CHAPTER 840: CHAPTER 566: IS IT WORTH RISKING YOUR LIFE FOR A FEW DRIED FISH? (PART 2)

Before Yangzi had time to be happy, Liu Zheng spoke again.

"...Sometimes you feel like a jerk, but other times you seem like an idiot."

Yangzi quipped.

"Not contradictory at all. Anyway, let’s get down to business. Do you know any guests from the Stone Spirit Clan?"

He asked.

"No, I don’t. The guests from the Stone Spirit Clan are generally quite reticent and don’t need much from us, so the people they’re closest to should be from the Massage Department."

Yangzi replied.

"I figured. Can you help me get in touch with Minister Shi San Yao and ask him to give me a call back?"

Liu Zheng said.

"Okay. When are you coming back?"

Yangzi asked.

"I’m likely to be back in the next one or two days."

He thought for a moment and said.

"Alright."

Yangzi hung up the phone.

After a while, an unfamiliar call came through.

"Yaoji said you were looking for me?"

Shi San Yao shouted.

"Minister Shi San Yao, it’s been a few days, how have you been?"

Liu Zheng laughed and asked.

"What could possibly happen to me, just a hundred lashes, it won’t kill me."

Shi San Yao said nonchalantly.

"Of course, someone as tough as you, not even a thousand or ten thousand lashes would break your skin."

He flattered.

"Hmm? What are you up to this time?"

Shi San Yao immediately became wary.

"I was just bluffing. Even five hundred lashes would be too much for me. If you need anything, go to that old man Ba Tiao; he can take more hits than I can."

"Haha. I’m not up to anything, I just wanted to ask if you could pass a message to the Stone Spirit Clan for me. I have something they might want, and I’m hoping to set up a meeting."

Liu Zheng chuckled as he held back his laughter.

"What are you trying to do with them?"

Shi San Yao asked.

"I have to make a trip to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains and was hoping they could guide me."

He said.

"Oh, then you’ve found the right people. The Stone Spirit Clan has been in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains longer than those barbarians. If they weren’t so sedentary, the mountains wouldn’t have fallen to those barbarians."

Shi San Yao said.

"Right. So could you help me get in touch with them, Minister Shi San Yao?"

"What’s in it for me if I help you make contact?"

Shi San Yao asked bluntly.

"Whatever you want, just let me know."

Liu Zheng said generously.

"Nah, can’t think of anything right now. Let’s talk about it when I need something in the future."

Shi San Yao thought for a moment and said.

He had no shortage of money or manpower, and his position at the Hundred Ghosts was secure, so there was indeed nothing he needed from Liu Zheng.

"Alright. As long as I’m in the Metropolis, this promise stands."

Liu Zheng promised.

"Still in the Metropolis? Where are you off to, the skies or the seas?"

Shi San Yao teased.

"I might need to go abroad again soon."

He replied.

"Abroad? Again? My word, who exactly are you?"

Shi San Yao asked, astonished.

"I’m primarily a takeout delivery guy, but I’ve got a lot of side gigs. Care to hear all about it, Minister?"

Liu Zheng asked intentionally.

"No, no, no, I’ve heard enough. Listening to one alone will shorten my lifespan by ten years; I’m not falling for it."

Shi San Yao shook his head vigorously.

"Haha, it’s not that scary. I’ll leave it to you then, Minister."

"Any member of the Stone Spirit Clan will do, or do you want to specify someone?"

Shi San Yao asked.

"You mean Shi Tiantian?"

"That’s right. You still remember her name; must have left quite an impression, huh? Heheheh."

Shi San Yao let out a sleazy laugh.

"I don’t have as wide an interest as you do, Minister. Is Shi Tiantian easy to deal with? High status?"

Liu Zheng switched the conversation back on track.

"Depends. She was quite satisfied the last time you gave her a massage and even tipped you, so she should be pretty easy to deal with. As for status, female members of the Stone Spirit Clan generally hold high positions."

Shi San Yao replied.

"Then let’s go with her. Please help me make contact, Minister Shi San Yao."

He decided decisively.

"Alright. But I’ll only deliver the message; I’m not going to mediate for you."

Shi San Yao emphasized.

"Of course, I wouldn’t want to trouble you, Minister."

"If it weren’t for you being somewhat reliable, I wouldn’t have agreed to help."

Shi San Yao hung up the call.

This time, even as Ghost Hand crawled in, no call came through.

After tossing a piece of dried fish to Ghost Hand, Liu Zheng picked up the takeout order.

"Dish: A cup of super-concentrated silly bean juice"

"Address: 17 East Empress Avenue"

"Order placed by: Zhuge Ling"

"Time limit: One hour"

"Hmm?"

It’s unexpectedly a normal order.

Seems Si Xue intends to let him decide on leave matters himself, which is considerate, given all the bootlicking he’s done.

It’s nice to have a non-leave order too, as it gives him ample time to prepare his prerequisites.

"Boss, I’m off to deliver some takeout."

Liu Zheng put away the takeout order and gave a greeting.

Niu Ma remained motionless, as if in a deep slumber.

"Yeah, keep pretending."

He rolled his eyes.

If there was no vigilance at all, he would have been sent back to the kitchen for recycling long ago.

Leaving the lounge, Liu Zheng opened the meal box on the food cart.

A pungent fermented smell hit him in the face, knocking him backwards.

"Wow, this smell is way stronger than the real bean juice."

He covered his nose and looked at the item description.

"Name: Super-Concentrated Silly Bean Juice (Single Use)"

"Type: Item"

"Quality: Excellent"

"Effect One: Greatly reduces the player’s intelligence after use; duration is inversely related to the player’s Constitution Attribute."

"Effect Two: During the period of lowered intelligence, the desire of zombies or undead to attack the player is greatly reduced."

"Note: A magical drink from Mad Dave’s Farm; drink a cup a day to keep zombies away."

"Can it be taken out of the instance: Yes"

"Drink it and you won’t have a brain for the zombies to eat?"

Liu Zheng made a quip.

If this had to be forcefully delivered, the person who ordered it would be too unfortunate, not only paying a "tithe" but also turning into an idiot.

Unfortunately, there are too many pitiful people in the Metropolis, and if it’s not someone familiar, he can’t care about too much.

He placed the food into the Legendary Takeout Box, and the green light came on.

"Great."

He slung on the Legendary Takeout Box and walked through the takeout corridor.

"Oh right, forgot to rent a car."

Although time isn’t tight, saving a bit where he can is always good, especially given money isn’t an issue right now.

"Colonel, rent me a Rolls-Royce."

Liu Zheng dialed the Driver’s number.

In reality, he could only see this top luxury car in videos, but now he can actually experience it.

"What do you need that for? It’s neither good-looking nor comfortable."

The Driver said.

"Then which one would you recommend?"

"How about a Cayenne S? Good power, stable chassis, both driving and riding feel are nice."

The Driver thought for a moment and said.

"Alright, I’ll trust your judgment."

Liu Zheng readily agreed.

"Okay, it’ll be right over."

Less than a minute after hanging up the phone, a blue SUV pulled up in front of him.

"Profile looks nice, but the front... looks a bit dull."

He glanced at the car and quipped.

"You won’t think that once you’re driving it. If you’re dissatisfied, I can swap it for you."

"No need, it’s not like I’m using it to pick up girls."

He got into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and stepped on the gas.

After smoothly navigating a few turns, he had to admit, this car indeed drives "smartly."

"Good morning."

Arriving at the Clinic’s entrance, Liu Zheng greeted the Sphinx.

"I came by last night, but I heard you were already asleep, so I didn’t disturb you. How are you feeling today?"

As he handed over a piece of dried fish, he asked.

"Mind your own business, don’t talk to me."

The Sphinx irritably replied.

It had been in the Metropolis for so long, but this was the first time it was so badly injured.

Remembering how it was tricked into risking its life for a few pieces of dried fish by this human, the Sphinx felt like a fool.

"Then do you still want the dried fish?"

Liu Zheng inquired.

"Yes."

The Sphinx snapped up the dried fish angrily, along with a bit of his fingertip.

"Eat slowly, there’s no one to compete with you."

He smiled wryly and then walked into the Clinic.