Days passed quietly after the awakening of the Earth Vein.
The excitement surrounding the Earth Vein Ruins gradually faded from conversation, yet something invisible had changed inside the Earth Sect.
The atmosphere had become colder.
Not openly.
Not enough for anyone to point at and accuse another.
But enough to be felt.
Enough to linger.
Enough to hurt.
Xiao Tu noticed it immediately.
The disciples who once greeted him enthusiastically now only offered polite bows before quickly continuing on their way.
Some avoided eye contact.
Some whispered after he passed.
Others simply watched from afar.
Nobody insulted him.
Nobody challenged him.
Yet step by step, he found himself standing farther and farther away from everyone.
As though an invisible wall was slowly being built around him.
But Xiao Tu never questioned them.
Nor did he complain.
Instead, he continued living exactly as he always had.
Peacefully.
Gently.
Without resentment.
Every morning, he would leave his residence and walk toward the abandoned courtyard near the eastern mountain path.
The courtyard had once been beautiful.
Now it was forgotten.
Broken stone paths.
Overgrown weeds.
Collapsed flower beds.
Dust-covered benches.
Most disciples ignored it.
Xiao Tu did not.
Day after day he worked quietly there.
He repaired broken tiles.
Cleared weeds.
Planted flowers.
Restored spirit herbs.
He never used cultivation techniques to speed the process.
He simply worked with his own hands.
The same way a farmer would care for his fields.
The same way a gardener would nurture life.
Slowly.
Patiently.
Lovingly.
As though every flower deserved kindness.
As though every stone deserved respect.
Several younger disciples occasionally passed by.
They would stop for a moment and stare.
One whispered quietly.
"Senior Brother Xiao Tu repaired that entire garden himself."
Another nodded.
"He even fixed the broken bridge nearby."
"Why?"
The first disciple shook his head.
"I don't know."
Neither of them understood.
Most cultivators sought power.
Fame.
Status.
Yet Xiao Tu seemed content caring for flowers.
The young disciples watched silently before eventually leaving.
And every time Xiao Tu noticed them watching, he would simply smile.
A warm smile.
A genuine smile.
One that carried no expectations.
Far above the courtyard, hidden behind a pavilion window, Lan Yue watched everything.
Every day.
Every morning.
Every evening.
She watched him kneeling in the soil.
She watched him repairing old paths.
She watched him helping disciples.
She watched him smile.
And each time she watched...
Her guilt deepened.
Because she knew things he did not.
Or perhaps...
Things he pretended not to know.
One afternoon, she watched him rescue a small spirit bird whose wing had been injured.
The creature trembled fearfully in his hands.
Xiao Tu carefully wrapped the wound.
Fed it spirit grass.
And waited patiently until it calmed down.
Only then did he release it.
The tiny bird chirped happily before flying away.
Lan Yue lowered her head.
Tears gathered in her eyes.
Why...
Why are you like this?
Why are you so kind?
If you hated me...
If you doubted me...
This would hurt less.
But he never did.
That was the cruelest part.
Inside the Vice Sect Leader's residence, however, another conversation was taking place.
The Vice Sect Leader sat quietly behind his desk.
Lan Yue stood before him.
His expression remained calm.
Yet his eyes carried disappointment.
"You are hesitating."
Lan Yue's body stiffened.
"I am not."
"You are."
His voice remained cold.
"The sect's future outweighs personal feelings."
Silence.
"You understand that, don't you?"
Lan Yue lowered her gaze.
"...Yes."
The Vice Sect Leader reached into a wooden box.
When his hand emerged, several translucent pills rested upon his palm.
"Take these."
Lan Yue frowned.
"What are they?"
"Emotion-Suppressing Pills."
The room suddenly felt colder.
Her breathing stopped briefly.
The Vice Sect Leader continued.
"They will help you remain rational."
Lan Yue's fingers trembled.
She already knew what he truly meant.
They would help her ignore her conscience.
Help her obey.
Help her become a weapon.
Without another word, she accepted the pills.
The moment they touched her palm...
Her heart felt heavier than ever.
Meanwhile, secret meetings continued among the sect elders.
Late at night.
Behind sealed doors.
Away from ordinary disciples.
At first the discussions were cautious.
Then increasingly frequent.
The Vice Sect Leader guided every conversation carefully.
Patiently.
Like someone planting poison into fertile soil.
"What if the Earth Vein Blessing changes the sect's foundation?"
"What if Xiao Tu's cultivation becomes unstable?"
"What if the Earth Vein no longer belongs to the Earth Sect?"
Questions.
Only questions.
Yet fear rarely needed answers.
It only needed possibilities.
Slowly...
The elders began doubting.
Slowly...
The Sect Leader began falling silent.
Even Elder Mu's objections grew weaker against the growing tide of concern.
Fear was spreading.
And fear often disguised itself as wisdom.
One evening, several junior disciples arrived near Xiao Tu's courtyard.
Their meridians had been damaged during training.
Pain filled their expressions.
Xiao Tu immediately noticed.
Without hesitation, he invited them inside.
He prepared medicinal herbs obtained from the Earth Vein Ruins.
Patiently explained their effects.
Carefully taught them breathing techniques to restore their spiritual pathways.
Not once did he ask for repayment.
Not once did he mention favors.
When the disciples finally left, one looked back.
"Senior Brother..."
Xiao Tu smiled.
"Yes?"
The disciple hesitated.
Then quietly asked.
"Why do people say you're dangerous?"
For a brief moment, silence filled the courtyard.
Then Xiao Tu laughed softly.
A warm laugh.
"I don't know."
The disciples exchanged awkward glances.
Neither did they.
As they left, one whispered quietly.
"Senior Brother Xiao Tu is probably the kindest person in the entire sect."
The others silently agreed.
Yet admiration alone could not stop fate.
Deep beneath the Earth Sect...
Something else had changed.
The Earth Vein had become silent.
Completely silent.
The same Earth Vein that had awakened.
The same Earth Vein that had blessed Xiao Tu.
Now rested motionless beneath the mountains.
Elder Mu sensed it first.
Then the elders.
Then every cultivator who specialized in Earth techniques.
The underground pulse had weakened.
Not damaged.
Not exhausted.
Simply...
Quiet.
Waiting.
Watching.
As though the land itself anticipated something terrible.
Far away, through the bloodline connection, Little Death suddenly opened his eyes during cultivation.
A strange sadness flowed through the link.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Uncomfortable.
He immediately reached out.
"Little Earth."
The connection responded.
Soft and calm.
"Brother."
Little Death frowned.
"What is happening there?"
Xiao Tu looked toward the moonlit sky.
"...Nothing much."
"Don't lie."
A long silence followed.
Then Little Death asked quietly.
"Why do you remain there?"
The answer came almost immediately.
Simple.
Gentle.
Certain.
"Because I love."
Little Death closed his eyes.
His heart felt heavy.
He wanted to say something.
To argue.
To warn him.
Yet no words came.
Because he understood.
And understanding made it hurt even more.
That night, Lan Yue sat alone inside her chamber.
The Emotion-Suppressing Pills rested upon the table.
After a long hesitation...
She swallowed one.
Then another.
Coldness spread through her body.
The emotions became duller.
Quieter.
Yet somehow...
The guilt became sharper.
More painful.
Not less.
Tears slid down her cheeks.
"I don't want this..."
Her voice trembled.
"I don't want to hurt him..."
The room offered no answer.
Only silence.
Outside, beneath the moonlight, Xiao Tu sat alone upon a stone platform overlooking the mountain.
The night wind brushed gently against his robes.
His eyes remained fixed upon the stars.
He could feel it.
The distance.
The fear.
The growing isolation.
The slow movement of fate.
Yet his expression remained peaceful.
Calm.
Gentle.
He placed one hand upon the earth beneath him.
The Earth Vein did not answer.
The mountains did not answer.
Only silence remained.
And still...
He smiled.
Because even knowing what was coming...
He could not bring himself to hate anyone.
Above him, the night sky stretched endlessly.
And somewhere beneath the Earth Sect...
The silent Earth Vein waited.
As though mourning before the tragedy had even begun.
---Waiting---