After playing with my phone for a while longer, I finally lay down to sleep.
The next morning, I woke up.
It wasn't insomnia. It was because, at my level, unless I was severely injured, a short period of rest was enough to achieve excellent results.
Full of energy, I prepared my gear and belongings and lit some incense for my master.
I told him I was departing for Fox Mountain.
After doing so, I walked over to the Wanshoutang across the way.
My martial uncle had already risen early and was currently wiping down his peach wood greatsword.
“Martial Uncle!”
I called out. Seeing me enter, my martial uncle nodded.
“Mmm, have you eaten breakfast? If not, there’s some on the table.”
“Yes, Martial Uncle!”
I nodded in agreement.
I put down my luggage and picked up a steamed bun to eat.
Meanwhile, my martial uncle spoke again:
“Your connection with the fox clan is not shallow. This trip should be smoother than the one to the Bottomless Pit.”
I smiled. Compared to the Mother of the Bottomless Pit, my relationship with Hu Sanniang was indeed better.
However, besides this, I also needed to tell my martial uncle about what Li Shiyao had told me last night.
So, I began to speak while eating:
“Martial Uncle, I need to tell you something else!”
“Speak!”
My martial uncle didn’t look at me, merely waving his broadsword.
“Martial Uncle, Li Shiyao contacted me last night. She said she’s run into some trouble at the Bashan Film Base.
Their crew has been experiencing frequent accidents.
I figured since we’ll be passing by anyway, I’ll go take a look for her.”
My martial uncle paused for a moment, then asked:
“Li Shiyao? The little celebrity who plays the ghost girl?”
“Yes, that’s her!”
My martial uncle uttered an “Oh”:
“That’s fine. I quite like the movies she stars in.”
My martial uncle didn’t seem to think much of it.
After all, she was a friend of Old Mo and mine, so looking into it on the way wouldn’t take much time.
After my martial uncle agreed, I didn’t say anything further and waited at the shop for Old Mo to arrive.
This time, Xiao Yao didn’t plan to come with us.
After all, she had to work at her unit, and Xiao Yao really liked her nursing job.
Taking consecutive long leaves of absence wasn’t good.
But it didn’t matter; my martial uncle, Old Mo, and I could manage.
About an hour and a half later, Old Mo arrived by car.
“Master, Old Qin!”
Old Mo looked as if he hadn’t slept, with rather prominent dark circles under his eyes.
“Why are you so late today?”
Old Mo touched his head:
“Uh, uh, the alarm didn’t go off, I overslept.
Master, have you guys eaten breakfast? Should I go buy some?”
“Buy what? We’ve already eaten. Hurry up and get ready, we’re departing.”
“Yes, yes, yes…”
Old Mo replied repeatedly.
I glanced at this guy and noticed a small bruise on Old Mo’s neck.
Though I hadn’t eaten pork myself, I’d seen pigs run.
This was clearly a hickey!
I hadn’t noticed it yesterday, but it was there now.
And he looked so un-slept, this old chuunibyou, he certainly had some skills!
I didn’t expose him, but merely gave him a knowing look and casually touched my own neck.
Old Mo saw my gesture, pulled up his collar, and chuckled sheepishly.
We waited for Old Mo for over ten minutes, letting him eat breakfast, before we began our journey.
Bashan wasn’t far this time, only a little over a hundred kilometers in a straight line, reachable within a morning.
After Old Mo finished eating, my martial uncle had him meditate for a while.
He said Old Mo lacked energy and needed to recover before driving.
It was around ten-thirty in the morning when we finally set off.
Before we departed, Xiao Yao sent Old Mo a video call.
Watching their affectionate exchange and sweet nothings,
I thought of Qing Dai and subconsciously looked towards the depths of Old Huang Mountain.
Qing Dai had said she would come find me after she finished her secluded cultivation.
Several days had passed, and I missed her dearly.
Getting into the car, we set off.
My martial uncle sat in the passenger seat. As soon as we merged onto the highway, he suddenly said:
“Xiao Mo, if you truly like Xiao Yao, after this matter is over, you should take her to meet your parents.”
Old Mo, who was driving, heard this and slammed on the brakes.
“Hiss…”
A piercing screech of tires echoed.
I was drinking water and almost shoved the bottle into my throat.
Fortunately, I had my seatbelt on, and there were no major issues.
“Cough, cough, cough…”
“Old Mo, what the heck are you doing?”
“Why are you braking? On the highway?”
My martial uncle also rolled his eyes.
Old Mo then hastily accelerated, moving forward again.
“Mas- Master, wh-what did you say?”
My martial uncle’s face darkened:
“I said, after this matter is resolved, you take Xiao Yao to meet your parents.
Don’t keep Xiao Yao waiting.
Even though she’s lost her parents, she has me as her master.
Don’t you think about taking advantage of the girl for free…”
I sat in the back, watching with an amused expression.
It seemed my martial uncle was a perceptive man; he had likely noticed the hickey on Old Mo’s neck.
Old Mo looked a bit embarrassed:
“Uh, uh, my parents only come back once or twice a year, I haven’t seen them in half a year.”
“Can’t you call them?
Since you like Xiao Yao, and it’s mutual.
You should work towards marriage. Are you just going to keep taking advantage of her for free like this?”
My martial uncle’s words were blunt, but entirely sensible.
Love that doesn’t aim for marriage is just fooling around.
Old Mo, though blushing slightly, nodded in agreement:
“Master, don’t worry, I’m sincere about Xiao Yao.
After this is over, I’ll take Xiao Yao home and then propose to Brother Chen!”
Despite his shyness, Old Mo’s gaze was firm this time.
However, I was amused and casually teased him:
“What Brother Chen? That’s Xiao Yao’s second uncle, you’ll have to call him Uncle from now on.
And, Old Mo and I are brothers.
In the future, don’t keep calling me Old Qin.
According to seniority, you should call me Uncle Qin…”