Chapter Ten: Placement

Xian Yu wasn't sure if they had discovered his identity, but no one spoke to him for a while, giving him a sense of peace. However, when the person who had been talking to him turned around, Xian Yu noticed the individual making a strange gesture. Perplexed, he didn't pay it much mind and closed his eyes to rest.

The human heart can be unpredictable, but when you have enough strength to handle it, you naturally have nothing to fear. In that moment, Xian Yu began to realize that his mindset was slowly changing, becoming calmer and more confident.

Since this was a main road, there were relatively few monsters, and the Qianyan Army occasionally patrolled it, reducing the likelihood of encountering accidents.

After two hours, Xian Yu disembarked from the vehicle, and the middle-aged man who had conversed with him wore a disappointed expression upon seeing him. He muttered, "I thought it was a big catch, but it turned out to be just a small fry... What a waste of time."

Unbeknownst to Xian Yu, this man was actually a member of the "Mutual Aid Network." Their modus operandi involved targeting wealthy individuals and, once confirmed, extorting money from them under the threat of death.

The "Mutual Aid Network," though not as prominent as the Treasure Hoarders, had a considerable presence and a more infamous reputation. While the treasure thieves mainly focused on excavating ruins and stealing treasures, occasionally resorting to robbery, they generally refrained from taking lives and retained some moral compass.

On the other hand, the "Mutual Aid Network" had no such scruples. Those targeted by this organization often met a grim fate even after paying the demanded ransom.

So, when the Qianyan Army of Liyue encountered the Treasure Hoarders, they usually arrested and detained them temporarily, ensuring they hadn't committed any heinous acts before releasing them. However, if one's affiliation with the "Mutual Aid Network" was confirmed, life imprisonment was the likely outcome.

Xian Yu had become a target due to his lavish spending. The fare this time had indeed been steep, costing a thousand moras. Given his current expenses, it was clear that Xian Yu's money wouldn't last much longer.

Fortunately, he still had a plan for moras, and it was a comprehensive one. The money left by his predecessor amounted to about 50,000 yuan, a substantial sum. Even after over a year, he had more than 30,000 yuan left. With this in mind, he intended to use money to maximize efficiency.

Upon returning home, he spotted Uncle Zhang crafting a wooden chair beneath a large tree. Beside him were two delicate young girls who appeared nearly identical, known as the little pepper and little raspberrie, affectionate nicknames for Zhang Yujiao and Zhang Lingmei, both around 12 or 13 years old.

"Uncle Zhang, making chairs?" Xian Yu inquired.

Zhang Feng looked up, his face lighting up. "The young master is back! Is everything sorted?"

With a smile, Xian Yu confirmed, "Yes, it's all taken care of."

"Also, Uncle Zhang, please don't call me 'young master.' I'm just an ordinary person."

Xian Yu greeted the two little girls, but they didn't respond. One of them made a face, and the other hid behind a tree.

Xian Yu didn't pay much mind, opening the door to his room and stepping inside.

He had never fully understood why Uncle Zhang insisted on calling him "Young Master." Initially, he had assumed it was a gesture of gratitude for saving Uncle Zhang. However, he now speculated that Uncle Zhang might have known his predecessor, although Xian Yu never probed further.

Since Uncle Zhang hadn't brought it up, there must have been a valid reason. Perhaps it was to avoid dredging up painful memories or for some other cause.

Regardless, Xian Yu wasn't concerned with such "mundane" matters now.

Observing the door that opened and then closed again, Uncle Zhang let out a sigh. "Oh, why do good people always find themselves in trouble? Master Li used to be so full of life! Now he's fallen to this..."

"Alas! Life isn't always fair!"

The exclamation from Uncle Zhang left the two little girls looking perplexed, gazing at him with big, watery eyes, their faces filled with uncertainty.

Xian Yu had no prior knowledge about the old man and the two little girls. As he ventured into the backyard, he encountered a well he had previously dug. He began to draw water and, with his strength, cut a large hole.

Though there was a fair bit of activity, fortunately, there weren't many people around at this time. Xian Yu had no intention of manually digging holes when there was a quicker method available, so he made use of it.

As for discarding the slimes into the well? Xian Yu couldn't help but chuckle at the thought that he had been using "bath water" for daily use, so he decided to dispose of it.

Slimes were elemental creatures, and it was apparent that their elemental power was quite similar to the elemental power he had mastered, rendering their attacks ineffective, not to mention his spiritual power that protected his body.

"But we should take some protective measures. Otherwise, if it escape, It'll be troublesome to find it again."

Implementing these protective measures wasn't too difficult; all it took was arranging some stones. The materials were readily available in the yard.

"Alright! It's finally done. This matter is concluded. Moving forward, I can just be a low-profile, handsome man and quietly work on self-improvement."

Surveying his handiwork, Xian Yu clapped his hands, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

With the issue of the cryo crystal butterflies resolved, the next step was to focus on his own development.

Xian Yu had limited options when it came to enhancing his strength, primarily relying on the accumulation of elemental and spiritual power over time. Hence, his future plans involved avoiding unnecessary travel, unless it was an absolute necessity.

However, one crucial aspect he had to remain attentive to was the "[Traveler]"—the visitor from another world. This individual was bound to bring about a series of changes, so Xian Yu knew he needed to be vigilant at all times.

"But there are no rumors yet. Does that mean they haven't arrived, or are they still sleeping?"

Xian Yu didn't have precise information about the situation. In his gaming experience, he only had a partial understanding of events; there was no way to know everything.

Nonetheless, as long as he could continue to improve himself steadily, he believed he was on the right path.

Putting aside these thoughts, he gazed at the frozen water, lost in contemplation.

With the presence of cryo slime, it seemed likely that this small pond would gradually develop into a weak cryo element environment centered around the slime. Could this mean that the Ice Mist Flower could also thrive here?

Wouldn't this create a perfect ecosystem?

Considering similar instances in the game, Xian Yu thought that this approach should work. However, he was aware that Ice Mist Flowers were not common, perhaps even rarer than cryo slimes. Therefore, he remained somewhat hesitant.

Is it worth the effort? That was the question. Pursuing this goal might require him to venture far from home, potentially conflicting with his existing plans.

"Well, for now, let's leave it be. As for the Ice Mist Flower, we'll see how lucky we get in the future. If we come across any nearby, I can always bring them back. If not, we'll see in future."

At the moment, having cryo slimes was sufficient. Adding more Ice Mist Flowers would only further fortify the environment. He wasn't entirely convinced that this was essential for the evolution of the cryo Crystal Butterfly, and since he lacked knowledge about the process, he decided to abandon the idea.