Chapter 47

Chapter 47

"Are there any other crops with special effects?" Ying Yuanxing asked Xuan Ying, his voice filled with anticipation.

Xuan Ying’s gaze swept over the fruits on the table. Pointing at the garlic, he said, "This makes the Weirds quite uncomfortable."

Two words flashed in Ying Yuanxing’s mind: evil-warding.

Ying Yuanxing pressed on, "How exactly does it make you uncomfortable? In the field, after harvesting, or when I eat it—which of these three situations bothers you the most?"

Xuan Ying pondered for a moment before replying, "The smell can’t harm me, but it makes me instinctively want to stay away. In the field, it’s fine when first planted, but as it nears maturity, the smell becomes the most potent and most repulsive to Weirds."

"After harvesting, it’s not too bad. When eaten, the smell is still somewhat unpleasant."

[So, the ancient saying about garlic warding off evil was true? I’m heading out to buy garlic right now!]

[Wake up, people! If ordinary garlic could repel evil, you wouldn’t be the first to discover it—the state would have acted long ago. Garlic probably only works if it’s a Weird Plant.]

[I remember Ying Yuanxing sent out some Weird Plants, and garlic was among them. If eating or planting garlic can repel Weirds, I hope every household can grow some.]

[Then I hope to eat garlic every day until my body is thoroughly permeated with garlic scent!]

[Almost forgot—I used to avoid garlic because of its strong smell. Now, I wish it were even stronger!]

[But garlic seems limited, just like dried fish. It’s probably hard to buy much, right?]

[The government will surely do everything possible to maximize garlic’s effects. Besides, the host’s garlic matures in just five days, so that’s six harvests a month. As long as we keep planting, we’ll definitely get garlic-based protective products!]

Ying Yuanxing set the garlic aside, though not too close to the strawberries—he still had to eat them later, and the thought of strawberries ruined by garlic taste was unbearable.

The remaining crops had no special effects. As for Weird Qi content, the more expensive ones indeed contained higher amounts.

But calculations alone weren’t enough. Ying Yuanxing also had to consider the farm’s land area—after all, fields weren’t infinite. To find the most efficient product, he had to run the numbers.

Taking a deep breath, Ying Yuanxing was grateful he hadn’t forgotten the math he’d learned—otherwise, he’d be clueless staring at the numbers now.

……

While Ying Yuanxing was busy with calculations, the Dawn Bureau had already found a suitable messenger—a Xia State contestant strong enough to travel from the local area to Taoxi Village without dying en route.

"An Ning, this is all on you this time," Zhao Zhangyan said.

An Ning nodded. He understood the importance of this mission. Once contact with Ying Yuanxing was established, Ying Yuanxing could explicitly share intel through the livestream and even communicate with the state.

As the two spoke, a staff member hurried over, tense-faced. After glancing at An Ning, he handed over a document.

Zhao Zhangyan skimmed the contents, his expression shifting dramatically. An Ning was curious but didn’t ask.

"An Ning, the seed issue will have to wait for now," Zhao Zhangyan said in a low voice.

An Ning frowned. Besides informing Ying Yuanxing of the truth, the state had also wanted to discuss purchasing Weird Plant seeds. Yet now, the most critical task was being postponed.

"Since you’re no outsider, I’ll be blunt. The Weird Plants sent to the lab aren’t growing well. Even the fully matured ones are clearly declining."

Though they’d been urgently relocated to previously occupied Weird Zones, their condition hadn’t worsened further—but there was no sign of improvement either. In just a few days, it was clear Weird Plants failed to thrive in Earth’s environment.

If Weird Plants could only grow in formerly occupied Weird Zones, their cultivation would be severely limited.

First, the land invaded by Weird Zones wasn’t extensive. Second, once a Weird Zone was reclaimed and its Weirds eliminated, the zone wouldn’t last long—months at most, maybe a year. That meant only a couple harvests before the land became unusable.

Unless they could modify the seeds, having Ying Yuanxing send them would just be a waste.

An Ning nodded and returned to his lodgings, opening the Salvation Game livestream. He’d gone straight to Zhao Zhangyan upon returning and was now curious about Ying Yuanxing.

After all, Ying Yuanxing’s experiences were somewhat legendary. Besides, since he was going to meet Ying Yuanxing, it made sense to learn more about him.

In the livestream, Ying Yuanxing was estimating the farm’s area, his head overwhelmed by the math—not just because of the size, but also from anticipating how many plots he’d need to plant.

Glancing at the hoe in his hand and then at the farm’s expanse, Ying Yuanxing took a deep breath. At least he could be grateful that once the land was tilled, it remained usable. Otherwise, even working 24 hours a day, he’d collapse from exhaustion before finishing.

Even if Xuan Ying’s clones could help, their use was limited, and Ying Yuanxing couldn’t bring himself to work Xuan Ying so hard—even if Xuan Ying was willing.

If he were to exploit anyone, it’d be better to have Xuan Ying put other Weirds' shadows to work outside and force them to work. Controlling shadows was different from managing clones—clones required Xuan Ying’s focus, while controlling shadows was more like overseeing workers.

The more Ying Yuanxing thought about it, the more Xuan Ying’s ability seemed tailor-made for farming. Hiring regular workers risked slacking, but with Xuan Ying overseeing, slacking wasn’t an option—though it was a little dark.

But these were Weirds, not humans. They wouldn’t die from exhaustion. As long as he provided enough food to sustain them, it might even count as a good deed.

No—it definitely counted as a good deed.

Having quickly rationalized, Ying Yuanxing went to discuss the plan with Xuan Ying. There was no time to waste—he was waiting for Chen Yuan to return with the Weird coins so he could buy seeds from the general store.

Chen Yuan had been about to return earlier with the money, but since Ying Yuanxing had already gathered enough, he’d told Chen Yuan to keep selling a while longer. Now, the funds would finally be put to use.

Xuan Ying never said no to Ying Yuanxing’s requests and immediately dispatched several clones to capture Weirds.

"Just grab their shadows. Leave the actual Weirds alone." After all, feeding shadows only required small amounts of Weird Qi-laden food, while actual Weirds—especially stronger ones—ate more but were less obedient. Shadows were far more manageable.

[Every time, the host finds a way to surprise me.]

[Here we are worrying about Weirds, and the host is already thinking about how to enslave them—well, their shadows. Now that's thinking!]

[Though, if you can control them, Weirds are pretty useful. They don’t need rest and can work nonstop 24/7.]

[Does the host’s farm really have that much work? Enlisting so many Weird shadows seems like overdoing it.]

Watching Ying Yuanxing’s actions, An Ning finally understood why his livestream was the most popular among Xia State contestants. His approach was something none of them could replicate.

Having spent so long in the Weird World, An Ning had grown accustomed to it and had even utilized Weirds before—but this industrial-style utilization was a first.

As he observed the farm’s tranquil atmosphere, a hint of envy flickered in An Ning’s eyes.

Two days passed in a blink. Ying Yuanxing finally crunched all the numbers. Strawberries and garlic were essential crops, followed by carrots—their growing time was short, yet their Weird Qi content was high.

For the remaining crops, Ying Yuanxing planned to plant modest quantities for dietary variety. After all, cooking required more than just strawberries, garlic, and carrots—he needed other vegetables too.

Just as Chen Yuan reached the forest's edge outside the village, he spotted Xuan Ying herding a group of Weird shadows. He stopped in his tracks.

"Lord Xuan Ying." Chen Yuan gave a respectful bow. He knew full well that Xuan Ying was Ying Yuanxing’s most trusted Weird ally. If he showed any disrespect and Xuan Ying happened to mention it, ruining Ying Yuanxing’s impression of him, everything he'd worked for would be for nothing.

Xuan Ying acknowledged him indifferently and was about to lead the shadows back to the farm when he suddenly whipped his head around. A tall figure emerged from the distance.

"I’m Ying Yuanxing’s compatriot. Could you inform him that the state has sent me to meet him?" An Ning said, though he couldn't help eyeing Xuan Ying with instinctive caution.

Watching Xuan Ying in the livestream, An Ning had known he was a terrifying Weird being—but seeing him as a tame black puffball with cute ears beside Ying Yuanxing had made him seem harmless.

Now, face-to-face with the ink-black silhouette radiating terrifying energy, An Ning had the unsettling feeling that taking even one step closer would mean being swallowed whole.

No, it wasn't an illusion—the other party genuinely wanted to devour him.

Having spent nearly two years in the Weird Game, An Ning was extremely sensitive to the killing intent of Weird beings. This had been a crucial reason for his survival in the early stages. Now, An Ning swiftly drew his weapon, stepping back, already prepared to flee.

Though he had promised the country to notify Ying Yuanxing, he wasn’t reckless. Xuan Ying’s hostility was obvious, and he had no intention of forcing a confrontation. Since he had already reached Taoxi Village, as long as Ying Yuanxing came out, he could call for him. In Ying Yuanxing’s presence, Xuan Ying wouldn’t dare do anything.

"Follow me," Xuan Ying glanced at An Ning and tossed out the words.

An Ning hesitated for a second, unsure if this was a trick to lower his guard. Just as he wavered, he saw Xuan Ying’s form shift back into the soft black cotton candy form, even sprouting two round ears. Instantly, he relaxed.

Xuan Ying behaving like this meant he was definitely going to see Ying Yuanxing. There was no way he’d do this just to deceive An Ning. An Ning had enough self-awareness—if Xuan Ying really wanted to kill him, he wouldn’t bother with such theatrics.

Still, despite this thought, An Ning didn’t let his guard down entirely. After all, nothing was absolute. But as they passed through the woods and entered the village without incident, An Ning finally allowed himself to glance around.

Though it was his first time in Taoxi Village, An Ning wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with it. On the day he returned to Earth, aside from staying at the Dawn Bureau, he had spent the whole time watching Ying Yuanxing’s livestream, naturally seeing Ying Yuanxing’s activities in the village.

Setting aside his apprehension, if someone arrived in this village completely unaware, they’d never guess it housed so many powerful Weird beings—Xuan Ying, Yuan Xiu, Li An…

An Ning was somewhat puzzled. Just these three Weird beings alone were enough to control an entire Weird domain, let alone Taoxi Village. Yet they lived here peacefully, which was truly unbelievable.

Distracted as he was, An Ning still kept an eye on Xuan Ying—and this attention made his lips twitch. Wasn’t Xuan Ying moving a bit too fast?

Chen Yuan could keep up, being a Weird himself. But for An Ning to match the pace, he had to use a speed-boosting Weird Artifact, or he’d risk falling behind.

When Ying Yuanxing noticed someone approaching the farm and looked up, he saw two figures racing toward him at alarming speed, as if racing.

If not for recognizing Xuan Ying at the front, Ying Yuanxing might have mistaken it for someone coming to cause trouble.

Ying Yuanxing greeted Xuan Ying and Chen Yuan, then turned his gaze to An Ning, who had fallen behind.

An Ning smiled at Ying Yuanxing—a smile that stunned the viewers in his livestream. No matter how accustomed the contestants were to the Weird Game, their emotions usually leaned negative. Genuine happiness was rare.

After explaining why he'd come, An Ning watched as Ying Yuanxing seemed to freeze. After a pause, Ying Yuanxing finally snapped out of it, though his eyelids still trembled slightly, the shock of the news not yet subsided.

An Ning stepped closer, leaning in to whisper, "Ying Yuanxing, we’re live. Can you have Xuan Ying cover us with mist?"

Live?

Ying Yuanxing had suspected the human world might know about his situation—otherwise, how had they found his online shop so quickly? But he hadn’t expected it to be a livestream.

Had he done anything strange?

Well, yes. A lot. Even some overly sentimental nonsense.

Ying Yuanxing’s face flushed red. He wanted to demand who had set up this livestream, invading his privacy. But in the end, he swallowed his words and led An Ning to the wooden hut, instructing Xuan Ying to create the mist.

The fog quickly filled the room, cutting off the livestream feed entirely.

[Wait, why is Xuan Ying suddenly making fog again?]

[Hold on, wasn’t this the streamer’s idea? I don’t like Xuan Ying either, but don’t pin everything on him.]

[Probably something urgent from the country. Since they sent An Ning as a messenger, it must be important. If there’s a way to block the view, better do it.]

[Kinda worried Ying Yuanxing might keep using this trick now that he knows. Feels like he doesn’t like being live.]

[Honestly, Salvation Game should change the rules. 24/7 livestreaming is too much. Even if private stuff gets blurred, forcing it on contestants who dislike it is annoying.]

[Agreed. If it were me, being watched all day—especially knowing it—I’d feel so uncomfortable, and there’d be no way to turn it off.]

[Can we petition the government? Other countries got JoyBuy app from Salvation Game. We haven’t made any requests yet—maybe it’ll work.]

[But without livestreams, how would we see the contestants’ actions or the Weird world? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose?]

The audience debated fervently. Inside the hut, An Ning had initially wanted Xuan Ying to leave, but Ying Yuanxing explained that the mist was Xuan Ying’s true form. Unless the mist was withdrawn, Xuan Ying couldn’t be avoided.

And withdrawing the mist risked exposure to other Weird beings—like Yuan Xiu.

This was something Xuan Ying had told Ying Yuanxing, deepening his understanding of Weird abilities.

Compared to Xuan Ying, Yuan Xiu was far more alarming to humans. Faced with two evils, An Ning reluctantly accepted Xuan Ying’s presence and began explaining the Salvation Game.

"A game?" Ying Yuanxing was skeptical. Though he’d only been in the Weird world for a little over a month, its realism was undeniable. Calling it a game was hard to believe.

"The 'game' label just helps us cope. After this long, everyone treats it as the real Weird world," An Ning said with a bitter smile.

He then relayed the information from Xia State—all committed to memory, never recorded, for fear of Weird beings discovering and using it to learn about Earth.

Though some Weird beings already knew fragments about Earth, leaking more would be disastrous.

Hearing this, Ying Yuanxing fell silent. This wasn't as shocking as earlier news, but it hammered home the urgency of the situation.

As a contestant in the Salvation Game, he was surrounded by danger and needed to grow stronger. Xia State, too, had to build up its defenses—or face peril.

The cracks in the world barrier An Ning mentioned also unsettled Ying Yuanxing. He hadn’t encountered weaker Weird beings, but from An Ning’s description, even they posed a significant threat to humans.

As for the powerful ones—he had several right here with him. If they reached Earth, it would be a catastrophe.

Look at Xuan Ying, for example. Though his affection for Ying Yuanxing kept him restrained, his instincts were still feral. Eating other Weird beings came naturally to him—humans would be just as easy.

In fact, devouring Weird beings took some work—chewing, maybe even a fight. But humans? Just rolling through as mist would leave nothing alive in its path.

"Does the country have a way to repair the cracks?" Ying Yuanxing already guessed the answer but had to ask.

An Ning shook his head. After learning of the cracks, they’d tried to find solutions, but the world barrier was beyond their understanding. They couldn't even find where the cracks were, let alone fix them.

With no way to address the root cause, they could only treat the symptoms.

"Can’t Salvation Game help?" Ying Yuanxing pressed.

An Ning shook his head again. Salvation Game seemed powerless here—humankind was on its own.

Ying Yuanxing sighed, pushing the thought aside. At least, the cracks hadn’t expanded much in years. There was still time. Worrying wouldn't solve anything—focusing instead on strengthening Xia State was the priority.

Not ideal, but better than nothing.

As Ying Yuanxing prepared to clear the mist, An Ning suddenly remembered something crucial. He hurriedly added that Weird Plants weren’t thriving well on Earth. The country advised Ying Yuanxing to prioritize his own use of seeds, avoiding waste by shipping them home.

"They’re struggling but surviving, but they’re not dying immediately, right?" Ying Yuanxing asked.

An Ning recalled Zhao Zhangyan’s words and shook his head. If they were dropping dead instantly, Zhao Zhangyan would’ve been far more anxious.

"Plants need time to adjust to new environments. Moving them between worlds? No wonder they're struggling." Ying Yuanxing had expected this when sending the Weird Plants back. It made sense, with Weird Food being so rare that people were scrambling for it, they must be barely producing enough.

"Was that everything?" Ying Yuanxing asked, about to clear the mist.

An Ning shook his head quickly. Only then did Ying Yuanxing signal Xuan Ying to lift the fog.

"You came all this way. Stay for a meal and the night," Ying Yuanxing said, glancing at the darkening sky. Nighttime in the Weird Game was treacherous—he wouldn't send An Ning out at night.

An Ning hesitated briefly before agreeing.

Ying Yuanxing glanced at Chen Yuan, who had been waiting, and offered him to stay for the meal as well.

Though excited, Chen Yuan took one look at Xuan Ying and then at An Ning before declining. He could tell there were secrets between Ying Yuanxing and An Ning, and while Xuan Ying was in on them, he himself was an outsider and didn’t belong.

Chen Yuan handed over the Weird coins he had earned this time to Ying Yuanxing. After accounting for last time, he had made another 600,000 Weird coins, hitting the 300-unit benchmark. However, the 700-tier goal was too high, and with time running short, he hadn’t managed to reach it.

"If you’re determined, go for the 700-tier premium package. But for these first two, do you want them now or wait until you get the 700-tier one?" Ying Yuanxing asked.

Chen Yuan hesitated. Naturally, he wanted them as soon as possible, but he noticed the state of the farm. If he asked Ying Yuanxing to hand them over now, it might be pushing it. It’d be better to wait.

Having made up his mind, Chen Yuan said he’d wait until the third premium package was ready before claiming them all together.

Ying Yuanxing hadn’t expected Chen Yuan to think so deeply about it. Seeing his decision, he didn’t push it.

However, as Chen Yuan prepared to leave, Ying Yuanxing made a trip to the supply shop. Xuan Ying quickly followed, leaving behind a clone to take care of chores and keep an eye on An Ning.

Standing at the doorstep of the wooden cabin, An Ning gazed at the vast farm and had to admire Ying Yuanxing. Honestly, even if he inherited a farm himself, he doubted he could manage it as well as Ying Yuanxing did.

From what he’d learned, ever since arriving at Taoxi Village, Ying Yuanxing had worked tirelessly from early morning till late at night, rarely slacking off. If it were him, he’d never be able to handle that kind of grind.

Meanwhile, Ying Yuanxing and Xuan Ying arrived at the supply shop. Ying Yuanxing first expanded his backpack at the side before heading to the counter to buy seeds.

Facing the familiar interface, he first purchased seeds for all other crops, set aside some spare money for himself, and spent the rest entirely on garlic and carrots.

Carrots were rich in Weird Qi, useful as bait or to boost Xuan Ying’s strength. Garlic, on the other hand, had strong warding effects. Even if it didn’t grow well on Earth, planting the entire farm with it would still offer some protection.

If one household couldn’t afford a single plant, what if an entire building pooled resources for a few? Pitching in together, they might just make it work.

Since all the items went straight into his backpack, the audience couldn’t see what Ying Yuanxing had bought, only that he and Xuan Ying had visited the supply shop again—leading them to assume he had some weird obsession with the place.

Back at the farm, Ying Yuanxing started cooking. Though An Ning had heard about his culinary skills from others, watching him prepare ingredients and whip up dish after dish still left him stunned.

"Do you prefer spicy or mild?" Ying Yuanxing asked.

"I get to choose?" An Ning was surprised. "Then make it extra spicy."

Soon, a lavish feast was ready. An Ning ate with immense satisfaction. He’d tried Weird Food before, but whether in taste or appearance, it never really matched up with human preferences. If not for the strength boost, he wouldn’t have touched it.

Yet the Weird Food Ying Yuanxing made was packed with Weird Qi and tasted incredible. An Ning almost wanted to savor it forever.

After the meal, An Ning slept on Xuan Ying’s bed while Xuan Ying snuggled up to Ying Yuanxing. Though currently just a cuddle pillow, Xuan Ying was perfectly content.

Watching this, An Ning couldn't help frowning slightly. Despite Xuan Ying’s obedience, Ying Yuanxing was still too relaxed around this Weird. What if something went wrong—

Just as the thought crossed his mind, he got goosebumps. The Shadow Weird, playing the perfect pillow, had its back to him yet felt like it had eyes on the back of its head, watching his every move. Any threatening move—or even unpleasant words that might tarnish its image in Ying Yuanxing’s eyes—would bring its wrath.

An Ning let out a quiet sigh and decided not to dwell on it, closing his eyes to rest.

Outside, the sounds of hoeing and woodcutting continued, but An Ning had grown accustomed to them on the farm. Expecting a long wait before sleep, he was surprised to be out like a light almost instantly.

When he woke again, he was groggy. He’d actually slept peacefully through the night. Normally, even when he slept, he remained highly alert, fearing an attack from a Weird in his dreams.

After breakfast, An Ning prepared to leave. Ying Yuanxing stopped him, pressing a bundle of food into his hands. When An Ning tried to refuse, Ying Yuanxing said, "You went through a lot to come find me. Consider this a thank-you gift."

Since it was a token of appreciation, An Ning hesitated but accepted. He hadn’t done nothing—he’d earned it.

But as he stored the Weird Food in his spatial storage, he suddenly froze, looking at Ying Yuanxing with a sheepish look.

"What’s wrong?" Ying Yuanxing was puzzled.

"Well..." An Ning coughed lightly and pulled out the food from his storage. At first, Ying Yuanxing thought he’d changed his mind, but then he noticed the food looked different—not what he’d just given.

"The brass noticed you enjoy cooking and collecting recipes, but the ones in the Weird World aren’t very reliable. So they asked me to bring these dishes and this recipe. The instructions are detailed—follow them, and you should be able to recreate the dishes perfectly," An Ning explained.

It had been a last-second thing, and after storing the items, he hadn’t checked again. With so much to discuss in Taoxi Village and a meal at Ying Yuanxing’s, it had totally slipped his mind.

"Got it. Thanks." Ying Yuanxing’s words seemed directed at An Ning, yet also at the folks back home beyond the camera.

An Ning felt a bit guilty taking the thanks. He stood there, mentally reviewing everything to ensure he hadn’t forgotten anything else before finally leaving with peace of mind.

Ying Yuanxing examined the dishes and recipe, storing the food in the fridge and skimming through the pages. He sighed inwardly. Whoever prepared the recipe must have watched his cooking videos closely—the steps were tailored to his habits.

Though the gift might not hold immense value, the thoughtfulness behind it was undeniable.

Honestly, toward Xia State, Ying Yuanxing had always felt an arm's-length patriotism. After all, it wasn’t the country where he’d grown up.

But after hearing An Ning describe Earth’s situation, while he regretted crossing into two worlds, he couldn’t help feeling relieved his home planet hadn’t suffered such a fate.

Now, faced with Xia State’s carefully prepared gift and An Ning’s words, Ying Yuanxing had to admit it got to him.

"?" Xuan Ying noticed his change in mood.

"It’s nothing." Ying Yuanxing shook his head. Glancing at his phone, he hesitated but set it aside. Initially, he’d planned to send some seeds directly to Xia State. Even if Weird Plants didn’t grow well, practice was necessary for improvement.

But now, he decided to let the seeds sprout first before sending them. Germination was a hurdle—if he didn’t help, countless seeds might fail, setting the researchers back.