Li Meirong sighed as her hand rubbed the chubby plant's belly affectionately, making sure to avoid his gaping mouth.
"If you talk less, nobody would think you're deaf."
'Master, I'm not even communicating with you verbally..'
Ugh.
The young woman sat on her mattress, thinking of her options. She tossed the finance books aside, supporting her chin with both her hands in concentration. What could she do in order to quest for a spirit beast as her fellow inner sect disciples were preparing to do?
At first, she planned on asking Shu Qianqian, but due to recent events, the idea got scratched out. Mo Cheng would get involved again. It would become a situation a tad too awkward for her liking.
Requesting Mo Jing to join is also an unacceptable option, especially after she rejected his brother. Chao Dequan is less of a warrior than she was, with a label of a scaredy cat. Nope. It won't do.
Chou hopped made his way to the mattress and proceeded to jump on her lap. He cuddled her affectionately, twisting his thick vines around her slim waist. Sensing his master's dilemma, Chou reproached.
'I still think we should have accepted the studhorse's offer, then eat him after we were done.'
Li Meirong's dewy skin paled considerably.
"Where did you hear that term before?!"
'….Master, that's what you called him once.'
Chou felt aggrieved. Why was he getting scolded?
Uh, so it's her fault. She really should mind her words, Chou picks up on things fast.
Not being able to come up with an appropriate companion to request as assistance, she decided to focus on what she's capable of instead, currently her talent was to sleep.
Together with her hidden spirit plant, she laid to rest for the remaining hours left tonight.
Early morning, as Li Meirong fed the fish in the nearby pond and paddled her feet playfully in the waters, an unexpected answer to her plight arrived in the shape of her fellow outer sect disciples. She tilted her head to see their sage-like forms emerging from the orchard surrounding her cabin.
There were not many servants in the bestiary division, but there were a few determined outer sect disciples, whose passion was this particular coalition. Since outer sect disciples were refused acceptance as core students, many disciples chose to be admitted for the next best option, servants in the division.
Servant quarters were established for outer sect members, although all disciples had an opportunity to choose their living arrangements. Each member could build his own little roof over his head, as Li Meirong chose to. It was necessary for her primarily due to Chou jumping everywhere without care, yet she also felt fortunate for picking the harder path of staying in the sect.
A senior pair of outer sec disciples approached. Not just any pair of people, but a cultivating wedded couple. They were known for their lack of involvement with the rest of their junior brothers and sisters, or so the rumours said. She considered their arrival most unexpected.
Li Meirong removed her feet from the water in haste, stretching her dress fabric over her knees as she rose to her feet. She presented a respectful bow to her seniors.
The man dismissed the bow. "No need. No need. We are of the same rank in the division."
This couple appeared in their late twenties, reminding Li Meirong of how she used to look like.
They appeared stern, especially the woman. She was not one who would enjoy a good joke. Her hair was tied in a neat hairdo, her eyes were long and slanted, giving her a cat-like appearance. Her hands folded in her sleeves. All she was missing was a pair of glasses and a mini skirt to complete the image. She could have passed for a typical librarian.
The man had a gentler appearance to him, yet he also carried a strictness to his bearing. His aura yelled 'hard to approach'. He was growing a little beard down his chin, it emphasized his jaw structure, looking more defined. They were both slim, tall and complimented each other to perfection.
"How may I be of service, senior brother and sister?" Li Meirong relaxed her posture, asking pleasantly.
Seeing her subservient attitude, the couple lowered their guard.
"There is a rumour in the sect about you, they say upon admittance, when you were in the wild lands, no spirit beasts dared approach you…We were wondering if such is truly the case?" It was the woman who spoke, she went straight down to business.
Li Meirong's eyebrows knitted in suspicion. She wondered who could have spoken about that event, the only ones who knew were her friends.
Since the cat came out of the bag, she might as well admit it.
"It was indeed the case, but how is that related to my seniors?"
The senior disciple's features brightened considerably after her approval of the rumour.
The man held a fist to cover his mouth as he coughed lightly. "We want you to join us for the Thousand Beast forest expedition."
Li Meirong asked, "You know I repel spirit beasts and you still want me to join?"
Wouldn't her coming cancel the whole point of the event?
The man chuckled, his tone low. "We aren't looking to capture spirit beasts, as outer sect disciples, we don't have the cultivation or means to make a bond with them. There is a particularly rare herb in the forest that allows…Allows..." He couldn't bear to finish his sentence as his face turned red.
The woman glanced at her spouse and clicked her tongue. She shifted her gaze straight into Li Meirong's eyes. "We have been trying to conceive a child for a few years to no avail. I am no longer young and fear of missing out this opportunity. There is a herb in the forest which helps with pregnancies. We don't really have anyone else to ask, if you assist us with our request, we will owe you a lifetime favour."
Li Meirong regretted not becoming a doctor, instead of magical herbs, she could have given them practical answers to this issue. It could be so many factors that a plant would not necessarily help with, however, this wasn't her problem to solve.
They might not be warriors, but siding with them would not put her in any complicated situation.
"Alright, I will join you."
All present disciples finalized their agreements. The descent of the disciples into the forest was to be conducted three days hence. They each had to prepare.
Before departing, Li Meirong introduced her name appropriately, having forgotten to do so upfront. The couple let her know they were already aware of her identity, introducing themselves as Wei and Ying Yu. Finding their lack of surname mention peculiar, she chose not to broach further.
Li Meirong returned to her cabin and began her daily chores of meal preparations. She asked Chou who perched on her shoulders as she kneaded the flour into dough.
"What are your thoughts about my senior disciples?"
Chou did not think much of them, but he didn't think they were very pleasant. The pitcher plant answered.
'They smell the same.'
"…." Said Li Meirong.
Sometimes I have to remind myself that my truest companion in this world is really just a plant.