Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Seeing Chen Yuan arrive, the other weird beings lit up with excitement. They had held back from entering the woods precisely because they were waiting for him.

"Chen Yuan, with your wife, we have ten new customers in total. Once we get the Deluxe Fish Feed, we’ll split it into fifths for each of us. How about that?" one of the weird beings suggested.

Chen Yuan quickly grasped the situation, glancing at the weird beings accompanying the others before nodding.

"But the shopkeeper must be the one to divide it," Chen Yuan added. Otherwise, he couldn’t trust the others to distribute it fairly.

This demand resonated with the other weird beings. Apart from those they cared about, they didn’t trust any other weird beings. But as for the shopkeeper, given the effectiveness of the Deluxe Fish Feed, they had some faith in him.

Once the agreement was reached, the group of weird beings filed into the woods in high spirits. Compared to their nervousness during their first visit, this time they were eager—so desperate that even the shopkeeper’s ominous reputation couldn’t dampen their craving for the Deluxe Fish Feed.

When they spotted the fishing gear shop, their excitement was cut short as they saw the door closed, with no sign of the shopkeeper inside.

"Could it be sold out already?" one weird being muttered in disbelief. They had rushed back after getting the Deluxe Fish Feed, eaten it, and returned immediately. Could it really have sold out so quickly?

"Chen Yuan, why did you take so long?" another weird being couldn’t help but complain. Though they had waited for him to gather enough people, his delay had been excessive.

Weird beings were inherently emotionally unstable, especially after such a rollercoaster of emotions. The sudden disappointment caused a few to lose control of their forms, revealing their hideous true visages.

If not for the presence of their loved ones, a fight might have broken out right then.

"We don’t know for sure if it’s sold out. The shopkeeper is fishing nearby—let’s just go ask," Chen Yuan said calmly, eyeing the weird beings who had revealed their monstrous visages. He added a warning, "The shopkeeper seems to dislike terrifying or ugly true forms. He prefers guests who look pleasant or at least maintain a human disguise. If you go over like this and annoy him, don’t blame me for not warning you."

This was information Chen Yuan had carefully collected. While transactions were supposed to be straightforward, when demand outstripped supply, getting on his good side might yield unexpected benefits.

If not for the fact that these weird beings had come with him—and he feared their poor behavior might reflect badly on him—he wouldn’t have shared this tip at all.

As soon as Chen Yuan finished speaking, the other weird beings hurriedly morphed back into human forms. Some even anxiously checked with their companions to ensure their appearances were presentable enough before sighing in relief.

Spotting Ying Yuanxing fishing, Chen Yuan didn’t dare approach too closely, afraid of disturbing him. Upon closer inspection, he spotted the familiar cursed fishing rod.

This… won’t catch any fish, right?

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than Ying Yuanxing landed a fish with ease.

Is this a Great Weird's idea of fun? Deliberately making fishing harder despite easier methods? Chen Yuan was relieved he hadn’t spoken up earlier.

After finishing his fishing, Ying Yuanxing finally turned to see who had arrived. Recognizing Chen Yuan, he was about to ask what he needed when he noticed the crowd in the distance and understood.

They must have realized how effective the Deluxe Fish Feed was and brought new customers.

That was fast.

Ying Yuanxing packed up his fishing rod and opened the shop door. The weird beings immediately pushed forward, prompting a frown from him.

Chen Yuan, closely observing Ying Yuanxing’s expression, sensed trouble and called out, "Those who can’t buy yet, stay outside. Form a line first."

Though the other weird beings didn’t fully respect Chen Yuan, they knew he was the most familiar with the shopkeeper among them. A quick glance at Ying Yuanxing’s face confirmed the issue, and they swiftly lined up. Since they knew everyone present would get a purchase, the order didn’t matter much, preventing any disputes.

Ying Yuanxing hadn’t initially considered the need for queues. He thought the limited stock of fish food wouldn’t require it so soon. But now, he had to admit he’d underestimated its appeal.

Making a mental note, he decided to post a notice about queuing outside the shop later. Regardless of crowd size, everyone would line up.

As for business hours—today was the grand opening, so he could stay in the shop for an extended period. But he couldn’t be trapped here forever, even if he could fish nearby. The farm was his foundation.

With no funds to hire help yet, Ying Yuanxing had to shorten operating hours. Fortunately, it was still early days, and customers were few. Announcing the change now would help them adjust.

While lost in thought, Ying Yuanxing automatically distributed portions of Deluxe Fish Feed until the shelves were empty.

He then pulled out two more portions from his bag, eyeing the customers. These were meant for those who had brought new customers, but Ying Yuanxing could tell the ten newcomers had been brought by the first ten buyers. Who should get the reward?

"Boss, the ten of us will split it equally. Could you divide it for us?" Liang Yue spoke up.

Ying Yuanxing nodded and quickly divided the portions into ten. Without extra bottles, the others had to use their own containers.

Seeing the customers’ joy, Ying Yuanxing felt pleased too. Making money was nice, but knowing his farm’s products brought happiness was another.

Since arriving in this world, true smiles had been scarce. In a way, this world seemed diseased—too many faces were empty or grief-stricken. Ying Yuanxing hadn’t been here long, and the novelty had shielded him somewhat, but he sensed this environment was dangerous if left unchecked.

In the stream chat:

"Am I hallucinating? These weird beings look happier than humans—like, pure unadulterated joy."

"If I didn’t know everyone in the Weird game besides players are weird beings, I’d think they were just regular people. Their smiles are so bright."

"Tried smiling like that just now—ended up with a fake smile. Mouth smiled, eyes didn’t. Almost cried."

"These weird beings seem so friendly."

"Don’t be fooled by this heartwarming display. Check other streams—player-run shops face the most danger from customers. At least coworkers and bosses need excuses to harm you, but customers? Some attack out of nowhere."

"This streamer's luck is unreal. Despite some close calls, most weird beings here are friendly. The more I watch, the more I want to get picked for the Weird game and join him."

"Wake up, unless you get dropped in Taoxi Village, you can’t get there without an invite."

"Don’t forget, streamer’s journey wasn’t smooth either. The manager seemed reluctant to let him quit, the bus ride was packed with dangerous weird beings, and even at the village entrance, Yuan Xiu was behaving strangely. If not for his well-timed power awakening, things wouldn’t be so good now."

"Wait, didn’t the streamer have to rummage for food in trash bins when he first arrived?"

"Tough beginning, but now? He raked in 10,000 weird coins in a day. As long as he has stock, these weird beings will keep buying. I'm so envious."

"Same here. Especially knowing the ‘Deluxe Fish Feed’ is just hay. I'm tempted to steal from the farm for it."

"You savages—don’t steal the hay! Steal the seeds instead. If weird beings love hay this much, seeds mean infinite supply. More profitable."

"Anyone else think weird beings are unhealthily fixated on hay?"

"Yeah, there's definitely something special."

"Maybe it’s just really good for fish? If they’re weird beings obsessed with fish, quality feed would be crucial."

"Watching the streamer open shop feels surreal. He quit Hongxing Corp to inherit the farm, and now he’s running a business again."

"Bet he got scared off from selling fish outside twice. Safer to just open shop at home."

"This is my ideal lifestyle. Can’t believe someone’s living it in the Weird game. So satisfying to watch."

"Checked other streams—carnage everywhere. Players get arms bitten off and have to pretend it's nothing. I had to return here to recover."

"Still gotta watch those. If you panic when facing weird beings, you’re done for."

"Recuperating here before heading back."

"Are you new to this? Keep watching here and the expert streams. Weird beings aren't so terrifying once you learn their patterns. You can survive them."

"The previous comment was right—watch and learn more, and the Weird Game isn't that scary. Look at the streamer here—the Weird entities seem almost human. We might be weak now and get bullied by them, but once we grow stronger, the Weird entities will definitely be the ones running away from us."

"Exactly, exactly! Looking forward to that day."

"Didn’t expect everyone to notice. Thanks for the advice—I’ll follow this method and keep learning."

At the Dawn Bureau, a staff member glanced at the chat in Ying Yuanxing’s livestream and couldn’t help but smile.

Perhaps because Ying Yuanxing’s way of surviving in the Weird Game was different, the chat in his stream had a warmer, more humane feel compared to others.

If that high schooler’s comment had appeared in another stream, they would’ve been called useless or trash—never the gentle encouragement seen in Ying Yuanxing’s chat. Reading these messages, even the staff member felt a bit healed.

This wasn’t an exaggeration. From what the staff knew, many Dawn Bureau staff monitoring livestreams would specifically tune into Ying Yuanxing’s stream to relax.

Though the staff didn’t know how much their colleagues’ stress levels had dropped, the fact that their manager didn’t stop them from watching Ying Yuanxing’s stream so frequently was proof enough that it was a good thing.

Ying Yuanxing’s stream was like a utopian oasis. Even if they knew this paradise might not be as carefree as it seemed, it still gave them a bit of joy and hope, washing away the negativity absorbed from other streams.

Of course, there were always trolls lurking in the shadows, unable to stand the light, who would pop up in the chat. But with so many Dawn Bureau staff watching, the moment they appeared, they’d be swiftly dealt with, without a trace. Over time, this cycle made Ying Yuanxing’s stream even more harmonious, with other viewers naturally maintaining the positive atmosphere.

……

Over the next few days, Ying Yuanxing cycled between earning money, clearing land, transplanting grass, and running his shop. It was exhausting, but with a daily income of 10,000 Weird coins, he managed to open up three more plots of land, dramatically expanding his farm.

While Ying Yuanxing enjoyed peaceful days, Blue Star was in an uproar.

An Geluo’s name had gone viral on Xia State’s social media before, leaving a bad impression on many. Some thought the matter was over—until his name resurfaced, stirring up waves again in Xia State.

Due to An Geluo’s abilities within the Hongxing Corporation, over a dozen overseas countries formed a human-Weird Game resource coalition. Their goal was to pool resources from member nations to purchase Weird Food and Weird Artifacts, working together to create saviors stronger than the Weird entities to protect the human world. Xia State, however, was excluded.

The reason given was that Xia State wanted to join but lacked any spirit of contribution, only looking for handouts.

Of course, the accusations against Xia State were veiled, and Ying Yuanxing was once again dragged out as a scapegoat. The labels of cowardice, timidity, and selfishness were clamped onto him even tighter.

"Just fought a 300-round war of words outside—shut everyone up and returned victorious."

"Big boss, you’re amazing! I tried arguing back when they insulted the streamer, but I couldn’t win. Came back to watch the stream and calm down—don’t want to attract Weird entities with a bad mood."

"Can’t understand why they hate the streamer so much. He’s clearly just an excuse—he hasn’t done anything wrong. Why the vicious insults?"

"If you’re bad at arguing, grab a formula guide from the comments. Follow the script, and you’ll destroy those idiots."

"Quick, go check—there’s new news. Those traitors just breached the agreement!"

"Read it but didn’t fully get it. Does it mean they won’t trade Weird Artifacts with us anymore?"

"Probably think they can get better stuff from Hongxing Corp. and don’t want us benefiting."

"Officially, no trades. Privately, they might still sell a bit, but prices will be astronomical. And if it’s something we desperately need, they’ll probably demand even more."

"At this critical life-or-death moment, they’re still scheming and holding us back. Exhausting. It feels like humanity's survival depends on our nation now."

"Did you see the new announcement from the Salvation Game? No wonder these countries tore up the agreement."

"Going to check now."

"Back. No wonder they acted so decisively. If they had to send Weird Artifacts every three months, even hoarding good stuff would only have intermittent effects. But now? Simply open an online shop, and products can be shipped directly to Blue Star. An Geluo’s usefulness just skyrocketed."

"Can’t our players open online shops too?"

"The store isn’t the main issue—it’s the resources. The Weird Artifacts and tools we need are hard to buy even in the Weird Game."

"Foreign powers just want to monopolize the resale market. Hope we don’t have anything we absolutely must get—otherwise, we’ll be under their thumb."

Public debate raged, and Xia State’s higher-ups held emergency meetings. The overseas move had caught them off guard, but the final decision was to hold their ground. If they backed down now, they’d never regain their footing.

Besides, even if they compromised, they wouldn’t get what they wanted.

……

The turmoil on Blue Star seemed worlds away and hadn’t reached Ying Yuanxing yet.

But Ying Yuanxing had his own troubles. The fodder was in high demand. Even after expanding his fields and increasing daily sales from 20 portions to 40, demand still outstripped supply.

His customers were shrewd, too. Once they realized the grass output had hit its limit, even the lure of a free premium fish food couldn’t make them spread the word.

At first, Ying Yuanxing didn’t notice. But after several days of seeing the same faces, he caught on to their game.

If he’d opened shop in the city, customer tricks wouldn’t matter—walk-ins would bring new customers. But Taoxi Village was too remote, especially with that forest outside. The chances of someone stumbling upon his shop were slim.

It hadn’t even been long since he opened, but Ying Yuanxing already felt like he was living a semi-retired life—spending an hour a day selling, then returning to farm work. It lacked excitement.

Worse, if these customers kept coming, he’d soon exhaust their resources.

No. This couldn’t continue.

Ying Yuanxing pounded the table and pulled out his business plan, spotting his earlier solution: ask the village’s big livestock farmers to expand his customer base.

He acted immediately. Remembering where one lived, he soon reached a high fence. Inside, a few chickens pecked at the ground. Watching them, Ying Yuanxing swallowed hard.

Lately, he’d been eating fish daily, but now he craved spicy chicken legs.

But no chicken, no chili—just fish.

Staring at the chickens, Ying Yuanxing imagined all the ways to cook them. The only question was price.

If they cost a few dozen, even a hundred, he’d buy one to eat. But if it was 800? He could suppress his craving. Not that he couldn’t afford it, but spending that much on a single meal seemed extravagant. Better to buy meat in the city later.

His gaze was too obvious. The Weird creatures—disguised as chickens for their owner—noticed. They might play docile for their master, but they wouldn't take nonsense from others.

One glared at Ying Yuanxing, beat its wings, and vaulted the fence, lunging to peck at him.

The others, slower, clucked in support.

A chicken came flying at him. Without thinking, Ying Yuanxing caught it, instinctively squeezing its thighs and wings. Too tough—this bird would be too tough to eat.

And it was a rooster. The bones would be hard—no good for stewing or soup.

Though no one was around, Ying Yuanxing wasn’t a thief. He carried the chicken back to the fence and tossed it over. Once it landed safely, he turned away and knocked on the farmhouse door.

The rooster-like Weird creature had seen the shift in Ying Yuanxing’s gaze. Being sized up as food was maddening, but being discarded after a quick feel—judged unfit to eat—that was the real insult.

What was wrong with him? Guests who visited his master always craved him. Powerful Weird beings didn't just fancy anyone. How dare this nobody reject him?

The rooster's Weird energy erupted. Its screech was deafening; it even roused the resting village chief.

The village chief didn't really want to intervene, but the rooster's crowing was too loud. If left unchecked, it might disturb some supernatural beings that shouldn't be disturbed. Reluctantly, the chief got up to investigate.

The unusually agitated supernatural rooster inside the fence should have stood out, but the chief's eyes were fixed solely on Ying Yuanxing. "Damn, you again? Why does it always have to be you?"

Though becoming an entity should have halted aging, the chief suddenly felt a decade older.

"Ying Yuanxing, you..." the chief drew out his words.

"Chief, do you know where the owner of this house is?" Ying Yuanxing asked. "I wanted to discuss some business with them."

"He's away on a long trip and won't be back anytime soon," the chief replied with world-weariness.

Ying Yuanxing left disappointed. He had hoped to find new customers but came up empty. Now, he had to think of another approach.

He debated whether to set up a stall elsewhere, but nearby markets were closed—only the more distant ones were open. Going there would mean burning a whole day outside, with no guarantee of finding suitable customers.

After all, in any given area, only a limited number of people were willing to pay top dollar for fancy fish food. Even if he searched harder, Ying Yuanxing doubted he could significantly expand his customer base unless he widened his sales range—but that wouldn't be worth his while.

As he pondered, his phone buzzed. Glancing at it, he saw an ad for a new shopping app with an enticing slogan: "Free shipping for both buying and selling."

Ying Yuanxing swiped the ad away but then froze. Quickly, he reopened it and studied it carefully, getting more and more convinced it might be worth a try.

His current dilemma was the lack of customers, but opening an online store could attract buyers nationwide, meaning more people willing to pay. The only things holding him back were high shipping costs and unreliable delivery—if he used a random courier and the goods got lost, it would be a total ripoff.

But with the platform's built-in shipping system—one too cheap to even advertise properly—it seemed less likely to be a scam.

After reading the ad thoroughly, Ying Yuanxing noted that the free shipping was only for the first three months after store opening. After that, sellers had to either arrange their own couriers or pay fees. This actually reassured him.

After all, offering free shipping initially could be a way to build reputation, but sustaining losses indefinitely would raise suspicions of some shady scheme.