Vast stretches of spiritual farmland had been swept clear of snow.
Tender jade-green sprouts poked through the soil, glistening like pearls and gemstones, so beautiful they seemed out of this world.
Yao Ranran's brows arched with delight. "You really did manage to grow them. Xiao Rong, have you noticed? You might have a natural gift for becoming a spirit farmer."
Xiao Rong tilted his head. "Do spirit farmers make a lot of money?"
"Of course. A talented spirit farmer is sought after by countless sects."
"Then I want to be one! Boss, how many spirit stones does a spirit farmer make in a month?" Xiao Rong's eyes sparkled as he looked at her.
Yao Ranran made a rough guess. "Since you're just starting out, probably three or four spirit stones a month."
"Only three or four in thirty days?" Xiao Rong's face instantly fell. "If that's the case, how many years would I have to work before I can save up a thousand stones?"
"The pay isn't fixed. If you keep improving, maybe once winter passes you'll be earning a thousand spirit stones a month."
She couldn't bear to crush his enthusiasm. It was rare enough for Xiao Rong to show such interest in planting, and he was tending these spirit herbs with remarkable care. She had to encourage him. The more he practiced, the more his strength would grow.
"Xiao Rong, don't be sad and don't rush. You have all this farmland here to practice for free. If you keep at it, by next spring you might already be a high-ranked spirit farmer."
As always, Yao Ranran painted a hopeful picture.
"Really? Then spirit farmers must be amazing. I'll make sure to take good care of them!" Xiao Rong exclaimed excitedly.
When spring came, would Boss really give him a thousand stones each month? He could hardly wait for spring to arrive.
Yao Ranran didn't realize Xiao Rong's eagerness was about earning her money. She only smiled to herself.
Children were so easy to fool.…
At Yiyu Peak.
"We've lost ten portions of millennial spiritual materials, and Master isn't here. Should we tell the sect master the truth?"
Nie Rong and Tang Xiangyin sat together at a wooden table, both faces full of worry.
"We can't!" Tang Xiangyin reflexively slammed her hand on the table.
Nie Rong and Zhou Lili both blinked, startled by her outburst.
Flustered, Tang Xiangyin pulled her hand back and lowered her voice. "Didn't Elder Nie say flying boats are rare treasures? Fairy always taught us never to flaunt our wealth. If she wanted others to know she had such a treasure, she wouldn't have waited until now to reveal it…"
"But what now? Without those ten portions of spirit materials, Sect Master Han won't find Fairy Ranran to negotiate an alternative reward. In a few days they'll realize something's wrong." Zhou Lili propped her chin on her hand, troubled.
Nie Rong snapped open his folding fan with a flourish, smiling smugly. "Since that's the case, it's time for this elder to step in!"
"Elder Nie, do you know how to find Fairy Ranran?" Tang Xiangyin and Zhou Lili's eyes lit up, hope flickering within them.
They had to admit, they might have been too harsh with Nie Rong before. Who would have thought this fellow truly was a Nascent Soul elder?
Nie Rong basked in their admiring stares, his smile broadening. "Hahaha. If the mountain won't come to me, I'll go to the mountain! I can't bring Master back, but I can send her a letter!"
"…"
"That's it? We already sent word to Gu Ling Mountain long ago," Zhou Lili rolled her eyes so hard they nearly flipped.
Tang Xiangyin slumped over the table, groaning. "If only we had gone with Fairy Ranran that day, we wouldn't be stuck here waiting for her reply…"
Chitter-chatter!
On the plum tree branch, a tiny bird with a fish's tail hid behind the blossoms, its beady black eyes watching the three in the courtyard.
Whoosh!
Nie Rong sensed something and flicked his folding fan. A formless gust lashed out, striking the plum branch. Snow showered down.
Zhou Lili and Tang Xiangyin's gazes followed the falling snowflakes, peering at the branch that stretched beyond the courtyard wall.
Tang Xiangyin murmured, "The first time I met Fairy Ranran, there was also a plum tree…"
"What a coincidence." Nie Rong chuckled as crimson petals drifted down, staining the snowy ground like a blossoming wound.…
At the Yu family estate.
A woman toyed with a strange little bird in a cage. The bird's sharp cries filled the room as her eyes grew colder and sharper.
"So Yao Ranran has fled?"
Her voice carried a venomous edge.
Xing Rui pressed her fingers against the bird's neck. With a faint squeeze, the bizarre creature gave its last twitch and went still.
"Mother, why did you kill it?"
At the door, Yu Zhenyan watched in confusion.
Xing Rui smoothed her expression into a smile. "Zhenyan, you're here. I have good news for you."
"Good news? Ever since Pei Xianqiao and Yao Ranran stole my credit and all the sect's attention, I've heard no such thing!"
Yu Zhenyan slammed the door, sulking as she dropped into a gem-inlaid chair and poured herself a cup of spirit wine.
Xing Rui laughed lightly, brushing aside her daughter's stray bangs. "This is about Yao Ranran."
Yu Zhenyan set down her cup. "What happened to her?"
A sly smile tugged Xing Rui's lips. "She ran away, leaving Nie Rong and the others to cover for her at Yiyu Peak. Think about it. If she hadn't done something shameful, why would she flee in secret?"
Yu Zhenyan frowned. "It is strange. Back in the main hall, when she asked Sect Master Han to release her from Wuxiang Sect, I already thought it odd. She had earned such great merit, yet she didn't seize the chance to ask for Elder Shen's hand. Instead, she wanted to leave? That was unusual.
Mother, what does this mean?"
Xing Rui's fingers trailed down, brushing her daughter's dimpled cheek as she whispered with a laugh, "Whatever it means, right now Sect Master Han is hunting for the accomplice who stole from the sect's treasury. Don't you think her behavior looks very suspicious? Surely the sect master will be eager to catch this so-called accomplice."
"Mother… you mean…"…
Back at Yiyu Peak.
"Oh no! Sect master is personally leading people here?"
Tang Xiangyin had been admiring the plum blossoms when she spotted Han Huijun and his men storming up the mountain.
Her heart sank into panic.
"What do we do? What do we do? Elder Nie isn't even here right now, and I can't lie to save my life!"
She darted back and forth, then dashed into the courtyard, bolting the gate shut.
"Physician Zhou, Physician Zhou, Sect Master Han is coming. You'll have to handle this…"
Tang Xiangyin lifted her skirts and sprinted straight into Zhou Lili's chamber.
Knock knock knock!
"Open up! Open the door! Is anyone inside?" Disciples of Wuxiang Sect hammered on the gate, their voices echoing loud and clear.