The sight of other humans set off alarm bells in Gu Baizhou's mind.Peaceful days would not last forever.
"The soda project can wait. First I need reliable contacts among humans."
He sketched out a plan to travel south to a human city.Whether his future product became a hit or was buried under cheap imitations, he would need allies.
"Really I just want a quiet life—with the Hilichurls," he admitted to himself.But if that was true, he couldn't idle away the time.
He gave the patrol Hilichurls new orders:
"While you're out, collect different kinds of stones.If you spot a Slime, catch it and keep it alive."
Limestone—mostly calcium carbonate—could release carbon dioxide when heated.He didn't actually need man-made CO₂ for soda; the limestone was just a teaching prop for the Wind-shaman Hilichurl so it could learn which "air" he wanted.
"When I return, I'll bring you a few fat boars," he promised.
The Hilichurls brightened immediately.
"Nini movo muhe yo! (May the wind bring you victory!)""Lata movo mosi yo! (May the waters bring you food!)""Celi movo celi yo! (May the elements walk with you!)"
The elder Shaman lifted his staff and offered a gentle benediction.They had no gods, but their faith in the elements ran deep.
To the north lay impenetrable peaks; southward stretched foothills and plains.Gu followed a narrow mountain trail, postponing any further investigation of the Taishan Mansion ruins—he would need his archery and physical skills at least at level 6 before daring that.
Soon he reached a fork.The left path led past a smoking stone ruin; the right toward a few lazy Geo Slimes.
Smoke meant people.He headed left and found a pot bubbling over a tidy campfire, mushrooms and sliced meat neatly set out—far too neat for Hilichurls.
Someone is nearby.
But the stone walls blocked the trail. He climbed the short cliff—+1 Climbing EXP (Lv 3: 4/15)—and pressed on, yet still met no one.
Two hours later he emerged to scattered, broken villages and a great circular stone platform—structures just like those at Taishan Mansion.Far off stood a ruined stone hall, iron bars sealing a silver-white chest inside.
If anyone lived here, that chest was surely an immortal's treasure.
Then he froze.
In the deserted village sat a colossal beast, as large as a house, its body plated in earthy armor, a pair of white horns curling like spears.Even at rest it radiated crushing menace.Several Hilichurls crouched calmly at its side, and two stood watch in the towers with crossbows.
The ultimate stage of Hilichurl evolution…
Gu eased back, unwilling to test whether the "Sand-Bearing Stone Vessel" relic would work on a creature like that.These houses clearly belonged to Hilichurls now.
Skirting the villages, he finally glimpsed the open sea and a shabby fishing hamlet of thatched huts.A few thin figures moved about.
Beyond them, a massive waterwheel thundered beside a mountain where a wooden structure like a beached ship clung to the slope, an enormous ancient tree—branches gnarled, leaves yellow—crowned the scene.
Where there's such a landmark, there are people.
As he approached, a woman hurried toward him, eyes red from crying.
"Do you have a Vision?" she asked desperately.
Gu shook his head. "What happened?"
"My child is missing…" Her voice broke.
Remembering the blue creature he had once seen, Gu's brows knit."When did this happen? Tell me everything—you might let me help."
"A few hours ago," she said, pointing to the small girl beside her."My daughter, Xiao Lu, saw it—a blue monster more than two meters tall took my son away."