Chapter 72 The Covenant in the Dead of Winter and the First Hope Town Spring Festival Gala...

When the word "ally" came out of Ilandil's mouth, the flames dancing in the campfire seemed to brighten a little.

Lin Yue's heart warmed as well. Tonight's conversation would determine the future of Hope Town. He gestured to Mia, who was preparing ingredients nearby, to refill the steaming Starlight Barley Tea for the distinguished guests, then made a "please" gesture: "Lord Elendil, it is a great honor for Hope Town to become an ally of Silvermoon Forest. Regarding trade, we naturally welcome it with open arms. May I ask, Your Majesty, which of our local specialties are you most interested in?"

Instead of answering directly, Ilandil took out an item carefully wrapped in supple leaves from his robe and placed it on the dining table.

It contained a small bag of seeds that exuded a rich life force and were as clear as crystal; several peculiar herbs that Lin Yue had never seen before, which were preserved by special magic and thus maintained their fresh and vibrant appearance; and a small piece of pale green ore that seemed to have a river of stars flowing inside, with a warm and jade-like color.

“These are some specialties of our Silvermoon Forest,” Elendil explained. “These are seeds of Moonlight Rice. They can only grow in land nourished by the essence of moonlight. Our Silvermoon Forest borders the Cursed Lands, and although the land here is corrupted by the tainted air, the power of the moonlight has not completely dissipated. Perhaps it can find a place to take root and sprout in your Hope Town, a place full of life.”

He picked up a few more herbs: "These are Tranquilizing Flowers and Life Vines, the main ingredients for making basic healing potions and calming incense. And this one is a Wind Whisper Crystal, a magical medium that can transmit the power of nature."

Lin Yue curiously picked up the crystal. It felt warm and smooth to the touch, and he could almost sense a peaceful power within it. He looked at Elendil with a puzzled expression. Elendil explained, “We elves can use it to communicate with nature and cast some simple spells. But for humans who cannot directly communicate with the power of nature, it’s more like an energy amplifier. If you can find someone who knows how to use it, or embed it in some tools or buildings, it can slowly gather the surrounding free energy, perhaps having unexpected effects. For example, making the sacred tree saplings in your park grow faster.”

"Her Majesty means that we are willing to use these items to make a preliminary and friendly exchange with you. Of course, what we are most interested in is your starlight wheat and the starlight deer liver pâté that can effectively alleviate symptoms of poor night vision."

He paused, his tone earnest: "We know that this kind of food with special medicinal properties must be extremely precious. But we hope you can understand the situation of our Silvermoon Forest. We respect nature and cannot carry out large-scale industrial production like you, nor are we willing to disrupt the balance of the forest for the sake of large-scale planting. Therefore, we would prefer to purchase harvested crops and processed food directly from you."

“Considering it’s winter now, and your town’s resources are limited, we won’t need a large quantity this time,” Elendil continued. “But as you can see, many of our people are suffering from similar druidic ailments. This kind of dietary therapy requires long-term adherence to see more significant results. Therefore, we hope to establish a long-term, stable trade relationship with Hope Town.”

Lin Yue understood immediately after listening. The elves' concerns and needs were exactly what he had anticipated.

He didn't immediately make an offer, but pondered for a moment, then looked up with an unusually sincere smile on his face.

"Lord Elendil, since we are now allies, it would be too formal to discuss business." He waved his hand and said with great magnanimity, "How about this, based on our previous transaction with the Golden Scales Merchant Guild, the retail price of Starlight Wheat Flour is around 25 silver coins per bag. But considering that we are allies, I can make the decision to offer you a friendly internal price—1 gold coin for every ten bags. As for Starlight Deer Liver Sauce, considering its complex production process and rare ingredients, the price for one serving is 20 silver coins. This price is the greatest sincerity we can offer."

This pricing was carefully considered by Lin Yue. Wheat flour is a basic resource with relatively high production volume, allowing for high-volume, low-margin sales. A price slightly lower than the market price reflects the special status of their allies. Deer liver pâté, as a high-end product with special medicinal properties, must be priced higher. This reflects its value and paves the way for future pricing of more therapeutic food products. Twenty silver coins per serving, though expensive, is absolutely worth it for a "miracle drug" that can solve the Elven race's problem.

He then changed the subject: "However, this price is a personal gift from Hope Town to Silvermoon Forest. The premise is that in the future, when Hope Town encounters difficulties that we cannot solve, Silvermoon Forest can, out of consideration for this friendly price, provide us with necessary shelter and assistance."

Irandir gave Lin Yue a deep look, his eyes revealing admiration. This young man was far more intelligent and astute than he appeared. He didn't demand exorbitant prices just because he possessed exclusive resources; instead, he chose to exchange immediate gains for a longer-term, more stable future.

“Mayor Lin Yue, your wisdom and foresight are admirable.” Ilandil nodded solemnly. “I understand. I will certainly convey your kindness to Her Majesty the Queen. I believe that Silvermoon Forest will never treat its friends unfairly.”

Because they needed to prepare enough wheat flour and deer liver pâté for the elves, Elendil and his party stayed in Hope Town for a few more days.

Over the past few days, they were no longer just guests, but had truly integrated into the life of Hope Town. The druid became the most popular technical advisor for the agricultural group. Although it was winter and most of the land was fallow, he still led Old Bard and several young men to carefully survey every piece of land around the town. By sensing the earth's veins, he accurately determined which land was more fertile and which was more suitable for planting drought-resistant crops, making the most detailed plans for next year's spring planting. Lorian was invited by Gray to instruct the young men of the patrol guard on how to use bows and arrows more effectively. His artistic archery skills opened everyone's eyes. As for Elendil, he would occasionally meditate with Elder Falador under the Tree of Life, nourishing the seedlings with their pure natural power.

By the time most of the goods for the trade were ready, deep winter had arrived, and heavy snow began to fall.

Looking at the snow-covered world outside, and then at the warm kang (heated brick bed) inside the house and the mountain of supplies piled up in the warehouse, a thought suddenly popped into Lin Yue's mind.

He remembered back on Earth, when every household was busy preparing for the Lunar New Year at this time. Although he himself didn't have much of a sense of ritual about the Spring Festival, at most he would take a few days off and have a good meal. But now, he wasn't alone. He had a whole town of family.

He wanted to give this family, which had just experienced so much hardship and unease, a truly joyful holiday.

"Should we... also celebrate the New Year?" When Lin Yue raised this idea at the core meeting, everyone was stunned.

"New Year?" Aunt Leah asked, puzzled. "Mayor, what is New Year?"

Lin Yue explained, “In my hometown, the Spring Festival is the most important festival of the year. On this day, everyone stops what they are doing, puts on new clothes, and reunites with their families to eat the most sumptuous dinner, which is called the New Year’s Eve dinner. Everyone sings and dances, bidding farewell to the hard work of the past year and welcoming the hopeful new year in the most lively way.”

This festival, full of ritual and beautiful meaning, has won the approval of everyone.

The news that Hope Town would be hosting its first Spring Festival Gala caused a sensation throughout the town.

To ensure a plentiful meat feast for their New Year's Eve dinner, Gray and Lorian even organized a large-scale winter hunt. The elite patrol team, led by an elven ranger, ventured deep into the snow-covered forests they normally wouldn't dare venture into. Working in perfect coordination, using traps and a hail of arrows, they successfully hunted down a gigantic creature resembling a snow yak, providing the most hearty main dish for their New Year's Eve dinner.

Mia and her team of cooks took on the responsibility of preparing the New Year's Eve dinner. They used almost all the best ingredients from the cellar, and the abundance of the menu left even Lin Yue in awe.

The main dish is an extremely hardcore bonfire-roasted yak meat. Huge yak legs are marinated for a whole day in special spices and brine, then skewered on thick iron skewers and slowly roasted over a huge bonfire. The resulting yak meat has a golden-brown, crispy skin, tender and juicy meat, and an aroma that can be smelled for miles.

There were also layered meat pies made with starlight wheat flour, each layer distinct, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Golden radish balls, made with a mixture of stone-skin potato starch and frosty radish shreds, were fried to perfection. And the most popular winter dish, sauerkraut with glass noodles and smoked meat, was served in three large pots.

The dessert was Moonlight Jelly, made by Ella and the Silent Girls using animal milk, honey, and a type of resin that could solidify. It was crystal clear, had a bouncy texture, and even had a faint fluorescent glow.

The gala's program was a diverse and exciting spectacle with the participation of the entire population.

Led by Ella and Kaylan, the Silent Ones performed an ancient and beautiful dance of blessing from the Sacred Tree. Dressed in linen gowns adorned with green vines, they danced gracefully in the soft light of the Sacred Tree's children, their movements ethereal and holy, as if communicating with heaven and earth, praying for favorable weather and abundant harvests for the entire Hope Town in the coming year.

Not to be outdone, the human inhabitants, under the organization of Aunt Leah, a natural-born artist, rehearsed a magnificent chorus, the Song of the Builders of Hope Town. The lyrics were simple and straightforward, singing about their daily lives of making bricks, forging iron, and building houses. But the heartfelt and powerful singing made everyone's blood boil.

The children were then pushed onto the stage to perform the oldest and most joyful game that Lin Yue had taught them—Eagle Catches Chicks. A chubby-cheeked boy volunteered to be the "eagle," while Mia smiled and spread her arms to be the "mother hen," followed immediately by a long string of chirping "chicks."

Just then, Xiao Fen, who had been squatting at Lin Yue's feet watching with great interest, seemed to be infected by the joyful atmosphere. It suddenly stood up, wagging its now very thick tail, and with agile steps, actually ran to the very back of the line of "chicks." It gently nudged the leg of the last little girl with its fluffy head, and then obediently squatted down, as if to say, "Count me in."

"Haha, look, Xiaofen wants to be a chick too."

"This eagle is in trouble. It probably won't be able to catch this last chick."

The game began. The "eagle" lunged forward, baring its claws, while "Mother Hen" Mia nimbly dodged left and right. The "chicks" behind her squealed and laughed, clinging tightly to the clothes of the person in front. Little Fen, at the back of the line, displayed amazing teamwork. She intently watched the "eagle's" movements, sometimes crouching low, sometimes swaying from side to side, using her sturdy body to steadily protect the flank of the entire team. Her earnest yet slightly comical appearance made everyone laugh heartily.

Even the elves were caught up in the enthusiastic atmosphere. Amidst the cheers of the crowd, the usually aloof Lorian surprisingly went on stage and performed a fluid and graceful elven sword dance, drawing thunderous applause.

On New Year's Eve, when the huge bonfire was burning at its brightest, Lin Yue once again stood on the makeshift podium.

Behind him was the brightly lit Hope Town, and in front of him sat a large group of residents, their faces beaming with happiness. In his hand was a steaming cup of Starlight Barley Tea, exuding a rich aroma of wheat.

His speech was full of confidence and assurance:

Happy New Year to everyone, my family, and my friends!

"About six months ago today, most of us were struggling in darkness and despair. We were starving refugees, displaced wanderers, guardians on the verge of being forgotten. Today, we stand here, with the sturdy homes we built with our own hands, and the delicious food we earned through our labor in our hands."

"With our own hands, we transformed a crumbling shelter into a civilized community recognized even by the elves. We proved that no curse is invincible, as long as we are united and never give up hope."

"In the new year, we will not stop moving forward." He raised his teacup, his voice becoming impassioned. "But we must also be soberly aware that both the probing of the Golden Libra Chamber of Commerce and the greed of the Red Scorpion Army tell us that we can no longer remain content with our current situation. Risks can arise at any time, and we can no longer wait passively. We can only take the initiative and seek opportunities that belong to us in a wider world."

"Rules are always made by the strong. When we weren't strong enough, we could only cautiously seek development while ensuring our survival. But now we have friends, technology, and food. We may not be able to defeat those massive armies yet, but we have the confidence to overturn the chessboard. We will rewrite the rules in our own way."

"Now, let us raise our glasses together. To the suffering that has passed, to the hard-won present, and to the even more glorious tomorrow that will surely come."

"cheers!"

"cheers--!!!"

More than two hundred ceramic bowls, wooden cups, and even iron cups were raised simultaneously, accompanied by deafening cheers. People tossed their torches high into the air, creating a dazzling display of sparks and fireworks. Everyone was wildly shouting, eating, drinking, and playing, freely expressing their joy and excitement, and experiencing an unprecedented sense of security, pride, and hope.

Little Fen, who was gnawing on a huge yak bone by the campfire, was also infected by this soaring spirit. It suddenly raised its head, looked up at the night sky, and then opened its mouth, letting out a long, high-pitched wolf howl full of power and joy.

"Awooo—!!!!"

It's as if it's telling the whole world that this is also its home.

...

The next morning, Hope Town was still fast asleep in tranquility.

Irandir, leading his trade caravan, had quietly packed their bags and were ready to depart. Lin Yue, Gray, and Elder Farador came to see them off.

Back in the forest, after handing over all the supplies, Elendil did not leave immediately. Instead, he went alone to the depths of Silvermoon Forest to a magnificent palace hidden behind a waterfall, constructed from living giant trees.

He walked through a long corridor woven from moonlight vines and came to a moon well with crystal-clear water that emitted a soft glow.

Beside the well, a figure dressed in a pure white ceremonial robe stood with her back to him, gazing silently at the stars reflected in the well water. Her long silver hair flowed like a silver river, reaching all the way to the ground, and she exuded an aura as cool and unfathomable as moonlight.

"Your Majesty." Ilandil knelt on one knee and bowed respectfully.

"You're back, Elendil." The Queen didn't turn around; her voice was ethereal and otherworldly, as if it came from a distant time and space. "It seems you've had a very fruitful trip."

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Ilandil gave a detailed report on everything about Hope Town, from their buildings, crops, and food, to their systems, spirit, and the mysterious mayor, Lin Yue.

"Food therapy...using food to guide and replenish life energy...what an interesting and ancient idea. What kind of person do you think that human named Lin Yue is?"

Elendil pondered for a moment, then replied earnestly, “He… is complex. Sometimes he seems like a shrewd businessman to the core, and other times like a hot-blooded fool who would do anything for his companions. He possesses a wealth of knowledge that we cannot comprehend, yet he is filled with a childlike curiosity about the world. He is greedy, yet generous. He appears weak, yet he possesses an incredible charisma that can unite dwarves, Silent Ones, and even us elves.”

The Queen chuckled softly: "Ilandil, I rarely hear you speak so highly of anyone. You admire him very much."

Ilandil blushed slightly, but did not deny it.

"Aren't you curious?" The Queen slowly turned around, revealing a face that was very young, yet strikingly beautiful. Her eyes were like bright stars, seemingly able to see through everything. "Why would I value a human settlement on the edge of a cursed land so much, even going so far as to use our precious magical seeds, or even our knowledge, to exchange for seemingly ordinary food?"

Ilandil remained silent, but this was indeed his greatest source of confusion.

The Queen's gaze turned to the distant south:

"Because this game has been deadlocked for too long. Whether it's the kingdoms in the south that are obsessed with power and conquest, the dwarves in the west that are stuck in their ways, or the dark forces in the east that are stirring in the shadows... we have all fallen into our own bottlenecks and predicaments. The balance is about to be broken."

"Lin Yue... and the magical crops and technologies he possesses seem to have appeared out of thin air in this land. I have sent people to investigate his origins, but whether through our partners who frequently come into contact with the human world or through more secretive channels, we have been unable to find any connection to his past. He is like a seed without roots, which suddenly took root and sprouted in this most barren and cursed land, and is growing vigorously."

"If he can continue to produce more of these amazing crops and technologies, then he himself will become a variable that can influence the entire game, an opportunity full of infinite possibilities."

“Our game needs a new player, or… a new piece, to break this suffocating deadlock. And he might just be that person.”

The Queen's eyes gleamed with wisdom and strategic thinking.

“Continue to engage with him, Irandir. Trade is just the beginning. What I truly desire is far more than just food…”

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Author's Note: Phase Two Completed