Su Henglin returned to Guyu Dock in a flurry of dust and exhaustion, meeting his junior brother Yang Shufeng at the mountain gate, who had also hurried back. Both wore expressions of worry and a hint of urgency.
"Junior Brother Yang, did you also receive Master's letter?"
Yang Shufeng nodded. "Yes, but for Master to summon us back so urgently, I wonder if something has happened in the valley."
"We'll find out as soon as we pay our respects to Master."
Entering the mountain gate, they found everything seemingly normal. Disciples in the valley went about their business as usual, their faces free of worry. Some even laughed and congratulated them.
The two brothers were utterly baffled. Congratulations for what?
An older senior brother smiled at them. "Your long-lost Senior Sister Liao has returned. She's staying in Elder Ji's Secluded Garden of Bamboo."
Su Henglin and Yang Shufeng were both shocked. As direct disciples of Ji Wuduan, they had met Liao Tingyan years ago. Though their interactions had been brief, they still remembered this unfortunate junior sister.
Exchanging glances, their expressions held both confusion and joy.
"Master, we heard Senior Sister Liao has returned?" Su Henglin, the elder second brother, wore a dignified gray-green robe, his demeanor gentler and his face more mature than even their master Ji Wuduan. As he led his junior brother to the Secluded Garden of Bamboo, they immediately spotted two figures reclining on bamboo chairs.
A man and a woman—the woman was the vaguely familiar Senior Sister Liao, but the man...!
Liao Tingyan lifted her eye mask upon hearing voices and saw two men drop to their knees. Sima Jiao glanced at them lazily before rolling over.
Liao Tingyan mused that perhaps big shots had a passive skill that made people kneel upon sight.
"Two... senior brothers? Please rise." She turned toward the house and called, "Master, two more senior brothers are back."
"Coming." Ji Wuduan emerged and, seeing his disciples' expressions, felt both exasperated and amused. He ushered them inside to explain properly.
Cizang Daojun had stayed at Guyu Dock for two days without any signs of violence. He mostly sat or lay around, expressionless and indifferent to others. Yet from the Dock Master to every elder aware of his identity, all were profoundly grateful. Compared to the fate of the Gengchen Immortal Mansion he had destroyed, they considered themselves incredibly fortunate! Some even wondered if Cizang Daojun had laid down his sword to become a Buddha.
Ji Wuduan had seven disciples. The first five were taken in during his time at Clear Valley Heaven, Liao Tingyan was his sixth, and the seventh and eighth were accepted after arriving at Guyu Dock.
Three disciples had already returned earlier. Having witnessed Cizang Daojun's true form during the calamity, they were terrified to find the once world-destroying Taoist Lord napping in their home. Thus, Ji Wuduan had grown adept at calming his disciples.
After reassuring the two, he asked, "Did you find any Spirit Sources during your travels?"
Both disciples looked ashamed. "Neither of us succeeded." Spirit Sources were rare, and after two years abroad, they had found no trace.Ji Wuduan sighed inwardly and said no more, only adding, "Since that's the case, don't force it. You've been traveling and must be exhausted—go rest for now. Also, since you're both back, we're holding a banquet tomorrow for your Junior Sister Liao. Don't forget."
Only then did the two remember Liao Tingyan. She had entered the sect just over three months before their Grandmaster emerged from seclusion and left Clear Valley Heaven, so their interactions had been limited. While they did have some affection for her, it wasn't deep. Now, the two disciples couldn't help feeling uneasy.
"Junior Sister Liao and... that person, what exactly is their relationship?"
Ji Wuduan replied, "Taoist Lord Cizang claims to be Tingyan's Dao companion."
The two were shocked once more. A Dao companion was not a title given lightly, let alone by someone of their Grandmaster's status and temperament. They never imagined he would willingly grant someone such a position.
"Don't overthink it," Ji Wuduan said, having steadied his own emotions. He instructed his disciples, "You two must treat Tingyan with kindness and respect Taoist Lord Cizang. Just avoid approaching him unnecessarily."
Watching as the two senior brothers greeted her with a mix of shock and fear before leaving, Liao Tingyan poked Sima Jiao's shoulder and whispered, "They're all terrified of you."
Sima Jiao: "Anyone who knows my name fears me."
That seemed true. Back when she thought she was Shi Yan, most people in the Demon Realm spoke of the Great Demon King of Winter City with dread. Now, in the World of Cultivation, it was the same.
Perhaps she was the only one who wasn't afraid?
Even when she was Shi Yan and heard countless terrifying tales about the Great Demon King, she hadn't felt much fear. Hearing the name Sima Jiao didn't scare her either. Maybe it was subconscious intuition?
She pulled her bamboo lounging chair closer to Sima Jiao and nestled her head against his neck.
Sima Jiao, eyes closed, pressed a hand against her head and pinched the back of her neck. "Well? Are you scared now?"
Liao Tingyan: "Pfft pfft pfft pfft pfft pfft!"
Their master, who had stepped out to ask if they wanted lunch, silently retreated. Seeing his disciple and the Grandmaster nestled together intimately, whispering like a pair of young lovers, he felt too embarrassed—and too intimidated—to approach.
But he couldn't help admiring this previously quiet disciple of his. She dared to sneak kisses from Taoist Lord Cizang, dared to hug his waist, and even dared to braid his hair—what incredible courage!
Many disciples of Guyu Dock had returned. Unlike the few senior brothers who had met Taoist Lord Cizang, most were unaware of Sima Jiao's identity. The elders who knew the truth had ostensibly gathered them to meet the disciple Elder Ji had brought back and to socialize over a banquet. But privately, each disciple had been sternly warned by their masters to behave with dignified humility and warm reliability, showing proper camaraderie—nothing more was said.
Banquets at Guyu Dock were usually casual, but this time, considering Sima Jiao's presence, the elders decided to make it grand, matching the standards of Gengchen Immortal Mansion's past events.
Still, Ji Wuduan felt it inappropriate and went to consult Liao Tingyan.Upon hearing this, Liao Tingyan immediately said, "In that case, let's not bother with formalities. How about we all have a barbecue together? I have plenty of grills here. I’ve heard that all the senior brothers, junior brothers, uncles, and elders are skilled at growing vegetables and raising livestock. Instead of bringing gifts, just bring some of your own homegrown produce."
Liao Tingyan was genuinely wary of her fellow sect members. Previously, a group of elders had come bearing gifts, and when she saw the items, she almost thought Sima Jiao was some notorious bandit leader, forcing them to offer their most precious treasures to buy peace. It was both amusing and exasperating.
If one disregarded Cizang Daojun’s status, Liao Tingyan’s proposed method of bonding over a feast was far more suited to the atmosphere at Guyu Dock. After much deliberation, Ji Wuduan, seeing how the Taoist Lord doted on and indulged his disciple, ultimately decided to go along with Liao Tingyan’s suggestion.
Thus, Guyu Dock hosted its largest barbecue gathering. Not everyone had experienced this kind of banquet before, so it felt quite novel, and many enthusiastically joined in. Even before the event officially began, numerous participants arrived with their own ingredients.
"Senior Sister Liao, which of our Green Spirit Melons do you think is better?" two young cultivators with strikingly similar faces asked in unison.
Liao Tingyan held a slice of melon in each hand, took a bite of both, savored them carefully, and then fell into thoughtful silence.
These two junior brothers were both from the plant cultivation division. They had grown the same type of Green Spirit Melon and, being twin brothers, were very close. However, they also enjoyed growing identical crops and then comparing them. Countless people at Guyu Dock had been roped into judging their produce at one time or another.
Since tonight’s banquet was Liao Tingyan’s idea, she naturally ended up as the judge this time.
"Senior Sister Liao, which of our Green Spirit Melons truly deserves the name?" the two brothers chorused again.
Liao Tingyan raised the melon in her left hand. "This one is sweet." Then she lifted the one in her right. "This one is crisp."
"I think they should be called Green Spirit Sweet Melon and Green Spirit Crisp Melon, respectively."
The two brothers exchanged glances, then suddenly burst into laughter. After thanking their senior sister, they ran off—only to return shortly with more sliced melons.
"Junior Sister Liao, and your partner, come, try this Immortal Yellow Beef raised by your senior brother. My junior sister just marinated and grilled it with special seasonings—it’s incredibly delicious," another senior brother said as he brought them some grilled meat.
The portions were generous, and the aroma was rich. Another junior brother, holding another plate of beef, couldn’t resist drooling. "Senior Sister Liao, you have to try this! My senior brother rarely slaughters his precious immortal cattle for meals. Even we hardly ever get to eat this beef!"
He then pushed the plate in his hands toward Sima Jiao. "Senior Brother, have some!"
This move made the nearby elders, who were pretending to drink, twitch uncontrollably. These elders, worried that uninformed disciples might offend Cizang Daojun, had stationed themselves nearby to keep an eye on things. Witnessing this scene, they nearly rushed over to drag the junior disciple away and whisk the meat out of sight. They knew all too well that the Taoist Lord never touched such food—what if he got angry?
At that moment, Liao Tingyan pulled the plate in front of Sima Jiao toward herself. "This portion is mine too." After all, her lofty boyfriend hardly ever ate. He was the kind of celestial being who could survive on wind and dew, untouched by mortal indulgences.
The elders secretly sighed in relief.The junior disciple exclaimed with envy, "That's so nice! Having a Dao companion means you get double portions. I want a Dao companion too! Senior Sister Liao, is it hard to find one?"
Liao Tingyan thought for a moment, "It shouldn't be too hard." She hadn't even looked for one—her Dao companion had just appeared, practically a free gift.
Sima Jiao let out a laugh, one of those ambiguous chuckles, which made Liao Tingyan glance at him curiously.
The junior disciple asked, "Really? Then why do so many senior brothers struggle to find Dao companions?"
A chorus of coughs erupted around the barbecue area. The single senior brothers, gathered in groups around the grills while handling their own food, felt a pang of melancholy at the question.
Female disciples at Guyu Dock were truly few. Female disciples from other sects tended to prefer sword cultivators or spellcasters, showing little interest in their type. Moreover, most Guyu Dock disciples were too engrossed in farming to spare time for meeting female disciples.
"Junior Sister Liao, come try this valley wine. It's brewed by me and my junior sisters. The spiritual grain used is different from the ordinary kind—it's a mutant strain I cultivated. The wine tastes excellent, doesn't get you drunk even if you drink a lot, and has some health benefits," a gentle senior sister offered a drink.
Soon, seven or eight other senior and junior sisters arrived, bringing various nourishing and beautifying drinks like flower honey and floral pastes. One junior sister even gifted her a batch of handmade, all-natural spiritual herb cosmetics and enthusiastically shared her usage tips.
Even a nearby elder, who had been sneaking glances at them occasionally, came over with a large jar of honey.
"This honey is rare—pure Qiling flower honey. Back then, even my master couldn't get more than a few spoonfuls after begging for ages. Junior Sister Liao must be especially cherished for our elder to part with this," one disciple remarked innocently, assuming their elder was just being uncharacteristically generous. The elder glared, grabbed him by the neck, and dragged him away.
The senior and junior brothers manning the nearby grill called out, "These vegetarian dishes have their own unique flavors. Would you like some, junior sister?"
Liao Tingyan went over and brought back a variety of vegetarian dishes. One junior brother asked, "Senior Sister, this is a sweet melon I grew. Want to try grilling it? It's delicious!"
Several senior brothers pushed him aside, smiling at Liao Tingyan, "This guy's tastes are different from ours. Don't listen to him."
"Junior niece, come try this roast duck. Our dock raises many Green Flower Ducks—their meat is tender and of premium spiritual quality. Even Sauce Aroma House sources from us," another uncle offered duck.
Liao Tingyan was surprised, "The soy-braised duck from Sauce Aroma House is raised here? I love that duck!"
Yes, back in Crane Immortal City of the Demon Realm, the soy-braised duck she frequented was imported from the World of Cultivation, produced by Sauce Aroma House. In that land of culinary horrors, that duck had sustained her for so long. She never imagined her connection to her sect ran this deep—suddenly, she felt an overwhelming sense of fondness and belonging toward Guyu Dock because of that duck.
That was the duck she'd been eating for years! And it was raised by her uncle!
Sima Jiao sensed her inner excitement and raised an eyebrow. Did her sense of belonging arise a bit too easily?
Liao Tingyan: Heh, with so many delicious, organic, naturally cultivated vegetables, fruits, and meats here—I'm in love. When her uncle heard this, he burst into laughter, delighted. "Since you like them so much, I'll catch more for you. Next time you crave them, just go to Yun Lake in the back mountain and catch some yourself."
At this point, his smile faded slightly. "It's just a shame that the spiritual energy in the back mountain hasn't been as rich as before in recent years. The taste of the green-flower ducks isn't as good as it used to be."
Liao Tingyan paused mid-bite. "Uncle, what's going on?"
Unaware of Sima Jiao's identity, the uncle explained to his new niece, "The decline in spiritual energy is a normal phenomenon. It could be influenced by the earth's veins or simply due to exhaustion. Who knows how much longer Yun Lake can sustain the green-flower ducks? If the spiritual energy continues to dwindle, I'll have to find another place for them. But such ideal spots aren't easy to come by. It's possible that in a few years, those ducks might disappear altogether."
The elders behind him were frantically signaling for him to shut up and leave, but the uncle didn't even notice his master and the group of elders twitching their eyes in the background. He had been deeply troubled by this issue lately and couldn't help but elaborate when asked.
"However, the Dock Master and the elders are working on a solution. Once we find a Spirit Source and bury it in the back mountain, over time, it might give rise to new Spiritual Veins, which could temporarily slow the decline. Unfortunately, Spirit Sources are rare treasures—not easy to come by. Despite sending groups of disciples and elders out to search, we still haven't found one."
Liao Tingyan's expression turned serious. This was no trivial matter. The thought of her beloved marinated ducks disappearing after all these years was unbearable.
Sima Jiao: "..."
He rubbed his forehead.
The uncle waved his hand dismissively. "But this matter isn't for you youngsters to worry about. Now that you're back, just focus on eating and drinking! Here, have some more!"
That night, Liao Tingyan ate a lot, and the accumulated spiritual energy from the food left her feeling somewhat full.
With a full stomach and warmth, her thoughts turned to... pondering life.
Liao Tingyan grabbed Sima Jiao's hand. "Big shot, do you think those delicious ducks—I mean, the spiritual energy in the back mountain—can be saved?"
Sima Jiao: "Yes."
Liao Tingyan: "Really? But isn't fixing this going to be really difficult?"
Sima Jiao had her take out her vanity case. He casually opened a drawer and pulled out a white beaded necklace. Under Liao Tingyan's puzzled gaze, he pointed at the necklace strung with eighty-eight beads. "This is the Spirit Source they've been searching for years without finding even one."
"Two beads will be more than enough."
Liao Tingyan: "???"
She had previously thought this necklace was ugly.
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