Chapter 48: No Wonder Big Brother Is Unwilling to Go Back

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: No Wonder Big Brother Is Unwilling to Go Back

"This is your Purple Bamboo Grass for the month. Five stalks for each of you."

In the bamboo forest, inside a Bamboo Garden that had long been uninhabited, Mo Xuan handed three bamboo boxes to Liu Chen and the other two across from him.

Liu Chen took the bamboo boxes, passed them to his two junior sisters, and then placed his own portion into his Storage Ring.

In fact, it was the last day of the sixth month. Purple Bamboo Peak distributed Purple Bamboo Grass at the beginning of the month, so this was clearly their master making up for their June share.

Not only had Liu Chen figured this out, but Ye Linglong and Ji Suyao had as well. However, they all had a tacit understanding not to ask.

"This is next month’s Purple Bamboo Grass, also five stalks each."

Mo Xuan noticed this, then took out another three bamboo boxes from his Storage Ring and handed them to the trio before him.

Liu Chen was a little surprised. It wasn’t even the seventh month yet, but his master had somehow managed to get the Purple Bamboo Grass that was supposed to be distributed next month. This was truly...

"It’s ready. These are two Body-Protecting Techniques. You may go and cultivate them. If there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask us. It’s our duty to resolve your confusion."

Master Mo Xuan’s unusual behavior didn’t end there. His wife, Bai Qiulan, walked out of the room and handed Liu Chen two newly transcribed scrolls of Magic.

After all this was done, before Liu Chen could even bow, he saw his master stand up, clearly about to leave immediately.

"Don’t worry about so-called formalities. There are no outsiders here."

Perhaps sensing that his actions might be misunderstood by the three disciples, Mo Xuan, who was already halfway down the path, turned to offer a quick explanation before disappearing at the end of the trail.

"That’s just how he is. You’ll get used to it. You two, follow Liu Chen and cultivate well."

Bai Qiulan slowly rose to her feet. She knew exactly why Mo Xuan had left in such a hurry. It was the end of the sixth month, and tomorrow would be the first of the seventh. He had to personally review everything, from the summary of Purple Bamboo Peak’s affairs this month to the plans for the next.

If he hadn’t had a premonition that Liu Chen might have some kind of breakthrough today, Mo Xuan would have been urgently dealing with all those miscellaneous matters since morning.

His master’s wife, Bai Qiulan, chatted with the three of them for the time it takes an incense stick to burn before she also got up and left. Soon, only Liu Chen and his two junior sisters remained in the Bamboo Garden.

"Sword Control Technique and Flying Flower Skill?"

Liu Chen’s gaze fell upon the papers in his hand. If the former matched his fantasies about cultivation, the latter left him completely baffled.

However, after studying it for a moment, Liu Chen understood what it was. The Flying Flower Skill used Spiritual Qi to manipulate soft objects and launch them like hidden weapons. After reaching the Beginner stage, one could directly form the hidden weapons from Spiritual Power.

Ji Suyao and Ye Linglong both leaned in to examine the paper describing the Flying Flower Skill.

"This seems more suitable for women to practice."

Ye Linglong sounded a little uncertain. It wasn’t explicitly stated that only women could practice it, but she truly couldn’t picture her senior brother using the Flying Flower Skill.

"You two junior sisters should give it a try."

Liu Chen handed the paper to Ye Linglong, and Ji Suyao quickly leaned in to look. Liu Chen’s own attention, however, turned to the Sword Control Technique. It seemed to be a specialized, advanced version of the Artifact Manipulation Technique.

It wasn’t that the Artifact Manipulation Technique had no offensive power, but what little it had was only effective against Mortals. Any Cultivator who wasn’t an idiot would simply dodge it.

The Sword Control Technique, on the other hand, used Spiritual Power to command a Spirit Sword and execute corresponding Swordsmanship. It was more of a foundation; the actual power it could generate depended on one’s underlying skill in Swordsmanship.

Having just finished uniquely integrating the Basic Sword Skill, Liu Chen was very confident in himself. If he could use the Sword Control Technique to perform the Basic Sword Skill, its power should rise to another level.

"It’s getting late. Time to make dinner."

Liu Chen handed the paper for the Sword Control Technique to Ji Suyao, who was frowning in thought over the Flying Flower Skill, and then walked deeper into the bamboo forest.

’I’ve already memorized the Magic. I’ll just schedule it into my training plan tomorrow.’

Only a few hours remained in the entire month. Liu Chen was quite satisfied with his progress. If all went according to plan, he should reach the Beginner stage in the Resting Technique and Body Protection Technique tonight.

’Over the next month, I hope I can cultivate these few Magic skills to Perfection.’

At dinnertime, Liu Chen sat in his usual spot, waiting for Ji Suyao to return. Ye Linglong was still frowning as she studied the Flying Flower Skill.

"Master isn’t here, but Master’s wife has a guest. Senior Brother, I don’t think you can hide your identity as a Spirit Chef anymore."

Ji Suyao came running back in a hurry, delivering the news before she even sat down.

"It was bound to happen sooner or later. Let’s eat first."

Liu Chen didn’t give it much thought. He could only hide his status as a Spirit Chef until mid-September at best. Once the Inner Sect Disciple assessment began, the reason he had become an Inner Sect Disciple would be made public, and he wouldn’t have a moment of peace after that.

* * *

"Count yourself lucky. Mo Xuan isn’t here today. Come and taste the cooking of Mo Xuan’s eldest disciple."

Bai Qiulan took the dishes out of the food box. The woman who had been sitting upright suddenly widened her eyes. A rich aroma washed over her, intoxicating her. She felt as if she had transformed into a newborn Bamboo Shoot, absorbing the Spiritual Qi between Heaven and Earth to grow strong.

"Second Grade Spiritual Cuisine?! There’s a Second Grade Spirit Chef in a remote place like this?"

Mo Jinyu opened her eyes and stared at the Spiritual Cuisine that had been set out, her gaze filled with longing. Even in the Mo Family, something like this was not a treat she could enjoy whenever she pleased.

"Go on and eat. It was your brother’s portion anyway."

Bai Qiulan shook her head. The woman in black before her was Mo Xuan’s biological sister. She had appeared on Purple Bamboo Peak decades ago while Mo Xuan was away, and the first thing she said was that she was looking for him. Bai Qiulan had been rather flustered at the time.

After all, she had learned long ago from her own master that Mo Xuan’s background was not simple. She had braced herself for some cliché drama, thinking they might try to kill her and drag Mo Xuan back for an arranged marriage. But it turned out to be nothing of the sort; the people of the Mo Family were very respectful to her.

Mo Jinyu’s attitude was the most telling. In fact, it was because of her attitude that the Mo Family’s Guards and such were so respectful.

"My old brother is living the good life here, enjoying Second Grade Spiritual Cuisine. If it were me, I wouldn’t want to leave either!"

Mo Jinyu took a bite, and her eyes seemed to clear. Bai Qiulan watched her in silence.

’Mo Xuan’s reluctance to return home wasn’t a recent development. He hasn’t wanted to go back for nearly a hundred years. Liu Chen has only been on Purple Bamboo Peak for a month, so how could it have anything to do with him?’

’But now that he’s taken on disciples, even if Mo Xuan had any thoughts of going home before, he probably doesn’t anymore.’

"Where’d my old brother go?"

After eating her fill, Mo Jinyu sprawled out on a nearby lounge chair. This was her sister-in-law’s home, which was no different from her own, so she didn’t need to bother with all those fussy formalities.

"He’s handling Purple Bamboo Peak’s affairs. He probably won’t be back for three to five days."

Bai Qiulan shook her head. Preparations for the upcoming Inner Sect Disciple assessment had to begin. Then there was the annual trial for Inner Sect Disciples, not to mention the need to balance and develop Purple Bamboo Peak’s various enterprises—all of it needed his attention.