Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 3

Zhao Hai's eyes slowly fluttered open as clarity returned to him. He finally grasped the reality of his situation. With Adam’s memories now fully integrated with his own, Zhao Hai understood that he had undergone a true soul transmigration—a classic case of possession.

Being an otaku, he was well-versed in the concept of transmigration; he wouldn't be a true fan of the genre otherwise. Still, he never anticipated it would happen to him, let alone that he would inhabit the body of such a pathetic individual.

From the fragments of Adam’s past, Zhao Hai pieced together the sequence of events. However, since Adam had lost consciousness before even leaving the capital, Zhao Hai was unsure of their current location. He only knew they were no longer in their estate within the Aksu Empire’s capital, as the surroundings he had glimpsed during his brief moment of consciousness earlier didn't match his memories of home.

As soon as he opened his eyes, Zhao Hai sensed a presence nearby. Turning his head, he spotted the same elderly man from before. Though the man wore a stern mask, his gaze was thick with anxiety and care.

Unlike his first awakening, Zhao Hai now recognized the figure. This was Grimm Buda, the veteran butler of the Buda family. Though not a blood relative, Adam’s great-grandfather had bestowed the family name upon him. He was the pillar of the family, known for his unwavering loyalty and being the most reliable confidant.

Unfortunately, Adam and Grimm had shared a strained relationship. Adam had been a hedonistic playboy, while Grimm was a rigid disciplinarian who constantly restricted his behavior. This led Adam to despise the old man. However, because of Grimm’s immense seniority—which even Adam’s father respected—the young master had been forced to tolerate him.

The reincarnated Zhao Hai was far more sensible than the original, foolish Adam. Having read countless novels and possessing the maturity of an adult who had faced life's hardships, he was much more grounded. He recognized Grimm's immense value; with such a capable butler, Zhao Hai could delegate almost everything to him.

Furthermore, Adam’s memories revealed that this butler possessed power exceeding even that of his father. In this world, such strength was the ultimate guarantee of survival.

Between his long years as a recluse and the influx of Adam’s memories, Zhao Hai felt little resistance to his new life. He didn't have grand expectations either; he viewed it simply as a change of scenery. Only two things truly bothered him. First, the absence of computers and the internet was a torture worse than death for an otaku. Second, having consumed the Void Water, he was barred from ever practicing magic or cultivating battle aura, effectively killing any dreams of world conquest.

Deep down, Zhao Hai didn't even notice how seamlessly he had merged with Adam’s life. His lack of panic stemmed from his newfound familiarity with this continent. His complaints reflected his dual nature: the lack of internet was a grievance from Earth, while the loss of Cultivation was a concern tied to the Ark Continent.

Eventually, Zhao Hai came to terms with it. Despite his frustrations, he was stuck here, so he decided to make the best of it. From this point forward, he was Adam Buda.

Reaching this conclusion allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief. Accepting this new identity was easy because he had no surviving family or close friends back on Earth. He had no lingering attachments to his old world; this was just a fresh start in a new environment, and at least here, there were people who genuinely cared for him.

Noticing that Zhao Hai was awake, Grimm stepped toward the bedside. "Young Master, how do you feel? Is there any discomfort? Does your head still ache?" he asked urgently.

It had been a long time since anyone had spoken to Zhao Hai with such genuine concern, and the warmth of it touched him. Feeling physically fine, he sat up and shook his head. "I am alright. Grandpa Grimm, where are we currently?"

Grimm paused, visibly taken aback. The old Adam was never this polite. Though unsettled by the change in demeanor, he quickly replied, "Young Master, we have reached the fief."

Zhao Hai blinked, the realization hitting him. He nodded slowly. "The Black Soil Wilderness?"

Grimm was surprised by the boy's composure but confirmed, "Yes, this is indeed the Black Soil Wilderness."

Zhao Hai pressed further, "What is our current status? How many people are with us, and what is the extent of our territory?"

Adam’s memories of this place were vague, only noting that it bordered the Carrion Swamp and was famous for its barren land. Since this was to be his future home, Zhao Hai needed to understand his assets.

Grimm stared at him in disbelief. Had he not been watching Adam the entire time, he would have suspected an imposter. This was not the boy he knew.

'Could hardship truly cause such rapid growth?' Grimm wondered. Despite his confusion, he didn't doubt the boy's identity, choosing instead to believe that Adam had finally matured.

Heartened by the change, he explained, "Young Master, we are in the city lord’s manor. It sits upon the iron mountain within the Black Soil Wilderness—a site once abandoned by dwarves. There is some arable land on the mountain. Young Master, I must ask for your forgiveness; I took the liberty of selling our assets in the old territory to purchase vital supplies and a hundred slaves. We are left with only about a hundred gold coins. Aside from myself, my wife, my granddaughter, Wood, and Rock, only the slaves remain. Everyone else has deserted us."

Zhao Hai processed the grim reality. They were in a wasteland, but they had a fortified residence and some mountain land for farming. With five loyal retainers and a hundred slaves, they weren't entirely helpless.

He nodded approvingly. "Grandpa Grimm, you made the right call. Gold is worthless in a place like this compared to survival supplies. I am recovered now, so please, go and assess how much of the iron mountain can be farmed and what crops will grow. We need to secure our food source."

Grimm bowed. "Understood, Young Master. Please rest. I will send Meg to attend to you shortly."

Mention of Meg brought an image to Zhao Hai’s mind: a delicate, green-haired girl who was Grimm’s granddaughter.

Zhao Hai winced inwardly. The previous Adam had frequently tried to harass her. Despite her fragile appearance, Meg was a level-six mage with a fierce spirit. She had warded Adam off by threatening to take her own life, which was the only thing that had stopped him.

Zhao Hai cursed Adam’s memory. He was the one who would have to deal with the awkwardness of those past actions. "That won't be necessary, Grandpa Grimm," he said quickly. "I need some quiet time. Tell the others not to disturb me until dinner."

"As you wish, I shall leave you to your rest," Grimm said, bowing before exiting the room.

With a heavy sigh, Zhao Hai climbed out of bed. Despite his long period of unconsciousness, he felt surprisingly energetic and strong. He stretched his limbs and walked to the window, pushing it open to survey his new world.

He was positioned on the top floor of a Western-style castle, granting him a clear view. Below was a small courtyard enclosed by stone walls. Beyond those walls stretched a vast expanse of black earth that looked like it had been soaked in old engine oil—dark, heavy, and seemingly devoid of life.

In the courtyard, a mountain of supplies was being organized by a group of people.

Men and women in tattered rags were working hard. Zhao Hai could see marks on the foreheads of the men; though he was too high up to see the detail, he knew they bore the Buda family brand, marking them as slaves.

To the sides, the mountainside looked bleak. Stunted, sickly trees clung to the slopes alongside patches of withered weeds. Everything looked malnourished and dying.

He turned his attention back to the castle. It was a massive structure, capable of housing thousands, but it had clearly suffered from neglect. Moss covered the stone, and weeds sprouted from the masonry. It was a scene of decay. He noticed the fresh paper on his own window, while many other rooms stood open to the elements.

Zhao Hai smiled wryly at the contrast. The Buda family had once lived in luxury with glass windows; now, they were reduced to using scraps of paper.

Yet, a spark of determination ignited within him. Regardless of the desolation, this land was his. He refused to believe this soil was cursed to be barren. He would build a life here and prove his detractors wrong, if only to settle the score for the body he now inhabited.

Suddenly, a strange voice echoed inside his mind…