That Toad Bastard Seems Like Easy Prey? lol

Yeah, for sure, Lin thought, tension easing a bit. It was the poison from what might've been a Core Formation cultivator—or a Great Demon in demon terms—so she'd been pretty nervous. But it melted way easier than expected. Especially since a normal flame owner might've struggled, but thanks to her dragon clan's cheat bloodline, her once-ordinary Extreme Yang Heavenly Flame was starting to gain a touch of divinity. At this rate? It was like the heavens were serving it up on a platter. A bit of exaggeration, sure.

"Aigoo...!! Your grace runs so deep, we don't know how to repay you...!"

"No biggie! Wasn't hard—just melted some ice!"

"Please don't say that... For wretched farmers like us, even that small help saves our lives...!"

"Thank you...! Thank you!"

"Once the village is back to normal, we'll repay this grace...!"

"Hehe! Well, if you insist!"

Thanks to Lin's flames, the ice poison blanketing Seorin's father had vanished ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like it was never there. Flames—especially pure heavenly fire that burned away evil—often carried immense vitality too. So not only did it neutralize the poison, but it revitalized his weakened body to boot. Seojin, her father, was now more vigorous than in his prime.

Regaining his senses, he approached Lin and bowed deeply, impeccably formal.

"This foolish father caused his daughter to trouble you. Please forgive us, Immortal."

"Nonsense! Thank Seorin if you're grateful—I only helped for her sake!"

"I-Immortal...?"

"Seorin..."

Seojin's eyes welled up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠red. Bedridden and ill, he'd felt endless guilt and gratitude toward his daughter. Soon, the humble hut warmed with the heartfelt embrace of father and child. Lin watched from a step away, smiling contentedly.

Unbeknownst to her, deep in her heart—her Dao heart—something stirred. Ever so slightly, it grew firmer, bit by bit.

Lin decided not to overthink it. She hadn't done it for rewards anyway—but if it did pay off, great! In the Dao path, nothing was meaningless. It'd help eventually. Whatever form that took.

With the tearful reunion over, Lin toured the village, treating everyone poisoned by that toad while she was at it. Wasn't hard, and she'd already done one—might as well finish the job.

"Thank you...! Thank you...!"

"The cold's gone! No more ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pain! Thank you, Immortal!"

It started as pure goodwill, but Lin gained from healing them too. Melting the toad's ice poison over and over honed her flame arts fast. Treatment time halved from the start.

"Ooh...! Nice! Unexpected bonus?"

She hadn't planned it, but hey—good deeds paid off. Classic.

After a full day treating every ice poison victim in the village, dusk fell into deep evening. Even spry Lin felt wiped.

"Phew~ Finally done. Chief, no one left hurting, right?"

"Y-yes... All thanks to you, Immortal. How can we repay...?"

"Just load me up with tasty food! Wasn't for reward—no need ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to overdo it!"

"We can't! Look at all you've done..."

The chief pondered, then stepped out to consult the elders. He returned with them, resolute, holding a wooden box Lin hadn't seen before.

"This is...?"

"Please, accept it."

It was a plain little wooden box, unadorned—but an odd aura swirled around it.

Not pure spirit energy. But not unrelated to the Dao either...

Definitely not ordinary.

"Looks pricey... You sure I can just take it?"

"Nonsense, Immortal. Your grace is beyond measure."

"Hrm... If you say so...?"

It'd helped, so Lin accepted without more fuss. Their tone screamed they wouldn't back down otherwise—and who turns down something special? She knew when to grab opportunity. Practical dragon that she was!

"Ahem. Anyway, what's this? Where'd a normal village get something Dao-related?"

Such items were rare for mortals. Must have a story—or ties to a cultivator.

Spot on. The chief bowed and explained calmly.

"Long ago, a massive flood hit our village. Rain poured endlessly; the river swelled, swallowing everything."

"Oh no..."

"A passing immortal pitied us and helped. Thanks to them, we survived and rebuilt. Just like you now."

"Whoa! Super kind immortal!"

"Hehe... This box holds a mysterious pouch they used. They opened it wide, and a huge wind sucked up the floodwaters in seconds."

"For real?"

Sucking up village-engulfing waters? That tiny pouch? Incredible. What a legendary cultivator.

"After, they helped rebuild, then sealed part of their power into this pouch and left it. Said it'd protect us from future floods."

"Th-that precious? You sure? Won't you need it?"

"The village has grown; we can handle floods now. That toad demon's the real threat."

Priority: survive the toad over hypothetical floods. Fair.

"And crucially... Such treasures are wasted on mortals like us. It belongs with a noble immortal like you."

"M-me? Not that noble..."

"Please. Without this, we have no way to repay you."

"W-well, if you put it that way..."

Feigning reluctance, Lin took the box. Inside: a small pouch radiating mystery. As she admired and touched it—