Famine 217: Goal Achieved

By the time the bloody scent and lingering traces of intimacy had faded from the room, it was already dawn of the next day.

Si Zhiyan woke amid a flood of sunlight, feeling both tired and deeply satisfied.

With his body restored once again, his flesh tight and lean, he stared into the light for a while, able to see the veins pulsing beneath his thin, pale skin.

He had experienced this too many times to count; he was almost used to it by now. His body ached as if it had been taken apart and put back together, yet the pain never felt as though it reached the bones. All he needed was a night’s rest to recover.

Si Zhiyan looked down at his own hands, and an unbidden thought rose in his mind—

He seemed to have grown stronger than before.

Beneath that pale, slender flesh, there was a strength that increased with each passing day.

Bian Xu desired him, but with each act of feeding, each return of strength, they were molding each other. The two of them had long since merged, impossible to part.

To nurture Bian Xu was no burden for Si Zhiyan. The frequent, repeated cycles of devouring only brought them closer to true fusion. It seemed this was affecting his body in some way, but whatever that influence was, it was not necessarily a bad thing.

In the world they lived in, all the children of the Main God cast into the gameworld exerted influence on their own, tugging at the fate of the whole world. At most, they would choose avatars, as Tianmai had done.

Never before had anyone like Si Zhiyan existed—someone who, far from domineering, had instead fed himself to native life.

There was no precedent to follow. This path could only be walked by themselves.

Bian Xu kept watch by his side, eyes shining as he gazed at him, calling softly, “Director.”

Si Zhiyan sat up and patted his head.

He was worth it.

Lazily, Si Zhiyan stretched as he glanced around, reaching absentmindedly for the bedside.

As always, there on the nightstand, lay a cup of freshly brewed black tea. It was laced with milk and a touch of sugar, gently steaming in the morning air—the exact sweetness Si Zhiyan preferred.

Every morning, Si Zhiyan had grown accustomed to having a tea or coffee to start his day before work; but when fatigue set in, he would often forgo it. He didn’t care for breakfast, and besides, he rarely rose early—after some work, it would already be time for lunch.

But Bian Xu was different.

Every day, Bian Xu would rise half an hour earlier to prepare breakfast for Si Zhiyan. There was always a choice of tea or coffee; the pantry held both soymilk and milk. Breakfasts alternated between sweet and savory, presenting endless variety—never missing a single day.

Si Zhiyan would eat when he could; if not, Bian Xu never minded, and nothing would go to waste. He would simply take a small plate for himself, sit nearby, dangle his legs, and chat while eating at leisure.

It was a caring that came with no sense of burden.

All Si Zhiyan had to do was sleep until he woke naturally; with a lift of the hand, he would find the hot breakfast Bian Xu had prepared.

A morning both warm and delicious, filled with the scent of butter.

Sometimes, Si Zhiyan would half-dream, half-wake, wondering if he hadn’t become spoiled.

They hadn’t truly been living together long, but if he were made to return to those days before Bian Xu… even the thought of it felt unbearable.

But today, something seemed different.

Beside the black tea was an exquisitely beautiful porcelain plate, adorned with painted flowers, ornate and lovely.

The dessert was two thick slices of cheese and cloudlike baked toast, nestled against the blossom on the plate. Nearby were several dainty porcelain dishes filled with peanut butter, hazelnut chocolate spread, and strawberry jam.
If he preferred savory, there were also two freshly baked tapas: one topped with slices of ham and mounds of butter-seared mushrooms, the other spread with seasoned avocado puree and garnished with peppered shrimp.

On the table, a vase of fresh flowers stood—arranged with the skill of a professional, even if it was black and white, the composition was striking and elegantly refined.

Si Zhiyan picked up a slice of toast, hesitated for a moment, and chose the hazelnut chocolate. As he spread it, he glanced more than once at the flowers, sitting up. “They look great. What’s with all this ceremony today?”

“It wasn’t me.”

Bian Xu rested his chin on his hands and shook his head.

“Ever since it learned I made breakfast every morning, these things have just shown up on the kitchen table… even the cups are always warmed now.”

Si Zhiyan fell silent.

After a moment, he sighed softly and patted the bed curtain. “Thank you.”

Bian Xu nodded gravely, and added, “But it does have a fawning face.”

…

One that truly could not be helped.

After the first night’s trade concluded, the [Amusement Park] underwent a dramatic change in its attitude toward both Si Zhiyan and Bian Xu.

By the second night, with over 70,000 guests’ full satisfaction achieved, the entire [Amusement Park] blossomed with a passion toward them that bordered on unbelievable…

First, every time Si Zhiyan and Bian Xu stepped into the castle, the Park would erupt in drums and fanfare; bands would play, festive lanterns and colorful flags would flutter—it was like welcoming the very hands that fed it.

This jubilant welcome continued all the way until Si Zhiyan entered his bedroom and did not stop.

Even the chairs on the terrace had been specially warmed.

Second, whatever need Si Zhiyan expressed, [Amusement Park] would never refuse.

Suppress the abilities of monsters entering the park and ban the use of attack skills—concerned it might be impossible?
No problem, whatever you say!

Stagger visitor entry, release monsters to Candy Town in groups to avoid crowding?
No problem, as you wish!

Build more entrances and exits to facilitate single-direction sightseeing and ease crowd flow?
No problem! Just tell us where you want the doors, and we’ll put them there!

—Though the voice on the phone remained a deadpan mechanical monotone, its sycophantic attitude was so evident one could almost picture a bootlicker’s grin…

Even though it had no mouth, nor any face.

Seizing the timing, Si Zhiyan conferred with the [Amusement Park], asking if one more street could be opened in town to expand the food arcade and allow more farm stalls.

At first, [Amusement Park] hung up the call.

Si Zhiyan and Bian Xu exchanged looks, unsure what it meant. They shrugged.

Perhaps, for the Park, its sovereignty was paramount, something even Si Zhiyan could not overstep.

It was their first time dealing with a living, sentient park; lacking experience, this was only to be expected.

…

The next day.

Si Zhiyan stood at the entrance to Candy Town, looking up.

Before him, the entire town had been freshly painted, completely renewed. Every broken board was mended, every trace of blood scrubbed clean—even the skulls atop the gate shone so bright that a fly would slip right off.

The stone paths reached out in every direction, nearly a hundred shops opening their long-locked doors to reveal neat, empty interiors.

Every storefront now boasted an orderly queue area, complete with maps and spots for hanging shop signs.

Even the dusty pebbles now gleamed smoother than mirrors.

Bian Xu stroked the skull atop the gate in awe, commenting objectively, “This is true talent.”

Si Zhiyan said nothing, quietly covering his face.

…

Guest satisfaction!
Visitor count!

Both were soaring at a breakneck pace!!

On the other end of the phone, the mechanical voice of the inanimate amusement park fairly seemed to be sprouting flowers.

Perhaps it was Si Zhiyan’s imagination, but how was it that he, against all expectation, sensed the amusement park was wagging its tail like a propeller…

He almost missed how murderously hostile it had been at the start—maybe it could try regaining some of that.

…

Initially, monsters gathered at the Amusement Park because [Amusement Park] exerted an abnormally powerful force of attraction.

Like a bug lamp shining through the night, it forcibly drew in those wandering the darkness.

One by one, invitations invisible to the ordinary eye fluttered down—monsters touched by them had no option to refuse.

Limping and staggering, they made their way toward the park.

Even after night upon hopeless night, they would still return, pacing the mottled stone paths of the park.

No other reason. There simply was nowhere else for them to go.

Listless, endlessly wandering, killing, enslaved by instinct—repeating the same stagnant cycle, day after day, as though trapped in stagnant water.

For a very long time, the monsters simply existed like this in the empty, pale city.

Until one day, a brilliantly colored little town suddenly appeared in their lives.

A park no different, perhaps, than any other—except that now, everything had changed.

Colorful, vibrant neon signs flared in the monochrome city, dishes both beautiful and tempting in endless variety: banana boats… steaming oden… takoyaki covered with little gnome hats…

No one knew when it started, but, invitation or not, the monsters began to journey on their own.

One careful step at a time, they ventured toward the little town.

The False Man sat by a flower bed, munching on a bowl of Oasis Lake Oden, wagging his neck so hard it nearly snapped.

The Drowned Ghost lay by the pool, sucking down platter after platter of deep-sea grilled squid, bubbling away contentedly.

Blood-soaked researchers clustered together in groups, cranberry blood-bag syrup clenched in their teeth as they wandered the streets…

…

Not far from the Amusement Park spread the city’s main transit avenue.

A thoroughfare stretching everywhere, filled with hidden dangers and prowled by high-level monsters—a vital artery, always impossible to avoid when heading anywhere else.

One night, a group of merchant players—pressed for time—had to journey by night, passing through a spot called [Beheaded Corner], home to a pair of ghostly lovers, both exceedingly dangerous A-grade monsters.

The female escort in charge checked the time and said, “Boss, tonight, we’ll have to take Beheaded Couple’s turf. If it comes to a fight, we may lose a few sisters to them.”

The woman in front gulped an energy drink, wiped her blade, and spoke with iron resolve: “Do it!”

“Victory or death! Every time we come this way, they hunt us down. Hiding can’t solve it forever.”

“Tonight, we’re prepared. Either our convoy’s wiped out, or we finish them for good!”

“Yes!!” her sisters chorused as one.

But fully armed and on high alert as they crept through [Beheaded Corner], they found no sign of the expected slaughter.

Instead, from the usual haunt of the monsters came the faintest rustling.

The leader hefted her blade, tiptoeing carefully to peek around the corner.

On a bench in the distance, the curly-haired woman’s head was resting against the headless, muscular man, alternating between high-pitched screams and sheer delight as she devoured a banana boat. The same shrill, deadly voice that once terrorized so many now screeched at the top of its lungs:

[Husband!! Delicious!! Super delicious! Bloody Pirate Ship flavor is the best in the world!!!]

Her lover gently fussed over her, holding her bowl with all the patience he afforded killing for her: [Yes.]

[You have to eat too!!]
[I have no mouth.]

[Well!! I don’t care!! Delicious!! It’s so delicious, so delicious, so delicious…]
[I’ll buy you more tomorrow.]

[…]

The dim streetlight flickered over them, casting a blurred chiaroscuro glow.

“….”

The leader watched for a moment, then quietly withdrew, gripping her blade and waving a silent signal.

The convoy melted into silence, following at her back.

Rolling wheels rumbled past the avenue, right by the bench under the streetlight.

Amid taut tension, their eyes met.

The ghostly couple looked up briefly at them, swiftly lost interest, and ducked back down to their banana boat.
Beside them were three or four bags filled with other snacks—fried squid, pickled duck leg…

That street corner, once soaked in a stench of carnage, now held nothing but the rich aroma of banana boats.

The players made it through one of the city’s most notorious dangers wholly unscathed.

Only after traveling a fair distance did their tense shoulders ease; someone wiped a cold sweat.

“Boss! We—we made it!”
“Incredible! Zero casualties!”

Seeing the confusion and excitement of her sisters, the boss let out a breath, turned back to the shadowed corner under the streetlamp, and shook her head:

“From now on… this trade route should be much easier.”

Not just for this caravan—many farm players venturing out at night began, one after another, to notice something.

The area radiating outward from [Amusement Park] seemed to have abruptly grown much safer.

Player casualty rates were quietly, but significantly, dropping.

…………
……

Day after day passed.

At last, on a certain morning, Si Zhiyan heard a familiar voice—

[Ding! Amusement Park visitor satisfaction has reached 300,000!]

[Ding! This black hole crystal has received recognition from [Urban Legends—Invitation Forever Undelivered]!]

[Scanning in progress…]

[World shard recognition: 100%]
[Harmonic resonance triggered!]

[[Seed of Famine—Amusement Park Invitation (Embryonic Edition)] has been deposited in your warehouse!]