Hou Niao understood completely now. This was Feileng Spring, yet it was not; this was Old Blind's home, yet it was not; this was the only one, yet it was not...
It was wondrous. If those Feilengcui could appear in any banyan hollow or mountain spring, they were practically impossible to find. He had only found them because he had won Old Blind's approval.
So, with a different position and a different vantage point, what one saw was naturally different too. His worries had been unnecessary.
"This disciple took the liberty of disturbing you, Senior. I shall take my leave."
Sensing the young man turn and leave, Old Blind's expression shifted uncertainly. He had been somewhat hasty in giving away that stick of Grass-Head Incense, partly because a chance occurrence had left him owing a small favor. In fact, ever since the Feilengcui in this region had formed, he had never given any to anyone, because he knew full well what consequences would follow once the secret leaked. What cat would turn down a stolen taste of fish?
Heavenly treasures like these were scarce on the Brocade Continent to begin with. Once exposed, they would immediately draw people flocking like ducks. Chongling and his disciple had not come partly because of their cultivation methods, but more importantly because they did not yet understand Feilengcui. Otherwise, Hou Niao would never have had a turn.
He had rushed back shortly after the Grass-Head Incense began burning, still unwilling to show the Feilengcui to anyone lightly, because he knew full well that once certain things began, they could never be stopped. Yet this fellow had actually withstood the Jingyang Spirit's threat through sheer endurance, leaving him caught between two choices.
In the end, he had chosen to honor his promise.
But he had