Half a Day Later
Li Mufan, Liu Long, and Fan Qingyue stood on the hillside, gazing down at the bustling scene below, their faces reflecting satisfaction.
The soldiers wielded ordinary swords, chopping down trees more efficiently than axes. Thanks to the strong construction and handicraft skills of Aqiang, Cuihua, and A-Shou, most of the temporary wooden houses and beds had been built in just half a day. By nightfall, everyone would no longer have to sleep in the open air.
After watching for a while, Li Mufan said, "This area is close to the Lost Mountains, which may be home to monsters. Liu Long, take the combat team and patrol the entire territory immediately. If you encounter any ferocious beasts or monsters, deal with them on the spot! If you can't handle it, don't engage; come back and report right away!"
"Yes!" Liu Long responded, then descended the mountain to organize the patrol.
"Qingyue, send three people with five days' worth of dry food and twenty gold coins to venture out of the mountains and gather information. Be sure to find out what's happening outside our territory and whether there are any human villages."
"Yes, sir!" Fan Qingyue replied before heading off.
Now alone on the hillside, Li Mufan frowned deeply, as if trying to unravel a mystery.
"Strange... why hasn't anyone occupied such a prime location before?"
Night Fell
The temporary camp was fully established. After dinner, the soldiers retired to sleep in the wooden houses. With everything still in its infancy, there was no nightlife to speak of.
In Li Mufan's wooden house, the fire crackled, casting a warm glow across the room. Lying on his wooden bed, he glanced at Fan Qingyue, who had already fallen asleep on the bed across from him, her face slightly flushed.
Since the day of their escape, he had not had a stable place to sleep. Fan Qingyue, worried he might catch cold at night, had taken to hugging him as they slept. He had grown accustomed to it over time.
However, unlike his usual temper, he struggled to express his discomfort in this regard. Having read extensively, he was aware of the numerous emperors who had met untimely ends due to such circumstances, and he certainly did not wish to suffer a similar fate.
Turning onto his side, he took a deep breath, calming himself as he contemplated the future development of their base, the composition of their personnel, and how various systems should be established.
After a while, he realized he still lacked a capable strategist with a broader vision.
As the night deepened, Li Mufan, who had eventually fallen asleep, was awakened by the familiar prompt sound of the system. It dawned on him that today was the day he would re-enter the ring world space.
His vision darkened momentarily, then brightened again as he appeared in a familiar room.
Unlike the first time he entered, this once-luxurious room was now stripped bare, containing only a golden bed.
Ten days prior, Li Mufan had entered the ring world space, bringing along A-Shou and a batch of simple food. The follower card had cost 10,000 silvers, and he had spent thousands on food, which was already a significant burden for their financially strained base.
In a fit of frustration, he had ordered the dismantling of the luxury items in his room, exchanging them for 20,000 silvers to cover this hefty expense.
Hurrying out of the room, he made his way to the central round hall. When he noticed it was empty, he paused, confused. Rushing to the entertainment room, he found five colonists playing billiards and watching TV.
Furious, he shouted, "Cuihua! What are you doing here instead of recruiting prisoners for me? And you, Cailian! The food in the colony is almost gone—why aren't you cooking?"
Startled by his outburst, the colonists scattered like startled birds.