Chapter 57: Because, I have once seen a god

In short.

The development of fate is just so wonderful.

Luo De and A De Ba Yi, this pair of mutual disdain, ended up living together by coincidence due to a theft incident.

But even if Luo De found the best doctor in Kawanyi and used the best trauma medicine, A De Ba still has no ability to care for himself.

Although Sumeru's medical level is top-notch across Teyvat, it's still not strong enough to regenerate flesh when skin and muscle are gone.

Furthermore, A De Ba Yi firmly rejected Kantisi's suggestion to recuperate in the village.

Thus the burden of caring for him fell entirely on Luo De and Ke Lai.

Suddenly, there was one more person in the house.

For Luo De, even though almost half a month has passed, he still feels somewhat unaccustomed.

Especially since A De Ba Yi is a patient and a man, many aspects are inconvenient for Ke Lai to care for, so Luo De has to step in to help.

This makes Luo De feel even more awkward.

Fortunately.

A De Ba Yi didn't constantly complain about heaven and earth just because he became disabled, and he also didn't let Luo De take care of him for nothing.

Although the two had many conflicts before, he still seriously gave Luo De some pointers, to serve as compensation for Luo De's care.

The most important of these is:

That the breed of mushroom chicken Luo De bought from Duoli is incorrect.

"That merchant didn't cheat you; the mushroom chicken breed she sold you is excellent, whether meat quality or the eggs she lays, in the rainforest region it's top‑grade goods."

"In terms of raising, this mushroom chicken is indeed easy to keep; aside from not being overly frightened, it can adapt to most environments."

"You also deserve credit for being thoughtful and knowing to use ice mist flowers to lower the temperature in the chicken coop."

"But."

"You have overlooked a most important issue."

A De Ba Yi paused, then uttered two words: "Disease."

"Disease?"

Luo De furrowed his brows: "Tinari told me this mushroom chicken has strong resistance and is the best breed for raising in the desert."

"Whoa"

Upon hearing Tinari's name, A De Ba Yi suddenly realized and said: "I said you must have an expert guiding you behind the scenes; otherwise, as a desert dweller, how could you possibly get everything so precise?"

Having said that,

Lying in the rocking chair, A De Ba Yi swayed leisurely and said: "The disciple of the Nafis Sage is indeed quite capable."

"However,"

"I heard that guy's physique is no good; he never set foot in the desert at all, and his research was all done in a lab using simulated environments."

"Tsk tsk, no wonder your every step looks professional, yet you make such a basic mistake."

Luo De's mouth twitched.

He roughly understood A De Ba Yi's meaning.

Tinari basically couldn't come to the desert for field investigation, so the knowledge he gave Luo De about desert farming and animal husbandry is actually pure theory.

And the biggest problem with pure theoretical knowledge

is the lack of practical verification.

The environment simulated in the lab is ultimately just a simulation and cannot compare to the real desert climate.

A De Ba Yi's words also confirm this: "The environment in the desert is completely different from that of the rainforest region."

"When you selected the breed, you only focused on heat tolerance, cold tolerance, drought tolerance, and coarse feed tolerance."

"But you completely failed to consider."

"Besides climate, in raising livestock in the desert there is an even more serious problem."

"That is, the diseases prevalent in the desert are completely different from those in the rainforest region."

It must be said.

Having a scholar with extremely high professional expertise giving guidance from the side, Luo De can indeed avoid many detours.

Under A De Ba Yi's explanation and advice,

Luo De found the contact person Duoli left in the village and placed another order for a batch of chicks.

As for these chicks of the wrong breed on hand, according to Duoli's policy, strictly speaking they cannot be returned for after‑sales service, but once the contact person understood the issue, he immediately patted his chest and said it's a small matter, and he can help Luo De handle this batch of chicks by way of exchange.

Such a handling method is naturally the best.

After the negotiation was settled,

Luo De then went to buy plenty of ingredients with great enthusiasm, preparing to properly thank A De Ba Yi that evening.

Busy time always passes quickly.

After a sumptuous dinner, Ke Lai went to study today's lessons, while Luo De and A De Ba Yi each lay on a rocking chair, side by side under the night sky, comfortably enjoying the gentle breezes.

"The matter of the mushroom chicken."

"Thank you."

This time A De Ba Yi truly helped me out a great deal.

Luo De is not someone who doesn't know gratitude.

Moreover, he and A De Ba Yi have no grudges; earlier he simply went out of his way to pick a fight because he coveted the other's technique.

Now A De Ba Yi, without holding past grievances, rescued Ke Lai and taught me knowledge, letting me avoid a huge livestock loss.

So Luo De's thanks this time truly comes from the heart, thanking him.

It's just that A De Ba Yi's mouth is still as foul as ever: "Come on, you, being all hypocritical; with this effort you'd be better off reading more books."

Heh—

Luo De chuckled, not wanting to argue further with A De Ba Yi over words, and instead continued asking a question he had asked countless times: "By the way, why did you come to save Ke Lai that day?"

Luo De voiced one of his doubts: "You don't despise the desert folk, do you? From my past interactions with scholars of the Academy, aren't you lot all eager for these rude, ill-mannered desert folk to disappear from this world as soon as possible? How could you still...?"

Luo De did not continue speaking.

He was referring to that scholar, namely Old Luo Yi, who would rather die than teach the desert folk.

And A De Ba Yi's reply remained just as simple and blunt: "They are them, I am I—what's wrong with the desert folk? Aren't the desert folk people? Aren't they the children of the Dendro Archon?"

Huh?

Luo De startled: "Then why do you still hold such hostility toward the people of A Ru Cun?"

Hmph—

As soon as this was mentioned, A De Ba Yi's face darkened instantly: "If it weren't for that damned Grand Discipline Officer convicting me, would I have been exiled here?"

I was clearly framed.

What was the result?

Yet he insisted I truly violated the edict and publicly pronounced me guilty!

Such hatred, such resentment!

Not cursing him is already generous—do you still expect me to help his family?

The more A De Ba Yi spoke, the more agitated he became, forgetting the decorum expected of a scholar as he cursed Cyno, spittle flying everywhere.

Did Cyno handle a wrongful case?

Luo De's tone was filled with disbelief.

Cyno is renowned for being just and impartial—how could he have handled such a huge miscarriage of justice?

Upon hearing Luo De ask that.

A De Ba Yi stopped cursing, and after a long silence, he gritted his teeth and said: "Actually, it's not entirely his fault; I can only blame the person who set me up—they did it so cleanly that even the Grand Discipline Officer couldn't find a shred of evidence in my favor, leaving no option but to find me guilty. Hmph, I have anger with nowhere to vent, so I keep harping on him."

Ha—?

The information kept piling up, and Luo De's interest was thoroughly aroused.

According to A De Ba Yi's meaning.

His research had been tampered with by his enemies; then, upon receiving the news, Cyno conducted a series of meticulous investigations, but found no evidence that could exonerate A De Ba Yi, so he could only, according to the Academy's laws, declare A De Ba Yi guilty.

And after being exiled.

A De Ba Yi's resentment grew day by day; not only did he bear a deep grudge against the enemies who had framed him, but it also extended to Cyno, who had presided as the chief judge, and even to A Ru Cun, which bears the identity of "Cyno's hometown," leaving him with no good feelings toward it.

On the other hand.

The enraged A De Ba Yi, after cursing for a long time, finally stabilized his emotions.

Looking at the curious Luo De, his expression suddenly turned listless; he shifted his gaze to the moon above and murmured softly: "I know you're interested in my past affairs—well, never mind, I'll tell you."

Next.

A De Ba Yi first gave a rough account of his journey from study to rising through the ranks to become a scholar.

He also recounted many incidents after becoming a scholar where, due to his lack of worldly savvy, he repeatedly hit walls in the Academy.

And finally.

He let out a deep sigh: "Do you know why those people went to such lengths to drive me out of the Academy?"

Before Luo De could voice his guess.

A De Ba Yi's face quickly took on a pious expression.

Because.

I saw a deity.

I saw the deity that the Great Sage spoke of, who had long been dead.

(End of chapter)