Chapter 72: The Rat King

Cheng Shuili's previously crowded surroundings now have not a single beastman's shadow in sight.

Only the wary glances occasionally cast by the cat beastman standing at the entrance of Jiao Yi Zhan remain, and…

Cheng Shuili squinted, the other humans at Jiao Yi Zhan…

These people, unbelievably, all simultaneously walked toward her.

She was all too familiar with the gazes of the surrounding human players—greedy, calculating, eager to act. Like hyenas that smell blood in the wilderness, they gathered toward her from every corner of Jiao Yi Zhan.

Silently, Cheng Shuili slung her assault rifle over her shoulder and loaded the ammunition into the magazine pouch attached to her tactical waist belt.

Anything else?

Cheng Shuili thought for a moment, then finally recalled the purpose of this trip: to buy rice.

Right.

Also need to see which fruit is cheap, to buy one for Liang Shanbo.

Cheng Shuili scanned the few people approaching her again; the closest was a bald man in a tattered down jacket, wearing a dirty sweater underneath that looked like it hadn't been changed in ages.

A fierce scar across the right eye pierced his brow bone, making him look far from a good character.

He pretended to browse the goods at the beastman's stall, but in fact approached her with a slow yet steady gait.

On the other side, two players were discussing something, moving toward Cheng Shuili while sizing her up with their eyes.

Cheng Shuili knew these people meant no good, but she didn't intend to waste time with them, as they posed no real threat.

Not to mention the brand‑new killing weapon she cradled, Cheng Shuili's stats were already far ahead of everyone else's.

None of them carried weapons; a real fight would be pure hand‑to‑hand combat.

A punch won't even bruise you.

Cheng Shuili's stamina and strength far outstrip ordinary people; she can both strike and endure.

She thought about where the staple‑food stall was and glanced in that direction.

If she got back earlier, she could push forward a bit longer.

You can't accumulate much without first gathering a little.

She ignored the few people hurrying toward her, turned, and headed for the raccoon beastman's rice stall.

The raccoon beastman's stall was simple: a red cloth spread in front, neatly holding several bags of rice.

"Hello human! A little human who just made a big deal with the Rat King—interested in my rice? I can give you a discount!"

Rat King?

That title fits quite well.

Cheng Shuili nodded and asked, "How many Game Coins for a jin of rice?"

The raccoon beastman seemed delighted, perhaps because this human had just traded with the Rat King, meaning this human was certainly different from the others.

This human has power!

She can definitely pull out Game Coins!

The shop might open today.

The raccoon beastman held up an eight with one hand and a three with the other, grinning, "The original price is 83 Game Coins per kilogram; I'll give you a discount—80 Game Coins per kilogram."

Cheng Shuili was shocked by the price—only 40 Game Coins for a jin of rice?

Although carrots at Jiao Yi Zhan are indeed 10 Game Coins each, the toast in Shou Ren Xiao Zhen costs seven Game Coins per pack?!

Cheng Shuili later realized that prices in Shou Ren Xiao Zhen seemed cheaper than at Jiao Yi Zhan.

Could it be that entering Shou Ren Xiao Zhen has a threshold?

Cheng Shuili fell silent, nodded, and prepared to turn and leave.

The raccoon beastman was all too familiar with that disappointed look; in recent days, every human who came to ask his price showed this expression once they learned it.

What does it actually mean!?

Is his stuff really that expensive?

Even if other humans think it's pricey, this human shouldn't call it expensive!

This human has traded with the Rat King; the Rat King's voice is so loud that even from far away he hears it clearly.

This human just got 5,000 Game Coins!

That's 5,000!

What's wrong with using it to buy a bit of rice?

The raccoon beastman was irritated; he wanted to grab Cheng Shuili and force a forced sale, but the stalls all have rules and regulations.

He could only watch with lingering resentment as Cheng Shuili walked away.

Cheng Shuili was about to go to the Ten Thousand Beasts Chamber of Commerce to check the market before deciding where to purchase.

The moment she turned her head, the few people who had been eyeing her lunged forward together.

Scar‑Face pressed his hand onto her shoulder, raising his hand to snatch the rifle hanging from her neck.

Cheng Shuili's expression remained blank; she lightly lifted her lip and said two words, "Let go."

Scar‑Face grinned, showing a mouthful of uneven yellow teeth, "Little sister, you can't hold onto something this good. If you hand it over to big brother, big brother will look after you, understand?"

He raised his hand as if to pat Cheng Shuili's face.

But seeing that the girl showed not the slightest fear, he instead seized his wrist.

"Hey, little sister, you're pretty proactive."

Scar‑Face leaned in, his breath reeking of foul odor.

He hadn't finished speaking when Cheng Shuili already exerted force.

Crack.

The crisp sound of bone snapping rang sharply through Jiao Yi Zhan.

The scar‑faced man's sneer froze on his face, replaced by twisted pain. His wrist bent at an impossible angle, the stark white bone splinter piercing the skin.

"Ah!" His scream just left his lips when Cheng Shuili's foot already slammed into his abdomen.

The scar‑faced man curled up on the ground like a boiled shrimp, vomit spattering from his mouth.

The entire Jiao Yi Zhan fell silent in an instant.

Cheng Shuili flicked the blood off her hand, lifted her gaze toward the few approaching players.

They froze on the spot, their faces ashen.

"Anything else?" she asked.

The several of them stepped back in unison.

Cheng Shuili turned her head to scan the surroundings; at the Jiao Yi Zhan entrance, the cat beastman's ears perked up warily, its claws already resting on the baton at its waist.

"Fighting is prohibited inside the Jiao Yi Zhan,"

the cat‑eared beastman warned, but showed no intention of stepping forward to stop it.

Cheng Shuili shrugged, "Just self‑defense."

She cast a regretful glance at the scar‑faced man on the ground; keeping people like this alive makes Zhengyi Xiao Cheng feel uneasy.

Cheng Shuili stepped over the convulsing scar‑faced man on the ground and walked straight toward the Ten Thousand Beasts Trade Association shop.

It remained as lavish as ever; behind the wooden counter stood a meticulously dressed fox beastman, whose eyes behind golden‑rimmed glasses glittered with shrewdness.

It's not the dog beastman from last time.

"Welcome to the Ten Thousand Beasts Trade Association, esteemed guest," the fox bowed slightly, "I heard you just completed a major deal with the Rat King?"

Cheng Shuili raised an eyebrow, "You already knew?"

The fox chuckled, her pointed ears twitching delightedly, "Can't help it, the Rat King's voice is just too loud. Allow me to introduce myself: I am the manager of Jiao Yi Zhan No. 3 for the Ten Thousand Beasts Trade Association, Hu Lailai."

She elegantly adjusted her glasses, "Considering you are a potential Tier‑3 VIP client, I can offer you a more special discount. For example…"

She lowered her voice, "I noticed you just inquired about the price of rice; we can give you an even lower price here."

"What price?"

Cheng Shuili got straight to the point.

"60 Game Coin per kilogram, that's a special price for you," Hu Lailai smiled, raised her hand slightly to have someone bring up the rice, looking exceedingly elegant, "Moreover, this price can be stacked with your existing VIP discount."

Cheng Shuili seemed deep in thought.

The price was indeed good; she had previously spent 3,999 Game Coin, just 1 Game Coin short of reaching Tier‑2 VIP, which would grant a 20% discount.

After the 20% discount, it's 24 Game Coin per jin of rice.