Chapter 375: Lazy to Talk, Listen |
Ahead, points of firelight flickered.
From the darkness surged a group of people armed with bows and crossbows.
After clearly seeing the bows and crossbows in the hands of this group, Bai Zheng's expression turned serious. "We come from Bluestone Fortress. We are partners. We mean no harm."
The unfamiliar team surrounding them remained silent, their bows and crossbows not lowering an inch.
A wave of commotion rose from the people behind Bai Zheng. They were all seasoned veterans from frontier forts, well aware of how terrifying the lethality of crossbow bolts could be, especially at close range without cover. If the other side intended to kill, they would be riddled with holes instantly.
"Put down your weapons." A voice came from the periphery.
The team surrounding Bluestone Fortress's group parted, and from within emerged a young man with black hair reaching past his shoulders.
Bai Zheng's attention was immediately drawn to the silver spear in his hand.
Such a gleaming, silver spear didn't look like a battlefield weapon for killing; it looked more like a decorative spear used on a stage.
By that logic, the spear in this person's hand must be the real deal.
"Put down your weapons," Bai Zheng said solemnly.
"Young Master Zheng..."
"Put down your weapons," Bai Zheng's voice grew even sterner.
After a moment of silence, the Bluestone Fortress people behind him lowered their guard and put down their weapons.
"Alright, everyone, put them down." Cao Biansheng's lips curled slightly as he waved a hand. The Hunting Team behind him also lowered their bows and crossbows.
The tense, standoffish atmosphere between the two sides dissipated considerably.
Cao Biansheng sized up the group before him. Judging by their clothing and appearance, they seemed like ancient people who had traveled through time.
He had seen such people in the Guild Leader's Home, like Instructor Du, for example.
At first, he was curious, but after seeing more, he felt they weren't much different from modern people.
It was just that their understanding of certain things wasn't on the same level.
Other than that, everything else was pretty much the same.
"Let's go. Follow behind. Don't run around, or I can't guarantee your safety." Cao Biansheng turned and started walking back.
He saw his own role as that of a Military General. These people were likely here on some political mission, and he couldn't be bothered to think too much about it.
As they approached the residential complex, Bai Zheng noticed the differences between these buildings and Bluestone Fortress.
Tall, multi-story buildings. Wouldn't such high houses collapse?
If there was a strong wind, wouldn't the upper floors sway violently with just a gust?
The family soldiers behind Bai Zheng also looked around curiously.
Arriving outside the complex's wall, Bai Zheng secretly observed the perimeter wall.
Typically, defensive city layouts would be heavily guarded, not allowing others to casually observe them.
These people were just letting them observe so openly, brimming with confidence.
The main gate was large, the tiles were bright, and Bai Zheng looked at it for a few extra moments.
But after passing through the gate, Bai Zheng noticed something odd. This perimeter wall was too thin. It wasn't specially reinforced, nor was it widened or thickened. It couldn't support people standing on it. At best, this kind of wall could only deter petty thieves.
This was somewhat illogical. Having experienced so many worlds, didn't they need to reinforce their defenses against beasts?
Harboring these doubts, Bai Zheng followed Cao Biansheng and was finally brought before an old man with a dignified face and an extraordinary bearing.
The old man looked him up and down and chuckled lightly. "Who are you?"
Hearing the familiar Yong dialect, Bai Zheng looked up in surprise.
He stared at Jia Liangcai with a mix of shock and doubt.
Then, he clasped his fists and said gravely, "Youzhou, Dai County, Zhao County, Bluestone Fortress."
Jia Liangcai said calmly, "Zhao County should be in Mao County."
The tension in Bai Zheng's brow relaxed slightly. He replied frankly, "Hearing a fellow countryman in a foreign land, one must be cautious. I beg your forgiveness, sir."
Jia Liangcai looked at him with a meaningful expression. It seemed this young man wasn't as simple, honest, and loyal as he appeared.
Bai Zheng raised his head and declared clearly, "This visit is for the purpose of forming an alliance between our two forces."
"Alliance..." Jia Liangcai chuckled dismissively. "Heaven and earth are the board, we are all insects trapped in the box, with no control over our fate. What alliance can there be?"
"I dare not agree with your statement, sir."
Jia Liangcai gave a light laugh but said nothing.
Bai Zheng continued, "It is true that heaven and earth are the board, and we are insects in the box. But there are differences even among insects. Some insects only know how to devour their own kind, living one day at a time. Other insects, however, know to guard their true nature, know what should be done and what should not."
He paused, his voice steady. "In this world, our rule is cooperation. Our Bluestone Fortress wishes to form an alliance with all of you."
"Alright, enough talk. What do you want, and what can you offer? Speak plainly."
"We need coal, timber, and iron ore. In exchange, we can sell warhorses."
"Warhorses..." Jia Liangcai shook his head. "Not enough."
What use are horses in this underground cavern? They'd just waste food to raise them.
Bai Zheng's expression remained unchanged. "Then, may I ask what you need, sir?"
Jia Liangcai uttered four words. "Grain. Cards."
"Very well. I will bring your requirements back. But what is the exchange rate?"
"Ten catties of firewood for one catty of grain."
Bai Zheng's face changed dramatically. This price was outrageous.
"Sir, back in Youzhou, let alone ten catties of firewood, even fifty catties could hardly be exchanged for one catty of grain. Although wood is scarce in this cavern environment, it shouldn't be worth this price."
"Firewood can repel insects." Jia Liangcai uttered these five words, ending the conversation.
Hearing this, Bai Zheng was stunned, then somewhat relieved. So the other side knew how to repel insects. That meant they had also experienced an insect tide.
Previously, within the fort, there were rumors that the people here were lucky not to have experienced the insect tide, which was why they could find them.
But now it seemed that wasn't the case.
That meant they had resolved the insect tide in a very short time and even sent a team to find them?
How did they do it? And they seemed to have handled it so easily.
"Sir, I think your conditions..." Bai Zheng still tried to negotiate.
Just then, heavy footsteps sounded from behind Jia Liangcai.
Mogu walked past behind him.
Because he was so tall, Mogu's upper body, including his head, was hidden in the shadows.
His broad, towering frame was like a giant from ancient myths. His steady, heavy footsteps were clear and powerful.
Bai Zheng looked up. A trace of shock surfaced on his calm face as he stared in disbelief at Mogu's retreating back.
His gaze gradually cleared.
"...the conditions aren't entirely unacceptable. I will bring your exact words back."
Cao Biansheng led the team escorting Bai Zheng back the way they came.
After walking over a hundred meters, Bai Zheng remained silent the entire way. It wasn't just him; all his companions were very quiet.
At the parting point, Bai Zheng turned back with a complex expression. "With such a divine being among you, no wonder you resolved the insect tide so quickly."
No wonder they didn't bother specially reinforcing the walls. It probably served little purpose anyway.
Cao Biansheng felt the other party might have misunderstood something. Back then, resolving the Black Beetle insect tide relied on the joint efforts of their Qin Alliance and the people of the residential complex.
But he couldn't be bothered to explain. If it were the Guild Leader, Qin Ziwu, or Yuan Ming who misunderstood, he might try to explain.
As for Bai Zheng, he was just a stranger, and one who might become a competitor at any moment.
He could think whatever he wanted. It was even better if he overthought things.
In simple terms: too lazy to say, not worth hearing.