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

Zhao Hai slowly unsealed his eyelids. The events that had transpired finally became clear; Adam’s memories had fused entirely with his own soul. He fully grasped the reality that he had indeed transmigrated—specifically, the classic soul-possession variety of rebirth.

He would be a poor excuse for a nerd if he didn't recognize the concept of transmigration. However, Zhao Hai never imagined that he would personally experience it, let alone inhabit the body of such a miserable wretch.

Through Adam’s memories, Zhao Hai had pieced together the situation, though he remained uncertain of their exact location. Adam had been unconscious during the long journey from the capital. He was definitely no longer in that luxurious residence in the Aksu imperial capital; a quick scan of his surroundings during his brief prior awakening confirmed that this was not a place Adam recognized.

Opening his eyes once more, Zhao Hai sensed a presence nearby. Turning his head, he saw the elderly man from his first waking moments. Though the old man maintained a stern expression, his gaze was thick with concern.

Unlike his first confused 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 surname, but it had been bestowed upon him by Zhao Hai’s grandfather. He was a pillar of loyalty and the most reliable member of the household.

In the past, Adam’s relationship with Green had been strained. Adam was a spoiled, hedonistic Young Master, while Green was a disciplined and serious figure who constantly restricted Adam’s wild behavior. Adam had loathed him for it. However, because of Green’s high standing and seniority, even Adam’s father treated him with utmost respect, forcing Adam to simply endure the old man’s presence.

Having been reborn, Zhao Hai had no intention of acting as foolishly as the original Adam. With a mind matured by a difficult life and seasoned by countless transmigration novels, Zhao Hai was far more pragmatic than the pampered youth he replaced. He understood exactly how vital Green was to his survival. With such a dedicated butler by his side, he could confidently entrust the management of his affairs to him.

Furthermore, Adam’s memories hinted that this butler possessed strength that perhaps even surpassed his father’s. In this world, power was the only true guarantee of survival.

Between his years as a shut-in, his overactive imagination, and Adam’s inherited memories, Zhao Hai found himself accepting his new reality quite easily. There was even a hint of anticipation; it was simply a change of environment. Only two things truly bothered him: the lack of computers and internet—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 dreams of becoming a world-conquering powerhouse.

Zhao Hai hadn't even realized how seamlessly he had integrated Adam’s memories. He felt no panic because the Ark Continent already felt familiar to him. His two main grievances were split: one rooted in his past life on Earth, and the other tied to his new life here.

Ultimately, Zhao Hai understood that regardless of his frustrations, he was stuck here. Since he had arrived, he might as well make the best of it. From this moment forward, he was Adam Buda.

As this thought took hold, Zhao Hai let out a deep sigh, feeling a weight lift from his spirit. It was surprisingly easy to embrace Adam’s identity. In his previous life, he was a loner with no family and no friends due to his reclusive nature. He had no attachments to Earth. Being here was just a fresh start, and having people who genuinely cared for him was a welcome change.

Green noticed that Zhao Hai was awake and hurried to the 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 sincere words of worry. A wave of warmth washed over him. Feeling physically sound, he sat up and shook his head. “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 recovered and replied, “Young Master, we have arrived at our fief.”

Zhao Hai paused for a moment before nodding in realization. “The Black Waste?”

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

Zhao Hai nodded slowly. “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: its proximity to the Carrion Marsh and its reputation as a barren land where nothing could grow. Zhao Hai needed specifics. He was no longer the old Adam; he had to live here now, and that required a clear understanding of his surroundings.

Green stared at the Young Master. Had he not been watching over Adam personally, he would have suspected an impostor had taken his place.

“Could it be that hardship has forced him to grow up?” Green wondered. Despite his confusion, he didn't doubt the boy's identity, choosing instead to believe that the recent tragedy had sparked a sudden maturity.

This change filled Green with joy, and he answered eagerly: “Young Master, we are currently in the Castellan Mansion, built upon the Iron Mountain of the Black Waste. This mountain was once a dwarven site and contains some arable land. Young Master, I must ask for your forgiveness; I took the liberty of selling our household assets to purchase essential supplies and a hundred slaves. We are left with only about a hundred gold coins. Our current party 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 hundred slaves, and a small circle of loyal protectors. 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 organizing our affairs. Check the quality of the soil on the Iron Mountain so we can begin planting crops. After all, we must secure our food supply.”

Green nodded, visibly relieved.

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

At the mention of Meg, the image of a petite, cyan-haired girl appeared in Zhao Hai’s mind. She was Green’s granddaughter.

Zhao Hai winced inwardly. In the past, Adam had tried to harass Meg. Despite her delicate appearance, Meg was a sixth-level mage with a fierce spirit. She had made it clear that while she wouldn't strike her master, she would take her own life if he ever touched her. Adam had been terrified into backing off.

Zhao Hai cursed the previous Adam’s idiocy. He was the one who had to deal with the awkward aftermath of those actions. Feeling embarrassed, he quickly said, “That won’t be necessary, Grandpa Green. I wish to rest alone for a while. Make sure I am not disturbed until dinner.”

Green bowed respectfully. “As you wish, Young Master.” With that, he exited the room.

Zhao Hai sighed and 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 survey his new domain.

He was perched on the top floor of a small, western-style stone fortress. Below him was a courtyard enclosed by high walls. Beyond the fortifications lay a vast expanse of black earth. The soil looked as dark and thick as if it were saturated with oil, yet it felt strangely desolate.

In the courtyard, a mountain of supplies was being sorted by a busy crowd. These were the slaves, men and women dressed in simple, coarse clothes. Each man bore a brand on his forehead—the mark of the Buda clan, signifying their status as the family's property.

Further out, the landscape was dominated by jagged, barren hills populated by stunted, twisted trees. These trees looked sickly and withered, much like the sparse, malnourished weeds that struggled to grow between them.

He turned his attention back to the castle. It was large enough to house thousands, but it had clearly been neglected for years. Moss and lichen clung to the stones, and grass grew through the cracks in the masonry. It was a ruin. He noticed the windows had been recently patched with fresh paper, while many others remained hollow and bare.

Zhao Hai smiled bitterly. Adam’s memories of the family’s capital mansion involved fine glass windows; here, they were reduced to scrap paper. The contrast was staggering.

Yet, a sense of ambition began to stir within him. Regardless of the desolation, everything he saw belonged to him. He refused to believe that soil which looked so rich could truly be barren. 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.

Just then, a strange voice resonated within his mind……