271: Entrust

The fog in Qingxi Valley was thinner than usual, and dew slid down the leaves of the silver-spotted heart-clearing orchids, dripping into the soil.

Su Ming squatted by the medicinal field, holding a pair of specially made jade shears, carefully cutting several of the best-growing orchid stalks.

The leaves of these mutated spiritual plants were thick and fleshy, with silver spots shimmering on them, emitting an extremely crisp fragrance. Just a single whiff made one's Divine Sense feel clear and bright.

"These few stalks are the 'first crop,' and their medicinal efficacy is at its peak."

Su Ming placed the orchids into a jade box, took out several pre-made Soothing Incense Cakes, and packed them together. "I'm heading to the Northern Border, and my return date is uncertain. Although Senior Brother Clear Wind and Senior Sister Bright Moon might still be in seclusion, I cannot neglect the proper etiquette."

In his Sea of Consciousness, Lin Yu's voice drifted over lazily: "If your Repair Hall didn't have those two great buddhas holding down the fort, the moment you left, the people from the Artifact Hall would have dismantled it for firewood."

Su Ming nodded, sealed the jade box, and applied a Restriction Talisman.

He had originally planned to go directly to their Immortal Caves to leave a letter, but on second thought, there were still several essential supplies for the Northern Border that he hadn't yet exchanged for at the Internal Affairs Hall.

"I'll go to the Internal Affairs Hall first, then pay them a visit."

Having made up his mind, Su Ming stood up, patted the dust off his hem, checked the Storage Pouch at his waist and the 'harvest no. 2' hidden in his sleeve, and turned to walk out of Qingxi Valley... The Internal Affairs Hall was exceptionally crowded today.

With the war starting in the Northern Border, previously unpopular items like Cold-Resisting Talismans, Detoxification Pills, and fasting pills had become hot commodities.

The counter was crowded with Disciples about to head to the front lines, their clamor and bargaining rising and falling.

Relying on his 'Technical Maintenance Assistant' waist token, Su Ming used the special side passage.

He had just received two dozen special 'Warm Sun Talismans' and a bottle of 'Hundred Herbs Evil-Cleansing Pills' from the deacon. As he turned to leave, his gaze inadvertently swept across a corner and immediately froze.

On an inconspicuous stone stool by the counter, two small figures sat side by side.

Clear Wind was wearing a green short-coat that was clearly ill-fitting, his hair hastily tied up with a wooden hairpin, with several stray strands hanging over his forehead and a bit of dirt smudged on his small face. He was hugging his knees, staring longingly at the exchange list. Bright Moon was wearing a matching lotus-colored short shirt with sleeves rolled up to her elbows, squatting on the ground without any regard for her image, aimlessly scratching the floor with a small twig while dangling half a dry biscuit from her mouth.

Although the two of them looked somewhat disheveled, the faint Spiritual Pressure they emitted was several times thicker than before.

Su Ming's pupils constricted slightly, and then he cupped his hands in greeting, lowering his voice: "Greetings, Senior Brother Clear Wind, Senior Sister Bright Moon."

The two were also taken aback. Once they saw it was Su Ming, their originally dull eyes instantly lit up.

Two small heads turned at the same time. Clear Wind's eyes were confused for a moment before brightening as he jumped down from the stone stool: "Junior Brother Su!" Bright Moon also dropped her twig, stuffed the biscuit into her mouth in two or three bites, and said indistinctly with bulging cheeks: "Su-Su-Su Ming! You're here to exchange for things too?"

"Wait... are you going to the Northern Border?"

Su Ming nodded: "I took a job with the Array Maintenance Camp to earn some military merit."

"What courage!" Clear Wind praised, though his voice sounded somewhat lacking in energy. He gave a bitter smile and pointed at himself and Bright Moon, "We just came out of the 'Withered-Prosperous Secret Realm.' Revered Master said our Foundation was unstable and threw us in there to fight a group of Wood Yao for half a year."

"It was more than just fighting!"

Bright Moon looked indignant and lowered her voice to complain, "Revered Master said we needed to practice 'Severing Attachments' and confiscated all the Spirit Stones, Talismans, and Medicinal Pills on us, saying 'external things disturb the heart.' For this half-year, we ate tree bark when hungry and drank dew when thirsty. Now that we're finally out, our pockets are cleaner than our faces!"

Hearing this, Su Ming understood.

No wonder these two, the Disciples of a Sect giant, would appear in the Internal Affairs Hall in such a state; they were likely here to "sell their loot" for Spirit Stones to buy food.

Lin Yu was overcome with joy in the Sea of Consciousness: "Tsk tsk, it's a 'Metamorphosis' story for rich kids. It seems their Revered Master is also an interesting person."

Su Ming's expression remained unchanged as he took out the list of supplies he had just exchanged for, along with the description of the "earth vein spiritual milk."

"I am going to the Northern Border for this." Su Ming pointed to the small text about the spirit milk and said honestly, "Damage to the dao foundation cannot be delayed, and it seems only this item can resolve it. Although there are risks, it is worth the gamble."

Clear Wind took the list and scanned it. His fatigue lessened slightly, and a look of solemnity appeared in his eyes as he looked at Su Ming.

"earth vein spiritual milk... fifty thousand military merit." Clear Wind sighed softly, "Even for us, gathering such an amount wouldn't be easy. For Junior Brother Su to dare go to the Northern Border as a Qi Refining cultivator, I admire your Heart-Nature."

Su Ming bowed slightly and took the opportunity to state his request.

"My return date is uncertain. The Repair Hall is my life's work and the place where several of my old brothers make their living. Although Steward Wang Defa is diligent, his cultivation is low and his vision is limited."

Su Ming looked at the two of them and spoke sincerely, "I take the liberty of asking you both to look after it if you have the time. There's no need for intentional favoritism; just ensure the hall doesn't fall into chaos and isn't deliberately targeted by others."

Qingfeng and Mingyue looked at each other.

"Don't worry, Junior Brother Su," Clear Wind said seriously. "The Repair Hall's current success also involves our 'Incense Bond.' As long as we are here, the Repair Hall will not fall into chaos."

After speaking, Clear Wind pondered for a moment, reached into his robes, and pulled out a token that was neither metal nor jade.

The token was pale green, carved with cloud patterns and a mountain cliff, faintly exuding a sharp Sword Intent.

"This is the 'Cloud Cliff Token'." Clear Wind handed the token to Su Ming. "Although it cannot directly mobilize Sect resources, seeing this token is like seeing Revered Master's Named Disciple. Leave this at the Repair Hall or give it to Steward Wang to hang in the main hall. Any petty troublemakers will know their place upon seeing this token."

Su Ming accepted it with both hands. It felt warm to the touch, but his heart was shaken.

This was not just a token; it was a silent deterrent.

With it, the Repair Hall was effectively placed under the name of that giant.

"And this!"

Bright Moon rummaged through her shriveled Storage Pouch for a long time before finally pulling out a bulging beast-skin bag, thrusting it into Su Ming's hand without a word.

"We don't have any Spirit Stones left; we're dirt poor," Bright Moon scratched her head, a bit embarrassed. "These are core fragments from the 'Crystallized Wood Yao' we defeated in the Secret Realm. Those things are incredibly hard—too brittle for Artifact Refining and toxic for Alchemy. However..."

Bright Moon lowered her voice and said mysteriously, "We discovered that these things are particularly sensitive to wood and earth attribute spiritual energy fluctuations. Even from dozens of yards away, if something is burrowing underground, these fragments will heat up and vibrate. Take them to the Northern Border and bury them around your camp; they might help you guard against sneak attacks from those burrowing Yao Beasts."