IMC Chapter 32

The newly constructed furnace is about the size of two double-door refrigerators. It comes with built-in features for charcoal burning, metal ore smelting, and simple template shaping, with a maximum smelting temperature of up to 2000°C. This means that common metals can be purified and smelted.

Shu Bao explained the characteristics of common metal ores to the high priest, who agreed to search the surrounding area for them.

Before finding metal ores, Shu Bao suggested that the high priest could use the furnace to burn charcoal first. Charcoal is easy to store and can be used for heating in winter, as well as for future metal smelting. The method of burning charcoal is simple and straightforward: just put the wood into the furnace and wait.

Shu Bao personally tried burning the wood and found that producing charcoal takes at least ten hours. This means they can burn at most two batches a day. However, this is not a problem, as they can increase the number of furnaces if needed in the future.

After the furnace was completed, the remaining tasks for everyone were to set up a wood processing factory and repair the fence. Shu Bao also returned to his bedroom to dry the hidden orchids, planning to bring them with him at night.

Lan Qing was doing the same, as he didn’t have much in his possession and couldn’t bring much for his mouse teammates.

The day passed peacefully, and the dragon next door didn’t come to bother them. As the sky darkened, everyone in the Xia Wang tribe made all necessary preparations early. They looked in the direction of the mission hall, feeling some concern after hearing from the high priest about the deity’s plan to explore the chaotic world today.

In contrast, Shu Bao was the least anxious person in the entire base. The mouse methodically organized supplies, including a high-quality bone staff, a cat’s eye necklace, a bucket of frog meat, crimson-eyed rabbit meat, and hidden orchids.

While Shu Bao was busy, Lan Qing sneaked out of the hall and anxiously waited at the tribe’s entrance.

Finally, just as the snake was counting how many coils it could make out of boredom, the chaotic world descended. A black curtain covered the stars, extinguishing the starlight. Only the firelight within the tribe provided a slight warmth.

Shu Bao had already given the extra hidden orchids to the high priest, who placed them around the fence to reduce the likelihood of being detected by the corpses.

As darkness fell, Lan Qing eagerly poked his head out of the tribe and spotted a large white cat lying outside. The big white cat noticed Lan Qing as well, lifting its head.

“Hi, how are you?” Lan Qing waved his tail in greeting.

“Meow~” The big white cat responded with a paw wave.

Seeing this, Lan Qing was even happier, glad that they could communicate. He squeezed through the gap in the wooden door and came to the big white cat’s side.

The big white cat raised its body and looked down at the snake in front of it, eyes filled with confusion.

“Can you understand what I’m saying?”

The big white cat meowed and then nodded.

“Great! Could you do me a favor?” Lan Qing asked cautiously and briefly explained his request.

Under the snake’s nervous gaze, the big white cat nodded and meowed twice, agreeing to help. Lan Qing was very happy and quickly slipped back inside before Shu Bao came out.

When Shu Bao had packed all the supplies into the system bracelet and was ready to leave, Lan Qing handed over a few hidden orchid leaves and then gave the mouse a poisonous fang.

“These are fangs that fell off when I was young. Carrying them with you has the effect of detoxifying poisons. They might come in handy,” Lan Qing advised.

Thinking about the swamp he was heading to, Shu Bao didn’t refuse. “Thank you. I’ll bring you some fruits when I get back.”

“Just come back safely. The chaotic world is too strange; there might even be fruits that eat mice. You must be careful,” Lan Qing warned with concern.

Shu Bao: “…”

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Shu Bao stepped out of the tribe’s gate. The big white cat immediately stood up and walked over. Shu Bao pretended not to see it and walked in the opposite direction, but the big white cat followed. Shu Bao sped up, and so did the cat; he turned a corner, and the cat followed suit.

Seeing the two gradually moving away, Lan Qing sighed in relief. The big white cat was indeed very diligent.

After running for a while without shaking off the cat, Shu Bao had to stop and gestured with his paw for the cat to halt. The big white cat obediently stopped, sitting on the ground and meowing once.

“Why are you following me?”

“Meow.”

“Are you a vegetarian?”

“Meow?”

“Aren’t you looking for Duan Zhuo?”

“Meow!”

After a series of mismatched questions and answers, Shu Bao didn’t get any clear answers. However, he did realize that the cat wasn’t going to attack him; in fact, it seemed to have a protective intent. This was mainly evident when the big white cat would let out warning cries whenever Shu Bao got close to certain plants.

Shu Bao was surprised to learn that a single “meow” could convey such a wide range of meanings—confusion, affirmation, indifference, excitement, and even the anger and hatred it had shown towards Duan Zhuo the previous night.

Based on the simple map Duan Zhuo had drawn earlier, the Chaotic Swamp was located directly south of the base, but there was no further information available.

For an ordinary person, walking through such a dark and unfamiliar world might be nerve-wracking and filled with fear. However, as a treasure-seeking mouse, adventure and exploration were in Shu Bao’s nature. The quest to understand new worlds was the source of joy and a sense of value for the mouse.

Thanks to the night vision function of the cat’s eye necklace, Shu Bao didn’t need to worry about lighting; his vision was as clear as in daylight. With the aid of the eagle eye, no movement escaped the mouse’s notice, and the big white cat beside him occasionally issued warnings. Thus, he encountered no real danger along the way.

After advancing quickly for about half an hour, Shu Bao saw a forest ahead, with a small path leading into it, destination unknown.

A path!

Shu Bao quickly ran towards it, but the big white cat behind him started meowing anxiously as if warning of some danger.

Shu Bao stopped and carefully observed his surroundings, finding no dangerous creatures. Just then, he felt his scruff gently grabbed, and the big white cat carried him away from the path.

Feeling that this situation was too humiliating for a mouse, Shu Bao quickly wriggled free and tried to communicate with the cat. He could only ascertain that the big white cat thought the path led to a dangerous area.

Reluctant to give up after finally finding signs of human activity, Shu Bao decided to take the path, despite the warnings. The path bore many footprints, including those made by clear plastic shoes, straw sandals, wooden shoes, and even bare feet.

In addition to footprints, there were also some wheel tracks, which were even stranger. They included marks from horse-drawn carriages and automobiles, as if from a mishmash of different time periods.

After much hesitation, the big white cat decided to follow Shu Bao. Turning to look at it, Shu Bao said, “You don’t need to follow me. Just wait for me there.”

“Meow,” the big white cat responded, but stubbornly continued to follow behind.

The path through the forest seemed to be lined with some glowing plants, providing illumination for those walking along it. The dark forest on either side was dotted with different colored light sources, occasionally accompanied by strange animal sounds, making the environment seem very eerie.

The path soon came to an end. Shu Bao saw a warm light, distinct from bioluminescent light. It was particularly striking.

As he got closer, he saw that the light came from an electric lamp hanging in front of a wooden house. Shu Bao raised his eyebrows in surprise; the chaotic world was more developed than he had imagined.

The small wooden house was surrounded by a fence, and lights shone from inside. Even from a distance, Shu Bao could hear the sounds of lively conversation.

After some thought, Shu Bao transformed into his human form and turned to tell the big white cat to wait at a distance. However, he saw the cat suddenly shrink into a small kitten, tilting its head and meowing at him.

Shu Bao: “…” He had never imagined he would end up carrying a young predator with him.

With the kitten in tow, Shu Bao approached the wooden house, pushed open the gate, and entered the courtyard. Just as he was about to knock on the door, it opened from the inside.

Two men walked out, reeking of alcohol. They glanced at Shu Bao, paused for a moment, and a look of surprise crossed their faces.

Shu Bao stepped aside to let them pass. As the door was about to close behind them, he caught a glimpse of the lively scene inside—it seemed like some kind of tavern or inn.

Stopping the door from closing, Shu Bao walked in, catching snippets of the conversation between the two men who had just left.

“I’ve heard a lot of people from the present world have appeared recently. Something must be happening outside.”

“It seems that the cultivators are all looking for ways to possess bodies and escape from here.”

“You’re not capable of body possession, so why not find an alchemist and get a potion for the soul…”

As their voices faded, Shu Bao’s vigilance heightened. It seemed that revealing his identity here could be dangerous, as the people in this chaotic world likely wouldn’t hesitate to use others’ bodies to escape.

Fortunately, aside from Duan Zhuo, no one here should know him. With that in mind, Shu Bao entered the wooden house and was immediately enveloped by its lively atmosphere. The brightly lit interior was filled with people, dressed in various styles and with different expressions.

Shu Bao glanced around, and his gaze suddenly fixed on a corner of the room.

In the corner sat a man with two antennae on his forehead, exuding an unapproachable aura that left the surrounding seats empty. Despite this, his striking appearance still attracted some attention, and a woman holding a drink was walking towards him. That man was none other than Fu Qing!

Shu Bao reminded himself to stay calm. Fu Qing had never seen him in his human form. Besides, he was accompanied by a cat—a perfect disguise. There was no way Fu Qing would suspect that he was actually that mouse.

Perhaps sensing Shu Bao’s gaze, Fu Qing looked up and saw him. Shu Bao remained composed and found a seat at the bar.

Before he could settle in, a voice called out behind him, “Hi, can we be friends?”

Shu Bao turned in confusion and found Fu Qing standing behind him. “Why?” he asked.

“Because everyone else here is too ugly,” Fu Qing replied matter-of-factly.

At this comment, the expression of the woman following Fu Qing twisted. She quickly turned and left. Those who overheard also turned to look. Upon comparing themselves to the two facing each other, they sadly realized that Fu Qing’s remark might be true.

Shu Bao’s mouth twitched. Had he just been forced into offending an entire room of people? Does Fu Qing always talk like this? If he has managed to survive until now without being beaten up, he must be quite strong.

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