Supreme Emperor of Mist

"What happened yesterday?" the sunlight that shines through the gap between the window wakes Zhou Mei up from the bed. Noticing that this was the same room that belonged to Qin Lan, it made her somehow feeling more embarrassed than ever.

A blush appeared on her face when she tried to remember what happened yesterday after she had three cups of wine without a break in between.

But alas, there wasn't anything immoral that happened between them. Although it was heartbreaking that Qin Lan eventually did not touch a single hair of hers, she was still satisfied to listen to his answer.

After taking a few deep breaths to calm herself, Zhou Mei lifted up the blanket covering her while she sleeps. Based on how tidy is her dresses and robe without a hint of wrinkle, it shows her how excellent is Qin Lan's application in utilizing Spiritual Energy.

Perhaps not even his father can move her from her seat all the way to the bed as Qin Lan did.

And with the blanket now placed aside, it was like a piece of rock was removed from her chest. Zhou Mei took a deep breath once again as she tried to catch a whiff of Qin Lan's smell that might be lingering inside this room.

'How can there be no smell at all?' Zhou Mei looked around. Although the decoration inside the room is neither luxurious nor shabby, it was acceptable.

The first thing she could see is a wooden folding curtain with drawings of mountains and seas used as a dividing curtain between the living room and the bed. Further past the folding curtain is the table where they enjoyed a few cups of wine the night before.

On the wall were two sets of Qin Lan's favorite clothing in azure blue. While on the ground is a wooden shelf with some pen, paper, and ornaments he usually wears.

'Since I'm already inside here, why not I take the opportunity to look at what he likes?' Zhou Mei thought. Climbing off from the bed, she makes her first move onto the shelf where Qin Lan placed all his trinkets.

There was nothing valuable here, unlike her father's trinket shelf. Perhaps it was due to Qin Lan's humble demeanor that he has nothing uncommon stored in his collection.

Zhou Mei soon moved to a taller shelf where it was used to place heavier things. There was more for her to see here as there's a collection of wine, decoration, books, and drawing.

'This guy loves drawing and books quite much... All his wine also seems to be made from something similar... Did he know how to brew his own wine as well?' Zhou Mei covered her mouth and smiled as she continues to move around the room like a cat.

...

...

"Good work, everyone." Qin Lan praised the workers that have been working nonstop basically in these two months to help to make this farm a success.

"Manager Qin is too kind. We did get some benefits from you in return, so you don't have to be too humble before all of us." the workers instantly replied to Qin Lan's words.

They were replying to him this way because Qin Lan basically shared all the pills he refined with them. To them, such an opportunity is basically godsent.

Based on Qin Lan's estimation, the farm will reach its maximum capacity in the next four months. And from that moment onwards, what they'll need to be worried about will no longer be pests, irrigation, nor sunlight.

New kinds of trouble will soon arise the moment the farm reaches its maximum potential. Espionage, thievery, Yao Beast's attack, and exhaustion of Spiritual Energy surrounding them are just a few of the problems.

Guards and workers are eventually required when the farm is running at its maximum capacity. In a square plot of land enough to fit a thousand plants each, at least a minimum number of ten guards and ten workers is required in a shift, three shifts per day.

That's thirty personnel in each square. In total, Qin Lan needed to have a team of 240 trusted personnel loyal to both him and the Zhou Treasured Pavilion.

And as someone with the mentality of an ancestor level, Qin Lan can't be making the same mistakes as the younger generation always did.

It is always better to groom people from when they're weak instead of hiring those acceptably strong.

Only through this way can he reduced the possibility of outsider breaching through what he had built so far.

'Should I visit the orphanage or the slums to bring some people back here?" Qin Lan considered the option he has while rubbing his chin with his thumb and index finger.

"Manager Qin, this is the Waving Pine Grass for today." a worker in his fourth-level Flesh Refining Layer came and handed the harvested plant.

"Great job, Yi Feng." Qin Lan praised the worker as he was one of the most diligent workers he had. Yi Feng was someone from the Fuyun City slums located in the outer zone. From what he heard, this guy even requested to reject the provided lodging because it was too luxurious for him.

But alas, the Zhou Treasured Pavilion was too stiff sometimes in dealing with small matters like this.

"Hehehe, this is part of my job, Manager Qin. If there's nothing else, I would like to go to the empty section of the farm to practice my martial art there," he said.

"Why practice your martial art in the open? Your room should be better suited for that." Qin Lan replied while he processes the plants Yi Feng brought. The three sprouted stalks have to be removed with care for the root to grow outward.

"The - The room's decoration is too expensive. I'm afraid that I'll break something and has to pay for it." Yi Feng replied.

"It won't be a problem. If it's broken, we'll get somebody to replace it. Don't be stingy on yourself and ruin your health because you're afraid that you can't afford to pay for the damage." Qin Lan shook his head.

'How did he even get into the fourth-level cultivation with that kind of mentality?' Qin Lan thought.

"Yi Feng, wait there. I'd like to ask you something." Qin Lan suddenly remembered that this guy might able to help him.

"Yes, Manager Qin." Yi Feng stays right where he stands after Qin Lan ordered him to stop.

"Did you say that you came from the slums? Is there a lot of people like you over there? What about your family?" Qin Lan asked. Looking at Yi Feng's feature, it is not wrong to say that his cultivating potential is low.

He was turning twenty this year. But his strength is still at the early stage of fourth-level. If it not due to Qin Lan's farm project is still in its infancy stage, a person with Yi Feng's qualification is not qualified to work here at all.

"Yes, Manager. Why do you ask this?" Yi Feng is puzzled by Qin Lan's question.

At the same time, another problem is brewing in Qin Lan's room.