857 Fireflies in the Night (4)
The Diamond Sect’s ancestor smiled.
“The old man has read thousands of storybooks. This seemingly plain part actually contains hidden mysteries. You can’t just swallow it all, you have to savor it carefully to truly appreciate the flavor.”
With that, amidst the laughter in the surroundings, the Diamond Sect’s ancestor hummed a tune and left with his hands behind his back, continuing to protect Ling’er in secret.
The Diamond Sect’s ancestor and Ling’er each had their own excitement. The shadow was very envious. It also wanted to go out and play but didn’t dare to. Every day, it could only lie on the ground and look eagerly at Xu Qing, who was meditating like a log.
However, Xu Qing also had visitors. Other than Shi Pangui, his sister, that little girl, would occasionally run over.
Every time this eleven or twelve-year-old girl came, she would bring Xu Qing some food like sweet potatoes and obediently place them at the side.
After that, she would look at Xu Qing nervously, looking like she wanted to say something but didn’t say it.
After a few times, she finally couldn’t hold it in and asked a question.
“Big Brother, you… you know alchemy?”
She remembered the matter of Xu Qing giving her sister-in-law the medicinal pills back then.
Xu Qing nodded.
The little girl immediately became excited. She took out a small notebook and asked a question about plants.
“Seven-leaf grass, also known as anomalous-expelling grass, is the whole herb of the monocotyledonous rice plant and a spiritual grass. It is a perennial herb that grows in shaded and open, damp places, not in the places where there are lingering spirits.”
Xu Qing told her gently.
When the little girl heard this, she immediately wrote it down and quickly asked another question. Her questions were all about plants. Many of them were questions she had asked the teacher but didn’t get a proper answer.
Xu Qing patiently explained in detail while the little girl continued to ask questions one after another. As Xu Qing explained, he could also see the other party’s persistence in plants and vegetation as well as her outstanding memory ability.
The latter was the foundation of learning plants and vegetation.
This question-and-answer session lasted for four hours before ending.
A few days later, the little girl came again. This time, she brought more sweet potatoes and respectfully placed them at the side before asking.
Xu Qing looked at the sweet potatoes and smiled as he explained in detail.
When dusk arrived, the little girl let out a long sigh of relief and left happily. However, that night, her brother brought her to Xu Qing’s place and reprimanded her for disturbing the senior.
Looking at this nervous family, Xu Qing was about to speak when he noticed a hint of stubbornness on the little girl’s face. He thought about it but didn’t say anything and only nodded.
Xu Qing wanted to see if that little girl would continue to come.
Several days later, she came again.
This time, she changed her method and carefully took out an ordinary medicinal herb from her arms.
“Teacher, is this the goldturn grass you mentioned?”
Xu Qing had a strange expression. This was an ordinary grass.
So, he looked at the little girl with a meaningful gaze and explained the method of distinguishing goldturn grass from similar herbs and plants.
The little girl seemed to feel that this method was effective, so she would come almost every day and deliberately ask about other herbs.
Every time, Xu Qing would explain in detail.
Just like that, time passed, and soon, the heavenly fire crossing the sky neared its end.
According to the time, the sea of fire would return to its original state in ten days at most. The next heavenly fire crossing the sky would occur decades later.
“It’s time to leave.”
Xu Qing murmured, looking at the house he lived in. His senses spread out in all directions, and he found Ling’er learning embroidery with some aunties. He also located the Diamond Sect’s ancestor, who was narrating in the long pavilion.
Looking at the humans in the city, Xu Qing fell silent for a long time before sighing softly.
“Are you leaving?”
Duanmu Zang’s voice echoed in Xu Qing’s ears. His figure also silently appeared in the house and looked at Xu Qing.
Xu Qing nodded.
Duanmu Zang fell silent and sat down after a long time.
“Your wine isn’t bad.”
Xu Qing smiled and took out more than half of the wine flasks he had prepared in his storage bag. He then placed it in a storage bag and handed it to Duanmu Zang.
After Duanmu Zang took it and took a look, a smile appeared on his face. He looked at Xu Qing and suddenly spoke.
“I won’t take your wine for nothing. I saw that you were running around in the Heavenly Fire Sea earlier. You should be using the fire there to cultivate some spell, right?”
“I’ll lend you a secret treasure. This treasure can resist the fire to a certain extent and allow you to sink deeper into the magma. This way, you won’t be exposed and you’ll be much safer.”
As he spoke, Duanmu Zang raised his right hand and opened his palm.
Inside was an eyeball that was filled with brown blood vessels. It exuded a bizarre aura as it stared at Xu Qing.