397: Chapter 407 A Visit Before Departure

Su Ming's tone was steady, as if discussing an insignificant triviality.

The steward froze in place.

His mouth hung slightly open, his eyes wide and round.

"Tr... True Disciple Su, what did you say?" the steward stammered.

He could hardly believe his ears.

"I said, I'm taking this mission," Su Ming repeated.

The shock on the steward's face instantly transformed into wild joy.

He vigorously rubbed his hands together, nearly laughing out loud.

"You... you're serious?"

Su Ming stood up.

"I hail from Daxing and am familiar with the local customs there."

"Moreover, there are some old matters from earlier years that should be settled along the way."

The steward nodded repeatedly, his cheeks flushed with excitement.

"Excellent! Excellent! True Disciple Su, your righteousness is commendable!"

He quickly walked to the desk and took out a blank Jade Slip.

"I will register this for you right away! I'll handle all the procedures myself; I won't waste a moment of your time!"

The steward channeled spiritual power into the Jade Slip, rapidly inscribing the mission details.

He reverently presented the Jade Slip to Su Ming with both hands.

"True Disciple Su, this is your credential as a Mediation Envoy. With this Jade Slip, you can mobilize the Sect's hidden agents within the territory of the Daxing Kingdom."

As he handed over the Jade Slip, the steward seemed to suddenly remember something and added:

"Ah, by the way, I heard that for the sake of prudence, a Golden Core Elder will be providing support this time. As for which specific Elder, our Logistics Hall hasn't received definite news yet, but it's estimated a decision will be made within the next couple of days."

Su Ming's hand, accepting the Jade Slip, paused slightly.

A Golden Core Elder providing support?

This information was somewhat unexpected. He had originally thought he would be descending the mountain alone, not expecting the Sect to make such arrangements.

However, upon second thought, it made sense. The war between Daxing and Northern Mang involved two vassal states. For the Sect to only send a Foundation Establishment Stage True Disciple for mediation would indeed appear insufficiently serious.

He just didn't know which Elder it would be...

Several names flashed quickly through Su Ming's mind, but his expression remained unchanged.

"Thank you for your trouble," Su Ming nodded.

He turned, pulled open the door, and walked out.

The steward followed behind, escorting Su Ming all the way to the main gate of the Logistics Hall.

"Farewell, True Disciple Su! I wish you a swift victory!"

Sunlight poured onto the broad bluestone plaza in front of the Logistics Hall.

Su Ming stepped out from the tall hall doors. He stopped.

He did not immediately summon his flight light to return to Star Gazing Cliff.

The plaza was bustling with people. Many Outer Sect Disciples hurried by with anxious expressions. Occasionally, someone would recognize the purple true disciple daoist robe he wore, stopping in their tracks to bow respectfully.

Su Ming gave a slight nod in return. His expression was calm.

He stood in place, his gaze passing over the layers of Sect buildings, looking towards the direction of Formation Peak in the distance. Formation Peak towered into the clouds, its midsection shrouded in mist.

He suddenly remembered something.

This matter had been suppressed deep in his heart for a long time.

Within his Sea of Consciousness, Lin Yu's voice sounded lazily.

"What are you thinking about? Aren't you going back to pack?"

Lin Yu yawned. His soul form had stabilized considerably, and along with it, the confidence in his speech had grown.

"You need to go through the Medicinal Pills and Talismans in your Storage Pouch again. This time we're descending the mountain, it's not for sightseeing. Any one of the three main ingredients for the heaven-mending pill grows in treacherous, desolate places. I won't feel at ease if we don't prepare more life-saving gear."

Su Ming looked at the mist around Formation Peak, unmoving.

"Master," Su Ming responded in his mind.

"Hmm?"

"This Disciple suddenly remembered something."

Su Ming took a deep breath. The crisp morning air slid down his windpipe into his lungs, carrying a hint of coolness.

"It's been so long since returning from Iron Wall Pass, and this Disciple still hasn't formally paid a visit to Elder Qingquan at Tingtao Cottage."

A moment of silence fell within his Sea of Consciousness.

Lin Yu was taken aback.

"Well now," Lin Yu smacked his lips, "if you hadn't mentioned it, your Master would have forgotten all about this. Your status as his nominal Disciple was settled long ago. Yet you, you haven't even shown your face once up to now."

Su Ming let out a bitter laugh.

He rubbed his temples, a flicker of helplessness in his eyes.

"There were just too many things before."

Su Ming started walking, descending slowly along the stone steps at the edge of the plaza.

"Busy with Foundation Establishment, busy dealing with the Heart-Questioning Formation. After establishing my foundation, busy stabilizing my Realm. Then I had to visit my Revered Master, meet Senior Brother Luo Feng and Senior Brother Second Senior Brother Qin Yi. Then go to Purple Bamboo Sea to placate Qingfeng and Mingyue..."

He listed them one by one.

"One thing after another, the string in my mind was always taut. So I forgot about this matter."

Lin Yu chuckled softly within the Sea of Consciousness.

"Social niceties are more exhausting than Cultivating. So, shall we go now?"

"Yes," Su Ming nodded.

He changed direction. Instead of taking the shortcut back to Star Gazing Cliff, he stepped onto the mountain path leading to the midsection of Formation Peak.

"Having accepted this mission to descend the mountain, I don't know how long I'll be wandering outside. Paying a visit before leaving is the most basic courtesy. After all, Elder Qingquan recognized my potential and gave me an opportunity."

The mountain path was quiet.

Su Ming's footsteps were steady. The hem of his purple daoist robe gently billowed in the mountain breeze.

Along the way, he repeatedly replayed in his mind the circumstances of his first visit to Tingtao Cottage.

Back then, he was merely an Outer Sect Disciple. He hadn't even touched the threshold of Foundation Establishment.

Facing Elder Qingquan's eyes that seemed to see through one's heart, facing that obscure and difficult-to-understand test question of the 'Eight Gates Lost Traces Partial Array,' he could only grit his teeth and say, 'This Disciple will try.'

Now, time had passed.

He was already a Cultivator at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment. He wore the true disciple daoist robe. On his chest, he bore the border guarding true seal from the northern border battlefield.

His status had changed, and so had his state of mind.

"What, nervous?" Lin Yu keenly sensed Su Ming's slightly quickened heartbeat.

"A little," Su Ming answered honestly.

He looked ahead at the increasingly dense green bamboo forest.

"After all, I've delayed visiting for so long. The Elder has a peculiar temperament; I'm afraid he might feel displeased. That he might think I've become negligent after achieving Foundation Establishment and becoming a True Disciple."

Lin Yu snorted dismissively.

"Put your heart at ease."

Lin Yu's voice carried a certainty born of seeing through worldly affairs.

"That old man is a pure Formation fanatic. If he were truly displeased, if he truly felt you were neglecting him, he would have long sent Luo Feng to scold you. He might even have dragged you directly from Star Gazing Cliff to stand in punishment."

"The fact that he never came looking for you means he didn't take it to heart at all. What he values is only whether you can solve that problem."

After hearing this, Su Ming's wildly beating heart calmed somewhat.

Ahead, a serene bamboo forest came into view.

Tingtao Cottage.

It was still the same old place. Nothing had changed.

There was none of the oppressive, solemn Spiritual Pressure of the Formation Peak Main Hall, nor the dazzling glow of Formations flying everywhere. Only a few stalks of green bamboo swayed in the wind, their leaves rustling against each other.

Su Ming softened his footsteps.

He passed through the half-open bamboo fence gate.

A tranquil courtyard greeted his eyes.

A simple, ancient stone table, several polished stone stools gleaming. A bamboo pipe drawing from a mountain spring dripped clear water into a pond in the corner.

*Drip. Drip.*

The sound of water was crisp, striking at one's state of mind.

At the edge of the courtyard, facing the direction of the cliff. An old man sat there brewing tea.