"Just what kind of trip is it that you managed to get both a spatial pouch and Blue Jade Lotus roots?" Gu Qiansi asked in disbelief.
"What can these roots be used for?" Lu Zhiying asked curiously.
She could tell from Gu Qiansi's reaction that this was something valuable.
But no matter how valuable it was, there was no point if she did not know the proper way to use it!
"Making elixirs or pills, or for cuisine," Gu Qiansi answered. "Blue Jade Lotuses possess extremely strong vitality, and every part of the plant can provide revitalising benefits when ingested. The root can even be eaten raw, though the benefits would not be optimised that way."
"As expected of the plant freak," Zhao Yunxiao nodded. "If you don't know what to do with it, you can give it to her instead."
"You can have it then, Senior Martial Sister Gu," Lu Zhiying readily handed it over.
"Then I will hold onto yours for now," Gu Qiansi accepted it with a smile. "Maybe I will make something with both roots and share half with you."
As someone who had only just entered the Foundation Building realm, it was indeed difficult for Lu Zhiying to know how to properly process the root.
Rather than have her waste something this precious, Gu Qiansi decided to process the root for Lu Zhiying and give her the finished product instead.
"Time for the stories now, Senior Martial Brother Zhao!" Lu Zhiying turned her attention back to Zhao Yunxiao.
"Hmm, nothing special happened apart from the fact that I gave some cultivation advice to all the elders and core disciples of the Origin Lake Sect," Zhao Yunxiao said with a shrug. "Oh right, and that includes Sect Master Dan as well. So they were all quite thankful towards me by the end of the trip."
"Senior Martial Brother Zhao..." Lu Zhiying muttered hesitantly.
"Hey Zhao Yunxiao, did we just wake you up from your sleep so you can't differentiate your dreams from reality?" Gu Qiansi scoffed. "Stop spouting nonsense and tell us the truth!"
Zhao Yunxiao looked up at the moonless night sky and let out a helpless sigh.
"Fine, nothing special happened so there really isn't much to be talked about since you already know how these things go," Zhao Yunxiao tried to recall the other events that transpired. "But I have to say that it definitely felt good seeing how the members of the Origin Lake Sect treat us with great respect. It truly made me appreciate just how lucky we are to be able to join the Black Tortoise Sect."
"Is that so?" Gu Qiansi rubbed her chin in contemplation. "Perhaps I should try to go on one of those trips just to experience how it is like too."
"Mm, mm," Lu Zhiying nodded repeatedly. "I would definitely like to go as well!"
"If you have the chance, just do it," Zhao Yunxiao agreed. "However, don't think that just anyone will be able to pass the interview. Not everyone is as good as me."
"Quit showing off," Gu Qiansi rolled her eyes. "So, what's the deal with the spatial pouch and the Blue Jade Lotus roots? Did they really just give them to everyone who went on the trip?"
"Of course not," Zhao Yunxiao shook his head. "They are from the guardian spirit of the Origin Lake Sect. It brought me to their sect treasury and ended up losing them to me as a bet over a game of chess. Oh, actually that's just the spatial pouch. As for the roots, it gave them to me to bring back as souvenirs."
Gu Qiansi: "..."
"Are you not going to say anything to that, Senior Martial Sister Gu?" Lu Zhiying egged her on after noting her inaction.
"I can hear you, Junior Martial Sister Lu," Zhao Yunxiao reminded.
"If you don't want people to react like this, then stop saying things that will make others react like this," Gu Qiansi answered.
Zhao Yunxiao looked up at the night sky and let out another sigh.
Life is truly difficult sometimes…
"If it's not convenient to say it, we won't force you to do so either," Gu Qiansi said while keeping away the Blue Jade Lotus roots. "In any case, thanks for the gift!"
"Huh? We are going to give up just like that?" Lu Zhiying asked in disappointment.
"Well, he obviously has something to hide, so why waste time asking further?" Gu Qiansi shrugged. "Who knows? He might have gotten it through some unscrupulous method. It is better if we are in the dark about such things."
"...You are welcome for the gift," Zhao Yunxiao felt the corner of his lips twitch. "Anyway, did anything special happen in the sect while I was away?"
"Oh! I have something to say!" Lu Zhiying raised her hand excitedly. "Senior Martial Sister Leng and I have managed to come up with the dance routine for our performance!"
"You did? That's great to hear!" Zhao Yunxiao was surprised to hear that.
He was still worried that Lu Zhiying would not be able to come up with a proper dance routine, and had even tried to steal some moves from the performances by the Origin Lake Sect members during last night's banquet.
It would appear that his worries had been unnecessary after all!
"That's right! Do you want to take a look, Senior Martial Brother Zhao?" Lu Zhiying quickly offered.
"That can wait," Gu Qiansi quickly interjected. "The night is getting late, so why don't we retire for the night? You can always show it to your Senior Martial Brother Zhao tomorrow during our practice."
"Is it that late though?" Lu Zhiying tilted her head in confusion.
Yes, the sky was already dark.
However, this was definitely not the first time they had stayed up this late.
In fact, there were plenty of times in the past when they had stayed up until far later than this!
"Sounds like a good idea," Zhao Yunxiao nodded. "See you at practice tomorrow."
"Don't be late," Gu Qiansi reminded before dragging the reluctant Lu Zhiying away.
"If I am late, it would definitely be because of Junior Martial Sister Huang," Zhao Yunxiao shrugged.
He had skipped out on his other jobs during the past three days because of his work trip, but he would have to resume his usual routine starting the next day.
And tomorrow happened to be his rostered duty at the Medicine Pavilion.
For his duties at the Medicine Pavilion, he and Huang An had purposely chosen the days that coincided with each other.
Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that he had purposely chosen the slots that coincided with Huang An, with the latter's permission of course.
After all, it was always reassuring to have the skilled Huang An around while on duty.
But considering how Huang An always continued to do further checks after her duty had ended, Zhao Yunxiao was already prepared to have to stay back a little more to help her out this time.
Otherwise, who knew what time it would be when she finally showed up at the Flying Shell Performance Group's practice?
That reminded him.
He had to remember to give her a Blue Jade Lotus root as well.
In fact, with her proficiency in the art of healing, Huang An was probably the one person who could put the Blue Jade Lotus root to the best use among his peers!
After counting Huang An, Zhao Yunxiao had three roots left.
If he kept one for himself, there were still two extra.
He would probably give one to Nie Hanchang then.
Seeing that Gu Qiansi and Lu Zhiying were already gone from sight, Zhao Yunxiao returned to the house and closed the door behind him.
He took a look at his newly obtained technique manuals and shook his head.
Learning these new techniques might be important, but he could not get too hung up on it either.
Instead, he lit an incense stick and popped a Winterwarmth Pill, choosing to end his night in meditation.
***
Zhao Yunxiao left his residence early the next morning, before the first light had even descended upon the vast Purple Plum Mountain.
It was already the day right before the New Year.
This day each year, Zhao Yunxiao would leave his residence especially early as he had somewhere he needed to go.
After having a quick breakfast at the canteen, Zhao Yunxiao slowly made his way towards the Core Grounds.
As its name suggested, the Core Grounds was where the most important areas of the sect were located.
It was also where residences of the upper echelons of the sect were located, including that of the sect leader, elders and core disciples.
Because of that, it was naturally not a place where people could just come and go freely.
As he was approaching the entrance to the Core Grounds, Zhao Yunxiao recognised one of the disciples on guard duty.
Zuo Haowen – inner disciple of the Black Tortoise Sect.
He was a caring and righteous man, though he was still known best for his devotion towards his cultivation partner.
"Greetings, Senior Martial Brother Zuo," Zhao Yunxiao greeted.
"You are here again, Junior Martial Brother Zhao," Zuo Haowen said with a helpless sigh. "Have you been well?"
"Not too bad, but I will definitely feel better if Senior Martial Brother Zuo can give me a few pointers from time to time," Zhao Yunxiao replied. "Care to help out a junior martial brother?"
"Do you even have any spare time in your busy schedule to slot me in?" Zuo Haowen laughed it off.
"Anytime for you, Senior Martial Brother Zuo," Zhao Yunxiao said before flicking his wrist, causing two items to appear in his hands.
They were a letter and a root of the Blue Jade Lotus.
"Please help me pass them to Elder Ying," Zhao Yunxiao carefully handed them over. "Do help me send my regards, and wish the elder a happy new year as well."
"I was wondering where your backpack went. So it is because you managed to get a spatial item," Zuo Haowen grinned while receiving the two items. "Not bad."
"A man has to look the part, right?" Zhao Yunxiao shrugged.
"That's right," Zuo Haowen nodded with a warm smile. "But on a serious note, do you really have to keep doing this every year? Isn't it about time for you to stop?"
"Oh? Is the kind and caring Zuo Haowen finally tired of helping his juniors?" Zhao Yunxiao smirked. "This is big news that is worth letting everyone know!"
"You know this isn't about me," Zuo Haowen said. "I really should not be saying this here, but Elder Ying doesn't even seem to appreciate your efforts. You do this every year, but has he even responded to you once?"
"I thought it's strange too, could it be that someone in between has been pocketing my gifts for him instead?" Zhao Yunxiao narrowed his eyes at Zuo Haowen.
"I'm being serious here, Junior Martial Brother Zhao," Zuo Haowen rolled his eyes. "I know. Elder Ying is the one who picked you up from the streets and brought you back to the Black Tortoise Sect. But from what I see, he probably just did it on a whim! Has he even talked to you or checked on you once ever since bringing you back to the sect? Didn't you still have to struggle on your own?"
Zhao Yunxiao could see the genuine concern in Zuo Haowen's eyes, which brought a smile to his face.
However, that was not enough to change his mind.
"I understand what you are saying, Senior Martial Brother Zuo. However, I am not doing this to be appreciated, but purely because I want to," Zhao Yunxiao answered. "I owe my life to Elder Ying, so I naturally need to show my appreciation. It doesn't matter if he responds or not."
"Since you are this adamant, I will not insist any further," Zuo Haowen let out another helpless sigh. "I will definitely pass your message and items on to Elder Ying's attendants. But whether he receives it or not in the end is beyond my control."
"That is good enough. Thank you as always, Senior Martial Brother Zuo," Zhao Yunxiao clasped his fists in gratitude. "Farewell, then."
"Farewell," Zuo Haowen nodded.
With that, Zhao Yunxiao turned around and headed off.
After walking a good distance and making sure that he was out of Zuo Haowen's sight, Zhao Yunxiao stopped in his tracks and looked up at the sky that was slowly turning bright.
Huu-!
This was a sigh that encompassed a mix of emotions – including both helplessness and relief.
Zhao Yunxiao was not a fool.
He knew that what Zuo Haowen said was most likely the truth.
After bringing Zhao Yunxiao back to the sect, Ying Qingmu had left him in the outer sect without giving him even a single word of explanation or consolation.
That was the same on their way back as well.
Right from the very moment of their encounter, Ying Qingmu had not deigned to breathe a single word to him.
The five-year-old Zhao Yunxiao had to learn everything about his current situation from those in the outer sect, including the very basics about cultivators and where this place was.
In fact, he even had to find out Ying Qingmu's name on his own.
It did not take a genius to understand that Ying Qingmu simply did not care about his existence.
Who knows?
Perhaps Ying Qingmu did not even remember who he was or that they had ever met!
However, that did not change the fact that Ying Qingmu was the saviour who had saved him from freezing out in the winter cold.
As a clueless five-year-old who had been pampered since young by his merchant parents, suddenly being abandoned by his parents when their business failed had sent him into a state of complete shock.
In the span of a single night, he had gone from a precious pearl in the palms of his parents to nothing but baggage that was hindering their escape from their debtors.
You are a burden.
Those were the very last words that Zhao Yunxiao had heard from his parents.
Even now, he vividly remembered how these words kept ringing in his head repeatedly as he stood there watching his parents' departing backs.
For a child who was that broken, Ying Qingmu's sudden appearance was like the light at the end of a tunnel, the respite at the end of a storm.
That very moment of his appearance had left too deep of an impression on Zhao Yunxiao back then.
All Ying Qingmu did was to nonchalantly pick him up with energy, as though he was no different from a stray, and bring him back to the sect without saying a word.
However, that was still a memory that Zhao Yunxiao cherished.
He fully understood that he was not like those talented disciples with capabilities as dazzling as the stars in the sky, warranting attention from the elders.
However, Zhao Yunxiao still could not help but hope from time to time that Ying Qingmu actually remembers the rock on the ground that he was.
Or even if Ying Qingmu did not remember him now, Zhao Yunxiao hoped that one day, he would become someone worthy of introducing himself to Ying Qingmu in person.
If that really were to happen, perhaps Ying Qingmu would be glad to see that the same ordinary kid whom he had thoughtlessly brought back to the sect actually managed to grow into a decent young man!