Chapter 96: Shall I rub your back? (Ten thousand words update, please support)
The next two days felt rather uneventful for both Zhang Ze and Cai Hu. Zhang Ze spent his time completely absorbed in cultivation, consuming two third-grade Qi Replenishing Pills in the process. That was a whole million RMB gone in the blink of an eye. In contrast, Cai Hu lived quite frugally, spending the two days at his mother's side. With the companionship of Cai Hu, Qin Yao, and the others over this period, his mother's mental state had stabilized significantly. At the very least, she could now recognize Cai Hu as her son, which was a great relief to him.
...
With a long sigh, Zhang Ze finished his day's cultivation. Cultivating at the third-grade level, aside from the stake exercises, also required pushing his cell strength to the 1000S mark to prepare for the rapid bone tempering after reaching the middle grade. Even with his system, after two days of relentless training, he had only managed to increase his cell strength from 625S to 689S. The system's wealth value had also dropped to 9967 points, as he had to replenish the energy lost through cultivation.
After tidying up a bit, Zhang Ze was just about to return to his dormitory in the family building when his phone suddenly rang.
“Qian, you’ve arrived?”
...
That night at eight o’clock, Zhang Ze picked up Yu Qian from the Nanye City station and headed straight for Ma Cheng’s place. Since Qin Yao had recovered, Ma Cheng had decided to check out of the hospital in the past two days. However, he and Qin Yao still visited Cai Hu’s mother at the hospital from time to time and had grown familiar with Zhang Ze and the others.
“You’re here?”
Dinner was already prepared, and Ma Cheng greeted Zhang Ze and Yu Qian as they appeared at the door. Qin Yao had already eaten earlier and was now back in her own room. As soon as the three sat down, Zhang Ze introduced Yu Qian briefly before getting right to the point.
“Brother Qian, about what I mentioned before, see if you and Brother Ma can discuss whether it's feasible.”
Yu Qian chuckled lightly and replied, “Sure.” Then he turned to Ma Cheng and said in a low voice, “Brother Ma, I heard from Xiao Ze that there’s been evidence of a cult trying to get involved in the pill market in Beijiang Province recently?”
Ma Cheng’s brows furrowed at Yu Qian’s words. Sensing his wariness, Zhang Ze quickly explained, “Brother Ma, don’t worry. I’ve only told Brother Qian about this.”
Ma Cheng nodded slightly but didn’t respond immediately. In fact, he still had no idea what Zhang Ze was up to. Even when Zhang Ze brought Yu Qian to see him today, he’d only said there was something important to discuss. Hearing Yu Qian’s words now, Ma Cheng couldn’t help but tense up inside.
What exactly was Zhang Ze planning?
...
Meanwhile—
Xiangcheng County, Nanhe Province.
Ever since his phone call with Zhang Ze, Huang Ming had been searching for Wang Chao’s whereabouts. After much inquiry, he learned that Wang Chao’s former stationed unit had been transferred to Xiangcheng just last month. Upon hearing the news, Huang Ming wasted no time and made his way straight to the county. He finally arrived that evening.
“Hey, Brother Huang,”
“Are you sure we can find Brother Wang here?”
It’s worth mentioning that Fatty had tagged along with Huang Ming on this search for Wang Chao.
“There’s no mistake. The earthquake in Nanhe Province a while back was a sign the Stargate was about to open!” Huang Ming was in no mood to explain, brushing off Fatty’s questions as he hurried forward.
“Wait up, don’t leave me behind!”
Fatty, lugging his two-hundred-pound frame, struggled to keep up, but to his credit, he’d been diligently training recently. In just a few days, he’d broken through the 100S barrier for cell strength and could now be considered a bona fide first-grade martial artist.
Huang Ming paid him no mind, focused on running into the city center of Xiangcheng.
...
When the two arrived in Xiangcheng, Fatty was truly frightened by what he saw.
Not a soul in sight!
In the vast county seat, after wandering around for over half an hour, they didn’t encounter a single person. Some shops still had their lights on, but most were swallowed by endless darkness.
Had he ever seen anything like this before? Exhaustion forgotten, Fatty stuck close behind Huang Ming, nervously scanning the pitch-black surroundings.
“Is this place haunted?"
"Why isn’t there a single person around?"
He gripped Huang Ming’s arm tightly, his voice trembling with unease.
"Never seen anything like this, have you?”
Huang Ming didn’t find Fatty’s clinginess annoying and let him hold on. But then his tone turned somber as he frowned, "This kind of thing has happened plenty of times, in our country and all over the world. It's just that ordinary people never come into contact with it."
Fatty pondered for a moment before asking tentatively, "Three years ago in Heyue City, there were rumors of an earthquake... Did the same thing happen then?"
"What do you think? The residents only move out temporarily. Once things settle down, they move right back in."
Huang Ming’s tone darkened, "As if nothing ever happened, they just go on living here..."
He didn’t mention anything about the Stargate to Fatty—after all, with Fatty just barely reaching the first grade, he didn’t really take him seriously.
Fatty, however, didn’t dwell on it; instead, his mind involuntarily drifted to a vague, deep-seated memory from over a decade ago.
...
“Hey, Brother Ze—”
“Why do you always like calling people in the middle of the night?”
Peng Fei was sitting in the living room with Leng Bingbing and two other girls, watching a horror movie, when Zhang Ze’s sudden call gave all four of them a fright. As for the fourth person, naturally, Qianqian had moved in as well. With Leng Bingbing and Zhang Qingping around, Peng Fei’s place was practically a golden palace. There was no way Liu Qianqian would let Peng Fei keep all this happiness to himself.
“Brother Ze?”
“Is that Zhang Ze on the phone?”
Hearing a few familiar voices on the other end, Zhang Ze nearly forgot why he’d called.
“What are you and Qianqian up to over there? Why does it sound like Leng Bingbing’s voice...?”
“What do you think we’re up to!”
Before he could ask further, Leng Bingbing’s annoyed retort came through. And to think he’d deliberately kept his voice down.
Peng Fei, picking his nose beside him, kindly reminded, “Brother Ze, you’re on speaker.”
Zhang Ze felt his face go dark.
Well, well! Just you wait!
...
“So what exactly do you want from Qianqian and me, calling this late at night?”
Zhang Qingping cut straight to the chase, not wanting to listen to the group’s idle chatter.
That finally reminded Zhang Ze of the main reason for his call. He quickly said, “Peng Fei, try to find time to come to Nanye City—I need you.”
The way he said it was so greasy that Zhang Qingping rubbed her arm in mock disgust.
Qianqian, on the other hand, didn’t find it strange at all and teased, “Brother Ze, do you need me too? Haven’t helped you scrub your back lately—must be getting pretty itchy, huh?”
Get lost!
I’m talking business here!
He cursed Qianqian inwardly before continuing, “Has your wedding with Qingxue still not been settled? Never mind, if you have time, come along too. I have a bold idea—”
“What, are you having a baby?”
He had no idea where Qianqian had heard that, but she threw it right back at him with perfect timing.