Chapter 213: Going It Alone

If Zheng Changgong Baoyin behaved like a fool, then whatever objection Zheng Changgong Baoyin raised now, Zhang Gui would not care.

Because "ignorance and fanaticism" are the privileges of fools.

Yet Zheng Changgong Baoyin displayed his own cunning and thus subtly threatened Zhang Gui.

This made Zhang Gui unable to help but say softly:

"Young man, let me tell you a story.

In another world, in the most ancient civilized ancient nation of history.

There once appeared a truly great Founding Emperor, worshipped by all the people.

His portrait would even be treated like a deity in every commoner's household, receiving worship.

Then one day.

A commoner bought a portrait of this supreme figure, and while rolling it home it got soaked by rain, and a neighbor saw it and reported it.

He suffered an unexpected disaster because he did not take off his clothes to hide the portrait properly.

So by the same logic, since His Majesty Chang Sheng Tie Mu's words are truth in Yuanshan,

then anyone who violates that, even unintentionally, being framed, or being a fool whose injustice is evident, will inevitably suffer a punishment too terrible to describe.

And the reason for this actually has nothing to do with the emperor in the story or the real‑world His Majesty Chang Sheng Tian.

It is merely that "idol worship" has developed to a certain extreme.

Causing genuine "reverence" to unknowingly turn into "awe", and then unknowingly into "fear"!

It is merely a distortion of social behavior.

There are no so‑called "villains" inside, only the helplessness of habitual decline that rejects family, friendship, kindness, and all beautiful things.

After all, people aren't born "bad"; it's because wanting to join some organization or group that they literally force their beloved, flawless parents to death, isn't it?

Zheng Changgong Baoyin kept forcing a grin, even when being whipped, and suddenly his body shivered, becoming expressionless.

"Who exactly are you, and how do you know about my family?

What purpose do you have in bringing me here?"

"I only inferred from your and Chang Gong Tiemuer's names, and his harsh treatment of you, that you might be legitimate and illegitimate brothers.

Later I mentioned it in passing and you didn't refute.

As for the final sigh, it was an unintentional heartfelt remark.

I didn't expect it seemed to echo some episode of your life.

If that's truly the case, you are indeed unlucky."

After hearing Zhang Gui's explanation, Zheng Changgong Baoyin stared silently at him for a while, then suddenly spoke:

"Chang Gong Tiemuer and I are not legitimate and illegitimate brothers, but full brothers sharing the same father and mother."

After that he said nothing more, turned and walked straight toward the distance with a worried expression, yet the companions who had not approached him kept staying back.

At this moment Zhang Gui, standing behind Zheng Changgong Baoyin, also suddenly said:

"This is my first time coming to Great Wolf Capital, and indeed I need some local hands to help.

And I am willing to pay a sufficiently generous reward for it.

If you and your companion are willing to do me this favor, perhaps tomorrow at noon you could 'meet' me for a meal to discuss."

Zheng Changgong Baoyin halted his steps, neither accepting nor refusing, and continued striding away.

After that, quite some time passed.

Salisa, who had been busy for nearly an hour, completed all the procedures for trading in Great Wolf Capital and walked out of the Ship Administration Bureau's gate.

Zhang Gui, idly pacing at the gate, immediately stepped forward to meet him.

"Everything is settled?"

"Yes, Mr. Caiyang."

Vina, the owner of the Qingmi Salon in Civilization Civilization Vanguard City and the largest merchant of the fleet, answered the question first,

"Besides the prairie nobles who enjoy a life of carnal pleasures, Great Wolf Capital also has countless slaves with great 'potential'.

When you return to Civilization Civilization Vanguard City, you are welcome to attend Qingmi Salon's 'Prairie Romance' night."

"Oh, I am honored."

Zhang Gui gave a dry thank you, then exchanged farewells with the other merchants of the convoy.

At this moment the waiting Salisa came to Zhang Gui's side, handing him a waist badge and a thick leather sack about a foot long,

"This is a temporary waist badge equivalent to the 'Only Walk' status in Yuanshan.

And there are twenty‑thousand liang of Yuanshan Dog Head Gold Coins; that should be enough for pocket money."…

The badge is a brass‑made, about an inch‑sized small card.

It has not a single ornament, only the three characters "as if only walking" engraved faintly.

Simply enough to make one want to tear one's hair out.

It seems a copper smith could forge it, fully embodying the meaning of 'temporary'.

But Dog Head Gold is different; it is a currency unique to the Yuanshan Empire,

Divided into one liang, five dang, and ten dang, three denominations ordinary people use daily.

And also hundred‑dang, thousand‑dang, ten‑thousand‑dang, three large denominations that generally appear only in commercial settlements.

These coins are cast from a special metallic meteorite found on Tianyuan Mountain.

Normally they are dim and dull, but when you blow on them, they instantly emit a golden glow, and keep shining as long as you keep blowing,

With this property they are almost impossible to counterfeit…

Zhang Gui took the sack, reached inside and felt out a dog‑head‑shaped metal coin, only the size of a jujube seed and as thin as a sheet of paper.

Blowing on it with his mouth, it indeed emitted a faint golden light.

"What a marvelous metal, it feels lighter than iron even at equal volume, and yet, ah, Salisa, are you sure no one has died from an acute condition because they were carrying a large amount of Dog Head Gold?"

"I've never heard of that. How did you come to ask such a strange question?"

"I read in an ancient book that some stones that emit their own light can cause a fatal disease called 'radiation'."

"But it doesn't matter."

"I now feel I'm no longer a purely carbon‑based being, so why fear radiation sickness? It's truly laughable."

Zhang Gui smiled and slipped the pouch containing the Dog Head Gold into his sleeve.

"Alright, then let's part ways here, Salisa."

"Ten days from now, at this very time, if I am not present at this spot, you will leave together with the Ship fleet."

"I will go back on my own."

"Very well, then I wish you all the best, my companion."

Salisa, as usual, ignored her business partner's odd words, left only a blessing, and walked away with the rest of the caravan.

Zhang Gui then quietly left this ever‑bustling, brightly lit dock area.

He headed toward the city gate leading to the inner city.

He left the place of prosperity.

In the deep night, the Great Wolf Capital finally became dark and silent.

Only because Zhang Gui, this uninvited guest, caused a disturbance, occasional dog barks that seemed deafening in the night would erupt.

Strangely, despite further disturbing people's sleep, no one in the surrounding dilapidated houses got angry or cursed a couple of words.

Given such harsh living conditions in the slum, it's not hard to imagine how difficult everyday life is.

Yet everyone is so generous and courteous, which is truly abnormal.

The reason Zhang Gui, who gave up going to Xianrong Island to 'pick up corpses', came to the Yuanshan Kingdom, apart from the decisive factor of confirming his junior partner Zhang Jiujiang's safety.

To personally experience what the everyday lives of the masses are like in the nation founded by Chang Sheng Tie Mu.

Whether they truly revere Tiemu Changsheng to an unparalleled degree, or fear him to the utmost, is also an important reason.

Although, in a certain sense, these two mental states are extremely similar, and sometimes cannot be accurately distinguished.

But Zhang Gui, who feels he walks on two 'imperial paths' completely opposite to Chang Sheng Tie Mu, still wants to know.

(End of chapter)