Chapter Bonanza (4/10)

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【Borscht】

【Category: Cooking · Soups】

【Ingredients: 1 onion, 1 tomato, 1 carrot, 1 piece of meat.】

【Optional ingredients: spices, butter, salt, ?, ? 】

【Recommended Price: 445 sol.】

【Freshness: Fresh】

【Effect: Restores 10 HP, increases Cold Resistance by 1.】

【A soup with moderate acidity that’s very appetizing.】

【Caesar Salad】

【Category: Dishes · Salads】

【Ingredients: Lettuce x1, Bread x1, Cheese x1.】

【Optional Ingredients: Eggs, Spices, Bacon, Olive Oil.】

【Recommended Price: 144 sol.】

【Freshness: Fresh】

【Effect: Restores 10 HP; increases the chance of crop mutations when watering (1 hour).】5

【Hailed as the “King of Salads,” this delicious salad is very easy to make.】

【Creamy Potato Soup】

【Category: Cooking · Soups】

【Ingredients: Potato x1, Onion x1, Milk x1.】

【Optional Ingredients: Butter, bacon, spices, mushrooms.】

【Reference Price: 260 sol.】

【Freshness: Fresh】

【Effect: Restores 15 HP.】

【A simple yet delicious soup with a rich, smooth flavor that’s hard to resist.】

【French Toast】

【Category: Dishes · Snacks】

【Ingredients: Bread x1, Egg x1, Milk x1.】

【Optional Toppings: Sugar, ?, ?.】

【Recommended Price: 360 sol.】

【Freshness: Fresh】

【Effect: Restores 20 HP.】

【Can be made sweet or savory—that’s French toast.】

【Water Platter】

【Category: Cooking · Other】

【Ingredients: Water-based ingredients x3.】

【Optional Ingredients: ?, ?, ?.】

【Recommended Price: 860 Sol.】

【Freshness: Fresh】

【Effect: Restores 10 HP.】

【Cut the fresh water into chunks and arrange them on a plate.】

After breakfast, it was low tide. Nan Liujing ran to the beach to gather supplies, while Victor called the innkeeper to arrange for a boat pickup in Olive Town that evening.

The two met at the makeshift dock. They’d agreed yesterday that Victor would take Nan Liujing to explore a resource-rich, unclaimed island today, and Nan Liujing had brought Hei Tang along as well. The kitten—who was usually very reliable and loved going on outings—was now lying in Nan Liujing’s arms with a clearly reluctant expression, swishing her tail wildly and swatting at her owner’s arm.

Victor couldn’t help but smile: “What’s going on?”

Nan Liujing said helplessly, “He’s throwing a tantrum.”

The reason for the tantrum was easy to guess—as soon as they reached Victor, Hei Tang started swishing its tail even more vigorously.

However, even though Hei Tang didn’t take a liking to Victor, once they were actually on the boat, it nonchalantly walked over to Victor and started grooming him. Victor lowered his head and gently rubbed the cat’s side with the top of his foot; Hei Tang gave him a puff of breath but still didn’t run away.

Nan Liujing was startled: “This is the first time Hei Tang has ever huffed at anyone!”

Victor said, “Really? It huffed at me several times yesterday.”

“……” Nan Liujing gave him a look that said more than words could, “Even though I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I’m pretty sure the cat isn’t to blame.”

Hei Tang is such a cool and composed little cat—how could it possibly hiss at someone!

It’s definitely all Victor’s fault.

Victor just smiled without saying a word, then bent down to stroke the cat’s back. Wherever his fingers passed, Hei Tang’s spine undulated like waves, and wherever he touched, the fur would dip inward, as if there were an invisible wall there.

Nan Liujing’s expression seemed to accuse him: “What on earth did you do to it?”

Hei Tang yawned widely, then lay down at Victor’s feet, pretending to doze off, his little head resting on the top of his shoe.

Victor looked innocently at Nan Liujing: “Is that how it works? It’s okay for it to touch me, but not for me to touch it?” 

“That’s just how cats are,” Nan Liujing said. In truth, Hei Tang actually quite liked Victor.

With everything ready, Victor prepared to set sail. He placed his hand on the mast and, as he started the boat, asked Nan Liujing, “Do you know Mulberry Island?”

Nan Liujing shook his head. “Is that our destination today?”

“Yes,” Victor said. “A few years ago, there was still a village on the island. The mulberry wine produced in Mulberry Village was of excellent quality. Unfortunately, it didn’t survive the natural disaster; most of the villagers perished, and the survivors all moved away.”

“Now, it’s just an unclaimed resource island. Aside from its natural resources, the original site of Mulberry Village is still there. Many villagers left in such a hurry that they barely packed their belongings, and no one has returned since.”

The more Victor spoke, the brighter Nan Liujing’s eyes shone. An unplundered indigenous settlement! He immediately began to assess whether the supplies he’d brought were sufficient. He had seven Stamina Potions left, but since raiding the natives’ houses didn’t consume Stamina, that wasn’t an issue. He had one Life Potion—he’d rely on that to save his life if danger arose.

Wooden spears and shields; iron axes can be used to chop down trees and as weapons. Once upgraded, they’re made entirely of gold and are sturdier, making them very effective for attacking people. Nan Liujing has it all figured out: after arriving on the island, search the village first, then chop down trees—this way, the exploration time is shorter. So if there’s nothing worthwhile in the village, head to the forest as soon as possible and slowly search the village.

Victor’s voice rang out in a steady, unhurried tone: “The natural disasters on the island pose certain risks to exploration. I don’t want you to worry too much, so I’ll lend you an alchemical item for protection.”

Nan Liujing paused for a moment, then glanced over with a light-hearted look: “Is that for real? For free?”

Victor smiled: “After all, you’re my biggest client.”

An hour later, a strange-looking island came into view.

【You have approached Resource Island: Mulberry Island. You have 10 hours to explore; exceeding this time limit will cause you to miss the return voyage.】

The island isn’t very large—it’s a small-to-medium-sized island. The left half is lush and green, with many shrubs and tall trees, creating a scene filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers. The right half is covered in yellow sand, with undulating dunes, and is so desolate it’s hard to believe. The entire island looks as if it’s been given a buzz cut, half green and half yellow.

Nan Liujing’s eyes widened: “What’s going on here?”

Victor shrugged: “A natural disaster. Pretty amazing, huh?”

“Mulberry Village lies right on the dividing line down the middle of the island,” Victor said as he docked the boat at the long-abandoned pier, gesturing to indicate the location. “Half is buried in yellow sand, while the other half is overgrown with vegetation. Watch out for the pollen from these plants—it seems harmless, but it’s actually more dangerous than the sand itself.”

Those few words sent a chill down Nan Liujing’s spine; even now on Mulberry Island, he no longer found the lush greenery on one side of the island so pleasing to the eye.

“The resources you mentioned aren’t hidden among those dangerous plants, are they?”

“Actually, there are resources in the desert too—they’re just a bit hard to find.” Victor gave a hearty laugh, instantly switching into traveling salesman mode as he pulled out a product catalog as if by magic. “Speaking of which! Dear guest, why not make a purchase before you set out on your exploration?”

Nan Liujing took the catalog in silence. He flipped it open, and the very first page read: 

Windproof goggles, priced at 5,000 sol, limited to 3 per customer. Nan Liujing: “……”

He silently scrolled back through the list—there were also gas masks, leather ankle boots, and stylish trench coats…

【Windproof Goggles】

【Category: Clothing】

【Goggles that provide highly effective protection against wind and sand when worn, offering the clearest field of vision while also blocking strong light and UV rays!】

【Price: 5,000 Sol.】

【Gas Mask】

【Category: Apparel】

【Completely envelops the face for all-around protection, perfectly blocking sandstorms, pollen, and toxic gases to ensure your breathing remains safe.】

【Price: 6,000 Sol.】

【Cowhide Ankle Boots】

【Category: Clothing】

【Crafted from the hide of wild bison, these boots are sturdy and durable, making them ideal for wearing in deserts, wastelands, and other rugged terrains.】

【Price: 5,000 Sol.】

“These are all practical items for this resource island—you’ve really come prepared, haven’t you!” Nan Liujing took a deep breath and said to himself, “Never mind, it’s all settled.”

He snapped the catalog shut and handed it over: “One pair of windproof goggles, one gas mask, and one pair of cowhide ankle boots.”

“Thank you for your business!” Victor said with a beaming smile as he put away the product catalog. “Don’t look so worried. Rest assured, your initial investment will definitely be worth every penny. This island will yield plenty of valuable resources.”

In fact, every few months, he personally came to collect a batch—sourced directly from the origin, with no middlemen taking a cut. If you do the math, it’s right about the time when several of those resources are in season.

“Thanks for the kind words,” Nan Liujing said with a forced smile.

“I’m serious. Have you heard of the Mind-Confusing Flower?” Victor asked. “It’s the main ingredient for making Chaos Potions, and each bloom can fetch 2,000 Sol. The Mind-Confusing Flower grows on the Mind-Confusing Vine—a very rare magical plant—but botanists have reportedly found traces of it on Mulberry Island.”

He was spinning a tall tale, but Nan Liujing wasn’t falling for it: “If it’s really as good as you say, why isn’t anyone here?”

He’d just spent 16,000 Sol exploring Mulberry Island. If his target was the Mind-Confusing Flower—which sold for 2,000 Sol each—this initial investment wasn’t actually that much. Picking just eight would break even, and anything beyond that would be pure profit.

With such huge profits, Nan Liujing couldn’t believe no one else on the Impermanent Sea would be tempted.

“Of course, it’s because not that many people know about this island.” Victor smiled, crossed his arms, and leaned lightly against the mast. “It’s an island devastated by a natural disaster; most people think it’s sunk completely. Even on the most up-to-date maps of the Impermanent Sea, the name ‘Mulberry Island’ has already been erased.”

“This is my secret hideaway. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t share it so easily.”

Nan Liujing said dryly, “Wow, I’m really moved.”

His face practically screamed five words: “Do you really believe me?” Victor burst out laughing.

“All right, actually there are two small issues: the Mind-Confusing Flower isn’t easy to harvest. Also, the market demand for Chaos Potions isn’t that high, and as for the Mind-Confusing Flower—though it’s precious—there isn’t really a market for it.”

“However, I recently heard that a witch took on a big order to make 30 bottles of Chaos Potion within a month, but she doesn’t have enough Mind-Confusing Flowers on hand—she’s practically going crazy.” Victor smiled at Nan Liujing. “So, no matter how many Mind-Confusing Flowers you pick today, I’ll buy them all at market price.”

“What do you think? Isn’t that a good deal?”

“You’ve said it all—what else can I say?” Nan Liujing sighed, put on his gas mask and goggles, and laced up his sneakers.

Switching to leather ankle boots, “I feel like I was tricked into working for you. It really sucks.”

“No, no, no. Aside from the Heart-Confusing Flower, there are plenty of other resources on Mulberry Island.”

“Whatever. I’m not the one who lost out this time anyway. Later, I’m going to punch you really hard.” Nan Liujing adjusted the strap at the back of his head and glanced at him. “Have you ever taken a punch with a 12-point attribute bonus?”

The number seemed small, but when Nan Liujing had tested his strength earlier, he’d easily shattered a wooden plank with a single punch.

Victor couldn’t see his expression, but he imagined the young man was wearing a dead-serious look. He chuckled to himself: “I promise, you definitely won’t lose out.”

He pulled out a ruby pendant and gestured for Nan Liujing to hang it around his neck: “This is a protective amulet. It’ll heat up when you’re in danger, and it can also help you block three attacks. I’m lending it to you for free.”

After saying that, he pulled out a pair of extra-small gas masks and windproof goggles. Crouching down, he ignored Hei Tang’s protests and forced them onto the cat as well:

“This is a free gift,” he said.

“Meow.” Hei Tang crouched on the dock, grumpily tugging at her face mask with a paw, shaking her head, and letting out a muffled meow.

Victor, in merchant mode, was indeed a bit more likable than usual. Nan Liujing put on the pendant and looked at the gear on Hei Tang; thinking about their prices, his mood instantly improved.

Plus, this way, Hei Tang could tag along with him to explore the island.

Although her biting attacks were sealed by the mask, the kitten claws were still very sharp. If they encountered danger, they wouldn’t be completely helpless.

Nan Liujing and Hei Tang set foot on Mulberry Island and made their way toward the ruins of Mulberry Village deep within the island.

Walking along the boundary between the desert and the forest, he became increasingly aware of the stark contrast between the two worlds. Nan Liujing simply couldn’t understand how these two ecosystems could be so close yet so distinctly separate.

On the forest side, the ground was a sea of emerald green, with wild grasses growing rampant. The ground felt soft and slightly springy underfoot; parting the blades of grass revealed soft, humus-rich soil nearly black in color, with insects scurrying through it.

Then, after a dozen or so centimeters, it came to an abrupt halt.

Dry gravel replaced the soil, covering the ground. As far as the eye could see, there wasn’t a single plant—only endless yellow sand scattered by the wind. Occasionally, a distant tumbleweed could be spotted, or a lizard would crawl out of its burrow, its comical, rapid movements as if the sand were burning its feet.

It was truly incredible that Nan Liujing could set foot in both the forest and the desert at the same time.

Hei Tang preferred the desert; she happily strutted across the sand, occasionally spinning in a circle or lowering her head to sniff and nuzzle the ground. Unfortunately, her gas mask blocked her nose, so she couldn’t smell a thing.

After circling around a couple more times, the cat began digging a hole in the sand, making a rustling sound.

Nan Liujing walked over and suddenly found himself face-to-face with the orange goggles on Hei Tang’s face. The cat was crouching solemnly over the hole, its hind legs spread apart.

……

“Oh.” Nan Liujing politely looked away and continued walking, “That’s awkward.”

After taking a few steps, the sound of sand being scooped up came from behind again, and then Hei Tang casually jogged up to catch up. Thirty minutes later, the man and the cat reached the entrance to Mulberry Village, where a massive wooden archway stood.

The arch’s two “legs” stood in the forest and the desert, respectively. The one at the edge of the forest was entwined with deep green vines that spiraled upward, blooming with tiny white flowers.

The side facing the desert had collapsed and was half-buried in the sand.

Nan Liujing put on his cotton gloves, took out his knight’s sword, and carefully plucked a flower with the tip of the blade—perfect; the vine didn’t suddenly turn into a snake and lunge at him.

Ever since Victor had warned him about the danger of these plants, Nan Liujing had been convinced they would bite him.

The item description for the little flower indicated that it was just an ordinary flower, but its pollen could paralyze a person’s nerves, and its sap was deadly upon contact with blood—ingesting it would mean meeting one’s ancestors immediately.

There wasn’t even a suggested retail price—picking it would be a waste of time.

Nan Liujing’s hand trembled; he quickly shook the unremarkable little white flower onto the ground. Afraid that Hei Tang might accidentally touch it, he stomped on it several times to crush it into the soil.

Just as he was about to walk away, Nan Liujing paused again. Wait a minute—this thing might actually be… He pulled out his tablet, quietly opened the group chat, and posted the item description for the little white flower.

【Little White Flower☆】

【Category: Magic Material】

【A highly poisonous flower that grows on a highly poisonous vine; the entire plant is toxic. Its pollen has a nerve-paralyzing effect, and its sap is fatal upon contact with blood. Ingestion leads to death within 5 seconds.】

【Suggested Retail Price: Do not sell.】

A single item listing caused quite a stir. Li Shechu: Holy crap, what a vicious flower.

Zhao He: Terrifying.

Zhang Zihan: Awesome! @Nan Liujing, how much? How many do you have? I’ll take them all! 

Li Shechu: Zihan? You?

Zhang Zihan: 【A view of a yak’s back, as massive as a small mountain】 I’ve been wrestling with it for ages.

Zhao He: …I’ve always wondered if your gaming life might be a little too eventful.

Li Shechu: Wow, Brother Zihan, aren’t you playing a different game than the rest of us? 

Nan Liujing: 【Photo of a toxic vine covered in little white flowers】 This many? Are they all yours? 

Zhang Zihan: !!!

Nan Liujing: I don’t know how to price this either—you name it. Just make sure it covers my stamina costs.

Soon, Zhang Zihan sent over an item description.

Zhang Zihan: I don’t have much on hand right now—how about this? 【Snow Mountain Yak Beef】 

【Snow Mountain Yak Beef】

【Category: Ingredients】

【The meat of snow-capped mountain yaks, which live at high altitudes, is firm and chewy.】

【Suggested Price: 660 sol.】

【Condition: Fresh】

Nan Liujing: How much does each serving weigh?

Zhang Zihan: 500g. If you pick all the little white flowers, I’ll give you 5 portions of snow-capped mountain yak meat. How about that?

Nan Liujing: Deal.

He closed his tablet and began picking flowers. The Resource Island Victor recommended was indeed great—he hadn’t even started searching yet, and he’d already earned 5 jin of beef.

One vine bore 30 little white flowers; Nan Liujing plucked every single one with the tip of his sword, stowed them in his backpack, and initiated a trade.

Only bare green vines remained on the doorposts. Nan Liujing pulled his gloves tighter and stepped into the village.

Mulberry Village presented a curious sight, half covered in yellow sand and half in greenery. The buildings were mostly small, wooden stilt houses. What stood out was that the roofs of every building—including the door and window curtains—were covered in blue-purple fabric, with white thread embroidered into various patterns. Recalling the village’s name, Mulberry Village, Nan Liujing surmised that these were all locally produced fabrics dyed with mulberry fruit.

Years have passed, and as people have come and gone, Mulberry Tree Village has become nothing more than ruins. These once-vibrant fabrics have faded and fallen into disrepair, now riddled with traces of insect damage.

Nan Liujing walked toward the first house, climbed the steps, and gently pushed open the door.

Hei Tang rushed ahead and squeezed inside. 

A few seconds later, a cat inside let out a leisurely “Meow~,” and only then did Nan Liujing step inside.

This was a house nestled deep within the forest; its windows were overgrown with vines, and the interior was so dark there was no natural light at all. Nan Liujing, who had come prepared, pulled out his flashlight. With a click, a bright beam shot straight into the room, revealing two faint, emerald-green will-o’-the-wisps glowing in the pitch-black darkness.

“Hei Tang,” Nan Liujing called out with a smile.

The will-o’-the-wisps moved leisurely toward him; they were actually the green eyes of a kitten, which appeared slightly blurred because they were hidden beneath a pair of goggles.

“Meow.” Hei Tang rubbed against Nan Liujing’s pant leg, signaling that the room was safe.

“Okay, I get it. Thanks a lot.” Worried his hands might be dirty, Nan Liujing didn’t dare touch the cat and could only express his gratitude verbally.

He shone his flashlight around the room and quickly realized this was the family’s living room. It contained a coffee table and two sets of sofas, with a fireplace along the wall and two large cabinets standing against it.

On the wooden floor, several plants had broken through the floorboards and even pierced the sofas, growing completely out of control.

Nan Liujing plucked a leaf to examine it—it was just an ordinary weed, neither poisonous nor of any practical value.

The wooden coffee table is in perfect condition, but it has actually gone through the entire process of sprouting, growing, and blooming—and the result is a flower that looks just like a Venus flytrap.

As the petals opened and closed, viscous digestive fluid oozed from the tooth-like stamens, dripping onto the floor and corroding a small pit in the wooden floor.

Nan Liujing, unable to resist, sliced the flower off with a single sword stroke. Within seconds, the flower stalk—along with the coffee table beneath it—withered rapidly, startling him.

“What the hell is this? It’s so weird.”

Nan Liujing composed himself, walked around the sofa and coffee table to the fireplace, and took a look. To his surprise, he discovered that even after all this time, the fireplace in this house was still capable of giving off some heat.

Suspicion immediately arose in his mind. He crouched down, used his sword to push aside the thick layer of ash, and after rummaging around for a moment, his sword tip dislodged a small, round object that rolled out onto the hearth.

Nan Liujing picked it up and brushed off the ashen-gray soot, revealing a crystal-clear gray cross-section.

【Magic Crystal—Fire Seed (Empty)】

【Category: Jewelry】

【Crafted from a naturally formed, magic-infused gemstone, this hearth ornament holds the secret to the hearth’s eternal flame. The magic within this Fire Seed has been exhausted.】

【Suggested Price: 500 Sol.】

It was actually a carved magical crystal!

“Is Mulberry Village really that rich? They’re actually using a magical crystal to fuel their fireplace.” Nan Liujing was starting to resent the wealthy.

Wipe off the dust, toss the fire starter into my backpack—this will fetch at least 500 sols, so there’s no way I’m throwing it away.

The thick layer of ash piled up in the fireplace shouldn’t go to waste either—it’s all plant ash. Nan Liujing is still trying to work the plant ash into the farmland as fertilizer, but so far, it hasn’t shown any results.

Even if it hasn’t, wood ash still has other uses.

For example, mix it with water; the filtered liquid can be sprayed on the surfaces of utensils to inhibit bacterial growth. It can be used to make alkaline rice dumplings and century eggs.

At the very least, it can be used as a dishwashing detergent to break down grease when washing dishes and pots.

Since collecting plant ash costs nothing, Nan Liujing didn’t hesitate to commandeer the metal bucket next to the fireplace and filled it more than halfway.

The family had also placed a miniature cast-iron stand—resembling a clothes hanger—next to the fireplace. Hanging from it were a pair of fire tongs that looked like oversized scissors for handling charcoal, a small broom and matching dustpan, and a fire poker for poking the coals or helping to suspend a soup pot from the hook above the fireplace.

Naturally, Nan Liujing wasn’t about to pass up such treasures. With these marvelous tools at his disposal, his standard-issue knight’s sword could finally be honorably retired from its duty as a fire poker.

With nothing else to be found by the fireplace, Nan Liujing walked over to the cabinets. One was a storage cabinet, and the other was a bookshelf.

In the storage cabinet, there’s a wicker basket filled with balls of yarn and crochet hooks, along with a half-finished towel; a small silver kettle, more than half full of kerosene; and a mounted butterfly specimen, which the system has identified as a collectible, priced at 1,600 sol; three family portraits—it appears the owners of this house are a newlywed couple; the wife loves butterflies, and the husband loves minerals; some mineral specimens used as decorations, including 1 iron ore, 1 copper ore, 1 moonstone, 1 desert rose, and 1 olive green.

Nan Liujing took the wicker basket, the kerosene lamp, the butterfly specimen, and all the minerals.

He left the three family portraits untouched; they remained in their home. As for the bookshelf, he moved the entire unit—books and all—to the trading area. With limited exploration time, he could sort through these books at his leisure after returning.