Cuijue Slope, at the river's edge.
Dense water plants intertwined, tinting the current a deep green.Fish darted among the weeds, drinking when thirsty, nibbling algae when hungry—utterly carefree.
Yet the "gifts" fate had prepared for them already carried a hidden price tag.
Zzzzz…
Lumps of Electro Slime gel sank into the river.Dark-violet currents sparked, deadly lightning flashing through the misty water.
Crack!
Several bass floated belly-up, white scales flashing with an eerie light.
"Wait a few seconds!"Gu Baizhou stopped the eager Hilichurls, worried they'd be shocked.
The river water held many impurities; the Electro energy from the slimes would dilute into harmlessness after a short while.
"Meat! So good!"
Seconds later the Hilichurls rushed in to collect fish.
"Electrofishing ruins the ecosystem,"the instigator Gu Baizhou said earnestly to the Geo Hilichurl Shaman."Farming is better."
"Meat… plants…"The shaman muttered, weighing the idea. After a moment, its lone eye brightened."We want both!"
"When we get back, I'll teach you how to farm."Gu Baizhou was satisfied. His Hilichurl-farmer development plan had taken a big step forward.
A translucent interface blinked before his eyes:
Level Up – Hilichurl Language Lv3: 0/15
Back at the settlement, Hilichurls brought firewood and built a wooden grill.One with fiery-red fur thrust its hand into the ground and pulled up a jelly-like, flaming-hot mass—raw Pyro Slime gel.
Hiss hiss hiss.
The firewood caught, flames crackling beneath the rack.
"Meat!""...!""Meat!"
After their cheers came a scene that startled Gu Baizhou:a Hilichurl fetched a sharp wooden spike, expertly slit the fish bellies, removed the entrails, and rinsed them clean in a pot of water.
They were supposed to be low-intelligence creatures… so why could they prepare food like this?
"Could you roast some potatoes for me? I'll skip the meat."He preferred to let them feast—goodwill was worth more than a meal.And he had little appetite for fish handled by fuzzy black Hilichurl hands.
"You eat plants—amazing!"A Hilichurl hurried to the storehouse, grabbed a few potatoes, and set them by the fire.
While waiting, Gu Baizhou worked out inside the Hilichurl hut.
+1 Comprehensive Physique EXPComprehensive Physique Lv2: 4/15 … 9/15…
Thirty minutes of anaerobic training netted him 6 points of experience before fatigue slowed the gains.
"Maybe I can hit Level 3 tonight," he thought, sweat soaking his clothes.
Thud.The Geo Shaman entered, stone staff tapping the floor."Domu (dance)," it said with quiet pride."Come watch the Hilichurl dance."
"An honor," Gu Baizhou replied politely and followed outside.
The night was cool, the full moon silver-bright, though his eyes seemed veiled in a faint blue haze.
"Does a night like this happen every day?" he asked.The shaman shook its head. "I don't know."
He made a mental note: inside a nearby hut lay a broken crossbow and sturdy arrows.After the festivities he would repair it for protection, but hide it well to avoid arming the tribe.
Golden firelight lit the Hilichurls' faces as they danced in a ring, singing:
"Now we all dance together.The Hilichurl dance is so fine.La~ la~ la~We are happy."
Gu Baizhou sat peeling a hot potato."You won't dance?" he asked the shaman."I'm no longer a young Hilichurl," it said, eye bright within the horned mask.
Age comes to every being, yet Gu Baizhou felt no melancholy—only curiosity:Why do Hilichurls, Brutes, and Shamans look so different?He ate calmly, relaxed.
When the dance ended, the Hilichurls gathered, eating grilled fish from skewers.
"What do you want to do tomorrow?" he asked, hoping to plan a schedule of meat and vegetables for sustainable living.
"Meat! So good!""Eat meat!""Sleep!" they chorused.
He nodded. "If we keep electrofishing, the fish will disappear like pigs from a hunted pen."
"What then?" the shaman asked, worried.
"We'll dig a pond with hoes and build fish traps to breed them," Gu Baizhou said, deciding farming and fishing could progress in parallel."Some days we eat fish, some days we eat plants."
"Good method," the shaman agreed. "Tomorrow, teach fish-trap making."
"Alright. And plant foods can be sold in the city for meat—or used for brewing wine to trade."
"Meat! Good!" the shaman cheered.
The feast ended in song.The Hilichurls slept in cozy piles, six or seven cuddled together for warmth.
After an hour's rest, Gu Baizhou repaired the crossbow—more play than skill, yet:
+1 Craft EXP … Level Up – Craft Lv3: 0/15
Minutes later, a Hilichurl rose and wandered out, perhaps to relieve itself.It never returned.
Snap…
Gu Baizhou felt a tug and opened his eyes.The Geo Shaman stood there, clutching a scroll, lone eye anxious.
"It… may have been dragged away!"