395: Chapter 405 This kid, he's actually quite convincing when he puts on an act!

Qingfeng curled his lips, his face full of grievance.

"Last time my hair came loose, I wanted to borrow her jade hairpin for a bit. But she absolutely refused to give it to me and even gave me a scolding. She said it was a gift from Elder Sun and that it shouldn't even be touched."

Mingyue set down her teacup with a heavy thud.

"That is a token!"

She glared at Qingfeng, her small face tense.

"That is a token Elder Sun specifically gave to Reception Peak to thank Revered Master for his guidance in the art of Alchemy! Taking it to Danding Peak to request medicine can bypass many tedious formalities."

Mingyue pointed at Qingfeng's hair in exasperation.

"What were you going to do with it? Use it as a hairpin? Do you have any idea that jade hairpin is carved from Extreme Cold Jade Marrow? It's incredibly brittle!"

Qingfeng retorted defiantly.

"Can't I use it to tie my hair? I'd just borrow it for a moment, it's not like I'd break it."

"How much is that hair of yours even worth?" Mingyue shot him down mercilessly. "You're jumping up and down all day. If it happens to shatter, what are you going to use to compensate Danding Peak?"

Qingfeng was left speechless.

He sullenly picked up his cup and drained the remaining half-cup of honey water in one gulp.

Su Ming sat nearby, quietly listening to the two bickering.

He didn't interject.

This kind of scene, a quarrel completely devoid of schemes, was something that could absolutely not be seen elsewhere.

He looked at the slightly rippling golden waves in his cup.

He suddenly understood why he had gone to such lengths to establish standards, and why he had risked his life to take on the border guarding true seal.

Immortality was indeed the ultimate goal.

But if the path to immortality was filled with nothing but mutual deception and bloody winds, then such immortality would be far too lonely.

He wanted to live. And he wanted to live with dignity and stability.

He wanted to protect the peace of this Purple Bamboo Sea. To protect these friends who would bring him a bowl of medicinal porridge when he was down and out.

The night grew deeper.

The chirping of insects in the Purple Bamboo Sea gradually grew louder.

The coarse ceramic jar on the stone table was resealed with beeswax by Mingyue and properly tucked away into her Storage Pouch.

The water in the teapot had also reached the bottom.

Neither Qingfeng nor Mingyue spoke anymore. Both seemed a bit drowsy. The soothing effect contained within the Spiritual Honey was beginning to take hold.

Su Ming stood up.

He straightened his purple Daoist robe. Not a speck of dust clung to the hem of his clothes.

"It's getting late, I should head back."

Su Ming's tone was gentle.

Qingfeng rubbed his eyes and let out a yawn.

"Leaving already? Why not sit a while longer?"

Mingyue also stood up. The young girl looked at Su Ming, a hint of gratitude in her eyes.

"Su Ming, thank you for today. Not only for giving me the Spiritual Honey, but also..."

She glanced at Qingfeng and didn't continue.

Su Ming smiled faintly.

"Senior Sister is being too polite. I have now joined Formation Peak. If you have any trouble with Formations in the future, feel free to come find me."

He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over Qingfeng and Mingyue.

"Or, if someone bullies you, you can also come find me."

He spoke these words very softly, yet they carried an unquestionable firmness.

Qingfeng was stunned for a moment. Mingyue was also dazed.

They suddenly realized that the youth in the purple Daoist robe before them was no longer the Utility Disciple who once needed their secret protection.

Though his shoulders were not yet broad, they were already enough to carry some weight.

Su Ming did not linger.

He turned and followed the pebble-paved path out of the picket fence.

The night wind blew. The Purple Bamboo Sea made a rustling sound.

Su Ming's figure gradually blended into the night. He didn't look back, his steps steady and firm.

"This kid, he's pretty good at acting the part."

...

The next morning, the morning sun rose.

Su Ming changed into a set of inner sect casual clothes, not wearing that eye-catching purple true disciple daoist robe, and headed straight for the Outer Sect Repair Hall.

The door to Bing Zi Qi Hao Courtyard was half-open.

Wang Defa's energetic voice drifted out from the courtyard.

"Carving Array Patterns requires a steady hand. Your hand is shaking like a sieve, how are you supposed to draw Spiritual Qi into the Formation?"

"Start over! This piece of scrap material will be deducted from your monthly pay!"

Su Ming stepped over the threshold.

The furnace fire in the courtyard was burning brightly, and a dozen or so apprentices were buried in their work, dealing with the broken Formation Plates in their hands.

Wang Defa walked with his hands behind his back, pacing in front of a row of wooden tables.

His peripheral vision caught a figure by the door, and he whipped his head around.

After seeing clearly who it was, Wang Defa's round face was instantly covered in smiles.

He hurried forward in a few quick steps, bowing his waist extremely low.

"Hall Revered Master! You've come!"

Wang Defa stepped aside, making an inviting gesture, "Please, come in, tea is being served inside!"

The apprentices all stopped their work and looked up.

Several familiar faces, upon seeing Su Ming, immediately stood straight and saluted.

Su Ming waved his hand, signaling everyone to continue.

He walked straight toward the discussion hall in the back courtyard.

The furnishings in the hall remained as they were.

Su Ming walked to the main seat and sat down, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop.

Wang Defa brought over freshly brewed hot tea.

The tea was steaming, emitting a faint fragrance of Spiritual Plants.

"How has the hall's income been lately?" Su Ming picked up the teacup and brushed aside the floating leaves.

Wang Defa immediately pulled an account book from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.

"Thanks to the Hall Revered Master, business has been red-hot lately."

Wang Defa flipped open the account book, "The repair orders sent from various peaks are already scheduled until the end of next month."

Su Ming took the account book, his gaze sweeping over the strings of numbers.

The income and expenditure accounts were clear, and the loss rate of consumables was controlled within an extremely low range.

"Where are Old Li and Zhang Asheng?" Su Ming closed the account book.

Just as he finished speaking, a flurry of footsteps came from outside the door.

Old Li was holding a palm-sized copper plate, excitedly stepping over the threshold.

Zhang Asheng followed closely behind, carrying a wooden box in his hands.

"Hall Revered Master!" Old Li hurried to the table in a few steps.

He placed the copper plate on the table, "That set of Water-cooling Array Patterns you pointed out earlier, I've modified it!"

Su Ming's gaze fell on the copper plate.

Three circular patterns were carved on the surface of the copper plate, and a Low Grade Water Spirit Stone was embedded in the Formation Eye.

Su Ming extended his index finger, the tip glowing with a faint blue light.

A drop of liquid condensed at his fingertip and dripped into the Formation Eye.

The copper plate emitted a soft hum.

The three circular patterns lit up in sequence, and a wave of coolness instantly spread to the surroundings.

"The spiritual energy flow is smooth, but there is a blockage at the diversion nodes."

Su Ming withdrew his hand, "The third rune on the left side was carved half an inch too deep."

Old Li leaned in to look and slapped his thigh.

"Oh! It really is! I'll take it back and fix it right away!"

Zhang Asheng seized the opportunity and pushed the wooden box in his hands toward Su Ming.

The wooden box opened, containing a pile of grayish-white powder.

"Hall Revered Master, I followed the method you mentioned and mixed chen xing iron slag with three types of herbs."

Zhang Asheng rubbed his hands together, "This powder can replace crimson essence copper for the heat-conducting base of low-rank fire-attribute Formation Plates."

Su Ming pinched a bit of the powder and sniffed it at the tip of his nose.

"There are still some Impurities, add a water-washing step."

Zhang Asheng nodded repeatedly and retreated to the side, holding the wooden box.

Zhao Tiezhu and Qian Xiaofan poked half their heads in from outside the door.

"Come in," Su Ming said.