Chapter 41: Gift Giving
“Shishu is in the company… of a female disciple of Splendid Cloud Sect . ” The disciple’s voice weakened as he buried his head, not daring to meet the sect master’s eyes .
Song He, sitting at the side, saw Jin Yue reacting so greatly and said, “I’ve seen this Miss Kong Hou of Splendid Cloud Sect . Extremely talented, lively and easy-going, a very likable girl . ” While she liked to secretly read storybooks, it was not a mistake as all young girls had some of their habits . “Shizhi is an aloof person and ignorant about the world . It is fortunate for him to travel with this girl . ”
Jin Yue thought, a few days ago when Heng Yan had sent him a letter of thanks, he had thought the other was being polite, not that it was actually true . The disciples of Splendid Cloud Sect mostly were easy-going and free, so she would most likely be insulted when travelling with his apprentice . Thinking about Splendid Cloud Sect’s protectiveness, if Miss Kong Hou really was insulted by his apprentice, they would not give him any face .
Thinking it over, he immediately sent a message to Sky Sect’s shop in Yi City and had them send people to wait by the gates . When his apprentice entered the city, they would prepare for him some things that young girls liked . His apprentice did not have a likeable personality, so he could only use material things to gain favor .
After arranging all this, he prepared gifts for an apprentice of the sect to deliver in person to Splendid Cloud Sect to express to them his gratefulness . Hopefully, Splendid Cloud Sect would see his sincerity and not make a ruckus .
Huan Zhong, who did not know that his old master was worrying for him, took out a clean brush made out of forging seals . Sitting cross-legged on the ground with Kong Hou, he brushed oil on the mushrooms, uncaring that droplets of oil splashed onto his robes .
A rack had been built by the firewood . The fire had been banked and was waiting for the mountain mushrooms to go onto the rack .
“Huan Zhong, should we brush salt now or wait until they are almost done?” Kong Hou put the mushroom skewers onto the rack . The mushrooms hissed . Huan Zhong stared at the mountain mushrooms on the rack . After a moment of silence, he put the mushroom skewers in his hand on as well . “Both are possible . ”
Soon, the mushrooms gave off a clean fragrance . Huan Zhong flipped the mushrooms and said to Kong Hou, “Kong Hou, there are two bottles of jade bee honey in the first drawer on the left inside the carriage . The second drawer has several of Talented Author’s storybooks—could you get them for me?”
“All right . ” Kong Hou put the mushrooms that were almost burnt black into a basket beside her and walked towards the carriage . When she stepped in, Huan Zhong turned to look at Lin Hu . Lin Hu turned his head and pretended not to see his gaze .
Huan Zhong continued to stare silently at him .
Lin Hu turned his head . “Master, it is not good to lie to little girls . ”
Huan Zhong bent his head and looked at the cooked mountain mushrooms in Lin Hu’s hands silently .
Under Huan Zhong’s pressuring gaze, Lin Hu silently traded the mountain mushrooms in his hands for Huan Zhong’s . Wiping away the oil on the back of his hand, Lin Hu sighed . The cultivation world was a great dye tank . The good master has also learned these shameless tactics .
Hearing footsteps coming from behind, the master and servant tacitly turned their eyes away . Huan Zhong picked up the brush to put more oil on the already cooked mountain mushrooms as though nothing had happened .
“Huan Zhong . ” Kong Hou came in with the storybooks and jade bee honey . “So fragrant, Huan Zhong . You are done?”
“Yes . ” Ignoring Lin Hu’s gaze, Huan Zhong took the jade and gently brushed it over the mountain mushrooms . “I’ve never done this before . If it is not good to eat, just spit it out . ”
Kong Hou took the mountain mushrooms . After blowing on one, she shoved it into her mouth . Lin Hu who saw this from the side thought silently, this Miss Kong Hou is such a brave person for daring to put anything into her mouth .
“Delicious!” Kong Hou inhaled, burnt by the mushroom . “The fragrance of the honey and the tenderness of the mushrooms mixed together is delicious . Huan Zhong, you are amazing—you really know how to do everything!”
“As long as you like it . ” Huan Zhong’s back stayed strong and he did not meet Lin Hu’s gaze .
“You and Elder Lin, taste this as well . ” Kong Hou saw Huan Zhong and Lin Hu motionless and divided the mushrooms between them . “Do not waste them . ”
After eating the roasted mushrooms, Huan Zhong took out a gourd bottle for Kong Hou to wash her hands . “Just eat little amounts of things like this . Do not eat too much; it is not good for your health . As for the remaining mountain mushrooms…” He looked towards Lin Hu . “Have Lin Hu fry them for you . ”
Kong Hou was reluctant, but when she saw the oil splattered on Huan Zhong’s clothing, she felt that it was a crime that she made Huan Zhong accompany her to do things like this .
“All right . ” Kong Hou nodded and looked around . “Could I look around the surroundings?”
“We are friends . ” Huan Zhong stared at Kong Hou . “You do not have to be courteous with me . ”
Seeing Huan Zhong’s serious gaze, Kong Hou stilled . “Oh . ”
Seeing her dazed look, Huan Zhong stood and smiled at her . “Go . ”
“Then I am gone . ” As a young cultivator who had not seen much, Kong Hou had great interest in many things in the cultivation world . The golden house mimicked the layout of a palace, so there was an inner and outer hall . Exquisite lanterns hung down the eaves .
When Kong Hou had been young, she had her mother tell the story of an emperor and empress . The emperor and empress were childhood sweethearts, and the emperor said to the empress he would build the most beautiful and grandest gold palace for her .
She did not remember if the emperor fulfilled his promise in the end, she only remembered that her mother-empress had a dispirited look when she told this story . She had not understood back then . Now, looking back, she understood a little . Maybe the emperor did not fulfill his promise, so Mother-Empress had not told her the ending to the story .
The bells under the eaves chimed . Kong Hou suddenly became happy . She saw the golden and grand palace that the emperor had promised the empress . She picked up her dress and jumped onto the roof .
The wind on the roof was slightly strong . She looked into the distance towards the dark mountain valley . The golden palace under her was the only light in the darkness .
“Master . ” Lin Hu looked at Huan Zhong who had changed clothing . “It is time for you to eat your medicine . ”
Huan Zhong silently took the medicinal pills . After swallowing the pills, he suddenly said, “It would have been good if Kong Hou had not joined Splendid Cloud Sect . ”
Lin Hu was shocked . What did Master mean?
“If she were my apprentice…” Huan Zhong stopped and imagined what it would have been like if he had raised Kong Hou from a young age .
“Master, Miss Kong Hou’s personality is not suitable for Radiance Sect,” Lin Hu said tactfully . “Do you not think so?” Radiance Sect had a bunch of cultivation maniacs . How could they raise a girl like Kong Hou? Only Splendid Cloud Sect could raise a girl with such a personality .
“That is true . ” Huan Zhong coughed . “She is better off with Splendid Cloud Sect . ”
“Huan Zhong! Huan Zhong!”
Kong Hou’s urgent voice came from the northeast . Huan Zhong flew onto the roof without thinking and then flew towards where Kong Hou was .
Kong Hou stood on the eaves . Seeing Huan Zhong come over, she went on her tiptoes and pointed into the distance . “Look over there . ”
When Huan Zhong landed by Kong Hou, she grabbed his sleeve . He looked in the direction she pointed . Many blue dots flashed in the mountain valley, some of them even swaying with the wind . It looked like a galaxy of stars .
“Isn’t it beautiful?” Kong Hou looked dazedly at the beautiful nighttime scene . “Just now, it had been completely black . When a gust of wind passed, so many stars came out—what is it?”
“This is Blue Silver Flower . ” Huan Zhong’s throat was slightly dry . “It is said that the flowering time of this flower is even shorter than that of the Dutchman’s Pipe . They will only bloom for fifteen minutes . When they are not flowering, they are no different from ordinary weeds . ”
It was said that the people who saw these flowers bloom would have good luck .
“No wonder they are so beautiful . ” Kong Hou pulled Huan Zhong to sit down . “Then let us watch . If we don’t, they will be gone soon . ”
The wind blew and carried away the petals of the Blue Silver Flowers . The entire mountain valley was so beautiful one could not move their gaze away . But in just a few moments, the dots of light started to disappear and turn back to darkness .
“Gone . ” Kong Hou propped up her face, slightly saddened . “Beautiful things are always short-lived . ”
“Do not care too much . Eternal beauty will not be treasured—only a brief time will be truly heart-shaking . ” Huan Zhong stood and put a hand in front of Kong Hou . “The roof is cold; let’s go down . ”
“All right . ” Kong Hou obediently gave her hand to Huan Zhong and jumped with him off the roof .
Maybe because she saw extremely beautiful flowers in bloom, Kong Hou slept very well that night . In her dream, she seemed to have a pair of wings that glowed as she flew past the world .
When she opened her eyes, the sky was already light . Her morning porridge carried a faint flowery fragrance, the spirit energy so plentiful that her entire body felt relaxed .
“Elder Lin, today’s porridge is so good . ” Kong Hou put down her bowl after finishing her fourth serving . “What was it made with?”
“The flower petals of the Blue Silver Flower . Last night, a lot of flower petals fell . ” Lin Hu brought out a bag of flower petals . “Do you want them?”
What beauty, romance, good luck . In front of the delicious porridge, it all turned into two things: was it edible, was it delicious .
“Yes!” Kong Hou took the big bag of flower petals without any hesitation and shoved it into her storage ring . She decided she would send them to the shixiong and shijie in the Food Hall when she returned to Yi City and have them make food for the sect members .
Good things should be shared .
“I have a lot here—have one more . ” Lin Hu saw Kong Hou’s happiness, and took out another bag .
“Thank you, Elder Lin . ” Kong Hou asked for a few more bags from him . The sect had many people; she needed to get more flower petals to be enough for everyone to eat .
Seeing the two of them divide the dried flower petals evenly, Huan Zhong felt the astonishment and emotion of last night all turn into smoke . The Blue Silver Flower said to bring people good luck went into their stomachs . Good luck… all eaten .
Heng Yan, who received a great amount of gifts from Radiance Sect in the morning, was very puzzled . These years, they had a good relationship with Radiance Sect, but not good to the point that Radiance Sect would send them gifts for no reason . Any of these talismans, medicines, spirit stones, and magic robes would make countless cultivators crazy if they were put out in public . Yet Radiance Sect had sent over such a big pile .
Used to a gentlemanly and polite relationship with Radiance Sect, he felt extremely anxious that the other was suddenly so friendly .
He looked at the apprentice of Radiance Sect sitting before him and said with a smile, “Sect Master Jin Yue is so polite; I really cannot accept such gifts . ”
“Sect Master, please do not refuse . ” The apprentice respectfully bowed . “Our lowly sect master said these mere tokens are to express thanks for your noble sect’s Celestial Kong Hou’s care of our shishu on his journey . ”
Heng Yan was still bewildered . What did their Kong Hou do? Just previously, Cool Breeze Sect had sent over a pile of gifts in thanks, and today, Radiance Sect was also delivering gifts?
Was gift giving in fashion right now?