As Zhou Wu opened the door, Ling Ye caught his first glimpse of the room beyond. To his surprise, it wasn't what he had expected from a village like Spring Village.
Taking a few steps inside, Ling Ye paused to take in the entire room. Zhou Wu followed him in and gently closed the door behind them. Ling Ye glanced around for a moment before finally nodding in approval.
This wasn't his personal office, clearly, this was a meeting room and though simple in design, it was thoughtfully arranged.
Two green-red couches faced each other across a low table at the center of the room. On the table sat a white-and-blue porcelain teapot, flanked by a set of matching teacups.
Three large windows lined the room, offering a sweeping view of the village below and three of the five surrounding mountain peaks. A single balcony extended outward, about one and a half meters deep and two meters wide, providing a modest space to step outside and enjoy the view.
A few framed paintings hung neatly on the walls, and near the windows, small potted saplings grew steadily in well maintained ceramic pots. Judging by their size, they had likely been planted several years ago, probably by the former village head. Still, Ling Ye didn't linger on the plants; his attention was drawn elsewhere.
His gaze shifted to the left, where a single wooden door stood.
Curious, Ling Ye walked over and placed his hand on the handle. This, he assumed, would lead to his actual office, the place where he would soon be working and planning the future of Spring Village.
The office, compared to the meeting room, was noticeably smaller, about half the size, Ling Ye estimated, measuring it with a glance as he carefully looked around.
Like the meeting room, the office had three windows. The largest was directly in front of him, stretching about two meters wide and one meter tall, set into the far wall. The other two windows were on his right, each roughly one meter by one meter. Though they offered decent natural light, Ling Ye didn't pay them much attention.
Aside from the windows, the office held only a few furnishings.
There was a sturdy desk paired with a single wooden chair, placed about three meters in front of the door. On the left wall stood an empty bookshelf, its shelves bare and collecting dust and that was it.
No decorations. No personal touches. Just a simple, functional workspace.
Though Ling Ye hadn't expected luxury, he couldn't help but feel a bit underwhelmed by the modest, five by four meter room. Still, the feeling passed quickly, and he let out a soft chuckle, brushing off his initial disappointment.
Gathering his thoughts, Ling Ye turned to look back at Zhou Wu, who stood tensely behind him, clearly watching his reaction.
With a calm nod, Ling Ye said simply, "Good."
As soon as the word left his mouth, Zhou Wu visibly relaxed, though he tried not to show it too much. He hadn't wanted to disappoint the new village head and Ling Ye's approval brought him genuine relief.
"Haha, I'm glad Village Head Ye is satisfied with this humble space," Zhou Wu said with a cheerful laugh.
Ling Ye responded with a faint smile but didn't say anything more. Instead, he walked across the room and took his seat behind the desk, leaning back slightly and enjoying the warmth and comfort the chair offered.
Resting in the chair for a moment, Ling Ye glanced at Zhou Wu, his demeanor shifting noticeably. The light smile he had worn moments ago faded, replaced by a calm, aloof expression.
This sudden change didn't go unnoticed by Zhou Wu. A slight tension formed in his posture, and a faint sheen of sweat began to appear on his brow.
"Vice Village Head Wu," Ling Ye said, his tone now serious. "Tell me, what exactly should I say at the gathering you arranged?"
Zhou Wu looked puzzled for a moment and scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Village Head Ye, it's really just a simple announcement. It's mainly so the others can see your face and you can become more familiar with everyone. Nothing too formal."
He paused, hesitating, but upon seeing Ling Ye still watching him intently, he added in a low mutter, "There's really no need to say anything more."
"I see." Ling Ye nodded thoughtfully. Then he said, "Vice Village Head Wu, please give me some time alone until the gathering. When the time comes, knock on the door, I'll be ready by then."
"Yes, Village Head Ye!" Zhou Wu responded quickly, giving a respectful bow. He seemed relieved and happy to be dismissed, and quietly left the office.
As the door closed, Ling Ye leaned back in his chair, gazing up at the wooden ceiling.
"Now I must decide how I'll present myself to the others. How I speak, how I act, everything will set the tone for how I'm perceived from this moment forward."
He muttered to himself, deep in thought, as countless ideas began to swirl through his mind.
He thought back to the many stories he had read about famous figures from the Ling Clan, some known for their kindness and compassion, others for cruelty and bloodlust, and a few remembered for their cold aloofness and distant, indifferent rule.
Now, he had to choose the path he would walk.
Throughout the history of the Ling Clan, all kinds of leaders had risen, some known for their strength, others for their cunning or compassion. Many of them had climbed high in the world, but Ling Ye didn't just want to rise; he wanted something far more difficult than reaching the heavens themselves.
He wanted to be recognized as a true young master of the Ling Clan, but that title was reserved for cultivators, never for mortals like himself.
Knowing this, Ling Ye understood that his dream was like shooting an arrow at the moon. An arrow that would never come close and yet, he still desired nothing else.
A fire lit up in his black eyes, burning with ambition. His hand clenched into a tight fist, and his expression turned cold and resolute.
Until now, he had presented himself as a polite, respectful, and inexperienced young man, always smiling, always courteous. With that image, he might eventually stabilize his position as village head, after countless struggles and political maneuvering. Perhaps, after a long and exhausting battle, he could come out on top.
But that wasn't enough. That wasn't what he truly desired.
"I wanted to become a cultivator. That dream was shattered the moment I learned the truth… but my will hasn't changed. Even as a mere mortal, why can't I long for the moon? Why shouldn't I try to reach it? And even if I fail, so what? I'm only a mortal daring to reach for something forbidden."
His fist tightened further, his heart beating with renewed purpose and determination.
"To be recognized as a young master without cultivation… nearly impossible, but even so, why not shoot for the moon, and hope… just hope… that I'll land the hit?"
As his resolve solidified, the fire in his heart burned stronger.
His clenched fists slowly relaxed. His expression steadied into one of cold, unwavering calm.
The words he whispered to himself cleared away the last traces of doubt. He now knew exactly how he would act, how he would carry himself moving forward.
"The world is cruel… the heavens are even more crueler. They crush the dreams of those who desire to rise, only to never allow them to take a step forward at this dream. If the heavens are cold enough to shatter my desired path to cultivation… then, I Ling Ye, must too become just as cruel as the Heavens to rise to them."
With that, Ling Ye made his decision.
There was no hesitation left in him. His mind was steady, his thoughts clear. All the stress and uncertainty he had carried before melted away.
He rested his head against his arm, leaning on it, and closed his eyes, letting time quietly pass.
Then came a knock.
"Knock. Knock."
Ling Ye opened his eyes. His gaze was calm and composed, but deep within his black eyes lay a quiet, piercing coldness, like still water hiding the presence of ice beneath.
"It's time."