C10 I Just Need to Suffer a Little Bit

After freshening up, Lee Yu glanced over at Huang Xiu's room, noting the lights were out. He retreated to his own room to contemplate his next steps.

Living alone would certainly be advantageous for someone wanting to freely traverse the Otherworld. Fewer constraints meant fewer chances of anomalies being detected.

Yet, as Lee Yu switched off his light, the pale moonlight cast a glow on the wall, illuminating the side where Huang Xiu's room lay.

"I'll wait until after the college entrance exams," Lee Yu whispered to himself.

But staying away from the Otherworld wasn't an option. No young man could resist the allure of growing his own strength, especially the kind that lets you leap across rooftops—a childhood dream for many.

Moreover, there was a place he had to check in at—the Great Imperial Capital.

"The real question is how to curry favor with them," Lee Yu said, clapping his hands. He couldn't avoid going there, but he needed to reduce the time spent on each visit.

Thanks to his Thunder Bloodline, the villagers had requests for him, but building rapport was undoubtedly the right move. That way, even if he exhibited any oddities (like vanishing suddenly), they would likely overlook it.

Once he had 'leveled up' enough in this 'Novice Village', he could secure a solid identity to help him stand his ground in the Otherworld.

Lee Yu spent the whole night pondering—envisioning his future conquests in the Otherworld and his commanding presence on Blue Star.

By the time he rose, noon was fast approaching.

"The day's success hinges on a productive noon," he mused.

Lee Yu set out for his usual exercise, discarding the uneaten breakfast along with yesterday's leftovers in the trash.

Upon Huang Xiu's midday return, she gestured quizzically at the sugar and salt on the table. "Yu, what's this for?"

"Oh, I'm planning to whip up some snacks. These are for my experiments," Lee Yu replied, unfazed.

These items were the yield of Lee Yu's mental labor from the night before. Sugar and salt were scarce commodities in the Otherworld's village, leading him to surmise the absence of a nearby sea. The previous day's roast had been all about the meat's natural flavor, with hardly a hint of seasoning.

One item was a widely beloved snack (sugar), and the other, a household staple with significant health benefits.

Lee Yu was confident that these two items would earn rave reviews if brought back.

The best part was how easy they were to manage. Once out of their original packaging and placed in transparent bags, their origins were indiscernible!

The pair finished their meal swiftly. The dishes were prepared by either Huang Xiu's or Lee Yu's mother, delivered at noon for them to enjoy. Their only task afterward was to wash the dishes.

Naturally, Lee Yu took on the chore, freeing up Huang Xiu to focus on her studies.

Later that afternoon, once Huang Xiu left for school, Lee Yu promptly returned to the Otherworld.

As expected, Mu Yinhua was waiting right outside his door.

Lee Yu opened the door and invited Mu Yinhua inside.

A flicker of surprise crossed Mu Yinhua's eyes; the house seemed untouched, yet she entered without question.

"Try this!" Lee Yu said, presenting a transparent bag filled with sugar, followed by another bag, "This is salt. It makes vegetables taste delicious when added to them!"

Mu Yinhua's eyes bulged in astonishment.

She grasped the concept of 'eating,' but this crystalline substance was beyond her ken.

And this was salt? Even in the grandest city she'd visited, she'd never encountered salt like this.

"Of course, you've probably never seen anything like this," Lee Yu realized, smacking his forehead. Popping a sugar cube into his mouth, he asked in the language of the Otherworld, "You get it now?"

Mu Yinhua nodded, signaling her understanding. She mimicked him, tapping her forehead before tossing a sugar cube into her mouth.

Lee Yu: No, you don't get it.

Mu Yinhua's eyes were wide as she crunched away.

It was incredibly tasty! Such food was unheard of in her village.

"This is for you... a token of appreciation for your recent stay," Lee Yu offered.

Mu Yinhua nodded enthusiastically and, in the blink of an eye, vanished from Lee Yu's view, along with the two transparent bags from the table.

"This..." Lee Yu smacked his forehead, feeling somewhat at a loss.

...

Elsewhere, Mu Yinhua approached Elder Mu with two bags in tow.

"Grandpa, this tastes amazing... have you ever seen it?" Mu Yinhua inquired, holding up one of the items. "And this," she continued, presenting the other, "Lee Yu told me it's salt."

"The salt that the high and mighty use is supposed to be just like this," Elder Mu chuckled. "He's got that pampered look of a well-bred young master. Let's distribute these among our clan members so they can all have a taste."

"Why would he come to a small place like ours, though?" Mu Yinhua wondered aloud.

"Conflicts in big families aren't like our mountain skirmishes; they kill without spilling blood. Perhaps he's seeking refuge from such strife. After all, the kingdom itself is on the hunt for the Thunder Bloodline." Elder Mu paused thoughtfully before adding, "When you head to the Great Imperial Capital with him, be sure to observe and learn as much as you can. It's the only way to ensure a long life."

Mu Yinhua nodded, ready to step outside with the items.

Elder Mu, seated on a wooden stool, advised, "Have more people keep watch from a distance, both day and night. Don't pry into his affairs. He might have been escorted by a powerful servant. Those from great families are often shrouded in secrets."

If Lee Yu had overheard this conversation, he would have been startled to learn that the villagers were aware he wasn't spending his nights in the cabin assigned to him by Elder Mu.

But the matter went unspoken. Following Elder Mu's lead, there would be no further probing.

...

As dusk fell, Lee Yu strolled through the village with Mu Yinhua. He observed that the villagers' gazes held not only curiosity and awe but now also warmth.

"It's true, goodwill can be cultivated!"

Lee Yu mused to himself with a sense of accomplishment.

"Should I skip dinner tonight?" he asked tentatively.

Hearing this, Mu Yinhua recalled Elder Mu's earlier words. She nodded and said, "I'll defer to your plan. If you're up for studying tomorrow, just come find me. I'll be right across from your place."

With her words, Lee Yu realized the villagers were deliberately overlooking his comings and goings.

Now, he could freely divide his time between the Otherworld and Blue Star in the days ahead.

Well, now he could start bringing over more snacks and such. Lee Yu mused to himself that this was one upside of low productivity. It meant there were many imperfections, and he could leverage those to curry favor.

"Is this considered a lot?"

On their way back, Lee Yu's gaze was drawn to a dried 'radish' hanging by the window.

"These are plentiful in the mountains," Mu Yinhua said, eyeing Lee Yu with a hint of curiosity.

"Could I trade some candy for it?" Lee Yu asked eagerly. If he wasn't mistaken, that had to be ginseng.

The plant was renowned on Blue Star; even with his limited knowledge of medicinal herbs, he recognized it instantly.

It was surprising to find it so undervalued in the Otherworld, casually hung up as if it wasn't at risk of theft.

"It's not valuable here. I have plenty at home. I'll just give it to you," Mu Yinhua offered. "Your sugar and salt are far too precious."

"No worries, I don't mind a small loss," Lee Yu insisted, his enthusiasm undimmed. "Are there many in the village? I'll take them all."