Chapter 87: Umbrellas
Shaya took the group to the lakeside, handed them some soap pods, and urged, “Hurry up and wash.”
Molka leaned toward August and whispered, “What is this place? Do you know?”
August shook his head. “Not exactly. Maybe an elven village.”
There had long been rumors in the Falling Leaf Range that deep within the jungle lay a hidden elven settlement. Some elf hunters had tried to find it, but none succeeded.
Now that he was here, August realized it did exist—but it was nothing like he’d imagined.
Elven villages were supposed to be poor and lacking in resources. But here, everyone wore warm, well-made clothes and shoes. They didn’t seem worried about survival at all. With winter coming—and a long, harsh one predicted—most people outside were fretting and preparing. But this village? They seemed perfectly at ease.
“August, what do you think that boss Chu brought us here for?” Molka asked.
August gave a wry smile and said, “We’re probably just a side thought.”
Molka nodded. “Seems like it. But that boss… he does seem generous.”
As a half-demon, Molka was often looked down upon. But during the journey here, he noticed Chu Feng treated them all fairly. He gave them enough bread—they hadn’t eaten so well in ages. Even if he was still hungry, it was more than he’d had in a long time.
Shaya stood nearby supervising the group as they bathed. Once they were clean, he handed them their clothes and said, “Get dressed. I hope you’re not useless. Don’t waste Boss Chu’s investment in you.”
August accepted the clothes and, surprised by the softness, thought: What material is this? Even nobles might not wear fabric this fine. Is this really for slaves?
Molka puzzled over the underpants, unsure how to wear them. Shaya finally stepped in to explain, unable to bear watching.
Meanwhile, Illya noticed the energy bar on Chu Feng’s wristband had nearly depleted. “Are you about to cross over?”
Chu Feng nodded. “Almost—maybe two more hours.”
“It’s about time. You’ve been here a while,” Illya said.
Chu Feng nodded again. “Over five days now.”
He had delayed his return intentionally to avoid disappearing without warning during their forest travels. It was the longest he’d ever stayed.
“I’ll go with you,” Illya said, tugging his arm.
Chu Feng hesitated. “Are you sure? You’re still not fully healed.”
Though the lightning brand protected Illya during teleportation, traveling through dimensions could still be taxing—especially for someone injured.
Illya shrugged. “It’s just a small wound. Don’t worry.”
He had endured worse in human lands and was used to it. But Chu Feng frowned. “Why hasn’t it healed yet? You should’ve recovered by now… Was it the long journey? I shouldn’t have delayed things for the slave purchase.”
Illya had told Chu Feng it was a minor wound, so Chu Feng hadn’t worried. But now, days later, there was no sign of healing—he grew concerned.
“Relax,” Illya said, waving it off. “We’ll eat well on the other side. I’ll recover.”
He privately suspected the wound lingered due to residual energy from an ability-user’s attack—normal injuries wouldn’t last this long with his constitution.
Chu Feng nodded. “Alright. This time, I’ll teleport from the palace district. I plan to bring over a large generator, so the village isn’t ideal.”
“Good idea,” Illya said. “Let’s head out, then.”
Chu Feng led them back to the villa. Illya, excited, wandered around like a returning guest.
Unlike his first visit, he now knew his way around.
Rain pattered steadily outside. Illya pulled back the curtains and frowned. “It’s pouring.”
Chu Feng nodded. “Yeah.”
“You houses here are amazing—no leaks at all!” Illya said.
Chu Feng looked at him. “You guys don’t get much rain, huh?”
Illya shook his head. “It’s not that. You just came after the rainy season. You were lucky—it rained several times, but you always missed it.”
Chu Feng blinked. “Really? Guess I am lucky.” He recalled only a few light showers in the other world, none lasting long.
Illya added, “It’s bearable in the village. But rain out in the wild? That’s rough.”
He turned to Chu Feng. “What do you guys do here when it rains?”
“Raincoats and umbrellas,” Chu Feng said. “Makes rainy days easier.”
He remembered how, as a kid, he used to strap his raincoat to the back of his bike. One day he got out of class late and it got stolen—he had to ride home soaked. Life hadn’t always been easy.
Illya looked uneasy. “Can we still go out in this kind of rain?”
“Of course. The mall is indoors,” Chu Feng reassured him.
Excited, Illya said, “Let’s go!”
“Sure,” Chu Feng said. “But change first.”
“Got it,” Illya replied, then added, “I’ll shower first.”
After days in the wild, he felt grimy and missed the clean, relaxing showers here.
Chu Feng agreed. “Yeah, I need one too.”
He lifted his arm and sniffed. After all the outdoor trekking, he hadn’t realized until now how bad he smelled.
Illya glanced at him. “Wanna shower together?”
Chu Feng hesitated. “Uh… better not.”
Illya shrugged. “Alright, I’m going then.”
Illya turned and ran off with a thump-thump-thump of footsteps. Watching his back as he left, Chu Feng had the feeling he’d just missed out on a billion-dollar opportunity.
Chu Feng rubbed his forehead. I’m way too upright… seriously, too upright.
Later, when they arrived at the underground garage, Illya looked around and asked curiously, “Did you change cars?”
Chu Feng nodded. “Yeah.”
“This one looks nicer,” Illya said, blinking.
Sometimes Illya’s taste is actually on point, Chu Feng thought. This one’s way more expensive than the old one.
“Let’s go.”
Illya hopped into the car as they headed to the mall. He peered curiously out the window at pedestrians holding umbrellas.
“Is that an umbrella?” he asked.
Chu Feng nodded. “Yep.”
“I think I saw one before… it’s for blocking rain, right? But it wasn’t raining then. Why did someone have one open?”
Chu Feng chuckled. “That time, it was for sun protection.”
“Why block the sun?”
“To avoid getting tanned.”
“You get darker from the sun?” Illya asked, puzzled.
Chu Feng gave him a look. “You don’t?”
“I sunbathe all the time and still stay this pale.”
Chu Feng took a deep breath. This is like those people who drink eight milk teas a day and never gain weight… frustrating!
Admiring the umbrellas, Illya said enviously, “They’re so pretty. Can we take some back with us?”
“Sure,” Chu Feng agreed. They’re not expensive anyway.
“You guys have such nice stuff here. Everything looks so beautiful,” Illya said, tilting his head.
Chu Feng: …
They arrived at a café in the mall. Chu Feng sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the rain fall outside—it felt oddly peaceful.
“I didn’t expect rain to be so beautiful,” Illya said, resting his chin in his hand. He used to hate rainy days.
After a sip of coffee, he commented, “The water’s not great, but the cake is delicious.”
Chu Feng smiled. “Glad you like it.”
Most people come to cafés for coffee; few, like Illya, came just for the cake.
“Want more?”
Illya nodded. Chu Feng went to the counter and ordered five more mini cakes. Meanwhile, Illya looked around and noticed a few girls staring at him and whispering.
“Here, eat up.”
“Great!”
There weren’t many customers—just a few middle school girls doing homework nearby.
“He’s so handsome.”
“And eats so much! Still skinny—so unfair!”
“Never seen someone come to a café just for cake.”
The coffee was over 30 yuan per cup, and the cakes were similarly priced. Most customers just got one drink, maybe one slice of cake—not ten.
“He’s eaten nearly ten already.”
“Must be rich…”
Illya glanced at them, then turned to Chu Feng, confused. “Is cake expensive?”
“Not really. Mou Tai liquor’s much pricier.”
Illya tilted his head. “Sounds like Mou Tai is really expensive. Don’t buy it for them—get something else.”
Chu Feng nodded. “Alright. I’ll try a few other kinds of alcohol.”
Dwarves seem to like strong liquor. Maybe Erguotou would work. That’d save quite a bit of money. Even though I’m not short on cash, still gotta be smart—I have a family to support, after all.
Before long, Illya finished all the cakes. “Let’s go shopping.”
“Alright,” Chu Feng said.
