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    But no matter how valuable it was, there was no point if she did not know the proper way to use it!


    “Making elixirs or pills, or for cuisine,” Gu Qiansi answered. “Blue Jade Lotuses possess extremely strong vitality, and every part of the plant can provide revitalising benefits when ingested. The root can even be eaten raw, though the benefits would not be optimised that way.”


    “As expected of the plant freak,” Zhao Yunxiao nodded. “If you don’t know what to do with it, you can give it to her instead.”


    “You can have it then, Senior Martial Sister Gu,” Lu Zhiying readily handed it over.


    “Then I will hold onto yours for now,” Gu Qiansi accepted it with a smile. “Maybe I will make something with both roots and share half with you.”


    As someone who had only just entered the Foundation Building realm, it was indeed difficult for Lu Zhiying to know how to properly process the root.


    Rather than have her waste something this precious, Gu Qiansi decided to process the root for Lu Zhiying and give her the finished product instead.


    “Time for the stories now, Senior Martial Brother Zhao!” Lu Zhiying turned her attention back to Zhao Yunxiao.


    “Hmm, nothing special happened apart from the fact that I gave some cultivation advice to all the elders and core disciples of the Origin Lake Sect,” Zhao Yunxiao said with a shrug. “Oh right, and that includes Sect Master Dan as well. So they were all quite thankful towards me by the end of the trip.”


    “Senior Martial Brother Zhao...” Lu Zhiying muttered hesitantly.


    “Hey Zhao Yunxiao, did we just wake you up from your sleep so you can’t differentiate your dreams from reality?” Gu Qiansi scoffed. “Stop spouting nonsense and tell us the truth!”


    Zhao Yunxiao looked up at the moonless night sky and let out a helpless sigh.


    “Fine, nothing special happened so there really isn’t much to be talked about since you already know how these things go,” Zhao Yunxiao tried to recall the other events that transpired. “But I have to say that it definitely felt good seeing how the members of the Origin Lake Sect treat us with great respect. It truly made me appreciate just how lucky we are to be able to join the Black Tortoise Sect.”


    “Is that so?” Gu Qiansi rubbed her chin in contemplation. “Perhaps I should try to go on one of those trips just to experience how it is like too.”


    “Mm, mm,” Lu Zhiying nodded repeatedly. “I would definitely like to go as well!”


    “If you have the chance, just do it,” Zhao Yunxiao agreed. “However, don’t think that just anyone will be able to pass the interview. Not everyone is as good as me.”


    “Quit showing off,” Gu Qiansi rolled her eyes. “So, what’s the deal with the spatial pouch and the Blue Jade Lotus roots? Did they really just give them to everyone who went on the trip?”


    “Of course not,” Zhao Yunxiao shook his head. “They are from the guardian spirit of the Origin Lake Sect. It brought me to their sect treasury and ended up losing them to me as a bet over a game of chess. Oh, actually that’s just the spatial pouch. As for the roots, it gave them to me to bring back as souvenirs.”


    Gu Qiansi: “...”


    “


    “I can hear you, Junior Martial Sister Lu,” Zhao Yunxiao reminded.


    “If you don’t want people to react like this, then stop saying things that will make others react like this,” Gu Qiansi answered.


    Zhao Yunxiao looked up at the night sky and let out another sigh.


    “If it’s not convenient to say it, we won’t force you to do so either,” Gu Qiansi said while keeping away the Blue Jade Lotus roots. “In any case, thanks for the gift!”


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    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Zhao Yunxiao left his residence early the next morning, before the first light had even descended upon the vast Purple Plum Mountain.


    Because of that, it was naturally not a place where people could just come and go freely.


    </a> Zuo Haowen – inner disciple of the Black Tortoise Sect.


    “Greetings, Senior Martial Brother Zuo,” Zhao Yunxiao greeted.


    “You are here again, Junior Martial Brother Zhao,” Zuo Haowen said with a helpless sigh. “Have you been well?”


    “Not too bad, but I will definitely feel better if Senior Martial Brother Zuo can give me a few pointers from time to time,” Zhao Yunxiao replied. “Care to help out a junior martial brother?”


    “Do you even have any spare time in your busy schedule to slot me in?” Zuo Haowen laughed it off.


    “Anytime for you, Senior Martial Brother Zuo,” Zhao Yunxiao said before flicking his wrist, causing two items to appear in his hands.


    They were a letter and a root of the Blue Jade Lotus.


    “Please help me pass them to Elder Ying,” Zhao Yunxiao carefully handed them over. “Do help me send my regards, and wish the elder a happy new year as well.”


    “I was wondering where your backpack went. So it is because you managed to get a spatial item,” Zuo Haowen grinned while receiving the two items. “Not bad.”


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    “Since you are this adamant, I will not insist any further,” Zuo Haowen let out another helpless sigh. “I will definitely pass your message and items on to Elder Ying’s attendants. But whether he receives it or not in the end is beyond my control.”


    “That is good enough. Thank you as always, Senior Martial Brother Zuo,” Zhao Yunxiao clasped his fists in gratitude. “Farewell, then.”


    “Farewell,” Zuo Haowen nodded.


    </a> He knew that what Zuo Haowen said was most likely the truth.


    However, that did not change the fact that Ying Qingmu was the saviour who had saved him from freezing out in the winter cold.


    As a clueless five-year-old who had been pampered since young by his merchant parents, suddenly being abandoned by his parents when their business failed had sent him into a state of complete shock.


    In the span of a single night, he had gone from a precious pearl in the palms of his parents to nothing but baggage that was hindering their escape from their debtors.


    You are a burden.


    Those were the very last words that Zhao Yunxiao had heard from his parents.


    Even now, he vividly remembered how these words kept ringing in his head repeatedly as he stood there watching his parents’ departing backs.


    For a child who was that broken, Ying Qingmu’s sudden appearance was like the light at the end of a tunnel, the respite at the end of a storm.