Chapter 69 An Unexpected Guest Elder Farador had barely finished speaking…
As soon as Elder Farador finished speaking, almost simultaneously, three tall figures silently emerged from the shadows of the trees.
Leading the group was a male elf, his long, flowing silver hair, like moonlight, was tied back with a simple mithril ribbon. His features were handsome, and his pale golden eyes held wisdom and aloofness. He wore a shimmering dark green robe, and an ancient-looking longsword hung at his waist. He exuded an innate nobility and a powerful natural aura.
Following him were two equally tall male elves. They wore armor made of supple leather and leaf-shaped metal plates, carried beautifully designed longbows and quivers, and wore crescent-shaped scimitars at their waists. One of them had a resolute face and sharp eyes, exuding the aura of a warrior. The other had a much gentler face, with a hint of curiosity about his surroundings between his brows, and he even held a newly sprouted twig in his hand.
When they saw this town, so unique yet so orderly and vibrant, especially the neat rows of chimneys rising from the rooftops of every house, even the most composed elves couldn't hide a hint of surprise in their eyes.
Lin Yue stepped forward, maintaining a safe distance, and said loudly, "Friends from afar, welcome to Hope Town. I am Lin Yue, the town mayor."
Upon hearing this, the silver-haired elf at the head turned his gaze to Lin Yue. His gaze was cold and sharp, as if it could pierce through people's hearts. He scrutinized Lin Yue, from his strange clothes made of a mix of cotton and animal skin, to his eyes that showed a hint of nervousness but were trying to remain calm.
"Hello, Mayor Lin Yue. My name is Ilandil, and I am the ranger of Silvermoon Forest."
He didn't offer much explanation, but instead turned his gaze to Elder Farador, who was slowly emerging from the crowd.
A complex expression, a mixture of shock, sorrow, and respect, appeared on Elendil's face. He bowed deeply to Elder Falador, performing an ancient and solemn elven ritual—right hand on his chest, left hand lightly touching his forehead.
"Elder Farador, you... are still alive."
Elder Farador did not speak, but instead gave him a solemn bow with his hand on his chest.
【Ilandir...children of Silvermoon Forest...I never thought...I'd see you all again.】
A flicker of grief crossed Elendil's eyes as he responded in a mental whisper: "Elder, we too have only just learned of the tragedy that befell the Valley of Tears. After the Great Cleansing Rain, our Silvermoon Forest also suffered a significant impact; the earth's energy channels were disrupted, and everyone was busy calming the forest's turmoil. Afterwards, Her Majesty the Queen immediately dispatched us to aid the Valley of Tears, knowing that you guarded the most dangerous source. But when we arrived, there… only desolation and ruins remained. We thought… we thought all the Silent Ones were already…"
We are still alive. In our darkest hour, it was Graeme who brought us hope. It was this outsider, Mayor Lin Yue, who took us in, gave us food, shelter, and… a new life.
Ilandil's gaze turned to Lin Yue again, this time the aloofness and wariness in his eyes had dissipated considerably, replaced by scrutiny and confusion.
In fact, they had discovered the existence of this settlement long ago.
Months ago, when Lin Yue and Gray had just set up their humble Lin Family Inn, the patrols of Elandil had already noticed this group of strange intruders. A human, a wanderer who looked like a descendant of the Silent Ones, a grumpy dwarf, and... an orc cub with a somewhat strange bloodline.
This group was truly peculiar. However, considering their small number and the fact that they were only active on the outermost edge of the Cursed Lands, without showing any intention to damage the environment or explore further, and adhering to the principle of avoiding contact unless absolutely necessary, Elendil simply left an observation mark and did not interfere further.
But to their utter surprise, in just a few months, this small outpost grew exponentially, like mushrooms after rain. It not only sheltered hundreds of human refugees but also brought back the entire survivors of the Silent Whisperer tribe. They even built a complex of buildings of such scale and bizarre style, yet seemingly incredibly sturdy.
This was beyond their comprehension. As they followed the trail of the Silent Ones' migration, they discovered that their final destination was here.
“Mayor Lin Yue,” Ilandil spoke first, his tone much gentler than before, “The elders have told me everything. On behalf of Silvermoon Forest, I thank you and your Hope Town for extending a helping hand to our fellow Silent Whisperers during our most difficult time. Silvermoon Forest will forever remember this kindness.”
Lin Yue understood. It seemed that Elder Farador had already explained their experiences along the way and the situation in Hope Town.
"Lord Ilandil, you're too kind. Mutual assistance is the foundation of Hope Town." Lin Yue wore an impeccable, sincere smile and extended his hand... then awkwardly realized that the other party didn't seem to have the habit of shaking hands, so he cleverly withdrew his hand and imitated the other party's gesture with an awkward hand-to-chest salute, "And you two, uh..."
“This is my captain of the guard, Lorian.” Ylandir pointed to the sharp-eyed elven warrior. “This is the druid.” He then pointed to the elf who was still holding a twig in his hand.
"Druid?" Lin Yue's eyes lit up instantly when he heard the name. He glanced at the farmland not far away and a million questions about planting techniques popped into his mind.
"Hope Town's No. 1 store has just opened, and you've all come from afar. You must be tired. How about I invite you three to try some of Hope Town's specialty dishes, and also... experience our unique hospitality?" Lin Yue extended his sincerest invitation.
Ilandil glanced at Elder Farador, and seeing him nod slightly, he nodded in agreement: "Then I will trouble you."
Thus, the Hope Town No. 1 store welcomed its first and highest-level guests since its opening.
As Lin Yue led them toward the No. 1 store, some of the bolder residents couldn't help but whisper among themselves by the roadside.
“Look, are those elves? They’re so beautiful… But they’re not quite like what the mayor described. I thought they would all be wearing flowing white robes,” a young woman said curiously to her companion.
"Yes, although the leader was wearing a long robe, his two guards were wearing leather armor. They looked really tough."
Hearing these comments, Lin Yue couldn't help but think to himself, "So not every elf is a ranged archer. That guy named Lorian looks like a melee fighter, and the druid is more like a healer/support."
Amidst the curious and awe-inspiring gazes of all the residents of Hope Town, Lin Yue personally led three elves, who seemed to have stepped out of a painting, into the brand-new Hope Town Store No. 1.
When Elandil and his group entered the store, their faces showed surprise once again.
By elven standards of aesthetics, the building was indeed not particularly beautiful, filled with straight lines and squares, lacking any natural dynamism. However, its extreme cleanliness, tidiness, and orderliness gave this race, which was naturally fastidious about cleanliness and order, a sense of inexplicable comfort and belonging.
Especially when they looked at the huge menu wall, at the list of goods marked with neat Common Language and strange Arabic numerals, and at the dazzling array of never-before-seen goods on the supermarket shelves, even the rangers who dealt with outsiders such as guilds who frequented the cursed lands showed great interest.
"Mayor Lin, your town's...business practices are truly unique."
"It's just a small innovation to make transactions simpler and more transparent," Lin Yue said with a smile, leading them to a table to sit down.
Mia immediately brought out three cups of Starlight Barley Tea, which emitted a faint glow and were served in the finest celadon ceramic cups.
Ilandil took a sip, and the soothing aroma invigorated him. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Excellent tea. This kind of wheat... I've never seen before."
"This is a unique specialty of Xiwang Town, Starlight Wheat," Lin Yue introduced with a smile. "Long-term consumption can help relieve mental fatigue and improve sleep."
"Improve sleep?" Ilandil raised an eyebrow slightly, as if he had thought of something. He knew that recently, many of his people in the forest had been experiencing varying degrees of insomnia and anxiety due to the disruption of the earth's energy channels.
Just then, Lin Yue clapped his hands, and several neatly dressed Silent Girls, carrying exquisite trays, presented them with a variety of delicious and visually appealing dishes.
This meal was specially prepared by Lin Yue in collaboration with Mia and Ella to entertain these distinguished guests. Each dish was delicious, nutritious, and... subtly thoughtful.
The first course was an appetizer: a chilled salad of Frosty Radish and Ice Crystal Fern. The Frosty Radish, sweet and crisp after being frozen, was finely shredded and paired with Ice Crystal Fern, transplanted from the Valley of Tears, whose texture is as crisp as ice with a hint of minty coolness. It was then tossed with a touch of snow salt, sour thorn juice, and a few drops of precious animal fat. The sweet, sour, and crisp flavors instantly awakened everyone's taste buds.
The second course was the main dish: Baked Venison with Tranquil Mushrooms and Rock-baked Potatoes. The tenderest venison tenderloin was selected, marinated in juice extracted from the caps of Tranquil Mushrooms and various spices. Then, it was placed in a special ceramic baking dish with rock-baked potatoes cut into wedges and slowly baked in a brick kiln. The resulting venison was tender and juicy, infused with the unique, calming aroma of Tranquil Mushrooms, while the potato wedges absorbed the essence of the meat juices, resulting in a crispy exterior and a soft, creamy interior.
The third dish was a soup: Moonlight Moss and Mushroom Soup. It was made with a variety of fresh, forest-collected mushrooms, combined with starlight wheat flour and a small amount of animal milk, simmered into a thick broth. Finally, a sprinkle of dried, crushed moonlight moss powder, which shimmers silver in the soup, was added. The whole bowl of soup looked as dazzling as a galaxy, and its flavor was incredibly delicious, rich, and comforting.
These dishes, in terms of ingredient selection, flavor combination, and exquisite presentation, far exceeded Elendil and his companions' expectations. Although they occasionally traded with the outside world, exchanging some human food, that food was mostly coarse and greasy, completely incompatible with the light and natural dietary habits of their elven race.
Lin Yue's dishes, while preserving the original flavor of the ingredients, elevate their taste to a whole new artistic level through exquisite cooking techniques and spice combinations.
Elegantly picked up the fork that Lin Yue had specially prepared for them, which was carefully carved from oak wood. Although he was more used to using his hands or more delicate silver cutlery, he still followed local custom and forked a piece of stewed venison into his mouth.
The next second, an undisguised look of amazement flashed in his eyes.
What shocked them most was the faint but real energy contained in these foods that could nourish the spirit and soothe the soul.
“Mayor Lin Yue,” Ilandil put down his fork, his expression more solemn than ever before, “Excuse my boldness, but these dishes… are more than just delicious. They seem… to have some kind of positive effect on our bodies and minds. Is this… the secret to your survival on this land?”
“It’s not a secret.” Lin Yue smiled and began to expound his long-planned theory of food therapy. “I call it nutrition. I believe that everything in the world has its counterpart, and every ingredient has its unique energy and properties. Through proper combination and cooking, we can bring out these energies to compensate for our body’s deficiencies and heal our injuries.”
His theory, which was a mix of science and metaphysics, left the three elves completely bewildered.
The atmosphere, which was initially tense and distant, became much more harmonious thanks to the delicious food.
After the meal, Lin Yue personally led them on a tour of the guest rooms prepared for them. Considering their habits, he did not arrange for the three of them to stay together, but instead placed them in three separate standard rooms in the backyard of the No. 1 store.
When Elandil and his companions saw the warm kang (heated brick bed) covered with soft, clean bedding, and the clear water flowing from the tap, especially when Lin Yue demonstrated to them the white throne that could wash away all filth with just a gentle press…
Even with his composure and arrogance, he couldn't help but widen his beautiful golden eyes.
“This…this is such an exquisite creation…” he murmured to himself, “Clean…efficient…this is simply…an art.”
That afternoon, Lin Yue, under the pretext of exchanging local products, specially invited the druid, who was full of curiosity about the outside world, to the supermarket area of No. 1 Store. He pointed to the samples displayed on the shelves.
“Master Druid,” Lin Yue said humbly, pointing to a small bag of translucent, fluorescent starlight wheat grains and a potato with a rock-like skin on a ceramic plate, “you see, these are the crops we rely on for survival. Although the fields have already been harvested, only some hardy frost-heart radishes and snowball cabbages remain. We barely manage to survive the winter on this land thanks to these unique crops. But the yields are never very high. With your understanding of the forces of nature, do you have any way to make them grow better?”
The druid crouched down, picked up a few grains of starlight wheat, examined the stone-skinned potatoes closely, shook his head, and said with some regret, "Mayor Lin, our elven cultivation relies more on the natural affinity in our bloodline than on technology. We don't have a better way to grow these crops, which we've never seen before and which thrive so well in the Cursed Lands."
He paused, sensing the peculiar energy contained within, his eyes filled with intense interest and a hint of confusion: "However, I am very interested in your luminous starlight wheat and rock-skinned potatoes. The energy they contain is very peculiar, bearing the imprint of this land, yet carrying a pure vitality that we have never felt before."
Lin Yue smiled mysteriously and replied half-jokingly, "Well... it relies on scientific planting methods and... a little bit of mysterious power from the East." He pointed to his head, his face showing an expression of not wanting to reveal a secret, but in his heart he was thinking, "Well, it seems that it's hopeless to get advanced agricultural technology from the elves for free. I'll have to figure it out slowly with the system myself."
After a sumptuous dinner, Lin Yue accompanied Elandil and Elder Farador to Central Park to see the Son of the Sacred Tree, on which great hopes were placed.
Bathed in the soft glow of moonshine moss and guide ferns, the sacred tree seedlings appeared even more lush and vibrant, brimming with life.
Ilandil extended his slender fingers and gently touched the tender leaves of the sacred tree. A soft green halo emanated from his fingertips and merged into the seedling. The seedling seemed to sense this shared power, joyfully unfurling its leaves and radiating an even brighter light.
A hint of relief and excitement appeared in Ilandil's eyes: "Elder, Mayor Lin, this Child of the Sacred Tree originated from a branch of the oldest mother tree in our Silvermoon Forest. It was the last spark that your ancestors took with them when they left. I never imagined that it would not only survive in such a harsh environment, but also be so well cared for by you, full of vitality. On behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, I thank you for your protection."
In this tranquil and sacred atmosphere, Lin Yue keenly noticed that the druid standing next to him seemed to become somewhat sluggish and inconvenient after the light dimmed, and almost tripped over the pebbles under his feet several times.
"Night blindness?" A thought flashed through Lin Yue's mind.
He immediately muttered in his mind, "System, scan the druid's physical condition."
[Ding! Initiating a non-contact scan of the target [Druid (Elf)]...]
[Scan complete! Diner data has been entered into the [Diner Management - Temporary Diners] module.]
[Name: Druid]
Race: Elf (Silvermoon Forest)
[Occupation: Scout/Nature's Messenger]
[Physical Status: Health (Below Average), Physical Strength (Good), Mental Strength (Medium)]
[Potential health risks: Detection indicates that retinal photoreceptor cells have suffered functional decline due to long-term erosion by trace amounts of pollutants, leading to severe night blindness (adaptation disorder in low-light environments). The body lacks sufficient amounts of a specific active element (scientifically named: Retinol A-plus) for self-repair.]
[Ding! Today's Menu update task triggered!]
[Task Name: The First Ray of Light Under the Moonlight]
[Mission Objective: Prepare a special therapeutic dish for the temporary diner [Druid] to effectively alleviate their night blindness symptoms and gain their approval.]
[Task Rewards: 500 System Points, unlock new recipe [Starlight Deer Liver Pâté], and a random bag of herb seeds.]
Looking at the clear diagnostic report and the gleaming tasks on the system interface, Lin Yue couldn't help but smile confidently. This was practically a freebie!
The next morning, when Elendil and Lorian arrived in the hall, they were surprised to find that the breakfast section of the obsidian menu on the wall had changed.
The original "Starlight Sleep Aid Steamed Buns + Potato Soup" set meal has been replaced with today's "Mayor's Special Recommended Breakfast Set Meal".
Set menu includes: [Starlight Deer Liver Pâté with Wheat Potato Pancakes] + [Moonlight Mushroom Soup].
When the druid walked in with a puzzled look, Lin Yue greeted him with a smile: "Master Druid, this breakfast this morning was specially prepared for you and your companions. I hope it suits your taste."
Soon, a brand new breakfast with a strange aroma was served.
It was a dish of starlight deer liver pâté made by grinding the freshest deer liver with a small amount of starlight wheat flour and exotic pine needle powder using a stone mill, and then steaming it over water, served with a few pieces of crispy baked wheat potato cakes.
The deer liver pâté is delicate and silky, melting in your mouth. It has the rich flavor of liver, the fragrance of wheat flour, and the refreshing taste of pine needles, making it a unique and sophisticated flavor.
The druid didn't immediately notice any change after eating the dish. But that evening, when he accompanied Elendil on another patrol of the park, he was surprised to find that the world before him, though still dim, seemed... to have lost a little of the ambiguity that shrouded the surfaces of things. He could now more clearly discern the outlines of distant trees and the shapes of the pebbles beneath his feet.
“My eyes…” The druid looked at his hands in disbelief, his voice trembling, “feel… like… I can see… a little bit more clearly.”
As a powerful spellcaster, Erandil possessed an exceptionally keen sense of energy. He had immediately detected the faint yet pure energy contained within this seemingly ordinary food the moment it entered his mouth. Even so, he hadn't anticipated the food's profound impact on them.
Ylandir stared at the druid in shock, then abruptly turned to Lin Yue, his golden eyes flashing with excitement and inquiry: "Mayor Lin Yue, was there anything special about the dish that was served this morning?"
Lin Yue smiled and nodded: "It's just a small dietary therapy experiment. It seems to be working quite well."
At this moment, Elendil could no longer maintain his noble composure. He knew better than anyone what this young human's mastery of the art of food therapy meant to the elves, who had long suffered from the ravages and trauma of the earth.
Ilandil took a deep breath and spoke solemnly in a more equal manner: "Mayor Lin Yue, I am deeply impressed by your wisdom and generosity. I can see that although Hope Town is taking shape, it still faces many challenges. Perhaps our Silvermoon Forest can offer you some assistance in certain areas, such as... sharing some knowledge on how to use the power of nature for defense and purification? Of course, in return, we are also very interested in your amazing medicinal diet."
“However,” he added, “I need to return to the forest to report this matter in detail to Her Majesty the Queen. Please give us some time; I believe it will not be long before we send a formal delegation to discuss the specific details of our cooperation.”
This was exactly what Lin Yue was waiting for.
He smiled, stood up, and gave another somewhat awkward hand-on-chest salute: "Of course. The doors of Hope Town are always open to our friends. We look forward to your next visit."
That noon, after politely declining Lin Yue's repeated invitations to stay a few more days, Elendil, Lorian, and the Druid took a small bag of Starlight Wheat Flour and several sealed portions of deer liver pâté, gifts from Lin Yue, as samples, and embarked on their journey home once again.
They arrived silently and left just as swiftly as the wind. The three figures quickly blended into the distant mist and disappeared.
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