Chapter 386 - 384: Choosing to Respect the Fate of Others

"Oh, Faye, you’re awake. A bit early this time."

Meeting the concerned gazes of the others, Faye Yardley managed a weak wave. "Don’t worry, I’m really fine. I... I think I need to rest for a bit."

Willow Yardley and Lucy White supported her, one on each side, as they helped her into the house and onto the sofa.

The heat from the fireplace washed over her. Faye Yardley soaked in the warmth, feeling cozy and languid.

"Willow, help me upstairs. It’s so uncomfortable being this damp and sticky."

"Shouldn’t you rest a little longer?"

"Let’s go."

After Faye Yardley went upstairs to her room, Lucy White looked at Willow as she came back down. "Willow, do you think I could go take a look in the sea? The surface hasn’t started to freeze over yet, so it should be fine, right? I can get Bramble to take me down, and if I can’t handle it, he can just toss me back up."

Willow Yardley looked at her calmly. "You can ask Faye yourself later."

"Alright. Kingston, do you want to go down and check it out later?"

"I’ve already been."

Lucy White’s expression nearly cracked. ’When did that happen? How did I not know? Oh, right. I was unconscious the whole time.’

"What’s it like down there?"

Cole Kensington answered while stretching his arms and legs, "It’s pitch-black, and there are strange fish lurking about."

"I really want to go."

Cole Kensington shot her a strange look. "No one’s stopping you."

Lucy White pouted. ’Of course I know no one’s stopping me! But I can’t hold my breath underwater for very long. If Bramble would help, at least I wouldn’t drown in the sea.’

Upstairs, Faye Yardley stumbled out of the bathroom and collapsed onto the bed.

’Okay, just as I thought. This kind of external energy doesn’t come easy.’

Faye Yardley sent a quick message to her brother and Zachary Pierce about her condition, telling them to be careful when they went into the sea.

’Even though I know they can’t stay in the seawater for as long as I did, what if they try?’

’I have Bramble as a bodyguard, but the others don’t.’

’As long as they don’t get greedy for that energy, it should be fine.’

Faye Yardley thought for a moment and took out the Flower Tea that Yvonne Lynch had given her. She tried to grip the canister but her hand was too weak. If she weren’t already on the bed, it would have fallen to the floor.

’No way I can make tea myself like this.’ She called out for Willow.

A knock came at the door a moment later.

"Faye? You called for me?"

"Come in, Willow. Could you please make me some tea with this? Use the Flower Dew." Faye Yardley was still lying face down on the bed, unable to even roll over.

Willow Yardley helped her sit up properly before going downstairs to heat the Flower Dew. She returned to brew the Star Feather Flower Tea, and once it was at the right temperature, she helped Faye drink it.

The Star Feather Flower Tea was incredibly effective.

After two cups, [Spirit +1].

Not only did her Spirit feel restored, but the weakness in her limbs also began to fade.

"Do you want another cup, Faye?"

"No, you can’t have too much of a good thing all at once. I’m already suffering the side effects of overindulging."

Willow Yardley scanned Faye’s body. Confirming there were no signs of disease, she felt relieved.

"Are you hungry, Faye? What would you like to eat?"

Faye Yardley clenched her fist. She definitely had more strength than before. She smiled and said, "Could you make me some sour bamboo shoot and duck soup? I’ve suddenly got a craving for it."

"Of course. You get some rest. I’ll bring it up when it’s ready." As Willow was about to leave, she turned to ask on Lucy White’s behalf, "Faye, can Bramble take Lucy down into the sea?"

"If Lucy wants to go, she can talk to Bramble about it herself. It’s getting late, though. She still wants to go now?"

"Yes. She seems very eager."

"Just tell her to be careful."

That was a yes.

Faye Yardley truly had no intention of interfering with their freedom. Of course, there still had to be some ground rules. Otherwise, if they were allowed to run completely wild, who knew what the consequences would be.

’Am I still their guardian?’

Faye Yardley asked herself as she stared at the closed door.

Fortunately, out on this vast sea, even a bratty kid couldn’t cause trouble for anyone else—unless they were trying to get themselves killed.

BEEP BEEP BEEP~

Thankfully, the system was very convenient. A virtual screen materialized before her eyes.

Master Veridian had sent her a message with a Gift attached.

The message said he had finished making the Beauty and Skin Care Pills from herbs. It was a 10-day supply, one pill per day.

After she accepted the Gift, Faye Yardley saw the detailed information provided by the system.

[Beauty and Skin Care Pills: Makes skin soft, smooth, and radiant. Protects against sun and wind exposure. (Master Veridian’s special formula)]

’So it really is recognized by the system.’

Faye Yardley struggled to open the box, took out a pill, and popped it in her mouth. To her surprise, it wasn’t bitter at all; in fact, it had a faint, sweet taste.

’Effective and it tastes good. If not for the scarcity of herbs, I bet this would be a bestseller in any world.’

’After all, what woman wouldn’t be willing to invest in her appearance?’

Faye Yardley stored the rest in her inventory, then closed her eyes and began to guide the circulation of the Health Care Scripture within her body.

It could now circulate automatically, but it was far more efficient when she controlled it herself.

’I’m in a "special" state right now, and there’s nothing else to do anyway. Lying here and focusing on my Cultivation isn’t a waste of time.’

SPLASH! A head broke the surface of the sea. A hand grabbed onto the raft and was immediately hauled aboard by someone else.

Gavin Donovan wiped the seawater from his face and looked at the man before him. "Boss, the black water below is rising. There are more of those strange fish, too. The good news is that if you kill one, the others will swarm it and tear it apart instead of attacking us."

"Good work. Go take a shower and get something to eat."

Ethan Yardley watched the ceaseless snowfall, his mood souring.

He much preferred scorching summer days to this bitter cold.

However, cultivating in this weather wasn’t entirely without its benefits.

"Boss, we’re ready over here."

"Let’s go. We’ll head down for a look, too. Make sure you all have your Water-Repelling Pearls. We’ll try to capture one alive."

On a small raft, a grandmother and her grandson were busy blaming each other.

"It’s all your fault, you old hag! You lost track of that other raft, and now we can’t find anyone to help!"

"Did you try shouting on that channel? After I called out, didn’t a few people say they would help us? Why aren’t they responding?"

"That was all bullshit! They were just messing with us! I tried to add them, and not one of them responded. They all deserve to die! To die!" the boy screamed, pouncing on his grandmother and starting to beat her.

The old woman cried out in pain, her large body making it difficult to even dodge.

Underneath their raft, Zephyr Sterling felt like his ears had been defiled.

’I was really being too nosy,’ he thought. ’Why did I even come over here? This grandmother and grandson are full of energy; they clearly don’t need my help at all.’

He shook his head. ’I should have listened to my master. Some people aren’t worth helping. The right thing to do is just stay away from them.’

Without surfacing, Zephyr Sterling simply swam away beneath the waves.