For several days running, Jin Si busied himself digging out his cave and clearing the Medicine Field.
He expanded his new den deeper into the rock face, hurried to plant the seeds and root cuttings from the sack, and channeled mountain spring water to irrigate them, working until he was covered in dirt.
Occasionally, Xiao Yu sent her Primordial Spirit to the Library Pavilion to check in, browse the books on the shelves, or sit for a while behind the desk by the entrance.
The mountain was quiet to begin with. It was nothing unusual for the Library Pavilion to go half a month without a visitor.
Pillowstar Mountain seemed to impose no strict rules on Jin Si and Xiao Yu. At first, Jin Si worried that he would be held accountable for neglecting his duties, but he later discovered that no one asked about them at all.
All he had to do each day was cultivate and grow medicinal herbs. This peaceful freedom was even more pleasant than he had expected.
When Red Clothes drifted out of a crack in the rocks, she saw the little boy squatting in a furrow in the Medicine Field, clutching a short stick and grunting as he dug holes to bury root cuttings.
He was working very earnestly. Several streaks of mud smeared his freckled little face, making him look both serious and rather dim.
After watching for a moment, she could not help speaking.
"A hoe would be faster and take less effort."
Jin Si turned and answered with an honest expression.
"I used to have one. I accidentally lost it."
Red Clothes almost laughed in exasperation. Her figure swayed in midair.
Suppressing her anger, she folded her arms, her face darkening.
"Would a Daoist grotto-heaven as large as Pillowstar Mountain be