Chapter 113: Chance Encounter with Jiang Jing and Elder Wen

Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Chance Encounter with Jiang Jing and Elder Wen

The sound of paddling in the water grew closer, interrupting Shi Zhile’s thoughts.

She grabbed her bow and arrows and went outside. In the faint moonlight, she was surprised to see Jiang Jing and Elder Wen stopped beside her black-canopied boat.

Their raft was pieced together, and the two of them were sharing it.

The moment he saw Shi Zhile, Mr. Wen smiled. "I told you this black-canopied boat was hers, but this kid just wouldn’t believe me."

"I never said I didn’t believe you. I just said it could also be Mr. Jiang’s boat."

As soon as voices broke the silence of the sea, quite a few players looked over.

Shi Zhile kept her bow ready, extending a hand to help Mr. Wen. "Jiang Jing, secure the raft. You two get on board first. We’ll talk inside the cabin."

Jiang Jing tied the raft to the boat and helped Mr. Wen aboard. Shi Zhile was there to steady him, leading him into the cabin.

The raft was tied to the stern, in a place where it could be seen at a glance.

With the two newcomers, the boat’s cabin was instantly crowded.

Jiang Jing greeted Chuyi. Shi Zhile thought for a moment, then pulled Mr. Wen aside and spoke quietly.

"Elder Wen, the sea is too dangerous. Right now, we have to deal with players trying to ambush us, and later there might be Sea Monsters. I’d like you to enter the Planting Space."

Mr. Wen paused. "The Planting Space? A pocket dimension in a ring for growing plants?"

Shi Zhile smacked her forehead, a little embarrassed.

They had been together for a month, and she realized she had never mentioned the Planting Space to Mr. Wen.

They usually ate their own meals, but Shi Zhile often gave the three of them vegetables, so they had never been short of greens.

Mr. Wen had never asked where the vegetables came from, and it had never occurred to her to tell him.

"Let me show you first."

She looked at Jiang Jing and Chuyi. "I’m leaving the boat in your hands. Keep a close watch on the players outside. If anything happens, video call me."

The two agreed, and Shi Zhile led Mr. Wen into the Planting Space.

Piles of harvested millet lay stacked together, and the black earth had been replanted with corn.

The sweet potatoes were fully ripe but had not yet been harvested.

The vegetable patch was especially lush. The tomatoes were ripe, the greens were flourishing, and even the newly planted peach and pomegranate trees had started to blossom.

Mr. Wen stood there stunned for a few seconds before excitedly rushing over to the cornfield.

His hand trembled as he touched a young seedling, his eyes shining with astonishing brightness. "This growth is excellent! Better than the newly bred varieties. The soil is fertile enough, there are no pests, the main stalk is sturdy, and the root system is well-developed."

"And this soil... it’s all black earth."

He quickly moved on to his next target.

"Peach blossoms in March, pomegranates in May... but they’re blooming at the same time! That’s not scientific! The tomatoes are growing well, but there’s too much fruit. They need to be tended to, or the branches will break."

"Lass, do you have any sticks? Branches will do. And find me some twine or something."

"Oh dear, why is this unthreshed millet sitting on the ground? The black earth is damp. If the ground gets any wetter, it’ll get moldy."

"Quick, find a tarp! This long stick is good, perfect for threshing."

Mr. Wen moved with the speed of wind, his vigorous energy making him seem nothing like an old man.

Back when she was gathering supplies, she had stuffed various things into both the Planting Space and the Breeding Space. As it happened, the things Mr. Wen needed were right in the corner.

Shi Zhile had just found the tarp when Mr. Wen immediately snatched it, quickly spreading it out and moving the millet stalks onto it.

"Elder Wen, you..."

Mr. Wen said, "I’m not old when I’m doing research. Go on, go on, I don’t need your help. You lot are good at fighting and killing, but when it comes to managing these crops, you’re no match for me."

Shi Zhile quietly stepped aside.

"There are too many players on the sea. A fight is bound to break out by dawn tomorrow at the latest. If we’re surrounded by other players, Jiang Jing and I can’t be 100% certain we can protect you."

"The temperature in the Planting Space is stable, and there’s enough air to live. Even if I leave, it won’t affect you, so this is the safest place for you."

"Once we reach the island, I’ll bring you back out. What do you think?"

Mr. Wen was already building a trellis. He deftly stuck a branch with no side shoots into the soil next to a tomato plant, then carefully tied the plant to the support.

Without looking up, he replied, "Fine! The millet still needs to be threshed, and I can sow some vegetable seeds in that empty corner. The sweet potatoes are ripe and can be harvested, too. So much to do, so much to do."

"We’ll talk again after we’re out of this instance."

Shi Zhile opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Elder Wen started shooing her away.

"Alright, you should get back now. Don’t let someone steal the boat. Be careful in the instance, especially of the refined, scholarly types."

"No one survives this long on good luck alone."

Mr. Wen gave a meaningful smile, and Shi Zhile smiled faintly in return.

"I understand. Please, feel free to use any of the supplies here."

Shi Zhile left the Planting Space and went directly to the Breeding Space.

A calf mooed, and Shi Zhile pushed it aside, mulling over Mr. Wen’s words.

’All this time, Mr. Wen has only said he made it through two instances by pure luck, but in reality, to stay alive, it’s impossible to survive without getting blood on your hands.’

’Here, there are no absolute good guys or bad guys.’

’Mr. Wen was telling me that I trust people too easily. He was also reminding me that even a player who seems old and weak must be dangerous if they’ve managed to survive.’

Shi Zhile knew this principle well, which was precisely why she kept her thoughts to herself.

From the very beginning, she had never fully trusted anyone but herself.

She opened her panel. The restriction on retrieving supplies from her backpack was gone.

She tentatively tried to take the axe from her backpack, and in the next moment, it appeared in her hand.

’The bow and arrows are for long-range attacks, and the axe is for close combat. I need both of these weapons. If I can take supplies out from the space, I can get around the limit on retrievals.’

Holding the axe, she mentally commanded "exit," and in the next instant, she appeared back in the boat’s cabin, axe in hand.

The cabin was empty. Jiang Jing and Chuyi were standing guard at opposite ends of the boat, just outside the cabin.

Shi Zhile ducked out of the cabin and looked at Jiang Jing. "What’s wrong?"

Jiang Jing stood ramrod straight, cradling a rifle. "Some players tried to steal our raft. They backed off when they saw my gun. What about Elder Wen? Is he staying in the Planting Space?"

"Yes."

Jiang Jing said, "I knew it. Once Elder Wen gets into that Planting Space, he probably won’t want to come out. The space doesn’t freeze in time or run out of oxygen when you’re not in it, right?"

Jiang Jing had been in the space before, but always when Shi Zhile was inside as well.

The establishment of Huaxia Base was imminent, and it desperately needed a large number of skilled personnel, especially a national treasure like Mr. Wen. Nothing could be allowed to happen to him.

Shi Zhile stored the axe in her hand into the Breeding Space, then took it out again. After confirming she could move it in and out freely, she answered.

"It won’t. Wang Peng and Jiang Yuxing tested it. They stayed inside for a whole day while I was out, and they were fine. I’ll also be going in frequently, so there won’t be any problems."

"You’ll stay on the boat with us. Put the raft in your backpack. There are too many players nearby, so getting any peace is impossible. We’ll split the night watch tonight."