Chapter 20: Decision

Far from the sprawling estate of the Xie family, where schemes brewed and secrets thickened, Xie Dongyi and Lie Zhanfeng remained blissfully unaware of the growing storm. It was already night, and the two were practicing in their shared room.

The room, though small, now contained two beds. Lie Zhanfeng had recently acquired a new one, but due to time constraints, it was made of lower-quality materials. It creaked under his weight, but it was serviceable. His own better-quality bed, the one he had used before, was now pushed against the wall and given to Xie Dongyi. The cushions were softer, the blankets warmer, and it was clear that Lie Zhanfeng had made the sacrifice without hesitation.

"It's cozy," Lie Zhanfeng remarked, adjusting the pillow on his new bed and settling down with a slight grunt.

Xie Dongyi, sitting cross-legged on the floor, pursed his lips with embarrassment. He fiddled with the spirit stone in his hand, avoiding eye contact. "Thank you... for everything," he mumbled.

Lie Zhanfeng raised a brow, his grin fading as he looked over at Xie Dongyi. "You've been thanking me for days now. What's this about?" he asked, sitting up slightly and giving Xie Dongyi a curious look.

Xie Dongyi bit his lip, hesitant. "I just feel bad... I'm using your resources-your money, your food, even your time-and giving nothing in return." His voice trailed off in a quiet, almost apologetic tone.

Lie Zhanfeng softened his gaze, his face taking on a serious expression as he crouched down in front of Xie Dongyi. "Oi, stop that," he said firmly, giving the boy a gentle tap on the forehead. "You think I'm keeping score? You're my friend now, alright? What's mine is yours. And trust me, I've been through worse than sharing a few spirit stones and a bed."

Xie Dongyi's lips quirked into a faint smile, though his eyes still reflected a lingering doubt. Despite the warmth in Lie Zhanfeng's words, he couldn't fully shake off the guilt.

Yet, as Lie Zhanfeng straightened up, his mind churned. Why does this kid eat through resources like a bottomless pit? He wasn't concerned that Xie Dongyi was using his supplies, after all, he's willing to support him-it was how quickly it seemed to vanish. He crossed his arms, watching the boy's struggle as he tried once again to absorb even a sliver of qi from the spirit stone. The boy was diligent, but something wasn't adding up.

"This doesn't make sense..." Lie Zhanfeng muttered under his breath, half to himself.

"What doesn't?" Xie Dongyi asked, looking up at him.

Lie Zhanfeng shook his head, his brow furrowed in thought. "Nothing. Just thinking out loud," he replied quickly, as if brushing the matter aside. He inhaled deeply, then changed the topic with newfound determination. "Alright, listen up. We need to get stronger-both of us. And for that, we need to train in tougher environments."

"Tougher?" Xie Dongyi repeated, frowning. "What do you mean?"

"We're heading to Westmount," Lie Zhanfeng declared, his tone leaving no room for argument. He leaned against the edge of his low-quality bed, looking over at Xie Dongyi with a smirk.

"Westmount?" Xie Dongyi's eyes widened in disbelief. "I've been there before. It's a dangerous place for weaker cultivators."

"Exactly why we need to go," Lie Zhanfeng said, his grin widening. "Nothing builds strength like survival, kid."

Before Xie Dongyi could argue further, Lie Zhanfeng added, "And after Westmount, we'll head to Sunlit Hill."

Xie Dongyi's jaw dropped. "Sunlit Hill? That's... even worse! The miasma there is lethal, and the beasts are at the Foundation Establishment stage! Are you trying to get us killed?"

"Which is why we'll start small," Lie Zhanfeng reassured him, his grin never wavering. "We're going to be careful. But trust me, this will push us beyond what we've ever imagined. We can't just sit around, waiting for things to happen."

Xie Dongyi agreed, but then he thought of something else. "What about the crops we just planted? Those will die if we leave."

Lie Zhanfeng waved a hand dismissively. "I'll hire someone to take care of them while we're gone. You don't have to worry about that."

"When are we leaving?" Xie Dongyi asked, feeling the urgency settle over him.

"Two days," Lie Zhanfeng answered. "That's when we'll prepare and make our move. We'll head to Westmount first, then figure out our next steps."

---

The Next Morning...

The sun had only just begun to rise, casting a soft golden light over Zhao Village. The quiet morning was punctuated by the sounds of birds chirping and the occasional rustle of wind through the trees. Xie Dongyi and Lie Zhanfeng were already hard at work, tending to the newly planted crops.

Xie Dongyi carefully inspected the Morningdew turnips, which sprouts glistening with dew under the early light, while Lie Zhanfeng moved down the rows of Moonshade basil, checking each plant with meticulous care.

"Your handiwork's improving," Lie Zhanfeng remarked, poking a freshly planted turnip.

Xie Dongyi offered a faint smile but didn't speak. His mind was elsewhere, distracted by the spirit stone in his hand. Despite his efforts, he couldn't seem to use any qi from it. Every attempt only left him frustrated.

After a long silence, Lie Zhanfeng finally spoke. "Dongyi, be honest. Can you even absorb spirit stones?" His tone full of concern.

Xie Dongyi hesitated, looking down at the stone. His fingers tightened around it, but he didn't respond immediately. When he did speak, his voice was quiet, almost reluctant. "It's not that I can't... It's just... it doesn't have any effect."

Lie Zhanfeng raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't have any effect? Then how the hell did you reach the third level of Qi Refining?"

Xie Dongyi's expression tightened, and he lowered his gaze. "It's... complicated," he began, taking a deep breath before continuing. "Since I turned eleven, I've been having these... attacks. My body gets covered in frost, and when it's over, my cultivation increases by a level. It's like something inside me bursts all at once. But it only happens once a year."

Lie Zhanfeng's jaw tightened, and his eyes narrowed. That revelation wasn't mentioned anywhere in the plot of Conqueror of Hearts and Realms. His suspicion that something was wrong with Xie Dongyi's body grew stronger.

He quickly changed the subject, not wanting to dwell on this unsettling new information. "Well, if it works, it works," he said casually, though his mind was still racing. "Let's focus on what we can control for now. Speaking of which, are you coming with me to the village chief? We need to hire someone to tend the crops while we're gone."

Xie Dongyi nodded, his expression serious. "I'll come."

---

The two set off toward the village chief's house. The morning air was cool and crisp, the scent of fresh soil and greenery filling their lungs as they walked. Lie Zhanfeng moved with easy confidence, his broad shoulders and muscular frame making him appear more imposing despite his casual demeanor. Xie Dongyi trailed slightly behind, his thoughts in turmoil as he processed everything Lie Zhanfeng had said.

"You know," Lie Zhanfeng began, breaking the silence, "this whole situation reminds me of a story I've heard once."

"Oh? What story?" Xie Dongyi asked, looking up curiously.

"The one about the foolish farmer who tried to grow spirit herbs in regular soil," Lie Zhanfeng said with a chuckle. "He wasted all his resources and blamed the seeds, not realizing that the ground was the problem."

Xie Dongyi frowned. "Are you calling me foolish?"

"Not at all," Lie Zhanfeng said with mock seriousness. "I'm just saying that maybe we need to figure out what kind of 'soil' you've got before throwing more resources at it."

Xie Dongyi couldn't help but smile despite himself. "You have a strange way of comforting people."

"Hey, I'm not here to sugarcoat things," Lie Zhanfeng replied. "But don't worry. We'll figure it out. One way or another."

Lie Zhanfeng gave a lazy stretch and grinned. "Alright, let's wrap this up quick. No need to waste any time here."

Xie Dongyi smiled, feeling a little lighter.

-----

When Lie Zhanfeng and Xie Dongyi arrived at the Village Chief's courtyard, they were met by a young boy standing near the entrance. His features were plain, with a sun-darkened complexion and a sturdy frame that suggested years of manual labor. Recognizing the boy, Lie Zhanfeng nodded.

"Ermao," Lie Zhanfeng greeted casually. "You're here."

Ermao grinned, glancing curiously at Xie Dongyi before returning his attention to Lie Zhanfeng. "Grandpa's inside. I'll take you to him." He hesitated, eyeing Xie Dongyi again. "Who's this?"

Lie Zhanfeng gestured toward his companion. "This is Xie Dongyi. He's staying with me for now."

Xie Dongyi offered a faint nod. "Thank you for leading the way."

Ermao scratched the back of his head, slightly flustered by Xie Dongyi's composed demeanor. "Uh, sure. Follow me."

The boy led them through the courtyard, which was well-kept but modest, the tiled roof showing signs of age. Inside the main hall, a stout, middle-aged man sat on a wooden chair, sipping tea. His sharp eyes softened when they landed on Ermao.

"Grandpa, Lie Zhanfeng is here," Ermao announced before stepping aside.

The Village Chief set down his teacup, his expression neutral as he looked at Lie Zhanfeng, then briefly at Xie Dongyi. He stood up and gave a measured nod. "Lie Zhanfeng, you brought company this time."

Lie Zhanfeng smiled politely. "Chief Zhao, this is Xie Dongyi. He's been helping me out."

The chief's gaze lingered on Xie Dongyi for a moment, his brows raising slightly. The chief nodded, but his lips quirked into a teasing grin. "This one's a fine-looking young man. You should hide him away before someone tries to snatch him."

Lie Zhanfeng coughed, his ears reddening. "Chief, enough with the jokes."

Xie Dongyi frowned slightly, glancing at Lie Zhanfeng. "What does he mean by that? Am I in danger?"

Lie Zhanfeng quickly cleared his throat, avoiding eye contact. "It's nothing important. Just ignore it."

The Chief chuckled but didn't press further. Instead, he motioned for them to sit. "Well, let's get to it. What brings you here today?"

Once seated, Lie Zhanfeng adopted a more formal tone. "We'll be away from the village for some time starting in two days, and I wanted to ask for your help in finding someone to tend to my crops. It's a small plot, but it needs regular care."

The Chief hummed thoughtfully. "You've come a long way, young man. Who would've thought you'd be growing crops instead of causing trouble? You've surprised us all. Even I didn't think you'd pull it off. The younger generation truly is surpassing us elders."

Lie Zhanfeng chuckled humbly. "It's just basic work, Chief. Nothing worth praising."

"You're too modest," the Chief said with a grin. "Fine, I'll find someone to take care of it while you're away. Leave it to me."

Lie Zhanfeng reached into his pouch and handed over a few coins. "This is for bothering you. I appreciate your help."

The Chief accepted the money with a nod, visibly pleased. "No trouble at all. Safe travels to you both."

When they returned home, Lie Zhanfeng immediately set to preparing barrels of diluted spiritual water, lining them up neatly near the crops. Xie Dongyi observed in silence for a moment before finally speaking. "You're very thorough for someone who claims it's 'basic work.'"

Lie Zhanfeng smirked, wiping his hands on a cloth. "If you're going to do something, might as well do it right. Besides, these crops are special. They need care."

Xie Dongyi gave a faint smile but said nothing more.

As the evening settled in, the two sat down to finalize their plans. Lie Zhanfeng teased, "You know, Chief Zhao wasn't wrong. If we don't watch out, someone might really try to snatch you away."

Xie Dongyi gave him a flat look. "Let them try."

Lie Zhanfeng laughed, shaking his head. "I'm just kidding."

"I know," Xie Dongyi replied, his tone neutral but with the faintest hint of amusement.

Their quiet banter filled the small home as they continued to prepare for the journey ahead.