Chapter 192

After settling a series of matters, Xing could finally stroll around the Immortal Vessel at leisure. Just when she was worrying about not having a guide, she happened to meet Bai Lu by the roadside; they hit it off immediately and decided to go to Jinren Xiang to have a great time.

Jinren Xiang is also known as "Luofu's Number One Night Market," but as Xing walked along, she found the alley wasn't as prosperous as the rumors claimed; the title "Number One" was somewhat undeserved.

As she passed a snack stall, the owner, Auntie Gao, saw Xing's attire, which differed from that of the Immortal Vessel's people, and immediately greeted her with a smile: "Hey there, sir/miss, you must be a traveler from beyond the borders, right? I'd like to ask: do you like this place, Jinren Xiang?"

This question left the newly arrived Xing puzzled: "I've only just come here; I can't really say I like it yet."

"Then I ought to give you a proper welcome… Don't mind my chatter, visitor from the outside world—do you know about the Interstellar Peace Company? How's its reputation?"

Xing only remembered that the Zhaobao ads were somewhat annoying; aside from that, she knew very little… Auntie Gao saw that Xing couldn't answer, realized she'd asked the wrong person, handed Xingbao a few snacks, and then went back to hawking her wares.

The two of them ate and wandered along Jinren Xiang, reluctant to leave. But as they walked, they suddenly saw a crowd gathering in front of the dock—apparently, people from the Interstellar Peace Company and dock workers were arguing.

As they drew near, they heard a loud female voice: "You guys better speak nicely—don't bully people——"

"Hey, where did this wild girl come from? What's it to you?" a company representative said with a hint of mockery.

"As a Cloud Rider, how could I stand by when a conflict breaks out on the dock? Besides, I'm not 'hey' or 'wild girl'—my name is Su Shang!"

"Miss, why don't we let the Jinren Xiang Merchant Association handle this?" a woman resembling a secretary pushed through the crowd and said to Su Shang.

"You're going to handle it? That's a joke!" Si Ke Te deliberately raised his voice with a sarcastic tone: "Everyone watching here knows the Jinren Xiang Merchant Association is mismanaged and incompetent. Now the dock rent is overdue—who do you think is to blame?"

"——It's all the fault of the Jinren Xiang Merchant Association!"

"…" The secretary took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and said word by word: "…I don't deny that."

"Then speak up and say, 'The Jinren Xiang Merchant Association is sorry to everyone, they've messed up the dock situation, and all its people are useless!' Then, for each day of overdue rent, give me a loud, clear kowtow and apologize to me, the company's representative."

——

Gintama.

"Hey hey, what is this? How come even on Luofu's Immortal Vessel there's a farce of company exploitation?"

Sakata Gintoki picked his nose, lounged lazily on the Odd Jobs Shop's sofa, half-lidded eyes watching the sky curtain.

"Exactly, Aru! This middle-aged guy looks grosser than Gin's unwashed hair after three days." Kagura sat cross-legged on the ground, stuffing pickled kelp into her mouth while mumbling her commentary.

"Hey! My hair isn't that gross! And I just washed it yesterday, okay?!" Gintoki protested, unconsciously running his hand through his naturally curly silver hair.

Shinpachi pushed up his reflective glasses and said: "This guy's company is actually called 'Interstellar Peace'…… that's as absurd as calling a killer whale a love dolphin."

"No no, Shinpachi." Gintoki suddenly grew serious: "In this company's dictionary, 'peace' means 'obediently letting me eat you.'"

Seeing Si Ke Te still ranting and mocking on the screen, Shinpachi couldn't hold back and sprang to his feet: "Gin-san! Although we can't help the secretary of Luofu's Immortal Vessel, at least we can……"

?

"At least we can give some moral support!" Shinpachi shouted toward the sky curtain: "Miss Secretary, Miss Su Shang, don't lose to this jerk!"

Kagura also jumped onto the sofa, waving her umbrella: "Come on, Aru! Let the chicken Su Shang summoned peck his eyes out—you could even sit on him to kill him!"

These two guys……

Gintoki sighed: "Hey hey, you guys yelling at the sky curtain— to anyone watching, it's no different than an auntie cheering for an anime character on TV……"

——

"If that guy weren't hiding his health bar, I'd jump on him."

"……My fist clenched tight."

"Hey, your attitude is way too arrogant—can't we just talk things over about the overdue rent?" Su Shang stepped forward, hands on her hips, and scolded him.

Si Ke Te suddenly lowered his voice: "I'm not bullying anyone—I'm just giving a friendly reminder. May I ask if the company can collect the rent?"

The little secretary lowered her head in embarrassment: "……Not possible right now."

"The company leased the dock's operating rights to your merchant association, hoping Jinren Xiang would prosper… Look, this excellent freight dock is completely——wasted!"

Si Ke Te's words were heartfelt, but his affected gestures oozed mockery.

"Who says the merchant association definitely can't pay back? What if… what if they could?" After Si Ke Te got in her face, Su Shang could barely speak.

"Geez, I can't even imagine it." Si Ke Te pretended to shiver contemptuously.

Su Shang really wanted to give him a beating.

"How about this: we make a bet; if the chamber of commerce can repay the company's rent, I will bow my head and apologize in front of the elders and folks of Jinren Xiang."

"Not only that, I will also loudly say 'I am a blind fool! Unaware of the immensity of heaven and earth, I only know how to bark like a mad dog!' Then, in front of you, I can only learn to bark like a dog. How about that?"

"Good!" Su Shang agreed on the spot upon hearing it; just thinking of making that nasty guy bark like a dog feels satisfying.

But after agreeing, she suddenly realized, lacking confidence she lowered her voice: "What if... I lose the bet?"

"Simple, you also apologize to me in front of the elders and folks just like that, and learn to bark like a dog in front of me."

——

Honkai 3.

Fate Headquarters.

Li Ta elegantly crossed her legs, her wine-red eyes glimmering with a mischievous light. She propped her chin on one hand, watching with interest as 'Su Shang' confronted Si Ke Te on the screen.

"... So you like taking on these kinds of bets?"

Li Su Shang only felt her temples throbbing violently: "It's the isotopes... not me!"

"Oh?" Li Ta tilted her head slightly, observing Li Su Shang beside her with interest, "Even your tone of voice is quite similar."

On the screen, Su Shang's motto is 'bold'; having already agreed to the bet, she declares without hesitation: "It's a promise!"

In reality, Li Su Shang silently covered her face.

"Speaking of..." Li Ta suddenly moved closer, bringing a faint fragrance, "How about we also make a bet?"

"No bet." Su Shang retreated half a step warily, turning to leave: "Every time you make that expression, nothing good comes of it."

Li Ta slowly raised three fingers: "Three boxes of limited-edition osmanthus cakes."

Su Shang's ears twitched.

"Plus my cherished red tea."

Her eyelashes also quivered.

Deal! The Glutton Worm was instantly hooked, Su Shang suddenly turned around, but the moment she saw Li Ta's smile of a successful trick, she instantly realized—this plot seemed somewhat familiar…

Wait… what if I lose…

"Hmph~" Li Ta smiled without speaking, merely giving a meaningful glance toward the canopy.

"You wouldn't……" Su Shang's face slowly flushed, "You want me to……"

"Don't worry, it's not about barking like a dog~" Li Ta gave a light smile, lowered her head to glance at her maid outfit, "I'm just curious what you'd look like wearing this outfit, coming to my room to brew tea for me~"