Chapter Fifty-One: The Plant Killer

In this era, people—whether cultivators or ordinary folk—viewed the concept of dwelling as nothing more than shelter from wind and rain, a place to sleep. Therefore, to better tend the spirit fields, disciples assigned to planting tasks would typically move out from the dormitories for Qi Refining stage disciples and build huts near the fields.

Feng Ke'er had no desire to be treated differently. She declined Uncle Qin's offer of a new dormitory and returned to New Courtyard No. 4 to pack her belongings—the original owner, Qin Heng, was quite adept at enjoying life, and all the furniture in the room belonged to him.

She had expected Meat Bird to object to living in a thatched hut, but to her surprise, upon hearing the news, he was stunned for a moment and then nodded with a sigh. "That's good. I was just about to suggest we find a more secluded and tranquil place to reside. I need to go into seclusion. Hmm, it feels like I'm on the verge of a breakthrough, I might be advancing soon." Seeing Feng Ke'er cultivate day and night, he tried to soften his words out of concern for her feelings.

So soon after emerging, and already about to advance again? Feng Ke'er could only feel envy—nothing but envy in her heart.

With a storage pouch, moving was effortless. Everything could simply be tossed inside, and no matter how much was packed, the pouch remained the same size, easily tucked away and carried.

After finding the spirit field she was responsible for, Feng Ke'er didn't bother with building her hut first; she hurried to the field to inspect the growth of the spirit rice.

Uncle Qin hadn't exaggerated—this plot of spirit field was about ten acres, flat and brimming with spiritual energy. Thanks to the materials she had studied, Feng Ke'er had learned plenty of technical terms. Previously, she had always regarded spiritual energy as negative ions in the air, thinking that the high forest coverage of Azure Cloud Sect meant excellent air quality. Alas!

Spirit rice looked much like modern rice at first glance. The difference was, spirit rice was wrapped in a faint azure glow. Feng Ke'er had just looked that up: spirit rice contained spiritual energy, and healthy spirit rice would display this aura. Seedlings had an azure glow; during flowering, the glow turned silver; once grains appeared, the glow shifted to pale yellow; when fully ripe, the glow became golden.

As she walked through the field, Feng Ke'er noticed that wherever she went, the lush seedlings invariably raised their two long leaves and danced delicately.

She was excited and pointed at the spirit rice, exclaiming, "Wow, Meat Bird, look! These seedlings are dancing to welcome me!"

Feng Jiu had remained invisible, standing far away on an open patch beyond the field. Hearing her, he pressed his forehead and sighed, "Spirit rice has spirit. But sending you to plant spirit rice doesn't seem wise." In his view, Feng Ke'er was nothing like a cultivator—more like a natural disaster for plants.

"What do you mean?" Like a bucket of cold water poured over her head, the shadow of her planting failures returned.

"You possess the constitution of Pure Yin Water, cold to the bone. Of all things in the Three Realms, flowers and plants are most sensitive to their surroundings. Spirit flowers and herbs, even more so." Feng Jiu coughed lightly, speaking plainly. "Ahem, the seedlings haven't developed spiritual intelligence—they aren't dancing, they're shivering from the cold."

No wonder everything she tried to plant died—so that's the reason. Suddenly enlightened, Feng Ke'er instinctively took several steps back, distancing herself from the field. She scratched her head and asked, "Then why did they send me here?"

"Do you think ordinary people could tell? Even without a Concealment Talisman, cultivators in the lower realms are ignorant, how many even know what 'Pure Yin Water constitution' means?" Feng Jiu snorted.

Fine, so it seems only you, the venerable elder, are so knowledgeable. All her fleeting hopes and budding dreams of farming were uprooted instantly. Feng Ke'er spread her hands in helplessness and asked, "So what now?"

Planting spirit rice was one of the major tasks of the outer sect; the yield of the fields determined the livelihood of all cultivators below the Core Formation stage in Azure Cloud Sect. Therefore, every year, the sowing and transplanting were handled personally by the elder masters of the outer sect. Qi Refining stage disciples were said to be assigned planting tasks, but in reality, they only managed daily care and harvest. The work was light, not difficult, but the rewards were the richest among all tasks: after handing over the required quota of spirit rice, the surplus was theirs to keep.

In the marketplace, three pecks of low-grade spirit rice could be exchanged for one low-grade spirit stone. Medium and high-grade spirit rice were the main ingredients for refining Fasting Pills and fetched higher prices. Thus, planting spirit rice was the most coveted task in the outer sect.

For the plot Feng Ke'er was responsible for, given its quality, after paying the required quota in three months, she would have at least a hundred pecks of low-grade spirit rice, ten pecks of medium-grade rice, and some high-grade rice. In a good year, even more. For outer sect disciples with no source of spirit stones, the allure of this field was immense! That was why Uncle Qin had to work so hard to secure it for her.

Precisely because of this, the pressure of caring for the field was enormous. So many eyes were watching. If she ruined the field and yielded nothing... ah, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The more Feng Ke'er thought, the more anxious she became, nervously staring at her "Omnipedia."

Feng Jiu rubbed his brow with his wing tip, troubled. "This chill comes from your very bones—there's no way to hide it."

"It's over!" Feng Ke'er wailed, leaping back several yards, worried. "If I don't tend it for three months, even if the rice survives, the field will be overrun with weeds, and there'll be no harvest." Glancing toward the Steward's Hall, she muttered inwardly, "This time I'm done for. Uncle Qin, was this well-intentioned plan actually a disaster?"

Feng Jiu had nothing to say. Not only was he on the verge of a breakthrough and needed to go into seclusion, even if he were willing to sacrifice this golden opportunity and help her, he wouldn't have the power. He was a Fire Phoenix, with a Pure Yang constitution; those delicate seedlings couldn't withstand his personal care. That was why he kept his distance, standing at the edge of the field.

Seeing this, Feng Ke'er's heart sank completely. After reading so many materials, she now understood that the opportunity to advance was fleeting, and since they were not kin, the contract was only a necessity—she couldn't ask too much of Meat Bird.

"Forget it, I'll take it slow and figure something out." If she couldn't solve it, she wouldn't dwell on it. She waved her hand and smiled. "I'll build a hut first, otherwise there's nowhere to sleep tonight."

That made sense. Feng Jiu smiled and, unexpectedly, volunteered, "Let me help you."

"No!" Feng Ke'er refused without a second thought. Glancing around, she grinned. "There aren't many people here, but someone might see us. It's better if you keep a low profile."

Feng Jiu didn't insist. He opened his mouth, hesitated, and finally said, "I think you only need a simple hut."

Feng Ke'er's smile froze. What did he mean? Was he saying she'd lose this job soon?

Feng Jiu coughed and turned away, explaining quietly, "I think this spirit field is highly valued. Perhaps they won't wait three months..."

As soon as he spoke, he paused—how odd, he never talked so much nonsense to Feng Ke'er! Was it comfort, guidance, sympathy? Oh, heavens, he must be mad to care about this heartless girl!

"Jinx!" Feng Ke'er rolled her eyes at him and went to the woods to cut timber for her hut.

But after his words, her mood sank like iron; gone was her earlier cheer. She wandered gloomily through the forest.

Yet some things should never be pointed out. No matter where she went, she found the plants around her, from towering trees to wild grass, all shivering in the cold.

Indeed, she was a bona fide plant killer! So what was pride worth? If she couldn't do it, she shouldn't force herself!

Resolute, she turned and left the forest, heading to the Steward's Hall to ask Uncle Qin for a task change.

But Uncle Qin wasn't there. In the courtyard, she ran into Jiang Yuan, who was on his way to the dining hall for lunch.

He looked at her with envy. "Junior Brother Qin, did you check out the spirit field?"

Feng Ke'er nodded.

Jiang Yuan sighed, "Everyone envies you. That field was always tended personally by Elder Wen. No one knows what method he used, but half the time, it produced high-grade spirit rice. When Uncle Qin said he'd assign the field to you, all the elders opposed it. In the end, Uncle Qin convinced them, saying you and Elder Wen both had dual water-wood spiritual roots and natural talent for planting, so the elders relented..."

The more he talked, the heavier Feng Ke'er's heart became. "Talent," indeed!

Yet Jiang Yuan's words reminded her: she was Qin Heng now, not Feng Ke'er. Feng Ke'er was a plant killer, but Qin Heng wasn't! So, no matter what, she couldn't refuse this duty.

Jiang Yuan spoke at length, but seeing her unresponsive, he stopped, changed the topic, and suggested warmly, "Junior Brother Jiang, Uncle Qin must be having lunch. Why not join me for lunch first, then come back to see him later?"

Feng Ke'er smiled and politely declined. "Please, Senior Brother Jiang, go ahead. I left something in my old courtyard, so I'll fetch it first." With his "enthusiasm," she'd have indigestion.

"Alright," Jiang Yuan gestured courteously and saw her off at the gate.

Feng Ke'er bade him farewell, pretending to head toward New Courtyard No. 4.

She didn't know Jiang Yuan watched her leave, then, instead of going to the dining hall, turned back into the courtyard.

"Has he gone?" The so-called "not here, out for lunch" Uncle Qin was sitting upright in the main room, raising his eyelids to ask.

Jiang Yuan stood respectfully before him. "Reporting, Master, he has gone. I watched him head toward the new courtyard and disappear before coming in."

"You told him everything?" Uncle Qin pressed.

"Yes." Jiang Yuan suppressed his doubts, his expression ever more respectful.

"Good. I understand. You may go." Uncle Qin waved his sleeve and closed his eyes again, resuming meditation.

Jiang Yuan cupped his fists, saluted, and left.

(End of Chapter 51: Plant Killer)