Ch 23: The World’s Number One Resort

“Surprised, Tang? What made you decide to reach out to me?” An hour later, in a Mexican restaurant along the Mexico City ring road, Tang Huai was eating a vegetable salad while chatting with Ma Chuan. Ma Chuan was taken aback by Tang Huai’s sudden interest in starting a conversation.

Tang Huai had slept for a full day and night, still a bit out of sorts, especially after the surreal encounter with Mr. Yu. With his stomach rumbling and his mind in need of some clarity, he decided to head out for food and clear his head.

The restaurant, called HDS, was about two kilometers from his villa, a 15-minute walk.

“Why? Can’t I reach out to you for no reason?” Tang Huai replied, popping a cherry tomato into his mouth, casually chatting with Ma Chuan. Ma Chuan, now working at the tax bureau, had already finished his workday due to the time difference.

“Is this about Song Qing’s wedding? If you don’t want to go, I can tell the group leader,” Ma Chuan misunderstood Tang Huai’s intentions. A couple of days ago, the group had been collecting RSVPs for Song Qing’s wedding, and Ma Chuan had already added Tang Huai’s name. Now, seeing Tang initiate contact, he assumed Tang was second-guessing his decision to attend.

Tang Huai and Song Qing didn’t have much going on, but the rumors had been swirling for so long that even Ma Chuan wondered if Tang had ever secretly liked Song Qing. After all, Tang Huai’s reserved nature didn’t exactly dispel any rumors, especially after that rooftop incident with the short-haired girl.

“It’s not that… well, I do have something going on, but I can handle it myself.” Tang Huai responded, shaking his head. If Ma Chuan hadn’t mentioned it, he would’ve forgotten about Song Qing’s wedding entirely. After replying, his mind wandered back to the image of Mr. Yu. The scars on his face and tail—had he been abused before?

Tang Huai had seen plenty of movies about mermaids growing up, but this was the first time he had actually encountered one—or at least, something like a humanoid mermaid. Mr. Yu’s appearance was quite different from the legends.

“I’ll see you next week when I get back,” Tang Huai said, wrapping up the conversation while heading to the cashier to pay. Before leaving, he packed another salad to go.

He didn’t even know why he was so conflicted. Sure, Mr. Yu was a bit unusual, but after living together for so long, Tang Huai knew well that Mr. Yu wasn’t a bad person. Judging by the towel on his bedside table, it was Mr. Yu who had cared for him through the night when he was sick.

The more he thought about it, the more he regretted running off without saying anything earlier. Now that he had bonded with a mysterious island system, encountering something as strange as a mermaid wasn’t too far-fetched.

With that realization, Tang Huai’s steps lightened as he made his way back to the villa.

Meanwhile, in Jiaotou City, China, Ma Chuan stared at their recent chat, utterly confused. Could Tang really have fallen into some sort of pyramid scheme?

Fifteen minutes later, Tang Huai returned to the villa, changed into more comfortable shoes, and made his way toward the greenhouse.

…

In front of the full-length mirror in the greenhouse, a tall figure stood bare-chested, staring blankly at his reflection. His body was human from the waist up, but below, a black fish tail extended. His upper body was covered in countless scars. Though his left half was quite handsome, his right side bore a terrifying totem, scarred and disfigured, making his appearance both fearsome and tragic.

Surely his appearance must have frightened Tang Huai. He never should have come out, or maybe he shouldn’t have come to Mexico in the first place… The man glanced out the window at the unfamiliar world beyond. Once he left, he had no idea where he would go next. The world outside was vast, but there didn’t seem to be a place for him.

Still, after scaring Tang Huai, it was clear—he had no choice but to leave.

“Mr. Yu, thank you for last night. I brought you a salad. Could you open the door?” As the man was lost in thought, Tang Huai’s voice sounded from outside.

Tang Huai was back?

The man stiffened, then relaxed. This was Tang Huai’s villa; of course, he wasn’t leaving.

“Mr. Yu?” Tang Huai called out again.

The man hesitated, looking back at the mirror. He had fled earlier in such a hurry, afraid of seeing rejection or disgust in Tang Huai’s eyes.

“Mr. Yu, I was just startled before, but I didn’t mean anything by it. If you want, you can leave your door open from now on. The villa is big, and you’re welcome to move around freely,” Tang Huai didn’t realize the man’s inner turmoil. He slid the salad through the small door and added earnestly.

There was no response from inside.

Tang Huai sat down by the door. Although they hadn’t interacted much, he had a feeling that Mr. Yu was a sensitive and cautious person. This was evident from their first meeting and from what happened that morning. If he left now, their relationship might never fully ease.

Tang Huai did some mental calculations. There were still eight days left before his task deadline, so he had some time. He decided to persist with Mr. Yu today, figuring that if they were going to live under the same roof, it was better to clear up any misunderstandings sooner rather than later.

Having made up his mind, Tang Huai started scrolling through his phone. His Weibo feed was full of trending topics, like the latest celebrity breakups and scandals, which he found mildly amusing.

Inside the greenhouse, the man looked at the salad by the door, his expression hesitant. He knew Tang Huai was sitting outside, but… considering how terrifying he looked, why would Tang Huai bring him a salad? Shouldn’t he be trying to drive him out?

He was torn with indecision.

And so, while Tang Huai sat on one side of the door scrolling through Weibo, the man on the other side was lost in his internal turmoil.

“Swoosh, swoosh—” An hour later, just as Tang Huai finished scrolling and was about to check another app, he heard a rustling sound from the other side of the door. He immediately stood up.

Turning around, he saw the figure standing behind the glass door. Unlike earlier, the man had fully draped himself in his cloak, covering not only his body but also concealing his fish tail. His face was wrapped in a triangular scarf, with only his eyes visible.

“Thank you,” the man said, holding up the salad, his Mandarin a bit clumsy.

“No need to thank me. What’s… your name?” Tang Huai was taken aback. This was the first time he had heard the man speak. Though his voice sounded slightly odd, it was clear and pure, reminiscent of the waters of Blue Sea Lake. Tang Huai only knew him as “Mr. Yu,” but had no idea what his full name was.

“Yu You,” the man answered seriously. His face was distinctly Chinese, and with a name like that, he seemed even more Chinese.

“Yu You… Ahem, the villa is large, and since the greenhouse door is open, feel free to come downstairs and walk around whenever you like.” Tang Huai repeated Yu You’s name, coughed lightly, and extended the invitation.

Yu You shook his head. If it hadn’t been for the special circumstances that morning, he wouldn’t have come downstairs at all. He knew he looked unusual and didn’t want to cause any trouble for anyone.

“About those three roses you gave me?” Seeing Yu You’s firm stance, Tang Huai didn’t push further but changed the topic.

Yu You nodded. After a moment of hesitation, he turned and went back inside. Shortly after, three small purple flowers appeared in his hand, which he then passed through the small door.

“I often have to travel for work. While I’m away, could you help me replace the roses in my bedroom?” Yu You’s long, pale fingers handed over the flowers, and Tang Huai seized the opportunity to make his request. He had no intention of prying into Yu You’s private life, but he hoped this might encourage him to move around more.

This time, Yu You didn’t refuse. After a brief moment of hesitation, he nodded again.

Tang Huai let out a sigh of relief.

Leaning against the door, Tang Huai began chatting with Yu You, mostly about random topics. For the most part, Tang Huai did the talking, while Yu You listened.

Since they had just started getting to know each other, Tang Huai didn’t ask about Yu You’s injuries or his past. Instead, he focused on Yu You’s daily routines over the past six months. From their conversation, Tang Huai learned that Yu You spent his days watering and caring for the plants, and at night, he would go to sleep in the pool… As for why he slept in the pool, both of them silently chose not to address it.

The greenhouse was built by Tang Wangchun’s people. Besides the flower beds and swimming pool, it also had a sound room, home theater, and kitchen area, making it quite luxurious. Most of Yu You’s knowledge of the modern world came from the internet, as there was a laptop in the greenhouse.

Once Tang Huai realized that Yu You’s life wasn’t as dull as he initially thought, he felt more at ease. He also discovered that Yu You had a very small appetite—so small that he only ate one meal every seven days.

Tang Huai glanced at the salad he had just handed over.

“I was feeling a bit hungry, so this salad came at the right time,” Yu You said, raising the salad bowl slightly, as if understanding Tang Huai’s curiosity. Recently, he hadn’t had much of an appetite, and the food delivered by Zheng Cai’e had often gone unfinished.

Tang Huai looked at him skeptically. The two had been chatting for more than half an hour. Seeing that Yu You seemed a bit tired from standing, Tang Huai decided not to drag out the conversation and mentioned he was heading to the nearby supermarket.

As soon as Tang Huai left, Yu You’s tense body relaxed completely. Talking to Tang Huai had made him so nervous that his back was drenched in sweat.

“Maybe… I don’t have to leave now?” Yu You glanced at the salad bowl in his hand, his expression easing. However, when he thought about his appearance and the fish tail, his relaxed mood quickly turned complex again.

His thoughts swirled.

……

For the next two days, Tang Huai set up a stall in Zócalo Square. With the experience he had gained before, everything went smoothly. In just two days, a father and son signed up for the trip. He only needed one more person before they could set sail.

“Great Tang Resort? A Chinese attraction?” That day, just as Tang Huai finished setting up his advertising board, two young Asian men, around twenty years old, approached. They were dressed in blue T-shirts and sun hats, with DSLR cameras hanging from their necks—clearly tourists.

Tang Huai glanced behind them and saw three blonde girls with long legs feeding pigeons on the west side of the square. The three girls were also dressed in blue T-shirts. It was obvious that the five of them were together.

“It’s a Pacific island, but it’s been invested in by a Chinese businessman,” Tang Huai said as he adjusted the display stand and handed them two flyers.

“Are you Chinese?” the two asked curiously after glancing over the flyers. They were Korean exchange students at the Autonomous University, and during their holiday, they had planned a trip with some female classmates. They had already visited famous sites like the Yucatán Peninsula and Uxmal Ruins, and now they weren’t sure where to go next.

While wandering near the cathedral, they found out that Zócalo Square had a travel hub, so the group decided to check it out. Upon arrival, the two noticed Tang Huai’s complexion, which led to the conversation.

“Yes, I’m currently living in Mexico City,” Tang Huai replied briefly as he continued setting up. The area was mostly frequented by Black and White tourists, so seeing an Asian person was rare. Because of this, Tang Huai had been asked about his ethnicity at least ten times in the past two days.

“This lake looks nice… Are these treehouses real?” One of the students shrugged and casually browsed through the flyer. Although they were just wandering around, something on the flyer caught their attention.

“600 yuan per night?” they asked, pointing to the price list.

“The treehouses are 600 yuan per night, and all the photos are of real locations,” Tang Huai explained seriously.

“Hold on a second.” The two exchanged a glance, and one of them grabbed the flyer and ran towards the three girls on the west side. It looked like he said something to them, and one of the girls affectionately pinched his cheek.

Five minutes later, the young man returned.

“We’ll book it. When do we leave?” he said, slapping the flyer down on the table, eager to go.

“The evening after tomorrow,” Tang Huai said, surprised. From looking at the flyer to making a decision, the group had taken less than ten minutes—by far the fastest any tourists had ever made up their minds.

The five tourists paid their deposit and left, looking quite satisfied. After they were gone, Wells came over.

“Tang, it’s such a shame you’re stuck on Sora Island,” Wells said with a hint of regret, watching the group walk away.

Tang Huai had just closed a deal for $1,000 per person, a relatively small amount. If these were clients of ‘Lonely Traveler,’ Wells was confident he could have made five times that. To him, Tang Huai working on Sora Island seemed like a waste of talent.

“I’m perfectly happy with my job,” Tang Huai interrupted Wells’ daydreams. After being away for half a month, he found it amusing that Wells was still trying to recruit him for something else.

Wells shook his head. He had always thought that Chinese people were smart, but now he felt Tang Huai was even more stubborn than a German. Still, the deal Tang Huai had just closed gave Wells an idea. If Tang Huai wasn’t willing to switch jobs, Wells could just hire some Chinese salespeople. But…

Wells glanced at Tang Huai. Tang Huai had an approachable appearance, and his fluency in both Spanish and English was rare among Asian salespeople. Finding someone else like him wouldn’t be easy.

Tang Huai stayed in Zócalo Square until 8 PM. After packing up, he headed home. With Hank off on his trip to Los Angeles, Tang Huai had been taking taxis everywhere. The ride from the ring villa to Zócalo Square took about half an hour by car, and the price was reasonable.

Back at the villa, after a quick wash, Tang Huai and Yu You exchanged goodnight wishes.

Since their conversation a couple of days ago, Tang Huai and Yu You had developed a comfortable routine. For instance, when Tang Huai was cooking in the kitchen, he would shout up to Yu You on the third floor to see if he wanted to eat. Yu You would respond from upstairs. They also wished each other goodnight before going to bed.

They didn’t talk much, but the villa now had a warmer, more lived-in feel.

Tang Huai had even bought Yu You a phone and set up WeChat for him. Although Yu You’s contact list was sparse, it gave them a way to stay in touch if anything came up.

After saying goodnight, Tang Huai slept soundly.

……

The next morning, Tang Huai set out to set up his stall again. However, unlike the previous days, luck wasn’t on his side. He spent the whole day without making a single sale. He didn’t let it bother him, though—there were still seven days left until his deadline. With the five students from the Autonomous University and the father and son tourists, he already had seven people. Seven plus seven equals fourteen, so he would easily exceed his goal.

Feeling confident that the trip would go ahead as planned, Tang Huai was in a good mood.

On the third afternoon, the group gathered at Puerto Fede. Captain Reno’s crew collected the round-trip fare of $1,000 per person, separate from the deposit that had already been paid. A thousand dollars for a boat ticket wasn’t cheap, but Storm wasn’t a professional cruise ship, so the arrangements were temporary.

Once again, Tang Huai realized how important it would be to buy his own yacht. With a million dollars in his pocket, it was time to make a move.

With the insurance for Sora Island in place, the voyage on Storm went smoothly, and four days later, they arrived safely at Sora Island. Captain Reno expertly steered the ship away after dropping them off.

Like the previous group, the new batch of tourists was curious about Sora Island’s environment. The father and son were more reserved, but the five students from the Autonomous University were bursting with excitement as soon as they stepped ashore. During the journey, Tang Huai learned that two of the students were couples, and the remaining girl was their mutual friend. The five had a close bond.

“Hey, who’s that?” the tallest student, Gao Canzhi, said as he and his girlfriend played around. He suddenly pointed toward the shore.

Everyone turned to look. Sitting on the rocks by the beach was a large man, dressed in a white jacket, staring solemnly out at the sea. When he felt their gazes, the man glanced at them before returning to his contemplative pose.

Everyone: …That look wasn’t very friendly.

Tang Huai glanced at Alang, feeling slightly awkward. He had just received a system notification that Alang’s loyalty had dropped by two points, bringing it down to 59. Technically, this meant Alang had already rebelled.

“Ahem, Alang will handle the luggage transport. Everyone, we’ll need to cross those two mountains to reach our destination,” Tang Huai said with a light cough, trying to maintain his composure.

After Tang Huai finished speaking, A-Li rushed over like a whirlwind. Tang Huai gave him a few instructions, and soon, A-Li led the group away. Tang Huai then walked in the direction of Alang.

“Where’s my boat?” Alang shot a glance at Tang Huai, looking extremely displeased. He had been waiting here for twelve days, dreaming of his fishing boat sailing in. But twelve days had passed, and there wasn’t even the shadow of a sail. He felt like he was on the verge of an outburst.

“Just wait a little longer. I’m currently looking for a good boat… here, I brought you some wine—Chinese Nu’er Hong and Russian vodka,” Tang Huai said, feeling cornered by Alang’s rebellious attitude.

“Hmph.” Alang snatched the bottles, letting out a heavy snort through his nose. But once he had the wine, he didn’t complain any further.

Alang remained seated by the shore, staring out at the sea.

Tang Huai opened Alang’s profile.

Name: Alang, Talented Boatman, Fond of Alcohol
Level: Novice, 15/100,000
Loyalty: 61 [Note: Barely adequate, please be cautious of defection!]

Alang’s loyalty had been restored thanks to the two bottles of wine. His profile included a “Fond of Alcohol” trait, so Tang Huai thought the drinks would boost loyalty by about 20 points, but surprisingly, it only went up by two.

Well, at least it was a passable level, but relying on alcohol to prevent rebellion wasn’t a sustainable solution.

Tang Huai resolved once again—it was time to buy that fishing boat.

……

While Alang sat by the shore, staring at the sea, Tang Huai followed the planned route to Blue Sea Lake. Two hours later, he arrived at the lake.

The father-and-son tourists were excitedly exploring around the lake, while a long-legged girl sat by the shore playing with the water.

“Where is everyone else?” Tang Huai asked as he looked around. The luggage had already been moved to the treehouses by the tourists. Even though Sora Island had simple facilities, Tang Huai was meticulous about hygiene. He had brought along plenty of disposable bed linens to ensure the guests had clean replacements.

The long-legged girl, a local Mexican with black-rimmed glasses that gave her a studious appearance, looked up.

“They’re in the treehouses,” she replied, pointing toward a corner where two treehouses stood side by side, their doors shut.

Tang Huai glanced at the treehouses but didn’t pay them much attention.

“Mmm… Ah…”

“Heh…”

Ten minutes later, sounds of groaning and gasps came from the treehouses. The soundproofing of the Blue Sea treehouses was good, but with the windows left open, the activity inside sounded quite… intense.

“Ahem,” Tang Huai blushed slightly, finally understanding why these two young people had so quickly agreed to book the trip. It seemed the treehouses were the real draw.

Kids these days really know how to have fun!

“Are we having fish for dinner?” the long-legged girl asked, looking curiously at Tang Huai, then pointing at the lake, where colorful fish swam back and forth, looking quite appetizing.

“We are,” Tang Huai nodded, doing his best to ignore the ongoing noises from the treehouses. An hour later, the rest of the group emerged from their treehouses, and by that time, Tang Huai had already caught a good number of fish. Once everyone was seated, Tang Huai skillfully began grilling the fish.

“This is incredible. I’ve never seen so many angel oak trees. This place is like a miracle,” Gao Canzhi, one of the young men, said as he flipped the fish on the grill. He had been attracted to the trip by the promotional flyer for the treehouses, but he hadn’t expected Blue Sea Forest and Blue Sea Lake to far exceed his expectations.

“This place is like a fairy-tale castle!” exclaimed the seven-year-old British boy, who had been playing in the forest with his father all afternoon and had grown to love the place.

“There’s no castle, it’s more like a fairy-tale forest,” Gao Canzhi corrected the boy.

“Hmph,” the boy pouted, unconvinced. Who said a forest couldn’t have a castle? Seeing his defiant expression, everyone burst into laughter. The boy was chubby and his expressions were delightfully entertaining.

“Sora Island has magic. There really might be a castle here one day,” Tang Huai said as he sprinkled cumin on the fish and handed a piece to the boy, joining in on the fun.

Not to mention, the system’s marketplace had a pile of [Castle Cards], though the minimum price was over a million sea island points.

“Is this a specialty dish of Sora Island? It looks great…” The group assumed Tang Huai was just humoring the kid, not taking it seriously. But when the grilled Blue Sea fish was ready, they all eagerly dug in. The fish was crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and looked incredibly appetizing.

As they took their first bites:

“Is this really Blue Sea fish? It’s amazing, I’ve never tasted fish this good.”

“The flavor rivals that of a top Michelin restaurant in New York.”

“Have you been to the best Michelin restaurant? But honestly, this tastes incredible.”

…

With the first bite, everyone felt like their taste buds weren’t enough to fully enjoy the experience. The Blue Sea grilled fish might have looked similar to regular fish, but the flavor was far superior. None of them had ever tasted such a delectable fish.

“There’s still plenty left in the basket,” Tang Huai said with a smile, taking a portion for himself. Thanks to his experience with the first group, Tang Huai had gotten the hang of preparing the right amount of fish for everyone.

Gao Canzhi and his friends had brought along plenty of beer. As the group got more excited, they cracked open cans of beer and started playing some loud electronic music. The young crowd gathered around the grill, singing and dancing, creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere.

The impromptu bonfire party lasted until midnight. After eating and drinking their fill, everyone retired to their treehouses for the night. Despite their rowdy behavior, Gao Canzhi and his friends made sure to help clean up the grill and beer cans before heading to bed. They all slept soundly.

Over the next four days, their itinerary followed a similar pattern to that of the previous group: hiking, climbing trees, taking photos… While Sora Island didn’t offer a wide variety of activities, its environment was so pleasant that everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

On the fifth morning, the group gathered at the shore, where Captain Reno had already arrived with the Storm. They packed their luggage onto the ship with some reluctance to leave. Of course, each person’s suitcase contained five or six fish.

“Will there really be a fairy tale castle?” As they said their goodbyes, the young boy tugged at Tang Huai’s leg, looking up at him with wide eyes. He was still fixated on the distinction between a “fairy tale forest” and a “fairy tale castle.”

“There will be,” Tang Huai said with a smile, ruffling the boy’s blonde hair. Although, with only 20,000 in assets, a million still seemed like a distant dream for the island owner. But, as they say, it’s important to have dreams.

“I’ll come back,” the boy beamed, looking as radiant as a little sun. Now that summer vacation was over, he was already planning to return during the winter holidays.

Tang Huai gave him an “OK” gesture.

“Is that guy alright?” Gao Canzhi whispered to Tang Huai, nodding toward Alang, who was still sitting by the shore. The group had noticed him sitting there staring at the sea when they first arrived, and now, five days later, he was still doing the same.

“He’s fine,” Tang Huai waved it off. Alang’s loyalty had remained at 61 these past few days, without any further drop.

Once everyone was aboard, the Storm set sail, and Tang Huai waved goodbye. He planned to stay on the island for one more day. Tomorrow, a cargo ship would be sailing from Hawaii to Guerrero Port, and he could catch a ride with it.

After the fishing boat disappeared from sight, Tang Huai finally turned his attention back to his task.

Tang Huai gathered his thoughts and opened the mission interface. The mission had been completed, and the system had updated.

……

Sole Host: Tang Huai

Profession: [Primary] Master of Sora Island, [Secondary] Owner of Great Tang’s Fruit Store.

Unlocked Areas: Blue Sea Lake, 1/50.

Current Mission: Welcome 10 tourists, 14/10, completed.

Mission Reward: 3000 Sea Island Points, [Snow Village Scenic Area], one Lucky Spin.

Item Slot: 0.

Sea Island Points: 26,300.

With the mission now complete and the rewards added to his recent earnings, Tang Huai’s Sea Island Points had risen to 26,000.

Tang Huai clicked on [Snow Village Scenic Area].

[Snow Village Scenic Area]: Scenic Card – Basic, upgradeable.

The entire card was palm-sized, depicting a scene of snowy white peaks. Other than the words “Snow Village Scenic Area,” the card was as simple as it could be.

Tang Huai flipped the card over and then opened the island’s model.

The model displayed fifty regions, categorized into ‘High,’ ‘Medium,’ and ‘Basic’ levels. Each region corresponded to a specific card, such as [Snow Village Scenic Area], which was a basic card and could only be placed in a basic region. The card could be upgraded, but the region’s level would remain unchanged.

There were 25 basic, 15 medium, and 10 high-level regions.

On the model, 25 regions suddenly lit up, while the remaining regions remained in a grayish haze. With ‘Blue Sea Lake’ already occupying one region, Tang Huai could now place [Snow Village Scenic Area] in another.

“FD730, do I just use it now?” Tang Huai asked as he looked at the model. He preferred to clarify the rules as early as possible.

“The host can simply place the card over the selected region,” FD730 replied, as precise as ever.

Sora Island covered 1,000 square kilometers, roughly the size of Hong Kong Island. Blue Sea Lake was situated on the island’s west side, covering just over ten square kilometers. After some thought, Tang Huai selected region ‘15.’

Previously, he had marked the fifty regions using Blue Sea Lake as the starting point.

Blue Sea Lake was in Region 1, spanning 12 square kilometers. Region 15, which Tang Huai had selected, was about 15 square kilometers and separated from Blue Sea Lake by three other regions.

After selecting the region, Tang Huai placed the [Snow Village Scenic Area] card over Region 15 and clicked ‘Use Now.’ In an instant, the card disappeared, and Region 15 gained color, transforming from a dull gray to vibrant hues. Five seconds later, the scenery on the model stabilized, and Tang Huai felt like he had gained a mini-Alps.

Is this… real snow?

On the model, the barren canyons of Region 15 had turned into snow-covered peaks, and even though it was just a model, Tang Huai could almost feel the chill emanating from it…

Ding! The additional feature [Mountain Road] for Snow Village Scenic Area has been awarded. Please collect it.

While Tang Huai was observing the model, the system’s notification sounded. He noticed a faint gray line on the model, like a stretchy rubber band. Tang Huai tugged it back and forth, then placed one end at Blue Sea Lake and the other end at the Snow Village Scenic Area.

Ding! [Mountain Road] has been successfully applied. The next task will be issued at an unspecified time. Please check back regularly.

Tang Huai: …That’s it?

After thinking for a moment, Tang Huai ran towards the nearest hill to get a better view.

Standing at the top of the hill, to the west of Blue Sea Lake, he saw a dark gray road stretching outward. However, due to the mountainous terrain, he couldn’t see exactly where the road led.

Tang Huai jogged down towards Blue Sea Lake for a closer look. The road was wide and solid, resembling the structure of a major highway like the Jingguang Expressway. Tang Huai crouched and knocked on the surface—it felt sturdy and well-constructed.

After doing a quick warm-up, Tang Huai put on some music and started jogging along the road. It was two in the afternoon, the sky was clear, and as he left the Blue Sea Lake area, the road’s surroundings shifted back to the quiet, shadowy canyons. Strangely, Tang Huai found these desolate landscapes charming after spending so much time on the island.

Jogging on a road was far easier than hiking through the mountains.

……

Tang Huai passed through Region 9, then Region 11. Although he had numbered the regions from 1 to 50, Sora Island was not laid out in a perfect grid. Each region could connect to several others. If the model were compared to a map of China, Blue Sea Lake and the Snow Village Scenic Area would resemble the provinces of Hubei and Shandong, respectively, but on a much smaller scale.

Two hours later, Tang Huai finally arrived at Region 15. He checked his phone’s step counter—fifty kilometers, quite a distance.

Tang Huai pocketed his phone and looked up, but when he did, the scene before him left him stunned.

Separated by Regions 9, 11, and 12, Tang Huai now stood at the intersection of Regions 12 and 15. He looked back, where the misty canyons stretched behind him, but ahead, a breathtaking mix of light blue and pure white filled his view.

At the junction of Regions 12 and 15, the mountain road seemed to be split in half, and upon stepping into Region 15, the road suddenly transformed. The once light-gray surface became a gleaming, transparent ‘bridge.’

Standing on the bridge, Tang Huai looked ahead at a vast ice lake, with endless snow-capped mountains in the center. The entire mountain range appeared to be encircled by the ice lake, and the crystal bridge stretched over it, connecting the distant snow mountains to where Tang Huai stood.

The ice lake, the snow mountains, and the crystal bridge together formed an exquisitely pure and sacred picture.

Tang Huai stepped onto the crystal bridge. Like the road before it, the bridge was wide but nearly transparent. It hovered about 20 meters above the lake, and as Tang Huai glanced down, he could clearly see the fish swimming beneath the ice.

Tang Huai: … Compared to this crystal bridge, the glass walkways back home felt like child’s play. Just standing here took courage!

Tang Huai wasn’t afraid of heights, and he trusted the system’s high-tech design. Taking a deep breath, he continued forward. The bridge was about 300 meters long, and walking across it felt like floating over the lake. From an aerial perspective, it would have been an awe-inspiring sight.

It took Tang Huai about 20 minutes to cross the 300-meter bridge.

Dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and sneakers, he felt a slight chill in his body and legs as he stepped onto the snow. It was within a tolerable range, but the air was undoubtedly cold. He scanned the area: the snow-capped mountains stretched out endlessly, and according to the island’s model, the snowy terrain was even larger than the Blue Sea Forest.

The vast, misty snow mountains reminded him of famous peaks like Kilimanjaro, the Tangula Mountains, and K2—all mountains he had only seen in news reports. Tang Huai had never been to those places, but he had a hunch that these mountains wouldn’t pale in comparison to those world-renowned peaks.

After half a minute of marveling at the snow, Tang Huai snapped back to reality. He realized an important issue.

“FD730, how am I supposed to explain this?” Tang Huai asked, steadying himself. Sora Island’s coordinates were near (10°N, 120°W), close to the equator. How could snow-capped mountains form in a place where the average yearly temperature ranged from 25 to 28 degrees Celsius?

He had assumed that the [Snow Village Scenic Area] would be something like a large indoor ski resort. But what he saw was a vast snowy expanse. When he touched the snow, it was cold and real, not something artificial like cotton candy.

If [Snow Village Scenic Area] were revealed, it wouldn’t just raise questions—it could get Tang Huai into serious trouble, possibly attracting international scrutiny!

“Host, the formation of the Snow Village is indeed an anomaly, but the system has considered various ways to manage such logic errors. Here are three possible solutions:

1. The uniqueness of Sora Island can be attributed to supernatural phenomena. For realism, the system will create coordinated anomalies at sites like Mount Tai, the Pyramids, and the ancient Indus River civilization, such as mysterious dragon appearances. With thousands of such anomalies worldwide, Sora Island won’t stand out as particularly special.
2. The system can register a company called ‘FillTech,’ an environmental simulation company. The system will generate a series of patents, and [Snow Village Scenic Area] and other unusual environments will be attributed to FillTech’s technologies. This would fit within logical expectations, especially for China, but it will incur a monthly maintenance fee of 10,000 island points, with future costs to be determined.

The third option involves a giant meteor falling, and the impact site would be Sora Island. The island’s climate would then be linked to the meteor crater.”

FD730 patiently explained the options in detail.

Tang Huai: … Can I choose none of the above?

“This is the most optimal solution for explaining the environmental changes on Sora Island,” FD730 added, sensing Tang Huai’s reluctance.

Tang Huai: …

After carefully considering the three options, Tang Huai found the ‘supernatural phenomena’ idea too far-fetched. He wasn’t ready to abandon materialist values in favor of mystical explanations. As for the third option… if a meteor really altered the climate, Sora Island would quickly become an international scientific research base.

Comparing the three, the second option seemed the most plausible.

“Does the logic behind FillTech hold up?” Tang Huai asked seriously. He didn’t want Sora Island to become a target of scrutiny for being too fantastical.

“Rest assured, Host. All three options are the most optimal according to the system’s analysis,” FD730 replied earnestly.

With FD730’s guarantee, Tang Huai chose the ‘FillTech’ option.

‘FillTech’ would charge a monthly fee of 10,000 island points, starting from the next task. Tang Huai sighed. He hadn’t even completed many tasks yet, and his island points were already disappearing rapidly.

After his brief reflection, Tang Huai surveyed the serene snow-covered landscape of the [Snow Village Scenic Area]. The area was vast but eerily quiet, with nothing but the cold wind blowing.

Tang Huai opened the system’s store.

[Furniture Cards] [Character Cards] [Spirit Beast Cards] [Spirit Plant Cards] [Special Project Cards] …

The system store’s homepage displayed a wide array of card categories. After browsing for a while, Tang Huai directly used the precise search feature—

Precise Search: [Snow Village Scenic Area] accessories.

The system store allowed recommended accessory cards based on the scenic area. While the system offered suggestions, Tang Huai could freely choose how to mix and match the cards.

Two seconds later, the recommended accessories for [Snow Village Scenic Area] popped up.

[Ice and Snow Fairy Tale Exhibition]: 3 million island points.

[Snow Village Igloo]: 20,000 island points each.

[Snow Peak Castle]: 2 million island points.

[Snowmobile]: 50,000 island points each.

[Ice Lake Skating Shoes]: 5,000 island points per pair.

[Snow Village Manager]: Non-intelligent AI, 100,000 island points to buy, 8,000/month to rent.

…

There were nearly a hundred accessories for the [Snow Village Scenic Area]. After scrolling through them, Tang Huai was left deep in thought. What gave him the courage to even open this list?

The selection was diverse, but almost everything started at tens of thousands of island points. Tang Huai, with his dwindling points, could barely afford a single pair of [Ice Lake Skating Shoes].

Helpless, he closed the store, realizing he needed to acquire more island points urgently.

Afterward, Tang Huai opened the system’s lucky wheel, a bonus reward from completing the task.

Like before, the lucky wheel had several equal-sized slots around it, with a pointer in the center. Each slot corresponded to a reward, with a total of 50 possible prizes. Tang Huai didn’t know what rewards were available, but he refreshed the wheel three times. He had spun the wheel once before and gotten [Boatman Alang]. Who knew what it would be this time?

Now more experienced with the wheel, Tang Huai prepared himself and pressed the start button. Thirty seconds later, the wheel came to a stop.

‘Congratulations, Host! You’ve obtained the character card [Despairing Aunt Mai Li — Intermediate]!’

[Aunt Mai Li]: A master chef whose dream is to create world-class gourmet dishes. She thrives on praise from diners, but bad reviews leave her anxious and in despair.

A character card appeared in Tang Huai’s hand, with a description of its attributes.

Tang Huai: … Alang’s dream is to sail around the world on his fishing boat, while Aunt Mai Li dreams of creating world-class cuisine.

Compared to these NPCs, Tang Huai felt like his own ambitions were quite lackluster.

☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️