Bai Zhi's Gift

Li Wangye left the quarry before dawn.

He disguised himself as a farmer going to the market, taking a detour and choosing secluded paths. As instructed by Lu Yuan, he found Bai Jiachang's stall in the herbal medicine market in the East Market and arranged the three dried Night Breath Grass in a specific order—roots facing east, leaves interlaced, and the oldest plant at the bottom.

After setting up the code, he placed a polished pebble in the crack of the stone block, with the smooth side facing up.

The meaning is clear: meet at the same time and place the next day.

After doing all that, he mingled into the crowd, bought some dry food, and leisurely left the town. On his way back, he circled around several times to make sure no one was following him.

"All done." Li Wangye put down the sack and nodded to Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan was feeding his father water. Lu Qinghe was still unconscious, his face ashen. The herbal ointment prepared by Shen Moxin had barely stabilized the external injuries, but the internal damage and the corrosive effects of the remaining Wind Blade required the Moon Silver Orchid Floral Dew.

"It's been hard work," Lu Yuan said. He placed his fingers on his father's wrist pulse, and his Soul Power threads probed in, slowly picking at the stubborn remnants of wind attribute. A thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Lin Xiao sat against the stone wall, his eyes fixed on the ground. His Soul Power was suppressed, and he couldn't move, so he could only endure it. Mo Chen set up warning mechanisms at the cave entrance, while Su Yan wiped the few remaining parts of his Soul Tool.

The atmosphere in the stone hollow was heavy.

The next day, at the same time.

Lu Yuan left the quarry alone. He walked through the weeds and abandoned fields on the outskirts of the town. His side injury hadn't fully healed, so he walked slowly but steadily.

The agreed meeting place was five miles west of the town, at a long-abandoned local temple. Half of the temple wall had collapsed, and the statues of the gods were mottled.

Lu Yuan arrived early. He hid behind the withered bushes behind the temple, slowly spreading his Soul Power perception—he only had 20% of his Soul Power left, so he had to use it sparingly. The surroundings were quiet, with only the whistling of the wind blowing through the window paper.

About fifteen minutes later, very light footsteps came from the path.

Bai Zhi has arrived.

She was still dressed in simple clothes, carrying a bamboo basket covered with a blue cloth. She stopped at the temple gate, glanced at the overgrown courtyard, and walked straight into the main hall.

Lu Yuan emerged from his hiding place, his footsteps becoming heavier.

Bai Zhi turned around. Her face was expressionless, her eyes clear and calm. Seeing Lu Yuan, she nodded slightly. "Mr. Lu."

"Miss Bai Zhi," Lu Yuan stopped three steps away from her, "I apologize for this abrupt invitation, but it was truly unavoidable."

"I saw Night Breath Grass," Bai Zhi said softly. "Someone is seriously injured and needs Moon Silver Orchid Floral Dew?"

Lu Yuan nodded. "My father withstood the Soul Ancestor's Wind Blade to save his friend. Miss Shen said that only Moon Silver Orchid Floral Dew would suffice, otherwise it would leave hidden injuries."

He didn't Lin Xiao's Martial Soul going berserk, nor did he mention the Cloud Mist Sect or the Shadow Guards.

Bai Zhi listened quietly, and remained silent for a moment after he finished speaking.

"Moon Silver Orchid Floral Dew, I have it." She took out a small crystal bottle, about the size of a palm, from the bamboo basket. The bottle was sealed with a cork, and a faint silver Soul Power shimmered at the stopper, indicating it was sealed.

She handed it to me.

Lu Yuan took the bottle. It was cool to the touch, and through the crystal walls, he could see a few nearly transparent dewdrops inside. The dewdrops rolled slowly, emitting a quiet and gentle glow that soothed the mind.

"These were harvested last autumn, during the nights when the Moon Silver Orchid were in full bloom," Bai Zhi said softly. "Seven drops in total. These are the last three drops; they'll be most effective."

Lu Yuan gripped the bottle tightly and looked up at her. "This gift is too heavy. What do you need in return? As long as I can—"

Bai Zhi shook her head slightly.

"No need," she said, pausing before turning her gaze to the desolate fields outside the temple gate. "The town has been rather unsettled lately. While the Inspection Office and the Cloud Mist Sect have ostensibly withdrawn most of their personnel, they've significantly increased the number of hidden sentries."

Lu Yuan's eyes narrowed.

"There are often strange faces loitering in the alley behind the blacksmith's shop at the east end at night," Bai Zhi continued, her tone flat. "Those people have light footsteps and sharp eyes; they don't seem like townspeople. Also, I heard that Elder Wang from the Cloud Mist Sect — the Soul King who led the team to the Black Stone Mountain Range before—went back in a huge rage."

She turned her face to look at Lu Yuan.

"They don't believe the 'ruins' collapsed naturally. They are reinvestigating the source of the rumors. They suspect either an insider leaked the information, or someone skilled in paleography and Soul Tool deliberately set a trap."

The meaning is quite clear at this point.

Lu Yuan remained silent. Only the sound of the wind could be heard in the temple.

Is the information reliable?

"I've seen the people in the alley behind the blacksmith's shop twice," Bai Zhi said. "The rumors about the Cloud Mist Sect came from one of their outer disciples who was in charge of purchasing. That guy often comes to my shop to buy calming herbs. He's talkative, and after a few drinks, he'll spill everything."

After she finished speaking, she said no more.

Lu Yuan breath and carefully put the crystal bottle into his inner pocket. He took a step back, solemnly cupped his hands, and bowed to Bai Zhi.

"Thank you." He straightened up, his gaze fixed intently on Bai Zhi's eyes. "Lu Yuan will remember this kindness."

Bai Zhi turned slightly to the side, not receiving the full greeting.

"Though the Moon Silver Orchid is weak, it can still illuminate a small area in the night," she said softly, her gaze clear and earnest. "What Mr. Lu has done, the path he has walked, in my opinion, is more worthy of being illuminated than many dazzling Martial Soul."

She didn't explicitly say "I support you," but the inclination in her words couldn't be clearer.

Lu Yuan didn't respond to that, but nodded.

Bai Zhi picked up her bamboo basket, ready to leave. Reaching the temple gate, she paused, turned back, and lowered her voice even further.

"If... you need a more secluded place to stay, or want to inquire about... something that's not so easy to find out," she paused, "You could try going to that abandoned herbal medicine warehouse in the south of town. In the innermost room, in the corner of the east wall, the third brick from the bottom is loose. There's a small gap underneath."

After saying that, she didn't linger. She turned and walked out of the dilapidated temple, her figure quickly disappearing at the end of the overgrown path.

Silently.

Lu Yuan stood there, his hand pressed against his chest. Through his clothes, he could feel the cool outline of the crystal bottle.

The flower dew has been obtained. Father is saved.

But the news Bai Zhi brought weighed heavily on his heart like a cold stone.

The Cloud Mist Sect did not give up. The investigation went underground. The quarry could not be left unattended any longer.

And there's that final hint from Bai Zhi.

In the abandoned medicinal herb warehouse in Zhennan, a hidden contact point lies in the gaps beneath the brick walls.

This seemingly gentle and weak Auxiliary System Soul Master, who is always overlooked, is far more complex than he imagined. She has her own information network, keen observation skills, and the courage to lend a helping hand in critical moments.

They unexpectedly gained an extremely valuable and low-profile ally.

Lu Yuan walked out of the land temple. The afternoon sun was a bit dazzling, so he squinted and looked in the direction of Maple Leaf Town.

The town's silhouette lay quietly in the distance, with wisps of smoke rising from its chimneys, appearing peaceful and ordinary.

But he knew that beneath that calm surface, undercurrents were surging.

Clutching the bottle of lukewarm floral dew in his arms, Lu Yuan turned and strode toward the quarry.

His steps were steady.

It's time to go back. Heal my father's wounds, and then, go to the Silent Hills.

The new outpost must be established as soon as possible.

His "bills" have grown a few more. But at the same time, his "chips" seem to have increased as well.

The road ahead is long.