< Chapter 63: I Want to Climb Up >
Fei Si sent Zhu Xuanji away. He turned back to the Flying Disk Workshop and stared at Chen Cha and Ning Zhuo, his gaze focused on Ning Zhuo.
He suddenly released the pressure of a Golden Core martial artist. Ning Zhuo, caught off guard, was brought to his knees while Chen Cha turned pale with fright, “Master Fei Si, what are you doing…”
Fei Si sneered, “Recently, the Monkey Head Gang has suffered numerous blows, with more than thirty percent of their monkey pets poisoned.”
“Upon investigation, it was discovered that someone had been spending a lot of money from a long time ago to hunt wild monkeys. Moreover, they even offered a heavy reward in the black market for the lives of the Monkey Head Gang’s monkey pets.”
“Not only that, the current leader of the Monkey Head Gang, Yuan Er, had an assassination attempt on him. The assassin was extremely arrogant, even sending a death threat before the assassination attempt. Although the assassination failed, Yuan Er was scared out of his wits and has been hiding in the gang’s base, no longer venturing out.”
Fei Si stared at Ning Zhuo, “Were you the one behind all this?”
Ning Zhuo was almost crushed to the ground by the pressure. His face turned pale, and cold sweat covered his body. He struggled to resist the pressure and barely managed to speak, “Master Fei Si, if you ask me like this, I will surely deny it.”
“I have already produced new mechanical monkeys using new blueprints. They can be made soon and can fully meet your demands!”
Fei Si raised his eyebrows slightly and turned to look at Chen Cha. Worried about Ning Zhuo’s life, Chen Cha quickly nodded, “Master Fei Si, that’s right. However the new mechanical monkeys use fewer materials and processes, so their quality has dropped significantly, making it difficult to maintain for long.”
Fei Si inquired, “Can the Huoshi be picked?”
Chen Cha nodded. “That won’t be a problem.”
Only then did Fei Si’s expression soften, gradually retracting his pressure. He looked down at Ning Zhuo from above.
“Get up.”
“Thank you, my lord.” Ning Zhuo staggered to his feet, drenched in cold sweat with his lips bitten through and a bleeding nose. Looking quite disheveled.
Fei Si pointed at Ning Zhuo. “You’re quite clever. Ning Zhuo, was it? I’ll remember you.”
Ning Zhuo immediately showed a hint of joy. “To be remembered by you, my lord, is an honor beyond measure. I am willing to stake my life on it—we will definitely produce enough Mechanical Monkeys to meet the needs of the Huoshi Festival.”
Fei Si gave a satisfied nod, his attitude further softening at Ning Zhuo’s assurance.
Ning Zhuo continued, “My lord, according to my new design, we could make the Mechanical Monkeys out of monkey corpses.”
“Haven’t many monkey pets from the Monkey Head Gang died? We could use these monkey corpses as raw materials.”
“I hope my lord will permit it!”
Upon hearing these words, Fei Si squinted his eyes, reassessing Ning Zhuo.
Stroking his beard, he felt a touch of admiration for Ning Zhuo. “This young man is ruthless despite his age, aiming to bring down the Monkey Head Gang.”
“He sees it clearly: the Exclusive Monkey business relies on picking Huoshi. And the Monkey Head Gang monopolizes this trade. So, he wants to dethrone the Monkey Head Gang.”
“He plans to use my power to obtain the monkey corpses. Can Yuan Er refuse? But if he doesn’t, what will become of the leader’s authority?”
“Resourceful and capable,” Fei Si mused. “Just like me, back when I was young.”
If Ning Zhuo had Golden Core cultivation, or even Foundation Establishment cultivation, Fei Si would feel apprehensive. But at this moment, Ning Zhuo was just a Qi Refining stage youth. This left Fei Si feeling no pressure.
Thinking of this, Fei Si displayed a smile with an obscure meaning. “How interesting. How much money do you think it would take to buy the monkey corpses from the Monkey Head Gang?”
Without hesitation, Ning Zhuo replied, “I am willing to give up forty percent of the profits. From now on, forty percent of the profits from the Mechanical Exclusive Monkeys will be yours, my lord!”
Fei Si pretended to be confused. “What does this have to do with me?”
Ning Zhuo immediately responded, “Lord Fei Si, you are the guardian of Puppet Immortal City. How could anything not relate to you?”
“On the other hand, the Monkey Head Gang, with blood on their hands, sucking the life out of the people, are leeches.”
“They should contribute more to our Puppet Immortal City, and think more about our guardian, Lord Fei Si.”
“Those monkeys are dead anyway, and they would only bury them. It would be better to give them to us, to solve the problems of the Huoshi Festival and help our Puppet Immortal City progress!”
Fei Si laughed heartily, pointing at Ning Zhuo with his finger. “Not bad, Ning Zhuo. You’re quite smart. Very good, you’re a promising seedling of the righteous path!”
“I will have my subordinates go and request the monkey corpses to be sent to you.”
Ning Zhuo bowed deeply. “Thank you, my lord.”
Chen Cha, witnessing all this from the side, had a very complex expression.
After Fei Si left, Ning Zhuo turned to Chen Cha with a sincere expression, “Elder Chen, I’m sorry. I had to do this!”
Chen Cha sighed, unable to hide his resentment. “Since Lord Fei Si has permitted it, what else can I say?”
He despised this kind of cutting corners and shortchanging from the depths of his being. It was purely for profit, disrespecting his mechanical creations which was tantamount to disrespecting his spirit as a craftsman.
Chen Cha’s emotional reaction was within Ning Zhuo’s expectations.
The young cultivator had already prepared a response and immediately said, “Elder Chen, from now on, I will come to the workshop more often. I will also participate in making the Mechanical Monkeys!”
“After all, I guaranteed Lord Fei Si with my life on the line.”
Hearing this, a look of worry appeared on Chen Cha’s face. “Brother Ning, what you did is too risky.”
“In the future, don’t make such reckless promises. What if something unexpected happens and you can’t fulfill it?”
“You are a member of the Ning Family, even Lord Fei Si would be hesitant to cause any trouble.
But Ning Zhuo clenched his fist and interrupted Chen Cha. “Elder Chen, if I don’t make a guarantee, how can I show my stance and gain Lord Fei Si’s favor?”
“The matter of the Mechanical Exclusive Monkeys has made me understand.”
“I understand that this is a world of power! Even if it’s something I invented, this layer of honor can be easily taken by others.”
Elder Chen was taken aback, a deep sense of guilt appeared on his face. He was about to speak.
Ning Zhuo interrupted, “I’m not blaming you, Elder Chen. I know you had no choice.”
“These days, I have been studying the Serpentine Flexure Formation Collection, and it has been immensely beneficial.”
“Elder Chen, I can understand.”
“I thank you. Thank you for giving me your insights into formations, and thank you for letting me see the true nature of this world.”
“Therefore, I must climb!”
“I must climb up, I must become someone above others!”
“Only by reaching a certain height can I defend my own interests. I want a future where no one can easily strip me of my honor, and no one can take away my mechanical creations!!”
Chen Cha fell into silence.
Looking at the righteous and ambitious young man before him with eyes gleaming with determination, his heart filled with complex emotions.
Now, he understood the change in Ning Zhuo’s temperament.
He no longer felt resentment, no longer felt disgust, and no longer looked down on Ning Zhuo. On the contrary, his heart was filled with guilt and self-blame.
He knew: the young man before him was once so pure, and it was him, Chen Cha, who had caused this change in the youth.
“What right do I have to criticize him?” Chen Cha sighed deeply in his heart.
He walked up to Ning Zhuo and placed his hands on Ning Zhuo’s shoulders. “Xiao Zhuo! I have wronged you. I will do my best to help you!”
Ning Zhuo smiled broadly.
He knew he had succeeded the moment he heard Chen Cha change the way he addressed him from ‘Brother Zhuo’ to ‘Xiao Zhuo’.