Courtyard House: My Long and Hard Body Makes Me Play with All the Women in the Courtyard

“He’s a bit…special,” Chen Mu said, “but he knows more than all of us combined.”

Chapter 830 The Unease of Being Watched

Chapter 830 The Unease of Being Watched

Su Ting thanked Chen Mu and then went to find Lin Jian. He found Lin Jian helping out at the blacksmith shop and briefly explained the situation.

"So, you're planning to meet that guy named Lao Xiao?" Lin Jian asked.

"Yes, first thing tomorrow morning. Do you want to come along?"

Lin Jian thought for a moment and said, "I'll stay here and help with the evacuation preparations. These people need protection."

Su Ting nodded: "Alright, I'll be right back."

That night, the two returned to the cabin to rest. Lin Jian fell asleep quickly, but Su Ting tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He got up and went to the window, gazing at the distant forest and the lonely watchtower.

Under the moonlight, the runes on the tower seemed to emit a faint glow, as if telling some ancient secret. Su Ting couldn't help but think of those monsters and the eerie writhing sensation they possessed. If it really was the "Shadow Seed" at work, then the situation was far more serious than he had imagined.

The next morning, Su Ting packed the necessary equipment and went alone to Old Xiao's place. The cabin was located in a grove of trees on the west side of the village, surrounded by various herbs and strange plants.

Su Ting knocked on the door, but there was no response. He knocked a few more times and finally heard footsteps coming from inside.

The door opened, and a thin, elderly man stood in the doorway, his hair white, but his eyes sharp as an eagle's. He sized Su Ting up and down, then asked, "Who are you?"

“My name is Su Ting, and I am a refugee from the city. Village chief Chen Mu said you might be able to help me.”

"How can I help you?" Old Xiao's voice was a little hoarse, but his tone was wary.

"I want to know about the Shadow Seed."

Old Xiao narrowed his eyes, remained silent for a moment, then stepped aside to clear the doorway: "Come in."

Su Ting entered the wooden house and found it to be much larger than he had imagined. The walls were covered with various herbs and strange objects, and the corners were piled high with books and scrolls. In the center was a large table with several ancient books spread out on it.

"Sit down." Old Xiao gestured to a chair next to the table and sat down opposite him. "Why are you interested in the Shadow Seed?"

Su Ting briefly described the attack on the city and the characteristics of the monsters.

After listening, Lao Xiao's expression became even more serious: "It does sound like a creature infected by the Shadow Seed. But that's impossible... it should have been sealed away."

“The seal may have been breached,” Sutin said. “I need to know where it is and how to stop it from spreading further.”

Old Xiao stared at Su Ting for a while, seemingly assessing his true intentions. Finally, the old man sighed and took a thick, ancient book from the bookshelf.

“This book contains some information about the Shadowseeds,” Old Xiao said, “but I warn you, this is not something ordinary people should know. Once you know the truth, there’s no going back.”

“There’s no going back now,” Su Ting said calmly.

Old Xiao nodded and opened the ancient book.

The pages of the old book were yellowed and the edges were somewhat torn, but the text and illustrations were still clearly legible. Old Xiao carefully turned the pages, finally stopping at a strange illustration.

The illustration depicts a black seed surrounded by countless twisted tentacles, seemingly spreading in all directions. At the seed's center is an eye-shaped pattern, creating a sense of unease as if being watched.

Chapter 831 has been sealed.

Chapter 831 has been sealed.

“This is the Shadow Seed,” Old Xiao said, pointing to the illustration, “or at least how the ancients described it. In reality, it’s not a seed in the true sense, but an ancient magical crystal containing powerful and malevolent energy.”

"Where did it come from?" Su Ting asked, unable to take his eyes off the eye-shaped pattern.

"No one knows for sure. Some say it comes from the stars, others say it's the product of an experiment by a powerful mage. But whatever its origin, its danger is undeniable." Old Xiao turned to the next page, pointing to the text above. "According to records, the Shadow Seed can infect creatures, altering their nature and turning them into slaves of darkness. Infected creatures become more powerful, but they also lose their sense of self, leaving only a thirst for destruction and infection."

“Like those monsters that attack cities…” Su Ting mused.

"That's right. What's worse, the infection can keep spreading. It might start with just a few wild animals, but over time, the entire forest or the whole region could be infected."

"Then why didn't this happen before? You said it was sealed away?"

Old Xiao nodded and continued turning the pages until he found a picture depicting several sorcerers performing a spell together.

“About five hundred years ago, when the threat of the Shadow Seed first appeared, seven of the most powerful mages joined forces to seal it in a mountain range in the north. They set up a magic circle at the seal site to ensure that the Shadow Seed would never be released.”

"But now it has obviously been released."

“Yes, that’s the problem.” Old Xiao frowned. “The seal couldn’t have broken on its own; someone must have deliberately damaged it.”

"Who would do such a thing?"

“There are many possibilities. Some people may be driven by curiosity, some may want to use its power, and some…” Old Xiao paused for a moment, “maybe they have been controlled by it.”

"Controlled?" Su Ting repeated in surprise.

Old Xiao's fingers gently traced the words on the ancient book. "One of the most terrifying abilities of the Shadow Seed is its ability to influence people's thoughts through dreams. Those who are close to it will begin to have strange dreams, in which voices constantly whisper, enticing them to search for the location of the seal."

Su Ting frowned, recalling several of his recent dreams. Although he couldn't remember the specifics, he always felt a strange unease upon waking.

“Over time, these whispers will grow stronger and stronger until they completely control a person’s will. The controlled person will become paranoid and indifferent, with their sole goal being to release the Shadow Seed.” Old Xiao paused for a moment. “I suspect that someone has already succeeded.”

"Where is the seal? We must go and find out."

Old Xiao shook his head. "The exact location of the seal is a secret, known only to a few. But according to records, it should be deep in the Black Stone Mountains in the north. The terrain there is treacherous, shrouded in mist all year round, making it an extremely dangerous place."

“I have to go and see.” Su Ting’s gaze was firm.

“You don’t understand, young man. That’s not something you can handle alone. Even if you find the seal, what do you plan to do? If the Shadow Seed is truly released, you’ll need powerful magic to reseal it.”

“Then teach me.” Su Ting looked directly into Old Xiao’s eyes. “The village chief said you used to be a mage.”

Chapter 832 The Influence of Dreams

Chapter 832 The Influence of Dreams

Old Xiao chuckled. "The word 'used to' is 'used to'. I haven't used magic in many years. Besides, sealing the Shadow Seed requires seven mages to cast spells simultaneously; I can't do it alone."

“But you can teach me the basics, at least enough to help me protect myself,” Su Ting said, unwilling to give up. “Besides, we can look for other mages willing to help as we go.”

Old Xiao stared at Su Ting for a long time, then finally sighed, "You seem like a stubborn person. Alright, I can teach you some basic spells, but don't get your hopes up too high. Learning spells requires talent and time; not everyone can master it."

"Thank you."

“Don’t rush to thank me,” Old Xiao stood up and took out a small box from a hidden compartment. “First, I need to confirm whether you have magical talent.”

He opened the box, inside was a crystal-clear stone that shimmered with a pale blue light in the sunlight.

“This is a sensory stone that can detect a person’s magical potential.” Old Xiao handed the stone to Su Ting. “Hold it, close your eyes, try to feel its presence, and then immerse your consciousness in it.”

Su Ting took the stone and did as instructed. At first, he felt nothing; the stone was just a stone, cold and hard. But slowly, he seemed to feel the stone warming slightly in his hand, and a strange energy seemed to flow from the stone into his body.

When he opened his eyes, he found that the sensing stone was emitting a faint red light.

Old Xiao's expression became complicated. "Interesting, very interesting."

"What does this mean?"

"Red usually means you have a talent for fire magic. But this light isn't very strong, indicating that your talent isn't outstanding. However, it's enough to learn some basic spells."

Old Xiao put away the sensing stone and took several different books from the bookshelf. "I will teach you some simple fire spells, enough to protect yourself. At the same time, we need to prepare for our journey to the Blackrock Mountains. The journey is long and fraught with danger."

What do I need to prepare?

“Food, water, medicine, and of course, weapons. Spells are useful, but until you fully master them, it’s best to have a handy weapon.” Old Xiao thought for a moment. “Old Zhang, the blacksmith in the village, has quite a lot in stock. We can go take a look. We’ll start training first thing tomorrow morning and set off in three days. How about that?”

Su Ting nodded in agreement. Before leaving, Old Xiao added, "Before you go to bed tonight, sprinkle some salt on the doors and windows. If the Shadow Seed has already noticed you, this will lessen its influence on your dreams."

Back at the lodgings arranged by the village chief, Su Ting jotted down what Old Xiao had told him in his notebook. It was already late, and most of the villagers had returned home. Gazing at the twilight outside the window, Su Ting couldn't help but think of the destroyed city and his lost companions. What was their situation? Were they still alive?

Following Lao Xiao's instructions, Su Ting sprinkled salt on the doors and windows, then lay down on the bed. Exhaustion quickly overwhelmed him, and he fell asleep.

In his dream, Su Ting stood on a barren land, surrounded by twisted and deformed trees, the sky a strange purple. He felt something watching him, but no matter how he turned around, he couldn't see anyone.

"Come to me..." a deep voice whispered in his ear, "Release me..."

Su Ting ran in his dream, trying to escape the voice, but no matter where he ran, the voice followed him like a shadow. Suddenly, the ground cracked open, and countless black tentacles reached out from the cracks, wrapping around his legs.

Chapter 833 all ended in failure.

Chapter 833 all ended in failure.

"You can't escape..." the voice grew closer, "You're already mine..."

Just as the tentacles were about to drag him underground, Su Ting suddenly awoke, drenched in cold sweat. Outside the window, dawn was breaking.

The morning sunlight dispelled the fear brought by the nightmare. Su Ting washed his face and prepared to head to Old Xiao's residence to begin training. On the way, he saw the villagers already at work for the day; in the fields, several elderly people were checking on the crops.

"Good morning, young man from the city," an elderly woman watering her plants greeted him.

"Good morning," Su Ting nodded in response.

"I heard you want to learn magic from Old Xiao?" The old woman put down her bucket and asked curiously. "He hasn't taken on any apprentices for many years."

"I'm just learning some basics for self-defense."

The old woman gave him a meaningful look. "Old Xiao was the most talented mage in the village when he was young, but unfortunately..." She shook her head and didn't continue. "Anyway, cherish this opportunity."

After saying goodbye to the old woman, Su Ting quickened his pace. When he arrived at Old Xiao's wooden house, he found that the old man had been waiting outside for quite some time.

"You're late," Old Xiao said, turning and walking into the house.