The faint spirit of the mountain shimmered in a small, fragile glow, yet it was much stronger than before. A sweet, childlike voice emerged from the light, sounding like a young boy: "Thank you, Sister Underworld Officer, for saving my life! I've come to repay your kindness!"
QingWu chuckled, gently tapping the light with her fingertip. "And how do you plan to repay me? Let's hear it."
The glowing orb quivered with excitement, laughing mischievously before shaking itself vigorously. Suddenly, a cascade of mountain treasures tumbled out—wild mushrooms, hazelnuts, and other common offerings, followed by rare items like ancient lingzhi mushrooms, ginseng, and Ginseng roots. The sheer age of these treasures suggested they were on the verge of gaining sentience.
"Enough, enough! If you keep shaking, my room won't be able to hold all this!" QingWu hastily stopped the little mountain spirit, glancing at the pile of gifts with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
The mountain spirit's voice grew apologetic. "I know these gifts are too humble. I'm sorry, Sister! My powers haven't fully recovered yet, but once I'm stronger, I'll bring you even better treasures!"
"Oh, and this one is for the big Brother."
A particularly distinct ginseng root floated out. Unlike the others, this one quivered nervously, its roots twitching in the air—it was clear this ginseng had already gained full sentience. Judging by its age, it was likely close to a thousand years old.
"This sentient ginseng is brimming with yang energy—it'll be perfect to replenish big Brother and ward off malevolent forces!"
QingWu smiled warmly. The little mountain spirit truly was a grateful and endearing creature. This ginseng would indeed be immensely beneficial for Xiao Chenyuan.
"Then I'll hold onto it for him," QingWu replied without hesitation. After a moment of thought, she decided it wouldn't be fair for the mountain spirit to go unrewarded.
"Your name also needs a change. The name Shiying Mountain is a shackle. I'll help you request a better one later."
"Thank you, Sister!" The mountain spirit's delight was palpable. "Oh, I almost forgot! There's one more thing I need to give you."
A black pearl floated out—it was a soul bead. "The Big Brother's men have taken care of most of the mountain demons, but a couple escaped. I doubt they'll dare return, but I gathered the essence of the defeated ones into this bead. I don't know what to do with it, so I'm leaving it in your hands!"
"You've delivered this bead at the perfect time! I do have a 'special place' in mind for these spirits," QingWu said with a mischievous smile.
The little mountain spirit shuddered. "Sister, I'll take my leave now! I'll visit you and big Brother again soon!" With that, the small spirit vanished in a streak of light.
The sound of drooling echoed in QingWu's mind as the judgment brush spoke up, its voice full of longing. "Ah Wu! Can I have just one bite of that ginseng? Just one bite! Please...!"
"Absolutely not!" QingWu refused firmly. She tied the ginseng with a red string and hung it from the ceiling beam, warning it sternly, "Stay put! If you try to escape, I'll stew you alive!"
The ginseng trembled violently. If it could speak, it would've wailed: A woman's words are full of deceit! If I don't run, will you really not stew me?!
Surveying the room now overflowing with treasures, QingWu felt a headache coming on. She opened the door and called for assistance.
Lü Qiao, Hong Rui, and Mu Ying entered, only to freeze in astonishment at the sight of the piled mountain delicacies. Their jaws practically hit the floor.
"My...My...Q-Q-Queen, these… where did all this come from…?"
"A guest brought them."
"A guest?"
"Mm-hmm, a grateful little fellow," QingWu replied, turning to Mu Ying. "It was the same one that protected your son, saving him from becoming a meal for the mountain demons."
"In the future, you and Little Yulang should visit its temple and offer incense. It'll complete this karmic bond."
Mu Ying felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude but also a twinge of regret. "Was it that mountain spirit? Is it still here? I should have thanked it in person!"
"It's already gone. Don't worry, there will be opportunities in the future!"
Lü Qiao and Hong Rui, being astounded by such extraordinary wonders for the first time, promptly summoned assistance to relocate the gifts from the chamber. The copious abundance of mountain delicacies and medicinal herbs posed a threat to inundate the storage areas, jeopardizing QingWu's accommodations if immediate action was not taken.The swift actions of Lü Qiao and Hong Rui averted the imminent storage crisis, ensuring the preservation of the precious mountain delicacies and medicinal herbs. As they meticulously organized the gifts, a sense of gratitude filled the chamber, acknowledging the generosity of nature's bounty bestowed upon them. The fragrant aromas and vibrant colors of the herbs and delicacies painted a picture of abundance and vitality, inspiring a deeper connection to the land and its offerings.
"By the way, since Madam Mu is returning to the Minister of Revenue's residence, why not take some of these gifts with you?" QingWu handed the soul bead to Mu Ying.
"What is this?"
QingWu's smile carried a chilling edge. "Didn't Madam Zhou always say that your Little Yulang was occupying her son's position, causing her inability to bear children? Since she wants so desperately to be a mother, I'll grant her wish. When Madam Zhou gets close to you, just crush this soul bead. I promise her dreams will immediately come true!"
Mu Ying's instincts told her QingWu's version of "dreams come true" was far from ordinary. She had never done anything to harm others in her life, but Madam Zhou had tried to harm her son—there was no way she could swallow that insult. This wasn't harming someone; it was retribution—an eye for an eye, a life for a life! Resolute as always, Mu Ying wasted no time. At QingWu's signal, Lü Qiao arranged for a few Black Armored Guards to escort her back to the Minister of Revenue's residence.
As dusk settled, Xiao Chenyuan returned to the manor from outside. The moment he entered, news of the mountain spirit's gratitude reached his ears. He had intended to head straight to the study room, but before he realized it, he found himself standing outside Yuanwei Courtyard. Frowning, he was about to leave when a woman's sharp voice rang out from within the courtyard.
"Xiao Chenyuan! Grab it, quick!"
Startled, he turned back, catching a glimpse of something darting across the ground.