"Alright. Since you've already thought it through, Brother, I will support you with everything I have! Even though my health isn't great, I can still help you plant trees!"
A smile appeared on the girl's pale face, and her eyes were filled with encouragement for her brother.
The next day, the boy arrived at Old Man Zhou's peak.
In Old Man Zhou's courtyard, the old man himself was in his usual form. Between his cultivation sessions, he sat on his purple bamboo lounge chair, sipping wine. Beside him was an old mountain ape that radiated a formidable aura.
The boy was long accustomed to this scene. Although the old mountain ape looked fierce and powerful, it was actually quite decent. Sometimes, it would even give him a spirit fruit or two. It was precisely these fruits that had allowed his sister to hold on for so long.
The only thing that slightly diminished the ape's image as a powerhouse was its habit of dragging him into conversations about the trivial things it did when it was just a little ape—like fighting with the golden-haired monkey next door. But it was exactly this that made the boy feel a sense of kinship.
"Senior Zhou, Senior Mountain!"
Upon entering the courtyard, the boy respectfully bowed to both. However, what struck him as odd today was the presence of a black-clothed youth in the yard whose aura he couldn't sense.
This youth possessed an indescribable, unique temperament. But that wasn't the most peculiar thing. Old Man Zhou had a wide circle of friends and occasionally invited people back for a drink, so the boy was used to visitors.
The difference today was that while most people in the past were quite respectful to Old Man Zhou, this black-clothed youth seemed different. Specifically, the old mountain ape appeared to be extremely respectful toward the youth!
This discovery sent waves of shock through the boy's heart!
One had to know that this old mountain ape was a Great Demon at the Golden Core level! Except for the powerhouses of the Qingyuan Academy and some visiting Golden Core experts, who wouldn't be bowing and scraping before such a creature?
Yet, what was the background of this black-clothed youth? How could he make such a Great Demon show such respectful submission? It was the kind of reverence a servant showed a master—wholehearted and sincere!
This youth was absolutely a titan-level figure! Having realized this, the boy immediately gave a profound bow.
"Chang Qing greets the senior!"
"Ah, Xiao Qing is here? I've already rented the spirit field you wanted. it's in District D, not far from here. Wait a few days for the paperwork to arrive, and then you can go," Old Man Zhou said cheerfully.
He wasn't upset by Chang Qing's resignation; instead, he was very supportive! He could tell that Chang Qing had something he felt he must do, but since the boy didn't say, the old man wouldn't force him to talk.
During the years Chang Qing had served as his assistant, he had been diligent and hardworking, doing everything expected of him with care. Most importantly, Old Man Zhou currently cultivated the Dao of Carefree Heart. Between "entering the world" and "leaving the world," his vision was becoming clearer. The various mortal experiences he was currently undergoing were continuously helping him understand the carefree state he sought.
This carefree heart wasn't about being free from all constraints, but about truly recognizing one's own original intent. For instance, being unburdened by societal norms or obsessed with cultivation realms... One could choose to die calmly for a loved one or walk gracefully to the end of one's life.
"Thank you, Senior Zhou! I shall never forget your kindness as long as I live!"
Hearing that Old Man Zhou had resolved the issue of the spirit field, Chang Qing was so moved that he immediately knelt and kowtowed, his forehead striking the ground with such force that a bloodstain appeared. It was clear how emotional he was. This startled Old Man Zhou, who hurried to help him up.
"You child, I told you there's no need for such formality!" the old man said helplessly.
After helping Chang Qing up, Old Man Zhou turned and introduced him to Qi Ping. "This is the Chang Qing I told you about. He and his sister, Chang E, came from outside the domain over two years ago. He was heavily injured back then, and I took them in because I felt sorry for them. He's a good lad; with his help, managing this mountain has been much easier for me..."
'Rescued?'
Qi Ping felt a bit amused by the choice of words. Wasn't he also "rescued" by Old Man Zhou when he was about to die? This Old Man Zhou! But Qi Ping didn't mind; as long as the old man was happy!
He had been busy with cultivation these years, sometimes going into seclusion for years or even decades. It was only now, after handling all his affairs, that he felt like visiting Old Man Zhou and checking on his progress. Two years was truly a blink of an eye for Qi Ping; the time it took to comprehend a spell would pass just as quickly.
"He does indeed seem like a good seedling," Qi Ping praised. This boy named Chang Qing truly seemed decent.
Thinking of this, Qi Ping took a small bottle of white liquid from his storage ring and used spiritual power to float it in front of Chang Qing.
"This is Earth Spirit Milk; consider it a meeting gift. It can enhance one's physical aptitude and heal bodily wounds. I see you still have unhealed injuries; Earth Spirit Milk is exceptionally effective at repairing hidden physical damage..."
"Thank you, Senior!" Chang Qing originally felt he shouldn't accept it. It was their first meeting; how could he take something so precious?
But when he heard the effects of the Earth Spirit Milk, his eyes widened! Wasn't this exactly the kind of top-tier medicine that could alleviate his sister's condition? When it concerned his sister's safety, how could he refuse?
"This gift is of immense use to me. I beg the senior to tell me your name so that Chang Qing may remember who his benefactor is!" Chang Qing suppressed the excitement in his heart and spoke earnestly.
His surprises today were simply too many. Not only was the spirit field issue resolved—allowing him and his sister to nurture spirit trees in peace—but he had also unexpectedly received top-grade medicine to treat the body. In a sense, this was his sister's life!
"My name? Once you break through to the Golden Core stage, you may come and ask again," Qi Ping said with an air of effortless grace.
'One only has the right to know his name after reaching the Golden Core stage!?'
This sentence left Chang Qing stunned in place. Just what kind of terrifying identity did this black-clothed youth possess? And how did a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Senior Zhou know such a noble figure?
Chang Qing felt that he might have met someone truly extraordinary today. But he could never have guessed that this noble figure before him had been even more destitute than himself when Old Man Zhou had rescued him.
After receiving the Earth Spirit Milk from Qi Ping, Chang Qing rushed home at his fastest speed. After giving his sister, Chang E, just a single drop, her pale face immediately gained a healthy color. The injuries that had been steadily worsening were instantly suppressed, and her physique even strengthened considerably.
"Brother, what kind of medicine is this? One drop has such an effect?" Chang E asked in absolute shock.
"It's called Earth Spirit Milk. A friend of Senior Zhou gave it to us. I don't know his name; he said I only have the right to know it after I become a Golden Core cultivator."
"What? Golden Core to even know his name?" Chang E's eyes widened.
Later, at his sister's insistence, Chang Qing drank a drop himself before returning to Old Man Zhou's mountain to help.
Meanwhile, Qi Ping and Old Man Zhou had moved their conversation elsewhere. Having not met for a long time, they had far too many topics to discuss over wine.
Qi Ping had no idea that a casual meeting gift would be something Chang Qing would have been willing to trade his life and soul for. To Qi Ping, Earth Spirit Milk was an unremarkable low-level resource; he could easily obtain dozens of barrels of the stuff if he wanted. It was less than a single hair from a thousand oxen. It was merely a small token given because he had a good impression of the boy.
But that small token became the medicine that saved Chang E's life and a pivotal turning point in the lives of the two siblings.