Upon hearing Liu Yunan's plan, Hu Liang immediately patted his chest and said, "I've got time! Just tell me how you want the plaza to be, and I'll get started tomorrow!"
Everyone who had some free time chimed in, volunteering to help.
Liu Yunan then laid out his ideas to the group, "I've already scouted a location. We'll build it in the small valley next to the new disciples' dormitory. The terrain there is relatively flat, and there's enough space. We can also extend a path from the Chujing to connect it."
Mount Beishan was actually part of a larger mountain range, with Lingxian Sect occupying just one corner nearest to Xiushui Village. The entire area had long been allocated to the sect by the imperial court, so now Lingxian Sect had control over several mountain peaks.
Before Lin Xiao entered seclusion, he had instructed everyone that they could discuss and decide on matters of sect development together, especially during his absence.
Three years ago, the sect had cleared an area on one of the mountain peaks for the newcomers' living quarters and built a path, called Chujing, to make it easier to reach.
Beyond this mountain, there was a valley that Liu Yunan had explored. The valley lay between two peaks and was higher than the current sect platform, but it was a suitable place to expand the sect's facilities. Liu Yunan proposed to connect it via the existing path.
Over the past few years, the sect's defensive formation had expanded significantly, now covering a radius of 1,500 meters, including part of Xiushui Village. Fortunately, the system allowed the formation's range to be adjusted. There were two options: maintaining the same overall area but adjusting the shape, or simply shrinking the radius. Lin Xiao had chosen the first option, since it was more practical to include areas like the forest behind the mountain for hunting and exploration. As the sect grew, the range could expand even further.
With that in mind, they could freely develop the surrounding peaks.
After listening to Liu Yunan's plan, the volunteers quickly organized themselves into groups, each taking on specific tasks. It was clear that Liu Yunan no longer had to worry—everyone was fully engaged.
As the discussion continued, Mo Yuanjiao suddenly had a thought and secretly sent a voice transmission to Jiang Youfu: "Youfu, do we have any food left? I want to pack some."
Jiang Youfu, who had been happily munching on some crunchy fried beans while watching the others talk, paused for a moment in surprise. He quickly sent back a transmission, "Of course we do! Didn't you eat enough?"
Mo Yuanjiao awkwardly cleared his throat and replied, "No, no, it's not for me. I've got a distant relative who came looking for me, and she probably hasn't eaten. I don't want her to faint from hunger."
Curious but not one to pry, Jiang Youfu nodded and sent back, "Alright, wait a bit, I'll pack something for you. Don't want anyone going hungry."
With that, Jiang Youfu quietly excused himself and snuck into the kitchen.
Before long, he returned with a storage pouch and handed it to Mo Yuanjiao. "Here you go. I packed enough for two people. If it's not enough, come back for more."
"Thanks, Youfu!" Mo Yuanjiao expressed his gratitude and swiftly left Yaoguang Floating Island without drawing any attention.
The group was still deeply engrossed in their discussion and didn't notice Mo Yuanjiao's departure.
Carrying the packed meal, Mo Yuanjiao quickly made his way to the entrance of the Heart of Inquiry Path. As a Golden Core cultivator, it was easy for him to move without being noticed by ordinary people.
As expected, the carriage of Xuan Yuan Haoyue was still parked there, with the curtains half-drawn. Inside the carriage, Xuan Yuan Haoyue sat slumped against the interior, her hands clasped over her slightly growling stomach. The day's chase after Mo Yuanjiao had left her exhausted, though she hadn't realized it at the time. Now, her whole body ached, and hunger gnawed at her. The small snacks and fruit in the carriage were far from enough to satisfy her.
On the small table beside her were an empty box of snacks and a half-eaten bowl of rough farm food—coarse tea and simple fare from a local household in Xiushui Village. Although the village had prospered over the years, its residents were still used to living frugally, considering rice and meat every day to be a luxury. The food wasn't exactly what someone like Xuan Yuan Haoyue, accustomed to the delicacies of the capital, would find palatable.
But the village had only one small inn and tavern, which was always fully booked. Latecomers like Xuan Yuan Haoyue would never get a seat, let alone enjoy a fine meal.
Mo Yuanjiao had anticipated this. Seeing the untouched meal beside her, he decided to take it back to feed some of the omnivorous beasts in the sect rather than let it go to waste. After all, the influence of Lin Dayou and the others had made him very conscious of wasting food. Nowadays, Mo Yuanjiao wouldn't leave a single grain of rice uneaten, no matter where he was.
When Mo Yuanjiao reached the carriage, the servants nearby greeted him with polite bows. Inside, Xuan Yuan Haoyue's eyes lit up when she saw him, her earlier fatigue replaced by a flash of hope.
"I knew you'd come for me!" she exclaimed.
But Mo Yuanjiao wasn't there to offer any compromise. He glanced at her hands resting on her stomach and then placed a food box on the carriage seat. Without waiting for a response, he shut the carriage doors with a firm click.
"Eat the food and then go home. Stop running around, or I'll send a message to your family and make sure they keep a close eye on you!" he scolded, though not too harshly.
He turned to the carriage driver and the servants, giving them a few instructions. "Take your young lady home. The door is sealed, and it will unlock when you return. If you need to talk to her, just knock on the window twice."
With that, Mo Yuanjiao lightly tapped the lead horse, and the well-trained animal began to move at a steady pace, leading the carriage back towards its destination.
The driver and servants, quickly scrambling into position, climbed onto the carriage. Though it was large enough for them to sit outside, they could only communicate with Xuan Yuan Haoyue through the window, thanks to Mo Yuanjiao's sound-blocking technique. This ensured that whatever protests or complaints she made inside would remain unheard, sparing her from ruining her reputation.