Homecoming

Ning Chuan stood at the edge of the newly expanded platform, staring helplessly at the pile of discarded items in the distance that glimmered with enticing light.

The four-meter expansion range was still small, but it allowed him to reach many garbage piles he had previously been able to do nothing but stare at.

Yet his broadened field of vision also revealed objects farther away that looked even more extraordinary and peculiar. Like carrots dangling before a donkey's eyes, they remained visible but unattainable.

Even after reinforcement, the rake was only four meters long.

Even with the reach of his arms added to the rake's length, his effective operating range was barely over five meters.

And that pile of glowing garbage was still at least seven or eight meters from the new boundary.

"Ugh..." An involuntary sigh echoed across the empty platform.

He still had to stick to the old method: proceed steadily and clear the newly expanded four-meter edge first. Maybe the platform would expand all the way there next time?

It was tedious, but safe, and it truly paid off.

"Grrrrumble..."

Just as Ning Chuan pulled himself together and prepared to swing his rake for another "battle," a fierce wave of hunger hit him, and his stomach let out a loud protest.

Ning Chuan froze, only then realizing how much time had passed.

When his real body entered the Garbage Station, the physical exertion was real.

Several hours had probably passed since he came out in the morning. Outside, the sun should have already been high overhead.

"I should go back," he muttered. His mother had to be worried by now.

But when his gaze fell on the vastly changed Nine-Toothed Rake in his hand, Ning Chuan hesitated again.

The rake was now nearly four meters long. Metal veins ran through the wooden shaft, making it smooth and comfortable to grip, while the rake head gleamed silver-gray. At a glance, it was clearly nothing like the shabby farm tool from the village.

How was he supposed to explain carrying something like this home? Say he had fished it out of a stream? That would be far too absurd.

Station, list all my current dismantled materials and points.

A light screen appeared in response:

"Current materials: Spirit-Conducting Metal Ingot x2 (Quality: Ordinary); High-Density Tungsten Steel Ingot x2; Ancient Earth Dragon Lizard Vertebra Fossil x1; Fragmented Earth Crystal x5; Biomass Essence x1 (unit); Zerg Chitin Powder x1 (unit)... (several other miscellaneous materials)."

"Current total points: 166."

Looking at his points and materials, Ning Chuan had an idea.

Station, can you use these materials and points to help me... make a Nine-Toothed Rake that looks exactly like the one I brought in this morning? An ordinary wooden handle, nine iron teeth, with some rust and wear.

He did not need this new rake to be powerful. He only needed it to pass for the real thing so he could bring it home and explain himself.

As for the true reinforced version, he could keep it in the Garbage Station for future use.

"Request accepted."

"Plan analysis: A small amount of 'Low-Quality Iron Ore' and 'ordinary wood' may be consumed (must be provided or exchanged) for exterior reshaping and aging treatment."

"Points may be consumed to directly generate an identical imitation (no actual reinforcement effects)."

"Points required: 10."

"Execute?"

It could be generated directly with points? That was convenient! Ten points were still within his means.

"Execute!"

"Command confirmed. Points consumed: 10."

"Imitation process initiated."

A flash of white light appeared at the center of the platform, and a Nine-Toothed Rake identical to the one in Ning Chuan's memory materialized out of thin air.

Its rough wooden shaft, slightly rusted and worn iron teeth, and length of over three meters were all exact. Even the details of those tooth tips his father had repaired were perfectly replicated.

Ning Chuan stepped forward, picked it up, and weighed it in his hand. The feel and weight were almost identical.

"Perfect!"

Satisfied, he slung the "original" rake over his shoulder and thought, Exit Station. Return real body.

The scene before him shifted. The next moment, he was standing once more at the edge of Holy Soul Village, on the abandoned threshing ground. The sunlight was just right, warming the haystacks.

The rake on his shoulder had returned to its original state, as though everything that had happened in the Garbage Station had been a dream.

Only the Level 20 Soul Power surging through his body and the crystal-clear memories in his mind proved that it had all truly happened.

"Grrrrumble..." His stomach growled again.

Ning Chuan smiled, shouldered the rake, and hurried toward home.

When he pushed open the courtyard gate, he found his mother, Liu Lan, standing at the entrance and looking out anxiously.

"You little rascal! Where did you run off to? Did catching fish and shrimp really take you this long? You must be starving, right?" Liu Lan first sighed in relief upon seeing her son, then could not help complaining. Her gaze swept over the rake on his shoulder and his empty hands. "Where are the fish?"

Ning Chuan had already prepared an excuse. He scratched his head sheepishly. "The stream was shallow, and there weren't any big fish. I only caught a few tiny shrimp, but they were too small, so I let them go. Then, since it was still early, I wandered around the back mountain and gathered some firewood."

He pointed at the small bundle of dead branches hooked onto the rake head, which he had casually picked up on his way back.

Liu Lan looked at the pitiful few branches, then at her son's sun-reddened face and empty stomach. Her concern immediately overwhelmed her complaint. "All right, all right. Go wash your hands and eat. Your food is still warming in the pot! Don't run so far next time. You'll make people worry."

"Got it, Mom." Ning Chuan obediently agreed. He put the rake back in its usual spot by the wall and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He had finally fooled her.

After lunch, he helped his father for a while and chopped some firewood. Then, claiming that he was tired, Ning Chuan returned to his small room.

After closing the door, he did not rest. Instead, he sat cross-legged on the bed and sank his consciousness into the Station once more.