"Almost done."
After leaving Luoli Courtyard, Chen Ye looked at the obviously improved medicinal garden in front of him, estimating in his mind.
The task given to him by Peak Master Pang was to take care of Baiqi Garden and restore some of its earth power.
The current scene was considered an overachievement.
He initially had no intention of staying here for long, just wanted to complete the task quickly, so he could have more time to accompany his disciples and focus on cultivation.
However, during this period, the progress of the Spirit Plant Technique was rapid.
Especially the Disease Removal Saber, which successfully broke the limit!
[Disease Removal Saber Technique Limit Break: 3/800]
During skill upgrades, the most significant change often occurs after a limit break.
As for later stages like master and grandmaster, there is no qualitative change.
Even for the Evergreen Technique, it’s the same.
After the Evergreen Technique breaks its limit, a unique strand of vitality miraculously generates from the spiritual power, and subsequent breakthroughs are nothing more than nourishing and strengthening this strand of vitality, without qualitative changes.
Of course, perhaps in future breakthroughs, there might be qualitative changes, but Chen Ye has not yet reached that realm.
After the Disease Removal Saber Technique broke its limit,
in Chen Ye’s eyes, all things in the world, whether grass, trees, mountains, or stones, seemed to faintly reveal inner veins and patterns similar to Spirit Plants.
This insight made the sharpness of the Disease Removal Saber Technique no longer limited to dealing with Spirit Plants, and its application was incomparable to before.
"Hey! Chen!"
Bai Susu, with her hands on her hips and golden hair swaying in the breeze, raised her voice,
"The garden renovation today is so-so, as expected of my lady’s slave!"
Chen Ye stopped the work in his hands.
Indeed,
he was going to hand over Baiqi Garden to Peak Master Pang today, so naturally, he wanted to tidy the garden a bit before leaving, so other stewards could inspect it.
Upon hearing Bai Susu’s call, he straightened up, his face maintaining the usual, respectful yet somewhat distant smile: "What orders does Junior Martial Uncle Bai have?"
Over the past seven days, although Bai Susu did not stop him from rearranging the garden, she occasionally made some strange requests.
Sometimes she would ask him to transplant the Mourning Orchid from the east to the west just because she felt the flower’s weeping affected her cultivation;
Other times she ordered him to catch the Spirit Bees buzzing around the Soul-Devouring Flower, under the guise of cleaning the portal.
Chen Ye complied with everything, not daring to show a hint of impatience.
Bai Susu snorted lightly, walked up to Chen Ye, raised her small face, and asked with a slightly accusatory tone: "Why did you come so late today? This is my Bai Susu’s medicinal garden! How dare you slack off!"
This little girl, did she really take him as a servant?
Chen Ye showed a look of apology: "I hope Junior Martial Uncle Bai can forgive me, I needed to consolidate my cultivation, so I wasted a bit of time."
"Hmph! I thought you wouldn’t dare to slack off!"
Seeing his respectful attitude, Bai Susu’s pride swelled a bit more.
No matter how dignified you are in front of your two disciples, in front of me, you can only be respectful!
She cleared her throat, clasped her small hands behind her back, imitating the demeanor of sect elders, and began to "inspect" Baiqi Garden.
"This Heart-Eroding Grass is too young, with mixed Demonic Qi, useless, pull it out!"
"That Blood Wisteria is growing well, but the Yin Evil Flower next to it hinders its growth, remove them together."
"And this... what’s this again? Never mind, it looks annoying, pull it out too!"
Bai Susu pointed with command, showing a posture of overseeing her own backyard.
Listening to her, Chen Ye’s eyelids twitched, as these were all middle or upper grade Spirit Plants, each of considerable value.
Moreover, wasn’t this little girl very attached to these Spirit Plants?
He cautiously said, "Junior Martial Uncle Bai, these are the Spirit Plants left by True Man Bai..."
Bai Susu squinted her eyes: "Who are you to question me? You ungrateful dog!"
Chen Ye gritted his teeth, really wanting to put Bai Susu over his lap and give her a spanking.
Although he used to ridicule the main character’s behavior in certain stories,
now, in his case, he truly wanted to dish out some punishment...
"But... what if the sect holds us accountable?"
"Hmm? What’s a few Spirit Plants? At most say they died in treatment. If that doesn’t work, just say your master ordered it!"
Hearing this, Chen Ye could only silently excavate the Spirit Plants Bai Susu had marked.
After excavating, they naturally ended up in his storage bag.
One upper grade Spirit Plant, three middle grade Spirit Plants.
Altogether worth nearly two hundred Spirit Stones!
Though their price was discounted due to the disease, it wasn’t a problem for Chen Ye.
After making a round, Bai Susu also felt a bit tired, finally clasped her small hands behind her back, and prepared to leave with satisfaction.
Before leaving, she didn’t forget to turn around and authoritatively instructed Chen Ye: "Remember, I will come again tomorrow. If this garden isn’t well-organized, see how I’ll punish you!"
Chen Ye agreed, still respectful in his tone.
Though he wouldn’t be here tomorrow, tidying Baiqi Garden was more than sufficient...
...
The day of reporting for duty arrived, and Chen Ye came to the Peak Master Hall.
Upon entering, he saw a young cultivator in sky-blue attire, conversing happily with Peak Master Pang.
The cultivator’s face was handsome, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and his cultivation had reached the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer, with an extraordinary aura.
"Steward Chen is here,"
Peak Master Pang raised his eyes in indication, a gentle smile on his face,
"How did the task at Baiqi Garden go?"
The young cultivator also turned his head upon hearing, his gaze falling on Chen Ye, with a polite smile and a slight nod, but he remained silent.
Chen Ye’s heart moved slightly,
This person seemed to be an Inner Sect disciple, but his energy was far superior to Zhao Qing’s.
He showed no sign of it: "The Spirit Plants in Baiqi Garden have preliminarily regained vitality, and I came to report to the Peak Master."
"Oh? I thought Steward Chen would need an extension..."
Peak Master Pang was slightly surprised, then said,
"Very well, I’ll have someone go with you to check. If there are no issues, the task will be considered complete."
He immediately summoned two stewards and instructed them to head to Baiqi Garden.
Half an hour later, the two stewards returned to the Herb Hall with peculiar expressions on their faces.
Peak Master Pang took a sip of tea and casually asked, "How is it?"
One of the stewards looked at Chen Ye with amazement, full of admiration:
"Reporting to Peak Master, Baiqi Garden has been managed by Steward Chen and is indeed completely renewed! His Spirit Plant Technique is mature and skilled, even allowing most of the spirit plants to regain vitality! This assessment can be considered perfect!"
Another steward was actually an acquaintance of Chen Ye.
It was Zhou Mingyuan.
He looked up at Chen Ye and still reported truthfully:
"However, it seems that four spirit plants are missing from the garden."
Zhou Mingyuan deliberately covered up for Chen Ye, using the Spring and Autumn Pen Technique to describe one upper grade and three middle grade spirit plants as four spirit plants, which had a very different meaning.
Embezzling four ordinary spirit plants is indeed a bit excessive.
But considering the special situation of Baiqi Garden, it was reasonable.
Yet what happened next was beyond Zhou Mingyuan’s expectations.
"Hmm?" Peak Master Pang frowned slightly, putting down the teacup, "Steward Chen, what happened to the spirit plants in this courtyard? Why are four missing?"
Before Chen Ye could speak, a young cultivator gently defended him:
"Peak Master Pang, although these spirit plants are extraordinary in grade, they have long been neglected in Baiqi Garden and may be beyond saving. Steward Chen had no choice but to... it’s a pity. Though the sect imposes penalties for damaged rare spirit plants, considering Steward Chen’s new arrival and great effort, it shouldn’t be too harsh."
Peak Master Pang’s face darkened upon hearing this:
"Baiqi Garden is a piece of spiritual soil; no matter how neglected, it’s still spiritual soil! True Man Bai has even protected these spirit plants with essence qi, making it difficult for even ordinary disciples to ruin them! Could it be..."
The young cultivator waved his hand: "Peak Master, don’t wrong Steward Chen. I believe Steward Chen to be a righteous person who would never commit such shameless acts as hiding spirit plants. Steward Chen, don’t you agree?"
He turned to Chen Ye, his smile still gentle, yet his eyes carried a hint of superiority.
Chen Ye observed both their expressions, feeling puzzled.
These two played off each other, but it was clear the orchestrator was this young cultivator.
Yet he was entirely unfamiliar to Chen Ye...
"Indeed, they were not killed."
Chen Ye’s tone was calm, but he didn’t retrieve the spirit plants from his storage bag.
Since Zhou Mingyuan had covered for him, taking them out directly would not help him.
"However, these four spirit plants were gifted by Junior Martial Uncle Bai!"
"Junior Martial Uncle Bai?" The young cultivator’s smile momentarily froze, almost thinking he had misheard, "Do you mean... Bai Susu, True Inheritor Bai?"
He then chuckled ironically, the gentle smile fading, turning instead into a subtle sneer:
"With True Inheritor Bai’s temperament, why would he gift spirit plants to you unprovoked? Do you think we wouldn’t dare verify it with True Inheritor Bai, hence you’re speaking nonsense here?"
This young cultivator was, of course, Xu Qingsong.
Xu Qingsong had deliberately come to Herb Peak on Chen Ye’s reporting day,
If something happened to Chen Ye, he could silently take the bastard back to the Xu Family.
If Chen Ye was lucky and Bai Susu hadn’t visited Baiqi Garden these days, he intended to find another way to handle Chen Ye.
Of course, if all else failed, there was one final method...
But for now, there was no need for further action!
However, upon hearing this, Peak Master Pang fell silent.
He pondered for a moment, then suddenly slapped his forehead, as if realizing with a great revelation:
"Oh! I almost forgot! Recently Herb Peak disciples reported that Junior Martial Uncle Bai has indeed been frequenting Baiqi Garden... It must be that Junior Martial Uncle Bai saw the hard work Steward Chen did in tending to the medicinal garden and rewarded him. Yes, that must be it."
He spoke with absolute certainty, as if he had witnessed it himself.
Xu Qingsong stiffened, his mind racing.
This Pang Tianning, truly becoming more useless with age!
Trying to curry favor, yet unwilling to offend Chen Ye...
In reality, even if it were a gift from True Inheritor Bai, so what?
Find an excuse to send him to the edge of the Yan Kingdom, easily done.
Afterward, True Inheritor Bai probably wouldn’t notice the disappearance of such a small fry!
Luckily, he never showed any hostility to Chen Ye and even tried to speak for him.
"I see, it was my oversight."
Xu Qingsong quickly resumed smiling, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes,
"Since it’s a gift from Junior Martial Uncle Bai, naturally, it’s what Steward Chen deserves!"
Seeing the situation was about resolved, Peak Master Pang smiled to mediate:
"Alright, alright, since this matter is clear, let’s follow Steward Chen’s word. With the hope of reviving Baiqi Garden’s spirit plants resting on Steward Chen’s contribution, The sect has clear rewards and penalties, the follow-up rewards will be sent to Luoli Courtyard by the Foreign Affairs Hall disciples."
He paused, meaningfully glancing at Xu Qingsong:
"Nephew Xu Qingsong, although Steward Chen hasn’t been in the sect for long, I have witnessed his proficiency in the Spirit Plant Technique myself, which is indeed remarkable. In the future, if there is anything needed, nephew might consider getting closer to Steward Chen."
Xu Qingsong?
Chen Ye felt a chill in his heart.
How could he not be aware of this name?
Qing Jun hailed from the Xu Family, and after arriving at Lingyin Sect, he also inquired about the Xu Family.
Xu Qingsong was the second son of the Xu Family and an inner sect disciple of Cloud Peak!
Xu Qingsong smiled and cupped his hands: "Peak Master is right, in the future, I shall seek guidance from Steward Chen more often."
...
After Chen Ye bid farewell.
Inside the Peak Master Hall, only Pang Tianning and Xu Qingsong remained.
Peak Master Pang said with a cheerful smile, "Nephew, you saw it too, it’s not that I don’t want to help you... It’s that behind him is True Inheritor Bai, I don’t dare to offend. With my old bones, I really can’t take the risk."
Xu Qingsong twitched his lips and courteously bowed, "Thank you, Peak Master Pang, for your assistance, Qingsong is immensely grateful! I have urgent matters to discuss with Steward Chen, so I take my leave for now!"
Pang Tianning watched Xu Qingsong’s departing figure and took a sip of tea.
He had long thought about it, if anything happened to Chen Ye, he wouldn’t mind helping Xu Qingsong.
But if Chen Ye was safe and sound, he wouldn’t want to get involved in the conflict between the two.
After all,
Back then, True Man Bai resided in Herb Peak for some time.
One reason was for Baiqi Garden, and another was to practice swordsmanship at the neighboring Purple Mist Peak, rumored to have tutored a child for an instructor for a while...
Therefore, Pang Tianning remembered True Man Bai’s appearance vividly, how could he not notice the resemblance between Chen Ye and True Man Bai?
"No matter if Bai Susu holds good or ill will towards him, in the end, there’s an interest there..."