19: Chapter 19 is back.

At the foot of Baitou Mountain, Mo Family Village.

Mo Xiaochuan's finished bowls and chopsticks were still placed on the table.

Liu Chunmei did not clean them up either, only glancing toward the courtyard entrance from time to time.

The couple had been married for fifteen years, and this was the longest time Mo Shoutian had ever left home.

Counting the days, it had already been a full twenty-one days.

After much thought, Liu Chunmei finally picked up an outer garment and went out the door.

Mo Family Village was very quiet after dark, occasionally punctuated by a few dog barks.

After more than twenty days of Cultivate, Mo Xiaochuan's six senses had long since surpassed ordinary people.

Just as Liu Chunmei pushed open the courtyard door, he, who had originally been sitting cross-legged with eyes closed in meditation, opened his eyes and glanced outside.

At this moment, Qingli in the broken jade spoke.

"Good disciple, you're quite composed, aren't you?"

Mo Xiaochuan did not answer her words, instead asking:

"Master, what stage have I reached in my Cultivate now?"

Qingli continued: "Refining essence to transform Qi, this realm is divided into three layers: Qi drawing, meridian opening, and micro-cosmic orbit. You have already reached the Late Stage of Qi drawing."

After hearing this, Mo Xiaochuan asked doubtfully:

"You said I have already reached the Late Stage of Qi drawing, but I feel that apart from having better spirits than before and stronger six senses, everything else is still the same as an ordinary person."

After hearing this, Qingli smiled.

"What, do you think that after Cultivate for a few days, you can fly on a sword to go find your father?"

"I previously helped you clear the three passes of Weilü, Jiaji, and Yuzhen. After these three key points are cleared, although your speed in absorbing Spiritual Qi is much faster, you are still far from being able to fly on a sword."

"Even if you reach Foundation Establishment, you are still far from being able to casually fly on a sword."

After listening to Qingli's words, Mo Xiaochuan glanced again in the direction of the courtyard entrance.

With his father failing to return for days, he guessed that his father had most likely gone to look for a Spirit Stone.

Although his mother had been pretending in front of him that nothing was wrong, he could still see that she was very anxious.

Thinking of this, Mo Xiaochuan said:

"Master, I want to go find my dad."

Qingli said:

"You brat have finally said it out. Do you think that with your current abilities, even if something really happened to your father, what could you do?"

After hearing this, Mo Xiaochuan did not make another sound.

At this time, Liu Chunmei had already arrived in front of a household's door in the center of the village.

She first looked into the courtyard, then raised her hand and knocked on the courtyard door.

Thump, thump.

"Who is it?"

A man's voice came from inside the house.

"It's me, your Sister-in-law Chunmei."

Not long after, Mo Xiaohu walked out from the house and opened the courtyard door.

"Sister-in-law Chunmei?"

"Mn, Brother Xiaohu."

Seeing her come over so late, Mo Xiaohu asked:

"Why haven't you gone to sleep yet so late?"

Liu Chunmei sighed.

"Brother Xiaohu, your Brother Shoutian said he was going to Qingshi Town to buy some things, but this trip has been over twenty days, and he hasn't come back to this day."

"Ah?"

Hearing this, Mo Xiaohu was also a bit surprised.

"That's not right. Normally, a round trip takes only six or seven days. How could he have been gone for so long?"

"Indeed."

Liu Chunmei said:

"So I was thinking, isn't your eldest brother in Qingshi Town? Can you help your sister-in-law make a trip, find your eldest brother to ask around, and see where your Brother Shoutian actually went."

After hearing this, Mo Xiaohu said:

"Sister-in-law, why didn't you come tell me earlier? It's already been over twenty days."

"I will go to Qingshi Town early tomorrow morning and ask my brother about Brother Shoutian's whereabouts."

Liu Chunmei said: "Thank you for your hard work, Brother Xiaohu. When your Brother Shoutian comes back, you and Dahu can come over to the house together and have a good drink."

"Sister-in-law Chunmei, you are being too polite saying that."

"What is the relationship between my brother and Brother Shoutian? When I was young, I also grew up following behind Brother Shoutian."

"It's already so late today, you go back and rest first. Brother Shoutian has such great skills, he definitely won't have any trouble."

Liu Chunmei nodded, expressed her thanks once more, and then walked toward her own home.

At break of dawn the next day, Mo Xiaohu packed some dry rations and went to Qingshi Town.

On the other side, Mo Shoutian hurried on his way while looking at the little girl sitting beside him.

Yesterday, because of saving the little girl, by the time he rushed to the inn, it was already late at night.

After Mo Shoutian carried her into the inn, the little girl never woke up, sleeping straight through until this morning.

When eating breakfast in the morning, the little girl ate quite a lot.

However, ever since getting onto the carriage, for reasons unknown, she had stubbornly refused to speak.

No matter what Mo Shoutian said or asked, she consistently refused to open her mouth.

If he had not heard her crying and calling for granny yesterday, Mo Shoutian would have thought she was a little mute.

Just like that, Mo Shoutian looked at the road for a moment, and glanced at the little girl the next.

The little girl also sneaked glances at him from time to time.

The next two days were all like this.

When Mo Shoutian ate, she ate along. When Mo Shoutian drank water, she drank along too.

Except for not speaking, she was otherwise quite worry-free.

On the afternoon of the third day, Mo Shoutian saw that familiar city wall from afar.

Although the city wall of Qingshi Town was not as tall as Jiuzhou City, seeing it made him feel somewhat affectionate instead.

Mo Shoutian entered Qingshi Town from the North City Gate, and without walking far, arrived in front of Dahu's stall at the South City Gate.

The business was about the same as when he left.

Although the seven or eight tables inside the small shed were not fully occupied, there were still quite a few people eating and drinking tea.

After Mo Shoutian walked closer, he saw Mo Xiaohu sitting beside one of the tables.

Mo Xiaohu was eating while talking about something with Mo Dahu.

Mo Shoutian parked the carriage beside the stall, and the two brothers also raised their heads to look over.

Mo Shoutian did not think much and said to Mo Dahu:

"Dahu, get something delicious. I haven't had a proper meal for these seven or eight days."

While speaking, he picked up the little girl from the carriage.

Mo Dahu was just about to speak when Mo Xiaohu reached out to pull him and cast a glance toward the little girl.

"Brother, look at that child."

"A child?"

Mo Dahu had not yet reacted when Mo Shoutian was already holding the little girl and walked to the front of the shed.

"Xiaohu, you came to sell furs too?"

Mo Xiaohu glanced at the little girl in his arms and said with displeasure:

"What furs am I selling?"

"It's just that some people haven't gone home for over twenty days and don't even know to send word through someone. Certain people were worried sick and could only make me come over to look."

Mo Shoutian naturally understood who the person worried about him in Mo Xiaohu's mouth was.

"This matter is my fault."

Mo Shoutian said:

"I originally thought I could go back in a few days, but I didn't expect this trip to take over twenty days. Right after we finish eating, we will go back together."

Hearing this, Mo Xiaohu snorted.

"Some people, I think this worry is also superfluous."

At this time, Mo Dahu finally reacted.

He didn't have as many tricks in his mind as Mo Xiaohu, and opening his mouth, he asked:

"Brother Shoutian, which woman did you have this little girl with?"

"How can you face Sister-in-law Chunmei like this?"

Mo Shoutian first looked at Mo Dahu, then glanced at Mo Xiaohu.

"What did I have with which woman?"

"I picked up this little girl on the road."