Zuo Feixian and Zhou Liren crouched by the earthen stove, ceaselessly fanning the flames.
Smothered in smoke, Zhou Liren turned his head and squinted:
–Why is it Old Wang? Shouldn’t it be Old Li… Hmm, maybe he misidentified the portrait—definitely Old Li.–
Having just emerged from the mountains, Zhou Liren firmly believed Wang Chaoguang was dead, yet he couldn’t shake the suspicion that it might have been an illusion.
Beside him, Zuo Feixian, tending the boiling pot, let out a displeased grunt and fanned the fire even harder, blowing soot right into Zhou Liren’s face, provoking a fit of coughing.
–Cough, cough, Old Li, cough, cough, so he actually survived… Hey, take it easy!–
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
–That bandaged one seems to have grasped the method to enter it,– Zuo Feixian shifted his crouching posture and said. –Otherwise, that weird vine wouldn’t have appeared—it must be one of the treasures from that mountain.–
No one could approach that mountain, but Zhou Liren’s team members who had undergone the surgery could enter unhindered, even bringing back such a formidable plant from the tunnel, capable of defeating even those wild beasts.
……
On the barren plains, a convoy of carts laden with water tanks slowly trudged into the distance. Behind it, in another direction, a similar group could be seen.
They all came from the well beside the Cargo Crew in the north, which could continuously produce crystal-clear, sweet water.
At this moment, incessant clamor surrounded the well. The queuing crowd chatted happily while holding water ladles and wooden buckets. A small ball of light floated in the sky, a tiny hand propping up its head, gazing downward.
Thirty to forty meters north of the crowd, a middle-aged man dressed in a thick, knee-length robe, accompanied by two attendants protecting his sides, scanned the terrain. Not far beside him, a woman who appeared to be in her fifties looked in his direction.
–Yuan Longpenglord, are you really going to place that engine—which we only managed to stabilize with great effort through our cooperation—right here?–
–Vice Penglord Wang, could it be that you’re feeling a bit reluctant?–
The middle-aged man had two faint wisps of mustache at the corners of his mouth. He turned his head to look at Wang Xin, smiled, then pointed behind him at the crowd. –Listen.–
Wang Xin shifted her gaze, catching faint voices carrying over.
–It’s free, but don’t push! Damn it, what’s the rush? This well doesn’t charge a dime…–
–…Stay in line. Hey, you there, spit your phlegm farther away.–
–Oh, I’m off to take a piss, big bro. Watch my spot for me; I’ll leave my bucket here…–
Wang Xin withdrew her gaze, took a soft breath, and her eyes grew slightly distant, as if lost in thought.
–If only it could be this harmonious everywhere,– a young man beside Yuan Long couldn’t help but sigh.
–Indeed,– the middle-aged man nodded. –Though Leader Jiazi of the Term Cargo Crew initially aimed to earn Chronos, his kindness toward these people is genuine. You’ve seen it too, haven’t you? Imagine the potential this place could hold if it remains populated.–
Wang Xin snapped out of her reverie and said,
–That’s true, but this stretch of forest will likely be completely gone by January or February next year. Then all this so-called vitality will vanish as well.–
–Do you think Leader Jiazi of the Term Cargo Crew hasn’t considered that?– Yuan Long chuckled. –But that young man dug this well on his second day here.–
–So that’s why you want to bury the engine here? I still advise you not to act rashly. After all, a stabilized otherworldly dwelling can endure for many years without turning into a nightmare. Even a small Peng Zone with such a building holds the potential to eventually become a full-fledged greenhouse.–
She glanced at the crowd gathering around, laughing and fetching water like itinerants, and said flatly,
–Putting it here will allow people to draw water in the future, but it hardly warrants such a grand structure. I sympathize with them, but that building—if it becomes the foundation of a Peng Zone—could hold far greater value and protect far more people.–
Upon hearing this, the young man beside Yuan Long glanced down at the compact engine in his own hand.
Inside the crystalline engine, which boasted three delicate cylinder caps, a layer of hazy mountain scenery unfolded in its backdrop, where a brick-and-mortar house—bearing a few traces of ruin—stood firm, as if it had existed for centuries.
The engine’s projection slowly revealed its image, as though showcasing its presence, seeking to lure someone into granting it a rebirth on new soil.
This was a fairly intact otherworldly structure, one that had been stabilized within the mountain over the past few days by the power of his own Peng Zone and the people of the Dusk Canopy. But this Continental Building Engine, worth several thousand or even over ten thousand Chronos, had been declared by Penglord Yuan Long to be freely gifted to this settlement.
–Boss.– The young man turned to the middle-aged leader, hesitant to speak further, –Deputy of Dusk Canopy is right—it only holds value if it becomes part of a Peng Zone…–
Yuan Long shook his head, pointing ahead, and said, –Set it down. Right there.–
–Penglord Yuan Long, please reconsider.–
–My mind is made up. Go.–
–Sigh.– The young man glanced at the other lackey beside him. One was holding a crystal-clear engine and a small hoe, while the other dragged a wooden box filled with collected gold-type and earth-type magic crystal clusters.
The hoe dug a small pit into the ground in just two or three strikes. The young man looked once more at the engine in his hand, gleaming like crystal, then reluctantly cast his eyes over the sturdy house structure before burying it in the soil. He scraped some dirt with the hoe to cover it properly.
Smack! The wooden box lid flew open, and amid the clatter, a pile of earthy yellow and warm gold magic crystals tumbled out. The noise drew the attention of those nearby. A dozen or so people chatting by the well stepped closer, hands tucked into their sleeves, watching the commotion.
–What are they doing?–
–Those magic crystals piled on the ground—could they be… about to activate some sort of engine?–
The young man, who had previously been in charge of the Shin Engine, crouched down, one hand braced on the ground, his eyes slightly closed.
–I shall now begin the activation of the Shin Engine.–
The Moxel on his chest flickered faintly.
[I, the Mysterious Triangle, commence communication with the Shin Engine.]
[Triangular Engine, let your heart beat once more… here… in the Shibin Wastes.]
Thump…
Everyone around seemed to hear a phantom sound, as if something deep underground was beginning to stir. In the next moment…
Boom!
Dust and smoke billowed as a heavy brick-and-stone house rose abruptly from the ground! The people around felt as if the earth beneath their feet had been torn apart by an invisible giant hand, revealing an ancient rock structure hidden within.
–Wow! It’s a house!–
–Who are you folks? Is this your secure house?–
Watching these enthusiastic people, Wang Xin shook her head discreetly. Not far from her, Yuan Long Penglord turned and nodded with a smile, then his gaze fell on a group hurrying over from the market. Among them was the market’s owner, Yang Zi Cang.
–If I’m not mistaken, you’re Yuan Long Penglord of the Lijiang Greenhouse?– Yang Zi Cang approached, eyeing the house.
The recent influx of people had been overwhelming, but for figures like a Penglord and Vice Penglord visiting in person, Yang Zi Cang made a point to remember their names—and Professor Chen had been specifically brought in to handle their reception.
–Indeed, I am. This is Wang Xin, Vice Penglord of the Dusk Greenhouse. This house was jointly secured by us in the mountains, and from now on, it belongs to you, the Jiazi Term Cargo Crew.–
–What… you’re giving us an otherworldly building?!–
Professor Chen, standing beside Yang Zicang, was startled and pushed up his glasses, taking a careful look at the building. At this moment, many people had already gathered around to examine it closely, and some couldn’t resist slipping inside.
–This house…– Yang Zicang glanced at the structure—only one story tall, yet rather spacious—–would be far more useful if it were in a Peng Zone.–
Roughly once a year, the Peng Zone has to rebuild its own wooden huts, otherwise they might one day morph into a nightmare of a man-eater. But this stable dwelling, crafted by the Shin Engine, would never have such issues.
–Indeed, theoretically, its value is even greater in a medium or small Peng Zone. Basically, among all the large zones I know, every one has at least one or two such houses. They represent the foundation from the small to the grand—the essence and history of all Peng Zones.–
After exclaiming in wonder, some people came over to say, –Yuan Long Penglord is generous with his gesture, giving away a building like this without a second thought.–
–No wonder he’s the owner of a big Peng Zone.–
–It’s a shame these mountainsides will be ruined in six months. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be nice if a Peng Zone emerged here?–
–There’s a well here now, and the durable house that could stand for a millennium. Tsk-tsk, who knows—maybe a huge Peng Zone or even a little town might appear here in the future.–
The crowd murmured endlessly, fantasizing about the future of this place. The only pity was that the liveliness here would eventually fade, disappearing after January and February of next year.
Amidst such voices, Yuan Long approached Yang Zicang and whispered:
–Captain of the Jiazi Term Cargo Crew, have you ever considered building a Peng Zone here?–
–Me?– Yang Zicang glanced at the people around him and also whispered, –To be honest, I already have a stabilized piece of land of my own, so I have no plans to establish a Peng Zone here.–
Most importantly, this place is still a bit far from Hubville. For me, with a train, it’s no big deal, but for those without a vehicle, five or six hundred li is just too far.
Yuan Long’s eyes lit up. –Doesn’t that mean I, Yuan Long, might be the one to take over the Peng Zone here?–
–What does Kuroda Pengloff mean by that?–
–Captain Jia, to be honest with you as well, I have a request.–
After he finished speaking quietly beside Yang Zicang, Yang Zicang’s eyes widened in shock.
If my previous act of scouring the area for herbs to make and sell incense pills was a shock to Zuo Feixian, Shiu Siuchuan, and Wang Chong, then Yuan Long’s proposal now was another shock—but this time, for me.
–You… can you pull it off? That’s no small matter.–
Yang Zicang’s heart trembled a little as he glanced at the several peaks in the distance.
–Of course, I’m powerless alone, but if we pool our strength, it’s not impossible—I just hope we can call a meeting under Captain Jia’s name.–
–Alright, I’ll call a meeting immediately. As for the venue… let’s use this room.–
Yuan Long’s face went briefly blank, then he burst into laughter.
–Hahaha, great, great, great! As expected of Captain Jia, such high execution efficiency!–
……
–What? A meeting?–
Yuan Kun raised a finger to point at himself, then stared at Penglord on the screen, saying, –Isn’t Chang Ao here? Why isn’t he attending the meeting?–
{Are you the Cargo Crew leader, or is he the Cargo Crew leader? I think you’ve been slipping backward more and more the older you get.}
Yuan Kun shrank his neck.
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