Sure, I'll expand and split this chapter into two messages, aiming for a 2000-word total, divided evenly into two parts. I'll start with the first 1000 words now and continue shortly after.
Chapter 3: A Sprout's Trouble (Continued)
Teng Lin's feet dragged as the miles stretched on, the weight of both the journey and his looming deadline bearing down on him. The landscape around him changed slowly, trees thinning and rough hills turning into rocky crags. Every step he took seemed to carry more and more importance, each one a ticking reminder that time was slipping away. His eyes wandered back to the sky, where the last slivers of daylight hung low on the horizon. The sun was sinking fast, casting the world in shades of orange and crimson, but Teng Lin couldn't afford to stop.
His mind was a constant flurry of thoughts, most of them worrying about the task ahead. Today had been exhausting. After the disappointing search for land in Bluewood Town, Teng Lin had resolved that this was his only chance. If this old farmer, Su Xianyu, didn't have the solution, then he was out of options.
"I'm sorry," Teng Lin whispered quietly to the emptiness of the mountains. The words came out so faintly that even the wind couldn't carry them. He thought of Chen Bo and Wei Jian, the two companions he'd met only days before. Neither of them had a reason to be here with him now. He knew they had their own paths to follow—Chen Bo was waiting for a chance to return home, and Wei Jian was only tagging along out of some sense of lost purpose. They'd both agreed to accompany him for the day, but Teng Lin could see the skepticism in their eyes.
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this," he murmured to himself. "But this is my only shot. I can't fail."
It was hard for him to put into words why he was so desperate for this strange, risky plan to work, but deep down, he understood. If this didn't work, if he couldn't find a place to plant and cultivate, then everything he had been working toward, the mysterious Green Thumb System, would be lost to him. There would be no more second chances.
The cool evening breeze brushed against his skin as he passed into a dense thicket of trees. His boots crunched on the forest floor, but there was an eerie stillness that surrounded him. The weight of solitude pressed down on his chest as his thoughts wandered back to his quest. Was this really his last chance?
No. He wouldn't let it be. He couldn't let it be.
As the path before him grew more rugged, the valley finally began to come into view. Teng Lin's heart skipped a beat as he noticed the landscape open up in front of him, the trees parting like the last remnants of a storm clearing away. The valley spread out, nestled beneath towering peaks, their jagged tips just barely visible beyond the dense forest. His legs ached, but he pushed forward, the sight of the valley a welcome reprieve from the unrelenting climb.
Teng Lin's steps slowed as he approached the heart of the valley. The first thing he noticed was the small plot of land that stretched out like an oasis in the otherwise wild land. The soil was fertile, a marked contrast to the untamed surroundings. It was modest, yet it stood out with the vitality of the new sprouts breaking free from the earth. He crouched down for a moment, letting his fingers brush across the soil. It was unlike anything he'd seen in the town—healthy, thriving, and alive.
A small cabin sat a few paces away, weathered and humble, nestled between a dense patch of trees. A modest woodshed stood behind it, the structure as simple as it was functional. There was no grandiosity here, no pretense. Just the quiet efficiency of a man who worked the land alone.
But the graves, those were what caught his attention the most.
Teng Lin stood up, his eyes drawn to two small graves at the far side of the land. Neatly arranged, the stones were free of dirt, their surfaces polished and smooth. Fresh flowers—vibrant, soft blossoms—were carefully arranged on the graves, a stark contrast to the overgrown brush around them. It was clear that someone had taken great care in preserving these graves, making sure they were the cleanest, most orderly part of the valley.
His heart tightened in his chest as he stared at the graves. They weren't just the burial sites of the old farmer's family—they were a symbol of something far deeper, something he couldn't quite place. He stood still for a long moment, contemplating the weight of the sight. The graves spoke volumes about the man who tended this land, about the loss he had suffered and the love that still lingered.
"Su Xianyu," Teng Lin whispered softly to himself. He didn't know much about the old farmer—only what he had heard in passing—but everything in this valley suggested a story far older and more complex than anything a stranger like him could fully understand.
After a moment of silence, Teng Lin continued his approach toward the cabin, his legs tired but his resolve unwavering. As he got closer, the faint smell of woodsmoke filled the air, and he noticed a small plume of smoke rising from the chimney of the cabin. The old farmer was home.
Su Xianyu was inside, sitting in the dim light of his cabin. His thoughts drifted back to years past—memories of his wife, his daughter, and his days within the Earthshroud Sect. Those memories were always bittersweet, filled with both pride and guilt. He had been a lowly elder, one of many voices in the sect's decision-making process. But the vote that had decided the fate of his family was one that still haunted him.
His family had died as a result of a soul-sealing poison—an attack on his very soul, the thing that connected him to his cultivation and his very being. For years, he had struggled with the poison's lingering effects, each day a battle to keep his life intact. The ones who had done this to him were powerful, dangerous people, and though he suspected who was responsible, he had never been able to confront them. They were too strong for him to take on, and the years had only taught him to grow more patient, more subtle in his plans.
He had tried for so long to avenge his family, but the poison had kept him bound, too weak to act. Now, with his health slowly returning, he felt a spark of energy stir within him again. But there was one last task he needed to complete before he could act on his vengeance: he needed an apprentice.
He needed someone who could carry on his legacy, someone to tend to the graves of his wife and daughter after he was gone. He couldn't do it alone anymore.
As Su Xianyu sat in his chair, his eyes scanned the land outside his cabin. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard something—the unmistakable sound of footsteps, soft and steady, crunching the undergrowth.
Someone was here.
Su Xianyu's senses sharpened. For a moment, the soft rustling of the wind through the trees drowned out everything else, but soon the sounds of someone walking grew louder, closer. He stood up slowly, the joints in his old body creaking with a quiet protest, before stepping to the window. His eyes narrowed as he peered through the wooden slats, his gaze falling on the figure in the valley below.
It was a young man—perhaps in his early twenties. His clothes were simple, and he carried himself with a quiet determination, but there was something more to him, something hidden in the way he moved. Su Xianyu squinted, instinctively reaching for his walking staff, the polished wood cold against his fingers. There was no immediate danger, but the stranger's presence was unexpected, and that in itself raised a dozen questions in the old man's mind.
With a deep sigh, Su Xianyu turned away from the window, moving toward the cabin's door. His body protested the motion, but he ignored it. This was his last chance—he could feel it. He had never wanted an apprentice more than he did now. Whether it was fate or coincidence, the universe seemed to be nudging him in this direction.
As Su Xianyu opened the door, the wind hit him, chilly and biting. His gaze settled on the young man who had reached the edge of his property. The boy looked lost in thought, his eyes scanning the small plot of land, the graves, and the cabin as if he were trying to piece together a puzzle.
"You're the one who came," Su Xianyu's voice broke the silence, gruff but steady.
Teng Lin's heart skipped at the sound of the voice. He had expected an elderly man, but the aura around the figure before him was different. It wasn't just the man's age; there was something else in the air, something about him that Teng Lin couldn't quite place.
The old farmer's eyes studied him carefully, sizing him up. "I assume you've come for the offer," Su Xianyu said, motioning toward the small plot of land. His voice, though rough, carried a weight to it—both his years and the burden of his past.
Teng Lin nodded, but as he did, he felt a sense of hesitation tug at him. He had walked this far with no real expectation, but now that he stood before the person he had heard so much about, a certain nervousness began to well up inside him. Was he truly ready for what lay ahead?
"I… I heard you were looking for an apprentice," Teng Lin said, his voice steady but laced with a hint of uncertainty. "I… I want to learn. I need to."
Su Xianyu nodded slowly, his old eyes narrowing slightly as if gauging the sincerity of the words. "You've got the look of someone desperate," he muttered. "That's fine by me. But first, you need to understand one thing." He paused, his gaze hardening.
Teng Lin's heart pounded in his chest. He took a slow breath, trying to keep himself composed. "What's that?" he asked.
Su Xianyu turned toward the graves, his eyes softening for a moment. "This land, this valley—it's not what it seems. It's cursed. The land is good, but the price of it is high." He turned back to face the young man, his voice lower, more serious. "I need someone strong, someone willing to face more than just dirt and crops. Are you prepared for that, boy?"
Teng Lin looked at the graves, at the simple, peaceful plot. The question seemed weighty, but it resonated with his own growing sense of resolve. He knew nothing would be easy from here on out. This was his only chance.
"I'm ready," Teng Lin replied. His voice, though still hesitant, was firmer now.
Su Xianyu studied him for a long moment, as if trying to pierce through his words, to see if they were true. After what felt like an eternity, the old farmer gave a single nod. "You'll need to prove it. Not to me, but to the land. The soil will test you."
Teng Lin nodded again, his gaze shifting to the two graves. "I understand," he said. "I won't let you down."
Su Xianyu turned and motioned for him to follow. "Come inside," he said simply. "Let's talk."
Teng Lin followed the old man into the cabin, stepping carefully across the threshold. Inside, the cabin was small but welcoming. The scent of herbs and wood smoke hung in the air, mixed with the earthy aroma of the surrounding land. The walls were lined with simple wooden shelves filled with jars of dried herbs, plants, and what appeared to be old scrolls. It was a home, yet it was more than that—a place of quiet history.
Su Xianyu motioned for Teng Lin to sit at a small wooden table. "I'm not here to coddle anyone," he said, his eyes sharpening once again. "I need someone who can help me with a simple task first, something that has been weighing on my heart for years. After that, we'll see."
Teng Lin sat down without hesitation, leaning forward, eager to hear what the old farmer had to say. His mind raced with thoughts of what his first task might be. He had come this far, and now he needed to prove himself. But he wasn't going to give up.
"First," Su Xianyu said, "you'll sweep the graves."
Teng Lin blinked, surprised by the simplicity of the request. He'd expected something more complicated, something more testing. But sweeping the graves? That seemed easy enough. Still, there was something about the way the old man spoke that gave the task weight.
"Why the graves?" Teng Lin asked softly.
Su Xianyu's gaze softened, a fleeting glimpse of sorrow passing through his eyes. "They were my family," he said, his voice low. "The only ones who ever mattered. I take care of them. No one else has ever done so properly."
Teng Lin felt a pang of understanding in his chest. He nodded, his resolve strengthening.
"I'll do it," Teng Lin said, his voice firm. "I'll take care of them."
Su Xianyu nodded, a slight smile touching the corners of his lips. "Good. After life you find the only thing you want is a clean grave."
Teng Lin stood up, his heart brimming with purpose. He was here now, standing in front of the only person who could help him achieve his goal. He was ready for whatever came next.