Chapter 47 - 46: Talking with the World Spirit

"You hunted all of this?"

The pile of prey before her was as tall as a mountain, and the variety was immense.

There was even a giant green python among them. There was enough food here to last them a month.

"Mhm, it’s all for you to eat."

The way he said it made Chu Liangyu feel a bit spoiled.

However, a lot of it wasn’t edible.

"This is a deer-rat. It’s tough and stinks, so you can’t eat it."

"But these are fine. Next time, you can look for food like this."

Chu Liangyu wasn’t in a hurry to eat. Instead, she first taught him some basic knowledge.

"Okay, I understand."

He was a fast learner. Chu Liangyu basically only had to tell him once for him to remember most of it.

"You’ve probably never tasted land animals before. This is a good chance to try some. You might find something you like."

Chu Liangyu had shed her initial pickiness.

But she wasn’t about to eat it raw and bloody. She still insisted on cleaning it and roasting it over a fire.

"This is a chestnut chicken. It tastes pretty good. Try some."

Curiosity flickered in Chi Yizhong’s eyes. Hearing her words, he tentatively put a piece in his mouth.

"It’s delicious!"

It was a completely different sensation from the taste of seal or fish. He couldn’t describe it, but it was incredibly tasty and suited his palate perfectly.

When Hu Qiumu and Feng Qiwu returned, this was the scene that greeted them.

’Never mind that he didn’t cause any trouble. The guy actually got back before we did.’

’And from the looks of it, Chu Liangyu seems to be in a good mood.’

Feng Qiwu nudged Hu Qiumu’s arm and said, "Looks like your plan didn’t work."

"Mhm." Hu Qiumu didn’t say much, silently dividing the food among his cubs.

He then listlessly ate the food in his own hands. Seeing this, Feng Qiwu advised him, "The Female Master is destined not to belong to any single person. You either learn to accept it or choose to leave."

"Why do you have to be like this?"

But he just couldn’t help feeling miserable. He didn’t want more people to take her away from him.

"Easy for you to say. When it comes down to it, it’s only because you haven’t fallen for her."

Feng Qiwu raised an eyebrow, admitting it frankly. "You’re not wrong. No feelings, no hurt. I suggest you learn from me."

"I can’t. Besides, she’s wonderful. You’ll fall for her sooner or later."

Feng Qiwu heard this but thought nothing of it.

’If I were going to fall for her, would I really wait until "later"?’

Besides, he didn’t think there was anything about Chu Liangyu that could attract him.

Except for... that status of hers.

’Of course, so far, I’m the only one who has discovered it.’

’I have to make a good impression while I have the chance. Who knows what kind of fortune it might bring?’

"I’ve given you my advice. Since you’re willing to endure this suffering, then do as you please."

Feng Qiwu pursed his lips, suddenly feeling that this was all pointless.

He finished the food in his hand in one bite and left on his own.

This was the most Chu Liangyu had ever eaten, but there was still a lot left over.

Everyone took a large share, but it barely made a dent in the pile.

The weather was hot. Leaving it in the forest would cause it to rot and stink, attracting hordes of wild animals.

After a moment of thought, Chu Liangyu tapped the panel that had been silent for a long time. "Do you want these?"

"Or rather, do the people from the apocalypse world want them?"

[DING—Tradable items detected!]

Item: A whole bunch of offed beasts

Value: Ten Intermediate Crystal Cores

Trading Plane: Apocalypse World]

[Initiate trade?]

Chu Liangyu looked at the panel that had actually appeared at her summons, her expression complicated. "Yes."

’Hasn’t this thing always been proactive about trades before? Why did I have to ask it this time?’

She had almost thought the system didn’t need these things anymore. It was a good thing she asked.

But wasn’t the panel’s description, "A whole bunch of offed beasts," a bit too... human? A little perfunctory?

It had happened before, too. Subjective descriptions would always pop up.

Chu Liangyu hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but thinking about it carefully now, it was indeed quite odd.

"Can you talk?" She stared at the panel without blinking, waiting for a response.

After a long moment, the panel flickered as if it had a bad signal and suddenly disappeared.

In its place, a young boy’s face appeared before Chu Liangyu—and it was a familiar one.

Chu Liangyu’s eyes widened in shock, her voice filled with disbelief. "World Spirit, how can it be you!?"

The boy rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Oh, dear. You found me out so quickly."

"How did you become the system?" After calming herself, Chu Liangyu voiced her confusion.

"I didn’t become the system. I can just talk to you through it."

’Huh? Isn’t that just like a high-end phone, and we’re on a video call?’

But this only made Chu Liangyu more confused. "Last time we met under the sea, you seemed very surprised. You didn’t know I had gone there?"

Before he could answer, a possibility occurred to Chu Liangyu. "Or is it that you can’t see what’s happening on my end in real-time?"

"That’s right." The boy looked at her and added, "And you’re the only one who can initiate contact with me. As for the trading function, that’s done through a channel I established with the Children of Fortune from other planes."

’So that’s how it is.’ That explained the sense of dissonance Chu Liangyu had felt.

But there was still one thing she didn’t understand. "Why are you helping me so much?"

"I’ll tell you when the time is right. Don’t be in such a hurry for now."

"Just trust that I would never harm you."

He’d said the same thing last time. Everything was always something he’d tell her "later."

She didn’t get it. What difference would it make if he told her now?

Shrouded in one layer of doubt after another, Chu Liangyu felt terrible, as if she were being manipulated.

"But I want to know now."

"Uh, you know, my signal is getting bad over here. I’m gonna go."

"Talk to you next time!"

The boy’s image vanished. At the same time, the ten Intermediate Crystal Cores appeared in her hand.

The World Spirit didn’t want to talk, and there was nothing Chu Liangyu could do about it.

With a sigh, Chu Liangyu still felt a little frustrated.

"What’s wrong?"

Chi Yizhong’s voice sounded by her ear. Chu Liangyu composed herself, turned around, and said, "It’s nothing."

"It’s not safe here. Let’s go back."

"Okay."

Chi Yizhong didn’t ask how she had dealt with the leftover prey, which surprised her.

"Aren’t you curious how I handled it?"

"What I give you is yours. You can do whatever you want with it."

Chu Liangyu smiled. She quite liked this aspect of Chi Yizhong’s personality.

After returning, Chu Liangyu lay down on her pile of straw. The comfortable feeling instantly made her drowsy.

So much had happened that day, and she was truly exhausted. Soon, the sound of her soft, even breathing filled the air.

In the not-so-quiet night, Chu Liangyu slept soundly.

Fortunately, she was surrounded by her own people, and someone was keeping watch.

Which brings us to the designated tool, Yu He. His gaze, as he looked at Chu Liangyu, was filled with resentment.

’Enslaving me during the day is one thing, but making me stand guard at night, too!’

’I’m a Beastman, not some beast of burden! I need rest, too!’

’And to think I was actually a little worried when I saw how weak she looked during the day.’

’I even started to think she was getting easier on the eyes. But now? Hah! What a load of crap.’

’My brain must have been filled with shit back then. So damn stupid.’

"Hey, you salted fish! I’m going to sleep first. Not keeping you company."

"Pheasant."