Chapter 39: Connections Of Silk Strings
Scholar Heide finished checking Mike’s condition, reconnected his broken bones, applied medicine, then instructed him to rest well and not move around for the next few days.
“Thank you, Teacher.” Mike lay on the bed, somewhat at a loss and ashamed.
“It’s fine, that’s all for now. You rest first.” Scholar Heide stood up and had the others come out with him.
“You all did very well. In the future, if there’s anything, you can help each other more.” Scholar Heide looked at them approvingly.
“Hehe.” Being praised like this by the teacher, the students present couldn’t help but feel happy.
“Tiya.” Scholar Heide suddenly called her name.
“What is it?”
“Do you have time to tutor Mike on his studies?” he inquired.
“Sure, but when?”
“No need to make extra time, just during the free periods in the daily afternoon training.”
“I understand, Teacher.” She nodded slightly.
“Sorry to trouble you.” Scholar Heide’s aged hand lightly patted Xilutiya’s shoulder.
“In a couple of days, I’ll give you a treasured book.”
After speaking, the two left the house and walked side by side through the fields, looking toward the vast golden wheat field in the village that stretched to the horizon.
“You’re probably very curious why I’m taking such good care of Mike and asking you to tutor him,” Scholar Heide began.
“A little.” The maiden answered.
“Given your identity and appearance, even treatment like Iona’s wouldn’t be excessive. Having you tutor that child with such a poor foundation is indeed somewhat unfair to you.”
“But I know you’re not the kind of child who envies vanity and is very approachable, so I reluctantly made this request.”
……
“I don’t know, Tiya, how do you view this world?” The two stood before the endless wheat field, gazing into the distance.
“Many people primarily care about themselves—whether they’ve grown, made money, gotten the things they want, and so on. Few people look toward farther places.”
“I’m not saying that’s bad, but it’s somewhat regrettable.”
“Actually, many things that happen in this world are closely related to us.”
“A flood in Gully City would lead to reduced grain production, masses of poor commoners who can’t afford expensive grain starving to death, spreading to you and me—probably just meaning fewer varieties of food on the dining table.”
“Subtle differences are often overlooked by people, but these countless subtle differences ultimately affect and change the entire world.”
“Do you remember the knowledge I once taught about the origins of ‘Nature’?”
“The Nature Power we see today is not unchanging, just like Blazing Sun splitting and Illusory Moon collapsing; other Natures have also undergone long evolution.”
“The ‘Emerald Honey’ you’re currently practicing is actually the legacy of the ancient original Nature ‘Mycelium.'” Scholar Heide stopped walking.
‘Nature（Mycelium）: Connection of threads and chords, mother of past life’
“In the earliest era, this world was like a dull unchanging giant stone, and then Mycelium gradually broke down the giant stone, creating the existence of space.”
“Nowadays, probably only some rare mushroom fungi still inherit faint Mycelium power.”
“Bit by bit, subtle erosion—Mycelium took nearly a billion years of time to erode and decompose the chaotic giant stone, forming the vast world we live in.”
“Our ability to walk safely through the fields now also relies on many people’s help—some tend the fields, some maintain public security, some drive away wild beasts, some handle medical treatment, and so on.”
“Transcendents have strength far surpassing mortals, but this strength also relies on the foundational help provided by the entire social system framework.”
“Aspiring to an unfettered life is a beautiful thing, but if you’re swimming in a muddy, filthy ocean, you’d probably find it hard to be happy.”
“I was actually born a commoner. Studying in my early years was extremely difficult; because of lack of money, I couldn’t buy books or borrow them. Sometimes when begging others, I was mocked and beaten. Even recalling those scenes now makes me a bit sad.” Scholar Heide sighed and stopped walking.
“I actually understand very well why Mike still went alone to on the mountain today, so I don’t want to blame him.”
“Everyone has their own situation; it’s just that some people get used to theirs and forget to empathize with others’ situations.”
“I’m already eighty-seven years old, but even now I still don’t dare say this world is full of goodwill. I’ve also seen some former classmates and friends who, in pursuit of power, became twisted in character and unrecognizable.”
“When they see me, they laugh and say I’m too weak, which is why I can’t break through the Third Order threshold.”
“I’ve seen too many people who, in chasing certain things, end up on the wrong path and lose themselves.”
“Mike has decent talent, but it’s far from enough to stand out among his classmates. His foundation in knowledge is too poor, and blindly pursuing making money and strength without reflecting on the impact of his actions and choices will ultimately lead him astray.”
“In his current situation, I can’t tell him not to rush, to take it slow, to patiently and steadily cope.”
“He probably has family he values and hopes to prove his urgent thoughts—it’s evident from him leaving the training ground last every day.”
“Yes, I’ve already lived a comfortable and affluent retired life, but his life is just beginning, so I can’t advise him with my own state of mind and ideas.”
“But I still think if this child doesn’t go astray, he’ll probably have a decent future.”
“Because I’ve had regrets I can’t let go of, I especially don’t want to see similar things happen again.”
“So, Tiya, do you understand my intention in asking you to help him?”
“Your talent is very high; you’ll go to very distant places in the future. But no matter how great a person is, there are always many trivial matters and needs to fulfill.”
“Having one more friend and trustworthy person is always a good thing—even in old age, you’ll have someone to chat and reminisce with, hehehe.”
“With your personality, if I didn’t insist, you probably wouldn’t proactively associate with those boys. I know you’re not interested in romance, but you don’t need to be too low-key. Occasionally showing the liveliness and cuteness of a young girl would make me appreciate you even more.”
“Not just Mike, but the others too—for example, ‘Thunder’ and a few classmates—you can try helping them sort out and answer their doubts.”
“Relationships between people are like that, and when you have many friends, even if you yourself don’t have strong combat ability, people around you won’t easily bully you.” Scholar Heide was probably worried that Xilutiya’s social skills were insufficient and that she’d lack support on her future life path due to too few friends.
After listening to this old man’s long narration, Xilutiya now understood his intentions.
Friends, or rather companions to share harvest and joy with—recalling her previous life, she indeed didn’t have many friends and was always used to being alone. She hadn’t expected this old man to see through her personality so quickly.
Connection of threads and chords, countless subtle accumulations, mother of life that changes the world—was she also to walk such a path?
