Chapter 74: Zhang San's Bet

For most people in the Seven Blood Eyes, this night seemed no different from usual, but for some, it was unique.

Someone on a magic boat sighed, envying the extraordinary.Someone raged hysterically, vowing to tear others to shreds.Someone lounged comfortably in a rocking chair, surrounded by a mountain of fruit pits.Someone in an inn felt bitter, their mind filled with extreme unease.

Sometimes, to judge if someone has truly integrated into an environment, one shouldn't look at their achievements or behavior, but rather at how many people's emotions they can stir.

The one envying the extraordinary was a disciple from Port Seventy-Nine; the hysterical one was a Merman cultivator; the one with a mountain of fruit pits was the Sixth Squad Captain; and the one whose mind was in a panic was the Adamantine Sect Ancestor.

Regardless, as the morning light cascaded down, the thoughts of the night, too, began to recede with the rising sun, slowly fading away, like people who, after a sleepless night of "fish and dragons dancing" in a poem, wearily leave the scene outside the poem.

Thus, as the morning light streamed through the dilapidated cabin and gently touched Xu Qing's eyelids, he opened his eyes, allowing the darkness within them to merge with the brightness of the outside world.

His eyes, now exposed to the sunlight, gleamed brightly, like the nascent sun outside, filled with anticipation for the future.

“I wonder if a morning at sea holds even more charm,” Xu Qing murmured softly, a deep yearning in his eyes as he stood up.

He had many things to do today.

First, he needed to visit the Bounty Hunting Department to request an extended leave for his upcoming sea journey. This process wasn't complicated there, as disciples of the Seventh Peak were often not in port; since their cultivation involved the sea, venturing out to sea was naturally essential.

After reporting to the Bounty Hunting Department, Xu Qing completed a series of procedures and obtained a forty-day leave. If he returned early, he could cancel the leave; if his return was delayed, he could apply for an extension afterward.

Having finished these tasks, it was still early, but Xu Qing's pace didn't slow. He headed to the shops of the Sixth Peak. Although the previous incident had occurred, and it was unlikely to happen again, Xu Qing still had to be cautious, so he put some thought into choosing a shop.

Ultimately, Xu Qing remained hesitant. As he looked at a shop, wondering whether to enter, a voice transmission from the Captain came through his identity token.

“Xu Qing, have you forgotten something recently?”

Xu Qing paused, deep in thought.

“Never mind, I’ll just say it directly: Xu Qing, when are you going to pay back the five hundred spirit stones you owe me?!”

Xu Qing's eyes narrowed, and he replied.

“One hundred spirit stones!”

“Alright, alright, I won’t haggle with you over this. Three hundred it is. When are you giving it to me?”

Xu Qing remained silent. He took out the bamboo slip on which he had carved the names of his enemies and crossed out the question mark after the Captain’s name.

“Why aren’t you talking? I saw you applied for leave at the department. You’re not planning to go out to sea to evade debt, are you? Oh well, going out to sea is very dangerous, and a magic boat needs to be of high quality. So, to prevent you from dying out there and my five hundred spirit stones from going down the drain, let me remind you: for refining magic boats, find Zhang San!”

“Zhang San?” Xu Qing was slightly puzzled.

Speaking of Zhang San, the Captain seemed to grow more interested. He gave some instructions through the voice transmission jade slip, even telling Xu Qing how to express himself and what to say, before ending the transmission.

Xu Qing stood rooted, pondering for a long time. Eventually, with a mix of strangeness and surprise, he found Zhang San at the Transportation Department.

Upon arriving at the Transportation Department, Zhang San was squatting on a pile of goods, smoking a pipe. His expression was as relaxed as an old man’s, enjoying the solace of tobacco and sunshine. Occasionally, he would shout a few commands, directing the porters of the Transportation Department in their work.

After spotting Xu Qing, Zhang San's eyelids slightly lowered. After a careful scrutiny, his eyes lit up.

“Oh, Xu Junior Brother, what brings you here today?”

Xu Qing approached and observed Zhang San squatting on the goods. He then leaped onto the pile himself, but before he could even maintain a certain distance, Zhang San swiftly moved away.

Xu Qing glanced at Zhang San and squatted down.

Zhang San looked at Xu Qing, who was bathed in sunlight, with a beaming smile. He couldn't help but mutter a few words to himself, especially regarding that profile which could captivate any opposite sex, yet his expression revealed nothing.

“Squatting is still more comfortable, isn’t it?”

“Mm.” Xu Qing nodded.

“What's up?”

“Senior Brother Zhang, I want to refine and upgrade my magic boat.”

“Refine a magic boat? Who told you to come to me? Your Captain?” Zhang San was taken aback.

Xu Qing said nothing, taking out two apples and handing one to Zhang San.

Zhang San instinctively took the apple, but after holding it, he suddenly regretted it and tried to give it back, but Xu Qing didn't take it.

Zhang San forced a smile, a thoughtful look slowly appearing in his eyes. After weighing the apple in his hand, he looked at Xu Qing again.

Xu Qing also turned his head to look at him.

After a moment, Zhang San suddenly smiled.

“Promise me one thing, and I’ll help you refine it.”

“Please tell me, Senior Brother Zhang.” Xu Qing noted the wording, realizing that Zhang San implied he would personally refine it, not just find someone to do it.

“When you look at me in the future, could you please not stare at my neck? It’s scorching hot, but... I feel cold,” Zhang San said, winking at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing thought for a moment, then shifted his gaze to Zhang San’s eyes.

Zhang San slapped his forehead and sighed.

“Your gaze always makes me feel strange, like wherever you look, something is about to get hurt. Never mind, never mind, it’s rare for you to change your gaze. I’ll help you refine it, but let me tell you upfront, my magic boat refining is very expensive, oh…” With that, Zhang San jumped off the goods and beckoned to Xu Qing.

Xu Qing stood up, cupped his fists in salute, and followed. Soon, the two arrived at the back of the Transportation Department, where a huge warehouse stood. As they pushed open its large doors, the dazzling light from countless refining materials brilliantly spread forth.

Xu Qing was stunned. He noticed that the variety and quality of the materials inside were extraordinary. In particular, he saw seven or eight magic boats dismantled into pieces, and even in the distance, half a warship from the Sea Defense Department was being assembled…

Furthermore, there were vessels from other foreign races, scattered haphazardly around. All of this made him gasp, feeling as if he had mistakenly stepped into a shop of the Sixth Peak.

He couldn’t help but look at the smug Zhang San beside him.

“How about it? Let me tell you, among all the Seventh Peak disciples, I’m not great at fighting, and my cultivation is just average. But when it comes to refining boats, hmph hmph, not many among the Sixth Peak disciples are better than me. These dozen-plus warehouses around here are all my works,” Zhang San said proudly, hands clasped behind his back.

“And no one dares to steal from me!”

“Senior Brother Zhang, are you truly a Seventh Peak disciple?” Xu Qing hesitated for a moment, recalling the Captain’s words. He then made an effort to widen his eyes, putting on a shocked expression, and asked.

“Your captain asked the same thing back then, hahaha. It’s a pity I discovered this talent too late, otherwise, I’d be a core disciple of the Sixth Peak by now.” Zhang San thoroughly enjoyed Xu Qing’s expression, feeling incredibly pleased.

“Let me see your magic boat.”

With respect in his eyes, Xu Qing took out his small magic boat bottle and handed it over. Zhang San took it, scanned it, and frowned slightly, but said nothing. Just as he was about to take it for refining, Xu Qing hesitated, then recalling the Captain’s instructions, he spoke.

“Senior Brother Zhang San, I think my magic boat is quite well-refined. Many parts of it have reached a high standard.”

“Well-refined? High standard?” Zhang San stopped, his eyebrows instantly rising, and he couldn’t help but speak.

“What kind of mess is this? The materials are one thing, but the craftsmanship is terrible! And on both sides of the hull, there are flaws in the formations.”

“The scales aren’t even properly affixed, which damages the boat’s structure. This will definitely affect the Spirit Gathering Array. It’s clearly refined by those rubbish disciples from the Sixth Peak.”

“And the bow and stern—this is a Rank Six boat, not a Rank One boat! The emphasis shouldn't be on appearance, but on inner quality… Why make it so flashy? To attract enemies?!”

“Practicality is the optimal choice!”

“Trash! This refining is pure trash! This magic boat of yours, if it stays in port, fine, but once it goes out to sea and encounters a storm or a large sea beast, it absolutely lacks sufficient strength, rigidity, stability, and reliability under external forces. Maintaining even basic watertight integrity would be its absolute limit.”

Zhang San delivered a barrage of criticism while looking at the small magic boat bottle.

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing was deeply moved. He found Zhang San’s words highly professional and thus felt even more respect, bowing to him with cupped fists.

Seeing Xu Qing’s reaction, Zhang San felt incredibly pleased and comfortable inside. He loved seeing fellow disciples, who were usually held in awe, express admiration in the face of his expertise. The Captain had been just like that back then, though it had caused him to lose a lot of spirit stones afterward…

Initially, he hadn't intended to criticize this time, planning only to refine it simply. But Xu Qing's comment about it being "quite well-refined" made him unable to resist.

However, Zhang San held no ill will; everything he said was accurate. For ordinary disciples, such a magic boat was fine for going to sea. But Xu Qing's combat strength meant he would challenge stronger sea beasts and venture into more perilous areas, making such a boat naturally unsuitable.

“Based on your goals, it should be robust. I’ll do it for you. I guarantee that your magic boat, even if it gets hit by a giant beast at sea—as long as that beast hasn't reached the Foundation Establishment stage—your boat will withstand multiple impacts. Even if it cracks, it will be extremely difficult for it to fall apart!” Zhang San declared proudly with a wave of his hand.

“Many thanks, Senior Brother.” Xu Qing’s expression was solemn as he took out the spirit stones from his pocket.

“I have two hundred spirit stones here, and I need to reserve some for my sea journey. I don’t know if…” Xu Qing hesitated, feeling that his spirit stones were likely insufficient.

Zhang San's eyes swept over the stones, then lingered on Xu Qing. His mind recalled the Sixth Squad Captain’s past words, his observations within the Sixth Peak shops, and then the sound of the dragon-whale last night, as well as the spiritual energy fluctuations he had just sensed from Xu Qing. Finally, he thought of the satisfying critique he had just delivered and the pleasure it brought. So, suppressing a pang of heartache, he feigned nonchalance.

“That’s enough. You might achieve great things in the future, kid. I invested in your captain back then, and this... I’ll consider it an investment too. Come pick it up tonight,” Zhang San said, then began to get busy.

Xu Qing looked up, gave Zhang San a deep gaze, expressed his solemn gratitude, bowed deeply with cupped fists, and then departed.

Only after Xu Qing had walked far away did Zhang San let out a long sigh, muttering with a pained expression.

“I’ve lost money. Every time I see these fast cultivators, why can’t I get rid of this flaw of showing off my skills? I could have just refined it casually, but now… I have to live up to my own words.”

“Huh, wait a minute, this kid’s demeanor, why is it a bit similar to his captain’s…? But his captain is petty, didn’t even give one spirit stone back then, always stingy. This kid, he has more conscience than his captain.”

But in the end, he knew he did this for two reasons: first, because the Captain recommended Xu Qing; and second… he trusted the Captain’s judgment.

“This investment shouldn't lose money!”

Over the years, he had gone from truly being unknown to now deliberately remaining obscure, yet possessing such wealth, controlling the Transportation Department, and still no one dared to rob him. All of this was because he had once refined a boat for the Captain.

Meanwhile, Xu Qing, after leaving the Transportation Department, had a strange look on his face. He took out his voice transmission jade slip, hesitated for a moment, then sent a message to the Captain.

“Captain, is this alright?”

“Did you say what I taught you?”

“I did…”

“Haha, then it’s fine, don’t worry. Zhang San is one of us, and that guy is rich. If you feel like you got a good deal, help him out more in the future.”

Xu Qing nodded seriously. He took out the bamboo slip, wrote Zhang San’s name on the other side, then flipped it over to look at the side carved with his enemies' names, and added a question mark after the Captain’s name.

At this moment, in the Bounty Hunting Department, the Sixth Squad Captain was smiling as he ate a strange fruit that couldn't be bought in the main city and was only produced on islands inhabited by foreign races out at sea.

After eating, he put down his voice transmission jade slip and picked up a report beside him accusing Zhang San. The document alleged that Zhang San had been bloody and brutal, committing excessive killings and robbing foreign merchant ships during his missions. It strongly protested these actions and demanded severe punishment.

Glancing at the document, the Captain chuckled softly. With a wave of his hand, the document ignited, turning into ashes.

“My friend, as long as they don't betray me below this mountain, no one can touch them.”

***Nearly 8,000 words in two chapters.

To all you handsome guys and beautiful ladies, the new book has been out for a month, and we've updated 300,000 words! I've seen some guesses that the little newbie is going to be put on shelves soon, but I think it's better to keep publishing until the end of the month before it goes on shelves.

Although none of you are short on money... consider this the little newbie's small token of sincerity. It will go on shelves on August 1st.