Famine 73: A New Life

73
A New Life

[Mist World – Day 8 / 6:34 pm / Farm / Current farm completion: 51%]
[7 days until the Main God’s Eye descends]

Outside the farm, the crowd waited in the forest, luggage in hand.
The eligible players gathered in small clusters among the trees; the labor players, organized by Lin Qiushui and Wang Wen, assembled with their belongings in a single place for safety.

With nowhere else to go, Liang Qingshuang and the rest squatted at the very front of the gate, unable to resist peeking in now and then, craning their necks in anticipation.

Creak.

At last, the farm gate slowly swung open.

The multitude instantly rose to their feet.

——

Light was the first thing that met their eyes.

Imagination lanterns, strung in the air, began to glow in sequence from the gate onward.

Although it was near dusk, the metallic lanterns hovered above the darkening grass, pearls of light spilling outward, like twin threads of golden wire outlining the white stone-paved, spacious avenue that unfurled all the way to the starlit magical town beyond.

Liang Qingshuang, dressed in a flowing blue gown, stood at the front, gazing dumbfounded at the dreamlike scene.
For a fleeting moment, he thought he must be dreaming.

“It’s been a long wait,” the farm owner’s calm voice called down from above. “Please, go ahead.”

Gao Zhai sucked in a cold breath and slapped Liang Qingshuang on the shoulder. “Sister Liang, what are you standing there for? Go!”

Behind them, the crowd erupted with a roar, surging forward in a joyous wave!

In just those distracted moments, Liang Qingshuang had already fallen behind. Regaining his wits, he promptly lifted his skirts, and with a flick of his ice skates—whatever enhancement he’d used—he glided down the stone avenue as though skating on ice, streaking ahead!

He moved fast, the chosen one, his skirt trailing a graceful arc in the wind, stealing a prominent place at the front.

Imagination Town.

As on that distant day, words failed one in the face of such joy and surprise.
The wind carried the scent of grass, and as she ran through the alleys and lanes of the little town, Liang Qingshuang hardly dared breathe.

Cottages were topped with sparkling starry roofs, blue blossoms crawled along fences, flagstone paths lay smooth and clean, and the air hung heavy with the scent of moist, steaming food. The sounds of cheering and little girls’ shrieks of delight rose and fell behind her.

“So pretty!” Li Yutong cried, clutching Li Cui’e’s hand. “Mama, look, look! That flower is moving!”

Li Xuan walked into a pale green shop, running his hands over the empty, delicate shelves with reluctant awe. “Wow, this shop is beautiful… this would be perfect for my medicines. I want this one, I’m keeping it just like this!”

Yun Shengsheng, lying on Yun Zhong’s back, was nearly in tears. “It’s so pretty! So pretty, big brother… we’ll never have to live in tents again!”

“How did the Farm Owner manage to make all of this appear in just one afternoon?!”
“Incredible! Thank you, Farm Owner! Thank you so much!”

“We’re moving to a new home!”

Everyone’s voices echoed with vigor and laughter, a chorus of joy filling the air.
Was this really the apocalypse? Liang Qingshuang felt in a daze.

The mercenaries nearby couldn’t hide their true nature for long, their boisterous voices rough and jubilant, nearly dissolving into chaos.
“Come on!” Gao Zhai cheered. “Brothers, let’s grab our houses!”

Laughter rang out.

In the blink of an eye, people crisscrossed the lanes and alleys, the entire place abuzz with vitality.

Liang Qingshuang quickly set her sights on a particular house.

It was a rare white-roofed cottage, a layer of crystalline frost glittering on the eaves, dazzlingly beautiful. Perhaps it was just one of the visual touches from Imagination World. Many people were drawn to the lovely building and came to investigate. But the frosty chill kept them lingering only at the threshold, ultimately unwilling to head inside.

Liang Qingshuang’s fingertips trembled as she gently stroked the wooden wall.
Exquisite, beautiful, with even silvery luminous patterns painted across it; a delicate ice lantern hung above the door, fragments of light scattering at her feet.

“Am I… am I really going to live here from now on?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, as if afraid to shatter the spell.

Gao Zhai came over for a look and immediately sneezed.
“Achoo! It’s freezing. Besides you—someone who wears dresses in ice and snow—who else would want this place?”

Gao Zhai grinned, slapping Liang Qingshuang’s back. “It’s yours! Go on!”

Liang Qingshuang stumbled and stepped inside.
It was a two-story wooden cottage, with two bedrooms and a living room. The living and dining rooms were open-plan, with a pale blue rug on the floor—no fireplace, a touch bare. Upstairs, the main bedroom boasted a giant window that opened onto a snowy vista.

Whatever magic made it so, from inside it appeared a sparkling white snowscape, with glittering flakes drifting gently.

Liang Qingshuang caressed the window frame, falling more in love with the house the longer she looked.

This house was perfect, with extra bedrooms—perhaps she’d turn them into a closet for her many dresses.

She pictured fitting the wooden bed with soft bedding, arranging rocking chairs by the window, a little table… when Gao Zhai and the others visited—

Liang Qingshuang had lost her entire seven-year collection, and the living room seemed too empty now; it’d be just right to add a display cabinet for her things.

From today on,
Life would get better and better.

“Sister Liang!”
Gao Zhai’s voice wafted up from below.

Liang Qingshuang pushed open the window, reality flooding back; Gao Zhai stood waving to her in the garden.

“You sure about this one?” Gao Zhai called up with a laugh.
“We all talked it over – these houses in this neighborhood are great! Close to the gate, good for questing. Yours is so obvious—if you’re set, we’ll use your place as the hub, settle nearby, and look after each other.”

Gao Zhai was sturdy and muscular, bare-armed beneath his eyepatch, steaming with residual warmth after a long run. Lightened, vigorous, brilliant, and unrestrained.

If not for the Farm Owner, Gao Zhai would already be dead.
The thought pricked sharply at Liang Qingshuang.

Seeing her silent, Gao Zhai bellowed again, “Hey—getting senile in your old age?”

So reckless and full of life.

“Idiot, did your bad eye infect your brain?”
Liang Qingshuang couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’m taking this one—go tell them!”

Across the little town, countless stories played out just the same.
Families moved into new homes, their loved ones’ hands entwined, planning the days to come.

Those skilled at carpentry and furniture-making would be in great demand. Those quick-witted sensed that busy days lay ahead, and were already off to queue with the craftsmen.
The carpenters had only just picked their homes and shops when customers flocked in, filling them with laughter and chaos. Wu Jing, the bladesmith, stood in the plaza with hands on his hips, barking at the crowd to form a line and write their orders down.

As life grew richer, people put more value in small things that brought comfort. The status of labor players was steadily on the rise.

The first phase was enough for five thousand, while the farm’s current population barely topped a thousand. Anyone could have their pick of dwelling style, making disputes unnecessary.

Everyone was busy moving, choosing houses, lighting lamps in their new homes.

A scattering of lights gradually illuminated the entire town.

Behind every shining lamp, a family.

Si Zhiyan hovered overhead, his expression gentle as he gazed down at the thousand points of light he had painstakingly gathered.
Was this not the very scene the High Priest had dreamed of in his lifetime—the ideal made real?

By the time everyone had settled, it was already late.

In the new town hall, Liang Qingshuang and Gao Zhai sat with Li Cui’e, Wu Jing, and Li Xuan.

It was a brand-new meeting room, bright and clean, with tall French windows giving onto the plaza and fountain beyond.

Gao Zhai passed out a few packs of Main God Mall tobacco, grinning:
“Sorry for dropping such a big problem on everyone the minute we got here.”

Wu Jing took the smoke, naturally clapping his shoulder. “Don’t mention it. We’re all players saved by the Farm Owner—brothers and sisters, all of us.”

“We all rely on the Farm Owner, so we’re just passing on a word of thanks.”

Li Cui’e lit her own, smiling. “Don’t worry, Leader Gao. There’s not much backstabbing here—nobody understands the pain of infighting like we do.”
She took a deep drag, raising her head. “That said, I’d heard Leader Nie mention the Spring Grass Mercenaries: a group of real stand-ups. But wasn’t your leader… surnamed Chen?”

“Hell, he’s long dead! That’s a long story—yeah, we’ve tasted the bitterness of internal strife plenty. Luckily the Farm Owner is here for us…”
Gao Zhai spent the time reporting, giving thanks, and offering all the courtesy he could muster, a bit clumsy but sincere.

Usually, it had been Chen Chunsheng who handled all dealings with outsiders. He was smooth, diplomatic, adept at playing the field, maintaining many connections across all settlements.

Now that Chen was gone, a mess had been left behind for Gao Zhai and Liang Qingshuang.

Managing a mercenary group, negotiating with enemies, maintaining business partners, keeping accounts and collecting debts—these were all arts of their own.

Neither of them was a natural at it, but they threw themselves in and began learning from scratch.

It was obvious that Gao Zhai didn’t quite fit the part, occasionally blurting out wild things. Fortunately, Li Cui’e and Wu Jing were good-humored, never letting the conversation flag, so the atmosphere was lively and happy.

Liang Qingshuang watched as Gao Zhai squirmed uncomfortably, knowing he had done his best.
Unknowingly, her expression softened.

How wonderful.

It didn’t matter that Chen Chunsheng was dead, or that they’d lost all their gear and supplies.
As long as the people themselves were alright, as long as the brothers remained, the Spring Grass Mercenaries could always rise again.

All thanks to the Farm Owner.
There was so much life left to come.

…………
……

At Imagination Town, players busied themselves carrying belongings.
Moving house was no small task—they ran themselves sweaty with the work.

But once fully settled,
A new life would begin.

Si Zhiyan watched for a while, then floated up again, circling the farm from above.

[Side Quest – The Witch’s Pact: Collect 5,000 smiles in the Tenman Shrine Hot Spring Festival Hall. Current progress: 423/5,000]
[Checkpoint: Reach 50% progress before the Eye’s retaliation. Otherwise, the quest fails.]

Two thousand more smiles—the number was daunting.
Time was tight. Si Zhiyan needed to find a place to set up the Hot Spring Festival Hall as soon as possible.