Chapter 6

Telingewei looked regretfully at the plate, where only a few traces remained.

It had been delicious, but there hadn't been much bird meat.

With that thought, he breathed another blast of dragon flame, burning up the large leaves and bird bones, then wiped the plate with a clean cloth-

The golden plate gleamed again after being "washed" with dragon flame.

Seeing Telingewei's expression, the companion beasts grew even prouder. "Chirp chirp!"

"It really was delicious." Telingewei flicked the head of the nearest companion beast. "Remember to pass on my thanks."

"Chirp chirp?"

"I won't go play with him. I'll pay him a formal visit in a couple of days."

Telingewei looked around the enormous cave. He needed to choose a suitable gift and establish friendly relations with that sacred creature.

==========Author's note:==========

See you tomorrow!

Thanks to Ye (*2), Guling Jingguai Xiao Yatou and Yiwen Qushi for the grenades;

Thanks to Mango King (*2), Wangu Chaoxi, Nanzhi Celistine, A Xue Taoyan Dongtian, Yuzu Tea and Quantang 0 Zhi Liangcha for the landmines.

Chapter 6: Chapter 6

Xie Juanhan knew nothing about what the local dragon deep in the forest was doing.

These past few days, he had been busy clearing the ruins, gathering materials to build a house, and going into the woods to hunt and forage.

He was about to build a house, so he needed to make some money.

As he grew more familiar with this world, he could identify more and more edible plants, giving him an increasingly varied selection of ingredients.

Today, he wanted to pick some mushrooms.

It was only April.

Tender grass and mushrooms had already quietly pushed their way through the dark, soft soil, and nameless little flowers had bloomed. The forest was full of the feeling of spring.

Xie Juanhan wasn't familiar with plants and had only recognized something similar to bracken.

The tender green plants growing in the cool-toned forest were a pleasant sight. Whether he had anything to do or not, Xie Juanhan would go for a stroll in the woods.

That day, after lunch, Xie Juanhan took a basket into the forest.

The forest was damp and dim, and an ordinary person might have found it cold and gloomy. For a white dragon who controlled water and ice, however, the temperature and humidity were just right.

Xie Juanhan stepped over the soft, damp earth, looking around for mushrooms, berries, and prey.

Yesterday, he had hunted another deer-type magical beast. He had eaten half of it, and the rest was frozen in a shady spot near the stream.

He didn't need to hunt for the time being today.

Still, if he came across prey as good as the white birds, he wouldn't mind taking a shot.

Unfortunately, there were too few white birds in the woods. Even after expanding his range lately, he had only found one other pair.

That pair was breeding, and there were three plump, warm eggs in their nest.

Seeing that, Xie Juanhan had reluctantly given up.

The deeper he went into the woods, the damper it became.

The towering trees released large amounts of moisture, while fallen leaves and moss helped the forest retain it.

Mushrooms and berries slowly grew in this soft, damp environment.

There were two main kinds of mushrooms Xie Juanhan could currently gather. One was soft and resembled a morel; the other was thick and somewhat like a button mushroom.

Both kinds were deliciously savory. Cooked with meat into a broth, they tasted rich and intensely flavorful.

Every time Xie Juanhan drank it, he felt as though he were drinking spring steeped in soup.

Compared to the mushrooms, the berries in the forest were somewhat tart.

Those jewel-like berries, amber, flame-colored, and rosy as clouds, had a very strong flavor and a refreshing tartness.

Xie Juanhan didn't much like eating these berries on their own.

But used to marinate meat, they could tenderize it and give it a fresh berry fragrance. He liked to roast some berry-marinated meat now and then for a change of flavor.

Xie Juanhan occasionally found nuts in the forest too.

They were usually left over from the previous autumn.

They had escaped the pecking of birds and the gnawing of small animals, slowly drying in the wind and sunlight as their flavor concentrated.

It was just the right time for him to gather them.

All he needed to do was make a shallow cut in them with a dagger and bury them in the ashes, and they would roast into a fragrant, tempting treat, perfect as a little dessert after a meal.

Xie Juanhan walked through the woods, his basket gradually filling up.

He emerged from the other side of the forest and planned to follow the stream back to his dwelling.

As he neared the stream, he heard voices mingled with the sound of running water.

There were other people in the forest.

Xie Juanhan was a little caught off guard, but not surprised.

He had lived by the river for several days and had seen people from the village across the way come in groups to gather mushrooms, berries, and wild greens at the edge of the forest.

Perhaps it was the same today.

Xie Juanhan took another route, intending to avoid the group.

Unexpectedly, he had only just headed into the woods when he saw three farmers coming out together.

The three came face to face with him, and their expressions instantly turned a little uneasy.

"Good day, sir." The three hurriedly took off their hats and bowed, greeting him first.

Xie Juanhan nodded. "Good day."

His gentle manner pleasantly surprised them, and they made conversation. "Have you come to pick Libien mushrooms too?"

Xie Juanhan hadn't come specifically for Libien mushrooms, but he had plenty in his basket, so he nodded.

The others were even happier. "The Libien mushrooms are growing really well this year. In a little while, they'll surely be even more plentiful."

"It's a shame the Bakelao Mushrooms haven't really started coming up yet this year."

"Soon," one of the farmers said confidently. "Maybe by next week, the tips of Bakelao Mushrooms will be poking up all over beneath the fallen leaves."

Xie Juanhan glanced at his basket.

He had quite a few of those morel-like Bakelao Mushrooms in it.

As Xie Juanhan's gaze shifted, the others instinctively followed it and soon spotted the Bakelao Mushrooms in his basket.

"Oh, goddess above," one of them exclaimed. "You've picked so many mushrooms."

Xie Juanhan smiled.

Another man looked at the Bakelao Mushrooms in his basket, a hesitant expression appearing on his face.

"What is it?" Xie Juanhan motioned for him to speak.

The man said carefully, "Sir, I've seen you selling magic cores in town. Are you selling these Bakelao Mushrooms too?"

Xie Juanhan said, "If I can't finish them."

The man rubbed his hands against the seams of his trousers and asked hopefully, "If you're selling them, could you sell them to me?"

Before Xie Juanhan could answer, he explained, "I promised the children I'd bring home Bakelao Mushrooms to make cream of mushroom soup today, but I haven't found many."

The man showed Xie Juanhan his basket. A few finger-sized Bakelao Mushrooms were wrapped in leaves and carefully placed to one side.

Seeing him like that, Xie Juanhan agreed. "All right."

"That's wonderful," the man said happily. "I've been wondering how I could keep from disappointing the children. Thank the goddess, and may she bless you."

Another man joined in thanking him. "Orfrey, you're a lucky fellow. Thank you for your generosity, sir."

Orfrey chuckled and reached into his trouser pocket for his money pouch.

After searching for a long time without finding it, he said to Xie Juanhan rather awkwardly, "Sir, please wait a moment. Would it be all right if I brought the money to you across the river later?"

Clearly, while Xie Juanhan had been observing the village across the river, the villagers had also been observing him, and they had recognized him.

Afraid Xie Juanhan would grow impatient, Orfrey quickly offered another suggestion. "Or you could come with me to get it."

Xie Juanhan really was interested in their village, but it wouldn't do to visit without an invitation. "May I?"

"Of course," another man said with a smile. "Adventurers pass through our village all the time."

Orfrey said, "Yes, some adventurers even come especially to drink at our village tavern."

All three said it was no trouble.

Xie Juanhan followed them back to their village.

When Xie Juanhan had looked at it from across the river, he had only thought it was a peaceful little village.

Up close, he found it was a little bigger than he had imagined.

A black cinder road ran through the center of the village.

Houses were scattered on both sides of the road.

Every household here had a stone house with a thick roof. Some had only thatched roofs, while others were covered with slate tiles.

They usually had small yards in front of their houses.

Most of the yards were planted with vegetables and flowers.

As they passed the river winding through the village, Xie Juanhan also saw large white geese floating on the water, occasionally sticking their bottoms up and diving under to peck at water plants.

The geese went "honk, honk."

Watching the geese and listening to their calls, Xie Juanhan had the illusion that he hadn't transmigrated.

After walking a little farther, Xie Juanhan saw a mill.

The mill was clearly working. River water rushed into it, and the millstones creaked inside.

The fresh fragrance of grain also drifted out.

Xie Juanhan stopped.

He hadn't managed to buy any flour yet. When he had gone to town to buy pots, bowls, and other utensils a couple of days ago, he had intended to buy some, but with so many things to get, he had forgotten.

Orfrey didn't notice him stop and eagerly pointed ahead. "Sir, my home is just up ahead."

"Orfrey," Xie Juanhan called after him, "does anyone in your village sell flour?"

"Flour?" Orfrey asked. "You want to buy flour? I have some at home, a mix of wheat and rye flour. It was ground the day before yesterday."

Xie Juanhan nodded. "I'd like to buy some."

Orfrey grinned. "I'll bag some up for you later. My family harvested lots of wheat and rye last year."

It looked like he might make another sale.

Orfrey grew even more enthusiastic as he led Xie Juanhan home.

This was Xie Juanhan's first time visiting a local's home.

Unlike what he had imagined, after passing through the yard and entering Orfrey's house, he found himself in a living room.

There was no sofa in the center of the living room, but rather a square, flat-topped cast-iron stove.