The atmosphere between the two grew increasingly strange. Just then, Gao Bancheng suddenly pulled out a check with a smile, breaking the deadlock.
"Mr. Li, this is a check for five million. Please have a look."
The mere mention of a five-million check nearly made Li You break character. He had never seen that much money in his life!
He pressed his lips tightly together, terrified that he would laugh out loud. Just as he reached out to take it, Bai Ye cut in and snatched the money away, adding with a beaming smile, "Just give it to me. Mr. Li doesn't care for such vulgar things."
Li You's mouth twitched slightly, and his heart ached. Who said I didn't like it? I like vulgar things!
He knew that once the money fell into Brother Ye's hands, he definitely would not get even a hundred. All that acting had been for nothing.
Gao Bancheng nodded repeatedly and respectfully handed it over.
Seeing the money accepted, Gao Bancheng relaxed and laughed heartily. "Are you two heading to Shelter 189?"
Li You gave a cold nod.
"Then that's wonderful. We're heading to Shelter 189 too. Why don't we travel together?
"To be honest, our team was only assembled temporarily. Aside from Li Xiao and my maid Xiao Kui, the other companions were also people we met along the way, all bounty hunters with exceptional skills.
"Since we're heading to the same destination, I invited them to travel with us. We can look out for each other along the way.
"Meeting is fate. Why don't you two join us as well?
"And if the two of you acquire any good things from the previous era in the shelter, you'll save yourselves the trouble of finding buyers."
"No need to find buyers?" Bai Ye was slightly puzzled.
Gao Bancheng smiled confidently. "Because I'm the best buyer. Brother Little White, I'm not bragging, but my prices are absolutely the highest.
"Do you know why I'm called Bancheng?"
Bai Ye eyed him suspiciously. "Don't tell me... it's because you only ever do things halfway and everything you make is half-finished, so you're called Half-Done?"
"That's right, it's—huh???"
Gao Bancheng froze, then laughed in exasperation. If not for Li You's sake, he would have thoroughly argued the matter out with him.
"You're joking, Brother Little White. It means half a city, not half-finished. One of the cities controlled by the Fortune Commerce Association is called Myriad Wealth Capital.
"When I was born, my father gave me half of Myriad Wealth Capital. That's how I got the name Gao Bancheng."
After saying that, he smiled politely. Heh heh heh...
Damn it, that was the laugh of the rich!
The moment Bai Ye heard that laugh, he knew Gao Bancheng was not lying. Anyone worth less than a hundred million could never laugh like that.
"Mr. Li, what do you think?" Gao Bancheng asked.
Li You had already learned of Bai Ye's plan, so naturally he did not refuse. He simply nodded expressionlessly.
Seeing Li You agree, everyone immediately looked delighted. Who would not want a master traveling with them?
The group set off happily.
With Magic Hand Li You and Bai Ye joining them, everyone was visibly less tense than before. Quite a few people took the chance to curry favor with Li You.
After all, in this wasteland, knowing a powerful person—even exchanging a few words with one—was enough to become material for bragging in taverns later. This was especially true for bounty hunters like Dual-Gun Li Baitian.
Bounty hunters were a loose group that made their living in the wasteland, specializing in solving all kinds of problems for employers who posted missions: assassinations, hunting, and even serving as mercenaries for major factions.
They lived with blades at their throats. When they were not doing missions, they were loafing around taverns.
To maintain his image as a powerhouse, Li You remained aloof and taciturn along the way. He only occasionally exchanged a few quiet words with Bai Ye, afraid that saying too much would expose his lowly identity as a Wastelander.
Rather than being upset by this, the others became even more enthusiastic, as if a powerhouse ought to behave this way.
This left Li Xiao, the Shadow Man traveling with them, feeling deeply displeased. Before Li You appeared, he had been the one receiving such treatment.
But after Li You appeared, everything changed. Even their employer, Gao Bancheng, had started calling him by name.
Li Xiao secretly swore, Once I defeat Tyrant Yang Jie and rise to become one of the new Ten Kings, I'll make you all too insignificant to even approach me!
He did not go looking for trouble with Li You. First, Li You was not one of the Ten Kings, so winning against him would mean nothing. Second, he could not bring himself to do it. After all, Li You had just helped him, even if he had not asked for that help...
"Brother Ye, that money..." At the back of the group, Li You's lips barely moved.
"Money? What money? Where did money come from? Why is Mr. Li suddenly talking nonsense?" Bai Ye lied through his teeth.
"Brother Ye, my hand is broken and I still acted along with you. You can't even withhold a disabled person's wages!"
"You enjoyed the acting. It's good enough that I didn't charge you for it."
Li You was about to say more when he saw Gao Bancheng approach. He quickly shut his mouth and put on a cold, lofty expression.
"Brother Little White, you contained a Taboo Object at such a young age. Your future is limitless."
Gao Bancheng's plump face was covered in smiles. Seeing that Li You paid no attention to anyone, he came to Bai Ye to strike up a rapport instead.
"Heh heh..." Bai Ye wore a fake smile.
"I can't compare to Boss Gao. You even have a maid carry you while you walk. With those skinny arms and legs, don't let her get crushed."
He glanced at Xiao Kui, the maid carrying Gao Bancheng. The petite girl had not said a single word. She merely carried him forward in silence, her porcelain-white face as exquisite as a doll's.
Bai Ye really wanted to ask, Did Gao Fatty see you killing someone or something?
Gao Bancheng seemed not to catch Bai Ye's mockery and chuckled. "Brother Little White, you misunderstand. Though I, Gao Bancheng, have money, I have never bullied others..."
"Then what about her?" Bai Ye pointed at Xiao Kui.
Gao Bancheng smiled faintly. "Oh, she isn't human."
Hiss!
Bai Ye sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes widening unconsciously as though he were seeing the fatty before him anew.
It had to be you! Only a capitalist could say something like that.
He had thought his own bottom line was low enough, but after meeting Gao Bancheng today, he realized there was always someone lower.
"Brother Little White, take a look." Gao Bancheng's chubby hand reached toward Xiao Kui's collar, then pulled it down.
Holy shit! Was this something I could see without paying? Looking under her clothes right away?
Bai Ye looked over instinctively.
He froze at once. A flash of silver-white metallic light nearly blinded him.
Ah! My eyes! I'm going to get styes!
A gleaming metal shell was exposed to the air. Precise threads and circular patterns nested layer upon layer, and faint rippling light shimmered within the tiny grooves whenever Xiao Kui moved, like liquid mercury flowing beneath her skin.
"This metallic-style underwear is pretty unique."
Gao Bancheng froze. What the hell did he mean by metallic-style? Was there something wrong with his brain?
Before you continue