248: Chapter 248 Tumbling in the Waves

"The irrigation ditches are dry, and the spirit seedlings are parched and waiting to be fed. They urgently need water. How about I help you dredge the channels and irrigate them?"

Ruan Qing and the other two girls felt their hearts tremble under his gaze, as if they had suddenly understood something. A deeper flush spread across their faces, almost to the point of bleeding, and they hurriedly waved their hands:

"Sect Master! This... how can this be! We are merely Outer Sect Disciples; what virtue or ability do we have to deserve this..."

Ling Hao chuckled softly, stood up, and said in a gentle voice:

"In the Moonshadow Sect, a Disciple is a Disciple. Regardless of whether one is an Outer, Inner, True Transmission, or Core Disciple, there is no distinction of high or low status. I treat everyone equally. Besides,"

He changed the subject and encouraged them, "I believe that in this month-end assessment, you will certainly be able to promote to Core Disciples. Today, I also wish to experience the joy of farming. I will suppress my cultivation to the Qi Refinement Stage and work alongside you."

These words were like a warm current flowing into the hearts of the three girls. They never expected that the high and mighty Sect Master would be so approachable. Not only did he not despise their status as Outer Sect Disciples or their current disheveled state, but he also encouraged them so sincerely!

Overwhelmed with emotion and feeling flattered, they felt dizzy and shyly lowered their heads to reply:

"Th-thank you, Sect Master!"

"Then let us first dredge the irrigation ditches..."

As he spoke, Ling Hao walked first towards the nearby well that had just been cleared. He picked up the idle long-handled spirit wood watering tool (resembling a long ladle) and walked slowly toward the most parched spirit field.

He grasped the handle, without using any Qi, and relied solely on his physical strength to slowly push the bottom of the watering tool. After submerging it completely into the well, he scooped up the well water and poured it evenly across the spirit field.

On the field ridge, Ling Hao walked with a calm and leisurely gait, pausing every nine steps. With every step he took, the dry, hard soil beneath his feet seemed to be turned over by an invisible plow, automatically parting to both sides to form an irrigation ditch of perfect depth and width.

As the well water, like sweet nectar, soaked in, the parched, fertile soil quickly became moist and dark, shimmering with an alluring luster. The previously drooping spirit seedlings visibly straightened up, their leaves unfurling and pointing straight upward, greedily absorbing the moisture filled with the essence of creation.

The water shimmered more and more, gathering between the ridges.

"Ah!" the youngest sister, Ruan Mei, suddenly exclaimed, "Sect Master! The... the water is overflowing the ridge!"

Ling Hao looked down, a low chuckle curling his lips. With a gentle flick of the watering tool in his hand, he skillfully blocked the small gap where the water was overflowing:

"The sluice gate must be kept tight; do not waste this sweet nectar of river water."

At this time, the eldest sister, Ruan Qing, and the second sister, Ruan Xi, had already run to a piece of dry land a little further away. Ruan Xi, having an impatient nature, raised her voice:

"Sect Master! There are two more plots here that are extremely dry and also need irrigation!"

Ling Hao stood on the ridge, looking at the two plots of land that were equally thirsty for moisture, and laughed aloud:

"Do not fight, do not rush; the rain and dew shall be shared equally. I will dredge the channels for your side first."

After saying this, he carried the watering tool and walked toward them with steady, composed steps.

Ling Hao followed the same method, bringing a clear spring to the spirit fields that Ruan Qing and Ruan Xi were responsible for.

The water flowed with a gurgling sound, soaking the parched earth.

Ruan Xi watched the water quickly filling the ridges, then looked at the plot her eldest sister was responsible for, and couldn't help but lean into Ruan Qing's ear, whispering with a touch of playfulness and urgency:

"Big sister, your side is done; it's time for the Sect Master to give some to my side... Quickly, share some water over here!"

As she spoke, she subconsciously wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. A drop of crystalline sweat slid down her slightly raised chin and, with a "plop," landed exactly on the moist soil of the neighboring field, instantly merging into it.

The sun set behind the western mountains, and the golden afterglow bathed Houde Peak. Ling Hao and the three girls were all drenched in sweat.

Fine beads of sweat oozed from Ling Hao's forehead, glistening in the setting sun.

The three girls were even more drenched in fragrant sweat, their green and white gauze garments disheveled and stained with mud and water. The clothes clung to their skin, outlining their graceful curves, adding a touch of moving laziness and temptation to their post-labor fatigue.

Before them, the vast expanse of spirit fields that had originally been dry and withered was now thoroughly soaked by the sweet well water. The soil was dark and moist, the spirit seedlings were verdant and dripping with vitality, and crystalline water droplets hung on their plump leaves, refracting rainbow-colored light in the setting sun. The entire mountainside radiated vibrant life, filled with the satisfaction and energy of having been irrigated.

"You all..."

Just as they were immersed in the fatigue and satisfaction after their labor, as well as the intimate atmosphere, a voice came from behind them:

"Is the spirit field irrigation proceeding smoothly?"

The three girls turned around to see the Elder of General Affairs, Luo Qianxue, who had quietly appeared on the ridge at some unknown time. Her figure was elegant, like a winter plum blossom under the moonlight, though her eyes seemed a bit unfocused at the moment, not fully resting on the spirit fields.

Seeing this, Ling Hao's smile deepened, and he said in a gentle voice:

"Qianxue, you have come at the right time. These spirit fields still require careful tending; why don't you come and lend a hand as well?"

Luo Qianxue was slightly stunned. Her gaze swept over Ling Hao's sweat-soaked clothes and the three flushed, pretty faces. Her fair cheeks instantly flushed with a faint red, and she bit her lower lip, gave a low "Mn," and, as if possessed, walked down to join in the farming work.

...

The next morning, at the first light of dawn. The Territory Elder Huang Yutong was performing her routine patrol of the Sect. Passing by the spirit fields of Houde Peak and arriving at this area on the mountainside, she happened to see Ling Hao's figure walking away.

Looking down, she saw that this area had been covered by a concealment Formation. Entering it, Huang Yutong immediately noticed that at the edge of a certain spirit field, a few stalks of spirit rice were in an unnaturally flattened position.

"Eh? These rice stalks...?" Huang Yutong furrowed her delicate brows and leaned down to examine them closely. The triplet sisters who were nearby immediately trotted over upon hearing the sound. Recognizing the person, they hurriedly bowed respectfully:

"Disciple pays respects to the Territory Elder!"

They knew well that this Elder Huang was a founding Elder of the Sect, and even more so, one of the first Disciples to follow the Sect Master, holding a revered status.

Luo Qianxue was also nearby. Seeing this, she walked over quickly, a trace of panic flashing across her cold, clear face. She glanced at the flattened rice stalks and, preempting Huang Yutong's question, explained in as steady a tone as possible:

"Ahem... Yesterday, we test-planted some newly acquired 'Surging in the Waves' variety. This rice... its stems are too soft and lack support, making it prone to this when encountering even slight external force."

Her eyes drifted elsewhere, as if she dared not look directly at Huang Yutong. Huang Yutong's gaze swept across the roots of the flattened rice stalks and then fell onto Luo Qianxue's slightly red earlobes. A meaningful smile curled her lips, though she did not expose them, merely giving a soft "Oh?"

On the edge of the ridge, there was a long white mark. She walked a few steps closer, tapped the mark with the tip of her foot, and said with understanding:

"Oh? Saliva spat out by a turning Earth Dragon? This is good stuff for fertilizing the fields. You are quite lucky to have attracted this treasure."

Luo Qianxue gave an awkward smile. Then, Huang Yutong's slender finger pointed to several strands of silk glimmering in the morning light between the rice leaves, and she asked as if casually:

"And what is this?"

Before Luo Qianxue could speak again, Huang Yutong had already extended two jade-like fingers, gently pinching a strand. She rubbed it with her fingertips, feeling the warm, smooth texture, and her eyes filled with even more amusement as she said it for her:

"Heh... I presume this is silk spun by some rare spirit silkworm? Specifically to bind those restless large bugs and prevent them from harming the spirit seedlings, right?"

Her words were soft, and her gaze swept teasingly over Luo Qianxue and the three sisters nearby, who listened with half-understanding and whose faces were quietly turning red again.

The three girls felt their hearts skip a beat under Huang Yutong's knowing gaze and subconsciously nodded in agreement:

"Ye... yes, Elder."

Huang Yutong released the strand of silk from her fingertips with satisfaction and waved her hand elegantly:

"Alright, alright, this Seat understands. Your fields... are managed quite diligently. You three, go busy yourselves with other things."

"Yes, Disciple takes leave!"

The triplet sisters felt as if they had been granted amnesty. They hurriedly bowed and, carrying their full hearts of shyness and a hint of confusion, quickly left this place of trouble.

On the ridge, only Huang Yutong and Luo Qianxue remained. The teasing smile on Huang Yutong's face spread completely. She paced over to Luo Qianxue's side, nudged her shoulder gently against the other's, and lowered her voice:

"Just now, I saw the Sect Master leaving from this direction..."

Luo Qianxue's cheeks turned completely red, and even her neck was stained with a crimson hue. Her eyes darted away, and her fingers unconsciously twisted her sleeves:

"I... I..."

Watching her look of trying to hide the truth in her embarrassment, Huang Yutong finally couldn't help but "pfft" and laugh out loud. She leaned into her ear and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, teasingly:

"Alright, my Elder Qianxue, next time there is such a good thing that requires cooperation... you must remember to call me."

After saying this, she gave a mischievous wink. Luo Qianxue's face was now so red it was almost bleeding. She glared at Huang Yutong in feigned anger, but in the end, she couldn't say anything.