Lease Transfer Room
Time, in its endless corridor, has a unique way of being measured. For Jiang Yu, who holds the Source Key, fifty years is sometimes a new pale golden ring added to the Tree of Hope, sometimes the flourishing and withering of the moss on the edge of the Star Terrace, and sometimes just a shallow mark etched on the shield by the rock.
Every fifty years, he undertakes a special tour. This is not a rigid rule, but rather an unspoken agreement between him and this land, and with those special "tenants." Each "rent collection" is like turning the pages of a thick album of time, reflecting the passing years.
In his first fifty years, he walked the fairytale path.
Annie was no longer the little girl who needed him to hold her hand and skip around leading her to pick rainbow mushrooms. She exuded a pure, natural aura, blending seamlessly with that dreamlike place. The "rent" she offered was a handful of "smiling dew," crystal clear and full of life, condensing the purest memories of joy.
"Brother Jiang Yu, is this year's 'happiness' sweet enough?" she asked with a smile, a hint of guardian's serenity in her eyes.
Jiang Yu took the dewdrop, feeling its familiar warmth, and smiled, "It's so sweet it warms my heart." He remembered how Annie had timidly handed him a singing morning glory as "rent." Time had changed appearances, but it hadn't changed that purity.
In the tenth fifty years, he stepped into the illusory image of the Azure Emperor's desolate ancient forest.
The forest grew ever deeper and greener, and the Azure Emperor's will, like the rings of an ancient tree, was ancient and enduring. This time, the "rent" was a section of "immortal root" containing the ultimate resilience of life.
"Traveler of Time, this item will help you solidify your traces of travel." The Azure Emperor's thoughts were gentle.
Jiang Yu accepted it solemnly, recalling how, in his younger days, the Azure Emperor had perhaps only given him a leaf brimming with life. Now, this gift concerned the stability of time and space. Trust and bonds had grown ever stronger with the passage of time.
In the twentieth fifty years, he stood on the edge of the heart of the furnace of the Heavenly Forging Lord.
The furnace fire burns eternally, and the figure of the Forging Lord appears even more solid and imposing in the flames. This "rent" is a piece of "indestructible steel billet" that has been forged through countless hammer blows and contains the essence of "eternal fire," which is crucial for maintaining the basic structure of the corridor.
"Kid! Here you go! Let's add a few more 'hard bones' to our family!" Duan Tianjun's voice was still loud and clear.
Jiang Yu took the heavy, warm steel billet, as if he could see a scene from many years ago when Duan Tianjun tossed him a rough blank that he still needed to polish himself, jokingly scolding him, "Kid, you're too weak." From rough blank to steel billet, it was a sublimation of skill and a testament to friendship.
In his thirtieth fifty years, he listened quietly to the melody played by the ethereal voice echoing in the void.
That melody is no longer just simple notes, but contains revelations about the mysteries of the universe's birth and death. This "rent" is a fragment of a requiem that can soothe the soul's anxiety and strengthen the mind.
The melody flowed naturally into her heart, and Jiang Yu recalled that in the beginning, the ethereal sound might have only been a lullaby to help her sleep. Now, this melody has become a bulwark against the loneliness of time and space, and a steadfast guardianship of her will.
He had once received the latest "Vitality Roasted Meat," a product developed by Blood Axe's descendants, which could replenish life energy. He recalled how Uncle Blood Axe had patted him on the shoulder and insisted on giving him a large piece of charred meat, shouting, "You need to eat well to have the strength to work!" He had also received a detailed report on the energy flow of the entire building from the fox, which had become integrated with the intelligent core of the corridor, "All Things." He recalled the fox's exasperated expression when it first displayed gibberish on the light screen. He had also stood outside the shadowy realm of silence, feeling that eternal, silent protection, and recalled that initial sense of wary alienation...
Every instance of "rent collection" is a silent exchange, a transfer of power, and a retrospective and forward-looking reflection on time. Jiang Yu watched Annie transform from lively to serene, felt the Azure Emperor's forest grow ever more lush, and experienced the Forging Heaven Monarch's forging skills reaching ever greater heights. He himself had grown from a young administrator who needed to be cautious and rely on the instincts and wisdom of the Source Key to become a cornerstone of protection, capable of communicating equally with these ancient beings and supporting each other.
The meaning of "rent" has long since transformed, from its initial status as "energy replenishment" or "contract fulfillment" to a bond that maintains a special connection. It symbolizes the continued care and support these entities have for the corridor and for Jiang Yu herself. The objects in their hands bear witness to each other's growth and changes.
However, Jiang Yu also keenly sensed another side of time. The aura of some overly ancient contract partners began to become increasingly restrained, even occasionally revealing a hint of weary isolation. The manager's grandfather's notes had subtly mentioned that contracts that were too long might eventually dissipate naturally and return to their origins. This pilgrimage every fifty years, while heartwarming, was also subtly shrouded in a layer of quiet acceptance regarding regularity and reincarnation.
And the latest fifty-year agreement is about to arrive. Jiang Yu stood on the Starry Terrace, feeling the steady flow of energy in the long corridor.
Unlike before, he felt no particular expectations or worries, only a calm that came after weathering many storms. He vaguely sensed an indescribable, faint ripple in the air, as if it came from a higher dimension.
This time, the "rent collection" might be different. He seemed to hear a new tide rising from the lower reaches of the river of time.
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