Chapter 12: A Farmer's Peace
The sun rose slow and gold the next morning, spillin warm light over the fields. Dew clung to the spirit melons like little stars. The storm had passed. For now, at least.
Alex sat on the porch, cup of tea in hand, legs stretched out. He looked tired, but there was a quiet peace in his eyes.
Meilin joined him, carrying a basket of fresh-picked glowberries.
"Wanna help sort?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Nah. I'm takin the day off."
She raised an eyebrow. "From what? You don't do anything normal anyway."
He laughed. "Exactly."
Down in the fields, villagers were already back at it—planting, watering, laughing like nothing happened yesterday. Liuna taught Xiao Rui how to shape water qi into mist for the plants. The kid giggled when he sneezed and made a cloud.
No one asked about Hollow Eye Sect.
No one needed to.
Alex had done somethin no cultivator ever did before—not by killin or flexin power. He protected them by being still.
And the land remembered.
The tree near the top of the hill had grown new branches overnight—thick, strong, glowing faintly.
The system pinged gently.
"System milestone reached. 'Peacekeeper Path' selected. Host affinity with Natural Qi: ++. Farm spiritual ranking: Tier 2."
Alex whistled. "That's nice. Didn't even have to swing a sword."
"Correct. Host demonstrated high-efficiency conflict resolution."
"Yeah yeah, call it what you want. I call it peace."
That afternoon, they held a feast. Not for victory. Not for glory. Just for good food, good weather, and being alive.
Old Man Jia brought rice wine. Liuna cooked roasted moon-beets. The children danced around glowing pumpkins while spirit fireflies lit the sky.
Alex sat under the memory tree with Meilin beside him.
"You could've ruled a sect," she said. "You could've ruled ten."
"I don't wanna rule anything," he said. "Just wanna grow things."
"You are growin something," she said, softly. "A life."
He nodded.
And somewhere deep inside the earth, the roots of Still Wind Hill pulsed with life.
They had chosen their guardian.
Not a blade. Not a tyrant.
A farmer.
End of Volume 1: Rebirth and Resolution