Chapter 1011: Chapter 529: Lame Excuse (Part 2) When Gu Sheng spoke, everyone fell silent. Seeing this, Gu Sheng smiled. "Alright, we’re all brothers here, no one cares that much. Quickly pack up and rest early, we’ll return to Stone Village tomorrow." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺 Unable to argue with Gu Sheng, they could only do as he said. Early the next morning, they got up early. Before the sun had risen, they left the inn. Out of the city, when they came to the wilderness, Gu Sheng suddenly stopped. "It’s almost noon, the sun is a bit harsh, let’s take a break." Hearing this, everyone felt a bit strange. The sun had just risen, and there was still some time before noon. For Gu Sheng to suddenly suggest a rest under such a poor pretext, it was indeed strange. Because after traveling for so long, Gu Sheng never cared whether the sun was harsh. As long as he wanted to travel, nothing could stop him. They were used to being fearless with him, so this sudden excuse for a break puzzled them all. They exchanged glances and sat down quietly. Gu Sheng leaned against a tree, closed his eyes, and took a nap, keeping his thoughts inscrutable. As time passed, Er Gou couldn’t sit still, so he approached and poked Gu Sheng’s arm. "Brother Sheng, should we continue resting?" "Yes." "Weren’t we supposed to return to Stone Village today? Why are we suddenly resting? Brother Sheng, are you feeling unwell?" After Er Gou asked, everyone turned their eyes to Gu Sheng. Gu Sheng sensed their attention and turned his head aside. "I’m not unwell, just that the sun’s too harsh, so let’s take a break." Hearing this excuse again, Er Gou became even more confused. "Brother Sheng, really, what’s going on? Can’t you tell me? I’m a bit worried." Gu Sheng remained silent, and Er Gou kept pressing him with questions. The longer Gu Sheng stayed silent, the longer Er Gou would persist. While everyone found it amusing yet helpless, a delighted voice suddenly came from afar: "Gu Sheng, you all are actually here!" Upon hearing the voice, Gu Sheng finally opened his eyes. "Yeah, what a coincidence." Hearing this "what a coincidence," Er Gou and the others turned speechless. They finally understood why Gu Sheng used such a lousy excuse to stay here; it was to create a chance encounter. Now that they understood, everyone sighed in relief and turned their gaze toward the Elf Clan members. "Lan Yao, what brings you here? Aren’t you returning to the Elf Clan?" After Shi Lou asked, Lan Yao waved the item in his hand. "After drinking last night, Gu Sheng left something behind. I was planning to return to the Elf Clan, but I thought it’d be better to deliver it to him. I’m not sure what it is, but what if it’s important?" When they saw what he was holding, the group realized it was just an insignificant box, originally containing Fire Red Flowers, now empty. As for why the box was on the table, the Stone Village members clearly understood. With the third appointment approaching, Lan Yao had worked hard twice, so Gu Sheng naturally needed to step forward. "Since we’ve met here, let me return it to you." Looking at the box in Lan Yao’s hand, Gu Sheng didn’t reach for it. "Haven’t you always been curious about what a house with a dark wood cover looks like? Would you like to come to Stone Village with me to have a look?" Hearing this, Lan Yao’s eyes lit up. "Gu Sheng, do you mean..." "The third appointment, and this just happens to be the third time. If your heart hasn’t changed, why not be friends?" Finally hearing these words, Lan Yao nodded excitedly. "Alright, you can’t back out." "Will you come or not?" "Of course, I’ll go! Let’s go!" Gu Sheng smiled and led the group to Stone Village. On the way, he curiously asked, "Did the people from South Mountain discover the Spiritual Pearl’s reaction?" "Of course, they suspected someone took it." "Do they suspect me?" "Yes, but the people from Heisha Sect and Purple Mist Peak cleared your name. They said you died, so the matter probably ended without a resolution, and people might think the Spiritual Pearl revelation is just a rumor." At this, Lan Yao paused. "Gu Sheng, if one day they find out you’re alive, will they cause you trouble?" "The Spiritual Pearl contains a hundred years of Spiritual Power. Once I absorb it, who do you think can stand against me? Even if they know the truth, they’ll keep their mouths shut." Thinking carefully, Lan Yao felt he made sense. As long as Gu Sheng was strong enough, those people would manage their words themselves. The two exchanged smiles and didn’t bring up the topic again. The next evening, they finally arrived at Stone Village. Seeing a group of people approaching, the people of Stone Village immediately went home, as home was their best Shield. Even if someone came with killing intent, unable to break the dark wood Array, they couldn’t harm them. As everyone peeked from houses to observe, Shi Lou leaped to a high position. "Fellow villagers, stop peeking from your houses, we’re back!" With his loud call, every household immediately opened their doors. "Gu Sheng, you’re back!" Seeing everyone, Gu Sheng nodded with a smile. "We’re back. This beside me is Lan Yao from the Elf Clan, and those with him are his subordinates, here as our guests." Upon learning that these strangers were guests from the Elf Clan, the people of Stone Village showed great enthusiasm. The Third Elder looked at Gu Sheng with concern: "Gu Sheng, did anyone get hurt?" "No, in fact, Shi Lou and Er Gou have greatly advanced in their cultivation, they’re about to make a breakthrough. Since it’s unsafe outside, they’ve been suppressing it until now." Learning that the two were about to break through, the Third Elder was overjoyed. "That’s great! These two rascal’s cultivation is finally reaching a new level. I thought we’d have to wait another two years, yet traveling with you for a while brought such improvement. Gu Sheng, you’re truly a great benefactor to them!" "Third Elder, you overpraise me, it’s also because of their own efforts. From tomorrow, let them enter the cultivation chamber." "Alright, I’ll arrange it immediately." The Third Elder called a few people over, whispered to them, and they hurried away. Then, someone peeked from behind the Third Elder, curiously asking: "Gu Sheng, did you see the Spiritual Pearl?" Upon hearing this, Gu Sheng rotated his wrist and directly presented the Spiritual Pearl to everyone. Seeing the Spiritual Pearl with their own eyes, everyone was astonished, staring at it with wide eyes, not blinking. Seeing them like this, Gu Sheng felt amused yet helpless. After a long while, he finally put away the Spiritual Pearl and brought out some Purple Spiritual Grass, handing it to the Third Elder. "Third Elder, we found these on South Mountain. You keep them, and if anyone needs them in the future, feel free to use them." Holding the Purple Spiritual Grass, the Third Elder was extremely grateful. "Gu Sheng, on behalf of everyone in Stone Village, thank you." Hearing this, Gu Sheng frowned slightly. "Third Elder, now you’re being too formal. Do you not consider me a part of Stone Village?" After Gu Sheng finished speaking, the Third Elder patted his own mouth. "Gu Sheng, you’ll always be one of us in Stone Village. We’ll rely on you to survive in the future." "It’s not that serious, you’ve overpraise me again." After Gu Sheng’s words, Shi Lou and Er Gou stepped forward, each presenting a treasure to the Third Elder. "Third Elder, these are what Brother Sheng shared with us. Please take them to maintain the daily expenses of Stone Village." Huang Shan understood and signaled to the others, making everyone present something for the Third Elder. The Third Elder was so thrilled that his mouth became a seam of joy. After politely refusing a bit, he accepted everything. "Alright, alright, I’ve received your feelings. Today we have guests, so bring the guests to rest first. We’ll prepare and welcome them tonight." Gu Sheng nodded and took Lan Yao back to his courtyard. Lan Yao curiously inspected Gu Sheng’s courtyard, finally fixing his gaze in a corner of the yard. He squatted in front of a plant and observed carefully for a long time, then his eyes lit up.