Chapter 1902: Rapid Development (20)

The Experience Fruit harvest this time was plentiful, but there's no need to worry about storage.

It can be kept for a long time without spoiling.

Even if it shrivels up, it's still edible.

It only affects the taste, not the efficacy.

However, keeping Experience Fruit in the storeroom is pointless—after all, a batch can be harvested every 20-plus days, so it's better to eat them fresh.

Give the surplus to Li Ruanyu and let her sell it off.

Zhao Chi still has 80,000 gold coins in cash on hand now, so exchanging for more money isn't bad—better than leaving it sitting in the vault.

Zhao Chi praised, "You've worked hard, Zhuang Ya. Now you're not only guarding the captives and labor slaves, but also managing the farmland and crops."

Zhuang Ya felt a little embarrassed.

She giggled: "Actually… actually I'm not always here now. After all, most of the slaves this time are elves and humans, relatively easy to control. And there are so many female overseers here maintaining order—unless public punishment is needed, I leave it to them to help me supervise the rest of the time. As for the farmland… Captain Gu Yan is in charge of that. I just listen to her reports regularly."

Zhao Chi nodded: "Mm, this shows you manage well. Being able to save you a lot of time—that's the right way."

Zhuang Ya smiled: "I spend most of my time now training in the Martial Arts Hall. After all, proficiency in spiritual techniques and various spells is more important. Only by winning the war can we keep living like this—otherwise, the good life we have now would be just a flash in the pan."

"Not bad, Zhuang Ya. You're absolutely right. I didn't expect you to understand even this kind of reasoning."

Zhuang Ya huffed: "Of course I know! Zhao Chi, why do I always feel like you treat me like a kid? I'm 25 years old too, five years older than you. Watching you follow Ruanyu-jie around all day calling her 'barrier, barrier,' I want to hear you call me that too."

Zhao Chi laughed: "When did I ever follow her around calling her that? It's you who treats me like a kid, right?"

Zhuang Ya shook her head gently: "Fine, you didn't follow behind her, but you pester me behind my back every day. Just call me that once to make me happy, won't you?"

Zhao Chi felt no psychological pressure at all.

He turned and leaned close to her ear, calling softly: "barrier, Zhuang Ya-jie, Zhuang Ya-barrier, Zhuang-jie, Zhuang-barrier, Ya-jie, Ya-barrier."

"Aiya, that tickles."

Zhuang Ya closed her left eye, lifted her smooth shoulder, but didn't move her ear away.

Her ears are equally sensitive.

Zhao Chi's voice made her feel a surge of clear liquid.

Zhao Chi asked: "So, which way of calling you do you like best?"

Zhuang Ya's face flushed slightly: "I like it best when you just call me barrier directly. But Ruanyu-jie might not be happy about that. However… you could call me that at night when it's just the two of us. Would that be okay?"

Zhao Chi laughed: "What's not okay about it? I'm just afraid your voice will drown out mine and you won't hear me calling you that."

"I won't… I can hear you. At worst, I'll just keep my voice down."

"Really?"

"Don't treat me like a little girl!"

"I don't, Zhuang Ya-jie."

"Aiya, you don't need to call me that now. Just calling you by name is already bold enough of me. I wouldn't dare let you address me like that in everyday life."

"So what's the difference? Isn't it still up to me?"

"No, no, Zhao Chi, just call me by my name."

"Okay, Zhuang-barrier."

"Keep your voice down!"

Zhuang Ya covered Zhao Chi's mouth.

Zhao Chi felt Zhuang Ya's palm was very soft, and her unique fragrance drilled straight into his nose and mouth.

"My lord, don't call me that. I'm not playing around with you anymore."

Zhao Chi laughed: "What? The bold and reckless Zhuang Ya is actually afraid of this?"

Zhuang Ya shook her head: "I'm not afraid… it's just… aiya, will you just listen to me?"

Her tone was very soft.

Zhao Chi naturally nodded: "Then let's stop fooling around. If you like hearing it, I'll call you that in bed from now on."

Zhuang Ya looked left and right, then pressed her lips together and nodded: "Mm, okay~"

Zhao Chi said: "Then see you tonight. I'm heading to Penglai Town."

"I'm going too, to continue practicing in the Martial Arts Hall."

"Good. How much spiritual technique do you have now?"

"A bit over 80."

"A bit over 80?"

Zhuang Ya turned her head in confusion.

"Yeah, why do you look so incredulous? Can't you see all my stats? Why do you act like you just found out? Don't you normally pay attention to my skill numbers? You really don't care about me at all."

Zhao Chi felt a bit embarrassed.

To be honest, he really didn't pay much attention to their skill stats.

These skills grow relatively slowly, so he never paid them much mind.

Zhao Chi forced an explanation: "What I pay attention to isn't the skill aspect…"

Zhuang Ya nodded: "I know. What you pay attention to is my back door. You don't care about anything else."

"What? No!"

Zhao Chi denied it flatly.

"Then why do you stare at it every time? You look at the start, you look during the process, and you still look when it's over!"