Longing!

Spirit Herb Garden.

The morning mist had yet to fully disperse, and a faint medicinal fragrance hung in the air.

As soon as Mo Yun and the others entered the garden, they saw Liu Niang crouching beside an ordinary herb plot, inspecting the growth of the medicinal herbs one by one.

Today, she had changed into a neat, practical green robe, her hair secured with a wooden hairpin. She looked far more spirited.

Most importantly, there was finally a smile on her face.

It was no longer the forced, lifeless smile of the past few days, but a genuine ease that came from the heart.

"You're here?" Liu Niang glanced up at them, taking the rare initiative to greet them.

"Good morning, Liu Niang!" Xiao Liu was the first to hurry over. "You look really well today!"

Liu Niang smiled without answering.

Her gaze passed over Xiao Liu and settled on Mo Yun, a trace of complicated emotion flashing in her eyes.

There was gratitude, appreciation, and something else that defied explanation.

Mo Yun nodded slightly in greeting.

Without saying more, Liu Niang turned and led them into the herb plots to assign the day's work.

"The Blood-Stopping Grass in plot three needs watering, the Qi-Gathering Flowers in plot five need fertilizer, and in plot seven..."

She explained each task clearly and methodically, looking like an entirely different person from the distracted woman of the past few days.

Xiao Liu and the others collected their tools and went off to work.

Mo Yun picked up a bucket as well, ready to head to plot three.

"Mo Yun, wait a moment." Liu Niang stopped him.

Mo Yun halted and turned to look at her.

Liu Niang hesitated, then said quietly, "Thank you for what you did last night."

"You're too kind, Liu Niang." Mo Yun shook his head. "I was protecting myself too. Helping you just came along with it."

"Whatever the case, you saved my life. If that thief had escaped, the consequences would have been unthinkable..." Liu Niang looked at him earnestly. "I won't forget this favor."

Mo Yun smiled and said nothing more.

He knew that in this world, debts of gratitude were the hardest to repay, but also the most valuable.

Seeing that he did not want to dwell on it, Liu Niang let the matter drop and waved a hand. "Go on, get to work. Don't let this hold you up."

Mo Yun nodded and carried his bucket toward plot three.

The morning passed in watering, fertilizing, and weeding.

As always, Mo Yun worked faster and better than anyone else. After finishing his share, he found a shady spot and began practicing the test fist technique.

He did not want to waste a single second now.

At noon, they ate beneath the shade canopy.

Tang Yin slumped on a stool, listlessly pushing the rice around in his bowl. "Heavens, I'm exhausted! Working in the Spirit Herb Garden looks easy, but it really isn't!"

"That's because you're too slow-witted. You still haven't gotten used to it after all this time." Luo Shan gave him a bland glance and continued.

"The rest of us are pretty proficient now. We can all save some time each day to cultivate. You're the only one who ends every day worn out like a dead dog, without making any progress."

Tang Yin: "..."

Tang Yin stared speechlessly at the sky, feeling rather like crying.

He shot Luo Shan a fierce glare, then stopped talking and buried himself in his meal.

Meanwhile, Han Tang set down his bowl and chopsticks and looked thoughtfully at Mo Yun. "Brother Mo, you seem to have been practicing that test fist technique all along?"

"Yes." Mo Yun nodded.

"That technique..." Han Tang hesitated. "Is there really any point in practicing it anymore?"

As far as he was concerned, the test fist technique was merely something the Village Master had casually created to assess their comprehension. It was several rungs below the Tiger-Crouching Fist.

Now that they had learned the Tiger-Crouching Fist, continuing to practice the test fist technique was a complete waste of time.

Mo Yun smiled without explaining.

"Just practicing it for a bit," he replied offhandedly.

"Oh..." Seeing that he did not want to elaborate, Han Tang asked no further questions.

After the meal, Mo Yun was about to head to the Precious Herb Plot to work when Zhou Bo's voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Little Mo, come here a moment."

Mo Yun turned and saw Zhou Bo leaning on his bamboo staff by the gate in the Precious Herb Plot's fence, beckoning to him.

He hurried over.

"Zhou Bo, did you need me?"

Zhou Bo nodded and led him into the Precious Herb Plot, stopping beside a lingzhi mushroom.

"Little Mo, we owe you a great deal for last night." Zhou Bo got straight to the point. "Without your timely information, Commander Li couldn't have caught those two accomplices waiting to receive them. If those thieves had escaped, there would have been no end of trouble."

Mo Yun scratched his head. "You're too kind, Zhou Bo. That woman took me hostage. I only stumbled into it by chance."

"Even a lucky accident counts as a contribution." Zhou Bo waved a hand, indicating that he need not be modest.

He told Mo Yun that after receiving the information, Commander Li had immediately led his men to the Tiger-Crouching Ladder and successfully captured the two accomplices waiting there.

After a night of interrogation, they had largely pieced together the whole story.

The force behind the trouble was the Hundred Blossoms Palace, an enemy of the Crouching Tiger Manor.

"The Hundred Blossoms Palace?" Mo Yun paused in surprise.

The name was not unfamiliar to him. During his days working in the Spirit Herb Garden, he had occasionally heard the older servants mention it in their idle chatter.

The Hundred Blossoms Palace was a sizable force, with women making up more than eighty percent of its disciples.

Like the Crouching Tiger Manor, the Hundred Blossoms Palace's main business was medicinal pills.

The two had long competed in the pill market, with constant friction between them.

In recent years, the Crouching Tiger Manor's pills had grown ever better, and its sales had climbed steadily, dealing a considerable blow to the Hundred Blossoms Palace's business.

Naturally, the conflict between them had only deepened.

"The Hundred Blossoms Palace orchestrated this entire affair." Zhou Bo snorted, his tone tinged with disdain.

"First, they sent someone to infiltrate Mountain Manor and poison the Spirit Herb Garden, damaging the herbs' growth. Then, once we were frantic and our defenses had slackened, they sent someone to steal the Fire Spirit Fruit."

"Two birds with one stone. They certainly had their calculations laid out nicely."

Understanding dawned on Mo Yun.

No wonder the woman in red had known exactly what she wanted, heading straight for the Fire Spirit Fruit the moment she entered.

"Unfortunately for them, they underestimated the Crouching Tiger Manor's defenses." Zhou Bo stroked his beard, a smug smile appearing on his face.

"Not only did their plan fall apart at the final hurdle, but we caught them red-handed. They tried to steal a chicken and ended up losing their bait rice instead."

"The Village Master has already demanded compensation from the Hundred Blossoms Palace. Since they were in the wrong, they had no choice but to agree."

"So this time, not only did the Crouching Tiger Manor suffer no losses, we actually turned a profit."

At that, Zhou Bo could not help laughing, even the wrinkles on his face smoothing out.

Mo Yun smiled as well.

Although he cared little about the struggles between these forces, hearing that the Hundred Blossoms Palace had suffered a setback still put him in a good mood.

After all, someone from the Hundred Blossoms Palace had nearly beaten him to death yesterday.

"Oh, Little Mo." Zhou Bo put away his smile and said seriously, "The Village Master is very pleased. He's given everyone in the Spirit Herb Garden two extra days off this month. You'll be able to get some proper rest then."

Mo Yun nodded, but inwardly thought, Two extra days off means two extra days to cultivate. Good news.

"One more thing." Zhou Bo patted his shoulder, his tone growing solemn.

"Little Mo, you made a considerable contribution this time. The Village Master already knows and has promised you a reward. It should arrive within the next couple of days."

Mo Yun's eyes lit up, and he asked curiously, "What reward?"

"That, I don't know." Zhou Bo shook his head. "The Village Master didn't say, only that he wouldn't shortchange you. But knowing his temperament, he certainly won't be stingy."

Anticipation began to stir in Mo Yun's heart.

The Foundation-Nourishing Pill the Village Master had given him last time had worked very well. Not only had it improved his physique, it had greatly accelerated the Black Seal's condensation.

This reward should be no worse.

"There's one other matter." Zhou Bo suddenly lowered his voice, his expression turning grave.

"Little Mo, Mountain Manor will keep your killing of that Dark Force Martial Artist from the Hundred Blossoms Palace a secret. The Village Master said that you're still weak, and exposing you would invite unnecessary trouble."

Mo Yun's heart tightened, and he quickly nodded. "Thank you, Village Master. Thank you, Zhou Bo!"

He had been worried that word getting out might bring retaliation from the Hundred Blossoms Palace. It seemed Mountain Manor had already considered that for him.

"But rest assured," Zhou Bo added. "You won't lose so much as a fraction of the reward you're due."

Mo Yun was completely reassured.

They chatted a little longer before Zhou Bo let him leave.

Walking out of the Precious Herb Plot, Mo Yun let out a long breath, feeling especially lighthearted.

The trouble's resolved, and there's a reward to collect too. I came out ahead this time.

He continued working in the Precious Herb Plot that afternoon, just as easily and cheerfully. After finishing his share, Mo Yun seized the remaining time to practice the test fist technique a few more times.

The sun slanted westward, and crimson clouds filled the sky.

When it was time to finish work, Mo Yun put away his tools, said goodbye to Xiao Liu and the others, and headed toward the Dining Hall.

After eating, he did not return to the dormitory, but went to the Rear Mountain as usual.

This was a habit of his that not even thunder could shake.

He practiced his fist technique between tasks during the day and set aside time specifically for cultivation at night, never missing a day.

Night fell, and silence settled over the Rear Mountain.

Only the rustle of wind through the leaves and birdsong drifting near and far broke the stillness.

Mo Yun found a secluded clearing, practiced the Tiger-Crouching Stance a few times to warm up, then began practicing the test fist technique.

Beneath the hazy moonlight, four hours passed in the blink of an eye.

"It's time."

Mo Yun opened his eyes and carefully surveyed his surroundings.

After confirming that he was alone in the area, Mo Yun took a deep breath and quietly approached the place where he had hidden yesterday's spoils.

It was a concealed crevice covered by several loose stones, impossible to spot without looking closely.

He moved the stones aside and reached inside.

His fingertips touched the cool silver and porcelain bottle, setting his mind at ease.

He took them out and held them in his palm.

The silver gave off a muted gleam beneath the moonlight, while the porcelain bottle was smooth as jade and radiated a faint coolness.

Mo Yun put away the silver first, then raised the porcelain bottle before his eyes and examined it carefully by moonlight.

The bottle was small, only as thick as his thumb, green all over, with its mouth sealed in wax.

He gently removed the wax seal, and a faint, fresh fragrance drifted from the opening.

A single whiff was enough to invigorate him.

He tilted the bottle, and an Emerald Pill rolled into his palm.

It was round and smooth as a pearl, giving off a lustrous sheen that looked especially beautiful beneath the moonlight.

At that very instant, the Black Seal on Mo Yun's wrist suddenly grew faintly warm!

That familiar sense of longing surged through him once more, every bit as strong as when he had seen the Fire Spirit Fruit!

"This pill really is something special!"

Mo Yun took a deep breath, a flicker of excitement crossing his eyes.

"Let's have a look-see at how much this pill can charge the Black Seal!"