My Portable Spirit Farm: Rise of the Humble Servant

Chapter 245: Hidden Feelings

Bai Zhi had her own calculations.

The internal politics of her family were a treacherous labyrinth, and the elders already had numerous designs for her future Dao companion. Suitors coveting the Bai family’s influence swarmed them like starving carp.

If she exposed her true feelings for Chen Ping now, it wouldn’t just be difficult to pass her family’s scrutiny—it would drag Chen Ping, a man with a shallow foundation and newly minted status, into an endless tide of danger and political warfare.

It was better to bury this affection deep.

Perhaps when she reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, or even possessed the strength to impact the Violet Palace realm, she would have enough authority to speak her mind. Until then, it was not too late to wait.

For now, just being able to see him occasionally and receive his guidance was more than enough.

GRIND. The heavy stone doors of the cave dwelling began to slowly push open.

A flicker of cunning flashed through Bai Zhi’s eyes. Taking advantage of Chen Ping’s diverted attention, she suddenly darted forward, stood on her tiptoes, and planted a swift, feather-light kiss on his lips!

Outside, Bai Yuan—having paced anxiously for half a month—immediately blurred into the room, his face tight with anticipation.

The warm, fleeting touch vanished as quickly as it came, leaving behind the faint, sweet scent of medicinal herbs and a young maiden.

Chen Ping froze. His entire body turned rigid.

But Bai Zhi was already bounding away like a startled fawn. Her cheeks burned crimson as she flashed a mischievous, triumphant smile, running to hide behind her elder brother with a string of silvery laughter.

Chen Ping subconsciously raised a hand, his fingertips brushing his own lips. A phantom warmth and a faint, tingling numbness lingered there.

A bizarre cocktail of emotions swelled in his chest—astonishment, helplessness, and a subtle, unnameable ripple that disrupted his usually stagnant heart.

Before he could untangle the sensation, Bai Yuan strode forward, radiating pride as he looked at his completely reborn sister.

Bai Zhi, however, shrank behind her brother’s broad back. She kept her head bowed, her pale fingers nervously twisting the hem of her robes. The flush on her cheeks hadn’t faded, and she absolutely refused to meet Chen Ping’s gaze—a stark contrast to the bold girl who had just ambushed him.

Looking at her cowering posture, and recalling the fleeting kiss, clarity pierced through Chen Ping’s confusion. He understood the girl’s contradictory web of thoughts.

She wanted to be close to him, yet was terrified of bringing him trouble. So, she resorted to this childish, fleeting gesture to secretly express her profound gratitude and affection, before instantly drawing a clear, platonic boundary the moment an outsider appeared.

Realizing this, Chen Ping felt a wry amusement and a faint trace of being moved. Pragmatic as ever, he played along seamlessly, acting as if the kiss had never happened.

Oblivious to the subtle undercurrents, Bai Yuan was consumed by the ecstasy of his sister’s successful Foundation Establishment. He faced Chen Ping and offered a deep, solemn bow.

“Elder Chen! Words cannot express this kindness. I, Bai Yuan, will remember this for the rest of my life. The Bai family will surely repay you generously!”

Chen Ping waved his hand dismissively, his tone slipping back into its usual flat, clinical cadence. “Hall Master Bai, you exaggerate. Assisting a fellow Sect member is only natural. There is no need for grand rewards. However, if it is convenient for you and the Bai family, I do have two requests.”

“Speak, Elder Chen! As long as it is within my family’s power, we will not refuse!” Bai Yuan declared, thumping his chest.

“First, I am in urgent need of Purple Sun Fruits, or a Division Propagation of the Purple Sun Treasure Tree. If the Bai family comes across any relevant information, I ask that you notify me immediately.”

“The Purple Sun Treasure Tree?” Bai Yuan stroked his chin, pondering. “A rare item indeed. The fruits might be impossible to source on short notice, but as for information on a Division Propagation… I will dispatch my men to investigate the moment I return. We should be able to dig up some leads. You will be the first to know!”

Chen Ping nodded. “Second. My alchemy consumes a significant amount of Tier 3 spiritual spring water, and my current supply is severely depleted. Does the Bai family have an ample quota? Could you spare a portion for me each month? I am fully prepared to pay the market rate.”

“Tier 3 spiritual spring water?” Bai Yuan considered the request. “Our family vaults hold a reserve of several hundred pounds. As for our monthly Sect quota… if we squeeze our allocations, we can easily spare five or six pounds for you every month. And we will absolutely charge the market rate—asking for a premium between us would be an insult!”

Bai Yuan waved his hand expansively, projecting the image of a magnanimous ally. Given his authority and his family’s weight, diverting a few pounds of spring water was well within his power.

Chen Ping’s eyes brightened. Securing an extra five or six pounds a month was exactly the lifeline his alchemy needed.

He immediately cupped his fists. “Then I thank you, Hall Master Bai. I am deeply grateful.”

“You are too polite, Elder Chen! It is our Bai family who owes the thanks,” Bai Yuan laughed, his mood soaring. “Today, I must take my sister back to the clan to officially register her new cultivation realm and pay respects to our ancestors. Tomorrow, I will prepare a modest gift and visit your peak personally to formally express my gratitude!”

With the arrangements settled, Bai Yuan took his leave, ushering out Bai Zhi.

Just as she turned toward the exit, Bai Zhi peeked out from behind her brother. She shot Chen Ping a covert, playful glance, sticking her tongue out in a quick grimace before instantly snapping back to her demure, shy facade.

Chen Ping almost let out a genuine laugh at her antics, shaking his head in mild defeat.

Their dynamic had certainly become a strange, tangled knot.

But Chen Ping was a survivor, a man grounded in cold reality. He wouldn’t lose sleep over the shifting tides of fate. If they naturally grew closer, so be it. Gaining an ally and a reliable channel for scarce resources was an undeniable victory.

As the Bai siblings vanished into the horizon as streaks of light, Chen Ping summoned his sword and carved his own path through the clouds, heading straight for Green Mountain.

Morning light spilled through the translucent mica windows of his cave dwelling, casting soft, amber pools across the stone floor. The warmth slowly burned away the biting, damp chill that clung to Green Mountain in the early hours.

Chen Ping stepped out of his quiet room. The Qi flowing through his Meridians was perfectly restrained, yet a sharp, terrifying light briefly flared in his eyes before settling into a calm abyss.

With a mere thought, his Divine Sense rolled outward, silently blanketing his entire estate and the adjacent courtyards.

The first auras he locked onto belonged to his parents, Chen Dashan and Lin.

Neither of them was resting. They were already seated in their respective meditation chambers, rigorously cycling their cultivation techniques.

Compared to a few months ago, their auras were vastly thicker, firmly entrenched at the seventh layer of Qi Condensation. The energy was still slightly turbulent—a clear sign of a recent breakthrough—but the progress was staggering.

They were advancing at a speed that defied the common sense of ordinary cultivators their age.

A rare warmth blossomed in Chen Ping’s chest. They had taken his warnings to heart, pouring every waking second into their cultivation without a shred of complacency.

In the mortal world, men and women in their fifties were considered elders, meant to wither quietly while bouncing grandchildren on their knees. But here, for them, it was a brutal, desperate race against the clock—the beginning of Defying the Heavens to change fate.

The massive quantities of Top Grade Foundation Consolidation Pills they were consuming were forcefully paving a golden road toward their future.

His Divine Sense swept past them, locking onto the side courtyard where Yuan Jingtian resided.

Yuan Jingtian was still at the ninth layer of Qi Condensation, though his aura was dense enough that Grand Perfection was just over the horizon.

The man was currently hunched over a desk, frantically drafting Talismans.

Observing the fluid, precise strokes of the brush, Chen Ping noted a massive leap in skill since his last inspection. Yuan Jingtian was now undeniably operating at the level of a Tier 1 High-grade Talisman Master!

Chen Ping nodded inwardly in approval. Yuan Jingtian’s innate talent for the Talisman Dao was genuinely terrifying. Given enough time and a steady stream of resources, his ascension to a Tier 2 Talisman Master was practically guaranteed.

A Tier 2 Talisman Master would command immense respect, cementing him as a major player even among the Inner Disciples of the Qingyun Sect.

Looking at it now, Chen Ping’s decision to let the man dedicate himself entirely to his craft had been the optimal choice. He hadn’t let a valuable asset rot.

Having confirmed their progress, Chen Ping allowed his Divine Sense to expand further, conducting a methodical, sweeping audit of every single soul residing on Green Mountain.

It was also to take stock of Green Mountain’s foundation!