Thomas Aldrich's rose garden bloomed with an organized but not rigid beauty—each flower seemed cared for with the patience of someone who understood that true beauty requires time, not force. The scent of roses mixed with the aroma of freshly watered soil, creating a symphony of scents that reminded Li Yuan of simple gardens in a distant past.
The village elder's house was indeed larger than the others in Millbrook, but not in an arrogant way. Like a tree that grows taller because its roots are deeper, not because it's trying to show off. Solid stone walls, wide windows inviting in the sunlight, and a thick but friendly wooden door.
Li Yuan stood in front of the door for a moment, feeling the resonance from inside the house—no malevolence, no hidden fears, just family warmth and a quiet sense of responsibility.
He knocked gently, three taps that sounded like a polite question rather than a demand.
The door opened, revealing a man around forty years old with brown hair starting to gray at the temples, sharp but warm blue eyes, and a posture that indicated someone accustomed to hard work but also to diplomacy. Thomas Aldrich, clearly.
"Good afternoon," he said in a deep but friendly voice. "I haven't seen you before. You must be new."
"Good afternoon," Li Yuan bowed slightly in respect. "I am Yuan, a traveler. I've just arrived in this beautiful village and hoped to introduce myself to you as the village elder."
Thomas looked at him with eyes trained to read people—the eyes of a leader who had learned to distinguish between the trustworthy and the untrustworthy. What he saw seemed to satisfy him, as the wary expression on his face melted into genuine curiosity.
"Please, come in," he said, stepping back to make room. "My wife has just brewed some tea. I am Thomas Aldrich."
The interior of the house was warm and orderly—solid wood furniture, neatly woven rugs, and bookshelves that showed a person who valued knowledge. A blond woman with soft eyes emerged from the kitchen, carrying a tray with a teapot and cups.
"Margaret, this is Yuan, a traveler," Thomas introduced. "Yuan, this is my wife, Margaret."
Margaret smiled warmly. "Welcome to Millbrook, Yuan. Please, have a seat. The tea is still hot."
They sat in the simple yet comfortable living room. Li Yuan accepted a cup of tea with genuine appreciation; the soothing herbal aroma rose from the golden liquid.
"Where are you from?" Thomas asked, taking the stance of a polite but cautious leader.
"From a very distant place," Li Yuan answered, using the same reply he gave Lila, but with an addition this time. "A place that may no longer exist. I have been traveling for a long time, and the world... has changed a lot."
Margaret and Thomas exchanged a quick glance—the look of a couple who had been together for a long time and could communicate without words.
"How long have you been traveling?" Margaret asked with the gentleness of someone used to comforting lost people.
"Longer than I can easily count," Li Yuan answered with a thin smile that held thousands of stories. "And on that journey, I realized I had lost track of... the current state of the world."
Li Yuan slowly placed his cup down, then looked at Thomas with his clear gray eyes.
"May I ask you about this country? I would like to understand... how this world is structured now."
Thomas seemed a little surprised by the formality of the question, but then leaned back in his chair with the posture of someone ready to give a comprehensive explanation.
"We are in the Kingdom of Astoria," he began. "A fairly large kingdom, stretching from the mountains in the north to the sea in the south. King Edmund III rules from the capital, Caelshire, which is about a two-week journey east from here."
"The system of government?" Li Yuan asked with genuine interest.
"Nobility," Thomas replied, his tone neutral, but Li Yuan could sense something more complex behind it. "The King at the top, followed by Dukes, Counts, Barons, and so on. We in Millbrook are under Baron Harwick, who governs the Greenshire region."
Margaret added in a more cautious voice, "Baron Harwick... is a fair man, though sometimes harsh. He ensures peace in his region, but the taxes he imposes are quite... burdensome for small villages like ours."
Thomas gave his wife a gentle warning look—a warning not to speak too much about political matters to a stranger. But Margaret just gave a small shrug, as if to say that truth is truth.
"What about martial arts?" Li Yuan asked with sincere interest. "Are they still practiced in this country?"
Thomas seemed a little surprised by the question, then his face turned to a mix of nostalgia and regret.
"Ah, martial arts," he said in a changed tone. "Our grandparents and ancestors used to tell stories about incredible martial arts masters. They said that with the right combination of movements and breath control, a master could shatter a large tree into dust."
Margaret nodded, her eyes nostalgic. "My father always talked about his great-grandfather who supposedly could split a rock with his bare hands, just by mastering the perfect flow of breath and movement."
"But now?" Li Yuan asked, although he could already sense the answer from their tone of voice.
Thomas shook his head sadly. "Now, martial arts have declined drastically. All that remains are basic self-defense moves. Even Baron Harwick's best guards can't do more than break a regular wooden board."
"The knowledge is lost," Margaret added. "No one knows anymore how to properly control breath, how to channel internal strength through movement. All that's left is... a shadow of past greatness."
Li Yuan felt something tremble in his Zhenjing—not surprise, but... understanding. This world once had an early form of what could be called primitive cultivation, but that knowledge had been lost over time. All that remained were legends and degraded martial arts.
"Interesting," he said softly. "So once, humans here had extraordinary abilities?"
"According to the old stories, yes," Thomas replied. "But who knows how true those stories are? They might just be tales that have been exaggerated with each telling."
"It's simple, really," Thomas said. "The King rules the kingdom, the nobles manage their territories, and we, the common people, work, pay taxes, and try to live in peace. The church provides spiritual guidance, the market regulates trade, and the law maintains order."
"A stable system?" Li Yuan asked.
Margaret chuckled, but without cheerfulness. "Stable for those with power. For us at the bottom... sometimes it's hard, sometimes it's light, depending on the mood of the ruling noble."
"Margaret," Thomas gently chided.
"What? He asked about the state of the country, didn't he?" Margaret looked at her husband with sparkling eyes. "Yuan seems like a smart person. He can handle the truth."
Li Yuan felt the dynamic of this household—a deep love between a couple who didn't always agree on how open they should be about the realities of their lives.
"Thank you for your honesty," he said to Margaret, then to Thomas. "And thank you for your caution. Both perspectives help me understand the situation better."
Thomas seemed relieved that Li Yuan was not offended by his carefulness.
"Do you plan to stay long in Millbrook?" Thomas asked.
"I'm not sure yet," Li Yuan answered honestly. "I am looking for... the right place to stop my wandering. This village feels... tranquil. Peaceful."
"We value peace here," Thomas said with a small note of pride. "Although life isn't always easy, we try to keep Millbrook a safe place for families."
Li Yuan nodded, feeling the truth in those words. His enveloped Ganjing resonance felt harmony in this village—not a perfect harmony, but a harmony born from a shared effort to live well.
"If I decide to stay for a while," he said, "where could I find a place to rest?"
"There's a small inn at the end of the village," Margaret replied. "Sarah Miller runs it. The place is simple but clean and warm. Or..." she glanced at Thomas, "if you don't mind something simpler, there's an empty barn behind the blacksmith's shop for rent."
"The Miller Inn sounds perfect," Li Yuan said, rising from his chair. "Thank you for your hospitality and information."
"Wait," Thomas said, also getting up. "I have to ask—you're not carrying a bag or anything. How do you travel without supplies?"
A sharp question, showing the eyes of a leader trained to notice details. Li Yuan smiled with appreciation for the wariness.
"I... travel light," he replied. "And I'm used to depending on the kindness of people like you when I need something."
Not a lie, but not the full truth either. Thomas seemed not entirely satisfied with the answer but did not press further.
"Alright," he said. "If you need anything while in Millbrook, don't hesitate to come. That's my duty as village elder."
Li Yuan bowed in deep respect. "Your kindness I will remember."
When he left Thomas Aldrich's house, the sun was beginning to set, coloring the sky with gradients of gold and orange. The evening wind blew gently, carrying the scent of grass and flowers, and something else—something that felt like possibility.
He walked toward the Miller Inn with a calm stride, his mind processing the information he had just received.
The Kingdom of Astoria. A noble system. No cultivation. No supernatural powers. A simple world that had its own political complexities.
An innocent world, his inner self reflected. A world that doesn't yet know there's another path besides political power and physical strength.
The Miller Inn was a two-story building with a wooden sign that read "Miller's Rest" hanging by the door. Warm light spilled from its windows, and Li Yuan could hear the sound of soft conversation from inside.
When he pushed the door open, a small bell jingled, announcing his arrival to a gray-haired middle-aged woman wiping a table in the small dining area.
"Welcome," she said with a warm smile. "I'm Sarah Miller. Are you looking for a room for the night?"
"Yes," Li Yuan replied. "I am Yuan. Thomas Aldrich recommended this place."
Sarah seemed pleased to hear the recommendation from the village elder. "Thomas is a good man. My best room is on the second floor, overlooking the back garden. It's quiet and comfortable."
"That sounds perfect."
As Sarah led him up the gently creaking wooden stairs, Li Yuan felt something he hadn't felt in a long time—anticipation about an unknown future.
For the first time in eleven thousand years, he didn't know what would happen next.
And strangely, it felt... refreshing.