Chapter 194

""Gradually, the younger generation of Yao Qing began to like the fantasy dramas and toys produced by the company's entertainment department; wearing the company's form-fitting, stylish uniforms, they were almost indistinguishable from Xianzhou people or company staff.""

"The buildings in the cave-heaven have also become completely unrecognizable. The beautiful flying eaves I saw as a child are dwindling, and the glazed tiles and fertile soil bricks have disappeared. One after another, smooth-surfaced office towers like monuments are rising from the ground."

"Anyone among the Yaoqing who have lived over five hundred years, like my mother, says that Yaoqing has changed. But they cannot say whether these changes are heading toward a beautiful future or sliding into a downfall dominated by short-lived species… They are merely filled with anxiety and unease."

"Seeing Mingxi face that company guy, I felt the same unease. Clearly having lived several times longer than his life, yet when facing them I am at a loss." Su Shang said sincerely.

——

Monogatari Series

"Hmph, I have lived six hundred years, witnessed countless foolish era changes—this little girl's words, I actually feel some empathy."

On the roof of the abandoned cram school under the sunset, Oshino Shinobu sat on the rusted railing. Araragi Koyomi walked over holding a convenience store plastic bag and handed the box of donuts inside to the blonde girl.

"Has Shinobu started missing the unpolluted night sky of the Edo era?"

"Heh, how could that be? The moon back then was far lonelier than now; nowadays the streets are full of people staying up until two or three in the morning……"

Oshino Shinobu, while biting a donut, looked at the melancholy-faced Su Shang in the light curtain, saying, "I just heard that little girl's words and felt moved… Although with the passage of time many things have disappeared, many good things have also emerged."

Saying that, she shook the donut in her hand, the corners of her mouth slightly lifting, a satisfied expression: "……Just like this, I couldn't have eaten such a good thing a few hundred years ago."

"In Shinobu's view, these changes are heading toward a beautiful future, right?" Araragi Koyomi opened a can of soda, the gas inside hissing.

"Mm."

At the edge of the rooftop railing, Oshino Shinobu gently shook her snow-white foot, saying, "Back then, if I said I was a vampire in public, I would surely be despised by countless people and then hunted to death by vampire hunters."

"But now, if I turn on the camera and livestream claiming to be a vampire, there will surely be countless idiots shouting, 'Please, streamer, bite my neck'…… Although this likewise infuriates me, it should at least count as a good thing, right?"

——

"After a thousand words, Su Shang summed it up in one sentence: 'I want to help the Jinren Xiang merchants' association, I want to help them protect Jinren Xiang, please!'"

Seeing Su Shang so sincere, Xing also confirmed her own idea and agreed to the little secretary's request.

Faced with Xing's strong entry, the little secretary was overjoyed, but since she hadn't yet reported to the chairperson, she brought Xing to the chairperson's secretary, Lian Yan, saying that Xingbao would surely make Jinren Xiang great again!

After all…… no one understands cargo handling and planning logistics routes better than she does!

After Xing simply showed the chairperson a trick, everyone marveled at her legendary line-pulling ability and formally made a request to her.

Xing did not refuse, but what puzzled her was…… even at such an important occasion, the chairperson did not appear in person; the whole process was handled by her secretary, Lian Yan, as a substitute.

——

Rune Continent

Zaun——

"Hey, I suddenly have a bold idea!" Jinx suddenly flipped down from the beam, landing behind Silco's chair, and giggled.

"I guess——the chairperson has already become a dead person! After all, a chairperson who never shows up can keep Lian Yan busy~"

"Lian Yan…… that polite secretary in front of Xing? Hehe, your guess is somewhat interesting; a shadow suddenly deciding to stand in the sunlight usually means——"

"——meaning she has long since cleaned up everything that needed clearing! The Jinren Xiang chairperson? Hah! Maybe even the bones can't be found!"

Jinx exaggeratedly made a throat-slitting motion, laughing until she doubled over.

"So, you mean…… the rules of Jinren Xiang are decided by an utterly insignificant 'little secretary'?" Silco's tone carried a hint of mockery, yet also a touch of appreciation.

If the facts are truly as Jinx guessed, then those seemingly insignificant small characters in the light curtain also possess considerable wisdom and means.

——

With Xing's addition, Jinren Xiang's development bore fruit immediately, and soon the first-stage revenue target was completed.

Just as the little secretary was about to invite Xing and Su Shang to celebrate properly, Si Ke Te suddenly arrived at the dock, coincidentally bumping into Su Shang and her companions.

Si Ke Te looked around, seeing several people in a tense standoff, and calmly said, "I say, I'm just sending a package—why are you surrounding me?"

"This guy's cargo is problematic; it will damage other customers' goods, causing the dock to constantly compensate……" Su Shang glared fiercely at Si Ke Te.

Xing was about to inspect Si Ke Te's package, but he suddenly raised his voice, adopting an attitude of wanting to make a big fuss: "Ha——?? Speak louder, I can't hear you well. Is this how Jinren Xiang treats tourists?"

Su Shang put her hands on her hips: "Let's open his package right now; there's definitely something fishy."

After a standoff, Xing decided to conduct a thorough inspection; after placing his package on the open ground, she actually discovered a 【Heavy Cloud Golden Toad】 inside the package……

On this stall, that golden toad just happened to wake up…… Although Xing also doesn't know why everything is so coincidental, but by the time she came to her senses, she had already smashed the violent, injury-causing golden toad to pieces.

Su Shang immediately accused Si Ke Te of tampering with the golden toad, disgustingly damaging others' goods. But facing this accusation, Si Ke Te deliberately raised his eyebrows, pretending not to hear, and leaned his ear in: "Ha——? Speak louder, I can't hear you clearly."

Everyone thought it was caught red-handed, but the result showed that this golden toad was not Si Ke Te's at all; as for why it was placed here, nobody could figure it out.

"You've caused this scene; if you don't give me an apology, it just won't do."

"This… this still requires an apology." Su Shang's momentum was instantly diminished by half.

"Ha——? If you don't apologize, spreading it won't sound good." Si Ke Te's two eyebrows rose, as if he were quite eager to see what comes next.