Chapter 12

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In the evening, the small boat docked at the shore.

The so-called Tian Shui Town was extremely remote. The small boat followed a tributary of the Yi River and arrived at a small river fork. Amidst the lush mountains and forests, the town consisted of a hundred or so households on the hillside and a street paved with blue stone slabs.

Five people disembarked.

Wujiao had spent nearly a day with Gu Li and the others, becoming more familiar with each other. Although Gu Li still harbored disdain, he took the opportunity to get closer to them.

Gu Li claimed to have extraordinary talent and received guidance from a high-ranking person in his childhood, which led him to practice cultivation until now. To advance further, joining Lingxia Mountain was his only choice.

Taozi came from a wealthy family but refused to settle down, preferring to travel extensively. He was particularly enthusiastic about seeking immortals and Daoist teachings. Now, he had achieved some success and was determined to become an immortal.

Hongnü was the daughter of a farmer, originally living a simple life. By chance, she met Taozi, who persuaded her to try cultivation. She made significant progress and, with growing interest, decided to join him on the journey to Ling Mountain to become a disciple and cultivate.

From the three of them, Wujiao learned that one must understand the methods of gathering and refining qi to be considered a beginner, and that cultivation was divided into nine levels based on one's abilities. Among them, Gu Li had the highest level at five, followed by Moshen, while Taozi and Hongnü were at the lowest. Wujiao, however, kept his cultivation level a secret, responding with vague phrases like "zhi hu zhe yi" when pressed. These ambiguous words were quite intimidating!

"Everyone, it's getting late. Shall we rest for the night?"

Gu Li led the way up the hill to the town and suggested this. Seeing everyone agree, he pointed ahead and explained, "That house on the hillside belongs to the Shangguan family..."

Wujiao stood by the shore, looking up.

The sky was filled with red clouds, creating a magnificent scene. Under the light mist, the town, shrouded in green, added a touch of charm. The boat they came in was still moored in the river, with a white lantern hanging from it, looking somewhat glaring. There was also someone who always stayed close by, showing great concern!

Wujiao quickly tightened his bag and walked up to Gu Li, smiling and asking, "Brother Gu, is there an inn here for us to stay?" Before Gu Li could answer, Moshen promptly followed up, saying, "There's an inn on the hillside, specifically for traveling cultivators..."

The town was quiet, with few pedestrians.

Following the blue stone street, they climbed up and arrived at their accommodation after about an incense stick's time.

Tian Shui Inn was located at the end of the street, surrounded by a small courtyard of a dozen or so rooms. Although simple, it was surrounded by ancient trees. However, such a remote place was fully booked. With the innkeeper's accommodation, they managed to squeeze into one room. The cultivators were not particular about etiquette and decided to make do for the night.

The guest room was on the east side of the courtyard, with two large trees with lush branches by the door. It was already dark, and the surroundings were dim. The servant opened the door, and the five of them entered one by one. Under the oil lamp, the room's layout was clear. Five wooden beds were arranged around the walls, with a wooden table and a few chairs in the center. There was nothing else, but it was clean and tidy.

They agreed to go to the Shangguan family the next morning to pay the gold and silver and use the teleportation array to start their journey. Gu Li guarded the door, while Taozi, Hongnü, and Moshen sat in the middle, each sitting cross-legged and resting with their eyes closed. Wujiao, squeezed into a corner, looked rather miserable.

It was dinner time, why weren't these people eating or drinking?

Not eating or drinking for a day could starve someone to death. He decided to wait a bit before taking action.

Wujiao sat on the bed, lost in thought. After a while, he turned his back, took off his tattered robe, and opened his bag to take out a clean one. After tidying up, he suddenly turned around.

Someone on the adjacent bed was secretly watching, then pretended to close their eyes.

Wujiao, holding the robe, walked to the wooden table and began to sew it with a needle and thread. This did not escape the notice of his companions. Taozi and Hongnü exchanged glances, while Gu Li shook his head slightly. Moshen stopped pretending and looked puzzled.

It was common for cultivators to neglect their main pursuits, but it was rare to see one skilled in needlework. What was the point of sewing clothes?

Wujiao, though clumsy, sewed very carefully. After half an hour, he finally finished mending the hole in the robe. He examined it, smiled with satisfaction, and put it back on the bed. Then he turned and walked out of the room.

The remaining four people were surprised and stopped meditating, looking at each other, unsure of what was happening. Normally, companions would inform each other if one was going out alone. But this person was quite relaxed and left without a word.

Moshen got up and hurried out, saying, "Friend Wu is new here. I should go and check on him..."

Gu Li and the others did not want to get involved and continued resting.

Moshen stepped outside and looked around.

It was a deep night, and the courtyard was quiet. There was no one in sight, and the surrounding rooms were closed. Only the tavern at the gate was lit, with faint laughter coming from inside.

Moshen took out a talisman and held it in his palm, then slowly walked forward.

The inn was full of cultivators, mostly visiting the Shangguan family, hoping for luck or a chance at immortality. It was reasonable for it to be full occasionally. Cultivators who aspired to immortality often abstained from indulging in food and drink. Therefore, there were few people eating and drinking in the tavern...

Moshen was surprised when he reached the tavern.

The tavern was indeed quiet, with only one waiter and one customer in the hall with four or five tables.

However, that customer was the very person Moshen was concerned about, who was voraciously eating a pot of chicken and a plate of steamed buns, occasionally praising, "This is a wild chicken from the mountains, very delicious..."

The waiter, leaning on the counter, smiled, "Sir, you have good taste!"

"Hehe! Whether it's mountain delicacies or wild flavors, they are not hard to distinguish. If it were dog meat, I could even tell the gender and color by taste..."

"Sir, would you like a cup of wine..."

"I don't drink! Friend Mu... are you hungry? Waiter, bring us some cups, chopsticks, and spoons..."

Regardless of others, Wujiao was really hungry. After mending his robe, he came straight to the tavern. The waiter had a pot of wild chicken stewing, which was his midnight snack. Wujiao asked for it and ate heartily, then suddenly noticed someone at the door and invited them in.

Moshen stood at the door, his expression uncertain. After a moment, he stepped into the tavern, "I abstain from food and drink..." He said this but slowly sat down at the table.

Wujiao stopped tearing at the chicken leg and realized, "Ah... I see, abstaining means not eating!" He remembered that in the capital, some cultivators often went hungry, calling it "abstaining."

The waiter came over, flatteringly, "Sir, would you like a cup of tea?"

Moshen sternly said, "We are talking, no one else should come near!"

The waiter shook his head and moved aside.

Wujiao glanced up and smiled, "What do you want..." He shook his hand, grabbed a bun, and took a sip of chicken soup, "Mmm, delicious."

Moshen dodged the splashing soup, frowned, and slowly said, "Regardless of other matters, I only want the relics left by my master..."

After eating a bun, Wujiao took another and asked curiously, "How can you speak without moving your mouth?"

Moshen's expression was cold and mocking, with a hint of anger, "Don't pretend you don't know about telepathy!"

Oh, so that was telepathy, how amazing! Different fields are like different mountains; there's so much to learn!

Wujiao took a sip of soup, bit into a bun, and smiled, "Can you tell me about your master, so I can learn something..."

Moshen's eyes were cold, and after a moment, he exhaled and looked around the tavern, "If you return the relics, I will tell you the truth. My master..."

He hesitated for a moment and then recounted an unknown story.

It was three years ago, on a night when Moshen was passing through the Ten Thousand Souls Valley. He suddenly encountered a zombie, and his life was in danger. He begged for mercy, thinking he was doomed. However, the zombie spared him, demanding blood offerings and silence...

"I had no choice but to become his disciple to avoid being killed. He was originally a senior cultivator who suffered an unexpected disaster, forcing him to practice zombie and ghost cultivation. In time, he would become a renowned expert, but he died at your hands, hmpf..."

Moshen paused and looked at Wujiao, "I had a master-disciple relationship with him, and now I can only retrieve his relics as a keepsake. I ask for your understanding, and I will be forever grateful..."

His expression was sincere, and his words heartfelt, with his fair complexion and proper manners, it was hard to refuse.

Wujiao finished the bun and drank the soup, rubbing his round belly, "It's rare to have a full meal..." He seemed to have been hungry for a long time, and a full meal was satisfying. It was clear that the past two years of wandering had been tough, but he ignored the other person's attitude and continued, "I almost died in the Ten Thousand Souls Valley, who did I offend?"

Moshen's eyes twitched, "What can be done now?"

Wujiao waved his hand, "Bring another plate of buns, and if there's beef, two pounds to take away..." The waiter nodded and left. He then looked at the person across the table, smiled, and said, "Are you really taking Gu Li and the others to Lingxia Mountain?"

Such abrupt and obscure speech, with hidden meanings, would confuse even the sharpest minds.

Moshen thought quickly and replied, "The Shangguan family's teleportation array can only transport five people at a time. This is a sincere offer, how can it be false..."

Wujiao asked, "How many relics did your master leave?"

Moshen paused and answered truthfully, "I don't know the details, but they are undoubtedly treasures of the immortals..."

The waiter brought a package of buns and cooked beef wrapped in oil paper.

Wujiao took the package and said casually, "Charge it to room number seven!" Then he stood up and left.

Moshen hurriedly followed, catching up outside the courtyard, and reached out, "Wait, return my treasures..."

Wujiao suddenly stopped, and in his empty left hand, he held two animal skin talismans, confidently saying, "I don't know what you're talking about! Do you want me to reveal the truth about the Ten Thousand Souls Valley before you give up..."

Moshen, who knew the truth about the Ten Thousand Souls Valley, was naturally cautious and did not dare to press too hard. However, he was more shocked by something else, exclaiming, "Human Immortal Sword Talisman..."

Wujiao, seeing his trick worked, turned and walked away.

How can I tell which one is the sword talisman? The so-called Human Immortal Sword Talisman must be even more powerful. I should have asked Qi Sanren for instructions on how to use it. Now I know nothing.

Sigh, the path is long and arduous...

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