He didn't know exactly how many spirit stones he had, but he was certain there were enough for the return trip. After a quick glance to confirm, Mo Yuanjiao confidently began guiding the spirit boat toward Hufang Province.
Since they were flying in a straight line through the sky, Mo Yuanjiao didn't need to monitor the direction constantly. He only had to adjust it occasionally.
For the rest of the Mo family, aside from Mo Yuanjiao, this was their first time flying, and they were filled with wonder. However, Mo Lady felt a bit lightheaded after the spirit boat lifted off. Mo Yuanjiao immediately pulled out some thick silk blankets from his storage bag and had the servants spread them out on the boat. He then gently led his mother over, saying, "Mother, why don't you lie down for a bit?"
Mo Lady smiled fondly at her youngest son and agreed, "Alright, alright, I'll lie down." She reclined on the blankets, finding comfort.
On the other hand, Mo Old Madam experienced no discomfort at all. Instead, she was full of curiosity, eagerly peering over the edge of the boat to watch the scenery below. It was her first time seeing the world from such a high vantage point, and she found it endlessly fascinating.
The servants and guards were equally amazed but kept their composure, mindful of their duties. They refrained from wandering about or gazing at the new sights. The servants attending to Mo Lady busied themselves with caring for her.
After making sure his mother was settled, Mo Yuanjiao joined his grandmother for a few moments of playful banter before calling for Bao Jian to meet him at the other end of the spirit boat.
"Earlier, when I asked you to find some trustworthy people, you chose your cousin?" Mo Yuanjiao asked.
Bao Jian, who had no idea what his young master wanted to discuss, brightened immediately and nodded vigorously. "Yes! Yes, young master! As per your instructions, I sent them to Lingxiao Escort Agency to wait if they weren't part of the Mo family. How did you know? Has my cousin already arrived at Lingxiao Escort Agency? Did Qin Young Master or Liu Young Master bring news of him?"
Bao Jian had met Liu Yunan and Qin Jianghe a few times over the past few days. Since they were close to his young master and of similar age, he respectfully referred to them as "young master" as well.
Mo Yuanjiao had indeed received a message from Liu Yunan about Bao Jian's cousin but had been too busy in the capital to inform him. After spending the last few days with Qin Jianghe, the topic had come up in conversation, reminding Mo Yuanjiao to update Bao Jian about Tong Jialiang's situation.
Seeing the loyal servant who had grown up by his side, Mo Yuanjiao felt a twinge of guilt. "Your cousin encountered some trouble on his way to Songyang County," he said. He then explained how Tong Jialiang had taken shelter at a mountain stronghold, only to be captured by cultivators from Huan You Kingdom and forced to mine deadly stones. Although he was eventually rescued, Tong Jialiang had been in a dazed state ever since, not speaking a word.
At first, Bao Jian didn't quite grasp the seriousness of the situation. "Cultivators? Deadly stones?" These were things far beyond his usual experience. He couldn't quite comprehend them.
But when Mo Yuanjiao mentioned that his cousin had been in a dazed state for several days, Bao Jian understood. Though he didn't think it was too serious, the expression on his young master's face suggested otherwise. Cautiously, he asked, "Young master, will my cousin recover? Is it treatable?"
Mo Yuanjiao, feeling somewhat anxious and helpless due to his lack of medical knowledge, stood with his hands on his hips at the edge of the boat. However, seeing Bao Jian's worried expression, he reassured him, "I haven't seen him myself, so I can't say for sure. But I've heard that a young girl at Qi Refining Stage One has been taking care of him, talking to him every day, taking him out for walks, and giving him various pills. From what I've heard, your cousin seems to be improving—his eyes sometimes show signs of clarity. I think he should recover."
Hearing this, Bao Jian felt much more at ease. Gratefully, he smiled and said, "Thank you, young master, for your concern. For us country folk, as long as he's not missing an arm or a leg, it's not a big deal. My cousin's still young and probably got a bit scared, but he'll be fine soon. Don't worry, young master, he's clever and reliable. Once he's fully recovered, I'm sure he'll be of good service to you."
Mo Yuanjiao, knowing Bao Jian's personality inside and out, understood what he was thinking. Bao Jian was loyal and hardworking, especially toward him, but his one flaw was his unwavering belief in his status as a servant. While he often joked and bantered with Mo Yuanjiao, when it came to serious matters, he was always careful not to cause trouble for his young master, fearing that he might be a burden.
This time was no different. Even though Mo Yuanjiao had specifically asked him to find trustworthy people, Bao Jian's first concern, upon confirming his cousin wasn't gravely injured, was whether his cousin's situation would interfere with Mo Yuanjiao's plans or make his young master look down on his cousin.
Mo Yuanjiao could never stand seeing Bao Jian act so servile, but there wasn't much he could do. Bao Jian had always been this way, and trying to change him now would be impossible.
In fact, Mo Yuanjiao had once asked his mother about this. Mo Lady had told him, "For a servant, telling them not to place too much importance on you is the same as telling them not to be loyal."
Looking at Bao Jian, who, despite being three years older, was now half a head shorter, Mo Yuanjiao waved a hand and said, "Alright, we'll talk about work once your cousin is fully recovered. There's no rush. Take care of him and help him get back on his feet."
Bao Jian finally let out a sigh of relief. Even though he knew his young master was kind, he still worried that his family's problems might affect his master's plans.
Bao Jian vividly remembered the time when he was starving on the streets as a child, with grass stuck in his hair as a sign he was for sale. It was his young master who had bought him, brought him into the Mo household, fed him, clothed him, and even taught him to read. For Bao Jian, his young master was everything.
In fact, Bao Jian hadn't originally been assigned to serve Mo Yuanjiao. As he wasn't born into the family's servants, he wasn't initially qualified to be a personal attendant. This also led to him being bullied by other servants when he first entered the Mo household. Most of the other servants assumed Mo Yuanjiao had only taken him in on a whim and would soon forget about him.