Chapter 61
Throughout the match, Liaowu barely changed his tactics, simply forming seals and striking with his palms, barely moving his feet.
Yet, these seemingly ordinary, gentle attacks completely suppressed Li Wufeng. No matter how he struggled, he couldn’t break free, only suffering a crushing defeat.
It was a clean and decisive victory.
“Liaowu of the Undying Sect wins,” the referee announced, unable to help but glance at Liaowu a few more times. He hadn’t expected the match to end like this.
Below the arena, the crowd was also discussing the fight. When Liaowu stepped down from the arena and returned to Heng Yu’s side, she teased him with a smile, “You really don’t know how to fight.”
His attacks on the arena were monotonous and lacked variation. Even saying “lacked variation” was being polite. There was no variation at all; one look at his moves revealed his lack of fighting experience.
It was only because he was so powerful, his true strength far exceeding his apparent cultivation level, that he was able to suppress Li Wufeng.
Liaowu nodded. “I’m not very good at it.”
“But you’re already very strong.” Heng Yu removed the bamboo leaf from her hair, held it to her lips to hide her slight smile, and said matter-of-factly, “Remember to shield me when we encounter danger in the future.”
Liaowu didn’t hesitate. “Naturally.”
Heng Yu stretched. “We’re done here for now. Let’s go check when our next matches are scheduled.”
Liaowu nodded. Before they left, he asked, “Do you want to put the bamboo leaf back in your hair?”
Only then did Heng Yu remember the poor bamboo leaf she had been playing with. She looked down at it and held it up to Liaowu. “It’s a bit wrinkled.”
Liaowu took the bamboo leaf from her. He channeled his spiritual energy, enveloping the slightly wilted bamboo leaf in gentle wood-attribute energy. After a moment, the leaf regained its vibrant greenness.
Withdrawing his spiritual energy, Liaowu gently placed the bamboo leaf back in her hair.
After checking the schedule, they found their next matches were both two days later. There was no need to stay at the Sword Testing Grounds any longer. Heng Yu followed Liaowu back to his residence. She sat on a stool, resting her chin in her hands, and watched Liaowu sitting opposite her.
Under her gaze, Liaowu took out a carving knife from his storage ring and placed it on the table. Carving a wooden hairpin required a large piece of wood. After some thought, Liaowu took out a branch that had fallen from a thousand-year-old Bodhi tree.
The thousand-year-old Bodhi tree in the Undying Sect, constantly bathed in the smoke of incense and the chants of Buddhist cultivators, was no ordinary tree. Wearing accessories or talismans made from its fallen branches could protect the wearer from demonic energy and prevent them from easily succumbing to tribulations.
The branch looked ordinary, and Heng Yu couldn’t discern anything special about it. She sat quietly and watched him hold the wood in one hand and the carving knife in the other.
Before he began carving, Liaowu asked, “What kind of pattern do you want?”
“A clivia pattern, is that alright?” Heng Yu thought of the clivia plant on her table.
Liaowu dipped his brush in ink and drew a half-opened clivia flower on a blank sheet of paper. He paused, then drew clivia flowers in other poses, letting Heng Yu choose the style she liked.
Heng Yu pointed to the half-opened clivia. “I like this one.”
Liaowu also asked her for a wooden hairpin. He carefully examined the hairpin’s existing pattern and, after a moment of thought, had a clear idea of how to carve the new one.
He lowered his eyes and began carving diligently. The carving knife danced in his hands, wood shavings falling onto the table.
Heng Yu watched for a while, then felt a wave of drowsiness. She yawned lazily.
Even while concentrating on carving, Liaowu noticed her sleepiness. After making a cut, he paused. “Why don’t you go back to your room and sleep for a while? I’ll come find you after I finish carving the hairpin.” His tone rose slightly at the end, carrying a hint of inquiry.
Heng Yu shook her head. “No need.” She stretched. “I’ll just take a nap here on the table.”
With that, she rested her head on her arms and fell asleep.
Liaowu’s movements stopped. Only after sensing that she was asleep did he quietly get up from his chair and partially close the wooden window. Most of the sunlight streaming in was blocked, leaving only a few rays to gently caress her slender back.
Liaowu sat down again, cast a silencing spell on her, and picked up the carving knife again. The wooden hairpin gradually took shape.
Just as he was about to polish it further, hurried footsteps sounded outside the bamboo hut, followed by a knock and the excited voice of Little Monk Liaonian. “Senior Brother, Senior Brother, open the door!”
Liaowu glanced at Heng Yu. She continued to sleep soundly, apparently undisturbed by Liaonian’s commotion thanks to the silencing spell. Liaowu put down his tools and went to open the door.
The door opened, and Liaonian excitedly tried to enter.
Liaowu stopped him. “Let’s talk outside. Lord Luo is resting inside.”
Liaonian subconsciously glanced inside the hut, but Liaowu blocked most of his view, so he saw almost nothing. Liaonian scratched his head, agreed, and stepped back outside.
While the two brothers were talking, Heng Yu slowly opened her eyes. She touched her ear and dispelled the silencing spell. The sound of Liaowu and Liaonian’s conversation drifted in.
“Senior Brother, the ‘Formless Formation’ you asked the sect to borrow has arrived… and the Hehuan Seed has also been delivered…”
Heng Yu could only vaguely make out these words. She pushed open the window and looked out.
Liaowu was listening attentively to Liaonian. Sensing the movement behind him, he turned and glanced at Heng Yu, giving her a small smile.
Soon, Liaonian handed the items to Liaowu and hurried off. Liaowu returned to the hut with the items in hand.
“What did Liaonian bring you?” Heng Yu asked casually as she poured him a cup of water. The sun was quite strong outside, making it easy to get thirsty.
Liaowu sat back down opposite her, took a sip of water, and pushed all the items towards her. “These are for Lord Luo.”
Heng Yu looked down at the items Liaowu had pushed towards her. The “Formless Formation” was a formation book from the Black and White Academies. Although not particularly valuable, it wasn’t easily lent out. Now, a transcribed copy was placed before her.
And the black fruit in the wooden box, based on what she had just heard, should be the Hehuan Seed—an extremely rare item in the Hehuan Sect. So rare that there were only two left. It could be used as a substitute for admiration points to help Hehuan Sect disciples break through realms.
If this Hehuan Seed were presented to the Hehuan Sect Leader, he would undoubtedly be willing to exchange many rare materials for it.
“For me?” Heng Yu repeated.
“Lord Luo was worried about admiration points a few days ago. Now, with the Hehuan Seed, you won’t have to worry about not having enough admiration points when breaking through to Core Formation.”
Liaowu explained. Worried that she wouldn’t accept it, he added, “The Hehuan Seed was a gift from the founder of the Hehuan Sect and has been stored in the Undying Sect for many years. This poor monk exchanged it with my own sect contribution points. It was just a small effort and won’t affect this poor monk in any way.”
Heng Yu traced the edge of the wooden box with her finger. Looking at the Bodhi Seed inside, she smiled and asked casually, “There’s only one Hehuan Seed. What will I do when I break through from Core Formation to Nascent Soul? Aren’t you afraid I’ll latch onto you?”
Liaowu placed his fingertip on the other side of the wooden box. “Lord Luo… seems unhappy?”
He was born with the responsibility to protect all beings, but the myriad beings in this world were indistinct and equal in his eyes. To him, they were often just symbols.
She was his only obsession. He just… wanted to treat her well. Had he chosen the wrong approach?
Thinking of this, Liaowu’s grip on the wooden box tightened, his fingertips turning white. He quickly felt a sense of dejection and helplessness. He truly didn’t know how to be good to someone.
Heng Yu didn’t know what Liaowu was thinking. She only felt the jade pendant at her waist warming up. The warmth spread from her waist, making her heart feel hot.
She subconsciously looked up at him, only to see his usual calm expression, his gentle eyes like the clear wind and bright moon, drawing one in and making them fall unconsciously.
Heng Yu smiled. “Why would you think I’m unhappy? I’m just a bit embarrassed. The Hehuan Seed is too valuable.”
Liaowu was slightly relieved. “It’s good that it’s useful to Lord Luo.”
“Alright, I won’t stand on ceremony, lest you overthink it.” Heng Yu put the Hehuan Seed and the “Formless Formation” into her storage ring.
She stretched. “The hairpin will probably take another hour or two to finish. I’ll go back to my room and read the ‘Formless Formation,’ and then come find you for dinner later?”
The faint smile on her face vanished as soon as she left the bamboo hut. Touching the jade pendant at her waist, she quickly walked back to the sea of irises.
Sitting cross-legged among the irises, Heng Yu took out the jade pendant and checked it, finding that the admiration points had become 7200. After staring at it for a while, she took out a transmission talisman and asked her master where he was.
Fifteen minutes later, Heng Yu arrived at You Yun’s residence. As a Nascent Soul cultivator, he didn’t live with the disciples. The Sword Sect had arranged a spacious cave dwelling for him.
Stepping on the crisp fallen leaves, Heng Yu walked up to You Yun. She said with some distaste, “Master, you should at least use a spell to clean up the fallen leaves on the ground.”
You Yun: “…Shouldn’t you be reflecting on yourself? Sweeping the courtyard for your master, isn’t that what a disciple should do?”
“Oh.” Heng Yu quickly changed the subject. “Master, let’s talk business. I came to you today to ask for something.”
She didn’t even sit down before stating her request. “…I think the Hehuan Sect should have something like this, right?”
After hearing her request, a look of disgust appeared on You Yun’s face. “We do, why? Are you planning to use it on that Buddha-son? No way, no way, how did I raise such a goody-two-shoes disciple! This is so unlike my style!”
Heng Yu rolled her eyes inwardly, but on the surface, she maintained a sweet smile. “Master, Wu Mei and Mu Huan always tell me how lucky I am to be your disciple, how generous you are to your own people, always granting their requests.” Seeing You Yun unconsciously straighten his posture, Heng Yu smiled inwardly and pressed on. “But I asked you about the sect’s secret, and you wouldn’t tell me. Now I’m asking you for something, and you’re also hesitant… Master, do you have other disciples outside?”
You Yun was speechless. He closed his fan and tapped it on the table. “Do you think something like that is easy to get?… Fine, I admit, the sect does have the seeds of that thing, but do you know what’s needed to nurture it from seed to fruit? Your blood, you idiot.”
In his thousands of years, You Yun had met many people. Those who, even after completing their missions, still wanted their targets to offer them everything. This was the first time he had met someone who considered their target’s kindness a burden.
And most importantly, such an idiot was actually his disciple!