It seemed that the middle-aged man noticed Chen Ye’s hesitation, and he spoke slowly again: "This is the secret of the Listening Wind Pavilion, and since I have told you, the favor is already nullified, whether or not you are willing to go to Divine Mist Valley..."
...
"Qiuyun, I’m really counting on you this time."
After leaving the Listening Wind Pavilion, Chen Ye sincerely expressed his gratitude.
He did not expect that Li Qiuyun, who seemed to casually bring him to the Listening Wind Pavilion, had actually paid a life-saving favor behind the scenes.
The girl pouted nonchalantly:
"Uncle Chen! You’re overthinking it. This favor isn’t worth any Spirit Stones, it was from over a decade ago. If not used now, once Uncle Zhao retires, it will be of no use anymore!"
She spoke lightly, but Chen Ye could see that this favor was definitely not as valueless as Li Qiuyun said when it came to Li Yanfeng.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t have specially given the token to his daughter as a protective charm.
His heart warmed, feeling more and more that this girl was cold on the outside but warm on the inside.
"Uncle Chen, do you really... want to disguise as a woman and sneak in?"
Li Qiuyun recalled Shopkeeper Zhao’s words, and couldn’t help but show a strange smile, barely holding back her laughter.
Chen Ye’s old face blushed, and he coughed dryly: "Urgent times call for extraordinary measures. For Qing Jun, what does a little sacrifice matter?"
Seeing his embarrassed look, Li Qiuyun couldn’t help but smile.
She pinched her chin and said mischievously: "Don’t worry, Uncle Chen. Qiuyun’s makeup skills were taught by my mother, I guarantee that I will help dress Uncle Chen into... hmm, a beauty that can destroy a nation!"
Who told Uncle Chen to always joke around! Now it’s her turn!
"..."
Chen Ye felt a chill down his back.
However, now wasn’t the time to enter the Divine Mist Valley.
After all, the Mao Family had always been reclusive, and the Listening Wind Pavilion sought an appropriate opportunity, such as events like procurement, to arrange for Chen Ye’s identity swap.
So, the two of them headed for the Herb Pavilion first.
Along the way, they saw many Loose Cultivators hurrying with joy on their faces.
From their conversations, these Low Tier Loose Cultivators were all headed to the Secret Realm of the Mist Forest, and the girl said to hold a treasure.
"These Loose Cultivators are dreaming in broad daylight. The Mist Forest is located near the Moon Rhinoceros Lake District. If there were any Secret Realm, it wouldn’t be their turn. As for the girl holding the treasure, that’s even more laughable. Such a girl likely has significant background, might even be an old predecessor who has rejuvenated." Chen Ye shook his head.
Li Qiuyun agreed: "Most likely. These lower-level Loose Cultivators are just trying their luck, maybe just to join the excitement... I think, in the end, it won’t be them chasing the girl, but the girl chasing them!"
Her tone carried a hint of disdain.
If there really were an opportunity in the Secret Realm, ordinary Loose Cultivators wouldn’t stand a chance at it? Most would just be the cannon fodder.
Chen Ye nodded slightly at her words.
He was not interested in the so-called Secret Realm and did not want to get involved in these Loose Cultivators’ treasure hunt frenzy.
He no longer spoke, and together with Li Qiuyun, quickened their pace toward the Herb Pavilion in the Moon Rhinoceros Lake Market.
The Herb Pavilion at Moon Rhinoceros Lake was much larger than the one in Yunxi District, with a six-story building decorated with carved beams and painted rooftops, bustling with cultivators coming and going, appearing grand and impressive.
Chen Ye presented the Lingyin Sect steward token, and soon someone who looked like a steward welcomed them in.
The one responsible for receiving them was an amiable-looking old man in a yellow robe, who had a cultivation of the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, introducing himself as the steward of the Herb Pavilion, named Sun.
"Steward Chen has come a long way, thank you for your efforts." Steward Sun cordially led them into an elegant quiet chamber and ordered someone to serve Spirit Tea and snacks.
Chen Ye handed over the sect’s dispatch document, which Steward Sun carefully reviewed, smiling even broader: "So it’s Steward Tian Nong’s recommendation of Steward Chen, what an honor. Steward Chen’s Spirit Plant Technique is superb, having you here to assist will undoubtedly elevate our Moon Rhinoceros Lake Herb Pavilion."
"Steward Sun is too kind, I’m just arriving here, I rely on everyone for guidance." Chen Ye said humbly.
After a round of pleasantries, Steward Sun detailed Chen Ye’s mission for this visit.
It turned out that the Moon Rhinoceros Lake Herb Pavilion had a backyard filled with a medicinal garden for cultivating relatively delicate and hard-to-grow Spiritual Medicines.
However, the market had been busy lately and the pavilion was short-handed, so that garden had been somewhat neglected, with several rare Spiritual Medicines showing varying degrees of ailments.
Steward Sun’s intention was to invite Chen Ye, the new Spirit Plant expert, to help manage that garden and restore the vitality of those weak and diseased Spiritual Medicines.
This task sounded quite relaxed, exactly to Chen Ye’s liking.
He agreed to take it on immediately.
Vice Steward Sun was especially pleased with his willingness and promptly ordered someone to lead both Chen Ye and Li Qiuyun to the backyard medicinal garden and settle them in.
The medicinal garden was located deep in the herb pavilion’s backyard, with a serene environment and Spiritual Qi that was denser than in front.
Inside, there were several exquisite bamboo huts, likely intended as Chen Ye’s residence.
After settling in, Li Qiuyun took her leave, saying she needed to visit a distant cousin working at the Moon Rhinoceros Lake District.
Chen Ye stood alone in the garden, looking at the Spiritual Medicines that were either wilting or with yellowing leaves, feeling a peaceful harmony.
Here, away from the clamor and disputes, only the scent of vegetation and the aroma of the soil remained.
He took a deep breath and felt that the weariness and worries of recent days had dissipated considerably in this moment of tranquility.
"Well then, let us tend to the farmies here peacefully."
Chen Ye’s lips curved into a gentle smile, he reached out, lightly brushing a curled leaf of the Purple Orchid Grass, infusing it slowly with pure Wood Element Spiritual Power.