The World Is Ever Changing, but the Human Heart Is Most Complex

"Fellow Daoist Xu!" Lin An called out again from outside.

Seeing that there was still no movement inside,

he could not help wondering whether Xu Changqing was not home.

After all, many people had gone to the Red Maple Valley market yesterday to celebrate the New Year.

"Who is it?" Xu Changqing got up upon hearing the call.

With a creak, the door opened.

A biting, clammy wind immediately poured inside.

As an immortal cultivator, Xu Changqing barely reacted.

The bleary-eyed little fellow, on the other hand, shivered all over from the cold.

"It's me!" Lin An's eyes lit up at once, and he hurried forward.

"So early?" Xu Changqing paused, then stepped aside. "Come in and talk."

Lin An scraped the snow off his shoes before entering the house.

When he saw the extra little yellow dog, he was somewhat surprised as well.

"I was lonely by myself, so I found a pet for company," Xu Changqing explained as he shut the door.

Lin An nodded. "Understandable. Most spirit farmers are like that."

Xu Changqing poured him a cup of water, then asked, "What did you come to see me for?"

Lin An seemed reluctant to speak. "This..."

"Just say it." Xu Changqing knew that if Lin An had come looking for him during the New Year, something must have happened.

Only then did Lin An grit his teeth. "You know I didn't plant anything last winter, so I don't have much spirit rice on hand. That would have been fine, but who knew resources would become so scarce this year? Those Earth Spirit Root and Water Spirit Root disciples I worked with before have been crazily pressing me for rice."

Xu Changqing understood at once.

Because the five great factions had been hyping up resources, the prices of many goods had risen with the tide.

Originally, one Low-Grade Spirit Stone could buy ten jin of First-Grade Spirit Rice.

Now, however, the exchange rate changed by the day.

Yesterday, it had been one to seven. Today, it might be one to six.

As for Second-Grade Spirit Rice, it had reached the astonishing rate of one to one and a half.

It even showed signs of dropping further, making it unaffordable for many ordinary disciples.

"I have no spirit rice, so I can only ask you for help." Lin An looked utterly helpless.

Xu Changqing was slightly surprised. "Why are they suddenly in such a hurry?"

Lin An immediately said resentfully, "Those bastards stepped in dog shit and got lucky—they all became formal disciples."

When he had signed spirit contracts with those two, there had been an element of gambling involved.

He had gambled that one of them, or even both, would fail to become formal disciples.

Then the initiative would fall into his hands.

Even if one of them succeeded, he could barely manage it.

Who would have thought that they would either both fail or both succeed together?

And once they became formal disciples, their demand for spirit rice would increase greatly.

The two had already made their demands clear.

If it was First-Grade Spirit Rice, each of them wanted at least three hundred jin.

If it was Second-Grade Spirit Rice, each of them still wanted a hundred jin.

But the problem was that Lin An had not planted spirit rice at all last winter.

Forget Second-Grade Spirit Rice—even First-Grade Spirit Rice was scarce in his hands.

Xu Changqing narrowed his eyes slightly, weighing matters in his heart.

True, his relationship with Lin An was indeed quite good.

But if he really took out a large amount of spirit rice, whether First-Grade or Second-Grade,

once word got out, it would certainly arouse suspicion.

Someone who had failed the outer assessment two times in a row—

what right did he have to produce so much spirit rice just after joining the Spirit Field Core?

Especially during winter, when yields were reduced!

As the saying went, a favor of a bowl of rice brought gratitude, while a favor of a basketful bred resentment.

Lin An might be alright; his thoughts were not that vicious.

But Zhao Ziyao would definitely turn hostile and might even stir up trouble.

If it drew Zhang Er's attention, the situation would become even worse.

"If it's difficult for you, then forget it." Lin An could see it in his expression and knew that coming to borrow rice right after the New Year was indeed somewhat excessive.

After thinking it over, Xu Changqing said, "To be honest, I only have forty jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice left."

"Then... could you lend me some?" A trace of hope appeared in Lin An's eyes.

At the Dongting Immortal Sect, contracts were taken very seriously.

Once one breached a contract, even a formal disciple would face severe punishment.

There was even a chance of being driven out of the Spirit Fields.

"At most, twenty jin. I need the rest for myself." Xu Changqing agreed only because Lin An had helped introduce Zhang Su to him.

"Thank you so much! I'll definitely repay you double!" Lin An was overjoyed.

Xu Changqing asked curiously, "But even if I give you twenty jin, what will you do about the rest?"

Lin An instantly wilted, his face drooping as he replied, "I can only borrow from other people."

"Good luck, then." As he spoke, Xu Changqing took twenty jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice from his small storage pouch.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, I will never forget this kindness!" Lin An accepted it only after repeatedly assuring him.

Xu Changqing said seriously, "If we can both remain in the Spirit Field Core, I'll buy you a drink then."

Lin An paused, then nodded firmly. "Alright!"

After that, he left.

Standing at the door, Xu Changqing watched his rather bedraggled retreating figure and muttered, "Fellow Daoist Lin, what happens next depends on your own fortune."

One should not harbor the intent to harm others, but one must never lack the vigilance to guard against them.

It was not that he was unwilling to help, but human hearts were simply too complicated.

Yet unexpectedly, by noon, someone else had come knocking.

"Senior Brother Xu, long time no see!" Han Su, the Earth Spirit Root disciple, said with an awkward laugh.

"Why are you here?" Xu Changqing was somewhat surprised.

"I came especially to pay my New Year respects to you, Senior Brother." Han Su grinned.

"Now that you've paid your respects, you can go back." Xu Changqing waved his hand.

"Don't!" Han Su immediately panicked.

"What is it, exactly?" Xu Changqing had actually already guessed.

Han Su gave a bitter smile. "I wanted to borrow some rice from you!"

Xu Changqing was not surprised in the slightest and flatly refused. "No."

Han Su still refused to give up, pulling a miserable face. "I hadn't wanted to borrow rice from you, but who knew that damned Lin An had no rice at all."

Leaning against the doorframe, Xu Changqing remarked with a slightly teasing expression, "Isn't it perfectly normal for him not to have rice? Formal disciples can choose not to plant during winter."

Han Su had not expected such a rule and immediately frowned. "But now I've become a formal disciple too, and I have a great need for spirit rice."

"Oh?" Xu Changqing blinked. "Then I'll have to call you Fellow Daoist Han from now on!"

Han Su was so startled that he hurriedly said, "No, no, no... Just keep calling me Junior Brother!"

Hearing that, Xu Changqing stopped teasing him and spread his hands. "I really don't have any rice."

Han Su asked tentatively, "Back when we were in the outer area, didn't Senior Brother promise to let me loosen your soil?"

Borrowing rice would be best.

But that was not the real purpose of this visit.

He wanted to use it to bring up loosening the soil in the Spirit Fields come spring.

This was an opportunity to advertise himself.

Xu Changqing had not expected him to be waiting for him here and raised an eyebrow. "You already have Lin An, and back in the outer area, didn't you loosen the soil for plenty of people?"

Han Su immediately flew into a rage. "In autumn, only you and Lin An became formal disciples! As for winter... every last one failed."

He had even privately wondered

whether there was something wrong with his eyes.

Why was he so bad at judging people?

Especially Lin An—he was a heavyweight among heavyweights, a scammer among scammers.

"This?!" Xu Changqing hesitated. He could now choose to work with Earth Spirit Root disciples who had more experience.

"Fifty jin! For one season, I only want fifty jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice!!!" Han Su gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, and went all in.