Chapter 142

Chapter 142: New Life

In the Tixilam Mountains, amidst the verdant forests, the red maple leaves still fluttered quietly in the breeze, falling from the treetops to dance through the air before settling on the clear water, turning the stream crimson with autumn.

In the Maple Leaf Courtyard, half-meter-tall weeds had grown between the flagstones, lush and vibrant, though there were no herbivores to keep them in check, allowing them to grow unchecked.

Should I raise some animals? The young lady thought, as a gentle breeze brought Lolan Hill back to this courtyard she had long been away from. Her light boots stepped on the flagstones, while the grass brushed against her calves, tickling her slightly.

The flagstones were covered with traces left by rain, a thin layer of sand and mud drying into wavelike patterns.

Walking across these flagstones, Lolan Hill arrived at the door of her home.

It was still the same as before, a round wooden house made of maple wood, reminiscent of a witch’s abode in fairy tales, exuding a sense of fantasy and mystery.

Unlocking the door, Lolan Hill entered and then went into her bedroom, pushing open the windows that had been sealed for a long time to let fresh air in.

She picked up a small wooden bucket and fetched water from the stream nearby. The water was clear but cold. Returning to the wooden house, she used a small whirlwind to rinse the corners of the room.

After cleaning everything, she used a gentle breeze to dry the moisture in the air, leaving a refreshing scent in the room. Occasionally, the fragrance of the red maple wood could be smelled. The house and furniture were made of rare Silver-grade red maple wood, which was likely only affordable by the High Nobility.

With a soft sound, the fireplace, long unused, was lit with dried grass and twigs. Then the young lady added more firewood, watching the orange-red flames ignite. After placing a ceramic kettle on the stove, she began to prepare dinner herself.

In the courtyard, the golden maple rice planted before had already ripened and was harvested, stored in clean ceramic jars in the storage room inside the house.

Lolan Hill walked into the room, scooped out a bowlful of rice, washed it, and prepared to steam it into sweet fragrant rice.

Looking at the grains of rice and the white broth, she suddenly recalled something she saw as a child: a wooden box with a hand-cranked fan inside that could separate the rice by blowing away the lighter husks, which would fall into a funnel at the front, while heavier broken grains or debris would also be blown to the middle and fall down, leaving only the plump grains to follow the airflow and drop into a woven basket outside.

As a child, she always found this thing amazing but didn’t know its name until later when she learned online that it was called a winnowing fan.

Sitting on a small chair by the fireplace, Lolan Hill slowly turned the grilled fish in her hand. The fish, cleaned and salted, was skewered with thick wooden sticks and continuously roasted over the fire.

The flame burned steadily, and the fish gradually turned golden brown. She sprinkled some pepper and chili powder on it, and the aroma of food filled the air. At this moment, the lid of the ceramic pot kept flipping, steam rising, and the rice was almost cooked.

[Grilled Fish Orange Rice] (Rare Silver Grade): High-quality Extraordinary rice and oranges, paired with freshly grilled high-quality fish meat, perfectly balanced seasoning, very delicious, can replenish nutrients, improve physique, and accelerate cultivation. It is recommended to eat immediately, as storing it will cause the quality to decline.

Seeing this message pop up in the system, Lolan Hill’s eyelids twitched. Was the system trying to entice her to cook?

But upon further reflection, it did seem quite good. If she could have eaten Extraordinary material dishes every day in Hope Lane, her cultivation speed might have increased significantly, allowing her to advance faster and avoid critical moments.

Although her Demon Sequence didn’t need external assistance, she felt that her own accumulation was somewhat slow. (Actually, compared to her peers, it was already quite fast.) A great person once said, “A thousand years is too long; seize the day.” Life should shine brightly within limited time to avoid regrets.

Picking up the tender white fish meat, combined with the fluffy rice, the slight spiciness and numbing sensation of the fish mixed with the faint sweetness of the rice, filling her mouth.

It was really delicious, Lolan Hill thought, feeling a sense of satisfaction and happiness welling up.

After finishing her meal, she returned to her room, lit the orange fruit night lamp, and began writing about her reflections and summaries from her southern journey.

At night, the yellow light from the small house spilled out, making the courtyard under the starry sky feel particularly warm and soft.

—

After Clancia defeated the West Wind Royal Family and captured Solande, they finally gained a foothold on the continent. Although many places were still unsettled domestically, other countries began to take notice of this new nation, focusing on its origins, history, and aspirations.

The brave performance of the Rabbit-eared Tribe on the battlefield shattered the old stereotypes that had persisted for a millennium. Despite many foreigners abroad still not believing due to lack of direct experience, many people within Clancia developed a favorable impression of them.

No matter what era, fighting side by side and sharing life and death can quickly bring people closer emotionally. The Rabbit-eared Tribe, with their fearless charges and heroic battles, won the recognition of the people of this country. In the upcoming new era, they finally had a place.

Rarely seen in public before, this tribe of rabbit-eared people began appearing frequently in various cities of Clancia, bringing abundant food and fruits, selling them at reasonable prices, greatly alleviating the famine after the war and giving people peace of mind.

People no longer looked down on or despised these beastmen who were different from themselves. Rabbit-eared people could walk on the streets like normal people, buy things, eat at restaurants, and drink at bars without being thrown out.

All humans are born equal, but some are more equal.

Thanks to the generous food provided by these Rabbit-eared people, their safety during trade was also taken seriously by the domestic security teams. If they went missing or were injured, someone would investigate and search for them. This treatment was unprecedented among other beastmen, even those fox-eared people who once lived comfortably in the West Wind did not receive such preferential treatment.

This respect and favor made other beastmen envious. While most beastmen could only sell their physical labor for menial work, these Rabbit-eared people could easily enter upper society, respected by others. They could choose from a variety of professions, such as accountants in chambers of commerce, clerks in the military, opening their own shops, working as medical personnel, or even serving as nuns in temples.

These things they once dared not hope for were now realized. A sense of happiness and pride rose from the depths of their hearts, overflowing within each member of this tribe.

Thank you C.C. and L.L., Lingguang Shan, Yuanwang Fengjing~ for your support.