Gratitude

"Mm, I reached it not long ago."

Fang Yi replied.

The few people who had been surprised couldn't help but marvel, "The waves of the Yangtze River push the waves ahead..."

Luo Feng glanced at the backpack on Fang Yi's back. It was already bulging, looking as if it might burst at any moment. It was clear that Fang Yi had found quite a haul in the county this time.

This street.

Was one of the routes back to the Supply Base. Fang Yi was obviously planning to return and sell his monster materials.

The others could see that, too, so they didn't try to keep Fang Yi talking.

Just as Fang Yi turned to leave, the deputy captain seemed to remember something and called after him, "Brother Fang Yi, there's a female Martial Artist looking for you near the outskirts of that abandoned highway."

Fang Yi looked back and frowned slightly. Though Black Satin covered his face, his puzzled expression was still apparent.

After thinking it over, Fang Yi guessed who it was.

He nodded and headed toward the outskirts.

Abandoned highway.

Using the Power of Analysis of his Double Pupil Eyes, Fang Yi spotted a female Martial Artist in combat gear with a backpack on her back.

She was the captain of the team he had casually rescued earlier.

The longbow emblem on the woman's chest bore a huge claw mark, its once-smooth golden finish now badly damaged.

"Y-Your eyes! What happened to them?!"

Before Fang Yi could ask anything, the female Martial Artist hurried over, her brows knitted as her mature eyes examined him from head to toe, as if searching for other injuries.

"Did you need something?"

With his Double Pupil Eyes' Power of Analysis, Fang Yi could see her movements clearly. But what he really wanted to know was why she had come looking for him.

Military Supply Base.

A server brought over a glass of freshly squeezed juice and a bottle of draft beer.

"Um... I mainly wanted to thank you for stepping in last time." Ze Zi held the chilled beer in both hands and lowered his head, his expression complicated. "Could you give me your account number? I'll transfer your reward for rescuing us."

Fang Yi took the juice and had a sip. After listening to him explain, he nodded calmly.

He also remembered that Ze Zi had mentioned this before.

But Fang Yi hadn't paid it any mind at the time. All his attention had been on the Crystal Spined Scorpion.

After taking a few more sips of juice, he gave Ze Zi his account number.

The female Martial Artist quickly started tapping on his phone. Before long, a deposit notification arrived: "Bank of Communications deposit: 50 million..."

Fang Yi frowned at the amount.

He was pretty well-off.

Their team consisted of three Advanced Warriors and one Intermediate Warrior.

They weren't exactly an elite team, but they could still afford to pay 50 million.

Just as Fang Yi was about to leave to sell the monster materials he'd collected, then rest and cultivate, the female Martial Artist named Ze Zi hurriedly spoke again. "Um, could I treat you to a meal?"

"No need." Fang Yi waved him off and had just risen to leave when Ze Zi immediately followed up. "There's... there's something else, too..."

Something else?

Yangzhou City, outskirts.

Voices and laughter filled the bustling streets.

Fang Yi held his phone in one hand and checked the notifications.

"Bank of Communications deposit: 480 million..." Seeing the notification for the money he'd received from selling the Bloodthirsty Tank and other materials, Fang Yi happily checked his current balance.

Including the money he already had and the start-up funds from the Limit Dojo,

Fang Yi now had around 600 million in total.

"Ding-ding~"

Led by Ze Zi, Fang Yi arrived at a breakfast shop.

"Uncle Xu, one serving of lotus root balls and a Huangqiao sesame cake... What would you like?"

Ze Zi turned to ask.

Fang Yi put down his phone and glanced at the menu above the table. "One Yangzhou fried rice."

"Uncle Xu, add one fried rice, too."

As soon as Ze Zi finished speaking, the two sat down at the table.

From the kitchen came the sound of food sizzling in a wok.

Fang Yi asked about the matter Ze Zi had mentioned. "So the important thing you wanted to discuss was treating me to a meal? You've already paid the rescue reward, so you don't need to be so polite."

Ze Zi heard him and twirled a lock of hair beside his ear before answering. "You probably remember the one on our team..."

"The Intermediate Warrior who died?"

"Mm... He was cremated and buried a while ago. His parents heard that you saved us, so they asked me to find you. At the very least, they wanted to thank you."

"It was nothing. Just a small favor."

"Ding-ding~"

As they talked, several more people walked into the breakfast shop. One of them was a tall, burly man who spotted the two of them talking and immediately called out a greeting.

"Hey, Sister Ze!"

Ze Zi looked up and, recognizing him, gave a small wave.

Fang Yi turned his head to look. The newcomers were Martial Artists, too.

A scan with his analytical ability showed that they were only Intermediate Warriors.

"Um, Sister Ze, is your team still recruiting? With little brother Yun gone, you must be short-handed. And you've got your family to look after..."

The few Martial Artists sat nearby and asked cautiously.

Ze Zi shook his head without hesitation.

Just then, the owner brought out the fried rice.

Only when Fang Yi took it did he notice that the owner was blind in one eye, while his other was visibly swollen and surrounded by a large black eye. Even his gait was strange. Looking down, Fang Yi saw that the owner's left foot was missing.

"Your fried rice."

"Mm."

Fang Yi took it and quickly picked up his chopsticks. After tasting a little, he nodded unconsciously.

"It really is good."

The owner, who had set down the food, heard him. A hint of a smile appeared on his otherwise solemn face. "I'm glad you like it."

Then he turned and went back into the kitchen.

"This owner is the father of the young man who died, right?" Fang Yi asked after eating a few mouthfuls of fried rice.

Ze Zi was a little surprised. Then his expression grew somber, and he nodded.

Fang Yi didn't ask anything else. After the two finished their meal and were about to leave, the owner came out again, leaning on his leg for support.

"Young man, if you like it, you can come by anytime... We won't charge you."

The owner leaned against the wall, his face weathered by hardship.

Fang Yi didn't reply. He glanced at Ze Zi, then nodded.

After the two left the shop,

The owner started clearing away the dishes. Only then did he notice that the payment display beside him showed a payment of one hundred Huaxia Currency.

On the street.

Ze Zi gave Fang Yi his phone number.

"If you ever need anything, you can contact me. It's hard to repay a debt for saving someone's life, but we'll do whatever we can."

Fang Yi glanced at the number and memorized it.

Fang Yi didn't mind having more acquaintances. They might prove useful at some point in the future.

The two parted ways at the train station.

Fang Yi still had to go to Bright Moon Residential District to prepare for the breakthrough stage of his Double Pupil Eyes.