Making a Friend

At the same time, a system notification suddenly sounded in Lin Xiao's mind:

[Congratulations, host, on successfully befriending a Foundation Establishment cultivator.]

Lin Xiao was somewhat surprised.

Is this considered a successful friendship?

The fact that he has system verification means that Shopkeeper Zhong genuinely wants to befriend him.

With this, Lin Xiao, who had previously had some reservations, was completely relieved.

This system really has all sorts of unexpected uses.

Lin Xiao returned to the inn and saw the innkeeper run over to hand him a small wooden box, saying:

"Sir, someone came looking for you, but you weren't home. He asked me to give you this, saying that seeing it might help you identify him. He also said he'll come to visit you again tomorrow morning."

Taking the small wooden box, Lin Xiao couldn't believe that anyone would be looking for him in Yuanling City, a place he knew no one.

He thanked the waiter and took the small wooden box upstairs.

Once inside, he placed the small wooden box on the table, but didn't open it rashly. He picked up the teapot beside him, poured himself a cup of tea, and drank it all in one gulp.

The jet-black Soul-Nourishing Pendant flew out of his arms and circled the small wooden box twice.

Then Liao Pantu transmitted his voice to Lin Xiao:

It's just a regular little box.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao put down his teacup and casually opened the small wooden box.

Inside the box was only a single, ordinary Spirit Stone.

Lin Xiao was somewhat surprised to see this.

I wonder who's so bored as to send him a box just to give him a Spirit Stone?

Liao Pantu, who was inside the Soul-Nourishing Pendant, was taken aback when he saw the Spirit Stone. Then, as if he had thought of something, he glanced at Lin Xiao and, seeing that Lin Xiao seemed to know nothing, he didn't say anything but secretly chuckled to himself.

However, even though he hadn't sent a telepathic message to Lin Xiao or made any noise, Lin Xiao suddenly looked at him and said:

"Senior, do you know the reason?"

When asked directly, Liao Pantu could only pretend to cough twice and then say seriously:

Do you still remember when you saved that talisman master?

"A talisman master?" Lin Xiao was taken aback.

"You mean Liu Chun? You mean he gave this to you...?"

As he spoke, his gaze drifted to the Spirit Stone in the small wooden box.

Suddenly he realized:

"Is this my Spirit Stone?"

Seeing that he had come to his senses, Liao Pantu floated out of the Soul-Nourishing Pendant, put his hands behind his back, raised his head and asked him:

"Do you remember when I said you hadn't considered things thoroughly enough? This is it."

He pointed to the Spirit Stone in the box, and then said:

"That Liu Chun is a talisman master. You should know that some talisman masters with high levels of skill have quite a few tracking methods. Clearly, he is someone who aspires to participate in the Talisman Master Assembly, and he does indeed have some ability."

When you gave the Spirit Stone to that doctor, you must not have been careful to remove your own aura from Spirit Stone, so if he's determined, it's not impossible for him to find you."

Lin Xiao never expected that such a small piece of Spirit Stone would expose him.

He picked up the Spirit Stone from the box with some curiosity and examined it from all angles.

This is much more advanced than tracking coins by serial numbers in modern society.

"But if he could find my place, why didn't he just come to me directly?"

Liao Pantu stroked his beard and said:

"Perhaps Liu Chun is an extremely polite person. He felt that a first visit to his savior should be more formal, and that it would be too impolite to simply block him out on the street."

Lin Xiao thought of Liu Chun's appearance; he seemed simple and reserved, with a slight air of pedantry. He felt that what Senior Liao had said might actually be true.

"I don't know why he's looking for me. It's not like I saved him and he's upset about it, so he's coming to challenge me to a duel."

Liao Pantu:...

"Couldn't they have simply wanted to express their gratitude?"

"Ah... let's skip the thank you... it's awkward to keep thanking each other, and I don't know what to say."

Liao Pantu: "What's the use of telling me this? I'm not him."

Lin Xiao plopped down in a chair, then suddenly thought of a question. He quickly turned to Liao Pantu and asked:

"I threw those people out of the ice cave and took the Spirit Stone from their Storage Bag. Will they be able to find me too?"

Liao Pantu sat down opposite him and poured himself a cup of tea.

"Don't worry, talisman masters aren't that easy to find. Besides, didn't you say you all came out in a pile? Everyone's auras were mixed together. Unless you're an exceptionally skilled talisman master who can draw extremely high-level tracking talismans, it's impossible for them to find you."

"You couldn't find a single talisman master of this caliber in the entire Yuanling City. You can rest assured."

What he didn't say was that, normally, Foundation Establishment cultivator like Liu Chun wouldn't have been able to track Lin Xiao down based on the faint trace of Spirit Stone.

So he initially told Lin Xiao this as a joke.

However, as expected of the Wu Household, they even managed to deceive a talisman master they had used for over ten years; I never imagined they had such tricks up their sleeves.

However, Lin Xiao had no conflict of interest with him, and judging from the man's demeanor, he didn't seem to be there to cause trouble.

Let's wait and see.

Anyway, they'll be returning to their sect soon.

Even if something unexpected happens, they can simply teleport back later.

Even if his tracking ability is superb.

Even the Heaven and Earth Transposition Formation requires so many Spirit Stone to traverse such a distance, so he couldn't possibly track it down.

Early the next morning.

Sure enough, there was a knock on the door.

Lin Xiao opened the door and saw the tall and thin Liu Chun.

His complexion was still somewhat pale, and his face was thin and sunken, but he seemed to be in good spirits.

Upon seeing Lin Xiao open the door, Liu Chun, though having learned from the doctor at the clinic that the person who saved him was a young man, was surprised to find that he was so young.

Judging from his complexion, he is no more than fifteen years old.

He's quite tall.

Immediately, Liu Chun bowed respectfully to Lin Xiao and said:

"Mr. Liu is deeply grateful for your help!"

Lin Xiao:...

He quickly helped the person up and said:

"Uh... Brother, no, fellow Daoist, don't be so polite, it was nothing, just a small favor, thank you for your courtesy."

Upon hearing this, Liu Chun bowed deeply again and said:

"No! If it weren't for the helping hand extended by my benefactor, I, Liu, would have lost far more than just my life..."

Lin Xiao really didn't know how to handle this situation.

It doesn't seem appropriate to just say "okay" to someone directly now. I understand, you can leave now that you've thanked me.

So he had no choice but to lead the person inside.

The awkwardness of standing at the doorway has turned into awkwardness sitting face-to-face at the table, holding teacups.

Fortunately, Lin Xiao suddenly had a flash of inspiration and thought of something, which eased the awkward atmosphere.

Lin Xiao then asked:

"I wonder what your plans are after you leave the Wu Household?"

Liu Chun was a clever man. Upon hearing this question, he knew the man was probably trying to recruit him, so he didn't hide anything and replied with a wry smile:

"Since leaving the Wu Household, I have been preoccupied with many matters and have not yet made any further plans."