Ark Simulator: Don't I Have No Physical Form?

"Ugh..." He tried to move his body, but found that Nian's arms were tightly wrapped around his waist, and Ling's leg was pressing down on his knee without any politeness. And Xi—most shockingly, the usually aloof Xi was curled up in his arms like a cat, her long black hair scattered on his chest.

Su Rui's face flushed red to his ears. He tried to pull away carefully, but accidentally bumped into Xi's dragon horns.

"Hmm..." Xi frowned slightly in her sleep, but instead of letting go, she buried her face even deeper into his neck. Her warm breath sprayed onto his sensitive scales, making Su Rui tremble all over.

"Pfft--" A soft laugh came from behind. Nian had woken up sometime earlier and was propping her chin up, watching his embarrassed look with interest. "Good morning, Little Su ~" She deliberately dragged out the sound, her red hair shining like flames in the morning light.

Su Rui stammered, unable to speak. At that moment, Ling also opened his eyes. His blue eyes were still hazy with sleep, but they had already accurately locked onto his location.

"How did you sleep last night?" Ling's voice was hoarse with the peculiarity of early morning, his fingertips casually brushing against his wrist.

Su Rui's tail bristled with a "snap." Just as he was about to explain something, the door was suddenly pushed open.

"You—" Shu stood in the doorway, still holding a rolling pin, her gaze sweeping over the four people before settling on the red mark on Su Rui's neck. Her smile gradually turned dangerous. "It seems someone didn't take my words seriously last night?"

A quarter of an hour later, the three dragon maidens stood in a row by the wheat field, listening to the millet's admonition.

"Your flame control range cannot exceed three furrows."

"In the evening, the wheat grains must be completely threshed."

"The humidity should be maintained at around 70%."

After saying that, Shu gave the three of them a meaningful look. "If I find out that any of you are slacking off..." The rolling pin in her hand snapped in two with a "crack".

Su Rui stood to the side, involuntarily shrinking back. Just as he was about to say something, Shu turned to him with a gentle smile, "Su Rui, you can rest in the shade. Let them do the heavy work."

Watching the three usually imposing dragon maidens reluctantly walk towards the wheat field, Su Rui suddenly felt a pang of guilt. If it weren't for her actions last night...

"Don't overthink it." Shu seemed to read his mind and gently patted his shoulder. "It's good for them to stretch their muscles."

The midday sun grew increasingly intense. Su Rui sat under the old locust tree, watching the busy figures in the distance.

Nian's red hair was soaked with sweat, Xi's dragon tail trembled slightly from the continuous use of spiritual power, and even the usually elegant Ling showed signs of fatigue.

(They could have refused...)

Su Rui thought for a moment, then stood up and walked towards the kitchen. Shu, who was preparing lunch, noticed his hurried manner and asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

"Sister Shu, I want to make them something to eat!" Su Rui's eyes sparkled. "They work so hard, I want to..."

Shu paused for a moment, then smiled with satisfaction, "Okay, I'll teach you."

For the next two hours, the kitchen was filled with delicious aromas. Under Shu's guidance, Su Rui clumsily but earnestly prepared various desserts:

Spicy Wheat Pancakes: Fresh chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns are kneaded into the dough and fried until golden brown and crispy. Su Rui added extra sesame seeds because she remembered Nian saying he liked the crispy texture.

Sweet Rice Cake: Made by slowly steaming freshly ground rice flour and finally garnished with candied osmanthus flowers. During the preparation process, Su Rui carefully controlled the heat, afraid that over-steaming would affect the taste.

Sweet Rice Balls: Shu took out his treasured rice wine and taught him how to roll evenly sized glutinous rice balls. When the sweet aroma of the wine filled the air, Su Rui couldn't resist taking a bite, only to choke and cough.

"Don't rush," Shu patted his back with a smile, "You'll like it."

Finally, Su Rui brewed a pot of honey grapefruit tea in case they got thirsty while working. Looking at the table full of snacks, he felt a sense of accomplishment.

When Su Rui arrived at the edge of the field with the food box, the three dragon maidens were busy tending to the last wheat field.

"Um..." he said somewhat embarrassedly, "I made some snacks..."

Volume 9, Chapter 574: What kind of farm work can hurt people?

The three of them turned around at the same time, their eyes lighting up. The youngest rushed over first, a few strands of wheat still clinging to her red hair. "It smells so good! Is it for me?"

Su Rui nodded and handed her the spicy wheat pancake. "Be careful, it's hot."

Nian couldn't wait and took a bite. The crispy outer layer made a "crunch" sound. The spiciness exploded in her mouth instantly, but it was followed by the aroma of sesame and the sweetness of the dough.

"Delicious!" Nian's eyes lit up. "Little Su, you're amazing!"

Xi also walked over, slightly taken aback when she saw the rice cake. Su Rui quickly explained, "This is made with new rice, Sister Shu said..."

Before she could finish speaking, Xi had already picked up a piece and taken a small bite. The fragrance of rice cake and the sweetness of osmanthus blended perfectly, soft and chewy but not sticky. The tip of her tail swayed gently involuntarily, a little habit she had when she was in a good mood.

Ling approached gracefully, her gaze landing on the sweet fermented rice balls. She took the bowl, took a small sip, and raised an eyebrow slightly. "The aroma of the fermented rice is very rich, and the rice balls are cooked just right."

Su Rui breathed a sigh of relief, a happy smile spreading across her face, "I also made some grapefruit tea, would you like some...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Nian had already hugged him tightly and planted a loud kiss on his cheek. "Little Su is the best!"

"Nian!" Su Rui struggled, his face flushed, but accidentally bumped into Ling's arms. Ling wrapped his arms around his waist and whispered in his ear, "Thank you for the treat." At least don't do this in front of so many people!

Xi snorted, but she had already finished the third piece of rice cake in her hand.

After eating and drinking their fill, the three of them became noticeably more efficient. Nian's flames precisely dried the wheat ears, Xi's Ink-Wash Spiritual Power separated the wheat grains cleanly, and Ling's mist kept the entire wheat field at optimal humidity.

Su Rui sat on the edge of the field, watching their seamless teamwork, and felt a warmth in his heart. He was just about to go and pour some more pomelo tea.

As the sun set, the harvested wheat piled up into small mountains. The three dragon maidens, though exhausted, all wore expressions of satisfaction. Nian stretched lazily. "Ah—finally finished!"

Looking at the neat stacks of wheat, Xi remarked, unusually, "Not bad."

Ling shook the empty wine jug, still savoring the taste. "The sweet fermented rice balls were indeed delicious."

Shu clapped his hands. "Alright, now that the wheat harvest is finished, tomorrow—"

"We have to work tomorrow?!" the three shouted in unison.

Shu nodded with a smile, "Yes, rice breeding hasn't even started yet."

Nian let out a wail and collapsed onto the haystack. Xi sighed, rubbing her forehead, and Ling looked at Su Rui: "Looks like I'll have to trouble you again tomorrow."

Su Rui couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Okay! I'll make more snacks tomorrow!"

That evening, Su Rui was tidying up the dishes in the kitchen when she suddenly heard footsteps behind her.

"Do you need any help?" Ling appeared at the doorway without anyone noticing, the moonlight casting a silvery glow on her.

"Ah, no need..." Before Su Rui could finish speaking, Ling had already walked to his side and taken the bowl from his hands.

The two worked quietly, a faint aroma of wine filling the air. Suddenly, Ling spoke up, "Today's sweet fermented rice balls reminded me of some past events."

Su Rui looked up curiously, only to meet her deep gaze. She gently stroked his hair. "Next time, how about I teach you to brew a special kind of wine?"

Just then, Nian's voice came from outside the window. "Hey, hey, you can't eat alone!" She nimbly climbed in through the window and put her arm around Su Rui's shoulder, "Little Su, I'll teach you how to make spicy hot pot tomorrow!"

Xi appeared silently at the door and said coldly, "... Too spicy is bad for your stomach." But she was holding a cookbook in her hand, clearly preparing to teach Su Rui how to make other desserts.

Shu's voice came from upstairs. "Why aren't you asleep so late? Aren't we supposed to be breeding tomorrow?"

The four fell silent, exchanging glances. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting long, long shadows. In the tranquil night, the aroma of wheat in Shangshu seemed to carry an added touch of sweetness.

The next morning, golden sunlight bathed the wheat fields of Shangshu, and the heavy ears of wheat swayed gently in the breeze.

Su Rui stood on the edge of the field, watching the three dragon girls busy in the distance, and couldn't help but feel a little bored.

For four consecutive days, he could only sit under the shade of a tree preparing snacks, watching Nian's red hair soaked with sweat as she controlled the flames to dry the wheat ears, and Xi's dragon tail drooping slightly due to fatigue as she used the Ink-Wash Spiritual Power to separate the wheat grains. Even his elegant and composed face, which was usually so composed when manipulating the mist to adjust the humidity, showed a rare hint of weariness.

"I have to find something to do," Su Rui said softly to herself, her silver tail swaying nervously behind her.

The morning dew dampened his cloth shoes, but he was oblivious, his gaze fixed firmly on the main house. Sister Shu was preparing breakfast in the kitchen, wisps of smoke rising and the aroma of wheat wafting through the air.

"How about I help with some farm work later? I know some magic, and I also have a lot of tools and skills."

However, when Su Rui offered to help, the atmosphere at the breakfast table froze instantly. Nian's chopsticks hung in mid-air, and Xi's dragon tail suddenly straightened, making a soft "thump" sound when the wine pot was put down.

"No!" the three objected in unison, with Nian's voice being particularly loud.

She wrapped her arm around Su Rui's shoulder, her fiery red hair tickling his cheek. "Little Su, your arms and legs are so thin, what if you get hurt?"

What kind of farm work could hurt someone? This isn't some kind of space wheat that can hurt people in certain stories, is it? Su Rui was a little helpless.

Although Xi didn't speak, her dark eyes were fixed on Su Rui, her fingertips unconsciously tapping a dangerous rhythm on the table. Ling gently shook the wine pot, blue steam swirling around its rim. "Farm work is too strenuous; it's not suitable for you."

Su Rui's ears burned slightly, but he didn't back down. "I just wanted to find something to do! And..." His voice trailed off, "Seeing you all working so hard, I feel a little guilty..."

Shu put down her bowl of porridge, her thoughtful gaze sweeping back and forth between the four people. Suddenly, she stood up. "Come with me."

The barn was piled high with newly harvested wheat. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the wooden planks, casting dappled shadows on the sacks. Shu pointed to a medium-sized sack of wheat. "Give it a try."

Su Rui took a deep breath, bent down, and hugged the sack. The heavy weight made his knees tremble, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to walk step by step to the designated position. Sweat slid down his forehead, glistening in the sunlight.

"Not bad." Shu nodded, then handed him a sickle. "Try this one too."

The wooden handle of the sickle was a bit rough, and Su Rui swung it like a millet. Although his movements were clumsy, his basic stance was correct. His tail was taut and straight from the effort, and tiny golden glints seeped from between the scales.

Volume 9, Chapter 575: Rat Extermination

A look of approval flashed in Shu's eyes. "Good boy." She gently ruffled Su Rui's hair. "Then I'll give you some light work today."

As for Xi and the others' objections... once Shu made the decision, they had no say in it.

After the work was reassigned, the wheat field presented a completely new look.

Xi was in charge of the most meticulous sorting of wheat ears; her Ink-Wash Spiritual Power flowed lightly among the wheat ears like living ribbons. Nian controlled the temperature of the flames, carefully drying the wheat ears. Ling's mist enveloped the entire wheat field, maintaining the most suitable humidity. Su Rui was responsible for transporting the bundled wheat stalks to the designated location.

"Be careful," Xi warned anxiously, her tail thumping the ground nervously. A wisp of her Ink-Wash Spiritual Power quietly separated out, ready to catch any falling bundles of wheat.

"Got it!" Su Rui waved with a smile, picked up a bundle of wheat straw, and headed towards the stack. The sun made his cheeks burn, but a long-lost sense of fulfillment welled up in his heart.

While controlling the heat, Nian couldn't help but glance at Su Rui. When she saw Su Rui's collar soaked with sweat, the flame at her fingertips involuntarily flared up a few degrees. "Hey! Focus!" Shu's reminder made her quickly look away.

The midday sun grew increasingly scorching, strands of Su Rui's silver hair clung to his forehead, and his breathing became rapid. But he didn't stop; instead, he quickened his pace.

After working for a while, Shu arrived and couldn't help but laugh when she saw the scene, "Looks like someone's even stricter than me." She patted Su Rui on the shoulder, "Go take a break and have some water."

After the afternoon's work schedule was readjusted, it became more reasonable. Su Rui only needed to work half a day, and could focus on preparing snacks in the afternoon. This arrangement made the three dragon girls reluctantly accept the status quo, but their protective instincts still surfaced from time to time.

The ink-wash painting in the evening gently lifted the bundle of wheat to lighten its weight, the flames of the year helped dry the dew-dampened hem of his clothes, and the mist of the evening shielded him from the scorching sun. Although Su Rui knew perfectly well what was going on, he didn't say anything, but just worked even harder.

When he finished work in the evening, Su Rui was so tired that he sat down directly on the edge of the field. Although his work was much easier than others, it was still a big challenge for him, who was doing farm work for the first time. His arms ached, and his palms had developed several thin calluses, but he was filled with a sense of accomplishment.

"Here." Xi appeared in front of me at some point, handing me a damp towel. Her movements were still aloof, but her eyes had softened considerably.

As if by magic, she pulled out a small chair woven from wheat straw. "This is more comfortable!" Her smile was brighter than the setting sun.

Ling handed over a glass of chilled grapefruit tea. "You've worked hard." Those three simple words contained boundless tenderness.

"Want to continue tomorrow?" Shu asked with a smile, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the four of them.

Su Rui glanced at the three hesitant dragon girls, then looked at the calluses on her hands, and nodded vigorously. "Yes!"

The setting sun cast long shadows of the five people, and the rustling of the wheat fields seemed to play a joyful concerto. In this golden sea, everyone found their own rhythm. Looking at the stacks of wheat piled up like small mountains in the distance, Su Rui suddenly felt that this ordinary yet fulfilling life was perhaps the most precious gift.

The busy wheat harvest has just ended, and the farmland of Shangshu has already entered the rice planting season.

Shu stood on the ridge of the paddy field, gazing at the now-leveled fields in the distance, and nodded in satisfaction. She turned to Su Rui, who was standing beside her, and said gently, "Su Rui, you don't need to do the rice planting. The paddy field is muddy, and you're small; you'll easily get stuck."

Su Rui blinked, her tail swaying gently. "So, how can I help?"

Shu smiled slightly and pointed to the ridge at the edge of the rice paddy, "Lately, some Creek Beast have been trying to sneak into the paddy to steal the rice seeds. Go and take care of them."

Su Rui's eyes sharpened, and she immediately nodded. "Okay!"

He turned and ran to the edge of the field, taking out a long sword that gleamed with a cold light from his System Space.

This sword was not made of ordinary iron, but was a magical artifact specifically used to cast area-of-effect spells. He took a deep breath, recalling how Xi Ping used to wield ink and wash, and with a slight twist of his wrist, the blade sliced through the air, creating a fluctuation of spiritual energy.

"The wind rises--"

As he whispered, a ring of pale blue wind blades condensed at the tip of his sword and swept towards the edge of the field. Several sneaky Creek Beast had just poked their heads out when they were suddenly shredded into pieces by the wind blades, not even having time to let out a scream.

"Effective!" Su Rui's lips curled up as he continued patrolling along the field ridges. Wherever his sword passed, any Creek Beast that dared to approach were torn to shreds by the sharp wind blades.

Not far away, Xi stood under an old locust tree, her dark eyes quietly watching Su Rui's every move. She was supposed to help with the rice planting, but seeing Su Rui working alone by the field, she couldn't help but glance at her a few more times.

(His imitation is... quite accurate.)

Xi's lips curled up almost imperceptibly for a moment. Although Su Rui's wind blade was far less precise than her ink painting, the way she swung her sword did indeed bear some resemblance to her.

Just then, a slightly larger Creek Beast darted out of the ditch and headed straight for the rice paddy. Su Rui immediately swung his sword, but this time the wind blade missed slightly, only severing one of its ears.

"Squeak--!" The Creek Beast cried out in pain, but its speed did not decrease, and it was about to disappear into the rice seedlings.

Xi frowned, her fingertips twitching slightly. A wisp of ink flowed silently, instantly piercing the head of the Creek Beast. Its body froze on the spot, then slumped down, turning into a pool of black water that seeped into the soil.

Su Rui was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening and turned to look in the direction of the locust tree. "Sister Xi?"

Xi did not appear, but simply transmitted her voice softly. "... Focus."

Su Rui scratched her head and smiled a little shyly, "Thank you, Sister Xi!"

He gripped his longsword tightly, his gaze sharpening, and continued his patrol along the field ridges to ensure no one escaped.

Not long after, Nian passed by carrying a bundle of rice seedlings and saw Su Rui slaying Creek Beast by the field. He immediately became interested.