Southern Wilderness Language

The best way to master a language was to use it often in conversation.

So Chen Beiwu didn't use his Divine Sense, but spoke in Southern Wilderness Language instead. "Are you all right?"

Mo Li stood frozen in place, still unable to react.

Did that female cultivator hold something back? Is the Southern Wilderness Language in the Jade Slip wrong? Chen Beiwu frowned slightly.

Only then did Mo Li come back to her senses.

She stepped back twice, glanced at the Five-Scarlet Snake that had died on the ground at some point, and respectfully bowed to Chen Beiwu. "My lord, was it you who saved me just now?"

"Mm." Chen Beiwu nodded and continued testing his Southern Wilderness Language.

His gaze fell on the Stone-in-the-Grass, and he asked, "Where are you from, and what is this place?"

Mo Li blinked her dark eyes and took a small step, looking bewildered as she stood in front of the Stone-in-the-Grass. "My lord, what are you saying?"

Chen Beiwu switched to a more straightforward way of asking. "What's your name, and where are we?"

"My name is Mo Li. The people in the village call this place Desolate Mountain," she answered honestly.

"You were willing to risk your life for this herb. Looks like you recognize it?" Chen Beiwu asked bluntly.

A faint blush rose on Mo Li's dark cheeks. "This should be a Blue-Crystal Exotic Herb. I could sell it for quite a bit of silver at an herb shop."

Chen Beiwu was somewhat surprised.

It was perfectly normal for herbs to have several names, since people called them different things in different places.

But no matter what, the Stone-in-the-Grass was a Second-Tier Spirit Medicine. It wasn't some treasure that mere silver could buy.

"This item and I were fated to meet, but you did discover this herb first." Chen Beiwu mused.

At his words, Mo Li immediately clenched her fists nervously.

Although she had never been to a town and had little experience, she knew a thing or two.

The village chief was a big shot across the surrounding ten li. He had a wife and thirteen concubines to serve him, and could eat meat at every meal. Yet even so, the chief's finest clothes didn't look as good as those worn by the noble young master before her.

It was clear that this man was someone even the village chief couldn't afford to offend, a noble who could decide whether she lived or died with a single word.

Whatever decision he made, even if he wanted to take the Blue-Crystal Exotic Herb, she could only obediently accept it. Otherwise, she would end up like that Five-Scarlet Snake.

But then, what about Dad...

At the thought, Mo Li worked up her courage and looked Chen Beiwu straight in the eye. "My lord, you saved my life. I'll serve you as a servant to repay your kindness, but I found this herb. Could you leave it to me?"

As she spoke, she closed her eyes and said weakly, "If there's really no other way, I can repay you with my life too. I'd just need a few more days before I could give it to you."

He had saved her life, so by rights, she shouldn't have quibbled over a single spirit herb.

But Mo Li had no choice. Her family really had no money, and if they couldn't gather enough for the medical fees, Dad wouldn't last much longer.

Rather than watch Dad die before her eyes, she would rather repay a life with a life and settle the debt she owed him.

At her words, Chen Beiwu couldn't help laughing. "Why would I want your life for no reason? Forget repaying me. If you hadn't been here, I wouldn't have found this spirit medicine either."

Seeing Chen Beiwu's gentle manner, Mo Li couldn't help opening her eyes wide. "Then what do you mean?"

"Hold out your hand."

At Chen Beiwu's words, Mo Li obediently held out her dark, rough palm.

"Will this silver be enough?" Chen Beiwu set down a silver ingot weighing about fifty taels.

"Yes, yes, it's enough." Mo Li nodded repeatedly.

With an ingot this heavy, she could buy not only the Blue-Crystal Exotic Herb, but five of them.

Seeing this, Chen Beiwu smiled. He wasn't looking down on her.

Mortals cherished gold and silver, while cultivators pursued Spirit Stones. The former sought glory and riches, the latter strength and longevity. There was no fundamental difference between them; both were pursuing the desires in their hearts.

Squatting down, he carefully dug up the Stone-in-the-Grass and put it away. Then Chen Beiwu looked at Mo Li. "Where's your village? Take me there."

"My lord, please follow me." Mo Li hurried forward to lead the way, moving without the slightest hesitation.

As he searched the surroundings with his Divine Sense while walking, Chen Beiwu talked with Mo Li, treating it purely as practice in Southern Wilderness Language and a chance to learn about this world.

The village where Mo Li lived was near two rivers, so it was called Twin Rivers Village. There were more than a hundred households in the village. Whenever the villagers needed supplies, they would organize people to go to the nearest Waterside Mountain Town to trade.

As for anything beyond Waterside Mountain Town, Mo Li didn't know a thing. She only knew that Waterside Mountain Town belonged to the Marshland Kingdom, and that the Marshland Kingdom had immortal masters who could fly on swords.

After all, she was still young. Seeing Chen Beiwu's friendly attitude, Mo Li couldn't help mustering her courage and asking, "My lord, are you a martial artist, or an immortal master from the legends?"

"That doesn't matter," Chen Beiwu said calmly.

Mo Li lowered her head, her voice turning dejected. "All right."

After they crossed a hill and made their way along a winding path, two clear streams gradually came into view before Chen Beiwu.

A li from the streams, more than a hundred households stood scattered about, wisps of cooking smoke rising from every rooftop.

"My lord, that's my home. Would you like to come in and sit for a while?" Mo Li ventured.

"All right." Chen Beiwu nodded.

Under the curious gazes of the surrounding villagers, Mo Li led him to a simple wooden hut.

Before they had even entered, Chen Beiwu had already "seen" through his Divine Sense a gaunt man lying on a bed of dry grass, looking as though he were on his last legs.

"Dad, I'm back."

After calling out, Mo Li bowed to Chen Beiwu and asked, "My lord, I'd like to buy some medicine. Could you help me?"

She understood the idea of borrowing someone else's authority to throw her weight around.

Without the lord accompanying her, she wouldn't dare take fifty taels of silver to buy medicine. That could easily lead to trouble.

"It's only a common cold. I can cure him." Chen Beiwu pushed open the wooden door.

"A Li, who is this?"

When the gaunt man saw Chen Beiwu appear, a trace of fear showed on his face.

"Dad, this lord is a good man. He saved me in the mountains," Mo Li reminded him.

Hearing the first part, the gaunt man hurriedly forced a stiff smile.

A good man?

Silly girl, what good men were there in this world?

It was just that this man's clothes were extraordinary and his skin fair. At a glance, he was a wealthy young master from outside. Mountain villagers like them couldn't afford to offend someone like him.

But when he heard the rest of his daughter's words, the gaunt man's expression changed at once, and worry showed in his eyes. "What? You went to Desolate Mountain again!"

"No, I just picked up some firewood at the foot of the mountain." After lying, Mo Li looked at Chen Beiwu. "My lord, you just said Dad's illness could be cured. Is that true?"

"Of course. I never lie," Chen Beiwu said.

His only flaw was that he was kindhearted and couldn't bear to see the suffering of ordinary people.

So he was willing to step forward and treat Mo Li's father. It had nothing whatsoever to do with the Stone-in-the-Grass being worth six hundred Spirit Stones.

"Please save Dad, my lord. I'll do anything." Mo Li took the silver out with both hands and wanted to kneel on the ground to beg him.