12 Chapter 12

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“The last batch sold out, the next won’t be ready for a few days,” Cen An said softly. But by then, the Ability Squad would come directly to pick them up, so there would be no need to set up a stall… These details didn’t need to be shared with Tian Yuan.

Tian Yuan smiled for him. “Vegetables really do sell better. The prey I hunt never sells out. Are you heading to the small market today?”

“I am.” Cen An nodded, and the two of them walked toward the market together.

Tian Yuan was still carrying that snake-skin bag, and whatever was inside was moving about energetically.

Since he was with Tian Yuan, Cen An didn’t go home but went straight to his own stall at the market. He set down his basket, and Tian Yuan emptied the contents of the snake-skin bag.

Two rabbits, a bird of some kind, and a snake over a meter long?

Cen An jumped back in surprise at the sight of the brightly colored snake. Tian Yuan waved his hand. “Just my luck. This snake fought with a sharp-beaked eagle, and I got the better end of the deal. Snake meat is tasty; quite a few people like it.”

Cen An wasn’t afraid of snakes—after spending so many days in the forest, he wasn’t squeamish. He just thought the snake’s colors might mean it was venomous. But seeing the eagle, which had been bitten, still lively and hopping about, he said nothing more.

He had smelled blood earlier and assumed it came from the prey in the snake-skin bag. Now he realized it was from Tian Yuan himself and asked, “Injured?”

Tian Yuan rolled up his sleeve, revealing three deep scratches on his arm, crudely bandaged. He puckered his lips. “It’s nothing. The eagle scratched me a bit.”

This world was different from the previous one; injuries and death were commonplace. Compared to that, his wounds were minor.

Cen An hesitated, then used his basket as a shield and took out a packet of Rejuvenation Ointment from his backpack, offering it. “I made this medicine myself. It’s better than what’s sold outside. Take it and use it.”

Tian Yuan didn’t decline. “Thanks! Next time, I’ll catch a fish and give it to you. The fish are really fresh now!”

Cen An wanted to say it wasn’t necessary, but before he could, Tian Yuan turned back to apply the ointment. He shook his head helplessly and went back to organizing the basket.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over them. Cen An instinctively looked up and frowned. The visitor looked familiar... Was it Yu Fei?

Yu Fei was the first ability user Cen An had encountered in this world. He remembered buying a small bundle of sedge from Yu Fei’s stall and being warned by that mischievous little girl from the Qu Yue family...

Yu Fei was still staring at him with that strange, probing look. Cen An forced a smile. “Can I help you?”

Yu Fei’s voice was hoarse. “Are you the one selling the vegetables to the Ability Squad?”

Cen An remained calm. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Maybe you should ask the Ability Squad themselves.”

Yu Fei smirked—a smile that was either mocking or impatient—and suddenly changed the subject. “Give me a packet of that medicine you just used.” He opened his hand, full of crystal cores.

Cen An frowned slightly. He didn’t want too many people knowing he carried medicine.

Suddenly, Tian Yuan looked up. “Huh? What medicine? Is it this?” He handed over a leaf packet. “Sir, you want this? You don’t need to pay so many crystal cores; two would be enough. Though I’ve used half of it already, don’t mind that.”

He happily placed the packet in Yu Fei’s hand, picked up two crystal cores, and cheerfully told Cen An, “I didn’t expect this medicine to be sellable. Let’s make more next time.”

But Cen An clearly saw that what Tian Yuan gave him wasn’t the Rejuvenation Ointment but just a paste made from common herbs mashed together. The same kind of wound medicine they had used on Zhao Wu’s injury—it was probably a typical local remedy.

Tian Yuan shot Cen An a glance, and Cen An lowered his eyes.

Yu Fei looked at the half-used herbal paste in his hand with an indifferent expression, his voice growing even hoarser and harsher. “I’ll remember you.”

After Yu Fei left, Tian Yuan finally sighed in relief. “How did you end up tangling with another ability user?”

Cen An was pondering and casually said, “How do you know he’s an ability user? Isn’t it said only ability users can sense each other’s energy? Are you an ability user too?”

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It was a casual remark, but Tian Yuan nodded. “I am an ability user.”

Cen An was stunned. “You’re an ability user?”

Tian Yuan grinned and flicked up his index finger, a flame flickering like a candlelight above it. “But I’m a low-level one, not even rank one. Look, this is the biggest flame I can produce.”

“Oh…” Cen An looked at the tiny flame; it was barely enough to light a cigarette.

Tian Yuan glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then carefully took out a leaf packet—the very Rejuvenation Ointment Cen An had given him earlier.

Without hesitation, he smeared it on his wound. “Wow! This medicine is strong!”

He explained, “Yongning Village has about five hundred permanent residents, with fifty-two ability users—a ratio of roughly ten to one. Of these fifty-two, twenty-five belong to the Ability Squad. They’re rank one or above and capable of fighting abnormal beasts.”

“As for the other twenty-seven, twenty-two are like me—awakened but below rank one, not much stronger than ordinary people.”

He grimaced as he bandaged himself. Cen An helped him. “What about the remaining five?”

“Two of them are elderly ability users who retired from the Ability Squad but still occasionally return to train the young ones. Two others are a mother and daughter, but they’ve recently gone out of town, so you won’t see them anytime soon. The last one is Yu Fei.”

His expression turned serious. “Be careful around Yu Fei.”

Cen An asked, “Is his ability very strong?”

Tian Yuan shook his head. “Like you, he’s an outsider who settled in Yongning Village three years ago. He’s an ability user, but no one knows what his ability is or how strong he is. They only know he often ventures deep into the mountains where high-level abnormal beasts roam and always comes back unscathed.”

“Also, screams often come from his home,” Tian Yuan frowned. “Some suspect he’s holding someone captive and torturing them. But since he arrived, no one has gone missing in Yongning Village, so no one interferes.”

Cen An nodded, involuntarily thinking of the dog owner. He wondered who had the higher ability rank, Yu Fei or the dog owner.

As the sun gradually dipped west, the small market grew crowded. Cen An didn’t want to disturb Tian Yuan’s business, so he stood and took a walk.

The mischievous little girl from the Qu Yue family wasn’t setting up her stall today, which disappointed him. He bought some iron nails and iron pieces from another stall instead.

That vendor was also an ability user, and Cen An recognized him from the day he bought small cabbages.

The vendor recognized him too, gave a discount, and even threw in a lump of iron as a bonus—how he produced it was a mystery.

But Cen An didn’t see any lime or clay.

Nor did he see any ores or gems, which made him wonder if there were no mineral resources near Yongning Village.

If that were true, it would be troublesome, since many recipes required minerals, especially weapons and equipment.

He did see two familiar faces—the elderly couple he had met on the day of paying stall fees.

They were still selling wild vegetables, bundled in large bunches on the ground.

Cen An asked the price: one crystal core for a big bundle of wild vegetables. He wasn’t sure if that was enough to make a living.

The old grandmother smiled pleasingly. “Young man, pick whatever you like. All are good vegetables; I didn’t bring any that aren’t fresh. They’re delicious even boiled in plain water.”

Cen An pursed his lips, took a crystal core from his scarce stash, handed it over, and squatted to pick some.

They were all edible wild vegetables, sometimes mixed with edible herbs… Huh? This was a bundle of sparrow tongue buds—perfect for making herbal tea...

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“Hm?” His movements suddenly paused as he carefully examined the bundle. “Grandma, where did you gather these wild vegetables?”

The old grandmother was momentarily taken aback. “Well…”

Cen An explained, “I’m not here to pick wild vegetables. I noticed some clay on the roots. I need some clay to make things.”

The old grandmother understood immediately and smiled. “Oh, young man, you have that skill? That’s wonderful! You can make things and trade them for food—that’s much safer than going up the mountain!”

Cen An smiled and responded twice. The old grandmother then told him the location.

It sounded close. With the sun still above the horizon, Cen An decided to go right away.

He told Tian Yuan as he passed by the stall, then carried his basket out of the village.

A small river flowed on the east side of the village. Following the river upstream, turning left at a wild pond… was the destination.

It was right next to the wild pond, where a patch of reeds swayed in the wind, rustling softly.

Cen An hadn’t expected an unexpected gain: reeds could be used to make mats, straw raincoats, and bamboo hats—they were extremely common materials!

Moreover, the wild pond was a good spot for fishing. Once he made a fishing rod, he’d have fresh fish to eat!

Feeling pleased at having opened up a new map area, Cen An took out his iron sword and began cutting down a patch of reeds.

[Congratulations! You have obtained 48 reeds.]

Then he started digging clay. Ten pieces of clay could make a large water jar; six pieces made a small one...

He dug up twenty units of clay in one go before stopping.

By then, the sun had set, and the surroundings grew dim. Though not far from the village, it wasn’t entirely safe here.

He packed up his gathered items, stowed what belonged in his backpack, and hastened downstream with his basket.

The night’s temperature dropped; a cold wind brushed his skin, raising goosebumps.

The tail end of the rainy season had not passed, and a light drizzle began again.

The area was deserted. Cen An didn’t bother with anything else, took thirty reeds, and crafted a straw raincoat. Then he used fifteen reeds to make a bamboo hat.

With himself thus equipped, the fine rain was finally kept out, and he quickened his pace.

Suddenly, a scream pierced the air.

Amid the dense rain, the scream sounded like it came from hell itself, or the last dying wail of someone being devoured by a wild beast...

A shiver ran down his spine. He jerked his head up and realized he had reached the village’s edge.

Ahead stood a dilapidated, abandoned thatch hut—more ruined than a mere shack, it was hard to believe anyone lived inside.

And the scream was coming from within.