The method to open the passage is the same as before, so there's not much to say. The ground in Eastern Azure is covered with bright green moss on the stones. There are relatively few trees, but there are many streams. Sometimes, the area is shrouded in mist, making it look like a fairyland. It is a very beautiful place.
Eastern Azure has four main cities: Southern Bright City, Heavenly Stone City, Nine Suns City, and Like Water City.
As before, I took a stroll through the city and discovered that the local specialty is a Clear Water Fish. This fish lives in many Xiao Xi in Eastern Azure. It looks similar to ordinary grass carp, but is slightly smaller. The fish meat is extremely delicious, tender, and smooth, and is loved by many people.
After looking at these local specialties, Zhao Fu returned to business, buying real estate and opening restaurants. He briefly visited all four main system cities and noticed that Heavenly Stone City had fewer players compared to the other three main system cities, though he didn't know why.
After purchasing the property, Zhao Fu hired people to renovate it and prepare for business operations. After handling these matters briefly, Zhao Fu also began to distribute his intelligence department, Eternal Night, to each system's main city to collect intelligence from various sources.
The happiest person about this was undoubtedly Liu Mei, because Zhao Fu had the biggest restrictions on her. Guo Binglin, Wang Ergou, and the others, being directly under the intelligence department, could use the Teleportation Array freely to travel between the main cities of various systems, but Zhao Fu specifically restricted Liu Mei, which is why she always looked unhappy whenever she saw Zhao Fu.
Now that Zhao Fu has finally stopped restricting her, she can finally use the Teleportation Array freely to travel between the major cities of various systems, and she is in an exceptionally good mood.
However, Zhao Fu had also reminded her once, "If you can't complete the task, or get into any trouble, you'll be restricted again."
Liu Mei immediately put on an obedient act and said a lot of good things about Zhao Fu.
This made Wang Ergou, who was standing next to him, feel a little embarrassed. "Where did that domineering, savage, and shrewish second-in-command go? How come he's become even better at flattering me than I am now?"
In each of the main cities of the system, the Eternal Night Society establishes a small branch, perhaps consisting of a dozen or so people. To maintain their secrecy, Zhao Fu prevents them from contacting the Great Qin forces located in the same area. They are an independent organization, currently mainly focused on intelligence gathering, and there are no assassination missions at the moment.
Next!
Zhao Fu took out the map of the Apocalypse World and studied it carefully. Now that the four directions of the Terror Forest— east, west, south, and north—have been opened up, it's time to prepare for the subsequent expansion routes, as well as plans and tactics.
In the City of Holy Light, Jiang Feng walked into the fabric shop and looked at Jiang Rou, who was doing the accounts, and said with concern, "Xiao Rou! Leave these accounting tasks to others. You already have enough to do, don't overwork yourself."
Hearing this, Jiang Rou stopped, looked up at Jiang Feng, and frowned slightly. She knew that this older brother wouldn't usually come looking for her unless there was a reason, and Jiang Rou was also aware of his feigned concern. So she calmly asked, "Big brother! What do you want to see me about?"
Seeing that Jiang Rou didn't appreciate his offer, Jiang Feng looked a little embarrassed, but still said, "Actually, it's nothing, just asking how the cloth shop's business is?"
"Not bad! The cloth shop is getting some fame now, and many upper-level forces in the main city are also making clothes here. The daily profit is about 50 gold coins," Jiang Rou replied simply.
Jiang Feng was delighted to hear Jiang Rou's words, and then said, "Xiao Rou! You know that the relationship between our Jiang Family and the Zhou Family is quite strained right now. There are various reasons for this, but I won't go into details. It seems that the Zhou Family has now allied themselves with a successor of a nation."
"Our Jiang Family is in a very dangerous situation right now. I heard that Zhao Xin hasn't contacted you for a long time. I was just thinking of buying five hundred sets of blue-quality equipment for our Jiang Family's elites. Let's talk to Zhao Xin about this!"
Jiang Rou understood what her elder brother meant: he wanted to push her to Zhao Xin, hoping to rely on Zhao Xin's power to develop her own power, both to resist the Zhou Family and to allow her to meet with Zhao Xin to make some progress, while also hoping to gain benefits from Zhao Xin.
Five hundred sets of blue equipment, each set consisting of two pieces: a weapon and an armor. Five hundred sets would amount to one thousand pieces of blue-quality equipment. Currently, a single piece of ordinary blue equipment sells for between 300 and 500 silver coins.
A thousand pieces of blue-quality equipment would cost at least 300,000 silver coins, a price that would be quite painful for the Jiang Family, and it was the lowest possible price. That's why they sent him to Zhao Xin.
"I'm not going!"
Having figured out Jiang Feng's thoughts, Jiang Rou said in a somewhat cold tone. She was not only angry that the Jiang Family had used her as a tool, but also didn't want Zhao Fu to see her as that kind of woman.
Faced with Jiang Rou's rejection, Jiang Feng was not in a hurry. He began to persuade Jiang Rou from various aspects, including her family, her parents, and the dangers facing the Zhou Family.
In the end, Jiang Rou agreed. After hearing Jiang Rou's agreement, Jiang Feng smiled and turned to leave. Jiang Rou continued to lower her head, secretly wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
" Jiang Rou! What's the matter?" Zhao Fu asked with a gentle smile, addressing Jiang Rou, who was sitting somewhat embarrassed to the side.
" Zhao Xin, I want to... buy some... equipment here!" Jiang Rou seemed to have a feeling of not being able to say it, pausing and hesitating, looking very uncomfortable.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Fu smiled and nodded nonchalantly, saying, "Sure! How many do you want?"
Upon hearing Zhao Fu's words, Jiang Rou looked up at Zhao Fu, took a deep breath, and said, "I want five hundred sets of blue equipment. Can you give me a discount?"
"Oh!"
Zhao Fu couldn't help but chuckle. Seeing Jiang Rou's embarrassed and nervous expression, he realized that's why she had come. He replied, "Okay! I'll give you a 40% discount."
Jiang Rou breathed a sigh of relief, feeling grateful but also ashamed. " Zhao Xin has been so good to me, and I still shamelessly came here to take advantage of him." Her beautiful eyes welled up with tears.
Seeing Jiang Rou's expression, Zhao Fu asked with concern, "What's wrong?"
Jiang Rou forced back her tears, shook her head, and indicated that nothing was wrong.
Zhao Fu sensed that Jiang Rou was preoccupied, but he didn't want to ask. Just then, a soldier reported that something needed his attention, so Zhao Fu could only apologize to Jiang Rou and was about to leave when...
"Thank you so much!" Jiang Rou suddenly said, bowing her head.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Fu stopped and said, "No need. Aren't we friends? I'll do my best to help you if you need anything. You won't owe me anything, and I might need your help in the future!"
These words resolved Jiang Rou's inner conflict. She thought that when she grew up, she hoped that one day she could also help Zhao Fu. She raised her head and smiled sweetly at Zhao Fu!
Seeing that Jiang Rou had recovered, Zhao Fu felt somewhat relieved. He still cared about Jiang Rou Zhao Fu, after all, she was Zhao Fu first friend, and it was normal for him to offer her some help.