Chapter 11

    "Yes, indeed, I've already burnt them to ashes," Mao Tong said, trying his best to appear normal, though a closer look would reveal his nervous glances.

    Liu Yi You, having spent so much time with Mao Tong, knew all too well the nature of this delusional worm.

    "Do you two realize that these were rare herbs?" Liu Yi You glared menacingly at the two mythical beasts.

    Ta Gui nodded vigorously. He wanted to mention that the herbs also tasted great, but given his current guilt, he did not dare to speak out.

    "It’s alright. You regularly harvest herbs anyway, don’t we have reserves in the Underwater Palace?" Mao Tong argued.

    "But a reserve is just a reserve; how can they grow without roots?" Liu Yi You glanced at the tiny worm.

    Mao Tong faltered.

    Fruits and seeds were one thing, but what about perennials? Normally, one would harvest just the branches and leaves; no one in their right mind would uproot the entire plant unless it was one of the few species whose roots are also used.

    It was like having good fertilizer but no seeds to sow.

    Fortunately, there were still seeds of the blue plum. Mao Tong went on to carefully water these seeds with the potent spiritual and Qi energies of the Underwater Palace, but no matter how much he watered them, the blue plum seeds refused to sprout.

    Liu Yi You watched the worm looking utterly forlorn, as if staring at a dimwit.

    The seeds of the plum had been roasted by the fire; how could they possibly sprout? No matter how miraculous, nothing could revive the already dead.

    Liu Yi You sneered at the despairing worm, whose face was now clouded with sorrow.

    Actually, Liu Yi You had a way to resolve the issue with the herbs. Although she had given her own plant box to Liu Yi Ya, her father also had one, containing all the herbs she could need as he used fruits and herbs to brew alcohol. Thus, there was no shortage of herbs for her. With Tong Tian, every problem could be solved.

    However, Mao Tong often acted recklessly, causing trouble countless times. This time, she wanted to teach him a lesson to remember, to make him more cautious and appreciative of what he had. Liu Yi You then kicked the old turtle and the delusional worm out of the Underwater Palace.

    "If you don’t bring back all the herbs, don’t ever enter my fish tank again," Liu Yi You roared.

    The two turtles and one worm, now in the middle of the Spirit Sea, looked dejected. Where in the Spirit Sea could they possibly find the herbs? It looked like they would go hungry for another year.

    Especially the old turtle, Ta Gui, who had just started to enjoy the fine herbs and wasn't ready to give them up yet, vanished from sight immediately.

    Ta Gui then disappeared from everybody’s sights.

    Suddenly, the speed of their flying ship increased from normal to extraordinarily high. Normally, a flying ship is engraved with a protective barrier that shields against strong winds, so the full-speed impact of the air on those inside is mitigated. But when Ta Gui powered the ship himself, everything changed.

    The speed was so great that it was a blur to the naked eye, even though he was straining to carry two adults and a young girl. The protective barrier, battered by fierce winds, collapsed in moments.

    Liu Yi You was buffeted by the strong winds, her mouth agape, saliva flying occasionally. The girl looked over at her Grandfather Three, now a young man again, who shamelessly hid behind Tong Tian. Liu Tan caught Liu Yi You’s gaze and pouted. With that, he sarcastically exclaimed, "I am indeed inadequate, hiding behind someone more capable is better. Just keep hanging in there if you can."

    After saying this, Liu Tan ducked behind Tong Tian, completely disappearing from view.

    Seeing this, Liu Yi You was reminded of her own childhood.

    Many years ago, she frequently hid behind Elder Three, who always protected and cared for her, whether in public or in secret. She never imagined that over time, everything would turn upside down to the point where she now had to protect Elder Three. Liu Yi You smiled, although her face could hardly show it.

    As the wind fiercely battered her face, the girl quickly mustered her Qi to shield herself from the impact, but it seemed to do little good. Given that even her fully matured self struggled this much, Liu Tan would undoubtedly be blown away if he took the impact directly.

    Xiao Gui and Mao Tong were still clinging onto her head…

    With no place to hide, Liu Yi You had to sit there and take the brunt of the wind. She sent her spirit into the fish tank and planted the durian seeds. Soon, dozens of durian trees sprouted rapidly, providing her with fruit once more.

    This time, Tong Tian took on the impact, allowing Liu Yi You and Liu Tan to sit behind him and enjoy the durian, joined by Xiao Gui and Mao Tong.

    "If only we had some liquor too, hmm," Liu Tan munched on the durian in satisfaction.

    Initially, he detested the smell of durian, but after seeing Liu Yi You enjoy it so much, he gave it a try. Unexpectedly, after that taste, he became addicted to durians just like Liu Yi You.

    "You can’t do that. Eating durian with alcohol has killed many," Liu Yi You said.

    "Who died, and when?" Liu Tan looked at Liu Yi You, puzzled.

    "You don’t know anything, old man. All the disciples in the Thara Academy who secretly ate durian with alcohol died," Liu Yi You was impressed with her own lie.

    "Really? They actually died?"

    Liu Yi You nodded earnestly, her expression grave. How could she tell him that it was a rumor from newspapers and the internet in her past life?

    Mao Tong and Xiao Gui, who were initially reluctant to eat durians, had no choice since their garden was now full of durian trees. What else could they eat if not durians?

    In the end, both the mythical creatures and the humans ended up sitting together, enjoying durians, with Xiao Gui occasionally swapping places with Ta Gui so the latter could rest.

    Soon, two months passed, and they stepped onto the continent of Mei Guo.

    By then, Mao Tong, Xiao Gui, and Ta Gui were allowed back into the Palace of the Abyssal.

    Their first stop was a small village inhabited by ordinary people. Liu Yi You and Liu Tan kept their Qi closely contained to blend in.

    However, having eaten nothing but durians for two months, regardless of their intention, their scent was especially fragrant. They approached the village chief's house without a second thought, simply seeking a place to rest before moving on.

    But the village chief, covering his nose, looked at Tong Tian and exclaimed, "Miss where did you pick up these two beggars? Why do they smell as if they've fallen into a septic tank?"

    Liu Yi You and Liu Tan exchanged frowns. Through Liu Yi You’s eyes, she saw a young man with disheveled hair, dressed in what were once fine clothes now tattered and dirty. Liu Tan, on the other hand, saw a little girl with unkempt hair and torn clothes, hardly presentable.

    Both of them grimaced simultaneously.

    "Grandfather/Seventeen you look like beggars."