Lin Mo's request

"Hm?"

As Lin Mo's aura faltered, Liu Cui immediately sensed it, and her gaze slowly settled on him.

Wang Qiuru stood right beside Lin Mo and likewise noticed something amiss.

She had clearly misunderstood. Before Lin Mo could speak, she took the initiative to explain for him, her face full of concern. "Reporting to Elder Liu, this is Lin Mo, an outer sect disciple of the Spirit Plant Courtyard. He was the one who invited Senior Cloud Crane here."

"He suffered a backlash after activating a Hundred-Mile Talisman earlier. I just gave him an Essence Restoration Pill, but since he only just took it, the backlash will take some time to subside."

So that was it...

The explanation was perfectly reasonable, and Liu Cui harbored not the slightest suspicion.

She looked at Lin Mo approvingly and smiled. "Inviting Fellow Daoist Cloud Crane to join our sect is a considerable achievement. It cannot go unrewarded."

"Tell me, what reward would you like?"

Thud!

Without a moment's hesitation, Lin Mo dropped to his knees and cupped his hands in entreaty. "The Tai Sui Gate has been wreaking havoc in the mortal world. I fear for my family's safety."

"I dare to ask the elder's permission to bring my family up the mountain."

Liu Cui's brows drew together slightly.

Under the sect's rules, those whose cultivation had reached foundation establishment or above could indeed bring their relatives into the sect to enjoy a comfortable life, once they received permission.

Some exceptionally talented core disciples, or elite disciples who had rendered great service to the sect, also had a chance of receiving special approval.

Lin Mo's situation was somewhat different.

Calling it a service to the sect was putting a fine face on it. In truth, Cloud Crane High Person's appointment as a guest elder of the Azure Cloud Sect had long since been nailed down. Lin Mo had merely gone through the motions.

The "merit" of running this errand was clearly nowhere near enough to let Lin Mo bring his family up the mountain.

"Cherishing one's family is a good thing."

Beside them, Cloud Crane High Person glanced at Liu Cui's slightly furrowed brows, then at the anxiety in Lin Mo's eyes, and spoke with a smile. "I was besieged by remnants of the Tai Sui Gate and nearly lost my life, my cultivation extinguished with it."

"Fortunately, this young fellow arrived in time, allowing me to escape disaster..."

As he spoke, he took a roll of bamboo slips from inside his robes and said cheerfully, "I wrote this Basic Formation Diagram Guide by hand in my spare time."

"I am accustomed to an unencumbered life and have no intention of taking a disciple, so I shall give this to you. Your efforts will not have been in vain."

Joy rose in Lin Mo's heart, only to give way to worry again.

He was delighted because, back in White Jade Ravine, he had thought the old man was all talk and had no intention of offering him any guidance.

So he had been waiting for this moment!

Giving him the bamboo slips in Elder Liu's presence might carry some deeper intent, but whatever the case, it could only benefit him.

What worried him was that Elder Liu still seemed undecided about his request. What if she refused...

"What are you standing there for?"

While Lin Mo's thoughts ran wild, Liu Cui's expression shifted slightly, her voice carrying barely concealed delight. "Fellow Daoist Cloud Crane's mastery of the Formation Path is renowned among our peers."

"For him to give you this is an opportunity as great as the heavens. Hurry and thank him!"

Lin Mo dared not dwell on it. He quickly accepted the bamboo slips from Cloud Crane High Person and bowed respectfully in thanks.

Wang Qiuru's face was also filled with delight.

Ever since learning that Lin Mo had a "Special Physique," she had deliberately cultivated a friendship with him—one might even call it currying favor.

Now Cloud Crane High Person was about to become a guest elder of the sect, with standing no lower than any of its elders.

With him placing such importance on Lin Mo, Lin Mo's standing would naturally rise like a boat on a swelling tide, and she too would share in the honor!

"Since Fellow Daoist Cloud Crane regards you so highly, I cannot be stingy either."

Liu Cui glanced at the bamboo slips in Lin Mo's hands, then asked gently, her gaze kind, "Tell me, where is your home, and who remains in your family?"

His face alight with joy, Lin Mo hurriedly answered, "Reporting to Elder Liu, my hometown is Locust Grass Village, a few dozen li along the mountain roads from the sect."

"My grandparents passed away years ago. Both my parents are still living, and I have a younger sister who will turn sixteen next year!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Cui immediately smiled.

Wang Qiuru's expression had still been a little tense, but now it relaxed as well, and she looked at Lin Mo with a warm smile.

Cloud Crane High Person merely shook his head with a smile, though what he meant by it was unclear.

Their unusual reactions left Lin Mo utterly bewildered. He wanted to ask but did not dare, and could only fret inwardly.

"Silly boy."

Liu Cui smiled. "You said it yourself: Locust Grass Village is only a few dozen li from our sect. Even if those Tai Sui Gate remnants had swallowed a bear's heart and a leopard's gall, they would never dare come here and run wild."

"Your contribution this time would not normally qualify you to bring anyone up the mountain. But since even Fellow Daoist Cloud Crane has spoken on your behalf, I will make an exception. Bring your younger sister here."

With that, she paid Lin Mo no further attention and extended a hand to invite Cloud Crane High Person onward.

Cloud Crane High Person glanced at Lin Mo, then followed Liu Cui, slowly departing along the stone steps.

Lin Mo remained where he was, watching them go. Only when their backs vanished from view did he slowly withdraw his gaze.

It would have been a lie to say he was not happy, but disappointment was inevitable too.

His parents would certainly be willing to let Xiao He come up the mountain.

But he had embarked on the path of cultivation and could no longer stay by their knees to bring them joy. If he took Xiao He away too, would the two of them not be left lonely and helpless, pining for their children every day until their hair turned white?

"Why didn't you thank Elder Liu just now?"

Wang Qiuru came up beside Lin Mo. Seeing the slight disappointment on his face, she said quietly, "Elder Liu was promoted only recently. She may not know much about your circumstances."

"A Special Physique is a matter of great consequence. It is perfectly normal for the sect master not to have told Elder Liu about it."

Lin Mo did not know whether to laugh or cry.

Steward Wang clearly believed in his "Special Physique" without a shred of doubt. Even if he personally clarified matters someday, she might not believe him!

"Thank you for the reminder, Steward Wang. That was careless of me."

With his family on his mind, Lin Mo cupped his hands and said, "There is no time to lose. I plan to leave now and bring my sister here tonight."

So soon?

Wang Qiuru was briefly taken aback, then said wistfully, "Unfortunately, by the time I became a steward, my family had already passed away..."

"Oh, isn't your courtyard a little small? I'll look into it later and find you a larger one."

Those words suited Lin Mo's wishes perfectly.

He would certainly be secretly growing more and more spirit plants in the future. A courtyard that was too small would indeed be inconvenient.

"I will remember your kindness, Steward Wang."

Lin Mo thanked her sincerely, then delayed no further. He cupped his hands in farewell to Steward Wang and hurried down the mountain through the night.

Locust Grass Village, at the foot of White Jade Mountain.

The night was deep, and the villagers had long since gone to bed.

The night breeze brushed the old locust tree at the village entrance, stirring a faint rustle from its few sparse branches and leaves.

"When I first went up the mountain three years ago, the old locust tree still had plenty of tender shoots. Now it's withered like this..."

As he passed the old locust tree, Lin Mo paused.

After a moment's hesitation, he took the Treasure Gourd from his Storage Bag and carefully poured out a single drop of spirit spring water onto one of the old tree's gnarled roots exposed above the soil.

The spirit liquid he had put into the gourd last time had now reached the peak of its spiritual potency.

Surely the old locust tree would enjoy a second spring, sprouting new shoots and branches once more and producing clusters of sweet locust blossoms for the village children to feast on to their hearts' content.

"I'm off."

As though bidding farewell to all those lovely childhood memories of the old locust tree, Lin Mo waved at it, then quickened his steps toward home.