"The only thing troubling me is the fate of the valley, but that is something that we would have to deal with on our own," Valley Head Nie Changyun replied with a polite smile. "That aside, Iwould be thankful if Young Sir could stay at our Five Elements Valley for a while and perhaps grace our disciples with a few pointers."
"No, I am not referring to something like that," Wu Meng replied. "I am talking about something more tangible. For example, something like reinforcing the defensive array of the Five Elements Valley?"
"Thank you for the suggestion, Young Sir, but the defensive array of the Five Elements Valley has always held firm throughout the ages. There is no need for any reinforcement," Valley Head Nie Changyun maintained his smile while answering.
"Is that so?" Wu Meng smirked. "If you really feel that way, then I have nothing more to say. But perhaps you should give it a little more thought. For example, why do you think I would bring up this matter of all things?"
Valley Head Nie Changyun did not reply immediately. He continued watching Wu Meng in silence, as though trying to see through him.
In response, Wu Meng simply sipped his tea nonchalantly, as though he was completely oblivious to the other party's stare.
It was yet another period of discomfort for Zhang Wanqing who was standing by the side. Whenever an awkward silence fell upon the room, she would feel like she had to do something to ease the tension.
But what could she possibly do when she did not even understand the situation?
Thankfully, only slightly more than a minute had passed before Valley Head Nie Changyun finally let out a helpless sigh.
"How did Young Sir find out?" Valley Head Nie Changyun asked with a resigned expression.
"By coincidence," Wu Meng smiled.
Zhang Wanqing: "..."
Sure, coincidence again.
Not to mention her, even Valley Head Nie Changyun did not believe those words. However, since Wu Meng did not seem like he was intending to let them in on the matter, Valley Head Nie Changyun decided not to probe any further.
"Is Young Sir really able to help?" Valley Head Nie Changyun asked.
"Since I am the one who brought up the matter, I naturally have the means to do so. And I don't need personal access to your defensive array, so you don't have to worry about me using this as an excuse to sabotage your array. However..." Wu Meng grinned. "You have to know that there is no free lunch in this world."
"Naturally. But what could Young Sir possibly want in return?" Valley Head Nie Changyun had already expected as much.
"In exchange for reinforcing your defensive array, I will take Qing'er and spend one week alone at your Myriad Wonders Lake," Wu Meng said. "During this time, I want absolute privacy. No one is to even come near the lake."
Valley Head Nie Changyun narrowed his eyes immediately. "Young Sir, the Myriad Wonders Lake is a restricted zone even for our valley members. Not even the elders have free access to it."
"I know, and that's exactly why I am asking for it as part of a deal," Wu Meng shrugged. "Why would I ask for something that I can gain easy access to?"
"This..." Valley Head Nie Changyun hesitated. "This is a decision that I cannot make even as the valley head. I can bring this matter back to discuss with the others, but I would need some form of guarantee that Young Sir is indeed able to reinforce the defensive array. Otherwise, we are unlikely to come to an agreement."
"That is not a problem," Wu Meng nodded before opening up his usual wooden chest to pull out a strange-looking stone.
This stone was extremely eye-catching, to say the least.
It continuously emitted bright lights of various colours, instantly illuminating the entire room the moment it left the wooden chest. If one were to claim that this stone was the primal source of the aurora lights, there would probably be many who were inclined to believe that!
"Here," Wu Meng placed the light-emitting stone on the table before pushing it towards Valley Head Nie Changyun. "This is your guarantee."
"This..." Valley Head Nie Changyun picked it up carefully. "May I ask what this beautiful object is?"
Even after examining the light-emitting stone in his hand, Valley Head Nie Changyun was still unable to identify it.
"Do you know the true name of the defensive array protecting your Five Elements Valley?" Wu Meng answered with another question.
"It... has a name?" Valley Head Nie Changyun frowned.
All this time, the defensive array of the Five Elements Valley had simply been referred to as such – the defensive array.
While there were many standard arrays that had names of their own, it was also not uncommon for array masters to set up unique arrays and leave them without a name. That was why no one had ever found it strange that their defensive array did not have an official name.
However, the man before him was now saying otherwise, so how could Valley Head Nie Changyun not be surprised?
"To think that even the valley head has no idea – just how has your faction been passing down your teachings?" Wu Meng shook his head in disapproval. "The Five Elements Reversal Array. Remember this name well."
"The Five Elements Reversal Array..." Valley Head Nie Changyun found himself subconsciously repeating after Wu Meng.
"That's right," Wu Meng nodded. "And this stone you are holding in your hand, it is called the Five Elements Anchoring Stone."
Valley Head Nie Changyun looked at the stone in his hand.
The Five Elements Reversal Array and the Five Elements Anchoring Stone. Just from their names alone, it was obvious that the two were interrelated.
However, that was only if those were their real names.
Valley Head Nie Changyun had heard about Wu Meng's capabilities from Elder Gui Heng, which was what brought him to the conclusion that Wu Meng was no ordinary individual.
Most cultivators were more than capable of altering their looks, so Valley Head Nie Changyun had also concluded that Wu Meng was definitely not as young as he looked.
However, Valley Head Nie Changyun was still the head of the Five Elements Valley. For others to act as though they knew more about the Five Elements Valley than he did, Valley Head Nie Changyun could not help but feel slightly sceptical.
That was, unless Wu Meng's identity was in line with his conjecture...
"Don't worry about giving me an answer immediately," Wu Meng chuckled. "For now, I can lend you the Five Elements Anchoring Stone and allow you to show it to whoever you need to show. If you eventually agree to my terms, place the Five Elements Anchoring Stone against the core of the Five Elements Reversal Array and watch it work its magic. We will only go to the Myriad Wonders Lake after you have made sure that the reinforcement of the array is complete. But if you do not agree to my terms, I want the stone back without a scratch."
"I understand," Valley Head Nie Changyun nodded. "I will bring this back to discuss with the others. If Young Sir has no other instructions for me, I will be taking my leave first."
"Go," Wu Meng said. "Regardless of whether you agree or not, I want an answer within five days."
"In that case, I shall return within five days," Valley Head Nie Changyun clasped his fists towards Wu Meng. "Farewell."
Valley Head Nie Changyun left after taking the Five Elements Anchoring Stone, leaving Wu Meng and Zhang Wanqing alone in the guest house once again.
"You are just going to hand that stone over to him?" Zhang Wanqing asked in surprise. "Isn't it expensive? I thought you would at least make him sign a contract or something."
Now that the other cultivators were gone, Zhang Wanqing finally felt comfortable enough to speak up again.
"I would have if it was someone else," Wu Meng laughed. "But this is the Five Elements Valley, so I am not afraid that they would go back on their word."
"Hmm?" Zhang Wanqing blinked blankly. "Are they famous for being honest or something?"
"That's not it," Wu Meng shook his head. "There is nothing that differentiates them from others in this regard."
"Then why?" Zhang Wanqing asked.
"When the time comes, you will naturally understand," Wu Meng replied before returning to sipping his tea.
Zhang Wanqing: "..."
This again!
She really hates it when he says that!
***
There was no news from Valley Head Nie Changyun for the next two days.
Wu Meng and Zhang Wanqing continued to stay at the guest house as they waited, something that Zhang Wanqing was secretly thankful for.
Ever since they left Green Seed Village, they had literally been living their lives on the horse wagon. While there was a soft feather mattress in the horse wagon, it could hardly be considered comfortable.
Not just that, but they even had to take turns catching up on sleep while travelling.
Now that they were staying at the guest house, not only were there multiple rooms that were properly furnished with beds, but there was also a place for her to bathe and rid herself of all the dirt that had accumulated on her body.
She might have to fetch the water herself from the nearby stream and cut her own firewood, but Zhang Wanqing was more than happy to do so if it meant that she could have a nice hot bath!
In terms of food, there were enough rations in the house to last a week or so, so she was not particularly worried either.
Zhang Wanqing had been used to doing chores back at Green Seed Village, and was more than capable of cooking up simple meals. The food was nothing particularly incredible, but it was tasty enough to satisfy the average palate.
There was only one issue.
Wu Meng would simply close his eyes in meditation for the entire day, but Zhang Wanqing had no idea how to meaningfully spend her time!
When she asked Wu Meng for ideas, the latter simply asked her to go jogging to improve her stamina.
Zhang Wanqing initially thought that it was a ridiculous suggestion, but it was a wonder what boredom could do to one's mind.
In the end, she actually took Wu Meng's suggestion and started jogging around the area.
The scenery was great, and the air was fresh. So, despite it being physically exhausting, Zhang Wanqing ended up enjoying it a lot more than she thought she would!
In fact, she even wondered why she had not tried doing so in the past.
Was it because she was concerned about how other villagers would think when they see her in a state of sweaty mess?
Perhaps that was really the case.
In a way, leaving the village was a sort of liberation as well. At the very least, she no longer had to worry about small things like that.
On the third day, Valley Head Nie Changyun finally returned.
"Greetings, Esteemed Sir," Valley Head Nie Changyun clasped his fists towards Wu Meng upon entering the house.
Zhang Wanqing could not help but notice that the way he addressed Wu Meng had changed.
"You came to a decision much earlier than I thought you would," Wu Meng answered while casually sipping his tea.
"It wasn't easy though," Valley Head Nie Changyun let out a helpless sigh. "I could handle the elders' opposition, but even the ancestors were apprehensive about the matter. I had to put my reputation on the line to convince them."
"You made a wise choice," Wu Meng nodded. "The Five Elements Reversal Array might be impressive, but even it is subject to the passage of time. If you have chosen to leave it be, I doubt it will last another thousand years."
"None of us truly understand the Five Elements Reversal Array, but the difference to the array is obvious to anyone after we acted according to Esteemed Sir's instructions," Valley Head Nie Changyun clasped his fists towards Wu Meng once more. "I can only thank Esteemed Sir for your help."
As a safety precaution, Nie Changyun had run various experiments on the Five Elements Anchoring Stone to verify that it would not sabotage their defensive array before actually putting it to use. Of course, there was no need to mention this to Wu Meng.
"All right, enough with the pleasantries," Wu Meng waved him off. "When can we go to the Myriad Wonders Lake?"
"Esteemed Sir, you can go anytime you wish," Valley Head Nie Changyun was straightforward in his reply. "I have already passed down instructions for the Myriad Wonders Lake to be vacated. I can bring you there right now if you wish."
"Then there is no need to wait any longer," Wu Meng stood up upon hearing that. "Qing'er, pack up everything. We will be leaving with him."
"Now?" Zhang Wanqing had mixed feelings in her heart.
While the stay here had been rather boring, it was at least comfortable. So, she did not exactly welcome the idea of leaving.
Of course, if Wu Meng wanted to leave, she would still choose to follow.
"That's right," Wu Meng nodded. "You have followed me long enough, so it is about time for you to take your first step on the path of cultivation."
Oh?
Zhang Wanqing's eyes immediately lit up upon hearing that.