Wolf Calamity

South Slope, vegetable garden. With the spring breeze sweeping past, touches of fresh green had already stained the land.

Standing at the edge of the garden and taking in the scene, Jiang Chen felt a peculiar joy and satisfaction. Such delight could not be spoken of to outsiders; perhaps only true farmers could resonate with how he felt at this moment.

An old man stood beside him. He wore coarse hemp clothes, was thin and sallow-skinned, with a mouthful of yellow teeth and a dull expression. He did not look like a bandit in the slightest.

"Old Huang, how much longer until these vegetables ripen?"

Gazing over the entire garden, Jiang Chen asked casually.

Hearing this, the old man beside him blanked for a moment before quickly coming back to himself.

"Master, the flower sparrow greens will ripen in another seven days. Those white cabbage greens will take longer, around half a month. As for the rest, they will need at least another month."

As though reciting the treasures of his own household, Old Huang pointed at the vegetables and listed their ripening times one by one. At that moment, all trace of his former dullness vanished, and he carried the air of one surveying the realm.

Hearing this, Jiang Chen nodded.

"Old Huang, you have done very well. You have tended these vegetables excellently."

He crouched down, his fingertips brushing over leaves so tender they seemed ready to yield water at a pinch, and offered a word of praise.

Golden Sand Valley had originally possessed no vegetable fields. Only after he arrived had he ordered one to be opened up on South Slope. That the vegetables had grown so well was largely Old Huang's doing.

At those words, a smile immediately appeared on Old Huang's weathered face, revealing his mouthful of yellow teeth.

"You flatter me, Master. The main thing is that this soil is good. I, Old Huang, have grown vegetables for decades, but this is the first time I have seen such lush and succulent greens. It is as if this land has been touched by immortal aura."

With a face full of deference, Old Huang voiced his amazement.

Truth be told, he had put a great deal of effort into this garden. He did not even dare sleep too deeply at night, afraid something might go wrong. After all, he was no longer farming for a wealthy landlord, but for great bandits who killed without batting an eye. If he failed to grow the crops well, a single misstep could very well cost him his life.

Jiang Chen fell silent at this, saying nothing more. The land was actually quite ordinary, but the vegetables had indeed grown well because they had been touched by a little immortal aura—or, more precisely, spiritual energy.

Just then, Rat Prodigy came racing over from afar with a bucket balanced on its head. It moved steadily, as though walking on level ground, without spilling a single drop of water.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak..."

Arriving before Jiang Chen, Rat Prodigy squeaked a few times.

Jiang Chen nodded at the sight.

The next moment, Rat Prodigy flicked its tail. Flexible as a hand, it curled around a gourd ladle and began scooping water from the bucket to irrigate the vegetables.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak. One ladle for you, half a ladle for me. One ladle for you, one ladle for me. Half a ladle for you, one ladle for me..."

Light on its feet and swift as the wind, Rat Prodigy darted through the fields, diligently watering the vegetables. Its movements were exceptionally nimble, like those of an old farmer. The only strange part was that every time it poured a ladle of water onto the crops, it would drink one for itself as well.

Jiang Chen took in all of this and silently nodded.

"Its spiritual charm has already taken shape. After this period of cultivation, Rat Prodigy's tempering of its body has finally gotten on the right track."

"Moreover, after watching me cultivate before, it developed a martial art suited to itself—the Willow Floss Whip. By now, it has thoroughly woven it into its daily life."

Observing Rat Prodigy's various changes, Jiang Chen gained a general understanding of its cultivation progress.

In terms of cultivation realm, Rat Prodigy was actually still at the initial stage of the Inspiration Realm, still cleansing and refining its limbs. Yet it was, after all, a demonic beast with extraordinary bloodline and a naturally powerful physique. On top of that, it often refined blood qi, further strengthening its body.

By now, relying on its formidable body and the Giantification Technique, Rat Prodigy could already contend with first-rate human martial artists. However, it lacked experience in life-and-death combat and could not maintain the Giantification Technique for long, so it would most likely be no match for one.

As time passed, Rat Prodigy soon finished watering an entire patch of vegetables. Naturally, its belly had rounded out as well—it had drunk its fill. This was the reward it received for watering Jiang Chen's garden. The well water contained a faint trace of spiritual energy, and absorbing it benefited its cultivation.

Because of its bloodline, it had been born with a large appetite and rapid digestion. This well water was quite beneficial to it.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak..."

Rat Prodigy came before Jiang Chen and earnestly reported on its work.

Watching this scene, Old Huang silently lowered his head. The first time he had seen such a sight, he had been badly startled as well. But with time, he had grown used to it. He had decided that Jiang Chen was one of those extraordinary figures from storybooks, and that it was only natural for the pets at his side to be a little extraordinary.

Just then, Stone hurried over from afar.

"Third Boss, something happened to the hunting party."

Panting heavily, Stone's face was full of anxiety.

As he listened to Stone's continuous account, Jiang Chen's brows gradually furrowed.

Because of their work researching the Bloodflame Art, refining Blood-Coagulating Stones, and raising the rat colony, the hunting party's burden had never lessened. And after hunting for so long, it had become difficult to find any worthwhile prey near Golden Sand Valley. For that reason, they had no choice but to venture deep into the mountains and forests.

This time, however, they had encountered a wolf pack in the forest. This pack differed from ordinary wolf packs. Not only were the individual wolves strong, but their numbers were considerable as well. The entire hunting party had suffered severe losses. Had Skinny Monkey not personally led the team this time, no one knew how many people would have been left behind in those mountains forever.

"A wolf pack that is both strong and numerous? That does not quite follow the laws of nature."

As thoughts turned in his mind, Jiang Chen realized something.

"Let us go see Skinny Monkey. Some matters still need to be confirmed."

Without hesitating further, Jiang Chen turned and left the vegetable garden.

Rat Prodigy hurriedly followed.

"A wolf calamity... I only hope nothing truly serious happens."

Watching Jiang Chen's group depart, Old Huang could not help but reveal a trace of worry.

His real name was Huang Shi. Since he ranked ninth in his family, people called him Huang the Ninth. Later, disaster struck his hometown, and by a twist of fate, he became a miner in Golden Sand Valley. Afterwards, South Slope recruited laborers to tend vegetables, and he was chosen because of his outstanding skill.

Here, he had witnessed many things unlike anything he had known before, and he had lived in constant unease. Yet there was no denying that life here suited him well. He did not need to think too much; he only needed to devote himself wholeheartedly to tending the land before him. It was precisely because of this that he treasured the peaceful life he had now.

"With someone like Master here, Golden Sand Valley should be fine."

With a soft sigh, Old Huang picked up his hoe and continued the day's work. So long as the sky had not fallen, the fields still had to be planted.