Chapter Thirteen: A Familiar Scent

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Feng Zhong: A descendant of Feng Hou, a key subordinate of the Human Emperor’s ancestor, Emperor Xuanyuan Huangdi, who has deeply inherited the true teachings of his ancestor Feng Hou’s “Grip of Wonders Classic.”

Chang Yin: A descendant of Chang Xian, another important subordinate of Emperor Xuanyuan Huangdi, who has profoundly mastered the authentic transmission of Feng Hou’s “Classic of Nature.”

This information was obtained by Lin Mu after his conversation with Chang Yin.

Feng Zhong serves as the village military officer, while Chang Yin holds the position of village administrative officer—these are the official village roles assigned to them by the system, which Lin Mu has not altered; currently, this is the best distribution.

Feng Zhong oversees military affairs, and Chang Yin manages internal governance—a perfect combination of military and civil leadership, seamless and flawless!

As for Lin Mu, he currently finds himself with nothing to do... The village population is very small at the moment, and as a divine-level scholar, Chang Yin alone can handle all administrative matters.

Recalling the early days of establishing the village, when he worked like a dog and bore the entire burden alone, hoping for auxiliary talents was out of the question; even finding a villager with a sixth-tier aptitude was difficult.

Standing in the village assembly hall, Lin Mu pondered for a long time while Chang Yin had already gone off to attend to his duties.

Currently, construction projects underway in his territory include a basic blacksmith shop, a primary mining site, an initial shipyard, a beginner’s fishing ground, and a simple lumberyard. Other projects remain on hold due to a lack of personnel and specialized talents.

There are also foundational infrastructure projects awaiting development, such as a general store, a basic marketplace, a preliminary quarry, a primary clinic, and a basic barracks—all essential.

Each facility is indispensable. For a territory to thrive healthily and prosper, comprehensive, well-rounded improvements and complete facilities are crucial.

One of the territory’s most vital resources is farmland.

The arable land in the territory is only now being assigned hands to cultivate. However, the Yinglong Valley land is mostly extremely fertile black soil, highly favorable for planting.

Farmers currently clear new fields at a slow pace due to various limitations.

In the “Mythic Three Kingdoms” game, native NPCs generally possess robust physiques and skilled farming techniques. Typically, one NPC can cultivate about 30 acres. Thanks to the early intervention of the “Nüwa” central AI, the natural laws favor player lords: the production cycle allows two harvests per month—planting at the start of the month, harvesting mid-month, then planting again mid-month and harvesting at month’s end, with a 15-day cycle.

Thanks to Lin Mu’s territory’s divine-level attribute bonuses, the planting and harvesting intervals are halved, allowing four harvests a month—twice that of other players. If Lin Mu follows his plan for Yinglong Valley, farmland must reach 600 million acres, requiring 20 million labor-days of land clearing to complete agricultural production. Of course, this is an ideal estimate; once all of Yinglong Valley is fully explored, adjustments will be made based on reality, inevitably reducing the planned acreage considerably.

Yinglong Valley measures roughly 800 by 800 kilometers, totaling 640,000 square kilometers—one square kilometer equals approximately 1,500 acres, for a total of 960 million acres. Developing 600 million acres of farmland is an immense undertaking.

Players have calculated that one farmer can clear about 20 acres per day on average. Given Lin Mu’s territory’s flat terrain, vast grasslands, fertile soil, and lack of obstructive stones, the clearing rate could reach 25 acres daily. To develop 600 million acres then requires 200,000 farmers working for about 120 days.

However, many conditions restrict this ideal scenario. Each farmer needs appropriate farming tools, resting pavilions must be built, and various other constraints must be addressed. The territory’s indices must be well-developed and fully equipped for overall efficiency to approach budgeted expectations.

Currently, Lin Mu has only 50 farmers—a very small number. Ideals are lofty, but reality is harsh.

Planting for one day, growth for two days, harvesting for four days—the crops in Lin Mu’s territory mature in seven days, a very short production cycle. If the workforce scales up, food shortages will be resolved easily.

This is merely early-stage support from the natural laws for players; later revisions will remove this advantage. Lin Mu is aware of this and has decided to temporarily make agriculture the second-largest industry, behind weapon and equipment production.

Currently, food market prices hover around five copper coins per unit, while decent weapons cost about 1,500 copper coins, a significant disparity.

However, as food is the most critical material for war, its price fluctuates with the situation.

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Regarding weapons and equipment, they also depreciate. The key is to seize this golden early period to earn huge profits. Food will be stockpiled for now.

“Amass grain, build high walls...”

Lin Mu’s territory is currently isolated from external trade, relying solely on the basic marketplace.

The basic marketplace is a fascinating building that can connect to other players’ marketplaces. At present, Lin Mu is the only player with a territory in all of Huaxia. The marketplace also connects to the nearest county town’s market.

The connection ranges are as follows: the basic market covers the county, the intermediate market the prefecture, the advanced market the province, and the ultimate market nationwide.

Native NPCs also use these marketplaces, an important feature.

But don’t think this is all convenient—Lin Mu knows the catch. As the marketplace level increases, so do transaction taxes: 10% at basic, 20% intermediate, 30% advanced, and 50% at the ultimate level. These taxes act like vampires, draining profits and severely limiting development.

Lin Mu’s basic marketplace is not yet built—only a pit exists. No blueprints or architects are available, and construction by amateurs is slow. This is a special condition for basic buildings; professional builders are not required but speed suffers greatly.

Lin Mu estimates the basic market will be operational in three days, after which it can connect with the Dongye County market.

Having arranged affairs, Lin Mu logged off. He had spent nearly half a day in-game, and his real body must be starving.

The game helmet requires players to log off for eating, drinking, and hygiene.

Lin Mu summoned his attribute panel and clicked the logout icon in the top-right corner.

“—System prompt: Are you sure you want to log off? Please log off in a safe location; otherwise, consequences are at your own risk!”

“Yes!” Lin Mu whispered.

His figure turned into a white light and vanished.

“Whoosh...” Darkness enveloped Lin Mu’s vision, as if his soul returned to his body. When he opened his eyes, he saw the blue interior of the game helmet—his first time logging off since starting the game.

The helmet was exquisitely designed, greatly aiding player sleep. When logged in, the real body enters deep sleep. However, prolonged wear inevitably causes fatigue, necessitating rest.

Removing the helmet, Lin Mu looked around his familiar, modest room.

He had moved out long ago to a more luxurious guild dormitory, but that place was like a melting pot of all kinds of people—black, white, yellow, blue, green... Now he felt this simple place was warmer.

He hadn’t cooked—he could cook well, but lacked ingredients. He rarely bought groceries to cook, usually eating out or instant noodles. As a professional gamer, one must cultivate the habits of such players, though those were only the habits of lower-tier players. Now he was different; he would not neglect his own stomach.

Lin Mu checked his wallet: about 300 RMB, roughly a week’s worth of food money. Sighing, he reflected on his modest state. Now he considered himself a man with a career, carrying all his cash, tidying his appearance, washing up, and heading out to eat.

Many used electronic payments, but Lin Mu still preferred cash—more tangible.

He didn’t forget his smart watch, a hard-earned purchase. It performed all the functions of an old phone but was far more advanced, a testament to modern technology. It included virtual laser tech, virtual holography, 8G photon communication, weak AI assistant, and more—very advanced.

Some old smart watches he had used for seven or eight years.

Same house, same person, same things—but a different self... Things change, people change.

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He didn’t know what lay ahead.

First, he went to the bathroom for a shower to wash off fatigue, changed into clean, fresh clothes, and walked along the familiar yet strange street.

...

The streets were still bustling with many people. It was New Year’s Day, with many shops running promotions—lively and festive. The “Mythic World” game had been open for over half a day, and many players, like Lin Mu, had logged off to eat and rest. Some game secrets remained unrevealed; life went on as usual.

Lin Mu’s hair was slightly long and black, covering his ears and a bit messy; he rarely tidied it. At 173 cm tall, he was average, not tall. With current technology and nutrient solutions, physical quality could easily improve if nutrition was adequate. His physique was robust.

He wore a cheap gray shirt, a black jacket, and light blue jeans. His appearance was ordinary, but his eyes were sharp and steady. Compared to before, a faint confident smile now graced his lips—a self he did not fully recognize.

This was the present Lin Mu: an ordinary mortal, a humble scholar.

Perhaps those obsessively trying to uncover his secrets never imagined such an unremarkable man could have such extraordinary experiences and achievements.

Huaxia, the world’s second superpower, had a very developed economy. The streets were lined with many trees and greenery, well maintained.

Lin Mu’s city, Xinghai, was one of Huaxia’s most prosperous regions—a city built with countless tears and sweat. Ancestors planted trees for future generations' shade, and life remained very good.

The restaurant Lin Mu intended to visit was not far from his rental street, just minutes away. He strolled leisurely, observing his surroundings.

Since moving out, he hadn’t returned here for a long time and felt nostalgic.

Familiar streets, familiar calls, familiar smells...

There was a famous food street here, offering abundant delicacies. Lin Mu had eaten here for many years. Though not as good as the guild cafeteria, the food was still delicious.

He ordered four dishes and a soup—not expensive, around 200 RMB—a relatively nutritious meal, which he enjoyed fully.

It took about half an hour to finish and leave, his pockets lighter.

His money had mostly gone to buy the helmet—he was poor. He might have to sell some copper coins for cash. Though copper coins were very useful in-game, he had no food in reality; important things must wait.

Economic stability was a prerequisite for development; one must eat well to work hard. Lin Mu understood this well.

“I have a career now. Once I’m wealthy, I’ll hire a dozen cooks to make meals and enjoy the luxury of never lifting a finger,” Lin Mu vowed inwardly.

He exchanged the rest of his money for instant noodles and snacks, carrying them home. No melodramatic scenes occurred, no heroic rescues—what a pity, he thought with a chuckle.

Back home, he put things away but didn’t log in immediately. Instead, he exercised lightly: 50 push-ups and 100 squats to stretch and relax. After showering and feeling refreshed, he donned the helmet and entered the “Mythic Three Kingdoms” world once again.