019 Dao of Camping

The treehouse sure had grown over the couple of years. Now it was even more spacious inside, with winding branches forming extra rooms and vines draping like natural curtains. I relaxed on the comfy sofa Xing Ning had made recently, leaning back against the moss cushion I’d added myself. Who didn’t like a proper cushion, right? Definitely not me.

I flipped through a nature memoir. It was one of the rare finds that had made its way to the village. Next time I’d have to ask Xing Ning to hunt for more literature like this. This particular book was quite fun; it spoke about this very forest. Apparently, it didn’t even have a name. That seemed to be the convention for unexplored and unclaimed woods around here. I wondered how exactly one could “own” a forest. Did you need to apply for some kind of permit from a sect or an empire? It would be pretty cool if I got to name it myself, though. Something chill like “Verdant Nap Grove” or “Do Not Disturb Woods.”

Suddenly, my spiritual senses picked up Xing Ning approaching. He wasn’t alone. I’d been picking up more cultivator tricks lately, like proper spiritual senses. In the past I could only flood an area with my qi to get a rough feel, but now I could pick up finer details with real subtlety. Nice upgrade.

I grabbed my staff, hopped off the edge of the treehouse, and landed gracefully on the soft forest floor.

“Xing Ning,” I greeted with a small wave. “And the familiar faces… Li Qing, Guo Yupin, Li Ming. Good to see you all again.”

I stopped when my eyes landed on the bald man who looked like a monk. Who was this guy?

The bald cultivator pressed his palms together in a respectful monk’s greeting and bowed slightly. “This humble one is Guo Yimu, a monk seeking the path of enlightenment.”

So? As if expecting my confusion, Xing Ning offered, “Senior, he’s that guy I dueled back then…”

Back when? It took a second, but then it clicked. I snapped my fingers. “Ah, the emo guy—”

Guo Yimu’s eyes widened in hysterical outrage. “Emo guy?! This one has just introduced himself as Guo Yimu, the monk who walks the path of detachment! How can Senior reduce this one’s hard-earned identity to such vulgar slang?!”

I scratched the back of my head and shrugged nonchalantly. “Sorry about that. Force of habit. So, what do you all want?”

Guo Yupin stepped forward and gestured grandly. With a flourish of his sleeve, a massive pile of spirit stones materialized on the ground. They were stacked so high it nearly reached above my height, glittering with dense qi.

“This old man did not know what Senior Wo Li would like as tribute,” Guo Yupin said, his voice carrying that careful deference these cultivators always used around me, “so this one simply brought spirit stones. They are versatile and valuable in the cultivation world.”

I stared at the sparkling mountain. “What am I supposed to do with them? Build a shiny fort?”

Guo Yupin let out a nervous laugh, rubbing his hands together. “They are meant as gifts, Senior. Tokens of my Sect’s deepest gratitude.”

I could already feel a headache coming on. The only reason anyone dumped this much wealth at my feet was because they needed something. Or in this case, they all needed something.

I sighed and turned to Li Ming and Li Qing. “What do you have?”

Li Ming stepped forward, her cheeks flushing as she stuttered, “S-Senior Wo Li… this junior… we… we wanted to express our thanks for all your righteous deeds. Please accept this humble key as a token of our village’s appreciation.” She held out a beautiful object with both hands, bowing deeply.

The key was exquisite. It was carved from pure emerald with delicate leaf motifs swirling across its surface, humming faintly with contained power. I took it and turned it over in my palm, inspecting it closely. I didn’t feel anything particularly special from it, but it clearly meant a lot to the village.

Li Qing cleared her throat and stepped closer. “Senior Wo Li, that key is no ordinary treasure. It is the Emerald Verdant Key, forged by our ancestors at the founding of our hidden village. For generations, our people have guarded the entrance to a secret realm known as the Emerald Verdant Forest. This key is the only means to open the spatial gate that leads inside. Within that pocket dimension lie abundant spiritual herbs, ancient spirit veins, rare spirit beasts, and untouched natural treasures that have remained untouched for thousands of years. Our village has only ever entered sparingly, taking only what we needed to survive, for fear of disturbing the balance or attracting the greed of powerful sects.”

She paused, her eyes filled with genuine reverence as she looked at the key in my hand. “By presenting this to you, we entrust the guardianship of the realm itself into Senior’s hands. With your boundless power and harmonious way with nature, we believe the secret realm will thrive under your care far better than it ever could under ours.”

Secret realms were pocket dimensions packed with resources, something even a newcomer like me could understand was a huge deal in this world. Handing over the key to the Emerald Verdant Forest was no small gesture.

“Alright,” I said, my tone turning firmer as I looked at each of them in turn. “Enough with the gifts and the roundabout pleasantries. Be honest with me. What do you actually want?”

I kept my voice calm, but I made sure they could tell I wasn’t in the mood for more xianxia-style dancing around the subject.

Guo Yupin lowered his head deeply, his voice thick with remorse. “Senior Wo Li, this old man wishes to ask for forgiveness for the affront I once showed you. The same is true for my son and my grandson. Our eyes were clouded by arrogance, and we failed to recognize the boundless benevolence of Senior.”

He forced Guo Yimu into a deep bow, practically shoving the bald monk’s forehead toward the ground as he continued. “This old man wishes to leave my unworthy grandson, Guo Yimu, in Senior’s care to be punished as you see fit. Work him like a horse if it pleases you. Make full use of him. Have him run errands, perform the lowliest jobs—anything to atone for our past offenses. This one encourages Senior to make him sweep the grounds, carry burdens, and serve without complaint.”

Stolen story; please report.

I grimaced. That was tough, huh? Guo Yimu was basically sobbing while his own grandfather threw him at me like a used rag. I wasn’t really interested, but… I guessed I could use a helping hand. There were things I could delegate now. Cataloging and organizing the random tributes I kept receiving from the local wildlife, for starters. And apparently a lot of sweeping. I didn’t like imposing on Xing Ning too much, since he’d shown he could pull his weight, and he’d kind of grown on me. Pulling the cart back and forth to the village to fetch supplies and sell surplus would be perfect busywork. Since Xing Ning’s stay wasn’t permanent, Guo Yimu could make a decent replacement gofer… ahem, I meant assistant.

“There won’t be any salary,” I told him flatly, testing Guo Yupin.

Guo Yupin waved his hands quickly. “There is no need for salary, Senior! You are free to work my grandson like a horse. He will serve without complaint!”

SCORE! Wait, wait… calm down, me. It’s against your principles to own people. You are not that dude.