Chapter 4: Storms Don't Always Knock
Three days passed since the black stone was crushed, but the land still felt tense.
The spirit herbs grew slower. The rice hummed off-key. Even the bees buzzed different, like they knew somethin heavy was hangin in the air but couldn't see it.
Alex walked the farm every mornin like usual, staff in hand, eyes half-closed, listenin not with his ears, but with the root of his soul.
"System," he muttered, "update on energy flow?"
"Qi circulation 89%. Slight turbulence detected near northern boundary. Possible spiritual tear."
"Tear?" He frowned. "Like... broken?"
"Correct. Dimensional pressure may be warping leyline integrity. Unknown source."
Alex scratched his head. "Well great. We just finished fixin the last mess."
Meanwhile, Jun had taken to workin the west fields, keepin busy with his hands. The villagers were still wary of him—some offered nods, a few smiles—but trust grew slow, like old trees.
Liuna walked by one afternoon, watchin him weed a line of ironleaf.
"You know you're pullin the good ones," she said, pointin.
Jun blinked. "Wait—what? These are weeds."
She laughed. "Nope. That's young spiritmint. You've been murderin tea leaves for an hour."
Jun stared down, then groaned. "...I'll replant them."
She just smiled and walked off.
That evening, a wind rolled over the hills.
Not a normal one. It didn't come from any direction—just appeared, cold and sharp, and wrong.
Alex looked up from his porch. The sun was settin, but the sky darkened like a storm was boilin.
"System," he said low, "that feel like weather to you?"
"Negative. Spiritual fluctuation detected. Unknown entity approaching."
Meilin came out the door, hand already on her blade. "We expecting company?"
"Nope," Alex said, standing. "Which means they ain't welcome."
The path leading up the hill was quiet, but the trees whispered like gossipin spirits. Then a figure stepped through the shade.
A woman. Tall. Cloaked in white robes embroidered with blood-red silk.
Her face was pale. Pretty, maybe, if you liked the type that looked like they smiled at funerals.
Behind her floated three rings—spiritual halos of swirling flame, ice, and wind.
She stopped at the first fence post.
"This the farm?" she asked, voice soft, but it carried like thunder.
Alex nodded, staff in hand. "Yup."
"You the farmer?"
"Last I checked."
She smiled. "I'm here to ask a favor."
"Don't like how you say that," Meilin muttered.
The woman stepped closer, slow.
"I lost somethin," she said. "A seed. Came from a world far older than this one. Fell into a careless hand."
Jun stepped out from behind the coop. His face went pale.
Alex didn't turn. "You planted that stone."
She shrugged. "I shared it. Gifts go where they're needed."
"You used it to track runaways."
"And if they don't run?" she asked. "Then I have nothin to track."
Alex tapped the ground with his staff.
"The seed's gone. Crushed."
Her smile didn't change. "Then I'll plant a new one."
She raised a hand.
And the wind screamed.
The trees bent backward. The spirit pond froze. The air cracked like glass.
Jun tried to step forward but dropped to one knee.
Meilin raised her blade—and the ice halo rushed at her like a beast.
But Alex moved faster.
He slammed his staff down. Roots burst from the ground and wrapped around Meilin, shielding her as the cold wave hit.
It shattered harmlessly off bark and vine.
Alex's eyes glowed faint gold.
"This is your last step," he said. "You go further, the hill fights back."
The woman's smile flickered. "You'd pit soil against a divine cultivator?"
"No," Alex said, stepping forward. "I'd pit home."
The ground erupted.
Spirit mushrooms flared, spraying spores. Roots curled up and pulsed. Stones lifted, surrounded by green light. And behind Alex… the memory tree glowed like a beacon.
The woman paused.
"This isn't natural," she whispered. "This land is blessed."
"No," Alex said. "It's loved."
He pointed his staff. A line of silver qi shot forward—fast as lightning, silent as breath.
The rings behind her shuddered as it hit. Her robe tore, just slightly.
She stepped back, for the first time.
"You made a mistake," she hissed.
"Lady," Alex said, "I am the mistake."
She turned and vanished—just like that.
The wind stopped. The sky cleared. The farm let out a deep, tired sigh.
Jun fell to his knees again.
"She'll come back," he said. "With more."
Meilin lowered her sword. "Let her."
Alex knelt, touchin the soil where the fight began.
"No," he said. "Next time, we won't wait on the porch."
Far below the valley, the woman reappeared on a stone altar.
Behind her, dozens of cloaked shapes bowed.
"She's strong," she muttered. "But not unbreakable."
Then she whispered a name—an old one.
And far beneath the earth, something... woke up.