Morning life had already begun throughout the small village.
Smoke drifted upward from cooking fires while villagers moved steadily along the dirt paths beneath the warm sunlight.
Some carried farming tools over their shoulders on the way toward the fields outside the village.
Others hauled wooden buckets filled with water from the nearby stream.
An older man carrying a worn fishing net walked slowly past while speaking with another villager beside him.
Simple.
Peaceful.
Completely different from the blood-soaked forests surrounding the valley beyond.
Lian walked carefully through the village paths carrying the bag tightly against his side.
Though injured—
he tried not to show it.
Still, his slightly pale face and stiff movements had already drawn attention from several villagers nearby.
"Lian?"
A middle-aged farmer paused while holding a hoe across his shoulder.
"How's your mother doing?"
Lian gave a quick nod while continuing forward.
"She's alright."
Another villager carrying water buckets looked toward him afterward.
"You disappeared into the forest again yesterday, didn't you?"
Lian smiled awkwardly.
"…Just nearby areas."
The older villager snorted immediately.
"Your mother's going to lose ten years of her life worrying about you."
A few nearby villagers chuckled softly.
Lian scratched the back of his head weakly before continuing onward without stopping.
Beneath the village—
the invisible white lizard moved silently through the earth below him.
Golden eyes calm.
Watching.
Listening.
His senses now stretched effortlessly throughout the surrounding area.
Heartbeats.
Footsteps.
Conversations.
Even the vibrations of tools striking dirt far across the village reached him clearly through the earth itself.
Interesting.
The lizard listened quietly while following beneath Lian's feet.
These humans were weak.
Fragile.
Yet they continued living calmly despite existing beside forests filled with spiritual beasts capable of killing them effortlessly.
Farming.
Fishing.
Cooking.
Talking.
Their lives seemed… simple.
The lizard remained thoughtful afterward.
That tight feeling from before had already disappeared completely.
No lingering pull remained within his chest now.
Yet strangely—
he still continued following the boy.
Why?
The answer surfaced naturally afterward.
Curiosity.
Nothing more.
At least—
that was the conclusion the lizard arrived at.
Lian himself remained unaware of the hidden existence beneath the ground below him while continuing deeper into the village paths.
Several younger children waved toward him excitedly as he passed.
"Brother Lian!"
"Did you really fight a beast?!"
Lian coughed awkwardly.
"…Who told you that?"
The children immediately pointed toward a woman nearby gossiping openly with another villager.
Lian's expression stiffened slightly.
The village woman laughed afterward.
"You came back covered in blood last night. Half the village already knows."
Another villager nearby shook his head.
"You're lucky to still be alive."
Lian only smiled weakly before moving onward again.
And below—
the invisible white lizard followed silently beneath the earth.
Golden eyes watching everything carefully now.
Not because he needed to.
But because he wanted to see what happened next.
Lian continued walking through the village paths beneath the warm morning light.
The bag hanging from his shoulder swayed lightly against his side while several villagers still glanced toward him as he passed.
Some curious.
Some worried.
Some simply gossiping quietly among themselves.
Lian sighed inwardly afterward.
Looks like someone really did see me last night after all.
His expression became slightly helpless.
It had only become morning—
yet somehow half the village already knew he had returned injured and covered in blood.
Some people really can't keep their mouths shut.
He resisted the urge to rub his forehead.
Probably Old Chen's wife.
Or maybe those children near the eastern houses.
Once one person knew something in this village—
everyone knew by sunrise.
Lian continued forward while pretending not to notice the occasional stares.
A pair of older women whispered quietly near a well as he walked past.
"That injury looks serious…"
"He's becoming more reckless lately."
"Poor Lan… she must've cried all night again."
Lian's mouth twitched slightly.
Definitely cried all night.
The thought made guilt stir faintly inside him.
Still—
his hand tightened unconsciously around the carrying bag afterward.
But it'll be worth it.
If Village Head Wa Shi truly accepted him—
everything would change.
He would finally have a chance to cultivate properly.
A chance to become stronger.
A chance to search for Mei one day.
The determination inside his eyes steadied again.
Meanwhile—
beneath the earth below—
the invisible white lizard listened calmly to every conversation surrounding the boy.
Golden eyes thoughtful.
Humans spread information quickly.
Interesting.
The lizard had noticed this already among cultivators.
But ordinary mortals behaved similarly.
Weak creatures sharing knowledge constantly.
Warnings.
Rumors.
Stories.
Perhaps survival among beings depended heavily upon communication.
The thought lingered briefly before fading away again.
Above him—
Lian finally reached a quieter section near the center of the village.
A larger wooden residence stood ahead surrounded by a small fenced courtyard.
Unlike the other homes—
this one carried faint traces of spiritual energy.
Weak.
But real.
The invisible white lizard noticed immediately beneath the ground.
His golden eyes narrowed slightly.
So this is the village leader's residence.
Lian stopped before the fenced wooden residence.
The building stood larger than the surrounding homes, its aged wooden walls carrying faint traces of spiritual energy that lingered quietly throughout the area.
Not strong.
But enough to separate it from ordinary mortal dwellings.
The invisible white lizard beneath the earth noticed it immediately.
Interesting.
Lian adjusted the bag against his shoulder afterward before stepping closer to the entrance gate.
Then—
he knocked.
Three steady taps against the wooden frame.
A few moments passed quietly.
Footsteps sounded from inside afterward.
Then the door opened slowly.
An older woman stepped outside.
She appeared somewhere in her late fifties, her hair streaked heavily with gray and tied neatly behind her back. Though age lined her face, her posture remained steady and energetic.
The moment she saw him—
surprise crossed her face.
"…Lian?"
Her eyes quickly moved across his pale complexion and visible bandages.
"What happened to you?"
Lian immediately bowed politely despite the pain tugging at his side.
"Auntie Xu."
He gave a weak smile afterward.
"I'm alright."
The older woman clearly did not believe that.
But before she could question him further—
Lian continued.
"Is Village Head Wa Shi home?"
The woman blinked briefly.
Then her gaze shifted toward the bag hanging from his shoulder.
Something thoughtful flickered through her eyes afterward.
"…He's inside."
She stepped aside slowly.
"Come in first."
Lian nodded gratefully.
"Thank you."
The older woman led him through the gate afterward into the courtyard beyond.
The residence interior was quiet compared to the lively village outside.
A small herb garden occupied one side of the courtyard while drying medicinal plants hung neatly beneath the roof nearby.
The faint spiritual energy lingering throughout the residence became clearer here.
Weak cultivation traces.
Low-level spiritual herbs.
Nothing impressive.
Yet far beyond ordinary mortals.
Beneath the ground below—
the invisible white lizard followed silently.
Golden eyes observing everything carefully while moving through the earth beneath their feet.
Ahead—
the older woman guided Lian toward the main wooden hall deeper inside the residence.
The wooden floor creaked softly beneath Lian's steps as he followed Auntie Xu deeper into the residence.
The scent of dried herbs grew stronger inside the main hall.
Bundles of roots, leaves, and medicinal flowers hung neatly along the walls while several clay jars rested beside wooden cabinets filled with various ingredients.
At the center of the room—
an old man sat calmly behind a low wooden table.
Village Head Wa Shi.
His hair was completely white, tied loosely behind his back, while deep wrinkles lined his weathered face. Though old, his posture remained straight and steady.
A faint spiritual aura surrounded him quietly.
Weak by cultivator standards.
Yet enough to immediately distinguish him from ordinary mortals.
Third Stage of of Spirit Refinement.
The invisible white lizard beneath the earth noticed immediately.
Interesting.
The old man slowly lifted his gaze toward the entrance as Lian entered.
Then his eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You're injured."
Lian bowed respectfully despite the pain.
"Greetings, Village Head."
Wa Shi studied him silently for a moment longer before his eyes drifted toward the carrying bag hanging at Lian's side.
"…Sit first."
Lian obeyed immediately.
Auntie Xu moved quietly to the side afterward while the old village leader continued observing the boy carefully.
"You entered the forest again."
Not a question.
A statement.
Lian lowered his head slightly.
"Yes."
Wa Shi sighed softly afterward.
"You've inherited your father's stubbornness."
The old man's gaze sharpened slightly.
"And nearly gotten yourself killed because of it, judging by your condition."
Lian remained silent.
Then—
slowly—
he untied the carrying bag and placed it onto the wooden table between them.
The moment the contents became visible—
Auntie Xu inhaled sharply.
"…Blue Spirit Berries?"
Even Wa Shi's aged eyes flickered faintly afterward.
The glowing blue herb rested carefully inside beside the beast claws, fangs, and other harvested materials from the slain Rank Two beast.
The room became quiet for several moments.
Then the old man spoke calmly.
"…Where did you get this?"
Lian hesitated briefly.
Then answered honestly.
"A Rank Two beast was guarding it."
Auntie Xu's face paled instantly.
"You came across a Rank Two beast and you're not only still alive but?!"
Lian immediately shook his head.
"I didn't fought one."
His expression became complicated afterward.
"…Someone saved me."
Wa Shi's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Someone?"
Lian nodded slowly.
"I never saw them."
"But an earth spike killed the beast instantly."
The old man became silent afterward.
Thoughtful.
The invisible white lizard beneath the earth listened quietly below them.
Golden eyes calm.
Eventually—
Wa Shi looked back toward the Blue Spirit Berry plant resting on the table.
Then toward Lian again.
"…And you brought this here because?"
Lian's hands tightened slightly against his knees.
Determination filled his eyes again despite the exhaustion visible across his face.
"…I want you to teach me how to cultivate."
The room fell completely silent afterward.