Gazing at the white-clothed young man before her, Lin Shanshan's heart was filled with a strange sensation.
This feeling was something she had never experienced in her more than twenty years of life.
"Turns out to be Young Master Ning Zhuo, if you wish to seek knowledge and guidance, you should head to Yuanlai Mountain. What are you doing behind Great Struggle Peak?"
Lin Shanshan struggled to calm her emotions.
Ning Zhuo's waist was bound with the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon.
Hidden within the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon, Sun Lingtong watched the interesting scene unfold, and upon hearing Lin Shanshan's question, couldn't help but answer on his own, "Of course, it's because I saw you that I especially came here."
Ning Zhuo had established his travel objectives based on the jade slip provided by Ning Jiufan, as well as some intelligence he had acquired from Meng Yaoyin.
Mist Hidden Mountain was the first, and Ten Thousand Medicine Valley was the second.
Years ago, the Ning Family moved their entire clan, ingeniously traveling through underground rivers to evade the blockade of powerful enemies on the surface.
The cave mouth where they emerged from the underground river was now known as the Myriad Demons Cave, guarded by Linghu Jiu.
When the entire Ning Family arrived in Ten Thousand Medicine Valley, it caused quite a stir at the time.
The large sect of the valley, the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, excelled at Alchemy and healing. Stricken by exhaustion, the entire Ning Family had reached their limits and chose to stay and recuperate for an extended period within the valley.
At that time, Meng Yaoyin had some complications with her pregnancy, and it was thanks to a magic treasure from the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, named the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat, that a crisis was averted.
Meng Yaoyin, having become a Mechanical Buddha Doctor, had shared this experience with Ning Zhuo as a conversation piece during her moments of clarity.
Ning Zhuo's main goal for this journey was to obtain the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat. Furthermore, he also intended to look for the living necessities the Ning Family had used in Ten Thousand Medicine Valley during those years.
Sun Lingtong controlled the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon through the void and arrived at Ten Thousand Medicine Valley.
He first quietly came out with Ning Zhuo, disguised their appearance, and collected much intelligence on the area.
Therefore, the two of them had a good understanding of the general situation of the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect. They knew that the lady before them, Lin Shanshan, was the only descendant of the current Sect Leader Lin Bufan, practically the young lady of this large sect.
Although she wasn't at the core of power, her influence on the upper echelons was extraordinary.
Thus, after Sun Ning deliberated together, they engineered this current "coincidental meeting."
Divine Skills—Life Hanging Thread!
As soon as Ning Zhuo met face-to-face with Lin Shanshan, he sowed his divine skill within her.
Then he used the Buddha Heart Demon Seal in secret, augmenting her favorable impression of Ning Zhuo himself.
When Ning Zhuo was at the Qi Refining Early Stage, he was already able to harness the trace power of the Buddha Heart Demon Seal to influence people beyond his rank, like his uncle Ning Ze, the three ghosts of the Huang Family, and even to resist the scrutiny of Golden Core Cultivators.
Now, Ning Zhuo had already become a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and Lin Shanshan's cultivation was merely at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.
With both at the same level, Ning Zhuo found it very easy to influence her.
Ning Zhuo quickly clasped his hands in an apologetic gesture, saying he had just come from that direction and wanted to head to the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect as soon as possible, not knowing this place was Great Struggle Peak and therefore had mistakenly wandered here.
Lin Shanshan smiled, approaching Ning Zhuo and indicating it was no trouble.
"Great Struggle Peak is no longer a forbidden area."
"Many years ago, the Myriad Demons Cave was cleared of demon beasts and is now very safe."
"You don't need to worry too much, Ning Zhuo."
"Our Ten Thousand Medicine Sect has always welcomed cultivators like you from outside our sect. Our philosophy is to be accepting and broad, to do good and befriend others."
Ning Zhuo immediately praised her, "I had long heard of such an excellent and distinguished sect and have always admired it. That's why I have traveled so far to come here."
"To tell the truth, I was quite apprehensive in my heart."
"But seeing you, Miss, and hearing these few simple words, has greatly comforted me."
"I am no longer that nervous, thank you, Miss Lin."
Lin Shanshan smiled, "You're too polite."
"People don't blame those who are courteous." As Ning Zhuo said this, he naturally took out a Mist Embroidery Orchid from his Storage Waist Belt, "This gift is for Miss Lin as a token of our meeting. I am new here, and I would like to ask for a little help from you, Miss Lin."
Lin Shanshan did not accept the Mist Embroidery Orchid, just smiled, "What do you need help with?"
Ning Zhuo then said, "As a newcomer to this place, I'm concerned about inadvertently trespassing forbidden areas. Seeing that you are a local cultivator, Miss Lin, I boldly ask if you could guide me to Little Struggle Peak, may I?"
Lin Shanshan nodded, "That's a small matter, just follow me. As for this gift, I won't accept it."
As the young lady of the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, Lin Shanshan had seen many rare flowers and herbs. This ordinary Mist Embroidery Orchid didn't catch her eye at all.
Immediately, Lin Shanshan led Ning Zhuo on the trail.
The two walked among the mountains and forests, with Lin Shanshan slightly ahead, leading by half a step.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the trees, scattering a dappled pattern of light and shadow on the grass and the shady forest pathways.
The mountain breeze gently caressed the area, leaves rustling, birds chirping clearly, and streams babbling, creating a scene that was as picturesque as a painting.
Lin Shanshan took the initiative to speak, introducing to Ning Zhuo the general situation of the Ten Thousand Medicine Valley and the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect.
Ning Zhuo pretended ignorance and asked a few questions whose answers he already knew. In doing so, he successfully created an atmosphere of easy conversation.
"Miss Lin, please wait a moment," Ning Zhuo suddenly stepped ahead to clear the branches in front of Lin Shanshan.
Lin Shanshan's favorable impression increased a bit, but under the influence of the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, it grew at least tenfold!
Ning Zhuo's tone was humorous and his words engaging, prompting Lin Shanshan to enjoy the conversation and sometimes, she couldn't help but let out a soft, charming laugh.
Lin Shanshan was born at a time when her father was already the Sect Leader of the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect. Although she was five years Ning Zhuo's senior, being twenty-one, her life experiences were far shallower than his.
One grew up sheltered and unaware of the treacherous nature of human hearts, while the other lost his parents at an early age and experienced the harshness of the world, having long since honed a sharp wit.
The entire conversation was firmly under Ning Zhuo's control from beginning to end.
Lin Shanshan was completely unaware until she led Ning Zhuo to the foot of Little Struggle Peak and saw the fellow disciples who would handle his identity. That's when she realized—how come they had already left the back of Great Struggle Peak? How did time pass so quickly?
"Senior Sister Lin," the disciples saw Lin Shanshan and promptly greeted her with a bow.
In front of others, Lin Shanshan reined in her smile, slightly stepping to the side to make way for Ning Zhuo, "This young man has just arrived at our Ten Thousand Medicine Valley. I encountered him halfway here and have led him here, please make sure he's appropriately accommodated."
The disciple beamed with a smile, "Since it is Senior Sister Lin who has led him here, this junior brother will certainly make proper arrangements."
"Hm... How about living in Cave Mansion No. 328 for now?"
The disciple looked at Lin Shanshan, eyes seeking approval.
Lin Shanshan parted her lips slightly, visibly hesitating.
Lin Shanshan wasn't new to things like guiding outsiders into Ten Thousand Medicine Valley and helping them settle into Little Struggle Peak.
Normally, the disciples would consider her face and proactively offer outsiders a cave mansion with a better position.
In Little Struggle Peak, there are about five hundred cave mansions. Numbered sequentially, the ones with smaller numbers naturally have better specifications.
Cave Mansion No. 328 was of a slightly lower grade among all the cave mansions.
Cultivators like Lin Shanshan, with an unusual status among disciples but without actual power, were usually assigned cave mansions of this grade.
Lin Shanshan usually didn't mind these matters.
But this time, she thought differently. After all, the first impression Ning Zhuo left on her was too favorable, making her unable to resist the urge to help him further.
Lin Shanshan also knew that making such a request was already against the Sect's regulations. Would it be overstepping to ask?
Buddha Heart Demon Seal!
Seeing her hesitate, Ning Zhuo decisively acted, channeling a thread of magic treasure's power.
Lin Shanshan's hesitation broke, and she directly said, "Are there any cave mansions closer to the front?"
The disciple was slightly stunned, not expecting Lin Shanshan to actually make a request.
"If I'm not mistaken, this is the first time the Young Miss has made such a request, right?" The disciple was surprised and couldn't help but take a discreet glance at Ning Zhuo.
Seeing his white clothes like jade and his extraordinary temperament, the disciple grew even more curious.
As he speculated and guessed Ning Zhuo's identity, he said, "Since Senior Sister Lin has spoken, then how about No. 281?"
Lin Shanshan was already regretting her request, but upon hearing the offer, she hastily nodded, "Then let's go with that."
Ning Zhuo received the token, and Lin Shanshan felt an impulse to follow him to the assigned place.
"What's gotten into me?" Lin Shanshan shook her head in her heart, suppressing the impulse.
Ning Zhuo sensed that persistence could be counterproductive and so he stopped activating the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, allowing nature to take its course.
After saying goodbye to Lin Shanshan, Ning Zhuo produced a gift—two stalks of Mist Embroidery Orchid. He wanted to offer them, but Lin Shanshan waved her hand, smiling as she refused.
The observing disciple sneered internally, "Just two Mist Embroidery Orchids of the Qi Refining Level, could the Young Miss possibly fancy them? This kid really has the nerve to offer them."
Little did he know, this was Ning Zhuo's intention all along.
Lin Shanshan didn't feel the slightest offense or condescension, instead finding Ning Zhuo's simple, clumsy demeanor somewhat endearing.