I clenched my fists against my knees, the pounding in my chest a reminder of how audacious this was. Still, I couldn’t afford to back down now.

Feng Wu finally opened his mouth, but I raised a hand, cutting him off. “I know what you’re going to say,” I began, my voice firm but steady. “And I know that you won’t—and shouldn’t—do this for free.”

I glanced at Tianyi, who sat quietly in the corner. “The reason Narrow Stone Peak was so determined to take this village is because of the ambient qi here. It’s stronger than anywhere else in the region. Haven''t you noticed it since you arrived?”

Feng Wu’s brow furrowed. “I did notice the abundance of qi. It’s unusual, to say the least.”

“It’s not natural,” I admitted. “It’s because of Tianyi. She has a skill called Qi Haven. It passively enhances the ambient qi in the area around her. She’s the reason cultivation has been easier here, for me and everyone else in the village.”

Tian Zhan’s posture shifted, his expression sharpening. “A passive skill with that much influence? That’s rare.”

“Rare enough to draw attention,” I agreed. “And I understand that alone might not be enough to justify your sect deploying a squad here. But there’s more.”

I stood and moved toward one of the shelves, scanning the neatly labeled vials until I found the one I was looking for. Holding it up to the faint light, the liquid shimmered like sunlight caught in a jar. Sage essence.

Turning back to face them, I took the ginseng-sage hybrid, one of my more successful experiments. Its leaves glistening, the result of its unique composition.

Feng Wu’s eyes widened slightly as recognition dawned. “Is that...?”

“A hybrid,” I confirmed. “Using essence extraction and spiritual infusion, I’ve developed a technique to combine plants, creating entirely new species with unique properties. It''s why I asked you if Master Li Tao had ever been able to do the same.”

I carefully uncorked the vial and let a single drop fall onto the plant. The reaction was immediate: the flickering leaves pulsed, their glow intensifying as the essence fused with the plant. Within moments, new shoots sprouted, curling upward like they were reaching for the heavens.

“This,” I said, gesturing to the plant, “is only one example. By experimenting with hybrids, I can create pills that circumvent resistance. You know how cultivators build resistance to repeated use of the same ingredients, right?”

Tian Zhan nodded slowly, his sharp eyes fixed on the plant. “You’re saying you can bypass that entirely?”

“In theory, yes,” I replied. “By using hybrids, I can create pills with unique combinations that don’t trigger resistance. It’s not perfect yet, but the potential is there.”

“This village,” I continued, “could become more than just a training ground. It could be a resource hub, producing pills and herbs that even your sects can’t replicate. With Tianyi’s Qi Haven enhancing cultivation and my hybrids providing unique alchemical products, it’s a mutually beneficial arrangement.”

The room was silent again, but this time, it was the kind of silence that held the weight of consideration. I could see the wheels turning in their minds, their expressions shifting as they processed what I’d laid out.

I took a steadying breath. “I’m not asking for charity. I’m offering an alliance—one that benefits us all.”

Tian Zhan exchanged a glance with Feng Wu, his lips curling into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. “You’re more ambitious than I gave you credit for, Kai.”

Feng Wu nodded slowly, his thoughtful gaze lingering on the hybrid plant. “This... could work. But it’s not a decision we can make lightly. I''m sure the elders would agree, and I''ll advocate on your behalf.”

The first-class disciple of the Whispering Wind sect barked out a laugh. "We? I''ll take that deal right now. The sect can deal with the headache of it all later. But I''ll discuss the specifics here with you right now."

I nodded, relief flooding my body. "Of course. The sooner, the better."

While the specifics of the agreement with Feng Wu and Tian Zhan remained tentative, one thing was clear: the Gentle Wind Village had gained a lifeline. Now, it was up to me to demonstrate the potential I had promised them.

It began in the garden, or what was left of it.

With the seeds and bulbs Feng Wu had brought and the rare ingredients gifted by Jingyu Lian and Zhi Ruo, I had everything I needed to start anew. Even if it was winter, even if it wasn''t ideal, I had to start now. My village depended on it.

I knelt in the dirt, crumbling soil between my fingers as I prepared the first row of planters. Tianyi hovered nearby, her presence calm yet attentive. Occasionally, Windy slithered over, his small form coiling around my leg.

As I pressed the first bulb into the soil, a sharp pain flared in my chest, stealing my breath for a moment. I froze, my fingers tightening around the fragile stem as I clenched my jaw. The bruises from Wei Long’s blows pulsed dully, a deep ache that reminded me of every strike. My herbalist instincts screamed at me to stop, to tend to the damage before it worsened, but I shoved the thought aside.

“No time for that now,” I muttered under my breath, forcing myself to steady my breathing and continue. “Let’s start with the basics. We need a strong foundation before we can experiment.” ?ΑΝo??bΕS?

Tianyi tilted her head, watching silently as I pressed the bulbs into the soil. With everyone returning to their respective spaces, it was nice to have some peace and quiet. Without the weight of Narrow Stone Peak on my shoulders... I felt free.

I passed the forge, the rhythmic clang of hammer on metal drew my attention. Wang Jun stood by the anvil, his face set in a look of fierce determination as he shaped a blade. Sweat dripped down his brow, but his movements were steady, purposeful. It was clear he’d thrown himself into his work with renewed vigor.

“Wang Jun,” I called out, stepping closer.

He paused, looking up with a faint grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Kai,” he said, his voice tired but steady. “Done with your garden?"

“Yeah, I was just passing by,” I replied. “Wanted to check in. How are you holding up?”

He glanced at the blade in his hands, then back at me. “Better now that I’ve got something to focus on. After everything that happened... I can’t just sit around. If another fight comes, I want to be ready. And if I can’t fight, I’ll make sure everyone has the tools to defend themselves.”

I nodded, my chest tightening with a mix of pride and guilt. Wang Jun’s resolve mirrored my own, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that my failure to stand against Wei Long had pushed him to this point.

“Thanks,” I said softly. “For everything. You didn’t have to stand with me, but you did.”

He shrugged, his gaze turning back to the blade. “We’re in this together. You have our back, and we have yours.”

I left him to his work, his words echoing in my mind as I continued toward the village square.

Li Wei was crouched near the center of the square, his hands moving deftly as he worked to fill the cracks and gouges left behind by Wei Long’s attacks. His usual quiet demeanor was unchanged, but there was a certain urgency to his movements.

“Li Wei,” I greeted, stopping a few paces away.

He looked up briefly, his eyes flitting toward Tianyi and Windy before returning to me, offering a small nod before returning to his task. “Kai.”

I watched him work for a moment, clearing debris and soil with the other able-bodied villagers. “You’re making quick work of this. Do you need help?”

“No, you go and rest. You''ve done enough,” he replied simply. “The square is the heart of the village. If it’s broken, everything feels... off. Just trying to help coordinate the clean-up.”

I crouched beside him, watching as he prepared baskets of loose dirt. Likely to fill in the loose gaps made by his foot-stomp. “It’s amazing, what you can do.”

Li Wei paused, his eyes flickering to mine. “You think so? I think you''re the amazing one, considering you went toe to toe with Narrow Stone Peak.”

I felt my face heat up, embarrassment creeping in at his words. I scratched the back of my neck, unable to meet his eyes directly. “Toe to toe? I don’t know if I’d call it that. I couldn’t even scratch him. I was just trying to hold on, hoping someone would show up to stop him before it was too late. Windy and Tianyi did most of the work.”

Li Wei stopped what he was doing and turned to face me fully, his expression calm but firm. “From where I was standing, it sure looked like toe to toe. You didn’t back down, Kai. Against someone like that, just standing your ground was more than most would’ve done. And it wasn’t just about the fight.”

I frowned slightly, unsure what he meant. “What do you mean?”

He gestured around the square with a small wave of his hand. “You gave us the courage to stand too. When someone that strong shows up, most people run. But you didn’t, and because of that, none of us did either. That matters more than whether you landed a good hit or not.”

His words left me momentarily speechless. I had been so focused on my failures, on the moments where I felt powerless, that I hadn’t considered how it might have looked from the outside.

“I... I guess I never thought about it that way,” I admitted, my voice quieter now.

Li Wei offered a faint smile, his hands resuming their work. “That’s because you’re too busy being hard on yourself. But trust me, Kai. What you did today mattered. For all of us who were watching.”

I nodded, the weight in my chest easing just a little.

“Thanks, Li Wei,” I said after a pause. I found myself thanking a lot of people. And I''m glad I did. There were many things to be thankful for.

“Anytime,” he replied, his tone light but genuine. “Now go on. I’ve got this. You’ve earned a break, even if you don’t think you have.”

I stood, brushing off my hands as I prepared to leave. “Alright. But let me know if you need anything. Tianyi, Windy; let''s go.”

I left him to his work, my heart a little lighter as we resumed our walk to Elder Ming''s house.