Could He Be Faking an Injury?

After saying goodbye to the aunt, the two hadn't walked far when people came out from the next house.

They had clearly overheard their conversation with the woman, so the other families didn't ask Lin Xiao if he wanted to come in and sit down; instead, they brought out plenty of food from their homes.

The basket in Lin Xiao's arms was already full, and now it was not only overflowing, but almost entirely supported by Lin Xiao's chest.

By the time He Yi followed Lin Xiao out of the alley, Lin Xiao's face was no longer visible to He Yi.

I wonder why this person didn't put their things in Storage Bag. Is their Lingxian Sect so poor that even the sect leader doesn't have Storage Bag?

Fortunately, this situation only lasted until they left the alley.

Once the two reached a secluded corner, Lin Xiao took out a Storage Bag and put all the food inside. The Lock Ring and such were not suitable for He Yi to see right now.

Seeing his actions, He Yi and asked:

Why didn't you accept it just now?

After putting away his things, Lin Xiao took out two freshly cooked, still dripping glutinous corns, put one in his mouth and handed the other to He Yi, speaking somewhat indistinctly:

"I was carrying all the gifts they gave me, and they were happy to see them."

Puzzled He Yi subconsciously took the corn offered to him and took a few steps forward before his brows furrowed even more as he looked at the corn cob in his hand.

"What benefit is there for us cultivators in such mundane food?"

Although it's piping hot and has a faint, pleasant fragrance.

But it has no Spiritual Qi whatsoever; once you eat it, you have to expel it yourself, which is simple but unnecessary.

"Of course it's delicious! My second aunt's corn is the best we grow in the village. Every time she steams corn, the aroma fills the whole village. You should try it, it's really good!"

As Lin Xiao spoke, he quickly finished a corn cob, then took another one out of his Storage Bag and continued eating.

Seeing He Yi's furrowed brows and serious expression as he stared at the corn in his hand, Lin Xiao urged him:

"What are you looking at? There aren't any flowers growing. Hurry up and eat, it'll get cold."

He Yi gave him a complicated look, but then still brought the corn to her mouth and took a small bite.

In order to cultivate and study talismans, he has been taking Grain Avoidance Pill for many years and has not eaten anything for a long time, including Spirit Cuisine, because he feels that eating is too much of a waste of time. He believes that the little Spiritual Qi he gets from eating Spirit Cuisine is not as good as the spiritual energy he gets from cultivating himself.

Therefore, when food suddenly entered his mouth, even his chewing movements were somewhat clumsy and slow.

But it is precisely because of this slow chewing that the warm, soft corn kernels break open under the bite of your teeth, filling your mouth with tender, sweet flesh.

It really is... quite delicious.

They remained silent for the rest of the way, He Yi slowly and carefully ate the corn cob in his hand, finishing it bit by bit.

Staring at the corn cob that had unknowingly become bare, he paused for a moment, his tongue unconsciously tracing a light line between his teeth...

I want to eat more.

But he was too embarrassed to ask Lin Xiao for it.

Only then did he realize that Lin Xiao had taken him to a hill on the edge of the village.

The hill isn't high, but it's high enough to see the entire village below.

Lin Xiao sat down on a clearing at the top of the hill, then took out a piece of burlap from his Storage Bag and spread it on the ground. He then took out all the food from the basket he had been carrying and placed it on the burlap.

He pointed to the other side of the burlap and said to He Yi:

"Sit."

He then pointed to the food beside him:

"Eat whatever you like, don't be shy."

He stopped looking at He Yi and instead looked down at the bustling village below with a pleasant expression.

"Look at them, how are they any different from monks?"

He Yi silently sat down on the ground and looked down following Lin Xiao's gaze.

As the sun sets, the primitive yet rhythmic shouts echo through the fields, like calls for the cattle to return home.

In the most bustling market town in the village, the restaurants, inns and hotels are already brightly lit, bearing witness to the relaxation and enjoyment of people after a long day at this time of transition between day and night.

All around were wisps of smoke rising from chimneys of every household, and faint lights.

They couldn't compare to the brightness of the market; almost every household only lit one or two lamps, which were very dim. But they were like the most steadfast guide home for every villager who had worked all day.

He Yi watched for a while, and although he felt a strange feeling he had never experienced before, he couldn't figure it out, so he answered according to his long-held understanding:

"Mortals do not live as long as cultivators, and there are many things that mortals cannot or will not accomplish, but cultivators can achieve them easily."

Lin Xiao's gaze never left Xiushui Village, and he gently shook his head:

"I don't think so."

"Cultivators are born with mortal bodies, but through various means, they borrow power from the forces of heaven and earth to gain strength, thus standing out from ordinary people. How are they different from the outstanding individuals in various professions among mortals?"

Upon hearing this, He Yi instinctively wanted to retort, but Lin Xiao spoke first and continued:

Regardless of age or ability, everyone born into this world strives to live; no one is more noble than anyone else.

"As for the second question the envoy asked me at the academy," Lin Xiao picked up a twig and drew circles on the ground, "I don't like chasing power and desire, I have no interest in spending all day focusing on comparing myself to others, and I'm even less willing to spend time studying how to trample someone underfoot."

He drew a few circles, then raised his hand, holding a small twig, pointing to the wisps of smoke rising from the village chimneys, almost disappearing into the winter night, his gaze filled with tenderness.

But I absolutely adore these small, warm moments of everyday life.

"It brings me ultimate comfort and peace."

Everyone has desires; my desire is for the myriad lights of homes filled with life.

He Yi stared at the spot where Lin Xiao's fingertip pointed, feeling somewhat dazed, as if he had suddenly gained something new.

But just as I was about to delve deeper into the matter, I couldn't grasp its essence.

His eyes seemed to have, without him noticing, reduced to only that wisp of smoke.

Between heaven and earth, it flows gently and leisurely from bottom to top.

It is so light and ordinary, yet it seems to possess a magnificent power capable of supporting heaven and earth.

Lin Xiao's voice continued in my ears.

"Therefore, as long as I have the ability, I will help this rising smoke to never go out."

Suddenly, He Yi felt as if the world had shrunk to just a wisp of smoke in front of him and those words, which kept repeating in his mind.

"As long as I have the ability, I will help keep this rising smoke from the chimneys, so that it will never be extinguished."

Before losing consciousness, He Yi felt as if something in his Sea of Consciousness had been shattered by those words.

A sudden thud of something heavy falling to the ground beside him silenced Lin Xiao.

He turned his head and looked at He Yi, and was somewhat speechless.

This person probably had some hidden illness; how could they have collapsed so suddenly without warning?

Could this be a staged accident?

No way! Their sect is so poor, they can't afford to pay any compensation!