"Understood."
The bronzed-skinned man mused, "Station Master, you mean Chen Fan's mother might have left him some secret inheritance?"
"True, after all, she was a Level 4 Architect. She couldn't have been without assets."
"That's right."
Wang Kui nodded. While conversing, they had already reached their Station when he whispered instructions, "That's why I'm establishing goodwill. I've worked for the Wang Clan for so long; I'm not short of five Eerie Stones."
"Even if it's a loss, it's not a pity."
"But if it pays off, he'll remember this favor and surely repay it."
"Even if there's no repayment, it doesn't matter."
"When you're out and about, it's always good to have more friends and fewer enemies."
"Oh, and—"
"When you go to deliver the supplies later, watch your tone. Don't make it seem like charity. Good intentions can breed ill will."
"Don't worry, Station Master, leave it to me!"
...
"Young Master."
At Rivernorth Chen Clan's Station 37.
Crippled Monkey tucked the knife back into his robe, watching the two departing figures, and rasped, "These two probably think we'll steal their business in the future. They might have ill intentions. Should we strike first?"
"No need."
Chen Fan shook his head, not elaborating. He just took the rope from Crippled Monkey, tied it to the "animal trap," and waited for nightfall.
His plan was simple.
Once the Perpetual Night descended, as soon as he sensed movement in the "animal trap," he'd pull it into the safe zone immediately, kill the Eerie Creature with the knife, and then return the trap to the darkness.
This way, the trap could be reused.
Lower-level Eerie Creatures could be killed with an ordinary knife.
Against higher-level Eerie Creatures, such a knife would be useless.
All Eerie Creatures that would fall prey to the "animal trap" were low-level ones, so there was no risk of backlash.
After experimenting, Chen Fan went back inside to catch up on sleep, leaving Crippled Monkey outside to keep watch. They'd take turns resting to work tonight.
...
"Young Master, Young Master."
The awakened Chen Fan stepped outside and saw a brawny man with rough, tanned skin pulling a cart behind him and waving with a grin just outside the station.
It was that subordinate of Wang Kui's they had seen earlier.
Before Chen Fan could speak, the man quickly explained, "Station Master Chen, before your station was abandoned, Station Master Wang borrowed some food and water from your station. After your Chen Clan withdrew, we got no chance to return it."
"Now that your Chen Clan has reopened this station, I was immediately sent to return it."
"Well..."
"I won't stay long. There's work to do at the station."
After the man left, Crippled Monkey cautiously approached the cart. Two large vats, one filled with clean water, the other with food—dozens of dry flatbreads, rice, various vegetables, and... two roasted ducks still steaming.
"Gulp."
Crippled Monkey's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily before he said firmly, "Young Master, it's definitely poisoned!"
"It's not poisoned."
Chen Fan shook his head. "The moment he revealed my identity, he knew I wouldn't last long. There's no need to poison it and cause trouble for himself."
"Not poisoned?"
Crippled Monkey furrowed his brows, still skeptical. "Could it really be returning borrowed items? Is Wang Kui such a man of his word?"
"Of course not."
Chen Fan picked up five Eerie Stones from the bottom of the vat, weighing them in his hand before laughing suddenly. "It's an investment. He thinks I might not die, gambling on my future."
"So it's a gift?"
"Yes."
"Then why... why did he say..."
"He was afraid of hurting my pride. Thoughtful of him."
"But if that's the case, why isn't he worried we won't remember the favor? After all, he said it was returning borrowed items."
"..."
Chen Fan patted Crippled Monkey's head. "Go inside and get some sleep. I'll keep watch now."
"Yes!"
...
After Crippled Monkey went inside, Chen Fan started taking stock of the station's assets. This angel investment had come at the right time, easing his immediate food worries. The five Eerie Stones would also be a great help.
The "Eerie Fire" still had two Eerie Stones, enough to keep it burning for two more days.
Those two stones couldn't be touched; he needed at least one day as a buffer. Couldn't cut it too close.
With the five new stones, he now had six Eerie Stones.
Six Eerie Stones...
He looked at the five basic structures available in the Perpetual Night Lord panel.
Currently available basic structures: 5.
"Level 1 City Wall": withstands attacks from low-level Eerie Creatures. Cost: 10 Eerie Stones per meter.
"Level 1 Farmland": Greatly shortens the growth cycle of crops. Cost: 2 Eerie Stones per plot.
"Level 1 Archery Tower": Deals damage to low-level Eerie Creatures. Cost: 10 Eerie Stones.
"Level 1 Cabin": Provides decent protection against cold and wind. Cost: 2 Eerie Stones.
"Level 1 Sacrificial Tower": Is used to obtain special resources. Cost: 20 Eerie Stones.
City Walls...
Damn expensive.
Ten Eerie Stones per meter. His Eerie Fire's safe range was ten meters, requiring a 32-meter City Wall that would cost 320 Eerie Stones. Definitely unaffordable for now.
If he were to encounter an Eerie Tide that charged the Eerie Fire, then so be it.
Just consider him unlucky.
After a brief thought, he used his six Eerie Stones to make three more "Level 1 Animal Traps."
Now he had four animal traps, at the cost of being completely broke—not a single Eerie Stone left.
Next, wait for the Perpetual Night to descend and get to work!
...
"Whew..."
Chen Fan patted his full stomach, releasing a long breath as the thick darkness raced in from the horizon.
He was full.
The roasted duck was delicious, juicy, and fatty.
Four steel Level 1 animal traps, tied with ropes, were placed on the wasteland just outside the light circle.
The next moment!
Thick darkness enveloped everything. The light from the Eerie Fire wrapped around the two like an eggshell. The rustling sounds filled their ears again as countless Eerie Creatures descended with the Perpetual Night.
"Crippled Monkey."
Chen Fan whispered, a bit tense, "I'll pull the ropes. You finish them off. Stay safe!"
"Understood."
Crippled Monkey was also nervous. It was his first time trying to kill an Eerie Creature head-on. Saying he wasn't nervous would be a lie.
Finally, after half an hour, one of the ropes twitched. The movement was small, but Chen Fan noticed it immediately. He took a deep breath, gripped the rope with both hands, and slowly pulled the trap from the darkness.
When the trap was pulled into the light circle, a monkey-like Eerie Creature, its leg caught in the trap, was dragged inside.
It was a Monkey-Head Ghost.