Chapter 134: Preparations and One's Will (Mixed)

"So… goblin toenail clippings. Very interesting and uh… nice?" Han Jing stared at the ziplock bag and back at the serious and blank face of the man in front of him. He wasn't even going to ask how the CEO got his hands on this stuff—it was hard to tell from his expression, and maybe it was best that he didn't.

"I have no use for it, but perhaps you do for a man of your standing." the man shrugged. Smooth and relaxed even when he had placed the ziplock of the toenails on his desk, barely batting an eye as he said, "Perhaps you would like to trade for it, Mister Han? I am looking for something useful to my own endeavors."

Right.

It wasn't difficult for perhaps the CEO to guess that Han Jing got around with a lot of different folks, different races to be exact. The man scratched his head and managed a grin. "Alright, to hell with it—I'm taking this. What do you want, Sir Li? I usually have ingredients, but maybe I have something in my inventory for you."

"Anything that would help me in my pursuit to be stronger," Li Yang said. "However, recovery items and other valuables are also fine and possibly around my item's worth. I'll also cover the cost if your item is more expensive."

Their life was different from one another, but at the end of the day, both of them didn't seem like they would become enemies… and it was actually better to have allies.

"Hrmm… Healing Potions? Though cultivators have their own equivalents." Han Jing needed to at least impress the other man, even at a loss to his own stock. And by virtue of helping out another person.

Li Yang cleared his throat. "It's probably not worth much—these toenail clippings, but I want to be rid of it."

"Nah, nah—some uh, Witches I know brew them into some concoction."

"... I believe it would taste nasty."

"Yeah. I won't recommend it—but it works like some special chicken soup. It's basically plus-plus recovery for reasons beyond me. Just witch stuff, I guess." Han Jing eyed something in his Inventory and pulled out the knife. "I have, uh, a good quality knife from a Blacksmith? Not sure if it's in your choice of weapon?"

The CEO pulled out a prehistoric saber-tooth dagger. "Is that better than this one? Or would it be possible to commission another weapon from your Blacksmith? I'm looking for something with a little more reach than a dagger."

Han Jing's jaw dropped for a moment before he coughed. "While I'd question where it came from… but I actually have this weapon." He pulled out a sword in its sheath and soon revealed its dark blade. "It's nothing compared to a lightsaber, but obsidian is three times sharper than diamond and it's cutting edge five hundred times sharper than the sharpest steel blade so if you get my gist..."

"I think there's a reason why we're not using obsidian except for surgery operations." the CEO assessed the blade with a careful look. "It might be prevalent around the world, but one needs to admit it isn't as hard as diamond and can be quite fragile than steel… but I suppose this is where qi comes into play?"

Even without him mentioning it, the CEO easily found a solution for the blade.

"Precisely. I won't recommend this if you're just attacking someone, but if you envelop your qi then its durability will increase and only the strength of the blade will be retained."

"Goblin toenail clippings won't cut it then."

"... Not really."

"State your price then and let's be done with this then."

And so it was done.

—-

The life of a person could be said to be close to a rhythm—a certain cycle occurring from day to day, week to week, month to month, with little to no change. Studies have already spoken of a treadmill. To be exact, a hedonic treadmill that said a man's disposition tended to be the same throughout his lifetime no matter the circumstance.

And one's circumstances did change.

Something like starting a family would happen, moving to a new location and vicinity and getting promoted in one's job will lead to certain fluctuations in a man's schedule… but the end would still lead to a new cycle and rhythm.

And then it would be the same again.

"It was great doing business with you, Sir Li."

"Likewise."

"If you ever need anything else, something that Shen Society can't procur or available in the Black Market—you can check it out with me! I'll give you a good deal."

Li Yang stifled a chuckle. "Of course." Business and trade occurred in various forms and even if his circumstances changed, some things like this really didn't. Someone once said that death and taxes were the only sure thing in the world. Death was now avoidable for a cultivator, but exchanging of goods was eternal.

… Unless perhaps he became a manufacturer of everything, but for now, Li Yang was satisfied.

[ Achievement Unlocked! ]

[ The Trader! - I ]

Due to the nature of the Individual Host as someone in the business sector. Any trades done between individuals and acquisition of materials, ingredients and other variety is something of note.

Exchanged 5/5 items

[ You Have Received 1000 Charm Points ]

Change would always happen but humans had a good tendency to adapt to their situations that it becomes an endless cycle of something new and it becoming old. Even the CEO who might have protested at the sudden turn of events in his life was now getting used to it. 

Problems he encountered due to the System were merely challenges he had to face by himself.

Some might look upon a cycle as a thing to look in fear, an epitome of stagnation and boredom—repetition could make a man go mad. However, for the CEO it was stability he sought for. 

Li Yang and Han Jing parted ways not too long after. 

The latter would leave the office, and Li Yang would be left alone to his devices. Did he confront or talk to his secretary after knowing of the incident of her eagerness to open the door despite avoiding him?

Not really.

He had some faith in his secretary's own choices and would rather wait for her to approach him at a good time. Li Yang's attention was divided, and perhaps he might have confronted her if it was inevitable that they needed to talk about, but so far, it was probably something she wanted to keep to herself. 

More than that, he wasn't actually alone. 

Instead, Bao reappeared out of thin air and beleaguered him with questions and ceaseless confrontations.

"What is this supposed to be—some crossover? There's no reason for you to contact them beyond acquiring pearls. And even those pearls are useless for someone who's cultivating for immortality!" Bao harangued him viciously. And that was in spite of the numerous notifications spouting about from Heavens actually intrigued by the conversation. "You should focus on your missions and quests more than anything else!"

"I am." 

Sometimes, Li Yang would question the gender of this creature for being too hot headed. It was easy to fall into the assumption that Bao was a female when it would nag at him this much.

"Then quit trying to find out about Observers, they're not your concern!" Bao huffed.

"Neither is it really yours either, Bao," Li Yang said. He had a hand propped up under his chin as he watched the creature fly around in circles. "I'm free to do whatever is in my whims and means, and if that means doing some inquiry and purchasing of equipment I deem valuable, then it is something I'll continue doing. You haven't shown any disagreement with the sword, did you? I believe I got it at a bargain."

"Argh!" Bao glared at him. "Well, don't think of doing anything stupid—some might like it, but others would certainly not. I'm included in the latter."

A notification had come from some 'Observers' even congratulating him on acquiring a sword, and Bao could not say a thing. In reality, the visit of the other man, the Player, wasn't the problem for the Panda—it was about Peach.

[ The Observer 'Dat Peach' Is Enjoying Their Popularity ]

[ You Have Received 696 Charm Points ]

And the more that the creature contradicted and argued against a position, it became more natural and apt to become curious and intrigued. What was the worst thing that could happen if the System got patched? It was only his life at risk, and beyond that… not much else. Everybody else would be alright.

Li Yang's gaze lingered at the 'Unofficial System Patch' that the System itself was offering to install itself. Wouldn't a System give him warnings and a red flag if such a thing was problematic for itself? There was nothing amongst those lines.

The CEO resumed his attention back to his laptop and ignored the creature. Bao would disappear, knowing fully well its words would fall to deaf ears. And so Li Yang would continue typing and working out a legal document.

Which would later turn out to be one of his will and testament.

This was for future purposes if it ever became necessary… it was always good to be ready.

—-—-

Author's Note: Phew, chapter uploaded! Some perspectives help in showing more of how other people see Li Yang, and hopefully it adds to the story. It also helps me in writing it to create a better atmosphere since Li Yang is a little bit on the dry side in terms of POV lol. I'm nervous that it's a little slow, but this is to set things up for tomorrow! Author needs to show their hand unfortunately. Gotta improve some more x.x Thanks for reading!