In the large courtyard at the foot of Dongmeng Mountain, Mo Tiange watched as Ye Jingwen took a pouch from his robe, scooped out a handful of something, and tossed it onto the table. Instantly, over a dozen pieces of crystalline, translucent jade stones appeared, each of a different color.
The cultivator receiving them in the courtyard became much more enthusiastic. He had clearly stated earlier that he couldn't reveal information about tenants, but now he immediately said, "Senior, a cultivator matching that description did indeed come to rent a cave abode not long ago. Please wait patiently, I'll go check the records."
Ye Jingwen merely nodded without speaking.
The cultivator swept his sleeve, and all the jade stones on the table vanished. He asked the two to wait here and hurried into the inner room.
Mo Tiange asked, puzzled, "Brother Ye, what were those things? Why did he agree after receiving them?"
Ye Jingwen replied, "Did you notice they contained Spiritual Qi?"
Mo Tiange nodded. She didn't find it strange, as everything she had seen these days while following Ye Jingwen contained Spiritual Qi. How could anything in the cultivation world lack it?
Ye Jingwen explained, "Those are Spirit Stones. Spirit Stones store Spiritual Qi, which can be used to replenish energy during battles, set up formations, or aid in cultivation. They are indispensable, so we cultivators treat them as currency, like gold and silver."
Mo Tiange had read about this in books, but she had never known what Spirit Stones looked like. It turned out they were similar to ordinary jade, just imbued with Spiritual Qi.
Not long after, the cultivator emerged from the inner room and addressed Ye Jingwen very politely, "Senior, there was indeed a rogue cultivator named Ye Jiang who came here a month ago and rented a cave abode for... three months."
"Oh? Where is it?"
The cultivator said, "Senior, go to the square halfway up the mountain, take the small path to the left. The cave abode number is Geng-189. Just follow the markers."
Ye Jingwen nodded, said "Thank you," and led Mo Tiange out the door.
Places like this that rented out cave abodes had numbering systems similar to inns. With the number, it was easy to find. Following the cultivator's directions, the two searched for a while and soon found the cave abode. It was some distance from the square, and the Spiritual Qi there was rather mediocre, indicating that Ye Jiang didn't plan to stay long or that he possessed little of value.
"Is anyone there?" Ye Jingwen called out. After a long silence with no response, he pondered for a moment, then took out the Sound Transmission Jade Talisman given to him by Lu Xishan from his robe. He infused it with a bit of spiritual power, but the jade talisman remained dull and lifeless. He knew then that Ye Jiang was not here.
Mo Tiange asked, "Brother Ye, what's wrong?"
Ye Jingwen said, "Your uncle isn't here. He's probably some distance away, so the Sound Transmission Jade Talisman can't sense him and can't send a message."
"Oh." Mo Tiange couldn't say she was disappointed. In truth, she was somewhat nervous. She had never met her father, her mother had passed away when she was seven, and none of her other relatives had ever shown her affection. She was a little afraid that this uncle wouldn't like her either...
Although Ye Jingwen noticed her nervousness, he didn't make a big deal of it. It was normal to be nervous about meeting a relative you'd never seen before, especially one you'd have to rely on in the future.
Unable to find the person, the two had no choice but to turn back. However, now that they knew his lodging place, it would be easier to find him later.
Before leaving, Ye Jingwen took out an ordinary paper Sound Transmission Talisman and left a message at the entrance of the cave abode. Then he led Mo Tiange away, planning to stay at the Xuanqing Sect shop here for a day and return tomorrow to check again.
As they walked back, Ye Jingwen said, "Don't worry. Since we've found the cave abode, you'll likely see your uncle soon."
Actually, Mo Tiange wasn't worried at all. She hadn't yet figured out how to face this newly appeared, and now only, elder relative.
Entering the shop, the Qi Refining cultivator who had given Ye Jingwen advice earlier immediately came over, bowed, and asked, "Uncle-Master Ye, did you find the person?"
Ye Jingwen shook his head. "We only found where he's staying, haven't seen him yet. Are there any vacant rooms here?"
"Yes, there are. Uncle-Master, rest assured. Although the spiritual vein here isn't as good as Taikang Mountain's, it's not bad either. Staying here for a few days won't have a significant impact."
"Mm. Take me to rest first. If Senior Brother Zheng returns, let him know."
"Yes."
The cultivator was about to lead them inside when a voice came from the entrance.
"Brother Ye, please."
Ye Jingwen turned and saw the shopkeeper here, Zheng Xuan, along with another lean, elderly man. This man had graying hair, deeply furrowed brows, and was also at the Foundation Establishment level.
Brother Ye? Before he could ponder further, Zheng Xuan had already spotted him, his face lighting up with surprise. "Junior Brother Ye, what brings you here?"
This Zheng Xuan happened to be a disciple of Qingquan Peak and was acquainted with Ye Jingwen. Ye Jingwen also broke into a smile. "Senior Brother Zheng, you've finally returned."
Sensing his junior brother had something to say, Zheng Xuan turned to the elderly man with a smile and cupped his hands. "Brother Ye, please go upstairs and sit for a moment. I'll be right there."
The elderly man showed little expression, nodded, and followed another Qi Refining disciple upstairs.
Ye Jingwen glanced at him a moment longer.
Zheng Xuan looked at him with a smile, then at Mo Tiange holding his hand, and asked, "Junior Brother Ye, don't tell me you came down the mountain to take on a disciple?"
Ye Jingwen said with a bitter smile, "Senior Brother Zheng, you jest. Not only do we Foundation Establishment disciples lack the qualification to take disciples, but just dealing with those little brats on Qingquan Peak already gives me a headache. Why would I take on another? I'm here on the orders of Uncle-Master Shoujing, looking for someone. I wonder if Senior Brother has heard of him?"
"Oh?" Zheng Xuan, also a disciple of Qingquan Peak, was more concerned about matters related to his direct lineage's senior uncle-master and immediately asked, "Who is it?"
"A rogue cultivator, Foundation Establishment level, about your age, named Ye Jiang."
The moment the words left his mouth, Zheng Xuan's expression turned to one of great surprise.
Ye Jingwen frowned. "Senior Brother Zheng, what is it?"
A smile appeared on Zheng Xuan's face. "The guest I just brought back is also named Ye Jiang. I just don't know if he's the one you're looking for."
Ye Jingwen was overjoyed. Truly, after searching far and wide with no success, here he was, found without any effort. He immediately asked, "Is he from the Qingmeng Mountain Ye Family?"
"That's right, though after the Ye Family's last Core Formation cultivator perished, it effectively ceased to exist."
With this confirmation, Ye Jingwen became even more certain this was the person he sought. He said at once, "Please, Senior Brother, introduce me."
Zheng Xuan smiled and nodded. "Come upstairs with me."
In the guest room upstairs, the elderly man stood up upon seeing them enter.
Zheng Xuan said, "Brother Ye, this is my fellow sect junior brother. He also shares your surname, Ye, and is named Jingwen. Junior Brother, this is Brother Ye Jiang."
After the two exchanged greetings, Ye Jingwen got straight to the point. "May I ask, Fellow Daoist, are you surnamed Ye, named Jiang, originally a cultivator of the Qingmeng Mountain Ye Family?"
Ye Jiang didn't understand what was happening, but since the other party was being so serious, he also replied solemnly, "That is correct, though there is no Qingmeng Mountain Ye Family anymore." His expression was dejected, clearly distressed that the Ye Family's lineage had ended with him.
Ye Jingwen asked further, "Then, Fellow Daoist Ye, are you the younger brother of Senior Ye Hai?"
Surprise flashed across Ye Jiang's face. If someone had asked this in the past, he wouldn't have been surprised, as his elder brother was famous and many in the West Kunwu region knew of Ye Hai of Qingmeng Mountain. But now it was different. His elder brother had disappeared at Tianmo Mountain ten years ago, and his death had been confirmed some time ago. Even the Ye Family had vanished. Why would someone still ask about this?
Despite this, he replied calmly, "That is correct."
Hearing his affirmation, Ye Jingwen breathed a sigh of relief and pushed Mo Tiange forward. "Brother Ye, I have been sent down the mountain on the orders of my sect's Uncle-Master Shoujing to find the descendants of Senior Ye Hai and deliver them into your hands."