As Shi Yu fluttered down back onto the small boat, Tingyu Mian caught the wind and floated gracefully away into the distance under everyone's gathered gazes.
Watching the pleasure barge depart, Shi Yu turned around, only to be met with a barrage of chatter and endless questions.
“Miss Shi, did you comprehend the marvelous magic of Fairy Nongyun's zither music?”
“Those passersby made it sound so divine earlier, filling us with yearning. Alas, the notes were too faint for us to make anything out. What a pity, what a pity!”
Shi Yu looked inward at her dantian. In the center of her spirit lake, the yellow sprout had grown increasingly clear and translucent, looking virtually brand-new as if washed with clean spring water. Above the spirit lake, the illusory silhouette of her colorless Dao Platform subtly gained extra detail, appearing slightly more refined while radiating a hazy, clear light.
Since Fairy Nongyun had played that song solely for her, Shi Yu naturally reaped the greatest benefit. She felt her mind thoroughly illuminated and her spiritual energy flowing with exceptional ease, as though she had been granted a buffing effect. With this lingering benefit, her cultivation efficiency would likely increase for the next six months to a year.
Faced with everyone's inquiries, Shi Yu blinked and answered truthfully, “It was indeed miraculous. The fairy's zither music can truly be called heavenly.”
Hearing this, the crowd felt complex emotions—a mix of envy and jealousy. They couldn't help but sigh at Shi Yu's good fortune, growing even more curious about her relationship with Fairy Nongyun. They wondered if, given the opportunity, they might bask in her reflected glory and listen to another song.
Ignoring their petty thoughts, Shi Yu looked toward the end of the canal and prepared to take her leave. Cupping her hands to He Chiqiong, who led the group, she said, “I've intruded on your company for several days and feel quite bad about it. I shall now—”
“Why speak of intrusion?” Before she could finish, He Chiqiong hurriedly interrupted. “A few days ago, when demon beasts suddenly went berserk, had Miss Shi not happened to pass by and scatter medicinal powder to soothe them, the consequences would have been dire.”
Several youths chimed in one after another, “Indeed! And just now, if Miss Shi didn't share some friendship with Fairy Nongyun, we would have suffered quite a bit!”
“Since Miss Shi is also here to take part in Shiyan Academy's recruitment, why not continue traveling with us so we can look out for one another?”
He Lingling also stared with her big watery eyes, tugging on her arm. “Sister Ah Yu, let's go together, okay?”
Having lost face earlier, Su Luoyao stayed silent in sullen anger, though her hostile glare sliced toward Shi Yu like knives. She firmly believed Shi Yu's appearance had been too coincidental, harboring ulterior motives, and expected her to seize the youths' invitation to stay and travel with them.
To her surprise, Shi Yu merely smiled faintly and shook her head. “I have some private matters to attend to, so it is inconvenient for me to travel with you all. May you achieve all that you wish for.”
With that, she tapped the tips of her toes, lightly skimming across the water's surface. In a few swift leaps, she landed on the riverbank and ducked into a small alley, disappearing from sight.
He Chiqiong stared at her fluttering hem and sleeves, as well as her dark hair loosely gathered with a hairpin, momentarily lost in thought.
Seeing Shi Yu actually leave, Su Luoyao felt a bit bewildered. But switching her thoughts, she curled her lips and muttered in a low voice, “Watch her pull another 'coincidental encounter' trick later...”
Turning her head, she noticed He Chiqiong's disappointed expression, and rage surged in her heart, confirming her inner suspicions.
Hearing her words, He Lingling couldn't help but chuckle softly, mocking in a crisp voice, “Sister Su, you treat my brother like a prized treasure, but others don't care for him at all. There are so many fine men in this world, plenty far better than my brother. Sister Shi never even spared him a second glance, so I wonder who you're putting on this one-woman show for.”
Her single sentence struck two people at once. He Chiqiong coughed lightly, looking somewhat awkward.
Su Luoyao immediately retorted, “Brother Chiqiong is naturally the best!”
Seeing her turn flushed with agitation, He Lingling twitched her lips, too lazy to argue further. She yawned and turned around. “Fine, fine, whatever you say. In this vast world, cultivation comes above all else. Bickering back and forth—ah, it's so boring.”
She, He Lingling, sought the Great Dao of immortality. Why should she care about someone keeping her eyes glued to her brother all day, treating him like a treasure and trying to curry favor in every way? Taking that time to enter secluded cultivation was far more practical. She couldn't understand it at all—no matter how she looked at it, Sister Ah Yu suited her taste much better.
...
Meanwhile, on Shi Yu's side, after leaping onto the riverbank, she quickly traversed several alleys. Only when she was far from the canal did she slow her steps, strolling through the long streets and quiet alleys.
Those youths were warm and easy enough to get along with, lacking the haughtiness and snobbery typical of prominent family descendants. Yet they still retained a touch of the arrogance and ostentation unique to noble heirs, lacking caution in their words and deeds. Causing trouble without even realizing it was likely not a rare occurrence for them. If she continued traveling with them and something like today happened again, it would only prove a headache for her.
She had been lucky today. Fairy Nongyun just happened to be Second Senior Brother's aunt. Thanks to Second Senior Brother, she had turned danger into safety and gained many benefits. But had it been anyone else, she wouldn't have enjoyed such good fortune.
Besides, Su Luoyao found her an eyesore. Though Shi Yu didn't lower herself to argue with the girl, it didn't mean she enjoyed being scrutinized by such glares every day. Keeping her distance was far more comfortable.
Now that she knew the direction of the teleportation array, she could simply head there on her own.
Walking toward the teleportation array at the end of the canal, Shi Yu unhooked the gourd at her waist and took a sip. She then narrowed her eyes slightly, letting out an appreciative sigh.
What was held inside this gourd was newly brewed Hundred Flowers Nectar.
After all this time, the bees inside the Fate-Tapping Bell had worked diligently gathering nectar. They had finally progressed from being unable to sustain themselves to having surplus left over for Shi Yu to enjoy.
Because it hadn't been long since the bees matured into adult bees, they fell far short of the high-tier bees carefully cultivated in the Hundred Flowers Sect, and the nectar they brewed was similarly inferior. Still, it wasn't too far off. Its floral fragrance was rich and heady, and upon entering the mouth, it was remarkably sweet, smooth, and delicious.
As the swallow of honey slid down her throat, a wave of warmth spread out, suffusing her entire body with a feeling of deep comfort that seeped into her bones. In the depths of her bloodline, a faint, vague sensation stirred.
Hundred Flowers Nectar possessed the effects of nourishing spiritual roots, condensing spiritual energy, and enhancing divine sense. It could even stir sealed bloodlines; the long-term benefits of consuming it were self-evident.
And this was merely ordinary Hundred Flowers Nectar. If it were Royal Honey or Royal Jelly... She extended her divine sense into the Fate-Tapping Bell, looking over the queen bees inside the hive and a plump empress bee that resembled a giant white grub, her eyes lighting up with growing anticipation.
Then, thinking of Fairy Nongyun, whose realm had fallen, she grew lost in thought.
“I don't know why Aunt suffered a shattered Golden Core and a drop in realm... Once a Golden Core is shattered, re-condensing it is extraordinarily difficult. But if assisted by Royal Jelly, it should yield a few more chances of success, barring any accidents.”
At Fairy Nongyun's level of cultivation, ordinary Hundred Flowers Nectar likely wouldn't have much effect; only the higher-tier Royal Honey or Royal Jelly could be of use.
Fairy Nongyun had met her for the first time, yet bestowed such a magnificent gift upon her—not only using her zither music to refine her mental state and cleanse her yellow sprout, but also gifting her a scroll of sound cultivation technique... Naturally, she had to offer something in return.
“Once the Royal Jelly is produced in the future, I will deliver it to Aunt.”
With that thought settled, Shi Yu continued forward. Walking until the end of the road, she finally spotted a heavily guarded teleportation array.
Rate on N.U.
