Chapter 78 - 76: Returning to Little Qing Mountain

"I’ll remember what you did for me this time. I owe you one," Zhang Deming said.

"Brother Ming, there’s no need for that.

In all these years, have I ever said I owed you anything?" Zong En replied, a little displeased.

Zhang Deming smiled. "Alright, my bad. I... Your cultivation?"

Hearing this, Zong En laughed. "Haha! Didn’t see that coming, did you? I was in seclusion for four days and finally broke through."

Seeing his delighted expression, Zhang Deming said nonchalantly, "Yeah, it certainly wasn’t easy. After all, you announced you were going into seclusion to the whole of Little Qing Mountain almost three months ago.

If you hadn’t broken through soon, the other servant disciples at Little Qing Mountain would’ve started thinking you were just freeloading."

The happy look on Zong En’s face stiffened. He turned his head mechanically to look at Zhang Deming. "Brother Ming, you can’t be like that! I just helped you!"

Zhang Deming, his expression placid once again, nodded. "Mm, you’re the one who said not to worry about it. I’m just following your lead. What’s wrong? Suddenly changed your mind and want to hold the favor over my head?"

Zong En stared at Zhang Deming with a look of pure grievance, while a faint smile crept onto Zhang Deming’s otherwise indifferent face.

’You little punk. Serves you right for showing off in front of me for a solid six months back then.’

’I’m a very petty person, you know. Once I mark something down in my little black book, I remember it for life.’

After a long moment, Zong En said, "Fine, fine, let’s just hurry back."

Zhang Deming replied, his tone once again aloof, "That’s right. Hurry back and show off. The rice seedlings have just been planted. If you want, you can take your time showing off for a whole season!"

Zong En had, after all, known Zhang Deming for years. It only took a few sentences for him to get back in the groove.

He put on a smug look and said, "So what? I’ll do as I please. I love flaunting my existence in front of the other servants. Hmph!"

Zhang Deming: "..."

’He’s reached peak shamelessness. I have nothing to say.’

The two chatted idly as they made their way to the Little Hui Peak transport station.

Unlike their journey here, Zhang Deming no longer needed to avoid leaving a record, since he hadn’t chosen the assassination route.

They inquired about the price and found that a one-way trip started at one Spirit Stone.

"Brother Ming, let’s just run back. That’s too expensive," Zong En said, wincing at the price of one Spirit Stone.

Zhang Deming thought it was expensive too; he only had two or three Spirit Stones on him at the moment.

However, he figured that after selling the Spirit Nurturing Bead, he’d have about twenty Spirit Stones coming in, so splurging just this once wouldn’t hurt.

"You call that ’running back’?" Zhang Deming said, looking at Zong En. "You mean ’riding on my back’. That’s easy for you, but what about me?"

Hearing this, Zong En replied, "Brother Ming, if you mind carrying me, we can just take a little more time and run back. This single Spirit Stone is worth what used to be a whole year’s earnings for us."

Zhang Deming didn’t argue any further. He hopped directly onto an old-looking Spirit Deer and said, "Stop being so stingy. Your Brother Ming isn’t short on a single Spirit Stone.

Besides, it’s fine to try it out once in a while. It’s not like we’ll be riding them every day."

Seeing that Zhang Deming had made up his mind, Zong En stopped arguing and hopped onto the Spirit Deer as well.

A disciple from the transport department then performed a few Spells. The Spirit Deer seemed to understand instantly and began to run on its own, needing no guidance or urging from Zhang Deming.

’Hm, feels a lot more intelligent and advanced than those motorcycle taxis from my past life.’

Zhang Deming’s mind wandered as he rode the Spirit Deer.

A little over half an hour later, the two arrived at Little Qing Mountain Plaza, and the Spirit Deer came to a halt.

After Zhang Deming and Zong En jumped off, the Spirit Deer immediately turned and ran off.

"Let’s go. You’ve been gone for a few days, so you need to check in.

And since you’ve just had your breakthrough, you won’t have to take over the work in the rice paddies.

Of course, if you plan on staying at Little Qing Mountain for more than ten days, you’ll probably have to take on the work anyway," Zhang Deming added.

Zong En nodded, and the two of them arrived in front of Feng Mingyou’s small courtyard. This time, Zhang Deming knocked politely on the door.

"Come in. The door’s unlatched," came Feng Mingyou’s voice from within the courtyard.

Zhang Deming gently pushed the gate open. "Steward Feng, you’re living more and more comfortably these days. It’s truly enviable."

Feng Mingyou glanced at Zhang Deming. "If you like it so much, we can trade places. I’d be more than willing to take on your burdens."

"I’d better not. After all, Steward, you’re the one who basically raised me. I couldn’t possibly trouble you like that," Zhang Deming replied with a smile.

Feng Mingyou shook his head. "Your personality certainly is becoming more interesting."

Zhang Deming smiled. "Not at all. I’m a very serious person."

At that moment, Feng Mingyou paused. He looked at Zong En, who was standing stiffly to the side looking rather intimidated. "So you really broke through?"

This was the typical attitude of a Little Qing Mountain servant toward Feng Mingyou, as he had usually been in charge of them since they were six to ten years old.

Zong En nodded and said timidly, "Yes, Steward. I broke through after four days in seclusion."

Feng Mingyou nodded. "You can head out for now. I’m going to talk with your Brother Ming for a bit. We’ll discuss your affairs later."

"Yes, Steward." With that, Zong En turned, left the courtyard, and pulled the gate shut behind him.

Feng Mingyou sat back down in the courtyard. "Is it done?" he asked while arranging his tea set.

Zhang Deming nodded. "It’s done."

"Did it go smoothly?" Feng Mingyou asked without looking up.

Zhang Deming nodded. "It was fine. I accepted a mission, and it went quite smoothly."

Feng Mingyou looked up and glanced at Zhang Deming, but he didn’t ask what kind of mission required such measures, nor did he press for any details.

Seeing this, Zhang Deming smiled. ’It’s nice talking to a smart person,’ he thought. ’You don’t have to spell everything out, which makes things comfortable for everyone.’

"Spirit Tea?"

Only then did Zhang Deming notice that Feng Mingyou was preparing Spirit Tea.

Feng Mingyou nodded with a smile. "I figured that with your Agility Technique, you’d be back in three or four days even if you went far, so I brought it out."

"Steward, didn’t you say you only had a little bit left and were saving it for guests?" Zhang Deming asked.

"I’m used to a quiet life here; I barely get any guests all year round. Besides, I ordered another two taels of new tea the day before yesterday," Feng Mingyou said with a smile.

’What’s this?’

’He isn’t asking me to pledge my loyalty, but he’s clearly trying to curry favor.’

’Coming from someone with his personality, this is practically an explicit statement.’

’He’s being subtle, but is he trying to show that he’s no longer content with being a nobody and still has ambitions?’

’Is it because of my attitude last time I came back? Did he realize I don’t really hold a grudge and see a potential opportunity?’

’I have almost no foundation in the Sect... Perhaps Feng Mingyou is worth a shot?’

’In terms of our personalities and how we get along, it seems to be quite good, aside from that minor unpleasantness in the early years.’

Hearing this, Zhang Deming looked at Feng Mingyou and was lost in thought.

"Have some tea," Feng Mingyou said with a smile.

Zhang Deming returned to his senses. He lifted his cup, took a sip, and looked up at Feng Mingyou again.