Connection of Threads and Chords

After examining Mick's condition, Scholar Haide set his broken bone, finished applying the medicine, and instructed him to rest well and refrain from moving around for the next few days. "Thank you, Teacher." Lying in bed, Mick felt both at a loss and ashamed. "It's fine. Leave it at that, and rest for now." Scholar Haide stood up and gestured for the others to step outside with him. "You all did very well. If anything comes up in the future, help each other out like this." Scholar Haide looked at them with gratification. "Heheh." Receiving such praise from their teacher, the students present couldn't help but beam. "Tiya," Scholar Haide suddenly called out. "Yes?" "If you have some free time, could you help Mick with his schoolwork?" he asked. "I can. But when should we do it?" "No need to carve out extra time—just during the breaks in your daily afternoon training." "I understand, Teacher." She gave a slight nod. "I'm imposing on you." Scholar Haide patted Xilutaiya on the shoulder with his aged hand. "In a day or two, I'll find a prized book from my collection to give to you." With that, the two left the house and walked side by side through the fields, gazing out at the golden sea of wheat stretching to the horizon of the village. "You're probably wondering why I look out for Mick so much, and why I asked you to tutor him," Scholar Haide began. "A little," the girl replied. "Given your status and looks, you wouldn't be out of place receiving the same treatment as Iona. Asking you to tutor a child with such a weak foundation is indeed imposing on you. However, I know you aren't the vain type, and you're easy to get along with. That's why I took the liberty of asking." ... "Tiya, I wonder... how do you see this world?" Standing before the boundless field of wheat, the two gazed toward the horizon. "Most people care first and foremost about themselves—whether they've grown, whether they've made money, whether they've obtained what they want, and so on. Very few ever look further ahead. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, but it is somewhat regrettable. In truth, many things that happen in this world are intimately tied to us. A flood in Valley City will lead to poor harvests, leaving a great many poor folk who can't afford expensive grain to starve to death. When the ripples reach you and me, it might amount to nothing more than a few fewer dishes on our dining table. Subtle differences are often overlooked by people, but countless such subtle differences ultimately shape and transform the entire world. Do you remember what I taught you regarding the origins of 'attributes'? The attribute powers we see today were not always this way. Just as the Blazing Sun split and the Phantom Moon fractured, the other attributes have undergone a long evolution. The 'Emerald Honey' you currently cultivate is actually a legacy of that ancient primordial attribute, 'Mycelium.'" Scholar Haide paused in his tracks. 'Attribute (Mycelium): Connection of Threads and Chords, Mother of Life of ages past.' "In the primordial era, this world was like an inert, unchanging monolith. Only when the Mycelium broke that boulder down bit by bit did space come into existence. Nowadays, those that still retain a faint trace of Mycelium's power are likely limited to a few rare mushrooms and fungi. Bit by bit, through subtle erosion over nearly a hundred million years, the Mycelium eroded and decomposed the chaotic boulder, shaping the vast world in which we live. That we can walk peacefully through these fields today also depends on the help of many people—those who tend the land, those who maintain order, those who drive off wild beasts, those who provide medical care, and so on. Transcendents possess strength far beyond that of ordinary mortals, but that strength equally relies on the foundational support provided by the framework of society as a whole. Yearning for an unfettered life is a fine thing. But if you were swimming in an ocean of filthy mire, I doubt you could find much joy in it. "I, too, come from commoner origins. In my early years, pursuing my studies was exceptionally difficult. Lacking money, I couldn't afford books, nor could I borrow them. Sometimes I went begging to others, only to be mocked and beaten. Even now, looking back on those scenes still brings an ache to my heart." Scholar Haide sighed and stopped walking. "I truly understand why Mick still went up the mountain alone today, which is why I don't have the heart to blame him. Everyone has their own circumstances. It's just that some people get so used to their position that they forget how to empathize with the struggles of others. I am eighty-seven years old now, yet even today I dare not say this world is full of goodwill. I have seen past classmates and friends twist their characters and become unrecognizable in their pursuit of power. When they see me, they sneer and say I was simply too soft-hearted, which is why I could never cross the threshold into the third-order. I've seen far too many people lose themselves and go astray in pursuit of such things. "Mick has decent talent, but that talent is far from enough to make him stand out among his peers. His foundation in knowledge is too poor, and if he blindly pursues money and strength without reflecting on the consequences of his actions and choices, he will ultimately lose his way. Given his current circumstances, I cannot simply tell him not to rush, to slow down, and to bear it all with patient composure. He likely has a family he cherishes, and an urgent desire to prove himself—you can see it in how he stays the latest at the training grounds every day. Indeed, I am already living a comfortable, leisurely retired life, but his life has only just begun. I cannot counsel him through the lens of my own state of mind and thoughts. Still, I believe that if the boy doesn't stray, he could have quite a good future. Having lived with regrets I could never let go of, I especially hate to see history repeat itself. "Now then, Tiya, do you understand my thoughts in asking you to help him? Your talent is exceptional, and in the future you will travel far. But no matter how formidable someone becomes, there will always be countless trivial chores and needs to take care of. Having one more friend and someone you can trust is always a good thing. If nothing else, when you grow old, you'll have someone to reminisce with and pass the time, hahaha. With your personality, if I hadn't insisted, you probably wouldn't take the initiative to interact with those boys. I know you have no interest in romance, but you don't need to keep such a low profile either. If you occasionally showed the lively charm befitting a young girl, I would appreciate you all the more. Not just Mick—you can also try helping people like Lei and a few other classmates sort through their doubts and answer their questions. That is how relationships between people work. When you have many friends, even if your own combat ability isn't overwhelming, those around you won't easily push you around." Scholar Haide was probably worried about Xilutaiya's social skills, fearing she would have too few friends and lack support on the road ahead. Having listened to the elder's long explanation, Xilutaiya now understood his good intentions. Friends, was it? Or rather, companions with whom to share harvests and joy. Looking back on her past life, she truly hadn't had many friends, having grown accustomed to keeping to herself. She hadn't expected the old man to see through her temperament and thoughts so quickly. The connection of threads and chords, the accumulation of countless subtleties, the mother of life that transformed the world... Was she to walk such a path as well?