Chapter 23:

Although Manager Zhou made tremendous efforts to ensure customers could buy the Concentration Incense, there were still people who couldn’t get it.

Some, lacking connections, could only sigh and say, “It’s too brutal,” then consider themselves unlucky.

Some swiftly exited the game, turned to the pay-to-win game group, and lamented, “I can’t take it anymore. I can’t grab the Concentration Incense. I’m seeking help outside the game! @Yun Shan”

“Bigwig: Please check on me, take me flying together. @Yun Shan”

“Pro player never pays to win: I’ve always rejected the idea of paying to win. In a game, how can one not make money, but instead spend money? So, I’ve spent for the first time (pay-to-win) just for you, hero, are you coming? @Yun Shan”

“Food, Drink and Fun(Kang Zeyang): Han Jiaqing said he also wants to buy Concentration Incense, 200 sticks. @Yun Shan @Rich and Reckless.”

“Country Bumpkin: Just found out in the village what an amazing item Concentration Incense is, so when will the group leader, show me some love? @Yun Shan”

Yun Shan was astounded, seeing the group messages, she almost thought it was a battle for favor among the harem.

Just as she was about to respond, the group chat was rapidly filling up.

“I’m the Best in the Group: I got it, 8 sticks! Hahaha, I’m laughing so hard that the heavens and the earth are splitting!”

“I’m the Best in the Group: Concentration Incense can be used as a gift or for personal use, I managed to use it as a gift and a four-star expert took me as his apprentice!!”

“I’m the Best in the Group: I can’t, I’m too excited, I need to howl for a while.”

“Country Bumpkin: ??? Giving gifts = bribing NPCs? What kind of new and interesting gameplay is this?”

“Enviously Crying: Can you do that? Holy cow! I grabbed 3 sticks of Concentration Incense and used them all for myself…”

“Food, Drink and Fun(Kang Zeyang): Shut up, will you! Do you know how many people are in this group! @I’m the best in the group”

“Rich and Reckless (Han Jiaqing): I’ve hired an advanced lifestyle NPC to sit in, did I say something wrong?”

“Rich and Reckless (Han Jiaqing): 200 sticks are not generous at all, I want 500, and I’ll pay in cash. @Yun Shan”

“Pro player never pays to win: I’ve been taken as an apprentice by the top doctor in the camp, did I say something wrong?”

“Pro player never pays to win: The master is fine with everything, except for sneaking into my room every day to use the Concentration Incense. I’m really worried that if the incense runs out, I’ll be expelled from the sect. Group leader, save me. @Yun Shan”

“Radiant Feng: I used the incense when sparring with a private coach before, and they had an epiphany, instantly advancing to intermediate level, and doubled their price. Now, their favorability is super high, and they’ve willingly agreed to train me at the original price, occasionally even lighting the incense. Being able to use NPC’s incense, I’ve made it.”

Radiant Feng is Feng Yao.

When things are going wrong, he’s called the unfortunate Feng.

When luck is on his side, he’s called Radiant Feng.

The identity switches back and forth.

“It’s you: I guess your private coach’s last name is Hu, don’t ask me how I know.”

“I rule the world: Where’s my sack? Where’s my brick? Where’s my lackey?”

“Radiant Feng: …Stay calm, I’ll go into hiding first.”

Countless messages rapidly flashing by, countless messages swiftly retracted. The whole group was extraordinarily lively, like a festival.

After pondering for a moment, Yun Shan then posted, “Private trades, a total of 20 slots, first come, first served. @Everyone”

Outside the bamboo house,

Zuo Xin pulled Lu Liu into a corner and asked, “Do you know where the sachet the lord is holding came from?”

Lu Liu’s expression was indifferent, “I know.”

“Where did it come from?” Zuo Xin eagerly pressed.

Lu Liu didn’t answer, instead asking, “Why do you ask?”

“That sachet looks like a gift from a young lady!” Zuo Xin anxiously said, “The lord is not fully conscious now, and still holding onto a gift sachet. Shouldn’t I clarify?”

Zuo Xin’s words were still reserved.

Not just holding onto it?

Clearly, it was carried around at all times, taken out to smell every few minutes.

Taking a deep breath seemed to improve the complexion.

Zuo Xin instantly thought of a token of affection.

But… the lord is still in a daze! Where did the young lady come from? Who is this affection with?

Try as he might, Zuo Xin couldn’t figure it out, and even began suspecting the presence of a female assassin.

Lu Liu: “It was a gift from the divine doctor.”

“Ah?” Zuo Xin was momentarily stunned.

“When the lord was in a stupor, the divine doctor stuffed the sachet into the lord’s hand in front of me,” Lu Liu explained.

Zuo Xin was speechless.

The information was too overwhelming, and he didn’t know what to say for a moment.

“As long as the lord likes it, nothing else matters,” Lu Liu said indifferently.

Zuo Xin, “…”

If nothing else matters, and he shouldn’t pry into anything else, would he also not be allowed to inquire if the lord were carried off by wolves another day?

Five white falcons swooped back, each carrying four white herons and a tiger-striped rabbit.

Initially, Qin Wan had a natural fear of magical creatures, worried about being inexplicably killed and forced to exit the game. Over time, however, she grew unafraid and even found time to chat with the falcons, “Do you all just love eating duck meat? Lately, 80% of the prey you’ve brought back has been ducks, hasn’t it?”

The falcons chirped, attempting to “cutely” pass the test.

Qin Wan wasn’t fooled at all. She knew these magical creatures were quite cunning and crafty.

Initially, they hunted casually, taking whatever they encountered. Eventually, they got clever, bringing back whatever they liked to the estate.

Breeds favored by wolfhounds and white tigers were completely out of their considerations. Only occasionally, if they encountered them, would they bring some back.

Qin Wan wasn’t angry when she saw through their tricks; she just found the falcons’ scheming behavior… so adorable!

“Wait, I’ll make something delicious for you.”

As she spoke, Qin Wan walked towards the kitchen, carrying the prey.

The falcons watched her go, holding high hopes for her.

Chef Meng was planning to go to the falcons to collect ingredients when he saw Qin Wan and quickly helped carry the ducks.

“Why did you run off to see the falcons without a word?” he said helplessly. “I told you, the falcons are three-star magical creatures. It’s better for both of us to go together.”

“It’s okay,” Qin Wan smiled. “They’re well-behaved and never bully people.”

Initially, she entered the game to improve her physical fitness and strengthen her wrists.

As she spent more time in the game, she discovered that cooking in the game could also increase her proficiency. Back in the real world, she surprisingly had extensive cooking experience, and her culinary skills had greatly improved.

Joining the estate took it to another level.

The Concentration Incense aided in thinking, and learning from a master was advantageous in avoiding detours. Qin Wan’s cooking skills soared, and her growth accelerated even more.

Even when her employer brought back 50 two-star wolfhound pups, increasing her workload, she didn’t feel tired.

On the contrary, Qin Wan was eager and couldn’t wait to start practicing immediately, trying to create more dishes.

Chef Meng said, “Just be careful, the uncontracted magical creatures can be fierce.”

“Okay,” Qin Wan replied heavily, feeling warm inside.

As she looked at Chef Meng, her gaze didn’t seem to be that of someone looking at an NPC, but rather that of someone looking at a revered mentor.

…

The medicinal herbs were ground into powder, sieved, mixed in proportion, and stirred evenly. Water was added, the mixture was kneaded, then the incense was made, dried, cut into equal lengths, and the Concentration Incense was ready.

Yun Shan placed the newly made incense indoors to air dry and went to find magical creatures to play with.

The four-star white tiger cub had snowy white fur with black stripes, exuding an imposing and fierce aura, its demeanor fierce and unyielding.

At the moment, it was following behind Dahei, hoping for it to play.

Life was not easy, Dahei sighed.

――It hadn’t even found a partner yet, but it already had kids.

It collapsed to the ground, refusing to entertain the cub.

The white tiger cub ran around, playing happily.

“Xiao Bai!” Yun Shan called out.

Upon hearing this, the white tiger cub immediately perked up its ears and looked towards Yun Shan.

Dahei resurrected on the spot, trotted up to Yun Shan, and warmly wagged its tail.

Yun Shan scratched the dog’s head and asked, “Why aren’t you playing with the wolfhound pups?”

Xiao Bai squatted down, looking extremely innocent.

Dahei howled and barked, accusing Xiao Bai—this guy was both greedy and domineering! After finishing its own snacks, it even snatched from others. Seeing it, the other cubs would run away, leaving it to watch alone.

Xiao Bai sneaked away, attempting to escape.

Yun Shan picked it up, held it at eye level, and earnestly admonished, “If you don’t have enough snacks, you can ask me, but you’re not allowed to snatch from others, understood?”

Xiao Bai looked around and deliberately avoided looking at Yun Shan.

Yun Shan knew that some people who raised battle pets intentionally retained their ferocity, teaching them to use their high combat power to compete and seize.

Pets raised in this way became fiercer and better fighters.

But Yun Shan didn’t like it.

“Taking things from others will lead to trouble, understand?”

Yun Shan didn’t intend to let things slide, she wanted to start correcting the cub’s bad habits from now on.

Xiao Bai drooped its head and let out a low cry, a response—understood.

Only then did Yun Shan put it down, turn to groom Dahei, and feed it jerky.

Xiao Bai watched by the side, salivating and anxiously pacing, clearly envious.

Yun Shan spent a long time with Dahei, then turned to the white tiger cub. “It’s your turn, come over here.”

The tiger cub was now tired after eating and drinking, and soon drifted off to sleep, forgetting even to snack.

Half asleep, it thought, “I shouldn’t snatch food from others in the future it’s not fun. Grooming myself is more enjoyable.”

In the early morning, as soon as Yun Shan logged onto the network, several private chat windows popped up.

Some were kindly notifying her, “Quick, check the trending topics. ‘Doomsday Camp’ is in trouble!”

Some were hesitant, wanting to cancel orders, “The holographic online game might be shut down. I’d like to cancel my previous orders.”

Some were trying to take advantage of the situation, “Do you still have game points? 1 point = 10 dollars. I’ll buy them all, what do you say?”

Yun Shan read through all the messages and then went to check the trending topics.

[“Twelve-year-old boy nearly killed in a fight with a mastiff”]

Upon clicking into the details, she found a video clip. The twelve-year-old boy was so immersed in the holographic online game that he couldn’t distinguish between reality and fiction. When he encountered the mastiff, instead of leaving or seeking help, his first instinct was to fight, just like fighting beasts in the game. As a result, he not only failed to defeat the opponent but was also bitten.

The report concluded by expressing the hope that the game company practiced ethical industry standards and didn’t lead minors astray.

Though not naming names, it was as good as naming names, as there was only one holographic online game known for its exceptional realism and high fidelity.

After reading the report, Yun Shan fell into contemplation.

If she remembered correctly, in her previous life, “Doomsday Camp” had also been unfairly targeted but had eventually resolved the issue.

As she pondered, someone privately messaged Yun Shan, hoping to cancel their Concentration Incense transaction.

Yun Shan readily agreed without causing trouble.

At that moment, someone began flooding the pay-to-win game group with messages.

“Fearless: 1 point = 10 dollars, private message if interested.”

The message was repeated three times, as if afraid someone might miss it.

In reality, as the game progressed, the in-game currency hadn’t depreciated significantly. On one hand, it was difficult for lower-tier players to earn points. On the other hand, there was an influx of pay-to-win players who consistently sought to purchase game currency at high prices using real money, resulting in an exchange rate that usually fluctuated around 1:70.

In other words, 1 point = 70 dollars.

“1 point = 10 dollars” for purchasing and “1 point = 70 dollars” for selling was definitely a lucrative business.

Realizing this, Yun Shan calmly sent a message, “1 point = 20 dollars, private message if interested.”

She had recently completed a few orders and had a fair amount of cash on hand. If the opportunity arose, she was happy to take a piece of the pie.