I became the King of Ryukyu

September 28th, Monday, sunny.

The early autumn morning light pierced through the old wooden lattice windows of the attic of the Isshin Izakaya, scattering in dappled patterns that cut long stripes of light and shadow across the flat tatami mats.

Zheng Yi stretched and sat up, pressing the base of his palm against his throbbing temples, his eyes still showing a hint of morning languor.

Yesterday, I spent the whole day clearing land and logging on the Shadow Isles. Even with the help of a powerful artifact, the fatigue in my body has truly subsided, and my limbs still feel slightly sore.

"Good morning, Yuki-san!"

Standing on the spiral staircase on the second floor, Zheng Yicai belatedly realized that the girl was not here as he habitually uttered his greeting.

The izakaya was empty and desolate, lacking the petite figure who used to bustle around the bar every morning. A faint sense of emptiness swept through Zheng Yi's heart.

There is a loquat tree in the courtyard, which my wife planted in the year she died. Now it stands tall and spreading like a canopy.

Zheng Yi suddenly remembered this sentence; it seems the power of habit is truly terrifying!

But on second thought, it's actually a good thing.

At least today, we no longer have to taste the infamous dishes from Yukina that have destroyed the tradition of shared language and origin, and the close-knit culinary heritage of Ryukyu and Fujian.

Getting up and going downstairs, Zheng Yi reached out and closed all the curtains in the store, then locked the door tightly, checking repeatedly to ensure that there was no possibility of any outsiders appearing.

He opened the freezer, picked out fresh seafood and miso ingredients, skillfully set up the stove, and prepared a breakfast for one person by himself.

The sizzling sound of grilling slowly filled the air as the golden fish skin released its rich oils. The intense aroma of caramelized fish, mixed with the savory flavor of miso soup, quickly filled the entire room.

He took off his shirt, carefully folded it, and placed it aside, then calmly enjoyed the breakfast he had made himself.

The taste is fresh and delicious, bringing joy, but the familiar debuff is triggered as expected—the exclusive "Clothes-Exploding Dish" effect quietly takes effect.

Zheng Yi had already prepared himself mentally, even though this was the first time he had personally experienced such a shameful thing.

With the warm buff effect surrounding him, Zheng Yi finished his breakfast while writhing and moaning.

You know what, it's just like sleeping naked. As long as no one finds you, it's actually quite comfortable and enjoyable, as if your whole soul is relaxed.

After the state of shock completely dissipated, Zheng Yi turned around and went up to the second-floor warehouse.

Remotely, Cheye asked the chubby boy for information. He rummaged around in a corner where clutter was piled up for a while and quickly pulled out an old fishing rod covered with a thin layer of dust.

The paint on the rod is peeling and mottled, and the wood grain has been polished by time to a warm luster, making it a genuine antique. It is said that this is the fishing rod that I used when I was young, and it has been sitting idle in the warehouse collecting dust for five or six years without being touched.

After packing up his fishing rod, Zheng Yi set off lightly, riding his bicycle to the Department of Marine Biology at the University of the Ryukyus.

Looking at the magnificent building, my feelings are different every time I come here.

At first, he thought, "I can take its place." Later, he realized that this was the witch's evil castle. Now, with his own mobile island, Zheng Yi thinks that this building is nothing special.

He entered the building with familiarity, knowing the elevator floor guide perfectly well.

The library was quiet and peaceful in the early morning, with few people around.

Zheng Yi casually pulled out a copy of "Illustrated Guide to the Biological Structures of the Ryukyu Seas" and tucked it under his arm. After briefly registering the borrowing information, he smiled and declined the administrator's request to add him as a Line friend before turning and leaving.

Cao Cao inexplicably added a bit more charm to him, and now he's reached the 90 mark, which has brought Zheng Yi a lot of trouble.

If the ideal is to become a national idol, that's naturally a good thing. But if you want to become a truly great person, being too handsome is not a good thing.

"Will he end up like Lanling Wang?" Zheng Yi wondered.

He rode his bicycle along the coastal road and arrived at the riverside park downstream of Anlichuan.

At noon, the sun was blazing. Although Naha is not strictly speaking a tropical city, its scenery is full of South China Sea charm.

The entire estuary park is enveloped by lush mangroves, with their intertwined aerial roots penetrating the moist mudflats, and layers of verdant foliage filtering away the scorching summer heat.

The sea breeze, carrying a faint salty and briny scent, sweeps across the lawns and boardwalks. Tiny seashells and moss cling to the intertidal rocks, where streams and seawater merge, creating a tropical estuary landscape where life and danger coexist.

Zheng Yi found a shady fishing spot sheltered by mangroves, casually cast his old fishing rod into the water, leaned back, and comfortably rested on the stone bench with his eyes closed.

To outsiders, he was just an ordinary young man who relaxed by fishing in the water during his free time.

Unbeknownst to anyone, he had already opened the game's general panel, his consciousness deeply synchronized, and he had completely taken over the body of the special general underwater.

The elderly people in the park gathered in twos and threes by the trail and chatted. Their topics were always about the torrential rain that had passed through a few days ago and the strange weather that was first cold and then hot again. Their words were full of the leisurely life they had been living.

None of them could have imagined that this seemingly peaceful estuary harbored a ferocious aquatic beast far exceeding the norm.

Xiao Bailong, the most unique general under Zheng Yi, is a mutated albino electric eel with a snow-white body.

Its growth mechanism is unique, relying on electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus to continuously secrete growth hormone, breaking biological limits.

In a short period of time, it has reached a length of 1.2 meters. Its body is porcelain white and translucent. When it swims, it is like a wisp of firefly flowing underwater, blending into the shimmering waves.

"It's time to step out of your comfort zone and show me the limits of your body!"

With a thought, the little white dragon swung its powerful tail fin and slowly swam downstream towards the confluence of fresh and salt water in the Anli River.

This is a transitional zone where the river meets the sea, with rapid currents and murky water, and an extremely complex ecological environment.

Besides various salt-tolerant freshwater fish, shrimp, and gobies, small predatory marine fish such as true sharks often swim upstream during high tide, posing a hidden danger.

Zheng Yi did not slack off at all, and directly had the little white dragon fully activate the low-pressure induction magnetic field, using itself as the center to detect all movements in the surrounding waters.

He did not rush into the high-salinity waters of the open sea, but instead let the little white dragon stay in waters with gradually increasing salinity, quietly sensing the subtle changes in its body cells.

At the same time, he would open his eyes from time to time, refer to the biological structure knowledge in the marine encyclopedia, and precisely control the weak electric current to repeatedly stimulate the kidney organs and gradually enhance the salt excretion function.

Next, he gradually activated the ion cells in the fish's gills.

Freshwater fish primarily absorb water and store salt in their ion cells, while marine fish rely on cellular activity to excrete excess salt. Their functions are diametrically opposed, and the little white dragon's transformation is essentially a manual switch in its cellular survival mode.

Taking advantage of the game's mechanics of unlimited health regeneration and trial-and-error without taking damage, Zheng Yi patiently refined the White Dragon's physical abilities, gradually adapting it to the marine environment.