Shamrock Peak. Erald Cove.
The path to the house was lined with smooth white stones and tall grass that swayed softly in the mountain breeze.
Aksai walked in silence, his hands behind his back, his thoughts calm yet distant. The house ahead wasn’t large, but it carried a quiet charm.
It had wide eaves, polished wooden beams, and a spacious courtyard that opened to a clear view of the Spirit greenhouse below. Everything about it was simple, yet there was a quiet sense of grace in how it was kept—neither grand nor shabby.
Aksai stopped before the main entrance and looked at the door for a mont. He could sense a weak spiritual fluctuation inside. Taking a slow breath, he infused a trace of Spirit Essence into his voice and spoke softly.
"Jasmine, are you ho?"
The house was silent for a few seconds before hurried footsteps echoed from within. The door slid open, revealing Jasmine.
’Hmm? She... she is Jasmine?
Aksai was taken aback. The woman before him looked far older than he rembered. Her hair was mostly white now, tied in a simple knot behind her head. Her skin had grown pale and wrinkled, and her back was slightly bent. By normal human years, she looked like a woman in her early 60s. Yet Aksai knew her real age far exceeded that.
Jasmine had given up on her cultivation long ago, and her Spirit Refining base had been slowly fading ever since. Once a proud cultivator of the 7th stage, she now stood only a few steps away from regressing to the middle stage. Her life force was weakening, and with it, her vitality had faded too.
Seeing her now, Aksai felt an ache in his chest for so reason. The sight of her frail figure pulled at mories buried deep in ti—mories of when he was still a humble Spirit farr working on Lakir Estate, and of how their elders had once arranged a marriage between them.
They were both in their late teens back then, too young to understand what such things ant. Jasmine had refused the marriage, proud and independent even then. He hadn’t held it against her.
But fate had a strange way of circling back. After the fall of the Lakir Clan, she had sought shelter on his island, and over the years, she had stayed. Now, she lived here quietly, her daughter serving as Aksai’s personal maid.
Ti had turned so many things upside down. It was cruel like that—especially for mortals and low-level Spirit cultivators whose lives burned out faster than those who had climbed higher. Aksai couldn’t help but sigh softly.
Still, he smiled when Jasmine bowed deeply before him. "I hope I didn’t disturb you."
"My... cough, cough..." Jasmine tried to speak but broke into a fit of coughing. "My lord, why did you co here all by yourself? If you had sent a ssage, I would have—"
Aksai stepped forward and gently took her hand before she could finish. "It’s alright, Jasmine," he said softly.
"We go back a long way. Today, treat as a friend rather than the island’s master. I heard you weren’t feeling well, so I thought I should co and check on you personally. Besides, I have a few matters to discuss about the Spirit herb fields and the Bacchus’ Blessings wine production for the coming month."
Jasmine blinked, caught between embarrassnt and emotion. For a mont, she looked as if she wanted to protest again, but she only nodded faintly and guided Aksai inside.
As they walked through the courtyard, Aksai’s gaze lingered on the old trees and the moss-covered stones. The house, though simple, carried traces of care and quiet strength—much like the woman who lived here.
Inside the house, the air slled faintly of herbs and old wood. The room was clean but simple—only a few shelves lined with jars, scrolls, and so folded cloths.
Aksai walked in and took a slow look around before sitting at the low wooden table near the window. The sea breeze slipped in through the open shutters, brushing against his sleeves.
He gestured for Jasmine to sit across from him. She obeyed quietly, though her movents were weak and careful. Her breathing was shallow, and every few seconds, a faint cough escaped her lips.
Aksai studied her face for a long mont. The pale hue of her skin, the dullness in her eyes, and the way her aura flickered like a dying fla told him more than words could.
"Let take a look at your condition," he said gently.
Jasmine nodded, folding her hands on the table. Aksai reached out and took her right hand in his. Her skin was cool to the touch, the flow of Spirit Essence within her veins sluggish and uneven. Closing his eyes, he extended a thin thread of Spirit Sense into her ridians.
Almost imdiately, he could see it—the damage done years ago. Her Spirit Veins had grown brittle from poor handling in her early cultivation years. Mistakes made by a young and impatient heart. The imbalance had built up slowly, and when she later abandoned her cultivation altogether, the stagnation had deepened.
Over the decades, yin energy had settled in her body, cooling her blood and weakening her organs. It had turned into an illness that mortal dicines couldn’t cure—a chill that no blanket could warm.
Aksai opened his eyes and sighed softly. "Your life force is fading, Jasmine," he said, his voice low but kind. "The damage was done long ago, when your foundation wasn’t steady. Giving up on your cultivation only made the problem worse. The yin within you has grown too deep—it’s what’s causing your cough and weakness."
Jasmine lowered her eyes, her fingers trembling slightly. "I had a feeling," she said softly. "But I thought... I thought it would fade with ti."
"It doesn’t work that way," Aksai replied, shaking his head. "Spirit essence doesn’t like to be left idle. When it stagnates, it turns against the body."
For a while, there was silence between them. Then Aksai said, "Let’s try sothing. Close your eyes and start your cultivation technique. Complete at least a few cycles while I help you. It may feel strange at first, but trust ."
Jasmine hesitated. Her hands tightened slightly in his grasp. "It’s been too long, my lord. I... I may not rember it well."
Aksai smiled faintly. "It’s alright. Just breathe slowly and recall how it used to feel. I’ll guide your energy where needed."
After a pause, Jasmine nodded and closed her eyes. Her breathing steadied as she tried to rember the rhythm of her old technique. The faint light of Spirit Essence began to stir in her body, dim and unstable.
Aksai placed his other hand over hers and summoned his druidic power. A gentle green glow spread from his palms, flowing into her like spring water into dry soil.
The warmth of life filled her body, rging with her sluggish essence. He carefully guided the flow, opening blocked veins and clearing stagnant energy.
Jasmine gasped softly as the warmth spread through her chest. The cough that had lingered for years began to ease.
"Good," Aksai murmured. "Keep going. Don’t fight it."
He reached for a small gourd in his storage and poured a small amount of glowing liquid into a cup. "Drink this," he said softly. Jasmine obeyed without question.
The potion’s effect was imdiate. Her breathing steadied, and her Spirit Essence began to circulate more smoothly. The green light around her body grew brighter, filling the room with a calm, soothing presence.
Seconds turned into minutes.
When Aksai finally withdrew his hands, the change was clear. Jasmine’s face had regained color, and her wrinkles seed to have softened. Her Spirit Veins pulsed steadily again, filled with vitality. The weak, unstable aura of a late-stage cultivator had transford into the strong flow of a 9th stage Spirit Refining expert.
Jasmine opened her eyes slowly, disbelief shining in them. "I... I can feel my strength again," she whispered. "My body feels lighter... stronger."
Aksai gave a small smile. "You’ve reached the 9th stage again. The yin within you has been balanced, and your body has recovered most of its vitality. You’ll find it easier to move, work, and breathe from now on."
Her eyes welled with tears. "I don’t know how to thank you..."
"There’s no need," Aksai said quietly. "Just focus on staying healthy. You’ll be able to handle your administrative duties again soon. That’s thanks enough."
As Jasmine bowed her head, overwheld, Aksai looked out the window. His smile faded slightly.
Aksai couldn’t do the sa thing he had done with the recent Foundation Establishnt Experts he had helped. He knew she couldn’t go any higher. Her base had long lost the strength to handle the strain of the Foundation Building realm’s breakthrough event would cause.
Trying to make her take that step would only destroy what little stability she had regained.
At this point, the young druid was content to see her alive, well, and strong again—if only for a little while longer.
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