We toasted to that, and then we were on our way. This time, I used the fastest speed setting right away and didn’t bother with slowly going faster and faster, since I knew my ship uses portals. Thus, in just a few minutes, we arrived at our destination.

The Emerald Cove was a favorite of clan members, local nobles, and wealthy merchants. I’d vacationed there with my apprentices and staff a few times, and we all loved it for the brilliant sunshine, bracing sea air, and powdery white sand beach. Above the water was a gently sloping cliff with a few large clearings amidst its lush vegetation. I landed my ship in one and then banished my vehicle after we all disembarked.

I had a permit for building temporary structures here, which I had gotten via Shuye years ago. Of course, normally this meant tents and the like, but for me, it was carte blanche to go wild!

“Okay, is everyone ready?” I looked around.

They all nodded, and I went to the System [Build] tab and got started.

Adventure Incarnate started off as a simple social farming simulation game until it was bought by Chinese developers who turned it into a wuxia-flavored massively multiplayer online role-playing game with a core farming element. The buyout also brought more monetization into the game in the form of events and a Cash Shop. Unlike the houses and production buildings on the farm which were part and parcel of the farming experience, the optional vacation houses were actually Cash Shop items one could buy to receive various beach outfits. However, for some reason, they manifested as real buildings in this world.

A glowing magic circle appeared on the ground and flashed with bright golden light three times before disappearing. What took its place was the [The Sterling Suites], an eight-story concrete building with recessed windows on the upper floors. It was kind of ugly, but that didn’t matter. I gestured for everyone to follow me through its glass doors into the lobby area that was decorated with black onyx pillars and white crystal chandeliers. Lit by LED lighting, the open area had low-slung sofas and chairs upholstered in a light gray fabric for people to use, and there was a reception desk that was currently empty.

“Nothing here.” I walked to the other side farthest from the door where I found the stairs. “You want to get started exploring the rooms?”

Kharli saluted. “Yes, Teacher!”

Lari, Kharli, and Mo, who knew best what to look for, led the way to the upper floors, with the maids following them.

Deming and his assistants, on the other hand, went straight to the other doors to check the kitchens and staff areas.

Prince Baiyu stayed by my side without saying anything, a bemused look on his face. I could tell he was simply waiting for something interesting to happen. Scholar Wu, however, looked torn about whether she should follow the kids or me. She kept glancing at the stairs and then back at me.

Fengying solved her dilemma. “My lady, Deming says the kitchen and other areas are empty of supplies.”

“Too bad, but it’s to be expected.” Of all the vacation buildings I had built before, only the [Sunset Radiance Resort] and [Majestic Oceanfront Sanctuary] had useful items we could take with us. The furnishings and such inside the hotel couldn’t be taken out of its grounds, and even if they could, they weren’t better than the furniture packs I could use on the farmhouse. Only consumable items such as food or drinks could be looted from the premises.

Seeing that I wasn’t planning to do anything, Scholar Wu excused herself. “Lady Violet, I’ll take a look upstairs.”

“Sure, enjoy yourself.” I seated myself on a sofa and Prince Baiyu joined me. The floor-to-ceiling windows gave us a good view of the sea.

“I’m looking forward to seeing this ‘vending machine’ you mentioned.” He put an arm around me.

“They’re really fun! Did I tell you that the food and drinks it contains are all junk food?”

“Yes, but a bit of candy is allowed.”

Before the demon war, the clans in the Westerlands had a taboo about eating in public, but the prohibition had been relaxed because they could hardly keep it a secret in the military war camps where people were living closely packed together.

Also, now that I had solved their fertility problem, there was going to be a population explosion in the next few generations, and the current elders had decided that there was no need for the subterfuge since the famine that had caused it in the first place was but a distant memory.

Nonetheless, Prince Baiyu told me that most clan members would still keep up the pretense in public places, but not in private. The farm and the vacation houses I was building here counted as private places. Therefore, he and his royal guards could openly dine with us.

The kids finished their inspection of the upper floors quickly and let us know there were no vending machines or any other items of interest.

“On to the next one, then.”

We went back outside where I summoned [The Loft at Harbor's Edge], which looked a little out-of-place at the beach since it seemed to be a renovated brick warehouse building with large, industrial windows framed in dark steel. I suppose it could theoretically be a warehouse at a port somewhere. Its entrance was a heavy, dark green painted wooden door with a brass porthole-style window. Inside, the main area had polished concrete floors and a high, open ceiling with visible wooden beams and ductwork. A spiral staircase made of black metal was the only way to access the upper loft area, where the bedrooms presumably were.

My apprentices and staff once again did the exploring for me, and once again came up empty.

The same thing happened at the [Coral Bloom Resort], [Lumina Hotel], and so forth, for the next six buildings. Everyone was feeling discouraged until we finally hit the jackpot with the [Salty Siren Inn]. That one had a separate beach bar stocked full of liquor, sodas, syrups, bitters, juices, garnishes, and everything else a bartender would need. They were not regular drink ingredients. Made from spiritual crops like spirit potatoes, hops, grapes, etc., they contained an enormous amount of qi that would be of great benefit to cultivators.

“Why don’t we take a break and have a drink?” I sat on a bar stool. “I think we all deserve a break.”

“Certainly, my lady,” said Fengying.

The bar was a long, rough-hewn counter made of dark, stained wood, backed by shelves displaying an eclectic mix of liquor bottles and nautical trinkets. Various weathered signs, advertising fictional mermaid-themed brands like “Fin & Flourish Designs” and “Nereid Nectars” were tacked unevenly to the knotty pine walls. Surprisingly, the signs were in this world’s language. I would have expected them to be in English like they would have been in the game.

“Non-alcoholic for me, please,” I said as Deming’s assistants took our orders. “Something sweet and citrusy.”

Prince Baiyu and Scholar Wu sat on either side of me, while the others made themselves comfortable in mismatched chairs set around tables made of driftwood.

Deming, his eyes glowing red with power, worked behind the bar alone with only Haoran helping him while his other assistants watched. They started off by opening every container and sniffing or sampling the contents. From my viewpoint, I could see that everything was properly labeled, so it only took them a few minutes to finish making my drink.

Fengying served it to me. “Frozen strawberries, lemon-lime soda, and lemon juice, blended with ice.”

I took a small, cautious sip since I was afraid of a brain freeze. “Absolutely delicious!”

Ice was an expensive product because this world had no electricity or refrigerators. Spell formations that created ice or froze things did exist, but only the wealthy used them.

Scholar Wu wanted a fizzy drink. She got a cocktail made of orange juice and sparkling wine. I guess it was like a mimosa. Prince Baiyu received an alarming-looking layered concoction made of a dozen different liquors, bitters, and syrups of many colors.

“I made the right choice in accepting this job,” said Scholar Wu with a smile. She gestured at the bar and the sea around us. “You really know how to enjoy life.”

“Yes, one should work hard and party hard!” I slapped my boyfriend on the back. “This guy has been working hard all this time. I’m going to teach him how to relax and let loose once in a while.”

We both laughed when Prince Baiyu pulled a face.

“I know how to relax. I’ve just been too busy lately,” he protested.

“You’re cute when you pout.”

Deming finished inspecting all the ingredients at the bar, and let his assistants work. In no time at all, everyone was chatting merrily while drinking something fruity. I took out an [Hourglass] from my inventory and placed it at the bar where we could all see it. When the bottom part was full, our break was over, and we got back to work.