Chapter 4
AXT85 Nebula — White Dwarf Star.
Like usual, Sean was browsing the Star Network. He loved adventure, but unfortunately his prototype level was too low, so he could only watch adventure live streams online. He was basically a die-hard fan of these kinds of streams.
He clicked into the adventure tag, and what appeared before him were the few top streamers who dominated the screens year-round.
These streamers, relying on their strong prototypes, often ventured into deep caves, glaciers, primeval jungles, and deserts.
No one could predict what dangers might appear next, and this thrill earned these streamers a large number of fans.
Sean was one of them, but recently, after the chaotic interstellar war ended, he found himself losing interest in such streams.
On a whim, he opened the page for new streamers and visited several live rooms in a row.
The streamers were all newcomers with exceptional physical fitness, trying to attract more viewers by exploring dangerous places nonstop. Their content was largely the same, heavily repetitive and homogenized.
Just as he was about to leave, a live stream labeled “Cute Pets Farmstead” caught his attention. What did this have to do with adventure? Maybe the tag was wrong.
“What’s ‘cute pets’? And what kind of place is a farmhouse?” The fresh green scene on screen caught his eye. With such ancient vegetation, it didn’t look like a planet open to the public.
—
Xu Xiaozhi glanced at the large screen floating transparently in midair.
It showed one person online and one viewer.
“Welcome Sean, the adventure lover, to the live stream room,” Xu Xiaozhi said as she walked through the dense forest holding Chouba.
When the first ray of morning sunlight fell on her blanket, she opened her eyes. In order to complete the system’s mission, she decided to start streaming early and take a stroll around the farmhouse’s surroundings.
The morning air was fresh, and dewdrops hung on the tips of the grass.
Apart from a few small grassy patches around the farmhouse and a large wild grass field outside the south building, towering trees surrounded the area, shading it like a canopy from the summer sun.
Behind the main house was a vegetable patch painstakingly cleared by Grandma Gui and others, watered by a mountain stream, producing fresh and sweet vegetables.
Xu Xiaozhi decided to follow Uncle Wang’s advice and walk along the stream. The live stream screen accurately displayed the scene as she saw it.
The system automatically selected the “adventure” tag based on the surrounding environment.
Sean, the adventure lover, said: “First comment, first comment! Streamer, what place is this?”
After a century-long interstellar war ended, it had become very difficult to find places in the galaxy untouched by the flames of war. If this was indeed in the stars, he absolutely had to check it out.
In order to make it easier for Xu Xiaozhi to watch, a semi-transparent screen popped up on her watch, displaying the live stream comments.
Xu Xiaozhi quickly advertised the farmhouse, “We are currently on the territory of the Cute Pets Farmstead on the northern hills of Yucheng. The farmhouse is still under development. Welcome, viewers, to come visit us!”
I’m a Rogue entered the live room.
【What? The streamer is actually a girl? Her voice is so nice!】
Sean hurriedly searched on the Star Network but found no such place as Xu Xiaozhi mentioned. He thought, “Looks like this is an unknown planet. I heard recently the Star Network executives signed some agreement to explore unknown civilizations, which even trended on the network. Could it be that they’re live streaming from an unknown planet?”
【Is the streamer from an unknown planet?】
“The northern hills are still undeveloped, so the ecological resources are very rich. This is also the streamer’s first time exploring the surrounding environment.” The stream twisted and turned, smooth pebbles lined its banks, and Xu Xiaozhi carefully watched her step.
Seeing no response from the streamer, Sean sent another comment.
【Is the streamer from an unknown planet?】
【The streamer’s voice is really nice!】
A tiny shooting star slid across the screen, and Xu Xiaozhi smiled wryly, “Thanks to I’m a Rogue for sending a little star.”
Sean tested a few more times and realized it wasn’t that the streamer didn’t want to reply—she probably couldn’t see his comments at all.
“Woof!” Chouba rubbed against her legs and came to her side, then pawed at the ground and bounced a few times, eyes fixed on Xu Xiaozhi.
Xu Xiaozhi knew this meant he wanted to go play.
Fortunately, Uncle Wang had said there were no large wild beasts in this forest. She bent down, and the viewers got a clear look at Chouba.
She patted Chouba’s very springy rear, “Alright, go play!”
A yellow figure instantly sprang forward and disappeared into the deep forest.
The screen was instantly flooded with barrage comments.
***Entering the live room—dozens of such messages popped up one after another.
【What is the streamer doing!?】
【I love the streamer’s technique so much, can we experience it ourselves?】
【Just joined, what was that thing that suddenly flew out??】
【A beastman actually obeys a pure human like that?】
【To the one above, just by looking at that dog, it’s clearly not a beastman—basic knowledge, please.】
“Wh-what’s going on?” Suddenly seeing so many barrage comments, Xu Xiaozhi hurriedly stepped forward. “Chouba is my golden retriever. I just let him out to get some exercise,” she explained, as some of the comments were rather strange.
The stream flowed gently, and fish darted quickly through the water. Xu Xiaozhi crouched down and touched the water with her hand.
The flowing water was icy cold, after testing it once, she pulled back. “When I get back, I’ll tell Uncle Wang to buy a big watermelon and put it in the stream. It’ll be so refreshing to eat in the afternoon.”
Suddenly, comments in a language Xu Xiaozhi couldn’t understand began appearing, all asking what a watermelon was.
She stood up, and the screen changed accordingly. “It’s okay. The streamer will be live all day today, so everyone can watch when they have free time.”
【A little girl, can we see the creek again?】
One comment floated by.
This comment was so normal Xu Xiaozhi almost missed it.
Since she started the live stream, viewers kept asking where she was, what this was, what that was—like aliens passing through.
At this moment, the number of viewers had reached double digits, and the total views exceeded a hundred.
“Of course!” Xu Xiaozhi moved closer to the creek. The system followed her intent and automatically zoomed in on the screen.
The viewers were captivated by the various small fish swimming in the creek.
Unbeknownst to them, behind the screen, Qu Fei Bai excitedly clenched and waved his hands, showing an enthusiasm completely at odds with his age.
“Hey, there are crayfish too!” Xu Xiaozhi exclaimed in surprise as she noticed many pincers waving beneath the wild grass by the creek.
Looking more closely, the crayfish were strong and fierce, baring their claws aggressively.
Strong meant they were plump and delicious.
“I’ll catch some crayfish and let Grandma Gui cook them with the thirteen-spice flavor for lunch,” Xu Xiaozhi said as she rolled up her sleeves and reached her hand into the creek water.
【Crayfish aliens are trembling, did the streamer just say she wants to eat me?】
【The planet the streamer is on must be undeveloped, look, the creatures don’t even talk. I guess it’s okay to eat them then.】
The interstellar viewers gradually realized that the streamer’s planet was completely different from their own star systems—animals there couldn’t become beastmen, and some lacked intelligence, destined only to be food.
【The streamer just reaches out like that—there’s no way she can catch anything.】
Normally, pincered creatures in the galaxy’s wild forms were very fierce, their pincers could easily cut through steel bars.
But to everyone’s disappointment, one crayfish obediently let itself be picked up by Xu Xiaozhi’s hand.
Then another one, without any struggle.
“Seems like these crayfish have never been caught before, they don’t know to hide from people. If you move gently, they don’t even know to fight back,” she said.
Unfortunately, after catching a few, Xu Xiaozhi realized she had made a mistake—she hadn’t brought a basket or container. The small crayfish were right in front of her, but there was nowhere to put them.
She felt both proud and helpless.
The viewers understood immediately.
【Haha, the streamer can just carry them by hand going back.】
【Am I the only one curious what this ‘Cute Pet Farmhouse’ looks like?】
【Me too, I’m curious what exactly ‘Cute Pet Farmhouse’ means.】
“Looks like I’ll have to go back and get a basket before coming again,” Xu Xiaozhi said, putting the crayfish she caught back into the creek. After washing her hands twice in the water, she pushed up on her knees and stood, turning back toward the path she came from.
“Chouba!” she called twice in the direction he had gone. “Come back, hurry up!”
No dog responded.
Xu Xiaozhi frowned slightly. Although Chouba loved to play and often wandered off by himself when let out, he had never ignored her calls before.
【Could Chouba be in danger?】
【By the way, why name a dog “(Chouba)”?】
【Animals this undeveloped can’t be that smart, he’s probably just playing. Streamer, hurry and go find him!】
Following the traces Chouba left behind, Xu Xiaozhi pressed forward. The dense forest was dimly lit by the early dawn, with a mist like fine silk lingering in the air, faint and blurred, softly reflecting the green foliage.
The chat went quiet for a moment.
【Doesn’t anyone think this is beautiful?】
After so long, in a galaxy filled with smoke and pollution where people even had to wear protective suits just to go outside, such vibrant, undeveloped scenery could only be glimpsed in textbooks.
Xu Xiaozhi’s pant legs were wet from the dew. She called out for Chouba repeatedly, her voice echoing through the forest.
She thought to herself that something must have happened to Chouba. Although he was mischievous, he had never ignored her calls before.
Her growing anxiety affected the viewers as well, though they didn’t know what had happened, their emotions rose along with the streamer’s.
After walking for half an hour deeper into the woods, the towering trees’ canopies completely blocked out the sky, and a dark, deep gloom appeared on the screen.
【This is a bit scary!】
Finally, a “Woof!” came from a certain direction.
Thank goodness! The viewers breathed a collective sigh of relief.
But Xu Xiaozhi frowned again—she also heard a very faint, barely audible sound, like a small animal crying.
The sound came from behind an ancient giant tree. Half of Chouba’s body was hidden behind the trunk, his golden tail sweeping back and forth.
Xu Xiaozhi relaxed a bit, the tail wagging so energetically showed he was in good spirits.
“Ying!” That wasn’t Chouba’s voice.
What was going on? Her expression turned serious.
Sensing her presence, Chouba let out a muffled bark, as if something was in his mouth.
“Chouba!” She hurried to the back of the giant tree—and was stunned by what she saw.