At this moment, Tang Xiaoguo explained, "Sister Su, when Senior Brother and I came out, we walked all the way to Yun Cang Country. Since Senior Brother needed to find various spiritual herbs along the way to treat Fifth Brother's illness, he said walking was more convenient."
"So that's how it is..."
Su Luo understood and her impression of Li Tianjue improved slightly.
Although this man was petty and held grudges, he was genuinely good to his junior brothers and was a responsible senior brother.
She wasn't incapable of walking. Although it was a longer distance, it was a good opportunity to cultivate their relationship along the way. When they returned to Qing Xu Tian, she could find Li Tianjue to ask for a good assignment, perhaps even a position as an elder or steward.
The three of them embarked on the northward journey.
They rested when they were tired, ate some dry rations, and traveled nonstop the rest of the time. At night, they camped in the wild, built a bonfire, and hunted for food.
Finally, on the evening of the fifth day, Su Luo and the other two arrived at Luo Ying Country, a third-rate small country similar to Yun Cang Country.
Luo Ying Country was famous for its Jade Stamens Cherry Blossoms, which bloomed like clouds and brocade every May, a sight of unparalleled beauty.
The jade stamens of these flowers were also a valuable spiritual herb, used in the refinement of various elixirs. Consequently, merchants flocked to Luo Ying Country to purchase them.
"We're finally in the city, we can eat and rest properly." Tang Xiaoguo massaged her sore knees, her little face flushed as she excitedly surveyed the various shops lining the streets.
"Let's go, let's go, let's have a good meal!" Su Luo also laughed.
While she was diligent in her cultivation, she never skimped on her food, clothing, accommodation, or transportation. This was the first time she had endured such hardship, traveling entirely on foot, but there was no other choice.
Su Luo noticed a luxurious three-story restaurant nearby and asked Li Tianjue with a smile, "Senior Brother, this Yuebin Tower looks nice, how about we eat here?"
Li Tianjue glanced at her, said nothing, and continued walking forward.
Did he look down on this level of establishment?
Su Luo quickly caught up and pointed to a taller, larger restaurant ahead, saying, "Then how about this one, Senior Brother, this one should be acceptable."
But Li Tianjue didn't even glance at it and walked straight past.
"Hey, Senior Brother, say something!"
Su Luo was getting anxious. It was almost dark, and her stomach was growling with hunger.
Tang Xiaoguo said to Su Luo, "Sister Su, when we're out, any expenses for food and lodging can be reimbursed by the sect, so..." she said quietly, "Senior Brother has the final say."
Su Luo was delighted. Qing Xu Tian's benefits were quite good, with reimbursement, living up to its reputation as the strongest of the six major powers.
In the future, when she went out on business, she could use the company account for all her dining, drinking, and entertainment.
Wonderful!
Now Su Luo was no longer in a hurry and let Li Tianjue pick slowly, thinking about what delicacies she would have for dinner.
Braised chicken wings, steamed fish, hot and sour pig trotters, stir-fried pork hock, braised prawns, stewed ribs... Just thinking about it made her mouth water!
Su Luo followed Li Tianjue with great anticipation for three streets and finally stopped.
He walked into a very ordinary restaurant, found a seat by the street, and called out to a waiter who was wiping a table, "Two baskets of steamed buns... hmm, and two meat buns, and three bowls of congee."
"Certainly, honored guest, please wait."
Looking at the steamed buns, congee, and a plate of free pickles on the table, Su Luo felt as if she had fallen from the clouds into a muddy pit, dumbfounded. "You, you're making us eat steamed buns?"
Was this a joke?
This man, after all his careful selection, actually brought them to eat so meagerly!
Li Tianjue picked up a steamed bun and said lightly, "What, not hungry yet? Then give your portion to Xiao Guo."
As he spoke, he placed both meat buns on the table in front of Tang Xiaoguo.
"Thank you, Senior Brother," Tang Xiaoguo said quickly, and then divided one for Su Luo.
Su Luo hadn't expected this and said indignantly, "After eating dry rations for half a month, we finally entered the city and can have a good meal. Since it can all be reimbursed, why not..."
Li Tianjue interrupted her and said sternly, "The path of cultivation requires one to first temper their will and strengthen their body. How can we only indulge our appetites?"
Nonsense!
For the past half month, when they camped in the wilderness, whenever she made roasted chicken, roasted rabbit, or roasted fish, why did this man always eat it all clean?
Could he be a stingy old miser!
Su Luo watched Li Tianjue elegantly chew his food, and her stomach rumbled again. She couldn't help but pout, "If you don't want to eat, then I'll pay for my own order. You won't interfere with that, right?"
Seeing that Li Tianjue didn't object, Su Luo called the waiter, ordered a table full of dishes, and beckoned Tang Xiaoguo to eat quickly.
"Thank you, Sister Su."
Tang Xiaoguo finished her buns in a few bites and then took a chicken leg, placing it in Su Luo's bowl. "You eat too."
Then, she took another chicken leg and obediently placed it in Li Tianjue's bowl.
"Senior Brother doesn't eat. He needs to temper his will and strengthen his body..."
Before Su Luo could finish speaking, she saw Li Tianjue calmly pick up the large chicken leg and take a bite. She widened her eyes in surprise. "Hey, didn't you say you weren't eating?"
Li Tianjue glanced at her lightly. "Ordering so much and not finishing it is a waste. Remember, Qing Xu Tian disciples never indulge in extravagance. Every little bit is hard-earned with our lives."
Tang Xiaoguo said, "Understood, Senior Brother."
Su Luo was speechless. Seeing Li Tianjue eating quickly, his demeanor still elegant, she quickly picked up some meat to eat.
If she didn't hurry, this man would snatch it all away again.
At this moment, a group of people passed by on the street, discussing loudly without any hesitation, "It's unbelievable that even the Lei Huo Mercenary Group and the Sun family failed. This ten-thousand-year-old Chi Dragon is too terrifying. Over a hundred people are dead."
Tang Xiaoguo looked out in surprise. "Ten-thousand-year-old Chi Dragon... it actually has a divine beast?"
Li Tianjue seemed not to have heard, focusing intently on his meal. Su Luo, however, was a bit curious and listened as she ate, the discussions constantly drifting into her ears.
"Isn't it! This underground palace, ever since it was discovered, less than two months ago, more than half of the people who entered have died."
"According to those who managed to escape alive, this ten-thousand-year-old Chi Dragon guards a Crimson Blood Divine Dragon Grass..."
Suddenly, Li Tianjue's hand holding the chopsticks paused.
Crimson Blood Divine Dragon Grass!
Tang Xiaoguo's eyes lit up, and she said excitedly, "Senior Brother, they said there's Crimson Blood Divine Dragon Grass! This is urgently needed to treat Fifth Brother's illness. Should we..."
"You two eat first, I'll go inquire." Li Tianjue put down his chopsticks and stood up directly.
Su Luo watched Li Tianjue's decisive actions, leaving before finishing his meal, and felt even more strongly his determination and importance in curing their Fifth Brother's congenital illness.
She thought to herself, when they reached Qing Xu Tian, she would definitely make this stingy man look at her in a new light.
And then, she could do whatever she pleased!
After waiting for a while, just as Su Luo and Tang Xiaoguo had finished all the food like a whirlwind, Li Tianjue returned.
He glanced at the clean plates and his brows rose almost imperceptibly. He said calmly, "I've inquired. The underground palace is less than a hundred miles from here. We happen to pass by there tomorrow, so we can go take a look."
"Yes, Senior Brother!"
"Alright!"
The next day, when Su Luo and the other two arrived near the underground palace, many people had already gathered around.
The ancient and dilapidated underground palace revealed a corner from beneath a collapsed hill. The entrance was not small, with half of the palace gate broken and lying on the ground, exposing the entrance. Around it were scattered stone carvings of Qilin and dragons and phoenixes, but they were already in ruins.
A half stone tablet stood there, its inscriptions blurred and illegible.
The entrance was not dark, but rather a hazy light shone through it.