"Not kindness-this was called an investment."

"."

Chen Fan narrowed his eyes slightly and silently observed everything before him. After activating the "Eternal Night Lord" panel, he had obtained blueprints for five basic buildings, as well as one special building.

The "Beast Trap" was that special building.

The Beast Trap was not a particularly difficult trap, but only Beast Traps made by a Builder possessed the effects of a special building and could harm Strange Entities.

The remaining five basic buildings were—

"City Wall," "Farmland," "Arrow Tower," "Wooden Hut," and "Sacrificial Tower."

After watching for a while, he quietly withdrew and headed back toward his camp.

As he neared the camp, he saw Crippled Monkey sitting on the ground from afar, weaving hemp rope while constantly looking around on guard.

When he saw Chen Fan return, he hurriedly rose and stepped forward to report.

"Young Master!"

"I've already woven a three-meter-long hemp rope. It's just that the conditions are lacking—there's no limewater, and it hasn't been dried. This withered grass is also inferior to hemp stalks, so it may not be very sturdy."

"It's fine."

Chen Fan shook his head. "As long as it's usable, that's enough. It doesn't need to be too sturdy."

"Have you eaten?"

"Not yet."

"Eat some rations."

"There aren't many rations left, from what I can see. It's fine if I go hungry for a few meals. I'm used to starving."

"No." Chen Fan turned his head toward the depths of the Wasteland, his brows furrowing slightly. "We have work to do tonight. Only when we're full will we have the strength for it. Don't worry about food—I'll think of something."

When the Chen Family had thrown him into this station, they had never intended to let him return alive. Naturally, they had not left him much in the way of rations. The nearest market, North River Market, was still a long way from him.

However, the other nearby stations should not lack food and water.

Perhaps he could use the Chen Family's reputation to exchange Eerie Stones for some food.

Just then—

Two figures appeared atop a dirt slope in the distance and strode toward their camp. Once they drew near, the middle-aged man at the lead looked at Chen Fan with a slightly strange expression and cupped his fists in greeting.

"You must be the stationmaster of North River Chen Family's Station No. 37?"

"I am Wang Kui, stationmaster of Qiuhe Wang Family's Station No. 17."

A smile appeared on Chen Fan's face as he returned the gesture. "Greetings, Stationmaster Wang. I am Chen Fan."

He had seen these two before.

They were from the station he had just gone to observe. He simply did not know why they had come looking for him.

After clearing his throat, Wang Kui cautiously said, "Stationmaster Chen, as far as I know, your Chen Family's Station No. 37 has been abandoned for over a month. Why has it suddenly been put back into use?"

"Not many travelers pass through this stretch of road, and there isn't much profit to be had. Have you heard some kind of wind?"

"Our two families may not have much of a relationship, but those of us sent out to do this bitter work should stick together in this wilderness, even if our Lineages are enemies. If some Strange Tide erupts, neither you nor I will survive."

"After all, honor belongs to the Lineage, but our lives belong to ourselves. Isn't that right?"

Chen Fan did not answer immediately. He had roughly guessed Wang Kui's thoughts; clearly, the other man had overthought things.

But before he could speak—

The man behind Wang Kui exclaimed in surprise, "Your name is Chen Fan? That bastard son of the North River Chen Family?"

"."

Chen Fan nodded expressionlessly. "Yes." "Slap yourself."

A flash of understanding passed through Wang Kui's eyes. He turned toward his subordinate with feigned anger, then forced out a helpless smile. "My subordinate does not know how to behave. I've been in the Wasteland too long myself and haven't kept up with what's going on outside for quite some time."

"There are still people needed to oversee my station, so I'll take my leave first."

Without lingering, he turned and departed with his subordinate.

On the Wasteland.

Wang Kui led his subordinate over the cracked earth, his brow slightly furrowed as he asked, "What exactly is Chen Fan's background? Tell me in detail."

Ever since he had begun serving the Wang Family, he had practically remained at stations the entire time, working for a full thirteen years.

Though he changed stations once every year.

He truly did not know much about this kind of gossip.

"This matter is fairly well-known."

The bronze-skinned man behind him scratched at the dry flakes of skin on his face and grinned. "That old man of the Chen Family—after inheriting the position of Family Head in his youth, the Chen Family was not as strong as it was now. The main reason was that there was no Builder in the family."

"But you know what?"

"The Chen Family Head was rather handsome when he was young. He met a female cultivator, a Level 4 Builder. That female cultivator had no background either, just a Rogue Cultivator. After shamelessly pestering her, the Chen Family Head finally won her over, and she bore him a son—Chen Fan."

"With that Level 4 Builder, the Chen Family gradually gained a foothold in North River."

"But when Chen Fan was still young, that woman died. Then the Chen Family Head entered a marriage alliance with the Sky-Pacifying Merchant Association and had two sons and a daughter—the current heirs. Her dowry included the Attendant of a Level 5 Builder."

"The Chen Family's current Builder Attendant came from the Sky-Pacifying Merchant Association."

"Think about it. This new wife had Builders backing her, so naturally she wanted her own sons to inherit the Chen Family. Wouldn't Chen Fan's status just keep sinking lower and lower? At first, the Chen Family Head still held onto a sliver of hope, thinking that since Chen Fan's mother was a Builder, perhaps Chen Fan might awaken as one too."

"After all, an Attendant could never be as reliable as having a Builder emerge from one's own Lineage."

"But the result was obvious. He failed to awaken, and Chen Fan completely lost his standing. Being sent here this time was probably not because he had heard any wind. If nothing unexpected happened, he was sent here to die."

"."

Wang Kui frowned slightly. "This counts as a bastard son? I thought it was with some maid or something. Isn't he plainly the legitimate eldest son of the first wife?"

"Ah, if his Level 4 Builder mother hadn't died, then he would have been the legitimate eldest son of the first wife. Once she died, he became a bastard son."

"That's true."

Wang Kui let out a long sigh. "The filthy affairs in these great families truly come in heaps. How about this."

He pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Since he was sent here to die, they surely did not leave him much food or many Eerie Stones. Go back to our camp in a while and deliver them some food and water. Then... take them five Eerie Stones as well."

"Huh?"

The bronze-skinned man froze where he stood. "Stationmaster, the Lineage will come collect the accounts in half a month. If we give away five Eerie Stones, the books definitely won't add up."

"I'll pay out of my own pocket. It won't go through the station's accounts."

"Oh, oh."

The man scratched the back of his head. "Then it's fine. But Stationmaster, why have you suddenly grown a kind heart? Those two are dead men walking. Even if you give them five Eerie Stones, they won't live more than a few days."

"Not kindness. This is called an investment."

Wang Kui shook his head. "They are in a situation that is almost hopeless right now, yet when we met just now, Chen Fan did not ask us for help. The same went for that cripple—his eyes were filled with vigilance and wariness, without a trace of despair or fear."

"What did that mean?"

"It meant that perhaps they were not as desperate as they seemed."

(End of this chapter)