Chapter 296: You

They've met up.

Cheng Shuili's gaze lingered on Moyu Miji's face for two seconds; her eyes were calm and waveless, yet it made Moyu Miji feel as if an X‑ray had scanned him, exposing every little thought inside and out.

He clearly hadn't done anything wrong, yet he suddenly started to feel nervous.

Cheng Shuili, however, shifted her gaze away, watching with interest the person leading the group outside.

To enter a regional‑level instance, they even bribed Moyu Miji with supplies—really suspicious.

Normal people would rather avoid high‑difficulty instances; in the regional channel, anyone who managed to team up for an elite‑level instance starts complaining, yet this person actually came voluntarily to a hell‑level one.

Cheng Shuili narrowed her eyes; the leader was a tall, thin man wearing a dark combat uniform that looked ordinary but whose details revealed fine craftsmanship, rain sliding down his neat short hair.

His features weren't strikingly handsome, yet the combination gave an odd sense of harmony and… steadiness, with slightly prominent brow ridges and shallow eye sockets.

At that moment he raised both hands to show he was unarmed, his posture low but his spine straight, without a trace of flattery or fear—more like an equal, dialogue‑seeking stance.

"Wuya Dalao," he spoke again, his voice clear and steady through the rain, "We mean no harm. The foolish lot's actions just now have nothing to do with us; we're only here to talk trade."

Cheng Shuili said nothing, lightly tapping her fingertip against the cold tea‑cup wall.

Ailin's gun barrel dipped slightly, yet remained precisely aimed at the opponent's brow.

Xinxue nervously licked her lips, glancing outside then at Cheng Shuili.

Qi Wan Yi and Jiang Tang, meanwhile, were relaxed, standing beside Cheng Shuili; Jiang Tang even lifted the small tea cup Cheng Shuili had produced and took a sip, apparently finding the tea too bitter, she silently stuck out her tongue.

Naturally the most nervous was Moyu Miji, who tried to shrink his presence, frantically praying that Fengyun Tianxia wouldn't notice him.

Normally, someone who voluntarily comes to talk trade would of course be welcome to Cheng Shuili, but…

This team is too strange.

And yet so eager…

Cheng Shuili always felt they harbored ill intent.

"Trade?" Cheng Shuili finally spoke, her voice devoid of emotion, "Sure. But I'm used to collecting a token of goodwill first."

Fengyun Tianxia outside seemed to sigh slightly in relief, his tone still sincere: "Of course. What would you like as a token of goodwill?"

"Very simple."

Cheng Shuili set down her tea cup, rose, and sauntered toward the warehouse door.

"You three, walk ten steps forward, then stand still. Especially you," she said, her eyes on Fengyun Tianxia, "raise your hands and turn around once so I can see."

The request was a bit odd, but not entirely unreasonable—like checking whether they were hiding heavy weapons.

Fengyun Tianxia hesitated a moment, then nodded: "All right."

He stepped forward ten steps as instructed; the rain instantly soaked him further, a few holes in his raincoat letting the acid rain seep in and corrode his clothing.

Fengyun Tianxia seemed unfazed, raising both hands and slowly turning in place.

"Is this okay, Wuya Dalao?"

His tone was earnest, his voice gentle; if Cheng Shuili had any further demands, it would seem like bullying.

But Cheng Shuili did indeed have another request.

She tilted her head, as if sizing up an interesting object, her gaze wandering over him and finally settling on his mud‑caked military boots.

"Hmm, attitude's not bad," Cheng Shuili said lightly, "but just turning around, the goodwill seems a bit insufficient."

Inside the warehouse, Ailin's gun barrel was steady as a rock; Xinxue, though a bit odd, certainly wouldn't say anything.

Qi Wan Yi could be described as "full of doting eyes"; Cheng Shuili is the boss! The boss does whatever she wants!

"What's wrong with giving you a hard time? You're the one asking us for favors, so you'll just have to endure it!"

Besides, Cheng Shuili isn't that sort of morally corrupt person—just look at that extra guy in the warehouse; with Moyu Miji here, it's clear there are plenty of things to be careful about.

Qi Wan Yi may not know the details, but she knows blindly trusting Cheng Shuili is the right move!

Actually, if we're talking about who's superfluous, Jiang Tang is pretty superfluous too—she lifted her cup for another sip, the tea's flavor of course unchanged, yet she acted like a fool thinking that drinking more would reveal a different taste.

Outside, Fengyun Tianxia's expression was flawless, still wearing that sincere, slightly humble look: "Please tell us, as long as we can do it."

"Of course we can, it's very simple."

Cheng Shuili curled the corner of her mouth in a cold smile, "I see your boots are caked with thick mud; this rain won't stop anytime soon, and it's an eyesore. You—now, take off your boots and socks, stand barefoot here. Have your two companions behind you do the same."

As soon as she spoke, even the wind and rain seemed to hush for a moment.

"Take off the boots? Stand barefoot in the acid rain and mud?"

"This isn't a weapon check anymore—it's outright humiliation and harassment!"

"Though the acid rain is diluted, prolonged contact still harms the skin, not to mention possible shards of glass or metal scraps hidden in the mud."

"This is literally grinding a person's dignity underfoot."

Behind Fengyun Tianxia, the burly man let out a repressed low growl, his facial muscles twitching—clearly furious.

The woman's eyes instantly sharpened like blades, her hand tightening slightly.

Fengyun Tianxia himself blinked, a fleeting trace of icy coldness flashing deep in his eyes, yet his facial composure remained perfect, even showing a hint of just‑right embarrassment and a wry smile: "Wuya Dalao, this… the ground is wet and slick in the rain, going barefoot would hinder movement; if anything happened, it could affect our later negotiations, you see…"

"I think it's fine."

Cheng Shuili cut him off, tone unquestionable, "It's precisely because the ground isn't comfortable that it shows goodwill, right? Or perhaps…"

She drew out her tone, eyes turning playful, "Is your goodwill just lip service?"

She was plainly telling them: I know you've got issues, I'm just giving you a hard time—take it or leave it.

Fengyun Tianxia fell silent for a few seconds.

Rain struck his face, obscuring his eyes.

Then he unexpectedly chuckled, the smile tinged with helplessness, even a hint of… indulgence?

As if dealing with an unreasonable, troublemaking child.

"All right."

He sighed, as if yielding, "Since this is Wuya Dalao's rule, we'll follow local custom."