Firefly Journey

It's a very reasonable story opening, giving off a sense of weight. If Lin Yuanran hadn't heard similar beginnings seven times, he would have really believed it.

The words of traveling merchants are a mix of truth and falsehood, just like those of writers who use their own experiences as a blueprint, supplemented by artistic embellishment, to create vivid yet absurd stories.

"So what exactly is the secret?" Lin Yuanran asked with a smile.

Piero smiled, took a big gulp of strong liquor, and said, "If I had known, I would have become a superhuman."

These words drew laughter from the drunkards, filling the tavern with a joyful atmosphere.

Lin Yuanran chuckled. Sure enough, he shouldn't have expected Piero to have any new tricks up his sleeve. In the end, despite the changes in time, characters, and place, the structure of his stories remained largely the same.

Yes, this person has a real talent for storytelling.

Seeing that he couldn't get any useful information, Lin Yuanran lost interest, paid the bill and went home. He couldn't afford any more drinks; his wallet was already stretched thin.

“Five copper coins.” Olek was no longer there; it was his father, Ryan Andrei, who spoke.

Lin Yuanran took out five copper coins and arranged them on the counter. Ryan, as if by magic, swept his palm lightly across them and put the coins into the cabinet.

Lin Yuanran walked out of Andre's Tavern, touched his pocket, and found that he only had 1 silver coin and 3 copper coins left. He couldn't help but sigh.

With the three silver coins he had hidden at home, all his possessions weren't even enough to hire a carriage to leave Torreg, let alone uncover the secrets of the Pan-Ancient Continent or find a chance to go home.

The road ahead is long and arduous, but I will continue to search for it...

Feeling deeply that the road ahead was long and arduous, Lin Yuanran returned home in a depressed mood. He took out his treasured three silver coins, put them together with the money he had on him, and counted them over and over again. After more than ten counts, he still couldn't find a single extra coin.

"The money earned from Solo Bakery is only enough to buy bread; there's no way to save any. My plan to go home is still a long way off."

In the end, Lin Yuanran decided to stop messing with the silver and copper coins that wouldn't lay any eggs and carefully put them away.

"But if I don't work at the bakery, what other ways can I earn money?"

In his mind, Lin Yuanran went through all the positions in the town, making calculations.

Manufacturing and processing...

Lin Yuanran gave up immediately. Without the ability to open his own workshop, he could only make a living at best, which was the same as working at Solo Bakery.

A craft seems like a good way out.

However, the town was already saturated with skilled artisans, and even if it weren't, Lin Yuanran had nowhere to learn, so he rejected the idea again.

Then I'll have to do manual labor.

Worstin, thanks to his racial talents, works as a porter in the town. His strength and efficiency have earned him unanimous praise from the townspeople, making it a stable job.

Lin Yuanran waved his thin arms. This body probably couldn't carry anything too heavy, so no one would hire him. This approach wouldn't work.

Suddenly, Lin Yuanran had a flash of inspiration. Piero had told him that there were many herb gatherers in the neighboring town who made their living by gathering herbs from the mountains. If they found rare medicinal herbs, they could earn a good income.

Just because there are herb gatherers next door doesn't mean there are in Torreg.

The nearest mountain to Torreg is the Yedeen Mountains, which have a primeval forest with complex ley lines and are teeming with magical beasts. The townspeople of Torreg only dare to go as far as the foot of the mountain, and the medicinal herbs certainly do not grow in such shallow places.

When you go into the mountains to collect herbs, you may encounter ferocious monsters. If you're not careful, you'll become their buffet.

But if I don't go, it means I can only continue working in the bakery. It's hard work, and the meager income is barely enough to eat. If I get a serious illness, I'll have to rely on my immune system.

As for going home...

That's out of the question.

Lin Yuanran gritted his teeth. So what if it's dangerous? Even sleeping at home can lead to an earthquake. Let's do it!

Having made up his mind, Lin Yuanran took a deep breath and slowly drifted off to sleep.

The next day, Lin Yuanran got up very early. It was just getting light, and the road was pitch black. He felt his way in the dark and arrived at Andre's Tavern.

In the stables, the two mixed-breed horses that carried Piero on his business trip had their eyes open, emitting an eerie glow in the still-dark environment.

Lin Yuanran squatted down on the spot.

Before long, Piero came out. He had a habit of getting up early to feed the horses, and Lin Yuanran knew this, so he waited for him.

"Kid, what are you doing here?" Piero was very puzzled.

“Waiting for you, esteemed sir,” Lin Yuanran said respectfully. “To be honest, I’m not satisfied with my current income…”

So, if I put these medicinal herbs in front of you, would you buy them?

Piero said, "Medicinal herbs are in high demand. Besides being used to treat illnesses, some special ones can also be sold to extraordinary individuals to enhance their strength. I'm happy to buy them if you have them. You can make a lot of money transporting them to the city."

But as far as I know, there's no such profession as herbalist in Torreg, because the monsters in the mountains are too ferocious. If you choose to do that, aren't you afraid...?

“Mr. Piero, poverty is what’s terrible,” Lin Yuanran said firmly. “I’m a clever kid, aren’t I?”

Seeing that Lin Yuanran was determined, Piero, who was only a nodding acquaintance with him, didn't say much. He said, "It's good that you know what you're doing. I'll buy any medicinal herbs you have. Also, if you're a beginner, you'd better buy a copy of 'The Complete Book of Herbs'."

"Thank you," Lin Yuanran said sincerely. His idea of ​​becoming a herb gatherer wasn't entirely a whim; the original owner of this body was a very hardworking person who read all sorts of books, including medical books and plant descriptions.

Unfortunately, such a hardworking person passed away on a cold and hungry night, allowing Lin Yuanran to take advantage of the situation.

As Piero fed the hybrid horse hay, Lin Yuanran asked, "The story you told last night... is it true? Did outsiders really come to our town?"

Piero said, "I've only heard it secondhand, I don't know if it's true or not, maybe he'll come, maybe he won't."

Lin Yuanran thanked him again and walked towards the bakery.

It doesn't matter if they don't come, we won't lose anything anyway. But if someone really comes for the so-called secrets of the Yedeen Mountains, that'll be quite a show, and maybe even a superhuman will appear...

At that time, we will probably know more about the principality and the Pangaea.

Upon arriving at the bakery, Lin Yuanran succinctly expressed his intention to resign. Solo agreed, but stipulated that he must finish the work this week to facilitate the recruitment of new staff and the settlement of salaries.

For the next few days, Lin Yuanran worked at the bakery until it was time to say goodbye.

To get up the mountain, Lin Yuanran spent a fortune on an axe. It was incredibly expensive, costing 1 silver coin and 2 copper coins, which pained him greatly.

Sharpening the axe wouldn't delay the woodcutting work, and although Lin Yuanran felt the expense was well worth it, he also felt it was very worthwhile. After sharpening the axe until it gleamed, Lin Yuanran shouldered his bamboo basket and went into the mountains to collect money.