Chapter 6

Lin Xun's residence was at the eastern end of Fiyun Village, a small courtyard that had been desolate for a long time. Inside, there were three thatched cottages and a gnarled weeping willow.

On one side of the courtyard, a small vegetable patch had grown over with wild grass.

As the first place he had settled in the Ziyao Empire, Lin Xun had originally planned to tidy up and repair the dilapidated courtyard after dawn.

However, what Lin Xun did not expect was that the moment he pushed open the door, he saw many villagers already gathered in his courtyard.

What surprised Lin Xun the most was that these villagers either held freshly slaughtered wild chickens and rabbits, or carried pots and pans, and some were busy clearing the weeds in the courtyard. There were even a few strong men repairing the dilapidated walls and eaves of the thatched cottages.

In short, the courtyard was a scene of bustling activity, but everyone seemed to be in默契, suppressing their voices as if they were afraid of disturbing something.

Seeing this, Lin Xun couldn't help but think deeply, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Ah, Brother Lin Xun is out!"

"Damn it, Old Yang, I told you to be quiet, and you woke Brother Lin Xun up!"

"Phew! You're blaming me now. You, with your hammer knocking on the eaves, even a dead pig would be woken up, let alone Brother Lin Xun? Ah, Brother Lin Xun, I'm not cursing you."

Seeing Lin Xun appear, the villagers in the courtyard immediately stopped their actions and rushed over, vying for a favorable position to face Lin Xun.

"Uh, elders, I wonder what you are doing here?"

Lin Xun was startled by everyone's enthusiasm and quickly asked.

"Brother Lin Xun, you helped Tieshan eliminate the pests in his spirit field yesterday, and your skills were truly amazing. We all admire you..."

A burly man stepped forward and said with a grin.

Before he could finish, a middle-aged woman interrupted, "Stop talking nonsense! Can't you see Brother Lin Xun is getting impatient?"

As she spoke, her gaze turned to Lin Xun, and her face immediately broke into a warm smile. "Brother Lin Xun, you are now one of us in Fiyun Village. Living alone, it must be very inconvenient for you, so we have come to bring you some daily necessities."

As she finished speaking, the villagers all nodded in agreement. "Right, right! Liu's wife is good at speaking, that's exactly what we all wanted to say."

A faint, heartfelt smile appeared on Lin Xun's thin, slightly pale face, and he clasped his hands. "Thank you, elders."

Next, the villagers didn't idle, each one busily helping Lin Xun tidy up the courtyard and arrange the household items.

Lin Xun wanted to help, but he was stopped by the woman everyone called "Liu's wife." She first brought hot water to help Lin Xun wash up, then served him a bowl of spirit grain porridge and a large bowl of pickled beast meat for breakfast.

Her enthusiasm was so great that Lin Xun couldn't refuse, and he accepted everything with a smile. During their conversation, Lin Xun changed his address, calling her "Aunt Qiao," which made "Liu's wife" beam with joy.

After Lin Xun finished his breakfast, the desolate courtyard had been completely transformed. The ground was level and clean, covered with a layer of bluestone slabs. The vegetable patch in the corner had been re-cultivated, and some spirit vegetables had been sown.

The three thatched cottages had been repaired, with a thick layer of golden straw covering the eaves, shimmering in the morning light.

In the kitchen, pots and pans were neatly arranged, and strings of dried beast meat and wild game hung on the walls.

In short, the dilapidated courtyard now had a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Lin Xun watched all this with a smile, feeling genuinely moved. This simple and warm-hearted village spirit was something he had never experienced before.

Seeing everything tidied up, the villagers were about to leave, but Lin Xun seemed to remember something and said, "Elders, wait a moment."

Everyone stopped and looked at Lin Xun.

Aunt Qiao, being straightforward, asked directly, "What's wrong? Is there anything missing in the house? Just say it, and we'll help you get it."

Lin Xun smiled and shook his head. "Elders, please listen to me. You all saw what happened yesterday. I, Lin Xun, may not have many skills, but I do have some means to eliminate pests in spirit fields. If anyone needs help, just let me know..."

Before he could finish, Aunt Qiao slapped her forehead and laughed. "I almost forgot about that. Brother Lin Xun, to be honest, my six acres of spirit fields are also infested with pests. The spirit grains are about to wither, and I'm really worried. Could you help Aunt Qiao when you have time?"

Seeing Aunt Qiao speak, the others immediately became anxious. They had come to Lin Xun's place so early in the morning to bring things and clean the courtyard, partly to get to know him, but more importantly, they had something to ask.

Like Tieshan, their spirit fields were also infested with pests, and the thought of losing their annual harvest was truly distressing.

Lin Xun's appearance undoubtedly brought them hope.

After all, what happened in Tieshan's spirit field yesterday evening was truly amazing. A straight golden beam shot into the sky, drawing down silvery moonlight, and eliminated the pests in the spirit field, leaving the villagers in awe.

"Brother Lin Xun, my nine acres of spirit fields are also infested with pests, and the situation is very serious. If you can help me, I will treat you like family!"

"Is it more serious than the pests in my spirit fields? In less than seven days, my seven acres of spirit grains will be completely destroyed!"

The villagers began to speak up, all pleading with Lin Xun, looking pitiful.

Lin Xun was taken aback. He hadn't expected that so many villagers' spirit fields would be infested with pests.

For a moment, he was at a loss, unsure of whom to help first.

With his current abilities, he could only inscribe one "Light-Attracting Spirit Pattern" per day. Unless he advanced to the True Martial Third Realm "Opening the Mansion," he could inscribe an additional Light-Attracting Spirit Pattern each day.

But that was clearly impossible at the moment.

He had been stuck at this level for two years, and he didn't know when he would break through.

What should he do?

Whom should he help first?

Seeing the earnest and hopeful looks of the villagers, Lin Xun was truly at a loss.

At this moment, a deep voice sounded, "Everyone, step back. I will discuss this with Lin Xun and then help everyone one by one."

A tall, elderly figure walked into the courtyard, and it was the village chief, Xiao Tianren.

Lin Xun clasped his hands. "Uncle Xiao, you came just in time. I am new here and don't know the situation in the village. This matter indeed needs your arrangement."

Seeing this, the villagers understood that Lin Xun had agreed to help, and now it was up to the village chief to decide. They left happily.

Soon, only Xiao Tianren and Lin Xun were left in the courtyard.

"More than a hundred years ago, a spirit pattern master also lived in this small courtyard. I was only fourteen years old at that time..."

Xiao Tianren walked to the gnarled weeping willow, stroking the thick trunk, his old eyes filled with nostalgia.

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