Business Dance: "Hmph, You Rebellious Disciple...", The Perplexed Xiao Qin

"Master, truth be told, you’re a bit late. I’ve been back for a few days already."

"You... you ate it?!"

Shang Wu froze in place, staring at her precious disciple as he nodded with a melancholic expression, then clasped his hands behind his back and sighed softly at the sky.

The Qiushui Pavilion fell silent.

Neither spoke.

Today’s wind seemed unusually boisterous.

Seeing his beautiful master cover her mouth, her almond-shaped eyes trembling intensely, Li Mo didn’t feel particularly great about the situation.

Her gaze felt downright disrespectful.

He remembered when he was a child, bragging with other kids and blurting out, "My brother dares to eat poop!"—the other kid had looked at him the exact same way.

"Master, to be fair, if Ying Bing’s cooking wasn’t terrible, it would’ve been somewhat..."

"I get it, no need to say more. The fact that you’re back and alive is already a double blessing. Let’s toast to that—it’s all in the wine."

Shang Wu uncorked her small gourd and took a celebratory sip.

Then she casually handed it to Li Mo, patting his shoulder heavily:

"Well done."

"......"

How did things escalate to us sharing a drink?

With the crisis averted, Shang Wu happily reclined back into her rocking chair, almond eyes narrowing.

The sun was blazing today, and as she lay down, the light outlined a picturesque scene.

As the poem goes: "Viewed head-on, a mountain range; viewed sideways, a towering peak..."

Noticing Li Mo heading out, she turned her head and asked drowsily:

"Oh, by the way, my dear disciple, what’s for dinner tonight?"

Meaning: Since you’re going out anyway, I might as well place my order.

Li Mo couldn’t help but grin:

"Leftovers. As you know, the Nine Peaks Tournament is coming up, and I’ve been busy training."

"Hmm?"

"I didn’t finish last time. There’s still some Braised Intestines, spicy stir-fried pork..."

"!"

Seeing his master’s drowsiness vanish instantly, Li Mo suppressed a laugh and slipped away like greased lightning.

As his footsteps faded, Shang Wu glanced at the spot by the water vat where the vegetable basket usually sat—now empty—and muttered softly:

"Hmph, rebellious disciple..."

Meanwhile.

Outer Affairs Hall.

"Verification complete."

"Inner disciple Xiao Qin, successfully hunted down a Qi-Blood Realm peak criminal. Reward: 1,000 contribution points!"

The Outer Affairs Hall steward carefully examined the proof before smiling and nodding at the young man across from him.

For an inner disciple who had just entered the sect to kill a peak Qi-Blood Realm criminal in actual combat—this lad was clearly promising.

Many of the other disciples submitting tasks also cast curious glances his way.

Bounty missions offered rich rewards but came with high failure rates and significant danger.

Thus, few disciples took them on.

Most who did were seeking to temper themselves.

"1,000 contribution points..."

"May I ask, steward, how many contribution points are needed for rare treasures beneficial to the soul?"

Xiao Qin showed little joy on his face.

"Soul-nourishing treasures?"

The steward paused, then shook his head.

"I don’t even need to check for this. Nothing costs less than 30,000 contribution points."

"Those are items meant for the Observation Divine Realm. It’s too early for you to be concerning yourself with them. Don’t aim too high too soon."

"I’d advise you to exchange for some healing items first, lest you leave hidden injuries."

The steward had taken a liking to him and thus offered extra advice.

"My thanks!"

Xiao Qin cupped his hands in gratitude but couldn’t help sighing.

Just as he’d expected.

When he’d gone down the mountain for missions, he’d also inquired about similar items—but they were either unavailable or priced beyond imagination.

Using contribution points in the sect was indeed cheaper, yet still far beyond his means...

"Don’t fret, lad. This old man is just a bit weakened, not on the verge of dissipating yet."

The voice of Thousand Forms Martial Venerable sounded, though far feebler than before.

"It’s my fault for being careless."

Xiao Qin’s face darkened with guilt.

While capturing that criminal, he’d failed to uncover the man’s connections and ended up ambushed.

His master had expended much of his soul energy to save him.

"Everyone makes mistakes in their youth. For your first life-and-death battle, you did remarkably well."

"You’ve reached the peak of the Qi-Blood Realm, but alas, I lack the strength to refine the Tiger Tendon Qi-Condensing Pill for you now."

Though weak, Thousand Forms Martial Venerable’s tone carried pride.

With the Nine Peaks Tournament approaching,

Xiao Qin had hoped to break through to the Inner Breath Realm beforehand and secure a decent ranking.

But now, this setback...

"Senior Brother Xiao? You’re here too."

Just as he stepped outside, someone called out to him. Xiao Qin turned instinctively.

It was Li Mo, who had arrived unnoticed, smiling at him.

"Junior Brother Li, here to submit a mission too?"

"Mn. I also took a bounty."

Li Mo nodded, noticing Xiao Qin’s injuries—clearly fresh from battle.

"Three days apart, a whole new appraisal."

Xiao Qin couldn’t help but marvel.

Judging by Li Mo’s demeanor, he’d completed the mission with ease.

Bounty targets were, at minimum, peak Qi-Blood Realm—anything weaker was handled by local authorities, never reaching Qingyuan Sect.

Back when they’d first met, Li Mo had only just opened his meridians. Now, he could casually slay peak Qi-Blood Realm foes.

"I got lucky. The criminal was injured, fighting at maybe 60-70% strength."

"I see."

Hearing this, Xiao Qin relaxed slightly.

"By the way, Senior Brother Xiao, I looked for you yesterday."

"What’s the matter, Junior Brother Li? If it’s within my power..."

"I came across something by chance but don’t know its exact use. Given your reputation for vast knowledge, I hoped you could identify it."

As he spoke, Li Mo reached into his sleeve.

He pulled out a small block—neither quite wood nor stone—and handed it to Xiao Qin.

"I’m afraid I might not..."

Xiao Qin smiled wryly.

Normally, he’d consult his master for such things.

But after their earlier exchange, his master had fallen into deep slumber...

"It’s Soul-Nourishing Ebony!"

A hoarse voice suddenly rang in his mind, unusually agitated.

Wasn’t master supposed to be resting?

Why did he sound like he’d just bolted upright?

Then, Thousand Forms Martial Venerable continued rapidly:

"This is a rare treasure for nurturing the soul. It forms when a rare spirit wood is struck by lightning, sinks into an aquatic vein, and undergoes years of refinement—wood turning to stone, stone to jade."

"Many experts, finding no path to further breakthroughs, use this wood to craft coffins, sealing their bodies to nourish their souls until they awaken in another era."

"This piece has reached the wood-to-stone stage."

Xiao Qin understood.

His master meant this item was precious—and immensely useful to him.

He wanted it.

But it belonged to Junior Brother Li...

Xiao Qin took a deep breath and spoke solemnly:

"Junior Brother, this is Soul-Nourishing Ebony, a treasure for nurturing the soul. It’s extremely valuable."

"Keep it safe. When you reach the Observation Divine Realm, it’ll be of great use."

Sigh.

"Old Xiao, if you'd just said this thing was worthless, I would've tossed it to you without a second thought."

"But then again, that wouldn’t be like him..."

Li Mo could only ask again:

"If this is meant for the Observation Divine Realm, something to nurture the Intent Soul, why do I sense some interest from Senior Brother Xiao Qin?"

"To be honest, I do indeed need something like this."

Xiao Qin scratched his head awkwardly.

Right now, his master was probably cursing him inwardly as a rebellious disciple.

After a moment of contemplation, Li Mo said:

"How about this—I’ll lend it to you for now?"