God Level Farmer In Another World

Chapter 162: The Story of Changbai Mountain

The wavy-haired 'beauty' raised a glass and drained it in one go:

"Thank you."

Mark clicked his tongue:

"Even the voice doesn't sound like a man's. How can a guy look so good?"

Alexander raised an eyebrow slightly and thought to himself:

"Quite bold."

Having brushed with life and death, and now facing someone as high-ranking as Mark, most people would likely struggle to even form words.

Yet James quickly recovered his composure, remaining neither servile nor overbearing.

The contrast with the tearful, delicate face from earlier was striking. If not for the unmistakable aura, Alexander might have doubted he had the right person.

A change of clothes—and even temperament and demeanor transformed?

Mark secretly studied the 'beauty' and finally noticed the Adam's apple at their throat.

Any lingering illusion dissipated. He sullenly took a sip of his drink and then asked:

"What's your name?"

The wavy-haired 'beauty' replied:

"James. Thank you for saving me—twice."

"No need. It was the right thing to do," Mark replied casually.

In truth, he wasn't usually this amicable when speaking to commoners.

James was simply too beautiful. In those clothes, it was impossible to tell he was a man.

Even knowing nothing would ever happen with James, for a species as visually driven as humans, there was still a strange appeal.

This is dopamine, buried deep in our genes, at work.

James smiled faintly.

That smile made Mark blush.

"Am I about to be turned?" he thought nervously.

Damn it…

Even knowing this was a man in women's clothing, it was impossible to summon any dislike.

Mark lit a cigarette and mused wistfully:

"If only you were a girl.

Why do you do this to yourself? Can't you just be a proper guy? Why wear these clothes?"

James took a sip of wine, his gaze dimming:

"Didn't your people hire me to be a hostess?

If working a little more means I can eat, what's so bad about that?"

Happy Valley was under the jurisdiction of the Security Division, something known throughout the city.

Alexander said nothing, refilling James's glass.

James lifted the glass and drained it:

"Putting on these clothes, it feels like I'm no longer myself.

By day, I'm a worthless wretch anyone can bully.

But in this outfit, at least I pass as a beauty.

Those men won't dare speak to me loudly."

Of course, the men James referred to were those who mistook him for a woman and had ulterior motives.

The rules of predation between men and women differ entirely from the survival rules among men.

This outfit was James's mask.

Wearing it allowed him to hide the deep fears within.

It also gave him a stronger sense of presence.

Having brushed against death twice today, James drank more than usual and began to open up.

He stared at Alexander and said:

"Today, you asked me about Changbai Mountain?"

Alexander nodded:

"If you're willing to tell me about Changbai Mountain, I'll pay you."

Mark looked at Alexander in surprise:

"Alex, so you came to Baishan City for Changbai Mountain?"

Alexander nodded.

Shock flickered in James's eyes.

Mark was the captain of the Security Division, yet he treated Alexander with such deference?!

Who was this seemingly gentle and sunny young man?

James shook his head:

"I do know some secrets about Changbai Mountain, and I can tell you.

I don't want any money—consider it gratitude for saving me."

Mark muttered:

"I'm the one who saved you. What's it got to do with him?"

Alexander glared at Mark and said to James, "Alright, go ahead." He then poured James another glass of wine.

James took a deep breath and began: "The first time I wore women's clothing was three months ago. For the past three months, I've almost always presented myself as a woman. I avoided participating in community labor, afraid people would discover I was a man in disguise. Because I rarely joined the labor, the resources I received daily were pitifully small. A few days ago, when hunger became unbearable, I finally decided to work as manual labor at a brothel."

James gave a self-deprecating laugh as he continued: "I thought that a brothel, frequently visited by security officers, would be the safest place. But the first time I stepped back into the role of a man, I almost died at the hands of those very officers. The reason I don't dare show my true face is because I went to White Mountain three months ago."

At this, Alexander's eyes sharpened, sensing the critical part of the story was coming.

White Mountain, while fraught with danger, also offers immense opportunities. The area is teeming with magical creatures but is also rich in medicinal herbs. In this world, most cities, like White Mountain City, exist in a state of societal collapse. In recent years, magical creatures have grown more brazen, with only one in ten factories still operational. Particularly in White Mountain City, even basic utilities like water and electricity have ceased. Not a single factory remains.

While the shutdown of industrial plants affects livelihoods, it doesn't directly threaten survival. However, the closure of pharmaceutical plants is a matter of life and death. Even a common cold or fever could lead to death. Not every city is as advanced as North Sea City, where hospitals still function. In ordinary cities, people must rely on buying medicine from shops for treatment, as there are no doctors to provide home visits or IV drips.

In White Mountain City, medicine is scarce, rationed under the strict control of the Security Division. This makes the medicinal herbs from White Mountain life-saving treasures. Even something as basic as dandelions, used for clearing heat and toxins, is as valuable as gold.

Driven by desperation for money, James joined a group of "mountain walkers" to venture into White Mountain. These mountain walkers were seasoned, well-prepared, and exceptionally fortunate. They managed to navigate the obstacles posed by magical creatures and, after a month, reached the heart of White Mountain: the "Dry Basin."

"We were overjoyed—the area was covered with medicinal herbs. My closest companion, Mr. Howard, said that the herbs we'd gathered would last us a year."

At this point, James's face lit up momentarily with joy. But his expression quickly darkened: "We spent one night there. On the second day, as we headed back, things took a horrifying turn."

Grabbing the wine bottle, James took a deep swig and widened his eyes in terror: "On the way back, we didn't encounter any magical creatures. But one by one, my companions began to disappear. First it was Tim, then Zach. Out of our group of thirty, only a little over ten remained."

Each morning, the mountain walkers would wake to find another member of the group had vanished. Mr. Howard, the most experienced mountain walker and James's closest companion, decided they would stop resting at night and focus solely on traveling. During that time, the group barely slept. When they did, it was only in brief shifts, with half the members standing guard.

After two harrowing months, they finally made it out of White Mountain and back to White Mountain City.

Mark scratched the back of his head and asked, "Did your group include any powerful awakened ones?"

James shook his head: "No. Those with awakened combat talents don't worry about food and drink. Why would they risk entering White Mountain?"

Mark frowned in confusion: "That doesn't make sense. How could thirty ordinary people manage to get out of White Mountain so easily?"

James shuddered, hugging himself as his eyes grew wide: "Because the ones who returned with me, including Mr. Howard… They weren't human! The real them were already dead!"

James's words sent a chill down Mark's spine, raising the hairs on his arms.

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