### Chapter 8: The Red Farming Plan
==============================
Lin Nan and Fatty seemed to be fully committed; the half of the backyard that was once piled high with white radishes had dwindled to almost nothing. By the end of their second day at the Eight Immortals Restaurant, the place was a battlefield of shredded radish failures, but the big water jar was nearly overflowing with perfectly crafted produce.
Ding! You have mastered Level 1 Sword Intent!
When Fatty received this system notification, he nearly burst into tears of joy.
Finally, all that hard work paid off!
After dragging the project out for a whole five days, he had finally earned this heavy reward. He had never approached such a seemingly simple, yet profoundly meaningful task with this level of seriousness in real life.
And he actually completed it.
A wave of satisfaction washed over him, feeling even better than the time he tricked people into giving him their lunch money.
He turned smugly to Lin Nan, “Hey, bro, did you get the system alert too?”
Lin Nan nodded.
Fatty put his hands on his hips like a wise old sage and said, “Now you understand the deeper meaning of me bringing you to the Eight Immortals Restaurant for free food, right? Such a hidden mission and I’m only sharing it with you! Aren’t you a little grateful?”
As he spoke, he rubbed his fingers together. “Come on, toss a few Spirit Coins my way as a token of appreciation?”
Lin Nan shook his head. This Fatty…
“I’d advise you to just keep working. You think the leftovers at the Eight Immortals Restaurant are so delicious? If we don’t meet the waiter’s demands within the deadline, we’re getting kicked out faster than you can say ‘pancake.’ There won’t be any hidden missions for us.”
Fatty might be greedy, but he wasn’t stupid.
He rolled his eyes and asked, “So what level is your Sword Intent now?”
“Level 2.”
Fatty’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Wait, you’ve only practiced a half-day longer than me! Why’re you leveling up so fast?”
Lin Nan shrugged. “There are differences between people; you just refuse to acknowledge it.”
Clearly offended, Fatty declared, “Just wait! If I can’t surpass you, I’ll write my name backwards!”
What Lin Nan didn’t expect was that after dinner, Fatty actually didn’t rest. Instead, he found a candle and kept practicing in the yard, treating Lin Nan like a mighty rival he needed to surpass.
Lin Nan didn’t bother with his antics, murmuring, “I’m logging off,” and collapsed on the firewood without moving.
Fatty shot him a glare, gritting his teeth, “I’m not logging off tonight! I’ll catch up to you even if it means I have to become an immortal!”
But not long after, Fatty was sent flying by the suddenly furious waiter.
“Do you not sleep? We still need to rest! Go cool off somewhere else!”
Man, just when I finally had a bit of determination to accomplish something, it got snuffed out like that.
Fatty felt wronged and on the verge of tears.
In the Cold Wind Cave of the Chaos Forest
Once consciousness landed in Little Drill Wind, Lin Nan slowly opened her eyes.
The underground cave was a bit too noisy, and the atmosphere felt different than usual.
She lifted the curtain and stepped outside, only to be greeted by a lively scene of a bunch of little demons dancing around a bonfire.
Some little demons were sprawled out on the ground, utterly drunk and out cold.
What on earth were they doing? Was today some kind of special anniversary?
In no time, she found out the answer.
It turned out that while Little Drill Wind was in charge, Old Drill Wind had asked to let little demons sneak out after dark to let off some steam, given that the human adventurers were becoming more numerous and they’d nearly driven themselves crazy holed up in the cave.
Little Drill Wind, adhering strictly to the principle of nothing that threatened her safety, had shot down Old Drill Wind’s wild proposal.
Because who was she kidding? She knew Lin Nan wouldn’t agree to that.
While the human adventurers had varying powers and most hadn’t even started their breathing practice, the little demons’ combat abilities weren’t much better. In a clash, nobody knew who would come out on top. If they got caught by humans, their Cold Wind Cave’s location would be exposed for sure.
Just as Old Drill Wind looked ready to leave with a droopy head, Little Drill Wind called him back.
Even though in control of the system, she was trying her best to simulate the original being’s thought processes, so he proposed a compromise: they could hold a bonfire party in the cave after dark to help the little demons unwind.
Old Drill Wind gladly accepted this mission.
Thus, the little demons immediately got to work preparing the bonfire party.
As night fell and quiet enveloped the cave, bright flames sprang to life in the spacious underground area. The little demons gathered around the fire, cups of sweet drinks in hand, their previous gloominess evaporating, replaced by genuine smiles and laughter.
Never before had Little Drill Wind seen the little demons so happy. Even the usually quiet Old Drill Wind joined in, raising cup after cup, and before long, the little demons were stumbling around, eyes glazed over from drink.
The monster race had a strict hierarchy.
Powerful big demons wielded nearly unlimited life and d*ath control over the little demons.
Those little demons at the bottom, reliant on the big demons for survival, mostly lived in constant fear, worried that a tiny mistake might land them a gruesome fate.
She had seen way too much of that.
Due to its position at the edge of the monster race’s power, Cold Wind Cave didn’t have many little demons—just over a hundred. To top it off, Old Drill Wind’s power was average at best, so the atmosphere there was somewhat better than in other monster territories, but only to a limit.
Once they angered Old Drill Wind, while it wouldn’t k*ll them, they could definitely expect a solid beating.
Even after secretly taking control of Cold Wind Cave, Little Drill Wind hadn’t changed the established order. On some level, she thought it was normal.
But ever since the Great King came to Cold Wind Cave, her management style had become utterly incomprehensible.
Without a doubt, the Great King held immense power, even capable of counterattacking in a lightning-quick sneak attack when it looked like she’d got the upper hand.
Little Drill Wind had expected the Great King to whip the place into shape, using harsh measures and setting an example to cement her supreme status, but who could have guessed she didn’t do that at all?
Though the Great King’s preference was minimal dialogue and an icy demeanor, she had done things Old Drill Wind had never even considered in all those years.
For instance, she fearlessly inspected the little demons’ dorms, checking if their bedding was warm and if their meals were tasty enough, and even listened closely to their suggestions for improving Cold Wind Cave.
In just three or four days, Little Drill Wind could clearly feel the little demons’ changing gaze towards the Great King.
Before, it had been fear and obedience; now, it was admiration and respect.
The little demons even started cleaning up without waiting for orders from above, tossing years of accumulated stinky garbage out of the cave all at once.
This change took Little Drill Wind completely off guard.
Was this really a monster cave?
What on earth did that mysterious big demon do to bring such transformation in just a few days?
She didn’t understand, but she knew her instincts hadn’t misled her.
The Great King was different from other big demons. Perhaps one day, she could indeed lead the monster race down a completely different path.
Little Drill Wind clenched her fists, firmly standing behind the Great King. Watching her slender back, hope surged within her.
If that were the case, Little Drill Wind would vow to follow her to the ends of the earth.
She just hoped the monster race wouldn’t end up being the lambs to the slaughter for humans and demons alike.
As Little Drill Wind’s imagination ran wild, Lin Nan browsed through the things that had happened while in Little Drill Wind’s care via the system, suddenly finding it a mix of hilarious and ridiculous.
Well, okay, she was a gaming enthusiast and also a fan of red farming development stories.
So, after the system took control, it seemed to have randomly extracted this memory into Little Drill Wind and started seriously implementing it.
Little Drill Wind’s actions were a slight cause for secondhand embarrassment.
But the results seemed pretty good, quickly fostering camaraderie among the little demons, at least ensuring they wouldn’t betray her for the time being, securing the success of her hidden identity plan.
As long as they waited for the human adventurers’ enthusiasm to fade, they’d have no chance of finding any trace of the Cold Moon Witch, and they would eventually leave the Chaos Forest.
At that point, she could finally relax.
Just then, Lin Nan noticed Cold Moon standing behind her. “Why aren’t you joining the fun, Second Great King?”
Cold Moon smiled and said, “I just feel like I can’t let loose around them, so I’ll pass.”
Lin Nan nodded.
That made sense. Most of the little demons hadn’t fully transformed, while Cold Moon had perfectly taken on the appearance of a girl. The gap in their realms was clear, so how could she mingle with those little demons?
What’s more, she was the Second Great King; keeping a bit of distance from the little demons would make managing them easier in the long run.
“Alright, just keep an eye on them for me. Make sure they don’t get too drunk and cause trouble. I’m heading back to rest for a bit,” Lin Nan instructed.
“Of course, please rest easy, Great King.”
Cold Moon kept her respectful stance until Lin Nan disappeared down the corridor before turning her gaze back to the lively bonfire scene.
At that moment, Little Drill Wind staggered out of the crowd with a drink in hand and, egged on by the drunken little demons, raised his cup towards her from a distance.
“A toast to the Second Great King! May you… always be happy and find a handsome prince soon!”
“Hahaha, Little Drill Wind, you’ve got guts! With the Second Great King’s looks, how many monsters in this world could be worthy of her?”
“Drink up, drink up! Even if the Second Great King won’t punish you, we can’t let this slide! Seriously, can’t you say something better?”
Old Drill Wind wobbled over to Little Drill Wind, exhaling a cloud of alcohol vapor, “You little brat, stop sucking up. Don’t think I can’t see through you. Remember when you and the Second Great King first came to Cold Wind Cave? You…”
Little Drill Wind’s heart raced.
“… You were just trying to butter up the Second Great King to stay on my good side to keep your position as team leader, right? Let me tell you, the Great King has been really impressed with me lately. That team leader spot is mine sooner or later… hic If it weren’t for me, there wouldn’t even be a bonfire party!”
“Ahh, that’s why Old Drill Wind is so capable!” the little demons chimed in with glee.
Little Drill Wind sighed in relief, as if he had just safeguarded the universe’s biggest secret.
Looking around for Cold Moon, he found that she had mysteriously vanished.
He closed his eyes, downing a cup of spicy, bitter liquor.
