Wooden Root: Barbara's Journey

In the stillness of the morning, Barbara walked through the wide corridors of the sect, smelling the faint aroma of spiritual herbs that wafted through the air. Her master, Elder Wei Jian Qiu, had requested her presence in his special room, where he usually received disciples for conversations. important. Barbara, with her heart racing, knew that this meeting was a reflection of her progress and her contributions to the sect.

As she entered the room, she was greeted by the soft warmth of a roaring fire and the quiet sound of boiling water. The old man sat in an antique wooden armchair, holding a delicately carved teacup. His ever-watchful eyes fell on Barbara. with a mixture of pride and thoughtfulness.

“Come in, Barbara,” he said calmly, gesturing for her to sit. “I hope you found the walk enjoyable. We need to talk about your growing role in the sect.”

Barbara bowed her head respectfully before taking her seat. She noticed the relaxed atmosphere in the room, which contrasted with the elder’s usual seriousness.

As he took a sip of tea, Wei Jian Qiu began to speak, “The sect’s spiritual plants have never been so vibrant. The quality of the herbs we grow, especially the ones you tend, is impressive. The progress in the alchemy field has been remarkable, and that, my young disciple, is largely thanks to your connection with the plants.”

He paused, letting his words resonate. Barbara, feeling the weight of the praise, maintained her humble posture, but her heart warmed at the recognition of her work.

“Thanks to your spirit wood root,” he continued, “the sect’s plants are stronger and healthier. Our pills are more effective, our reputation is growing, and with it, our profits have increased as well. You are contributing in ways that even the older disciples could not.”

Barbara, ever focused, nodded. “It is an honor to serve the sect, master. I am happy to know that my actions are bringing benefits.”

Wei Jian Qiu smiled faintly. “You did more than just tend to the herbs, Barbara. I heard that you got rid of the bandits who had been attacking our sect’s caravans. Your mission was carried out with precision, and the village is safe thanks to you. Such actions do not go unnoticed.”

Barbara smiled, proud of her success in the mission, but maintained her modesty. "It was a mission that brought me a lot of learning, master. I believe I still have a lot to grow."

Wei Jian Qiu placed his teacup on the table with a soft sound, leaning forward slightly, his gaze piercing. “And it will grow. But I want you to continue tending the herbs in the sect’s garden. Your talent in nurturing them is irreplaceable, and the plants react to your presence like we’ve never seen before. I believe that with more time and dedication, you can reach even greater heights.”

Barbara felt the responsibility increase on her shoulders. Although she was happy with the recognition, she knew that expectations were also increasing. “I will take care of the plants with the same dedication as always, master. I promise not to disappoint you.”

Wei Jian Qiu nodded approvingly, but before the meeting ended, he gave her a curious look. “Barbara, pay attention to your surroundings. As you grow, new challenges will arise. It’s not just bandits or missions that you should worry about. Within the sect, not everyone will be happy with your success. Beware of jealousy and suspicion. I’ll be watching closely, but you should prepare to deal with these adversities on your own as well.”

Those words echoed within Barbara, like a veiled warning. Although Wei Jian Qiu didn’t mention names, she knew that there were disciples, like Bai Qiu and Liang, who could cause trouble.

With a final respectful nod, Barbara stood to leave. She knew the road ahead would be arduous, but with the elder’s support and her own growing strength, she was determined to face any challenge.

After her meeting with Elder Wei Jian Qiu, Barbara walked through the sect gardens, where the spirit flowers seemed to respond to her presence, swaying gently at the touch of her wood spirit root. Her thoughts, however, were with her friend, Hai Tu. It had been a few days since they had seen each other, and Barbara knew that a good chat with her friend, full of sect gossip and laughter, would be the perfect relief from the responsibilities she carried.

When he finally found Hai Tu near a quiet spring, the girl was busy sorting some herbs, arranging them into small jars. Hai Tu looked up with a warm smile as he saw Barbara approaching.

“Ah, finally! I was starting to think you had retreated too far into your cave,” Hai Tu teased, his eyes shining with mischief.

Barbara laughed, sitting down next to her. “Isolated, perhaps, but not bored. I’ve been working on so many things… but what about you? Any interesting developments in the sect that I should know about?”

Hai Tu looked around conspiratorially before replying in an exaggerated whisper, “You know how there are always those rumors going around. They say Mei Ling was seen talking to some elders about a new mystical formation, something secret. It seems like she’s preparing to try to become a core disciple.”

Barbara raised her eyebrows. Mei Ling, with her talent in formations, always seemed to be ahead of others in terms of intrigue and ambition. “Hmmm, typical of her. I can’t deny that she has skills, but is she ready to take that step?”

“Who knows,” Hai Tu replied with a shrug. “But I think everyone’s got their eyes on her now. Which makes me wonder… what about you? I know you don’t stay out of the spotlight for long. Anything exciting going on?”

Barbara smiled mischievously. “Well, you know I can’t just sit around. I just came back from a mission outside the sect, and now I’m working on improving my cultivation. But speaking of which…” She reached out and pulled out her spear, which glowed with a faint green energy, almost as if it were alive. “Take a look at this.”

Hai Tu’s eyes widened. “Is that your spear?! It looks… different.”

Barbara twirled the spear deftly, the wood of the weapon vibrating as it resonated with her spiritual root. “Yes. It’s become an extension of me. It seems like the more I use it, the more it responds to my Qi. Want to see some of the moves I’ve been practicing?”

Hai Tu nodded excitedly, stepping back a little to make room for the demonstration.

With light, precise steps, Barbara began to perform a series of martial arts movements with the spear. Her strikes were fluid, graceful, yet filled with power, as the spear seemed to cut through the air with ease. Each twist and thrust was accompanied by a vibrant green aura, enhanced by wood qi. The confident smile on Barbara’s face showed how much she was in control.

“Wow, you’ve really improved!” Hai Tu exclaimed in wonder. “I wouldn’t want to be one of the bad guys who crosses your path now.”

Barbara finished the demonstration with a final spin, driving the spear into the ground smoothly without losing her balance. “Ah, they didn’t have much of a chance, to be honest.”

Hai Tu laughed, but there was a glint of concern in his eyes. “You know, Barbara, you’re progressing too quickly. I’m really happy. But… have you noticed that some people in the sect aren’t exactly happy about this? Bai Qiu, for example, has been even more gloomy since you came back from your last mission.”

Barbara frowned when she heard Bai Qiu’s name. She knew that the rivalry between them was far from over. “I’ve noticed. He won’t give up trying to take me down, but I won’t make it easy for him either.”

Hai Tu sighed, but smiled with a hint of resignation. “Well then, continue being the amazing disciple that you are. And when you need someone to listen to your rants or… watch another demonstration of your spear movements, you know where to find me.”

Barbara smiled back, feeling the warmth of friendship between the two. “You’re always welcome. And don’t worry, no matter what happens, we’ll both keep moving forward.”