Worm Grass

They worked until nightfall before finally measuring out the rough boundaries of Magic Potion Tunic.

After all, a single Spirit Worm could only affect one hundred and fifty mu of magic potion crops, so Magic Potion Tunic was quite small, only five hundred mu.

For the near future, five hundred mu would be enough.

Russell did not think he had any way to acquire additional Spirit Worms. They were simply too rare.

The reason nobles possessed a steady supply of Spirit Worms was that, during the long-term cultivation of magic potion crops, there was a small chance for new Spirit Worms to be born from the crops. There was also a chance for Spirit Worms to emerge in the wild, but it was practically negligible.

Within a Spirit Worm's ten- to twenty-year lifespan, being able to cultivate another Spirit Worm already counted as great luck.

As for a Spirit Worm evolving into a Mushroom Bird or a fairy, the chances were equally pitifully low.

Fortunately, fairies often lived for more than fifty years, and lifespans of a hundred years were not uncommon. Such long lives were enough to cultivate many Spirit Worms for a family, until one Spirit Worm was lucky enough to evolve and continue safeguarding the family's magic potion crops.

"I hope my Mushroom Bugs and Spirit Worms work hard at cultivating magic potion crops, then quickly cultivate successor Spirit Worms..."

Butler Morris handed over the jade box containing the Spirit Worms.

Russell casually took it.

Inside lay three plump, lazy bugs. Their bodies were covered in gorgeous patterns and had the warm, smooth texture of jade. Rather than seeming as disgusting as ordinary insects, they looked oddly cute and amusing.

"Mushroom Bug, little one, you'll be the first to settle in." Russell stretched out his hand, and the Fluorite Mushroom Bug, covered in lush green patterns, crawled onto his palm in response to his will.

These Spirit Worms had already been contracted and were mentally connected to Russell, allowing him to direct them with simple commands.

"Wow, what a magical and beautiful little creature." Charles clicked his tongue in amazement beside him. "It truly is hard to imagine that they create magic potion crops and magical materials, adding such endless beauty to our lives."

Russell walked to the largest, thickest birch tree and placed the Fluorite Mushroom Bug on its trunk.

It seemed to understand that its new home had been established.

The Fluorite Mushroom Bug crawled around the trunk a few times, then eagerly opened its tiny mouth and spat out a minute seed. Without close inspection, the seed would have been impossible to see.

The seed landed on the birch trunk.

In an instant.

A cluster of green mushrooms grew at a visible rate. Their slender stems and flat caps looked exceptionally lovely. A cluster of Fluorite Mushrooms had seven or eight fruiting bodies arranged in a ring, resembling a large green flower at first glance.

At night, these mushrooms emitted a green glow, like a cluster of ghostly flames.

Some also called them ant streetlamps.

However, Worm Grass was clearly much larger than ordinary Fluorite Mushroom magic potion crops. This Worm Grass growing on the birch trunk was as large as a washbasin.

"Well done, little one." Seeing that the Worm Grass had settled securely, Russell picked up the Mushroom Bug and returned it to the jade box—when Worm Grass was attacked, it condensed into a seed before turning into magic power and returning to the Mushroom Bug's body.

Protecting the Mushroom Bug meant protecting the Worm Grass.

"Rudy." Russell turned and looked at an elderly man among the serfs. "You have cultivated Fluorite Mushrooms for my father for many years. Now, I appoint you as the Tunic Chief of Magic Potion Tunic. You will manage the serfs and cultivate the Fluorite Mushrooms properly."

Rudy was a serf technician the baron had given Russell. Though called a technician, he was really just a serf who knew how to cultivate magic potion crops.

Hearing this, Rudy was overjoyed. "Rest assured, my lord. Red-nosed Rudy will surely cultivate the finest Fluorite Mushrooms for you!"

After appointing the Tunic Chief of Magic Potion Tunic, Russell hurried without pause toward another section of measured farmland.

Wheat was planted in the field.

But that did not stop Russell from requisitioning it, officially converting it into a Monochoria Magic Potion Field, and planting a Monochoria Worm Grass bearing blue flowers shaped like tiny birds in the wheat field.

"Starting tomorrow, Old Hans and Rudy, arrange for the new serfs to join Magic Potion Tunic. Then harvest this wheat and, under the guidance of these technicians, sow Monochoria for me across one hundred and fifty mu."

These immature wheat seedlings would not go to waste. Once harvested, they could be used as silage to feed cattle and sheep.

Wuyou Snake Manor did not raise cattle or sheep. Previously, Alfalfa Tunic had specialized in growing forage grass, which was harvested and transported to other manors with livestock.

Now, there was no need to transport it elsewhere. Russell planned to raise some cattle and sheep himself in the future.

For the time being, this alfalfa would be perfect for feeding the warhorses.

A short while later, in another field across the river, Russell placed the third Dill Worm Grass, officially completing the placement of the Worm Grass.

By then, night had fallen completely.

Russell was not so heartless as to make Old Hans and the other serfs return home to eat, so he specifically had the manor annex kitchen bake plenty of extra bread.

White bread made from finely milled wheat flour was naturally out of the question.

Butler Morris could only distribute to each serf who had come to work a dense, hard black loaf made from wheat bran mixed with barley flour, bean flour, and grass seeds, rough in texture and sour in taste.

"Praise my lord, your generosity is as great as a dragon's!" Old Hans grinned from ear to ear after receiving a black loaf the size of a hollow brick.

Unlike soft white bread, black bread was very dense. One such loaf was enough for his entire family's dinner.

The serfs thanked him profusely and left the manor annex while gnawing on their black bread.

Russell, meanwhile, went with Charles and Eric to the second-floor dining room to enjoy a dinner of beer and roast meat.

As for his four Knight Retainers, they were currently stationed at Magic Potion Tunic, each watching over a Worm Grass. The newly placed Worm Grass urgently needed to absorb nutrients. If attacked or eaten, it would suffer severe damage to its vitality and seriously affect the growth of the magic potion crops.

"Morris, send John and the others some extra roast meat," Russell ordered.

"As you wish, my lord." Butler Morris accepted the order and quickly went to the kitchen to relay Russell's instructions.

"Oh, heavens." Wearing an apron with her sleeves rolled up, Mrs. Moore said sharply, "My lord is far too generous, bread and roast meat alike... The serfs at the manor are so fortunate. How many lifetimes would it take to meet a lord like this!"

Then she shouted at Barbara, the kitchen maid washing pots, "Silly girl, how many times do I have to tell you? Go check the roast!"

"It's roasting. It isn't time yet, Mrs. Moore," Barbara replied.

"Heavens, I tell you to check the oven, and all you learn is to talk back to me?" Mrs. Moore put her hands on her hips in anger. "Seeing sack after sack of flour turned into bread and handed out to those stinking serfs is aggravating enough, and now you want to make me angry too!"

Barbara helplessly wiped her hands and rushed toward the roasting oven. "I'm checking it now, Mrs. Moore."

Mrs. Moore paced twice beside the table, then called out again, "Mrs. Brown, have you brought back the cheese? I still need to make after-dinner pudding for my lord!"

"I'm here, I'm here." Mrs. Brown trotted over.

"Sorry, but I have too many things to do." Mrs. Moore's tone softened slightly as she put on a smile. "I can only make you do the work."

Mrs. Brown hurriedly said, "Don't say that. Butler Morris arranged for me to help in the kitchen, so just treat me as a kitchen maid and order me around as you please."

As Mrs. Moore stirred the cheese, she said, "You and Mr. Brown used to stay behind at the manor annex by yourselves. It must have been quiet and easy. Now that my lord has arrived, the manor annex is lively, but there is endless work every day."

"We still had to clean the whole annex before, and we didn't dare slack off for a moment. Now there are more people and more people to talk to. It's better than before." Mrs. Brown took over Barbara's work, put on gloves, and prepared to wash the pots in the sink.

Before touching the water, she placed both hands beneath her chin and quickly offered a prayer. "Praise my lord!"