After who knew how long, Tu Hu (Hard as Steel) slowly came to.
He shot upright.
He found himself on a lush, grassy hillside. A stream babbled in the distance, while strange flowers and plants nearby gave off a hazy glow.
The spiritual energy here was rich, and the breeze carried a sweet scent of grass and trees. Every breath made him feel refreshed from head to toe.
"Where... am I?" Alarm bells rang in his mind, and he immediately opened the team channel.
Tu Hu: Can anyone hear me? What's going on?
Small Milk Bottle: Hard Bro! You're alive! You just vanished in a flash.
Drifting with the Wind: Holy shit, Hard Bro! I heard you traveled through time and became the chief of a goblin tribe. How many years have passed over there? Did you evolve into a Super Goblin?
Tu Hu: Cut it out. I don't know where I am either. It looks pretty safe around here. How are things on your end?
Immovable Rock: "We're still in the main hall, trying to figure out how to save you. Why not just kill yourself and return to town?"
Faced with their questions, Tu Hu looked around and said at once:
"No rush. I'll get a feel for the situation first. This might be my fortuitous encounter."
"Fine. It's your call. Stay in touch and report back whenever you can."
After the brief exchange, Tu Hu felt a little more at ease.
He stood up, and his gaze was quickly drawn to a carefully tended garden below the hillside.
An old man in plain hemp clothes stood with his back to him, bent over as he tended several spirit plants that radiated a vibrant pulse of life. His movements were so natural that he seemed to blend in