Chapter 31: Wood Carving
When Chu Feng and Illya returned to Crescent Village, it was already close to dusk.
Chu Feng tilted his head. “Is it just me, or are a lot of people staring at me?” He’d already noticed some villagers sneaking glances at him before, but now it felt like there were even more.
He couldn’t help feeling the villagers’ gazes were much more intense than before. If he hadn’t already known that the villagers were wary of humans, he’d almost think they were into him.
Illya nodded. “Seems like it.”
Chu Feng rolled his eyes and said, “Is it… because of the candy?”
Illya nodded. “Most likely.”
The news that Chu Feng brought a whole box of candy had already spread through the village while he was away.
The kids who had tasted his candy had praised it endlessly, which stirred up the adults in the village as well.
As Chu Feng and Illya walked through the village, Chu Feng suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Illya turned to him. “What’s wrong?”
Chu Feng pointed at a tiger sculpture in the distance. “Is that a wood carving?”
Illya nodded. “Yeah.”
Chu Feng marveled, “It looks so detailed!”
The carved tiger looked lazy, but still exuded a sense of imposing power. Chu Feng had the feeling that the tiger might suddenly come to life and swat him with a paw.
In China, a lot of people liked to place stone lions in front of homes for protection. Could it be that there was a similar custom here?
“Right? Duvean is really skillful with his hands. But he’s got a bad temper—and he really hates humans,” Illya said.
Chu Feng: “…” Yet another one who hates humans. Just how many people here don’t hate humans?
“Was he hurt by humans before?” Chu Feng asked.
Illya nodded. “He was once caught by an elf trafficker. After several escape attempts, his legs were broken. Because of that, the humans lowered their guard, and he managed to escape.”
Chu Feng took a deep breath and thought: Humans in this world sound downright brutal. But he was a transmigrator—he only looked like them. He was innocent!
Illya saw the troubled look on Chu Feng’s face and said, “You don’t need to worry too much. Even though Duvean hates humans, that doesn’t mean he’ll hate you.”
Chu Feng: “…” That didn’t make him feel much better. “Really?”
Illya nodded seriously. “I also hate humans—but I don’t hate you.”
Chu Feng: “…” That was kind of comforting… in a weird way.
Even though Crescent Village seemed friendly on the surface, private property already existed. Duvean’s house looked rather shabby—he probably wasn’t doing well in the village.
Most villagers made a living through farming and hunting, but Duvean’s injured leg likely meant he couldn’t keep up. It was no surprise he had fallen behind in life.
Illya looked at Chu Feng. “You like that wood carving?”
Chu Feng nodded. “Yeah, I’d say I like it.”
Even though he had a net worth of over 100 million, he couldn’t just sit around doing nothing. Maybe opening a wood carving shop wasn’t such a bad idea.
This world had many rare wood types. Taking raw wood back home would be hard to sell, but turning them into intricate carvings would make them much easier to market.
The elf race had many natural talents. Duvean’s carvings were incredibly lifelike—definitely master-level craftsmanship.
Illya frowned slightly. “I don’t think he’ll give you that carving, though.”
“Why not?”
“Because that’s Sterling!”
Chu Feng blinked. “What Sterling?”
Chu Feng suddenly realized, “So this is actually a beastman’s beast form?”
Illya nodded. “Yes.”
Chu Feng thought to himself: So that wood carving is actually his true form? That Duvean guy carved a beastman form to guard his home—don’t tell me the two of them are… involved?
“I just like beautiful wood carvings.”
“Duvean likes carving. He has a lot of wooden sculptures at home.”
Chu Feng said with interest, “Really?”
“Want to meet him?”
Chu Feng hesitated, then asked, “Do you think he likes sweets?”
Illya thought for a moment. “He probably does.”
Chu Feng said, “Then let’s go back first. I’ll grab some candy before we visit.” Showing up empty-handed felt too cheap.
Illya nodded. “That works.”
Chu Feng and Illya returned to the room. Chu Feng dragged out two boxes and took out some candy. Then, thinking a bit more, he grabbed some bread and chips from another box.
Illya looked at Chu Feng and said, “You only brought food this time?”
Chu Feng nodded. “Yeah! Isn’t food scarce around here?”
“It is, kind of.”
Chu Feng shook his head, thinking: To be honest, all of this is junk food—but since basic needs aren’t even met here, they probably won’t mind.
“Let’s go.”
Illya nodded. “Alright.”
When Chu Feng entered the living room, he saw Gray.
Gray looked at the two and asked curiously, “Big bro, where are you guys going?”
Chu Feng waved a hand casually. “Off to take care of some business. Kids should sleep early and wake up early if they want to grow tall. Go to bed now.”
Gray rolled his eyes at him and stomped off.
