"You're sure you don't need more supplies?" I asked, holding out an extra pouch of dried food. "It’s a long road."

Lan Sheng glanced at the pouch, then at me, grinning in that easy, carefree way of his. "I appreciate it, but that’ll only slow me down. The lighter I travel, the quicker I’ll be there."

"Quicker maybe, but you’ll be starving when you arrive."

He chuckled and gave a mock bow. "I’ve survived worse. Besides, I could use the challenge. Don't worry about me."

I frowned, still holding the pouch out to him. He just gave me a wave, already stepping away from the village gates. "Kai," he called over his shoulder, his voice drifting back with the wind, "you focus on getting things settled here. I’ll be fine."

Before I could argue further, he dashed forward, his silhouette growing smaller by the second. I watched him disappear down the road, his form nothing but a streak as he bounded over the horizon.

"He's as fast as a horse," I muttered. "I wonder when I'll be able to do something like that?"

I turned and headed back toward the Soaring Swallow Tea House, my mind still half on Lan Sheng's effortless departure. I shook my head, dismissing the thought as I approached the tea house. Inside, Lan-Yin and Wang Jun were seated, each with a cup of tea in hand. The atmosphere was relaxed, though the two of them perked up when they saw me enter.

"Did Lan Sheng leave already?" Lan-Yin asked, raising an eyebrow.

I nodded. "Took off like a gust of wind. I tried giving him some extra supplies, but he wouldn’t take them. Said they’d slow him down."

The blacksmith snorted, amused. "On foot? Cultivators are crazy."

"You should've seen it, he'll probably get to Qingmu before the day ends." I said, taking a seat across from them. I glanced over at the corner where Windy was curled up, chomping down on raw fish, completely oblivious to the world around him. Beside him, Tianyi was perched daintily on the table, her small cup of alcohol in hand. Somehow, despite her tiny frame, she was gulping down far more than seemed reasonable.

Lan-Yin followed my gaze and laughed. "Looks like Tianyi is enjoying herself. Didn’t think butterflies could hold their liquor."

Wang Jun leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "Enough about her though. We want to hear more about you. Specifically, about that run-in with the Silent Moon sect." His eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Something about a wager?"

I sighed, knowing this was coming. "Right, the Silent Moon Sect. Well, let’s just say I may have... gotten myself into a bit of a situation."

"You? In a situation? Shocking."

I recounted the entire tale. How I put myself in and provoked Elder Jun, the month I spent preparing for the wager, and my eventual victory over that mountain of a man, Ping Hai. Their jaws seemed to drop with every word I spoke.

"And this was before the Gauntlet even began?" She asked with a shrill voice.

I waved a hand nonchalantly, trying to downplay the intensity of the situation. "Yeah, it was resolved easily enough. Nothing too crazy."

I neglected to mention the fact that I’d been bedridden for days afterward, barely able to move from the pain of that battle. They didn’t need to know every little detail, and besides, the end result was what mattered.

"But what came out of it was worth it," I continued, leaning back in my chair. "I got my hands on a beast core after the fight, and I managed to use it to craft a powerful elixir. It wasn’t easy, but yeah. I shared it between me, Tianyi, and Windy. And thanks to that, I broke into the fourth stage of the Qi Initiation realm. Windy’s at the same level, and Tianyi... well, she’s now in the Essence Awakening stage."

I waited for their jaws to drop, or for them to drop to the ground coughing out blood in sheer suprise, but all they did was tilt their heads, exchanging a confused glance.

"Qi Initiation? Essence Awakening?" Lan-Yin asked. "I’m not really familiar with all the cultivation terms. Elder Ming didn't really explain much about that."

I rubbed the back of my neck. "Right, right. I guess those terms don’t mean much unless you're deep into it. Okay, let me simplify it. Qi Initiation is basically when the body starts to understand how cultivation works, learning the basics of harnessing qi. It’s... well, it’s the level I’m at right now."

"And Essence Awakening?" Wang Jun asked, his brows furrowing.

"It’s the stage where those myths and stories about cultivators come to life. You know, lifting boulders, cutting through stone, that sort of thing. When you see people causing gouges in the ground with their attacks, it’s because they’ve hit the Essence Awakening stage."

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Lan-Yin looked at the relaxed butterfly in the corner with a different expression. "So, that’s where Tianyi’s at now?"

I nodded. "Yep. There's some nuances to the whole situation, but rest assured, she's far more dangerous in a fight than I am."

Wang Jun whistled low. "And what comes after Essence Awakening?"

I hesitated for a moment, thinking. "There’s Spirit Ascension, where the cultivator starts to understand the connection between their spirit and the world around them. Then there’s Earthly Transcendence, but..." I trailed off, scratching my chin. "I’ve only ever heard of that one in Liang Feng’s novels. I’m not even sure if it’s real or just something he made up."

"But enough about that," I said, brushing off the deeper complexities of cultivation. "There's something else I wanted to show you."

The two exchanged curious looks as I held out the hand with my storage ring. There was something oddly satisfying about their wide-eyed reactions to the transparent case popping out of thin air. As I set it on the table, their curiosity deepened.

"What’s in there?" Wang Jun asked, leaning forward slightly.

"Golden Bamboo seeds," I said with a grin. "A rare species thought to be extinct. I got them as one of my rewards from the Gauntlet. The method to cultivate and reproduce them has been lost, but I'll figure it out. If I can revive the species, it’ll be worth the effort."

He whistled, looking at the seeds with a newfound appreciation. "So, you’re planning to grow these in your garden?"

I nodded. "That’s the plan. I’ll need to expand the garden first, though. Maybe even build a greenhouse to protect them while I figure out how to bring them back. I’ll probably need to send a message to the Azure Silk Trading Company to find a capable artisan and carpenter who can handle glass and construction. It’s not going to be easy, but I’ve got some connections now."

As I spoke, I noticed the two of them exchanging a knowing glance. Lan-Yin grinned. "You might not need to look too far for that, Kai."

I blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Well, we're not the only ones who learned a thing or two. I think it's better to show you."

----------------------------------------

"A greenhouse, surrounded by glass? That's doable. You'd have to consider humidity control, sunlight exposure, and temperature regulation, though," Li Wei said nonchalantly, barely looking up as his charcoal pencil sketched rapid lines on a piece of parchment. His hands moved with practiced ease, already outlining the rough dimensions of the structure.

I stared at him, still somewhat stunned. The boy sitting in front of me, barely thirteen years old, had grown so much. His scruffy hair was tied up messily, as if he couldn’t be bothered to deal with it, and his clothes were streaked with sawdust and wood shavings. The interior of his family’s home, which doubled as a carpentry workshop, was cluttered with tools, beams, and unfinished projects scattered across the room.

I watched him work, still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that this was the same kid who used to trail after Wang Jun and me, barely tall enough to carry a hammer. Now he was talking about humidity control and construction details with the ease of a seasoned craftsman.

"You can really handle this?" I asked, my doubt probably showing on my face.

Li Wei glanced up briefly with a blank expression. "Yes? Why can't I?"

I remembered vaguely that he had mentioned something about his skill level when the Interface first arrived; He was already far beyond what most people his age could do. Still, I hesitated. A greenhouse wasn’t exactly a small project.

"Well, it's just..." I trailed off, trying not to sound too skeptical. "Glass is a difficult material to work with, I know that at least."

Before Li Wei could respond, Wang Jun cut in, a proud grin spreading across his face. He gestured toward the forge where he worked. "You see the forge? That used to be a real problem for me. The bellows were old and uneven, and the airflow was weak—made it hard to control the temperature in the furnace. Li Wei came by, took one look, and designed an entirely new airflow system. He crafted a bunch wooden ducts and levers to direct the wind more precisely into the furnace. Now, I can adjust the heat exactly how I need it, no wasted air, and the forge gets hotter, faster. It’s made my work easier, and I save hours every week."

He leaned forward, ruffling the boy's hair, much to Li Wei's chagrin. "I’ve worked that forge for years, and even his old man wouldn't have thought of that. He would have just built a new set of bellows or told me to replace the whole system. He made a solution that’s not just better, but smarter."

The blacksmith pointed out of the door once more. "And you remember the grain storage building near the village center? It was sinking into the ground. Li Wei designed a system to lift it without cracking the walls and reinforced the base with treated wood. Took him two days, and now it’s more stable than it ever was. The kid’s not just skilled—he thinks ahead, solves problems no one else even sees."

Li Wei, still scribbling on the parchment, shrugged like it was nothing. "It's all about knowing the materials. Wood, air, fire—they all have their own paths. If you work with them instead of against them, you can make anything last."

With Wang Jun’s endorsement, my doubts faded completely. I patted the teen on the back with a grin. "Alright, I’m convinced. We’ll make this greenhouse happen, and I have no doubt it’ll be the best one anyone’s ever seen."

“It'll take some time to prepare the measurements, but I’ll come down to your shop later to check the viability of the greenhouse. I’ll need to see the space myself.”

I nodded, satisfied. “Sounds like a plan.”

With that settled, we left Li Wei to his work, and as Wang Jun and Lan-Yin followed me out, the village was already coming alive. The morning light filtered through the trees, casting long shadows as people started their daily routines. The familiar sounds of the market stalls being set up, carts rolling over the dirt paths, and villagers calling out to one another filled the air.

I turned to my two friends with a grin. “Alright, it’s time for the second most important matter of the day: giving gifts.”

We moved from house to house, distributing the items I’d brought back from Crescent Bay City. Every gift was met with excitement and gratitude, and the joy on their faces was contagious.

Wang Jun’s eyes sparkled as he unwrapped a finely crafted set of calligraphy brushes, each bristle perfectly tapered. “Kai… these are incredible,” he murmured, his fingers gently brushing over the delicate wood.

Lan-Yin, on the other hand, marveled at the skincare goods I’d picked up for her from Bai Hua’s shop. She let out a delighted laugh, holding up the bottles of fragrant oils and creams. “You remembered! These will make my skin glow like a moonlit lily!”

The other villagers received more practical items—tools, herbs, and even some finely woven fabrics that would make their lives easier in the coming months. Many of the gifts I received from merchants and other companies were useless to me, so I decided to give them to the villagers who'd appreciate it more.

Distributing the gifts was an incredible moment, watching as their faces lit up, knowing that I’d brought back a small part of the world beyond the village. It felt good to give back, to share what I’d gained from my travels.

By the time the morning turned to afternoon, the village had returned to its usual rhythm, but with a renewed energy. Everyone had greeted me warmly, commenting on my transformation, Tianyi’s newfound power, and, of course, Windy, who had become an unexpected source of fascination. They were adjusting, though, and the joy in their eyes reminded me of why I’d come back in the first place.

Once things had settled down, I found myself making my way to Elder Ming’s abode. The village head was exactly where I thought he’d be; sitting in his courtyard, sipping tea with a peaceful expression on his face. As I approached, Windy curled around my neck and Tianyi resting on my shoulder, Elder Ming’s sharp eyes caught sight of us. He smiled faintly but raised an eyebrow at Windy.

“I see you’ve picked up a new companion, Kai,” he said, gesturing toward the serpent. “You’ll have to explain this to me later.”

I chuckled softly, taking a seat across from him. “I will. But first, I wanted to show you this.”

Elder Ming tilted his head, curious. Without another word, I reached into my storage ring and pulled out a bundle of bound novels.

Liang Feng’s latest works.

“For you,” I said, handing them to him with a grin. “I thought we could read these together. Like old times.”

Elder Ming’s eyes softened as he took the bundle, carefully running his fingers over the spines.

“I’ve been looking forward to this,” he murmured, a rare smile tugging at his lips.

And just like that, the weight of my travels, my struggles, and my victories seemed to melt away in the comfort of home.