Lin Jiang pushed aside the vines and walked into the cave.
The light dimmed, and the air was filled with the earthy scent of soil and plants.
The cave was shallow. A few steps brought him to the end.
A huge Blue Silver Grass occupied the entire flat stone platform in the center.
Layer upon layer of leaves glimmered blue, like a lamp in the dim cave.
Its stalk was as thick as a child's arm, and its roots dangled over the edge of the platform, burrowing into cracks in the stone floor.
The leaves sensed someone approaching and all turned toward the cave entrance in unison. The entire plant tensed.
Lin Jiang stopped and spread his hands.
"Ah Yin, don't be afraid. I'm here to rescue you."
The leaves didn't relax. They tensed even more.
A wary consciousness came from the Blue Silver Grass. "...What?"
"To save you from Tang Hao and Tang San's clutches."
The Blue Silver Grass shuddered violently. Its leaves rustled like a field of flags whipped about by the wind.
"How do you know about that?!" The voice in her consciousness trembled.
Lin Jiang took out the Little Green Bottle. Its emerald-green surface gleamed warmly in the light of the Blue Silver Grass.
"Trust me. I can restore your cultivation right now."
Ah Yin's leaves went rigid.
She stared at the little bottle, and her voice grew cautious. "Who... exactly are you?"
"The Master of the Simulator." Lin Jiang shook the little bottle. "I gave you that drop of Ripening Spirit Liquid."
The cave fell silent for a full three seconds.
Then Ah Yin's entire body began to shake.
Not with fear, but with excitement.
Her leaves rustled.
"It was you—!"
Before she could continue shaking, Lin Jiang uncapped the Little Green Bottle and let