Working on the fields was indeed tiring but fortunately, even if he no longer had his Lightning Qi to help out, he could use the wild energy inside his body as a substitute. It had the advantage that it never seemed to become depleted, however, Quin was aware the fact that his situation was not so simple. When he had first discovered that he can use this wild energy to fuel his cells he was unsure of whether it had any consequences, but now he had no doubt regarding it.

Although it lessened his pain, over the course of a few weeks he started to feel another type of pain throughout his body. It was not severe and he could only slightly sense it, but it did get stronger by each passing day. Quin was not too happy about this, but he did not stop using the wild energy. The pain is only minimal and although it gradually increases, if the daily increase remains the same it’ll take a long time for it to grow even to a level where it’s at least annoying. Besides, it’s not like I’ve got that much time left either way.

So Quin worked there day after day, digging up the soil. To be honest, it became something that he could find to enjoy. He only had to focus on a single thing and because of the physical exertion, he was not tormented by his constant pain so much. It was a bit similar to meditation and to the time he submerged himself in hunting -- of course before his instincts took over. Though he doubted that something like that time would happen again, he was way more cautious than previously and thus paid a lot more attention to his mental state.

The soil itself was a lot harder than he had imagined: compared to the toughness of a rock, it was softer but not by too much. What kind of wild energy can cause something like this? Why is that we only call it just wild energy but we didn’t have any names for its various types? Although we don’t know much about it, it definitely has multiple types. Niohe told me about the wild energy that’s got a healing property to it and also mentioned that there are other ones which are a lot more destructive. Zhang also said that there’s some kind of energy vein beneath the fields, so that’s another type again. This one makes the soil harder or maybe more dense? Hm, maybe the different wild energies can be compared to the types of qi? So, there're only two elements that can do something similar to this: rock and ice. However I don’t feel any kind of coldness when touching the ground, so it’s more like the rock element. Then the one with healing properties should be a water type? Maybe this is just a stupid classification but you always have to start somewhere, right?

He stopped and started to concentrate on the energy inside his body. Come to think of it, though it’s difficult to tell, this rock type wild energy does feel a bit different to the energy I felt in the forest. Yeah, there really must exist various types of this energy as well, but the question is what can I do with this information? Hm, maybe if the energy what my main Core absorbs is of the healing type then it won’t damage my cells when they use it? Well, it’s certainly too good to be true, but it’s definitely worth a try and besides, I’ll only stay here for a few days longer. Alright, even if it’s a slim chance I still have to see it, so this time I won’t stop at any villages or towns but go straight to Hounxi.

Quin had done a lot of work on the fields in the past few weeks, but he also spent a great amount of time with the residents of the town. They often visited the inn together and stayed there to drink and talk until night. Although Quin was not that much of a drinker -- especially because he did not even pass his seventeenth year of life -- and thus only drank occasionally, in small amounts, he still enjoyed these times.

People here were friendly, helpful and easy to get along with. They did talk a lot and liked to tease him and each other, but they did not try pry into his personal matters. The townspeople were not keen on causing each other any kind of hardships or speaking behind each other backs either. Of course, they were no saints and had their own faults as well, but Quin found out that he would rather live his life in a smaller community like this than in a big, bustling city like Crows’ Road. There, most of the people cared about only themselves and perhaps about their families and furthermore, he felt that they could be trusted a lot less. Maybe it’s just because of my bad experience with my friends? he wondered.

Quin did ask Zhang about these things as he was quite interested how someone who lived his whole life here thought about that.

“Well, I did say that we’ve got a simple life here. I know that plenty of people thinks of simple as something bad, but that’s not always the case. I don’t think that this is how the majority of villages and smaller towns are like as I’ve been to quite a few where people were withdrawn, unsociable and looked at outsiders unfriendly. I think we belong to the minority, at least according to my experience. Maybe it’s because of our founder, well, I think just knowing the name of our town is enough to notice that he had a screw missing-”

“Wait a moment,” Quin said. “Naturally, I’ve thought about it and wondered how could a place be called, what was it? Second Fal of U of the Ash Hai? Damn, this is something that I’ll never remember right.”

“It’s Second Fal of U at the Ashen Hai, but you nearly got it,” Zhang replied laughing.

“Yeah, that, so I’ve thought that there was at least some kind of hidden meaning behind it,” Quin said.

“Haha, no there’s none. Maybe our founder knew one, but as I said he was not right in the head. He was supposed to be the heir of a powerful noble house, but after his father died, he was judged to be unfit for inheritance due to being crazy. With no supporters within the family, all he received was this plot of land. Still, he somehow managed to develop it into a small settlement.

“But why did our town turn out like this? Honestly, I don’t really know, but I still think that life here is better than in those other towns.”

“Hm, I’ve never knew that,” Quin said. “But I have to agree with you, Zhang, I doubt that I’d be too happy to live in a place like that and honestly, I really enjoyed my stay here.”

“Then why won’t you stay here for a bit longer?” Zhang asked. “You can have the room at our house as long as you want, and even if it’s only one extra person helping us at the fields, it still means that we’ll have less work. Besides, I think the others like you as well, not speaking about my kids. They’ll miss their new playmate that’s for sure, haha.”

Right, Liu and little Zhang... “I’ll miss them too,” Quin said. During these days it was not just the adults he made friends with, but Zhang’s children as well. They were quite nice kids, who were full of energy. It only took a few days for their shyness to disappear and then they often came to play various things with him. Although Quin was no longer a kid and after being through many hardships he matured a lot, he still enjoyed spending time with them. “It’d be good to stay for some more time, but I really have to go. Remember, I said that I’m going to Hounxi to recuperate and I can’t allow another month of delay. Maybe after I’m done there, I’ll come back and stay here for a bit longer, but that’ll take at least a few years.”

“Right, I totally forgot about that,” Zhang admitted. “Well, you’re welcomed here anytime and I know that it’s only the day after tomorrow that you’ll leave, but still, I wish that you’ll be alright.”

“Thanks,” Quin said.

It was late in April when he finally left the town and although it was only a few weeks that he had spent there, parting was never easy. Especially when he developed such a good relationship with the locals, and when it meant leaving a place where he enjoyed every second of his days.

Alright, it’s time to go! There’s only a bit more than two weeks ahead of me, and maybe even a bit less if I make haste.