ju

You still won't leave?

That one started this war which has ravaged the lives of thousands. We were not the ones who began it. Why is it we who have to leave?

It' is intentionally causing strife, and it is my duty to intervene as fellow kindred. But this is not your fight.

Long have we followed your teachings. If you choose to stay, so shall we.

...Is this your doing too, Carpenter?

The old man's hair is white, and his eyes have begun to grow cloudy.

But there is fire in his stubborn brow, the strength of which has not faded in the slightest.

You should not have involved them in this mess. How could you be so stubborn?

You knew—

Are you not just as stubborn? Your method of 'ending conflict' is not something that can be forced.

You know as well as I do that throwing yourself into a conflict is not the way to resolve it.

If you dislike conflict, you should not intervene or chase us away, and you most certainly should not... make such futile attempts to end conflict.

The wise stay away from danger... but it is not the solution I am looking for.

(Sigh)

If you will not leave, we can seek another solution. The land is vast, and there must be another way!

If we find the legendary Stone... the divine destiny of Yan.

This Stone is hardly easy to find...

He personally dispersed them, and eventually closed His in the hunt, but the stone was never found.

Yet He was not only searching for the stone, the solution.

He wanted there to be no conflict, no suffering across the land.

You mean this stone will make all your dreams come true?

There is a stone in the mountains, inside which dwells a deity.' That's what the books say, but who can truly tell if they're real or not?

If I get my hands on the stone, I'll dream about endless fertile fields!

Why not dream about endless granaries filled with grain?

I've got two arms and two legs, I ought to plant my own food. Granaries filled with grain? I doubt the deity in the stone would be willing to see someone who wants to reap without sowing.

What are you trying to say?

What? What did you think I was trying to say?

At it again, you two? Come on—

Stop it!

Demon stone! Demon Stone!

STOP!

What are you?!

The stone leaves the hand with a strange cry.

The girl picks up the stone again, then cranks her shoulder, tightening her body like a bow.

NOT INTO THE RIVER!

Wh-What are you?!

...You can hear me?

Of course I can!

Ju looks at Himself. The elaborate clockwork of his body is no more; all that is left is this broken, fist-sized core.

Centuries ago, His followers had salvaged it from the Great Hunt, preserving a vestige of His existence.

Interesting... I have been awake for a few years and seen many people on this river bank. You are the first to hear my voice.

As the girl readies to throw the stone again—

Stop it, you brat!

I was a... craftsman. I was imprisoned in this stone because of the mistakes I made.

'Mistakes I made?' I knew I should have thrown you!

It's not what you think—

No! Stop!

Didn't your parents teach you how to behave?

It's none of your business!

I don't take many students... but you'll study with me from this day forth! You ought to learn some rules!

I'd rather throw you into the water!

Little Wood—

Chief!

Why are you playing by the river again? I told you, the river's sick. You should stay away.

The girl hurriedly puts her stone away and walks towards the town chief, her cheeks puffed red.

Your dad's talking to folks from nearby towns about how to heal the river. I'm going there now... you should go home. This place is dangerous.

I'm coming with you!

...Very well. But behave yourself.

You're finally here! These two are at it again.

Hmph.

How old are you guys? You act like children!

Go sit in a corner, girl! We're talking about serious business.

I heard everything you were talking about! Some stone? Does this look like one that makes dreams come true?

(Girl!)

...Let's get back on track. Basically, the river is yellow and salty from this town to the next one down the river. It can't even be used for irrigation, much less drinking.

Do we know the reason?

I went up the north mountain to check on the source, but there doesn't seem to be anything wrong there.

No warning from the provincial government either, which means it's probably something with this segment of the river, rather than a Catastrophe.

(Salty water... looks like drinking water is the most urgent issue.)

You know this stuff?

Little Wood!

(I told you, you're the only one who can hear me.)

Drinking water is the most urgent issue. The wells in town have become polluted as well. If we can't fix the river, we'll have to try to get water from the north mountain directly.

But what can we do?

('Guide spring water into the village with bamboo.' It was one of the Carpenter's ideas, one that never came to fruition due to resource and manpower limitations at the time.

(You actually know this stuff?)

(Just repeat what I say. If anyone asks, tell them that you heard a traveling merchant talk about it by the riverside.)

G-Guide spring water into the village with bamboo.

Yes! When I was in Shangshu, I saw people make pipes out of bamboo to transport salty wellwater.

Apparently, proper setup and placement will filter out sand and prevent algae from forming, resulting in clear, clean water.

How do you know about these things?

I heard a traveling merchant talk about it by the riverside!

Well, no reason not to give it a try.

We have a plan. Construction for spring plowing can wait until the bamboo pipes are completed.

It will take tremendous manpower and resources...

It's expensive, but it must be done. Our two downs should work together to overcome this crisis.

We'll follow your lead.

Do you want to study with me now?

Not really.

But you seem to know a lot. 'Guide spring water into the village with bamboo'... you helped us. I guess you're not a bad rock after all.

But why do you want me to study with you?

Ahem. It's rare to meet someone who can hear me. Besides... let's just say I saw it as my duty to teach some manners into an unruly brat like you.

You talked about the mistakes you made. Can people who made mistakes become teachers?

All you need to know is that I can give you knowledge and help you help the others.

The storage tank outside the town is complete, and the bamboo pipes have been connected, but we haven't had time to prepare the lacquer and flax to seal the connections.

Spring plowing will be delayed at this rate. We need to plant seedlings more efficiently.

But what can we do, besides putting more resources and manpower into it?

There must be another way, just like these bamboo pipes.

Yes, this seeding tool allows seeds to be planted with the foot. It saves energy and is easier on the back.

Remember your lessons, Little Wood. What can be done to improve this contraption?