บท 8: First Move
Chapter 8
After a while of walking, Alex finally arrived in front of a dilapidated farm gate. Chaos reigned everywhere, with grass and weeds thriving in the neglected fields. It would take a considerable amount of time to completely restore this place.
Alex entered the farm and assessed the condition of its facilities. After walking around for a while, he felt somewhat satisfied with the state of the farm. Despite the lack of maintenance, with a few repairs, the facilities seemed to be functional again.
However, Alex's attention turned to the most crucial aspect of the fruit farm. He made his way toward the orchard, feeling a tinge of disappointment. While he knew not to expect much, he didn't anticipate things to be this dire.
Mary's plantation consisted of five types of fruit: apples, pears, peaches, plums, and kiwis. Each fruit had its two-hectare plot. The trees that should have been in full bloom appeared weak and unattractive. It could be said that these farm trees were even more unsightly than wild trees.
Alex doubted whether the nutrient solution would be ready in such a short time to help these trees bear fruit within a few months. The plums and peaches were due to ripen soon, but he wasn't optimistic about the outcome in just a matter of days.
Despite having the dew from the Tree of Life, Alex was hesitant to use it to nourish these trees. He preferred to utilize a nutrient solution he had acquired over the years. With determination, he approached one of the trees, carefully examining its overall condition before digging into the soil. He repeated this process for different trees and areas.
After conducting these assessments, Alex made some calculations that he could refer to. Once he had a clear understanding of the farm's situation, he descended from the mountain.
In the village, these days marked the harvest season for the local gardens, including Alex's father's family garden.
Looking at the bustling garden, Alex approached his father with a question.
"Father, did you have a good harvest?"
"Yeah, it was good..."
"Well, it looks like Father is going to be wealthy then..."
"Who's wealthy? Don't you know that half of it will be distributed to your uncles and aunts in the city?"
Upon hearing this, Alex was reminded that the land didn't solely belong to his family but also to his uncle and aunt. His father had been entrusted to cultivate it since his uncle and aunt were too busy in the city to tend to the farm.
"Ah, I see, Daddy. Please give me some vegetables and whatever is left from the harvest," Alex requested.
"The leftovers? You mean the stems, roots, and other useless parts?" his father questioned.
"Yes, I need those," Alex replied without further explanation.
Observing this, Greenfield's father grew suspicious about what his son intended to do. Nevertheless, since those parts were of little value to him, he gladly handed them over.
After receiving the vegetables and leftovers from his father, Alex headed towards the reservoir. Although he was tempted to fish, that wasn't his primary objective at the moment. His farm lacked water, and he planned to redirect the water from the reservoir to his fields.
For many people, this task might seem challenging, but for Alex, who possessed a space ring, it was easier than buying a water pump or digging a well.
Feeling uncertain about his actions, Alex cautiously surveyed his surroundings. The reservoir area was quite exposed, and he feared being discovered, which would bring disaster upon his family.
With these concerns in mind, Alex undressed and plunged into the water. Once he determined the correct depth, he began transferring the water from the reservoir into the storage chamber of his ring.
As a result, some of the water from the reservoir vanished suddenly. The water level dropped above Alex, creating a swirling vortex that, if witnessed by others, might give the impression that a mysterious creature lurked within.
Alex resurfaced from the water after a few moments.
"Ah, it seems that drinking the dew of life and practicing martial arts have greatly improved my physical condition," Alex remarked, satisfied with his progress.
Upon reaching the coastal plains, Alex began using his mind to examine the contents of the space ring. He discovered that there was some water floating in the dark, static space. The space ring not only contained rooms for hills and sand but also had static dark spaces. This finding naturally resolved many of Alex's problems. He felt content when he saw the water, and he had also unintentionally caught fish and other freshwater creatures during his water transfer.
Alex decided to take out some of the fish to avoid raising suspicion, then headed home with his various belongings. It was not yet noon when he arrived, and his wife and daughter had not returned from his father's garden.
With that in mind, Alex started cooking. After all, what kind of father would he be if he saw his daughter looking thin and weary?
A while later, Lily and Lilith arrived home, covered in dirt. Alex felt a bit helpless upon seeing their condition, but he could only encourage them to proceed.
"Alright, wash your hands, and let's eat. Father has already prepared food for Lilith."
"Really, Daddy?"
"Just hurry and wash your hands."
"Okay, good!" Lilith's eyes lit up. She knew that her father was a skilled cook.
Observing this, Lily's heart warmed slightly. Although she had many grievances and desired explanations for her husband's ten-year absence, she couldn't bring herself to ask. After all, if her husband wanted to share his story, he would do so without being prompted. Even without receiving explanations for her complaints, she appreciated that her husband was making amends for their daughter.
Lily went to the kitchen to wash her hands and returned to find their daughter eating enthusiastically.
"Hey, Mom, try this fish. It's tender and delicious!" exclaimed their daughter.
Seeing their daughter's eagerness while eating, Alex grew concerned and anxious. "Lilith, eat slowly. The fish isn't going anywhere. Be careful while eating, as it has many bones."
Lilith nodded seriously upon hearing her father's advice, though she continued to eat greedily. The sight of her chewing with puffed cheeks left Alex unsure whether to laugh or be worried.
Observing this, Lily immediately helped her daughter to ensure there were no accidents while eating.
...
After finishing their meal, Lily and Lilith expressed their intention to return to Alex's father's garden to continue picking the harvested vegetables.
Upon hearing this, Alex quickly inquired, "Are there any vegetables left?"
Lily, slightly puzzled, replied, "Yes, there are still some, but not too many."
After some thought, Alex made a request, "Alright, please tell Dad that I need a few thousand pounds of those vegetables."
Lily hesitated, feeling uncertain. "Why do we need so many vegetables? Our family of three can't consume them all."
"No, it's not for us. Just let Dad know, and I'll give you the money later."
Hearing this, Lily nodded in agreement and made a mental note to relay her husband's request to her father.
Lily and Lilith went to the garden with a livelier and more energetic demeanor.
Left alone at home, Alex used his cell phone to browse the internet and search for information. After a while, he jotted down the information from his phone and his thoughts in a book. Alex filled the pages until there was no space left.
Satisfied with his notes, Alex got up and went to the kitchen to retrieve a cup. He then proceeded to collect the dew of life and drank it directly. This time, Alex didn't experience any discomfort while consuming the liquid.
With everything prepared, Alex adjusted his posture and closed his eyes solemnly.
Alex meticulously set the rhythm of his breath, measuring each inhale, hold, and exhale. As he focused on his breathing, the image of Alex sitting became almost ethereal, as if he were not entirely real.
In this state, Alex was engaged in meditation, or rather, a form of "breathing" with a sense of self-awareness and profound enlightenment. Through this practice, the cells in his body gradually received nourishment and strengthened.
After three hours of sitting, Alex opened his eyes with a serene and composed expression. "Ah, I finally made a breakthrough!" he exclaimed with joy.
Alex's meditation was different from cultivating as a mage, knight, or magical being. It did not involve converting core energy from dew to water, nor did it rely on accumulating rune rings in the heart. Instead, his cultivation focused on developing layers of power within the dantian, akin to the growth of onion bulbs.
The energy Alex absorbed was not Reiki, chi, qi, or mana. Rather, it was chakra energy. The cultivation system in Alex's meditation was not well-defined, and he could only consider himself at level one, having cultivated a single layer of power.
With this achievement, Alex had no intention of remaining idle. He returned to the mountain to reach his farm, receiving curious glances and gossip from the villagers along the way. However, he quickly grew accustomed to the attention.
Finally, Alex arrived at the farm after some time. He stood still in one corner for a few seconds, and suddenly, the surrounding grass and weeds disappeared. The bare spot stood in stark contrast to the rest of the area.
"Hmm, this makes me feel a bit lightheaded," Alex remarked, feeling a slight discomfort.
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