Chapter 144: Returning to Mulberry Village

Through a series of dangerous maneuvers, Tang Wei finally managed to turn misfortune into blessing, seeing the rainbow after the storm. Although she had endured a tiny bit of hardship, the overall harvest was monumental. To achieve a chaotic spiritual body, awaken the chaotic spiritual pearl, and fuse the five foundational laws of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—what did a little suffering matter compared to that? While she could not quite walk sideways arrogantly across the cultivation world just yet, at least the risk to her life had been reduced to the barest minimum. Now, Tang Wei could summon elemental arts of all five attributes with a mere flick of her wrist, entirely free from the constraints of incantations. Just what on earth was the point of all that bitter, painstaking toil Xuan, you had put yourself through? If it hadn't been for her initial concern for Tang Wei, the one reaping all these rewards might well have been him instead. I wonder if he would regret it once he figured out the truth? Ah, well, perhaps it is better that he does not regret it, for not everyone possesses such astonishing luck. Had such an ordeal befallen him, the outcome might very well have been bursting apart from an excess of spiritual energy and dying on the spot.

Very well! There was no need to rush into cultivation for the moment. The violet crystal vine had not withered; in fact, its growth appeared quite robust. The next order of business was simply to eat well, sleep soundly, and, when bored, cultivate affection with a few little fire rabbits—consider it a way to digest the excess spiritual energy accumulated in her body. After enduring a whole month with great difficulty, Tang Wei had been waiting precisely for today to go out and welcome Wanwan.

Humming a tune without any recognizable melody, Tang Wei led several little fellows out of the cavern she had carved out. Once outside, she discovered that Wanwan had already been waiting for her for quite some time. Because the interior of the cavern was a maze of intersecting tunnels and she lacked Tang Wei's abilities, Wanwan had not dared to venture inside on her own, fearing she might accidentally lose her way in the pathless labyrinth. Waiting outside was, after all, the safer bet.

The moment Tang Wei appeared at the cave entrance, Wanwan greeted her excitedly, "Tang Wei, you're finally out! I've been waiting for you forever."

"What? Have you been here long?" Tang Wei asked casually.

"Yes, I arrived yesterday, but I didn't dare go in by myself, so I had no choice but to wait for you out here," Wanwan complained, pouting as if Tang Wei having her wait here was some grave injustice.

"Alright, alright, aren't I here now? Do you want to go inside and take a look? My violet crystal vine has sprouted shoots!" Tang Wei announced proudly. Oh, please! This was hardly your personal achievement! There was no need to act so triumphant; you merely stole the credit of the hardworking ancient laborers of Huaxia!

"Really? Let's go, let's go inside and take a look first, we can talk as we walk!" Wanwan's eyes lit up with excitement as she grabbed Tang Wei's hand, pulling her toward the cavern, completely forgetting that a waterfall blocked the way and that without Tang Wei's help, she wouldn't even be able to get inside. Her mind was entirely consumed by a single thought: This was a monumental discovery! Whether she spread the news or monopolized it entirely, the benefits would be immeasurable!

Ignoring her, Tang Wei deliberately let herself be pulled along, curious to see when Wanwan would realize the obstacle. It wasn't until Wanwan came to a startled halt by the water's edge that Tang Wei burst into laughter.

"You just love making fun of me! Hurry up, let's go inside quickly!" This time, Wanwan didn't argue back, simply demanding eagerly that Tang Wei take her inside at once. It seemed the violet crystal vine held quite a strong fascination for her!

"Fine, fine, I won't tease you anymore! Pay attention now, don't say I didn't warn you." Having had her fill of amusement, Tang Wei wrapped her arm around Wanwan's waist, gave a light lift, and flashed straight into the cavern.

Brushing a few stray droplets of water from her clothes, Wanwan looked up to see several fire rabbits scampering around Tang Wei, and cried out in pleasant surprise, "Tang Wei, these fire rabbits aren't afraid of people?"

"Is it really so strange that fire rabbits aren't afraid of people? Let me tell you, the real miracles are yet to come!" Tang Wei began showing off again. Waving her hand at the fire rabbits, she instructed, "Little fellows, lead the way! We're heading back." Through this period of coexistence, coupled with Tang Wei's intentional training, these fire rabbits had learned to understand a few simple commands. Upon hearing her words, they lined up in a neat single file and took the lead, marching forward.

Wanwan was utterly enchanted by the performance of these little creatures, repeatedly pestering Tang Wei with questions: "Tang Wei, how is this even possible? Why do these fire rabbits understand what you're saying? Are you actually some fairy descended from the heavens?" This last remark was blatantly flattering, but as far as Tang Wei was concerned, it was deeply gratifying.

"Well, to let you in on a secret, because these fire rabbits have been consuming the violet crystal vine over a long period, and the vine is brimming with spiritual energy, they have already awakened their spiritual intelligence. These little fellows are now like one- or two-year-old toddlers; as long as you teach them with care, they can learn anything," Tang Wei said with deliberate mystery.

"Really? How magical! It seems the old folk tales about mountain spirits must be true after all!" In truth, Tang Wei didn't even need to tease her; Wanwan was already intensely fascinated by the prospect.

"How could mountain spirits possibly compare to them? Mountain spirits are inanimate objects or plants that have absorbed the essence of the sun and moon over countless years to gain sentience. They love to use their beauty to seduce humans, draining their vital life force to strengthen their magical power and increase their cultivation. These little fellows are completely different; they can already be considered spiritual beasts. Given the proper cultivation methods, they even have a certain chance of cultivating into immortals, though that ultimately depends on their innate aptitude." With these words, Tang Wei had practically revealed her own background. Anyone with a discerning mind could deduce the fact that she was a cultivator from such remarks, let alone someone as clever as Wanwan. Perhaps she spoke thus because she felt Wanwan was already entirely trustworthy.

Wanwan merely played the part of an enthralled listener, making no excessive demands or inquiring into more detailed matters. Her attitude toward Tang Wei remained virtually unchanged from before, her gaze fixed entirely on the little rabbits as her eyes turned into the shape of hearts: "Tang Wei, do you think I can take them out with me? They are so adorable!"

"Of course you can! With you looking after them, I would feel much more at ease. Actually, even though they've awakened their spiritual intelligence, without cultivation methods, they will still be subject to aging, sickness, and death just like ordinary creatures—they will simply live slightly longer than other fire rabbits. They are indeed quite clever, but their innate potential is limited; even if they tried to cultivate, they wouldn't achieve much. Better to let them live out their lives happily and peacefully!" It wasn't that Tang Wei's heart had grown cold, but rather that she had thought this matter through thoroughly. Helping others without regard for the method might ultimately end up harming them instead.

"This... well, perhaps we should forget it then! Let them live freely and naturally here. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to properly care for them while constantly traveling, and since the people of the Sang Village will be living here in the future, I imagine they won't mistreat them." Hearing Tang Wei put it this way, Wanwan suddenly remembered her own drifting, nomadic lifestyle and realized she truly might not be able to care for them. It was better to leave such tasks to those settled here.

After pondering for a moment, Tang Wei agreed that Wanwan made sense. The people of the Sang Village would undoubtedly settle here eventually, and with her instructions, they certainly wouldn't mistreat the creatures. Thinking of the Sang Village, Tang Wei couldn't help asking, "I suppose I was overthinking it. By the way, on your trip out this time, did you stop by the Sang Village to check on them? Are they doing well?"

"Who knows? After I came out of the cavern, I went straight to the capital, and on my way back I came directly here. I haven't had the time to go check on them yet!" Wanwan replied matter-of-factly. She held very little emotional attachment to the villagers of Sang Village; the only reason she had stayed there and maintained goodwill toward them was largely out of consideration for Tang Wei.

Naturally, Tang Wei understood this point well and had never expected Wanwan to be as deeply concerned about the villagers of Sang Village as she was herself. After all, everyone had their own code of conduct, which could never be forced upon another. Harboring no resentment toward her, Tang Wei casually remarked, "Oh! Then let's hurry inside and take a look, because once we're done, we still need to return to the Sang Village! Who knows how all those old folks and children in the village have fared over this past month!"

"Fine, fine! We'll do it your way! I must say, you are far too kind-hearted. You can constantly keep a group of people you only met by chance so close to your heart; meeting you must mean they've accumulated good fortune for eight lifetimes." Though Wanwan scoffed inwardly at Tang Wei's bleeding-heart mentality, she had never actually gone against her ideals, merely resorting to occasional nagging. Tang Wei simply learned to treat it as white noise—entering one ear and leaving the other—and would continue acting the exact same way the next time the situation arose.

"What do you mean by kind-hearted or not? I just can't bear to stand by and watch when I see someone in need; if I can help, I help! For those of us on the path of cultivation, the most important thing is to act with a clear conscience." To dress up what was clearly a severe case of the savior complex in such eloquent terms—Tang Wei was certainly becoming more articulate! That she couldn't bear to watch suffering was true, but she always managed to find such a convenient and righteous excuse to do as she pleased. Truthfully, this trait of Tang Wei's was both a blessing and a curse: it was a blessing because she could maintain her original purity and kindness after cultivating for so long, which was truly precious; it was a curse because the cultivation world was filled with deceit, scheming, and ruthless contention, and it remained uncertain whether such a mindset would serve her well.

Wanwan had no desire to bicker with her over this issue anymore. Fortunately, they had already reached the valley, so she cheerfully brushed the topic aside and called out loudly, "We're here, we're here! Tang Wei, where is the violet crystal vine you planted? Hurry up and show me!"

"As if I would lie to you, really. Look over there! Right where I'm pointing. Why don't you pull one up and see for yourself?" Tang Wei said smugly, gesturing toward the location of the vine.

Wanwan wasn't one to stand on ceremony with her. Pulling it up? Very well, pull it up she would. She grabbed a tiny seedling and gave it a firm upward tug; sure enough, tiny roots could be seen budding from the fork of the stem. Now she had no choice but to believe it, and since facts spoke for themselves, she didn't skimp on flattery either: "Tang Wei, you're truly amazing! I never expected you to actually grow it. This time, everyone will be endlessly grateful to you."

"Gratitude isn't necessary; as long as they don't have to go hungry anymore, that's enough." Hearing this, Tang Wei was thoroughly pleased, letting out a chuckle as she awkwardly accepted the praise.

The purpose of this trip was to resolve the future livelihood of the Sang Village. Having found this valley, discovered the violet crystal vine, and confirmed the method for cultivating it, her mission could now be considered a complete success. Naturally, it was time to rush back and share this wonderful news with everyone, letting the whole village rejoice together!