Chapter 4 : Guards of the Liu clan

Chapter 4: Guards of the Liu Clan

The dawn after the confrontation with Fang Yan brought an eerie calm to the Liu Clan herb farm. The workers resumed their duties as if nothing had happened, but Xiao Chen could feel an undercurrent of unease among them. Fang Yan's betrayal had rattled everyone, though few were privy to the details.

For Xiao Chen, the night had been an eye-opener. He had narrowly escaped death, witnessed the power of true cultivators, and now understood that the Liu Clan's herb farm was not the tranquil backwater it seemed. It was a dangerous chessboard, and he was just a pawn—one who needed to rise quickly if he wanted to survive.

Sitting cross-legged in his modest wooden room, Xiao Chen activated the Five Elements Harmonization Technique. The room was dimly lit, with faint streams of sunlight filtering through the cracks in the wooden walls. Xiao Chen focused inward, his breathing steady as he guided the ambient spiritual energy into his body.

The Five Elements Harmonization Technique was extraordinary. It allowed him to absorb spiritual energy from all five elemental attributes: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Most cultivators had to align their techniques with their primary spirit root, but Xiao Chen's inferior five-element spirit root—once considered a curse—was now his greatest blessing.

As the spiritual energy entered his meridians, Xiao Chen could feel it circulating harmoniously, each element balancing the other. This was the essence of the technique, and it made his cultivation unusually stable and efficient.

"Just a little more," Xiao Chen muttered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. His body trembled as he pushed past the final barrier of the 1st stage of Spiritual Refinement.

Suddenly, his dantian surged with energy, a vortex forming within. The system chimed in his mind:

[Breakthrough achieved: Spiritual Refinement, 2nd Stage!]

Xiao Chen exhaled deeply, his body feeling lighter, his senses sharper. But he didn't celebrate. Instead, he opened his eyes and muttered, "Still too weak."

The events of the previous night had driven home an uncomfortable truth: power was everything in this world. Fang Yan had been at least in the Spiritual Foundation Realm, and Xiao Chen wouldn't stand a chance against someone like her, even now.

Later that day, Xiao Chen observed a group of armored figures patrolling the herb farm. These were the Liu Clan Guards, a dedicated force responsible for protecting the clan's assets. They were led by Captain Bai Zhan, a tall, imposing man in his early thirties with a reputation for being both fair and ruthless.

Unlike the Liu siblings, who rarely visited the herb farm unless significant issues arose, the guards were a constant presence. They were the first line of defense against threats like demon cultivators, rogue beasts, or bandits.

"Bai Zhan isn't someone to mess with," Uncle Qin whispered to Xiao Chen as they worked side by side in the fields. The old steward's eyes followed the captain warily.

"What makes him so dangerous?" Xiao Chen asked, feigning casual curiosity.

"He's a peak Spiritual Foundation Realm cultivator, for one," Uncle Qin said. "But it's his combat experience that sets him apart. They say he fought off a Spirit Beast alone once, saving an entire caravan."

Xiao Chen nodded thoughtfully. He made a mental note to avoid drawing attention from Bai Zhan. The guards might be there to protect the farm, but they wouldn't hesitate to deal with anyone who seemed suspicious.

That evening, as Xiao Chen prepared for another cultivation session, the system interface appeared before him.

[New Quest Issued!]

Objective: Retrieve the Crimson Moon Herb from the outer forest.

Details: The Crimson Moon Herb is a rare spiritual plant that only blooms under moonlight. Harvest it without being detected by the Liu Clan Guards.

Reward: Basic Sword Technique (Low Yellow Grade)

Penalty: None

Readers notice : Liu clan Herb farm is not in the Liu clan mansion but rather in the forest which is closer to city in a certain radius and liu clan guards also petrol there .Outside the radius of garden us The Wild forest which is know as outer Forest.

Xiao Chen frowned. "The system really loves throwing me into dangerous situations, doesn't it?"

The outer forest was notorious among the farm workers. It was home to various spirit beasts, and the guards patrolled its perimeter to ensure none of them ventured into the herb farm. However, the system's reward was tempting. A basic sword technique would give him a much-needed edge in combat.

After nightfall, Xiao Chen slipped out of his room, his movements careful and deliberate. The guards' patrol patterns were methodical but predictable, a detail he had noted earlier in the day. Using the shadows to his advantage, he navigated through the herb farm and approached the edge of the forest.

The outer forest was a stark contrast to the orderly herb farm. Towering trees blocked out most of the moonlight, their gnarled roots snaking across the ground like traps. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the faint hum of nocturnal insects.

Xiao Chen activated his Danger Detection feature, his body tensing as he moved deeper into the forest. The system's faint warnings kept him on edge, but nothing outright dangerous appeared to challenge him—yet.

After an hour of searching, he finally spotted a faint red glow among the underbrush. The Crimson Moon Herb was unmistakable, its petals shimmering like liquid fire under the moonlight. Xiao Chen approached cautiously, his hand reaching for the plant.

Just as his fingers brushed the stem, a low growl rumbled behind him. Xiao Chen froze, his Danger Detection flaring to life.

[Warning: Spirit Beast detected. Threat Level: Moderate.]

Turning slowly, Xiao Chen found himself face-to-face with a Silverback Wolf, its glowing eyes locked onto him. The beast was the size of a horse, its silver fur bristling as it bared its fangs.

"Of course it couldn't be easy," Xiao Chen muttered, gripping the hoe he had brought as a makeshift weapon.

The wolf lunged, its claws slashing through the air. Xiao Chen rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. His heart pounded as he scrambled to his feet, keeping the wolf in his sights.

"Stay calm," he told himself. "Observe its movements. Find an opening."

The wolf charged again, but this time, Xiao Chen was ready. He sidestepped the beast and swung the hoe with all his strength, striking its side. The wolf yelped in pain, but the attack only seemed to enrage it.

The battle continued, Xiao Chen using his agility to evade the wolf's attacks while landing strikes when he could. However, his stamina was waning, and the wolf showed no signs of slowing down.

Just as despair began to creep in, the system chimed:

[Emergency Assistance Available: Activating Five Elements Harmonization Technique.]

A surge of energy filled Xiao Chen's body, his fatigue vanishing as his movements became sharper and more precise. The next time the wolf lunged, Xiao Chen sidestepped and delivered a crushing blow to its head, shattering its skull.

The wolf collapsed with a final whimper, its massive body going limp. Xiao Chen stood over the corpse, his chest heaving as he caught his breath.

"That was too close," he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow.

He quickly harvested the Crimson Moon Herb and made his way back to the herb farm, careful to avoid the guards.

Back in his room, Xiao Chen placed the herb in his storage space and activated the system

.

[Quest Complete!]

Reward Unlocked: Basic Sword Technique (Low Yellow Grade).

The knowledge of the technique flooded his mind, the system's Instant Learning feature allowing him to grasp it immediately. Xiao Chen practiced the moves in his room, the blade-like precision of his strikes cutting through the air.

"This will do for now," he said, a faint smile on his lips.

As he sat down to meditate, Xiao Chen couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. He was still weak, but he was growing stronger every day. The path ahead was long and treacherous, but Xiao Chen was determined to walk it—one step at a time.

To Be Continued…