Chapter 118 - 118 118 The Seed is Planted

118: Chapter 118: The Seed is Planted 118: Chapter 118: The Seed is Planted Meng Zifei had set up a stall in the midst of the village tribe. The stall was covered with a dazzling array of medicinal herbs. The roots of the herbs were still clinging to slightly moist soil, seemingly just dug up. The tribe wasn’t populous, but in front of the stall, a crowd had gathered, with injuries of varying degrees, bandages stained with blood, their faces worn with grief and sickness. However, their eyes were filled with gratitude and reliance when they looked at Meng Zifei. With just a few glances, Baili An speculated the cause and effect. He smiled slightly and approached, “Young Master Meng truly has a heart for the sufferings of the Mortal World, I thought you’d have left Kongcang Mountain already.” Young Master Meng’s work paused only for a moment before he showed an apologetic expression to Baili An and then continued to wrap and distribute the medicine packages to the injured villagers. “Um, I didn’t kill them, but they died because of me. No matter what, the group led by Yang Zhao and Huang Kang entered the Mountain Realm under my lead, which resulted in the beast tide getting out of control, and in the end, these mortals suffered.” Meng Zifei gave a self-deprecating smile and continued, “Although I have only a little power to offer, it’s better to mend the pen after the sheep are lost than to do nothing. Brother Si Chen, don’t laugh at me. I’m just seeking some comfort for my conscience.” Baili An asked, “How long do you plan to stay here, Brother Meng?” After pondering for a moment, Meng Zifei answered, “If possible, I’d like to settle down here for some time to come. Brother Si Chen may not know, but I am from Guangmeng City, which lies near Taixuan Sect, my home in the mortal world. It’s just that my home… has been in decline for over a hundred years now.” Upon saying this, Meng Zifei’s expression dimmed slightly as he unconsciously looked down at the sword lying quietly beside the table. He seemed to be reminiscing, “I’ve been focused on cultivation, but now, after all this time, I find myself weary and in need of a place to rest.” For many years, Meng Zifei had been cultivating alone. Various powers coveted his Talent and cultivation, hoping to recruit him as a retainer or disciple, but he held on to a conviction in his heart and insisted on his own way, refusing to join any other forces. Despite the hardships of a solitary path, he stumbled and struggled on, enjoying the company of loneliness that sustained him until now. Aware that Meng Zifei was a man with a story, Baili An tactfully didn’t push for more answers. “Um, Kongcang Mountain may be close to the Endless Sea, but it is not without its secluded spots, suitable for nurturing the spirit and stabilizing the heart for cultivation. If Brother Meng needs anything, feel free to find me in the Mountain Realm.” With the conversation coming to this point, Baili An naturally couldn’t just push the man far away. “Auntie Zhao, have you seen Qi Yang? When I passed by his family’s courtyard gate just now, I noticed that the weeds were untended and the whole yard was deserted. He hasn’t returned yet, has he?” Chen Bao, who had been holding back all the way, finally couldn’t help but pull aside a woman at the stall to inquire about Qi Yang’s condition. Chen Xiaolan snorted lightly, finding her brother’s anxious quest for information disdainful as she rolled her eyes. Such a heartless, cold-blooded person, she was ashamed to even call him a fellow villager. She couldn’t understand why her brother was always so concerned about him. Chen Bao’s expression soured slightly upon seeing his sister’s attitude. “Don’t be like that, sister. Qi Yang is really pitiful. He lost his parents and his legs are broken. He was thrown into the mountains and left alone. If something bad happens to him, the Qi Family will have no future.” As he spoke, Chen Bao cast a subtle glance at Baili An’s retreating figure. The young women from Chen Xiaolan’s village, who were clearly not naive, retorted: “There are people dying out every day in this world; I don’t see you, brother Chen, feeling sorry for them. Besides, you saw for yourself the disgusting things done by Qi Yang and his rotten Immortal master. Thrown out? So what? I think Brother Si Chen was too lenient. If it were me, I would’ve just finished the job and ended it all.” One Brother Chen and another Brother Si Chen. The affection and distinction in the address were clearly drawn. Chen Bao felt both annoyed and choked up as he glanced at the village girl he’d long been secretly fond of, feeling a wave of profound dejection. Auntie Zhao, unaware of the complexities involved, looked on bewildered for a long while before sighing, “Alas, speaking of that boy Qi Yang, he really is pitiful. Just the other day we were all envying him for being so fortunate as to take an Immortal master. We thought it wouldn’t be long before he’d become a little immortal soaring through the clouds. Yet, just three days ago, instead of soaring, I saw the kid from the Qi family crawling back home drenched in blood, with his legs broken in such a horrific way. I heard his parents were killed by someone, and he himself was harmed by villains, left with no legs, and his Immortal master gone, too. The villagers felt sorry for him and sent him back to his home. Young Master Meng is a good man; he diligently treated his leg injuries. But no more than a day later, a man dressed in a purple robe came to the village, spoke a few words to Qi Yang, and then took the boy away.” Chen Xiaolan looked at Auntie Zhao with an odd expression, “Qi Yang’s parents were harmed by someone? His legs were broken by villains? Did he tell you that himself?” “Yes? The poor child has suffered so much.” Chen Xiaolan, followed by a group of young women from the village, let out a mocking laugh, “I’ve never seen such a shameless person.” Just then, Baili An, who was about to take out a Mecha warrior from his Qiankun Bag, had a sudden change in expression, “A man in a purple robe? And he took Qi Yang away?” He then cast a questioning glance at Meng Zifei and asked, “Does Young Master Meng know this man in the purple robe?” The hand that was wrapping the medicine package paused briefly, and Meng Zifei lifted his face to look at Baili An with a smile, “No, I don’t recognize him?” Baili An replied with an “Oh,” his expression not changing much, “It’s just unexpected that Young Master Meng, with such a benevolent heart, would allow a severely injured person to be taken away by a stranger.” Meng Zifei’s eyes were clear, “Brother Si Chen, that’s truly humorous. Neither a Heavenly God nor a Buddha, I don’t have the responsibility of saving all beings. Qi Yang willingly followed that man, and besides… Qi Yang has ill intentions. To extend a helping hand to him was already within my duty as a cultivator; why should I meddle any further?” Baili An laughed heartily and casually released the twenty-five Mecha warriors. “Young Master Meng has an interesting way with words. Knowing that a man is unscrupulous yet still treating him, and then saying you don’t wish to meddle any further, it seems to me that you’ve been meddling from the start, Brother Meng.” Seeing the neat and solemn twenty-five Mecha warriors, Meng Zifei looked deeply touched, and his action drew exclamations of surprise from the villagers. “My goodness! Could this man also be an Immortal, throwing out so many Iron Men at once?” “Yes, yes, I’ve seen Young Master Meng keeping lots of things in a small bag as well; it’s simply magical!” “What are these Iron Men the Immortal has for?” Meng Zifei looked up and murmured, “Is this… the Mechanical Technique from Shifang City?”