Chapter 43: Who dug my land!

Dixiya's meaning is very clear.

Just so happens Luo De hasn't learned any real swordsmanship either, so he might as well play to his strengths and take the path of one force breaking myriad laws.

For this.

Dixiya also specially tried to test just how strong Luo De currently is.

As for the result.

That is, there is no result.

Luo De here also lacks precise measuring tools; what can be known is that he can now easily lift a bookshelf holding half a stack of books with one hand, and the bookshelf can remain steady.

The most important thing is.

Very easy.

On his face there is no sign of strain at all.

Although this simple, brute-force method of resisting weight can't measure Luo De's limit, Dixiya already has a rough idea in her mind.

"If you have time, come with me to Sumeru Cheng."

"The blacksmiths here don't have that level of skill; they can't forge a weapon suitable for you."

At dinner, Dixiya said seriously: "It just so happens I need to go back and see if there are any commissions I can take; you just come along with me."

"I have to go to Sumeru Cheng."

Luo De took a sip of juice, thought a bit, then shook his head: "I'm afraid not lately; I have a delivery deadline with Duoli in these few days, and I must inspect her goods when they arrive before I can rest easy."

That's rather a hassle.

Dixiya also had no intention to rush him: "Then just wait until you have time."

"Hmm."

Luo De nodded.

Anyway, he's no longer in the guard squad and doesn't need to face monsters in the sandstorm, so having or not having a weapon doesn't make much difference.

Moreover, in A Ru Cun.

With Kantisi around, there's no need to fear anyone coming to cause trouble.

While they were talking.

In the courtyard, the mercenaries grew happier the more they drank, and the noise and singing became increasingly unrestrained.

Luo De prepared plenty of liquor today—several kinds of spirits most common in the desert, which are also the mercenaries' favorites.

As for food.

He modeled it after the buffet style from his previous life, dividing the cooked dishes into large platters, then each person gets a small plate and takes whatever they want.

Luo De's cooking skills are actually quite average.

But its novelty makes up for it—the eating style is novel, the dishes are novel, and many are fresh styles nobody has tried before.

As for taste, it's passable enough.

Dixiya really likes the sunset fruit stewed meat Luo De makes.

It sounds like dark cuisine.

But that's because familiar fruits can't be found on the Tiwatedalu continent, so Luo De uses the similarly sweet-tasting sunset fruit to make this dish out of necessity.

The finished product is passably satisfying—sour and sweet, and fairly popular.

Dixiya really likes sweet foods.

Among the food she carries, date coconut honey is indispensable.

It's a sugar block made from date coconut, butter, various dried fruits, plus ingredients like the Sumeru rose flower characteristic of Sumeru Cheng.

Depending on the recipe, there are many varieties, with diverse flavors and prices.

Dixiya prefers the date coconut honey made with almonds and raisins, eating a few pieces every day.

When carrying out commissions in the desert.

One must eat even more each day.

"I almost forgot, this is for you."

Seeing Dixiya happily eating the sunset fruit stewed meat, Luo De went back inside and took out a small bag to give her.

"What is this?"

Dixiya, chewing the stewed meat, absentmindedly pinched it.

The bag contained some small pieces, but it was hard to tell what they were.

Upon opening it.

It was a pile of long, milky-white blocks.

"Sniff—"

"Huh? Sugar?"

Dixiya's nose twitched twice, then she blinked in surprise.

Sweetness.

"This thing, is it sugar?"

"Milk candy, I made it myself."

Luo De said with a smile: "I haven't made it in a while, my skills are a bit rusty—try it and tell me how it tastes."

"Milk candy?"

"Again, something fresh I've never heard of."

Since Luo De and Dixiya revealed they came from beyond the stars, he has often come up with similar novel and interesting little trinkets.

Faced with the sweet, fragrant temptation of milk candy.

Dixiya could no longer contain her curiosity, picking up a piece and stuffing the whole thing into her mouth.

As soon as it entered her mouth,

The pleasing milky fragrance and faint sweetness made Dixiya instantly feel so comfortable it was as if all her pores had opened.

"Mmm, delicious."

Crunch, crunch—she chewed a few times, and a piece of milk candy went down her throat.

Still wanting more, Dixiya licked her lips, then picked up another piece of milk candy and tossed it into her mouth.

"Don't rush to chew, hold it for a while."

Luo De thoughtfully reminded her.

"Not chew?"

Dixiya held the milk candy in her mouth, tilting her head to look at Luo De.

"Is there candy that doesn't need chewing?"

But she still obediently followed Luo De's words, not crushing the milk candy again, instead patiently savoring the fragrance and sweetness emanating from it.

"Mm, the flavor really is better."

"Exactly, it's become somewhat, somewhat."

Dixiya still couldn't help but start chewing.

However, looking at her strained expression, this time eating seemed somewhat difficult.

"If you hold the milk candy in your mouth too long, it gets sticky on the teeth, but it will melt away in a moment."

Luo De laughed and explained.

"Delicious, is that all? Any more?"

This minor drawback of stickiness to the teeth was quickly tossed to the back of Dixiya's mind.

She began to savor it carefully.

The lingering aftertaste this milk candy leaves on the teeth is still quite captivating.

Dixiya came to like this flavor.

"You like it, I'll make you more."

Luo De learned how to make milk candy in his idle time before (to amuse children), and unexpectedly it still suits Dixiya's taste.

Moreover, in the short span of these few sentences, she had already eaten several more pieces of milk candy.

"Next time make more, I'll share some with my brothers."

As she ate, Dixiya suddenly had another idea: "Why don't you just open a candy shop? I see the merchants in Sumeru Cheng who specialize in selling Yalda sugar are doing quite well, and their candy isn't as good as yours."

However, this suggestion was, as always, rejected by Luo De.

Even the reason is exactly the same as before.

Lazy.

Making money by working is too troublesome.

Gazing at the large plot of land Luo De had plowed himself, the sandy area he had specially prepared for raising flow-sand eels, and the cages in the yard used for raising livestock.

Dixiya's mouth twitched; for a moment she couldn't tell whether Luo De was joking or really lazy.

This bonfire feast lasted until the moon was bright and the stars sparse.

Dixiya and the mercenaries of the Flaming Light Hunt returned, swaying, to the village's encampment.

Luo De also slept soundly for a long stretch.

However, the night's revelry did not affect his routine.

The next morning, he got up on time as usual.

The flow-sand eels have arrived; we can start setting up their rearing.

Those who will do these preparations together with him.

Plus Dixiya and Kantisi.

The others are hopeless; yesterday they all got roaring drunk, and now they're still sleeping soundly, none having gotten up.

Thus Dixiya, who remembered to come help and drank little, can still arrive on time today.

As for Kantisi.

Luo De also doesn't know why she, busy to the point of exhaustion every day, comes here to help.

But more helpers mean more strength, so Luo De simply didn't ask, even cheerfully directing Kantisi to load the boxes of flow-sand eels onto the cart.

Kantisi showed no displeasure; she did whatever Luo De told her to do.

Having tidied up the feed and boxes, the three set off.

Along the way.

Luo De and Dixiya chatted and laughed, while Kantisi only occasionally interjected a few words.

Compared to the familiar Luo De and Dixiya, her remarks seemed somewhat overly formal, and they didn't have much common ground to talk about.

Thus she spoke little, most of the time just listening to Luo De and Dixiya's casual chat.

Not long after.

The three arrived at the sandy area prepared for the flow-sand eels.

This sandy plot lies beside Luo De's test field, not far away; standing at the edge you can see the situation in the test field.

Habitually.

Luoda stood at the edge of the sandy area, looking toward the test field.

But what met his eyes was a scene of utter devastation, as if ten thousand horses had galloped through.

The vegetables he had brought back from the old house had all been dug up, not a root left; obviously the green leaves, manhandled into mush, were scattered all over the ground.

And it's not just that these leafy vegetables are gone.

The painstakingly laid-out grass squares were also pulled up, even the lime-branch fences uprooted root and all, thrown around like trash and scattered everywhere; this land, which had originally been tidied, is now riddled with holes, nothing but pits and depressions like a honeycomb, making it hard to bear to look at.

"".

Dixiya and Kantisi, who also saw this scene, looked at Luo De in unison.

He clenched his fists, shaking all over with anger, his teeth gritted so tightly they clicked.

Slight tilt.

A roar echoed across the entire wasteland, and even the villagers far away in A Ru Cun vaguely heard some sounds.

""Yes! Who!""

""Who dug up my land!!!"

(End of chapter)