Magic Farm 137

Chapter 137: “Why Are You So Good, My Lord?”

Picking up trash?

Qi Yu immediately understood what he meant. “Your District 88 is still heating up?”

Before Safety Day, Star Forest was already cold, while District 88’s climate was scorching.

Given the plummeting temperatures in Star Forest, it wasn’t hard to imagine what was happening in the Golden Sand Desert.

Dan Xingyu grimaced. “It’s hot. Feels like the sand is about to melt.”

People had been complaining in the regional channel since early morning, saying it was impossible to go outside in this weather.

On Blue Star, at least mornings were cool when it was hot, or you could go out after sunset when the sun wasn’t so harsh.

But in Survival Game, there was no buffer: day was day, night was night.

You couldn’t go out at night.

And during the day, from the moment the sky brightened at eight, the temperature shot straight to its peak.

Qi Yu thought for a moment. “Let’s eat first. After breakfast, we’ll go pick up trash together.”

A thought popped into his head, but he kept it to himself for now.

The butler hadn’t lied—he’d made a whole table full of different breakfast styles.

While the two of them ate, the butler produced his little notebook.

“My lord, do you mind if I report while you eat?”

Qi Yu had always been focused and silent while eating—a habit from his past life.

But after this morning, his mindset had clearly shifted.

Enjoying good food was a pleasure, something to savor and relax into.

He smiled and said, “Go ahead.”

Dan Xingyu looked at him in surprise.

“Very well, my lord.”

Butler: “First, during my patrol last night, I noticed that the instructions you gave to the alchemical automaton guards were too simple. If you authorize me to manage them, I can optimize their orders and provide them with basic military training.”

Qi Yu paused, bowl in hand.

Dan Xingyu: Wow!

Now, in front of the butler, there were two stunned bumpkins.

The butler… was this authoritative?

Qi Yu immediately said, “No problem!”

The butler nodded and continued with the second point: “Regarding the plants in your territory. According to my database, the quality and rarity of your plants are astonishing. This is mainly thanks to your own abilities, my lord.”

At these words, Dan Xingyu glanced at Qi Yu.

Sure enough, almost instantly, he saw the local’s eyes light up, his delight obvious.

Once you got to know him, you realized he was easy to read.

Qi Yu replied modestly, “Not at all, it’s just luck.”

The butler continued, “However, I have observed areas for improvement. There are a few plants beyond my knowledge, so I can’t advise on those. But for others, my data analysis suggests ways to help them grow better.”

“First, the Seven-Colored Flower. I suggest you praise it every morning and at dusk. If you’re too busy, I or the two farmhouse workers can handle this routine.”

“For the Ancient War Trees, consider planting them together with Black-Striped Moss. They are companion plants and will benefit from each other.”

“I don’t have much more to say about planting, since you are so favored by the Goddess of Nature.”

“As for the territory’s defenses, I have a few suggestions…”

At one point, Qi Yu suddenly lifted his bowl and drank all his porridge, then stared intently at the butler, listening.

Dan Xingyu was much the same. Both of them leaned on their hands, utterly amazed.

The butler was recommending adjustments to the structure and layout of the territory’s offensive plants, and even removing some energy towers.

“Your plants seem to have a low probability of evolving. If so, they need more combat experience and pressure…”

Dan Xingyu muttered, “This isn’t a butler, this is a full-blown military strategist.”

He sighed with envy. “I really want one too.”

From his perspective, this was practically an all-purpose, super-intelligent AI.

Way better than those popular, but dumb, AIs back on Blue Star.

“And finally, the most underestimated member of the territory,” the butler said gravely. “The fully grown trash can.”

Dan Xingyu: ???

What was that?

The butler explained, “You’ve only been having the automatons feed it a single type of trash, which doesn’t tap its full potential.”

“The fully grown trash can is an evolved piece of furniture. It can automatically clean up trash in the territory. I suggest you take it with you when you go exploring, and see if it can find trash to eat on its own.”

He tapped his notes with his pen. “We might also observe its eating preferences, and see what different items it produces after consuming various types of trash.”

After saying this, the butler suddenly found his lord standing right in front of him.

Qi Yu reached out and, with heartfelt sincerity, said, “You’re incredible, Butler. With you, my territory is like a fish returned to water.”

The butler paused, then shook Qi Yu’s hand. “Serving you is my duty.”

After thanking the butler, Qi Yu excitedly went to Dan Xingyu to show off another of the butler’s achievements.

“Last night, the butler put together a beginner’s guide to basic combat techniques.”

He shared his plan: “I want to sell it to players in the region. Most of them have no combat skills at all.”

“I wasn’t sure how to price it, but now I have an idea.”

Qi Yu was animated. “Dan Xingyu, what do you think about having them shovel snow? The snow in Star Forest is really deep now, and it’s hard for most people to get around. They need to clear snow anyway, so I could have them dig extra and bring it all to you.”

He’d never expected to make money from this combat guide.

Selfishly, the more players survived in the region, the more business he could do.

And if he could do some good while protecting his own interests—helping more people survive—it felt rewarding.

He didn’t hear Dan Xingyu’s reply.

The next moment, he was swept into a bear hug, a strong arm thumping him twice on the back.

Then, after a pause, the hand patted him gently.

“I’m really touched,” Dan Xingyu’s voice sounded in his ear, maybe even rubbing his shoulder a bit, mumbling, “Why are you so good, my lord?”

Qi Yu was still stunned, but then he laughed. “We’re good friends, aren’t we?”

He patted Dan Xingyu’s arm. “Let go, I’ll show you something cool.”

Dan Xingyu obediently let go. Qi Yu saw the smile in his eyes and at the corners of his mouth—he was clearly in a great mood.

He followed Qi Yu downstairs, and all the way, Qi Yu could feel his gaze lingering on him.

He looked back in puzzlement, but Dan Xingyu didn’t look away—he just smiled.

Qi Yu chalked it up to his friend being too happy.

He said confidently, “Just wait, there’s something even better coming.”

He led Dan Xingyu to the fields out back and pointed ahead. “Look.”

The plants he’d sown yesterday morning were ripe.

Qi Yu brought him to the fields of strawberries and cherries. “Soybeans, strawberries, and cherries are all edible. I tried them—they’re delicious!”

He wanted to share the treat with his friend. “I was going to make you a fruit platter as a gift, but since you’re here, help yourself.”

Dan Xingyu looked at the trees heavy with fruit and shook his head. “Sometimes I really want to move into Star Forest for good.”

Qi Yu’s ears perked up. “Move into Star Forest? Can players change regions?”

Dan Xingyu picked a bright red strawberry and popped it in his mouth, eyes widening in delight. “So good!”

The rich fragrance and sweet juice were far better than any of those imported, high-end strawberries he’d ever snuck at work.

He laughed, “Just kidding. We’re in different regions, so we can make better use of both areas’ resources.”

He picked a few strawberries and some cherries, tucking them into his backpack as snacks.

“Let’s go. After enjoying ourselves, it’s time to get to work.”

Qi Yu stopped him. “You need to change clothes first.”

Dan Xingyu was wearing only a thin martial artist’s outfit, and outside Star Forest was a world of ice and snow.

Dan Xingyu: “Forgot about that!”

“I’ll go back and change!”

He started to leave, then turned back. “That basic combat guide—have you thought about expanding into District 88?”

“Of course,” Qi Yu agreed readily.

To him, there was no difference between players from District 01 and District 88.

Dan Xingyu: “Great, all the good kids in District 88 will support you as our most respected godfather.”

Qi Yu: ?

But this time, Dan Xingyu was sly—before Qi Yu could object, he’d already slipped through the portal.

Qi Yu immediately set the combat guide to display on his trading page.

The price: 200 kilograms of ice or snow.

Then he entered the regional channel.

[I Love Survival Games: I’ve compiled a basic combat guide for complete beginners. Anyone interested can check it out.]

[Grind King: ??? Wow, thanks, game boss! What’s the trade item? Boss, you need ice and snow?]

[Cockroach Tastes Weird: Damn, got beaten to the punch. @Grind King, so you’re not slow, you just don’t bother replying to most topics, huh?]

[Cockroach Tastes Weird: Waaah, game dad’s doing charity again. Need snow, huh? I didn’t want to go out today, but fine, I’ll change and go dig some for you.]

[Reach for the Moon: @I Love Survival Games, thank you, boss—so generous.]

[Grumpy Bro: The game boss is really something. How many benefits has he given to the whole region by now?]

For once, not a single troll appeared in the entire channel.

Qi Yu’s trading page began to chime with notifications.

Grind King was the first to submit the required ice and snow.

But he didn’t stop there.

[Player “Grind King” purchased 10 copies of “Basic Combat Guide.”]

[Player “Grind King” purchased 40 copies of “Basic Combat Guide.”]

He wasn’t the only one.

[Grind King: Boss, just leave the guide up. I have to clear ice and snow every day anyway. I don’t need it, so I’ll just send it all to you.]

[Grumpy Bro: +1. Not often we get to give back to the boss. Shoveling some snow is the least we can do.]