Chapter 67: Lost
Little Gray Bird led Chu Jiu to the mountain eagle.
The bald mountain eagle squatted by the cliff, shrinking its head and looking at this bipedal creature more ferocious than a demon, and the indescribably evil black cat.
This time, Chu Jiu directly sent Kakaba.
Kakaba ran up to the mountain eagle, gesticulated excitedly for a while, and then returned: “Dang dang dang! Yes, Chu Jiu, you were right!”
“Before the mountain eagle went bald, it did hunt at the junction of ‘Sanctuary Valley and Galewind Rock’!”
“And the mountain eagle really doesn’t like eating rock rabbits. It thinks the meat is too bland. It likes to eat mountain rats!”
Chu Jiu nodded: “Sure enough. The rock rabbits near Galewind Rock have decreased, and it’s indeed related to the mountain eagle.”
Little Gray Bird asked in confusion, “What what? Why would the decrease in rock rabbits be related to the mountain eagle?”
Chu Jiu explained to the little gray bird: Before, mountain rats and rock rabbits both gathered in one area at the junction. What controlled the scale of the rock rabbits and prevented them from overpopulating was the Feathered Folk’s hunting; and correspondingly, what prevented the mountain rats from running rampant was the mountain eagle’s predation.
Under this “external check and balance,” rock rabbits and mountain rats reached a delicate balance:
Both sides liked to eat [coffee fruit], and would? this small fruit from each other. After eating, they might even have a fight. But because their numbers were similar, they should have been in a balanced state for many years.
As a result, a month ago, the mountain rats unexpectedly became stronger…
From then on, the balance was broken, and the rock rabbits were directly driven away.
As for the reason for breaking the balance…
Chu Jiu asked Kakaba again, “Then did it stop hunting after it went bald? Was it because it couldn’t fly anymore?”
Kakaba nodded and then shook its head: “Dang dang dang! It really can’t fly anymore, and it really doesn’t hunt anymore. It only picks up some food nearby.”
“But it doesn’t hunt not because it can’t fly.”
“Because it runs fast enough, and like the dodo bird, it can climb even vertical cliffs with its claws.”
“It doesn’t hunt because… it thinks it’s bald and feels very ashamed.”
“It would rather starve than be laughed at by its prey for being bald.”
As Kakaba said this, the mountain eagle hid its head under its wings, looking at Chu Jiu with a pitiful expression, as if saying, “Look how cruel you are.”
Little Gray Bird nodded in deep agreement: “Yes, yes, raptors aren’t bipedal creatures. After a raptor’s feathers are plucked, they will feel like they are the ugliest creatures in the world.”
Chu Jiu: ……
He sighed and said, “Tell it… say that if it does as I say, goes out on ‘patrol’ regularly every day, actively hunts mountain rats, and doesn’t attack the Feathered Folk anymore, I can… make it less bald.”
Kakaba obediently went to convey the message.
As soon as Kakaba finished gesticulating, the mountain eagle immediately perked up. It was no longer listless or aggrieved, and its bald wings even started to flap vigorously!
Without Kakaba’s “translation,” Chu Jiu could understand what the mountain eagle meant.
Chu Jiu walked up to the mountain eagle, his face very serious.
Little Can also consciously stood up, its ice-blue eyes coldly watching the other party.
Chu Jiu said, “I am now going to make you a ‘wig’.”
“If you dare to harass the Feathered Folk again, not only will I take this wig back—”
Chu Jiu sized up the mountain eagle and showed a terrifying sneer: “I will also pluck all the remaining fluff on your tail, so you’ll not only be bald-headed but also bare-assed.”
Little Can very cooperatively showed a few claws and gestured at the mountain eagle.
Mountain Eagle: ??!!
The mountain eagle covered its butt, its head shaking like a whirlwind: No no no, I will never harass the Feathered Folk again! I have reformed and become a new eagle! You must believe me!
Chu Jiu took out the remaining [mountain eagle feathers], plus the [rock rabbit fur] he had just collected, and stuck them onto the mountain eagle using [slime adhesive].
In a short while, the mountain eagle changed from [Bald Mountain Eagle] to [Mountain Eagle That Doesn’t Look Bald]!
Although it still couldn’t fly and could only run around on its two claws, this was already enough!
Even Little Gray Bird exclaimed in shock, “Wow! It really doesn’t look bald at all!”
The mountain eagle let out a happy cry and flew straight down the cliff, starting to catch mountain rats!
Chu Jiu clapped his hands in satisfaction and told Little Gray Bird, “We should see the results in a couple of days.”
The rock rabbits should soon notice the decrease in mountain rats and quickly migrate back.
After all, there were more [coffee fruits] nearby.
*
Two days later, Little Gray Bird excitedly found Chu Jiu: “Chu Jiu! It’s amazing! All the rock rabbits have really come back!”
“Mom and Dad don’t have to go hunting far away anymore! We have enough manpower now!”
As Chu Jiu expected, after the guard team members no longer had to stay up all night catching rabbits, their work efficiency returned to its peak.
Three days later, the winery was completed.
At this time, the grapes in the field had just ripened, and Chu Jiu had also comprehended the complete [Wine Brewing Recipe] through the [Virtual Assembly Line].
Chu Jiu didn’t let Roar Roar Rabbit [one-click harvest], but instead had the gray birds pick the grapes from the vines themselves, carrying baskets.
The dwarf beastmen also helped out with carrying baskets by the side.
After a whole day of busy work, the first batch of grapes was harvested and all transported to the winery at the foot of the mountain.
There, the gray birds, learning to brew wine for the first time, followed the [Wine Brewing Recipe] shared by Chu Jiu, selecting, destemming, pressing, fermenting, and filtering…
Ten days later, the large wooden barrels in the cellar were filled with purplish-red, sweet juice.
These freshly fermented juices still needed to undergo months or even years of “aging” in the wooden barrels to truly become the nectar that the Feathered Folk dreamed of.
However, Chu Jiu naturally had a way for the gray birds to taste this deliciousness ahead of time.
That night, Chu Jiu selected a wooden barrel of [Unaged Wine] as the material and began to use [Quick Crafting] to “ripen” it.
An hour later, the [Unaged Wine] turned into [Aged Delicious Wine].
Under the eager gazes of the little bird-people, in their silent anticipation where they desperately suppressed their chirps, Chu Jiu opened the wooden barrel— At this moment, an accident happened!
Because none of the little bird-people were wearing [Feathered Folk-Specific Gas Masks], as soon as the aroma of the wine dissipated, all the gray birds present got drunk!
Fortunately, this wasn’t the legendary fine wine from the cellar, whose scent alone was enough to put the gray birds to sleep.
Now, the little bird-people didn’t fall asleep, but collectively entered a “slightly tipsy” state, giggling one after another, wanting to hug Chu Jiu one after another, and finally one after another…
Broke into song!
Chu Jiu: !!!
Help! Please stop singing!
*
That night, the entire “Galewind Rock” was shrouded in enthusiastic singing.
Chu Jiu dragged his family and ran down the mountain overnight, deciding never to go back until the little bird-people sobered up.
Just then, the system notification rang:
[Congratulations, Host, for achieving the hidden condition ‘Rebuilding Ancient Ruins’!] [Congratulations, Host, for achieving the hidden condition ‘Happy Cooperation Between Birds and Beasts’!]
[Congratulations, Host, for achieving the hidden condition ‘Successfully Building Facilities in Different Wastelands’!]
A long string of congratulations, accompanied by a large amount of pioneer points dropping with a clanging sound, and the pioneer degree soaring.
Among this pile of rewards, Chu Jiu noticed a particularly long one:
But Chu Jiu was more concerned about the content of this hidden condition.
So, without the nectar, without the singing, would these enthusiastic and unrestrained little bird-people eventually turn to the dark side?!
Chu Jiu really couldn’t connect the little gray bird who happily flapped its small wings, chattered all day long, and burned with a raging chuuni soul with “cold-blooded,” “cruel,” and “violent.”
That kind of scene…
Just thinking about it made Chu Jiu feel a pang of sadness.
He murmured to himself, “Thank goodness.”
Thank goodness he discovered the origin of the nectar, thank goodness he grew the grapes, and thank goodness he brewed the wine.
In addition to the increase in pioneer points and pioneer degree, Chu Jiu’s own level also rose from [Level 10] to [Level 11].
Not only that, but he also gained a new passive skill: [Relic Perception].
[Relic Perception: The host can discover “relics eroded by time” more quickly. As the host’s level increases, the host has a certain probability of comprehending related recipes from such relics.]
Oh, that looks like a good skill!
With this skill, when he saw something like “artificially carved stones” again, he might be able to immediately deduce what those ruins were used for back then, and might even directly obtain the recipe!
Chu Jiu was very satisfied with the newly acquired skill.
Counting the pioneer points, checking the skills, and looking at the newly collected materials like [coffee fruit] and [rock rabbit fur] in his backpack, plus the facility recipes for [terraces] and [winery], Chu Jiu stood up and stretched lazily: “Alright, it’s time to go back to Bean Village tomorrow!”
*
The next day.
The gray bird King and Queen had originally arranged a three-day banquet to thank Chu Jiu. Now, hearing that Chu Jiu was going back to Bean Village immediately, they were both shocked and disappointed.
The Queen maintained her composure and didn’t say anything, but the King grumbled unhappily, “You’ve been working with us all this time, and we haven’t been able to properly entertain you, haven’t been able to have a good drink with you, haven’t been able to let you hear more of our songs… it’s such a pity!”
Chu Jiu: …No, the last one really isn’t a pity.
Little Gray Bird flew up to Chu Jiu with a flap and vigorously beat its wings: “Do you really have to leave now? Is there something very urgent?”
The Queen reprimanded softly, “Quick Feather! You’re being rude again!”
Chu Jiu wasn’t angry and explained to the little gray bird with a smile, “Actually, I have a promise with a friend… If I hurry back now, I might still be able to make it.”
The return journey would take another half a month.
By the time he reached Bean Village… deep winter would already be over.
Would there still be snow in late winter and early spring?
Little Can, perched on his shoulder, thoughtfully licked its paw.
Hearing Chu Jiu say “a promise with a friend,” Little Gray Bird immediately stopped pestering him.
In this little fellow’s eyes, “a promise with a friend” was as precious as a title! Of course, it couldn’t be broken easily!
Little Gray Bird flew to get a cup of nectar and brought it over: “This, I said before, I would give you my share of the nectar.”
“Although this was brewed by you for us, but, but, but this was also allocated to me!”
“Now it’s yours!”
Chu Jiu smiled, took it, and drank it all in one gulp.
It was indeed good. The grapes had enjoyed sufficient sunlight and experienced the temperature difference between day and night, so the taste was indeed sweeter and more mellow. The wine brewed in this way, and then “aged” for a period of time in special oak barrels, had a flavor and taste that the wine sold in Emerald Town could never match.
Of course… that batch of century-old vintage wine must have had an even more unique flavor, so intoxicating that one could never forget it.
Even with his skill buffs, Chu Jiu didn’t think this newly made wine could truly replace the century-old vintage.
But that batch of vintage wine had already dissipated into the air.
What could truly be grasped was this little bit of brewed wine in the cup right now.
Chu Jiu believed that the Feathered Folk must also think this way.
Chu Jiu pursed his lips and praised, “It’s really delicious!”
“When the wine in the big wooden barrels in the cellar is fully aged, it will be even more delicious than this!”
Little Gray Bird’s face flushed with happiness, and it nodded repeatedly: “Cheep cheep cheep! Yes! The nectar we brewed ourselves is the most delicious!”
After Chu Jiu put down his wine cup, Little Gray Bird said again, “There’s one more thing that I promised you—”
“I want to give you my treasured possession!”
“After I get my treasure for you, we’ll go to Bean Village together!”
With that, Little Gray Bird turned and flew away again, presumably to rummage under its bed for its privately treasure.
Over here, Queen Gray Bird said again, “Actually, we have also prepared a small thank-you gift for you.”
With that, the Queen took out a scroll taller than herself from the attendant gray bird’s hands and dragged it to Chu Jiu with her claws: “This is a map.”
“It is said that a long, long time ago, our ancestors encountered an accident when they went to the northernmost ‘Azure Ice Plains’.”
“When our ancestor thought they were doomed, they ate a fruit that fell from a tree.”
“Not only did our ancestor survive, but they also learned to speak and learned to wear clothes. Only then did we, the current Feathered Folk, come into being.”
“And this is a map drawn by our ancestor themselves, a map that can lead you to that tree.”
Oh… what a magical tree.
It was a bit like the tree of knowledge in Earth stories, eating its fruit gave one the knowledge of good and evil and the sense of shame.
Speaking of which, the “Azure Ice Plains” was indeed a map that hadn’t been opened yet and was full of very dangerous monsters.
Being able to get the map in advance was naturally a good thing.
But Chu Jiu was a little puzzled: “Since it was left by the Feathered Folk’s ancestor and it’s such an important map, don’t you plan to keep it yourselves?”
Or at least keep the original and give me a copy.
The Queen was slightly embarrassed: “It’s like this… the map left by our ancestor… is a bit scrawled.”
“It is said that the ancestor’s intention was, ‘This map is only for those who can understand it in the future’.”
“We heard from the dwarf beastman guard captain that you are someone who can understand the ‘Adventures in the Underground River’ from a hundred years ago. So if there is anyone in this world who can understand this map… it should be you.”
With that, the Queen opened the scroll with the tip of her wing.
As the scroll slowly unfurled…
Little Can stood up.
Roar Roar Rabbit’s ears twitched.
Kakaba scratched its head.
Glup-Glup, who was drinking unfermented grape juice, spat out a bubble.
What… what is this drawing?!
The entire scroll was full of scattered small bird claw prints, okay?!
Was this really a map? Was it definitely not something a bird drunkenly stepped on?!
Chu Jiu rubbed his eyes.
Even with the buff of [Fairy Tale Interpretation], he couldn’t see many clues from this map.
Of course, he still politely and gratefully accepted this “generous gift.”
At this moment, Little Gray Bird returned with a box on its head.
“Cheep!” Little Gray Bird was extremely excited, “This is my most treasured possession!”
Chu Jiu: “This is…?”
Little Gray Bird: “This is ‘The Song of the Ancestor’!”
Chu Jiu: “……?”
Huh?
Little Gray Bird: “You know, you know, there’s a strange kind of ore on the high mountains. Once it rains and thunders, the stone will have an unexpected ability, right?”
“These stones can record sounds!”
Chu Jiu: “Ah… I vaguely heard about it…”
He had heard about it in Earth’s folk legends.
Little Gray Bird: “This is that kind of strange stone!”
“This stone, just so perfectly, recorded the most precious sound!”
Chu Jiu’s expression changed: “The most precious sound you mentioned…”
Little Gray Bird: “Of course, it’s the singing of our ancestors!”
“As long as you open this box, you can hear the wonderful sound of our ancestors singing loudly on a rainy night!”
Chu Jiu: !
He immediately shook his head and waved his hands: “Ahahaha, this gift is too precious, I can’t accept it! You must keep it yourself…”
Unexpectedly, Little Gray Bird’s pair of small black eyes were bright and fixed on him: “No way!”
“I, ‘Swift Wind Quick Feather,’ always keep my word!”
“Since I said I would give you my most treasured possession, I must give it to you!”
The other gray birds, big and small, also nodded repeatedly: “Yes, yes, Little Prince is right.”
“Although this gift is indeed very precious, since we promised, we should do it.”
Chu Jiu: ……
Tears welled up in his eyes.
The moment he accepted this grand gift, the system screamed a notification:
[Congratulations, Host, for obtaining a rare item—the Feathered Folk’s secret treasure, “Songstone of Origin”!]
[Songstone of Origin: If, if the degree of ear pain, ah no no, ear pleasure, that a song can cause could be divided into 1 to 10 levels, then an ordinary Feathered Folk’s song corresponds to a pleasure level of about 5; a Feathered Folk royal’s song corresponds to a pleasure level of 6-7. And the pleasure level caused by the Songstone of Origin is approximately level 20. In short, for the sake of the host’s ear health, the system begs you: Do not open! Do not open! Do not open!]
Chu Jiu’s hands trembled as he put this terrifying box into his backpack.
Chu Jiu, carrying the Feathered Folk’s grand gift, along with the Feathered Folk’s little prince and ten guards, hurried back to Bean Village.
The weather in the wasteland was different from the climate in the human settlements.
The wasteland might be sunny, while at the same time Bean Village could be drizzling.
As soon as Chu Jiu stepped out of the Forgotten Forest, he discovered:
It had already snowed in the Bean Village area.
Some residual snow remained on the withered grass and branches.
Judging from the appearance of this residual snow, it might have started snowing here just a couple of days after he left…
Chu Jiu’s heart suddenly felt empty.
He shook his head, drove away this inexplicable sense of loss, and turned around, saying:
“Quick Feather, I’ll take you to find the Village Chief and Douglas. They will arrange suitable houses for you.”
“Kakaba, take the little triceratops inside.”
“Gluglu, check the wear and tear of the facilities.”
“Rawr Rawr Rabbit, see how the soil in the fields is now.”
“Little Can—you, um, you can come with me to look at the totem pole later.”
With this long list of arrangements, Chu Jiu became extremely busy again, with no extra time to think about things unrelated to wasteland reclamation.
*
Night.
Chu Jiu heated a large basin of water and used [Lemongrass Essential Oil] to make [soap with a strange fragrance] for the spirit beasts to have a good bath.
After the others finished washing, they all wrapped themselves in cloth towels and went upstairs obediently.
Chu Jiu could hear the little ones making a racket upstairs. It was probably Rawr Rawr Rabbit wrestling with Kakaba again, with Glup-Glup cheering and acting as referee on the side.
Only Little Can, as always, stayed by Chu Jiu’s side.
Chu Jiu sighed, took off his clothes, jumped into the large wooden tub, and stared blankly at the rising steam in the hot water.
Little Can jumped to the edge of the tub, first tilted its head to look at Chu Jiu, then walked a few steps along the narrow tub rim, placing its essential oil-scented paw on Chu Jiu’s cheek.
“Meow?” — “Are you unhappy?” Little Can asked worriedly.
Chu Jiu shook his head: “No, no.”
There was nothing to be unhappy about.
Little Gray Bird and the others liked Bean Village very much and got along well with the four little squirrels; the blacksmith shop was doing well, new people had come to Bean Village, and the old Village Chief said there shouldn’t be a shortage of people for spring plowing. Soybeans could be planted in another month, followed by spring wheat…
Everything was going smoothly at the Pioneer’s Cabin. The totem pole’s deterrent range hadn’t changed, the soil fertility in the fields was fine, and sugarcane could be cultivated in the spring…
Everything was fine.
Little Can: “Meow, meow?” — “Is it because it snowed and you missed your appointment with that friend?”
Chu Jiu: “Ah…”
Perhaps the bathwater was too hot, Chu Jiu’s face felt a little flushed.
He rambled nonsensically, “W-well, it’s okay.”
“Originally, snowfall isn’t something that can be controlled by human power.”
“Ah, speaking of which, using snowfall as an appointment from the beginning was very unscientific. Who knows when it will snow, or how long it will last…”
Little Can interrupted Chu Jiu’s nonsense: “That person is bad.”
Chu Jiu: “…Hmm?”
Little Can puffed up its chest angrily: “Since it snowed, he should have come.”
“Since you weren’t here, he should have waited.”
“It’s his fault that he didn’t wait here for you to come back.”
It was Lu Qingyan who broke his promise, not Chu Jiu’s fault!
Little Can’s eyes narrowed into displeased half-circles.
Chu Jiu couldn’t help but laugh at the little black cat’s serious appearance.
He reached out his hot arm from the water and patted the little black cat’s head: “Alright. I’m not angry.”
“The other person must be very busy. How could they keep waiting in the same place?”
“Well, we’ll have a chance to meet again in the future, right?”
Saying this, he leaned forward slightly and gently kissed the little black cat’s forehead: “Thank you for comforting me.”
Even after being kissed on the forehead, the little black cat was still sulky.
Lu Qingyan, you guy, I thought you were very reliable.
Do you know you made Chu Jiu unhappy?
If it were me…
I would come to Chu Jiu’s side no matter what and meet him. I would absolutely not let Chu Jiu show such an unhappy expression!
*
The next morning.
A vast expanse of white light seeped in through the cracks in the window and fell on Chu Jiu’s face.
He sat up groggily, rubbed his eyes, and looked out the window—
Snow!
Whirling, fluttering snow!
Snow that had even wrapped the small courtyard in a layer of flour!
Chu Jiu exclaimed “Wow!” and hurriedly put on his clothes and shoes before rushing downstairs and into the small courtyard.
The snow hadn’t stopped yet.
Chu Jiu, who had grown up in southern China, couldn’t help but reach out whenever he saw such snow, smiling foolishly as he tried to catch the small snowflakes.
So beautiful! The little snowflakes are so lovely!
Just then, a heavy “mooing” sound and thick panting came from behind him.
Chu Jiu’s heart skipped a beat, and he slowly turned his head…
Two strange beasts covered in hard armor, with triangular heads and as sturdy as oxen, snorting, charged straight towards him!
Even though Chu Jiu knew “there shouldn’t be monsters here,” seeing the ferocious beasts charging straight at him, he instinctively cried out, wanting to flee for his life!
However, the beasts were too fast!
Chu Jiu crouched down, intending to roll to the side on the spot—
At this moment, a small black shadow leaped out of the house, landing beside Chu Jiu with lightning speed!
…Little Can?
Chu Jiu only felt that Little Can’s body was extremely hot, worryingly so.
The next second, Little Can’s figure suddenly enlarged, and it grabbed Chu Jiu, leaping to the side…
The speed was too fast, and Chu Jiu subconsciously closed his eyes.
He could feel a pair of extremely strong arms protecting him during this rise and fall.
Had Little Can turned into Big Can?
…Wait, this touch…?
Chu Jiu slowly opened his eyes.
He met a pair of ice-blue, human eyes.
It was Lu Qingyan.
Chu Jiu: ……?
What was going on?
Wasn’t it Little Can who had just run out of the house? When had Lu Qingyan arrived?
Just as Chu Jiu was staring blankly at the other man, Kakaba jumped out of the house:
“Dang dang dang!”
“Ah, so the triceratops babies are here!”
“Chu Jiu, Chu Jiu, remember I said before that ‘the triceratops babies might suddenly grow up’!”
“They really grew up! And they want to play with you!”
“…Huh? Little Can, you’re here too. How did you get so big too?”
