Mo Qi pointed inside the manor. "Let's talk inside, and we can take a tour of the Tong Family Manor as well."
Tong Wuqi smiled. "You're welcome to tour. Please, come in."
He then made a gesture of invitation.
Tong Tong and several elders, fearing they might offend Mo Qi, dared not leave. They stayed by his side, unsure of what to do.
Perhaps he needed a guide, everyone looked at Mo Qi expectantly.
Tong Wuqi, understanding Mo Qi's intentions, surveyed the group. "Father, elders, you may all leave. Lord Mo and Lord Chao need to discuss matters of the Stairway, and we should avoid any appearance of impropriety."
Everyone murmured, "Oh," and dispersed.
Tong Wuqi winked at Mo Qi and gave him a fist bump before discreetly departing.
This left Xue Nu feeling a bit shy, a blush creeping onto her cheeks.
Mo Qi had already started walking, so she had no choice but to follow. Big Wind Novel
Within the Tong Family Manor, there was a natural lake, with a paved path winding along its edge. The path was lined with lush trees and wildflowers, and the lake water rippled gently. A faint, humid breeze blew by, refreshing the soul.
Mo Qi and Xue Nu walked side-by-side on the path. Xue Nu couldn't help but ask, "Didn't you say you had something to discuss?"
Mo Qi turned to look at her. "Nothing in particular. I just wanted you to walk with me."
Xue Nu pouted but said nothing.
Then, they continued their slow progress in silence, the surrounding scenery and their inner states both remarkably calm.
It was as if a tacit understanding had been formed long ago.
They could maintain this state indefinitely, walking on and on.
There was no need to force conversation to break any awkwardness.
Because they didn't feel awkward at all.
Nor did they feel uneasy!
It was as if this was the natural way for them to be together.
"I want to ask you something," Mo Qi said after a long pause.
"Go ahead."
"I heard your father went missing for a period recently, and then suddenly reappeared. Do you know where he went?"
Xue Nu stopped in her tracks, asking with some surprise, "Why do you ask?"
Mo Qi also stopped and smiled. "Just asking casually, or rather, out of curiosity. Don't take it as an investigation or anything."
Xue Nu resumed walking. "I never inquire about my father's affairs. Even during his last disappearance, I didn't pursue it much. To be honest, I'd like to know where he went, but I don't dare to ask. And since his return from this disappearance, he does seem to have changed. At least his cultivation has improved significantly."
"If you want to investigate him, I support it, but I won't be involved."
Mo Qi resumed walking, his brow furrowed. The powers of the four great families had all shifted. The current situation seemed peaceful, but the reappearance of Chao Jing was an anomaly. He didn't know when it might suddenly erupt and disrupt the peace of the Qiong Lu Realm.
"You might still have to be involved in some matters. Because if he is still your father, and he commits evil deeds, it will be our responsibility to handle him. But if he is no longer your father, you may find it difficult to remain uninvolved," Mo Qi said, turning to look her in the eyes.
Xue Nu stopped again, her face flushing. It was unclear whether she was angry or something else. "Are you suspecting that my father has been possessed?"
Mo Qi suppressed his inner turmoil and pretended to be casual. "Life is unpredictable. I'm just thinking wildly, baseless wild thoughts. Don't take it too seriously. I'm just advising you to be a little more cautious. If he has indeed been possessed, you might be the first to be harmed."
He was genuinely concerned for Xue Nu's safety.
"If? Why don't you imagine your father being possessed?" Xue Nu's eyes reddened with anger.
"Well, I could. But only if I first imagine my father is still alive," Mo Qi said, shrugging.
Xue Nu froze!
"I'm very sorry..." After a long moment of stunned silence, Xue Nu said softly.
"I have no taboos," Mo Qi replied, shaking his head as if it were nothing. "As long as there is light in my heart, I do not fear the darkness."
"Is this why you asked me to come here?" Xue Nu asked, a hint of anger in her voice.
"Of course not," Mo Qi said with a smile. "I wanted to ask if you missed me during the time I was away?"
Xue Nu glanced at him sideways, offering no comment, and quickened her pace.
Mo Qi followed for a few steps, then suddenly stopped. Xue Nu also stopped and asked, "What is it?"
Mo Qi remained silent, walked forward a few steps, and simply stared at her.
Xue Nu's heart fluttered like a startled deer. A trace of nervousness flickered in her eyes, her gaze darting about.
Mo Qi looked at her snow-white hair, her snow-white skin, and her black, gem-like eyes that flashed like those of a snow spirit.
He couldn't help but lean his head forward.
Xue Nu, tense, closed her eyes.
Just then, Tong Wuqi's voice called from a distance, "Brother Mo, the ingredients are ready... Ah, pardon me, pardon me."
Mo Qi instinctively stepped back a few paces. Xue Nu opened her eyes, they exchanged a glance, and then looked away again.
Xue Nu's face was flushed crimson. She muttered in a low voice, "Look what you've done."
Mo Qi felt a surge of annoyance towards Tong Wuqi and coughed dryly. "Let's go back."
Xue Nu returned to the Stairway, while Mo Qi, along with Tong Wuqi and Tong Tong, went to the Alchemy Pavilion.
Inside the Alchemy Pavilion, people were coming and going, and the raw material procurement window was bustling with activity.
Tong Tong led Mo Qi and Tong Wuqi directly to the room of Supervisor Xing, who was in charge of raw material procurement.
Tong Tong had clearly communicated with Supervisor Xing countless times before. This time, he didn't know how to begin and simply stood there, looking at Mo Qi.
Supervisor Xing, however, looked up and immediately saw Tong Tong, his face instantly showing anger. "Old Tong, how many times do I have to tell you that your family's alchemy raw materials are of poor quality? They are simply not acceptable, and we will not take them under any circumstances."
Tong Tong's face turned extremely unpleasant, and he was speechless.
Mo Qi said lazily, "Who exactly authenticated that their raw material quality is poor?"
Supervisor Xing glanced at Mo Qi dismissively and let out a snort. "What's this, Old Tong? You've brought someone to back you up? If you're going to find a supporter, you should at least find a decent one. Why bring someone so wet behind the ears?"
Tong Tong looked at Mo Qi, thinking that this fellow was surely finished, daring to speak to the Deputy Lord of the Seventh Stairway like this.
To his surprise, Mo Qi merely smiled slightly. "I'll ask again, who authenticated it? Who is in charge here?"
Although Mo Qi was smiling, Supervisor Xing felt an icy chill that penetrated to the bone.
Supervisor Xing couldn't help but shiver. After being startled, his anger flared. "No one authenticated it. Pavilion Master Tai said so himself. What do you say? If you have the guts, go find Pavilion Master Tai."
"How do I find Pavilion Master Tai?" Mo Qi asked politely.
"Go upstairs, turn left, first room," Supervisor Xing replied grumpily.
Mo Qi and the Tong father and son went upstairs.
Pavilion Master Tai was refining a type of pill upstairs, but after trying for a long time, he was unable to form the pill.
He had found this formula in an ancient text. According to the book, this pill could extend life by five hundred years.
He had followed the formula in the book precisely, but his efforts were in vain. He had been refining the pill for eight hours, and it showed no signs of forming.
Under normal circumstances, it should have formed by now.
He gradually realized that there must be some problem with the formula.
However, he had reviewed it countless times and still couldn't find the issue.
He was becoming frantic.
When Mo Qi and his party entered, they saw Pavilion Master Tai's forehead beaded with sweat. He was concentrating intently on refining the pill, veins bulging on his neck, appearing somewhat agitated.
The formula was placed on the table. Mo Qi walked over and glanced at it, immediately spotting the problem.
"Stop refining it. It won't form," Mo Qi said.
The sudden voice startled Pavilion Master Tai.
Pavilion Master Tai looked up abruptly and saw several strangers standing before him, his annoyance evident. "Who are you people? What are you here for?"
Tong Tong instinctively retreated a step.
Mo Qi asked Pavilion Master Tai, "Are you Pavilion Master Tai?"
You come into Pavilion Master Tai's room and ask if he is Pavilion Master Tai?
Pavilion Master Tai wished he could bite him to death, but he patiently replied, "I am. What are you here for?"
Mo Qi pointed to Tong Tong. "This is the head of the Tong family. He has always been responsible for the raw material supply for the Alchemy Pavilion. He has supplied for so many years without any issues. We'd like to ask why the quality has suddenly become unacceptable?"
Pavilion Master Tai glanced at Tong Tong and cleared his throat. "Oh, the Tong family. The Tong family's raw material quality is also acceptable. I'll tell you the truth. The Dugu family has also started cultivating immortal herbs, and their raw material quality is particularly good. We are all using theirs now."
The Dugu family?
Mo Qi was surprised. He had initially thought the Ouyang family was causing trouble, but now the Dugu family was involved?
"How did you determine the quality of this raw material?" Mo Qi continued to press.
Pavilion Master Tai was already impatient. Hearing this, he glared at Mo Qi. "What business is it of yours? It's my freedom to choose which immortal herb to use, isn't it? If you have nothing else, please leave. Can't you see I'm busy?"
Upon hearing this, Tong Tong and Tong Wuqi felt overwhelmed and prepared to withdraw.
However, Mo Qi remained unmoved, looking at Pavilion Master Tai and saying, "You can try replacing the Crane Red Grass with Silverleaf Flower. The quantity remains the same."
"I'll replace it with..." Pavilion Master Tai was about to curse him, but then he suddenly thought that the Crane Red Grass did have conflicts with other ingredients in the formula, leading to the inability to form the pill. If it were replaced with Silverleaf Flower, theoretically, it was indeed a clever solution.
Without delay, Pavilion Master Tai immediately stopped the heat, removed the waste materials, and then added new ingredients to refine it again.
"Like this," Mo Qi seized the opportunity. "You refine your pill here, and during this time, I'll use the Tong family's raw materials to refine a healing pill next to you. After I finish, you can see the effect and re-evaluate the Tong family's raw materials, okay?"
Pavilion Master Tai thought, "You can refine if you want. No matter how good your pill is, I'll say it's not good. What can you do about it?"
"Then go ahead and refine," Pavilion Master Tai said disdainfully. "But let me tell you, my refining speed is very fast. When I'm done, I'll close the door and leave. If you haven't finished refining by then, I apologize, but I can't wait for you."