In the end, it was Fei Yinzi, Wen Wen, He Shun and Qi Lan who went to find medicinal herbs. There are only four people who went since they are going covert so no demons would find them. it was just looking for some herbs. There is no need to make this a big deal. Bringing Cui Xiang's list and other protective charms the other participants gave them, the four of them left.
"I found one!" Wen Wen exclaimed in a low voice.
"Here, too!" He Shun said.
"Also here." Qi Lan spoke.
"Aren't we lucky?" Fei Yinzi grinned. "Wen Wen." He called.
"Yes! I will lay down talismans around so that we won't experience sneak attacks while picking the herbs, and thus could concentrate more in picking them!" Wen Wen said as he took out his talismans.
Cui Xiang already instructed them how to pick the magic herbs, and Fei Yinzi and Wen Wen, who were taught by Cheng Sheng about this, are there, too, in case He Shun and Qi Lan would forget the steps.
In fact, their group of four are actually reassuring. Fei Yinzi and Qi Lan are also strong, and there is Wen Wen who can make arrays and talisman arrays as well as use spells to protect them. He Shun, the weakest of them, isn't that bad since his strength explodes during critical times. In short, he is improving and also good at surviving.
"Everyone, please be careful!" Wen Wen said. "Even if there will be a barrier, we still can't be so sure!" he told them.
"Yes!" they answered.
"Er Zi, Qi Lan. Who will be the one to guard us?" Wen Wen asked as he looked at the two.
There are three herbs, so they will need three people to pick them or else it will be time-consuming if there will only be Wen Wen, or just he and Fei Yinzi, to pick the herbs. They should have three people at most with one left to guard them.
"I will act as a guard." Qi Lan answered. "Fei Yinzi can pick the herbs better than me." He said. This is a fact.
If before, they wouldn't entrust their backs on a rogue cultivator. But, even your family can betray you while a mere stranger can save you. Also, they already regarded Qi Lan as a friend. And what Qi Lan said is true. Fei Yinzi indeed is the best among them in picking herbs because his master is Cheng Sheng, the best doctor.
Thus, they left their backs on Qi Lan. Qi Lan stood behind He Shun, who ignored him and started to concentrate in picking the magic herbs while covering his hands with spiritual energy. Qi Lan saw that He Shun broke into a cold sweat as time passed. He wanted to lend him his spiritual energy but hesitated since He Shun seemed to be mad at him lately. Thus, he held himself back lest he would distract He Shun in picking magic herbs.
Fortunately, their first round in picking magic herbs was peaceful. They sighed in relief. Then, they used a magic stone that Cui Xiang gave them that can detect where is the nearest magic herbs. It turned out that the magic stone was a gift of Qian Tian to You Rou and You Rou lend it to Cui Xiang in this round.
…
The audience turned to look at Qian Tian who rubbed his nose, feeling shy, as he blushed while he sat beside You Rou who is giggling.
It turns out that this magic stone is actually a love token?! Everyone thought. But, indeed, this magic stone is very useful to mages, especially the pill refiners.
Qian Shan heartily laughed seeing his eldest son's blushing face while his wife is chuckling. "That's our son!" he said as he proudly smiled.
The other sect leaders smiled. Indeed, Qian Tian is very thoughtful to You Rou. In fact, they are just waiting for the two's announcement of marriage! They should have, these past five years, and also Chen Han and Li Tian, Feng Mo and Wu Bai, and Jing Kang and Lei Ling. But… they thought.
The emotion on Cheng Sheng's face disappeared. He can read the atmosphere. It was because of him, as well as Fei Yin, that is why their fellow disciples haven't married their lovers yet. Even the pairs from the other sects didn't, too. It is because they are worried that their happiness would make Cheng Sheng hurt because he lost Fei Yin.
Fan Wen sighed. "Xiao Sheng." He called.
"I know, shifu." Cheng Sheng said. "They don't blame me." He said.
Fan Wen nodded.
"Because I was stupid before, too, I owe everyone five years' worth of happiness." Cheng Sheng sighed. "All of your debts on me will be cleared off!" he told them.
Everyone. "…" do we owe you that much?! They thought as their faces were covered in black lines. But, there is a smile on their faces.
"After the problem with the foreign invaders would be over… let us all get married together!" Cheng Sheng said and grinned.
Everyone. "…" hey! Siblings can't be married with the same year! They inwardly complained.
Qian Tian wanted to cry while Qian Lin grimaced. Jing Kang's face has always been emotionless while Jing Bai wryly smiled. Jing Hei's face darkened. Is Cheng Sheng targeting us?! they thought, especially the Zunjingde Sect since the Zunjingde Sect owed Cheng Sheng the life of Jing Rui!
Tang Zhe laughed while Tang Yun smiled as they held each other's hands. They are both brothers, but not blood-related, so, there won't be a problem if they get married to each other in the same year, right?
Guo Cheng who can guess what these two idiots are thinking. "…" they are really idiots. No wonder our sect has always been unlucky. He thought and glanced at Shan Lu beside him who is blankly looking at them. he placed a hand on his face. "…" and I am very unlucky to fall in love with the biggest idiot! He thought and helplessly sighed.
…
"Hey! They are back!" Tang Li exclaimed when he saw that the group of four Fei Yinzi, Wen Wen, He Shun and Qi Lan have returned.
Everyone sighed in relief when they saw that the four are safe and weren't injured. "How is it?" Cui Xiang asked.
Fei Yinzi, Wen Wen, He Shun and Qi Lan looked at each other before they turned back to them. "It… is too easy that it was alarming?" He Shun answered, his tone sounds uncertain.
Everyone was surprised. "Really?!" Jing De exclaimed.
"En." Wen Wen nodded. "We really didn't run into any demons." He told them. he looked puzzled about this, too.
Fei Yinzi and Qi Lan looked at each other. Their gazes are speaking.
"We switched each other in guarding, but we didn't sense any demons around." Fei Yinzi said. "To be more certain, both of us guarded at the same time." he told them.
They all fell silent while Qi Lan's expression looked like he doesn't care. Fei Yinzi's words imply that if they suspect Qi Lan, he can vouch for him. Fei Yinzi's action of guarding with Qi Lan is really wise.
"But, you two didn't find any demon?" Chen Wu asked.
"En." Fei Yinzi nodded. His expression looked heavy.
They understood. The demons are smarter than the ones that they have faced before, so they might have let Fei Yinzi's group of four take the magic herbs easily to let their guards down. Or, they also might not really care about them and just let them pass so that their nerves would be more strung in tension because they easily took the magic herbs away.
So, what was it, really? What is the right answer? They thought, feeling confused.
"In any case, we now have the magic herbs." Cui Xiang spoke.
They all turned to her and nodded. They all sighed in relief and finally relaxed.
"Should I go with you tomorrow night to be sure?" Ling Yun asked as he raised his hand.
Their eyes brightened. "That's right!" they exclaimed. They still have Ling Yun!
"Then, tomorrow night – " Wen Yan looked at them. "I will go." He said.
"Me, too." Zhu Xi immediately said.
"Wen Yan, Zhu Xi and Ling Yun… who will be the fourth person?" Jing Xu asked.
"How about I go – " Qian Jue spoke when someone cut him off.
"I will go." A voice spoke.
They all turned. It was Jin Yu! He has woken up!
"You…" they said.
Jin Yu shook their head at him. "I am already good." He just told them.
They didn't insist. Since the person himself said so, then they will let him.
Jin Yu stopped in front of them. "Do you really think that it was that easy to pick the magic herbs?" he said as he looked at Fei Yinzi, Wen Wen, He Shun and Qi Lan.
The four shook their heads.
"Of course it isn't." Jin Yu scoffed. "You didn't see them? Because you are only looking left and right." He looked at them.. "Have you looked above and beneath you? That is where they are hiding!" he told them.