Huangfu Yi opened his eyes and almost got poked blind by the silver hairpin right in front of him. Turning his head, he saw it was Pei Yuhuan sleeping on his chest, drool soaking his front, with a sweet, cloying fragrance like she had been steeped in a sugar jar, her breathing normal, suggesting she hadn't been injured.

The coming of age, the beginning of ritual. At the age of fifteen or so, girls marry, at the ceremony, the hairpin is gifted.

Actually, this girl is only eight this year, far from the hairpin ceremony age, but her father feared delaying it would miss an Immortal Fate, leading to many misfortunes. Besides, in this era, there are countless centuries-old monsters reincarnating, pretending to be young. So, they hastily held the hairpin ceremony for her overnight, sending her off to learn from a master the next day.

Casually pushing the girl aside, Huangfu Yi rubbed his numb arm and sat up, realizing the two of them had been taken in at the refugee camp's shelter. His previously broken right arm by that masked man had already been bandaged, while the Sky Soaring Treasure Sword lay quietly by his side, emitting a faint glow.

Stepping out of the shelter, he saw outside was a full moon, the refugee camp only resounding with snores, on a hill not far away, a yellow-robed Taoist sat cross-legged, looking up at the stars. Presumably, he was busily treating and saving people by day, only finding time to cultivate and refine Qi deep into the night.

"This junior, Bai Yi, thanks the senior for saving my life."

Huangfu Yi saluted at the foot of the mountain, yet the other party gave no response. Hesitating momentarily, but knowing the other had been kind, he didn't want to just turn and leave unceremoniously, so he called out again,

"Thanks to the senior's aid, I was able to rescue the Pei Mansion's young lady. Now that this matter is concluded, I'll take my leave at first light."

"Your act of sheltering these desperate souls is a boundless kindness, I will surely inform the Pei Mansion, and they will provide disaster relief to repay your kindness."

This time the Taoist finally responded, turning his head and beckoning to Huangfu Yi.

So, Huangfu Yi bowed and went forward to sit opposite the Taoist, gazing intently.

The Taoist stood seven feet tall, his eyebrows like distant mountains, black hair cascading like a waterfall, a high nose bridge, features chiseled and correct, though clad in coarse hemp yellow Daoist robes, wearing straw sandals, he still exuded righteousness, cutting a dignified figure, though there were traces of weariness from days of treating refugees.

Perhaps dealing with ordinary people excessively, the Taoist did not put on airs despite his profound cultivation, immediately asking,

"How much rice can you manage?"

Huangfu Yi hadn't expected such a question, as he meant only polite pleasantries, awkwardly replying,

"I dare not deceive, though with the Pei Mansion's estates, wealthy rewards of thousands, surely they could manage…"

The Taoist shook his head,

"I don't want their money. In these chaotic times, famine makes people eat each other, what use is money, I need rice. Not much, just a hundred thousand bushels will suffice."

"This… Miss Pei is of noble standing, such a reward is not many. But to gather a hundred thousand bushels of rice would take time, and with these towering mountains, transporting it is inconvenient…"

Huangfu Yi froze, knowing that with so many gathered here, a hundred thousand bushels would only support them for a month at most, indeed not much. But he also had urgent matters involving demon extermination, unable to wait with the refugee army for such a time. Yet he could only bite the bullet in negotiating.

Fortunately, the Taoist was also sensible,

"No matter, just take their daughter home, no need to deliver the rice here, just remember there's this transaction, and when I come begging for food one day, don't beat me with sticks."

"The senior jests, your great kindness I remember, I'll surely explain to the Pei family…"

Huangfu Yi blushed with shame for honestly, among many mountain men in the world, most are selfish and self-serving. They slay monsters for alchemy, exterminating demons for cultivation, scarcely any truly benevolent to aid living creatures.

Even Huangfu Yi himself, if not for Jiuquan Village and that Blood Demon being near, with lives of sixteen years of village and villagers weighing on his shoulders, wouldn't so actively seek immortals or request demon extermination.

Of course, should you insist that this Taoist surely had unspeakable personal reasons, harboring ulterior motives, seeking grand schemes in sheltering tens of thousands, treating and feeding, seeking to continue their lives, searching for rice everywhere, then Huangfu Yi could only say, could more of such 'self-serving' generous people come to this world, please...

By this time, the Taoist had gathered Divine Light, his eyes like electricity, gazing upon the youth, shaking his head,

"Frankly, we have no grudge, that person you killed with your own sword. Your injury healed itself due to your inherent talent as you slept.

This time, I release you merely seeing as your offend was to someone of significant background, yet you are protected by a master too; I am busy not wanting further embroilment, entering your killing tribulation.

However, fair warning, anyone who dares to owe me rice shall face my wrath."

"Yes…"

Huangfu Yi was about to say farewell when the Taoist pulled a yellow talisman and a scroll depicting meridian Qi Technique, handed them over, explaining how to study it,

"Two True Qi were struck into your body, circulating backward in your meridian Qi Sea. Though you are a practitioner of bodily refining, with strong bones and muscles, it is not a long-term solution. You must soon seek distinguished masters for Mystic Sect's proper Qi Cultivation techniques, to refine these True Qi into your own.

Here is a set of Breathing Qi practice, nurturing energy, and gathering strength, not exactly a Divine Skill Secret Manual, nor a wondrous talisman, but one that consolidates the origin, gathers Qi, nurtures vitality, aiding cultivation."

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