SWNOVELXO Chapter 142: Chapter 142: The Black Disc
After everyone had devoured the meal, they sat back with satisfied expressions, rubbing their full stomachs and letting out contented sighs.
Yang Jinshu had brewed a pot of tea earlier and now brought it out for everyone to enjoy.
Only then did Lin Xiao have time to chat with everyone.
Remembering the newly constructed house at the foot of the mountain, he asked curiously, "Whose house is that down the mountain? Did someone new move into our village?"
Hearing this, everyone at the table, sipping their tea, looked toward Liu Yunan, who was also sipping his tea.
Lin Xiao followed their gaze, still puzzled.
Liu Yunan chuckled sheepishly and explained, "Xiao, that house was built by us. About half a month ago, you mentioned needing to build a house for Yigao to use as a private school. Since you were so busy, we figured we'd just do it ourselves. It's just building a house, right? With Tietou helping and getting some advice from his father, we managed to put it together. This way, you didn't have to wait for your return to handle it."
Lin Xiao was pleasantly surprised. He had only briefly mentioned preparing some materials, not expecting that they would have quickly completed the construction during his absence.
"I see."
Liu Yunan continued, "The private school still needs some desks, chairs, and bookshelves. We've already ordered some from your grandfather and some from the carpenter in town. They should arrive tomorrow, and then the private school will be completely finished."
Suddenly, Lin Xiao thought of something and asked, "Did you all pay for the bricks and tiles yourselves?"
At this, Liu Yunan quickly responded with an "Oh!" before pulling a small booklet from his storage pouch and handing it to Lin Xiao. "Xiao, all the expenses for building the private school are recorded here. The major costs were for materials and food. We used the money Jiang He sent back, and when that wasn't enough, I sold a few pieces of the ink you gave us for emergencies. We still have twenty-one taels left."
Lin Xiao briefly flipped through the booklet before returning it to him.
"This was an unexpected surprise... Thank you all. And Fuzi, your cooking is so good, make sure you don't skimp on the food expenses!"
Although Lin Xiao had only glanced at the booklet, he noticed that the expenses did not include any labor costs, meaning everyone in the sect had contributed to the construction without charging for their work.
On his way up the mountain, he had also noticed that the path had been roughly repaired, and around the sect, there were many small improvements and new constructions, including a secluded, newly built latrine.
To be honest, returning to find that the tasks he had mentally noted for himself had been perfectly handled by his companions was a wonderful feeling. He immediately felt a weight lifted from his shoulders.
So, Lin Xiao decided to leave the rest entirely to Yunan and the others, reminding them only to copy some of the sect's lower-level cultivation manuals for the private school.
He then said to everyone, "Tomorrow, I plan to visit Jiang He and give him this positioning transmission talisman. Yunan, if you have time, could you ask his parents if there's anything they want to send him?"
Liu Yunan nodded in agreement.
Jiang Youfu, however, lamented, "Xiao, you just got back, and now you're leaving again?"
Lin Xiao chuckled, "Why don't you come with me tomorrow then?"
Liu Yunan immediately gasped, "No way, Xiao! If you take Fuzi with you, what are we going to eat?"
Jiang Youfu's eyes lit up, and he waved dismissively, "You all can eat at home! I'm going with Xiao tomorrow!"
Lin Xiao laughed and nodded. "Alright, just make sure you let your family know tonight."
With the business settled, everyone began chatting casually.
Lin Xiao noticed that his father wasn't present and asked his brother about him. Lin Yun explained that their father had been helping with the large order of furniture for the sect, so only Lin Yun remained on the mountain to tend to the spiritual fields.
Tietou and the others then asked Lin Xiao about his experiences at Gu Chuan Dam. When they heard that the governor and his advisor had come up with such an extreme method just to deliver a gift, they were astonished.
That reminded Lin Xiao of the bundle he had stored away. He promptly retrieved it from his private storage and placed it on the now-cleaned stone table.
Unwrapping the cloth revealed a simple wooden box.
Lin Xiao opened the box, and everyone saw its contents: a single item and a letter beside it.
The item was a black disc, made of a material that appeared neither wooden nor metallic.
The onlookers were puzzled. Why would the governor send Xiao a black disc?
Lin Xiao also had no idea what it was, so he picked up the letter.
In the letter, Governor Tong first expressed his gratitude. Then, he explained that, knowing immortals likely had no need for material wealth, he had thought long and hard before deciding to give this item to the immortal.
Governor Tong recounted how he had acquired the black disc during his early days in office, while en route to a remote county where he was to serve as magistrate. During the journey, he was ambushed by mountain bandits and, after getting separated from his attendants, found himself lost in the wilderness. While hiding in a cave, he stumbled upon a strange pit in the stone wall. Though the pit appeared solid, his hand could pass through it, and inside, he discovered the black disc.
The next morning, after having placed the disc aside and fallen asleep, he awoke not in the cave but in a forest near the county town, with the black disc beneath him.
Since then, the disc had shown no further signs of extraordinary properties, but Governor Tong believed it was no ordinary object. Feeling that such a treasure was beyond the grasp of a mere mortal like himself, and not daring to display it publicly, he had kept it hidden—until now. Upon meeting an immortal, he felt it was only fitting to pass the treasure on, ensuring it was not wasted on someone undeserving.