61 Spirit Garden (1/2)

” So, where are we going?”

Looking around at the new sceneries and buildings she had not seen other places in the sect before, Sofie grabbed them hem of Yang Meng's clothes and asked.

”Hm… From the looks of it, we are in the alchemist section of the sect. The important places here are the pill hall, also know as the hall of alchemy and the spirit garden, where spirit herbs and fruits are grown.”

”So, we are going to the spirit garden!?”

Hearing what Yang Meng said, Sofie's eyes started shining as she imagined the spirit garden filled with all sorts of spirit fruits. Ready for her to eat. Even though she still hadn't seen a spirit fruit, they should at least taste great with how precious they are!

Getting more and more lost in her own thoughts, Sofie suddenly thought of something.

The moon garden and spirit garden sounded quite similar. Maybe they were connected to each other?

Fiercely grabbing hold of the hem of Yang Meng's clothes, Sofie started pulling anxiously.

”What is it?”

Having felt the powerful tug when Sofie pulled on the hem of his clothes, Yang Meng turned and asked Sofie in a calm tone.

”I-is the spirit garden and moon garden related with each other!?”

Fidgeting with her fingers, Sofie anxiously looked up at Yang Meng as she waited for an answer.

”No… And there is nothing with the garden in it, that is related to the moon garden…”

Seeing the anxious look on Sofie's face, Yang Meng sighed inwardly as he really wondered if his friend had even bothered to read the instruction books about the sect in the gathering hall. Most of the things she asked about were written in there… Maybe he should give it to her when they came back?

Having found a way to not constantly have to answer Sofie's question, Yang Meng smiled a little. Even though he did indeed enjoy answering her questions and show off his knowledge… Sofie just asked way too many questions. Yesterday when they had eaten dinner, Sofie had even asked whether the elders would be teaching them about cultivation or not…

How the heck did such a question even come to mind? Did she imagine that the elders just lazed about doing nothing all day…? The only reason they had not seen any elders yet was because teaching only started when they reached the qi condensation realm. Before that, they could not even be considered proper cultivators.

Looking up at Yang Meng's constantly changing expression going from smiling to anxious, then worried and finally back to smiling again after a few seconds, Sofie decided to keep quiet as the group made their way to the spirit garden.

…

Bushes several meters high suddenly appeared in front of the group of four. The only place with a small opening had an old man sitting down in front of it drinking what looked like tea. This was the spirit garden.

Compared to the moon garden, the spirit garden was surrounded entirely by bushes stretching several meters into the air. The small entrance stood out in its own way as well, with several different coloured flowers blooming only close to the entrance itself. Making it easy to spot.

The disciple going in and out of the spirit garden were not many and at most three or five passed through during the time it took for them to walk the remaining few hundred meters to the entrance of the spirit garden. Compared to how busy the moon garden was, the spirit garden was relatively calm.

…

Entering the spirit garden, Sofie curiously looked back at the old man drinking tea in front of the entrance.

In the start when they neared the entrance, the old man had looked up at them for a moment before looking away and focusing on his tea once again, Sofie had thought he might stop them at the entrance or something, but nothing ended up happening.

Sofie really had no idea whether she should feel happy that nothing happened to them or she should feel sad that they got ignored by the old man.

”Hah… We are here. Let's go to the market and get the low mortal-grade spirit fruit.”

”Market?”

Tilting her head to the side with a confused look, Sofie stared blankly at Yue Wan upon hearing about a market all of a sudden. Not really understanding where a market came from when they had just entered the spirit garden…

”Ah, Sofie doesn't know about the market in the spirit garden yet…”