Chapter 29

Chapter 29

"Is this a new dish?" Yuan Xiu and Yuan Qing arrived together. The moment they sat down, they noticed Ying Yuanxing had prepared an additional dish. Assuming he had bought it from the market, Yuan Xiu asked, "Has the market reopened?"

"It's not from the market. It's garlic grown in the field. I plucked some leaves to taste—there isn’t much," Ying Yuanxing explained before turning to greet Yuan Qing warmly.

"Auntie, I made steamed fish today. Let me know how it tastes." Ying Yuanxing was especially affectionate toward Yuan Qing, not just because of her woodworking skills but also because she was a true appreciator of his cooking.

After cooking for several days, Ying Yuanxing realized he genuinely enjoyed it. While recipe research was tedious and time-consuming, once he perfected a dish, he could replicate it effortlessly by simply preparing the ingredients and selecting it. While this meant the flavors remained consistent, losing some spontaneity, the convenience made up for it.

Cooking had become a challenging game—once he mastered a dish, the rewards were satisfying, filling him with a sense of accomplishment.

However, a chef’s joy also came from feedback from diners, and in this regard, Ying Yuanxing felt somewhat lacking.

Xuan Ying wasn’t picky about food. Even if he enjoyed something, he rarely praised—or perhaps he simply struggled to articulate his emotions. Some emotions made sense; others didn’t, leaving his feedback to Ying Yuanxing rather dry.

As for Yuan Xiu, Ying Yuanxing suspected he liked good food, but it never seemed to excite him much. Though his compliments sounded sincere and enthusiastic, they often felt rehearsed.

Only Yuan Qing, though she used few words, consistently mirrored Ying Yuanxing’s own impressions of the dishes, making him feel he had found a kindred spirit.

Moreover, Yuan Qing didn’t just express her appreciation verbally—she also gave Ying Yuanxing little gifts—flower pots, baskets. Though not valuable, they showed she truly enjoyed his cooking.

Hearing this, Yuan Qing’s eyes lit up. Before even sitting down, her eyes were glued to the dining table.

Yuan Xiu watched, puzzled at how utterly Yuan Qing was captivated by the food. Was it really that delicious?

During the meal, Yuan Xiu noticed Xuan Ying acting strange. Normally, Xuan Ying would be the first to try Ying Yuanxing’s new dishes, but today...

Xuan Ying kept his head down, seemingly lost in thought.

Yuan Xiu didn’t need to guess—it was definitely about Ying Yuanxing.

This kind of unknown should have excited Yuan Xiu, as he loved new experiences. Following Ying Yuanxing in the first place had been because of the fresh experiences he brought. But for some reason, this time, it only left him unexplainably annoyed.

...

Ying Yuanxing remained unaware of the weird vibe between Xuan Ying and Yuan Xiu, engrossed in discussing the steamed fish with Yuan Qing.

"Oh, Auntie, how’s the kitchen coming along? Did you get everything you needed?" Ying Yuanxing suddenly remembered how empty the Yuan family’s kitchen had been.

"Everything’s ready," Yuan Qing replied.

Truthfully, the day after the kitchen was emptied, Yuan Xiu had already arranged for the necessary utensils to be delivered. Only the cabinets required Yuan Qing’s craftsmanship, which didn’t take long.

So, since yesterday, they no longer needed to eat at Ying Yuanxing’s place. But Yuan Xiu kept showing up at mealtimes, and Yuan Qing had no choice but to follow—partly because she didn’t want to miss Ying Yuanxing’s cooking, and partly because she wouldn’t go against Yuan Xiu’s wishes.

"That’s good. Then, Auntie, come by in a couple of days to take home some fish." Ying Yuanxing had considered giving her some now, but since steamed fish relied on freshness, he thought letting the fish graze on pasture for a while might improve the flavor.

Speaking of raising fish, Ying Yuanxing had another idea. While keeping poultry like chickens or ducks wasn’t feasible yet, he could try fish farming. Breeding rare varieties might turn a hefty profit.

He still remembered Elder Brother Yu’s offer of 500,000. Even if that was inflated, if he could cultivate such valuable fish, even at a fraction of the price, it’d still be a windfall.

The only problem was space—his current farm might not be enough for a pond.

Ying Yuanxing looked over the farm. The left side was fully cultivated with crops, while the right was pasture grass—each patch left to grow freely. This pasture zone was untouchable, as it was the foundation of his high-end fish food venture.

So, expanding the land was necessary. But unlocking new land cost at least 10,000. Ying Yuanxing sighed—money disappeared fast.

Since arriving in Taoxi Village, including the unexpected cash from the traffickers, he’d earned nearly 15,000. Yet the more he made, the more he spent. He needed to earn even more.

This strengthened his resolve to open the fish food shop. A single bottle of premium fish food sold for 500. Even with the pasture’s limited growth rate, selling twenty bottles a day would mean 10,000 in earnings. Where else could he find such a lucrative business?

His only concern was whether fish farmers could sustain his sales. Reality wasn’t a game—customers couldn’t buy endlessly.

The solution was to expand his customer base. Shearing the same sheep daily would leave it bald, but with many sheep taking turns, their wool would regrow quickly.

He also needed to explore other uses for pasture grass. Fish farmers might be few, but pet owners in general were plentiful.

This reminded him of the livestock sounds he’d heard upon entering the village. He made a mental note to visit soon. If there was a big-time breeder, they might buy his pasture grass or refer clients.

But Ying Yuanxing remembered he was in the middle of talking and quickly refocused, noticing Yuan Qing looked both excited and unsure. "But... I’m afraid I won’t do it well."

"Don’t worry, Auntie. I’ll write down the recipe for you—you’ll manage just fine." Ying Yuanxing immediately fetched pen and paper to jot down the steamed fish instructions.

"Here, Auntie." Then it occurred to him. "Give me your phone number, or let’s add each other on WeChat. If you have any questions while cooking, just call me."

This way, he could also contact her directly if needed, saving trips to the back mountain.

After exchanging numbers and adding WeChat, Ying Yuanxing’s joy was interrupted by the oddly quiet table. He turned to see Yuan Xiu and Xuan Ying both tense, clearly in bad moods—but not because of each other.

He’d seen them argue before, and this was different. Now, they seemed troubled by separate issues.

Ying Yuanxing hesitated but decided against asking at the table. He’d inquire separately while fishing later.

Lost in thought, he suddenly noticed two pairs of eyes fixed on him—one amber and curious, the other dark and unreadable yet intensely focused.

Ying Yuanxing’s neck hairs stood up. His left eye met Yuan Xiu’s gaze, his right Xuan Ying’s, as if his vision might split. Responding to either felt like a misstep.

Fortunately, a voice called from outside—his name. Grateful for the distraction, Ying Yuanxing jumped up.

...

"Village Chief?" Recognizing the caller, Ying Yuanxing was puzzled. Aside from their first meeting when the chief led him to the farm, he hadn’t visited since. What brought him now?

"Did you hear back about renting the fishing gear shop?" Remembering yesterday’s discussion, Ying Yuanxing brightened.

The chief nodded, relaying Li An’s message. Ying Yuanxing agreed readily, "No problem, I’ll definitely be there by 8 PM."

Then, recalling he was mid-meal—and that the chief might have come on an empty stomach—he invited him to join for breakfast. He could whip something up quickly.

The chief hesitated. Ideally, he’d avoid eating at the farm, but considering how much high-grade Weird Food Ying Yuanxing had consumed at his place, even a small return was better than nothing.

Just as he was about to accept, he spotted Xuan Ying emerging from the cabin and froze, as if thrust back into that near-death moment.

Even if he didn’t recognize Xuan Ying’s face, the aura was unforgettable.

The chief’s reaction was unmistakable. Ying Yuanxing followed his gaze to Xuan Ying and asked curiously, "Village Chief, do you know Xuan Ying?"

"Xuan Ying, do you know the Village Chief?" he repeated.

"I’ve seen him," Xuan Ying replied. "But his eyes were closed then. He probably didn’t see me."

Eyes closed? Before Ying Yuanxing could ask, the chief’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed. Ying Yuanxing barely caught him in time.

"Village Chief?" Panicked, Ying Yuanxing considered carrying him to the village clinic but worried about aggravating a potential medical emergency.

"What happened?" Yuan Xiu stepped outside to see the chief on the ground and Ying Yuanxing flustered.

"Yuan Xiu, do you have a doctor’s number?" Ying Yuanxing asked, realizing he didn’t, but Yuan Xiu surely would.

After speaking, Ying Yuanxing quickly recapped what happened.

"Don't worry, the village chief probably didn't have a health crisis," Yuan Xiu said, glancing at Xuan Ying. "He was likely just scared."

"Frightened?" Ying Yuanxing hesitated for a moment, looking over the village chief. The chief's complexion was quite rosy, with no signs of convulsions. Apart from fainting, he seemed completely fine.

But was Xuan Ying's appearance really that terrifying?

Ying Yuanxing stared at Xuan Ying carefully for a while. Though Xuan Ying had a somewhat dark vibe, it wasn't enough to scare someone into fainting, was it?

"Do you know why the market shut down?" Yuan Xiu, displeased, was looking to pick a fight. He hadn't decided whom to target yet, but Xuan Ying's situation was handed to him on a silver platter.

"Why?" Ying Yuanxing genuinely didn't know and had no one to ask.

"Because the day after you left, a serial killer entered the market and killed everyone there. The village chief happened to be there," Yuan Xiu said, glancing at Xuan Ying. Though he couldn't reveal the full truth, dropping a hint was enough.

Ying Yuanxing sucked in a breath. He hadn't realized the market's closure was due to this. After such an incident, no market would risk opening anytime soon. People wanted money, but their lives mattered more.

"At least the village chief got away safely," Ying Yuanxing said with relief.

As for the others, Ying Yuanxing honestly didn't feel much. His experience at that market hadn't been great, and he was fully aware of this world's chaos.

For example, at Hongxing Company, a full-time employee could easily have an intern killed with any excuse. While this cruelty might seem not as scary as a serial killer's indiscriminate attacks, it was essentially the same.

"I remember Xuan Ying returned from the market with you. The village chief must recognize him and thought he was dead. Seeing him here probably made the chief think Xuan Ying was a Great Weird," Yuan Xiu said slowly.

Ying Yuanxing had an epiphany. He glanced at Xuan Ying with relief—thankfully, Xuan Ying had followed him back. Otherwise, his clueless self back then would surely have died.

Ying Yuanxing had little pity for strangers he disliked, but Xuan Ying was now part of his circle, so he cared more.

"However, from your description, I suspect the village chief wasn't just scared by that. He might have thought Xuan Ying looked like the killer..." Before Yuan Xiu could finish, the village chief's coughing interrupted him.

Ying Yuanxing watched the chief, who had been jolted awake, and turned to Xuan Ying.

He hadn't even exposed anything, yet the chief was already this nervous?

Xuan Ying didn't see anything wrong with eating other Great Weirds. To him, it was as natural as humans eating rice. But after spending time with Ying Yuanxing, he realized Ying Yuanxing wasn't fond of that.

Moreover, he feared Ying Yuanxing's attitude toward him would change—and not in a way he wanted—if he found out.

Besides, if it were to be revealed, it should come from him, not Yuan Xiu.

The village chief was awake but wished he weren't. At least in unconsciousness, being devoured would be quick. Awake, he had to endure terror.

Especially with Xuan Ying's terrifying aura and Yuan Xiu's unsettling presence. Add Li An from yesterday, and the chief wanted to hide at home for a month. Every outing seemed to bring him face-to-face with more and more terrifying Great Weirds.

"Xuan Ying," Ying Yuanxing called. Xuan Ying immediately approached, and Ying Yuanxing took his hand. "Chief, Xuan Ying is alive. He returned with me that day, so he survived. Feel his hand—it's warm..."

Well, maybe a bit cold.

Ying Yuanxing quickly wrapped his hands around Xuan Ying's, trying to warm them before offering them to the chief.

The chief recoiled as Xuan Ying approached, feeling death's approach. Even if Xuan Ying seemed harmless around Ying Yuanxing, what if Ying Yuanxing wasn't there?

The chief scurried away, stuttering, "No need, no need! I see now. I just fainted from low blood sugar. I'll eat something at home and be fine."

"Since everything's settled, I'll head back," the chief said rapidly, bolting before Ying Yuanxing could respond.

Ying Yuanxing wanted the chief to stay for food—if low blood sugar wasn't an excuse, fainting on the road would be dangerous. But the chief ran faster than kids half his age.

Hmm, maybe low blood sugar was just an excuse.

Ying Yuanxing sighed, hoping the chief would be okay. He considered taking Xuan Ying out more often to get the chief used to him. After all, Xuan Ying couldn't stay hidden on the farm forever.

Turning back, Ying Yuanxing noticed Yuan Xiu staring—no, staring—at their joined hands. He realized he was still holding Xuan Ying's hand.

Awkward.

Ying Yuanxing pretended to casually let go, glancing between Yuan Xiu and Xuan Ying. The tension from inside had followed them out, but this time, there was no village chief to bail him out.

"I'll go fishing. Xuan Ying, chop some wood in the forest," Ying Yuanxing said, making his escape.

Passing the large water tank, he noticed his pet, the little blue fish, and remembered he hadn't fed it today. Tossing in some feed, he hurried off without lingering.

From the elevated farm, one could see Ying Yuanxing scurrying about, occasionally digging through trash cans near abandoned houses. Today, he got lucky—he found something in the second bin and tossed it in his bag.

"Let's go to the forest," Xuan Ying said.

"What do you want?" Yuan Xiu asked, knowing exactly why.

"Fighting here would damage the crops. In the forest, we can chop wood too," Xuan Ying replied calmly.

"And what role do you play in Ying Yuanxing's life to care so much?" Yuan Xiu narrowed his eyes, anger rising. If Xuan Ying wanted a fight, he was happy to oblige.

Ying Yuanxing fished for a while until a fog settled in. Thankfully, it didn't affect fishing, though foraging in the forest would've been difficult.

Catching another fish, he cast his line again. Hidden below the surface, a translucent figure stood by the hook, studying it closely.

Soon, a fish swam over and bit the hook—despite no bait—putting up a fight before being reeled in.

Li An frowned at the hook. The next time Ying Yuanxing cast, he shooed away any fish that came near. Ying Yuanxing waited impatiently, resisting the urge to recast.

Underwater, Li An's expression shifted. He eyed the hook, feeling an odd urge to bite it himself. The impulse wasn't irresistible, but it itched at him.

Why not try?

Li An transformed into a blue fish. Had Ying Yuanxing seen it, he'd have noticed the resemblance to the little blue fish—though Li An's form was far more vibrant, with dazzling colors and majestic fins.

Ultimately, Li An didn't bite the hook. Instead, he wrapped it in water, making the water curl around it like ribbon.

To Ying Yuanxing, it felt like a massive bite. The tension on the line spiked, far faster than usual, making the struggle intense. Despite his improved skills, the fish escaped, the meter turning red.

Yet, Ying Yuanxing glimpsed a flash of blue tail—unusually large and colorful for a river fish. For a moment, he wondered if it was a mermaid.

How big must that fish have been? If only he'd landed it, his fishing record would've been unbeatable.

Sighing, Ying Yuanxing continued mechanically, he'd lost his excitement.

Under the water, Li An had already walked away. One reckless attempt was enough—trying again would be pushing it, even if no one knew.

When Ying Yuanxing finally shook off his disappointment, his backpack was almost overflowing with fish. He walked to the door of the fishing gear shop, squinting at the wind-blurred numbers on the sign. After hesitating, he still decided to jot them down.

This fish had to be at least two meters—no, more like three meters long. Its tail was enormous, and it probably weighed around 170 pounds. With that kind of strength, it definitely wasn’t some skinny fish.

Too bad he didn’t catch it.

After noting "got away" next to the two numbers, Ying Yuanxing paused, then noted the time before leaving. He had to dump the fish back in the pond first before coming back to wait.

Back at the farm, Ying Yuanxing gaped at the massive pile of logs on the ground.

“Why so much wood?” He had a good idea of Xuan Ying’s usual haul—this amount was way beyond that.

“Yuan Xiu saw me cutting wood and helped,” Xuan Ying explained. Worried Ying Yuanxing might not believe him, he added, “He said he was in a bad mood, so chopping trees helped him vent.”

It wasn’t a total lie, though Yuan Xiu would probably roll his eyes if he heard.

Ying Yuanxing was thrilled with the extra wood. If he rented the fishing gear shop, the rundown building would need Yuan Qing’s touch-ups for sure, not to mention the cabinets and shelves required for the store—wood consumption would be high.

“Guess I owe Yuan Xiu thanks later,” Ying Yuanxing said.

“That was my idea,” Xuan Ying mumbled.

“Huh?” Ying Yuanxing was puzzled.

“I was the one who told him to go to the woods,” Xuan Ying said, glancing quickly at Ying Yuanxing and speaking a little louder.

“Got it.” Ying Yuanxing finally understood what Xuan Ying was hinting at and chuckled, ruffling his hair. “Good call getting Yuan Xiu to help—killed two birds with one stone.”