A Stardew Valley farmer came to Gensokyo.

"Master~"

Tadara Kosuke answered happily, then wiped the large hand off his face, quickly turned around and looked up at Xia Xun with a straight smile.

"Little Umbrella is so clever, there's a reward for guessing correctly."

She reached out and lifted Tatara Kouu from under her armpits, then placed her on her shoulder and let the girl play a horse-riding game.

The sudden rise in the viewing angle startled Tatara, who tightly hugged Natsumi's forehead with both hands. However, as her legs were firmly gripped, she felt safe and a joyful expression immediately appeared on her face.

Holding onto Tatara's small umbrella, Natsumi walked towards the direction of the snorkeling pavilion.

I wonder what the situation is like over there.

Kazama Yuka actually went to work obediently today.

Ding-a-ling.

Pushing open the curtain, Xia Xun led Tatara Kousan into the Nitun Pavilion.

The area for human guests is still bustling today, but the busy green-haired girl from yesterday is nowhere to be seen.

Because at this moment, the other party is devouring the salamander pavilion while being watched by a group of great demons.

Xia Xun put down the small umbrella from his shoulder and led her across the cordon.

"I knew I wasn't mistaken!"

Ibaraki Kasen was sitting next to Ibuki Suika, drinking heartily from a sake bowl, staring at Kazama Yuuka with a slightly drunken expression.

Teacher, I didn't know you had this side to you.

However.

"Xiaoling, Aqiu, what are you doing at the Silkworm Swallowing Pavilion?"

Xia Xun looked at the two girls who were huddled in the corner and walked over to them helplessly.

Hieda Akyuu was alright, but even though Motoori Kosuzu mustered up her courage, she was still trembling a little, though her expression was much better than last time.

"Because I want to know more about 'demon stocks'." Motoori Suzu raised her head and looked at Natsumi, her little face filled with confusion: "Big brother, today we found the monster who spread divination notes with the immortals."

"He was originally a human from the village. Because he used divination to see what humans looked like in the outside world, he felt that the humans in Gensokyo were enslaved by youkai, so he was planned to become a youkai."

"Brother, are we being enslaved by monsters?"

Motoori Kosuzu raised her head, looking at Natsumi expectantly, hoping that this older brother would give her an answer.

Not far away, Ibuki Suika, who had originally wanted to invite Xia Xun to drink with her and tell him about her victory over Kazama Yuuka that day, was stopped by Yakumo Yukari.

"Aren't you curious about Xia Xun's attitude as a human towards the current state of the relationship between humans and yokai in Gensokyo?"

Upon hearing this, Suika Ibuki blinked, wanting to shake her head.

But seeing her best friend's serious expression, she thought about it and sat back down. Her gaze then fell on Ibaraki Kasen beside her.

Unexpectedly, one of the former Ghost Kings has turned into this.

"The humans of Gensokyo are indeed dominated by youkai."

Xia Xun didn't hesitate much and, after thinking for a moment, told Motoori Kosuzu the truth.

Seeing the girl's face turn pale in an instant, he sat down next to Motoori Suzume and said, "Suzume, do you know what your brother had to do every day to survive before he came to Gensokyo?"

"I start work at seven in the morning and work mechanically until nine at night. I work six days a week. The result of my hard work is just barely enough to make ends meet. As for getting married and owning a house, I can't even imagine it."

Xia Xun said calmly, looking at Motoori Kosuzu, "Actually, there are man-eating monsters everywhere."

"I think the youkai in Gensokyo are better than the youkai in the hearts of outsiders."

"After all, these monsters also depend on humans. The two check and balance each other, so they will genuinely protect humans. Perhaps humans will not rise again to become the masters of the world."

"But the world is not black and white; it's good for the two to coexist and depend on each other for survival."

Motoori Kosuzu stared wide-eyed, then exclaimed in admiration, "My brother knows so much!"

"However, it's surprising that someone like my older brother has such a hard time surviving outside, and yet he still dreams of becoming a human." The girl looked puzzled.

"Heh, because his vision never reaches the bottom."

Xia Xun smiled and rubbed Benju Xiaoling: "He doesn't need to change anything, there's a monster living in his heart."

—Author's Note—

P.S.: I am very grateful for all the readers' subscriptions, votes, and donations!

_(:з」∠)_, My drafts are all used up. I'll resume four updates a day from now on and start drafting again.

Chapter 158 This world is too crazy

【Spring 3.22】

Gathering level 7 → 8, unlocked: Teleport Totem - Farm.

New maps are now available!

Xia Xun, who had just woken up in the early morning, looked at the farm teleportation totem that had been successfully unlocked and his face showed an excited expression.

ocean!

If you wanted this word, what would be the first thing that comes to mind?

Anyway, Xia Xun had a variety of delicious seafood in mind. He used to eat a lot of mushrooms as a mountain dweller, but he had only ever eaten squid from a barbecue stall.

"Suiko! Suiko, get up quickly!"

Xia Xun sat up with a jolt, gently rocking the still-sleeping Ibuki Suika in her arms, "We're going to the beach today!"

"Hmm~ the beach?"

Suika Ibuki rubbed her sleepy eyes, her golden pupils filled with confusion, "Does Gensokyo have a sea?"

"Hmm... Sanzu River?" Xia Xun answered uncertainly.

In his mind, the only thing in Gensokyo that could be associated with the sea was probably this place.

“The Sanzu River…” Ibuki Suika yawned, a look of realization dawning on her face. “If it’s there, it certainly qualifies as the sea.”

She tilted her head and added in a sleepy, soft voice, "But it's quite dangerous there. It's a place where the three realms meet, and the dead, monsters, gods and all sorts of things pass through there."

Although I don't understand why Xia Xun suddenly wants to go to that kind of place, since he wants to go...

"But with me here, it's okay," Ibuki Suika said smugly, puffing out her little chest, looking eager to try.

Ever since that girl Kazami Yuuka made a war-avoiding lizard, she hasn't had a fight in ages, and she's been itching to get one.

pinch~

"It's so good to have Cuixiang here." Xia Xun sighed, but her hands rubbed restlessly.

Suika Ibuki looked down at the large hand on her chest, then glanced helplessly at Natsumi.

What an impatient little boy.

Then she went over with a grin and started playing around with Xia Xun.

The room was filled with a faint, sweet scent in the early morning.

When the two came out of the room, Okunoda Miyo had already set breakfast on the table and was chatting with Tatara Kosa and Kazama Yuka.

Seeing Kazama Yuka at home, she was clearly a little curious.

Good morning, Miyo, Usagi, Yuka.

Xia Xun sat down next to Okunoda Miyo, picked up a bowl of hot porridge and took a big gulp. The warm porridge slid down her esophagus, and her stomach felt warm and cozy.

"Good morning, Natsuxun-nii~" Kazama Yuka greeted him obediently, but her eyes secretly drifted towards Natsuxun.

Sniff sniff~

"The smell of being in heat."

Suddenly, Kazama Yuuka leaned close to Xia Xun, took a couple of sniffs, and spoke, almost making him choke on his porridge.

Ibuki Suika, on the other hand, smiled smugly and ate her breakfast without a care in the world.

Last night, Kazama Yuka tried to compete with Ibuki Suika for the bedroom, but she was easily defeated and had to sleep in the living room.

"Why is Youxiang at home?"

Leaning close to Natsumi's ear, Okunoda Miyo asked softly.

Upon hearing this, Xia Xun glanced at Kazama Yuka, who looked as obedient as an ordinary little girl, and then at Okunoda Miyo, whose face was full of curiosity.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Actually, we were attacked yesterday when we returned to Youxiang's house."

"Because I was very scared, I let Youxiang stay at my house."

Seeing Okunoda Miyo suddenly realize what was happening and then go to comfort Kazami Yuuka, Natsumi picked up her bowl of porridge and took another sip.

He wasn't lying; he just omitted who attacked whom and who was actually scared.

Looking at Okunoda Miyo, Natsumi's eyes welled up with tears. Suddenly, she hugged the girl and buried her head in the giant heart: "Waaaa, Miyo, I was scared too, so comfort me~"

"Natsu, Natsu Xun, Yu Xiang is still watching."

With a slightly shy voice, Okunoda Miyo put her small hand around Natsumi and glanced furtively at Kazama Yuuka, who was watching curiously, but still gently stroked Natsumi's hair.

Having fully experienced the girl's gentleness, Xia Xun raised his head and gently kissed her lips.

After breakfast, the day's work began.

"Is Suika going with Natsumi today?"

Miyo Okunoda, holding the hands of Kou Usagi Tatara and Yuka Kazama, looked at the two who were all ready to go with some surprise.

"Yes, I'm going to the beach today, but I'm worried about the dangers, so I'm having Suika come with me."

Xia Xun explained with a smile, then winked at Okunoda Miyo, "I'll bring you some delicious seafood when I come back tonight."

"Seafood?" Miyo Okunoda blinked. "Are we going to the Sanzu River?"

She remembered that occasionally a fisherman would appear in the village and say that he raised sea fish there.

"You guessed right." Xia Xun waved and led Ibuki Suika outside.

He planned to go to the fish shop to buy earthworms first, and then go to the farm.

Stardew Valley Farm.

After inspecting the crops, Xia Xun went to take a look at the new house under construction.

The main structure is complete, and the kappa are busy inside doing interior decoration and installing furniture.

"Good progress." Xia Xun nodded with satisfaction and reached out to rub Kawashiro Natsumi's little head. "I'll bring you gifts when I get back from the beach."

"Okay, okay!" Kawashiro Nitori happily shook his head.

"Let's go, Suika, it's time to set off." Xia Xun called out to Ibuki Suika, who was wandering around by the field, and took out four teleportation totems from his backpack, one for the farm and one for the ocean.

After receiving the materials yesterday, he created the teleportation totem. After Alice tested it last night, it turned out to be a magical artifact.

Unlike the storage crate, which can only be used by Xia Xun, the teleportation totem can be used by anyone once it is activated.

"The blue one is for teleporting to the ocean, and the green one is for teleporting back to the farm. Remember that," Natsumi carefully instructed Suika Ibuki. "Since it's my first time using it, I don't know exactly where it will teleport to."

"If it's too dangerous to teleport there, remember to use the farm totem to teleport back immediately."

“How about I take you, Xia Xun, directly to the River of Three Crossings via the Path of the Middle Way?” Ibuki Suika suggested, staring at the strange totem in her hand.

"Don't worry, Cui Xiang." Xia Xun shook her head, took a deep breath while looking at the teleportation totem in her hand: "You may think this thing is unreliable, and in fact it is indeed not very reliable, but..."

"Go for it!"

With a loud shout, Xia Xun suddenly poured his magic into the ocean teleportation totem. The space trembled, and he vanished.

Suika Ibuki was stunned for a moment, then her face darkened, and she quickly activated the teleportation totem in her hand.

Sanzu River Ferry.

With a whoosh, Xia Xun appeared out of thin air, startling the wandering souls and spirits around him.

"Damn it, who is it?! Can't you see where you're going?!"