Published: February 8, 2025
Seeing the cold face sitting opposite him and the confused expression on Shengyuan's face, Ye Zhongming felt a sense of surrealism as if he were in a different world.
In his previous life, the three of them sat together countless times, chatting casually like ordinary people. Yet in an instant, his past self had died, and he had been reborn here, finding two younger survivors of the apocalypse.
Xiao Peng was also a comrade from Ye Zhongming's previous life, just like Shengyuan. They were all part of the same team, living and fighting together, saving each other’s lives so many times that they could not even count them.
But now, the three of them sat here as strangers. Xiao Peng wore a guarded look, as if he felt that Ye Zhongming was not a good person.
“Do you need Purple Ink Gallbladder?”
Ye Zhongming placed a piece on the table, and this material, which could enhance a battle beast's power when fed, instantly brightened Xiao Peng's eyes.
To be honest, if Xiao Peng hadn’t seen Ye Zhongming when he entered the city, he would never have come to this bar in the Inner City. The safety of the Inner City is relative; in the apocalypse, there is no place that is absolutely safe. Every day, many corpses are carried out of the Inner City, and everyone knows how they died.
“What’s the price?”
Seeing his brother from his previous life with a look of desire yet hesitance, Ye Zhongming smiled and said, “No money required.”
Hmm?
Xiao Peng did not show joy or excitement; instead, he wore an expression of caution.
Ye Zhongming was momentarily taken aback, realizing something, and quickly changed his words, “But I need you to do some things for me.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Peng’s seriousness slightly eased, “Let’s hear it. I might not be able to do it.”
He didn’t know Ye Zhongming well, but he understood that this was a powerful person who could lead twenty thousand warriors. Even with Xiao Peng’s confidence, he couldn’t guarantee that he could accomplish whatever Ye Zhongming needed.
“Hmm, it’s not too difficult. You know I’m an outsider, and buying some things casually is fine, but entering the market here on a large scale isn't too appropriate and can easily raise suspicion. So I need you to help me purchase some materials. When necessary, I also need your help to handle some matters. What do you think? Can you do it?”
“Is that it?”
Xiao Peng looked at Ye Zhongming, feeling a bit incredulous.
What Ye Zhongming mentioned wasn’t too difficult but rather too simple. Such tasks should be manageable as long as one wasn’t too foolish. So why choose him?
“Do you have any specific requirements?”
“I’ll give you a list of what I need, and you can buy according to it. By the way, move your battle team to the Inner City; it’ll be more convenient. This will count as your settling-in fee. Once it’s done, my people will contact you.”
After tossing down a bag of magic crystals, Ye Zhongming stood up, and the core members of Cloud Summit quickly surrounded him.
“Why me?”
Seeing Ye Zhongming about to leave the room, Xiao Peng couldn’t help but ask.
“Because you look good.”
…………………………………………………………………………
“The last sea beast tide was ten days ago, and it wasn’t large, only about twenty thousand beasts. In the last two months, the outbreaks of sea beast tides have become more frequent. This occurrence of ten days apart is rare, and based on the experience of the locals, the next sea beast tide will at least be of intermediate scale.”
“How many is intermediate?”
After bidding farewell to Xiao Peng, Ayang, who had not been present, came over and began to report the information he had gathered to Ye Zhongming.
“About fifty thousand. Large-scale sea beast tides exceed one hundred thousand. So far, it has only happened once. The Inner City almost couldn’t hold, but for some unknown reason, the beasts retreated afterward.”
Ye Zhongming looked at the stalls on both sides, remaining silent.