Early morning.
After tidying myself up, I changed into another black dress and headed out to the foot of the mountain to work the spirit fields.
This was where the Handyman Disciples were most active.
Even Inner Sect Disciples rarely came to farm.
I walked forward expressionlessly, returning to my own spirit field under countless stares.
"Ye Xiaoyao."
"You're a Direct Disciple, and you're farming again?"
I didn't know who it was.
They didn't even call me Senior Sister. Laughter rang out nearby.
I lowered my head, gazing at my deathly pale palm.
Faced with everyone else's mockery, I was especially silent today.
The other Handyman Disciples had clearly grown used to my temperament. What fun was there in bullying a mute? They habitually threw a few taunts my way, then left with looks of disdain.
I watched them walk away. Even the most useless Handyman Disciple among them had a cultivation level several minor stages higher than mine. Emotions flickered in my red eyes a few times, then finally settled into a trace of despondence and resolve.
Perhaps because I was pregnant, I had to take many breaks while turning the soil. My stamina had also become much worse than before.
I probably shouldn't overexert myself lately.
Although I had a few low-level spells that could replace a hoe, I'd rather save my Spiritual Power to cast the Spirit Rain Technique. That way, I wouldn't have to spend any more energy watering the field.
The Spirit Rice planted in the spirit field couldn't be watered with ordinary water.
I'd been working spirit fields for sixteen years since joining the sect.
It was rather laughable.
I'd never once eaten Spirit Rice.
Suddenly, while I was working the field, I clutched my stomach and curled up by the field in pain.
Damn it. I knew I shouldn't push myself too hard.
No one liked me in the first place. Why would anyone notice that something was wrong?
So I could only grit my teeth and endure it.
After a while, my complexion finally improved a little. I struggled to my feet and decided to turn the rest of the field first.
Turning the soil was only a little troublesome at the start. After that, all I had to do was water and weed regularly, then wait for the harvest. Once I finished harvesting, the task would be done, and I'd receive two and a half spirit stones for the quarter.
Each task cycle lasted three months. It was just about my only source of income right now.
At the highest point of Heavenly Sword Peak.
The Heavenly Sword Venerable lifted his eyelids and gazed at a figure down the mountain.
Good.
Hardworking and able to endure hardship.
No one bullied her, and she'd never even been beaten.
And she had enough to eat at every meal.
What a wonderful life. Surely she wouldn't turn evil again.
This was the Heavenly Sword Venerable's idea of a happy life.
Though it was ordinary and a little busy, at least she always had enough to eat.
Being busy was good. So busy she wouldn't have time to dwell on all sorts of nonsense.
Then her task would be complete.
Having confirmed that his plan to keep her ordinary was still going smoothly, the Heavenly Sword Venerable gave an order, then returned to seclusion.
"Distribute the other Direct Disciples' shares as usual. Keep back the portion the sect gives Ye Xiaoyao, as is customary. Let her farm for herself and sink or swim."
"Understood."
Down in the spirit fields.
I braced myself against the hoe. I was in so much pain I couldn't move anymore. Perhaps my stubborn insistence had pushed my body to its limit, and it was now letting out a mournful cry.
I summoned a water mirror and stared at my own deathly pale face in it.
In the end, all I could do was clench my fist in frustration.
Ye Xiaoyao.
How could you be so useless?
If you don't earn more spirit stones, do you really want to pick through garbage with your little one?
I didn't know if it was pregnancy hormones, but helplessness swept over me like a tide.
I could only blame myself for having a Five-Element mixed spirit root with a purity that hadn't even reached twenty points.
I let out a breath of warm air and simply sat down on the ground, not caring whether my pretty little dress got dirty.
Just then.
A shadow suddenly appeared in front of me, covering part of my fair ankle.
I instinctively drew my slender legs in, not wanting anyone to get a chance to ogle me.
"Let me do it."
A fresh fragrance drifted over on the breeze.
It was a scent that wasn't mine.
"Who... are you?" I stared blankly at the ordinary-looking girl before me. Her blue-green cloth robe was patched and mended, making her look more like a Handyman Disciple in dire straits.
"I'll give you a hand. I just took the task for the spirit field next to yours. I saw you seemed close to collapsing, and I thought, everyone's having a hard time. I might as well help where I can." The girl in blue-green smiled brightly. For some reason, she reminded me of someone who was always reaching out to me, again and again, with a smile that seemed able to heal anyone.
At the word "help," pain stabbed through my eyes, and I flew into a rage.
"I don't need your help..."
As if she'd anticipated what I was going to say, she cut me off before I could finish. "As it happens, I'll be busy next time and might not have time to tend my own field. Think of turning yours over this time as a bargaining chip."
"If anything, I should be the one thanking you."
The girl in blue-green smiled faintly. The prickly shell I'd thrust toward the world seemed to jab at nothing but air, and my words lost their force before they could leave my lips.
"I'll help you dig it over next time."
My voice softened little by little.
"Thank you," the girl in blue-green said to me. "There aren't many people left who are willing to help me."
She swung the hoe with incredible stamina. She didn't look like a Handyman Disciple at all. I watched her back, feeling there was a trace of someone familiar in it. But when I sensed that she was only at Qi Refining Level 9, I was sure she was just a Handyman Disciple in a similar situation to mine. The last trace of unease and suspicion in my heart gradually faded, though I still didn't completely let down my guard.
After saying that, I suddenly laughed at myself.
I'd said she was in the same situation as me. If anyone heard that, they'd think I was mocking her.
There was no one in this sect who had it harder than I did. Even the Big Yellow dog by the roadside had someone specifically assigned to feed it.
The girl in blue-green quickly finished turning the soil in my field.
"My name is Qing Ye. You can call me Qing Qing, too."
"I have some things to take care of in two days. Please look after my field for me."
The spirit field needed to be turned for seven days in a row. Today was only the first day of the quarter.
She left me with those words, then walked away.
I looked at my field, already turned once, gathered all my Spiritual Power, and cast a Spirit Rain Technique that covered half an acre. Then I quietly waited for the Spiritual Power in my body to recover.
At the Direct Disciple's cave dwelling on Heavenly Sword Peak.
Ye Qingxian saw an Inner Sect Disciple approaching and casually changed into a fine everyday dress.
"Senior Sister Qingxian, where have you been today? The sect has so many disputes, but you're never around. The other disciples in the Law Enforcement Hall don't dare make decisions on their own."
"Handle these matters yourselves from now on," Ye Qingxian replied. "I need to go into seclusion soon. Don't come to me for a decision unless it's a major incident."
"Yes."
In the cave dwelling, which had gradually fallen quiet, Ye Qingxian recalled what she'd seen that day. For some reason, her heart ached.
Under the sun in the spirit field, a petite figure had gradually curled up, yet still struggled to get back to her feet.
The disdainful glances from nearby, and the walls of isolation that countless people had deliberately built around her, had left her with no choice but to rely on herself.
How had she managed to live all alone?
Before, she'd felt mostly a sense of responsibility. Now, the traces of heartache and pity in her feelings were growing stronger.
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