7: Guizu and the new look of Lingtian
The journey back was even more difficult than the journey there.
General Manager Liu Yuan was injured, his Spiritual Qi severely depleted, and he was almost half-supported, half-assisted by Liu Shan and Liu Zhi as they walked.
As dusk approached, they finally saw the outline of the Liu Family courtyard.
"We're back... we're back!" Liu Zhi cried out hoarsely, his voice trembling with the relief of having escaped death.
The Family members in the courtyard heard the commotion and rushed out, all startled by the three's disheveled appearance and General Manager Liu Yuan's injuries.
"Old Ancestor! What happened to you?"
"Was it the people from Black Wind Stronghold?"
Wang Lan also ran out, and seeing Liu Zhi safe, she let out a sigh of relief.
Then, seeing General Manager Liu Yuan's injuries, her expression changed slightly, her lips moved, but in the end, she said nothing, turning to the kitchen to boil water.
"Don't crowd around, first help Old Ancestor into the house to treat his injuries," Liu Shan said in a deep voice, and together with Liu Zhi, he helped General Manager Liu Yuan into the wooden house.
Mo Chu followed behind, watching General Manager Liu Yuan being carefully placed on the bed, watching Liu Shan take out the remaining healing herbs and crush them, watching Liu Zhi nervously hand over a towel, and a strange feeling suddenly arose in his heart.
Is this what a Family is?
Even if there are usual frictions and conflicts, in times of crisis, they can always unite.
[Ding! Side quest "Assist the Liu Family in safely getting through the Spiritual Plant Exchange Meeting" has been completed.]
[Quest Reward: 100 Contribution Points, already issued.]
100 Contribution Points were credited, plus the previous 10 points remaining, making a total of 110 points.
Mo Chu opened the System store, his gaze falling on a bottle of "Low-Grade Spring Return Pill" - priced at 100 points, it could quickly heal the injuries of Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators.
Without hesitation, he exchanged it directly.
A completely emerald green Medicinal Pill appeared on the ground in front of Mo Chu, emitting a fresh medicinal fragrance.
"This is..." Liu Shan, who was bandaging General Manager Liu Yuan's wound, froze.
Mo Chu used his tail to push the Medicinal Pill in front of Liu Shan, then pointed to General Manager Liu Yuan on the bed.
"This is a healing medicine for Old Ancestor?" Liu Shan was both surprised and delighted, he quickly picked up the Medicinal Pill and sniffed it at the tip of his nose, "Such rich Spiritual Qi! This is at least a Medium Grade Medicinal Pill! Mo Chu, is this your..."
Mo Chu nodded.
Liu Shan asked no more questions and quickly fed the Medicinal Pill into General Manager Liu Yuan's mouth.
The Medicinal Pill melted upon entering his mouth, transforming into a gentle warm current that surged into General Manager Liu Yuan's body.
His originally pale complexion visibly reddened at a speed visible to the naked eye, and his tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed.
"Good medicine..." General Manager Liu Yuan slowly opened his eyes, a hint of surprise flashing in them, "Shan'er, where did this medicine come from?"
"Mo Chu found it!" Liu Shan said excitedly.
General Manager Liu Yuan looked at Mo Chu, who was lying by the bed, his eyes filled with gratitude: "You helped this old man again... Mo Chu, my Liu Family will remember this kindness."
Mo Chu gently rubbed his hand, showing no particular reaction.
To him, this was just an equivalent exchange - exchanging Contribution Points for the safety of Family members was very cost-effective.
In the following days, General Manager Liu Yuan focused on healing, and the Liu Family was temporarily presided over by Liu Shan.
Mo Chu, on the other hand, focused his energy on the blood leaf orchid and the Accompanied Spiritual Silk.
He carefully observed the Accompanied Spiritual Silk with his Spirit Vision talent, finding that although it was slender, it contained a peculiar life aura.
According to the System's prompt, as long as the Spiritual Silk was buried deep in the Spiritual Field, it could slowly improve the Spiritual Qi environment of the soil and accelerate the growth of Spiritual Plants.
This morning, Mo Chu brought Liu Zhi to the Spiritual Field.
"You mean, bury this golden thread in the soil?" Liu Zhi looked at the almost invisible Accompanied Spiritual Silk, which Mo Chu was holding with his tail, with a puzzled expression.
Mo Chu nodded, then used his tail to dig a small pit in the center of the Spiritual Field.
Although Liu Zhi didn't understand, he still followed Mo Chu's instructions, carefully placed the Accompanied Spiritual Silk into the pit, covered it with soil, and watered it with some clear water.
After all this, there seemed to be no change.
"Is that all?" Liu Zhi scratched his head.
Mo Chu, however, saw through his Spirit Vision that as soon as the Accompanied Spiritual Silk touched the soil, it transformed into countless finer silver threads, spreading rapidly like roots, integrating into every corner of the Spiritual Field.
The Spiritual Qi flow in the originally somewhat barren soil clearly accelerated by a few points; although weak, it was truly present.
[Ding! Accompanied Spiritual Silk has successfully integrated into the Spiritual Field, Spiritual Field quality has slightly improved (Inferior → Normal), and Spiritual Plant growth speed has increased by 10%.]
[Obtained 20 Contribution Points.]
Mo Chu wagged his tail in satisfaction.
20 Contribution Points, plus the previous 10 points remaining, meant he could exchange for some useful items again.
He looked at the blood leaf orchid next to him.
This Spiritual Plant was the main event; refining Body Tempering Powder could greatly enhance the strength of the Family members.
Mo Chu pointed to the blood leaf orchid with his tail, then pointed to General Manager Liu Yuan's wooden house.
Liu Zhi immediately understood: "You want Old Ancestor to use this Spiritual Plant for Alchemy?"
Mo Chu nodded.
Liu Zhi dared not delay and carefully carried the blood leaf orchid to find General Manager Liu Yuan.
Not long after, General Manager Liu Yuan's house was filled with surprised voices: "blood leaf orchid! It's actually a blood leaf orchid! With it, we can refine Body Tempering Powder! Zhi'er, quickly bring the 'Iron Thread Vine' and 'Dewdrop Flower' from the storeroom!"
Mo Chu knew that the Liu Family's strength was about to experience its first true improvement.
He didn't return to the house but lay by the Spiritual Field, observing the changes in the soil with his Spirit Vision.
The sun shone on the field, and the newly planted Qi Condensation Grass seeds, nourished by the Accompanied Spiritual Silk, had already sprouted tiny tender green tips.
Although insignificant, it was full of hope.
Just then, Wang Lan passed by, carrying a basin of clothes, and seeing Mo Chu lying by the Spiritual Field, she paused.
These past few days, she had seen with her own eyes that General Manager Liu Yuan's injuries were healed by Mo Chu's medicine, the crisis in the Spiritual Field was resolved by Mo Chu, and even their narrow escape from death at the exchange meeting was largely thanks to Mo Chu.
The slight prejudice in her heart had long vanished, leaving only complexity and a hint of guilt.
After hesitating for a moment, Wang Lan put down the basin, took out a red wild fruit from her pocket, and placed it in front of Mo Chu.
"Here... I picked it in the mountains a couple of days ago, it's quite sweet." Her voice was a bit stiff, and after speaking, she picked up the basin and quickly walked away.
Mo Chu looked at the wild fruit on the ground, then at Wang Lan's hurried retreating figure, he was stunned for a moment, then used his tail to roll the wild fruit over and took a small bite.
It was indeed quite sweet.
He looked up, at Liu Zhi and the others practicing their sword techniques in the distance, at their clumsy but serious movements, at the Spiritual Field gradually revitalizing under the sunlight, at this simple but increasingly "home-like" courtyard.
He suddenly felt that becoming a snake, becoming the Liu Family's Guardian Spirit Beast, seemed to be a truly good thing.