Chapter 403 - 375: A Waste of Breath
Flickering lights appeared ahead.
A group armed with crossbows emerged from the darkness.
As soon as Bai Zheng got a clear look at the crossbows in their hands, his expression turned grim. "We’re from Cyan Stone Castle. We’re partners. We mean no harm."
The strangers surrounding them said nothing, their crossbows still raised.
A clamor arose from the men behind Bai Zheng. They were all hardened veterans from the border Dock Fortresses and knew just how terrifyingly lethal crossbow arrows were. Especially at close range with no cover, if the other side decided to kill them, they would be turned into human pincushions in an instant.
"Drop your weapons," a voice called out from the perimeter.
The group surrounding the men from Cyan Stone Castle parted, and a young man with shoulder-length black hair walked out from among them.
Bai Zheng’s attention was immediately drawn to the silver long spear in the man’s hands.
A long spear that glittered so brightly seemed less like a weapon for killing on a battlefield and more like a prop spear from an opera stage.
But the crossbow arrows in the others’ hands didn’t look fake, and he could vaguely sense the danger.
By that logic, the long spear in this man’s hand had to be the real deal.
"Lower your weapons," Bai Zheng said in a low voice.
"Young Master Zheng..."
"Lower your weapons," Bai Zheng’s voice grew sterner.
The men from Cyan Stone Castle behind him fell silent for a moment before lowering the weapons they held at the ready.
"Smart move. Lower them all," Cao Biansheng said with a slight smile. With a wave of his hand, the Hunting Team behind him also lowered their crossbows.
Much of the tense, hostile atmosphere between the two sides dissipated.
Cao Biansheng sized up the group before him. Judging by their clothing and appearance, they looked like people who had traveled here from ancient times.
He had seen people like this in the chairman’s Home; Instructor Du was one of them.
At first, he had been a little curious, but after seeing more of them, he felt they weren’t much different from modern people.
It was just that their perspectives on certain things weren’t on the same plane.
Other than that, they were no different in any other respect.
"Let’s go. Follow behind me and don’t wander off, or I can’t guarantee your safety." Cao Biansheng turned and started walking back.
He saw himself as a Military General. These people were most likely here on some political mission, and he couldn’t be bothered to think too much about it.
As they neared the Gated Community, Bai Zheng noticed the differences between its structures and those of Cyan Stone Castle.
’The buildings are so tall. Won’t houses this high just collapse?’
’If there’s a strong wind, won’t the tops sway violently?’
The household soldiers behind Bai Zheng also looked around curiously.
Arriving outside the Gated Community’s surrounding wall, Bai Zheng discreetly observed it.
’City defense layouts are usually heavily guarded and their details aren’t carelessly revealed.’
’These people are letting us observe so brazenly. They must be incredibly confident.’
The main gate was large, and the tiles were very bright. Bai Zheng gave them a few extra glances.
But after passing through the gate, Bai Zheng noticed something strange. The wall was too thin. It hadn’t been specially reinforced, nor had it been widened or thickened. You couldn’t even stand on it. A wall like this could, at best, only deter petty thieves.
’This doesn’t make sense. After experiencing so many worlds, don’t they need to reinforce their defenses against wild beasts?’
Filled with doubt, Bai Zheng followed Cao Biansheng and was finally brought before an elderly man with a dignified and imposing presence.
The old man sized him up and down, then chuckled. "And who might you be?"
Hearing the familiar Yong speech, Bai Zheng looked up in astonishment.
He looked at Jia Liangcai, his expression a mixture of shock and uncertainty.
Then, he cupped his fists and said in a focused tone, "Cyan Stone Castle, Zhao County, Dai Prefecture, Youzhou."
Jia Liangcai said lightly, "Zhao County should be in Mao Prefecture, if I recall."
The tension in Bai Zheng’s brow eased slightly. He spoke candidly, "One must be cautious when meeting a fellow countryman in a foreign land. I hope you will not take offense, Your Excellency."
’It seems this kid isn’t as simple and honest as he looks,’ Jia Liangcai thought, his expression full of meaning.
Bai Zheng raised his head and declared, "I have come to forge an alliance between our two powers."
"An alliance..." Jia Liangcai laughed. "Heaven and Earth are the board, and we are but gu-insects in a box. With so much beyond our control, what meaning is there in an alliance?"
"Your Excellency, I cannot agree with that sentiment."
Jia Liangcai chuckled lightly and said nothing.
Bai Zheng continued, "It is true that Heaven and Earth are the board, and it is true that we are gu-insects in a box. But there are differences between one gu-insect and another. Some only know how to devour their own kind, living one day at a time. But others know how to hold true to their principles, to know what must be done and what must not."
He paused, his voice steady. "In this world, our rule is cooperation. We of Cyan Stone Castle wish to become allies with you."
"Alright, that’s enough talk. What do you want, and what can you offer? Just say it."
"We need coal, wood, and iron ore. In exchange, we can sell you warhorses."
"Warhorses..." Jia Liangcai shook his head. "Not enough."
’What’s the use of horses in these underground caverns? They’d just be a waste of food to raise.’
Bai Zheng’s expression remained unchanged. "Then what might Your Excellency require?"
Jia Liangcai uttered two words: "Food, Cards."
"Very well. I will bring word of your needs back. But may I ask about the exchange rate?"
"Ten jin of firewood for one jin of grain."
Bai Zheng’s face changed drastically. That price was outrageous.
"Your Excellency, back in Youzhou, you couldn’t get a jin of grain even for fifty jin of firewood, let alone ten. Although wood is scarce in this cavern environment, it shouldn’t be worth that much."
"Firewood repels insects," Jia Liangcai said, ending the conversation with those three words.
Hearing this, Bai Zheng froze. Then, a sense of understanding dawned on him. ’So they know how to repel the insects. That means they also went through the insect swarm.’
Back in the Dock Fortress, there had been a rumor that the people here were lucky and hadn’t experienced the insect swarm, which was why they were able to find them.
But now, it seemed that wasn’t the case.
’Does that mean they dealt with the insect swarm in a very short time and still had the capacity to send out a team to find us?’
’How did they do it? And there don’t seem to be many burn marks around here.’
"Your Excellency, I feel your terms are..."
Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps came from behind Jia Liangcai.
Mogu walked past him from behind.
He was so tall that the upper half of his body, including his head, was lost in the shadows.
His broad, towering frame was like that of a giant from ancient mythology, and his steady, heavy footsteps were clear and powerful.
Bai Zheng looked up, a trace of astonishment breaking through his calm expression. He stared in disbelief at Mogu’s retreating back.
His eyes gradually cleared with understanding.
"...The terms aren’t impossible. I will relay your exact words back home."
...
Cao Biansheng and his team escorted Bai Zheng back the way they came.
After walking a few hundred feet, as they were about to part ways, Bai Zheng turned back with a complex expression. "With such a divine being among you, it’s no wonder you could deal with the insect swarm so quickly."
Cao Biansheng felt the man had probably misunderstood something. Back when they dealt with the black beetle swarm, they had relied on the combined efforts of the Qin Alliance and the people of the Gated Community.
But he couldn’t be bothered to explain. If it were the chairman, Qin Ziwu, or Yuan Ming who had misunderstood, he might have tried to clarify.
As for Bai Zheng, he was just a stranger. Who knew when he might become a competitor.
It wasn’t worth his breath to explain. Let him think whatever he wanted; in fact, the more he overthought things, the better.
...
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