Chapter 53 We Are Not Beggars <TOC> Chapter 55 A Hostile Arrival
Next page password is bold portion: m@croS2eP#9?i
Translator: SumTLMan
Zhou Yi remembered it clearly. Of the first three talents the company tried to recruit, Cao Dayuan was the only one unwilling to come.
But for the sake of providing warmth for the town to survive the winter, he eventually came, humbly seeking help.
Cao Dayuan had sparse hair, which he tried to spread evenly across his scalp, striving to maintain a presentable image. This reminded Zhou Yi of his high school physics teacher.
Zhou Yi appreciated this local man who wanted to change Grub Grain Town’s impoverished state.
Cao Dayuan’s Monster Lure Mushroom resembled a short, slender, enoki-like mushroom with a tiny, inconspicuous cap.
“When humans consume Monster Lure Mushrooms, they get headaches and experience shortness of breath; severe cases can be fatal. Everyone avoids it like a poisonous mushroom.”
Pointing at the species, he explained: “But the outside monsters, like Claw Boars and Stinging Antlions, love it. When they swallow it, they become calm and docile, either lying down to rest or gazing at the sky or distant horizon. During this time, they won’t attack, even if prey passes right in front of them.”
“I’ve tested it multiple times. They genuinely like it.”
Zhou Yi summoned Night Claw through the Red Falcon.
As the company’s only Claw Boar employee, it was the ideal test subject.
Night Claw sniffed the mushroom, its eyes widening as its breathing grew heavy.
“Master, this thing… it’s filled with an indescribable allure.”
It had no idea what it was.
The taste test began.
Night Claw took a cluster of Monster Lure Mushrooms into its mouth, chewed, and swallowed.
For a moment, its gaze turned vacant, and then, visibly relaxing, it sank to the ground in an intensely tranquil state. Its usually fierce little eyes softened and became serene.
After five or six minutes, Night Claw spoke about its experience.
“After eating it, I felt incredibly comfortable, calm, and peaceful. A lot of my fatigue disappeared, making me question what I’m doing… my purpose in this world…”
Is this some kind of sage mode?
Zhou Yi wondered to himself.
“Red Falcon, search the Recursion City database to see if there’s any information on this mushroom.”
Seconds passed.
The drone responded within his mind: “Based on its external features, the closest match is the Cave Mushroom, but Cave Mushrooms don’t have such excitement, hallucinogenic, or calming effects. There’s no further information available.”
“The Recursion City database mainly catalogs creatures with self-awareness and intelligence. For the vast variety of plants in nature, only basic species are listed.”
Zhou Yi turned to Cao Dayuan: “How many Monster Lure Mushrooms do you have?”
“Apart from these, I’ve transplanted 24 more in my burrow.”
“Hold on; I’ll call someone to join us for a look.”
About half an hour later.
A Bone Man with a red scarf hurried over.
Currently, Sun Zhonglai was dressed in a black leather jacket, jeans, and a pair of combat boots, with a cowboy hat on his head and a leather suitcase slung over his shoulder, a proper Western vibe. This was one of the outfits Zhou Yi had picked for it.
It limped slightly, saying its leg bone hadn’t fully healed from a previous break.
Accompanying Bone Man were two Black Hand Mushroom assistants.
After listening to Cao Dayuan’s explanation, Sun Zhonglai carefully observed the appearance of the Monster Lure Mushroom and then remarked: “There’s nothing like this in the Mushroom Forest.”
“Sun Thirteen, Sun Fourteen, you both come and assess it.”
The two Black Hand Mushrooms leaned in, pinching and pulling at the Monster Lure Mushroom.
“There’s a certain substance in it.”
“A unique energy, capable of altering bodily states, bringing vigor and joy.”
“Similar to the Giant Mushroom’s toxin.”
“A fascinating little thing.”
“Good mushroom, not bad.”
“But it’s already dead, hard to say.”
“Only the live ones reveal their true properties.”
…
Then, Zhou Yi had Cao Dayuan lead the group to Grub Grain Town.
Upon stepping outside, he noticed the wind was fierce, and the temperature had noticeably dropped.
Winter was indeed on its way.
Returning to Grub Grain Town, it looked the same as before, a cluster of forks inside mountain caves where the locals huddled in burrows.
This time, though, the residents didn’t just give him passing glances; many emerged from their burrows, holding items they’d collected: dark branches, oddly shaped leaves, things that looked like bones or stones, all with a look of wanting to sell.
Yet, they dared not speak, keeping their heads down, avoiding eye contact with Zhou Yi.
He felt like he was there to collect protection fees.
So he said: “Everyone, go back. Gong Zheng will continue the trade discussions; you can return.”
The townspeople exchanged looks, then put away their items and returned to their burrows.
Cao Dayuan muttered quietly: “Winter’s coming, and everyone’s worried, wanting to buy more firewood to stay warm, fearing they might freeze in their sleep. This is when people die the easiest. If the fire burns strong, their chances of surviving go up.”
Zhou Yi nodded.
With Cao Dayuan leading the way, they reached a low, damp burrow layered with wet soil and a pungent, sour stench.
“This is one of my ten mushroom-growing burrows.”
Cao Dayuan explained: “The new batch of spores is in the soil. It’ll take four months to cultivate them, then another month to grow Cave Mushrooms. But this place is unique.”
He crawled to the back and carefully uncovered a layer of soil, revealing the slender, white Monster Lure Mushrooms.
“They’re all here. The Monster Lure Mushroom itself is toxic, so no one takes it.”
The two Black Hand Mushrooms began examining the clusters on-site.
One buried its head in the soil, doing something unknown, while the other inspected the walls and stones around it.
Bone Man asked Cao Dayuan: “Is the Monster Lure Mushroom a wild, naturally growing mushroom?”
“No.”
Cao Dayuan shook his head: “They sprouted from a mushroom burrow here in Grub Grain Town.”
“The earliest Monster Lure Mushroom appeared six years ago and almost poisoned someone. They didn’t exist before that, and I don’t know where they came from.”
The Bone Man stroked his jawbone.
Then, the Black Hand Mushroom that had buried its head in the soil suddenly pulled itself out.
It patted its head, shaking off the dirt: “Found it. This mushroom is the result of a combination between Cave Mushroom spores and a certain feces. That feces has a peculiar smell; it’s not human or from sand rats… what other feces have you used?”
Cao Dayuan furrowed his brow, rubbing the dirt on his hands: “The feces we use are all dry ones collected from outside. Besides those… only Claw Boar.”
“Right! It’s the Claw Boar’s feces scent. It needs this specific feces to grow; otherwise, it won’t sprout.”
The Black Hand Mushroom gave a thumbs-up.
The other Black Hand Mushroom, surveying the surroundings, commented: “This environment isn’t ideal for its growth. It needs more light, more Dead Light absorption, and richer soil. If we transplant them to the Mushroom Forest, they’ll grow much faster.”
At Zhou Yi’s command, the Monster Lure Mushrooms were moved to the Mushroom Forest.
Three days later.
The Bone Man came running to report: “Good news, Chairman! Those Monster Lure Mushrooms are thriving. They’re very tempting for the Black Hand Mushrooms, but the little ones know they have to plant more to earn a taste, so they’re working extra hard.”
“Night Claw has also contacted several Claw Boars and led the Black Hand Mushrooms to collect feces. There’s a substantial Claw Boar population in the northern forests, so there’s no shortage of feces. They’re hunting various animals and some minor monsters up north.”
“And the best part: the function of the Monster Lure Mushroom has been confirmed.”
The Mushroom Forest lord explained: “It’s a psychoactive mushroom with a strong allure for flesh-type Light Absorber species, providing them a sense of satisfaction akin to successful hunting and reducing their aggressive impulses, sparking wisdom and contemplation.”
“It’s a potent natural sedative and a natural lure for monsters, a big asset for hunting Light Absorbers!”
Zhou Yi shook his head after hearing this: “The Monster Lure Mushroom’s value far exceeds that.”
This mushroom… is like a sage-mode tobacco with an extra effect.
If they could cultivate it on a large scale, it would undoubtedly pave a golden path!
Additionally, the Bone Man brought some bad news.
The Mushroom Forest, Oasis Zone, and other areas had started experiencing continuous snowfall.
Winter had arrived.
The Winter Beast could descend at any moment.
Chapter 53 We Are Not Beggars <TOC> Chapter 55 A Hostile Arrival