The screen in front continued playing the documentary, causing the chemical reaction between them to grow increasingly intense.
Chu Zhishui had never felt so tormented on a plane before. She desperately wished there was an ejection mechanism in her seat that could launch her straight out of the cabin.
She was exhausted. Just let it all end.
But the bamboo spirit sat beside her, watching her intently, leaving her without even the chance for self-destruction.
She tried to calm herself and break the awkward tension, forcing a gentle and kind demeanor as she explained patiently, "This is just a cultural difference between species. You've clearly misunderstood. We're in the 21st century now; don't be like an old fossil who gets flustered at the mere mention of such things."
Proper physiological education was urgently needed, yet various films and shows were being frantically censored, all because some people—including certain plant spirits—were overly sensitive.
Besides, there weren't any bamboo plants in the documentary, so logically it shouldn't concern him. It was like birds and fish—one in the sky, one in the water—completely unrelated.
Xin Yunmao frowned. "I'm an old fossil?"
"Aren't you?" Chu Zhishui asked tactfully. "May I ask your age?"
"..."
Xin Yunmao, first shocked by the plant documentary and now under attack about his age, appeared momentarily dazed. He seriously doubted whether he had been isolated in Huaijiang for too long and had fallen out of touch with modern times.
Seeing him quiet down with a troubled expression, Chu Zhishui finally breathed a sigh of relief, knowing the matter had been put to rest.
Now she worried about the return journey—would they show another documentary then, forcing her to go through a similar ordeal?
The plane landed safely at Danshan Airport.
Danshan Airport was far less prosperous than Yinhai. As a city that wasn't particularly famous on the national map, its airport facilities appeared dated. However, Danshan boasted spectacular natural scenery, with dense crowds during tourist seasons and unique landscapes throughout all four seasons.
After leaving the airport, the human and spirit took a car to their reserved hotel. The Danshan Hotel was recommended by Boss Peng, who stayed there every year due to its convenient location near both the authentication institution and the auction venue.
Chu Zhishui booked two rooms at the front desk, left the invoice header with the staff, and then went with Xin Yunmao to inspect the hotel facilities.
The hotel room wasn't particularly large, furnished with a bed and television, with a tea table and long couch in the corner, but it was kept clean.
The bathroom was well-stocked with toiletries, including ginseng shampoo, showcasing Danshan's local specialty. Chu Zhishui unscrewed the bottle cap and sniffed the shampoo, examining the quality of the competing product.
"Seems decent enough," Chu Zhishui said after looking around. "If you need anything, you can borrow from me, or we can go shopping."
Xin Yunmao had no luggage, but he didn't need much, and they could always purchase things as needed.
After settling in, Chu Zhishui sent a message to Boss Peng and learned he wouldn't arrive at the hotel until evening. Following his instructions, she first delivered the ginseng to the authentication institution, entrusting the staff to lock it in a safe, before finally having time to show Xin Yunmao around.
Danshan's streets were similar to Huaijiang's, but since it was during the Third Danshan Ginseng Auction, a lively market had been set up in the square, with many local merchants gathered to sell their wares. The place was bustling with noise and filled with all sorts of people, quite different from the orderly auction. Various ginsengs were laid directly on tables with casually placed price tags.
In the corner stood a warning sign that read "Please Shop Responsibly, Beware of Scams," fitting perfectly with the chaotic atmosphere. It might as well have shouted "Run!" to out-of-town tourists, blatantly suggesting that everyone here was trying to rip people off.
Despite this, the market was still crowded with tourists. Xin Yunmao stayed close to Chu Zhishui, occasionally helping to block suddenly passing pedestrians. His appearance and height stood out in the crowd, and passing tourists would often turn to look at him carefully, only to be deterred by his cold, unapproachable aura.
Chu Zhishui certainly wasn't going to be foolish enough to buy ginseng here. As it was the golden autumn harvest season, there were various plant seeds on the tables, and potted fruit plants at the edges of shops caught her attention. She suddenly remembered her future house, which she had specifically bought with a small courtyard, representing a city dweller's naive dream of farming.
Now, she spent her days planting tea and ginseng at work, with no leisure time for growing vegetables, but perhaps she could get some easy-to-grow flower seeds—she couldn't leave the courtyard completely empty.
Chu Zhishui's gaze wandered across the table as she looked for seeds unique to Danshan, though she worried they might not survive in Huaijiang.
"What are you looking for?" Xin Yunmao asked, having noticed her subtle movements and following her gaze to the table.
Hearing his voice, Chu Zhishui suddenly remembered he was an expert and humbly asked, "I want to plant some flowers and plants in my home's courtyard. Is there anything that's easy to maintain? I don't have much time to care for them while working, so they should survive even with occasional neglect."
Xin Yunmao answered quickly: "Bamboo."
Chu Zhishui: "?"
Chu Zhishui raised her eyebrows skeptically, "No, that's not appropriate. Don't let personal feelings influence your recommendation."
"I'm not letting personal feelings influence anything," Xin Yunmao insisted firmly. "Bamboo has always been a companion to scholars and artists. It used to be a common plant in residences. Haven't you heard the saying 'One can live without meat, but cannot live without bamboo'?"
"Fine, fine, fine, 'cannot live without bamboo,' but it can't be just bamboo. Is there anything else I could plant?" Chu Zhishui pondered that fruit trees might work too, though she worried about attracting insects.
Xin Yunmao crossed his arms disapprovingly: "You have bamboo and still want to plant other things?"
"What if I want to eat something that bears fruit?" Chu Zhishui asked politely. "I can't just munch on bamboo, I'm not a giant panda."
"..."
Hearing that she wanted something to eat, Xin Yunmao finally set aside his irritation. He looked around and said, "I'll check over there. What would you like to eat?"
"Is there anything unique to Danshan?"
"I'll look."
The shop's table was very long, covered with various seeds, with tiny signs below indicating what they were. Chu Zhishui and Xin Yunmao stood on opposite sides, each browsing from their end, searching for useful plant seeds.
Due to the surging crowd in the market, as soon as they separated slightly, people filled the space between them, preventing them from staying as close as when they first arrived.
While Chu Zhishui was looking down at the seeds, she suddenly felt someone squeeze in beside her.
The man appeared to be in his twenties or thirties, with dark skin and large eyes under thick eyebrows. He spoke with great enthusiasm, warmly soliciting customers: "What are you looking for? Coming to Danshan, you must see the ginseng. Looking at these is just a waste of time!"
"Thanks, but I want to waste time."
Hearing these words, Chu Zhishui immediately understood his intentions—he was trying to convince her to buy ginseng.
These stall owners were all smooth talkers, and one could easily get confused by their pitch if not careful, which explained the warning sign at the entrance. She probably looked too much like an out-of-town tourist, which was why she'd caught his attention.
The dark-skinned young man wasn't annoyed by the rejection and continued his sales pitch: "Oh, you're quite funny! Tell me what you're looking for, and I'll help you find it. Our stall is over there, and we also sell all kinds of seeds!"
"Thanks, but really, there's no need." Chu Zhishui suspected her overly friendly face was why she'd been targeted by the local salesperson.
"Don't be so polite, let me show you around, we have an even better selection..."
Just then, an ice-cold male voice cut in: "Didn't your master teach you not to casually approach other people's followers?"
The dark-skinned young man heard these words and inexplicably shuddered, turning to see a handsome young man with black hair, whose bearing stood out remarkably in the crowded market.
Xin Yunmao had walked around the tourists from the other end of the long table, witnessing the scene before him. His brows were now tightly knitted, his demeanor as cold as frost as he looked down at the man condescendingly: "If someone's unwilling, don't keep pestering them. Didn't your master teach you that?"
The dark-skinned young man was stunned: "How did you..."
"Master?" Chu Zhishui was equally confused, not understanding Xin Yunmao's words.
In the noisy market where few people paid attention to their surroundings, a middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit suddenly appeared. He appeared cultured, though his eyes were narrow and long. He quickly pulled the dark-skinned young man behind him.
The dark-skinned young man said bewilderedly: "Master..."
"Silence." The man in the Zhongshan suit commanded quietly. He then turned to Xin Yunmao, quickly bowing in apology, "I am Yu Jingzi. The child doesn't know better, please forgive him, Your Divine Lordship."
"Don't worry, I won't cause trouble for him, but I will cause trouble for you. He may be ignorant, but what's your excuse?" Xin Yunmao's attitude was cold and distant, his eyes like unmelting ice, piercing to the bone with their chill. He sneered, "If you're going to take him as a disciple, don't lead him astray."
Yu Jingzi didn't dare to argue when scolded, and respectfully said, "Sorry to disturb you both. We do business here in Danshan, and we have a stall up ahead. Feel free to take whatever you need."
A moment later, after Yu Jingzi dragged away the dark-skinned young man, Chu Zhishui finally had a chance to ask, "Is he a demon?"
Yu Jingzi had called Xin Yunmao "Divine Lord," clearly not a title used for humans.
Xin Yunmao replied disdainfully, "Yes, he's sustained by the locals, takes disciples to accumulate wealth, and occasionally finds ways to collect demon energy."
He had always looked down on demons like Yu Jingzi, not believing they had the ability to guide humans. Even if they called themselves masters, they might not actually teach anything useful - how could they teach others when they hadn't even mastered cultivation themselves?
Chu Zhishui nodded in understanding. This must be the underground force that Director Hu had mentioned, the part that the Observation Bureau preferred not to interfere with.
After driving away Yu Jingzi and his disciple, Xin Yunmao's expression turned serious as he lectured, "When you're in an unfamiliar place, don't talk to strangers."
He had only walked away for two steps, and already someone had approached her.
Chu Zhishui replied helplessly, "To be fair, he was the one who approached me."
Of course she wouldn't have initiated conversation - she just couldn't avoid his solicitation.
"You still shouldn't have responded," Xin Yunmao said, seeing that she didn't seem to take it seriously. He grew more sullen and warned earnestly, "What if it had been dangerous?"
"How could exchanging a few words be dangerous?" Chu Zhishui knew he was worried about her but still felt he was making too big a deal of it. She reasoned, "This is a public place, and we live in a society governed by law."
Xin Yunmao scoffed, "When you actually encounter danger, it'll be too late for regrets."
His gaze was deep and his face stern, making him seem more like an old-fashioned parent who wouldn't let her watch nature documentaries or accept running around or coming home late.
Chu Zhishui noticed that while he had been passive in Huaijiang, just quietly following her around, once they traveled he became extremely detail-oriented, as if she might be kidnapped at any moment. The last time she had drinks a bit late in Yinhai, he had treated it like she was missing and potentially dead, even specifically waiting outside the bar to find her.
She now seriously suspected that while she treated him like a three-year-old, he also treated her like a three-year-old - as someone completely incapable of self-protection.
"How would it be too late for regrets?" Chu Zhishui wasn't looking to argue, and said lazily, "I'll just wait for you to come rescue me then."
She gazed at him casually, deciding not to argue at all and instead just completely gave in, taking the stance that she would rely on him.
"..."
Upon hearing this, Xin Yunmao was instantly silenced. He wanted to say something, but seeing her so frank about it, he couldn't get any words out.
The human and demon stared at each other, their eyes locked in a standoff.
After a long while, he pressed his slightly upturned lips together and finally squeezed out the words: "You have a point."
She was his believer, so it was indeed his responsibility to look after her.
Chu Zhishui clapped her hands: "There, problem solved."
"But why do you always talk back to me?" Xin Yunmao frowned, then after counting silently for a few seconds, he softly conceded, "Fine, talk back if you want to."
Meanwhile, after Yu Jingzi pulled the dark-skinned young man away and returned to their stall, he gave his disciple a stern scolding: "Lin Yue, I've told you before not to harass outsiders. One day you'll run into someone with a bad temper who will really beat you up!"
"I obviously only approach people who look approachable," Lin Yue said quietly. "Besides, doesn't everyone here try to get customers?"
Local merchants had a lot of influence, and outside tourists generally didn't want to cause trouble, usually ending up being dragged into shops to look around.
"Do we really need those few customers?" Yu Jingzi said angrily. "This time you ran into someone fierce, and nearly got your master in trouble!"
Lin Yue was stunned: "Those two people were..."
"If he's come out from Huaijiang, whoever's with him can't be ordinary either," Yu Jingzi said thoughtfully. "I heard from Yinhai that the Observation Bureau has humans now, probably that person, and definitely not someone we can mess with."
Yu Jingzi had been active in Danshan for a while, gathering believers and doing business, with good results in recent years and many channels of information. Demons like them didn't dare to directly confront the Observation Bureau. Although humans formed agreements with them voluntarily, historically there had been many cases where voluntary arrangements turned into disasters. So the Observation Bureau was equally unhappy with them, believing their actions increased their workload.
"Are they from the Kong Sang bureau?" Lin Yue asked. "Doesn't the bureau usually stay away from Danshan?"
Kong Sang was far from Danshan, and unless there was an urgent mission, they wouldn't get involved.
Yu Jingzi explained: "The Observation Bureau isn't just in Kong Sang. There are four major Observation Bureaus across the country: Kong Sang, Yinhai, Huaijiang, and Qi Wu. The woman should be from the Huaijiang bureau."
"What about the man?"
"The man is even more trouble than the Observation Bureau," Yu Jingzi gave his disciple a sideways glance. "I can't tell you his name, but the previous one like him was far more powerful than your master. I'm a snake demon and he was a dragon - wherever the sun rose, he had believers."
Yu Jingzi, who widely accepted disciples, naturally admired the dragon god's experience, as humans had even built temples for the dragon god back then.
"This one rarely leaves Huaijiang and doesn't often accept believers, but he might be doing even better than that one, so he's definitely not someone to provoke."
Lin Yue was shocked: "Is it really that serious? More powerful than the Observation Bureau?"
"Of course. If you knew the origins of the Observation Bureau, you'd understand how these two are connected to all the locations," Yu Jingzi said. "Qi Wu is where the dragon god was born, he spread his influence widely in Yinhai, reaching the peak of his prestige. Huaijiang is where that one was born, and the two had a great battle there, after which the dragon god was defeated."
After hearing this explanation, Lin Yue asked curiously, "What does Kong Sang have to do with any of this?"
"Kong Sang was a turning point for the dragon god's spirit. Some say he met someone there, and that was the beginning of his gradual fall," Yu Jingzi looked back at his disciple. "But we don't know the specific details."
He scolded in exasperation: "Anyway, if you see those two again recently, just stay away from them and avoid causing trouble!"
Lin Yue hurriedly agreed.
As dusk fell, the bustling market only quieted down in the evening. Chu Zhishui and Xin Yunmao hadn't found many seeds, so they planned to have dinner outside before returning to the hotel to rest.
Xin Yunmao fastidiously fiddled with the seeds in his hand, then handed them back to Chu Zhishui, suggesting, "If you really want seeds, I can find some for you when we return to Huaijiang. The ones here are quite ordinary."
"Are there high-quality ones in Huaijiang?" Chu Zhishui asked doubtfully. "Where would you find them?"
"I have my ways," Xin Yunmao lifted his chin slightly. "I might not know about other plants, but the bamboo would definitely be of excellent quality."
"...Can we not squeeze in promotional pitches at every opportunity?"
Chu Zhishui thought to herself that while Xin Yunmao complained about the dark-skinned young man's persistence, his own recommendations were equally pervasive, constantly reminding her of something or other.
The next day, the Economic Development Department's business trip team officially began their work, meeting Boss Peng again at the ginseng authentication institution.
Having not seen him for a while, Boss Peng's face looked even more ruddy - perhaps good things were happening in his life. He greeted them warmly: "Little Chu, Little Xin, long time no see!"
Chu Zhishui politely replied: "Long time no see. It seems your company has been doing well lately - you look even better than when we last met."
"I've been busy with orders lately, and we've indeed made some progress. That's why I'm here again collecting ginseng," Boss Peng sighed. "There are many business opportunities but high-quality ginseng is scarce. I didn't use to come to the Danshan Ginseng Auction much before, but now I attend every auction, big or small, just to take a look, because there's just not enough good ginseng to go around."
The Danshan Ginseng Auction was medium-sized, a regular annual event with limited amounts of ginseng available. If there was hundred-year-old ginseng or wild ginseng over a hundred grams, that would be extraordinary news and would only appear at major auctions.
Boss Peng continued: "Your ginseng has good weight, and with some luck, it might even be crowned 'Ginseng King.' I remember last year's Ginseng King was about the same, though it still depends on what others bring."
Chu Zhishui asked: "There's a 'Ginseng King'?"
"Yes, after discussion between the auction house and authentication institution, they decided that the 'Ginseng King' gets more attention than other ginseng and can fetch higher prices, so it comes with some promotional effect."
"I see."
Boss Peng had been in the ginseng business for many years and was well-versed in all its aspects. Having attended numerous auctions, he still preferred to be hands-on and would make personal visits even after becoming the company president.
While ginseng was Boss Peng's main business, it was merely a side interest for the Observation Bureau. After discussing ginseng, they moved on to other topics.
"Chu Zhishui, Xin Yunmao, you both helped me with something in Yinhai before," Boss Peng said tactfully. "Later I discovered that there were many others in similar situations, especially around Danshan."
Xin Yunmao raised an eyebrow: "You've met others who made pacts?"
"Yes, many of my business associates have been involved to some degree!" Boss Peng exclaimed. "No wonder their luck was inexplicably good. I was already behind at the starting line."
Despite being a ginseng expert after years of diligent work, Boss Peng had witnessed many others striking it rich, though such luck had always eluded him. Only after making a pact with the young ginseng spirit did he discover a whole new world and learn about things he'd never known before.
"You haven't lost," Xin Yunmao pondered for a few seconds before saying, "Getting involved with these matters is usually unfortunate. Your pact came from good karma leading to good results. More often, it's bad karma leading to bad outcomes. Their pacts demand far more than yours."
The young ginseng spirit was merely playful without ill intentions and wouldn't exploit loopholes in the pact. As long as Boss Peng kept his promises, the spirit would naturally reward him, without any complicated strings attached.
"That's true. I see them dealing with these things, having to kowtow and burn incense, make offerings during festivals - they're even more reverent than they are to their parents. It's really..." Boss Peng shook his head, "I just don't understand it."
Chu Zhishui: "That sounds very unequal."
She treated the spirits at the Observation Bureau as equals, with interactions being reciprocal, and couldn't understand such a subservient position.
Xin Yunmao glanced at her resentfully and muttered, "Look at other believers, then look at yourself. I just suggested planting some bamboo, and you still won't agree."
He hadn't even asked her for those rituals; he just wanted to plant some bamboo, but she stubbornly refused!
"That's a completely different matter. Why bring this up again?" Chu Zhishui looked at him in surprise. "Besides, a divine lord is a divine lord. You shouldn't take the lead in attacking feudal practices. Why compare yourself with others on these things?"
Xin Yunmao insisted stubbornly: "I'm not comparing, but I want to plant bamboo."
Chu Zhishui looked around, and seeing Boss Peng chatting with others, she finally had time to deal with the persistent bamboo spirit. She said patiently, "Be reasonable. How can planting bamboo at my home be appropriate? Of course it's not allowed."
Xin Yunmao was greatly dissatisfied: "Why not?"
"You think I don't know how bamboo grows? It's either division or layering, splitting off from your main body." She said, flushed with embarrassment and anger. "How appropriate would it be to plant you in my yard? I might as well give you my house key!"
Many people might not know that bamboo reproduction is quite remarkable. An entire bamboo grove might actually be a single plant, with its underground rhizomes forming an extensive network, creating a lush canopy above ground. This might explain why the bamboo spirit could teleport on the ground - his rhizomes spread in all directions, leaving no place unreachable.
Although bamboo can be grown from seeds, it grows much slower that way, so division or layering is more common.
The quality bamboo Xin Yunmao spoke of would definitely be himself - how could she possibly plant him in her home? That would be far too strange.
How was that any different from him living at her house?
Why would this spirit blush at plant documentaries but have no reaction to being planted in someone else's home!?
Xin Yunmao was stunned by her words, seemingly just realizing the implications. His breath caught slightly as he noticed her fair face tinged pink, like a peach first showing its sweet blush, leaving him speechless for quite a while.
Chu Zhishui pressed her lips together, glaring at him angrily, thinking he'd finally understood.
"It's not impossible." Xin Yunmao awkwardly turned his head aside, speaking vaguely while reaching out his hand, "Give me your key, and I'll go plant myself."
"..."
Chu Zhishui, seeing he still wouldn't give up, punched him in frustration.
She was exhausted - just end it all! Once again today, he refused to understand human speech!
Her sarcastic comment about giving him her house key was taken as permission for him to go plant himself!
At the appraisal institution, Yu Jingzi and Lin Yue's jaws dropped at this scene. They had spotted Chu Zhishui and Xin Yunmao as soon as they entered, carefully keeping their distance and occasionally checking their positions, but they never expected to witness such a scene.
Lin Yue thought: How dare a disciple strike their master?
Yu Jingzi thought: How dare a believer strike their divine lord?
Shortly after, they witnessed something even more shocking - Xin Yunmao unscrewed a water bottle and offered it to Chu Zhishui.
Noticing her annoyance, Xin Yunmao deliberately nudged her with the water bottle, offering a peace gesture, and said softly, "Have some water."
Chu Zhishui, busy organizing ginseng certificates, replied: "I'm not thirsty. You drink it."
Seeing her ignore him, Xin Yunmao fussed, "You haven't had water in so long."
Chu Zhishui retorted: "I'm not a plant. An hour isn't that long."
He blinked: "Just take a sip, just a little."
It was almost like watching a parent coaxing a child to eat.
The Xin Yunmao that Yu Jingzi and Lin Yue had met in the market was proud and aloof, but now he showed a completely different face, like a tail-wagging puppy.
"Master, how come other believers can..." Lin Yue dared not mention the striking, but seeing the situation nearby, he diplomatically said, "have their masters fussing over them and offering water, while our traditions are so different?"
Different people, different fates - the situations were completely reversed. Over there, the master was trying to feed water to an unwilling believer, while he had to diligently serve his master every day?
"Shut up! Stop comparing conditions with others, start comparing abilities with other believers!" Yu Jingzi scolded in exasperation. "Their believer managed to get into the Observation Bureau, so why couldn't you!?"
Lin Yue: "..."
