Nuya took her leave when she was done explaining the crucial details of the operation to Aksai.
She promised to keep Aksai in the loop.
The operation was supposed to commence within a few days so she had a lot to plan in a short time.
“Haha. Now that’s a good pair. Boy, you two look good together,” while Aksai was lost in thought, Jiren approached from behind him.
“She looks like someone you can count on. I hope things work out for you… and well… between you two,” he said as he looked at Aksai with a smile on his face.
“Haha. old man, you think too much,” Aksai shook his head and smiled as he replied to Jiren. He then took a careful look at Jiren.
Aksai had to say that Jiren had gotten quite old in 12 years. He was supposed to retain his youth for the most part as a half-step Foundation Building Expert. However, his injuries and his damaged cultivation base had made things too difficult for him.
Aksai and Jiren had gotten on friendly terms over 12 years. Jiren served as an ideal teacher for Aksai in making efficient use of Everwood farm.
In return, he provided Jiren with various cultivation resources as well. The two were almost of the same nature anyway. So it didn’t take long for them to form a friendship despite their age difference.
Aksai always enjoyed his discussions with Jiren on various topics from Spirit horticulture to using biowaste as natural resources in other cultivation fields.
This was why he liked coming to the private exchange meetings. Firstly, he was able to buy and sell things he wanted. Secondly, he was able to have lengthy discussions with someone who understood the Spirit farmer in him well.
Aksai and Jiren talked for a while. The two talked about the progress they had made in their respective fields.
Those who were involved in Spirit farming always liked to talk about the crops as if they were their little kids. They talked about the crops’ growth spurt and ways to nurture them, which was no different from parents talking about kids.
“Haha. It’s always great talking with you, lad,” Jiren spoke before taking out a sealed letter from his storage ring.
“Anyway, this is the letter I received from your contact Jainam a few days ago. Someone passed it down to him from the Purple River Sect. and he passed it down to me. Take a look,” he said while offering Aksai the letter.
Aksai took the letter envelope from Jiren’s hand and opened it. Seeing the handwriting, a smile was brought to Aksai’s face. It was a letter from Aunt Reta’s son, Ruan.
However, the light smile Aksai had didn’t last for very long when he read the contents of the letter.
Ruan asked for Aksai’s well-being in the letter. He also told Aksai that he had managed to break into the late-stage Spirit Refining recently, thanks to the guidance and resources offered to him by the Purple River Sect.
At the end of the letter, however, Ruan told Aksai about Aunt Reta’s deteriorating health. He also asked if Aksai could come to meet her in the Purple River Sect.
***
Twelve years had passed since Aunt Reta had used the forbidden technique against the robbers to save her son’s life.
She was supposed to die within three or four years after the use of the Blood Strengthening. It was thanks to the qi-based medicines Aksai had provided to her continuously for the last 12 years that she had managed to live this long.
However, even the wondrous medicines from Martial World Sharang had their limits. It seemed that Aunt Reta had reached the end of her lifespan and there was no way for anyone to reverse it.
“I guess I’ll do this operation with Nuya. Then, I’ll head out to Purple River Sect to take a look at my aunt,” Aksai thought to himself, his expression solemn.
“What is it, lad? You look upset,” Jiren asked with concern.
“It’s nothing. One of the people I know from childhood is sick and expects me to meet them,” Aksai sighed and replied, saving the letter in his storage ring.
“The path of Spirit cultivation is not easy,” Jiren spoke with a tone laced with a vestige of time.
“The more successful you are as a Spirit cultivator, the more lonely you are going to feel. No matter what we do in life, there are always going to be some regrets. So make sure you live each moment to its fullest.
Grab any opportunity you can to progress in your cultivation. But also make sure that you live a life and pay respects to anyone who has supported you,” Jiren spoke, his voice quite emotional. He was obviously speaking from experience.
“I… I will. Thanks, old man,” Aksai said as he looked ahead in the direction where Nuya had disappeared.
“There are always going to be some regrets no matter what we do, huh? Then my plan isn’t to have any regrets. Rather, I shall aim to have fewer regrets,” Aksai mumbled to himself as he thought about many things at once.
***
At first, Aksai didn’t want to accept Nuya’s invitation. But when she talked about co-ownning an island, he quickly changed his mind.
Aksai liked playing it safe whenever and wherever he could. But he wouldn’t pass up a good opportunity when he saw one. He would consider taking necessary risks as long as the rewards were worth it.
Most importantly, he had known Nuya for more than 12 years at this point. Just like she could count on him, he could also count on her to a certain extent.
After considering everything, Aksai decided to become a part of the daring operation.
Of course, Aksai had demanded a few additional things from Nuya in exchange for his help in the operation. He had asked her to find a way for him to upgrade the two Barrier-bypass talismans he currently had in his possession. He wanted both of them to be upgraded to the 2nd order.
Aksai also asked Nuya to look for Spirit spells, talismans, and Array Formations related to metallic elements.
In the recent private exchange meeting, Aksai had obtained a wood-element Spirit spell for himself.
By combining the powers of wood and metal, he wanted to find a way to neutralize the threat of the tree devils back in Martial World Sharang.