"Hehe, Senior Sister Bai, I didn't come here today to rob the Wood Flow Sect, but to bring you wealth!"
The corner of Bai Rou's mouth curled up slightly. "What, have you snatched the position of Peak Master of Little Bamboo Peak from Senior Brother Wuyi? Are you also going to order puppets?" As she spoke, Bai Rou stretched out a snow-white, smooth jade hand and opened her palm to Li Yan.
Li Yan also smiled slightly and actually stretched out his hand as well. In the process of stretching out his hand, a light flashed, and a thin booklet was placed in Bai Rou's hand.
Bai Rou was stunned for a moment. She was just joking, but she didn't expect Li Yan to actually take something out. But when she saw clearly what was in her hand, her expression dimmed slightly. What Li Yan had taken out was indeed something that was hard to find even with money.
It was a booklet made from the fur of some unknown demonic beast. In the upper left corner, there was a dark green maple leaf pattern. It was the very thing Shuang Qingqing had taken out and given to Li Yan back then.
"This item was left by Senior Shuang and is priceless. Back then, Senior also instructed that if possible, this item should be left to you. Now that I have fulfilled my wish, I will hand this item over to Senior Sister Bai! Oh, by the way, Senior Shuang also said that this book could also be comprehended by Zhao Min.
So, I once inscribed a copy for her. It's just that the inscribed item lacks the charm of the original writing, but the content is enough for her to comprehend. But please rest assured, the content in that inscribed jade slip will not be known to a third person. After Zhao Min has comprehended it, she will destroy it. This should not go against Senior Shuang's wishes!"
After placing the booklet in Bai Rou's hand, Li Yan immediately let go of the other end of the booklet and explained. Although Shuang Qingqing had said that he and Zhao Min could comprehend this booklet together, it was actually meant for him to see. Now that he had successfully formed his Nascent Soul and had also inscribed a copy, it was better to hand the original over to Bai Rou. Firstly, it was for Bai Rou to comprehend in the future; secondly, this item was very precious in Shuang Qingqing's heart. It was a deep affection for her master.
Handing it over to Bai Rou was also a way of returning it to her disciple. Shuang Qingqing would definitely be comforted if she knew. Bai Rou was, strictly speaking, Shuang Qingqing's direct disciple. Many of her later cultivation methods, puppet arts, and so on were personally taught by her. It was just because of Shuang Qingqing's position in the Wood Flow Sect, and at that time Bai Rou's master was still alive, she couldn't very well compete with a junior in the sect for a disciple.
The moment Bai Rou saw the booklet, her previously lively expression became silent again. She really missed that elder who was both her master and her mother. The reason she was able to successfully form a Golden Core was definitely inseparable from Shuang Qingqing. Even though she was also Elder Chigong's disciple, there were many elders on Four Symbols Peak. The resources Elder Chigong could give her could only be considered acceptable. How could it compare to the resources of a Nascent Soul cultivator?
Of course, Bai Rou also respected Elder Chigong very much. Now, even though she had also advanced to the Golden Core, she would still go to the peak every few years to visit this elder.
"Has Senior Shuang sent any messages back since then?" Li Yan understood what Bai Rou was thinking and asked softly.
"Since Master left, there has been no news from her. And we can't possibly have her Soul Lamp here, so…" Bai Rou shook her head. With the strength of the Wood Flow Sect, it was naturally impossible to have a Soul Lamp for every disciple in the sect like the Four Great Sects.
This way, when a disciple went out for training or ascended, if they encountered any misfortune, it was possible to get the result. It was just that very few people dared to leave a Soul Lamp of a Nascent Soul cultivator in such a small sect. Once it was targeted by an enemy and the Soul Lamp was stolen, they could use techniques to curse, kill with blood, and so on. The consequences were extremely dangerous.
"Hehehe… Senior Sister Bai, your worries are unnecessary! Back then, when Senior Shuang was only at the Golden Core cultivation level, she could cross the Chaotic Flow Space without any trouble. What's more, now? We just need to cultivate diligently, and one day we will see her again!" Li Yan chuckled. Seeing Bai Rou's downcast expression, he immediately changed the subject.
"By the way, how is that fellow Sun Guoshu now? I only saw him once a few years ago at Eldest Senior Brother's wedding. You also said that he would occasionally come here. This time I came out, I didn't find his aura in the sect. I wonder how he is doing recently?"
Bai Rou retracted her hand and put away the booklet. Hearing Li Yan's question, she tilted her head, looking like a little girl thinking.
"That guy came here once more than half a year ago, just to tell me about your Nascent Soul formation. You know, although this place is not too far from the Malevolent Spirit Sect, the disciples in the sect were afraid of the displaced life before. Once they settled down, most of them would close their doors to refine artifacts. Very few disciples went out. Only when they went to the Malevolent Spirit Sect to deliver puppets would they mostly inquire about the outside news.
So, I only knew about your Nascent Soul formation a month after it happened. Before, Sun Guoshu would also come over often, just to pass on some outside news to me. It's just that when he came that time, I already knew about your situation."
"Oh, this guy is getting more and more considerate now! He came over more than half a year ago, which means he wasn't in the sect when I formed my Nascent Soul. Counting the time, he just came back not long ago, and now he's out again. He's getting more and more serious about his cultivation. That's a good thing!"
Li Yan heard the hidden meaning in Bai Rou's words. It seemed that this Sun Guoshu was out training all day long.
After hearing this, a smile reappeared on Bai Rou's face. "Junior Brother is right. The current Junior Brother Sun is very busy! He's working harder than before."
"Oh, busy with training? Going out so frequently, although training can provide benefits that can't be obtained in normal cultivation at the edge of life and death, one also needs to be careful in choosing a place. Rushing into a place that is too dangerous still needs careful consideration!" Li Yan saw Bai Rou's expression and felt that her smile had a different meaning, but he didn't understand it for a moment.
"Training? Dangerous? What Junior Brother Li said is right and wrong. He's not in too much danger."
"What do you mean by that? If he only goes to ordinary places, then it won't have much effect on a Golden Core cultivator!" Li Yan felt Bai Rou's expression become even stranger.
"Junior Brother Sun is indeed training, but recently he has been accompanying others in their training. He's getting very close to a female Foundation Establishment disciple from Never-Parting Peak now. I don't think it will be long before they become Dao Companions!" The smile on Bai Rou's beautiful face grew even wider.
"A female disciple from Never-Parting Peak, oh…" Li Yan was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, and then a thought stirred in his heart.
"Is that female disciple named Mu Lian?" Li Yan suddenly remembered an incident that had happened, and a strange look also appeared in his eyes.
Upon hearing this, a look of reproach immediately appeared in Bai Rou's beautiful eyes. "Junior Brother Li already knew, why did you still come and ask me? Are you teasing a 'junior'?" She deliberately emphasized the word "junior."
Li Yan, however, reached out a hand and touched his nose, chuckling. "Senior Sister Bai has misunderstood. I met Sun Guoshu and a female cultivator fleeing on my way back to the sect. That female disciple was from Never-Parting Peak, so I just made a guess. I didn't expect it to really be her!"
"Senior Brother Sun and Mu Lian were fleeing? Why didn't he tell me? What happened?" Upon hearing this, Bai Rou, who was usually quiet, actually became curious. Few people talked to her on a daily basis, and she herself liked peace and quiet. But when it came to people she knew, a woman's natural curiosity was revealed.
Especially since Sun Guoshu had come so many times. Regarding the matter of Li Yan's return, he had only said that he had been able to successfully form a Golden Core because Li Yan had given him many Spirit Stones and medicinal pills after returning to the sect. Sun Guoshu had not mentioned anything else.
Regarding Bai Rou's curiosity, Li Yan thought for a moment and felt that this matter would not cause any problems, so he simply started talking about it…
About four hours later, Bai Rou watched the figure flying towards the sky. She just stood there silently, looking at the evening clouds in the sky, silent for a long time.
After a long time, her crimson lips moved silently a few times, and then she continued to stand in the courtyard.
A dozen breaths later, a ray of light flashed down from the sky. The light faded, revealing Tang Yuniang's graceful figure.
"Sect Master, has that senior left?"
"Yes, I called you over to give you some more Voice Transmission Talismans!" As she spoke, five more Voice Transmission Talismans appeared in her hand, which she handed to Tang Yuniang.
Tang Yuniang looked at Bai Rou with some surprise, but seeing Bai Rou's calm face and no intention of explaining, she also quickly took the talismans. She still had two Voice Transmission Talismans for contacting Bai Rou alone. If there wasn't anything major, with Bai Rou's temperament, she might not even use one in several years. It was enough for her.
But Bai Rou had given her five more at once, which was somewhat out of character for her. But Tang Yuniang, who was already well-versed in the ways of the world, would naturally not ask a Golden Core expert for a reason.
After giving the Voice Transmission Talismans, Bai Rou turned and walked towards the room. But just as she had taken a step, under Tang Yuniang's respectful gaze, she turned back again. After thinking for a moment, she still said, "Oh, by the way, next time that person comes again, you send me a voice transmission immediately. Don't worry about whether I'm cultivating or not!"
Tang Yuniang was stunned again upon hearing this, and then she understood. She saw that after Bai Rou had spoken, she turned back again. After a moment of thought, she still confirmed, "Sect Master, are you talking about that senior just now?"
This time, Bai Rou didn't turn back. Her faint voice came over. "Yes! And one more thing, next time you go to deliver the puppets, if some deacons from Lord Lao Peak try to suppress the price, just say that this is the price set by Li Yan of Little Bamboo Peak!"
As she spoke, a silent, mischievous smile curled at the corner of Bai Rou's mouth.
'Now that Master has already left, you, this "Martial Uncle Li," will have to shield my small sect from some wind and rain!'
The establishment of a sect like the Wood Flow Sect in the foundation of the Malevolent Spirit Sect not only caused dissatisfaction among other affiliated sects and families, but even some people within the sect were not convinced. It was just that back then, everyone knew that the Wood Flow Sect had a Nascent Soul old ancestor in charge. In addition, the tragic great war had just passed, and many people still had fresh memories of Shuang Qingqing's bravery in the war, so they didn't dare to show it.
But as time went by, and since Sect Master Yan Longzi also often went into seclusion, some deacons began to be picky when receiving the puppets from the Wood Flow Sect. They naturally didn't dare to not accept the puppets sent, but they would also find excuses to lower the price. Tang Yuniang had already sought out Bai Rou many times for this matter.
Bai Rou herself had also been to Lord Lao Peak to find some elders, but the effect was not great. She could only give up. She couldn't very well ask Elder Chigong to step in, could she?
Just now, after seeing Tang Yuniang, Bai Rou suddenly thought of a way. Anyway, those deacons wouldn't dare to go and ask Li Yan. What's more, even if an elder above questioned and really went to Li Yan for confirmation, it was estimated that Li Yan would also suppress the matter after learning about it. Anyway, the Wood Flow Sect only hoped to maintain a normal price and had no other intentions.
For such a small matter, even if Li Yan didn't do it for Bai Rou's sake, he would still consider Shuang Qingqing's feelings and would naturally not be angry.
Tang Yuniang was stunned again upon hearing Bai Rou's voice.
'What does the Sect Master mean by that? The price set by Li Yan of Little Bamboo Peak… and who is Li Yan?' She thought back to Bai Rou's words in her mind, and at this moment, Bai Rou's figure had already disappeared into the door.
Suddenly, Tang Yuniang's body trembled violently.
"Li… Yan, Little Bamboo Peak, isn't that one of the two Nascent Soul cultivators who successfully formed their Nascent Souls a year ago? How could the Sect Master know him?"