Raising Ducks for Daily Rewards-Chapter 51: Zimu’s Worries

"Zimu," Fengyu sat down next to Zimu.

Turning away from him, Zimu didn’t want to look him in the eyes.

"This..." A feeling of helplessness rose in Fengyu’s eyes.

He understood what Zimu thought and felt.

’When I entered the city for the first time, I thought with the best grades of my class, I could quickly adapt to the stuff and find friends.

But in the end, my best grades barely allowed me to keep up with the lower third.

From being the smartest to not even mediocre...’

Only later, when he remained up all night to study, did he finally catch up with the class. When he finally came out in the top grades, thinking he might find friends then, he realised...

He had spent all his time trying to learn, not understanding how to socialise.

Later in his studies, he returned for each holiday to take care of the farm, saying he was worried about the animals there...

But which young adult would waste his time in some fields when he could be hanging out with his friends?

He looked at Zimu’s back and realised that while Silver Feather, Spring Rain and Wind Claw were all his ’friends’, in fact, he was more like a big brother. Taking the lead in everything, he had responsibilities and couldn’t even rant out to a friend.

His only friend, Fengyu, progressed while he remained still, and now even a youngster went beyond him.

Many things rose in Fengyu’s eyes, slowly gaining an understanding of the many burdens Zimu carried with him, unable to say anything.

Who said cultivation was about severing one’s emotions?

It was about mastering them and knowing how to control them.

And now his friend, his best friend, had lost his control for a moment.

"Zimu, are you really worried about your bloodline, or are you worried that I’ll forget you just because newcomers appear?"

Zimu remained quiet, his head lowered slightly.

"Zimu, you and I both know that your bloodline is special. I’ve read the records, and there’s not a single one talking about your awakened ability.

It will take a longer time to advance in your bloodline, isn’t this normal?"

"But how long? Can I wait so long?" Zimu finally uttered when asked again.

"Don’t you know I’m special? Haha, you’re special and have a unique ability, and so am I!

I can allow you to reach the mid-stage at any time. This whole time, if you even asked me to do it, I would have. The only reason I didn’t tell you directly was because I didn’t want you to take the path of quick success.

Do you want to do it?"

"You can allow my bloodline to advance at any time?" Zimu turned and asked in surprise.

"Yes, if you want to, I’ll do it now."

"No, no need! So, you really just wanted me to improve my bloodline on my own and achieve the best effect, wasting my talent uselessly by upgrading it just like that?

Hmm, it makes sense, yes.

Fengyu, quack, why didn’t you say this earlier?

If I knew it, I wouldn’t have worried so much!" Zimu perked up and looked at him with a happy expression, even nudging his head against Fengyu’s hand.

"You, you’re changing faces so quickly!" Fengyu smiled wryly and reached out with his hand, patting the small duck head.

He knew that what Zimu said was only an act.

Deep inside, the responsibility didn’t disappear and the pressure rose instead.

If he failed, then he failed. There would be no issue, and he could accept it.

But now, if he didn’t achieve it on his own, then he would likely ask something of Fengyu.

And his ability... if he only relied on bloodline advancement from outside, then the cost would likely be extremely high.

Since Fengyu didn’t do it initially, then the bonus is likely not as great as it seems.

’Fengyu, this chance, I will use it well! I will follow my instincts and condense my bloodline as long as it takes! We will take the path together!’ Zimu made a promise.

Inexplicably, in his tiny heart, a small light lit up.

It wasn’t visible, and he didn’t realise it, even Fengyu, with his vitality control art, couldn’t feel it.

Whether it was good or bad, one thing was sure – his resolve to achieve the path manifested!

Although Fengyu could see Zimu hadn’t let go, at least his spirit perked up again, allowing him to leave the dangerous situation.

At the same time, he felt a bit envious.

’We cultivators would develop inner demons when we start doubting ourselves or thinking about failure, which would actually lower our success rate in breaking through.

Beasts, on the other hand, don’t have to suffer through the trials of cultivation. They might be down, but talking to them and helping them is already enough to solve the issue.

This is one of the reasons why beast taming has always been a strong path among the myriad paths – the weaknesses of humans aren’t found in beasts. Their lifespan is higher, they’re unaffected by demons, and their innate strength is higher.’

He couldn’t help but lament.

The two, duck and human, thought about many things that night.

Cultivation is a path of endlessly questioning yourself, refining your dao heart while absorbing spiritual power to rise through the ranks.

It’s not a path for lone people –

Among the four requirements to achieve immortality, companions have always been extremely important.

Going through life and death together, Fengyu and Zimu developed such a companionship.

Fengyu looked at Zimu with deep eyes, "Zimu, if you’re worried about something in the future, just tell me, okay? And if I am-"

"If you are worried, then I can sense it!

Everyone else around lacks a lot of peacefulness, among those we saw, only Ming and Ling have some.

But you... you’re always full of peacefulness, even when you seem sad."

"Haha, some things change when you’ve died once," Fengyu smiled.