CH 23

TL: Moonlit

Lush and proud of its furry self, Shu Shuishui had no worries about ending up bald. Not only did it lack such concerns, but it even chatted with Yu Jin about the issue the next day, patting Yu Jin’s head with its little paw to console him. “I know you envy my fur. It’s natural, envy can’t be helped.”

Yu Jin: “…” Trying hard to maintain a smile.

Perched on Yu Jin’s shoulder, Shu Shuishui continued to offer experienced advice. “Have you been shedding recently? That’s why you have these concerns. Young man, get enough sleep and don’t overthink. Otherwise, when you lose it all, you’ll have to rely on hats to keep warm. But it’s normal to experience some shedding during seasonal changes…blah blah blah…”

Yu Jin: “…” Unable to keep smiling, Yu Jin even self-doubted and looked in the mirror to confirm that he still had a good amount of hair. However, in the face of Shu Shuishui’s proud and furry appearance, his argument lost its persuasiveness. Apparently, in Shu Shuishui’s eyes, only humans with furry hair belonged to the shedding species.

It was only the next day that Shu Shuishui learned about the base’s decision to relocate. When the three of them were discussing the destination on the map, Shu Shuishui climbed up and squatted on the map, carefully studying it.

This map had undergone many modifications and was likely drawn after the disaster, so it corresponded more closely to the current situation.

“The map’s information is incomplete. Currently, most of the road sections leading to Area B are damaged, and some of the information about the road sections hasn’t been updated after the destruction. There are also many uninhabited areas along the way, possibly hiding mutated creatures. Roughly estimating, it will take about ten days to reach the vicinity of Area B…” While speaking, Nan Ge used a pen to draw the approximate route on the map.

When passing by Shu Shuishui’s location, Shu Shuishui tried to raise its little paw, allowing the pen marks to pass beneath its feet. Then it followed closely behind Nan Ge’s hand, walking toward the destination on the map.

The final destination was another city, which seemed to have been an inland city rather than a highly developed first-tier city. Shu Shuishui noticed many simplified symbols of mountains and rivers around that city, with no densely populated urban areas nearby.

As it was an internal meeting, only the three of them and a mouse participated. After deciding on the relocation destination, Nan Ge would further communicate with the forces of Fei Luo and Hu Sichen.

In Gu Langu’s base, there were currently only 108 people left. When Shu Shuishui heard this number, its little ears twitched. Gu Langu noticed and wondered why the little mouse was interested in the number 108.

Shu Shuishui raised its paw. “What about me? Can I join the base and make it an even number? How about 109?”

Yu Jin couldn’t help bursting into laughter. “Since when is 109 considered an even number?”

Shu Shuishui crossed its paws, intertwining its fingers and knocking its index fingers together. After a moment, it stopped. “As a single mouse, I can substitute for two people. So, 110 is an even number. It’s non-negotiable!”

Yu Jin burst into laughter, finding the little dormouse on the map adorable. He reached out and pinched Shu Shui’s soft nape, lifting it up and placing it on a small hill not far from Area B. “A water creature that can replace two people deserves this hill. How about that?”

Shu Shuishui shook its fur and carefully inspected the area, even walking around the small hill with small steps. “Really? This place is nice. With dangerous peaks and verdant mountains behind, a gentle slope in front, the Green Dragon on the left, and two mountains facing each other in the east, it has the aura of welcoming purple energy. The central part is slightly concave, giving off a gathering and accumulating vibe. It’s a feng shui treasure land.”

Not to mention Yu Jin and Nan Ge, even Gu Langu, who possessed vast knowledge, felt like he was hearing a bunch of gibberish. Each individual character made sense, but when combined, it became confusing.

Shu Shuishui lifted its right paw and used the divination method it had learned, deducing more specific information. The tip of its thumb’s small claw continuously tapped on the other fingertips.

Yu Jin looked at Shu Shuishui’s actions. “Do your paws feel itchy?”

Shu Shuishui: “…”

Shu Shuishui turned its little body around, ignoring Yu Jin and continuing to deduce. Although it wasn’t skilled in divination, with the help of formations and detailed maps, it could still grasp some opportunities. It had also accompanied Shu Bao in treasure hunting for a long time, so it was quite sensitive to recognizing places that were likely to nurture extraordinary treasures.

“Upper hexagram, purple energy comes from the east and converges internally, ensuring at least a worry-free year. It’s a feng shui treasure land, a feng shui treasure land.” After speaking, Shu Shuishui even subconsciously stroked its whiskers with its other paw. It seemed like it was only a pair of black sunglasses away from being a charlatan.

However, clearly, in the Cang Star System, the profession of a charlatan didn’t exist. In this rapidly developing technological era, metaphysics was merely a matter of probability. The three of them couldn’t grasp the key points of what Shu Shuishui said and could only analyze based on the literal meaning. Shu Shuishui believed that the small hill was a good place; otherwise, why would it be called a treasure land?

Yu Jin helplessly thought that the little dormouse really believed it had obtained a piece of land and was delighted, thinking it had found a treasure. “Great, let’s reserve this ‘treasure land’ for Shu Shuishui. Let’s see how many other places are suitable for habitation.”

Shu Shuishui, who was rarely diligent: “…” It should be noted that while learning various cultivation knowledge from Shu Bao, Shu Shuishui always listened attentively with its little ears, but its small head was always too lazy to think.

Land resources on Cang Zhan Star were indeed precious, but when talking about land resources here, it referred to usable land or land suitable for comfortable living. The so-called “treasure land” mentioned by Shu Shuishui was in a mediocre location. Prior to the Great Destruction, it was just a natural area with few inhabitants. After the Great Destruction, due to the lack of residential structures and it not being a suitable living area, there were no resources to collect. Its only advantage was that it hadn’t experienced major natural disasters. Thinking of this, Yu Jin couldn’t help but interject with a sigh, “Believe it or not, this little hill has indeed survived relatively intact for such a long time. It’s quite rare.”

Shu Shuishui, standing on the map, nodded vigorously. “Hmm, I’ve looked at this place. Although the luck is gradually diminishing, it can still hold up for a year or so.” Shu Shuishui even thought that if possible, this place could be used as the number one planting base and quickly grow a hazelnut tree. Hazelnuts are something you can’t help but crave if you don’t eat them for a day.

The trio naturally didn’t take Shu Shuishui’s words to heart since they couldn’t understand. However, after researching, they found that the available residential areas near the small hill were not far away. Two kilometers outside the small hill, there was a very small town that could possibly serve as a foothold.

“This area happens to be on the border of Area B. B Area is busy preparing for winter supplies, so they probably don’t want to make big moves before winter arrives. We can consider this as the top priority.”

“But, Nan Ge, this small town seems smaller than our current one, and the conditions are probably not as good as here. The three factions combined have about a thousand people, and it seems like it won’t be enough to accommodate everyone.”

“There are other residential areas along the way and nearby. No matter how good the plan is, seeing it with our own eyes is better. Perhaps, before reaching the destination, the three factions might part ways.” By choosing not to confront Area B head-on and traveling with Fei Luo and Hu Sichen, their intention to cooperate diminished by half. If they encountered suitable residential areas along the way, the already fragile cooperative relationship could be terminated at any time. If it weren’t for Gu Langu, they might even resort to double-crossing each other.

Shu Shuishui, standing on the map, raised its little head and looked around as Yu Jin and Nan Ge conversed. It quickly realized that its deductions and divination were not being taken seriously. Shu Shuishui crossed its paws and started knocking its index fingers together again. After a moment, its little ears twitched. It then scurried over and picked up a pen, using it to draw near the small hill.

The three of them were intrigued but found that Shu Shuishui was just drawing a bunch of unfamiliar symbols on the map.

“What is Shu Shuishui doing?” Gu Langu asked.

Shu Shuishui didn’t even raise its head. “I’m drawing a hexagram. Maybe we can use the natural terrain and set up a large protective array. That way, even you non-furry guys won’t have to worry about winter and can hibernate peacefully.” Of course, the key point was being able to hibernate peacefully.

Gu Langu remained silent, choosing to ignore the non-furry issue. Suddenly, he recalled the pots of plants that Shu Shuishui had planted when living alone. Gu Langu realized that what the little mouse said might be true, just like how it could survive alone in a super electromagnetic storm, creating miracles.

Yu Jin reached out and grabbed the pen.

Shu Shuishui, holding the pen and drawing, suddenly lost control of the pen. It stubbornly held onto the pen handle and refused to let go.

“Shu Shuishui, stop messing around. We only have this one map, and it’s limited.” Yu Jin picked up the pen, trying to stop Shu Shuishui from randomly drawing on the map.

Unexpectedly, Shu Shuishui didn’t release its grip on the pen, so the entire dormouse was lifted into the air, hanging from the pen. Its little short legs instinctively kicked a few times before giving up struggling, hanging softly from the pen.

Yu Jin gently shook the pen, and the little dormouse swayed along with the pen.

Author’s note:

Gu Langu continues to tease the mouse: “Teasing the mouse is enjoyable, the more you tease, the more enjoyable it gets~~~”

Shu Shuishui (⊙?⊙): “I never thought that keeping a humanoid pet would come with the risk of going bald. Can I let go now? 〒▽〒”

Gu Langu: (smiling forcefully)

Note: All the metaphysical divination mentioned in the text is purely imaginative. If there are any similarities, congratulations, you’re reading an auspicious passage~~