AZI Volume 2 Chapter 5

(Everything in this hall looks good in terms of quality, but other than the paintings, they don't really stand out that much.)

With how simplistic their decorations outside of their art collections are, the owner of this mansion seems to be a man with a very particular taste, who furnishes his home based off the idea of practicality.

However, this could also just be them making a statement saying—that they don't have any intentions to show off their wealth to the uneducated.

(These paintings of nature…)

So far, all the paintings that are mounted onto the walls are depictions of mystical landscapes ranging from mountains, forests, and the seas.

As feelings of odd nostalgia welled up in his heart, the thought of imagining himself appearing, or visiting any of these mystical landscapes didn't seem very farfetched to Long Hua. If anything, it feels far too realistic, most likely something to do with his past life's circumstances.

(This mansion is in the third ward… The bits of greenery that grow on the walls aren't very dense, so the building itself can't be that old. Did he build this place up from scratch?)

As soon as this thought crossed Long Hua's mind, the possibility of it being true seemed rather high.

The third ward of this city is focused on providing entertainment, so traditional housing here is practically nonexistent.

If one wishes to live in this ward, then the first option would be to permanently rent out a hotel room, which isn't very practical—unless the person is extremely wealthy.

The second option is to purchase a condo unit. However, due to how rare these units are, hardly anyone would ever sell them, and even if they were up for sale, the price isn't reachable for the common man.

(A traditional home aside, an old western styled mansion such as this—is even more of a rarity. Just how much would its construction even cost? Actually, getting the permit to build this in the first place…)

Thinking of the difficulties one would face in even obtaining the building permit, Long Hua felt a sense of curiosity towards the owner of this mansion's identity.

(I can't imagine the city's government making it any easier to obtain that permit for a Sinner— even if that Sinner had served on the frontlines.)

"Here."

Having arrived at their destination, the maid opens the door, and gestures for the group to enter.

The front and back walls of this spacious room are fully covered by bookshelves.

Positioned in the center of the room is a large rectangular table with short legs; surrounding this table are two leather sofas and armchairs.

Sitting on one of the two armchairs is a white-haired old man dressed in a short-sleeved shirt with black sweatpants.

(Over five decades ago is when he last served in the military… He should be in his seventies by now, and yet his physique still looks to be in prime shape.)

"…"

(Uh?)

Meeting the old man's yellow eyes, Long Hua can't help but press his brows together.

(Odd, meeting his eyes makes me feel as if I'm looking at a blade that can be drawn at any moment…)

Standing behind the old man's back are two maids.

(Dolls everywhere like Hua's doll had said… Doesn't this old man get bored of them wearing the same uniform?)

Having seen four different dolls all dressed in the same uniform thus far, Zhui Yun thought of this out of boredom.

"Welcome. Do excuse my attire. I prefer to dress comfortable while at home."

"Understandable."

Walking over, Nian Yao Yao sits on the opposite armchair—facing Zhou Chen, while Zhui Yun stands behind her.

Jing Yao sits on the left side of Nian Yao Yao, taking up the center section of the sofa that she is occupying.

Thinking for a brief instance, Long Hua decides to sit beside Jing Yao—positioning himself closer to Zhou Chen.

"Let us get introductions out of the way first. This is the CEO of NPI, Nian Yao Yao. Lady Nian, this is our client this time, Zhou-laoye."

Speaking in a formal manner, Jing Yao gets introductions out of the way first prior to taking out her phone, and opening a notebook app, she asks Zhou Chen—

"There're a few matters that we need to confirm. First, any changes to your condition since you've left our hospital two weeks ago?"

"None. I still feel that odd air in my chest."

"I see."

(There's definitely spirit Qi in his body.)

Glancing at Zhou Chen, Long Hua constricts his eyes, as he contemplates his personal matters.

Spirit Qi is something that he could never have enough of—if he wishes to advance his cultivation base, but the amount contained in Zhou Chen's body is far too meager. At the same time, there seems to be something else mixed into it.

(Ai, for whatever reason, this world is severely lacking in spirit Qi… Attempting to manually gather the amount that I need to make my next breakthrough could take a couple of weeks. As for advancing to the Foundation Establishment realm… That could take years…)

With these rough estimations in his head, Long Hua suddenly didn't mind being sent off to the frontlines—if it meant he could raise his cultivation base faster, while unraveling his own past sooner.

(Ai the sooner I can return home, the better, but…)

For having lived in this world for so long, Long Hua is inevitably shackled with a few responsibilities; one of these responsibilities—is his contract with Nian Yao Yao, which is to aid her in taking over the Long Yue family. So long as this contract goes unfulfilled, leaving might cause complications in the long run.

"No changes to my diet either."

Upon Zhou Chen answering the final question, Jing Yao turns to Nian Yao Yao, to which Nian Yao Yao remarks—

"We both know what it is that we want from the other. Shall we get right to it? Zhui Yun."

Reaching into the pocket of her jacket, Zhui Yun pulls out a glass vial and walks over to Zhou Chen. Upon setting the vial down on the table, she returns to her original position.

"So, this is it?"

Picking up the medicinal vial containing a dark red liquid, Zhou Chen takes out a vial of his own, and passes both items to one of the dolls behind him.

As the doll examines the two vials closely, its eyes give off a lukewarm glow, and upon the conclusion of its examination, it whispers to Zhou Chen's ear before taking a step back.

"My doll isn't capable of fully analyzing the contents."

"Special agents are added to prevent dolls such as yours from figuring out all the ingredients that goes into it. This elixir is one of my company's lifelines after all. So, does that mean you don't wish to buy?"

Knowing full well that the other side doesn't have any grounds to refuse the purchasing of this item, Nian Yao Yao displays an air of confidence.

Towards the question, Zhou Chen shakes his head; the value of one's own life isn't something that can be measured with materialistic wealth.

"It did manage to find out that it does contain the same blood that I am in the possession of."

"Mind if I examine that blood?"

The moment Nian Yao Yao asks this, the door of the room opens lightly, as a doll carrying a metal case walks in.

Placing the case onto the table closer to Nian Yao Yao, the doll opens it to reveal a total of six glass vials with an empty slot meant to store a seventh.

"Can I open them?"

"Go ahead."

Examining each of the vials carefully, and taking a sniff of their content, Nian Yao Yao eventually nods.

"Genuine articles. Still…"

"Is something the matter?"

"Seven vials—counting the one your doll is holding. This quantity is only enough to make one vial of medication. I'm willing to give you a 50 percent discount on the original price."

"So, the other 50 percent is labor cost?"

"Correct."

Raising his hand and receiving the vial containing the medicine from the doll, Zhou Chen looks at it with his brows pressed together.

Turning to Zhou Chen, Jing Yao says—

"Doctors are not able to force our patients to take their medication. The most we can do—is to offer advice, whether or not that advice is followed, is up to the patient."

Medication fraud is a common crime in the current world. There's simply no way to tell if what is being sold to an individual is an all-curing elixir, or a glass of poison.

"Doctor Jing, should I continue to let this condition haunt me, how much longer may I live?"

"I wouldn't have a way of knowing. You'd have to ask an Immortal."

Taking that to be a joke, Zhou Chen laughs while subtly directing a glance at Long Hua.

(Hm?)

"I consider myself to be a man of great caution. Otherwise, I wouldn't have survived my five years of service on the frontlines."

As the doll to his left takes out a rolled-up piece of parchment from its pocket, Zhou Chen receives it, and places it onto the table.

"A map to New Moon Village."