Chen Shouyi and Song Yingjie exchanged a few more words before each went their separate ways.

He rode his bicycle, leaving the Safe Zone.

Originally, he planned to go to the alternate world for training, but Song Yingjie's words made him change his mind instantly; he decided to visit the countryside to see the situation.

...

Feixia Village.

Located near the Safe Zone, about five or six kilometers away.

Since the population and industry of Hedong City have gradually shifted to the suburbs, the area has quickly become prosperous and bustling.

In less than a year, it has almost turned into a small town.

Trucks flow continuously on the road, factories are densely distributed on both sides, countless chimneys spew white smoke, the air is filled with a strange smell, and more factory buildings are under construction with fervor.

Chen Shouyi gazed at the village from a distance.

Lively and full of life.

Even in the fields, quite a few farmers were busy working. There were no signs indicating an invasion by alternate world creatures.

He left the road, heading toward the path leading to the farmland.

Suddenly, he stomped down.

"Squish!"

A creature, the size of a small mouse, ran in front of him and was instantly squashed into pulp beneath his foot.

He glanced down, frowning.

"There really are some!" Chen Shouyi muttered.

He ground the creature with the tip of his shoe; it was not a mouse but a hairless creature with wrinkled skin, clearly not native to this land.

"However, such weak alternate world creatures, as long as they are non-toxic, pose no direct threat to humans," he thought to himself. "At most, they just damage Earth's ecosystem."

In fact, over the past twenty years, Earth's ecosystem has already been largely destroyed.

The invasion of alternate world species is not a fresh occurrence.

It has never stopped since the appearance of the Spatial Passage on Earth.

Viruses and bacteria need no mention.

It has led to the death of over a billion people globally, and many Earth-native species have gone extinct.

According to a statistical report Chen Shouyi read online, more species have gone extinct in these short 20 years than in the past tens of thousands of years. Fortunately, humanity has developed related vaccines, and surviving organisms have developed antibodies.

Speaking of visible species invasions.

The land is relatively better off. Most dangerous animals were eradicated before they spread; only some alternate world plants or inconspicuous small creatures secretly breed and spread.

But the Ocean has long since become a disaster area.

Now, over 10% of the species in the Ocean come from the alternate world.

In recent years, incidents of sea monster attacks on giant ships or international collaborations to clear maritime routes frequently appear in the news.

Chen Shouyi is long accustomed to such occurrences.

He continued onward and spent a full half hour wandering; apart from an alternate world insect he flicked to death with his finger, he encountered no other alternate world creatures.

He watched for a while before preparing to return and continue to the alternate world.

At that moment, he suddenly heard a rustling disturbance; the rice plants swayed like waves, darting swiftly away, forming a long trail in the paddy fields.

With the rice plants obstructing the view, he could only discern that it was a creature the size of a small cat.

An old farmer in the nearby field evidently noticed it too, shouted in surprise, then ran to the path upon seeing Chen Shouyi, "Scared me! Young man, did you see anything?"

The dialect from Chen Shouyi's hometown is somewhat different from here, but he could roughly understand it. He shook his head, "I didn't see clearly either!"

"It's definitely that alternate world creature. Last time, someone in the village got bitten; a large chunk of flesh was torn from his leg. Several people from the police station accompanied by a Martial Artist Advisor came to handle it, but it was no use; they couldn't find it despite searching. I'm suspecting it's this thing."

The old farmer lamented worriedly:

"Alas, soon it'll be time to harvest the rice. Who dares to do it with such danger around?"

Chen Shouyi didn't respond, placed his bow bag and backpack on the ground, unzipped quickly, and assembled a War Bow, then fetched several Arrows from his backpack.

The old farmer fell silent instantly, embarrassedly asking, "Are you... here to deal with the situation, Martial Artist?"

"No, I'm just passing by!" Chen Shouyi explained, putting a finger to his lips, "Don't make any sound!"

"Okay! Okay! Okay!" The old farmer hurriedly replied, not daring to disturb.

Soon he saw Chen Shouyi quietly and quickly walking along the ridge path in the field; the old farmer, worried, promptly backed away far, holding his breath, not daring to move an inch.

By now, it's July, and the rice is almost mature. The paddy field is impenetrably dense, making it impossible for Chen Shouyi to see the alternate world creature's location; he could only estimate its whereabouts through the traces left from its run and by listening.

He approached rapidly.

Soon, a faint gnawing sound reached his ears.

It's feeding!

He raised an eyebrow, drew out an Arrow, swiftly nocked the bow, and drew it.

He listened intently, aimed for a moment.

Then released the bowstring, the Arrow shot swiftly.

The fierce whistle of air, muddy splashes from the paddy field, a swift silhouette darted out in fear, running less than half a meter, then another Arrow shot from the bowstring, piercing the field.

Bits of flesh and mud exploded outward.

All fell silent.

Chen Shouyi retrieved the bow and headed back.

"Martial... Martial Artist Advisor, did you kill it?" The old farmer was still standing there, nervously asking.

Ordinary people always feel inexplicable awe and tension regarding Martial Artists, which Chen Shouyi is used to, "Yes, it's dealt with. Uncle, is this your field?"

"No, no, it's my second brother's."

"Then you should remind them that there are two Arrows left in the field, keep an eye on them," Chen Shouyi advised.

The soil is loose; the Arrows have likely penetrated a meter into the earth. He didn't feel like handling them.

"Definitely remind them, definitely remind them!" The old farmer smiled, saying quickly.

Chen Shouyi disassembled the bow again, placed it in the bow bag, mounted his bicycle, and quickly left.

Once he was far gone, the old farmer headed toward the paddy field.

Alternate world creatures are truly nourishing, especially since the Martial Artist Advisor didn't want it, it's perfect for him.

He cautiously approached the spot where the Arrow hit.

Only to find the alternate world creature had been blown to bits, completely unrecognizable.

After searching for a while, he found a few scraps resembling torn rags, far from their original form. He decided against working any further and headed home cheerfully.

His grandson at home is diligently practicing martial arts right now.

He should nourish him well.

He wishes that someday, his grandson could become a Martial Artist Advisor, that would be ideal.

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