, Pool Reflecting the Moon

What can resonate with each other across thousands of miles?

This question lingered over the group of people led by Zhaoye Zong. Their high status meant they had a broad perspective, and their shock was correspondingly greater.

On the contrary, Lai Ge Bao seemed to understand and nodded repeatedly.

Its tattered cloth had long since disappeared, and the branches on its legs were no longer tied. Now, standing there, it was not even as tall as its boots, and it did not attract any attention.

With the matter settled, Shen Gui turned to leave.

He came to Zhaoye Sect to see if accepting disciples could trigger the stone's fall. Now that he's seen it all, it's time for him to leave.

After taking only a few steps, Lu Guang's voice suddenly came from behind.

"Senior, please wait a moment longer."

Lu Guang took out another token from his waist. The token was small and bluish-white, with the words "[Zhaoye]" engraved on one side and the four smaller characters "[Waishan Keqing]" on the other side, along with cloud patterns of a mountain gate.

"The Zhaoye Sect has been granted a title by the imperial court and is qualified to protect the list of demons. This decree can be used as proof of good demons. If the holder of the decree causes trouble, the blame will be placed on the Zhaoye Sect. Holding the decree also allows one to enter the Zhaoye Sect for cultivation."

As soon as this thing was taken out, the expressions of the elders in the distance all changed.

Lai Ge Bao was squatting at Shen Gui's feet counting ants when he heard this. His eyes widened immediately, and he looked up at the token, almost drooling.

Shen Gui glanced at it but didn't take it.

Lu Guang then squatted down and handed the token to Lai Ge Bao.

"This, this...is for me?" Lai Gebao's voice was filled with disbelief, mixed with surprise.

"Of course it's for you," Lu Guang nodded.

As a result, Lai Ge Bao's expression changed several times, but he didn't go to pick it up.

It lay in the mud for several years, and after it became intelligent, it was chased and beaten for three years. It knew all too well that what would fly into its mouth on its own was a pebble, not a mosquito.

To put it bluntly, this token represents a powerful backer, a safe haven that it has always longed for.

But Lai Ge Bao knew exactly why Sect Master Lu had given out this token.

"Um... Sect Master Lu... this is too precious, I... I don't want it." The toad said with extreme reluctance.

"Take it," Shen Gui said.

Lu Guang's face lit up with joy, and he immediately stuffed the guest elder token into Lai Ge Bao's arms.

The token was about the same size as the little guy's body. He held it in his arms, and the whole frog looked a little wobbly.

"Sect Master Lu...you...you should take it back." Its voice came from behind the token.

Lu Guang looked down at the little demon. He had seen too many people who would thank others first and then plan their next move after receiving benefits. But when faced with benefits, the little demon's first reaction was to be afraid of dragging others down and that Senior Shen would owe a favor because of it.

So Lu Guang smiled and said, "Zhao Yezong gave you the order today not just because of your seniority. Many times, character is more important than talent. You did not betray your guarantor when facing Shi Qijiang's oppression. I think that is very commendable. I like people who value loyalty."

Lai Ge Bao finally managed to hold onto the token tightly.

The previous refusal was genuine, and the current joy is also genuine.

It placed the token upright in the ground, and the whole frog circled around it, looking at it from all angles.

I don't recognize the two characters "照野" and I only vaguely recognize the four characters "外山客卿".

But it knew that from then on it was no longer just an ugly thing that anyone could easily manipulate; it could work hard to earn money and then walk into the city with its head held high to eat a bowl of plain noodles.

"Bring me the register of guest ministers," Lu Guang said, turning his head.

An elder immediately took out a thick book and writing materials from his robes.

There were no tables on the mountain path, so someone brought over a flat stone slab.

The elder opened the register, dipped his brush in ink, and asked, "What is the guest's name?"

Toad was stunned.

A toad?

Toad?

Beast?

Little monster?

These names can make it turn around, but none of them are its name. No one had asked it if it wanted to, and no one had waited for it with a pen.

"I...I don't have a name yet." Its mouth was open, and it took it a long time to finally utter the word.

The elder was very patient and spoke softly: "It's not uncommon for nameless demons to be registered. As per usual practice, the person in charge of registration can temporarily select one."

After saying this, he didn't dare to put pen to paper.

As usual, of course, that's fine. In the past, those unregistered little demons who were able to enter the Zhaoye Sect were basically given names on a whim.

Some named their writings after mountains, others after plants or trees. Some were particular and flipped through a couple of pages, while others just wrote down whatever they saw.

But today is different.

With a powerful being standing here, and Sect Master Lu Guang also standing here, this little demon is no ordinary creature.

The old elder's pen hovered over the paper, and in the end, he could only look helplessly at Lu Guang.

Lu Guang turned to Shen Gui instead: "Senior, if you don't mind, could you perhaps add a few strokes to it?"

"Quack? Um... just pick anything..." Toad wanted to say that it didn't need to be so serious, calling it Mud or Little Black was fine.

But as the words reached his lips, his voice grew softer and softer.

It does care, but it has never been cared for since birth, which causes the toad to always consider other people's feelings and whether they will be in trouble because of it...

Lai Gebao looked at Shen Gui.

Shen Gui was also looking at it.

A mountain breeze came from the forest, causing the few mountain gate lanterns to sway slightly.

Shen Gui recalled the official road in the rain.

A little demon carrying a large lotus leaf followed behind him, saying that it was a toad spirit and was not afraid of water.

Then I remembered it saying that even a muddy pond can reflect the moon.

Shen Gui walked to the stone slab and picked up his pen.

The pen was ordinary, and the ink was ordinary too.

As he put pen to paper, all the sounds on the mountain road fell silent.

The first character.

[According to].

The second character.

[moon].

The ink was fresh, pressing firmly and smoothly onto the booklet.

Shen Gui put down his pen.

"How about we name it Zhaoyue?"

Toad stared at those two words.

It didn't recognize them, or at least not all of them, but it knew that from this moment on, those two words were itself.

"A pond that can reflect the moon of the world, what a good name." Lu Guang nodded repeatedly.

The elder respectfully took the pen and continued writing in the register: "Zhaoyue, guest of Zhaoye Zonggai Mountain, is hereby registered."

The booklet closed with a soft "snap".

As if struck in the heart, Zhao Yue's mouth slowly split open, occasionally uttering "hehe" and "quack."

It began to pronounce its own name: "Zhaoyue".

The voice was very soft and gentle, afraid that if it was pronounced too loudly, the name would be forgotten.

Lu Guang gently blew on the page of the booklet to dry it, then had his disciple bring a copy, wrote the same words on it, and stamped it with the outer mountain seal.

"If anyone bullies you in the future, you can mention my name, Teruno Mune."

"I don't cause trouble... If someone bullies me, I can run away."

Toad sniffed and asked, "So, can I go into town now?"

Lu Guangdao: "Yes."

"Can I sit at a noodle stall?"

"able."

"Can I ask the boss to add more scallions?"

Lu Guang paused for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, but remember to pay."

Toad immediately said, "I'll give it to you, I definitely will."

After it finished speaking, it turned back to look at Shen Gui, its smile stretching almost to its ears.

"Senior Shen, I'd like to invite you to have a bowl of plain noodles."

Shen Gui nodded gently, without refusing.

But then...

Shen Gui suddenly paused.

Lu Guang's expression immediately turned serious. After glancing around and confirming that there were no enemies, he quickly asked, "Senior, what's wrong?"

Shen Gui rubbed his temples and glanced at the round little demon at his feet.

Looking at its wide mouth and short, stubby hands, I suddenly asked:

"I forgot to ask, are you male or female?"

The name Zhaoyue... seems more suitable for a female demon.