At noon, Penglord hosted a grand banquet, and everyone was in high spirits. The desolate land finally rang out with the rare sound of cheerful celebration.
During the meal, Zhao Qi of the Cargo Crew draped his arm over Penglord Ning Yang’s shoulder.
–Want the Peng Zone to grow stronger faster, Ning Penglord?–
–With a clean water source in hand, becoming a mid-level Peng Zone isn’t far off. Brother, I know I’m being a profiteer here—giving you a helping hand beats piling on praise. I’ve got an opportunity to score plenty of Chronos or even blueprints. Wanna join in?–
A sharp glint flashed in Ning Yang’s eyes.
Then, with a hint of disbelief, he said:
–You’d actually share this kind of info with me?–
–Hey~ Don’t tell me you think I’m tricking you? That new ‘Seascape Land’ just popped up, but it’s too far from our Peng Zone. However, for you guys, it’s just a day’s trek away. I was planning to keep it a secret and quietly go back to split it, but now I’m offering you a cut. How about it?–
A day’s journey—it wasn’t too far.
Ning Yang did the math in his head.
After the meal, the Cargo Crew left to head for the next small settlement. Zhao Qi agreed to return in two days to lead them there, asking Ning Yang to arrange the manpower.
……
That night, after everyone had rested, Ning Yang tossed and turned, then called over Captain Jia:
–Keep a close watch on Jiazi Term and the few guys around him.–
–What, is there something wrong with that guy?–
Ning Yang paced back and forth, then after a moment sat down in a chair and said, gripping the armrests:
–Master Zuo just created the Shin Engine, and he showed up, managing to get chummy with Master Zuo within a single day. Hah, quite the smooth operator. It just struck me—when he first arrived, he also wormed his way into our circle, didn’t he, becoming part of this place.–
On a bench pressed against the stone wall, Captain Jia sprang to his feet, his eyes wide.
That was exactly right—he himself had eagerly welcomed him in back then!
–Screw it, I’ll go take him out right now.–
Ning Yang raised a hand, stopping Captain Jia’s impulsiveness. He patted the armrest of the chair and slowly began to speak:
–Master Zuo said today that the engine wasn’t his creation. I think he’s already set his mind on leaving. If he hadn’t said it, I wouldn’t have realized this.–
So that was it! Captain Jia suddenly understood why Ning Yang had grown suspicious of that Jiazi Term.
He said with relief:
–Ah? As expected of Brother Ning. Among us, you’re the sharpest. That Yang Zicang—I think there’s something off about him. Who would bring a suitcase into the Crossroads? Eight times out of ten, he’s a mole sent by another Peng Zone!–
Ning Yang squinted his eyes and said with a tone of relieved luck:
–It’s really possible. Damn it, it must be those around him snooping for info on us—otherwise, the timing wouldn’t be this precise.–
Realizing that someone had a hold on every move of the talents within his own Peng Zone, Ning Yang felt a chill crawl up his spine.
He spoke with lingering fear:
–The thing is, he came too directly—straight to Master Zuo. If Master Zuo had taken two more days to finish the engine, who knows how many more years we’d have to wait for a chance to develop our Peng Zone…–
Captain Jia jolted upright.
Lately, Master Zuo hadn’t been in anyone’s good graces anyway. If he’d left with someone, Jia might even have felt relieved to be rid of a leech occupying a good room and coasting by.
The moment it struck him that if not for Master Zuo’s eagerness to show off his treasure, the scenario he imagined could have unfolded tomorrow—or even tonight—
Captain Jia felt a surge of rage erupt from within him, flooding his mind.
–Damn it, how infuriating! I’ll go take care of him.–
–Wait.–
The furious man stopped in his tracks and turned to look at the Penglord who had called him out.
Ning Yang stared into Squad Leader Jia’s dry, narrow eyes and said.
–You’re no match for him. Only by mobilizing the entire Peng Zone to attack simultaneously can we hope to punish him.–
–How’s that possible?–
Ning Yang said deeply, –His Moxel is Quad.–
Ning Yang could never forget, back in the city, the first time he saw Quad unfold—that person revealed a ferocious, unrivaled power. At once ridiculous and absurd, yet born into a line that was horrifyingly powerful.
From then on, Ning Yang understood one thing: only by rallying more people could he survive better in this world.
Squad Leader Jia shuddered from head to toe, feeling his mind clear up considerably.
……
In a little wooden house cluttered with steel containers, Chang Yuanxin lay on his bed, recalling the scene from the restroom after lunch.
A stranger had asked if he was Cooling towards Hearth and said that a few medium-sized Peng Zones were already manufacturing it, and Hubville didn’t need that much Coldward Hearth.
But he offered to supply Hubville, and if Chang Yuanxin continued to do well and wanted to switch to another Peng Zone, he would help make the connection.
And he even gifted him ten years’ worth of Chronos upfront as a welcoming gift.
–Sowing discord.– Chang Yuanxin turned over onto his side, the wooden bed creaking under his weight.
He hopes Ning Yang can finish repairing his stone house before autumn, he thought.
He had quite liked Zuo Fen’s house originally, but since that guy soared to success today, it seemed he could only wait patiently for the new one.
He drifted off to sleep, vaguely sensing someone entering his house to rummage through Coldward Hearth, yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t open his eyes.
……
In bed, as Ning Yang just closed his eyes, his mind suddenly recalled a somewhat chubby man.
Two days ago, that man reported to him that he encountered a robber skilled in martial arts on the road. The now-missing chubby man had specifically mentioned –Jiazi Term.–
Ning Yang opened his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
–What a headache.–
The Moxel on his chest flickered and connected him with Captain Jia. Captain Jia on the other end replied fiercely, –I’ve already contacted people to find an opportunity to take him down together in one strike.–
But the voice sounded a bit lacking in momentum.
[Hold off a little—just keep a close watch on him for now.]
Hearing this, Captain Jia secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
–I think we should just drive him out.–
[Let’s do it tomorrow.]
……
The still night was like the darkest shade of the sky, yet not completely pitch-black.
Yang Zicang rose from the wooden cabin and leaped directly out of the Peng Zone through a gap between houses. A figure loitering in the distance saw this and silently muttered:
–Jiazi Term has left. There’s definitely something wrong with him. Look how sneaky he is.–
–Keep an eye on the others. Let him leave—don’t tail him, or we’ll risk being found out.–
On the horizon.
–Heh heh heh, hmm hmm hmm, the blue misty rain… hmm hmm, a beauty awaits me… Hey, boss.–
Passing by a stream, someone called out to Yang Zicang: –Where you headed? Collecting water or not?–
–What boss? Me?–
Yang Zicang pointed at his own nose.
–You were collecting Moxel a couple of days ago, weren’t you?–
Yang Zicang shook his head, then stepped into the darkness of night and quickly vanished against the horizon.
The man watching him leave yawned, got up, hoisted a bucket, and walked toward the wilderness, opposite the settlement. Before long, he reached a hollow in the ground, where a few people draped in burlap blankets had gathered, and two wooden crates sat at the bottom of the pit.
–Did you get anything?–
–No. I’ve asked around all the known mid-to-large settlements—there’s no one by the name of Jiazi Term around here. Big Li, why are we even bothering with him? The guy’s just some passerby.–
–Heh, you don’t get it. Between top-tier fighters, fated collisions are bound to happen!–
–Cut the chuunibyou act. How old are you already?–
Big Li let out a soft laugh: –We should start preparing to leave. Xiao Shiqian should have gotten what he wanted by now.–
A figure walked along the horizon, tossing a small, glistening object in their hand as they moved.
As they drew closer, the others saw a well slowly emerging within that object, and envy flickered in their eyes.
–As expected of Shi Qian—amazing! You got it just like that!–
The young man lifted the corner of his mouth. –Let’s go. If we’re too late, the ‘eyewitness’ will catch on.–
–I thought you’d’ve carried the person back instead.–
–Shi Qian– turned to glance at the faintly visible settlement in the distance, ran a hand through his hair with yellow-tipped strands, and snorted. –My skill isn’t Moxel’s… besides, the maker is someone else. Let’s go.–
–Time to head out~–
–If we don’t get back soon, the illusion Bro Qian’er made will shatter, heh heh.–
–Just call me Xiao Li.– The young man tossed the Shin Engine gently, speaking softly.
……
After reaching a secluded spot, Yang Zicang summoned the train and boarded it. The train turned into a faint phantom racing across the wilderness, stirring up wave after wave of whirling winds, before vanishing into the fields.
……
The nightmare train roared across the barren plains.
Inside the carriage, Yang Zicang flipped through the belongings left behind by Matt Chao—books, spoiled food, a few clothes, some expensive watches that had lost their value, and various items belonging to a woman.
–Matt Chao, did any previous train master bring people into the Shibin Wastes?–
The nightmare train had shifted from its initial subservience to Yang Zicang’s Paleshade Wyrm to now reveling in this feeling of unrestrained galloping, much like a horse that instinctively relishes the thrill of a full-speed run.
{A few times, though their focus wasn’t here. Most of the time, it was just him and me coming alone.}
–So that means there’s no Xiongying Group people in the Shibin Wastes, right?–
{He once came here looking for a woman named Sun Shangxiang. Later, he learned she had been killed by someone else, so they chose a new Sun Shangxiang. Just two days ago, she ended up inside my belly.}
Code names get passed down. Yang Zicang speculated that perhaps, in a year or two, another Matt Chao would emerge.
{Other than that, I’m not sure who else has come. But he had a few enemies around here.}
–Enemies?–
{They know I exist and want to become the new train master. But they’re far away from you.}
–Mm, I understand.–
In less than an hour, Yang Zicang found three dried carcasses lying in the wilderness, along with a battle blade. It surprisingly came with a 5N damage boost on each attack.
–What a shame there’s no currency here—otherwise, I could rake in quite a bit of money in this place.–
Besides Invest, Chronos can only facilitate peer-to-peer transactions, lacking circulation attributes, and it even has an upper limit. Perhaps the only one who could turn it into a proper currency right now is Morris.
Yang Zicang swung the blade in his hand, its edge tearing through the air with a sharp sound, sturdy enough to endure two to three years of normal use.
–Not bad.–
Throughout the night, the train traversed hundreds of miles across the land, passing one Workpen Settlement after another—some barely holding on, some utterly annihilated, and others brimming with bustling vitality.
Before a dilapidated wooden cabin long deserted, Yang Zicang, shrouded in faint golden phantom flames, strode into this eerie settlement.
｛Ah~ ah ah~｝
Phantom sounds rang in his ears as the Paleshade Wyrm naturally emerged, darting into the wooden hut with the shattered roof ahead.
Inside, several twisted humanoid psychic bodies writhed madly, their forms congealed together.
But to the Paleshade Wyrm, they posed no real threat whatsoever.
After just two rounds of tearing apart the most formidable spectral apparition among them.
A phantom at the corner of the room wept and drifted before Yang Zicang’s eyes, its voice barely audible as it spoke:
{Release… me from… my pain…}
Its chest was pierced by a telekinetic gray knife shaped like a bone; just one glance made Yang Zicang feel his eyes feed back a surge of mental agony.
And all the surrounding telekinetic entities had such gray knives embedded in them.
–Don’t struggle, I’ll take it out and have a look.–
Paleshade Wyrm’s form shuddered, stretching its head, half the size of a human, close to the entity. Using its curved-tooth giant jaws with excellent grip, it pulled out the gray knife. The moment it left the man’s telekinetic body, it dissipated like smoke.
[I gained 7.1N]
Yang Zicang helplessly watched the look of relief on the man’s face. He waved his hand, and Paleshade Wyrm gleefully charged toward the surrounding phantoms.
[I harvested another 2.8N]
[…4.5N…]
Yang Zicang picked up a wooden stick from his feet and activated the –Blaze Blade Path.–
The mysterious energy drifting through his muscles rapidly surged to his hand.
Boom! The wooden stick burst into flames, illuminating the pitch-black interior of the room.
Inside the room, a dozen twisted, desiccated corpses came into view. Men and women were tied together, and the dried filth on the floor had stained most of the house—it had been years.
Yang Zicang stared at this scene with some anger.
These people were likely residents of the settlement.
He looked at the faint magical runes on the ground, where in the center lay a large man clutching a bone knife and fallen on his back. He was eerily similar to the strongest psionic man from before, his skin still somewhat plump with no signs of desiccation, even after years of death.
–What a damned thing.–
Yang Zicang drew his blade coldly, and red-gold flames surged forth as it cut through the air, turning the man’s head to ash with a single stroke.
The flames soared high, setting the house ablaze.
Yang Zican glanced at it once, then turned and stepped into the train, heading off into the distance.
……
It was breakfast time, and with the new well bringing joy to everyone, people took turns guarding it all day, ready to rally against any troublemakers. This spot had become the best place for everyone to chat and play cards.
–Wang Chong.–
Wang Chong, still washing up, heard Yang Zicang calling him and rushed over eagerly.
–This is for you.–
A long sword covered in stains was tossed over by the young man. The moment Wang Chong caught it, his expression shifted. –For me? Isn’t this…–
「What’s up?」Shiu Siuchuan and the others gathered around.
Wang Chong glanced at the few people in the Peng Zone looking their way and urged, –Let’s talk inside.–
Six or seven people squeezed into the already small room. Shiu Siuchuan, receiving the blade, gasped sharply. He never imagined he would actually lay hands on something like this.
「Chronos… battle gear?」
–And it’s a five-year model! Fuck, fuck, fuck!–
–This… this must be worth several thousand Chronos.– Qian Zhongsheng’s head spun as he murmured, –If I’d had this back there, would I have taken a fall in a C-rank pit hole?–
–Oh? Worth that many Chronos, huh?– Yang Zicang leaned against the doorframe with his arms folded, grinning.
Qian Zhongsheng almost slapped himself twice, but then he realized there’s no way Yang Zicang wouldn’t know its value.
–It wouldn’t be worth so much over there, but it’s pretty valuable around here.–
Wang Chong snatched the blade back and looked at Yang Zicang, hesitating briefly. –Bro, I know you probably have better ones, but giving us something this precious…–
–Brother Jia, if he doesn’t want it, give it to me. If you make me one of those things, I swear I won’t ask for even one extra minute.–
–Alright, I’ll give you new ones if I pick any up later. This blade’s just something I stumbled across while rummaging through the trash last night.–
Upon hearing Yang Zicang say this, the shack instantly erupted into a cacophony of howls and wails.
Within a few minutes, the news reached Ning Yang’s ears.
After listening to the report, this Penglord, who had just poured out two buckets of murky water, furrowed his brows.
–Did they really say ‘Chronos Armament’?–
So this Jiazi Term kid, he really just came here on a whim? And Wang Chong and the others were bought off by him soon after they met?
A faint voice came from the Moxel.
{It’s a bit far to make out clearly, but there are indeed two or three of them saying the term ‘Chronos Armament’. This guy claims he fished it out last night when scavenging.}
Ning Yang was so angry he scoffed.
Fished it out…
Wang Chong and these imbeciles, believing such outrageous lies, no wonder they blabbed their secrets to others.
Does he really act like he’s not the owner of this territory? If there was a treasure like that within several dozen miles here that I hadn’t found, then I’d be a brainless donkey.
–Find a pretext in the afternoon to kick him out.–
{Brother Ning, why wait until the afternoon? Let’s just chase him out now.}
–Left Master is too deeply ensnared by his lies. I’ll find an excuse to take Left Master out of here first before we proceed.–
{We underestimated Master Zuo too much.}
Inside the small hut by the entrance, Captain Jia huddled with a few others, whispering details of the plan.
–What reason should we come up with?– Niuwa asked.
–Come on, you think he’s someone special? No reason needed—you really are born a dumb ox.–
Niuwa scratched his head. He still felt these guys were making a mountain out of a molehill, especially after they’d just worn the other guy’s clothes.
But he was just the muscle here, nothing else was his business. He could only sigh for Jiazi Term’s bad luck—headed out to the wilderness to end up like a beggar.
Just then, Chang Yuanxin’s frowning figure appeared before the wooden hut by the Peng Zone gate.
Seeing someone coming, the people inside quickly stopped their discussion. Captain Jia asked with a smirk:
–Master Zhang, what brings you out for a stroll today?–
–I came looking for you lot. After I fell asleep last night, I felt like someone came into my room.–
–Really? Did anything go missing?–
–No, but…–
–Ah, probably just some twitchy hands barged you open by mistake, Master Zhang. Best brace the door with a wooden stick tonight.–
Noticing their minds were elsewhere and their talk subtly hinted for him to leave, Chang Yuanxin’s face darkened as he walked away.
As he passed through the gate, someone in the hut sneered:
–He hasn’t even stirred up any shit yet, but he’s already acting like Deputy Penglord.–
–Keep your voice down. The Coldward Hearth production is also our top priority. We’ll need this thing to secure more purchase orders.–
–But we can’t rely solely on this. Sigh, there are just too few people around here who really know how to make things.–
Items that used to be everywhere suddenly become a total blind spot when you actually try to craft them. Let alone the formulas—even if the materials and components are laid out before you, you have no clue how to assemble them.
In this place, the engine for making complex items can only be handled by those with real manufacturing experience. Otherwise, you’d better get your hands on a blueprint.
–Aren’t you good at fixing cars?– Niú Wá suddenly stared at the thin man across from him. –How about you build one?–
The man, who had been crouching by Captain Jia the whole time as his lackey, felt offended. He pursed his lips and said,
–Do you know how to use a smartphone?–
–I do…–
–Fine, then—you go ahead and manufacture an MCU for me. You want me to build a car? I’ll turn you into a car, I swear.–
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