Torsten Hewson
patreon
v4c75: To Home
🕑 Added 2024-01-19 04:09:44 +0000 UTCIt was raining. The sky was drab and grey, and I had a frown firmly planted on my face as I stood across from a great, bloated beast.
It was a truly massive thing, after so long of glutting itself on my farm’s bounty. Its corpulent body rose into the sky, and its smell struck my nose with the sickly sweet tang of decomposition.
I took a breath, and with a heave I thrust my mighty weapon into my foe. The blade bit deep, penetrating into my adversary’s very core; a sublime blow that any cultivator would be proud of. With a flex of my muscles I heaved; and I felt things tear as I ripped open the wound I had made in this great beast. Steam erupted from its innards, billowing in great gouts into the cold air.
But one strike, no matter how perfect, was not enough to have defeated this foe. There may have been a time when I could have conquered it with just this, but it had grown large indeed.
Like really damn big. Man, my compost pile had gotten fat.
My shovel struck again as I heaved up the mass of decomposing food, manure, and other assorted farm waste, aerating it so it would decompose properly instead of just rotting. Normally, I actually liked this job, but I was in my least favourite state as I worked—wet and a bit cold.
Rain fell down from the sky, too much to be called a drizzle but too little to be an excuse to stay in… not that any amount of rain would really be an excuse to a cultivator.
Instead of sitting inside and watching the rain fall, I was wearing the very nice jacket Meimei had made me and a thick hat made of reeds and rice stalks. It was almost a poncho, and it helped keep the rain off… kind of. That rain, in addition to the biting north wind, had made it the worst kind of day to work.
But it needed to be done.
So my shovel churned up the mound of compost. The hot innards of the compost heap made it look kind of like the ground was on fire, belching smoke into the air—and as I worked, some of the annoyance from the cold and the rain faded away.
It sounds kind of weird, but working by the compost pile always did make me happy. I wasn’t sure why, honestly; it wasn’t the smell, that's for certain.
No, I did know why. It was the fact that I could feel how lively the entire thing was. I could feel the microbes and bacteria and the various detritivores as they did their work. I could feel the nutrients in the soil. I could feel just how good the compost I was making was for everything that would grow within it.
Tianlan could feel it too. She said it felt good, and that she couldn’t exactly describe it. Maybe a bit like getting to drink warm tea after a day out in the cold, a sudden burst of warmth that improved everything.
And maybe a little bit of my momentary contentment was from remembering the teachings of an old man who resided in Tianlan’s dreams.
‘Behold: I follow the path of Shennong. Composting is, after all, destruction. The first step on the path of creation,’ I thought at her, making myself sound like an old master.
I heard Tianlan’s laughter in the back of my head.
‘Indeed. Truly, my contractor is most wise to recognise this,’ Tianlan declared pompously. ‘But he is still a fool! He claims the work of the Master of Destruction as his own! May Heavenly Master Worm strike you down for your hubris!’
I nodded solemnly. ‘You’re right, my martial sister. Heavenly Master Worm, forgive this unworthy man for taking credit for your work!’
I kowtowed immediately. A pink creature poked its head up from the compost heap, seemed to look at me for a moment, then burrowed back into his home.
‘Master Worm has acknowledged us!’ Tianlan shouted.
‘Praise Master Worm!’
“… Jin, why are you bowing to the compost heap?” my lovely wife asked as she dumped some scraps that even Washy didn’t like eating onto the pile.
“I received enlightenment from the Heavenly Master of the Dao of Destruction, Master Worm,” I said seriously.
Meiling just stared at me for a couple of seconds. She considered at length my words. She walked over to stand beside me.
“Praise Master Worm,” she intoned, her lips twitching as she struggled not to smile.
==============================
We could only praise The Heavenly Master of the Dao of Destruction for so long, however, because we both had other things to do. The barn needed mucking, the sheep needed to be fed, and I put out some more birdseed in the feeders Yao Che had made for us.
At first Meimei hadn’t liked the feeders, deeming it wasteful… but she had come around to them pretty fast, and now she looked forward to watching the songbirds eat their fill at breakfast.
The drop hammer wasn’t pounding today. Instead, Bowu joined myself and Gou Ren and we taught him how to do some repair work on the fence.
It was brisk work, and away from the warmth of the compost pile the world made it very clear that it was truly getting into fall. The leaves had already started turning, and the main harvest of rice would be very soon.
I was really looking forward to going to the Mid-Autumn Festival again this year. I have to say, that and the solstice were my favourite festivals.
The Solstice especially, if things went well. That meant everybody would be back home.
The thought put another smile on my face.
Soon enough though the chores were done and we could finally go back inside.
I took off my muddy boots and pulled off my reed poncho. Buzzing greeted us immediately as bees swarmed around us, their wings beating for all they were worth in an attempt to dry us off. Some outright landed on me, licking off the drops of water. It kind of tickled as they licked me, and buzzed happily.
“Thanks, Vajra,” I said as I rubbed my hands together. The bees buzzed happily.
I banged my boots off outside and then put them in their cubby—and then I noticed another pair of shoes.
I was slightly surprised, but we might have taken a bit too long on the fence if he was here already. I could hear his voice in the other room.
“—are improving. Remember to keep your guard high,” a calm voice intoned.
“Yes,” Meimei replied, and then swishing sounds started up again.
“Senior Brother,” I greeted as I walked into the main room. Lu Ri was sitting at the main table and playing Go with Washy, who was in his dragon form. Meiling was standing off to the side, her training spear in her hands.
“Jin, I thank you again for your invitation,” Lu Ri replied from where he was sitting at the table. Lu Ri mostly stayed at Hong Yaowu, but I had invited him around for dinner tonight. Recently, we had actually started talking about the Cloudy Sword Sect a bit more, and he had given me a couple of scrolls on their work.
It was actually interesting hearing the stuff they had to say. If I'm honest? Kind of a complete mood whiplash, comparing what they wrote to how I had been treated there—but they had made amends and were going to be protecting Hong Yaowu in case anything went wrong, so the least I could do was read things with an open mind.
‘Tea is nice and hot, Boss,’ Washy said as he examined the Go board while I started pouring cups for me, Bowu, and Gou Ren. In a mirror to Lu Ri and Washy, Babe and Chunky were playing their own board game, one Xiulan had gotten me. Babe was still partially out in the rain, the board on the veranda between them. I had long since given up on trying to get the ox to come inside, even during weather like this. He just liked the outdoors too much. Peppa, meanwhile, was dozing near the table with Zhuye resting against her side.
I sat down at the table to watch Washy and Lu Ri’s game with Bowu while Gou Ren wandered into the kitchen to get himself a snack.
Washy and Lu Ri were way better than I was at Go and I was trying to learn so I could finally kick Xiulan’s ass when she came back. Watching two masters at work was leveling up my own game… and really, Lanlan wasn’t exactly ‘good’ at Go either.
I would have my vengeance!
However, my studying of the board was interrupted by a grunt. I glanced down at the floor.
Zhuye was sitting up and leaning forward on his arms, his eyes focused completely on Washy’s glittering tail. My son stared at the waggling appendage and grunted as he reached forwards, slapping his hand down, only to not land anywhere near his target,
He pouted, looked up at Washy, and grunted. Washy, too engrossed in speaking with Lu Ri about tea, didn’t seem to notice, his tail wagging outside our little man’s reach.
Zhuye’s pudgy hand slapped down again, trying to grab the glittering scales, but again he was denied. His face screwed up in frustration, and for a moment I thought we were going to have a tantrum on our hands. He sucked in a great breath, like he was going to start wailing.
But instead of an ear-splitting cry escaping from his lips, he grunted, his cheeks puffed up comically. His arms shook as he put more weight on them and then he pushed with his legs, settling onto his knees and wobbling for a moment.
My eyes widened, and I shot towards the cabinet that housed our recording crystal. I opened the door, snatched the crystal, and chucked it towards Meimei, who had also noticed our son’s actions and leapt into the air and caught the crystal like a football star, activating the crystal in one smooth motion.
I rushed back around the couch just in time as Zhuye, his eyes determined, crawled for the first time. Both Lu Ri and Washy had obviously caught our commotion, and the dragon turned around to look, his own eyes widening. He inadvertently pulled his tail away slightly further. I don’t think Zhuye noticed; instead he just kept up with it, crawling maybe two paces across the ground before he managed to slap his hand down on the shiny dragon scales.
Then, finally, his cheeks deflated and he released a mighty cry as he collapsed face first into Washy’s tail, hugging the appendage tight.
Me and Meimei cheered along with him.
‘Little Bro!’ Washy cried as he reached down and scooped him up into the air. “Haha! It is I who helped you learn how to crawl! Tigu is going to be so jealous!”
I hugged Meiling as we both crowded around as well, Zhuye looking a little confused about why he was being praised so much, but happy with it all the same.
All in all, the rain might not have been my favourite thing… but it was still a good day.
==============
==============
Praise be to Master Worm, Master Mushroom, an Master Mold, the Dao Lords of Destruction.
Edited by: Massgamer, BargleNawdleZouss, Massgamer, Ayje, Aaron “Pastafarian” Sofaer
Comments
Dust Russell
Thank you, the slice of life chapters at the farm are always some of my favorites.
D J Meigs
Praise be to the Masters of Destruction! What a cute chapter after the heaviness of the last one.
Pamela Gillespie
And hey, the kid's big enough when you have the time and energy. If he doesn't get words yet it's language pre training, helps him learn to speak etc:)
WonderBread459
Makes the reread all the sweeter
Echo Sparksong
🪱🪱🪱🪱
Demian Buckle
Thank you for the Chapter.
Aliased
anyone know how to join the discord server? The patreon link doesn't seem to work?
N0ct3m
thank you for the glow after all the gloom. ^.^
Old Dog
Sorry, it was just the way I was reading that. Initially thought Jin was looking in a mirror next to them. Thanks. To me it would make more sense if it read "Mirroring Lu RI and Washy..."
Paul S.
I have a ton of videos on my phone of my daughter learning to crawl. I was lucky enough to have my phone in hand when she took her first independent steps as well. That was exciting.
Alan McBrayer
I got a package of master worms yesterday. I crafted a tower just for them to feast & make tea.
Skydda Dragontooth
mirror (verb): correspond or be similar to (another thing). Both pairs are playing games.
Truedragon5374
Umm. I meant he could spar with a dozen inner disciples separately.
The GrandMage
They call me Master Worm. good morning, how are you, I'm Master Worm. I'm interested in things. I'm not a real master, But I am a real worm. I am an actual worm, I live like a worm.
Alex
I don't really remember distinct details of my littlest sibling doing stuff. My memory is kinda shit. Back then I probably didn't think it was important so I forgot about it. I remember reading bedtime stories though :) and allowing us and my little siblings a later bedtime when my parents weren't around. Very sneaky allowing the little one to watch TV with us for an extra half hour sometimes xD
Ishamoridin
Ah, I needed this today. Thank you!
matthew gilley
I can't tell if I want an enlightened worm calling himself a master of destruction. Hahah
Old Dog
As always, thank you for the chapter. Great to have the relaxed pace of Fa Ram before the fecal material hits the rotary blade. Farmer (or anyone else), could you please clarify "In a mirror to Lu Ri and Washy, ..."
Old Dog
Situations occur, aka sh...ah fecal mater happens. Was also wondering about the mirror: "In a mirror to Lu Ri and Washy, ..."
Flugel
Gramps when he arrived could see that Jin's power without being powered by the tianlan was peak earth. (somewhere in volume 3 on RR) The elders of the CSS are Sky 5/Imperial 1 (per discord by Casual) and Ge's Granddaughter (a core disciple was earth as well) In case it helps for future references, considering the realm system: The SMS is a regional power sect so it can be used The outer disciples were high to initiate to low profound IIRC, the inner disciples were mid to high profound and the core disciples spiritual realm. The elders are high earth and the patriarch is sky 1. It's not perfect, but for any region that is not the Azure Hills and any sect that are not the best. (CSS and the SHI are two top ones we know of) it will work. In a nutshell, Jin could be an elder/maybe patriarch of an average sect, an elder of a regional power sect and a core disciple for the CSS (only because he is young and that strong). He is very likely NOT in the sky realm, since that's the only realm we know of where a great change occurs: The formation they can master (what Lu Ri tries to learn the entire story we see him)
Kevin Menard
I'm waiting for Senior Brother's fiancee to turn up and Mei to make her a slutty mailman's uniform.
Skylar
So happy to be at Fa Ram. We missed the birth of Jin's and Mei's son! More Fa Ram! 💖🔥🎊🍿
Mystman64
I hope he likes to play the drums.
Pamela Gillespie
Remember it's slow growing and Jin said he'd wait, and let it grow so he won't be hovering over it
Marta Barańska
Ah cool, thanks for clarification, I had trouble picturing it in my head 😊
BigBro Bluesman
Wholesome as fuck!!! Honestly though an old memory of my little sister crawling for the first time hit me for the first time in a while just good memories lol
Lance Platt
I think this was describing the type of straw rain cape that is called a mino in Japanese, but had similar versions in China as well
Nathan Ganesan
The Master of the Mycelium
Just A Dude
Lord Mushroom has truly ascended to the realm of the immortals.
Teh One & TrueTabi
The good senior brother must be all kinds of bemused. Hope he partakes in the joy of caring for and teaching Zhuye
mag28
Let me start out saying idk what jins power is and the realms system always kinda confused me. But it would take forever before tanlan network to reach CSS so if he went anytime soon it wouldn't be full power
Featherweight
Last mention of it is when gramps declared it a new and unknown species
Szymon Szczełkun
Prise the dao lords of the destruction the great Master Worm, Master Mushroom, and Master Mold
Raya
Don't forget Master Isopod and Master Beetle!
Sam a Goat
A bit off topic but i started rereading and has there been mention of the QI infused plant? I feel like it’s been a while since we’ve heard of it
Jeremy Young
TFTC
Ish Man
Why do you think it's so salty
jord
I know that some memes make their way into the story in a way that is non disruptive. For example the time Fox boy shouted "Grab his dick and twist it!" was completely in line with the scene and character. So I really hope that one day, the fungal dao lord can grace us with one of my favorite memes. Demonic Cultivator: "What are you?! Why won't you just die!" MUSHROOM: "Can you fell your heart burning? Can you feel the struggle within? The fear within me is beyond anything your soul can make. You cannot kill me in a way that matters." Demonic Cultivator (Desperately trying not to cry): "I HAVE NO FEAR OF YOU!"
Maël Benallou
Oh god, not another Worm AU story... Spacebattles is going to have a field day with this one...
Lonnie Sizemore
So cute! I wonder what's next!
Nolan Bowling
Praise be to Master Worm!
Featherweight
Earth realm was Mei mei’s peak like a year ago, it’s always been very Nebulous what Jin’s personal power level is. Remember afull power one punch Jin was able to crush Multiple Earth realm wards back at the duelling peaks. That has only been going up as well as the land heals and they study together etc. So Jin is likely somewhat Equivalent to somewhere in the sky realm.
Featherweight
Ok Jin, good goof but don’t be surprised when a dude walks out of the compost heap and introduces himself in a couple years.
N0m_N0m
I think that a dozen Inner disciples of the CSS would whip his ass though? Like, Jin is super overpowered for the Azure Hills, but last estimate on his power put him somewhere at earth realm. Not bad by any means, but probably on the low end of elder for CSS which is the strongest sect in the empire
El Squidd
The Young Master’s first victory!
Eleana
I love it, the interactions brought tears to my eyes.
James Faulkner
Sentient worm following the path of destruction when? 😂
Artman
Lightened my mood, Tftc
Marta Barańska
Although is it meant to be poncho - a fabric covering with a hole for the head, or sombrero - a wide brimmed hat? I thought sombrero fit better 😊
Marta Barańska
Love the lightheartedness of this in a contrast to the serious situation Bi Di and co. are facing.
Gabriel McCall
>May Heavenly Master Worm strike you down for your hubris! Suddenly, a storm of insects gathered into a cloud too dense to see through... and then just as suddenly it dispersed, leaving behind a teenage girl in black and grey silk armor. Then things got worse...
Truedragon5374
I think that someday Jin is going to go back to the Cloudy Sword Sect. Not to join but to visit, to heal. Plus I think it would do his confidence a world of good to spare with a dozen inner disciples. Plus it could be hilarious. Imagine if he showed up, and the CSS was prepared to welcome an honored guest, and instead they get a burly farmer with a huge pack on his back. Filled with enough rice to feed the whole sect a fine meal. Then he ignores all the fancy ceremony to talk plants with they're herb master.
CringeWorthyStudios
The worm or the kid? 🤣😅
CringeWorthyStudios
And the oceans, so don’t forget about the fish pee.
Cheuk Hin Ho
I'm imagining Matrix-style slow-mo acrobatics when Jin/Mei were taking photos. Kinda like ninja paparazzi :)
Net
Yeah, him.
Calvin Hughes
First Jin chapter after a break. Feels good man.
Cam
I know there’s less plot here. But these are my favorite chapters. Thanks CF!
Cam
Praise The Dao lords of Destruction!
Skittlemiester
I can’t wait for that inspector guy to show up and get stomped on.
Michael Otton
Congratulations
Casualfarmer
changed it to "leaning forward on his arms" seems to be an editing error on my end.
Kat
Maybe forward on his arms? Or on his forearms? Agree, front arms sounds wrong…
Tim Johnson
I swear I have never had more happy tears in a story than this one. Thank you Farmer for writing one of my favorite stories ever and just making characters that are so lovable.
GameJunkie999
Damn.... Tigu is gonna be inconsolable when she hears she missed her kittle browser first crawl. And that it was to Washy of all people.
Keliana Tayler
Beware of Chicken was a huge comfort during my pregnancy and now all the scenes with little zhuye make me so happy. I can't wait for my little boy to be big enough to read to.
Digdug
It always good to remember that every living thing on this world is made up of both star dust and worm shit. Also yay, baby first craw.
Sacha
Definitely took me a minute to adjust after the adventures of the others
BlueMage_VT
Little man crawling to grab at a dragon's tail! And Washy picking him up! I love it!!
frankie doerr
I think more like the butterfly of destruction from china keeps the theme going and yes I know butterflies come from caterpillars
Ethan Kappelmann
Nice to check back in with Jin & Co.
AK
I love Jin chapters so much! Tftc.
Nicholas Grey
“Zhuye was sitting up and leaning on his front arms” How many arms does he have…?
Mrdelta
Master worm needs to be made an emote or somthing now.
Kedar
"Seismic disturbance detected. Nydus worm inbound" -starcraft "we have wormsign the likes of which even God has never seen." -dune
Havefeith
This chapter was ridiculous. I love it!
frankie doerr
Wait a damn minute we can’t give the worm sapience yet he doesn’t have a name I vote Alfred I can see a worm with a top hat and a monocle
Akki
Not an unwelcome one though. It's been pretty grim and I like the mostly light-hearted nature of the series so this was nice.
taukid
OH MY GOD, HE'S SO CUTE!
CUI13
Yup. Tigu is definitely going to be jealous. Although, she's also going to be upset that his name is Zhuye.
William Johnson
Oh yes, this is what I'm here for! All praise to Master Worm, and all praise to Washi of the shiny tail!
Bender
Yeah family does the worm dance!
Nick
Tftc
Mackienze Robinson
Awwww the first step to independence, Crawling!
Sezra_
Thanks a bunch! ʕ•ᴥ•ʔゞ゛
Clifton Thrasher
Praise be
Lanter
CUTE
WarStrider72
Ah Tigu is going to be so jelly. Maybe she'll be home when Zhuye starts babbling
WarStrider72
Bi De: Should I stop eating Master Worm from now on?
Sean Ulrich
Can I get art of Jin and Mei’s maneuvering? Preferably overly anime esk with lots of impact frames.
Gerik
Months away, my warm blankie, finally home~
V01D
What mood whiplash (from the last chapter)
Sean Ulrich
Praise Master Worm!
WarStrider72
Alaskan Bull Worm!
WarStrider72
thanks for the chapter boss!
WarStrider72
1st
