Li Meirong sighed as her hand rubbed the chubby plant's belly affectionately. She made sure to avoid his gaping mouth.
"If you talk less, nobody would think you're mute."
'Master, Chou is not physically saying anything...'
Li Meirong groaned.
She sat on the mattress, considering her options. She set Chou aside and tossed the finance books to the floor, supporting her chin with both her hands in concentration.
What could she do to get herself on a quest for a spirit beast as the inner sect disciples were preparing to do?
At first, she thought of asking Shu Qianqian, but due to recent events, it seemed like a bad idea. Mo Cheng would find a way to involve himself again, a situation too awkward for her liking.
Requesting Mo Jing's assistance was also an unacceptable option, especially after she'd just rejected his brother. Chao Dequan was even less of a warrior than her. Nope. It wouldn't do.
Chou hopped into Li Meirong's lap and cuddled her affectionately, twisting his thick vines around her slim waist. Sensing his master's dilemma, he reproached her once more.
'Chou still thinks we should have accepted the studhorse's offer, then eaten him when he'd served his purpose.'
Li Meirong's dewy skin paled considerably.
"Where did you hear that word?!"
'…. Master, that's what you called him once.' Chou didn't understand why Li Meirong was suddenly upset by the term.
Oh, so it was her fault. She realized suddenly that she had to start minding what she said around him. Chou picked up on things quite fast.
Unable to come up with an appropriate companion for the quest, she decided to focus on what she could do instead. At that moment, she felt most talented at going to sleep. Together with Chou, she got in bed to rest for what was left of the night.
Early the next morning, as Li Meirong was tending to her garden, an unexpected answer to her conundrum arrived in the shape of two fellow outer sect disciples. She raised her head to see the striking pair emerging from the orchard surrounding her cabin, looking like a couple of celestial beings gracing her with their presence.
There were not many servants in the Bestiary Division, but there were a few disciples who had been refused acceptance as core students, yet were passionate enough about this particular coalition to go for the next best option, serving as outer sect disciples.
There were established servant quarters for such outer sect members, although all disciples were allowed the opportunity to come up with their own living arrangements. Each member could build a little roof over his or her head, as Li Meirong had chosen to do. She found it necessary primarily due to Chou jumping around carelessly. Regardless, she was happy with her small cabin and garden, and quite proud of her accomplishments so far within the sect.
The couple that approached were not just any two people, but a wedded pair of cultivators. They were known for their lack of involvement with the rest of their brothers and sisters in the sect, or so the rumours had her believe. She found their arrival most unexpected.
Li Meirong patted down her robe hastily, dusting off any dirt it had accumulated. She presented herself with a respectful bow to her seniors.
The man gestured for her to straighten back up. "No need. No need. We are of similar rank."
They appeared to be in their late twenties, reminding Li Meirong of how she used to look.
They had a stern air about them, especially the woman. She didn't seem like someone who would enjoy a good joke. Her hair was tied in a neat bun, and she had long, rather cat-like eyes. With hands folded in her sleeves, all she was missing was a pair of glasses and a cardigan to complete the image of a classic librarian.
The man had a slightly gentler appearance to him, although he still had a strictness to him. His aura screamed 'unapproachable'. A little beard grew from the tip of his chin, emphasizing his square jaw. They were both slim, tall and complemented each other to a fault.
"How may I be of service, Senior Brother and Sister?" Li Meirong relaxed her posture, inquiring pleasantly.
Observing her subservient attitude, the couple lowered their guard.
"There is a rumour in the sect about you. They say that when you were in the trial of the Wild Lands, no spirit beasts dared approach you. We were wondering if this was truly the case?" It was the woman who spoke.
Li Meirong's eyebrows knitted in suspicion. She wondered who could have mentioned that particular phenomenon, the only ones who knew were her friends.
Since the cat was out of the bag, she figured she might as well admit it. "That was indeed the case, but how might this concern my seniors?"
Their faces brightened considerably after her confirmation of the rumour.
The man held a fist up to his mouth as he coughed lightly. "We want you to join us for the Thousand Beasts forest expedition."
Li Meirong gave them a skeptical look, "You know I repel spirit beasts and you still want me to join?" Wouldn't her presence cancel out the whole point of the event?
The man chuckled, "We aren't looking to capture spirit beasts. As outer sect disciples, we don't have the means to bond with them. There is a particularly rare herb in the forest that allows… allows..." He couldn't finish his sentence, his face turning red.
The woman glanced at her spouse and clicked her tongue. She shifted her gaze straight into Li Meirong's eyes. "We have been trying to conceive a child for a few years to no avail. I am no longer young, and I fear missing out on this opportunity. There is a herb in the forest which helps with conception. We don't really have anyone else to ask. If you choose to assist us, we will eternally in your debt."
Li Meirong held the woman's gaze, trying not to let her pity show for fear of it being interpreted as disrespectful. She suddenly regretted not having become a doctor in her previous life. Had she had more knowledge on the subject of conception and pregnancy, perhaps she could have advised them on the matter. She did know enough to realize that their inability to bear children could have been due to any number of factors, some of which a plant would not help with at all.
However, this wasn't her problem to solve, and they were offering her precisely what she wanted. They might not have been warriors, but journeying with them would not put her in an uncomfortable situation, as far as the whole Mo Cheng issue was concerned.
"Alright, I will join you." Li Meirong answered at length.
Before parting ways, Li Meirong made sure to introduce herself appropriately, having forgotten to do so upfront. The couple had already been aware of her identity, however, and introduced themselves as Seniors Wei and Ying Yu. Finding the fact that they neglected to mention their surname peculiar, she chose not to probe the matter, for fear of bringing up an uncomfortable subject.
They finalized their agreement and separated for the time being. The descent of the disciples into the forest was to be conducted three days hence. They each had to prepare themselves.
Li Meirong returned to her cabin and began her daily chores of meal preparation. Chou had been waiting for her inside and perched himself on her shoulder as she kneaded a batch of dough.
"What are your thoughts about my senior disciples?" She asked him.
Chou did not think much of them, sensing they were very unpleasant. The pitcher plant answered cryptically, 'They smell the same.'
"..." Said Li Meirong. 'What does that even mean?'
Sometimes she had to remind herself that her truest companion in this world was really just a plant.