Ah, I see! I misunderstood the timeline. The mission is still ongoing, and Teng Lin hasn't failed yet. Let's rework this to make sure the timer is still ticking down, causing Teng Lin to rush. Here's the revised first part of Chapter 4, reflecting the urgency of the timer as Teng Lin approaches the graves:
Chapter 4: Roots of Time (Part 1)
Teng Lin's eyes darted to the timer in his mind, watching as the seconds slipped away. Thirty minutes left. No more time to waste. The system's ticking clock pushed him forward, his heart racing with a mix of anxiety and determination. Each moment brought him closer to running out of time. The goal seemed within his reach—just sweep the graves and complete the task—but the timer didn't care about his inner turmoil. It would keep ticking down regardless of his feelings.
He glanced toward the old farmer, Su Xianyu, who had quietly told him to go and sweep the graves. Teng Lin's hands trembled as he grabbed the broom. The urgency of the mission weighed heavily on him. He had to get this done, no matter what. If he failed, he wasn't sure what would happen—if the system would abandon him or if he would be left with nothing. The fear of failure gnawed at him, and his steps quickened.
I need this, Teng Lin thought. This is my only chance.
The thought of losing everything, of failing the mission, pushed him into a frenzy. He began sweeping the graves with haste, the bristles of the broom scraping roughly against the stone. His movements were jerky, uncoordinated, as though the timer itself was dictating the speed at which he worked. His heart pounded in his chest, echoing the frantic rush of his hands.
The weight of his desperation felt suffocating. With each sweep, he could feel the ground beneath him slipping away. Time was running out. The graves were supposed to be a place of peace, a place of remembrance, but Teng Lin couldn't bring himself to treat them with the respect they deserved in this moment. He was rushing to finish the task, barely paying attention to the act itself.
Why does it matter? he thought bitterly, glancing at the timer again. I just need to finish this. If I fail…
He didn't dare complete the thought. The prospect of failure felt too much to bear. He tried to ignore the knot tightening in his stomach as he swept faster, pushing himself to finish.
But then, a quiet voice interrupted his thoughts.
"You're rushing," Su Xianyu said softly, his voice carrying a certain calmness that cut through the haze of Teng Lin's anxiety. The old farmer was watching him from the doorway of his small cabin, his gaze steady but not harsh.
Teng Lin paused, standing over the graves, his breath heavy and labored. He looked up, sweat beading on his forehead. Rushing? He barely even realized how fast he was moving. The weight of his urgency had clouded his thoughts, but now, with Su Xianyu's words, he finally saw the situation more clearly.
He took a deep breath and looked at the graves again—really looked at them. The graves weren't just markers of loss; they were a place of remembrance, a sacred space. He had been treating them like an obstacle to overcome, as if the sweeping was merely part of a checklist to complete. But it wasn't just about finishing the task—it was about respect. The dead deserved that, even if it meant risking the loss of the system's favor.
The timer still ticked away in the back of his mind, but the panic began to subside. He focused on each deliberate motion as he swept, paying attention to the smallest details. It didn't matter that the timer was running out. It didn't matter that time was slipping away. What mattered now was the act itself. His hands, though still trembling, moved more methodically, and his mind cleared.
Su Xianyu, still watching from the cabin, didn't interrupt. His silence spoke volumes, and after a while, Teng Lin felt the pressure lift slightly.
The old man eventually stepped forward, walking toward him. "You've got the right idea," Su Xianyu said with a slight nod, the lines of his face softening. "It's not about rushing. You need to do things with care, with heart. That's how you show respect. That's how you make your work meaningful."
Teng Lin paused again, unsure of how to respond. The older man's words sank in. I've been rushing because I was afraid I wouldn't finish. But what was the point of finishing if I couldn't even do it right?
He continued sweeping, slower now, more deliberate. Each stroke of the broom felt different now. The weight of the timer was still there, but it wasn't all-consuming. He focused on what he could control in the moment—the act of sweeping, the peaceful rhythm of it, the small act of honoring those who had passed.
After a while, he felt a sense of calm. It wasn't much, but it was enough. Enough to remind him that the mission wasn't the only thing that mattered. The journey, the process, was just as important.
Su Xianyu stood silently by, watching him with a quiet approval. When Teng Lin finally finished, the graveyard was clean, neat, and well-kept. The air around him felt slightly different—he wasn't sure if it was the work itself or just his change in mindset, but the tension in his chest had eased.
Su Xianyu stepped forward, his eyes twinkling with something like quiet amusement. "Not everyone can slow down and do something like that. Most people, when faced with a deadline, would have rushed through it without a second thought. You've done well."
Teng Lin felt a small flush of embarrassment. "It wasn't much. I just… needed to do it right."
Su Xianyu's expression softened even further. "That's more than enough. In fact, it's just what I've been waiting for."
Teng Lin raised an eyebrow, confused. "What do you mean?"
The old farmer smiled. "You've proven yourself. You've shown the right mindset, the right spirit. That's what this land needs."
Teng Lin stood up straighter, still processing Su Xianyu's words. "You're saying…?"
Su Xianyu nodded, his smile widening. "Yes. The land is yours now. You've earned it. You've completed the first task, and you've proven you can handle what comes next."
Teng Lin's breath caught in his throat. "Wait, what do you mean? This land—it's mine?"
The old farmer's eyes glinted with amusement. "I don't hand out my land lightly. But you've got the right heart. And that's what matters."
Teng Lin still couldn't quite believe it. He'd been hoping for this, but hearing it from the old man made it feel real. "Thank you," he murmured, though a part of him was still processing what exactly had just happened.
Su Xianyu gave him a small, satisfied nod. "There's more to it, of course. You can't just take it and run. But we'll talk about that later."
Teng Lin nodded, though his mind was racing. The system still hadn't chimed in, but for the first time in what felt like forever, he felt something like hope rising in his chest.
The air around them seemed to hum with a quiet energy, and as Teng Lin stood there, trying to process the enormity of Su Xianyu's words, a sudden chime echoed in his mind, startling him. The system had come to life again, its familiar voice resonating in his thoughts.
Mission Complete: Fertile Land Secured.
Teng Lin's heart skipped a beat. His first mission had been completed. A sense of relief washed over him. Despite all the uncertainty, despite the timer ticking down relentlessly, he had managed to secure the land. His hands trembled slightly as the system's next message came through.
Reward Issued: Tree of Life (Seedling)
The words appeared in his mind, and he immediately felt the weight of them. A tree. The seedling could be the key to something he didn't fully understand yet, but it was a start. A small gift for a great achievement. Teng Lin wanted to ask more, to understand the tree's significance, but before he could, the system chimed again.
Negative Qi Cleared.
The words were simple but puzzling. Teng Lin had no idea what the system meant by clearing the negative qi. Had it done something to the land itself? He looked around, searching for any visible signs of change, but everything appeared as it had been. The land was quiet, peaceful, the same as it had been moments ago.
But then, a strange sensation passed over him. He felt it deep in his chest—something was different. The air felt fresher, lighter, almost as if a burden had been lifted. The valley, which had once carried an oppressive weight, now felt subtly more vibrant.
Teng Lin's gaze flickered toward Su Xianyu, who stood nearby, his eyes narrowed with quiet scrutiny. The old man was studying the landscape, a thoughtful expression on his face. Teng Lin wanted to ask him what he thought of the changes, but Su Xianyu didn't immediately speak.
For a long moment, neither of them moved. Su Xianyu's gaze shifted to the graves, his eyes lingering there for a beat longer than usual. Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, he turned to Teng Lin.
"You've done well," the old farmer said, his voice steady but carrying a subtle weight. He studied Teng Lin's face, as though trying to discern something unspoken. His eyes lingered for a long while on the boy's features, before he spoke again, almost more to himself than to Teng Lin. "This place has changed."
Teng Lin blinked, a shiver running down his spine. He had felt it too. The subtle change in the air, the weight lifting. But it seemed as though Su Xianyu knew something deeper, something more profound.
But the old man said nothing more. He stood, lost in thought, his gaze flicking to the small mound of dirt near the center of the valley. The mound seemed like such an unremarkable thing, yet Su Xianyu was staring at it as if it held some deep, inexplicable meaning.
Teng Lin didn't want to disturb him, unsure if the old man was merely contemplating the valley or if something else had caught his attention. The tension in the air seemed to stretch.
Su Xianyu shifted his stance slightly and then, finally, spoke. "The land is… lighter now. The weight of the air, it's as though something has been lifted."
Teng Lin nodded, but he didn't say anything. He didn't know what to say. He simply watched as the old farmer's gaze remained fixed on the mound.
After what felt like an eternity, Su Xianyu stood up. He shook his head slowly. "No, it's nothing," he muttered under his breath.
Teng Lin didn't press further. He could feel the unease in the air, the old man's confusion, but whatever had happened seemed beyond words. For now, it was best to let it be.
The system's voice cut through Teng Lin's thoughts, once again interrupting the silence.
System Offline for 24 Hours: Attaching to Host.
Teng Lin blinked in surprise. The system was offline for an entire day? He had no time to ask questions, no time to press for more information. It simply… shut down. He was left to wonder whether the changes to the valley, the sudden shift in the air, were the system's doing. But the more he thought about it, the less he could be sure. The system had been strange from the beginning. Still, he had completed his first mission, secured the land. That was enough for now.
Su Xianyu's voice broke his thoughts. "You've done well," the old man repeated, his tone softer now. "But this is just the beginning."
Teng Lin nodded absently. "I understand. But… I don't really know what comes next."
Su Xianyu's expression softened, and for the first time, there was a glint of something warmer in his eyes. "You'll learn. I didn't take you on because I thought you had everything figured out. I took you on because you showed heart. That's more important than knowing everything up front."
Teng Lin felt a swell of gratitude. It wasn't much, but it was enough to anchor him for the moment. He had a place now—a purpose. The farm, the land, the strange tree seedling in his possession—it was all just the beginning of something bigger, something he couldn't yet see.
As the sun began to set behind the mountains, Su Xianyu turned toward him again. "I'll be leaving in a week," he said. "Do you have anywhere to stay?"
Teng Lin's stomach twisted slightly, but he forced a smile. "I'm staying at an inn in Bluewood Town for now. I should have enough funds to stay there until then."
Su Xianyu raised an eyebrow. "I'll prepare a cabin for you. You don't need to stay in an inn. Come back tomorrow."
Teng Lin blinked in surprise. "A cabin? How will you—"
"Don't worry about that," the old farmer cut in. "I've got it handled. You just need to come back tomorrow, and it'll be ready."
Teng Lin wasn't sure how the old man would manage to build a cabin in one day, but after seeing how Su Xianyu had worked so far, he couldn't help but believe it. The man was full of surprises, and it seemed pointless to question him further.
"Alright," Teng Lin agreed, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I'll come back tomorrow."
As he turned to leave, something else crossed his mind. His two friends—Chen Bo and Wei Jian—were still in the town. It had been a day since he'd left, and he hadn't had the chance to speak with them. They had made their way to Bluewood Town in the first place because they didn't have anywhere else to go, and now Teng Lin had found his path. But what about them?
"I've got two friends back in town," Teng Lin said, almost absentmindedly. "They might want to help with the farm. I'll bring them tomorrow."
Su Xianyu didn't react immediately. His expression darkened, just a little. "This valley isn't a place for many people. It's not a party house."
Teng Lin blinked, surprised by the old farmer's tone. "I didn't mean to—"
"Bring them along," Su Xianyu interrupted, his gaze sharp. "But they need to know what they're getting into. If they're serious about staying here, I'll need to meet them."
Teng Lin nodded. It made sense. Su Xianyu wanted to see if they were fit for the task, and he couldn't blame him. "I'll bring them," he said, his voice steady.
And with that, the conversation ended. Teng Lin left the valley, his mind whirling with thoughts of the system, the land, and the journey that lay ahead. The old farmer had given him a chance, but the future remained uncertain.
The first steps had been taken. The rest of the path would unfold in time.