He was certain he couldn't have been mistaken. In a pile of motionless plants, when a sprout moved, it was especially noticeable.
Wen Yan smiled. He did nothing more than carry over a large bucket of water, placing one end of a cotton rope in the bucket and the other end outside.
"It's fate that we met. It's too dry here; you probably won't survive long. I'll leave you a bucket of water. Use it slowly, don't waste it, and don't let anyone catch you."
After gathering the mature herbs, Wen Yan turned and left.
Long after he departed, a sprout broke through the earth, its branches reaching for the cotton rope. Soon, fine roots sprang out and twined around the rope.
Wen Yan wasn't trying to lure it out; he had truly left.
Taking the harvested herbs with him, he left the estate.
He once more located the nearest temple with a god statue, which led him to the mountains north of the estate.
