I Build a Shelter in the Eternal Night

"Next, we can start the ’martial eating’."

"’Martial eating’ just means using dipping sauces."

"And you have to prepare four types of sauces."

"Pure vinegar with minced garlic; vinegar with chili oil, minced garlic, and sesame oil; pure soy sauce; and pure sesame oil."

"Each has its own unique flavor."

He picked up another dumpling, dipped it in the vinegar dish, and popped it into his mouth. Only then did he contentedly pick up the bowl of dumplings in soup next to him. "If you have the means, you should eat both dry dumplings and dumplings in soup together. In this weather, a mouthful of hot and sour soup mixed with cilantro is simply heaven."

In just a few moments, he had devoured every last dumpling.

He poured himself another bowl of the scalding dumpling water, sipped it slowly from the edge of the bowl until it was gone, and then wiped his mouth in satisfaction. From his robes, he pulled out the dry tobacco that Wang Mazi had presented to him.

He lit it, leaned back in his chair, and puffed out clouds of smoke with a deeply satisfied smile.

"A dumpling meal must end with a bowl of the water they were boiled in. After you’ve eaten and drunk your fill, you follow it up with a puff of dry tobacco."

"Total relaxation."

"Now *that’s* what I call a real dumpling meal."

"Satisfying!"

As for this meal, he had only one word for it: bliss!

"ROAR!"

Crouching beneath the City Wall, Hey Hey let out an impatient, low growl. It really wanted to eat more, but why had it only been given one? It hadn’t even had a chance to taste it properly.

"Don’t be impatient."

Chen Fan leaned back in his chair and grinned. "Tonight, I’ll have Qi Chong make you a special batch of giant dumplings. This meal was for me."

During the rainy season, there were two things he’d always wanted to do.

One was to eat a hearty meal of dumplings to his heart’s content.

The other was to have a satisfying feast of pork and cabbage stew with glass noodles.

Now, he had finally accomplished one of them.

Almost all the people of the Mortal Realm were currently staying in Mortal City, so he could only talk to Hey Hey. Although Hey Hey could understand a little, it couldn’t respond, which left him feeling a bit unsatisfied.

As the saying goes, a man’s life is a search for a kindred spirit.

If only there were someone here who loved dumplings as much as he did, someone to raise a cup with and share their thoughts, it would be even more gratifying.

’This is the life.’

Chen Fan leaned back in his chair, set down his dry tobacco pipe, and stared out beyond the City Wall, zoning out after his meal. He savored this moment, even though there was nothing to do.

But—he had worked so hard for so long precisely so he could relax a little.

If the result of working so hard was just having to work even harder, wouldn’t all his effort have been for nothing?

’It would be perfect if it started snowing now.’

’The colder the weather, the more fragrant the dumplings.’

’The more fragrant the dumplings, the more flirtatious the sister-in-law.’

The aroma of tobacco filled his nostrils. This was a type of Ghost Plant tobacco that Wang Mazi had procured for him. When lit and inhaled, it could slowly increase one’s Cultivation, though the process was rather slow.

But he liked it a lot.

He liked anything that could increase his Cultivation without him having to actually cultivate.

Although it was a bit expensive, it was completely affordable for the current Mortal Realm.

Just then—

The Sound Transmission Talisman in his robes suddenly grew warm. He picked it up, and Zhou Mo’s voice came through. "Domain Lord, there’s been an incident..."

"Hold on a moment."

Chen Fan sighed softly, interrupting Zhou Mo. He rose wearily and waved his hand. The Maid waiting below the City Wall quickly came forward to clear away the bowl and chopsticks.

’I finally get a moment of peace... and something just has to happen.’

’Don’t they know I’ve been waiting for this dumpling meal for an entire rainy season?’

’Was I just waiting for dumplings?’

’I was fulfilling a promise to my past self from that rainy season, so he wouldn’t think I’d failed to keep my word.’

"Go on."

"A Fake Human Ghost slipped into Mortal City. The Mortal Realm Members guarding the gate made a mistake during their inspection."

"..."

Chen Fan’s brow furrowed slightly, but he didn’t say anything, instead continuing, "Were the losses significant?"

’It was a Low Level mistake, but it’s to be expected, really. Anything done by humans is bound to have problems. The probability is 100%; it’s just a matter of sooner or later. So, what a faction needs to do isn’t to ensure its people make absolutely no mistakes, but to have the ability to control the situation promptly after a mistake is made. Of course, punishment is still necessary. They have to learn their lesson. This will also serve as a warning to the other Mortal Realm Members.’

"We didn’t suffer any losses. I discovered it immediately and brought the situation under control. Only a merchant guild from a Jiangxi faction had one person killed by the Fake Human Ghost’s explosion. It’s almost completely resolved. The main thing is that the Fake Human Ghost dropped something. I think you need to see it, Domain Lord. I was just about to return to camp to report to you in person."

"Stay put. I’m coming to Mortal City."

Chen Fan tucked the Sound Transmission Talisman back into his robes and let out a long, wistful sigh, savoring the lingering aroma of dumplings in his mouth. Then, he took a piece of candy from his robes and tossed it in his mouth.

*Cough.*

’Delicious as they were, they left a strong smell.’

’As the lord of a realm, one must maintain a basic image when meeting people.’

...

「Mortal Realm.」

There was still one hour until dark, and no more merchant guilds were entering Mortal City. It was no longer a good time to be rushing about in the Jiangbei Wilderness. If an accident were to happen on the road, one’s life would be forfeit.

"..."

Chen Fan stepped down from the Nine-Five Dragon Carriage and looked at Zhou Mo, who was waiting for him at the city gate with... another Mortal Realm Member he had never seen before.

The Mortal Realm had recruited many new people this time. He didn’t know most of them, though this one seemed vaguely familiar, as if he’d seen him a few times.

"You were on gate duty today?"

"Reporting to the Domain Lord, yes... it was me..."

A young man, looking to be about twenty-six or twenty-seven, was standing behind Zhou Mo in the black, standard-issue robe of the Mortal Realm, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Then, as if overcome by terror, his legs gave out, and he stammered, "Domain Lord, I... I still have family. I don’t want to die... I..."

"You’re not going to die."

Chen Fan glanced at the various merchant guilds inside the city who were looking his way, his brow furrowing slightly. "Get up. Don’t kneel. If word of this gets out, it’ll sound like I’m harsh and tyrannical with my Mortal Realm Members."

"There weren’t any major losses this time. Your punishment is a fine of three months’ monthly salary."

"Tomorrow, Zhou Mo, you’ll take him and gather everyone responsible for gate duty. Have him explain where he was negligent this time. Then, summarize it as a lesson learned and record it. In the future, when we assign people to guard the gate, they will need to pay attention to this."

"Alright."

"You’re dismissed."

...

「Inside Mortal City.」

Chen Fan looked at the fragment of an Ancient Text that Zhou Mo handed him, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The information recorded on this fragment of an Ancient Text was very simple.

*In four years, the Undersea Ghost Tide will make landfall, and not a blade of grass will grow in Jiangbei.*

But—his expression gradually turned strange. ’How was this recorded? A prophecy? The Ghost Tide is supposed to make landfall in four years because the aura "That One" left in Jiangbei will disappear then. That’s why the Ghost Tide will land.’

’Why does this fragment of an Ancient Text give me the distinct feeling that it’s a man-made fake?’