In October, the rising wind was gradually subsiding.
In the backyard field, Xilutaiya squatted down to inspect the arm-high Swan Orchid before her.
Its verdant bulb resembled a spindle, standing firmly in the loose soil, while pale green, elongated leaves branched naturally in gentle curves from the bulb.
[Swan Orchid] (Good - 53): Growing. Humidity and light are suitable; ventilation is good.
*Only 'Good'?* The young girl touched the stem gently, feeling a touch disappointed.
She had assumed that fulfilling all the conditions required for the Swan Orchid's growth would bring its quality to 'Excellent.'
It seemed matters were not so simple.
If meeting its basic growth requirements was not enough, she would need to further refine its growing conditions until they were optimal. The problem was, how could she know what environment would suit the Swan Orchid best?
Commune with the plant? But the Swan Orchid was merely vegetation, not an animate creature, and it could not speak.
Wait—though the orchid could not speak, neither was it an inanimate object. Just as blood flowed through animals with its own pulsing rhythm, plants also carried a fluid likened to 'honey.' If she could sense that pulse, would she be able to perceive its condition and nurture it?
A glimmer of hope rose within Xilutaiya. She rested her hand on the Swan Orchid's bulb, closed her eyes, and concentrated, searching for that faint pulse.
Time slipped by...
After a long while, she opened her eyes and shook her head in slight disappointment.
Plants and animals were vastly different; plants lacked a heartbeat, and thus had no such pulse to speak of.
Her only option was to ask Scholar Haide.
***
The next day, after class ended, Xilutaiya went to Scholar Haide's study to inquire about plant cultivation.
"It seems you have run into a bottleneck." Scholar Haide had clearly anticipated this.
"Your question is the very same problem faced by the earliest gardeners several eras ago.
"Unlike the fae, who are natural-born cultivators of flora, humans and other mortal beings must overcome the barrier of communication and comprehension if they wish to cultivate transcendent crops.
"In truth, there are two approaches. The first is quite common: directly replicate the experience left behind by predecessors. The second is to examine each individual plant in minute detail and make tailored adjustments based on its unique condition.
"The latter is obviously far more effective, but it is also exceedingly difficult. Most gardeners rely on the former method during their early stages.
"That is why you will see fruits of both fine and poor quality within the very same orchard. All gardeners can do is increase the overall volume as much as possible, hoping to yield a greater number of high-grade fruits.
"My initial thought was to suggest that you simply follow established guidelines for now.
"However, after spending time with you, Tiya, I know you would never settle for relying solely on rote experience and leaving the rest to luck." Scholar Haide stroked his beard, speaking with knowing warmth.
"Yes, Teacher. Please teach me." Seeing his confident expression, how could the girl not realize he already had a solution?
"Heh, you only ever address me as 'Teacher' so affectionately at times like this." The old man grumbled mildly. Xilutaiya rarely interacted with him in class, preferring to sit quietly in the corner listening without volunteering answers.
"Very well, I will not give you a hard time." He stood, browsed his bookshelves, and finally pulled out a volume.
*Book of Pear Fruits (Transcribed Copy)*, authored by the Dweller in the Woods during the Fifth Era, detailing the cultivation process of 'Red Pear Fruit (second-order)' and methods for observing red pear trees.
He turned to a page and displayed its contents to Xilutaiya.
[Recipe for the Medicine of the Emerald Pupil] (First-Order): An ocular potion applied as eye drops. One of the seven foundational pupil medicines, enabling the user to perceive the delicate flow and condition within plants.
"This is the recipe for the Medicine of the Emerald Pupil. Normally, secret knowledge such as this would only be granted to you after graduation," Scholar Haide explained.
"Since you are in urgent need of it, I am passing it on to you ahead of time. When you graduate later on, there will be no extra reward, so do not blame your teacher then for being stingy.
"Brewing the Emerald Pupil potion requires several rare herbs. I can provide you with one batch of materials free of charge, but for any subsequent attempts, you will have to procure them yourself," he reminded her again.
"I understand." Xilutaiya took the book, sat down nearby, and copied the potion recipe onto a sheet of paper.
Most of the herbs listed had no attribute rank and were simply somewhat scarce. However, the primary ingredient required a fresh bud with the 'first-order Emerald Honey' attribute. That single herb alone would cost nearly seventy silver. It was no wonder Scholar Haide could not afford to be overly generous; if he subsidized every student this way, he would never be able to sustain it.
Altogether, the material cost would be around ninety silver, the girl calculated silently. And that was assuming ideal circumstances; if any of the rarer herbs proved difficult to find, the cost would only rise.
"Thank you, Teacher." Once she finished transcribing, the girl bowed in gratitude.
"All right. Take my order slip and find Manson. He will have the materials ready for you in a couple of days. The reason I am not giving you money directly is that there are certain ingredients you would struggle to buy even with coin."
Indeed, using Scholar Haide's name made acquiring materials from the city's guilds and nobles a simple task, but for an unknown novice, it would be difficult beyond measure.
***
While Xilutaiya worked hard along her path as a gardener, the other students of her class were gradually formulating plans of their own.
"Mick, don't you have class today? Why are you back?"
In a courtyard within the Lower District, members of an adventurer party noticed the youth walking in.
"We don't have class today," Mick replied, clearly preoccupied with something on his mind.
"Is Big Brother Jieluo here?"
"Not right now. He's probably at the tavern."
"The tavern? Then I'll head straight there."
Half an hour later, Mick finally located a drunken Jieluo in the dim tavern and helped him outside.
"Big Brother Jieluo, there's something I need your help with." After hesitating for a moment, Mick spoke up.
"Wh-what is it...? Go ahead." Jieluo was still rather tipsy, waving his right hand haphazardly in the air. The inadvertent force nearly knocked Mick off balance.
"It's like this: next month, our academy is holding an assessment. Those who place near the top will receive substantial rewards." Mick gritted his teeth.
"So, I want to increase my strength and achieve good results in the assessment, but I need some help to do it."
"Haha... What kind of help? Just say the word." Jieluo sobered up slightly.
"I need 'blood wine' to improve my Breathing Method." Mick felt a pang of shame; he seemed to rely far too much on this older brother, even though they shared no blood relation and had merely met through adventuring work.
"Heh, I thought it was something major." Jieluo slapped a broad, heavy palm onto Mick's shoulder.
"Here, take this!" Fumbling through the inner lining of his belt with his fingers, he pulled out a gleaming gold coin.
A gold coin—a circular piece of metal radiating a pale golden luster, stamped with the emblem of a frost-feather bird, signifying that it came from the northern Winter Kingdom.
Looking at the gold coin, Mick felt a tumult of complex emotions: gratitude, nervousness, guilt, and a sliver of anticipation.
Clutching the warm gold coin in his palm, Mick helped Jieluo back to his room in the small courtyard to rest.
After speaking with his companions, Mick left with the gold coin and headed for the Adventurers' Guild. The guild sold 'blood wine' on consignment—a medicinal wine brewed from the blood of beasts of the first order or higher. It enhanced abilities related to the 'Blood Law' attribute and was exceptionally well-suited for training the Breathing Method.
*With this, I can break through to the second stage of the Breathing Method within a month.* Cradling the blood-red bottle as he stepped out, Mick made a quiet vow in his heart.
Once he attained real strength in the future, he would repay Big Brother Jieluo without fail.
Chapter 26