The days flew by like the summer breeze. Being so engrossed in multiple projects did that, I suppose.

My first shipment for the Azure Silk Trading Company was set for today, so I took a break from training today in order to accomplish this with Elder Ming's blessing. All he told me to do for today's training was to begin comprehending the dao. I've heard the term in many of the books I read, but it was always vague, and they varied greatly from book to book. I know that the Whispering Wind Sect had its own interpretation of the dao, but I don't remember what it was fully.

As usual, the old man gave me another cryptic riddle to decipher. And it was harder to understand than usual as well.

The Dao is not something you can grasp with your mind alone. It is something you experience and feel, like the wind on your face or the earth beneath your feet. It's in every breath you take, every step you make, and in every moment of your life. It's what guides your every action and shapes your understanding of the world.

It seemed quite critical to my training as a cultivator, so I asked him what his interpretation of the dao is. It'd be easier to make an answer if I had something to base it off.

He gave me that little chuckle and simply pointed to a lit candle, telling me that was what he learned in his sect. When I pestered him for more answers, he threatened to beat me with his cane. Whatever! I'll figure it out on my own. Gives me an excuse to read, and I'd be able to evolve it to the next stage within time.

Reading (Level 4): A skill that grants the ability to read books slightly faster and more efficiently than an average person. Reading enables the user to understand and retain information from books within their current knowledge scope and known languages.

Next Stage: Accelerated Reading

Requirements:

Reading Proficiency - Level 10

Accumulate 50 hours of reading.

Read a total of 30 books.

Develop a basic understanding of at least three different subjects you didn't know before.

It would be a long time before I ran out of books to read. Elder Ming's home was filled to the brim, although I mainly kept to the books journalling the tales of cultivators, real or fictional.

Huan's voice disrupted my next line of thinking as I neared his outpost. The area where the traveling merchant had set up was now more permanent, but it was still a work in progress. Planks of wood and blocks of stone were still strewn around, and I had to be careful navigating through them as I carried an entire crate of product with my hands.

"Oh my goodness! Set it down! Set it down!"

I did what I was told, hearing the frantic tone in his voice. Being careful not to strain myself, I bent my knees and tilted forward in a controlled manner so the inside of the crate didn't shake too violently. Phew! That was a good workout!

Huan looked at me as though I were a madman.

"You don't have a cart?!" He exclaimed, bending down to try and pick up the crate himself. The older man, although he was far from thin or weak, struggled mightily and gave up. "Why would you carry all the products by yourself?"

I scratched the back of my neck, glancing upward. "Well, the one I had at the shop is far too small. It would've broke. Besides, this was a good way to get the blood flowing."

The merchant shook his head, wiping sweat from his brow as the summer heat bared down on us. Luckily, I was used to this. My skin was always tanned from doing work outside my garden, and I held up well against the sun. In fact, I always felt more energized being outside.

"There's still a second crate back at home so I'll come back and-"

"A second crate?!" Huan asked, his eyes bulging out. He lifted the lid and counted out how much there was under his breath before looking up at me in astonishment. "There's about a hundred and fifty potions in here...Is the second one-?"

"Yeah, it's about the same size. I got a bit overexcited during production. If I remember correctly, I made three-hundred and forty six in total. Make sure to count carefully while I'm getting the other one."

Before I could turn around, Huan grabbed me by the shoulder and shook his head, pointing at a cart left untouched by his shop.

"Go, use it. For my sake, at least." He muttered.

I shrugged and thanked him for the wooden cart. It was large and spacious, enough to fit the crate from my shop with ease. I hummed to myself, calculating the profit from this deal. About six silver per potion, multiplied by three hundred equaled to one-thousand and eight hundred silver. Or converted to gold, almost twenty-gold coins.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

The tantalizing clink of coins echoed in my mind. That was insane! I don't think I ever had that much in a lump sum, In particularly profitable seasons, I amassed about two to three gold, but maintaining the shop and buying ingredients were large expenses.

My dream of having a greenhouse was close. I'd be able to grow anything I'd want, even during the winter times! I only had one window in the house, so imagining an entire section expanded upon my garden covered by a ceiling composed entirely of glass was interesting. Excitement bubbled in my stomach and I hastened my pace.

It was remarkably easy to bring the cart back up to my shop. Too easy, in fact. I looked around for a moment, and I spotted what I was looking for.

Three heavy rocks. Each one about the size of my head. They added enough heft to the cart that would allow me to work up a sweat. If I wasn't going to train with Elder Ming, I'd make up for it! I realized early on there were ways of training that didn't require qi.

If my past self could see me right now, he'd think I was insane. But he would also see how muscular and handsome I was and wouldn't complain at all. The overall muscle development compared to before was astounding. I was not Wang Jun, but from an aesthetic perspective, I could say I was his match. Jade beauties, here I come!

I pushed through and made it back home within a few minutes. Tianyi was out and about in the garden, circling through placidly. I was always worried about the idea of her being picked off by a pesky bird, but they seemed to pose no threat to her. That crow in the forest was exceptionally smart and fast, but it barely managed to catch her. Tianyi had gone up a cultivation rank, and although she rarely utilized it, she was incredibly fast.

"Tianyi, is your patrol going well? No dastardly invaders?"

She responded in the affirmative through our mental link, and I nodded and went inside to collect my crate. Lan-Yin wasn't supposed to come until this afternoon, so it was just me maintaining the shop until then. I'd need to drop this off and come back here quickly, in case any customers were waiting. The rumors about my tonics, balms, and potions spread through the village like wildfire and they were my most popular product. Even the essences were being bought out! The Soaring Swallow purchased some so as to infuse their products with a light flavor. I gave them a discount, of course. It didn't take much for me to extract the essences, and it was good practice.

I loaded up the last box onto my cart, making sure to be careful as I set it down. Once it was secured, I went back towards the village.

During my walk, I decided to contemplate exactly what Elder Ming meant by contemplating the dao.

Dao. The path. My path.

My path to cultivation? That was fairly simple, in my opinion. Attain great power, ascend to greater heights, and become free to travel the world as I please! Enjoy the sights, cities, and delicacies without holding back!

Fantastical resources only cultivators from further provinces could access, I'd share these resources with the village and those in need! I never quite understood hoarding that sort of wealth, especially when a mere droplet would revitalize an entire province like our own.

But for some reason, I don't think that's what Elder Ming meant when he asked me to comprehend the dao.

I had the entire day ahead to ponder over a fitting response.. Maybe I'd ask Wang Jun and Lan-Yin when I came across them.

It didn't take long for me to reach the merchant outpost, especially with a cart speeding up the process. Huan told me the payment would be ready by tomorrow and to come and collect it then. Once that came in, I'd have to ask the carpenters about how much it'd cost to have one built. With the looks of it, I can afford to build the greenhouse with another month's worth of shipments being sold! It would be a sizable one.

One of the main problems that came with running the herbal shop was how limited I was during the winter; they weren't very profitable seasons and I could only grow a limited amount of plants year-round. Foraging during those cold seasons was an absolute must when inventory was running low. But with a greenhouse, I would likely never have to forage again! Gone are the days when I freeze my fingers off in search of anything edible or usable!

I strolled through the village with my hands on the back of my head. Out of habit, I went to the forge. It was as active as ever; I don't know how their neighbors slept with the constant sound of metal. I greatly appreciated the peace and quiet I had at my shop.

"Kai! How are things?" Wang Jun asked, turning to look at me with his face covered in soot. Maybe it was a hallucination, but I swear he's gotten taller. His bulky frame had filled out even more, and he was already larger than his master. Calling him an ox was not so far removed from the truth.

"Eh, as busy as usual. Running the shop and keeping up with training never gets easier," I sighed. "But I wanted to ask you a question."

"I'm here to talk, so long as you don't mind me working while I'm at it. Master Qiang's gonna kill me if I'm behind on the orders." He muttered quietly.

"What's your dao?"

He turned to me with a brief look of confusion. "What?"

I pursed my lips for a moment, trying to think of the best way to put it in a way he'd understand. "Like your way of life. What do you believe in? The foundation upon which you operate on."

"Kai, that's a bit of a heavy question to ask while I'm hammering away here." Wang Jun replied, remaining silent for a few seconds as he thought of an answer. "...Maybe for me, I'd say it's being able to control your destiny."

I leaned in, interested in what he had to say. Despite others often mistaking Wang Jun for a simpleton, I knew he was far from it. From a young age, he'd been quite sophisticated. His skill in calligraphy was unmatched, and he had a graceful touch for someone that was so large and heavy-handed. In fact, he helped me write up some signs for the shop when we were younger!

"See this sword?" He held it out for me to see. It was clearly a work in progress, but the quality was undeniable. "It used to be just a hunk of iron. But with enough heat and a steady hand, it becomes something more. Master Qiang told me alot about how blacksmithing isn't just a job. It's a lifestyle. It's something I apply to in my day-to-day life. If I keep putting effort, with time I'll bring my vision to life."

"Huh." That was a pretty thoughtful answer. "You're much more introspective than you look, Wang Jun."

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

I laughed at him, giving the taller man a pat on the back. "I'm joking, I'm joking! I've known you since we were kids. I know you hated how people thought you'd be some sort of warrior. Feels like you and me should've switched bodies."

He rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't be able to get any smithing done with your scrawny arms, Dreaming Gardener!"

I turned my nose up at him. "You'll come to regret that once I'm a cultivator, Wang Jun. I'll face-slap you in front of the village and bring shame upon your family for a thousand generations!"

After a small round of bickering, I thanked him for his time and went off back to the garden. I got an example of what a dao is from Wang Jun, and I feel like it gave me a bit more understanding in terms of what it meant. It helped when I verbalized what I meant when asking what his dao was.

A way of life. How I interpreted it in my own, individual way.

If Wang Jun compared his dao to smithing, I suppose mine would be based on something related to gardening?

Wang Jun's assertion that our destiny could be shaped by relentless effort and a clear vision resonated with me. Yet, his metaphor of the sword didn't quite align with my own perspective. Instead, my thoughts wandered to a seedling breaking through the earth, reaching for the sky. Growth and transformation, to me, were intertwined as deeply as roots in the ground.

There were times, however, when despite our best efforts, external circumstances seemed to conspire against us. Plagues, droughts, various unpredictable calamities could all too easily devastate our carefully nurtured growth. Yet, I had come to see a profound truth in these cycles of life and death.

Nothing lasts forever. Not even the mighty banyan tree, deeply rooted and formidable, is immune to the passage of time. Sooner or later, it too will fall. But even in its demise, there is a promise of rebirth. A single seed, born from the fallen giant, will sprout, unfurl its leaves, and strive for the heavens.

What was my path?

It was one of continious growth. But it was not a linear path. I spent the first nineteen years of my life imagining rather than doing. It wasn't until I met Tianyi did I start pursuing cultivation. Ups and downs, a constant cycle of failure and success.

But day by day, I grow closer to my goals. Maybe I wouldn't have much progress within a week. Or a month. But within a year? A decade?

Eventually, I'd bloom into something that can reach the heavens themselves. I'd bear fruit and give back to all those who have yet to reach the level I had. Give back to the earth, and it will give back to you.

That was my path. A blossoming path.