Chapter 350 - 259: Priest Garden_2

"Well, we’ve got the stuff, but now that I’m guarding it myself, I realize how tough it is to start from scratch. Even with my limited knowledge, I can see gaps everywhere. The Barrier Array is disturbed from time to time, with demons coming over day and night to steal food. Having just us Outer Mountain Disciples to guard it is truly overwhelming. It’s good you’re here; having one more person means more strength."

"I understand, I understand. The Outer Mountain is just for doing miscellaneous tasks, right..."

Wu Di glanced at the swirling Water Light in the distance, absent-mindedly asking,

"How many people do we have here?"

Xiao Liu chuckled,

"Now that you’re here, we have thirty-two people."

Wu Di suddenly became alert, turning his head to stare at him wide-eyed,

"How many!? Thirty-two people tending forty thousand horses!? Impossible! The Eighteen Flying Stars should have at least a hundred Outer Mountain Disciples! Were they all...?"

Xiao Liu shrugged,

"Yeah, Honzan took the experts and went to attack Marquis Zhongshan’s army for merit. Besides, aren’t there more than thirty Pasture Gardens? Priest Garden is the largest one, having this many people is a lot. Some places only have two people guarding."

Wu Di was shocked, looking towards the camp by the river, taking a deep breath,

"Honzan didn’t even leave one True Man!?"

Xiao Liu raised one finger,

"They left one, but not a True Man; just someone who recently reached Foundation Establishment, not much use, helping with accounting."

Then Xiao Liu pointed,

"Besides the horses, there are cows too."

Wu Di understood, taking a deep breath and howling out,

"Cows and horses—! Cows! Horses! Ah!"

The nearby sheep heard and raised their heads, "Baa—!"

Xiao Liu, "The sheep don’t need special attention; someone brought sheepdogs."

Wu Di, "..."

Xiao Liu chuckled,

"It’s not too bad. The mountain is equipped with arrays, and there are prohibitions at the pass entrances. Usually, the ones heading north are Mystic Sect senior brothers, and Kan Country’s rebel army is busy in Hebei, so they can’t pay attention here for now.

As long as someone patrols along the southern and northern mountain slopes day and night, it’s fine. We’re on three shifts now; today it’s our turn to rest in the garden and noticed you entering the mountain, so we came to greet you."

"I see, sorry for the trouble... uh, Junior Brother Liu, why are you walking with one foot high and one low, are you practicing martial arts? Or did you sprain your ankle?"

"Oh, my leg was chopped by a senior brother. This fake leg is to deceive others; it’s actually hiding mechanisms and hidden arrows."

Liu Xiaoliu kindly took off his leg and hopped around twice to show him.

"Hiss..."

Wu Di was greatly shocked, swallowing hard,

"I wonder which mountain you’re from for Inner Sect sword fighting to be so brutal..."

Liu Xiaoliu smiled as he reattached his leg,

"It wasn’t sword fighting; it was chopped off while I was sleeping."

Wu Di,

"..."

Then Xiao Liu suddenly curiously asked,

"By the way, Senior Brother Wu, do you have a Daoist companion?"

Wu Di never expected him to ask this next! He was caught off guard! Um, um, ah, ah,

"Um, um... ah, ah? Why are you suddenly asking this!"

Liu Xiaoliu chuckled,

"Senior brother doesn’t need to be so nervous. We Mystic Sect Disciples have to preserve our Primordial Yang before forming a Golden Core, and it’s natural to want to find a Daoist companion to cultivate together after forming the core. It’s human nature.

Besides, in our Sword Sect, it’s customary not to accept female disciples. Senior Sister Shen is naturally beautiful, and there are actually many brothers both inside and outside the mountain who want to form a bond with her. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about."

Wu Di sighed,

"Junior brother, please don’t tease. My family already has an engagement for me; the original plan was to form the core, then return home to get married. But who knew I’d be stopped in the mountain, having to accompany that Tie Dan for training. Sigh..."

Liu Xiaoliu curiously,

"Is Senior Brother Tie doing well?"

"He’s been locked away for three months. Looking at his appearance and eating habits, I’d say not too well... uh, how do you know him?"

Liu Xiaoliu laughed,

"He is my same sect brother from Yanzi Cave. I’ve heard his sword skills are becoming more refined; I really hope to see it for myself."

Wu Di glanced at his leg, but before he could think of how to respond, Liu Xiaoliu suddenly changed the subject,

"So, you already have an engagement, you want to buy Senior Sister Shen’s calligraphy and paintings?"

Wu Di was stunned,

"Calligraphy and paintings? She can also compose poetry and draw?"

Liu Xiaoliu smiled, taking out a letter from his sleeve, holding it delicately, he softly said,

"To be honest, Senior Sister Shen is also from Yanzi Cave, she’s a well-bred lady, often copying calligraphy. I found this Xuan paper on the floor while tidying up the study before.

Alas, I’m unfortunately disabled, always feeling inferior in front of such an outstanding person as senior sister. Keeping it would only delay my Daoist heart, it’s better to let you appreciate it."

"Hiss..."

Wu Di was astonished, holding the letter to look, seeing faint fragrance on the paper, sprinkled with gold foil, small neat regular script beautifully inscribed:

Out to sea the ice dragon still carries frost, moonlit radiance reflecting night brilliance, blowing out the lamp leaves no shadow in mid-air, truly first-rate among swords.

"Good character, good poem, good fragrance... cough, cough!"

Wu Di blushed,

"Junior brother, I mean Junior Sister’s writing is as good as anyone’s, this poem is well written, the characters are beautifully inscribed..."

Liu Xiaoliu smiled warmly,

"I understand, I understand. If you like it, it’s yours. If you have some Elixir Pills or talismans for self-defense, that would be great.

After all, I don’t have much ability, and being disabled, I can only shamelessly ask for Senior Brothers’ support."

Wu Di immediately stood up straight, righteous and bold,

"What are you talking about, Junior Brother! As fellow members of the Sword Sect, we should support each other! Take these Power Pills and Healing Elixirs without hesitation!"

Xiao Liu, "Uh, this... isn’t this too much?"

"Take them! Don’t be polite with me!"

He stuffed them into Xiao Liu’s hands, making it difficult for him not to accept, although he seemed embarrassed, as if he felt quite uncomfortable saying,