The celebration of the Giant Ridge Tunnel's completion rang with gongs, drums, and firecrackers.
Amid the deafening cheers, Woman brushed the dust from her cuffs, turned against the flow of the crowd, and left, heading toward the Underground City.
Liu Dao Wu paused, then eagerly hurried after her.
"Teacher! Teacher, slow down!"
Liu Dao Wu wiped the sweat from his plump face and followed behind Woman, panting. "District Chief Gu is giving his speech onstage. Where are you going?"
"Back to run my stall."
Liu Dao Wu scratched his head, looking pained. "Teacher, are we really leaving already? Didn't the Engineering Department say District Chief Gu was giving everyone an extra reward after the tunnel opened, in recognition of the Engineering Team's work? The United Government has turned over a new leaf. They never dock our pay, and they're generous with rewards. We worked for over two months. That reward has to be pretty substantial..."
"Do you know what that extra reward is?"
"I heard it's Sequence Potions! Those are hard currency!" Liu Dao Wu swallowed.
Woman slowly glanced at him. "Are you short on magic potions?"
"Uh..." Liu Dao Wu froze, then thought it over. "Not really. Ever since the [Yu Gu] shop started trading Sequence Potions, what I've saved up, along with what I got through my earlier dealings, should last me quite a while."
Compared with his old flattery, Liu Dao Wu spoke with noticeably greater sincerity now that Woman had saved his life.
Liu Dao Wu could also feel that his refusal to betray Woman last time, even at the cost of his life, had made her attitude toward him gentler.
By a generous reckoning, they had a bond forged through life and death, even if only Liu Dao Wu's life had been on the line.