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墨書 Inktalez
The next day, the two bid farewell to Zhir, who did not try to retain them or show any signs of reluctance. He did not exchange polite remarks or set a time for their next meeting, simply nodding to acknowledge their departure. He encountered Feng and Cui Ming at Bean Sprout Spring, not to seek out Feng, but to tend to and care for Bean Sprout Spring. As the emperor of this desert, the oasis was his people. He had his own way of managing time.
Days later, the two returned to Moon Lake. Feng became very diligent, no longer visiting Bean Sprout Spring every few days to check on the development of his territory; instead, he focused intently on practicing the Wind Sword Technique.
Cui Ming did not engage in intense training to enhance his abilities anymore. He had reached a nearly insurmountable bottleneck in his enhancement skills. His mastery of force, its application, and rhythm had all reached peak levels, with very limited room for improvement. Now, he could only break through through two means: the first was to enhance his Force equivalence over time, which required consistent effort. The second was to possess a card made from a Force Stone; currently, no one or machine could achieve that.
Cui Ming's training direction remained focused on Card Play and Fate Card strategies. In previous battles, he primarily used Yellow Cards, which were auxiliary cards most useful for trapping opponents and drawing lines to ensnare them. There were distinctions between the two; trapping an opponent involved immobilizing them—if someone charged at you, you could freeze them in place but could not dissipate their momentum. Drawing a line to trap had a shorter duration but was more powerful, forcing the opponent back to the ground regardless of their state or situation, rendering them immobile. It was still unclear whether severing a leg could counter this technique; perhaps he would find an opportunity to test it on someone.
The frequent use of Yellow Cards stemmed from Cui Ming's weakness; he constantly relied on these two cards for survival. Among the three colored cards, the most powerful were actually the red enhancement cards and the Black Conspiracy Card. For instance, the Red Card allowed Yellen's Force equivalence to double, enabling him to withstand an attack from a Bone Dragon without injury. The Black Card's ability for treachery—returning harm with harm—was invaluable for both home and travel, serving as a constant card for murder and theft.
The three colored cards also had various detailed classifications, such as Victory Cards that reduced losses when defeating opponents under favorable conditions and cards for when evenly matched or at a disadvantage. Although there were many cards available, some only functioned under specific locations or situations; drawing them in ordinary circumstances rendered them useless. Even without color-coded useless cards, there were still colored ones that failed to have any effect. Cui Ming's goal was freedom—being able to draw whatever card he desired.
Focus was crucial. Even after a year and a half of seclusion, Cui Ming's training was scattered across various disciplines; his thoughts were never concentrated in one area. He had enhancement skills nearing their limits and explosive flying cards that clearly increased lethality without further significance. Although Fate Cards offered teleportation abilities, he still felt lost regarding how to approach them. The only area where he felt he could achieve more was Card Play.
Feng's Wind Sword Technique was simple: any movement could summon the wind. Breathing and heartbeat would trigger air fluctuations that led to wind creation. The breakthrough in Wind Sword Technique was no longer about various moves but rather about transcending into a realm where one sensed the wind—feeling it, utilizing it—until ultimately becoming one with it: "I am the wind." The wind became him; they merged seamlessly, allowing him to move freely and invisibly—coming without a trace and going without form. With the wind at his back, he could launch an unstoppable attack within a hundred meters; against the wind, he could create an impenetrable shield like stone.
Although Feng had spent many years in the desert, he had never settled down to practice seriously. Bean Sprout Spring symbolized his distraction from serious matters; after this outing, he realized he had intentionally forgotten an issue he needed to face: his junior sister. Upon returning to the desert, Feng’s first half-year could be described as half-hearted.
Then Feng noticed Cui Ming’s rapid growth—a speed so swift that although he did not voice it aloud, jealousy brewed within him. In the final six months, Cui Ming would undoubtedly leave; Feng believed that even if they were together, he would soon tire of this place—he craved fine wine, women, and fresh three-layered meat. Moreover, Cui Ming seemed enchanted by his practice—aside from eating and excreting, he remained in a meditative state—which made Feng feel that if he did not strive harder now, he would fall behind and be bullied.
Thus choosing friends became crucial; associating with someone who had mediocre standards might gradually lower one's own taste while potentially elevating theirs if they were better off. Speaking of which—a story unfolded in a university dorm where three girls mocked and ridiculed another girl who was still innocent about relationships, telling her that becoming a woman marked the beginning of true happiness. This innocent girl's values became distorted over time as she casually engaged in relationships and ended up joining forces with those girls who dragged others down into despair out of jealousy for what they lacked themselves. In youth, friends often wield more influence than money or parents over an individual’s life choices; thus selecting the right friends is vital.
Feng said: "Forget practicing; let’s go explore and change our tastes while enjoying the beauty of the desert and listening to water sounds."
Cui Ming replied: "I’m training." Experience points +2.
Feng continued: "I want to check out Bean Sprout Spring; are you coming?"
Cui Ming reiterated: "I’m training." Experience points +2.
Wind: Damn it, I can't skip practice anymore. I'm training, experience points +2.
Cui Ming: Experience points +2.
Wind: Experience points +2.
This is the motivational version; the reverse is the version of the story above. The outcome of each version depends on whether you want to compare yourself to those who work harder than you or those who are worse off.
Wind: I got a 90 in math today.
Cui: I got a 92, higher than you.
Wind: I got an 80 in math.
Cui: I got an 82, higher than you.
Wind: I failed math.
Cui: I passed.
Wind: Damn it, I'm last in class.
Cui: Haha, I'm just a bit better than you, second to last.
Indeed, those living the motivational version have a tough life, with great pressure, and sometimes their happiness index is lower than many others. However, relatively speaking, their gains are also greater.
Cui Ming: "Have you gone crazy lately? Besides eating and sleeping, you're just meditating and training."
Wind: "Yeah."
"Cui Ming": "The question is, who will go get the food?"
"Feng": "Eat it raw."
"Cui Ming": "So when we're hungry, we just jump into Moon Lake and catch a fish to gnaw on?"
"Feng": "Exactly."
"Cui Ming": "Who’s afraid of whom? Damn it."
With that, as the two stepped out, a new delicacy was added to the Three Continents: sashimi. This is how sashimi from the Eternity continent came to be...
...
Two years had passed...
No, two years and nine months...
They had stayed nine months longer than they had anticipated. Why? Because this damn rainy season had extended by nine months, resulting in a fifteen-month rainy season. Although both felt that something was off with the passage of time—why hadn’t this rainy season ended yet?—they had no time to discuss it since their meal times and sleep schedules were completely out of sync.
They didn’t think much of it until they noticed the water level in Moon Lake beginning to drop significantly. Finally, they breathed a sigh of relief; they wouldn’t have to endure this together anymore. That day, while catching fish, Feng excitedly interrupted Cui Ming's meditation: "Cui Ming, the rainy season is over; the water level is dropping!"
Cui Ming sprang up as if injected with a stimulant and rushed to Moon Lake. After careful observation, he confirmed that indeed the water level had decreased. To avoid any misjudgment, they decided to stay by Moon Lake for two days, during which the water level continued to drop gradually. This was the dry season; reduced groundwater storage led to the decline in water levels, and finally, after half a year, it had arrived.
The two packed their belongings and washed their clothes thoroughly before putting on damp garments and heading towards York Mountains. Passing by Bean Sprout Spring, they found Zhir there. The green area around Bean Sprout Spring had grown to about an acre, and due to prolonged flow, both the width and depth of the waterway had increased significantly. Fish were also starting to appear more frequently in the stream.
Zhir rarely stood up voluntarily but did so this time as they approached. He was unusually proactive and spoke first: "Are you leaving?"
"Yes," Feng replied solemnly, looking at him as if he were a comrade steadfastly holding his post. "Zhir, we will come back to see you."
"No need," Zhir said. "I am here waiting for you, simply to give you a gift—not a precious one, just a few words."
The two replied in unison, "Please enlighten us."
"The wind is formless, fleeting and swift, unaware of its own desires or where it is headed. It moves freely, following its own nature; no matter where it is, the wind always exists—that is the essence of the wind." Zhir looked at Cui Ming. "Your fate lies within the cards. Although you cannot foresee the future, you can grasp your own destiny."
"Thank you." Though they did not fully understand, both expressed their gratitude politely.
"Here are two Doran Rings, relics of the High Priest. There is nothing particularly magical about them, but they can help you cultivate Force faster than others." Zhir handed over the rings. "Try wearing them."
Feng and Cui Ming put on the rings, feeling a flowing blue aura merge with their Force. Gradually, the blue aura faded away until it disappeared completely, signifying that Feng and Cui Ming had become the new masters of these rings. "Zhir, I will definitely come back to see you," Feng declared.
Zhir shook his head. "You have forgotten my advice again—go with the flow."
Feng nodded. "Is there anything you need from me, Zhir?"
"Nothing," Zhir replied.
Unable to resist, Feng stepped forward and embraced Zhir. "Take care of Bean Sprout Spring for me; I will return. This is my promise."
The roles seemed reversed; after all, Zhir was the master and Feng was the guest... Cui Ming said, "If I won't disturb you, Zhir, I would be happy to visit the desert occasionally. The desert is not as terrifying as I imagined; it has given me so much. In these past two years, I've experienced very little, but because of that scarcity, it remains etched in my heart. No other place offers such pure feelings. Rather than saying I want to come back to see you, Zhir, I would say I want to return to this desert."
"No disturbance," Zhir answered. He neither welcomed nor dismissed them. Watching them leave, he transformed into sand and returned to Pearl Lake, quietly sitting on the steps with his feet submerged in water, continuing his accustomed solitary life. (To be continued.)
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