“So, Mr. Nan Liujing, would you like to join us?”

Under the cold moonlight, Milai’s smile was warm and sincere. Behind him, the small boat left adrift on the sea bobbed up and down, its spotlight sweeping back and forth. The beam fell on Milai’s back, casting strange shadows across his face and lending his expression an air of mystery.

Nan Liujing blinked.

“I’d be delighted!” he replied with an equally radiant smile.

The spotlight swept past Milai and fell across half of Nan Liujing’s face, causing his smile to flicker in and out of the light. The scene looked as suspicious as some underground deal between shadowy organizations.

Rather than saying Nan Liujing had been persuaded by Milai’s repetitive sales pitch, it was more accurate to say that Nan Liujing simply couldn’t see any possibility of refusing.

Since he started playing *Island Survival*. He has thoroughly explored this small island, which serves as both a “starting zone” and a “player’s home,” extracting every last bit of value from it; there is simply nothing more to be gained from it.

By conventional gaming logic, this would be the time to move on to a new map.

And with the establishment of the makeshift shelter—the reward for the main quest—the Impermanent Sea Island Management Committee has undoubtedly taken on the responsibility of advancing the plot.

Players have no option to refuse; otherwise, the new map won’t unlock, and they’ll be trapped on this barren island for the rest of their lives. Joining the committee as the story progresses is the safest and most reliable way to leave the newbie village.

Perhaps some rebellious players who like to take risks might choose “No” here to test the game’s freedom, but Nan Liujing has always preferred to play by the book.

If there’s a guide, consult it; if not, follow the main storyline.

The path ahead is wide open and smooth sailing; standing at the crossroads, everything on the road is clear as day—why not take it? 

Are those winding, bizarre paths—where you can’t see the end or discern the dangers—really that alluring?

Unless the rewards of the side path are proportional to the risks involved, Nan Liujing still prefers to take the main road.

Nan Liujing reached out and gently clasped Milai’s hand, his smile bright and his gaze sincere: “I’m delighted to be a member of the Island Management Committee. Our goal is world peace, right?”

To put it in somewhat over-the-top terms, he was already on the most correct path to success.

Milai smiled and said, “No, no, no, it’s not that grand. We just want to do our best to avoid any disputes.”

Joining the committee didn’t require signing any contracts. Milai handed Nan Liujing a badge and a small triangular blue flag, instructing him to make sure to hang the flag at the dock: “That way, everyone will know you’re a member of the committee, and other members won’t land on your island without permission.”

Of course, the flag held no binding authority over non-committee organizations or individuals—something even Milai couldn’t change. As for the badge, it served as a symbol of membership.

【Impermanent Sea Island Management Committee Member Badge】

【Category: Item】

【Possession of this badge automatically designates you as a member of the Island Management Committee, subject to the following rules:

1.  Fighting between members is prohibited.

2.  It is prohibited to land on other members’ islands or harvest resources without permission.

3.  Complete the monthly member quest. (0/1)

Membership will be revoked immediately for any violations.】

There was nothing new in the item description. Nan Liujing calmly put the badge away; this was already the second badge he had received. This one was shaped like a small triangular island, with the silhouette of a white dove—a symbol of peace—at its center.

Milai continued rummaging through his fourth-dimensional pocket, somehow pulling out two cards and handing them to Nan Liujing: “Here, these are the membership perks we agreed on.” He then reached back in and pulled out three more parchment scrolls: “And this, this, and this.”

He practically stuffed Nan Liujing’s arms full.

It wasn’t until Milai took his leave that Nan Liujing had a chance to examine the items he’d given him.

Both cards were the familiar one-time space cards, each containing a permit and a small wooden boat.

【Simple Pier Construction Permit (Single-Use)】

【Category: Permit】

【This permit authorizes the construction of one simple dock. Construction will be carried out by personnel dispatched by the Steam Association, with materials and labor costs provided by the Impermanent Sea Island Management Committee. Construction time: 10 hours.】

【Small Wooden Boat】

【Category: Vessel】

【An ordinary small wooden boat that requires a nautical chart to be installed before it can be launched. It must be docked at a pier.】

Nan Liujing selected the construction permit on the eastern side of the beach. The yellowed paper flew from his fingers and drifted gently to the spot he had chosen, and a thick white mist immediately enveloped the area.

“Huh? Is that it? What happens next?” Nan Liujing blinked, shining his flashlight into the mist, but no matter how close he got, he couldn’t see through it.

A few minutes later, a bright yellow sign reading “Under Construction—Keep Out” was wheeled out. Another minute passed, and the area around the mist was cordoned off with yellow-and-black caution tape.

A hoarse shout came from within the white mist, followed by the clanging and clattering of construction work. Every now and then, an oversized piece of lumber or a sledgehammer raised too high would accidentally pierce through the white mist, only to be quickly withdrawn, leaving Nan Liujing with nothing but a fleeting glimpse.

Nan Liujing: “……” 

Wait, they’re just a construction crew here to work—why are they making such a big secret out of it? Never mind. Since the dock is already under construction, he’d better not disturb them.

Nan Liujing turned and walked away, decisively locking himself back inside the farmhouse. With a team of strangers—and likely unsavory characters—on his island, it was safer to hide on a dark and stormy night like this.

He hung his flashlight upside down from the ceiling beam with a hemp rope, pretending it was a lamp. Sitting in the flickering light, Nan Liujing unfolded the three parchment sheets Milai had given him.

These were the legendary nautical charts.

【Random Sea Chart】

【Category: Item】

【The nautical chart will randomly provide 3 destinations; you can only choose 1. The chart will handle the round-trip escort. Can only be used on a ship.】

“So it’s not purely random, but a choose-one-of-three? That’s actually a pretty generous setup.” At least it gives the player some leeway.

Nan Liujing put the chart away. Since it’s better to act sooner rather than later, he decided to use a chart immediately after tomorrow’s low tide ends and head out to sea to take a look.

By then, he would have collected all the morning supplies, and the dock construction would be complete—nothing would be delayed.

Next, Nan Liujing took out the two oak barrels he’d collected during tonight’s low tide and, eager to get started, prepared to open the treasure chest.

“I’m heading out tomorrow, so I really hope I get a weapon or item for self-defense.” Making a half-hearted wish, Nan Liujing raised his hand to open the chest. “Here we go!”

Two flashes of white light, and Nan Liujing’s shoulders slumped—he knew he’d crashed again.

The contents of the first oak barrel were mediocre: 5 wooden planks, 12 pairs of cotton socks, and 1 bathrobe.

The second, however, was a surprise. Nan Liujing leaned in and saw countless gleaming gold coins filling the entire oak barrel.

“Are these… gold coins?”

Nan Liujing blinked, picked up a coin in amazement, and examined it closely under the light.

This gold coin was larger than those on Earth, resembling a casino chip. Both sides were adorned with exquisite relief carvings: one side featured the profile of a crowned woman, while the other featured a motif of roses and thorns—vibrant blossoms and twisting vines intertwined to form a net surrounding a serpent at the center, its coiled body curving into the shape of a capital cursive “S.”

【Sol】

【Category: Currency】

【A currency circulating across multiple seas of the Impermanent Sea, issued by the great nation of the City of Radiance. The obverse bears the portrait of the current king, Sola III. She is also the greatest alchemist of this century; every Sol coin undergoes a final finishing touch by her hand, making it impossible to counterfeit or forge. Consequently, the value of the Sol is recognized by the vast majority of array weavers and individuals.】

“So this is what Sol looks like.” Nan Liujing grabbed handfuls of gold coins with his bare hands, stuffing them all into his backpack, then grabbed another handful.

Don’t get the wrong idea—he wasn’t a money-grabber; he was just too lazy to count. Identical items placed in the backpack automatically stack up to a maximum of 99; anything beyond that occupies a separate slot.

In the end, the entire bucket of gold coins went into the game backpack, and Nan Liujing’s backpack now showed four stacked-to-capacity slots and one slot displaying “70 Sol.”

“470 Sol… That’s not much buying power.”

Based on the newspapers and some item information gathered over the past few days, 470 Sol is only enough to buy one or two meals; it’s still a few dozen Sol short of buying a life potion.

“Oh well, better than nothing.” Nan Liujing took the gold coins out of his backpack again, quickly organized his supplies, and climbed into bed to get some sleep.

He still planned to get a full eight hours of sleep tonight. Since he’d made up his mind to go out exploring tomorrow, he certainly couldn’t pass up the 50-point stamina boost provided by the wooden single bed.

Xiao Nan, turn off the light!

Click.

Nan Liujing manually turned off the flashlight. Day 5 of Survival, 5:30 a.m.

Yawning, Nan Liujing opened the small door of the mailbox and retrieved a newspaper and two one-time space cards.

One card contained a simple farming tool bundle. Upon opening it, a toolbox appeared before Nan Liujing, containing three farming tools: a hoe, a watering can, and a sickle.

The other card was a prize from the lottery postcard. Nan Liujing used it casually; the card vanished, and his hand suddenly felt heavy as a large bag of items nearly knocked him to the ground.

“Whoa! That gave me a start—it even woke me right up!”

Looking down, he saw a golden retriever happily sticking its tongue out at the camera on the massive package. Perched on its head was a tabby cat with sleek fur, its yellow eyes wide open, and its expression looking quite serious.

【Pet Biscuit】

【Category: Pet Food】

【A brand-new product from the Magical Animal Protection Association, designed to improve the daily lives of magical creatures. Nutritious! Healthy! Delicious! Nothing else matters!】

【Suggested Retail Price: 300 Sols】

【Condition: Fresh】

A large bag of pet food containing exactly one hundred cookies. Nan Liujing recalled that this was the third prize in the lottery postcard raffle. Did he actually win?

“I don’t need this…” Nan Liujing sighed helplessly and casually tossed the pet biscuits into the farmhouse.

He unfolded today’s newspaper—the *Impermanent Sea Daily*. Unfortunately, Nan Liujing couldn’t find anything worth noting; it was filled with entertainment gossip, with three whole pages devoted to the love-hate drama between a famous singer and her three exes. After searching for a while, he only found a somewhat amusing joke tucked away in a corner.

“Trash.” He crumpled it up and tossed the paper back into the farmhouse; he could use it to stoke the fire later.

The newspaper delivery bird hadn’t brought him any new coupons today. Nan Liujing picked up his toolbox, intending to plant the seeds before the tide went out.

The single square meter of poor-quality farmland lay there quietly. Nan Liujing set his toolbox aside, stared at the brownish soil, and stroked his chin.

What should he do next? Does this farming game even come with instructions? 

“Logically speaking, I should probably till the soil first?” Nan Liujing picked up the hoe and tentatively dug into the field twice.

The brownish-red topsoil was turned over, revealing darker soil beneath.

A few multi-legged insects lay disoriented on the ground. Nan Liujing crouched down and, with quick reflexes, squashed them one by one.

Apart from earthworms, he considered all other insects living in the soil to be pests; even a fool could tell they wouldn’t have a positive effect on the seeds.

Better to crush them now and be done with it.

“I didn’t expect this poor-quality farmland to come with its own supply of bugs. It seems turning the soil over before sowing is indeed necessary.” Nan Liujing nodded and swung the hoe without complaint.

Tilling a plot of just one square meter was quick work; it was finished in no time. The dark brown soil lay exposed to the sunlight, exuding that distinctive earthy scent.

All the insects unearthed met their just punishment at the hands of humanity. After squishing the bugs, Nan Liujing suddenly had a flash of inspiration and hurried back to the cottage.

When he returned, he waved his hand, and the wood ash he’d saved from stoking the fire these past few days was evenly scattered across the field. On Earth, wood ash was also a type of fertilizer.

Although he didn’t know if it would work in the game world, this counted as applying a layer of base fertilizer.

After tilling the soil once more, Nan Liujing took his hoe and crouched in the field, carefully digging holes.

Each plot of farmland could only accommodate 25 crops—this was specified in the item description and was part of the game’s mechanics. His digging followed the same rules: a maximum of five holes per row, and he could only dig five rows in total.

“Next up is planting.”

He took out the seeds and placed one in each small hole. There was no need to pre-germinate or start seedlings; he simply planted them directly, then gently covered them with soil and patted it down twice to seal it.

He filled the watering can with the fresh water he’d collected today and watered the entire field.

Nan Liujing held his breath nervously until he saw 25 information bubbles pop up above the fields, then he slowly relaxed.

【Lettuce Seeds】

【Growing】

【Countdown: 3 days, 35 hours, 59 minutes】