CHAPTER 427: A BASKETFUL OF FAKE ELDERS_2

Xiao Xian became increasingly suspicious as she listened. First, there was a master named Mao Dazhu, then an uncle-master Mei Nian, too many convenient elders sprung up out of nowhere.

"You listen, when that lad handed you over to me, he made it clear, told me to take good care of you. I’m not someone who grudges a favor, I only kept you at Meijia Village because you have considerable aptitude, and due to a fortunate twist of fate, you gained the recognition of the Spiritual Rhinoceros Scissors. Over the past two months, I’ve also put quite a bit of effort into taking care of you," Mei Nian said animatedly, leaving Xiao Xian completely confused. What did he mean by the past two months? Could it be that she had been in a coma for two months already?

After realizing she had been unconscious for two months, the first thing Xiao Xian exclaimed was, "Aunt must have called the police by now, and if Grandpa hadn’t heard from me for so long, he must be extremely worried."

"Enough, as a Cultivator, you must prioritize your cultivation and let go of such miscellaneous thoughts," Mei Nian said impatiently. If it wasn’t for that very reliable lad telling her that Zhu Xiaoxian was a promising Cultivator seedling, young but already possessing Silver Grade cultivation, she might have reconsidered accepting this apprentice.

"What do you know, you don’t have family or close friends, how can you understand how I feel," Xiao Xian was only focused on getting in touch with her family, and without realizing, she spoke too harshly. By the time she noticed, Mei Nian was silently squeezing a bowl in her hands, which creaked under the pressure.

The air felt as sticky as glue, and Xiao Xian, feeling rather ashamed, said, "Sorry, I didn’t mean to."

"You’re right, most of my relatives are long gone, I naturally cannot understand the feelings of someone who has relatives," Mei Nian postured magnanimously, brushing aside her previous disputes with Xiao Xian. She didn’t actually dislike Xiao Xian; on the contrary, she admired her ever since the last time she had seen how Xiao Xian had gone out of her way to help a friend.

"I was just overly worried about my family," Xiao Xian hesitated, for she knew from past experiences how it felt to be without relatives or friends, and now that she had them, she treasured them even more.

"Don’t worry, your family doesn’t know you’re missing. The only ones who know you’re here are Zhou Ziang and the friend who was with you that day." Mei Nian spoke and casually plucked a rose. The rose changed shape in her hands, and in no time, there was a person standing in front of Xiao Xian.

"Who is she?" Xiao Xian had just asked when the person opened her mouth and in an identical tone and expression said, "Who is she?"

"This is called a Flower Puppet," Mei Nian said enticingly. "Once you learn to control your own Spiritual Power, you can use your birth flower to create Flower Puppets, although it only works on ordinary people, not on Cultivators or Superpower Users."

Xiao Xian covertly observed Mei Nian and noticed that her Spiritual Power was much stronger than hers, tinged with a golden hue, suggesting that Mei Nian possessed Gold Grade cultivation. Two months ago, before the coma, she couldn’t differentiate the strength of people’s Spiritual Power, but now, having awoken from a long dream, she found herself suddenly capable.

"Don’t stare with those shifty eyes. If the Mei Family wasn’t becoming sparse and this generation lacked someone under sixty with cultivation, I wouldn’t be so eager to take care of Mei Xiang’s disciple," Mei Nian expressed both anger and resignation.

Xiao Xian noticed that when Mei Nian was angry, her Spiritual Power fluctuated, and its color changed from gold to silver-white, though she was unsure why.

Despite her scoldings, Mei Nian still summarized the events that transpired during the two months Xiao Xian was in a coma.

Soon after Xiao Xian fell into a coma, with the help of Zhou Ziang and Mei Nian, four people escaped successfully. Zeng Xuerou took a Beauty Enhancement Pill prepared by Mei Nian to heal the wounds on her face and body.

The "shorn" Feng Bird was taken back to the United States by Aisha.

Zhou Ziang wanted to take the nearly depleted Xiao Xian to Changbai Mountain to recuperate, but Mei Nian stopped him. She suggested bringing Xiao Xian back to Meijia Village and used a rose Flower Puppet to create a convincing "substitute" for Xiao Xian, which was taken back to Sacred Heart Middle School by Zeng Xuerou to take over Xiao Xian’s daily life and schooling.

"You let a rose substitute for me?" Xiao Xian was utterly astounded, imagining a flower playing basketball and taking tests, a scenario far beyond her own imagination.

"Making a big deal out of nothing. Haven’t you seen others use a few leaves to unleash dart attacks? A Flower Puppet isn’t just a regular flower; it’s a flower spirit imbued with my Spiritual Power, guaranteed not to fail. Plus, with your overly shrewd friend by her side, what could possibly go wrong?" Mei Nian’s cultivation was approximately at the Gold-level Middle Stage, but she and Mei Xiang had different specialties; she excelled in medicine and floriculture.

"So, Xuerou already knows about my situation?" Xiao Xian inquired, feeling a sudden pang in her heart.

"Kids these days are too clever by half; even if I didn’t tell her, she probably already figured out 70 to 80 percent. Right after I told that little girl about your situation, her reaction, tsk tsk, she’s hardly what you’d expect from a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old," Mei Nian said, shaking her head in admiration. Indeed, Zeng Xuerou had woken up the day after Xiao Xian’s coma, and the first thing she did, just like Xiao Xian, was to inquire about her friend’s condition.

Upon learning of Xiao Xian, Mei Nian, and others’ identities as Cultivators, Zeng Xuerou was slightly surprised but not frightened. She then said, "Then please take good care of Xiao Xian on behalf of her aunt and uncle. To avoid worrying our elders, please keep this secret. If there’s anything, just contact me. My home phone number is ***. My dorm phone number is ***, and if you can’t reach me at either, then call ***, which is the student council office’s number."

"That’s typical of Xuerou. Good that I’ve come to my senses. Everything at school and at the farm is normal. My health is almost fully recovered too, so I should be heading back," Xiao Xian felt relieved after hearing that Xuerou was alright and got up to leave.

"Leaving? You think it’s that simple? I have a few accounts to settle with you first," Mei Nian glared at Xiao Xian. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote at Qidian (qidian.com) with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)