Zhu Wu lay in bed to recuperate for several days.
"Are you feeling better?" Zhu Wu had not expected Elder Chen to come and check on him.
"Yes, much better. Elder Chen, why are you here?" Seeing Elder Chen arrive with a manager, Zhu Wu got up to answer.
"That's good, that's good. I just dropped by to take a look around." Elder Chen looked here and there.
The manager handed over two pills: "These are Heart-Protecting Pills. Your injuries might not call for them right now, but who knows what the future holds? It's better to be prepared."
"Thank you, Manager."
"I noticed that your only offensive technique is *Heaven-Shattering Thunder*?" Elder Chen asked.
"Yes, I've only learned this single spell so far," Zhu Wu replied.
"That makes it hard to win against opponents of the same realm who possess earth spiritual roots or body-refining techniques," Elder Chen said with concern.
"Indeed. That's why I plan to spend the coming period taking on missions to earn contributions," Zhu Wu said.
"Very good. Your performance recently has set my mind at ease. As for cultivation methods, I think the Earth-grade intermediate *Galloping Thunder Technique* is quite good; you should go take a look."
After chatting casually for a bit longer, Elder Chen and Zhu Wu parted ways.
In the main assembly hall.
Sect Master Huang and the various elders were seated.
"Would someone care to explain what is going on with so many disciples dying during experiential training lately?" Sect Master Huang asked with a gloomy face.
Everyone looked at each other in dismay.
"It's because of the Sect Grand Tournament; some disciples became overzealous and ventured too deep into the Hengduan Mountains in search of resources..." an elder explained.
"Yes, yes, the young people are too impulsive and overestimated themselves."
"That's right. They all saw that Zhu Wu could fight above his rank and thought they could do the same, so they strayed into the territory of high-level monster beasts."
The other elders chimed in.
"Zhu Wu? That Zhu Wu—is he really that unfathomable?" Sect Master Huang glanced at the crowd. "Middle Stage Foundation Establishment, fifth stage of Illusion Technique, fifth-grade wind spiritual root... That falls far short compared to everyone's personal disciples."
"He knows how to use poison; I suspect he altered the formula for the spirit hemp powder..." an elder explained.
"If he could modify a formula, why would he lower himself to stay in my Bright Moon Sect?" Sect Master Huang was also puzzled. Based on his performance, Zhu Wu had indeed performed exceptionally well.
"Perhaps it's a special constitution."
"Yet to this day, we haven't seen him display the effects of any special constitution."
"Elder Chen, Zhu Wu is your disciple. Do you know something about this?" an elder demanded, turning to Elder Chen.
"I don't know either," Elder Chen replied flatly.
"You don't know? Your Jiyue Peak normally only takes in female disciples. Why did you alone take in Zhu Wu as a male disciple?" another elder continued to press.
"I only accepted him for the sake of his sister. There's nothing else to it." Elder Chen knew they wouldn't believe her.
"As for Zhu Wu, I think he needs to be thoroughly investigated. No, tested. It's possible he really does possess some special constitution." An elder wore a gloomy expression.
"Very well, I understand."
"To return to the matter at hand, we cannot simply let the deaths and injuries of so many disciples go unresolved," Sect Master Huang said after a pause.
"Some of them were disciples of prominent families, and I heard there was even a young Master Zhang from the capital among them. This is not something our Bright Moon Sect can easily shoulder."
Everyone looked at Elder Chen, the implication hanging unspoken in the air.
"I believe all of this is related to that Zhu Wu..."
"From beginning to end, my disciple has simply been carrying out sect missions. He has had no conflicts with anyone, and some he hasn't even met. It seems you are all looking for a scapegoat in the wrong place," Elder Chen said in a deep voice.
"My disciple may not have a family background, but he isn't someone who can be bullied at will either."
"You all claim this is connected to my disciple, so give me some honest reasoning—why?"
"My disciple was executing a mission in the northeast. Why would someone who accepted a mission in the northwest go looking for him? That's over a thousand miles apart."
"Since we all know the truth in our hearts, I'll lay it out plainly. I have reached the ninth stage of Illusion Technique; once I leave the Bright Moon Sect, I can freely join any other major sect."
"In the end, I'll say this: cooperation benefits us both, division ruins us both. My disciple is a good disciple, and you'd all best stop plotting against him."
With that, regardless of what anyone else was thinking, Elder Chen slammed her hand against the table and stood up to leave.
Jiyue Peak.
"I will be going into seclusion recently. Shortest a month, longest half a year. Please have the manager pass down word: no going out unless necessary. Anything else can wait until I come out of seclusion," Elder Chen instructed the manager.
"Understood. Regarding spirit stones..."
"I should still have two Earth-grade cultivation methods left; go check the black market. Oh, and tell Zhu Wu to come see me."
"Little brother, how has your cultivation been these past few days? Would you like to practice dual cultivation with me?" Elder Chen teased.
"Elder Sister Chen, please stop joking around," Zhu Wu said earnestly.
"Tch, a man who doesn't understand romance will never find a girlfriend!" Elder Chen said.
"From a certain perspective, I'm still a boy, not yet a man!"
"There is only one difference between a man and a boy, you know!" Elder Chen teased further.
"Never mind, never mind, let's talk about serious business. I'm going into seclusion, possibly for a few months."
"I've instructed your senior martial sisters to avoid leaving the mountain as much as possible. If you can, please help them out when they need it."
"Right now, the only one I'm worried about is you."
"I don't know when the sect might arrange for you all to cultivate at the main sect. There are even more aristocratic disciples and young lords of noble families there; you'll have to be extra careful."
"Remember, no matter the circumstances, preserving your life comes first."
After giving a lengthy list of instructions, Elder Chen finally finished.
Watching Zhu Wu's receding figure, Elder Chen muttered to herself in self-mockery: "Am I really starting to treat him like a younger brother? Sigh..."
At the Mission Hall, Zhu Wu looked over the available tasks.
The current mission locations were too scattered; taking multiple tasks at once would mean spending months just traveling.
Unless he reached the Golden Core Stage and could fly on a sword, allowing him a round trip in just a few days.
"Picking Snow Lotus Fruit in West Mountain? Two thousand contributions?" Zhu Wu fell into deep thought as he looked at this task.
The edge of West Mountain required crossing the Hengduan Mountains. Given his current realm, the round trip would take a month. Although he could hire a horse for transport, that would cost spirit stones.
"I always dreamed of traveling around when I was younger; this works out well." After hesitating for a moment, Zhu Wu accepted the mission.
Half a month later.
Yellow sand filled the sky. A desolate wasteland.
"Shouldn't Snow Lotus Fruit grow in icy, snowy environments? This area looks like nothing but desert." Zhu Wu doubted what he was seeing.
He decided to head back to a nearby small town to gather information.
In the distance, a few horses came galloping by.
Something slipped off the back of one of the horses.
The horses galloped far away.
Zhu Wu looked around and saw no one in sight, so he walked over to the object.
It was a woman wearing gray silk robes, looking to be about seventeen or eighteen years old.
Her complexion had also turned grayish-white.
Zhu Wu reached out and felt beneath her nostrils.
She was still breathing.
He hurriedly took out his water pouch, brought it to her lips, pinched her cheeks, and poured in a few gulps.
"Water... water..." After a moment, the woman in gray silk slowly regained consciousness, her mind still hazy.
Zhu Wu brought the water pouch back to her lips.
"Hah..." The woman in gray silk finally recovered somewhat. "Thank you."
"May I ask how this older brother is called?" The woman in gray silk looked at Zhu Wu, seeing he was quite young.
"My name is Zhu Wu. And you?"
"Xie Li." Xie Li looked around and asked, "Are you by yourself?"
"Yeah, I heard there are Snow Lotus Fruits here, so I came to take a look." Thinking that perhaps this young woman knew something, Zhu Wu spoke directly.
"You're looking for Snow Lotus Fruit? You'll have to wait until nightfall for any chance of seeing it." Xie Li said.
"Nighttime? That's great!" Hearing this, Zhu Wu became happy—she really did know.
"Don't get excited too early. Snow Lotus Fruit isn't going to appear just tonight." Xie Li sized Zhu Wu up.
"Can you tell me about it?" Zhu Wu's eyes carried a look of anticipation.
"Alright, seeing as you saved my life. But I'm hungry right now..."
"Then let's go get something to eat in the nearby town first," Zhu Wu invited.
"Okay." Xie Li readily agreed.
An inn. Four or five tables were set out on the ground floor.
They were all still empty; it wasn't mealtime yet.
"Innkeeper, bring some food," Zhu Wu called out.
"Coming right up! This humble establishment has chicken and beef; what would you like?"
"Serve some monster beast meat. And a pot of Thousand-Mile Laugh." Xie Li glared at the innkeeper.
"Oh, oh, right away! I'll have it prepared for you."
The innkeeper turned back and whispered to someone inside the hall: "Serve them well. These ones know their stuff."
"Where are you from?" Xie Li asked.
"Falling Moon City."
"Never heard of it. Is it far?"
"Not too far, I suppose."
"Then you seem to know nothing at all about this place."
"Yeah, this is my first time traveling far from home."
"I see... What do you want Snow Lotus Fruit for?"
"A sect mission."
"No wonder. Ordinary people have no use for Snow Lotus Fruit at all, and it's practically worthless."
"Worthless?"
"Yeah, it has no use whatsoever. Even cattle and horses won't eat it."
"Take a look—is this it?" Zhu Wu took out a portrait, starting to suspect he had gotten the wrong thing.
"Mm, yes."
"Doesn't Snow Lotus Fruit grow in icy and snowy environments? Why is this place a desert?" Zhu Wu asked.
"That's why it only appears at night."
"This desert is scorching hot during the day, but sometimes it rains ice at night, and that's when the Snow Lotus Fruit blooms and bears fruit."
"It doesn't happen every time, either. Sometimes it only rains for half an hour, and the Snow Lotus Fruit doesn't have time to bloom. It only fruits when the rain lasts for two hours or more."
"Judging by what you're looking for, you must need fresh Snow Lotus Fruit, otherwise you wouldn't be taking it on as a mission."
"If you want it fresh, you have to wait for it during the ice rain, otherwise the moment the sun comes out in the morning, the Snow Lotus Fruit loses its freshness."
"So that's how it is."
The two of them chatted as they ate.
"Do you not drink alcohol?"
"I haven't tried it yet."
"Give it a try."
Zhu Wu coughed, choking slightly.
"Hahaha, I see your martial arts seem pretty good. How about becoming my bodyguard? Five days—no, three days will do," Xie Li asked with a smile.
"A bodyguard? What's the benefit?"
"Naturally, ten medium-grade spirit stones."
"Ah?" Zhu Wu's jaw dropped in surprise.
A single medium-grade spirit stone was equivalent to a hundred low-grade spirit stones.
"What, do you think it's too little?" Xie Li asked.
"No."
"Good. Get a good rest tonight, and we'll set off tomorrow."
Xie Li turned to the innkeeper: "Give us two premium rooms."
"Right away!"
Xie Li woke up early, and Zhu Wu followed her as she made multiple rounds through various shops in the town until dark.
"You said you were hiring me as a bodyguard; surely it isn't just to go shopping?" After walking all day carrying several bags, Zhu Wu felt even more exhausted than fighting a monster beast.
During the day, Xie Li had changed into a light green silk robe at one of the shops.
"Of course not. Are you worried I won't give you your spirit stones?" Xie Li said with a smile.
"Here, take your advance." With that, she took ten spirit stones out of the void from her left hand and handed them to Zhu Wu.
"Rest assured, tomorrow is the crucial day. Alright, go back and get a good rest."
"Did you find out?" A figure in a Black Robe asked with his back turned.
"Lord, we found out. Zhu Wu, from a branch family of the Zhu clan in Falling Moon City, a disciple of Jiyue Peak in the Bright Moon Sect, middle stage Foundation Establishment, fifth stage of Illusion Technique," a Black Robe reported, crossing his arms and lowering his head.
"Keep tailing him. Be careful today; someone from the Nascent Soul Realm might show up."
"Understood, Lord!" With that, the figure retreated.
"Should we make a move?" another Black Robe on the side asked.
"No need to make extra trouble. A Foundation Establishment stage cultivator acting as a bodyguard for a Golden Core stage person is obviously bait. Just keep your eyes locked on the target."
Two horses galloped across the desert.
At noon, they reached an even smaller town.
"We'll rest here tonight. We'll look around first in the afternoon," Xie Li said.
"Okay."
The two found an inn, but only one room remained.
The inn's only two tables were already fully occupied.
"One room is fine. First, bring us some monster beast meat, and a pot of Thousand-Mile Laugh," Xie Li said to the innkeeper.
Zhu Wu didn't understand the situation, so he simply followed Xie Li into the room in silence.
Zhu Wu looked around: one bed, one table, two round stools, and a dressing table.
"Sit," Xie Li said, taking a stool.
The innkeeper quickly brought a plate of cold tossed monster beast meat to the table and then withdrew.
The two began to eat.
"Down below..." Zhu Wu was just about to speak.
"Shh..." Xie Li placed a hand over her mouth.
Zhu Wu felt uneasy inside; the people downstairs all looked higher in realm than himself, and a fair fight would be dangerous enough—let alone if they all rushed them at once.
Yet looking at Xie Li's demeanor, she seemed completely unconcerned.
Out on the street, Xie Li looked around and whispered, "Don't worry, there are no enemies here, and no friends either. Don't blindly trust anything anyone says."
Feeling that things were not simple, Zhu Wu quietly observed every corner and every person until nightfall.
Once again, they bought a bunch of things packed into bags.
Zhu Wu wondered why she didn't just put them into a storage ring, but he didn't press the question.
Xie Li lay down on the bed, while Zhu Wu sat cross-legged to meditate nearby.
The night passed uneventfully until noon the next day, after they had eaten.
"Let's go, time to head back."
"Head back?"
"Mhm, back to where we were yesterday," Xie Li said, looking at Zhu Wu's suspicious expression with a faint smile.
"Are these ten spirit stones really this easy to earn?" Wondering about this, Zhu Wu mounted his horse and rode out of the city.
Stopping to rest midway, Xie Li sat down on the ground.
"Come over here. See that little mound of earth? Across from there, there's a dry river gully."
"The Snow Lotus Fruit you're looking for will appear the night after tomorrow."
"Bring an umbrella; getting soaked in the middle of the night isn't a good thing," Xie Li said with a seemingly caring tone.
"How do you know it's the day after tomorrow? Does the Snow Lotus Fruit appear on a fixed schedule?" Zhu Wu asked.
"Pretty much. On average, an ice rain falls once a week, and this week it just happens to fall on the day after tomorrow. But how long the rain will last isn't certain; whether you can get it depends on your luck."
"Look at that little earth mound—doesn't it look like a pig's head?" After a moment, Xie Li asked abruptly.
"Uh... not really that much," Zhu Wu said, looking at the somewhat hazy mound in the distance.
"Well, I think it looks a lot like one. That's a pig's head," Xie Li emphasized. "Let's go."
As night fell, inside the small town.
Seeing no movement in Xie Li's room, Zhu Wu went to knock on the door.
"Huh? Not in? But the lamp is lit inside..." A jolt of panic ran through Zhu Wu's heart, and he hurriedly pushed the door open.
The window was half-open.
On the table lay a piece of paper, with a pig's head drawn on it.
Zhu Wu backed out of the room and found the innkeeper: "Innkeeper, have you seen the young lady from upstairs?"
"Nope. Wasn't she with you?"
"Ah, well, she went out and hasn't returned. I thought you might have seen her." Thanking the innkeeper, Zhu Wu went back to his room, packed his things, and walked out of the city.
"A pig's head... that means she's telling me to go to that little earth mound, right?" Zhu Wu recalled the mound Xie Li had specifically pointed out earlier that day.
"Dragon-Roaming Step... Dragon-Roaming Step... Dragon-Roaming Step..."
The innkeeper wouldn't allow horses to be ridden at night, claiming it was for the horses' own good.
Zhu Wu had no choice but to execute his movement technique; his speed was much faster than a horse's, though it consumed true qi.
"Hey, why did you come?" Xie Li asked in surprise.
Not long after leaving the city, he had spotted Xie Li.
"Hurry and leave! This isn't a place you should be!" Xie Li looked around alertly and said urgently.
"Oh, alright then." Seeing the grim look on Xie Li's face, Zhu Wu didn't say anything further and slowly began to walk back.
Midnight was approaching.
Lightning flashed and thunder rolled across the sky.
A moment later, raindrops seemed to land on Zhu Wu.
"Huh? Didn't she say it would be an ice rain? Why is this a bit warm... No, the smell of blood—it's blood!" Zhu Wu wiped a streak of blood off his clothes.
"This is a battle between Nascent Soul realm cultivators!" Coming to his senses, Zhu Wu stared intently up at the sky.
"Is Xie Li... alright?"
"Ten medium-grade spirit stones for three days of bodyguarding..."
"One hundred low-grade spirit stones..." Suddenly, Zhu Wu thought of Elder Sister Pingping, and so he turned around and ran back. To conserve his true qi, he did not use his movement technique.
The sky had already returned to normal.
More than a dozen corpses and remains were scattered across the ground.
Xie Li was covered in bloody lacerations, her abdomen still bleeding, and she had lost consciousness.
Zhu Wu quietly circulated his true qi, radiating it to the surroundings, but found no living presence.
"Thousand-Wounds Technique!" Zhu Wu began applying healing to Xie Li.
Half the time it took to burn an incense stick passed before Xie Li slowly regained consciousness.
"It's you... why did you come back..." Xie Li said feebly.
"I'm your bodyguard, even if I didn't fulfill my duties as one. Don't talk for now; slowly regulate your breathing."
Zhu Wu channeled a bit more true qi into her before stopping; he needed to rest himself.
"Tell me, is it safe here now?" Zhu Wu asked.
"It should be safe. With me dead, they wouldn't have any reason to stay here." Xie Li gently circulated her true qi, occasionally coughing up blood.
An hour passed, night was coming to an end, and the surrounding smell of blood had blown away with the wind.
The two of them recovered seven or eighty percent. Although Xie Li was still unable to engage in strenuous exertion, managing a few steps of walking was no longer a problem.
"I didn't expect you to come back. But you're really lucky you didn't run into them," Xie Li said softly.
"Well... until midnight passes, it hasn't been three days yet. So I came back," Zhu Wu explained.
"You really do keep your word."
"Of course."
"Do you have any clothes with you?"
"I do, but they're men's clothes."
"Help me change into them first."
Zhu Wu took out the garments and handed them over.
To his surprise, Xie Li did not shy away, directly removing her blood-soaked robes.
Zhu Wu hurriedly turned around.
"Let's leave quickly before dawn breaks. It won't be good if someone passes by and sees us after daylight," Xie Li said, heading off in a certain direction.
"The road is this way," Zhu Wu reminded her.
"In their eyes, I'm already dead. I can't go to town right now. You should go back."
"Then where are you going? There's nothing out that way."
"I don't know. Let's just get away from here first."
"This... I'll escort you for a stretch."
The dry rations Zhu Wu carried were originally enough to last him a week, but he hadn't expected Xie Li to have such a big appetite; they hit rock bottom in just two days.
After casting the Thousand-Wounds Technique a few more times, Xie Li looked almost fully recovered.
"There's an ice rain tonight; you can wait right here," Xie Li said, pointing toward a patch of weeds.
"Mobei City is ahead; if you're interested, you can go take a look tomorrow."
"Who were those people, and why did they want to kill you?"
"If we get the chance to meet again, I'll tell you then. Remember the pig's head!" With that, Xie Li circulated her true qi and flew away on her sword, instantly vanishing from Zhu Wu's sight.
"Ah? Golden Core Stage?" Zhu Wu stood frozen in place.