Chapter Eleven: The Little Flatterer

“Without a spiritual root. Next, Gu Qinglong from Qingshan Village.”

Nearly half the children from Qingshan Village had already been tested, but unfortunately, not one possessed a spiritual root—not even a mixed one.

“Without a spiritual root. Next, Gu Weiyu from Qingshan Village.” On the platform, Gu Hui called out again.

Gu Weiyu clenched her fists nervously. As she passed by the shaman Mu, she heard her whisper encouragement, "Ayue, do your best!"

She nodded and walked up to the platform with determined steps. Gu Hui glanced at her and said, "Place your hand on the disk and focus your mind."

Gu Weiyu gently laid her hand on the white, flawless disk, anxiously watching it. As soon as her hand touched it, she felt a strange pull, as if something within her was being drawn out.

Suddenly, dazzling red and emerald green intertwined and appeared on the disk.

Gu Hui, whose face had been expressionless, showed a hint of joy—it was a dual fire and wood spiritual root, both values exceeding ninety percent!

It had been years since a child with such outstanding spiritual roots had appeared in the Gu family!

The villagers below were visibly delighted, especially the chief, Gu Yong, whose face flushed with excitement. He turned to Mu and exclaimed, "You really have an eye for talent!"

Mu beamed, playing along, "It’s all thanks to your wise guidance, Chief!"

“Gu Weiyu from Qingshan Village, dual fire and wood spiritual roots!” Gu Hui announced with a touch of excitement. He was cautious and did not reveal her exact spiritual root values; though the crowd was all kin, one never knew who might harbor envy...

He smiled kindly at Gu Weiyu, “Ayue, you can step down now.”

Immersed in indescribable joy, Gu Weiyu returned to the crowd below, losing all interest in the remaining tests.

“Well done, Ayue! You’ve brought honor to our Qingshan Village!” The chief’s wrinkled face blossomed with joy. Heaven knew how helpless he’d felt hearing the repeated reports of children without spiritual roots, but he never dreamed their village would produce a child with dual roots!

Neighboring villages looked on with envy, wishing such a child belonged to them.

Gu Hui cleared his throat and continued testing. Seven children with mixed spiritual roots and one with four types appeared, but the rest had none.

However, the seven with mixed roots all had values below twenty, so they were not eligible to stay at the main house for cultivation.

Gu Qingyun, who had four roots, was lucky enough to have two values above twenty and could remain in the county city’s main family.

The testing concluded swiftly. Some villages rejoiced while others lamented, but unquestionably, Qingshan Village had made a splash today.

After all, a dual spiritual root far outweighed ten or even eight mixed roots!

“Gu Weiyu and Gu Qingyun, stay. The rest may leave after lunch at the manor.” Gu Hui beckoned to the two and turned to address the others.

As he spoke, more than ten maids in green dresses entered the courtyard, leading the others to their meal.

“Ayue, we’ll be going now.” The chief and Mu bid her farewell, somewhat uneasy.

Gu Weiyu’s delight faded. How could she forget that those with spiritual roots had to stay in the county city? Did this mean she’d never again see her father, mother, or little Shitou?

Watching their departing figures, a wave of sadness swept over her.

“Waa— I want to go home—” A loud cry echoed nearby. She glanced at Gu Qingyun, who had also been left behind and was sobbing uncontrollably. She couldn’t help but feel a kinship with him.

Gu Hui deftly produced a golden sugar figurine and held it out to Gu Qingyun. “Don’t cry. Look what I have here.”

Gu Qingyun, sitting on the ground and wailing, seemed to freeze mid-cry. He shoved his chubby hand into his mouth, sucking on it, and gazed longingly at the sugar figurine.

“Go on, eat it!” Gu Hui said gently. Gu Qingyun leapt to his feet, took the figurine, and licked it, quickly succumbing to its sweet charm.

Gu Weiyu saw his tears still clinging to his lashes, yet a smile had emerged on his face. She thought to herself, what a carefree little foodie!

“Ayue, would you like one?” Gu Hui, as if performing magic, produced another sugar figurine and handed it to her.

Remembering the sweet-and-sour candied hawthorn she’d tasted days before, her mouth watered uncontrollably. She nodded and took the figurine, eating it with relish.

The sweetness seemed to dispel her sorrow at parting—was she, too, a carefree foodie?

“I’m a generation older than you. You can call me Uncle Sixteen from now on. Follow me,” Gu Hui said. With sugar figurines in their mouths, Gu Weiyu and Gu Qingyun followed obediently behind him, walking through the Gu manor.

Inside, the corridors twisted and turned endlessly. The servants moved about in orderly fashion, lowering their heads respectfully as they passed.

Gu Weiyu grew dizzy from all the turns, focusing only on keeping close to Gu Hui. After nearly half an hour, they finally stopped.

“Uncle Han...” Gu Hui halted before a courtyard and greeted an elderly servant at the door.

Uncle Han lifted his eyelids before closing them again. “The master instructed that you should take the children inside directly.”

Gu Weiyu quietly glanced around, her curiosity about the master growing.

Gu Hui led the two children past Uncle Han into the courtyard. At the entrance stood a stone screen, engraved with the image of a Daoist ascending to immortality.

Beyond the screen, a lush pomegranate tree met their gaze, its branches ablaze with blossoms like little flames.

Beneath the tree, a man in dark robes sat at a stone table with his back to them, playing a game of black and white chess by himself.

Gu Weiyu’s eyes widened—this was the man she’d glimpsed earlier during the spiritual root test; so he was the master of the Gu family!

“Sixteenth Uncle greets the master. The spiritual root testing is over; these are the two children with promising values this year,” Gu Hui reported.

The Gu family master, Gu Xun, placed a final white piece, then waved his hand. The black and white pieces obediently separated and “flew” into two round containers on the table.

He turned to the children Gu Hui had brought. When his gaze fell on Gu Weiyu, he smiled gently. “Little one, come here.”

Gu Weiyu started, then quickly composed herself and walked obediently to the master.

Gu Xun asked with interest, “Tell your third grandfather, what is your name?”

Third grandfather? Gu Weiyu blinked. The master looked younger than the chief grandfather, perhaps only slightly older than her father—how could he be a grandfather?

“My name is Ayue. Third grandfather, why do you look so young?” she asked, tilting her head in curiosity.