Chapter 16: The Shelter of the White Willow

Leaving the bamboo thicket behind, Yun grappled with a mix of ire at the weasel's trickery and gratitude for his own vigilance and discernment. He recognized that each trial along the path of Immortal Cultivation was a chance to evolve. With renewed resolve, he set forth on the journey to White Willow Villa.

White Willow Villa, a fabled haven of cultivation, boasted the purest aura in the realm—a realm only Immortal Cultivators dared to dream of. Yun's heart brimmed with anticipation, yet he braced for the looming trials.

After days of travel, Yun glimpsed the silhouette of White Willow Villa. Nestled in a lush valley, an ornate pavilion stood amidst swaying white willow trees, their branches aglow with ethereal light, rendering the entire villa a celestial paradise.

Stepping into the villa, Yun's pace slackened, enveloped by the rich aura. Yet, the tranquility he envisioned was marred by an unsettling ambiance.

In the villa's square, a cluster of Immortal Cultivators convened, mulling over recent peculiarities: stolen Spiritual Herbs, vandalized chambers, and vanishing Cultivators.

Yun's brow furrowed; his intuition sensed a sinister scheme lurking beneath the surface. Temporarily shelving his quest for the Gray Mouse Immortal, he resolved to aid the villa in quelling the crisis.

Endowed with a sense of duty, Yun revealed his identity and intentions to the Cultivators. Welcomed with open arms, his reputation from the Endless Sand and the Bamboo Thicket preceding him, he was entrusted with the task.

Under Yun's direction, the Cultivators mobilized to patrol the villa and probe the incidents' origins. Yun joined the ranks, employing his spiritual sense to scour every nook and cranny.

After days of toil, Yun stumbled upon a lead. During a midnight patrol, he detected a subtle energy surge akin to the prior disturbances. Pursuing the source, he confronted a suspicious Cultivator lurking behind the villa.

Initially defiant, the Cultivator buckled under Yun's unwavering gaze, confessing his covetous motives for the herbs and tomes.

Presenting the culprit to the villa's elders, Yun's actions garnered appreciation. Invited to prolong his stay for further cultivation, Yun accepted, ready to unravel the villa's mysteries and advance his own journey.