Herb Garden

Biodata

Location and Grounds

• The garden occupies a valley backed by a branch of the Vast Mountains, west of Kaiyang City. A stacked-bluestone wall encloses its grounds 5 7.
• Its soil contains a trace of spiritual energy. Before a herb reaches a hundred years of medicinal potency, one year of growth there can equal roughly two and a half years elsewhere; older herbs need more spiritual nourishment, and their growth slows sharply 5 24.
• The most valuable herbs are kept in separate Spirit Fields protected by formations powered by Spirit Stones 24.
• A hidden passage provides an evacuation route if the garden cannot be defended 17 19.

Management and Produce

• Elder Lin Song — the garden’s senior defender. He appointed Lin Chen to manage it while he continued cultivating in seclusion 7.
• Lin Chen — managed the garden after entering the Spirit Martial Realm, leaving routine affairs to Lin Tie so he could focus on cultivation 5 7.
• Lin Tie — handled herb records and daily operations as steward; he formally became manager after Lin Chen returned to the Lin Residence 7 20. Lin Chen had encouraged him to devote more time to cultivation and promised to recommend him if he reached the Second Level of the Spirit Martial Realm, which Lin Tie subsequently did 15.
• Records and allotments — servants record each herb for an annual account. On taking charge, Lin Chen received his yearly allotment of two Azure Spirit Ginseng roots over thirty years old 7.
• Rare stock — the family later granted Lin Chen a three-hundred-year-old Silvermoon Grass and two Crimson Flame Ginseng plants over two hundred and fifty years old, among the garden’s most precious herbs 24.

History

Lin Chen chose the Herb Garden over caravan duty, restaurant management, and hunting because its quieter work would leave him time to cultivate. During his first three years there, idle training and his annual Azure Spirit Ginseng helped him advance from the First to the Fourth Level of the Spirit Martial Realm 5 8. He also hunted stronger demon beasts near the Vast Mountains’ outskirts to protect the garden and gain combat experience 8.

While managing the garden, Lin Chen left for several months to seek a Soul-Nourishing Jade that would aid his study of the Sword Diagram. Lin Song knew of his departure, and Lin Tie kept operations running smoothly in his absence. After returning, Lin Chen rewarded Lin Tie’s service and offered to recommend him as a future manager if his cultivation advanced 10 11 14 15.

When the Lin and Li families attacked Blackwind Stronghold, Lin Song left Lin Chen to defend the isolated garden. Lin Chen posted guards along its approaches and intercepted fleeing bandits before they reached the grounds. The workers inside were unharmed; a hidden passage was available for evacuation if the garden could not be held 17 19. The garden later hosted a banquet celebrating the families’ victory 20.

After the battle, Lin Chen returned to the Lin Residence to concentrate on cultivation and recommended Lin Tie as his successor. Lin Tie received the formal appointment half a month later. Lin Chen subsequently returned to collect the family’s three rare herbs and used his former courtyard for a month of seclusion before leaving for the residence again 20 24 25.