MO TIANLIAO DIDN’T SEE the little cat on his bed when he opened his eyes the next day. Surprised, he got up and went looking for him.
A few second-generation disciples-in-charge came to report matters and found Mo Tianliao wandering around the courtyard. “What are you looking for?” they asked.
“Nothing.” Mo Tianliao looked up and waved them in.
Once the complicated routine affairs were settled, Mo Tianliao tapped two fingers on the table. “It’s bad enough that you manage all these tedious tasks every day with no compensation, but it holds you back from cultivating, which is even worse. I’ve discussed it with Shizun, and we’ll be setting up a Chamber of Administrative Affairs in Woqing Sanctum.”
Establishing a Chamber of Administrative Affairs wouldn’t be hard: The sect already had one, so they only needed to replicate that on a smaller scale. Disciples with high cultivation and good moral character could be placed on rotating duty for the positions, and they would receive an additional spiritual stone allowance during their shifts.
Mo Tianliao’s workload lightened considerably once the Chamber of Administrative Affairs had been established. The disciples only bothered him occasionally when they couldn’t decide on something. With his new free time, Mo Tianliao devoted himself to cultivation.
Advancement was assured now that he had ample spiritual stones. Under the guidance of The Art of Burning Wood, Mo Tianliao chopped down every type of spiritual tree on the back mountain.
With an abundance of wood-element spiritual energy around him and the fire-element spiritual energy that was released whenever he burned wood, Mo Tianliao’s cultivation advanced rapidly. However… Mo Tianliao looked at the delicious-smelling grilled coldspring fish before him and sighed.
There was rarely any sign of Pawpaw these days, and Mo Tianliao couldn’t finish all the food that The Art of Burning Wood required him to grill. And the coldspring fish featured in this chapter was the little furball’s favorite.
Mo Tianliao didn’t care for fish, but it would be a shame to waste this valuable coldspring fish after all the effort he’d put into catching it…so he wrapped it up with a clean leaf and made his way to Qingning Palace. If the cat wasn’t on the back mountain, perhaps he was with his master.
Before Qingning Palace’s main hall was a bamboo grove elegantly decorated with a bamboo couch, a rocking chair lined with cushions, a weiqi board, and the like. The beautiful man in white lay with his eyes shut on the rocking chair, surrounded by the refreshing fragrance of bamboo. Pleasant sunlight filtered through the slender bamboo stalks, shining cozily and warmly on his clothes.
This was the idyllic sight that greeted Mo Tianliao when he approached—his master narrowing his eyes and enjoying the warm afternoon sun that washed his white robe in gold. It made him look less detached and more…alluring.
Entranced, Mo Tianliao walked over with the grilled fish in hand.
Long lashes fluttered open, and cold eyes swept over him. “What is it?” Qingtong asked.
“I grilled a coldspring fish and thought of—” Seeing those beautiful eyes light up at the mention of fish, Mo Tianliao swallowed down the words feeding the cat and instead finished, “—asking Shizun to try it.”
Qingtong scoffed. “I’m long past the need for food.”
Mo Tianliao smiled and sat on a small bamboo stool beside the rocking chair. “That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy good food. Even after I attained inedia in my previous life, I still kept up with my meals. After all, the path of cultivation is so long. How boring would it be to even give up good food?”
He unwrapped the leaf as he spoke, revealing the aromatic grilled fish within.
The meat of a coldspring fish was fresh and tender. When grilled over wood imbued with an abundance of spiritual energy, it only needed a light brush of seasoning to be deliciously ready for eating.
Qingtong glanced at the appetizing fish and picked up a piece to try. “How’s your cultivation coming along?”
“I’m already at level eight of the qi-refining stage,” Mo Tianliao answered honestly. “In a few days, I’ll be able to break through to the foundation establishment stage.”
“Good.” Qingtong swallowed a piece of fish and lifted his chin slightly.
Mo Tianliao followed his gaze to the tea set on the table. Understanding dawned on him, and he set the fish down within his master’s reach and pulled the tea table over. The orthodox sects were all about devotion and single-mindedness when it came to cultivation; cultivation was their only interest. It was a different story for demonic cultivators, who followed their hearts.
The days were long when you followed the path of cultivation. Other than artifact forging, Mo Tianliao had also studied many other things, such as the tea ceremony. In his view, every sip and bite was cultivation. Increasing spiritual power was important, of course, but tempering one’s mind was just as essential.
Wash, brew, steep, skim, and smell—his movements were smooth and pleasing to watch as he poured the fragrant tea into the white-jade cup and handed it to his master.
A hand took the cup, so fair it was hard to tell where the hand ended and the cup began. But as soon as the rim of the cup touched those lips, it pulled away.
Qingtong glared at Mo Tianliao. Are you trying to kill me with scalding tea?!
✦ ✦ ✦
MINI EXTRA
Shizun: Brew me some tea.
Woodworker: Sure.
Shizun: Get me a blanket.
Woodworker: Sure.
Shizun: Groom my fur.
Woodworker: Sur—wait, what?