Lian continued walking quietly along the village path afterward.
The afternoon sun hung lower in the sky now, casting long shadows across the dirt road while a cool breeze drifted softly through the nearby trees.
His thoughts still lingered on the manuals tucked safely inside his coat.
*Water Control Art.*
*Flowing Deepwater Compression Method.*
Real cultivation techniques.
Even now—
the thought still felt faintly unreal.
Then suddenly—
"Lian!"
He blinked and looked up.
A man and woman stood farther ahead near one of the branching side paths.
Familiar faces.
Lian recognized them immediately.
Both were villagers who lived closer to the outer farmland region.
The woman stepped forward first after finally seeing him clearly.
"Lian, you're back!"
Lian gave a small, polite nod.
"…Yeah."
The man beside her let out a quiet exhale.
"We just came from your house looking for you."
Lian paused slightly.
Puzzled.
At first—
he naturally assumed they had come simply to confirm whether the rumors were true.
That he had actually returned alive.
Reasonable.
After all—
half the village still seemed convinced he was some wandering ghost.
Lian scratched lightly at his cheek.
"Sorry, I just got back from Village Head Wa Shi's place—"
But before he could continue—
the woman suddenly lowered her voice and stepped slightly closer.
"We came to talk about the treasure."
Lian froze instantly.
His heartbeat skipped violently.
But outwardly—
his expression barely changed.
Only for the briefest fraction of a second.
Then immediately—
he forced a confused laugh.
"…Treasure?"
"What treasure?"
The woman cut him off at once.
"You shouldn't bother lying."
Her eyes remained fixed directly on him now.
Sharp.
Certain.
"I saw everything myself last night."
The world around Lian suddenly felt quieter.
The woman continued.
"The immortal creature."
"The giant clam."
"And those glowing blue crystals."
Her voice lowered even further afterward.
"…I saw them with my own eyes."
Lian stared at her silently.
Frozen.
Not outwardly.
But internally—
his mind exploded into motion instantly.
*Someone was watching.*
*Last night.*
*They saw Lizarius.*
*They saw the clam.*
*They saw the crystals.*
Cold tension spread through his chest immediately.
Because this was exactly what Wa Shi warned him about.
Treasures attracted danger.
And now—
someone beyond his household already knew.
The man beside the woman glanced around nervously before speaking in a lower voice.
"We didn't tell anyone else."
That did not make Lian feel better.
Not even slightly.
The woman continued carefully,
"We just thought…"
Her eyes flicked briefly toward his coat.
"…maybe we could discuss it first."
*Discuss.*
Lian immediately understood what that truly meant.
Not accusation.
Not exposure.
Opportunity.
Greed.
His thoughts raced rapidly now.
*How much did they really see?*
*Did they see the Water Essence Crystals clearly?*
*Did they hear anything?*
*Did they follow him afterward?*
Most importantly—
*Did Lizarius notice them?*
That final thought alone nearly sent cold sweat down his back.
Because if Lizarius *had* noticed them…
then the fact these two were still standing here calmly somehow became even more terrifying.
The woman mistook his silence for hesitation.
Her voice softened slightly afterward.
"Lian…"
"You found something extraordinary, didn't you?"
Silence.
The wind drifted softly through the road between them.
Lian slowly exhaled afterward.
Then finally—
he smiled again.
Calm.
Careful.
"…I think you've misunderstood something."
But inwardly—
his thoughts had already changed completely.
Because now—
for the first time since returning home—
Lian truly realized something dangerous.
The outside world had already begun touching the secret he carried.
The woman immediately frowned.
"I saw the crystals myself."
"The blue light too."
The man crossed his arms.
"And that immortal creature."
His voice lowered carefully.
"You can't hide something like that forever."
Lian stayed silent.
The pressure in his chest slowly tightened.
The woman stepped slightly closer again.
"Lian… we're not trying to make things difficult."
That sentence alone already made things difficult.
She continued softly,
"But if others find out before us…"
Her eyes flicked toward him meaningfully.
"…things could become dangerous for your family."
There it was.
Not quite a threat.
Not quite concern.
Something uglier sitting directly between both.
The man continued immediately afterward.
"If you don't want anyone else finding out…"
"You should give us our share first."
Lian stared quietly at them.
His expression remained calm—
but inwardly, his thoughts moved rapidly.
*Share?*
*Of what exactly?*
They didn't even know what the Water Essence Crystals truly were.
Only that they looked valuable.
The woman lowered her voice further.
"And you should introduce us to the immortal creature too."
Lian nearly laughed from disbelief.
But somehow managed not to.
The man nodded seriously beside her.
"If such a being favors you…"
"…then perhaps we could also receive guidance."
Lian stared at them silently for several long seconds afterward.
The afternoon wind drifted softly across the village road.
Neither villager spoke again.
Waiting.
Expecting.
Quietly pressuring him through silence alone.
Then finally—
Lian exhaled softly.
"…You're putting me in a difficult position."
The woman immediately answered,
"We wouldn't have to if you had been honest first."
Lian lowered his gaze slightly afterward.
Thinking.
Then slowly—
he nodded once.
"…Fine."
Both villagers visibly relaxed slightly.
The man stepped forward immediately.
"So you agree?"
Lian looked up again.
His expression calm.
Measured.
"…My master is returning tonight."
That single sentence instantly changed both of their expressions.
Excitement.
Greed.
Nervous anticipation.
The woman spoke quickly,
"Really?"
Lian nodded slowly.
"He usually comes late."
A pause.
"Outside the village."
The man swallowed slightly.
"Then you'll bring us?"
Lian hesitated just long enough to appear uncertain.
"…I can try."
That answer made both of them tense again immediately.
"Try?"
Lian sighed quietly.
"You don't understand him."
That part—
at least—
was completely true.
"He doesn't like people."
Another true statement.
Lian continued carefully,
"If he becomes displeased…"
His eyes shifted slightly toward the distant forest beyond the village.
"…then even I can't control what happens afterward."
Both villagers exchanged a brief glance.
Nervous now.
But greed still remained stronger.
The woman asked carefully,
"Then… what should we do?"
Lian answered immediately.
"Tonight."
"East side of the village."
"Outside the outer fields near the old trees."
The man nodded quickly.
"We know the place."
Lian continued evenly,
"I'll bring him there."
"…And the treasure too."
Both of their breathing subtly changed afterward.
Excitement immediately deepened.
But before either could speak—
Lian's gaze sharpened slightly.
"For now…"
"…keep silent."
The woman nodded quickly.
"Of course."
Lian continued calmly,
"Once you accept the treasure…"
A faint pause followed.
"…you become part of this matter too."
The man frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Lian held his gaze evenly.
"I mean if word spreads afterward…"
"…my master will assume it came from you."
Silence.
That landed heavily.
Because suddenly—
this no longer sounded like some easy hidden fortune.
Now it sounded dangerous.
The woman swallowed slightly.
"But if we stay quiet—"
"Then nothing happens," Lian answered immediately.
A pause.
"But understand something clearly."
His voice lowered slightly now.
"If my master decides he dislikes this arrangement…"
Lian shrugged lightly.
"…then there isn't anything I can do."
The wind drifted softly through the road again.
The man forced out a laugh afterward.
"…If he's willing to share treasures, why would he mind?"
Lian looked at him for a long moment.
Then softly answered:
"Because immortals don't think like villagers."
That line finally made both of them visibly uneasy.
Good.
Lian needed that unease there.
Because right now—
he was gambling entirely on fear.
The woman finally nodded slowly afterward.
"…We'll be there tonight."
Lian gave a small nod.
Then calmly stepped past them afterward.
Continuing down the village road toward home.
His pace remained steady.
Unhurried.
Controlled.
Only after he had fully turned the corner beyond their sight—
did the expression on his face finally disappear completely.
Cold tension settled into his eyes instantly.
Because now—
he had a far bigger problem.
Tonight.
—
Lian continued down the village path until the familiar wooden house finally came into view.
Smoke rose softly from the cooking fire inside.
Normal.
Quiet.
Exactly how he preferred things at the moment.
He paused briefly at the door.
Then pushed it open.
Inside, his mother was folding cloth near the table.
She looked up immediately.
"Lian?"
Her voice softened slightly with relief.
"You're back earlier than I expected."
Lian exhaled quietly and stepped inside.
"…Yeah."
He closed the door behind him and instinctively scanned the room.
No one else had been here.
No unusual disturbances.
Good.
His shoulders eased slightly as he walked farther inside.
His mother studied him carefully for a moment.
"You look… serious."
Lian paused briefly.
Then shook his head lightly.
"It's nothing."
A lie.
But a necessary one—for now.
She frowned slightly.
"You went to see Village Head Wa Shi?"
Lian nodded.
"I got cultivation techniques."
That finally made her expression shift into mild surprise.
"…That fast?"
Lian scratched the side of his neck.
"Apparently I'm 'lucky.'"
His mother didn't fully understand the meaning behind that tone, but she accepted it anyway.
After a moment, she returned to folding cloth.
Silence settled between them.
Comfortable at first.
Then Lian's thoughts drifted again.
The man and woman from earlier.
Their words.
*The treasure.*
*The immortal creature.*
*The crystals.*
His expression tightened slightly.
But then—
his mother suddenly spoke casually without looking up.
"No one came here while you were gone."
Lian blinked.
"…Huh?"
She glanced toward him.
"I said no one came asking questions. Just a few villagers checking whether we were alright."
Lian slowly processed that.
Then—
a faint sense of relief eased through him.
So they hadn't come here.
They hadn't pressured his mother.
They hadn't spoken to her at all.
Good.
Really good.
His shoulders loosened slightly.
"…That's good."
His mother tilted her head slightly.
"What is?"
Lian quickly waved a hand.
"Nothing important."
She narrowed her eyes faintly, clearly unconvinced, but didn't press further.
Instead, she returned to her work.
Lian stood there quietly for another moment.
Then slowly moved to sit near the wall.
But his thoughts still refused to settle.
They kept circling back.
Those two villagers.
The way they looked at him.
The way they *expected* something from him.
And worse—
the fact that someone had truly witnessed part of what happened.
He exhaled quietly.
Still…
at least his mother wasn't involved.
That alone eased some of the pressure tightening around his chest.
If she knew nothing—
then she couldn't accidentally reveal anything either.
And that meant one less danger to worry about.
Lian leaned his head back lightly against the wall and closed his eyes for a brief moment.
"…This is going to get complicated."
He muttered the words under his breath.
From across the room, his mother glanced toward him again.
"You say something?"
Lian opened his eyes immediately.
"…No."
Then forced a small, calm expression.
"Just tired."
She studied him for another second.
Then slowly nodded.
"…Rest a bit then."
Lian gave a small nod.
But inwardly—
his mind had already moved ahead toward tonight.
—
Time Passed
—
Night settled over the village like a heavy blanket.
The wooden house remained silent.
Only the faint sound of wind brushing against the walls and the distant chirping of insects outside filled the darkness.
Inside the room—
Lian's mother slept peacefully on the bed, her breathing slow and steady for the first time in a long while.
Lian sat cross-legged on the floor nearby.
Eyes closed.
Breathing calm.
Spiritual energy circulated gently throughout his body.
One cycle.
Then another.
Controlled.
Stable.
But unlike before—
his mind wasn't fully immersed in cultivation.
It lingered elsewhere.
Tonight.
Those villagers.
The "treasure."
He exhaled softly.
Then—
he stopped.
The flow of spiritual energy inside his body gradually settled as he cut off circulation completely.
His eyes opened.
Sharp.
Clear.
He looked toward the bed for a moment.
His mother still slept peacefully.
Unaware.
Safe.
Good.
Lian slowly rose to his feet without making a sound.
Every movement remained controlled down to the smallest detail, as though even the air itself might betray him if he became careless.
He stepped lightly across the wooden floor.
No creaks.
No noise.
Then he reached the window.
Paused.
Listened.
Silence outside.
Only wind.
He carefully slid the window open.
A faint breeze slipped into the room, brushing softly against his face.
Cool.
Calm.
He glanced back once more toward his mother.
Still asleep.
Still undisturbed.
Lian's expression softened slightly.
*I'll be back.*
He didn't say the words aloud.
Only thought them silently.
Then he stepped through the window.
Landing lightly outside with almost no sound at all.
Dust barely shifted beneath his feet.
He crouched slightly, scanning the surroundings immediately.
Empty.
Dark.
The village looked different at night—
quieter, sharper, almost hollow.
No villagers nearby.
No movement.
Good.
Lian slowly straightened.
His gaze turned toward the eastern fields.
Toward the place they said they would wait.
Toward the trouble already waiting for him there.
He exhaled once.
Then began walking.
Slowly at first.
Controlled.
Then faster.
Each step carried him deeper into the darkened village paths—
away from home—
and straight toward whatever had already begun unfolding within the shadows.