Chapter 78

Chapter 78: Zhang San’s Investment

That night was the same as any other to most people in Seven Blood Pupils, but for some, it was different indeed.

There were people on their magic boats sighing in emotion, envying the extraordinariness of others.

There was a person who was furious and swore to rip someone to pieces.

There was a person rocking on a chair, with a mountain of fruit pits piled up beside him.

There was a person sitting in an inn with a bitter face, and his mind was extremely flustered.

Sometimes, to judge whether a person had integrated into their environment, you didn’t have to look only at their achievements or behavior. You could also look at how many people’s emotions were affected by them.

The envious ones were the Dock 79 disciples, the furious one was that merfolk sister, the one with a mountain of fruit pits was the Team Six captain, and the one who was bitter and flustered was the Vajra Sect ancestor.

But in any case, once the morning light scattered down, the night’s thoughts also faded away, like people returning home in the morning after a rowdy night of festivities.

Thus, when the morning light scattered down into the dilapidated cabin and fell on Xu Qing’s face, he opened his eyes to the bright world.

Under the sunlight, his eyes were clear as crystal. Just like the morning sun outside, they were filled with anticipation for the future.

“I wonder if the morning out at sea will have a different charm to it.” Xu Qing muttered softly. A yearning appeared in the depths of his eyes as he stood up.

There were many things he had to do today.

First, he had to go to the Homicide Department and apply for leave before he could go to sea. This process actually wasn’t too complicated. Seventh Peak disciples were famous for cultivating by the sea, so going out to sea occasionally was naturally not uncommon.

Thus, after reporting in at the Homicide Department, Xu Qing completed a series of procedures and obtained a 40-day leave. If he returned early, he could cancel the remaining leave, and if he returned late, he could also make up for it afterwards.

It was still early in the day by the time he finished, but Xu Qing’s pace didn’t slow, and he quickly went over to the area with the Sixth Peak’s shops. Although it was unlikely that the previous incident would repeat itself, Xu Qing still had to be cautious. Thus, he spent some time picking out a shop.

But in the end, just when Xu Qing was hesitating whether or not to enter the shop he picked, his identity token suddenly registered a voice transmission from the captain.

“Xu Qing, haven’t you forgotten something?”

Xu Qing was taken aback.

“Forget it, I’ll just say it straight. Xu Qing, when are you going to pay back the 500 spirit stones you owe me!”

Xu Qing narrowed his eyes and replied immediately.

“100 spirit stones!”

“Okay, okay. I won’t argue with you over this little bit of money. It’s just 300 spirit stones, when are you going to pay me back?”

Xu Qing fell silent and took out the bamboo slip where he recorded the names of his enemies. He crossed out the question mark behind the word ‘captain’.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Hey kid, I saw you applying for leave at the department. Don’t tell me you’re going out to sea to flee from your debt? Fine, fine. Let me tell you, going out to sea is very dangerous and requires a lot from your magic boat. Sigh, I don’t want you to die outside and lose my 500 spirit stones, so I’ll give you a reminder. If you want to find someone to upgrade your magic boat, go to Zhang San!”

“Zhang San?” Xu Qing was a little puzzled.

Speaking of Zhang San, the captain seemed to gain a little enthusiasm. He gave some pointers through the voice transmission jade slip, telling Xu Qing what he should say, what expressions he should make, et cetera, before ending the voice transmission.

Xu Qing stood there and pondered for a long time. In the end, he decided to suppress his doubts and go over to the Transportation Department to find Zhang San.

When he arrived at the Transportation Department, Zhang San was squatting on a pile of merchandise and smoking a pipe. Zhang San’s expression was like that of an old man as he enjoyed the flavor of the tobacco and the warmth of the sunlight. From time to time, he would also shout a few instructions to the Transportation Department’s laborers.

When he saw Xu Qing’s figure, Zhang San’s eyes narrowed slightly for a few moments before lighting up.

“Ah, Junior Brother Xu. Finally found the free time to come over to my place, I see.”

Xu Qing approached and looked at Zhang San, who was squatting on the pile of merchandise. He jumped onto the pile as well, but this time, there was no need for Xu Qing to maintain a certain distance. Zhang San himself took the initiative to quickly back up a little.

Xu Qing glanced at Zhang San and squatted down.

Zhang San smiled as he looked at Xu Qing’s figure under the sunlight. Xu Qing’s side profile was enough to make women infatuated, and Zhang San couldn’t help but mutter some words in his heart. However, his expression didn’t reveal anything at all.

“Squatting down is more comfortable.”

“Mm.” Xu Qing nodded.

“What’s the matter?”

“Senior Brother Zhang, I want to refine and upgrade my magic boat.”

“Refine your magic boat? Who told you to come look for me? Your captain?” Zhang San was taken aback.

Xu Qing didn’t say anything, wordlessly taking out two apples and giving one to Zhang San.

Zhang San instinctively received the apple. After holding it in his hand, he suddenly regretted accepting it and wanted to return it, but Xu Qing refused to take it back.

Zhang San smiled wryly, and he slowly revealed a ponderous gaze. Weighing the apple in his hand, he looked at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing turned his head to look back at Zhang San.

After a while, Zhang San suddenly laughed.

“Promise me one thing, and I’ll refine your boat for you.”

“Senior Brother Zhang, please speak.” Xu Qing noted the exact wording Zhang San used. It wasn’t “look for someone to refine it”; instead, it seemed that Zhang San was going to refine the boat himself.

“When you look at me in the future, can you stop staring at my neck? These days, the temperature is high, but I still feel cold.” Zhang San winked at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing thought it over for a while and shifted his gaze upwards to look into Zhang San’s eyes.

Zhang San scratched his head and sighed.

“Your gaze always makes me feel strange. It feels like wherever you look, you’re always thinking of stabbing a dagger into that area. Ah, forget it. At least you stopped looking at my neck. I’ll help you with your magic boat, but let me say this in advance: My fee for refining magic boats is very expensive…” As he spoke, Zhang San jumped down from the pile of merchandise and beckoned to Xu Qing.

Xu Qing stood up and cupped his fists in gratitude before following after Zhang San. Soon, the pair arrived at a huge warehouse at the back of the Transportation Department. When Zhang San pushed the door open, a resplendent light formed by countless refining materials spread out from within.

Xu Qing was taken aback for a moment. He could see that the variety and quality of the materials inside were both extraordinary. Moreover, he saw seven or eight broken magic boats, and he even saw half of a battleship that was being assembled in the distance…

There were also boats from other foreign races scattered about in all directions. He couldn’t help but inhale sharply, feeling as if he had just walked into a shop of the Sixth Peak.

In a daze, Xu Qing couldn’t help but turn to look at the smug Zhang San.

“How is it? Let me tell you, in the Seventh Peak, I don’t excel at fighting and my cultivation is also just average. But when it comes to refining boats, heh, even in the Sixth Peak, there aren’t many who can compare to me. In the dozen or so warehouses around here, everything is my work.” Zhang San placed his hands behind his back and spoke proudly.

“And no one dares to snatch my stuff!”

“Is Senior Brother Zhang really a Seventh Peak disciple?” Xu Qing hesitated for a moment. Recalling the captain’s words, he tried his best to widen his eyes and appear stunned as he asked.

“Your captain asked the same question back then. Hahaha, it’s too bad that I uncovered my true talents too late. Otherwise, I would already be a core disciple in the Sixth Peak by now.” Looking at Xu Qing’s expression, Zhang San’s heart felt very comfortable.

“Alright, show me your magic boat.”

Xu Qing’s eyes were full of respect as he took out the small vial containing his magic boat and handed it over. After Zhang San swept his gaze over it, he slightly frowned but didn’t say anything. Just as he was about to bring it away for refinement, Xu Qing recalled the captain’s instructions and hesitantly opened his mouth.

“Senior Brother Zhang San, I think my magic boat is pretty good. Many of the parts have reached a high standard.”

“Pretty good? High standard?” Zhang San stopped in his tracks and his brows furrowed to the point that they were almost pointing straight up.

“This boat is a mess. Materials aside, the technique of the refiner is extremely bad, and there are flaws in the array formation on both sides of the boat.”

“The scales aren’t stuck on properly, either. They’ve destroyed the structure of the boat. This will definitely affect the Spirit Gathering Array. One look and I can tell that this is the work of those trashy Sixth Peak disciples.”

“There’s also the bow and stern at the front and back. This is a Level Six boat, not Level One. The focus shouldn’t be on the shape but on its inner substance… What’s the point of making it look so gorgeous? To attract the enemy?”

“Practicality is the best choice.”

“Trash, this magic boat is complete trash. It’s fine if you don’t go out to sea, but once you do, then if you encounter a storm or a large sea monster, it simply won’t have enough strength, sturdiness, stability, or reliability. It’s already pretty good if it doesn’t take on any water.”

Zhang San looked at the magic boat in the small vial and rattled off criticisms.

Xu Qing’s heart trembled as he listened. He felt that Zhang San’s words displayed a high degree of expertise. Thus, he became even more respectful and cupped his fists toward Zhang San.

Seeing Xu Qing like this, Zhang San felt smug. He enjoyed seeing these fellow disciples whom others usually respected so much look at him with admiration when he talked about his expertise. Back then, the captain had also looked at him like this, although Zhang San had lost out on a lot of spirit stones afterward…

Originally, he wasn’t going to criticize the boat and only planned to refine it casually, but Xu Qing’s remark of “pretty good” had made him unable to hold back.

Of course, Zhang San didn’t have any ill intentions, and his words weren’t incorrect. For ordinary disciples, taking such a magic boat out to sea wouldn’t pose much of a problem. However, Xu Qing’s battle prowess meant that he would naturally challenge stronger sea beasts and travel to more dangerous areas. Thus, his magic boat was actually not quite suitable.

“It looks like you’ve been upgrading its sturdiness. Let me help you with that. I guarantee that when you take your magic boat out to sea, even if it’s struck by a giant beast, it will be able to withstand multiple hits as long as the giant beast isn’t in Foundation Establishment. Even if the boat ends up breaking, it won’t be pulverized into dust!” Zhang San waved his hand and spoke proudly.

“Thank you, Senior Brother.” Xu Qing’s expression was solemn as he took spirit stones out from his pouch.

“I have 200 spirit stones here, and I also need to keep some for when I go out to sea. I wonder…” Xu Qing was a little hesitant. In fact, he already got the feeling that these spirit stones weren’t enough.

Zhang San looked Xu Qing up and down. The captain’s words and the events in the Sixth Peak shop that day appeared in his mind. He also recalled the dragonwhale roars last night and the spiritual energy fluctuations he sensed from Xu Qing earlier. Finally, he thought of how he had freely criticized Xu Qing’s boat and the respectful gaze with which Xu Qing looked at him, so he endured his heartache and pretended to be relaxed.

“That’s enough. In my opinion, you’ve got a bright future, kid. Back then, I invested in your captain, and now… I’ll also think of this as an investment. You can come back and collect your boat tonight.” As Zhang San spoke, he began to get busy.

Xu Qing lifted his head and cast a deep glance at Zhang San. Thanking him solemnly, he cupped his fists and bowed deeply before leaving.

It was only after Xu Qing had walked far away that Zhang San let out a long sigh and muttered with a forlorn face.

“A loss, this is a huge loss. Why can’t I stop myself from showing off every time I see this sort of person who’s cultivating quickly? I originally could have refined it casually, but now… since I spoke so many words, I have to do my best.”

“Hey, wait a second, how come this kid’s demeanor was a bit similar to his captain… But his captain is too petty. Back then, he didn’t give me a single spirit stone. Looks like this kid at least has a conscience.”

But at the end of the day, Zhang San knew that the reason he did all this was firstly because the captain had recommended him, and secondly because he trusted the captain’s judgment.

“This investment will definitely pay off!”

Over the years, Zhang San had been able to go from true obscurity back then to his deliberate obscurity now. Moreover, he had accumulated such wealth and even controlled the Transportation Department behind the scenes, with no one daring to come and snatch his wealth. All of this was because he had built a boat for the captain back then.

At that moment, Xu Qing left the Transportation Department with a strange look on his face. He took out the voice transmission jade slip and hesitated for a moment before sending a message to the captain.

“Captain, is this alright?”

“Did you follow my instructions?”

“Yes…”

“Haha, it’s alright then. Zhang San is one of us, plus he’s actually pretty rich, so don’t worry. If you feel like you ripped him off, then just help him out in the future.”

Xu Qing nodded with a serious expression on his face. He took out the bamboo slip and wrote Zhang San’s name on the reverse side, then flipped it over to the side engraved with his enemies. He added another question mark behind the captain.

At that moment, inside the Homicide Department, the Team Six captain was smiling as he occupied himself with eating exotic fruits. These fruits were only produced on the islands of some alien races in the sea and couldn’t be bought in the main city.

After eating, he put down the voice transmission jade slip and picked up a report about Zhang San. The report stated that when Zhang San went out on a mission, he had savagely slaughtered many people and also robbed a few ships from alien races. The report held strong grievances against Zhang San and requested a severe punishment.

After looking the report over, the captain chuckled. With a wave of his hand, the report turned into ashes that scattered in the wind.

“Down here at the mountain foot, as long as my friend doesn’t betray me, no one can touch him.”

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