The Tenth Seed

Current total points: 1300 points.

Current Quest: Get to know Chengxin by today.

Current Quest: Plant turnips.

Current Quest: Create separate rooms within the cavern to make it a more comfortable place to live.

"What the hell is this?" Zhenfeng asked, raising his sword and staring at its hilt, now smeared with a slimy green liquid. His face twisted in disgust. "What did you do to my sword?"

"Used it to grind something," Jianyu replied nonchalantly, his tone completely devoid of guilt.

"What?! Are you out of your mind?" Zhenfeng glared at him, his breath catching in a mix of anger and disbelief.

"Oh, calm down. It's not even poisonous," Jianyu said with an indifferent shrug, as if the whole matter is beneath his concern.

"Not poisonous?! Who in their right mind uses a sword for grinding things?" Zhenfeng snapped, hurriedly wiping the blade with frantic but disgusted movements.

Jianyu remained unfazed, his gaze sweeping across the expansive cavern. The sheer size of the space gave him plenty to consider. 

The front area, where Qi Qi and Chengxin were seated, seemed ideal for a communal gathering spot—a place where everyone could come together to share ideas or simply find a moment of solace.

His eyes moved to the area surrounding the magical tree. The lush, vibrant energy radiating from it made the spot perfect for cultivating a communal garden. The tree itself could be the centerpiece, anchoring their efforts to grow sustenance in this new, challenging environment.

Further into the cavern, Jianyu knows there are two sizable chambers tucked deeper inside. They were spacious enough to be repurposed into sleeping quarters for the refugees—a supposedly safe haven where they could rest and recover from their ordeals.

As his mind worked through the possibilities, Jianyu began piecing together a mental blueprint. Each section of the cavern had its own potential, its own purpose. 

Slowly but surely, ideas crystallized into a plan to transform this cavern into a functional refuge—one that could become the cornerstone of their survival.

Before long, Jianyu explains the layout to the refugees in detail.

Quest Completed. +100 points.

Current total points: 1400 points.

Current Quest: Get to know Chengxin by today.

Current Quest: Plant turnips.

He observed as the group gradually moved to their newly designated sleeping quarters. They were still visibly weak; the only food they'd had so far were simple fruits. It was clear they needed more time to rest and recover.

Jianyu's eyes shifted again, this time to the soil in the area he'd chosen for the garden. This place would become the "heart" of their community—the most critical part for ensuring everyone's survival.

But he knew it wouldn't be easy. Even to plant something as basic as turnips, he'd first need to loosen the tough soil. "Ugh, this is going to be exhausting," he muttered under his breath, letting out a soft sigh. "Maybe I should work on a different quest first."

"What are you brooding about now?" Zhenfeng's sudden voice jolted him from his thoughts. The man had been watching him all this time with a look of curiosity. "I swear, you zone out so much, you look like a statue."

Jianyu turned away, avoiding Zhenfeng's gaze as he started walking toward Chengxin and Qi Qi, who were sitting in the corner. "Thanks for caring about me so much," he said casually without looking back.

"Ugh, gross," Zhenfeng grumbled, his voice carrying even as Jianyu walked away.

Jianyu finally sat down next to Chengxin, speaking in a calming tone. "Don't worry. Just get some rest. By the time you wake up, Qi Qi will feel much better."

"Okay, Ge," Chengxin replied softly, though the worry on his face was still evident.

"How old are you, by the way?" Jianyu asked suddenly, trying to shift the topic.

"Twenty," Chengxin answered briefly.

"Oh. What did you do before? College student?" Jianyu asked again.

"No. I'm a cook. I started working right after high school," Chengxin replied.

Jianyu's eyes lit up. "Whoa, that's awesome! We don't have anyone here who can really cook. Since the black bloom spread and humans started hiding like this, have you ever tried cooking with... unusual ingredients?"

"Yeah, I have, Ge," Chengxin answered.

"That's amazing!" Jianyu's excitement grew. "Once Qi Qi recovers, you'll stay with us, right?"

"That's the plan," Chengxin nodded, though his eyes kept darting toward Qi Qi.

"In that case, I'll build you a kitchen. You'll be in charge of cooking for all of us. Sounds good?"

"Huh? How are you even going to make a kitchen?" Chengxin looked confused.

"I've got my ways. You just wait and see," Jianyu replied with a small, confident smirk.

Quest Completed. +100 Points.

Current total points: 1500 points.

Current Quest: Plant turnips.

Jianyu stretched his arms, feeling the weight of the tasks ahead but also the spark of motivation bubbling beneath his calm demeanor. The cavern was beginning to feel less like a temporary refuge and more like the foundation of something greater—a home.

He glanced at his Quest Tracker. The turnips still needed planting, and as much as he wanted to procrastinate, the thought of delaying their food supply gnawed at him. And knowing the system, any punishment for slacking off could be brutal. What if it was something as horrific as a week-long bout of diarrhea? Just the thought made Jianyu shudder in horror.

With a resigned sigh, Jianyu opened up the system's interface and scrolled through it. Spotting a set of basic farming tools, he quickly made the purchase without looking at how many points it was gonna cost.

"Guess being rich has its perks," he muttered to himself with a small, self-satisfied smirk.

Purchases succeed. The goods will be placed near the magical tree. Current total points: 1000 points.

Jianyu walked over to the magical tree, his eyes narrowing slightly as he noticed a set of farming tools neatly laid out on the ground. The tools looked pristine, as if they'd just been delivered. He crouched down, picking up a hoe and inspecting it.