RIIDMDR chapter 7

 

“Then why didn’t he transform into a human?” Nan Xu wondered.

Ning Jian coughed softly, perhaps feeling that his child was clueless. He replied somewhat awkwardly, “He’s been flying for so long; his spiritual energy must be depleted.”

Nan Xu nodded.

Ning Jian’s mouth was dry from talking. He took a sip from the bamboo tube beside him. The moment he took a sip of the bamboo tea, his eyes lit up. He glanced at the cup in his hand in disbelief. “This…this tea…”

Nan Xu thought he wasn’t used to it, so he stood up and said, “I haven’t found any tea trees in the mountains yet. This cup is made with roasted bamboo leaves that I picked from the bamboo forest behind the mountain. If you don’t like it, I’ll get you a glass of plain water.”

Seeing Nan Xu reach out, Ning Jian quickly leaned back to protect the cup. “No, no, no. I’m used to it.”

With that, he downed the entire cup in one gulp, as if he were afraid Nan Xu would snatch it away.

Nan Xu:?

After finishing his drink, Ning Jian felt a bit awkward, but Ning Sui explained to Nan Xu, “This bamboo tea has some spiritual energy in it.”

Ning Jian nodded hastily. “Could we go to the back mountain to see the bamboo forest?”

Nan Xu didn’t mind. He was also curious about Ning Sui’s explanation. He couldn’t see, touch, or feel spiritual energy, and he hadn’t felt it at all while drinking the tea. So, he took the father and son to the back mountain.

The bamboo forest remained lush and green, and the sprouted shoots had grown considerably taller. The wind rustled the bamboo, creating a refreshing sound.

Ning Jian picked a bamboo leaf, chewed it, and then shook his head at Ning Sui. The father and son seemed a little depressed.

Nan Xu knew without asking that they hadn’t sensed any spiritual energy in the leaves.

“Maybe it’s the water?” Nan Xu suggested, changing his train of thought.

They circled back to the stream and drank from it, but there was still no spiritual energy. All three of them were frustrated this time.

After searching fruitlessly, they returned to the cabin. The sun was high in the sky; it was already noon. Nan Xu wasn’t sure if the bird demon wanted lunch, but he knew it was impolite to entertain guests without offering them a meal at lunchtime. He warmly invited them in, and Ning Jian and the others were a little embarrassed. However, Ning Ju, the glutton, refused to leave, so the others stayed and ate as well.

Nan Xu didn’t have much to offer them, but he generously treated them to a meal. He also wanted to learn more about the world beyond the mountains from them. He had also heard that the Taifeng Mountains, where the Bird Tribe lived, weren’t far away. If he could establish good relations with them and they could stay overnight from time to time in the future, wouldn’t that improve his performance?

To foster long-term ties with his neighbors, Nan Xu spent all his savings to prepare several dishes. After more than half an hour, four or five bamboo plates were set on the table. The meal included wild vegetables and mushrooms from the mountains and fish and shrimp from the stream, all cooked in various ways. It was the most sumptuous meal Nan Xu had had since arriving here.

The group gathered around the table and clinked their tea glasses.

“I’m sorry for not hosting you well today. I haven’t been here long, so I haven’t experienced much good food. I’ll treat my bird friends to more human dishes when I come back sometime,” Nan Xu said.

“No, no,” Ning Jian said hurriedly. “We Demon eat casually, and cooking like this is rare. It’s an honor to meet a human today and taste their food.”

Ning Ju jumped up and down on the table in frustration before anyone else could exchange a few pleasantries. Ning Sui, slightly annoyed, apologized for his brother. Nan Xu had spent two days with Ning Ju and was well aware of his gluttonous nature, so he didn’t mind.

Ning Jian took one bite of the fried river shrimp and was so enchanted that he ignored all the formalities, eagerly trying the other dishes as his excitement grew.

Ning Sui and Ning Ju’s mother also ate with relish; they were too busy to talk much.

Ning Jian finished his meal with a sigh. “Over a thousand years ago, I could taste this pure spiritual energy. But now, alas!”

The spiritual energy in the demon world is becoming increasingly scarce—a fact known to all demons. Consequently, several races have fought for centuries for a place with abundant spiritual energy. To protect the Taifeng Mountains, the Bird Tribe has fended off countless attacks from other races in recent centuries. However, for the sake of their survival and their offspring, they cannot yield, even at the cost of casualties.

This demonstrates how rare spiritual energy is in today’s demon world. Yet this young human named Nan Xu, who lives in the mysterious Zhuyu Mountains, possesses subtle spiritual energy.

Nan Xu listened to Ning Jian’s words with a touch of regret. He recalled how, thousands of years ago, this world was like a fairyland, abundant with spiritual energy. Powerful individuals from all races emerged one after another, and flowers bloomed in profusion.

However, two thousand years later, due to a lack of spiritual energy, not even their young could transform.

“Does all human food carry such strong spiritual energy?” Ning Sui asked curiously.

He didn’t know how to answer. He couldn’t sense spiritual energy; now, it was impossible for him to return to his original world and find someone to cook a meal to determine whether this was an isolated case or a common occurrence.

“Young Master, would you be interested in moving to the Taifeng Mountains and living there permanently? Our bird tribes are very friendly, and the mountain scenery is incredibly beautiful.” Ning Jian had his eye on Nan Xu.

Ning Ju, who had been enjoying his meal, paused at this, his round eyes looking at Nan Xu expectantly.

Nan Xu was silent for a few seconds, lost in thought. Suddenly, the system sounded a warning, emphasizing its presence. When Nan Xu first received the property rights certificate, he and the system signed a contract stipulating that he could not leave Zhuyu Mountain until he completed the system’s final mission.

Even without that contract, Nan Xu wouldn’t simply move into another race’s territory. Knowing this was a world inhabited by Demon, he was even less likely to abandon his territory. He was hesitating because he wanted to use the bird tribe’s company to venture out of the mountain and find what he needed.

However, since the system had issued the warning, he could not leave Zhuyu Mountain at all.

Moreover, perhaps because he had been there since arriving in this world, Zhuyu Mountain gave him a sense of belonging. Sometimes, Nan Xu had the illusion that the mountain was his.

“Zhuyu Mountain means something different to me. It’s desolate and remote, and no one can fly directly over it. I want to stay here and open a inn so my fellow demons have a place to rest.” Nan Xu said righteously.

“An inn?” Ning Jian asked, puzzled.

Nan Xu then remembered that the plaque the system had given him was still in the warehouse because he didn’t have a ladder. Looking at this plain, unadorned wooden house, who would guess that it’s a inn?

Nan Xu told Ning Jian about his plan to open an inn. He even went to the warehouse and pulled out a signboard to prove his resolve. This convinced Ning Jian to stop trying to persuade Nan Xu to move.

“The young master is truly kind,” Ning Jian exclaimed. “Having an inn like this on Zhuyu Mountain will be very convenient for the many passing creatures.’

The meal was a delight for the guests. Afterward, still appreciating Nan Xu’s rescue of Ning Ju, Ning Jian’s family insisted on giving him gifts of gold, silver, and treasures. But Nan Xu needed far more than that. As he gazed at Ning Ju’s soft fur, a thought flashed through his mind:

“It’s certainly necessary…” Nan Xu said hesitantly. “I’m not familiar with the customs of the bird tribe, so perhaps presumptuously, I’m asking if you have any fowl down.”

Ning Ju paused, then asked, bewildered, “Sir, what use would you have for this?”

Nan Xu rubbed his head and shyly admitted, “My inn still lacks bedding, and I’m not accustomed to sleeping on straw daily.” Ning Jian had almost forgotten that humans lacked the warmth of down. Seeing Nan Xu’s distress, he smiled and said, “That’s easy. There are many unenlightened birds living in the Taifeng Mountains. I’ll go back and tell my fellow tribesmen to persuade those birds to donate some of their feathers in gratitude.”

Persuade unenlightened birds?

Nan Xu’s mouth twitched. He looked at Ning Jian and felt that his seemingly upright face was deceptive.

Before the bird tribe left, Ning Sui transformed into his original form and helped Nan Xu hang the plaque on the gate, making it seem legitimate.

This was Nan Xu’s first time witnessing a fairy transform. Ning Sui’s true form was that of a majestic golden eagle: its head and neck were brown; its body, dark brown; its wings, speckled with white; and its claws, sharp. It looked incredibly ferocious, and Nan Xu watched it with unblinking fear and awe.

Nan Xu escorted them a dozen miles away. On the way, the sluggish system suddenly issued a quest:

[Side Quest ②: Trade with the Bird Tribe.]

Nan Xu stared at the quest. If the system lagged any further, he would have to send away all of the Bird Tribe’s guests.

However, since the system said so, it meant that the Bird Tribe had something he needed. He had mentioned bird down, and Ning Jian had offered to give it to him, so that option was ruled out. What else could it be?

He certainly hadn’t imagined it in vain. As the group walked and chatted along the rugged mountain road, Nan Xu asked about the Bird Tribe’s lives. He learned that these demons needed to eat, too. Because spiritual energy was dwindling, the demons avoided using spiritual power whenever possible. They had learned to eat grains and cook like humans, but ultimately, they still followed their instincts. Few demons bothered to learn how to make their meals delicious; as long as their food was well-cooked, that was good enough for them.

Nan Xu glanced at Ning Ju, who was sleeping soundly on Ning Sui’s head. No wonder the little bird was so greedy.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Nan Xu’s mind:

“Where do grains come from? Do any demons grow them themselves?” Nan Xu asked.

“Of course,” Ning Jian replied. “Some demons in our bird tribe are gentle and dislike war, like the red-throated quail. They’ve cultivated fields and grown rice and wheat. I heard that humans enjoy these. Does your benefactor need them?”

Nan Xu seemed to understand what the system was asking him to trade. “Of course I do. I’m worried about food. Do any of the Red-throated Quail have any extra to trade with me?”

“Of course they do. When my son, Ning Sui, brings you feathers, I’ll send some along,” Ning Jian said generously.

Anticipating the grain delivery that would soon arrive, Nan Xu felt especially grateful to the Ning family. Since he lacked the money to exchange for the red-throated quail, he agreed to trade roasted bamboo tea instead.

The bird tribe received spiritually rich bamboo tea, and Nan Xu received grain. Both sides felt they had the upper hand.

Inspired by this, Nan Xu inquired about other species that cultivated crops. After a moment of thought, Ning Jian replied, “The black bear tribe raises bees for nectar, and the mountain squirrel tribe hoards chestnuts and peanuts. I’ve never heard of any other species.”

Indeed, there were others. Nan Xu suddenly felt a sense of purpose in his life. However, Ning Jian added that these two species lived far from Zhuyu Mountain and they might not be able to contact them for a while.