That only made Master Tian Mo chuckle. "Then why don't you try destroying the array in those books, since you're in such high spirits?"
Linyue shook her head instantly. "That's not a good idea."
"I'll do it," Shu Mingye said without hesitation, completely straight-faced.
Linyue turned sharply to him, her frown deepening. "Wait! No—"
Before she could build up a proper objection, Shu Mingye's eyes shifted to the cabbage man still tied to the pillar. "Did you poke at him?"
"Umm…" Linyue glanced at the poor soul, who was now quietly drooling on himself. "Just a little?"
Shu Mingye narrowed his eyes. "A little?"
Linyue blinked innocently. "Well… I succeeded, didn't I? Look. He's not an angry cabbage anymore."
Shu Mingye gave her a long, silent look. "You never keep your promise."
"I do! Sometimes." She coughed again into her sleeve. "Anyway, we have more important things to do right now."
Shu Mingye sighed deeply. "Right."
Meanwhile, Master Tian Mo and Song Meiyu had already leaned back like they were watching a play. Song Meiyu had brought out some dried fruit to snack on.
"They're arguing again," Song Meiyu whispered, eyes sparkling.
Master Tian Mo nodded wisely. "Good. It means they like each other more today."
Then another knock tapped at the door.
"Come in," Master Tian Mo called, already reaching for his teacup like this was becoming routine.
The door opened again. This time, it was Shen Zhenyu, followed by Soup Man and several people carrying more boxes.
Shen Zhenyu stepped forward. "He helped confiscate these books last night after I told him about the array." He tilted his head toward Soup Man.
Master Tian Mo raised his eyebrows. "Why is everyone so excited collecting merit? What's next? A queue outside the door with book donations and food coupons?"
Soup Man entered the room, scanning the people quietly, then his gaze landed on Linyue. Before he could say anything, Shu Mingye immediately stepped sideways and blocked Linyue from view in one smooth, territorial motion.
Linyue blinked. "…What are you doing?"
"Instinct," Shu Mingye answered, eyes still on Soup Man like he was ready to burn him.
Soup Man turned to Master Tian Mo instead and gave a deep, respectful bow. "This is our first time meeting. I've heard much about Xuanyi Pavilion. My name is Mu Tianyi. I greet Master."
Master Tian Mo smiled warmly. "Good, good. A polite young man. Now go ahead and tell your people to stack those books over there. Must be heavy carrying all that trouble in your hands."
Soup Man gave a small nod and gestured to his helpers. They moved at once, piling their boxes neatly beside the ones Shu Mingye's men had already brought in. Meanwhile, Shen Zhenyu had quietly excused himself, heading back to the healing hall to assist Master Yin Xue.
Song Meiyu leaned closer to Linyue and whispered, "Is it just me, or is this room slowly turning into a cursed library?"
Linyue's gaze drifted to the growing pile of boxes filled with sinister bedtime stories. She replied in the same low tone, "Fortunately, this is not our room."
Master Tian Mo, who apparently had spiritual ears as well as spiritual power, sipped his tea and said lazily, "I heard that. Should I have it moved to your room instead?"
"Nope! We're good!" Song Meiyu shot back instantly, her hands flying up.
Then Soup Man stepped forward, clasping his hands politely. "Actually, I also came here for Linyue."
Shu Mingye's face darkened. He shifted slightly, just enough to stand in front of Linyue again like she might get kidnapped mid-conversation. His voice was low and sharp. "What do you want?"
"I have some information that she might be interested in," Soup Man replied calmly.
"I asked Brother Zhenyu to have him help me find something," Linyue explained to Shu Mingye quickly. Before he threw the Soup Man out of the window on pure instinct.
Shu Mingye let out a long sigh. He gave Soup Man a look full of reluctance and quiet suspicion. "…Say it."
Soup Man nodded and made a subtle gesture. One of his men stepped forward carrying a very old and very suspiciously fancy wooden box. It was covered in detailed carvings, some scratch marks, and enough mystery aura to practically say, "Warning. May contain curses, haunted ink, or the ghost of someone's grandma."
Soup Man took the box carefully from his helper and held it out. Not to Linyue, but to Shu Mingye, who still stood there like a very tall, very jealous wall.
"This was my father's collection," Soup Man explained. "He loved collecting strange things. Antique artifacts. Weird weapons. Unusual scrolls from everywhere he traveled. He never let me open this box when he was alive."
Shu Mingye narrowed his eyes at him. "Then how do you know this has what she's looking for?"
Soup Man gave a small amused smile. "Well, you know how it is. When your father says don't touch that, your child instincts scream touch it right now. So I did. Once. When I was young, I opened one scroll. It had red ink, strange symbols, and what looked like a diagram. I didn't get to read much though. Got caught. The scroll smacked my forehead harder than my father did."
He glanced at Linyue. "You asked for books about forbidden and ancient arrays. I thought… maybe it's one of them."
Linyue, who had been sipping her tea quietly through this entire exchange, finally blinked and set her cup down.
Shu Mingye stared at the box, still silent, still suspicious.
Song Meiyu leaned in close to Linyue and whispered loudly, "I kind of want to open it now too. Just for the chaos."
Master Tian Mo, still sipping his tea, muttered, "If that box explodes, I'm blaming all of you."
Linyue tilted her head and said quietly to Shu Mingye, "I want to see it."
That was all it took. Shu Mingye reached out and took the box from Soup Man without a word, his expression grim as if preparing for the worst.
Then suddenly Master Tian Mo slammed his teacup onto the table with surprising force. Everyone jumped slightly.
"I remember!" he declared, eyes lighting up. "I also have my master's inheritance."
Song Meiyu gasped. "Another cursed book? Or spooky artifact?!"
Master Tian Mo shook his head. "I don't know. It's an old box. Been passed down from master to disciple for generations. My master gave it to me before he passed. Told me to never open it until I reached peak stage fifth level cultivation."
Song Meiyu's jaw dropped. "Fifth level?!"
Master Tian Mo shrugged. "Yes. Which means even he never opened it. So it's been sitting on the top shelf for decades. Untouched. Probably judging me."
Linyue tilted her head. "So, Master had a mysterious ancient box all this time and just forgot?"
"I've been busy drinking tea," Master Tian Mo said seriously. "I'll go grab it."
And with that, he turned and shuffled off toward his chamber.
Song Meiyu whispered to Linyue, "What if it's just filled with dried plums?"
Linyue whispered back, "Then we eat them. Respectfully."
Shu Mingye, who was definitely not whispering, narrowed his eyes. "What kind of dried plum needs a peak fifth level cultivator to open it?"
Song Meiyu shrugged with great seriousness. "Who knows? Maybe it's an ancient spiritual plum. Forbidden and sour."
Linyue laughed softly. "Give me the box."
Shu Mingye did not hand Linyue the box. Instead, he sat down right beside her, placed the wooden box gently on the table, and opened it himself.
Song Meiyu was already halfway across the table, arms folded, chin resting on the surface, eyes sparkling with dangerous curiosity.
Soup Man drifted closer behind Shu Mingye, peering over his shoulder.
Linyue leaned slightly forward, her face calm but her eyes sharp and alert.
Inside the box were a few scrolls and ancient books. They were clearly old, covered in dust, some stained, others with torn corners. One looked like it had been chewed on. Possibly by time. Possibly by rats. Possibly by a very literate ghost.
Shu Mingye reached in and carefully picked up one of the books. His frown deepened as he read the faded characters on the cover aloud. "How to Reach Enlightenment Without Cultivating."
"…Is that even legal?" Song Meiyu asked, voice full of wonder.
"Sounds fake," Linyue said, sipping her tea again.
Soup Man leaned in and muttered proudly, "My father would buy that."
Shu Mingye gave him a sharp side-eye and opened the book cautiously. His eyes narrowed as they landed on the first page.
There were drawings. Many drawings. Very detailed drawings.
Shu Mingye's expression darkened. He slapped the book shut with a loud bang and shoved it back into the box.
Song Meiyu gasped. "Is that…?! Did we just find forbidden enlightenment?!"