The Cloaked Youth Appears Again!

"That figure from behind... it's him!"

Alarm surged in Lin Mo's heart.

While the man had his back to him, he took Xiao He's hand and hurried away, swiftly returning to his Small Courtyard.

Little did he know.

Just as Lin Mo left, the stranger happened to turn around and casually glance at his retreating figure before looking away.

Yet for some reason, something seemed to occur to him. He suddenly turned again, fixed his gaze on the direction Lin Mo had gone, and let out a low, cold chuckle.

"I nearly missed him just now... hmph, I've finally found him!"

"Brother, why did you suddenly turn back?"

On the way to Lin Mo's Small Courtyard.

Lin Xiaohe hurried along with Lin Mo holding her hand, her face full of bewilderment. "Didn't you say you were taking me to see that Steward Wang, and then to some Sect Affairs Hall to register my name?"

"Was it because of that man just now? You seemed to change your mind after seeing him. Who is he?"

Lin Mo said nothing, keeping hold of Lin Xiaohe's hand as he strode swiftly onward.

One must never harbor the intent to harm others, but must never drop one's guard against them.

Not only did he recognize that unfamiliar young man, he had specifically studied his build and bearing, remembering even the way he walked with perfect clarity.

He was none other than the cloaked youth who had followed him all the way back from the Black Market last time!

Back then, he had worn a grayish-white mask and tried to pry information about the mutated fire spirit fruit out of Lin Mo, who had fobbed him off.

Never in his wildest dreams had Lin Mo expected the man to appear at the Spirit Plant Courtyard today, much less run into him again!

"He's someone I know. I don't want to see him."

Worried about frightening Lin Xiaohe, Lin Mo did not tell her the truth.

He kept quickening his pace while remaining secretly alert. Only after confirming that he did not have that feeling of being watched from the shadows did he relax a little.

He deliberately took several detours, even passing the gates of several other Outer Sect Disciples' courtyards twice, before finally returning to his Small Courtyard with a scare but no mishap.

Qin Sang Sang had already eaten breakfast.

Just as she had promised, she had kept the courtyard gate tightly shut ever since Lin Mo went down the mountain, never stepping away except to eat. Even then, she had hurried back after hastily taking a few bites.

To be on the safe side, the young girl had even scattered a layer of plant ash by the entrance. Anyone sneaking inside unawares would surely leave footprints.

This method might be useless against Foundation Establishment Cultivators who could leap high and fly far, but it was more than enough to deal with ordinary Outer Sect Disciples.

"Who is it? Ah... Senior Brother Lin!"

Hearing a knock outside, Qin Sang Sang peered through the crack in the gate and saw Lin Mo, her face instantly lighting up with delight.

She fumbled to open the gate while picking up the broom propped beside it, saying hurriedly, "Wait a moment, Senior Brother. Let me sweep first... cough, cough, it's choking me!"

Plant ash billowed into the air.

Looking at the ash hanging in the air, Lin Mo instantly guessed its purpose and silently praised her.

Clever!

Even he had not thought of this method, yet this young girl had the presence of mind to use plant ash to guard against thieves.

Plant ash... this counts as the most basic kind of formation too, doesn't it?

He had to admit that he had judged her correctly when he borrowed Qin Sang Sang from Liu Xianzong!

"You're Qin Sang Sang, right? My brother told me all about you on the way."

Before Lin Mo could introduce them, Lin Xiaohe stepped forward and reached to take the broom from Qin Sang Sang's hands.

Qin Sang Sang jumped, thinking Lin Mo had found himself another little helper. Just as she began feeling a little hurt, she suddenly raised her head, her face full of astonishment.

What did she just say?

Brother?

"This is my younger sister, Xiao He."

Lin Mo explained with a smile, "As a reward, the sect allowed me to bring my sister up the mountain. She'll be living here from now on... oh, no, Steward Wang is giving me a bigger courtyard. We'll be moving soon."

Qin Sang Sang had known nothing about any of this. Now that she learned who Lin Xiaohe was, that subtle little emotion in her heart was instantly flung beyond the nine heavens.

She quickly set down the broom and greeted Lin Xiaohe with utmost respect. "Servant Disciple Qin Sang Sang pays her respects to Miss Lin. Please just tell me if you need anything from now on. Sang Sang is very hardworking."

Lin Xiaohe burst into a giggle. "I'm no young miss. Just call me Xiao He."

"I'm fifteen this year, and my birthday is in the first month. How old are you... oh, two months younger than me. Then you can call me big sister from now on, hehe!"

Perhaps because of Lin Mo, the two girls quickly warmed to each other.

With something weighing on his mind, Lin Mo sent them inside to chat while he went to the back courtyard, finally seeing the spirit plants he had been longing for.

After two days away, the twenty-three spirit plants had not changed much.

The first fire spirit plant to mutate looked just as it had when he left, with three heavy, bright-red flower buds hanging from its branches. Since its supply of spirit spring water had been interrupted, it showed no signs of bearing fruit.

The second fire spirit plant looked slightly wilted. Lin Mo soon guessed that it had received too little spirit spring water after mutating and thus lacked spiritual energy. It should recover quickly once watered.

The remaining twenty-one unmutated spirit plants were all far sturdier than ordinary spirit plants, yet nowhere near as brimming with spiritual energy as the mutated ones.

"Now I can rest easy. Even if I go down the mountain again, it'll be fine. These spirit plants won't wither and die from going without spirit spring water for a short while..."

Whether mutated or ordinary, every spirit plant was a precious part of his wealth. Without hesitation, Lin Mo took out the Treasure Gourd and poured a drop of spirit spring water onto each one.

There was also the spirit rice.

Well practiced by now, Lin Mo dug holes and buried the fifteen spirit rice seeds he had obtained from the dining hall, then watered them one by one with spirit spring water. Only then did he let out a satisfied breath.

There was joy, but worry too.

Naturally, it was worth celebrating that he had more and more spirit plants, with an ever-growing variety.

But the spirit spring water in the Treasure Gourd was almost gone again!

Of the fifty drops of spirit liquid he had exchanged for at the Black Market, one had gone to the old locust tree and ten to his parents. Now he had used another thirty-eight.

Lin Mo shook the Treasure Gourd. If he had not known there was one last drop inside, he would almost have thought it was empty!

"If nothing unexpected happens, this batch of spirit plants should mature tomorrow... hmm, I'll disguise myself properly tomorrow night and make another trip to the Black Market."

Having made up his mind, Lin Mo returned to the main room.

Qin Sang Sang and Lin Xiaohe were chatting enthusiastically, occasionally breaking into sweet laughter like the songs of larks.

Lin Mo heard them from afar. Lin Xiaohe seemed to be telling stories about his childhood antics. He shook his head with a rather helpless smile and returned to his bedroom under the two girls' gazes.

He casually closed the door, then sat cross-legged at the head of the bed, took the bamboo slips of the Basic Formation Diagram Guide given to him by Cloud Crane High Person out of his Storage Bag, and began studying them carefully.

About an hour later.

Lin Mo put away the bamboo slips, a trace of bewilderment showing in his eyes.

So this was... formations?

They seemed a little simple!