The Connection of Silk Chords

Scholar Heide finished checking on Mick, set his fractured bones, applied the medicine, and then instructed him to rest well and avoid moving around for the next few days.

"Thank you, Teacher." Mick lay on the bed, feeling somewhat overwhelmed and ashamed.

"It's nothing, just leave it at that. You rest now." Scholar Heide stood up and gestured for the others to follow him outside.

"You all did very well. In the future, if anything comes up, feel free to help one another." Scholar Heide looked at them with a gratified expression.

"Hehe." Being praised by their teacher like this, the students present couldn't help but feel happy.

"Sylutia." Scholar Heide suddenly called her name.

"Yes?"

"Would you have time to tutor Mick in his studies?" he asked.

"I can, but when would that be?"

"No need to set aside extra time; just do it during the breaks in your daily afternoon training."

"I understand, Teacher." She nodded slightly.

"I've wronged you." Scholar Heide's aged palm patted Sylutia's shoulder gently.

"In two days, I will bring you a book from my private collection as a gift."

After speaking, the two left the house and walked side by side through the fields, looking out at the vast golden wheat fields that stretched to the horizon of the village.

"You are likely curious why I care so much for Mick and even asked you to tutor him," Scholar Heide began.

"A little," the young girl replied.

"With your status and appearance, it would not be excessive for you to receive the same treatment as Iona. Asking you to tutor a child with such a poor foundation is indeed a bit of an imposition."

"However, I know you are not the type of child to be envious or vain, and you are very approachable, which is why I dared to make this request."

"I wonder, Sylutia, how do you view this world?" The two stood before the endless wheat fields, gazing into the distance.

"Many people are primarily concerned with themselves—whether they are growing, whether they are earning money, whether they have obtained what they want, and so on. Few people cast their gaze further afield."

"I am not saying that is bad, but it is a bit of a pity."

"In fact, many things that happen in this world are closely related to us."

"A flood in Valley City leads to a decrease in grain production, causing many poor people who cannot afford expensive food to starve. By the time it reaches you and me, it probably just means there are fewer varieties of food on our dining tables."

"Subtle differences are often overlooked by people, but these countless subtle differences eventually influence and change the entire world."

"Do you remember what I taught you regarding the origin of the 'Aspect Power'?"

"The power of the Aspect Powers we see today is not immutable. Just as the Blazing Sun split and the Phantom Moon disintegrated, other Aspect Powers have also undergone long evolutions."

"The 'Emerald Nectar' you are currently practicing is actually a legacy of the ancient, primordial Aspect Power: 'Mycelial Thread'." Scholar Heide stopped walking.

"Aspect Power (Mycelial Thread): The connection between threads and strings, the Mother of Life of the past."

"In the primordial era, this world was like a dull, unchanging boulder. Only after the Mycelial Thread slowly decomposed the boulder did space come into existence."

"Today, I fear only a few rare mushrooms and fungi still inherit the faint power of the Mycelial Thread."

"With tiny, subtle erosion, the Mycelial Thread spent nearly a billion years eroding and decomposing the chaotic boulder to form the vast world we live in now."

"We can walk safely in these fields today because we rely on the help of many people: some help tend the land, some maintain order, some drive away wild beasts, and some are responsible for medical treatment."

"Transcendents possess power far superior to mortals, but this power also relies on the basic support provided by the entire social framework."

"Longing for an unfettered life is a beautiful thing, but if you were swimming in a muddy, filthy ocean, you would likely find it hard to be happy."

"I was also born a commoner. My early years of study were exceptionally difficult. Because I lacked money, I couldn't buy books or borrow them. Sometimes I would beg others, only to be mocked and scolded. I still feel a bit sad when I recall those scenes." Scholar Heide sighed and stopped walking.

"I actually understand why Mick went to the mountain alone today, so I am unwilling to blame him."

"Everyone has their own circumstances; it's just that some people get used to their own and forget to empathize with the situations of others."

"I am eighty-seven years old, but even now, I dare not say that this world is full of kindness. I have seen former classmates and friends become twisted and unrecognizable in their pursuit of power."

"When they see me, they laugh and say that I am too weak, which is why I have been unable to break through the threshold of the Third Rank."

"I have seen too many people go astray and lose themselves because they were chasing certain things."

"Mick has decent talent, but that talent is far from enough to make him stand out among his peers. His foundation in knowledge is too poor, and if he blindly pursues money and power without reflecting on the impact of his actions and choices, the end result will be going down the wrong path."

"In his current situation, I cannot tell him not to worry, to slow down, and to deal with things patiently and steadily."

"He likely has family he values and an urgent desire to prove himself; you can tell by how he is the last to leave the training grounds every day."

"Yes, I am already living a comfortable and affluent retirement, but his life has only just begun, so I cannot use my own state of mind and thoughts to persuade him."

"But I still think that if this child doesn't go astray, he might have a decent future."

"Because I have had regrets that I cannot let go of, I am particularly unwilling to see similar things happen again."

"So, Sylutia, do you understand my idea for having you help him now?"

"Your talent is very high, and you will go to very distant places in the future. However, no matter how great a person is, there are always many trivial matters and needs to be fulfilled."

"Having one more friend and someone you can trust is always a good thing, even if it's just someone to chat with and reminisce about the past when you are old, hehehe."

"Given your personality, if I hadn't insisted, you probably wouldn't have taken the initiative to interact with those boys. I know you have no interest in romance, but there's no need to be so low-key. If you occasionally showed the liveliness and cuteness of a young girl, I would appreciate you even more."

"It's not just Mick; you could also try to help the others, like Ray and a few other classmates, by clarifying their doubts."

"That is how interpersonal relationships work. When you have many friends, even if you don't possess strong combat abilities yourself, those around you won't easily bully you." Scholar Heide was likely worried that Sylutia lacked social skills and would face a lack of support on her future path due to having too few friends.

After listening to the old man's long explanation, Sylutia finally understood his intentions.

Friends, or rather, companions to share the harvest and joy with. Recalling her past life, she indeed didn't have many friends and had always been accustomed to being a loner. She hadn't expected this old man to see through her character and thoughts so quickly.

The connection of threads and strings, the accumulation of countless subtleties, the Mother of Life who changed the world—was she to walk this path as well?