"Given away for free?!"
Zhang Shaozhong almost thought he had misheard.
This unassuming stone, which is clearly a treasure, was simply given away with a casual "gift to someone destined to receive it"?
Is this "gentle breeze and bright moon" the reincarnation of a money-giving child?
Or... is there some hidden pit in this stone?
Ye Meier was also stunned, then narrowed her eyes and looked at "Qingfeng Mingyue" suspiciously: "Hey, buddy, are you out of your mind? Even in our area... uh, even in the eyes of experts, this thing is a good item! You just gave it away like that? What's the point?"
Although Ling Qingxue didn't speak, her clear eyes held a clear curiosity as she awaited the other person's explanation.
"Qingfeng Mingyue"—this middle-aged man, whose real name is Mo Huaiyuan—was not flustered when faced with questions. Instead, he showed a somewhat helpless yet carefree smile.
"The three of you need not have any doubts."
Mo Huaiyuan gently stroked the teacup in his hand, his tone calm, "To be honest, this thing is really like a chicken rib to me. Although my ancestors passed down some methods of breathing exercises and observing qi to distinguish things, by my generation it has long been incomplete, and it is more of a tradition for self-cultivation. I myself... cannot truly attract or absorb the qi within this thing."
He looked at the warm, smooth stone with a complicated expression: "It can absorb the essence of plants on its own, which means it needs an environment or person that can 'activate' it or resonate with it. If it stays with me, it will only slowly fade away and may eventually become just an ordinary stone. That would be a waste of its precious resources."
Then, he turned his gaze to Ling Qingxue and Ye Meier, his tone becoming sincere: "But the three of you are different. Although I do not know your specific backgrounds, judging from Fellow Daoist Ling's speech and knowledge, and the unique spiritual aura of Ms. Ye, they are far beyond my reach. This item may only truly realize its value in the hands of the three of you."
Finally, he revealed his true purpose, which was also his request: "As for what I seek... as I said before, I only ask for a 'good connection'. I hope to become fellow Daoists with the three of you, especially Fellow Daoist Ling, so that in the future, when exploring the 'Dao' of this world, studying ancient books, or even identifying some strange objects, we can have someone to exchange ideas and ask for advice. Nowadays, there are too few people like us who are still interested in ancient traditions."
His words were reasonable and humble, highlighting his limitations and sincerity while subtly praising Ling Qingxue and Ye Meier, making it difficult for anyone to feel any ill will towards him.
Zhang Shaozhong quickly calculated in his mind: Mo Huaiyuan doesn't seem like a bad person, and he seems to really know about traditional culture and "cultivation," making him a potential "technical advisor" or "information source."
Getting a valuable item for free and gaining a knowledgeable friend—this is a win-win situation!
He secretly gave Ling Qingxue a wink.
Ling Qingxue pondered for a moment, then looked at Mo Huaiyuan: "Mr. Mo's noble character is admirable. In that case, we will accept this item with great pride. As for exchanging ideas and discussing matters, that is only right. I also have many questions about this world, and perhaps I can ask Mr. Mo for guidance."
That means you agreed!
Not only did they accept the gift, they also tacitly accepted this "fellow Daoist" relationship.
Mo Huaiyuan's face immediately lit up with joy, and he quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "Fellow Daoist Ling, you are too kind! We should be learning from each other!"
He carefully closed the wooden box and solemnly pushed it in front of Ling Qingxue.
Ye Meier snatched the wooden box, eagerly opened it, picked up the stone and weighed it in her hand, feeling the faint trace of wood spirit essence within it. She grinned from ear to ear: "You know how to handle people! This stone, I... uh, we really like it! If you have any junk you don't understand in the future, just bring it to us!"
Zhang Shaozhong quickly smoothed things over: "Haha, Mr. Mo, please don't mind. My friend here is just a straightforward person. Anyway, thank you very much for the gift. Let's keep in touch!"
With the biggest suspense resolved, the atmosphere immediately became relaxed and harmonious. The four of them chatted while drinking tea.
Mo Huaiyuan was indeed quite knowledgeable about the Book of Changes, the appreciation of antiquities, and even some Taoist health cultivation methods. He and Ling Qingxue got along very well.
Ling Qingxue also learned a lot from him about the scattered groups in modern society who are still researching and adhering to ancient traditions.
Zhang Shaozhong was mainly responsible for exchanging contact information with Mo Huaiyuan and also inquired about the specific situation of "Luoxiajian" in Xishan. He thought that he might be able to "investigate" it in the future and see if there were any other opportunities.
Pleasant times always pass quickly.
After several rounds of tea, as the sun began to set, the two sides rose to say goodbye.
Mo Huaiyuan escorted the three to the entrance of the teahouse and bowed again, saying, "It is truly an honor to have met you three today. If you have any free time in the future, you are welcome to visit my humble abode anytime for tea and philosophical discussions."
"Definitely!" Zhang Shaozhong replied with a smile.
On the way back, the atmosphere in the car was much more lively than when we arrived.
Ye Meier hugged the wooden box, unable to put it down: "Hehe, I didn't expect to have such a harvest on this trip! Although the wood spirit energy in this stone is small, it is very pure. Slowly absorbing it will be good for stabilizing my damaged foundation! You hypocrite, I'll keep this stone here for now and play with it!"
Ling Qingxue nodded indifferently; she valued the information she gained from communicating with Mo Huaiyuan more.
She pondered, "Although the spiritual energy of this world is depleted, its traditions have not been severed; they are merely hidden in the streets and have changed their appearance. This Mr. Mo might be able to help us understand the 'other side' of this world more quickly."
While driving, Zhang Shaozhong excitedly said, "That's right! This is an important connection! In the future, when we take on orders and encounter antiques or difficult cases that we're unsure about, we might be able to ask him for advice! Plus, we got a free treasure. This trip was really profitable!"
The more he thought about it, the more wonderful it seemed, and he felt that the future of the "Immortal and Demon Affairs Agency" was bright.
With Ling Qingxue and Ye Meier's "techniques," plus the connections and resources they gradually accumulate, they might really be able to thrive in this modern society!
Of course, he didn't forget the main point: "By the way, Fairy, Big Sister, about the outdoor live broadcast we talked about before, I think Xishan is pretty good! The scenery is beautiful, and there's a place like Luoxiajian with a story, which is perfect for exploring and making a program!"
"Can."
Ling Qingxue agreed.
"No problem! Maybe we can even find another treasure!" Ye Meier agreed wholeheartedly.
What seemed like an ordinary online meeting brought unexpected gains and allies.
Zhang Shaozhong felt that their "adventure" in this world seemed to have turned a new page.
These days are getting better and better!
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