A week had passed since the nursery bed was sown, and the rice paddy had taken root. Tender green blades swayed gently in the breeze, drinking in the mist and lingering rain. The nursery shimmered under the morning light—thriving, alive.
Shen stood at the edge of the main field, the pale dawn sky casting a soft glow over the land. His fingers were stained with soil, his robe damp with dew. Yet in his chest, a quiet satisfaction bloomed. The earth was beginning to answer his efforts.
With the rice nursery thriving, today was the day to sow the rest of the field. Shen paused for a moment at its edge, watching the young shoots sway gently under the dawn light. A quiet pride stirred within him—not just for the growth, but for the gentle persistence it represented. His efforts, his intention, were taking root.
He walked the tilled rows with measured steps, testing the ground beneath his feet. The heavy rains had made the soil rich, but uneven. He added compost where it felt thin, scattered dried seaweed he'd bartered from Ashreed's fishermen, and lined the borders with mossy straw. Every motion was patient, purposeful.
Nearby, the little fox sat perched on a warm stone, watching him with lazy curiosity. Her tail flicked in time with his steps, the rhythm of the field passing between them.
As the sun rose higher, Shen brought out the soaked rice seeds—his second batch. He'd started their preparation days ago, letting them rest in water warmed by the fire, whispering intent into them as rain tapped the roof at night.
Now, they were ready.
He didn't rush. He sowed row by row, pressing each seed into the moist earth with care. His qi followed, threading gently into the soil like a quiet prayer. It wasn't just planting—it was communion.
He paused now and then to drink water or wipe sweat from his brow, but he never hurried.
By midday, half the field was sown.
Shen rested under the lean-to's shaded corner. The mist drifted over distant treetops as he caught his breath.
The fox padded over, nosed at his leg, then curled beside him. Her fur had grown fluffier, and her spirit calmer. Perhaps the peace of the land was rubbing off on her too.
"I'll need to expand the irrigation next," Shen murmured, rubbing his neck. "Maybe dig a trench toward the old streambed."
He drew lines in the dirt with a stick, sketching out water channels and runoff paths. He wasn't an engineer—but he had intuition. The land listened. His qi moved through the soil like a slow, steady pulse.
By twilight, the entire field had been sown. The rows shimmered in the fading light, each line humming with buried intent. Tomorrow, he would begin reinforcing qi lines and sealing the outer berms.
That night, he cooked a simple stew of rice and forest greens. He shared a portion with the fox, then settled beside the fire.
His limbs ached, but his heart felt light.
When sleep finally came, so did the dream.
Shen stood in the heart of his field—no longer bare, but vibrant and overflowing. Verdant growth shimmered around him, glowing softly with spirit light.
The rice blades pulsed in harmony with his breath.
[Task Complete: Sowing of Intent – Rain Season Crop]
[Milestone Achieved: Synchronize Cultivation with Weather Pattern]
—Trait Gained: Seasonal Synergy—
Working with the natural rhythms of the land increases crop yield and qi recovery. Rainy seasons now enhance your Growth Dao resonance.
[Reward: Seed of Rainfed Harmony]
A rare spiritual seed born of seasonal alignment and inner harmony. Grows into a crop with high spiritual yield.
[Land Bond: Deepened]
The land begins to listen more deeply. Your influence stretches beneath the surface.
[EXP Gained]
He awoke to the scent of fresh rain and the croaking of frogs from distant puddles.
Shen sat up slowly, the warmth of the dream still with him.
Outside, the field glistened with new life.
And he smiled.
Another day had begun.