Wu Xiaomi’s fur bristled.
Her tail puffed up into a big, fluffy pom-pom.
The Syndicate never expected that the final decision in this deal wouldn’t come from anyone else—but from the very goods being traded.
The moment Miss Nuo saw the water flowing from the girl’s fingertips, she already knew.
—This deal was over.
No one dared to challenge the combined power of the Rain Prayer Technique and the Dance of the King.
“Intelligence department trash—how did they even gather that intel… Didn’t they say her spirit source was overdrawn and she was done for?”
“It’s true her spirit source is overdrawn, but whether she’s truly done for, no one knows.” Han Nuo spurred his horse and turned around. “Besides, that informant is mine.”
“…You dare go against the Syndicate.”
“Didn’t you hear?” Han Nuo glanced at Wu Xiaomi. “She just said, the battle has begun.”
“You really dare?!” Miss Nuo was stunned. “She can’t possibly represent everyone in the Mangu District!”
“She can.”
Short and to the point.
“I underestimated you.”
Miss Nuo smiled.
“This isn’t the first time you’ve underestimated me.” Han Nuo waved his hand, signaling to move out. “Looks like you haven’t learned your lesson.”
“This deal was arranged clearly by you…” Miss Nuo covered her face. “These schemes and plots really are your specialty.”
“Just stick to your research honestly. Scheming isn’t your forte. Intelligence alone won’t cut it.”
“Luckily, I’m not good at it.” Miss Nuo raised her eyebrows.
She admitted defeat.
As one of the goods in this deal and the Syndicate’s department head in this place, she surrendered without resistance.
“Next time you send a battle challenge, get a more imposing mount, don’t write the words, find a big, loud guy to shout it out for you.”
Passing by Wu Xiaomi, Miss Nuo took the chance to rub her head.
Before Bai Xiaozhi could lose her temper, she decisively pulled back and twisted the motorcycle throttle.
“I’ll go with you, but I can’t vouch for anyone else.”
There were still over a hundred riders around.
If they wanted to leave, with just the Ark’s number of people and horses, they definitely wouldn’t be able to catch up.
As for fighting… unless they could instantly kill Wu Xiaomi, they would soon experience what it was like at Ancient Burial.
And with Bai Xiaozhi protecting nearby, an instant kill?
Who kills whom was still up in the air.
[Let’s go, hurry.]
The deal failed. The Syndicate lost both money and goods—they were unlikely to give up so easily.
If other departments got word, they’d come to support.
Or ambush them on the road.
They had to return to the Ancient Burial base before reinforcements arrived.
Otherwise… even if there was another Dance, they might not hold on much longer.
This time, there was no Spirit of the Wilds to help recharge the spirit source.
……
Early morning, Kang Jie sat in front of the mirror.
He tidied his simple clothes, keeping them spotless and perfectly neat.
“Why suddenly all dressed up?” Ah Lei teased. “What’s the occasion? Come on, come with me to Feisi City. Their Deep Sea Amusement House is really amazing!”
“Hah…” Kang Jie said, “I’m not going. You guys go have fun.”
“If we could corrupt someone as serious as you, that’d be interesting.”
“Ha, is that so? Well… good luck then. But I’ve got things to do today, so I won’t go.”
“Oh, alright. I’m off then. When you change your mind, come find me at the Deep Sea Amusement House in Feisi City Harbor. We have membership cards.”
“Hmm~”
“Jifeng! The adventure begins!”
A shout rang out, and the Jifeng members all stirred with excitement, clicking the arrival button.
They were about to do something big!
Kang Jie watched Ah Lei leave, a hint of envy in his eyes.
To be part of an organization like Jifeng must mean carefree days every day.
“How did they get that look?”
“Don’t know. The origin of their goofiness remains one of the world’s unsolved mysteries.”
Nurse An walked in and draped a thick long coat over Kang Jie.
“When will he make his move?” Kang Jie asked.
“At noon. You’re giving a speech to the newly admitted members today—that’s the best time to kill you.”
“Oh, so he’s not trying to kill me personally, but Xinhua as a whole.”
“Exactly.”
Nurse An wiped the corner of her eye.
Her eyelids were swollen badly; even heavy makeup couldn’t conceal the exhausted look.
“Cried?”
“Of course. How could I not?”
“No need. Really, no need.” Kang Jie forced a bitter smile. “Crying over a fool like me isn’t worth it.”
“Then that makes us all fools. Everyone in Mangu right now is a fool. Wu Xiaomi too.” Nurse An tried hard not to break down again, lest she ruin her makeup and draw suspicion.
“Sorry.”
“We’re the ones who should say sorry. Ever since you arrived, no one believed in you. You’ve been insulted all the way here, and we never spoke up for you.”
“It’s understandable that you don’t believe in me. Even I don’t believe in myself… ha…”
He actually… made it this far.
Like a dream.
Stepping out of Xinhua’s gates, he looked toward the clean, quiet neighborhood.
Like before, simple and honest small town streets, houses lining both sides of the road, smoke rising from chimneys.
It was mealtime, and the scent of chili oil filled the air.
Some cursed the smell, unable to stand it; others’ appetites were instantly whetted.
The road was paved with asphalt and gravel, covering the pale ground.
A single red apricot branch stretched over a wall.
This place was alive.
Everyone who came to Ancient Burial could feel its uniqueness.
Only those who’d seen the burning lands outside could understand that here…
Here was paradise.
And all of it was somehow connected to him.
Kang Jie could hardly believe his eyes.
In the more than twenty years of failure in his life, he never imagined he’d have… moments that weren’t failures.
Too bad the real goal was still far away.
“Authentic Tianjin Jianbing Guozi, can’t get this flavor at any shop—just two bites and you’re full!”
“Phone pancake, egg pancake, grilled cold noodles—”
“Steamed buns, fried dough sticks, soy milk, porridge—”
Street vendors set up shop.
Amid calls and shouts, Kang Jie bought a few buns and chatted happily with some old members.
Then, with Nurse An following close behind, he continued forward.
“Jie Ge’s here?”
Near the eastern district close to the Pacific, tens of hectares of thick, solid soil had already been laid out.
The soil was compacted into crisscrossing ridges.
“Jie Ge! Look, it’s sprouting!”
In the orderly fields, spots of green dotted the black earth.
“It really can work—the food self-sufficiency method you mentioned!”
Several old farmers and students were busy in the fields.
The old farmers’ dark faces shone with pride.
“Manual plowing is still too inefficient. Would be great if we had tractors.”
“Don’t worry, they’re coming soon.” Kang Jie smiled. “We even made rockets; tractors are a small matter. Once the points add up, we’ll have them in no time.”
“Ha! Then you’ll come and cut the ribbon for us.”
“Ribbon cutting for plowing?”
“Just for luck, to pray for good weather and abundant harvests!”
“Then you better find Niao Xiaomi. There’s no sea here, so where’s the rain coming from?”
“Oh yeah—she’s the Priestess of both the Spirit of Abundance and the Spirit of Rainfall!”
They laughed as they walked on, strolling through the fields and savoring the scent of the soil.
As they wandered, the sun climbed high.
It was already noon.
“Let’s go, Xiao An.”
Kang Jie reluctantly looked back at the fields.
“Let’s go meet our new friends.”