I See the Green Hills, So Charming

"Yes, I learned it at home since I was a child."

"After a dozen years of study, I have now reached the level of a second-grade blacksmith."

When mentioning forging, Guo Zhao was quite proud.

Although his talent for cultivation was far inferior to his younger brother, Guo Xun, a prodigy who had joined the River-Facing Sect at the same time as him.

In terms of forging, however, his achievements were not low.

At thirty years old, being a second-grade blacksmith could already be considered a forging genius.

"As expected of a descendant of a great clan, your family learning is profound."

Shen Mo felt a bit envious.

Being born into a great cultivation clan was a good life; one could be exposed to the methods of forging from a young age.

Unlike a Rogue Cultivator like him, who had no background and started halfway through, having to fight for everything himself.

"If Senior Brother Guo has any requests, this Junior Brother is naturally willing to provide convenience."

When the original owner was young, he had indeed harbored some faint feelings for Chen Mengze.

But after so many years, he knew that Chen Mengze was proud and arrogant, looking down on him, so the original thoughts in his heart had long since dissipated.

After transmigrating, Shen Mo had even fewer thoughts about her.

Naturally, he would not refuse.

With a smile on his face, Shen Mo said earnestly, "However, compared to the mysterious-grade low-tier Dragon Sparrow Sword that Senior Brother Guo mentioned, I am actually more interested in the methods of forging."

It is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish.

Although a mysterious-grade low-tier magical artifact was precious, in Shen Mo's view, it was not as good as learning the art of forging so that he could forge the magical artifacts he wanted in the future.

In his previous life, he liked to grind various sub-professions in games and unlock various achievements.

Now, regarding the hundred arts of cultivation—forging, talisman-making, array formation, and alchemy—Shen Mo wanted to learn all these special professions.

After all, he had an experience bar; as long as he practiced hard, he could gain experience and improve his grade.

In learning these sub-professions, he had a far greater advantage than others.

Building himself into a cultivation master who knew a little bit of everything was Shen Mo's ultimate goal.

"If Brother Shen wants to learn, I am willing to teach you everything I know."

Upon hearing Shen Mo's statement, Guo Zhao smiled until his face was full of wrinkles and said generously.

"Then many thanks, Senior Brother Guo!"

Shen Mo was overjoyed. Being able to receive guidance on forging from a second-grade blacksmith was undoubtedly the greatest gain from this trip.

By comparison, the reward of fifty Spirit Stones promised by Chen Mengze did not seem that important.

"Brother Shen, I have a matter I would like to entrust to you right now," Guo Zhao said. "Junior Sister Chen's birthday is coming up, and I want to give her a gift to celebrate, but I don't know her preferences and can't make up my mind."

"Since you and Junior Sister Chen have known each other since childhood and are close, you must know what she is fond of, right?"

"This..." Shen Mo was slightly stunned, feeling truly troubled.

Although his relationship with Chen Mengze in childhood was good, that was already in the past.

Since she was promoted to the inner sect, they had almost no contact over the past few years.

A girl changes eighteen times before she grows up; his familiarity with her had long since been greatly discounted.

Coupled with the fact that the original owner's childhood memories were already blurred in Shen Mo's mind.

At this moment, facing Guo Zhao's eager expectations, he really couldn't offer any advice.

"Ahem, ahem, ahem." He gave two awkward, fake coughs and said, "Senior Brother Guo, to be honest, I really need to inquire about this for you before I can know."

"However, there is one piece of news I can tell you."

His thoughts shifted, and he said, "Senior Sister Chen's father was recently injured while exploring Fallen Mountain in search of treasure and needs a Thunder-Dissolving Pill to heal."

"After searching, I have gathered all the auxiliary medicines, but I am still missing the main ingredient called the Azure Water Pearl, and I have found nothing after searching everywhere."

"If you can find this medicine for Uncle Chen, Junior Sister Chen will definitely be greatly grateful to you once she finds out."

Guo Zhao came from a great cultivation clan and was knowledgeable; perhaps he knew information about this medicine.

If he could obtain this main ingredient through him, the matter of him refining pills to heal Uncle Chen would have a solution.

And Guo Zhao could also get his wish and show off in front of Chen Mengze.

Killing two birds with one stone.

"Azure Water Pearl?" Guo Zhao frowned slightly, as if thinking, "I seem to have heard of it, but my memory is not deep. I will inquire about it after I go back."

"I will trouble you, Senior Brother Guo."

Night covered the sky, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse.

Guo Zhao and Shen Mo chatted in the cave dwelling until late at night before returning to their respective rooms to rest.

The next day, early morning.

Chen Mengze returned from her night patrol.

Guo Zhao was eager to show off in front of her, and Shen Mo had long since reached a tacit understanding with him; for the sake of the reward provided by Senior Brother Guo, he took the initiative to cooperate and create opportunities for the two of them.

However, Chen Mengze did not seem to appreciate this. Faced with Guo Zhao's various displays, she remained polite yet distant.

"Junior Sister Chen, let the two of us cook tonight."

Although Guo Zhao had not received much recognition, he was not discouraged and extended the invitation once more.

"I won't trouble Senior Brother Guo; let Shen Mo come over to help in the kitchen instead," Chen Mengze said, her willow-leaf brows slightly furrowed.

She knew Guo Zhao's intentions and had no desire to leave any room for him to harbor illusions.

However, Shen Mo had taken the man's money, so naturally, he had to resolve the man's troubles.

"Senior Sister Chen, I still need to refine pills tonight and cannot join you in the kitchen for the time being. Let Senior Brother Guo help you instead."

What is wrong with this guy today? Chen Mengze felt a flicker of annoyance upon hearing this.

She had originally sought Shen Mo out to participate in this guarding mission together.

Her intention was to have him block Guo Zhao's various displays of attentiveness and avoid the awkwardness of being alone with him during this assignment.

But she had not expected that Shen Mo would fail to play any role at all, appearing as if he had come solely to seclude himself and refine pills, ignoring everything else.

At night, after the three of them had finished their meal.

Shen Mo quite consciously offered to patrol the mine tunnels that night to prevent any Stone Spirit from appearing.

He left the garrison cave dwelling early.

"Junior Sister Chen, the moon is full tonight; the scenery is truly beautiful."

Once Shen Mo had left, only Guo Zhao and Chen Mengze remained in the main hall of the cave dwelling, their eyes meeting.

I see all living beings as mere grass and trees, yet you alone are the green mountains.

Guo Zhao gazed at Chen Mengze, his heart already prepared with a pile of romantic confessions.

But when they reached his lips, he found he could not bring himself to say them.

Chen Mengze seemed to sense something.

She avoided his gaze and said, "Senior Brother Guo, please sit here for a moment. I will go check on Shen Mo; his cultivation is still weak, and I am a bit worried about him patrolling alone."

With that, she stood up and left.

Guo Zhao had originally been bursting with words he wanted to pour out during this beautiful night.

Seeing her leave, he was instantly struck dumb.

"Forget it, forget it; there will be plenty of time in the future."

He felt a bit deflated, but he comforted himself with the thought that they would be spending the next two months here anyway.

As long as Shen Mo cooperated, he would have plenty of opportunities.

He consoled himself with this thought.

"An honest man."

This was Shen Mo's assessment of Guo Zhao.

Although this Senior Brother Guo came from a prominent family, his way of conducting himself seemed somewhat naive and straightforward; he was not a shrewd or worldly-wise person.

As for whether Guo Zhao could get what he wanted, Shen Mo was, in fact, not very optimistic.

I see the green mountains as charming, and the mountains should see me the same way—only then is there a chance.

If you see the green mountains as charming, but the mountains see you as a pile of dung, then there is no way to force it.

Although it is said that a persistent man can win over a virtuous woman, Chen Mengze was not the type of woman to lack her own opinions.

Of course, whether he succeeded or not was of no consequence to Shen Mo.

He only needed to receive his reward and learn the method of forging.

"Step, step, step."

Just as he was thinking this, footsteps suddenly sounded from behind him.