He began working again, with more careful and precise movements. Each cut of the stem felt like a meditation exercise; each fallen flower symbolized his determination.
Time passed slowly. Sweat drenched his entire body, but his expression remained calm. Even when the sun was at its peak and the air was almost unbreathable, his smile never faded.
From afar, Ren Yan, who was resting, watched Hun Yan's incessantly moving back.
"Look at him, working nonstop in this heat," he said with a chuckle. "That kid is truly hardworking. I'm starting to like him. If he keeps this up, we'll make sure he gets proper food and shelter. That way, he can continue to help us without complaint."
Murong Xuan, lying on a bench in the pavilion, rolled his eyes lazily.
"You talk as if you can protect him from anyone," he muttered softly. "In this valley, who would bully him? Except Senior Brother himself... if that happens, would you dare to fight back?"
Ren Yan only laughed lightly without answering. Meanwhile, under the blazing sun, Hun Yan continued to work silently—his sweat dripping to the ground, but beneath his perseverance lay an unquenchable passion.
To him, every flower was more than just a medicinal herb…
but a ladder to a higher destiny.
Time slowly passed. Hun Yan finally finished picking the ripe herbs. Afterward, he began placing the picked herbs into a bamboo basket. He slung the basket over his shoulder and began walking towards Murong Xuan and Ren Yan.
The three of them nodded at each other, without needing to say much. The sun was already rising, and the bamboo basket on Hun Yan's back felt quite heavy, proving that his harvest today was satisfactory.
Murong Xuan smiled faintly, "Let's head to the Medicine Gathering Pavilion. It's time to hand in the harvest."
Ren Yan nodded in agreement, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings, ensuring there were no problems before they proceeded.
They began walking along the path between the medicinal fields. The air was filled with a calming herbal aroma. Their footsteps, in unison, carried them away from the harvesting area and towards the large wooden building that served as the center of activities for the outer disciples: the Medicine Gathering Pavilion.
Upon their arrival at the pavilion, the atmosphere inside was quite lively. The other disciples lined up to hand over their crops and receive their contribution points. After waiting in line for a while, their turn finally arrived. Behind the reception desk sat a young man in neat gray robes, with a calm aura that set him apart from the other disciples. He was Senior Brother Zhang Li, who was responsible for overseeing the work of the outer disciples.
Zhang Li looked up, his kind eyes staring at the trio. "Ah, you three. How was today's harvest?"
Hun Yan immediately put down his bamboo basket. "Not bad, Senior Brothers. We managed to harvest all the ripe crops."
Zhang Li carefully examined the contents and nodded in satisfaction. "Good work. Your contribution points will be calculated soon."
After the handover was completed, Zhang Li motioned for them to come closer. He then lowered his voice slightly.
"I've seen you've been working diligently lately. As a small reward for your dedication, I'd like to give you something that might help you on your cultivation journey."
From within his robes, Zhang Li took out three ancient-looking parchment scrolls, each with a simple knot. He handed them one by one to Hun Yan, Murong Xuan, and Ren Yan.
"This is a fragment of a very ancient cultivation technique, called the 'Five Elements Cultivation Technique,'" Zhang Li whispered. "This technique focuses on balancing the five basic elements, which is the foundation of a strong cultivation technique."
Murong Xuan immediately took the scroll curiously, while Ren Yan and Hun Yan stared at it in slight confusion.
Zhang Li continued, with a warning tone, "It's important to know that this technique is incomplete. I only managed to obtain the initial fragment. If you cultivate with only this fragment, your cultivation speed may be slower than with other techniques, but your cultivation foundation will be much more solid and long-lasting."
"This is optional. If you feel another technique is better, feel free to use it." But remember, cultivation is a long journey; initial speed isn't everything, a solid foundation is key."
After giving that advice, Zhang Li smiled mysteriously. "You can read it and decide later. Now, go. And keep working hard."
The three of them bowed respectfully, tucked the scroll away in their robes, and left the Medicine Gathering Pavilion with mixed thoughts. An unexpected reward: a legendary, powerful cultivation technique... but incomplete.
After leaving the Medicine Gathering Pavilion, Hun Yan, Murong Xuan, and Ren Yan sought a quiet place to rest and discuss the scroll they had just received. They eventually sat under the shade of a large, ancient banyan tree, a little away from the bustle of the outer disciple area.
Ren Yan was the first to break the silence. With a skeptical look, he flipped through the scroll in his hands.
"The Five Elements Cultivation Technique... is incomplete," Ren Yan muttered, a look of doubt clearly visible on his face. "Senior Brother Zhang Li is indeed good, but is it wise to cultivate with such a flawed technique? Wouldn't that hinder our progress?"
Murong Xuan had already unrolled the scroll and begun reading the ancient lines within. Her eyes shone with a hint of hidden excitement.
"Ren Yan, don't reject it outright," Murong Xuan replied without taking her eyes off the parchment. "Although it's incomplete, look at the initial description. This technique emphasizes purifying Qi and building a very solid foundation. It's far more profound than the basic 'Qi Harvesting' technique given to other outer disciples."
Hun Yan listened intently, holding the scroll carefully. He recalled Zhang Li's words: initial speed isn't everything; a solid foundation is key.
"Senior Brother Zhang Li is right," Hun Yan said softly, closing his eyes briefly. "As outer disciples, we don't have access to high-level, fast-paced cultivation techniques. If this technique promises a solid foundation, it might be our best chance to catch up in the future."