AZI Volume 3 Chapter 1

"Right, that's everything."

Storing all the items that he had requested for—as a part of their dealing, into his storage pouch, Long Hua smiles with satisfaction.

"Long-xiong, this is also for you."

Saying this, Zhen Huai slides a folder towards Long Hua. The front of the folder has Nian Yao Yao's name written on it.

"Hm?"

Opening the folder, the first thing that Long Hua sees is a work contract that's been voided.

"Ah, this must be why Lady Jing had that expression on her face."

Getting out of her seat, and looking over Long Hua's shoulder, Tian Cheng recalls the complicated expression that Jing Yao had made before they entered the sewer network.

Most likely, Jing Yao had been asked by Nian Yao Yao—to print all the necessary documents, to settle this specific matter.

"Lao Long, does this mean you got fired?"

Getting out of his seat, and looking at the document from the opposite shoulder of Tian Cheng, Bai Wen smiles with amusement.

"I suppose. But why only inform me of this now?"

Towards Long Hua's question, Tian Cheng guesses—

"Perhaps, Lady Nian was still undecided up until the point she saw master's true strength?"

Contemplating about this, Long Hua closes his eyes.

(If I were her, I would think to cut our connections off after I get sent to the frontlines—since it's almost all but inevitable that I would get exposed there. The fact that she decided to do so now… I guess, she's thinking that the sooner she cuts her ties with me, the less she'll have to explain to the general public—if my identity as a practitioner gets exposed earlier?)

"You don't seem too angry about this."

Opening his eyes, Long Hua shakes his head at Bai Wen's remark, and replies—

"I would be pissed—if she decides to just cut me off without a good parting gift."

Moving onto the second and third document, Long Hua pulls them out.

The first, is the proof of ownership over the yacht, Fortisa—that is his home. The second, is proof of ownership over the dock space that the yacht is situated in.

"So long as I get a roof over my head, I'm fine."

Storing these documents away, Long Hua turns to Zhen Huai, and asks—

"Zhen-laoban, your village wouldn't happen to have some hidden entrances out in the wastelands as well, would you?"

With a smile that befits an opportunist, Zhen Huai replies—

"There are. All of it is drawn on a map—that is being sold for the low, low price of 1,000 spirit stones."

"Isn't a map of all your village's entrances—something that should come with a membership?"

"…"

Seeing the stubborn light in Long Hua's eyes, Zhen Huai can only sigh, and place a jade slip onto the table.

Since a jade slip is something that can only be read by practitioners—even if it falls into the hands of a Leng Bing Realm denizen, it wouldn't matter.

Taking the jade slip, Long Hua presses it to his forehead. Immediately, a detailed map of GC012—along with its wasteland areas, appear in his mind. Looking further into it, several more maps of foreign locations appear.

Giving off a sharp gleam, Bai Wen asks—

"The fact that you're asking about entrances in the wasteland… You plan to make a breakthrough?"

"Naturally."

With the amount of spirit stones that are currently in his possession, Long Hua has full confidence in being able to make a breakthrough into the Foundation Establishment realm.

Once that happens, a tribulation is sure to follow—he cannot possibly be inside the city when that happens.

"Zhen-laoban, you have any free masks lying around?"

"I do."

As if sulking, Zhen Huai tosses a Jing mask—often seen in traditional operas, at Long Hua.

"Talk about ugly…"

"Take it, or leave it."

Storing the Jing mask away, Long Hua rises from his seat, to which, Bai Wen asks—

"Leaving?"

"It's late, and I'm tired."

"When do you plan to make that breakthrough?"

"Tomorrow night."

"I see."

"Well then, goodnight to you both."

Cupping his hands to the two, Long Hua turns around, and leaves with Tian Cheng, whereas Bai Wen sits back down.

"How long do you think it will take for him to understand the truth of this realm?"

Looking at the tea in his cup, Zhen Huai raises this question to Bai Wen, to which, the latter answers—

"Hmm. Maybe a year—assuming nothing odd happens? Still, does it matter? He'll find out eventually. In any case, how long until you finalize your decision to invest in him?"

"I need to confirm if the restrictions of this realm will be applied to him or not. Other than that… Hard to give an exact date, but it will definitely be before the next phase of the clan chief selections."

"How many months away is that?"

"About seven or so."

"Hmm. The necropolis will open before that."

Thinking of the place that Bai Wen is talking about, Zhen Huai sips the tea with narrowed eyes, and remarks—

"Legend says, the Ling Yuan Ancestor left a vast number of treasures in his necropolis. Lao Bai, is the legend true?"

Every now and then, the Ling Yuan family will host an event—where they invite the various talents of the Everlasting Spirit Realm, to come into the Leng Bing Realm, to look for opportunities in the Ling Yuan Ancestor's necropolis.

"There are opportunities up for grabs; that much is true. But the actual purpose of hosting this event—is to maintain the Leng Bing Realm, and to have it continue to perform its main function. The more people that die during this event, the more plentiful the eventual harvest. In turn, there will be a higher likelihood of an outstanding product appearing."

Refilling his cup, Zhen Huai's emerald-green eyes give off a gleam of anticipation, as he says—

"A bloodbath… I suppose that will be when I finalize my decision."

Savoring the taste of the tea with a smile, Zhen Huai glances at the cane, that is resting by the table, while thinking—

(Weapons and pills of various rarity. If it's there…? Will I be able to find a medication that can heal my leg?)

Noticing where Zhen Huai is glancing, Bai Wen chews on the pistachio nuts with a sigh, while thinking—

(Lao Zhen, isn't being able to live peacefully good enough?)