Maturing

Chapter 22: Maturing

Zhao Hai frowned and said, "Is there really a danger? Merine Grandma, if there's a risk, we shouldn't prioritize breeding fish. After all, the security of our family is more important."

Merine's face showed excitement as she smiled and replied, "Young Master, don't worry. There won't be any problems. I am also an 8th level Water element Magician, and dealing with a Magic Beast won't be a problem."

Zhao Hai looked at Merine's confident expression and nodded. "Well said. We can put that matter aside for now. Tomorrow, we need to organize people to search the surrounding area for suitable land to improve. Improving the land should be our first priority."

Merine also nodded in agreement. Although commercial activities were well-developed on Ark Continent, the Buda Family didn't prioritize business. As nobles, they considered the land to be of utmost importance.

Meg remained silent and didn't interrupt their discussion. When Zhao Hai and Merine discussed matters, Meg usually refrained from interjecting. Blockhead and Stonehead, being less intelligent, were assigned tasks and followed instructions without question. Meg, although intelligent, was still young and hadn't experienced as much as Zhao Hai in the information-rich world. Therefore, she had much to learn and couldn't contribute much to the conversation between Zhao Hai and Merine.

After quickly finishing dinner, Zhao Hai sat in the living room and enjoyed a cup of tea. Then he retired to his room. With so many matters to attend to in the castle, he needed to ensure that everything was properly arranged. There was no time to worry unnecessarily.

In the evening, there was nothing much to do in the secluded castle. Zhao Hai, who used to be a nerd on Earth, would usually stay up late. However, due to his busy schedule in the past few days, he managed to fall asleep during the day and now found himself unable to sleep at night. So, he decided to go to the Space and check on the situation there.

Inside the Space, the corn seedlings and radish seedlings were growing well, without any signs of pests. Seeing the thriving seedlings, Zhao Hai couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement.

These little seedlings represented hope for him. In this new world, Zhao Hai only wished to live a good life. Back on Earth, he was content with earning a meager income from his published works, without any great ambitions. But in this different realm, he had inherited Adam's body and learned about the immense grudges that Adam carried. However, Zhao Hai also knew that avenging those grudges wouldn't be easy. They would have to confront the entire Empire.

When Buda Family was at its weakest, they had managed to survive and protect their meager existence. It was unrealistic to expect them to seek revenge immediately. Their priority was to safeguard their lives.

Although Spatial Farm has its advantages, such as the ability to grow crops and store items, it has a significant weakness—lack of offensive capabilities. On Ark Continent, true experts are known for their strong combat abilities. Magicians like Merine, for example, can wipe out thousands of people with a single spell. Compared to her, Zhao Hai is like a newborn baby, and he would be crushed by Merine with a flick of her finger.

Because of this, Zhao Hai is wholeheartedly focused on maintaining a low profile. If the established nobles were to discover his abilities, they would likely try to kill him immediately. Having absorbed Adam's memories, Zhao Hai has gained a basic understanding of general knowledge on the continent. He is not a foolish person who would overreach himself. He knows that if he were to become too high-profile, he would be the first to die.

The characteristics of Spatial Farm make it impossible for Zhao Hai to become an unparalleled expert. Additionally, even with Adam's experience of drinking the Water of Nothingness, Zhao Hai knows that he cannot become an expert overnight. His greatest advantage currently lies in Spatial Farm. However, this sudden acquisition of power also instills a sense of insecurity in Zhao Hai. He fears that what he has gained could be lost just as suddenly.

This sense of urgency drives Zhao Hai to quickly establish his fief. While he can improve the Black Soil area every day, this very fact also makes him worry.

Arriving at Black Wasteland, Zhao Hai understands that the established nobles may not let them off easily. They will likely send people to monitor their every move. If they attract too much attention, these established nobles will not hesitate to take action. Therefore, Zhao Hai realizes the importance of maintaining a low profile and silently accumulating wealth.

Although he knows that the radishes and corn in Spatial Farm are growing well, Zhao Hai still takes care of them diligently. He waters them with dedication, symbolizing the hopes placed on these little seedlings. Watering plants in Space is also convenient. With a simple intention, water in Space is summoned, falling like rain onto the land.

After ensuring the plants are well taken care of, Zhao Hai exits Spatial Farm and observes the outside world. It is already dark, and the slaves have gone to sleep. The castle is dimly lit, and the entire place seems to have fallen into a peaceful slumber with the arrival of night.

In this serene environment, Zhao Hai's heart gradually calms down. He realizes that there is no need to rush or worry about the future. He must take things step by step. The most pressing matter for him now is to solve the food problem for the 100 people in the castle. It's not just about eating enough but also ensuring they have good-quality meals.

Feeling the weight of responsibility, Zhao Hai understands the significance of shouldering the well-being of more than 100 individuals and the future of the Buda Family. It is a burden that he takes very seriously, and he is cautious in every step he takes, afraid of making mistakes.

Taking on responsibility is a sign of maturity, and Zhao Hai has become more mature since coming to this world. The harsh reality has forced him to grow up quickly. Standing quietly by the window for a while, Zhao Hai finally returns to his bed. Even if he can't fall asleep, he lies down on the bed, mindful of the scarcity of their resources and the need to avoid wasting anything. Unbeknownst to him, he falls asleep.

"Ding-dong, the radishes are mature. Please harvest them as soon as possible."

The sound of the Farm prompt wakes Zhao Hai up. He immediately enters the Space. The radishes in the Farm have matured, and the corn has grown tall, with the cobs formed on top. They can be broken off and eaten now.

However, Zhao Hai doesn't move immediately. He is counting on these corn to produce seeds. While there are no other mature cobs at the moment, he can harvest them later and use them as seeds to plant on more land.

Zhao Hai quickly collects the radishes and purchases a bag of radish seeds from the Space store. He washes them with spring water from the well in Space, feeling revitalized.

Zhao Hai rushes to the cornfield and carefully examines the corn. The corn is growing well, and the cobs are now filled with thick liquid. They just need to wait for them to fully mature before harvesting.

Satisfied with the progress, Zhao Hai leaves the Spatial Farm and returns to his room. Looking out of the window, he sees the slightly shining weather. Not feeling sleepy, he decides to go outside.

The surroundings of the castle are quite beautiful, despite being situated on a barren hill. It's April, and the morning air feels pleasantly cool. Taking a few deep breaths, Zhao Hai feels his mood improve.

Feeling that his body isn't in the best condition, especially considering his past lifestyle as Adam, Zhao Hai doesn't want to risk deteriorating health. Drinking the Water of Nothingness has weakened his body even further. Although he doesn't aspire to become an expert, he wants to at least be a healthy person. Thus, he decides to go for a jog to exercise.

As Zhao Hai starts jogging, the slaves in the castle gradually wake up. They watch him running with surprise, wondering what he's doing.

However, Zhao Hai's body is weak, and he quickly becomes tired. He has to stop and catch his breath, gradually adjusting his breathing. He then returns to the castle, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

After jogging for a while, Zhao Hai feels refreshed and energized. He returns to the castle, and to his surprise, Merine and the others have already woken up. They hadn't expected Zhao Hai to be up so early, assuming he was still in his room. Seeing Zhao Hai coming in from outside surprises them.

Zhao Hai informs them that he has washed his face and then goes to the living room to wait while Merine prepares breakfast.