Chapter 284: Books and Trees

The setting sun sank in the west, dyeing the horizon a warm orange‑red, and the light and shadows in the forest grew ever softer and longer.

Yu Lin had left at some point, and Merlin, who had been out for a day, returned to the cottage with slightly weary steps.

He immediately saw the tiny figure lying on the clearing in front of the house, spread out with arms and legs wide, like the character for 'big'.

Arthur was drenched in sweat, his coarse cloth shirt clung tightly to his body, his chest rose and fell violently as he gasped for breath, and even Merlin, as he approached, seemed not to notice.

A trace of barely perceptible concern flashed in Merlin's eyes, but more so a sense of satisfaction, like seeing a sapling grow strong after weathering wind and rain.

He crouched down, extended his hand, and gently helped Arthur sit up from the ground.

"How do you feel?" Merlin asked gently, while his palm, radiating warm magical currents, applied a moderate pressure to massage Arthur's sore, stiff arms and calf muscles from overtraining.

Arthur felt the aching tightness in his muscles and the relief from Merlin's massage, recalled Yu Lin's guidance during today's training—the force techniques and footwork he had never heard of before—and his emerald eyes flickered with a mix of fatigue and excitement.

He nodded vigorously, his voice still a bit breathless, but his tone full of affirmation:

"Very impressive… the teacher, truly impressive."

Merlin nodded, his hands continuing their motion: "That's good, you must study earnestly."

"I'll go into the forest today to gather some herbs and brew a pot of medicinal soup for you later."

"It may not taste very good, but you must drink it all; otherwise, tomorrow morning you'll know what it feels like for your body to be crushed by a stone roller, and you won't be able to get out of bed."

He looked at Arthur's instantly furrowed face and added:

"After drinking the soup, wash your body with hot water, then go straight to bed and rest well, understand?"

Arthur knew Merlin was looking out for him, nodded obediently: "Got it, Merlin Grandpa."

For a moment, both fell silent.

The evening tranquility of the mountain forest enveloped them, only the distant birds returning to their nests and Arthur's gradually steadier breathing breaking the silence.

Arthur's gaze unintentionally fell on a few trees not far away, which in the sunset's afterglow seemed rimmed with gold, watching the swaying leaves glitter with their final light.

Suddenly, as if he had thought of something, he asked softly, his tone carrying a child's unique curiosity and yearning for the unknown:

"Merlin Grandpa… have you ever seen Magic?"

Merlin's massage did not pause at all, his expression remained calm, and he replied:

"Seen it."

"What is it like?" Arthur's curiosity was piqued, and he turned his head slightly.

Merlin's voice stayed gentle: "Wonderful, extremely wonderful."

"It can let people change form, make stones gleam with golden luster, summon wind and rain, heal wounds… even glimpse a ripple in the river of destiny."

His tone lowered slightly: "However, Arthur, power has always been two‑sided."

"If Magic is misused, or driven by desire and ambition, it will likewise bring great and massive trouble, even disaster."

He seemed to want to warn something, but looking at Arthur's still pure, merely curious eyes, he ultimately swallowed the deeper words, turning them into a profound whisper:

"If in the future you encounter people or matters that wield Magic… remember to keep reverence and discern right from wrong."

He stopped the massage, patted Arthur's shoulder, and stood up:

"Alright, this is still too early for you."

"Your most important task now is to recover your strength; I'll go prepare the soup for you."

Having said that, Merlin turned, his steps slightly unsteady as he entered the house and began rummaging through his herb bag.

Arthur watched Merlin's silhouette disappear through the door, then lay back on the ground that still retained a trace of sun's warmth, gazing at the deep blue sky where stars were slowly emerging, and let out a long, weary sigh.

"I'm really exhausted…"

He muttered softly, feeling every bone in his body protest, yet deep inside there was an unprecedented sense of fulfillment and a vague anticipation for tomorrow.

Only this anticipation was quickly diluted by worry over that bowl of "might not taste very good" soup.

"Magic."

"Another new path."

Yu Lin stood on a person's body, holding a Magic Manual in his hand, leafing through it carefully; whatever page he turned to, he learned the Magic on that page.

By the time he finished browsing the entire Magic Manual, he considered himself to have reached the level of a mid‑rank Magic user.

As for the person on the ground,

He saw him riding a kirin and thought of coming over to extort.

He was knocked to the ground with a single slap.

Putting away the Magic Manual, Yu Lin kicked the person on the ground with his foot, sending them flying to an unknown spot, then stepped forward.

Walking, he pondered, counting Magic cultivation among his practices.

His current cultivation path has now multiplied.

The Lian Qi Method, Immortal Method, Authority Cultivation, Heaven Holy Power, Hell Demon, Knight Cultivation, plus Magic—seven in total.

If he adds his own Myth Book, that makes eight!

So, how should they be coordinated together?

Yu Lin touched his chin, and an idea sprang to mind: "Hey, I've got it!"

"Glove, come out."

"Master, what is it?"

"Let me think… I need ……………"

With his question spoken, the Glove fell into deep contemplation, its surface continuously flashing, indicating it was constantly extrapolating and reconstructing until it arrived at the answer to Yu Lin's query!

Time passed, though it was unclear how long.

The Glove suddenly vanished; when it reappeared, it brought a branch with it.

Yu Lin recognized it as the World Tree Branch that Mimi'er had given him.

"Master, I think you could plant a tree."

"Tree?"

Glove explains: "Yes, a tree! Using your Myth Book as the root, various branches evolve on it; these branches are the different Cultivation Paths. Later, no matter what new Cultivation Path you add, it's merely another branch, and these branches will automatically evolve other cultivation methods."

"Just like a great tree, a main branch can spread many, even countless, small twigs, and on the small twigs can grow leaves!"

"And the only thing that can endure this evolution is your Myth Book, because it is the foundation of everything you have attained now!"

After listening, Yu Lin nodded, "Hmm, that makes sense."

"Letting you drink Wisdom Spring Fruit was indeed a wise choice."

"Since that's the case, then."

He looks ahead a short distance at an ancient tree far thicker than the other trees, smiling:

"From today onward, this is the path I will walk."

"Evolve countless possibilities, master countless methods, until … become supreme!"