Chapter 366: Seeking Help from Senior Brother
A few days ago, Ning Zhuo borrowed the Lingyin Willow to comprehend the Diagram of Comprehension, and the insights he gained were even more profound.
Such a treasure must not be easily exposed.
Otherwise, it would easily arouse greed, and might even lead to disaster.
Human nature cannot withstand such a test.
Although his current relationship with Lin Shanshan was good, and his relationship with the entire Wanyaomen was also favorable, he would never reveal the Lingyin Willow to test the nature of the people in Wanyaomen.
There was no need to trigger this unnecessary risk.
After Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong's comprehension, six branches of the Lingyin Willow had completely withered.
The bare branches made one’s heart ache.
Moreover, the Lingyin Willow, out of survival instinct, had absorbed the entire block of soil that its roots had entangled, draining it completely.
The soil had exhausted its nutrients and turned into a patch of sand.
Even so, the six branches of the Lingyin Willow remained withered, showing only a slight luster, with very minimal recovery.
Ning Zhuo was naturally worried that this state would gradually lead the Lingyin Willow to an even worse condition.
Therefore, transplanting it as soon as possible became the top priority.
"Even if it can't fully recover, at least we need to maintain its current state."
The Lingyin Willow was at the Golden Core level.
The higher a life form's level, the greater its external needs.
It couldn't go on like this anymore!
Under the pressing circumstances, Ning Zhuo thought for a moment and could only seek help from Lin Shanshan.
As expected, Lin Shanshan did not refuse him.
After a moment of contemplation, the young lady said, "This is indeed a difficult matter."
"Our Wanyaomen has many records and classics. I can lead you to look through the catalogues and search."
"We need to first confirm what kind of spiritual plant this is. This, young master, you will have to determine yourself."
"Once it's confirmed, we can look at how to learn from the relevant materials, depending on their level of confidentiality."
"If it's of a very high grade, I'm afraid I alone won't be able to help."
Ning Zhuo sighed, "I have a bad feeling about this. When the Mountain God entrusted it to me, his expression was solemn. He emphasized it so much that this spiritual plant is probably extraordinary."
"Alas, I had no choice but to trouble you, Miss Lin. If it's too difficult, then forget it."
Hearing him say this, Lin Shanshan made up her mind. No matter how difficult it was, she would make every effort to help.
She encouraged him, "How can we easily give up without trying?"
"We might as well give it a shot. At least we need to confirm what it is."
"I may not have enough strength on my own, but I can always ask others for help."
Ning Zhuo quickly expressed his gratitude.
Thus, Lin Shanshan led Ning Zhuo to the library again to search through the classics on spiritual plant cultivation.
True to the reputation of Wanyaomen, such records were vast, like a sea of books.
But the Lingyin Willow was indeed rare.
After browsing for most of the day, Ning Zhuo finally selected a few books, including *"Strange Plants of Ancient Times,"* *"Exotic Flowers of the Immortal Garden,"* and *"Tales of Spiritual Elixirs."*
Ning Zhuo showed an apologetic expression to Lin Shanshan, "Miss Lin, I think it's in these few books. Just from the catalogue, there are many similarities."
Lin Shanshan held her forehead and sighed, "My goodness, the levels of these manuals are all at the highest tier."
Ning Zhuo felt a bit at a loss, "If it's too much trouble for Miss Lin, let's just forget it. I'll think of another way, I'll find another way."
Lin Shanshan shook her head, "You’ve just arrived here, unfamiliar with the place and its people. I'm your only friend..."
At this point, the young lady gritted her teeth and said, "I'll do my best to fight for you. Please return for now and await my news."
After thanking Lin Shanshan, Ning Zhuo left.
Lin Shanshan bit her lip and paced back and forth for a few moments, realizing that asking her father for help was basically impossible.
Even if her father agreed, it would violate the sect’s rules.
As the precious daughter of the sect master, she naturally had to set an example in abiding by the rules and didn't want to cause such an incident.
"I’ll go to Senior Brother first. His authority is much higher than mine."
Lin Shanshan then headed to the back mountain of Dazheng Peak, crossing a deep pool and waterfall path before arriving inside the Myriad Monster Cave.
"Little junior sister, why are you here to see me at this time?" Senior Brother Linghu Jiu was pleasantly surprised to see Lin Shanshan.
Lin Shanshan spoke directly, "Senior Brother, I need your help with something."
"What is it? Just say it!" Linghu Jiu laughed heartily, sitting by the stone bed and waving his arm generously.
Lin Shanshan smiled and walked closer, "It's like this. Senior Brother, do you remember Young Master Ning Zhuo?"
Linghu Jiu's eyes flashed slightly, and he laughed loudly, "How could I not know? These past few days, every time you brought me food, you mentioned him. I've heard so much about him that my ears are getting calluses."
Lin Shanshan chuckled and said, "Senior Brother, did you know? Young Master Ning Zhuo had a fortuitous encounter on the Misty Hidden Mountain and was gifted a mysterious spiritual plant by the Mountain God. It’s an extraordinary plant, reaching the level of Golden Core..."
Lin Shanshan then explained the situation in detail.
Linghu Jiu listened attentively, the smile on his lips gradually fading.
"So that's how it is." Linghu Jiu rubbed his chin.
Lin Shanshan said, "With my authority, I can't retrieve those high-level manuals from the library. I have no choice but to ask for Senior Brother's identity token."
"As for the corresponding sect contributions, I will repay you slowly."
Linghu Jiu pondered, "So many manuals... that would consume quite a lot of sect points. Junior Sister, have you thought it through? Are you really going to help him this much?"
"You’ve already helped him a lot these days."
"Repaying all these sect points will take a long time."
"If you ask me, just exchange one book for him. It wouldn't be too much of a burden for you."
Lin Shanshan shook her head, "That won't do. We've only looked at the catalogues and summaries. If the manual we exchange doesn’t contain the relevant information, we’d have to exchange again."
"It’s better to do it all at once and exchange everything."
"As for the sect points, although it’s a lot, I can repay it slowly, and I'll eventually pay it off."
"I remember Senior Brother has the most sect points anyway, and you don't use them much. Just lend them to me first!"
Linghu Jiu sighed, "Since Junior Sister asks, what else can I say?"
He touched the head of the bed and took out his identity token.
Standing up, he walked over to Lin Shanshan and handed her the token.
As he got closer, Linghu Jiu suddenly sniffed the air, "Wait, what’s that smell?"
"Wine!"
"What a wonderful fragrance!"
"It seems like... it seems like Warm Autumn Wine?"
"Junior Sister, did you get Warm Autumn Wine but didn't share it with your Senior Brother?"
Lin Shanshan sniffed herself, "Why can't I smell it? I wash up every day."
She rolled her eyes at Linghu Jiu, "Wine, wine, wine, all you think about is drinking. Warm Autumn Wine is at the Golden Core level, it's medicinal wine, used to heal Ning Zhuo. Yet you want to use it to satisfy your appetite!"
"Maybe I picked up some of the scent while training Ning Zhuo and teaching him martial techniques."
Lin Shanshan took Linghu Jiu’s identity token.
"Senior Brother, you've really helped me a lot this time, thank you so much."
She playfully waved her hand at Linghu Jiu and turned to leave.
"Wait!" Linghu Jiu suddenly felt a void in his heart and reached out to call after her.
Lin Shanshan stopped a few steps away, turning back with a puzzled look at Senior Brother.
Linghu Jiu opened his mouth slightly, thought for a moment, and said, "Be careful..."
Before he could finish, Lin Shanshan cut him off, "Of course I know!"
"Don't worry, Senior Brother."
"If Young Master Ning Zhuo were seeking cultivation methods for ordinary herbs, it could be to gather information for the Ning family and compete with our Wanyaomen."
"But he's seeking methods for cultivating rare and precious herbs. That won't harm our sect."
"I know what I'm doing!"
"See you tomorrow."
After speaking, Lin Shanshan hurried out of the cave.
Linghu Jiu stood in place, feeling melancholy.
"I was telling you to be careful of yourself."
After a long while, he sighed and turned back to lie down on the stone bed.
He closed his eyes, preparing to sleep.
But his mind was restless, and he couldn’t fall asleep.
He felt something was wrong, and after thinking carefully, he suddenly realized something!
"The medicinal wine Ning Zhuo drank... how did Junior Sister get the scent of wine on her?"
"Teaching martial techniques..."
"How was she teaching?!"
Thinking of this, Linghu Jiu suddenly sat up
, his face no longer relaxed and carefree, but filled with urgency and anxiety.
All along, he had been content with being punished to guard the Myriad Monster Cave, finding joy in it.
But now, he was restless and wanted to leave the cave.
He calculated the time.
"Why do I still have several months before I can go out?!"
Elsewhere, Lin Shanshan hurriedly used Linghu Jiu's identity token to exchange for several secret manuals.
She disguised herself and entered Xiao Zheng Peak to meet Ning Zhuo.
"Mission accomplished!" She handed all the manuals to Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo was overjoyed, "Miss Lin, you've really helped me tremendously!"
"If not for your full support, it would have been difficult for me to obtain these precious manuals. I am infinitely grateful."
"How could someone like me have the fortune to befriend a lady like you? Your help is like a timely rain, solving my urgent need. Truly, I am beyond fortunate."
"A lady as talented and beautiful as you, for me to receive your assistance is like a gift from the heavens!"
"I will remember today’s kindness, and if there is ever a chance in the future, I will do my utmost to repay it."
Lin Shanshan's cheeks flushed slightly from the praise, "Young Master Ning, you flatter me, no need to be so formal."
Seeing Ning Zhuo's excited and sincere demeanor, the heavy price she had secretly paid now seemed light and insignificant.
All along, in the sect, Lin Shanshan had been the one receiving help and deference.
She had never helped anyone in such a way!
Even if she had, it was for familiar faces in daily life, and only for small favors.
But for a friend like Ning Zhuo, whom she hadn't known for long, there was still much unfamiliarity and novelty. And the extent of help she provided was so great.
This was an unprecedented experience in Lin Shanshan's life.
Though their time together had been short, Lin Shanshan believed in Ning Zhuo's character and believed that her wholehearted assistance would lead to a beautiful outcome.
(End of this chapter)