The entrance to Jiuli Village was bustling with activity.
All the villagers who heard the news of Lu Qing and the others' return rushed out of the village.
"It really is Ah Qing and the others who are back!"
"Aqing seems to have changed a bit since I last saw her a few months ago."
"Xiaoyan has changed too; she's grown up a bit."
"What kind of horses are those? And why do they have horns on their heads?"
"Who is that girl? She's so pretty."
"We've never seen such a beautiful girl anywhere in the surrounding area!"
...
The villagers were buzzing with discussion, some observing the changes in Lu Qing and his companions, while others were curious about the two dragon-blooded horses.
Some were even surprised by Hu Zezhi's appearance.
Amidst the chatter, Lu Qing approached Grandpa Zhang.
"Grandpa Zhang, I'm back."
"It's good that you're back safe and sound, it's good that you're back safe and sound."
Grandpa Zhang's eyes were a little moist, and his body was trembling with excitement.
"You didn't encounter any danger on this trip, did you?"
"No, everything is fine. Master is watching over us, and we don't cause any trouble, so how could we be in danger?" Lu Qing said with a smile.
The old doctor standing to the side:...
However, Grandpa Zhang took it seriously and immediately bowed to the old doctor.
"Thank you so much, Doctor, for taking care of Aqing and Xiaoyan all the way. Otherwise, Aqing, being young and impetuous, might have caused some trouble."
The old doctor paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Old Zhang, you're joking. All along the way, it was Aqing and Xiaoyan who took care of my daily life. I didn't do anything."
"That's what Aqing should do as a disciple, it's what she should do."
"Grandpa Zhang, let's go into the village first."
Seeing that Grandpa Zhang seemed about to continue thanking him, Lu Qing quickly said...
"Yes, look at me, this old man, so senile. You've traveled for so long, you must be tired. Go back to the village and rest first."
Grandpa Zhang slapped his forehead and said.
"I'll go take the red string down first."
Lu Qing walked to the letter tree and gently removed the three red ropes that had been tied to it when they set off.
After months of wind and rain, the red rope had turned somewhat white, but Lu Qing still solemnly pressed it under the stone slab.
The villagers smiled when they saw this.
When Lu Qing returned home, she found that the weeds in the yard had been cleared away completely.
The house was spotless, and it didn't look like it hadn't been lived in for months.
It was much cleaner than when Lu Qing and Xiao Yan left.
Lu Qing knew that it must be Grandpa Zhang and the others who came to clean every day to keep the house free of any dust.
"Ah Qing, you've just gotten back, so you probably haven't had time to prepare food or anything. I'll have your Uncle Zhang bring some over later."
Grandpa Zhang looked around and said.
Just as Lu Qing was about to speak, a commotion suddenly broke out outside.
A voice called out, "Young Master Lu, I'm here on Master Ma's orders to bring you some things."
"Brother Xiaotian?"
Lu Qing walked out of the house and found that it was Xiao Tian, whom she hadn't seen for a long time. He was standing outside the courtyard with several people, each carrying a load on their shoulders.
"Brother Xiaotian, did you come from the market?"
"Yes, I just received a message from Master Ma via carrier pigeon and learned that you young masters have returned."
"Master Ma asked me to bring some daily necessities to you and Dr. Chen."
Xiao Tian said respectfully.
"Master Ma is very thoughtful. Let's put the things in."
Xiao Tian, along with several of his men, carried the loads in.
Everything was provided: rice, flour, meat, vegetables, fruits, and even some daily toiletries.
"Young Master Lu, please see if there's anything you're missing. I'll have someone send it over right away."
"No need, I see that everything here is quite complete, thank you for your trouble, Brother Xiaotian."
Lu Qing glanced at it and, finding nothing missing, nodded his thanks.
"In that case, I won't bother Young Master Lu any longer."
Xiao Tian asked, bowed respectfully, and then left with his men.
Seeing this, Lu Qing shook his head.
Xiao Tian seemed much more reserved after this trip back.
I don't know what Master Ma said to him in the letter.
"Grandpa Zhang, look, I have enough food here, so you don't need to trouble yourself."
Lu Qing turned his head and smiled.
Grandpa Zhang looked at the things on the ground and laughed: "You really have a lot of influence, Aqing. You just got back and someone is already bringing you gifts."
Over the past two years, Grandpa Zhang has met quite a few of that Manager Xiao Tian.
Every now and then, he would personally deliver some daily necessities to Lu Qing.
I just didn't expect him to be so well-informed.
Lu Qing had just returned when he arrived right after him.
"By the way, Uncle Zhang, I just got back today and haven't prepared anything yet, so it wouldn't be appropriate for everyone to stay for dinner."
Please tell everyone outside that in a day or two, I'll host a banquet with about ten tables to celebrate with everyone.
"Alright, you have guests today, so I won't bother you any longer. You can attend to your guests first."
Grandpa Zhang didn't try to stop him; he knew that the money was nothing to Lu Qing.
After the villagers had all left, Lu Qing said to Hu Zezhi and his daughter, "The villagers were worried about me and Xiaoyan, so they made a bit of a commotion. Please forgive them."
“No, the villagers here are so kind and honest, it’s really rare. It’s our good fortune that Xiaolian and I can settle down here.”
Hu Laosan quickly replied.
"By the way, before I came back, I told Senior Wei in advance that Uncle Hu and you could stay at the Wei family's villa for the time being."
"There are plenty of empty rooms there, and servants are on duty, so it won't be a problem," Lu Qing said.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Young Master Lu," Hu Zezhi said in thanks.
So Lu Qing took Hu Zezhi and her father to stay at the Wei family's villa.
After settling them in, he came to the small courtyard on the hillside.
I want to help the cleaner tidy up the house.
However, when he arrived at the hillside courtyard, he found that it was also very tidy.
It's unclear whether the villagers did it, or whether Wei Shanhai, who often comes to pick plum tea, sent people to clean it up.
"Aqing, come here for a second."
Just then, the old doctor's voice came from behind the house.
"What's wrong, Master?"
Lu Qing walked to the back of the house, about to ask a question, but suddenly froze.
Beside the old doctor, a small, lush garden enclosed by a fence was radiating vitality.
It was the medicinal herb field they had previously cultivated.
"This medicinal herb field..."
Lu Qing approached and was somewhat surprised to see the many medicinal herbs growing vigorously in the herb field.
However, only a few months had passed, but these medicinal herbs seemed to have been growing for ten years.
The medicine is very potent and can be used immediately.
More importantly, he also sensed that the earth's energy here was extremely rich.
It was as if the earth's energy, which stretched for miles around, was constantly converging here.
Beneath it lies a vibrant life force, lurking beneath.
"That thousand-year-old ginseng didn't escape?"
Lu Qing immediately recognized the source of that vitality and was immediately surprised.
Because that was the very thousand-year-old ginseng that he had captured back then, and which the old doctor had later placed in the medicinal herb field to help deplete the field's energy—the one that had already developed sentience.
Originally, when they left the village that day to head to Zhongzhou...
Lu Qing was also thinking that by the time they returned, the thousand-year-old ginseng would probably have already made a great escape.
Unexpectedly, it was still in the medicinal herb field.
Moreover, judging from the current situation, they have been working very hard to help manage and cultivate this medicinal herb field.
Seemingly sensing the commotion outside, the life force that had been dormant beneath suddenly began to change.
It quietly floated upwards, and soon, a few leaves slowly emerged.
Seeing this, Lu Qing couldn't help but laugh: "You're quite bold, aren't you afraid of being captured again?"
These words immediately caused the leaves to shrivel back to the ground.
But soon, the thousand-year-old ginseng seemed to sense that something was wrong.
Suddenly it emerged from underground and came to the old doctor, revealing most of its plump body. The few leaves on top, like human arms, were gesturing excitedly, as if it were making a accusation.
"This little thing seems to have become more intelligent?"
Lu Qing was somewhat surprised. Could it be due to the influence of the spiritual energy revival?
"Okay, okay, I know I broke my promise. I'll make it up to you now."
The old doctor apologized repeatedly and took out a jade bottle from his pocket, dripping a drop of milky white liquid onto the patient's body.
The medicinal liquid fell on its body, and the thousand-year-old ginseng immediately stiffened. Then, it sucked the liquid in.
The few leaves above my head trembled, as if they were thoroughly enjoying themselves.
The next moment, it disappeared and burrowed underground to absorb the medicinal liquid.
He no longer cared about the old doctor breaking his promise.
“Master, you really went all out this time, giving it a whole drop of earth vein essence,” Lu Qing said with a smile.
"Since it didn't leave, it means it has accepted this place. It has taken such good care of this medicinal field, so it's only right to make some compensation."
The old doctor had made a pact with this ginseng when he first established the medicinal herb field.
As long as it helps to regulate the earth's energy every day, he will give it a drop of medicine made by diluting the earth vein essence every three days.
Later, they had to travel to Zhongzhou, and the agreement could not be continued.
I thought the thousand-year-old ginseng would leave, but I never expected it to stay here all this time.
"Since it is willing to stay, that's perfect. This time I've returned to study the art of formations for a while."
"We'll see if we can use an array to gather the earth's energy and spiritual energy, and create a true garden of spiritual herbs."
Lu Qing said earnestly.
He had had this idea for a long time.
As the world changes and spiritual energy revives, all things under heaven have entered a period of mysterious transformation.
As this process gradually evolves, some mythical beasts and elixirs that only existed in ancient legends may appear in the future.
However, that was still a bit too slow for Lu Qing.
So he wanted to try and see if he could use his knowledge to cultivate a batch of medicinal herbs in advance and seize the initiative.
"That's very good. With the world undergoing tremendous changes, the epidemic may also undergo unpredictable changes."
If we can cultivate miraculous herbs, we won't be helpless when we encounter those intractable diseases in the future.
The old doctor was overjoyed to hear this.
With a compassionate heart, he was already somewhat worried about the changes in the world.
Lu Qing's idea was just what they needed to plan ahead for.
"And Master, I would like to go into the mountains tomorrow to see what the situation is like there."
"Xiaoyan and the others will need your care for a while, Master."
"Okay, go ahead without worry, but be careful."
The old doctor said solemnly.
He knew his disciple's worries.
Their trip to the Central Plains was extremely fruitful, and they all gained tremendous opportunities.
However, it also sowed the seeds of many troubles and offended many people.
Needless to say, the Suspended Mountain is already a mortal enemy.
And then there's the Holy Mountain, which has always stood in the world in the name of justice.
But people are inherently selfish.
That Third Holy Lord was defeated by Lu Qing in front of so many powerful figures that day.
No one can guarantee that he won't harbor resentment.
Otherwise, when they left that day, the Holy Mountain would not have given the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion Master the order to invite Lu Qing up the mountain.
In addition, there is the mysterious demonic cultivator who was severely injured by Lu Qing, as well as possible remnants of the Qi family, and so on.
These are all potential threats.
On their return journey, they rode in a chariot that seemed to travel at a speed that was beyond the reach of ordinary people.
But ultimately, there are still clues to follow.
Others may not know their whereabouts for a while, but if they are willing, it is hard to say whether they will find their way to Jiuli Village.
Therefore, we should still be cautious in everything we do.
"This disciple will be careful," Lu Qing nodded.
The next day, Lu Qing took Xiao Yan to pay respects at her parents' graves, then took her and Xiao Li to a small courtyard halfway up the mountain before venturing alone into the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
Along the way, Lu Qing carefully sensed and observed the changes in the mountains.
Then, through the dual exploration of his spiritual sense and supernatural abilities, Lu Qing discovered that significant changes had indeed taken place in the mountains.
First, there are plants.
The plants in the mountains are growing much more vigorously, especially the trees, which are brimming with life.
If a cultivator who practices wood-based true qi or spiritual power were to come to this deep mountain to cultivate in seclusion, their cultivation progress would likely be several times faster.
And then there are animals.
The animals in the mountains have also changed a lot, especially the poisonous insects and snakes, which have become much more ferocious.
The toxicity contained in the body has increased significantly.
If an ordinary person were to enter this place and be bitten, they would likely die on the spot.
Even a martial artist at the Acquired {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} Realm, if poisoned, would likely not survive long without timely treatment to expel the poison.
"It seems that the defense of the village needs to begin as soon as possible."
Sensing the changes in the mountains, Lu Qing felt somewhat heavy-hearted.
The poisonous insects and snakes in these deep mountains posed no threat to him.
But for the villagers, it was terrifying.
If you accidentally get bitten, that could be a big problem.
Lost in thought, Lu Qing found himself in a familiar place.
"There haven't been many changes here."
Looking at the magnificent and enchanting valley in front of him, where flowers were in full bloom, Lu Qing smiled.
Besides checking on the situation inside the mountains, his most important purpose in going into the mountains was to see if there had been any changes at the Jade Transformation Cave.
In retrospect, things haven't changed as much as he had imagined.
As usual, Lu Qing paid a brief tribute at Li Weitian's grave before crossing the waterfall and entering the mountainside.
