Chapter 84

Chapter 84

A little green mushroom swayed happily in its pot. Inside the house, Su Xuanxiao and Su Jianglou naturally noticed the commotion on the balcony.

In his bedroom, Su Jianglou raised an eyebrow. Had Xi Bao really managed to keep this little green mushroom alive?

Su Jianglou's initial ignorance about the peculiar nature of Xi Bao's two flowerpots was simply because he hadn't bothered to look closely. But a quick glance later, the mushrooms and statue within the pots certainly didn't escape his notice.

Compared to the other old mushrooms, which were merely painted with fresh colors, this little green mushroom, personally nurtured by Xiao Xi, was much more pleasing to Su Jianglou's eye.

Given how pitifully weak the little mushroom was, Su Jianglou merely cast a brief glance at the balcony before dismissing it.

He was quite busy at the moment.

Unexpectedly, even in the small confines of Wealth Avenue, there were still a few stubborn spirits.

Clearly, those spirits were blind, failing to send his family an invitation to compete in the first place. Now, he was merely setting things right, aiming to secure the competition slot that rightfully belonged to their family. Yet, those spirits dared to argue with him, prattling on about competition rules.

Rules? What rules?

Were the rules designed to unjustly bar a family with championship potential from the competition zone?

So, in a fit of anger that day, he threw all those spirits into the gray mist.

With those spirits serving as examples, the remaining spirits responsible for operating the community website became far more compliant.

Su Jianglou was currently preoccupied with selecting the most perfectly composed family entry photo for the competition.

Su Jianglou had no time for the swaying little mushroom on the balcony, and Su Xuanxiao, in the study downstairs, remained equally still.

After all, it was Xiao Xi’s possession. He wasn’t some authoritarian parent who would discard a child’s toy without permission.

On the balcony,

The newly conscious little spirit was too weak to even perceive the threat of the two gazes that swept over it.

Its mind was still very simple, capable of only the most basic thoughts.

After calling out “master” twice more, the little green mushroom grew restless with mere swaying and began attempting to bounce up and down.

It wanted to leap out of the flowerpot, onto the balcony, and then find its master.

But for a plant with roots buried in the soil, bouncing was clearly far more challenging than swaying. The little mushroom strained itself until the patterns on its cap trembled, yet it still failed to jump.

Exhausted from its failed attempt to jump out of the pot, the little mushroom's strength waned, and the circular patterns on its cap faded slightly.

It was at this moment that Su Ximu returned home.

On his way back, he picked up Little Yellow and the hamsters from Grandpa Niu’s house. As soon as he entered and set Little Yellow down, the hamster wagged its tail and scurried into its nest, pulling out a small doll to play with.

Unlike his previous laziness, Su Jianglou appeared in the first-floor living room almost the instant he heard the door open.

He glanced at his eldest brother, who had also emerged from the study, and spoke first: “Xiao Xi, are you going to water your mushrooms tonight?”

As for what exactly the mushrooms he had raised were, Su Ximu hadn’t known at first. But during a family conversation after dinner yesterday, his second brother had explained it to him.

Only then did he learn that his second brother hadn’t originally been Group Leader Lan242. Instead, he had assumed that identity after recognizing him, while the real Group Leader Lan242 was actually the big blue mushroom from that night.

The true specialty of the Tourism Park wasn’t the colorful mushrooms but the colorful staff.

The staff were transformed from mushrooms.

They were a type of plant spirit.

As a human gradually adapting to life in the spirit world, Su Ximu’s ability to accept such things was surprisingly strong.

He spent a day digesting this information, during which he also went online to learn about the various forms of parent-child relationships in the spirit world.

Now, hearing his third brother ask if he wanted to water the mushrooms today, he peeled an orange he had taken from the fruit bowl and thought it over carefully.

The most pressing question wasn’t whether to water them, but whether it was truly acceptable to keep a bunch of spirits in flowerpots just like that.

Su Ximu thought this, and voiced it aloud.

Su Jianglou waved it off dismissively: “What could possibly go wrong? If we let them out, they’d just end up eating their colleagues.”

“Tch, this bad habit, if you ask me, was started by that red mushroom. After the new Director appointed by our eldest brother took over, he designated a remote area in the Tourism Park as a prison to curb this unhealthy trend.”

So, in the end, a prison's still a prison, no matter where it was.

Ah…

Hearing his third brother’s explanation, Su Ximu paused for a moment. After a short while, he divided the peeled orange into four segments and popped his share into his mouth.

After eating the orange, he retrieved his small spray bottle from the tool cabinet on the first floor. Before heading upstairs, he waved the bottle to signal to his eldest, second, and third brothers.

He was going upstairs to give the ‘prisoners’ some water.

And his little green mushroom too.

This little mushroom had been raised by him from a tiny mushroom egg—a perfectly innocent little mushroom.

On the balcony,

The innocent little mushroom, living alone in its small pot, seemed to sense something. Its previously wilted cap perked up instantly.

Two thin, thread-like hyphae grew on its cap, and now, delighted by its master’s arrival, they swayed left and right happily.

When Su Ximu walked onto the balcony with his spray bottle, this was the lively scene that greeted him.

At first, he thought he was seeing things.

The weather was somewhat stifling, and there wasn’t a hint of wind on the balcony tonight. Yet the little mushroom in the flowerpot swayed joyfully.

Before he could set down the spray bottle and rub his eyes, Su Ximu heard:

“Master.”

“Master is… home!”

Was he hallucinating?

But he hadn’t eaten any mushrooms today.

Had the mushrooms in the spirit world evolved to the point where just looking at them could cause hallucinations?

Wait, the spirit world…

The youth squeezed his eyes shut for a few seconds, then opened them again.

What he saw was still the little mushroom swaying all by itself.

Though it was a tiny mushroom without a face, Su Ximu could still tell it was extremely happy from the way it swayed.

“Master, water.”

“Water, water.”

Just as Su Ximu was still watching the little mushroom, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that his brothers had all gathered behind him.

He automatically turned to his second brother—the one who always answered his questions—and said, “Second brother, Little Green just spoke and moved.”

“Because it has reached a certain stage of growth.”

Hearing this, Su Ximu suddenly remembered what his second brother had told him yesterday about Little Green’s origins.

Little Green wasn’t just a little mushroom—it was actually Green 132’s… child? Subordinate? Underling? Property?

The way mushroom aberrations reproduce asexually and infinitely—as long as they have power—makes their relationships extremely difficult to define.

After saying this, Su Juzi smiled again. “Xiao Xi, if you like it, keep caring for it. If you’re uncomfortable with it, just let Green 132 come get it.”

And perhaps leave behind a new Little Green mushroom.

Su Ximu looked at the two tiny “feelers” on the mushroom’s head, listened to its voice, and mentally calculated: whether measured by mushroom age or aberration age, this was likely an infantile aberration.

He stepped forward with his small spray bottle and sprayed water several times onto the little mushroom, which had grown slightly dry from overactivity.

The newly awakened Little Green mushroom had no idea what frightening topic its master’s brothers were discussing. Feeling the fine mist settle upon it, its mycelium spread even wider.

When its master’s hand drew near, it couldn’t help but gently rub against his fingertip with its delicate fungal filaments—then instantly shrank back, shyly retreating.

Crouching before the small flowerpot, Su Ximu felt a faint tickle on his fingertip. He turned to his second brother and shook his head, answering his unspoken question: “No, second brother—I don’t mind it.”

“But since the little mushroom has changed like this, I’ll still need to call Mr. Green 132 tomorrow.”

He’d originally assumed Mr. Green 132 had simply given him a mushroom to grow—never imagining it was more like handing him a child to raise.

“Green 132 has joined the company’s Reclamation Team, Xiao Xi. You probably won’t be able to reach him for now—he’s quite the ambitious employee.” Su Xuanxiao spoke up then.

Compared to bosses at other companies, Su Xuanxiao demonstrated a certain level of care for employees willing to dedicate themselves to the company.

The Reclamation Team was the most telling example.

Every year, the company dispatched a set number of employees to pioneer in the Grey Mist Zone.

Conditions there were extraordinarily complex—much like Blue Star’s conception of the universe—anything could happen.

It might yield vast resources, dangerous black holes, or, at the very least, push back the Grey Mist to claim new territory.

For every ambitious and powerful aberration, pioneering was profoundly important.

With Su Xuanxiao’s professionalism, he could recall the name of every Reclamation Team member. He’d also instituted a rule: those achieving significant results during pioneering—provided they held ranks below manager—would be promoted one level upon their return.

Before joining the Reclamation Team, Green 132 had been a true homebody aberration. During a folklore-zone instance clearance, he’d become the manager of an old mansion.

Perhaps having tasted real power, he’d recently applied to join the Reclamation Team.

If he successfully returned to the Tourism Park, that one vacant Tourism Park Director position would be his.

As for the little mushroom gifted away, Green 132 was no longer concerned—likely having all but forgotten about it entirely.

Hearing his eldest brother say this, Su Ximu nodded. “I see. Then we’ll wait until Mr. Green 132 returns.”

After speaking, he reached out and lifted the small flowerpot before him, intending to carry it into the bedroom first.

The little mushroom had possessed no consciousness before—and thus wouldn’t have noticed anything.

Now, its voice sounded like that of a very young child. He worried leaving it on the balcony might frighten it at night.

In the bedroom,

The little mushroom, now perched on the desk, had its previously faint patterns brighten once more, growing sharper and clearer—clearly overjoyed.

Night—

After washing up and preparing for sleep, Su Ximu walked over to the desk and lightly tapped the little mushroom. “Goodnight.”

The little mushroom stammered, “Nigh—good night.”

As he spoke, Su Ximu accidentally brushed the mushroom’s two tiny “feelers.”

Instantly, a soft white light flared at the tip of the youth’s slender, pale finger.

The small, light-green mushroom was completely enveloped in the white light.

Su Ximu froze—utterly bewildered as to where the light had come from. Seeing the little mushroom fully immersed in it, he feared it might be harmful and hastily raised his hand to pull the mushroom out of the light.

But the light vanished instantly—gone in a flash.

Whether illusion or reality, Su Ximu felt as though the little mushroom had grown slightly taller and seemed livelier.

Still uneasy—and unsettled by the sudden appearance of white light from his fingertip—Su Ximu paused, then decided to pick up the flowerpot and bother his second brother, who was likely already asleep.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, a knock sounded at the door.

“Xiao Xi? Xiao Xi?”

It was his third brother’s voice.

Su Ximu walked over and opened the door—finding not only his third brother, but also his eldest and second brothers standing outside. His second brother was still in his pajamas.

The moment the door opened, Su Jianglou stepped forward immediately, carefully checking his younger brother over. “I was just about to sleep when I sensed something was off with you, Xiao Xi. If I hadn’t confirmed you were still in the room, I would’ve broken down the door.”

Su Ximu spread his hands and obediently spun around fully to show his brothers he was unharmed.

Yet after turning, he extended his index finger, trying to summon the light again—for his brothers’ sake—but the white light refused to reappear.

Helpless, he resorted to explaining aloud what had happened—to his eldest, second, and third brothers.

The four brothers relocated to the bedroom sofa and sat down to discuss.

As the person involved, Su Ximu—still holding the small flowerpot—raised his hand first and spoke. “Could it be that I’ve been here so long, I’ve turned into an aberration too?”

If that were truly the case—maybe he could create his own instance someday!

You don't necessarily have to bring in many players; an instance where you can play by yourself like the Second Brother, or even bring family along, is also great.

Su Jianglou's golden eyes flashed with light. Two seconds later, he shook his head: "Not quite."

Not quite?

Does Third Brother mean he hasn't become supernatural?

But can an ordinary human generate white light?

Just then, Su Jianglou, who had fallen deep in thought, spoke again: "Indeed, he doesn't seem like an ordinary human either. It's somewhat similar to an instance player, but not entirely."

Third Brother's analysis gradually silenced the subject being analyzed.

Not an anomaly, not an ordinary human, and not quite like a player.

Is he some kind of three-non?

"What about Wasteland World humans?"

"Hiss."

"Hiss."

Third Brother hissed, and Su Ximu followed suit with a hiss.

After a long pause, Su Jianglou slammed his palm on the armrest of the sofa: "I know!"

His golden eyes gleamed brilliantly as he delivered what seemed to be the most plausible answer: "Xiao Xi, you're now a hybrid of three worlds—the Blue Star World, the Wasteland World, and the Anomaly World!"

Wh-what?

Having accidentally become a hybrid of three worlds—a rarer mix than a three-nation mixed blood—the young man blinked in confusion.

He couldn't help but look at First Brother and Second Brother.

But neither First Brother nor Second Brother refuted Third Brother's words.

In an instant, Su Ximu began to doubt himself.

He, he really is that complicated?

The little green mushroom didn't quite understand but started cheering for its master: "How awesome!"