I'm Fair and Impartial—I Don't Like Round Numbers!

These martial school disciples had no idea about Mo Chen's "comprehension."

So, in their eyes, Mo Chen had risen through bootlicking.

After all, Su Jinse's laughter had continuously drifted from inside the carriage throughout the journey.

The martial school disciples were deeply unconvinced. As they glared at Mo Chen, they wished they could go over and slap his face swollen, then tear apart that bootlicking mouth of his.

"Lowly menial! What kind of skill is sucking up to people? Tch!"

Xu Ye, his head wrapped in bandages, hid behind the crowd and grumbled sourly.

The other martial school disciples also snorted in agreement.

"Exactly! Maybe he won't even pass Martial Suppression Academy's martial exam!"

"The academy assessment depends on aptitude and comprehension, not your mouth!"

"Damn it, even if it did depend on your mouth, I'd still be better than some menial! I licked my maid until her face was flushed and she was panting!"

"Get lost!"

However, none of them would have dared to say any of that to Mo Chen's face.

After all, Mo Chen had displayed terrifying might at the inn in Yushang County.

With a single slap, he had sent Constable Wang, an early Condensing Astra Realm cultivator, flying.

"Thank you, Senior Sister! Senior Sister is mighty and domineering!"

Mo Chen came to his senses and was immediately overjoyed. He clasped his hands and bowed in thanks.

Saving on lodging expenses was practically a pie falling from the sky.

But his flattering words of gratitude naturally provoked the resentment of the martial school disciples once more.

"Bootlicker!"

"You'll die under a horse's ass sooner or later!"

Mo Chen could not be bothered with them at all.

"Let's go." Tantai Xiasang glanced at Mo Chen, slung the Heavenly Mystic Dragon Scale Spear across her back again, and left with Su Jinse and Mo Chen.

With their leader gone, the martial school disciples became somewhat flustered.

Xu Ye coughed twice and stepped forward again with his bandaged head.

"Everyone, lodging is expensive. Why don't we discuss renting a house instead?"

The disciples had found their backbone again and immediately responded, "All right, all right!"

They passed through the bustling, prosperous streets.

Under Tantai Xiasang's lead.

Mo Chen and Su Jinse followed her into a shop called Tantai Jewelry.

The moment he saw the name, Mo Chen's heart stirred.

Then Tantai Xiasang's voice sounded beside him.

"Mo Chen, this is my shop. You'll stay in the rear courtyard until your martial exam."

As Tantai Xiasang spoke, she called over the shopkeeper and gave him instructions.

The shopkeeper was a middle-aged man surnamed Liu. After hearing Tantai Xiasang's orders, he beamed warmly with enthusiasm.

"So you are Young Hero Mo! I've heard much about you! Please come with me—I'll personally show you the guest room."

Mo Chen looked at Tantai Xiasang and Su Jinse.

Su Jinse smiled. "Go on! You're free for the rest of the day. Senior Sister and I need to return to the academy. I'll have someone deliver some martial exam materials later. Make good use of these final half a month and study hard!"

Tantai Xiasang's eyes were as clear and bright as a spring. "We'll be waiting for you at Martial Suppression Academy. I hope you won't disappoint us!"

Mo Chen could not help smiling. "Don't worry! I definitely won't disappoint you!"

Tantai Xiasang nodded, then left the jewelry shop with Su Jinse, one after the other.

"Young Hero Mo, this way, please!"

Shopkeeper Liu smiled broadly and gestured invitingly.

"Shopkeeper Liu, I'll be imposing on you for a while."

Mo Chen smiled politely and followed him into the rear courtyard.

The rear courtyard of the jewelry shop was quite large. At least in Mo Chen's view, it was enough to house more than twenty people.

Shopkeeper Liu arranged an excellent room for him, then had the assistants bring three dishes, a soup, some pastries, and hot water before returning to the front shop to work.

After washing up and eating his fill.

Mo Chen lay on the bed with his hands behind his head, finally wearing a somewhat relaxed and contented expression.

After half a month on the road, I can finally get a good night's sleep today.

With that thought, before he could even consider how to make money, he drifted off to sleep.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp..."

In the morning, warm sunlight spilled across the windowsill.

Unfamiliar little birds chirped noisily along the edge of the eaves.

Mo Chen opened his eyes. Seeing the unfamiliar room, he blanked for a moment before remembering that he was in the provincial capital of the Martial Suppression Office.

He had dreamed all night and had nearly been unable to tell dreams from reality.

In the dream, he had returned to Earth.

There were modern high-rises, endless roads, and streams of cars.

He was sitting in the company office, desperately trying to make a phone call, but no matter how he tried, it would not go through.

"Zhuang Zhou dreamed of a butterfly; the butterfly dreamed of Zhuang Zhou."

"I can hardly tell anymore whether my experiences on Earth were just a dream."

After sitting in a daze for a while.

Mo Chen suddenly sat upright in bed and took a deep breath.

"No! Since I've come to this world, I have to live well here!"

Martial Suppression Academy's martial exam...

Mo Chen's eyes gleamed. He got up, washed, ate breakfast, and then went to find Shopkeeper Liu.

"Shopkeeper Liu, take a look at how much these jade pieces and silver accessories are worth."

Mo Chen took all the jade items from his inventory and placed them on the table.

Shopkeeper Liu swept his eyes over them and shook his head, giving him a price.

"Young Hero Mo, the craftsmanship on these jade pieces and silver accessories is rather average. Together, they're probably worth only two hundred and forty-nine taels of silver. For Miss's sake, I'll round it up for you—two hundred and fifty!"

The moment Mo Chen heard that, his eyelid twitched violently. Somewhat speechless, he waved his hands repeatedly.

"No! Absolutely not!"

"Shopkeeper Liu, I'm a fair and impartial person. I don't like round numbers! I want two hundred and forty-nine—one penny less won't do, and one penny more won't do either!"

What a joke. Two hundred and fifty? Wasn't that just insulting him?

Was he the kind of guy who cared about one tael of silver?

Fine!

Even if he did care deeply about that one tael, it still could not be two hundred and fifty. Why could it not be two hundred and fifty-one instead?

Mo Chen's words left Shopkeeper Liu dumbfounded. Then, after he understood, his eyes filled with admiration as he clasped his hands and praised, "Young Hero Mo, your noble character truly earns our admiration!"

Mo Chen smiled faintly without explaining further and completed the transaction with Shopkeeper Liu.

These jade pieces and silver accessories had originally come from Blackwind Stronghold and other places.

He also knew that Shopkeeper Liu had not cheated him. Being able to sell them for two hundred and forty-nine taels already satisfied him greatly.

The transaction was complete.

Mo Chen picked up the banknotes and headed out. "Shopkeeper Liu, I'm going out for a walk. You don't need to save lunch for me."

"Certainly!" Shopkeeper Liu nodded with a smile and politely saw Mo Chen out.

The moment he stepped out of Tantai Jewelry.

The bustling prosperity before him stunned Mo Chen once again.

"Candied haws! Delicious candied haws!"

"Flatbread! Selling flatbread!"

At night, the streets were ablaze with lights and filled with revelry.

By day, they were packed with vendors and seas of people.

"There are so many people! Even more than at night!"

Mo Chen sighed as he walked into the crowd.

To his left was a first-tier golden melon hammer.

Ahead to the right was a second-tier fishbone whip.

A little farther behind was a second-tier dagger.

Straight ahead, another third-tier longsword appeared.

Wait... a fourth-tier weapon?!