Chapter 46: Planting
Since the blizzard descended, Kevin Keane and the other three had been living and eating with everyone else. They noticed that the food and water from Luna Dawson’s family had a remarkably rejuvenating effect.
Everyone’s bodies, and even their superpowers, were gradually getting stronger. They were thrilled, but they were also tactful enough not to ask any questions.
They suspected it had something to do with Luna Dawson’s Superpower Water being special. After all, she had secrets by the basketful; they could accept her having a few more...
After a week of being nourished by the snowmelt, the villa district in Kensington completely shed its bleak winter appearance, transforming into a fantastical forest.
As far as the eye could see, thick moss and unknown weeds crawled over the walls and ground.
The boxwoods, originally only three or four meters tall, had shot up to twice the height of the villas. Their thick branches spread out wantonly, with dense leaves that blotted out the sky. Fortunately, there was enough space between the buildings for slivers of sunlight to pierce the canopy.
The overgrown roots had cracked the walls of several villas, turning them into teetering, unsafe structures.
Vines of all kinds cascaded down the buildings like green waterfalls, wrapping the walls in a verdant fortress.
Stranger still, flowers that should have been dormant vied to bloom. Their buds were several times larger than normal, their leaves thick and glossy, and their colors unnaturally vibrant.
Waking up to a clear sky and seeing the dreamlike scenery outside the window, everyone was awestruck.
The plant-free buffer zone Luna Dawson’s family had cleared beforehand ensured the hundred-meter area around their two villas remained free of vegetation, allowing them to bask in the brilliant sunlight.
Luna Dawson stepped out of the house and took a deep breath of the fresh morning air.
The damp air, a mixture of fragrant plants and loamy soil, felt sticky and cool against her skin. It was more like the humidity of a southern spring than the usual dry cold of winter.
’It seems this is pretty similar to how the plants and animals evolved in my past life.’
’I have meltwater and spirit spring water in my space, both of which are good for plants and animals. I can finally do some planting experiments myself.’
By the time Luna Dawson woke up, Mrs. Dawson was already up, kneading dough and mixing fillings, planning to make steamed buns for the day.
Because the space could be used for food storage, the family always cooked in large batches. They stored the leftovers in the space, making it convenient to grab food for future trips.
Two large basins of filling sat on the table, where Rhonda Dawson and her grandfather were already busy wrapping buns. On a large, commercial-grade steamer, seven or eight tiers of large buns were already cooking.
Luna Dawson stretched in the courtyard, admired the scenery for a moment, and then went inside to help.
One basin held a shiitake mushroom and pork filling, the other a beef and green onion filling, both mixed with translucent cubes of aspic.
Wayne Dawson was in the kitchen making pan-fried buns, their aroma filling the kitchen and dining area.
Soon after, Kevin Keane and Blake Blue came over to lend a hand after finishing their morning workout in the training room.
Both of them were from the north and had often helped with these kinds of chores at the orphanage when they were young, so the work progressed much faster.
The steamed buns had thin skins and generous fillings. The broth inside soaked through the delicate skin, creating glistening little patterns, and one bite was a burst of soft, savory flavor.
The pan-fried buns had a delightfully crispy bottom. Dipped in a little vinegar, one bite sent an explosion of rich, savory juices, interwoven with minced meat and green onion, melting in the mouth. They were utterly addictive.
"Auntie Lynn, if I’d met you all sooner, I would’ve eaten at Uncle Verne’s restaurant every single day! This is so satisfying!"
Aaron Palmer’s face was gleaming as he ate, but he didn’t forget to heap on the praise, making Mrs. Dawson and Wayne Dawson beam with delight.
"If you like it, eat up. There’ll be plenty more delicious food for you in the future."
Mrs. Dawson was delighted. Everyone was so appreciative, it made her feel a real sense of accomplishment in her cooking.
Miles Dawson quickly jumped in to vie for her favor. "Mom, I want beer duck for lunch! Pay attention to me! You still have your own son here, you know!"
Mrs. Dawson’s eyes filled with affection. "Alright, alright, I’ll make everything."
Luna Dawson drained her cup of soy milk and looked at her grandfather. "Grandpa, I have some seeds. Once we’re done eating, let’s go out to the courtyard and plant them. We can see if we can grow some ’obedient’ seedlings."
The moment he heard it involved planting, Grandpa’s eyes lit up. "Great! I’m full. Let’s go now."
’Luna understood. Her grandfather felt he was getting old. Even though he had awakened a superpower, it wasn’t an offensive one, and he was eager to contribute in any way he could.’
’With Grandpa’s growth-acceleration superpower, combined with diluted spirit spring water for the greenhouse plants, I’ll be able to bring out fresh vegetables without raising suspicion.’
The two of them went out to the front yard, and the others, stuffed from the meal, came out to watch the spectacle.
Luna Dawson took a cup from her space. A single, plump soybean was soaking inside.
"I was thinking, since these evolving plants and animals are starting to gain consciousness, could we maybe cultivate a plant to be a friend?"
This was just a theory of Luna’s. In both of her lives combined, she had never heard of anyone attempting such a thing.
They would just plant one for now to see what happened. Even if it turned aggressive, they were confident they could handle it.
Kevin Keane spoke up softly, "Theoretically, it’s possible, as long as we can provide for its needs."
Evan Olson rubbed his chin. "If this is successful, it would also enhance the security of the villas."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Kevin Keane added jokingly, "If it’s well-behaved, we can even play some music for it—a little prenatal education."
Grandpa took the soybean, dug a small hole, and planted it in the soil.
Luna Dawson poured the entire cup of spirit spring water, which the seed had soaked in, onto the spot and signaled for her grandfather to activate his superpower.
In just a moment, a tender white rootlet burst from the seed coat, plunging into the earth like a silver thread. The two thick halves of the bean then split apart, and pale green leaves pushed through the soil, constantly reaching upward. The soybean shot up at a visible speed, reaching nearly a meter in height.
By now, fine beads of sweat were covering Grandpa’s forehead, so Luna Dawson gently patted him, signaling him to stop.
She then took out another basin of meltwater and slowly poured it onto the plant. As its roots absorbed the water, the branches and leaves began to tremble excitedly.
The stem went from slender to sturdy, its pale green color deepening to a dark, inky green. Grooves like those on an old vine appeared on its surface, which also sprouted fine, sharp thorns.
Its leaves were no longer small and feathery but had expanded into broad, basketball-sized blades with sharply serrated edges. The veins were as thick as rope, marked with distinctive dark purple patterns.
In just under an hour, the beanstalk had shot up to six meters tall, with a trunk half a meter in diameter. Its many branches and leaves twisted together, forming a dense barrier.
Purple flower spikes with a metallic sheen began to emerge from the top. The plant was a world apart from any ordinary soybean.
Suddenly, countless purple vines shot out from a pore on the trunk. They intertwined rapidly, twisting together before slowly coiling into the perfect shape of a bird’s nest.
Immediately after, the pore swelled slightly, and a purplish-black sphere about the size of a potato emerged.
The sphere was attached to the trunk by a single vine as thin as a cotton thread. The moment it fully emerged, it slid gently down the vine and landed squarely in the nest, where it then lay perfectly still.
"Holy crap! This thing’s growth rate is insane!"
"This is just unnatural!"
Everyone stared wide-eyed, their mouths hanging open in shock, unable to utter a word for a long time.