Bringing The Farm To Live In Another World Chapter 3 - Waking Up

Zhao Hai slowly unsealed his eyelids. The situation had become clear; Adam’s memories had fully integrated with his own consciousness. It was undeniable now—he had truly experienced a soul-transmigration, the classic scenario of seizing another's body.

As a dedicated nerd, he would have been a failure if he didn't recognize the concept of transmigration. However, Zhao Hai never imagined he would be the one to cross over, especially into the life of such a miserable wretch.

While he understood the circumstances through Adam’s memories, he was uncertain of their current location. Adam had been unconscious during the journey from the capital. Looking around, it was obvious he was no longer in the familiar mansion within the Aksu imperial capital; this was not the home Adam knew.

Opening his eyes once more, Zhao Hai felt a presence nearby. He turned his head and saw the same elderly man who had been there when he first woke up. The old man’s face was stern, yet his gaze was heavy with genuine worry.

Unlike his first brief awakening, Zhao Hai now recognized the elder. This was Green Buda, the loyal head butler of the Buda family. Originally, Green did not carry the Buda name, but it had been bestowed upon him by Zhao Hai’s grandfather. Having served the family with unwavering devotion, he was the most reliable person in the household.

In the past, however, Adam and Green had a strained relationship. Adam was a spoiled, hedonistic youth, whereas Green was a disciplined man who constantly restricted his behavior. This led Adam to resent Green’s presence. Yet, because of Green’s high status and seniority, even Adam’s father treated him with respect, forcing Adam to simply endure the old man’s lectures.

Now reborn, Zhao Hai had no intention of acting as foolishly as the original Adam. Having consumed countless transmigration stories and possessing the perspective of an adult who had faced life's hardships, Zhao Hai was far more pragmatic. He recognized that Green was his greatest asset. With such a dedicated butler by his side, he could confidently delegate the management of his affairs.

Furthermore, Adam’s memories suggested that the old butler’s strength might even surpass that of his father. In a world like this, personal power was the only real guarantee of survival.

Between his years of living as a shut-in, his vivid imagination, and the influx of Adam's memories, Zhao Hai found it relatively easy to accept his new reality. He felt a sense of anticipation; to him, this was merely a change of environment. Only two things bothered him: the lack of computers meant he couldn't go online—a fate worse than death for a nerd—and the fact that he had consumed the Water of Nothingness. This meant he could never cultivate battle Qi or magic, effectively crushing any fantasies of world domination.

Zhao Hai didn't even realize how naturally he had absorbed Adam’s memories. His lack of panic stemmed from how familiar the Ark continent felt to him. His two grievances were split—one rooted in his Earthly past and the other in his new life on the Ark continent.

Ultimately, Zhao Hai understood that regardless of his complaints, he was stuck here. There was nothing left to do but make the most of it. From this moment forward, he would live as Adam Buda.

With that thought, he let out a heavy sigh, feeling a weight lift from his soul. His transition into Adam’s identity was surprisingly smooth, largely because he had no family or friends back on Earth due to his isolated lifestyle. He had no attachments to his former world. This was just a fresh start, and having people who genuinely cared for him was a welcome change.

Green noticed that Zhao Hai was fully awake and hurried to his bedside. “Young Master, how are you feeling? Is there any discomfort? Does your head still ache?”

It had been a long time since Zhao Hai had heard such heartfelt concern. A wave of warmth washed over him. Feeling physically capable, he sat up and shook his head at Green. “I am fine. Grandpa Green, where are we?”

Green blinked in surprise. The old Adam was never this polite, and the sudden change in tone was jarring. However, he quickly replied, “Young Master, we have arrived at the fief.”

After a brief moment of confusion, Zhao Hai nodded as realization struck. “We are in the Black Waste?”

Though taken aback by Zhao Hai’s composure, Green confirmed, “Yes, this is indeed the Black Waste.”

Zhao Hai nodded again. “What is our current situation? Where exactly are we staying? How many people do we have, and what is the state of the land?”

Adam’s memories of the Black Waste were limited to vague rumors: it was a desolate place near the Carrion Marsh where nothing grew. To survive here, Zhao Hai needed actual facts. He was no longer the old Adam; he needed to understand the environment he was now forced to call home.

Green stared at him blankly. If he hadn't been the one looking after Adam this whole time, he would have sworn a stranger had taken his place.

“Could hardship truly cause a person to grow so much?” Green wondered. Despite his confusion, he didn't doubt Adam’s identity, choosing instead to believe that the trauma had finally forced the boy to mature.

Overjoyed by this change in behavior, Green quickly explained, “Young Master, we are currently in the Castellan Mansion located on the Iron Mountain of the Black Waste. This mountain was once a dwarven mine and has some tillable land. Please forgive me, Young Master; I took the liberty of selling our household assets to purchase essential supplies and a hundred slaves. We only have about a hundred gold coins left. Our current household consists of myself, my wife, my granddaughter, Blockhead, Rockhead, and the slaves. Everyone else has deserted us.”

Zhao Hai processed the information. They were in a wasteland, but they possessed a fortified mansion, a mountain with potential, a small group of loyalists, and a labor force. It was a starting point.

“Grandpa Green, you did the right thing,” Zhao Hai said with a nod. “Gold is useless in a place like this. Supplies are what will keep us alive. I have no objections. Please continue managing things and assess how much farmable land we have on this mountain. we need to plant crops immediately so we can eat.”

Green nodded in agreement.

“Very well. Please rest, Young Master. I will send Meg to attend to you shortly.”

The name "Meg" triggered a memory of a delicate, petite girl with cyan hair—Green’s granddaughter.

Zhao Hai winced inwardly. The original Adam had tried to harass Meg in the past. Despite her fragile appearance, Meg was a sixth-level mage with a fierce spirit. She had made it clear she would rather die than let Adam touch her, which was the only reason he had backed off.

Zhao Hai cursed Adam’s past actions silently; he was the one who had to deal with this awkward tension now. Feeling embarrassed, he quickly said, “That won’t be necessary, Grandpa Green. I’d like to rest alone for a bit. Don’t let anyone disturb me until dinner.”

Green bowed low. “As you wish. I shall take my leave.” He then exited the room.

Sighing, Zhao Hai climbed out of bed. Despite having been bedridden, he felt surprisingly energetic. He stretched his limbs and walked to the window, pushing it open to observe his new domain.

He was on the top floor of a small, Western-style castle, providing a clear view of the surroundings. Below was a walled courtyard, and beyond that lay a vast expanse of black earth. The soil looked so dark it appeared oily, yet it felt completely devoid of life.

In the courtyard, people were busy moving crates of supplies. These men and women were dressed in simple cotton clothes. Zhao Hai noticed that the men bore a brand on their foreheads—the mark of the Buda clan, identifying them as slaves.

Further out, the landscape consisted of barren hills dotted with stunted, twisted trees. They looked sickly and withered, much like the sparse weeds that struggled to grow in the soil. The entire region lacked any sense of vitality.

He turned his attention back to the castle. It was large enough to house thousands but showed signs of long-term neglect. Moss covered the stones, and weeds grew through the cracks. The windows were covered in fresh paper, replacing the bare frames.

Zhao Hai smiled bitterly. In the capital, the Buda family lived in luxury with glass windows; here, they were reduced to paper. The contrast was stark.

Yet, a sense of determination began to swell within him. Everything he saw was his territory. He refused to believe that soil which looked so rich could be completely infertile. He would survive, and he would prove his enemies wrong. It was the least he could do to honor the life he had taken over.

Suddenly, a mysterious voice resonated within his mind……