Wu Qiao’s mission was to disguise himself as Manager Qiao but actually assist Yuwen Jun in maintaining the Heaven-reaching Tree, using the abilities of the Lifebound Gu to eavesdrop on messages.
Everything that followed, they all knew.
Bai Junjun had never expected that there was such a tumultuous story behind Manager Qiao.
Before, her understanding of Witch Ancestor Mountain had only gone as far as acknowledging its mysterious and magical existence; now she realized that Witch Ancestor Mountain was also a place filled with material pursuits and struggles.
Indeed, where there are people, there’s the Itinerant World.
In this world, where can one truly find a sanctuary that allows people to set everything aside and wholeheartedly collaborate to strive for a better life?
This question deserved contemplation, but an answer wouldn’t come easily anytime soon.
Now that the two of them understood the origins of Manager Qiao, they were also relieved that they hadn’t impulsively killed him back then — wouldn’t that have been a near miss of killing Ah Dao’s father-in-law?
After Manager Qiao had finished discussing the issues weighing on his mind, he let out a great sigh of relief.
"Speaking of which, will Witch Ancestor Mountain know if your Lifebound Gu is gone?"
Manager Qiao nodded, "Gu insects that reach the Holy Insect Realm have corresponding Shadow Insects in Witch Ancestor Mountain; when the Gu insect dies, the Shadow Insect dies as well."
The implication was that Witch Ancestor Mountain knew when his Gu insect died.
Manager Qiao remarked with emotion, "Gu insects and their masters have a symbiotic relationship, and I don’t understand why my Gu insect died but I am still alive. Perhaps I am living on only because the heavens have decreed it, so that I could see Xiao Nuan one last time before I die, leaving no regrets."
Of course, he mainly wanted to meet Wu Nuan to advise her to withdraw from the Saintess competition and to instead live as an ordinary person.
Bai Junjun looked at him impassively; in fact, she didn’t know her Grass Seeds were capable of something so powerful as to remove Gu insects and spare human lives, when clearly... her Grass Seeds were simply meant to intimidate others.
However, the beautiful misunderstanding had already occurred, so let her Grass Seeds carry on maintaining their mystique and might.
Thereupon, Bai Junjun stated with unruffled composure, "Ahem, in this world, there’s always something to counteract another. The elixir I prepared just happened to be able to extract the Gu insects inside your body — what’s so strange about that?"
Manager Qiao nodded, deeply moved, "Worthy of being Mr. Dan He’s final disciple; I am truly impressed."
"..." Bai Junjun, on that note, her economical master really was fortunate, with accolades falling into his lap without effort.
"Speaking of which, Manager Qiao, you’re well-informed about affairs all over the world, do you possibly know where Mr. Dan He... err, my master currently is?"
Mr. Dan He liked to roam all over the world, and after accepting the original disciple, he taught only some basic medical knowledge before leaving. Then, with the ensuing chaos of war, it became even harder to locate him.
Since her rebirth, Bai Junjun had repeatedly used the identity of Mr. Dan He’s disciple to bluff her way through life, and she was indeed curious about where this little old man had ended up and whether he was still alive.
"Mr. Dan He... is currently at Witch Ancestor Mountain."
"Witch Ancestor Mountain?" Bai Junjun and Li Wenli exchanged glances.
Bai Junjun, as if thinking of something, grabbed Li Wenli and asked, "Speaking of which, isn’t Lady Lin’s master also at Witch Ancestor Mountain?"
Li Wenli nodded, "Last time, Lady Lin did say so."
In the tug-of-war between the Mohists and the Eldest Prince, Witch Ancestor Mountain had taken the initiative to bring Lady Lin and her disciple back into the fold of the mountain; later, Lady Lin sneakily left in search of Lame Man Uncle, but only their master remained in Witch Ancestor Mountain.
Indeed there as well!
Bai Junjun stroked her chin and pondered.