"Ship—"
Professor Ye and Su Luo Ke stood on the deck, surveying the space filled with various supplies with astonished expressions.
While they were still struggling with basic survival needs, this person had already found a ship and prepared an evacuation plan?
For a moment, their emotions were complicated.
Meanwhile, Xu Ming skillfully maneuvered the sailboat to avoid obstacles along the way, moving considerably faster than during their initial journey.
The distance between the Agricultural and Forestry University and Azure Cloud Resort spanned several kilometers. Combined with the need to carefully detour and avoid underwater obstacles, the trip would take some time.
The journey passed in silence.
"Boss, we're almost there," Xu Ming's voice came from the cockpit after some time.
Han Ning looked up.
Near Azure Cloud Resort but safely away from the Mist Zone, in deeper waters, a scattered fleet of about a dozen vessels of varying sizes lay anchored—Chairman Wu's flotilla.
Figures in raincoats could be seen rowing small boats or even swimming as they gradually transported supplies from the ships toward the resort.
"The area ahead is full of submerged collapsed buildings and street debris. Further on, the water depth drops to less than two meters. The Wind Chaser has a draft of nearly two meters when fully loaded. With all the underwater debris, we risk running aground at any moment."
"But I estimate it won't be long before the floodwaters reach beyond the resort. When that happens, we'll be able to sail directly there," Xu Ming explained.
Setting aside the relentless downpour, the floodwaters across this ruined city were generally advancing from the west, south, and east, slowly submerging the northern areas—though there were exceptions depending on the terrain of this otherworldly land.
With its undulating topography, water depths varied considerably.
Xu Ming steadily turned the helm, beginning to decelerate as he glanced at Han Ning. "Boss, this is as far as we can go. Any further and we won't be able to move the ship."
"Understood. Drop anchor here," Han Ning nodded in agreement.
Xu Ming skillfully guided the Wind Chaser into this temporary anchorage, mooring alongside several other vessels.
He sounded the horn to signal their arrival, then shut down the diesel engine and lowered the anchor.
In the distance, the outlines of buildings loomed faintly through the rainy mist. The figures busily transporting supplies resembled ants struggling against the apocalyptic deluge.
Considering Lao Xu and Yu Na had worked tirelessly for a full day and night, Han Ning decided against unloading the ship's supplies today.
"Snowflake, stay in the water nearby. Guard our supplies—don't let anyone approach or take anything."
"Rooaar!"
Snowflake lifted its massive head and responded with a low growl of understanding.
The enormous creature shifted slightly before plunging into the water.
It kept half its head above the surface, secretly observing the ship from below.
Compared to the stifling indoors, these open waters were far more suitable for its activities.
Having consumed plenty of crab and fish meat during the journey, Snowflake wasn't particularly hungry now.
Ssshhhk—a dozen Vines extended from Han Ning's side, coiling around the sealed containers holding seeds and experimental equipment. They lifted the cargo steadily, keeping it half a meter above the water's surface.
.
"Let's go." Han Ning glanced at Yu Na and Su Mingke before wrapping his arms around Xu Ming and Professor Ye—the two ordinary humans—and leaping into the water first.
Su Mingke hesitated for a moment but eventually followed.
Back at the resort,
Xu Ming let out a long sigh of relief as his tense nerves finally relaxed.
Dragging his exhausted body, he pushed open the door to his room.
"Dad!"
The moment the door cracked open, a small figure immediately rushed out and buried herself in Xu Ming's damp embrace.
It was Xu Yinyin.
The little girl's eyes were red, her cheeks still streaked with dried tears—clearly, she had been terrified throughout the day and night.
She clung tightly to Xu Ming's waist, pressing her face into his rain-and-sweat-soaked clothes, her voice muffled and choked with sobs:
"Dad, you're finally back! Yinyin was so scared—"
Xu Ming's heart ached. He quickly crouched down and hugged his daughter tightly, his rough hand gently patting her back as he spoke hoarsely:
"Yinyin, be good. Dad's fine, Dad's back now."
"I'm sorry for making you worry."
Standing behind them, Han Ning scanned the room and spotted a few torn biscuit wrappers and empty water bottles in the corner—rations Xu Ming had left for his daughter beforehand.
"Yinyin did so well, staying alone for so long and even saving her food wisely."
Xu Ming ruffled his daughter's soft hair, his voice full of tenderness.
"Dad promises to try not to leave for so long again."
"Mm!" Xu Yinyin nodded vigorously, lifting her little face. Though her eyes were still red, a relieved smile had already appeared.
"Dad's the best! And Uncle Han is super amazing too!"
"Oh? How so?" Han Ning feigned curiosity.
"Um—well—" Yinyin tilted her head and whispered, "Uncle Han can command the big crocodile and make green branches grow to protect Dad and me! Of course he's amazing!"
"Yinyin is amazing too—so brave, staying home alone without being scared." Han Ning couldn't resist pinching Yinyin's flushed cheek.
Praise from Han Ning made Yinyin shyly burrow deeper into her father's arms, her little face beaming with happiness.
Professor Ye and Su Mingke silently observed the scene. This gentle side of Han Ning was something they were seeing for the first time.
Han Ning let Xu Ming and Yu Na return to rest while he led Professor Ye and Su Mingke to his own room.
He carefully placed the seed box in a relatively dry corner of the living room.
This suite was a luxurious one reassigned to him by Lin Qianqian—spacious enough that even storing some miscellaneous items didn't make it feel cramped.
"You two, there are clean towels and a basin over there. You can freshen up and change into dry clothes."
Han Ning pointed toward the bathroom, where some spare clothes and towels he had gathered earlier were placed.
"Mm—they're all men's clothing, but given the circumstances, please make do."
The suite had two separate bathrooms, one large and one small.
Both Professor Ye and Su Mingke were drenched, covered in mud and rainwater, and thoroughly uncomfortable.
They didn't refuse. Grabbing the towels and two sets of relatively clean old clothes Han Ning had dug out, they headed to the bathrooms to wipe themselves down and change out of their soaked attire.
Professor Ye, being male, didn't look too out of place in a slightly oversized jacket and sweatpants.
Su Mingke, a woman, had also changed into a set of unisex outdoor gear with a windbreaker and sweatpants, looking spirited and capable.
By the time the two of them had finished preparing and stepped out, Han Ning was already standing by the small planting area on the balcony.
During his previous hunts on the outskirts of the Mist Zone, he had gradually moved supplies from the apartment building here in several trips.
Pointing at the Crimson Mist Tomato plant, which emitted a faint red glow under the dim light, he said to Professor Ye:
"Professor Ye, take a look at this."
Professor Ye's attention was immediately drawn to this peculiar tomato plant.
He quickly approached, crouched down, and examined it carefully.
As a seasoned agricultural expert, he keenly noticed the unusual characteristics of this plant.
The leaves were thicker and more vibrant green, the stems unusually robust, and the faint Crimson Mist swirling around the plant's surface was something he had never encountered before.
A strange scent lingered in the air.
"This—this is a tomato?" Professor Ye's voice carried surprise, "But how—how could it—"
"This is a plant I mutated using my ability."
"It has undergone some kind of transformation. When mature, it emits this Crimson Mist, which has a significant effect on the minds of monsters—quite potent. At the same time, its demand for soil nutrients and water during growth has become abnormally high."
Han Ning explained the mutation process of the tomato in detail.
"To make it mature, I used up all the stored nutrient-rich soil. Ordinary soil simply can't support its growth."
He looked at Professor Ye with a serious expression:
"So, I'd like to ask for your advice. Given our current conditions, is there a way to artificially create or modify a type of soil with extremely high nutritional value that can support such mutated crops—or even accelerate the growth and increase the yield of ordinary crops?"
This was the first question he posed to Professor Ye.
Listening to Han Ning's explanation, Professor Ye fell into deep thought.
He carefully touched the thick, green leaves of the tomato plant with his fingers, then picked up a bit of the hardened, nutrient-depleted soil residue from the pot and sniffed it.
"The reason this tomato has a stimulating effect on monsters is likely due to a mutation in the lycopene it releases—a fairly normal direction for mutation."
He looked up at Han Ning,
"Mr. Han Ning, your ability acts as a powerful directional inducer, accelerating its growth process and causing extreme transformation and concentration of energy and matter in a short time, ultimately leading to this peculiar mutation."
"As for the soil—"
Professor Ye set down the soil residue,
"Without modern industrial fertilizers and precision instruments, we can only return to the most primitive yet reliable method—composting."
"Composting?" Han Ning raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Yes." Professor Ye nodded,
"Using microorganisms to break down organic matter and convert it into nutrients that plants can absorb."
He began to elaborate in detail:
"Generally speaking, composting requires the following key materials."
"First, nitrogen-rich 'green materials,' primarily fresh plant residues—such as various weeds we can find along the way, tender leaves and stems of aquatic plants, or even relatively soft, easily decomposable tree leaves. These are rich in nitrogen and can speed up microbial reproduction."
"Hmm—assuming the natural laws of this world aren't drastically different from those of our home planet."
"Second, 'brown materials' containing carbon—dry, high carbon-to-nitrogen ratio substances like fallen branches, dried weeds, wood chips, and even some paper or cardboard. These provide the carbon framework, balance nitrogen, and prevent compost from smelling bad."
"Third, 'additives' containing minerals—plant ash, crushed eggshells, fish or animal bones, and even mineral-rich soil or rock powder. These supply essential trace elements for plants."
"Professor Ye, I have an idea—"
Listening to Professor Ye's explanation of the three key elements, Han Ning immediately thought of something.
Plant residues, tender leaves of aquatic plants—wasn't that exactly what he had just obtained, the Seaweed Fruit?
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