Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 109 Sowing Hope: The Quiet Arrival in Zhanggang

The morning sun pierced through the thick clouds of the Golden Triangle, casting its light upon the ravaged land. The cloying, sinful scent of flowers in the air had been replaced by the fresh aroma of grass and trees and the scent of freshly turned earth.

Lin Yan drove his mule cart to the small border village he had first arrived at. Compared to the lifelessness of a month ago, the village was now filled with a restless anxiety. The sudden death of the poppies left the villagers, who depended on them for "offerings," bewildered. They felt a secret sense of relief at escaping the control of drug lords, but were also filled with confusion and fear about their future livelihoods.

His appearance immediately caused a commotion. The villagers recognized him as the "fierce star" who had injured Kuntai's men and killed someone last time, and they all hid back in their houses in fear, peeking at him through the gaps in the bamboo fence.

Lin Yan ignored the stares and went straight to the old man he had spoken with before. The old man, seeing him, turned pale with fright and repeatedly bowed, saying, "Hero...you...you're back again? Kuntai's men were looking for you everywhere just a few days ago..."

"Uncle, don't be afraid." Lin Yan tried to keep his tone gentle. "Kun Tai and most of his men have already run away. From now on, no one should force you to plant that harmful stuff anymore."

"They...they ran away?" The old man froze, his cloudy eyes filled with disbelief. "Really? They...they all ran away?"

"Hmm." Lin Yan nodded, then waved his hand, and the mule cart behind him was filled with large sacks. Lin Yan told the young men in the village to unload the sacks and pile them on the open ground, making a heavy thud. "These are rice, corn, and other grains that can fill our stomachs. Distribute these to the people in the village and tell them to quickly plow the land again and plant these seeds. Maybe we can still get a harvest and not starve to death."

The old man and the other villagers who had quietly gathered around stared wide-eyed at the plump, golden seeds. For them, who had lost their income from poppies and were on the verge of starvation, this was undoubtedly a lifeline!

"This...this..." The old man's lips trembled with excitement, and he was about to kneel down and kowtow.

Lin Yan reached out to support him: "No need for that. Uncle, I have something to trouble you with."

"Hero, you are our village's benefactor!"

"Have the able-bodied people in this village go and spread two messages to the nearby villages," Lin Yan said in a deep voice. "First, tell them that those thugs who forced people to grow opium seem to have received their just deserts; some are dead, and some have fled. Second, tell them that this land is rumored to be cursed by the mountain god, and those harmful poppies can no longer be grown. Tell them to give up on that; if they want to live, they should hurry to our village to get some edible seeds and go back to farming!"

The old man nodded repeatedly. Although he was skeptical about the "mountain god's curse," the fact that the drug lord had escaped and that there was still grain to be distributed was undeniably good news. "Good! Good! I'll send my sons right away! They'll definitely deliver the message!"

The news spread like wildfire among the surrounding villages that had suffered from the poison. At first, there was doubt and fear, but when a few bold villagers came with some skepticism and actually received a bountiful harvest of seeds, the flame of hope began to ignite everywhere.

In the following days, Lin Yan's small village became unusually lively. From all directions, thin, emaciated mountain people, dressed in tattered clothes, trekked through mountains and rivers, their eyes filled with expectation and timidity. The seeds Lin Yan brought seemed inexhaustible; he would occasionally excuse himself to "fetch goods" to replenish his space, then drive back in his mule cart to distribute them orderly to everyone who came.

He stood aside, watching those rough hands, stained black by years of opium and mud, carefully hold up the golden rice seeds as if they were the most precious jewels, their faces radiating a long-lost, hopeful light. The resentment he had accumulated from the killing seemed to be quietly dissolved by this vibrant scene.

He heard people whispering:

"It's true... it seems like Kuntai's people have really disappeared..."

"The Wa village has also received the seeds!"

"Heavens have opened their eyes! The mountain god is angry!"

"Go back quickly, till the land, and plant crops!"

He knew that the sayings of "the curse of the land" and "drug lords getting their comeuppance" would take deep root in the hearts of these mountain people along with these grain seeds, and would be more powerful than any law or preaching in preventing the resurgence of poppies.

The trivial matters are settled; it's time to leave.

On his last night before leaving, Lin Yan returned to the hillside that had once been a poppy field but was now a desolate wasteland. He took out the mud jar containing the "Root-Eating Demon Armor" mother insect.

Through a spiritual connection, he transmitted a final command to the mother insect:

"Stay here. Keep watch over this land for me. If you see this poisonous flower again, no matter who planted it, eat it all without mercy."

"But remember: if you encounter mortals who have not harmed you, you must never attack them or cause them any harm. You only need to remain hidden deep underground and protect the peace of this place."

The mother insect transmitted a wave of obedience.

Lin Yan nodded and buried the clay pot deep into the ground, completely concealing any trace of it. These strange creatures would become the guardians of this land, a natural barrier hidden beneath the soil.

After doing all this, he breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a significant weight lifted from his shoulders.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Lin Yan left the village quietly, without disturbing anyone, just as he had arrived. He glanced back at the gradually awakening valley, where wisps of smoke rose from chimneys, and diligent villagers were already busy sowing seeds of hope on the newly cultivated land.

His hands were stained with the blood of drug lords, yet they also sowed the seeds of hope. The future of this land remains difficult, but at least a sliver of light has been opened.

He soared into the air on his sword, transforming into an inconspicuous streak of light, and sped towards Hong Kong. This period of blood and fire in the Golden Triangle had thus come to an end.

The sword light faded, and Lin Yan's figure silently appeared on the rooftop terrace of the Deep Water Bay villa. Gazing at the bustling and orderly Hong Kong in the distance, it was an incredibly stark contrast to the chaotic and barren Golden Triangle he had just left behind, as if from another world.

He suppressed his murderous aura, but the sharpness in his eyes could not be completely concealed.

Upon entering the villa, Lin Yi and Lin Er, as usual, sensed his return immediately and quickly came to greet him.

"Young Master, you're back." The two bowed simultaneously, their tone as respectful as ever.

However, when they looked up and their eyes met Lin Yan's, they all paused slightly involuntarily.

The young master before me still possessed that handsome face, but his entire demeanor had undergone a subtle yet significant change. The previously languid, seemingly all-encompassing calm had faded considerably, replaced by a restrained sharpness, like a blade that had just been sheathed after drinking blood. Even with its cold gleam concealed, the faint scent of blood and murderous intent still sent chills down the spines of those with keen senses.

Lin Yi was the first to react, and said calmly, "Young Master, you have had a hard time on this trip. Your aura... has become much more refined." He was careful with his words and did not directly point out the astonishing killing intent.

Lin Er also suppressed his usual slightly carefree expression and added earnestly, "It seems that this experience has been of great benefit to the young master." They all knew that Lin Yan had gone to undergo a "life-or-death trial," but the changes they felt at this moment still exceeded their expectations. It was not just an improvement in cultivation, but also a transformation of mindset, an aura that one could only possess after truly experiencing brutal battles.

Lin Yan noticed their subtle reactions and naturally understood the reason. He smiled faintly, but his smile lacked its usual casualness and gained a more composed air: "Yes, we encountered some things, and some blood was shed. Indeed... we gained quite a bit."

"Is everything alright at home?" Lin Yan asked as he walked toward the study, his tone returning to normal.

"All is well, young master." Lin Yi stepped forward and reported concisely, "The group's business is operating normally, and all regional plans are progressing. There are no matters requiring your decision in the near future."

"That's good." Lin Yan nodded, walked into the study, sat down on the familiar sofa, relaxed his body slightly, but kept his back straight, maintaining an instinctive vigilance.

Lin Er promptly handed over a cup of warm spiritual tea. Lin Yan took it, sipped it, and the warm tea, imbued with spiritual energy, slid down his throat, slightly soothing the dust and killing intent of the past few days.

He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, but the images of the Golden Triangle jungle, the desperate villagers, the splattered blood, and Kun Tai's terrified face at the end still flashed through his mind. Those images were so vivid, so incongruous with the luxurious tranquility of the villa before him.

He knew he was indeed different. The shock of personally taking a life, from the initial tremor to the subsequent numbness and finally to the calm, was an indescribable emotional journey that undeniably reshaped a part of his character. Old Fu and Old Zhen were right; some lessons had to be learned.

"During my absence, has there been any unusual news from outside?" Lin Yan asked with his eyes closed.

"The situation in the Americas and Europe is progressing as planned, with no unusual developments," Lin Yi replied. "However, in Southeast Asia, there are some scattered, unconfirmed reports circulating about northern Myanmar... apparently, a large-scale gang war and some strange 'agricultural disaster' have occurred, leading to the downfall of several traditional drug lords... It seems this is related to you, young master?"

Lin Yan opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing in them: "Hmm, I cleaned up some trash while I was at it. It's good that the news got out; it'll keep some people in line."

He didn't say anything more, and Lin Yi and Lin Er tacitly stopped asking questions. They only needed to know the result and carry out their young master's orders.

"I need to rest for a bit." Lin Yan put down his teacup, stood up, and said, "Don't bother me unless it's urgent."

"Yes, young master." The two bowed in response.

Watching Lin Yan's departing figure, Lin Yi and Lin Er exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of solemnity and relief in each other's eyes.

A merciful ruler cannot command an army; their master is transforming into a qualified leader.