5: The well water rippled slightly
With the supplies obtained from the hikers, Li Muchen's life became much easier. Although the compressed biscuits were hard and dry, they staved off hunger; the spirit well water was sweet and clear, sufficient to quench his thirst; and the multi-functional army knife solved major problems, making clearing weeds and cutting things much more convenient.
He continued his daily Cultivate. In the early morning, he practiced guiding Qi, absorbing the meager purple Qi that appeared when the sun first rose; in the morning and afternoon, he performed physical labor while practicing his control over True Qi—from initially getting covered in dust just trying to clean, to now being able to steadily swirl up a table-sized amount of dust, his True Qi consumption had also significantly decreased.
The daily, unwavering sign-ins provided him with continuous hope and surprises.
On the third day, the sign-in rewarded him with [Elementary Talisman Illustrations (Fragmentary) ×1], which recorded the drawing methods and effects of several of the simplest Talismans, such as the 'Cleansing Talisman' and 'Mind-Calming Talisman.' They required cinnabar, yellow paper, and a brush tip imbued with Spiritual Qi. He currently lacked the Materials and could only memorize them in silence.
On the fourth day, the sign-in rewarded him with [Low-Grade Spirit Stone ×3]. They were the size of pigeon eggs, crystal clear, and felt slightly warm to the touch, with a milky white mist slowly circulating inside.
System description: Contains pure Spiritual Qi, can be used to assist in Cultivate, set up simple Formations, or replenish consumption. Li Muchen tried holding a Spirit Stone while he practiced his Cultivate. Sure enough, the speed of absorbing Spiritual Qi was a fraction faster than usual. Although still slow, it was a rare auxiliary item. He was reluctant to use them too much, only holding one in his hand for a short while during his daily sessions.
On the fifth day, the sign-in rewarded him with [spirit soil (one small bag)], weighing about five jin. It was dark brown with fine, even grains, emitting a faint, fresh scent similar to earth after rain, with subtle fluctuations of Spiritual Qi.
He immediately mixed this small bag of spirit soil into the patch of land where he had previously sown the heart-clearing grass seeds. The spirit soil blended into the ordinary soil and did not immediately change its quality, but Li Muchen could feel that the aura of that area had indeed become more 'alive.'
The changes in the ancient cypress tree were even more obvious. Watered daily with spirit well water, those few tender buds had already unfurled into tiny, emerald-green leaves the size of a fingernail, standing stubbornly on the withered black branches like emeralds embedded in dead wood.
Although the entire ancient cypress tree remained dry, the bark near the base of the trunk seemed to have gained a hint of moisture, no longer appearing so brittle that it would shatter at a touch.
The temple was still dilapidated, but the well water remained clear and new buds were sprouting. With new 'Opportunities' coming in every day, Li Muchen's state of mind became increasingly peaceful. He even began to plan that once he had saved up a few more things, he would go to the village at the foot of the mountain to trade for grain, seeds, and necessary building Materials.
However, the peace was broken on the afternoon of the sixth day.
At the time, Li Muchen was in the main hall, attempting to use True Qi in coordination with an old chisel he had found to carefully clear stubborn grime from the crevices of the statue's base. Suddenly, a clamor drifted up from the foot of the mountain, growing louder as it approached, sounding like a significant number of people.
He stopped what he was doing and walked outside the hall.
On the mountain path, he saw Old Uncle Zhao leading seven or eight villagers toward the temple. The villagers, men and women of various ages, were dressed simply. Their faces showed curiosity, awe, and a hint of nervousness.
They were carrying things: some held baskets filled with eggs and vegetables; some carried cloth bags that seemed to contain grain; and one middle-aged man shouldered a small bundle of gray tiles tied with straw rope.
Zhao Desheng walked at the front. Seeing Li Muchen standing before the hall, he shouted from a distance, "Daoist Master Li!"
His voice was loud, carrying a sense of familiarity and a subtle, hard-to-detect respect.
Li Muchen was slightly surprised and went to meet them. "Old Uncle Zhao, fellow Lay Practitioners, taoist greeting. What brings you to the mountain today?"
As the villagers drew closer, they all looked over Li Muchen and the temple. Seeing the new leaves on the ancient cypress tree and the cleaned courtyard and main hall, their eyes filled with wonder.
Especially that well—the area around it was clean, with a clay jar placed there for drawing water. The clear well water reflected the sky, a world of difference from the dried-up, dilapidated scene in their memories.
"Abbot, these are all folks from our Zhaojiaao Village," Zhao Desheng introduced, pointing to the man carrying the tiles. "This is Iron Pillar, the best mason in the village."
"Hearing that you are restoring the temple, everyone remembered the old abbot's kindness from years ago. We pooled some things together and came up to see if there's anything we can help with."
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Li Muchen understood instantly. After Zhao Desheng went down the mountain, he must have spread the word about the changes at the temple and the deeds of the 'capable' young abbot. These villagers had come to investigate and show goodwill, whether out of nostalgia, curiosity, or some kind of expectation.
"Thank you all for your concern," Li Muchen said with a formal bow, his mind quickly calculating. This was both an Opportunity and a potential source of unnecessary attention. "The temple is simple; please, everyone, come inside and sit."
He led them to the cleaned stone steps and the open space in front of the main hall. The villagers set down the items they had brought and stood or squatted constrainedly, their eyes occasionally glancing at the broken statue and the roof that let in light.
"Abbot, this really is... a complete transformation," a white-haired old woman remarked, looking at the relatively clean interior of the main hall with emotion. "I came up here with my mother once when I was a child. Back then, the incense was quite flourishing. Later... it went to ruin. I never thought I'd see the day it was clean again."
"It's all thanks to the Abbot," Zhao Desheng chimed in, his tone full of admiration. "The other day, those city kids I brought up twisted their ankles, and they were swollen like steamed buns. The Abbot just made a few gestures with his hands and massaged them for a while, and the swelling went down quite a bit. The kids could even walk! It was truly miraculous!"
The villagers immediately began to whisper among themselves, their gazes toward Li Muchen becoming even more reverent.
Li Muchen quickly spoke with humility, "Old Uncle Zhao overpraises me. It was just some ancestral massage techniques; it was merely a coincidence." He did not want to be portrayed as too supernatural.
"Abbot, you shouldn't be so modest," Iron Pillar laughed honestly, pointing at the tiles he had carried up. "The grandson of Second Aunt Li from the edge of our village was always crying and fussing at night recently, saying he saw dark shadows. Going to the hospital was useless."
"Later, after Old Uncle Zhao went back from your place, he gave her family a small bamboo tube of water, saying it was the temple's well water, and told them to try wiping the child down and giving him a little to drink. And hey! That very night, the child stopped fussing and had a peaceful sleep! This story has already spread through the whole village."
Li Muchen's heart skipped a beat. spirit well water!
He looked at Zhao Desheng. The old man rubbed his hands together somewhat sheepishly. "Abbot, that day I saw your well water was unusually clear... so I took it upon myself to fill a bamboo tube while drawing water, thinking the mountain spring water was good and I'd let the child try it. I didn't expect... it would actually work. This is my fault for not telling you first."
Li Muchen instantly understood the real reason the villagers had gathered here today. It wasn't just because of Zhao Desheng's promotion, but because of that 'miraculous' well water! For villagers in a remote mountain village, children crying at night or being startled was common, and hospitals were often helpless. The attraction of a 'miraculous' well was immense.
"It's no matter," Li Muchen suppressed the turmoil in his heart, his expression calm. "The well water is where mountain springs gather; it is clear and sweet, and perhaps has some calming effects. It is a good thing if it could help the child."
He spoke ambiguously, neither admitting to anything supernatural nor completely denying it.
Sure enough, a middle-aged woman with a face full of sorrow stepped forward and suddenly knelt down with a thud. "Abbot! I beg you to show great mercy and save my mother!"
Li Muchen was startled and quickly stepped aside to avoid the gesture, reaching out to support her. "Lay Practitioner, please rise quickly. Tell me what is happening slowly."
Zhao Desheng explained from the side, "This is Guihua from the west end of the village. Her mother has been sick for nearly a month. The doctor in town saw her and said she's old and has a weak constitution with Qi deficiency. The medicine they prescribed hasn't helped; she's drowsy all day and can't eat. Guihua is worried sick."
Guihua refused to get up, her tears flowing freely. "Abbot, I beg you to grant some divine water, or... or just take a look at her like you did for the child with the sprain! My family is truly at its wits' end!"
The other villagers also looked at Li Muchen expectantly.
Li Muchen smiled bitterly in his heart. This was truly a case of 'the tree wants to be still, but the wind won't stop.' How could he know how to treat illnesses? Using True Qi to clear up the bruising of a sprain was already his limit, and it consumed a huge amount of energy.
As for the spirit well water, it might have some slight effect on strengthening the body or calming the nerves of ordinary people, but for treating illnesses, especially the chronic ailments of the elderly, it might not be useful. It might even be a case of the body being too weak to absorb the supplement because of the faint Spiritual Qi it contained.
But looking at Guihua's desperate, pleading eyes and the expectant gazes of the villagers, he knew he couldn't refuse directly. Being a newcomer, he needed to establish a good relationship with the villagers; being too cold would lose their support.
He pondered for a moment before speaking, "Lay Practitioner Guihua, please rise. This poor Daoist is not a physician and does not dare to speak recklessly of curing illnesses. However, the well water in the temple is clear and may nourish the body. Your mother's illness still requires following a doctor's advice and careful nursing."
He went to the well, drew a jar of water with a clean clay vessel, and handed it to Guihua. "Take this jar of water back and have your mother drink it in small amounts multiple times, alongside her medicine. It may have some auxiliary effect. Remember, she must not drink too much; half a small bowl a day is enough."
He then looked at Zhao Desheng. "Old Uncle Zhao, you know something of herbal medicine. Do you know of a mild recipe for tonifying Qi that is easy to digest? It could be used with the well water for the elderly woman to try."
Zhao Desheng nodded quickly. "Yes, yes! astragalus root, goji berries, and Chinese yam are all mild tonics."
Li Muchen nodded and said to Guihua, "You can take some medicinal Materials according to the recipe Old Uncle Zhao mentioned and use this well water to slow-cook them over a low flame for your mother. I cannot guarantee it will be effective, but it will be harmless at the very least."
Guihua thanked him a thousand times as she took the clay jar, clutching it tightly to her chest as if holding onto a life-saving straw.
Seeing this, the other villagers also spoke up. Some said their waists and legs ached, others said their children didn't sleep well at night; all were eager for some well water.
Li Muchen sighed inwardly, knowing that this well would likely have little peace from now on. He said sternly, "Everyone, although the well water is good, it is ultimately just an external aid. Strengthening the body is one thing, but to treat diseases, you still need to seek medical advice. Do not delay any illnesses."
"I am deeply grateful for everyone coming to help today. Each of you may take one bamboo tube of this well water, but you must promise me two things."
The villagers quickly responded, "Please say it, Abbot!"
"First, do not over-promote the matter of the well water, and certainly do not exaggerate it, lest it bring unnecessary trouble and delay those who truly need medical treatment."
"Second, you must be sincere when taking the water, and you must not be greedy. Each person is limited to one bamboo tube per day. If many people need it, you can take turns coming."
Li Muchen set these rules to control the influence and to prevent the well water from being excessively sought after or even causing fights. He was not yet powerful enough and had to be cautious.
The villagers all agreed. They felt the Abbot's words were reasonable, and being willing to give them water was already a huge favor.
Next, the villagers set down the gifts they had brought. Iron Pillar even took the initiative to climb onto the roof to help temporarily patch the two largest holes in the main hall with tiles and mud. Although simple, it could at least block some wind and rain.
Li Muchen fulfilled his promise and used the prepared bamboo tubes to give each villager a tube of spirit well water.
Holding the bamboo tubes like precious treasures, the villagers happily made their way down the mountain. Before leaving, Zhao Desheng whispered, "Abbot, don't worry, I'll keep an eye on them and won't let them spread wild rumors. It's just... I'm afraid this matter can't be kept completely quiet. You should be prepared."
Li Muchen nodded. "Thank you for your trouble, Old Uncle Zhao."
Watching the villagers disappear down the winding mountain path, Li Muchen stood at the mountain gate, looking at the now-empty temple and then at that Spirit Well, which was destined to no longer be peaceful.
The new leaves of the ancient cypress tree swayed gently in the wind.
He knew that from today on, Qingfeng Temple was truly connected to the world below. A ripple had begun and was gradually turning into a wave.
Whether it was a blessing or a curse was yet to be known.
He turned and looked at the broken deity statue in the main hall, silently chanting in his heart:
"Sign-in."
[Ding! Sign-in successful! Congratulations to the host for obtaining a Newbie Opportunity reward!]
[Reward: Elementary Spirit Gathering Formation Diagram (Fragmentary) ×1 (Can gather and purify Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in a small area. Requires Spirit Stones or Spiritual Qi nodes to drive.)]
Li Muchen's eyes lit up. A Spirit Gathering Formation! It came at just the right time!
He needed to increase his strength faster. Only when he was strong enough could he calmly deal with the unknown ripples that were about to surge toward him.