The two went their separate ways and returned to their respective sects.
When Su Mo returned to Medicine Mountain, he saw Du Pingsheng sitting outside the Thatched Cottage.
Silvery moonlight fell over Du Pingsheng's graying hair, casting it snowy white.
"Delivered it?" Seeing Su Mo, Du Pingsheng pointed to the stone chair across the stone table.
Su Mo walked over and sat down at the stone table, then nodded. "I did."
"What did Elder Xia say?" Du Pingsheng asked.
Su Mo faithfully repeated Elder Xia's reply.
Du Pingsheng nodded at his words.
After they had sat for a long while, Du Pingsheng glanced at Su Mo and said, "In a few days, the Rain, Thunder, and Cloud Three Sects will hold a grand competition."
Su Mo paused, then looked up at Du Pingsheng. "Do I have to go?"
Du Pingsheng shook his head. "If you don't want to, you needn't go!"
Su Mo pondered for a moment, then asked, "What do you think, Senior?"
"I suggest you go. Watching others fight will benefit you... the Way of Plants and Trees lacks fighting power. Absorbing others' fighting spirit will help you travel farther along the path of cultivation," Du Pingsheng said slowly.
Su Mo nodded and agreed thoughtfully, "I'll leave it entirely to you, Senior."
Su Mo felt a kind of care from Du Pingsheng, a familiar feeling, just like Green Robe...
Seeing Su Mo's expression, Du Pingsheng immediately understood. With Su Mo's intelligence, how could he fail to see what lay behind this sudden competition?
But Du Pingsheng had no intention of hiding it. He said directly, "This competition is merely a probe by the three sects."
"If things go badly, the three sects may descend into chaos..."
Su Mo nodded.
Looking at Su Mo, Du Pingsheng continued, "But you