Chapter 62: The Boy From Back Then
Two days later, Madam Fran returned from her trip.
“Have you decided to go to the Secluded Forest?” The blonde noblewoman lightly pressed one hand on the armrest, tapping it from time to time, lost in thought.
“Actually, I’ve traveled to that place before too, but not in the Regas Kingdom, rather on the Merchant Capital Union side.” She recalled slightly.
“The competition inside is extremely fierce, all selected geniuses and promising people from various places.”
“If you yourself have no background or foundation, going there is indeed the best choice, though it does carry some danger.”
“Originally, I was thinking of having you stay by my side a bit longer, and in another two years, I could directly recommend you to enter those organizations, without needing to go through the Secluded Forest’s selection assessment.”
“That path would be much more relaxed and stable.” She looked up at the maiden in front of her.
“But since you want to venture out on your own, I won’t stop you. Actually, doing it this way will also give you more training.”
“As the ancient proverb says, ‘Warm indoor nurturing cannot produce resilient flowers.’ One must go through some experiences to grow.” At this point, Madam Fran remembered something.
“Little Tiya, do you like growing flowers?” She suddenly asked another question.
“I do, because the process fills one with anticipation and hope.”
“That’s an interesting way to put it, though most people plant and nurture for the final harvest.”
“Some care about the result, some care about the process. Though it’s hard to evaluate which is better, but…” Her expression became slightly serious.
“Tiya, the result is just a momentary thing, while most of your time is spent waiting.”
“If you cannot enjoy this waiting process, you will become pained, because waiting is the most boring thing—facing all sorts of unknowns, speculating on future developments, anxious about the eventual outcome.”
“This anxiety and pain will eventually slowly devour your talent, your spirituality, and that serene state of mind you had at the start of your journey.”
“I understand, Madam.” She realized this was Madam Fran imparting experience and lessons that needed to be kept in mind at all times.
“Talking with a smart child is so refreshing.” Seeing Xilutiya take it in, Madam Fran nodded slightly.
“Since you’ve decided to compete for that quota next year, as your guide on the gardener path, I should also quickly teach you some real skills.”
“Not just the Branch Combing Method and【 Gardener Apprentice】 class, but also some means for gardeners to protect themselves when facing danger.”
“If you’re really going to enter the Secluded Forest, these means are almost essential to learn; otherwise, even if you go, it’ll be hard to adapt to that environment.” She thought of something.
“Starting tomorrow, I’ll have Lining teach you some practical combat techniques, and also some notes from my early years and the gardener inheritance secret canon I’ve obtained; they’ll be passed to you step by step afterward.”
“Even if you can’t learn the things on them now, as long as your rank is sufficient in the future, you’ll be able to master them naturally.”
“Thank you, Madam.” Xilutiya also grew expectant and curious.
……
Since that day when everyone discussed future topics, each had become busy. Karen was diligently training her Breathing Technique, aiming to reach third segment level this month too.
In fact, the Breathing Technique is a peculiar ability. If your companions and comrades around you have all reached higher segments of the Breathing Technique, even if you haven’t broken through yet, you’ll gradually synchronize under that constant influence and the peculiar Pulse Rhythm of breathing, then slowly sense the true rhythm within.
This way, breaking through becomes relatively easier.
In history, there have been many similar cases. For example, during the early pioneering of the Regas Kingdom, the legions under Regard almost all knew the Breathing Technique, and among them were countless ‘Third Order·Castle’ knights. Thus Regard Buwili was honored as the ‘Knight King,’ and such periods of gathered heroes are often recorded in history as a nation’s golden age at its founding.
Learning and training in combat slowly reached a bottleneck, so at this time the students no longer went to the Training Ground every day, but arranged their own schedules.
“Brother Jieluo!”
In the afternoon, Mike returned to that familiar small courtyard in the south of the city and called out loudly.
“Oh, Mike the kid is back.” Seeing him, the others smiled and waved.
“You’ve changed a lot this time, your body has become much sturdier and more solid.” Someone came over and punched him lightly, testing his muscles.
“Hehe.” Facing these old acquaintances and seniors, Mike scratched his head, feeling like he had become that youthful boy who had just started adventuring again.
“This time, I really learned a lot.” He answered with a touch of emotion, then his gaze searched.
“Where’s Brother Jieluo?”
“Him? He’s resting in the room right now.” At this, the expressions of several team members became a bit subtle.
Sensing this strange atmosphere, Mike didn’t ask more, but quickly walked toward the house in that courtyard, then pushed open the simple wooden door and went in.
The rough cloth curtains in the room were tightly drawn, with bits of light shining in from tears and gaps in the curtains. Quite a few wine bottles lay scattered on the floor, while thunderous snoring came from the bed.
Seeing Jieluo sleeping at the moment, Mike felt slightly relieved. He had thought something unexpected had happened.
He picked up the wine bottles on the floor one by one and placed them in that crate, then Mike brought over the small stool in the room and sat in front of the soundly sleeping Jieluo.
“Brother Jieluo, I’ve advanced to First Order.” Mike’s voice wasn’t loud, probably just enough for the two in the room to hear.
If it were in the past, he would probably have announced it loudly to make everyone envious, but now he had become much more steady and had seen many more impressive people, so advancing to ‘First Order’ no longer felt like a maddening achievement.
Unfortunately, the one in the room didn’t hear a word at the moment and continued snoring.
At this, Mike shook his head helplessly, feeling a sense of false joy. He stood up and looked around the rundown house, recalling the scene of his first visit here.
He had come from a village far from Jiaoshi City, located on a major thoroughfare, where the inns in the village were bustling every season, and his mother was a helper in one of the inns.
A very ordinary woman, who had to deal with all those greasy traveling guests every day, so her personality gradually became sharp-tongued, completely lacking the gentle kindness Mike imagined a mother should have. Toward Mike, she hardly cared, merely ensuring the child didn’t starve to death.
After growing up, Mike started looking for work, beginning with odd jobs in the village, just like the other kids.
The thing that truly changed his fate was probably that day when Jieluo brought a group of teammates to the village to complete a task, resolving the rampant powerful wild beasts around.
He accidentally came into contact with the Breathing Technique and spent several days to complete the cycle training for the first time. Seeing he was a good prospect, Jieluo discussed with Mike’s mother and took him out of the village.
It had been nearly two years since he left the village. Not only had he grown taller, his physique had clearly changed too, and most importantly, he was no longer as blind as before.
Knowledge really can change a person, Mike thought, looking at himself in the mirror and recalling the changes over these past months.
After sighing, he turned his attention back to Jieluo, preparing to say hello and leave.
First, he helped prop up Jieluo’s sleeping body straight, then simply smoothed out the wrinkled and messy bedsheet. At this moment, Mike suddenly noticed something; he picked up the half-burned dry brown tobacco on the bed and sniffed it.
This was the smell of Shaking Sun Grass, no mistake—it was properly roasted Shaking Sun Grass. Mike frowned slightly.
This grass, when roasted and lit, emits a choking smell that most people dislike, but once accustomed to the smoke, it brings a intoxicating stimulation that can suppress pain and relieve anxiety.
Does Brother Jieluo like this too? He hadn’t seen Jieluo use it before.
Probably to suppress injury pain, Mike made an excuse for him, since Jieluo had quite a few hidden injuries.
But this stuff, if one gets addicted, is no good at all. Mike had seen addicts at the inn in his childhood—their spirits completely withered, only perking up when sniffing Shaking Sun Grass.
With some worry, Mike simply tidied the room, then left.
“I’ll come back in a few days, and share my achievements with big brother then.” He said this to the sleeping Jieluo, then closed the door.
