lying on the bed, her nose against the pillow, her two big eyes bright and clear, looking at him.

"Little Gelder, you haven't even gelded yourself, how can you do business?" Xiang Ling was very curious, staring intently.

"..." Meng Yuan put on his clothes and ignored her.

"Why aren't you talking?" Xiang Ling pressed.

"How are you feeling?" Meng Yuan rubbed his temples.

Xiang Ling rolled around on the bed, then lay back down and said, "I'm very thirsty!"

Meng Yuan brought her tea, and Xiang Ling slurped down several large gulps.

"Still hungry," Xiang Ling said.

Meng Yuan was prepared. There were five boiled eggs on the table, and he started peeling them.

Xiang Ling watched from the side. Seeing Meng Yuan peel them and then feed her, she praised him non-stop, "You're really good!"

She crunched on two eggs, then happily bounced twice, "Little Gelder, you're so nice!"

"Did your godmother teach you what to do after taking the Green Fruit great medicine?" Meng Yuan asked.

"She did, she did! Godmother said that after taking the great medicine, my brain will work better, I'll remember more things, and I'll be able to read! I'll also transform faster in the future!" Xiang Ling looked at Meng Yuan very seriously and asked, "Little Gelder, do you live in the city?"

"Yes, do you want to go to the city?" Meng Yuan asked with a smile.

"Godmother said I have to wait until I have a human form and can read before I can go!" Xiang Ling was very reasonable. "Big Head Mountain is my home."

She lay back down, blinked her big eyes, and continued, "When I transform into a human, you can take me to the city to play!"

"Okay." Meng Yuan smiled, simply lay down, and said, "Tell me about your godmother."

Xiang Ling lay next to Meng Yuan's ear and chattered away.

After a while, perhaps because the medicine hadn't worn off, Xiang Ling fell into a deep sleep again.

As night turned to dawn, when Meng Yuan got up again, Xiang Ling was already packing her small bundle.

"Little Gelder, I have to go home." Xiang Ling glanced at the table.

There were still three boiled eggs on the table; Xiang Ling had eaten two last night.

"I'll see you out." Meng Yuan gave the three eggs to Xiang Ling, and she happily put them in her bundle.

Meng Yuan said goodbye to Zhao Datou and Manor Head Sun, didn't eat breakfast, just rode the Little Red Horse and tucked Xiang Ling into his jacket.

After leaving the manor, Xiang Ling poked her head out, jumped onto the saddle, and excitedly said, "Giddy up!"

The Little Red Horse ran even faster. Seeing her in high spirits, Meng Yuan rode around a few times before stopping at the foot of the mountain.

"I'm going back!" Xiang Ling jumped off the horse, still waving her little paw, "Little Gelder, when are you coming to play with me?"

"In a month." Meng Yuan said.

"You're so nice!" Xiang Ling was even happier. She was about to turn and leave, but seemed to remember something, and turned back, "Then next time you come, bring me some books, I want to learn poetry!"

"Okay." Meng Yuan smiled.

Seeing Meng Yuan agree, Xiang Ling even bowed, then darted into the mountains.