As the Paleshade Wyrm tore apart the monster’s psychokinetic form, the burrowing crocodile beast gradually ceased struggling.
–It bit your wheels.–
Yang Zicang, dressed in work trousers and a khaki jacket, approached from afar.
His outfit screamed –immense wealth,– instantly drawing the gaze of the group ahead. Several wagon drivers came over to dig in the ground, only to unearth the corpse of a bizarrely oversized crocodile.
–Hello, sir. I’m Lee Shuguang, a bodyguard for this Cargo Crew. Thank you for your help.– Lee Shuguang’s tone was courteous.
The group chimed in, –We’d heard that strange burrowing monsters occasionally appeared beneath the soil of this woodland, often costing travelers property damage and even lives. We never expected you to handle it so effortlessly.–
–Just a matter of convenience. Do you happen to have Lost Memories Moxel? I’d like to buy some. I need both obtuse and triangular ones. My name is Jiazi Term.–
–How many Chronos are you planning to offer?–
Noticing Yang Zicang carried no goods, Lee Shuguang directly asked about Chronos.
–For triangular ones, I’ll give thirty-five years per piece, and ten years for polyline-edged.–
Elated, the wagon drivers exchanged glances.
–Honestly, friend, your offer is a bit low. The Autumn Quartering Assembly is coming soon, and everyone’s busy acquiring Moxel to craft Shin Engines for fall and winter goods. If you add three years per item, I can sell you ten triangular ones.–
–No need.–
Yang Zicang didn’t rush into a purchase. The previous battle had cost him over 40,000 Chronos in principle, while the reimbursed amounts were already stored with Morris. Had it not been for the urgent need to stabilize the plot left by Chin Mong, he would have gone back to the Interleaving Depths to rack up Chronos.
Because… he’d already entertained thoughts of securing a shop for Xiaoyu several times now. He needed to curb his recent tendency to splurge a bit recklessly.
–Hey, friend, I’ll sell you three of mine.– One of the cart pullers stepped forward and said.
Lee Shuguang gave him a glance, but the driver fearlessly glared right back.
Shiu Siuchuan, who was in charge of daily expenses this time, quickly completed the transaction with him. The driver turned around and cheerfully said to the other carters:
–Brothers, our friend here is true to his word—not a single day short with me. If you don’t want to wait, deal with him now; it’s safer to trade for Chronos.–
With him setting the example, the remaining several carters trotted right over to exchange.
–If you all only sell to him, I’m not responsible for what happens next.– Lee Shuguang threatened.
–What the hell? If you’re gonna take responsibility, then fix Old Lin’s cartwheel first.–
–Exactly, we hired you to deal with monsters, but when the cart broke, you didn’t even grunt. If it weren’t for this brother here, Old Lin would have been screwed today, swallowing his loss in silence.–
The coachman, known as Old Lin, waved his hand dismissively: –Let it go, let it go. Better to have one less thing than one more trouble. I guess I was just unlucky today.–
Lee Shuguang held back for a long moment, let out a cold snort, and didn’t lash out. It seemed this wasn’t the first time these people had been on an escort mission with him.
Zuo Feixian muttered under his breath to Shiu Siuchuan, saying that here, even bodyguards could hike up their prices and take a cut—truly a blessed land where one could live long.
But there were no courts here, and breaking a verbal agreement either came with no penalty at all or ended in a fierce battle. This was a place where only strength could keep you alive.
Lee Shuguang was clearly used to this kind of side deal behavior. After scolding the group, he turned to Yang Zicang:
–Brother Jiazi, why don’t we travel together?–
The others laughed heartily, egging Lee Shuguang on.
Yang Zicang weighed the pouch containing a dozen or so Lost-Insight Moxel in his hand: –No, we still have people to find.–
Not far ahead, structures built of piled-up rocks gradually came into view.
Calling it a shantytown would be a bit of an insult — this place has already taken on the scale of a small town, with a considerable population to boot.
Comparison is the thief of joy — the Peng Zone settlement in Ning Yang was indeed a slum compared to this place.
……
At this moment, hundreds of kilometers away in Ning Yang, a man was squatting dejectedly at the entrance of the Peng Zone, waiting for the returning Cargo Crew.
Having already lost its water source and boiler engine, Ning Yang had pinned its last hope for a settlement resurgence on this blueprint procurement mission.
Before long, a procession of figures and handcarts emerged on the horizon.
Zhao Qi’s Cargo Crew had arrived as promised.
……
As Su Li walked, tears seeped from the corners of his eyes; wiping them away, he saw a few people approaching.
Having trudged for a while, the rarely seen passerby returning from the forest, Shiu Siuchuan, couldn’t help but ask, –Excuse me, how much further is Liqing Material Workshop?–
The young man, who had been rushing out on his own, stopped abruptly, his voice still choked with sobs: –What do you want?–
–I want to buy some Lost Moxel, and I was hoping to visit that… um… brother’s place over there.–
Su Li’s face changed instantly, –There’s none. Go somewhere else.–
Yang Zicang carefully scanned the expression of the person before him and could tell that the emotions he was hiding were extremely unstable.
–We won’t know until we go see—maybe the boss does have it.–
–I am the boss.–
–You are? What’s wrong with you?–
–We don’t sell Lost Mind Moxel. Go somewhere else. Head straight to the trade district.–
–Then what are you selling? The formula? I can take a look at that too.–
Yang Zicang stepped forward a few paces, but Su Li still blocked the way, propping himself up with his hand—there was clearly something wrong behind him.
–You can tell me whatever’s going on,– Yang Zicang said softly.
–I…– Su Li’s voice trembled slightly, and he shook his head violently. –You guys can’t handle this—just leave now!–
Zuo Feixian narrowed his eyes, and Xiao Siuchuan stared at Su Li with a low hum, as anyone could tell there was something off about that house.
Behind Yang Zicang, the phantom of the Paleshade Wyrm began to emerge.
Su Li flinched with a start and stumbled back a step. –You’re a Red too!–
A ring materialized on Yang Zicang’s chest, and the Quad slowly spiraled within it.
–White. Think I’m capable enough now?–
……
Standing apart from the sparse town, various houses rose at the outskirts—some bearing the name of a gathering place, others marked with personal names over the doorways.
These were individual outposts set up by people from nearby mid-and-small settlements, riding on Carefree’s reputation to do business.
Approaching from this direction, Yang Zicang and his two companions were the first to spot the house nestled under the tree, with a signboard reading –Li Qing Material Workshop.–
Ding-a-ling~ Yang Zicang pushed the door open, and the brass bell behind it chimed with a crisp sound.
Inside, a man with a striking resemblance to Su Li had pieced several stone slabs together. Crouched beside the formation, he was pulling his hand back from a Shin Engine material, while a chaotic faint glow emanated from the center of the room.
Catching sight of the incoming visitors, Sue Ching turned his head to look over.
–Customers? Oh, bro, you’re back.– Sue Ching, who had been crouching, rose to his feet and gazed calmly past the few people at Su Li behind them.
Su Li turned his head away.
Lately, they hadn’t had any –Wax Molten Voxel– to sell, and that was the truth. But at this very moment, this man, who looked exactly like his younger brother, was refining a Shin Engine!
Behind Yang Zicang, Shiu Siuchuan and Zuo Feixian exchanged a quick glance and gave a subtle shake of their heads.
A tranquil aura filled the room, built from a blend of stone and timber. Yang Zicang scanned the interior, finding nothing out of the ordinary.
–We’d like to buy some Wax Molten Voxel.–
–Sorry, we only trade and process materials here. If you head over to Wuyou’s trading district next door, you’ll have an easy time finding some there.–
–I told you, there’s nothing left. Please leave now,– Su Li said from the doorway.
Su Li forced himself to stay alert… That person impersonating his brother moved incredibly fast. In just that short moment, he had already selected a complete set of fossils from the piled materials and had even begun attempting to craft the –Ancient Relic– Shin Engine.
–Ancient Relic– was the name given by his brother and that customer surnamed Gu, referring to something from a much older era of this world.
Yang Zicang’s gaze dropped to the materials scattered on the ground.
It was only then that he detected the faint trace of blood in the air. If the Night of Deep Silence hadn’t heightened his instinctual perception of his surroundings, he might not have noticed it at all. More precisely, it wasn’t something he could smell, but rather something he confirmed through perception.
Yang Zicang spoke up: –What you’re trying to craft—is it a fossil relic?–
–Oh?– Sue Ching’s eyes flickered. –Fossil relic? Where did you hear that term?–
–Some of my friends who coexist with the Nightmares told me. Speaking of which, I don’t know what you call it around here.–
When Yang Zicang mentioned –friends who coexist with the Nightmares,– Su Li beside him subtly took two steps back.
Su Li was now like a startled bird, scared of its own shadow. Even though he knew the three people before him were all Silver-white Moxels, in this lawless land, no one would blindly trust others because of that. Those naive souls who believed everything they heard would eventually be devoured, bones and all.
In front of the refining light orb, the man who looked like Sue Ching turned around and looked over. –Who are you? To actually know about the fossil artifact.–
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