Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Where’s Jiang He?”
“He left!”
“Really?!”
It was past six when Cheng Dongfeng returned to Duan Tianhe’s office, poking his head in through the doorway and taking a look around before entering. Sighing, he plonked himself down on the sofa. “Young people are quite something these days… By the way, Old Duan, Jiang He hasn’t said anything, has he?”
Duan Tianhe, who was organizing some data, did not even look up as he replied, “He said that your martial arts skills are wonderful, Master Cheng. He would like to spar with you when he has the time, and he requests that you do not hold back your cultivation when that time comes.”
What the heck…
Cheng Dongfeng clenched his teeth, but was reluctant to press the matter further. Instead, he walked up to Duan Tianhe’s desk and knocked on it. In response, Duan Tianhe took out two bottles of qi pellets and put it on the desk.
“Huh?” Although Cheng Dongfeng quickly pocketed the two bottles of qi pellets, he frowned. “What are you playing at, Old Duan? Didn’t we agree on four bottles, and now you’re only giving me two? I risked my old a*s to help you test Jiang He, and you want to con me out of my qi pellets?”
“Hold on…” Duan Tianhe looked up, taken aback. “Old Cheng, didn’t we agree on three bottles?”
“That’s right!” exclaimed Cheng Dongfeng. “We promised that I would fight him in exchange for three bottles. But when I fell, puking blood, didn’t you put up a finger while helping me up, meaning that you’re throwing in another bottle as compensation?”
1
Duan Tianhe was at a loss for words.
Screw me!!!
It could be understood like that too?
Nonetheless, he took out another two bottles of qi pellets and put it on the desk, but extended his hand to stop Cheng Dongfeng when he reached towards it.
“Old Cheng, I need your help. I’m planning to head over to Mount Dadong in two days, and you’ve gotta help me watch over things in Lingzhou City.”
***
Jiang He did not actually go straight home after leaving the Martial Arts Department. Instead, he went to Auto City. As he had money now, he was considering buying a car so that he wouldn’t have to walk everywhere.
When he arrived at a 4S Shop (1), a beautiful, fair-skinned lady immediately greeted him with a smile. “What vehicles are you interested in, sir?”
1
Looking around, Jiang He found that the shop he was in was quite bleak. Though it was vast, there was no one other than him looking at the cars in there. And the few workers there were just sitting around listlessly. Under such circumstances, it was impossible to expect some typical drama tropes to unfold.
“What’s the problem? Has business been bad lately?” asked Jiang He while looking at the cars.
Lowering her voice, the lady replied, “There have been a lot of rumours out there lately, saying that the world is ending. Who would buy cars when the whole world is panicking?”
“The world is ending?” Not knowing how to follow-up on that, Jiang He simply said, “Um… I’m not exactly well-versed in cars, so please recommend something for me.”
1
“No problem, sir. May I ask about your job? How many people will be using the car you buy? And what would its general function be?”
Jiang He thought about it for a while before answering honestly, “I’m a farmer and I’ll be the only one using the car. My work usually involves caring for my farm and researching new types of crops. The main reason I’m getting the car is to transport stuff.”
Suddenly remembering something, he added, “I remember there’s a model called a Raptor pickup or something like that. Do you have it here?”
“Sir, I believe you must be referring to the Ford Raptor. Apologies, but we are a BYD dealer…”
1
Jiang He awkwardly but politely left the BYD dealer. Nonetheless, there were many 4S Shops in Auto City, and Jiang He soon found himself a red F150 Ford Raptor. The young employee there passionately told Jiang He all about the vehicle’s performance, specs, and so forth, but Jiang He waved him off.
“Save it…” he said, slapping the boot of the pickup truck. “How many tons can this thing hold? I also feel that it’s a little short… is welding possible?” He paused, eyeing the employee doubtfully. “I can tell from that confused look of yours that you never properly memorized all that data…”
Jiang He shook his head. The young man was also clearly not as easy on the eyes as the fair-skinned lady just now.
He whipped out his card and said, “Whatever, I’ll get the hang of it myself. Help me with the formalities.”
Still, one must say that 4S Shops were highly efficient. There was only one problem left—Jiang He was bored by all the formalities.
“Sir, you may take the car, but do come by soon when it’s convenient for you, so that we can arrange for someone to legally set up your insurance account…” said the employee.
Nonetheless, Jiang He was able to speed off with his new vehicle before long. As he drove, he nodded in satisfaction at the Raptor’s performance as well as the purr of its engine. “Soon, when I go out hunting Ferals, I can load them on this truck…”
5
However, something soon came to mind, which left Jiang He bothered. He hadn’t managed to get his hands on a blade.
It was not that the Martial Arts Department had no blades, but Jiang He simply didn’t like them. In fact, their alloy combat knives were poor in quality and design. The edge of one of their D-grade blades had even shattered when he used it to cut his own wrist.
1
To avoid making things difficult for Bai Feifei, he did not immediately confront her about the knife’s subpar quality, and instead sneakily put it back.
3
“I have only mastered palm techniques, not swordplay, so there’s no need to rush for a blade. And according to Bai Feifei, the Martial Arts Department’s inventory was only recently established, and they don’t have high-quality alloy weapons available yet. Although, I suppose I could put in an order for an A-grade or S-grade weapon if necessary… Still, they’re pretty pricey, what with an S-grade costing up to eighty million dollars,” complained Jiang He to himself.
It was too difficult after all. He just wanted a blade, was he supposed to spend eight million dollars on an alloy combat knife, only to use it as a ‘seed’?
1
“Instead of spending so much money, I should just grow the cleaver in my house… eh?”
Jiang He’s eyes twinkled just then.
A cleaver?
Slamming his foot down on the pedal, he rushed home. As soon as he arrived, he searched his kitchen for his cleaver before coming out to the yard. Dumbo and Trumbo’s fur bristled when they saw Jiang He holding the cleaver in his hand.
5
“Alright, stop screaming for nothing. Dumbo, get over here and dig a hole…” scolded Jiang He.
Dumbo breathed out a long sigh, putting a paw over its belly and looking relieved. It then smugly ran over to Jiang He and started pawing at the ground in front of his feet with its rump raised, as it assumed a doggy… digging style. A small hole soon appeared under its two paws.
1
Placing the cleaver inside the hole, Jiang He exchanged his points for a nitrogen fertilizer and watered it symbolically, before covering up the hole.
“The old saying is quite true: you reap what you sow. Although the one who said it definitely didn’t know that it applies to blades too….” Jiang He’s thoughts then started to stray, “If I dig a hole and buried a chick…”
15
***
Translator’s Note:
1. 4S Shops are automobile service and retail centers that provide the four aspects of sales, survey, service, and spare parts.
