Chapter 36

After work, Jiang Zhi pulled Li Jian to find him, grinning as he asked him to treat him to drinks.

Shan Heyuan thanked them for helping to cover for him and agreed without hesitation.

The three found a small tavern, ordered some spirit wine and dishes, Shan Heyuan asked, "Why did the leader suddenly come to inspect?"

Jiang Zhi casually remarked, "Just bored, huh?"

Li Jian raised his hand and pushed him. "Be careful, the walls may be listening. Don't say anything strange."

Jiang Zhi took a sip of his drink, seemingly unconcerned.

Li Jian explained, "Those two disciples are from the Sword Reverence Sect. Today, a Daoist priest from the Sword Reverence Sect came to inquire about their situation and, accompanied by the leaders, visited each office, asking everyone to pay close attention to the Verdant Dwelling Grass."

Shan Heyuan asked in surprise, "They are disciples of the Sword Reverence Sect, so why are they at the Sword Reverence Academy?"

Li Jian: "Every year, disciples from the Sword Reverence Sect attend Sword Reverence Academy. After Sect Leader Shen took over, Sword Reverence Academy has reserved a certain number of places for the Sword Reverence Sect without taking the entrance exam every year."

Jiang Zhi winked and said, "You know, he's a second-generation Xiu."

Shan Heyuan's attention was drawn to the surname of the Sword Reverence Sect leader. "The Sword Reverence Sect leader's surname is Shen?"

Jiang Zhi: "Yes, Sect Leader Shen is also a second-generation cultivator. He took over the position of sect leader at a very young age. He is truly a young genius."

Li Jian added, "The Shen Household is a Sword Reverence Sect."

Shan Heyuan nodded, and couldn't help but think of Shen Duheng. They both shared the surname Shen; could Shen Duheng be a Shen Household?

Jiang Zhi raised his glass. "These second-generation cultivators have nothing to do with us. It would be taboo to talk about them too much. Let's drink!"

Jiang Zhi and Li Jian were both geniuses from small towns. Later, they were admitted to the Sword Reverence Academy and stayed on to teach.

Needless to say, Shan Heyuan was still an Earthling who had transmigrated to a small town, which is why the others had something in common.

Those genius disciples from the major sects really had nothing to do with them.

If Shan Heyuan didn't know Shen Duheng...

Shan Heyuan raised his glass, took a sip absentmindedly, and was still thinking about Shen Duheng.

Shen Duheng said he went out to run some errands, and no one knows what he's doing now.

Hopefully he's not from the Sword Reverence Sect Shen Household of Fengjian Sect, otherwise things will get complicated.

If the people he hates are truly from the Shen Household, how will he end up? Will he take revenge and then become a fugitive?

Shan Heyuan drank cup after cup with Jiang Zhi and Li Jian. The more they drank, the more active their minds became. They even thought about which sect's territory they should flee to in the future, and what Shen Duheng's revenge was related to the Sword Reverence Sect.

He thought about so much, but he still couldn't realize that even if there was a real grudge, it was Shen Duheng's grudge, and it didn't really concern him.

After leaving the party, a tipsy Shan Heyuan quickly summoned a tabby cat and was carried home by it.

It's cold outside, but the tabby cat is warm and cozy, so it runs fast and steadily.

When Shan Heyuan got home, he was almost asleep. Looking at the warm yellow light shining from the yard, he didn't react for a moment. He had clearly checked before leaving and even activated the protective barrier, so why was there a light in the yard?

Just as he was lost in thought, a tall figure emerged from behind the door, his strong arms supporting him. "Are you drunk?"

The figure that had been swirling in his mind all night suddenly appeared before him. Shan Heyuan looked up at Shen Duheng, who was standing close at hand. "Brother Shen?"

Shen Duheng gave the tabby cat a spirit pearl, then effortlessly pulled the person into the courtyard. "It's me."

Shan Heyuan reached out and patted him haphazardly a few times. "You're back? Are you alright?"

Shen Duheng's tone was tinged with amusement. "How could I be injured?"

"I don't know." Shan Heyuan looked at him with blurry, drunken eyes. "I'm afraid your enemy is particularly powerful," so I'm worried you might get hurt.

Shen Duheng paused for a moment. "Don't worry unnecessarily, I haven't sought revenge."

Chapter 36

When Shen Duheng returned, the chilly atmosphere in the courtyard vanished instantly.

Shan Heyuan was placed in a chair and waited blankly for Shen Duheng to return with the sweet soup.

The sweet soup warming on the stove emitted a sweet and comforting aroma.

This atmosphere filled the entire courtyard.

Shan Heyuan himself seemed to be bathed in this sweet and warm atmosphere, and his already sluggish thinking became even more sluggish because of the emotions.

His gaze involuntarily followed Shen Duheng's figure.

Shen Duheng, a sword cultivator with such a cold and aloof demeanor, seemed incredibly reliable and dependable to him at this moment.

It was rare to see Shan Heyuan sitting there so blankly in the chair, his deep brown eyes staring unblinkingly at someone.

Shen Duheng smiled and touched the soup bowl to his cheek, "What are you looking at?"

Shan Heyuan muttered, "Why did it take you so long to come back?"

Shen Duheng's smile froze abruptly, and after a long pause, he shoved the soup into his hand. "Have some soup."

Shan Heyuan's thoughts were clouded by the alcohol, but her eyes remained fixed on him, following his every move. "Where did you go? I wanted to send you a communication talisman several times, but I was afraid of bothering you."

Shen Duheng reached out and gently placed his hand in front of his eyes, then brought the bowl to his lips. "You're drunk. Drink the soup and go to sleep early."

"Wait a minute... um, is this soup from the shop at the end of the alley?"

"Just bought it. Look at their freshly made sweet soup; it has your favorite amber balm in it."

Slightly drunk, Shan Heyuan was more docile than usual and was quickly fooled.

When he woke up the next day, he remembered what had happened the day before, but he couldn't bring himself to ask the question no matter how many times he tried.

He stood on the stairs, staring at Shen Duheng's back for a long time.

Shen Duheng turned his head. "You've grown the Verdant Dwelling Grass?"

Shan Heyuan nodded, looked into Shen Duheng's eyes, and said, "I might need to use it to save the disciples of the Sword Reverence Sect."

Shen Duheng's expression remained unchanged. "A good thing, a meritorious deed."

After observing for a long time without finding any flaws, Shan Heyuan had no choice but to give up his attempt to probe.

The Verdant Dwelling Grass is a matter of life and death.

After Shan Heyuan planted the first plant, he encouraged the seed that had been soaking in spiritual liquid to sprout, and then planted them all in the courtyard. He nourished them day and night with spiritual liquid, and carefully nurtured them with the techniques of the "Spring Transformation Art".

After being exposed to sunlight, the two stalks of Verdant Dwelling Grass quickly turned green.

Within a few days, the lush leaves turned emerald green, releasing a refreshing fragrance that enveloped the entire courtyard.

Every day when Shan Heyuan returns home, as soon as he pushes open the courtyard gate, he can see the Verdant Dwelling Grass that makes the courtyard glow and smell its refreshing fragrance.

The unique, refreshing fragrance was so strong that it attracted a large number of cats and dogs to lie down in the alley.

He added an extra layer of protection to prevent any unscrupulous thieves from stealing, and even asked the cats and dogs to keep an eye on things.

The cats and dogs all puffed out their chests and agreed.

Shan Heyuan originally planned to wait until the Verdant Dwelling Grass grew taller and matured before handing it over to the courtyard.

Before he could even speak, the scent of the Verdant Dwelling Grass on his body was enough to make him recognized.

The moment Huai Liu invited him to her office, Shan Heyuan felt a little flustered.

Huai Liu's attitude towards him was quite gentle. After looking him over repeatedly, she smiled at him and said, "I didn't expect our institute to have such a talented planter."

Shan Heyuan was alone with the Nascent Soul Realm dean, he showed some nervousness. "Dean, the Verdant Dwelling Grass has just been planted and is not growing very well. I originally wanted to wait until they grew a bit more mature before bringing them to the courtyard."

Huai Liu nodded. "Planters always strive for perfection, and that's our philosophy too. However, this involves two lives, so it's better to process it into medicine as soon as possible. Do you have the Verdant Dwelling Grass at home? Would it be convenient for us to go and get it?"

Shan Heyuan hurriedly said, "My home is in a remote area, so it might be inconvenient for me to go there. I'll go get it myself."

Seeing his reluctance, Huai Liu didn't insist. "Then I'll trouble you."

Shan Heyuan hurriedly flew home on his sword to retrieve two Verdant Dwelling Grass, and then rushed back.

Many of the scholars who heard the news stood outside the Dean's office, eagerly awaiting the news.