The morning of the third day broke, and I found myself waking up in a meditative position. Surprisingly, my body didn't feel any aches or pains at all. On the contrary, I had managed to open three more Meridians, bringing the total to five. This speed was truly remarkable, definitely out of the ordinary, and I was certain it was all thanks to the cheat I had received from the ROB.

The scent of wood and damp earth filled my nostrils. The room was still dark as usual. Perhaps I should make some kind of lantern like the other villagers here. I was also curious when the fireplace would be repaired. It should only require replacing the stones in the fireplace frame and adding a cooking rack.

I should have been able to fix it myself. With my cultivation speed, I might as well spare some time for other things. I wiped the place down with a volcanic shroud to remove the dust, then got out of bed and stepped out of the house.

The sounds of frogs and crickets greeted me as I stepped outside. A cool breeze swept over my body. The sun had not yet risen over the horizon, and the stars and moon looked as beautiful as ever. I took a deep breath and decided to head north of the village, which should lead to the river.

My feet traced patterns on the dusty village path, guided by the dreamy flicker of fireflies. The scene was breathtaking, not due to any magical or spiritual forces, but rather the natural beauty we rarely experience in the modern world.

Here, I was swept away by a sense of peace and tranquility. Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, there was only the sound of nature greeting my ears. The gentle breeze carried the scent of damp earth and blooming wildflowers. The twinkling fireflies were like tiny stars descending from the heavens, illuminating my way.

This experience was like a dream come true. I felt grateful to be able to experience the natural beauty of this unspoiled place.

Leaving behind the last village structure, I ventured along the irrigation dam and rice paddy embankments. Gradually, the thunderous roar of rushing water began to fill the air. The closer I drew to the source of the sound, the more intense the roar became. And finally, I laid eyes on it: a mighty river with a raging current. Large boulders lined its banks on either side.

As I approached the riverbank, I dipped my arm into the water. A sensation of coolness and freshness instantly enveloped my skin. Strangely, I didn't feel the slightest bit cold. Perhaps it was because my body had become far stronger than that of an ordinary human. In fact, I probably didn't even need to submerge my hand in the water to feel its chill. Just standing here was enough to make a normal person shiver.

Despite the temptation to take a dip in the refreshing river water, I held back. It was still too dark to swim. Maybe I'd try it another time. I glanced around, observing a few rust-colored rocks. There was a chance that these rocks contained iron veins. In the distance, I saw an abandoned mine, with a pool of water in the middle. The traces of mining were still clearly visible on the surrounding rocks.

I couldn't find any signs or clues that suggested this village had an iron mine. Maybe the old mine belonged to my current host, the deceased blacksmith.

I'll check it out later. For now, I'll gather some stones for the fireplace frame. Maybe I'll take some extra stones for backup, and maybe even to upgrade the furnace.

No way was I going to lug those massive boulders back to my humble abode. Instead, I'd slice them like bricks using my fiery shroud.

The corners of my garment rippled with life, transforming into a crimson ribbon etched with fiery trails. I guided it towards the imposing rock before me, and with a mere whisper of effort, it sliced through the stone like butter through a hot knife, leaving behind a smoldering red scar on its severed surface.

In mere minutes, I had fashioned the rocks to my desired specifications and stacked them neatly. Utilizing my shroud as a makeshift carrier, I transported them to the Flatlands near the river. The searing heat had transformed the stones into blackened bricks, and my melting shroud left its mark on their surfaces. While this might raise a few eyebrows, I'd leave it to my future self to deal with the explanations. Besides, these stones will be used inside my house.

The warm, smooth stones I had carved clutched tightly in my arms, as many as I could carry. Determined to bring them home without raising an eyebrow among the villagers. But my efforts were in vain. A few early risers had spotted me carrying the stones. I pretended not to notice them, and they seemed uninterested in bothering me either.

Arriving home, I placed the stones behind the house. Then, I made my way back to the river to retrieve the remaining stones I had cut. It took several trips to transport all of them. As I placed the last stone down, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. I turned towards the source of the sound and saw Yurou approaching with a tray in her hands.

Curiosity sparkled in her eyes as she approached me, her voice laced with intrigue, "Hey, what are you up to over there?"

I gestured towards the pile of stones resting by my feet, responding, "Oh, just carrying these stones from the river to fix up the fireplace."

Her gaze remained fixed on the stones in my hands, her voice filled with wonder, "Wow, how did you get them to be so neatly arranged? And why are they black?"

I paused for a moment, contemplating the most fitting response. "Well," I replied finally, "I have some 'tools' that help me out."

She nodded slowly, a hint of suppressed curiosity lingering on her face. "Oh, I see," she said, her tone laced with a tinge of disappointment. "Well, keep your secrets then. But, here's some breakfast food this morning."

As she extended her hand, offering a small bundle wrapped in leaves, I couldn't help but smile at her genuine kindness.

After a brief farewell, Yurou left.

I quickly devoured the food she had given me. My gaze fell upon the pile of stones in front of me, and my thoughts turned to how I could use them to improve the fireplace. It took me more than two hours to complete the task, but finally, the fireplace was successfully repaired. All that was left was to add a rope hanger and a grill to complete it.

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

Dawn had broken without me noticing, its light filtering through the cracks in the wooden house. I got ready to return to the fields, clutching my wooden hoe tightly in my hand. When I arrived, I joined the other villagers who were busy plowing the rice fields. Just like yesterday, they seemed reluctant to approach me and let me work alone.

Continuing to focus on the task at hand, I plowed the rice field with my wooden hoe. My movements were slow but steady, meticulously peeling and turning the hard mud. I was like hypnotized by the rhythm of my work, forgetting everything around me.

I had anticipated that the work would be completed today, just like yesterday. However, as I was swinging my hoe with gusto, raindrops began to dampen my shoulders, disrupting the rhythm of my movements. We were forced to halt our work for the day and return to our respective homes. Bidding farewell to the villagers, I trudged homeward.

By the time I reached my house, I was drenched to the bone. I burst through the door and slammed it shut, securing it tightly against the howling wind. If I hadn't had the volcanic shroud, this storm might have made me even more irritable.

The Shroud, a self-shifting fabric, felt warm against my skin as I began to activate its powers mentally. Trapped moisture within the fabric began to evaporate, simultaneously warming my body and drying the shroud. My hair, still damp from the recent encounter, I wrung out, sending droplets of water cascading to the floor. Though still damp, at least my hair was no longer a distraction.

As the patter of raindrops and the rumbling thunder serenaded me from outside, I found myself seated cross-legged on the wooden floor, enveloped in the symphony of nature's orchestra. Each raindrop struck the thatched roof like a relentless drumbeat, filling the house with a mesmerizing melody that only the elements could compose. In this tranquil setting, there was nothing I could do but continue my meditation, letting the rhythm of the rain guide me deeper into my inner sanctum.

Initially, I had planned to continue my meditation until the next morning. Peace enveloped me as I sat cross-legged, focusing on my breath. However, the tranquility was shattered by a knock on the door. I promptly ended my meditation and rushed to open it. A figure stepped into my house, and I swiftly closed the door behind them to ward off any potential gusts of wind.

The man, probably around my age, looked to be about 19 or 20 years old. His skin was tanned, and his body was lean but clearly fit. He carried something wrapped in a thick cloth on his back. His breath was coming in ragged gasps, indicating that he had just run through the pouring rain to get here. After catching his breath, he stood up straight and looked at me.

"Hello, I'm Gouzi," he said, despite being shorter than me, his stance exuded an air of confidence. "The Village Chief sent me to deliver you firewood. He's worried you'll get cold if you don't light a fire in this pouring rain. You've already fixed this fireplace like Yurou told me," he explained, examining the fireplace I had repaired.

"Thank you so much. I'm sorry for inconveniencing you to come here all drenched. My name is Lie Yan," I said, extending my hand for a handshake. At first, he seemed confused, but eventually, he took my hand and we shook hands.

"No problem, friend. Let's carry these logs to the fireplace and start a fire. It's really cold in here," he said, shivering. He removed the cloth hood that covered his head and hung it on a wall hook.

I lent a hand as Gouzi stacked the firewood. We sorted through the logs and tossed them into the fireplace together. Then, with a deft flick of his wrist, Gouzi ignited the tinder. A warm, flickering orange glow began to dance across the room, enveloping the house in a cozy embrace. We settled down near the hearth, basking in the radiant heat of the crackling fire.

Amidst the crackling warmth of the fire, his voice finally broke our silence. "I initially assumed you were some arrogant young master," Gouzi cautiously remarked. "But it seems you're not like that."

He continued, "As Yurou mentioned, you're an incredibly polite individual. It's almost a bit awkward. Not that it's a bad thing, but you come across as someone from immense wealth. I've never seen someone like you bow their head to ordinary folk."

I was a bit taken aback by his assessment. As far as I knew, being polite was the norm. Still, I managed a "Thank you" before continuing the conversation. "You seem pretty close to Yurou," I remarked.

"Hehe, nah, not really," he explained with a smile. "I'm her brother-in-law. We actually live together. I just married her older sister, so I'm still staying at the village chief's house. But I'm not sure for how long. The village chief is old, and his wife passed away a long time ago. Honestly, I'd like to build my own place, but it seems like there's no other choice. I'm more worried about Yurou, though. She's still trying to find herself, and I can sense that she's not comfortable living with me."

Keen to avoid any unnecessary drama, I refrained from further comment and simply nodded in agreement. He didn't pursue the topic either. We ended up chatting about the village's current state until the rain subsided. As I prepared to escort him home, the sky had darkened, and the sun had dipped below the western horizon.

Gouzi and I made our way to the village chief's house. Upon our arrival, two young women awaited us. They were Yurou and her strikingly similar older sister. The sister had slightly fairer skin and a blemish-free complexion, unlike Yurou.

As we arrived, they both welcomed us warmly. Brief introductions ensued, and then I convey my greetings and excused myself to return home. I made my way back, carrying the dinner they had kindly provided.

I capped off the day with meditation. Ushering in the night by continuing cultivation.