Although Xue Wang intended to enter, he wasn’t a fool and didn’t act rashly.
He first had a hundred of his personal guards enter the inn. Only after they had gone in and out repeatedly to confirm it was safe did he step inside.
The first thing he saw upon entering the inn was Mogu, who stood to the side like a temple statue.
He subconsciously took half a step back and drew a deep breath.
’Since this person summoned me, they must want something.’
’So what if he’s truly a demon? As long as he can help me conquer the world, I’ll even ask a demon for aid.’
His eyes immediately locked onto Qin Ziwen in the crowd. In a confident tone, he said, "You must be the one in charge of this inn. Speak. What do you require of me?"
Hearing this, Qin Ziwen smiled. "Your soldiers disturbed my patrons. I’m here to hold you accountable."
The confident smile on Xue Wang’s face slowly faded. ’He’s really here to hold me accountable?’
’Making trouble for me over something so trivial? He must be insane.’
’Was he sent by someone else?’
He tilted his head, glancing behind him out of the corner of his eye.
The entrance was only a single step away.
If he just took one step back, he could leave the inn and return to the outside world.
The thought put his mind slightly at ease.
He was certain this fellow would be unable to follow him outside.
And so, Xue Wang drew the longsword from his waist and glared contemptuously around him. "I am the Heaven-Reaching Grand General! What crime have I committed? Who dares to accuse me of any crime!"
After speaking, he let out three loud laughs and decisively retreated.
He had only taken a single step when he felt something tighten around his waist, and his body was lifted into the air.
He was stunned. ’How can this giant move so fast?’
He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Meeting Qin Ziwen’s gaze below, Xue Wang was overcome with shame and fury. "Kill me or torture me, but do not humiliate me!"
"I’m not going to kill you. Your life isn’t worth much," Qin Ziwen said with a faint smile. "You just need to offer something to make amends."
The words ’In your dreams’ formed on his lips, but Xue Wang ultimately swallowed them, turning his head away with a cold snort.
A scholar in white robes, having heard the news, entered the inn and bowed to Qin Ziwen. "Your Excellency, please quell your anger. May I ask what it is you desire?"
Qin Ziwen took the list from Jia Liangcai’s hand, blew the fresh ink dry, and passed it to the white-robed scholar.
After the white-robed scholar finished reading, his eyes narrowed.
He had expected a demand for gold, silver, jewels, or other rare treasures. He never thought the items on the list would be so... practical.
Fifty thousand shi of grain, one thousand artisans, ten thousand dan of firewood, and one hundred thousand jin of copper and iron.
"You’ve conquered Bianzhou City. For a city that large, gathering these things shouldn’t be difficult. Once everything is collected, your commander can leave." Qin Ziwen picked up his teacup from the table and took a gentle sip.
"It will take some time to return and gather everything. I only hope Your Excellency will not mistreat our commander. The items will be delivered within three days," the white-robed scholar said with a deep bow.
"Go on, then. Your general will be our guest here for a few days." Qin Ziwen then said to Mogu, "Mogu, put our guest down."
Mogu placed the little man in his hand on the floor. Xue Wang jumped down and let out a silent, long sigh of relief.
He knew that, for now, he wasn’t going to die.
At least, until the items were delivered, his life was probably safe.
He glanced back at Mogu, a mixture of fear and fanaticism flashing in his eyes.
’If I could control a being like that, it would be an immense help in my conquest of the world.’
’A pity, what a pity...’
"My Lord, what are the arrangements for him tonight?"
"I remember the inn has staff dormitories. Put him there. And arrange for a few Fishmen to be his roommates. He seemed quite interested in them."
"Yes, sir."
"What do you need so much grain for?" Xue Wang asked as he sat down. He glanced at the food on the table with some confusion, as it all looked like ordinary ingredients.
"To eat," Qin Ziwen replied, sitting down. He hadn’t had his dinner yet.
He called out to Liu San, "Bring me an order of braised Tyrannosaurus, a side of fried centipede, and a bowl of rice."
"Right away!" Liu San hurried off to inform the kitchen.
"You need to eat, too?" Xue Wang asked, feigning curiosity.
"We’re human. Why wouldn’t we eat?" Qin Ziwen looked at him with a smirk.
He could see right through Xue Wang’s little scheme.
’Still trying to test me.’
Xue Wang wasn’t embarrassed. He only cared about tangible benefits; so-called face and reputation were meaningless to him. "Aren’t you Immortals?"
"That depends on your definition of an Immortal. Besides, who says Immortals don’t eat?"
Xue Wang mused, "Then you’re the sort of extraordinary figures one reads about in stories and legends."
Qin Ziwen didn’t answer, because his food had arrived.
"Sir, the braised meat was already prepared and was being kept warm. The fried centipede will be out in a moment," Liu San said, bowing.
"Have some."
"No, no, it’s alright. I’ve already eaten," Liu San said, waving his hands.
Having been ignored, Xue Wang’s cheek twitched, but he forced himself to suppress his reaction.
He turned his head and surveyed the inn’s main hall.
The most striking feature was the rosewood wine cabinet in the center of the room, on top of which sat various wine jars.
Besides the giant beast by the door, there was also a horse in the hall.
’Why is an animal allowed in a place where people eat?’
Suddenly, Xue Wang realized the horse seemed to be... looking at him?
He froze.
Yes, it was staring right at him!
In the horse’s eyes, he could actually see a hint of human-like contempt.
In an instant, rage flared within Xue Wang.
’It’s one thing for humans to look down on me, but how dare a mere animal act so arrogantly!’
He stood up and walked over to Red Hare.
As he got closer, he truly appreciated how tall and powerful the horse was. He had never seen such a magnificent steed.
The anger in Xue Wang’s eyes subsided considerably, and his hand instinctively reached out toward Red Hare’s neck.
SMACK~
A sharp pain shot through Xue Wang’s cheek.
Red Hare, which had been facing him a moment ago, had somehow turned around. Now its back was to him, its tail swaying gently.
Xue Wang’s blood pressure shot up. He clenched his fists, then slowly unclenched them.
’Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!’
’To be humiliated like this by a mere horse!’
Red Hare turned back around, curled its upper lip to bare its teeth, and let out a huffing laugh from its throat.
Xue Wang took a deep breath and turned away. ’Everything about this place is just bizarre!’
He decided to interact with this place as little as possible. The less he did, the fewer mistakes he’d make. Leaving peacefully was the best course of action.
About two hours later, people began to arrive with the deliveries. There were cartloads of grain, with some of the artisans mixed in among them.
Qin Ziwen wasn’t concerned about how many of these artisans might be spies. It didn’t matter. As long as they were skilled, that was enough.
After all, once they arrived here, they could forget about ever leaving.
Once this batch of artisans was integrated, the various buildings in the Home would no longer be short on craftsmen. In fact, there might even be a surplus.
The surplus craftsmen could be temporarily leased out to improve the industrial capabilities of the entire Gated Community.
Later, when buildings like the Yanwu Military Equipment Supervisor and the Ghost Ship Dock were upgraded, their capacity for craftsmen would increase. He could simply recall the workers then. Either way, it was a net gain.
Watching the cartloads of grain being moved into the warehouse, Qin Ziwen felt a profound sense of security.
The grain he had just acquired was enough to feed everyone in the entire Gated Community for several months!
This was true security.
That night, Xue Wang lay on his bed, smelling the omnipresent fishy stench that filled the room. He glanced at the large, dark silhouette lying on the floor beside his bed, and a flicker of despair crossed his eyes.
’What the hell is this?!’
...
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