"Why would they give something so valuable to me and not just one, but three talismans? Why?"
As Ling Ye asked himself this question, his mind raced to find an answer. The only explanation that seemed even remotely logical was that Ling Bai had pitied him and gave him the talismans as a gesture of kindness. While this seemed plausible at first, it still didn't sit right with him.
After all, he was just a mortal, someone who couldn't normally use such items. So why waste three precious talismans on someone like him?
The more he thought about it, the more confused he became. Searching for clarity, Ling Ye began to recall what he had once read in the Book of the Hundred Arts. A few minutes passed before a faint memory resurfaced.
Aside from talismans, that book had also discussed alchemy. In particular, it mentioned how some of the lowest tier pills could be safely consumed by mortals. He remembered now, he had even taken one such pill on his way to the Nine Peaks.
At the time, he had been too excited to think much of it, but now, that moment held new meaning.
"If there are alchemical pills mortals can consume, then… could there also be talismans designed for mortals to use?"
Ling Ye wasn't sure anymore. His knowledge in this area was far too limited. What he remembered came only from books he had skimmed through years ago. Back then, he hadn't paid much attention to the Hundred Arts.
None of them had caught his interest, so he told himself he would study them more seriously later, a promise he never kept.
Now, however, he regretted that decision.
"Haaa..." Ling Ye sighed in frustration, giving up on trying to make sense of the talismans. He decided to just accept that it was possible for mortals to use them, even if he didn't fully understand how.
He looked at the yellow paper talismans one last time before searching for a place to store them safely. But just as he was looking around, a sudden knock came from the door.
Startled, Ling Ye glanced at the window. The sky outside had already darkened. The moon was rising slowly, and the stars had begun to twinkle in the night sky.
He walked down the stairs and opened the door. There stood Zhou Wu, holding a neatly wrapped bundle of cloth with a bright smile on his face.
"Haha, Village Head Ye, I hope you're not too hungry already!" Zhou Wu said cheerfully as he handed him the cloth.
Ling Ye accepted it with a small smile and a nod, then closed the door behind him and returned to the table. He unwrapped the cloth to reveal his dinner, nothing special, just a simple meal, a loaf of bread, a slice of cheese, and a few pieces of ham. A small bread knife had been included as well.
Without thinking too much, Ling Ye sat down on a wooden chair and quietly prepared a basic sandwich.
After eating, he folded the cloth and left it on the table. With nothing else to do, and exhaustion from the journey settling in, he made his way upstairs.
The bed wasn't as soft or luxurious as the one back at the mansion, but it was bearable.
Lying down, Ling Ye stared at the ceiling for a while, his thoughts drifting from one thing to another, until eventually, without even realizing it, sleep took him.
Although Ling Ye slept peacefully, elsewhere in Spring Village, at one of the five mountain peaks, sat Envoy Jun at a long, narrow table. He was seated in a wooden chair, facing three other middle aged men across from him.
Envoy Jun wore a light blue robe that set him apart from the others, who were all dressed in darker blue robes.
One of the men finally spoke, his voice calm but curious. "So, Brother Jun, what do you think? How would you judge the new village head from the Ling Clan?"
Envoy Jun chuckled bitterly at the question, his expression thoughtful as he shook his head slightly.
"Brother Mo," he began, "to be honest, we barely exchanged a few words. I don't have much to go on, but from what I've seen, Ling Ye, though young, seems to know how to play the political game, at least a little. Not surprising, considering he comes from the Ling Clan."
He paused briefly to think more deeply, then gave a small nod.
"He seems intelligent and sharp-minded. Like a capable young man who has learned a lot already... though he clearly still has much more to experience."
With a faint, bitter smile, Jun shrugged. "That's all I can say for now. To evaluate him properly, I'll need more time and a better understanding of how he operates."
The other men nodded in agreement. Then Lifeng Mo, one of the dark blue robed men, leaned forward and asked, "Anyway, let's move on to more important matters. What's the response from the Chun and Tiansheng families? Have they done anything yet?"
Lifeng Jun gave a bitter smile, scratching his head lightly. "Although the Tiansheng family did send a representative, they weren't exactly warm in their welcome. As for the Chun family… they didn't even bother to show up. That alone says a lot about their situation."
"Hmm, understandable," Lifeng Mo nodded, glancing at the man seated next to him.
The other man simply shook his head. "Nothing on my end. There were no unusual movements, otherwise, our moles would've reported it. Aside from sending a family member to greet him, there's no new intel. Though I heard the Tiansheng family held a private meeting with their highest ranking members. Unfortunately, we don't have a mole among them. As for the Chun family… same as always. The old man remains holed up on the mountain, and their mortal branch is going about their usual duties."
A collective sigh escaped from all of them, a quiet expression of frustration and helplessness.
Though the Lifeng family could rival the Tiansheng in terms of cultivators, with both families having three active ones, the Lifeng were still a relatively new force, only two generations strong. The Tiansheng family, on the other hand, had roots extending back four generations.
In terms of cultivation power, the Lifeng family was clearly prosperous, but when it came to business, influence, and their mortal family network, they lagged behind the Tiansheng by a significant margin.
Seeing the grim expressions around the table, Lifeng Jun let out a low chuckle and shook his head bitterly. "In any case, let's not overthink it. We'll gather more information tomorrow. After all, Ling Ye just arrived today. He only exchanged a few words with that brat Zhou Wu. For now, our top priority should be to build a good relationship with Ling Ye and slowly guide him to become one of our own."
He looked around the table. Seeing no disagreement, he smiled and rose from his seat.
"If there's nothing else, I still have a few matters to handle. Good night."
With that, Lifeng Jun was the first to leave the room, quietly departing and leaving the other two behind. After a short while, they too got up and left, one after the other.
At the same time, atop a distant mountain peak, an old man sat quietly in a small garden, a gourd of wine in his hand. He gazed at the stars and moon, taking slow sips, the soft glow of moonlight casting a peaceful ambiance around him.
The scene was serene, almost poetic.
But the silence was soon broken by the quiet footsteps of a young man entering the garden. His gaze fell on the old man, and his expression turned complicated.
It hurt him to see his master like this. After all, he knew better than anyone the pain the old man carried, the heavy weight of ambitions left unfulfilled, the dreams that had slowly withered away over the years. And now, all that remained was wine, and the quiet company of stars and moon.
"Sigh..." The old man let out a long breath, finally noticing the look on his disciple's face. He chuckled softly.
"Ya little whelp," he muttered with mirth. "Why ain't ye in yer quarters cultivatin'? Think the path of power an easy one? Ha! The harder it be, the more reason to chase it with all ye've got. So why come bother an old man like me?"
The young man clicked his tongue at the old man's words, clearly annoyed. "Old man, why are you still talking like that? You know only those ancient cultivators still speak in that strange dialect. We're in a new era, you should try keeping up."
"Heh...heh..." The old man laughed, shaking his head in amusement.
"Brat, ya've got no respect for ya's master, huh? Always ye correcting me." He took another sip from his gourd. "Anyway, what brings ya here now?"
"Tsk." The young man clicked his tongue again but eventually gave in. "The new village head has arrived, someone from the main Ling Clan. I just came to ask what you think about it."
Hearing this, the old master grew silent. He said nothing at first, his eyes drifting back to the stars and the glowing moon above.
After a long pause, he finally spoke in a low, measured voice.
"Brat… if there be one truth ye ought've learnt 'bout the world o' cultivation, 'tis this, none should meddle in the matters of mighty clans. Heed me words, and stay thy course. Forget this Ling Ye lad. Care not for 'im, nor his fate. From the risin' sun to the settin' moon, naught matters more than the strength of one's own path!"
The young man listened quietly. He didn't argue or question his master's words, he simply nodded and turned to leave, footsteps fading into the distance.
The old master remained where he was, alone with his gourd, the moonlight, and the silent company of the stars.