Chapter 24: The Farmer's Quiet Day
The sun rose gently over Green Mist Village, bathing the repaired fields in golden light. For once, there was no scent of blood or burnt soil, only the fresh smell of morning dew and tilled earth.
Li Yuan sat cross-legged near the central well, the Rootsplit Hoe resting across his lap. His long white hair shimmered softly in the sunlight, golden eyes half-closed as he slowly passed his hand through the soil.
Tiny sprouts pushed through the dirt with every movement of his fingers, not in battle, but simply to grow—soft yellow flowers blooming lazily in the morning breeze.
For a man who had fought three assassins just last night, he looked almost too calm. Almost… too human.
The Villagers' Respect
Granny Xue approached first, her cane tapping the ground softly. But unlike before, there was no sharpness in her tone, only quiet reverence.
"You didn't kill them."
Li Yuan opened his eyes, glancing up at her.
"They were weeds in the wrong field. Sometimes weeds grow flowers when replanted."
Granny Xue stared at him for a long moment before chuckling softly.
"You talk nonsense, boy. But I suppose that nonsense saved us."
Several other villagers gathered around, some whispering quietly. They looked at him differently now—not just as the farmer who repaired fences and harvested rice, but as something far greater, something terrifying, yet reassuring.
One young man, usually brash and loud, stepped forward nervously.
"Master Li… can you teach us? Not to fight like you, but… to grow things like you do?"
Li Yuan tilted his head slightly, his lips curving into a faint smile.
"If you can hold a hoe, you can learn. But farming isn't for heroes. It's for patience."
The young man grinned nervously.
"Then I'll be patient."
Granny Xue smirked at Li Yuan.
"You've already started planting more than crops, haven't you? You're planting hope."
Li Yuan didn't respond, but the golden sprout in front of him bloomed larger, as if answering for him.
Budder's New Voice
Near the edge of the village, Budder stood silently, its wooden frame catching the morning light. But for the first time, it didn't remain entirely still.
When Mei Lin approached with a basket of fruit, Budder shifted slightly, lowering itself to sit cross-legged—almost mimicking Li Yuan's posture.
Mei Lin giggled, placing a small flower crown on its wooden head.
"You're getting more and more like a person!"
Budder tilted its head, voice humming softly:
"Person…? No. Seedbud. But… learning."
Mei Lin beamed.
"Then you're the best Seedbud ever!"
Budder paused, as if processing the compliment, before a single leaf detached from its shoulder and floated into Mei Lin's hand.
She gasped.
"You gave me a leaf! That's like… saying thank you, right?"
Budder tilted its head again but didn't deny it.
Li Yuan, watching from a distance, allowed himself a small smile. The Seedbuds were learning to feel. Maybe… this was how cultivation should truly work—not through power, but through growth.
Quiet Reflection
Later that afternoon, Li Yuan sat alone under the lantern trees, his back resting against the trunk. He held the Seed of Buried Sun in one hand, rolling it gently between his fingers.
The System flickered softly in his vision:
[Current Status: Stable]
[Seed of Buried Sun fully integrated with soil network]
[Passive Effect: Healing Field active within 500-meter radius]
He closed his eyes, taking in the soft rustle of leaves, the faint laughter of children playing, and the rhythmic sound of hoes striking soil in the distance.
For a rare moment, he allowed himself to breathe—not as Xiao Tianmie, not as a hidden god, but simply as Li Yuan, a farmer who loved his soil.
Ashborne's Distant Watch
On a far hill overlooking the village, Ashborne sat on a rock, arms crossed. His amber eyes softened slightly as he watched the villagers move with new energy, the golden sprouts glowing faintly in the sunlight.
"You're really doing it, aren't you? Making them stronger without teaching them to kill."
But his expression darkened soon after.
"I hope you understand, old friend… the stronger they grow, the more they'll attract the ones who fear growth."
He glanced at the horizon, where faint crimson threads flickered in the distant sky.
A Farmer's Promise
As evening approached, Li Yuan stood once more near the central well. The villagers had finished their day's work, and children played near the lantern trees. Budder sat calmly nearby, Mei Lin perched on its wooden shoulder, laughing.
Li Yuan looked at the soil, golden eyes calm.
"As long as this soil lives, I'll keep planting. No matter who comes."
The breeze carried his words softly across the village, rustling the glowing sprouts.
For tonight, there was peace. But in the soil's quiet hum, he could feel it—the storm approaching.
End of Chapter 24