Blessed by Abundance, Scourge of Terra

And Huang Cao really disliked this kind of prying into others' thoughts, even if it was unintentional.

After all, logically speaking, since Lamian was willing to use her ability to probe the mind of something, she had already prepared herself for the possibility that this thing possessed self-awareness.

But before Huang Cao could react, the young banshee beside him suddenly plunged headfirst into the clear river water.

It was only then that Huang Cao understood the true power of the Originium Beautification Pack.

Are all you Sarkaz people this well-nourished? You've got way more going for you than those halo-headed Sartalians next door.

And it wasn't just one of them who had the goods—once that little banshee sister started it, the other banshees stopped holding back.

After a long journey, the young ladies were covered in dust and badly needed a good wash in the water.

So they all treated Huang Cao like one of their own and dove into the river without a second thought.

Lamian cast a fond glance at her kin, then joined in as well.

"This one's even more impressive!"

Huang Cao was deeply shaken by the Lord of the Royal Court's prowess.

Lamian truly deserved to be the one who could lead a whole clan—the strength she possessed was simply magnificent! It successfully captured his attention.

So Huang Cao made his decision on the spot: he'd just stay here. It wasn't like he felt like leaving anytime soon anyway.

As long as Lamian didn't try to pry into his thoughts, he could accept having this group of lovely, beautiful neighbors around him.

Just now, she had been about to probe him but was stopped by a little sister.

Maybe this was fate.

The time that followed was pretty boring—just one round of benefits after another, deathly dull.

Hmm, Lamian's figure was really something. She probably wasn't married yet, right?

And she was still so shy and bashful now.

Guess I came a bit too early. Speaking of which, it's been so long, and Theresia hasn't even come by to say hello. Lamian is her best friend, after all.

And so time passed peacefully. The banshees provided emotional value for a certain blade of grass, while the latter provided living conditions for the race.

Huang Cao's passive skill was absorbing Originium to sustain his growth, which meant that the River Valley region was almost free of natural disasters, and the crops grew far more abundantly than anywhere else.

It was a win-win. Both sides won big.

So as time went on, the River Valley's environment grew better and better, and countless wooden cabins sprang up along the riverbank.

Of course, one thing that never changed was the banshees' habit of cleaning themselves, which meant Huang Cao got to see benefits every single day.

At the same time, he was researching how to turn into a real person, but the data in the database on that subject was far too complex.

The arrival of the banshees was also a rare spiritual comfort in a foreign land, amidst a string of theories and biophysical formulas.

Before he knew it, winter had arrived. The River Valley welcomed a long-awaited silence, along with the banshees' smiles of harvest.

"As expected, whether it's science or theology, formulas are the most annoying thing."

Huang Cao's spirit floated above his main body, staring gloomily at the snow-covered valley.

Right now, he really wished he had a pair of glasses to show off his scholarship.

Scholarship on the subject of female banshees.

Over the course of a year, he had basically studied every banshee in the River Valley, and even ranked them according to his intuitive impressions.

But whether it was the Upper House or the Lower House, in every data ranking, the first place was always Lamian.

Damn it. If only heaven would let me get a girlfriend this beautiful, I'd even be willing to become the owner of some Green Big Cat!

"Lord Grass Spirit, thank you for your help this year." Lamian looked at the massive plant before her and spoke gently.

Lord Grass Spirit—what a name you came up with, Huang Cao thought as he watched Lamian, whose lips were barely holding back a smile.

You're laughing, aren't you? How did you even say that name with a straight face?

But at this moment, Lamian was slightly bent over, and Huang Cao, looking down from above, instantly had a full view of the white snow on the ground.

Theoretically speaking, winter had come, the river water was freezing cold, and physically, Huang Cao got to see snow more often, but mentally, he saw much less.

Now that patch of snowy white was veiled by black gauze, but that didn't diminish its formidable presence in the slightest.

"Boring." Huang Cao sighed inwardly, his expression utterly calm, as a book materialized in his hand, formed from spiritual power—the Banshee Encyclopedia.

It covered every aspect of banshee life, combined with modern medicine, and was essentially a complete gynecological encyclopedia for the banshee race.

Even though Terra's people had extremely tough physiques, female banshees still suffered from certain physiological discomforts, and the River Valley's environment was practically primitive, with modern technology basically nonexistent.

Any minor illness had to be endured on their own. Strictly speaking, this book was a byproduct of studying their bodies.

Lamian picked up a broom and swept away the snow piled around Huang Cao, then had the girls carefully circle him with stones.

Banshees were a race extremely sensitive to sound and Originium, and their words carried power.

Especially the Lord of the Royal Court, who was the standout among them. After more than a year of getting along, Lamian knew that the River Valley's ability to maintain such a beautiful environment in the current era was largely thanks to this lush, green blade of grass.

Or rather, this was inherently a sentient plant, perhaps even possessing a mind.

New book seeking support, thank you everyone!

Chapter 3: The Demon King Who Can't Cook the Books

As time passed, the snow fell even heavier. Winter's arrival forced all living things to halt their steps in exploring the world.

But fortunately, thanks to Huang Cao's protection, the River Valley's crop yields had reached unprecedented heights.

Enough firewood had been gathered for the banshees to safely endure the entire winter.

"Yet the people here can make it through—those outside might not."

Huang Cao's root system spread across the entire valley. When winter set in, he sensed even more sorrow surging from the Originium.

Many wouldn't survive this winter...

Huang Cao shook his head. No, it should be a very, very large number who wouldn't survive.

Post-war reconstruction was never as easy as imagined.

Theresia's abilities... to be honest, the story didn't portray them all that well.

Her skill at handling government affairs was a bit lacking...

Of course, he didn't truly know what Theresia's abilities were like; the narrative simply hadn't covered it, so he could only speculate here.

"I sincerely hope you may pass the winter unharmed." Lamian pressed a light kiss to the thick root, offering a heartfelt blessing.

"Does being a blade of grass give me more charm than my human form?"

Hovering in the air, Huang Cao was a bit at a loss. His main body and spiritual form were actually linked, their sensations shared.

And to keep himself from truly becoming a plant, he had unified his plant body with his human body—the plant roots represented his lower half.

By proportional height, where Lamian had kissed was actually a bit odd, and because it was a direct kiss, the sensation was even keener.

"That felt good."

Sighing inwardly, Huang Cao shook his head, sorted through the tangled mess of complex formulas in his mind, and continued refining his Encyclopedia of Banshee Gynecology.

Even perks grew tiresome. So many well-built banshees splashing around in the pond all year—after watching for a whole year, he ought to have learned something.

Truly, rigorous science was a man's ultimate destination.

Of course, his main work was still studying Originium; exploring the banshees' figures and body structures was merely for leisure.

At the same time, he was laying the groundwork for his next identity, because...

Huang Cao watched Lamian walk away, lightly waving his hands. A gentle breeze rose from nowhere, stirring the maiden's veil.

Meanwhile, the youth's form gradually took shape atop the tall plant.

Though he had no physical body, that didn't mean he couldn't move or touch—this was something he'd just developed.

The medical profession had a high barrier to entry, but it was also the best way to infiltrate the inner circle.

Even without using his eyes now, Huang Cao could infer from sound alone that some banshees were probably having a rough time.

Cold baths every day, no dietary restrictions—even a Terra native couldn't withstand such abuse.

And perhaps because he had transmigrated too early, many modern technologies still showed no sign of appearing.

The banshees' living conditions were entirely ancient. No major illnesses, but plenty of minor ones—not fatal, but certainly unpleasant. That gave him an opening.

Having an identity recognized by a faction on this land was far easier than stumbling around like a headless fly.

The blizzard raged on. Outside, the starving littered the fields.

An uninvited guest braved the wind and snow, quietly slipping into the River Valley, completely ignoring Huang Cao's form buried under the snow.

She went straight into Lamian's wooden cabin.

"Theresia? What's that pink-haired one doing here?" Seeing this, Huang Cao's gossip fire blazed within.

At the same time, in an inconspicuous corner inside Lamian's cabin, a tiny leaf sprouted instantly at his thought.

Come on—the wood for the banshees' cabins naturally came from the forests near the River Valley.

By now, Huang Cao's plant roots had reached every corner of this region, with eyes and ears everywhere.

He could not only listen, but also see!

He just almost never used it. He wasn't a peeping tom.

Theresia threw back her cloak, her gaze tender as she looked at her friend before her.

"Lamian, long time no see. How have you been?"

Lamian handed her a cup of hot tea, gripping the other's slender hand. Her tone was equally gentle, but laced with caution.

As the clan leader, she absolutely could not let her people fall into war again.

If they fought any longer, the banshees would truly face extinction. Even if an outstanding male appeared now and blessed every banshee in the River Valley in short order, it still wouldn't change the reality of their dwindling numbers.

"Of course not, Lamian. But I truly need your help."

"As long as it's not some pointless infighting, I am willing to give everything I have for Kazdel."

"I need food. The Sarkaz children need food." Theresia said gravely.

So they were after the granaries all along...

Lamian gazed out the window with a melancholy look at the several large granaries that had just been built.

"How many people's rations are needed?"

"One month's provisions for forty thousand people."

"But these rations are our clan's reserves for winter and next spring. We only just had our first harvest this year..."

Throughout this entire year, the Banshees had lived a very full life. In this River Valley, everyone had labored diligently, pushing themselves to the limit just to secure this harvest.

They had originally looked forward to a winter of plenty, but this year's winter was even harsher than before.

The Banshees had only just arrived at their new home—how could they let the food they had worked so hard for be handed over to others?

Lamian was not unwilling to lend. She could endure hunger herself, but her clan could not.

How could she face her sisters?

They had only just emerged from the shadow of war, hoping to spend a warm and abundant winter.

"Is there truly nothing that can be scraped together? A Kazdel this vast can't even muster one month's rations for forty thousand people?"

Theresia's expression was pained, but she still spoke the truth: "There are too many orphans left behind by the war. Victoria and Leithanian keep harassing us. Teresis says we must maintain a considerable level of readiness to ensure safety."

"All supplies must be prioritized for the front lines."

"Consider this a personal loan from me to you, Lamian. The children in the orphanage are about to face a shortage of food..."

"When the harvest comes next year, I will return this grain to you double. And as for this one month's rations, I will have to tighten my belt and stretch it into two months."

It wasn't just one month—they would have to endure three months of cold.

Theresia did not want to put too much pressure on her good friend, so she did not say it aloud.

There was truly no other way. With the front lines strained and the cities in the rear also lacking rations, there was simply no room to maneuver.