The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 262: A Big Enough Haul

Chapter 262: A Big Enough Haul

Opening the black duffle bag, the variety of crystal nuclei was vast, their colors ranging across the spectrum.

Unlike some novels where ability users were restricted to absorbing specific types of nuclei, it appeared that Xu Zeng and he were not constrained in the same way. This revelation filled him with even more hope and determination.

The transmigration, and ability gods were still looking down on them favorably.

Xu Feng stood in the dimly lit interior of the restaurant building, his fingers delicately holding a handful of crystal nuclei of varying colors. The duffle bag beside him held enough for several people to cultivate comfortably without rest for days. He needed to decide what to do with them.

After careful consideration, Xu Feng decided to take five handfuls and store them in his backpack. These would serve as his and then Xu Zeng’s immediate supply, providing him with the means to use his abilities when necessary. The rest of the crystal nuclei remained in the duffle bag, securely hidden in its place. It was essential to ensure the safety of their reserves.

As he placed the duffle bag back in its hiding spot and carefully concealed the trash bag, Xu Feng couldn’t help but gain a deeper appreciation for his brother, Xu Zeng. His actions revealed a sharp intellect on top of the genius he already showed, caution, determination, and inner strength.

Xu Zeng’s resourcefulness in this apocalyptic world was nothing short of amazing, and it made Xu Feng feel grateful to have such a capable and dedicated brother on his side.

The entire process, from retrieving the supplies, then the crystal nuclei and then securing them again, took no more than half an hour.

His backpack was now considerably heavier, loaded with the newfound treasures, but Xu Feng felt a surge of confidence as he gripped the metal baseball bat in his hand.

Exiting the building, Xu Feng’s heart raced once more. The car from earlier had long vanished, and the horde of zombies had moved farther and farther away. Their stench still lingered in the air, a little pungent reminder of the dangers lurking nearby.

Xu Feng scanned the surroundings, but there was no sign of the man who had been betrayed by his companions. Had he managed to escape, or had he become yet another victim of the hungry undead? The uncertainty gnawed at Xu Feng’s thoughts.

At first, he had entertained thoughts of taking the initiative and clearing out straggler zombies, even considering the possibility of forming a team with other survivors if he still lived in this world.

In this place where humanity teetered on the brink of extinction, survival was top priority. It was a life he could have adapted to, a life he might have led if he had never transmigrated. Even in the face of the apocalypse, he had believed in his ability to endure.

However, as he walked in the middle of the unsettling stillness, surrounded by the remnants of chaos, Xu Feng began to realize that adapting to this harsh reality was not as simple as he had once thought.

The peace and calm he had experienced in Nanshan were deeply ingrained in him, a part of his very being, from before he even made it to Nanshan estate. He was not a creature capable of seamless adaptation.

Even in Nanshan, he had struggled to fit into the roles fate had seemingly assigned to him. Instead of succumbing to the life of a pampered young mistress or an unloved concubine, he had chosen to carve out a life he loved, one that was still a work in progress.

Xu Feng’s thoughts were filled with a longing for the familiar comforts he had left behind—the warmth of a loving family, the smiles of his lovers—with some bickering sprinkled in, and the promise of a peaceful life in Donghua.

This world of chaos and danger was not where he truly belonged.

In any world, Xu Feng’s dreams remained a constant, a firm vision that never wavered, but was always a little unclear or almost unreachable. His goals to complete his university education were far from conventional because he had a secret follow up plan.

He intended to finish his studies as a safety net, a fallback option. Afterward, he would return to his adopted grandmother’s village, breathing life back into her old farm and living in the quaint village house.

It was a dream he had never dared to share with his adoptive parents, for fear of breaking their hearts with his unambitious ambitions.

Having easily secured the building and left it as he found it, Xu Feng made his way back to the research compound easily.

The traps he had set remained undisturbed, and the chains guarding the entrance stood strong. Not a single plant within the radius of the compound had been affected during his absence.

With the world beyond the walls effectively locked out, a sense of relief washed over him, and he felt the weight of the metal bat in his hand more keenly.

Once back inside the secure confines of the compound, Xu Feng’s first destination was the newly revitalized greenhouse. The lush greenery within its walls seemed like a healing balm for his weary soul.

As he stepped inside, the chaotic world outside felt like a distant and ugly memory, one that had no bearing on his true desires.

"This really is my dream," he mumbled to himself, gazing at the fruits of his labor from the past day and a half. He had often questioned his own ambition, even feeling a hint of laziness at times.

But as he looked on at the vibrant life within the greenhouse, he realized that his dream was far from lazy. It had required some physical strength and years of accumulated knowledge to understand the intricate relationships between different plants and how to cultivate them together.

It was a secret passion that had stealthily crept into his heart, hidden from the world’s judgment. Farming, the act of nurturing and caring for plants other than a few house plants, had never been a feasible option for a city kid like him.

He had no desire to mass produce crops or cater to a market. His dream was simple: to tend to and nurture the plants (and the people) he loved.