A Bundle of Wild Vegetables

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao was somewhat surprised.

"The once-in-a-century Talisman Master Convention? It's being held at the end of this year?"

Liu Chun nodded and said,

"Exactly, I hope the Sect Leader will approve."

"I have to approve this—isn't the Talisman Master Convention your dream?" Lin Xiao replied immediately.

Liu Chun was rather taken aback by his words.

He had never spoken openly about wanting to attend the convention, except for that one time he argued with the Wu family at the Immortal Fragrance Pavilion…

Liu Chun glanced sneakily at Lin Xiao, thought for a moment, and said nothing.

"Yes, so if I don't go to the convention this time, I'll have to wait another hundred years."

As he spoke, he gave a faint self-deprecating smile, a trace of loneliness in his eyes, before adding,

"In a hundred years, who knows if I'll still be alive."

He said this not because he lacked confidence in his current cultivation progress, but because the path of cultivation was uncertain—no one could predict what would happen.

Besides, he still needed to search for his sister, and he couldn't stay cooped up in the sect training forever.

Once he ventured into the world of immortal cultivation, life and death would be unpredictable.

Lin Xiao had no idea that his own words had just revealed he'd been eavesdropping on someone's gossip before. He reached out and patted Liu Chun on the shoulder, saying,

"What do you mean, who knows? Don't say such gloomy things. I'm not stopping you from attending this Talisman Master Convention, and I hope you'll come out on top too, but no matter what, you'll still be alive in a hundred years—living well!"

The shadow of doubt over the immortal realm was brushed away by Lin Xiao, and Liu Chun lowered his head with a silent smile, replying,

"The Sect Leader speaks wisely."

In a remote, uninhabited region thousands of miles beyond the southern border of Puyi Country.

This place was a stretch of rolling mountains, thick with shrubs.

Mists and clouds hung low all year round, with the occasional crisp chirping echoing through them, making the area look like an earthly paradise.

Lush greenery extended as far as the eye could see for a thousand miles. Nearby, a clean, wide river sometimes raced along, sometimes flowed gently, separating this area from the southern border of Puyi Country.

A massive bridge spanned the river.

At that moment, a figure was hopping and skipping across it.

Han Weishu, a girl dressed in a male hairstyle and male clothing, was casually twirling a bundle of wild vegetables given to her by someone else, striding playfully toward the mist-shrouded area ahead.

Perhaps because she'd spent too long picking them, the vegetables were already a bit wilted.

But they had been cleaned thoroughly and neatly tied, showing the care of the person who had made the bundle.

Suddenly, a man flew in from afar on a sword, landing right in front of her.

"Weishu, you're finally back. Hurry and come with me, or you'll get scolded again."

As he spoke, the man reached out to grab the hand with which Han Weishu was swinging the bundle.

But Han Weishu slapped his hand away, saying flippantly,

"Don't act all fake with me, old man. If I walk back myself, I'll get scolded, but if I go back with you now, I won't? You're just trying to show off in front of my dad, aren't you? You think no one sees your little schemes?

Yu Jie, my dad might buy that crap, but I don't—understand?"

The man called Yu Jie pursed his lips tightly, speaking rather sternly,

"No matter what you think, as a girl, you should take care of yourself and cultivate diligently. How can you spend all day outside fooling around with mortals?"

At that, Han Weishu rolled her eyes and snorted coldly,

"Hmph, enough. Save that speech for when you're in front of my dad. I'm tired of hearing your nonsense."

No sooner had she spoken than a furious roar came from the sky:

"Han—Wei—Shu!"

Han Weishu's heart jolted, but she quickly controlled herself, not letting her panic show.

She immediately reverted to her lazy demeanor, looking up at the person charging down from the sky,

"Oh, Dad, you're here. What, felt sorry for your precious good disciple, huh?"

Seeing her still in this infuriating manner, Han Shangyi was livid. He landed on the bridge in front of the two, fuming at Han Weishu,

"You rebellious child! All day long you refuse to strive for improvement or cultivate diligently. Yu Jie has admonished you for years, not only do you not listen, but you humiliate him repeatedly! And now you speak to me like this!"

Hearing yet another tirade, Han Weishu shrugged nonchalantly and said,

"What can you do when your daughter was born with five spiritual roots—the worst kind at that, barely better than a mortal? No matter how hard I cultivate, it's nearly impossible to make progress.

Even if I spend my life training until I die, I'll never reach the Foundation Establishment stage. Why shouldn't I enjoy life instead of wasting my efforts on things utterly pointless, just because you and others demand it?

Oh right, Dad, you're the Sect Leader, aren't you? Having a daughter like me must bring you shame. My apologies. Then just pretend you don't have a daughter—take your beloved disciple as your son instead."

With that, she tilted her chin toward Yu Jie.

"How dare you!"

Han Shangyi's nose nearly twisted with rage at her attitude.

Seeing the bundle of wild vegetables she was still swinging, he snatched it and tossed it away.

The slightly wilted vegetables were thrown into the air by the Sect Leader, disappearing beyond the horizon.

"Hey! What are you doing!"

Caught off guard, Han Weishu was about to chase in the direction where the wild vegetables were tossed.

But Han Shangyi grabbed her by the collar, yanking her up like a little chick.

"I've been too lenient with you, that's why you've grown into such lazy, mannerless wretch! Starting today, as your father, I'm going to discipline you properly! Go back and reflect behind closed doors!"

Then he lifted her and flew into the misty region.

Yu Jie on the bridge immediately followed.

Only echoes of "Let me go!" from Han Weishu filled the air.

Once Han Shangyi returned to the sect's mountain gate, he locked his daughter in a small dark room, when a disciple came to report:

"Sect Leader, a visiting elder from the Cloud Mist Sect has arrived. Please come to the guest hall for a discussion."

Frowning, Han Shangyi asked,

"What about Elder Wan?"

The disciple bowed respectfully and answered,

"Elder Wan entered seclusion this morning."

So Han Shangyi thought for a moment and said,

"Alright, I understand. You may go."

He then headed toward the sect's guest hall.

Meanwhile, locked in the small dark room, Han Weishu rubbed her sore bottom as she sat up.

After making sure no one was around, she walked over to the corner, closed her eyes, and silently recited something in her mind.

A few moments later, a translucent, brown, round lump emerged from the ground of the tiny room.

This was an earth spirit—a contracted spirit left to her by Han Weishu's mother.

Not even Han Shangyi knew of its existence.

"Qiuqiu, that fool of a father of mine tossed away the wild vegetables Ah Liang gave me. Go find them quickly."