After the festival's clamor had faded, Yinmo returned to his familiar corners—the edge of the forest and the cramped servant quarters where he lived and trained. His recent duel with Feng Tao had revealed weaknesses that went beyond technique; it showed that without more cultivation resources, even his promising wood magic could not truly evolve. With the imposed standards weighing on him, Yinmo realized that he needed to secure funds to purchase additional essence stones and other materials for breakthrough rituals.
Essence stones, the primary currency for advanced cultivation breakthroughs, were beyond the reach of a mere servant. Instead of discreet market deals, Yinmo now saw another option—working twice as hard to gather valuable herbs in the forest. The medicinal plants growing wild could be collected and sold, providing him with the extra money required to buy the precious essence stones. It was a dangerous proposition; if the clan discovered he was engaging in extra labor beyond his assigned duties, the consequences could be severe. Yet, with no other viable means to further his cultivation, Yinmo had little choice.
In the fading light of a cool evening, Yinmo sat in a small clearing near his quarters, scribbling his new plan in a tattered notebook—the only record of the resolve that had been building within him.
Yinmo would use his time in the forest more efficiently. He planned to identify and gather high-value medicinal herbs that were known to fetch a good price. Although his duties as a servant limited his free hours, every moment stolen from his required tasks could be repurposed into foraging trips. The forest offered both cover and opportunity for a resourceful cultivator.
The herbs he gathered would be sold to discreet merchants operating on the fringes of the clan's controlled markets. This extra income, though modest at first, could be accumulated and eventually exchanged for essence stones. These transactions would have to be conducted with care to avoid catching the eye of his superiors.
Yinmo was painfully aware of the danger. His clan expected him to abide strictly by his duties. Any sign of deviation could be met with punishment. Therefore, he resolved to work during the late hours—when most of the clan's watchful eyes were elsewhere—and to cover his activities under the guise of his normal routines. Every extra step, every additional herb he gathered, had to be concealed by an unassuming appearance. Alongside accumulating resources, Yinmo would continue his rigorous physical routines in the forest. Strengthening his body not only improved his cultivation but also helped him endure the grueling labor required for foraging. The dual focus on mental and physical improvement was critical; without a strong body and enough resources, even the finest techniques would falter.
Under the pale glow of dusk, Yinmo's resolve was steeled by the knowledge that his chances for advancement rested on his own ingenuity. While the risk of additional labor was high—and being caught could mean serious repercussions—he knew that inaction would only cement his fate under an oppressive standard that the clan leader had imposed solely on him.
There was no lofty declaration this time—only a quiet acceptance of the risk and a tactical plan to operate in the shadows. Yinmo's new nightly excursions into the forest would serve both as training for his body and as a covert means of obtaining the funds he desperately needed.
In that small clearing, he closed his notebook and took a deep breath. There was danger ahead, and failure was not an option. Every step would have to be careful, every transaction discreet. Yinmo understood that to break free from the clan leader's manipulations, he must first secure the means to fuel his progress.