Strike the First Blow

by Tai Baiyang

  When the people saw that Zhang Mu’s left arm was empty in his sleeves, the looks in their eye was as if they were looking at a person who was dead.

  Ordinary people with no background or power to support them, in this Cataclysm, disabled means death. That was a piece of general knowledge, so they naturally thought that Zhang Mu had given up the hope of surviving.

  Zhang Mu knew that with his own power, he could not enter the Inner City as he was unable to meet any of the criteria. However, the era merchant shop was in the middle of the city.

  So the only alternative for him, was to sneak in a name to enter.

  Chapter 127: Broken Body with Strong Determination

  Rather than sneaking, in fact, it was only a chance to enter the Inner City for a day, by transporting fresh fruits or other necessary items for the high ranked evolvers.

  Even if your identity was extremely insignificant, as long as you were willing to have a makeover in exchange for a day of a good time, a lot of people were up for it. Hence, it was hugely sought after by all kinds of people. With the mixed crowd of good and bad people, it allowed Zhang Mu to hide his identity easily.

  Without doubts, the sub-merchants had become daring nowadays as no one could attack them, considering that the era merchant shop were all inside the city. With the help of the cloak, it also allowed the sub-merchants to leave the city safely for a long time. Hence, as long as your face was covered, the sub-merchants would be able to trade with a peace of mind. In addition, there were a lot of people wearing masks to cover their face at the red light district area.

  Although these were all known facts around the public, an old face was still needed.

  Zhang Mu sneaked into the back of an open food store at the outer city and shouted towards the courtyard, “Boss Li, your old customer has arrived, yet no one is here to welcome me inside?”

  Hearing Zhang Mu’s voice, a quivering figure ran out from the back of the kitchen, causing the fats on his body trembled. After watching him, this caused Zhang Mu to lose all of his appetites even though he had not been eating for a whole day.

  Seeing that the fat man with a round body was going to pounce on him to give him a bear hug, Zhang Mu sneaked away as chills went down his spine. Looking at the fat man, he said, “Boss Li, did you just slaughtered mutated pork meat? How did your body get so greasy? Do not come over here. I have not eaten today, yet looking at you makes me full immediately.”

  “Brother Zhang, how can you say such words to hurt my, Li Pang San’s heart? You have not been here for a month and I have missed you dearly. How did you know that I have mutated pork meat? Apart from sending it over to the high-ranked sirs, I have left some scraps behind to eat them by myself after I am done. Now that you're here, let’s have a feast.”

  Once Zhang Mu heard that Li Pang San had mutated pork meat, his eye lit up immediately. No matter how greasy Li Pang San was, he patted his shoulder and said, “Wow Old Li, you can even get mutated pork meat? It should not be a first-ranked or second-ranked, right? If not, you won't be bragging it to me now.”

  A pride expression showed up on Li Pang San’s face as he patted on his fat tummy and answered, “Of course. Who am I, Li Pang San? The title of the best food store is not out there for fun.”

  At this moment, he saw that Zhang Mu’s left arm was strange. He looked serious and stared at Zhang Mu’s empty sleeve, “Brother Zhang, what happened to you?”

  Zhang Mu took his words genuinely and replied to him right away, “The river outside the city. It was done by a swarm of second-ranked piranhas. If not for my fast reaction, probably my life would end there.”

  “Second-ranked piranhas?” Li Pang San’s eyes were filled with horror. “You entered the river and came out alive? Are you really a second-ranked evolver with no ability? You must know that no one outside the city would get close to it. Even when there were people pass away near the shore, the sirs inside the city do not even bother about them. Because once they summon their power, these piranhas would not attack.

  Therefore, it had become a taboo area for low-ranked people like us. Most people would not go there, and I remembered telling you that the place was dangerous.”

  “But you never told me that the place was dangerous because of the second-ranked piranhas.” A helpless expression filled Zhang Mu’s sour face.

  At this point, a guilty expression appeared on Li Pang San’s face. He never expected that Zhang Mu would lose his arm there. Even though he was a person that liked to laugh and joke about, but he knew how serious was it for a person like Zhang Mu, which was disabled and could not be healed. “This was all my fault. I should have said it clearer to you.”

  Zhang Mu spoke while waving his remaining right arm, “Boss Li, don’t blame yourself. That time I was forced too. If not, who would enter the river?”

  In this Cataclysm, people like Li Pang San were hard to find as his words touched Zhang Mu’s cold heart.

  “To be able to force you to jump into the river, on such a safe place like Shan Xi city, was it a third-ranked mutated animal?”

  Seeing Zhang Mu having such a carefree attitude, Li Pang San felt relieved a little.

  “No, if it was a third-ranked mutated animal, I won’t be able to come back. It was a dozen of new second-ranked mutated animals.”

  Li Pang San looked at Zhang Mu with a shocked expression, “A dozen of them? When did they come here? No wonder. So what does Brother Zhang plans to do next?”

  Previously, Zhang Mu told Li Pang San that he was a herbs collector as it was very common here. Even though the majority of them couldn’t get a good medical herb, but Zhang Mu was able to take out some suitable best-selling herbs. This was how he met Li Pang San.

  “Let’s stop talking about it.” Before Li Pang San continued to speak, Zhang Mu put his hand on Li Pang San’s shoulder, not caring about the grease on his body as Zhang Mu said, “Fatty, just now did you said that you would treat me to eat a third-ranked mutated animal? Till this day, I have not tasted any third-ranked animals before. Even if it was just a normal mutated pig, I’m fine with it too. Also, I remembered you have a few hidden good liquors, how about using it to comfort me?”

  Hearing that Zhang Mu remembered his liquor, a hurtful expression that could not be covered appeared on Li Pang San’s face. But looking at Zhang Mu’s broken arm, he gritted his teeth as he had made a huge decision, “Sure, since Brother Zhang had said the word, then me, Li Pang San, will take out two bottles to drink with Brother Zhang today.”

  Zhang Mu never expected that Li Pang San would take out his precious white liquor. With a face of joy, he hung on to Li Pang San’s body as they went to the back kitchen, completely forgotten about his injuries.

  Taking a sip of Mao Tai, Zhang Mu’s eye was intoxicated. Putting down the wine cup, he picked out a piece of pork meat with his chopsticks and put in his mouth.

  A warm heat melts in his mouth. Eating the meat of a third-ranked mutated animal while he was a second-ranked evolver, would help the energy in his body to grow, causing the bottleneck of the second rank to be loosened. Happiness could be seen on Zhang Mu’s face in an instant as he picked up a pig’s trotter with his hand straightaway to eat.

  “Can you eat slowly? I haven’t touched my chopsticks yet. Slow down, slow down, please.” Li Pang San felt a little regret on bringing Zhang Mu to eat his dinner together this time. He was behaving a lunatic. Even with one hand, he was able to eat like a tornado, sweeping clean of the food on the table.

  At first, Li Pang San was preparing to drink some liquor first, but when he noticed that if he ate later, there might not be any meat remained for him. Hence, using both hands, he was snatching the food with Zhang Mu.

  After clearing the plates on the table, Zhang Mu lifted his wine cup and clinked with Li Pang San as he asked tentatively, “Fatty, the mutated pork meat have to be delivered to the Inner City tonight right? Let me do it this time.”

  “No problem!”

  Li Pang San a
ppears to be drunk as he looked at Zhang Mu in a joking manner, “Brother Zhang, your hand was disabled, yet you are still thinking of having a dissolute life. You really have a broken body yet a strong spirit. I’m impressed.”

  Chapter 128: Eden’s World

  Feeling helpless, even though he wanted to explain himself, but he could only go along with the excuse that Lee Pang San came up with and told him that he wanted to find a nice lady to help ease his stress.

  That was the only purpose for low-ranked evolvers to go to the Inner City. Therefore, he could only pretend to be exposed by Lee Pang San and smiled wholeheartedly, “Life should be enjoyed thoroughly, so why shouldn’t we enjoy them to the fullest when we had the chance? Even though I have turned like this, but the path of collecting herbs has not been cut off. Doesn’t it mean that I’m still competent to survive? I don’t have a family to raise so these crystals will be kept as interest.”

  Lee Pang San squinted his small eyes and glanced at Zhang Mu, “Wow, I didn’t know you were such a pervert hungry ghost. Even with a broken arm, you act as if a normal person who goes in and have fun.”

  Zhang Mu laughed and clinked his cup with Lee Pang San again before he drank down the contents. The bottles of good Mao Tai that were treasured by Lee Pang San for a year was finished completely. Reminiscent of the spicy taste, he could not help but smack on the table and announced, “Good liquor! Finally, I managed to drink it today.”

  Li Pang San threw his chopsticks on the table as he leaned against the chair, “These days were so boring, it must be nice to dawdle outside the city. For someone like me that does not dare to step outside, I really envy herbs collectors like you, able to wander outdoors. My life now, besides looking after this shop, was to help to import goods. So bothersome.”

  “We, herbs collector use our life in exchange for money, are you sure that you want this kind of freedom? Besides you’re a big boss, you can call someone to do your bidding. Just by sitting in the shop would bring you a large sum of crystals too. Isn’t this easy?” Zhang Mu raised his eyebrow in a joking manner.

  Li Pang San vomited on the ground and poured out his grievances to Zhang Mu, “You also said this. But this is the outer city, if it’s at the Inner City, what big boss? I will only be a small delivery guy. If it were not for them being lazy to handle my goods, I might not have any work.”

  “That’s because you got no power. No power means that you will be treated like a dog, being boss around and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

  This Li Pang San had a better life than ordinary people with no ability. If not, why would Zhang Mu need to rely on their relationship to sneak inside? However, just like what he had mentioned, even if he had the wealth, compared to those high ranking evolvers, he was merely a relatively rich bug.

  It was better in the city as the base would keep matters under control. But if you dare to take a step out of the city, don't need to mention about encountering attacks from the mutated animals, there would be someone eyeing on his family property and his pocket full of crystals.

  That was one of the reasons Li Pang San did not dare to step out of Shan Xi city. Money was just a matter of course, but if he was controlled by someone, surrendering over his possessions might get him to be thrown out in the wilderness.

  That was the misery of being a nobody.

  Zhang Mu thought of his circumstances and did not want to carry on the conversation instantly. Hence, he quickly changed the topic, “So when can I get in? After venting, I will come out right away. I must take advantage of harvesting herbs that are high value before I become useless and come to your place to retire.”

  “Retire? Haha, fine. Come to my place and give me a hand. The pay is not as good as you have now, but I can give you three meals a day, eat and drink to your heart’s content, plus one hundred of second-ranked crystals a month. I, Li Pang San, can guarantee you this.” Li Pang San who had downed more, now had a red face as he patted on his chest and vouched for Zhang Mu, “I am not bragging, but my treatment is definitely the best on this outer city. If not for you, I would not give this price for a normal second-ranked evolver who was on his peak.”

  Once the words left his mouth, Li Pang San realized he had said the wrong thing but seeing Zhang Mu was not angry he quickly restrained himself. It was also the shock that made him sobered up a little. He smacked his head suddenly when he thought of the question that Zhang Mu asked previously. Looking at the watch on his wrist, he pushed away from the chair and sat up, “Oh no. There was half an hour left until the appointed time. Brother Zhang, let me send you in. It is the same old place, Eden’s World. Although it was still the same, not charging you any other fees but this time, the fee to enter the Inner City had to be paid by yourself. After all, it was one hundred second-ranked crystals. Even I couldn't bear the cost too.”

  Still at the Eden’s World? Just nice there was no need for me to run as the Shan Xi city’s era merchant shop was behind the Eden’s World. Although there might be some people watching, there would be some bad people mingling around at the entertainment facilities too. As long as Zhang Mu was careful, no one would recognize him when he entered.

  “Sure thing, remember to take into accounts. Next time, I will pay you back with the medical herbs. You said that the time is not early now, so let’s hurry and don’t delay anymore. You will get into trouble if it's too late.” Zhang Mu rushed Li Pang San. Straight away, he pulled him outside.

  Li Pang San stopped him and laughed at him, “You still have not carried the mutated pig, yet you want to go to Eden’s World to play? As an older brother, I would like to remind you that after delivering the goods, remember to clean yourself up. Even if a lady cannot detect your power, with the smell on your body, they would not be joining you.”

  “Remember to come back before 12 midnight, or you will need to pay a fee for an overnight stay tomorrow morning when you go out of the city.”

  “I get it, I get it. This is not my first time there.” Zhang Mu let Li Pang San pointed out the place of the mutated pig. He then carried with his right hand immediately and put on his right shoulder as he walked out steadily.

  “You’re indeed a second-ranked evolver! Even without an arm, you’re able to pick up this pig with a weight of nearly a ton easily. Aw, if only I can evolve to the second rank, if not now I wouldn’t be so tired.”

  Looking at the view of Zhang Mu’s back slowly disappearing, a cool breeze blew over Li Pang San as his heart started to feel lonely inside.

  Among the envious eyes from the passers-by, Zhang Mu carried the token that Li Pang San entrusted him with, and walked to the gate of the Inner City which he was stopped by the guards stationed there.

  He had to admit that the smell coming from the mutated pig was really strong, causing the third-ranked guards to frown involuntarily as he said, “Li Pang San’s goods?”

  Zhang Mu nodded his head and said nothing as he showed the order slip hanging on his left arm. After that, he was sent into the Inner City with a look of disgust.

  The guards saw the missing left arm on Zhang Mu and regarded it as nothing. They had seen countless low ranked evolvers died every day, so why should they care about him? He could only curse Li Pang San in his heart as the goods he had to deliver this time, almost caused him to throw up the food he just ate for dinner.

  Compared to the Outer city, the Inner City was very deserted. There were few people on the streets as the majority of them was preparing for the night event to start. So why would they stroll outside at this timing?

  Zhang Mu took a glance at the most prosperous street in the center of the Inner city. After that, he took a long walk on a familiar road and entered a hidden courtyard. It was a tunnel offered by Eden’s World, for people like Zhang Mu, who came from the Outer city to deliver goods.

  Chapter 129: Beautiful Bubbles

  Zhang Mu gently placed the mutated pork meat on the center of the courtyard and pressed something at a specific spot on the stone be
nch. After that, he looked at the thick stone wall while waiting quietly for the recipient to arrive.

  After a long time, Zhang Mu was still waiting for them. Well, it’s a good thing that Zhang Mu was used to it since he knew that these people with high standard, would not bother to spare their time to deal with him.

  From the moment Zhang Mu entered, he had been waiting for about half an hour before the tightly sealed door finally opened with a creak.

  A boy-toy like man, with slick haired wearing a floral shirt pattern poked his head outside the stone door and looked at the mutated pork meat that Zhang Mu placed in the middle of the courtyard. Using his sleeves to cover his nose in a feminine way, he called out a few burly men behind him with a high-pitch voice, “You guys move this to the kitchen. Milord is about to arrive soon and had ordered this pork meat to eat. Be quick.”

  The burly men behind him seem to be second-ranked at the least, but they did not dare to voice out in front of the sissy as they carefully lifted up the pork meat with one person at each end.

  When they passed by the person in charge wearing the floral shirt, he subconsciously hid away, fearing that something dirty would contaminate his clothes.

  At this moment, he seems to notice Zhang Mu sitting on the stone bench. He glanced at his missing left arm with a complicated expression, then without saying a word, he threw a small cloth bag over.

  Zhang Mu sat up immediately, grabbing the bag with one hand as he looked at the person in charge.

  However, the other party ignored him directly. Only when he walked far away, there was a sharp voice speaking, “A total of five third-ranked crystals. Count it yourself. Do not complain about us when you found out that there was a shortage. When the time comes, no one would deal with you if you come knocking at our door."