CH 69

Thank you to SheungMun for the ko-fi~

While Gu Langu knew, the starlight in his own eyes was Shu Shuishui. A magical coincidence entered his life, a little fellow who, from a furry bundle, managed to evoke various desires that Gu Langu had forgotten, reviving thoughts in his cooling soul.

Starting from the simplest desire to feel the touch of fur, progressing to wanting to taste the delicious food prepared by the hardworking little mouse, and then stumbling upon the unexpected fact that the mouse could transform into a human, suddenly Gu Langu wanted more. He realized he had a new emotion called greed, though it wasn’t a bad feeling.

With greed in his heart, Gu Langu lay there for a moment. However, in the deep of the night, he quietly slipped out of the tent and, as usual, found an open space to activate the simulation cabin. He continued with his persistent endeavor to improve his landing space.

Since he had already promised to accompany Shu Shuishui in hibernation, Gu Langu had to make the most of his time to transform his landing space. He hoped that the next time he entered the simulation, his landing space wouldn’t be a void, so boring and frightening.

As always, he exhausted all his mental energy, the central part of his brain sending out constant warnings. Only then did Gu Langu stop his mental exertion. He impatiently looked around but found nothing except endless darkness. No other colors, not even a hazelnut or a blade of grass.

Gu Langu paused and looked at his palm. Could it be that he was no longer human? Was he truly an anomaly? Otherwise, why couldn’t he see even a hint of color that should be there?

Unexplainably, a panic surged in Gu Langu’s heart, along with a great sense of injustice. During the migration process, he almost depleted his mental energy every day. Fortunately, he had no sense of pain now, otherwise, his brain operating at full capacity could have driven him mad.

Days of attempts passed by, yet there was no progress. Gu Langu didn’t know where the root of the problem lay. He also didn’t know if, with time, Shu Shuishui would find his empty heart repulsive, or if he wouldn’t believe any of his emotions at all. After all, his inner world was a void.

Perhaps these days of being spoiled by Shu Shuishui had caused this unexpected feeling of grievance in Gu Langu. He really wished Shu Shuishui would pat his head and tell him that everything was alright.

When Gu Langu’s mental energy couldn’t even sustain the login interface, he was forcefully logged out.

Lying in the simulation cabin, Gu Langu took quite a while before he opened the simulator. Slowly, he folded the simulator and returned to the tent.

These negative emotions were never supposed to appear in Gu Langu. In his intricate process of transformation, such negative emotions were designed to be anomalies akin to viruses. Once detected, his brain would forcibly suppress them, maintaining the flawless operation of this killing machine.

When people created Gu Langu, they never intended to restore these emotions. Hence, these suddenly awakened negative emotions were a mystery to Gu Langu, unaware of where to place them.

It wasn’t just Gu Langu; anyone involved in the transformation project didn’t know where these emotions would fit. After all, they never anticipated that this killing machine would live to leave the battlefield one day.

Gu Langu, exuding negative energy, walked to the tent. Only then did all the negative emotions dissipate. Gu Langu remained the same: his face devoid of expressions, his eyes lacking emotions.

Stepping into the tent, Gu Langu’s gaze immediately fell on the sleeping bag. Shu Shuishui was still sleeping soundly within, his warm brown hair still striking even in the dim light.

Gu Langu removed his coat and gently slipped into the sleeping bag, not disturbing Shu Shuishui in the slightest.

However, given Shu Shuishui’s quality of sleep, he probably wouldn’t wake up until he thought it was time, even if the sky was falling.

Gu Langu reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from Shu Shuishui’s forehead. “Shui Shui…”

He didn’t know what he wanted to say – whether he was questioning if Shu Shuishui would find fault in him or seeking comfort from him. In the end, Gu Langu softly murmured the words “Shui Shui.”

He thought he wouldn’t get a response. But after a brief silence, he heard Shu Shuishui’s mumbled sleep talk. Alongside it came his usual gesture of patting his head for comfort.

“Gu Gu, good Gu Gu, sleep…” Only this time, the ones patting his head were not short little paws, but a pair of slender hands.

Having received the comforting touch he longed for, Gu Langu curled his lips. His suppressed negative emotions seemed to shrink into some unknown corner.

Gu Langu reached out and caught Shu Shuishui’s hand as he tried to withdraw it. Though Shu Shuishui hadn’t grown to the height of 1.8 meters as he wished, Gu Langu felt that at least these hands would undoubtedly satisfy him – long, graceful fingers and a perfect hand shape. For a moment, Gu Langu seemed to understand why Shu Shuishui had a fondness for people with attractive hands.

As he held Shu Shuishui’s hand in his palm, Gu Langu’s hand was much broader and thicker. However, the fit was extraordinary.

Holding Shu Shuishui’s hand like that, Gu Langu finally drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Shu Shuishui felt a bit breathless. It was as if a heavy quilt was pressed against him. He used all four of his paws to push it away, but his efforts were in vain. Reluctantly, he opened his eyes.

Blinking, Shu Shuishui didn’t see the top of the tent; instead, he saw flesh color and fingertips. He quickly realized that what covered him wasn’t a blanket but Gu Langu’s hand.

The furry little bundle poked its small head out from between the fingers and found that Gu Langu was still asleep. Rarely did Gu Langu sleep in, so Shu Shuishui didn’t want to disturb him and withdrew his little head.

Shu Shuishui was a bit puzzled. How did he, who had been snuggled under the warm covers last night, end up sleeping in the palm of Gu Langu’s hand? Was he mistaken for a hand warmer by Gu Gu?

The space under Gu Langu’s palm was limited after all. Fortunately, Gu Langu had gone to sleep with his fingers spread open, allowing Shu Shuishui to adjust his position. He poked his little head out from between his fingers and stretched his tiny body in all directions for comfort. After finding a comfortable position, Shu Shuishui fell back asleep, enjoying an extended nap.

It wasn’t until the day was bright, and the distant hustle and bustle gradually emerged with the sunlight, that Shu Shuishui and Gu Langu emerged from the tent.

It was a rare occasion for the big and small ones to wake up so late, but after reaching the valley, they had plenty of time for rest. The two leisurely left the tent, then went to fetch water and freshen up. As usual, Shu Shuishui used his small cup to scoop water into Gu Langu’s cup, then held his cup and squatted next to him while brushing his teeth, in sync.

After getting ready, and having breakfast, Shu Shuishui started his day’s work. Before tending to the communication guarding array, he made a wooden sign with Gu Langu. They placed it by the lake as a reminder.

“The ice is melting. Please be aware of the detour,” Yu Jin read the words on the sign aloud. “Shui Shui, isn’t this warning a bit early? It’s far from next summer, and even the freezing season hasn’t arrived yet. By the time the freezing season comes, the lake surface will be harder than rock.”

Shu Shuishui had already put on his yellow construction cap. He adjusted it and was about to head to the first location. “Mao Jin, don’t go playing on the lake. In less than three days, the lake water should have thawed.”

First, Yu Jin was speechless at Shu Shuishui’s tone as if he were coaxing a child. Then he was baffled by his statement. What did he mean by the lake water thawing in less than three days? “Are you serious, Shui Shui?”

Shu Shuishui scratched his little chin. “It should be about right.” Shu Shuishui hadn’t attempted to set up such a large guarding array before. After all, he used to be a dormouse, and even during the time he traveled with Shu Bao around the world, there were only two mice. How big could their area possibly be?

Shu Shuishui couldn’t accurately predict when the lake water would thaw, but he felt that three days should be close enough. After the guarding array was activated, the temperature in the valley would gradually warm up. The automatic regulation would create a comfortable climate that not only resisted extreme cold but also allowed for cultivation. In simple terms, it was an enlarged micro-farm.

Of course, the others present couldn’t even fathom such concepts at the moment. The notion of a micro-farm alone was enough to astonish them. Who could dare to imagine that Shu Shuishui would transform an entire valley?

Yu Jin’s intense curiosity had been piqued. If it weren’t for the many tasks upon arriving in the valley, he would have wanted to spend the whole day shadowing Shu Shuishui.

Fortunately, Yu Jin was called away by Nan Ge to work, leaving Gu Langu to keep Shu Shuishui company.

Humming a tune, the little dormouse arrived at the position of the core array eye. While other positions could wait, the array eye was the heart of the entire guarding array. It connected all the other spirit stones and was crucial.

The task of communication and guidance consumed more time and energy than Shu Shuishui had anticipated. If not for his hundreds of years of cultivation, he believed his spiritual power wouldn’t have been sufficient to support the communication of the entire guarding array.

The initially enthusiastic little dormouse quickly transformed into a limp bundle. Gu Langu felt sorry for it and wanted to lift the bundle from the ground, but he hesitated due to Shu Shuishui’s previous instructions.

Once again, Gu Langu felt that he should have been firm in maintaining their privacy. This way, the little mouse wouldn’t have to go through such exhaustion.

After completing the communication of another line, the little dormouse sat down on the ground. Gu Langu swiftly extended his hand, preventing Shu Shuishui from sitting on the cold ground. He ended up sitting in Gu Langu’s palm.

Gu Langu held Shu Shuishui. “Shui Shui, let’s stop for now. We can continue tomorrow.”

Shu Shuishui shook his head. “I’m fine. The array needs to be communicated quickly. If the spiritual power remains unbalanced for too long, the array might collapse, rendering the spirit stones integrated into it useless.”

Despite considering himself quite a well-off dormouse, Shu Shuishui still hesitated about these ninety-nine top-grade spirit stones. Even in the cultivation world, ninety-nine top-grade spirit stones were a considerable sum.

“Can I help you, Shui Shui?” Gu Langu really didn’t want Shu Shuishui to exhaust himself like this. The little mouse should be nestled comfortably in its nest, hibernating.

Shu Shuishui flicked his tiny ear. “Oh, right, Gu Gu can feel spiritual energy now. Can you feel the positions of the spirit stones?”

Purified spirit stones were different from energy stones; they could be sensed and communicated through spiritual energy. This ability was also crucial when searching for rare materials. Of course, each person’s aptitude was different, resulting in varying degrees of sensitivity.

“Yes.” These spirit stones were buried with Gu Langu yesterday. Knowing their specific positions made sensing them much more efficient.

“That’s great! So, let’s do it like this…” Shu Shuishui was delighted that Gu Langu could help and wanted to use this opportunity to familiarize him with controlling spiritual energy. He released his own spiritual energy and attempted to merge it with Gu Langu’s body, helping his spiritual energy circulate for two cycles, allowing him to experience the process.

This experience was unfamiliar for both Shu Shuishui and Gu Langu. Shu Shuishui had never guided someone else’s spiritual energy before. He initially thought it might take some time, but to his surprise, he didn’t sense even a hint of resistance from Gu Langu’s body. He didn’t even exhibit an instinctual defense. His energy flowed smoothly and unobstructed.

It was as if, in Gu Langu’s mental world, Shu Shuishui had his absolute freedom and trust.

As Shu Shuishui’s spiritual energy merged into Gu Langu’s body, his body couldn’t help but tremble slightly, and his eyes lit up suddenly. He could feel it! A genuine, tangible feeling!

This sensation was quite mystical. He could vividly feel Shu Shuishui’s presence and follow his movements.

The human and the dormouse were quietly savoring each other’s presence, communicating effortlessly through spiritual and mental energy.

Although Gu Langu’s spiritual energy was currently weak, his powerful mental energy was unparalleled, even compared to Shu Shuishui. With his abundant spiritual energy complementing his strength, their work efficiency soared.

Before noon, they had already completed over half of the task. During a brief break, Shu Shuishui suddenly remembered that Xie Feng had also begun cultivating his qi. “Where’s Xiao Feng Feng? I’ll teach him too.”

“Shui Shui, rest here. I’ll go find him.” Gu Langu gave his fur a ruffle and then went to find Xie Feng.

Soon, Gu Langu had fetched Xie Feng from the RV and carried him to a distant spot. He briefly explained how to sense the positions of the spirit stones and communicate with them using spiritual energy. Afterward, he returned to Shu Shuishui’s side with brisk steps.

Xie Feng, who had been carried out, stood baffled in place. He hadn’t understood a word of what Gu Langu had just said. However, as he looked at Shu Shuishui not far away, he gritted his teeth. Since it was Shui Shui who asked, he had to understand even if he didn’t really get it.

“Why isn’t Xiao Feng Feng coming over?” Shu Shuishui stood on his tiptoes, looking toward Xie Feng’s location.

“His talent is quite high, and he gains more from exploring on his own.” Gu Langu’s explanation was convincing. After all, aside from himself, Xie Feng was the only one who could sense spiritual energy.

While Gu Langu had a foundation in consuming energy stones before, Xie Feng had started from scratch and managed to sense spiritual energy using his flesh. Not only in the Cang Zhan Star, but even in the cultivation world, Xie Feng was undoubtedly a prodigy of exceptional talent.

However, this prodigy was currently unappreciated by anyone and could only miserably explore and practice on his own. Shu Shuishui wasn’t a typical practitioner from the orthodox cultivation world either. Plus, his first acquaintance in the realm of cultivation was the genius, Shu Bao. So, in Shu Shuishui’s eyes, Xie Feng was quite good, Gu Langu was the best, and the others, well, they all fell under the category of dullness.

Gu Langu and Shu Shuishui continued to communicate with the formation happily. Gradually, Gu Langu no longer simply followed Shu Shuishui. He also learned to control his spiritual and mental energy on his own, guiding the spiritual energy to connect with the spirit stones.

At this moment, Gu Langu realized that his nightly practice of exhausting his mental energy hadn’t been without benefits. He had become more proficient in controlling his mental energy, and even his spiritual energy had grown significantly without his noticing.

With Shu Shuishui’s personal guidance today, Gu Langu finally gained a deep understanding of the fundamentals of cultivation. The circulation of spiritual energy within his body became as natural as breathing, rather than being a deliberate effort.

“I’ve got it! I’ve got it!” As the completion of the protective formation drew near, excited voices came from afar, belonging to Xie Feng.

Shu Shuishui looked over and saw Xie Feng successfully connecting a line. Shu Shuishui was genuinely surprised this time. “Gu Gu, look! Xiao Feng Feng has really figured it out on his own. It seems like he’s truly a genius. But don’t get discouraged, Gu Gu. You’re making rapid progress too!”

Gu Langu: “…” Why didn’t he throw Xie Feng even farther away earlier?

Gu Langu rubbed his head twice to calm himself down from being frustrated. So what if he was a genius? He had a mouse accompanying him, and today he had communicated with Shu Shuishui for so long. Looking at it this way, being a bit slower had its benefits too.

Having learned the art of self-comfort, Gu Langu nodded. “It seems we don’t need to worry about Xie Feng anymore. Let’s continue.” Shu Shuishui had already finished carving the formation patterns, and there was no need to be concerned about Xie Feng’s spiritual energy running amok.

Feeling that he had opened the door to a new world, Xie Feng dedicated all his attention to his practice after realizing he could control the spiritual energy within him. Thus, at lunchtime, Yu Jin was surprised to find that the food enthusiast Xie Feng wasn’t eating, conducting experiments in the RV, or anywhere near there. Instead, he was admiring the scenery near the icy lake.

Indeed, from a distance, Xie Feng was practically standing still. What else could he be doing other than admiring the view?

Not only Xie Feng but also Shu Shuishui and Gu Langu near the western forest in the valley seemed to be engaged in some activity.

Just as Yu Jin was about to call everyone to eat, the entire valley suddenly lit up as if a powerful lightning bolt had streaked across the sky, briefly illuminating the valley even in broad daylight.

Everyone in the valley was stunned by this sudden burst of brightness. They stopped what they were doing and instinctively looked up at the sky.

Above the valley, there seemed to be a faint and elusive membrane enveloping the sky. For a moment, it felt like something had changed in the surroundings.

“What’s going on? What is that?”

“Doesn’t it look like a huge glass cover?”

“It’s gone, disappeared, but it suddenly feels warmer.”

“Do you feel that, in the miniature farm, the wind from outside still reaches us, but it’s become gentler inside the miniature farm?”

“It can’t be what I’m thinking, it’s impossible, too crazy!”

“I saw Shu Shuishui and Gu Langu burying spirit stones all over the valley yesterday, so it must be…”

“It’s too unbelievable! I must be dreaming.”

“But it’s true, the wind suddenly feels less cold!”

“Oh my god! Look over there! Is the snow melting?”

“…”

The people in the valley, after their momentary astonishment, quickly regained their senses and erupted into a cacophony of discussions.

Some people guessed what was happening, their excited faces turning red, while others were still wondering why they suddenly didn’t feel as cold.

Yu Jin was left dumbfounded for a moment, followed by intense joy, and he burst into hearty laughter.

“Yu-ge? Are you okay?” Nan Fang was startled by Yu Jin’s reaction.

“I’m fine! What Shui Shui said is true! Since coming to Cang Zhan Star, I never thought I’d have the chance to live comfortably. Even when I got the micro-farm, I had fantasies about shrinking myself down to fit inside.”

Presumably, many others had entertained similar fantasies, but they never thought that the tiny Shu Shuishui would dare to dream and act beyond their imagination, actually fitting all of them inside the micro-farm. This was beyond crazy.

The moment the protective formation activated, all the ninety-nine spirit stones buried in the valley vanished, transforming into spiritual energy and becoming a part of the valley. Shu Shuishui decided that when the soil became fertile and suitable for planting, he would grow some spirit plants in the valley, ideally creating a self-sustaining loop of ancient spiritual energy, forming a small world.

Holding Shu Shuishui, Gu Langu headed towards the campfire to have lunch. Xie Feng also left the lakeside, content.

Not long after arriving by the campfire, as Shu Shuishui was preparing to indulge in a feast, the people in the valley spontaneously gathered around. Several members of Nan Ge’s group were looking particularly intently at Shu Shuishui.

Shu Shuishui motioned to the grasshopper he had just caught from the pasture, held behind him. “I don’t have a grasshopper, don’t look.”

Everyone: “…” Is that the main point?

Yu Jin leaned closer to Nan Fang’s ear. “Have you suddenly thought that it actually makes sense that the three of us can’t compare to a grasshopper leg? It’s not that hard to accept now.”

Nan Fang nodded with a hint of amusement, given the current circumstances, it did seem true.

“Hey hey, we don’t want the grasshopper. Brother Shui, can you tell me what’s going on up there?” Hu Sichen couldn’t help but ask, pointing upwards.

At this point, nothing could be seen above them. Once the formation stabilized, there was no sign of any issues from the outside.

“Well, you see…” Shu Shuishui twitched his little ears, then sat the grasshopper under his plump buttocks, while his two small paws that had been behind him were now in front, seemingly to free his hands and show that he truly didn’t have a grasshopper.

Everyone: “…”

They silently shifted their gaze away from under Shu Shuishui’s buttocks, pretending they hadn’t seen anything. After all, since they had tasted meat, they were no longer tempted by Shu Shuishui’s grasshoppers. They had only smelled them, not tasted them.

Nan Ge also quietly averted his gaze, just hoping that when Shu Shuishui roasted the grasshoppers later, he would remember to wash them. After all, these grasshoppers were definitely going to be shared with Gu Langu. In case he ate some fur while eating, it would be hard to distinguish whether it was leg hair or fur from the buttocks… Nan Ge couldn’t help but shiver, feeling that he didn’t know when his thoughts had become increasingly dangerous. This wasn’t good, this wasn’t good…

Shu Shuishui sat up straight and fluffed his fur, completely covering the grasshopper he was holding.

The onlookers observed the furiously fluffed up rodent and really wanted to advise him that he didn’t need to do that, but they all silently swallowed their words, obediently awaiting the explanations from the “Mouse Boss”.

“That’s the protective formation, similar to the micro-farm, but much more complex than that.” Shu Shuishui stepped on the twitching hind leg of the grasshopper, his eyes fixedly focused as he continued, “You should all be familiar with the micro-farm. After the formation is complete, the temperature will gradually warm up and be maintained at a comfortable humidity level. Compared to the farm, the purpose of the protective formation isn’t to accelerate crop growth; its primary function is protection. It can withstand external attacks. I don’t know how cold the freezing season gets, but I’ve conducted experiments. The protective formation can withstand at least two electromagnetic storms…”

With this, the surroundings once again erupted in excitement.

“Resisting electromagnetic storms! My goodness! Does that mean we can stay here forever, without even fearing electromagnetic storms?”

“Although it sounds highly unlikely, I’ve already witnessed too many impossibilities. After all, it’s Shu Shuishui who’s saying this.”

“It definitely won’t be permanent, but it’s already enough. I feel even if we could live like this for a few days, I’d be content.”

“Fortunately, our Brother Chen is clever and led us to join the base.”

“What Zone B, Zone A? I’m not going anywhere else. I’m following Shu Shuishui. Anywhere he goes is paradise.”

Other than astonishment, the surroundings were filled with praising and boasting, because it was impossible not to boast! After all, who could have imagined that in the winter of Cang Zhan Star, they could still live in a paradise-like secluded place.

The valley was brimming with enthusiasm. Everyone was in an extremely excited state, almost wanting the soil to thaw immediately so that they could enjoy days of farming in short sleeves while others shivered in the winter cold.

The attentive little dormouse didn’t forget to remind them in the end. “Not only will the soil thaw, but the lake surface will also thaw. Everyone, be careful and don’t go onto the ice surface. Skip ice fishing for now, but you can go fishing in a few days.”

“Alright!” The crowd’s excitement turned their faces red and necks thick. They all responded almost simultaneously.

Shu Shuishui was startled by this deafening response, nearly jumping up in surprise. However, thinking about the grasshopper under his buttocks, he managed to remain seated calmly, not moving a muscle.

“Everyone, go have your meals. We’ll still be busy for the next couple of days.” In the end, it was Nan Ge who stepped in to ease Shu Shuishui’s embarrassment.

Reluctantly, the group dispersed, regretful that they couldn’t look at the Mouse Boss for a little longer.

In fact, ever since the micro-farm, they had realized Shu Shuishui’s extraordinariness. But it wasn’t until now that they felt they were clutching a sturdy thigh, no, a mouse’s leg. Up until now, everyone still had a feeling of daydreaming.

No need to worry about the extreme cold, no need to worry about food, no need to worry about external threats, no need to worry about attacks from mutant creatures, and they could even improve their meals. If spoken aloud, anyone would think it was a daydream.

After everyone left, Shu Shuishui finally took the grasshopper out from under his buttocks. The grasshopper was already dead, saving him the trouble of slaughtering it.

Nan Ge’s gaze uncontrollably followed Shu Shuishui. Thankfully, Shu Shuishui was a mouse that valued hygiene. He thoroughly cleaned the grasshopper inside and out before skewering it onto a small twig and roasting it by the fire. Nan Ge let out a sigh of relief, knowing he didn’t have to worry about Gu Langu eating any strange fur.

Due to the completion of the Guardian Array, Shu Shuishui continued to improve their meals. In addition to a roasted grasshopper, he roasted two corn cobs, fried two dumplings filled with garlic chives, prepared four small dumplings with a variety of fillings, and added two grapes and half a peach…

After eating until their bellies were full, Shu Shuishui contentedly patted his small belly with his paws, then burst into laughter. “Gu Gu, does my belly feel like it has a mouse inside?”

The crowd: “…”. You’re not a female mouse! Thanks!

Gu Langu lightly poked it with his hand, then nodded solemnly. “Hmm, it’s been three months.”

Upon hearing this, Shu Shuishui burst into hearty laughter, just like thumping a watermelon. “Then it must be cooked.”

The crowd: “…”. What kind of celestial conversation is this? Is this the reason why Gu Langu can find a mouse and they can’t? Wait, there’s a bunch of giant rats in the valley now. If they want to find one, they can find one.

Lunch ended in endless joy. With nothing to do for the moment, Shu Shuishui decided to take a nap. Perhaps due to the arrival of winter, Shu Shuishui felt an increased desire to sleep lately. He reminded himself that it’s probably a dormouse’s instinct to sleep, and he’s already an enlightened mouse who can overcome it.

Despite thinking this way, Shu Shuishui fell into a dream within three seconds.

Gu Langu hurriedly approached, carrying Shu Shuishui in a hurry, and rushed back to the tent.

Leaving several people staring in amazement.

“What’s the boss doing? Acting like he’s afraid we’ll see something. It’s just Shu Shuishui’s sleeping face. We’ve seen it before.”

“He seems really anxious?”

“Is something going on? But what could it be? Could it be that Shu Shuishui wet the bed?” Xie Feng’s imagination instantly went wild.

Only Nan Ge remained silent, gazing thoughtfully at Gu Langu’s luxurious tent by the lakeside.

Why call it a luxurious tent? Because that tent was made from a simulator’s parachute! If that’s not considered a luxury, then the term “luxury” probably doesn’t exist on Cang Zhan Star.

Last night, due to the dim lighting, not many people noticed. However, as the day broke, more and more people began to take notice of that spacious tent. It was finely crafted, filled with down feathers, and most importantly—constructed from stitched-together simulator parachutes. This was definitely showing off wealth, without a doubt!

Unintentionally flaunting his wealth, Gu Langu sat cross-legged next to a sleeping bag, where a furry bundle lay nestled within the large two-person sleeping bag. Under Gu Langu’s unwavering gaze, it didn’t take long before the naked youth filled up the sleeping bag.

Gu Langu immediately felt fortunate for his swift actions. He believed that Shu Shuishui might soon be able to maintain his human form for a long time because lately, Shu Shuishui had been spending increasingly longer periods of time in human form during his sleep.

Gu Langu scratched his head, unsure how to tell Shu Shuishui the fact that he was only about 1.78 meters tall.

Shu Shuishui had also taken the characteristics of the dormouse race to the extreme. Even his transformation was accomplished while in a dream state. This was normal because dormice were most satisfied, relaxed, and natural when in a state of slumber.

Two hours later, the youth inside the sleeping bag disappeared. Gu Langu felt a slight sense of regret. It seemed that the time for Shu Shuishui to truly transform had not yet arrived. Before long, the little mouse in the sleeping bag opened its wet eyes, a hint of haziness lingering in them. “Gu Gu, good afternoon.”

“Shui Shui, good afternoon.” Gu Langu reached over, lifted Shu Shuishui out, and then rubbed his soft and fluffy head against his cheek.

Shu Shuishui obediently offered his little chubby face, trying his best to rub his cheek against Gu Langu’s.

With their cheek-rubbing session concluded, Shu Shuishui was now fully awake. “Come on, Gu Gu, let’s take a stroll and find a suitable place to set up farms and pastures. It’s been a while since I grazed.”

“Shu Shuishui, you still graze?” Gu Langu imagined Shu Shuishui leading a few grasshoppers around in a pasture and found it particularly amusing.

“Of course.” Shu Shuishui proudly lifted his little head. “I’ve never lost a grasshopper while grazing!”

As they chatted, they left the tent. Once outside, they noticed that the valley had undergone a drastic change. The rate at which the soil and lake were thawing exceeded Shu Shuishui’s expectations by far. In less than three hours, the thin layer of snow at the bottom of the valley had completely melted away, revealing the soil and withered grass.

The valley was bustling with activity, filled with voices and people wearing lighter clothing. Some were planning to build houses, some were organizing supplies, others were preparing for farming, and some were getting ready to explore the valley’s mineral deposits.

Even during the mild seasons, it was rare to witness such enthusiasm. It seemed like everyone was striving for a better life, rather than just getting by.

Shu Shuishui sighed with an old-soul-like sentiment. “Youth is wonderful!”

Gu Langu couldn’t help but chuckle. “Shu Shuishui is young too.”

Shu Shuishui, perched on Gu Langu’s palm, immediately placed a hand on his lower back. “No, no. I have an old body with old arms, legs, and waist. I can’t afford to be too active. I’ll just take a stroll with Gu Gu, do some gardening, take care of birds—even though we don’t have any, Gu Gu.”

Shu Shuishui, who believed in the importance of rituals, felt that a retirement life without birds lacked soul.

Gu Langu was somewhat baffled. In this icy landscape, where would they find a bird to keep as a pet? “Shu Shuishui, mechanical birds are also good for walks.”

Shu Shuishui’s little ears perked up. “Really? Where can I find one?”

Gu Langu considered modifying his detector. “You’ll be able to see one when you wake up tomorrow morning.”

Shu Shuishui nodded his little head. “I know, Gu Gu. You’re trying to surprise me. I promise I won’t peek while I’m asleep. Pinky promise.”

Gu Langu’s eyes filled with amusement. “Alright, pinky promise.”

Shu Shuishui immediately extended his tiny paw, using the tip of his claw to hook onto Gu Langu’s pinky finger, signifying his commitment not to peek.

The effects of the protective array far exceeded Shu Shuishui’s expectations. In less than three days, and just a bit more than a single day, the lake had fully thawed, as had the soil. The melted snow had saturated the soil, and the entire valley was filled with the aroma of damp earth, as if it had just experienced a refreshing rain shower.

Nan Ge had already organized people to start revitalizing the soil and preparing for planting. With the guaranteed environment and the seeds accumulated from the micro-farm earlier, they decided to abandon the extensive cultivation of purple trees and instead began planting sweet potatoes. Shu Shuishui even allocated ninety percent of the corn, wheat, and rice seeds from his spiritual storage. After all, as good as sweet potatoes were, they couldn’t replace staple foods.

However, even with ninety percent, it amounted to only a few pounds. It wasn’t possible to plant them on a large scale. Nan Ge decided to personally tend to the seeds that Shu Shuishui had provided.

In this manner, while the outside world was a frozen wasteland and even staying indoors couldn’t stop the shivers, the people in the valley were busy preparing for the first round of cultivation.

The members of Gu Langu Base, regardless of when they joined, all felt a sense of pride and satisfaction that couldn’t be explained.

At the same time, in Zone B, Liu Po, Liu Du, and even Cheng Que, who had been hoping for an opportunity to get closer to Gu Langu, got wind of the news of Gu Langu Base’s arrival.

Liu Du was instantly unable to contain his excitement. He had been looking forward to this meeting for a long time. He wondered if Shu Shuishui had lost weight. If he had, he would have had a legitimate reason to invite him to stay in Zone B. It was clear that most areas outside were plagued by the cold wave, and even in those few overwintering points, resources were severely limited. Where could be more comfortable than Zone B? Shu Shuishui must have lost weight. “Bro! Before the freezing season arrives, how about we exchange several simulators?”

Liu Po cast a glance at his eager younger brother. Ever since they had collected the simulators last time, it felt as if a mouse had brainwashed him. “I don’t need to tell you how precious simulators are. People are being polite about it, and you’re taking it seriously!” During the winter, simulators were a means of survival. Who would bring them out for trade?

“Bro! Shui Shui will definitely exchange them! Besides, he has a small mountain full of simulators,” Liu Du asserted, genuinely puzzled by why his elder brother seemed to hold a sudden animosity toward Shu Shuishui, as if he were a fraud.

Liu Po chuckled twice, indicating his disbelief. However, he knew his younger brother’s persistence. If he didn’t make the trip, he would never give up, and he’d probably keep mentioning it until next summer. “Fine, I’ll set aside some supplies and send someone out to inquire about Gu Langu Base’s overwintering points. Let’s be clear, the resources we can offer are limited. Don’t get your hopes up too high.”

“At a reasonable price, and it would be best if you could include two grasshoppers as a thank-you gift. Shui Shui will be delighted. When the time comes, I’ll talk to him about the deal,” Liu Du replied excitedly.

Every base had announcements for long-term purchases of simulators, and the exchange was based on the remaining lifespan of the simulator, with different resources offered. There were always people who lacked the courage or knew their strength wasn’t enough, so they exchanged their simulators for tangible goods.

Near Zone B, there were observation points. On one hand, they were for monitoring potential threats, and on the other hand, they facilitated communication. On Cang Zhan Star, no matter how powerful a base was, it couldn’t remain isolated. Just the aspect of food self-sufficiency was challenging, so everyone understood the importance of communication and exchange. At least when push came to shove, they could attempt to absorb and merge with other forces, right?

Not long after, Liu Po received news from the frontlines. Frowning deeply, he was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Gu Langu and the others to venture into the mountains! During winter! Were they seeking death?

Liu Du also learned about the news. “It’s so strange. Could that Dong Shijun have some kind of method? In the past, that Gu Langu would start a fight at the drop of a hat. Our entire team isn’t even a match for one of his punches. So why is he just handing over the overwintering points so easily this time? It doesn’t make sense.”

Baffled by the situation, Liu Po decided to give it a try in the end. And Cheng Que also got wind of the news, applying to join the team that was going to conduct the trade.

Liu Du felt extremely uneasy. He knew that Cheng Que had been involved in Gu Langu’s transformation plan and harbored secrets about Gu Langu. Liu Du always felt that bringing Cheng Que along this time was a hidden danger, but since his elder brother had spoken, Liu Du didn’t have a valid reason to refuse.

In the current valley, the first batch of seeds had already been planted. The snowstorms and extreme cold outside the mountains seemed to have nothing to do with them. The people in the base had put away their winter clothes and were now wearing simple short sleeves. The comfortable temperature slowed down the construction of houses but accelerated progress in other projects.

The engineers and talents who had joined from the Fei Luo Base were now active, installing wind turbines halfway up the mountain and managing water resources without any concerns. Irrigation and well-organized plans for aquaculture were in place.

As for Shu Shuishui, he had marked out two plots of land outside the tent, much larger than when he was on Earth. After all, he had a family of rats to support now.

At this moment, Shu Shuishui was sitting in a basin on the surface of the lake, fishing. He held the fishing rod with his two paws, appearing as if in deep meditation.

Gu Langu sat on a rocky shore, staring intently at Shu Shuishui, afraid that some big fish might pull him into the lake. There was no way around it. In this short period, they hadn’t built a boat large enough for Gu Langu to use. So, for now, only Shu Shuishui could sit in the basin on the lake’s surface and fish.

Translator’s corner: 

Oh wow, I didn’t expect that this chapter would be this long…