Chapter Title: "Bonds of Brotherhood"
As the group stood beneath the still-shifting sky, Teng Lin looked toward the valley and took a deep breath. Turning to the others, he said, "I'll go to the valley alone. This is my responsibility."
Before he could take another step, Su Xianyu placed a firm hand on his shoulder and replied nonchalantly, "I always thought I'd either die next to my family or in my enemies' hands. Next to my family sounds like the better choice to me. Besides, if that tree demon disturbed my wife and daughters' graves, I must put my life on the line." His lips quirked in a faint, bittersweet smile. "Either way, let's proceed."
Teng Lin blinked in surprise at Su Xianyu's calm resolve but nodded in understanding.
Chen Bo stepped forward, his expression steady. "I'm tied to the farm now too," he said, his voice carrying an unusual seriousness. "At first, I only joined you because I had nothing better to do, but after witnessing your miracles and waking up today… I realized I must follow you. Whatever comes next, I'm with you."
Teng Lin smiled at his friend's sincerity, but before he could respond, Wei Jian's face twisted with hesitation. He opened his mouth to speak but quickly closed it, his thoughts spiraling.
Why would I even offer to go with them? Who am I in all of this? he thought bitterly. We only met a few days ago. I didn't work on the farm like Chen Bo. Why should I even ask if I could drink that water?
His unease grew, but Teng Lin, who had been observing quietly, suddenly spoke up. "I'm glad to see how much you two care, but I think it's best if only Senior Su and I head to the valley for now." His tone was gentle but firm. Then, with a warm smile, he added, "I hope you two don't mind me calling you brothers, though I'm proclaiming myself the eldest now."
Chen Bo grinned, his previous seriousness replaced by playful banter. "Who's eldest? When's your birthday? We'll settle this when you get back!"
Wei Jian, standing quietly beside them, let out a sigh of relief. He felt as though a weight had been lifted. "I'd feel relieved to call you eldest brother," he said softly. "Actually, I was wondering… would you happen to need more hands at the farm?" His voice faltered slightly, betraying his embarrassment.
Teng Lin raised an eyebrow. "What about your family? I thought you needed to get home soon, or else you'd be in trouble. I don't think we'd count as a sect to your father."
Wei Jian hesitated before replying, "My father is stubborn, yes, but I think he'd support me if I told him I was following my friends into a business—no matter what type it is."
Teng Lin considered this for a moment, then nodded. "Well, I suppose we might end up as a business of sorts. Maybe someday we'll sell things outside. Who knows?" He smiled warmly. "It's up to you, though. I extended the offer before, and it still stands."
Wei Jian bowed slightly, his voice steady. "Thank you, first brother."
Chen Bo, who had been standing quietly on the sidelines, suddenly broke into the conversation. "Fine! He can be the eldest, but I'm definitely number two."
Wei Jian, smiling faintly, replied with a simple, "Second brother."
Chen Bo frowned, his lips curling into a mock pout. "Ehh, it's no fun if you don't fight me for it."
The three of them burst into laughter, the tension in the air dissipating. Even Su Xianyu, who had been silent for a while, chuckled softly at their camaraderie.
Finally, Teng Lin stepped forward, turning back to Chen Bo and Wei Jian. "Well, brothers, it's time for us to go."
Chen Bo and Wei Jian both nodded, their expressions a mix of pride and worry. "Be careful, first brother," Chen Bo said, clapping him on the shoulder.
"We'll be waiting for you," Wei Jian added, his voice steady but filled with emotion.
With that, Teng Lin and Su Xianyu set off toward the valley, their figures growing smaller against the backdrop of the chaotic skies.
Chapter Title: "The Spirit in the Valley"
After Su Xianyu and Teng Lin had walked far enough from town, Su Xianyu placed a hand on Teng Lin's shoulder. In an instant, the world around Teng Lin blurred, and a rushing sensation overtook him.
Moments later, they reappeared in front of the valley. Teng Lin stumbled slightly, taking a deep breath. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that," he said, steadying himself.
Su Xianyu chuckled, brushing off his robes. "You will. As you get stronger, it becomes easier. When your speed increases, you'll feel every movement, and time will seem to stretch. Your perception changes as you move faster."
Teng Lin blinked, trying to process Su Xianyu's explanation. "I don't really get it," he admitted.
"You will," Su Xianyu replied with a knowing smile. "You just need to experience it for yourself."
Teng Lin shook his head, deciding to leave it at that. He turned his attention to the valley, where the once-chaotic sky above now seemed calm and serene. "The sky's cleared up," he said, glancing at Su Xianyu. "Are you ready?"
Su Xianyu stared at the valley for a moment before nodding. "Yes."
With that, the two began walking toward the valley. The closer they got, the quieter the air became, until it felt as though the entire world was holding its breath.
As they stepped into the valley, a sweet, coquettish voice suddenly rang out, startling them both. "Big brother, why did you leave? Don't you want to see how awesome I am?"
Teng Lin froze mid-step, choking on his own spit in shock. "What the—"
Beside him, Su Xianyu stood stunned, his gaze darting toward the massive tree near the moat. He pointed at it with a trembling finger. "How… how is this possible? You've developed a spirit?"
Teng Lin turned to Su Xianyu, his expression a mix of shock and confusion. "Wait, you mean the tree is the one talking?"
Before Su Xianyu could respond, the coquettish voice turned sour. "Stinky human! Who are you, and why are you so close to my big brother?"
Su Xianyu's mouth opened and closed as if he were trying to speak but couldn't find the words.
Teng Lin, still trying to make sense of the situation, hesitantly asked, "Wait… am I your big brother?"
The voice instantly shifted back to its sweet tone, giggling as it replied, "If not you, then who? That smelly human over there?"
Su Xianyu's face twitched at being called "smelly," but he said nothing.
Teng Lin, baffled, pointed to himself. "But I'm a human too."
The voice giggled again. "Sure you are."
Teng Lin sighed, deciding not to think too much about it. It's probably some weird system thing, he thought.
He cleared his throat and said aloud, "This is my senior, Su Xianyu. He's been helping me a lot. I hope you can get along with him."
The voice dismissed him with a quick, "Whatever, who cares about that little human? Big brother, come over and play with this little sister!"
Teng Lin hesitated, glancing at Su Xianyu, who seemed equally bewildered. But after a moment, he stepped forward cautiously.
As Teng Lin fully entered the valley, he finally saw it—the massive tree sitting just outside the moat. Its presence was mesmerizing, its beauty so surreal it felt otherworldly. The bark shimmered faintly, and its leaves glowed with an ethereal multi colored light, rustling in a breeze that wasn't there.
Teng Lin stood still, awestruck, until the voice called out again, breaking his trance. "Hurry, big brother! Come give this sister a hug! She's missed you so much!"
Once again, Teng Lin was thrown off by the intimacy of the voice. This has to be a system setting, he thought, trying to rationalize it.
Despite his hesitation, he continued forward, Su Xianyu following closely behind.
As Teng Lin and Su Xianyu continued deeper into the valley, they slowed their pace, their gazes fixed on the majestic tree before them. The Five Element Dao Fruit Tree stood in quiet splendor, its branches stretching high and wide, each adorned with leaves shimmering in five distinct colors: red for fire, blue for water, green for wood, yellow for earth, and white for metal. The hues seemed to dance and shift subtly in the light, as if alive, forming a radiant canopy.
The bark of the tree was a smooth, iridescent silver, glowing faintly with a divine luster. Intricate, natural patterns wound their way up its trunk, resembling Daoist symbols and flowing rivers of energy. The tree exuded an ancient and tranquil aura, yet it also pulsed with an undercurrent of raw, untamed power.
Teng Lin's breath caught in his throat. "It's… it's beautiful," he said, his voice barely a whisper.
Su Xianyu nodded silently, his sharp eyes scanning the tree's every detail. He marveled at how the elemental energies converged and harmonized within its form. This was no ordinary treasure—it was a divine miracle of the natural world. The tree's presence was so commanding that the surrounding valley seemed to pale in comparison, as if every blade of grass existed only to amplify its splendor.
As Teng Lin took a cautious step closer, his awe only grew. He could feel a soft, warm energy brushing against his skin, as if the tree was greeting him. Each step he took made the energy more palpable, enveloping him in a gentle embrace. But just as he was about to reach out to touch the trunk, he froze.
The coquettish voice from earlier returned, this time with a hint of a playful pout. "What's wrong, big brother? Did you change your mind about giving me a hug?"
Teng Lin flushed, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "I… I just realized I don't even know your name."
The voice giggled, her tone light and teasing. "Big brother, how could you forget your little sister's name? It's Wu Ling. But you can call me Little Ling!"
Teng Lin blinked, caught off guard by her words. "Little Ling?" he repeated, glancing up at the colossal tree. For a moment, he felt the absurdity of calling such a massive, awe-inspiring entity "little" anything.
Su Xianyu, still a few steps behind, raised an eyebrow at the exchange but chose to remain silent. The entire situation was beyond anything he'd ever encountered, and he knew better than to interrupt the budding connection between Teng Lin and the tree spirit.
Wu Ling giggled again, her voice carrying a hint of mischief. "What's so funny, big brother? Are you making fun of your little sister already?"
Teng Lin coughed awkwardly, shaking his head. "No, no, it's just… you're so big, and yet you want me to call you Little Ling?"
The tree spirit's voice took on a playful tone. "Big brothers always think their little sisters are small, no matter how big they grow. Isn't that right?"
Teng Lin couldn't help but chuckle at her logic. "I suppose so. Alright then, Little Ling it is."
Wu Ling hummed happily, her branches swaying gently as if in response to her mood. The soft rustling of her colorful leaves created a melody that resonated with the natural energy around them, soothing yet invigorating.
As Teng Lin stood there, gazing at Wu Ling in wonder, Su Xianyu finally stepped forward, his expression serious. He placed a hand on Teng Lin's shoulder, drawing his attention. "Teng Lin, I don't know what kind of connection you've formed with this tree, but it's extraordinary. Spirits like this don't just appear out of nowhere. For it to recognize you as its 'big brother'…" He trailed off, shaking his head. "This is a blessing unlike any other. You must treat it with the utmost care."
Teng Lin nodded earnestly. "Of course, Senior Su. I'll do my best."
Wu Ling's voice interrupted their conversation, her tone light and cheerful. "Don't worry, Senior Su. I'll take good care of big brother, too! He's my family now."
Su Xianyu raised an eyebrow, glancing between Teng Lin and the massive tree. Family? He couldn't help but feel that Teng Lin's path was becoming increasingly unpredictable— and increasingly dangerous.