Then Tingyun began explaining the knowledge of the Orion planet to Ji Yuan.
Although Ji Yuan mainly wanted to chat with Tingyun, he was also curious about knowledge of the outside world. As a Celestial Ark Native, barring any accidents, he still had several centuries left to live. If he did not visit other planets, it would be such a waste of life.
Ji Yuan decided that once his life-threatening crisis had been resolved, he would definitely tour the sea of stars properly.
After Tingyun finished telling Ji Yuan about Orion, she naturally brought up a few things about the Yaoging Star-skiff as well.
"Your Yaoging Star-skiff is far more martial than our Luofu. It truly frightens a little woman like me. Especially when I encountered an officer named Suyi. Just one look from her made me feel as though I had fallen into an icy abyss."
Hearing Tingyun say that, Ji Yuan asked in surprise, "You've met my mother?"
"She's your mother?"
Tingyun was equally surprised.
"Yes, she's my adoptive mother." Ji Yuan nodded. "After my parents died in battle, she took me in."
"So that's how it was." Tingyun's gaze toward Ji Yuan gained a little more concern.
As she spoke with Ji Yuan, she also comforted him several times.
After they had talked for a long time, the system's voice finally rang out beside Ji Yuan's ear.
He was filled with anticipation.
Yanqing had obtained such powerful swordsmanship. What about Miss Tingyun?
What will I get!?
You conversed with a talking corpse for half a day. Reward: Corpse Sewing Experience +1
Ji Yuan's expression changed instantly.
"What's wrong?"
Tingyun was stunned when she saw Ji Yuan, who had been talking with her for so long, suddenly turn pale.
Did I say something wrong?
Why did he suddenly take two steps back like he'd seen something!?
She was somewhat confused.
Tingyun: Why Is This Guy Like a Chameleon?
Over the next while, Tingyun finally witnessed what it meant to be a Luofu civil servant—and a Luofu Chameleon.
The young man who had just been trying every possible way to chat with her more suddenly became the picture of professional formality. He was still smiling, but he no longer looked as if he wanted to confess to her the very next second.
Even though Tingyun would not have accepted if Ji Yuan confessed now, such an abrupt shift in attitude made her feel as though fox claws were viciously scratching at her heart.
"Could it be that I'm already old and have developed a generation gap with the younger generation? Do young people nowadays give up if they don't succeed after meeting for a few hours?"
Tingyun thought to herself.
But after thinking it over, she did not believe she was old to that extent.
After pondering it for a long time, Tingyun still could not figure out the exact reason.
At that moment, the goods had been inspected. Ji Yuan filled out the inspection documents and said to Tingyun, "Miss Tingyun, the goods have been checked. You may have the workers unload them."
"Thank you for your trouble." Tingyun continued to look at Ji Yuan with foxlike eyes. "Several more batches of goods from the Orion Trading Company will arrive tomorrow and the day after. I'll have to trouble you Trade Officials again then. How about this? This little woman will treat you to dinner tomorrow afternoon."
"Sorry, Miss Tingyun, but I have something to do tomorrow afternoon."
He still needed to mooch Yanqing's swordsmanship tomorrow afternoon so he could escape his fate of death sooner. How could he waste time on something like dinner?
Tingyun's expression went blank at Ji Yuan's rejection.
How did my charm suddenly disappear?
"Miss Tingyun, if there's nothing else, I'll be leaving first." Ji Yuan bid Tingyun farewell and prepared to turn around and leave.
After taking a few steps, he felt somewhat reluctant. After thinking for a moment, he turned back and said to Tingyun, "Miss Tingyun, no matter what you do next time, make sure to protect yourself properly. If possible, it would be best to keep several dozen bodyguards with you at all times."
Hopefully, she would take those words to heart. Then she would not suddenly become a corpse at any point in the next hundred years. It would truly be a pity for someone her age to die so early.
Hearing Ji Yuan's words, Tingyun's mind became even more muddled.
Wait, is he worried about me?
Tingyun was a shrewd merchant, so she could naturally see Ji Yuan's thoughts clearly.
His initial enthusiasm had not been fake, his indifference in the middle had been real, and his final concern had also come from the heart. Those roller-coaster-like fluctuations made it impossible for Tingyun to understand Ji Yuan's true feelings.
As for Ji Yuan's suggestion that she keep several dozen bodyguards with her, Tingyun did not take it seriously. Setting aside the cost of hiring that many bodyguards, even if she had the money, she could not bring so many guards along when negotiating with people.
The Resonant Flame Trading Company conducted legitimate business.
"But that still counts as his concern, doesn't it?"
Tingyun thought to herself.
Ji Yuan returned to the entrance of his dormitory.
Standing outside his door, he did not enter immediately. Instead, he silently took out his phone from his pocket. After opening it, he checked the cameras inside the room. Only after confirming that no one had entered while he was at work during the day did he feel at ease enough to enter his dormitory.
After entering, Ji Yuan immediately locked the door tightly and activated the alarm system to prevent anyone from breaking in. Only then did he let out a sigh of relief.
For the sake of survival, he had no choice but to do this. The prophecy that he would become a corpse in a hundred years hung over Ji Yuan's head like the Sword of Damocles.
Becoming a corpse in a hundred years did not mean he would only become a corpse after a hundred years had passed. It meant that at any moment during those hundred years, he could die. Because of that, Ji Yuan had to remain vigilant, terrified that one day he would die just like that because of an accident.
Lying on his bed, Ji Yuan had planned to casually browse the Luofu Starfaring Vessel news before going to sleep.
At that moment, a message came through on his communication app. Ji Yun glanced at the contact note reading "Mother" and hurriedly opened it.
His adoptive mother Suyi and adoptive father cared for him just as much as they cared for their biological daughter, but they were also extremely strict about his studies. They wanted both children to join the Cloud Knights of the Yaoging Star-skiff after growing up and fight the Abundance Fiends.
Mother: Your father and I just got home, and you actually ran away on us? What, you don't want to join the Cloud Knights?
Ji Yuan: Well... I want to go out and make my own way.
Placating expression.JPG
Mother: Go out and make your way? You just came of age. Don't stray onto the wrong path.
Ji Yuan: I won't. I've already passed the exam to become a Trade Official on the Luofu Starfaring Vessel.
He immediately sent over a photo of his work ID.
Seeing the photo Ji Yuan had sent, Suyi fell silent for a moment.
Mother: Fine. If you have your own plans, then go make your way first. But don't abandon your swordsmanship training. If your work at the Ten Vessel Office doesn't go well, you can still join the Cloud Knights.
Ji Yuan: Mm-hmm.
Nodding expression.JPG
Just as Ji Yuan thought his mother's questioning had temporarily ended, another message arrived.
Mother: Oh, right. Sushang will be transferred to the Luofu Starfaring Vessel in a while. Take good care of your little sister when she gets there.
Seeing that, Ji Yuan immediately sat up.
Ji Yuan: Changchang is coming to Luofu?
Mother: Yes. Let her rely on you when the time comes. Oh, right, I just killed several groups of Abundance Follower pirates and got quite a lot of spoils. Use this money to buy a house for you and Changchang to live in on Luofu. I've already messaged Sushang. When she gets there, she'll go straight to live with you.
A large transfer of Credits followed that message.
Although the Celestial Arks had their own currency, Credits from the Interastral Peace Corporation were more suitable for long-distance transfers like this.
Hearing that Sushang would also be coming to live with him, Ji Yuan knew he could not refuse this time.
After accepting the transfer, Ji Yuan began silently calculating how he should use the money to buy a house in Luofu.
The house needed to be large enough for both him and Changchang, and it needed to be in a sufficiently safe area, preferably surrounded by Cloud Knights and the like. More importantly, it needed to be fitted with enough defensive equipment and cameras.
He had to ensure the house was one hundred percent safe.
"If this money really isn't enough, then I'll use some of my parents' pension."
Ji Yuan thought to himself.
Unfortunately, he could not use too much, or Mother Suyi would definitely notice. She would certainly give him a vicious scolding then.
After thinking for a long time, Ji Yuan decided to thoroughly look around at houses for sale on his day off.
Once he had made up his mind, Ji Yuan put down his phone and drifted into sleep.
Qingni
"Um, Qingni, do you know that Trade Official Ji Yuan from your Ten Vessel Office?"
Sitting in the Nevernight Marquis's shop with a cup of specialty tea, Tingyun asked her friend Qingni, a Ten Vessel Office clerk seated beside her.
A trace of worry rested on her lovely face. With her right hand supporting her cheek, she clearly cared greatly about the question.
After delivering those goods into the harbor, the other members of the Resonant Flame Trading Company had taken over Tingyun's work. Finally free, Tingyun went to the Nevernight Marquis in the Starboat Sea for a few cups of tea. There, she happened to see Qingni, a friend she knew. Remembering that Qingni also worked at the Ten Vessel Office, Tingyun could not help but ask her about Ji Yuan.
What exactly is going on with that guy!?
Across from her, Qingni was startled when she heard Tingyun's question and waved a hand before her face.
"You aren't in love with that young man at first sight, are you? I heard from Mother that he isn't even two hundred years old yet, so he's still a minor. If his written test scores hadn't been so outstanding, he would never have been hired."
Qingni tried to dissuade Tingyun indirectly.
She had better keep her younger-man obsession under control.
Though it was legal, it was not exactly moral.
"It's not like that. I was just surprised that the Ten Vessel Office had such a handsome young man who was also an official Trade Official, so I became a little interested in him." Tingyun interrupted her friend's wild thoughts. She organized her words, but ultimately did not mention what had happened earlier.
Whether it was suddenly displaying fervent affection for someone, then quickly acting as though she wanted to cut ties, and finally showing concern—if such erratic and impulsive feelings were spread around, it would easily lead people to criticize Ji Yuan.
If everyone gossiped about him like that, how would that child find a girlfriend in the future?
Tingyun could not ruin someone's reputation without first understanding the truth.
She tilted her head at Qingni and said, "So I want to know about his romantic situation. For example, whether he has ever shown affection for anyone or confessed to someone."
"That's still love at first sight." Qingni rolled her eyes at Tingyun and muttered softly. But she immediately assured her, "Don't worry, leave it to me. I'll ask around when I go to work tomorrow."
"Alright, then I'll be counting on you."
Tingyun lightly patted Qingni's hand and said happily.
She explained herself once, but seeing that Qingni did not believe her, she simply stopped explaining.
Qingni could think whatever she wanted.
After the two drank tea for a while, Tingyun bid Qingni farewell and prepared to go home and rest.
There were still many goods from the Orion Trading Company to deal with tomorrow, and Tingyun would have even more work then.
The next day, Ji Yuan arrived at the Ten Vessel Office slightly later than usual.
He had worked overtime last night, and by convention, arriving a little late in the morning was fine as long as it was not wartime.
However, when he entered the Ten Vessel Office, he found that there were far fewer people than usual in the normally full office. Ji Yuan looked around carefully and discovered that many of the missing people were Trade Officials.
Just as he was pondering this, Qingni, a black-haired Fox Folk woman, appeared before him.
When she saw Ji Yuan, she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the work area. As she walked, she said to him, "Ji Yuan, you finally came to work. There's still so much Trade Official work left unfinished. I've been temporarily transferred over as a clerk, and I don't understand a lot of it at all."
"Qingni, what exactly is going on?"
Ji Yuan asked his colleague.
Qingni waved a hand and complained, "Don't even mention it. From last night until today, I don't know what happened, but batch after batch of goods have been arriving at Flowing Cloud Ferry. The port is almost clogged now. Most of the Trade Officials have been dispatched there to inspect cargo, and the Ten Vessel Office is seriously short-staffed."
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