68: Owe a favor to the contaminated changer

Chapter 68: Owing a Favor to a Contaminant.

After downing a bottle of liquor, Heng Yang let out a satisfied burp, his eyes gleaming mischievously as he looked at Xu Jingzhe and asked, "Kid, what's your name?"

"95..." Xu Jingzhe pondered. Zhang Manyue had told him not to reveal his name before condensing a pollution core, but since he had already done so, he answered truthfully, "Xu Jingzhe."

"Xu, the character for 'promise' (Yanwu), and Jingzhe, the solar term."

Heng Yang nodded and said, "A good name."

"Come with me. You have already been targeted by the Japanese Ninja. They... cannot protect you."

Dodge sighed inwardly, knowing what was coming had finally arrived.

Heng Yang, as a Contaminant, lowering his status to eat and drink with them, was definitely doing it for Xu Jingzhe.

However, Little Five belongs to the Niu Bi Hong Hong Little Team.

Even if a Contaminant wants him, it won't do.

"Brother Heng Yang, Little Five is the sniper on our team," Dodge said, steeling himself.

Heng Yang glanced at Dodge out of the corner of his eye and said, "Do you know what it means to be targeted by the Japanese Ninja? Do you really think you can protect this kid?"

Dodge smiled bitterly. What Heng Yang said was the truth.

But who could bear to give up such a promising talent?

Both men looked at Xu Jingzhe, waiting for his answer.

Xu Jingzhe cupped his fists toward Dodge and thanked him sincerely, "If Brother Heng Yang hadn't helped us, we certainly wouldn't be here eating meat and drinking wine."

"However, Brother Wang Ning and the others, and Brother Qi and his people, all saved my life. Without them, I wouldn't have survived until now."

"Therefore..."

Heng Yang nodded. Not only was he not displeased, but the appreciation in his eyes grew even stronger.

If he only thought about finding a powerful patron after a single assassination attempt, no matter how good his talent and potential were, he probably wouldn't go far.

The strong grow through repeated trials.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Just then, Cold Qing covered her prominent chest and coughed violently, interrupting their conversation.

Xu Jingzhe quickly walked over, helped Cold Qing up, held her close, and asked worriedly, "Third Sister, are you alright?"

"Cough... Little Six, Third Sister won't die yet."

"How are the Boss and the others?"

Cold Qing was weak and frail, resting her head on Xu Jingzhe's not-so-broad shoulder, feeling very safe.

"The Boss and the others... are not doing too well. The Boss and Fourth Brother have severely overdrawn their vitality, and the life-extending medicine has run out. I don't know how much longer they can hold on."

Cold Qing opened her dull eyes, staring blankly at the flickering bonfire.

"But, I will definitely cure all of you!" Xu Jingzhe's voice was quiet but firm.

"Thank you, Little Six. It's good to have you." Cold Qing closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep again.

The hematopoietics, energy fluids, and wound repair fluids purchased by the Niu Bi Hong Hong Little Team were all used up. There were only two ways to obtain them: one was to exchange pollution cores in a major city, and the other was to buy them directly from merchants in the Chemical Zone.

However, buying these items requires a significant number of pollution cores accumulated over ten or even twenty years or more.

"Let me take a look." Heng Yang walked over.

After examining their injuries, he frowned deeply. Pointing to Wang Ning and Bo Qing, he said, "These two are probably ruined. Even with hematopoietics and some expensive medicine right now, they won't live for more than half a year."

"Big Beard and the woman in your arms can still be saved. As long as the pollution cores are secured, they can live."

Xu Jingzhe's expression was heavy. He asked, "Brother Heng Yang, is there absolutely no way?"

Heng Yang scratched his head, thought for a moment, and said, "There is a way, but mentioning it is the same as not mentioning it, as none of us can accomplish it."

"Please tell me."

"Do you insist on hearing it?"

"Yes!"

"Then how many favors will you owe me, kid?"

"However many Brother Heng Yang says. As long as I'm alive, and you're willing to wait, I will repay them one by one."

"Hahaha..." Heng Yang laughed heartily, causing the surrounding trees to shake and leaves to fall to the ground. He said, "You must know that you'd be owing a favor to a Contaminant, not some nobody. Saving you this time was my choice, so that counts as one."

"But helping you find the way to save these four people will cost you four favors."

Xu Jingzhe looked at Heng Yang, his eyes clear and bright, and nodded heavily, pursing his lips.

"You've heard of Moon Soil Evolution Fluid, right? You need to find Moon Soil Evolution Fluid Pure Liquid. How much, roughly... let me think." Heng Yang's eyes were deep. He slapped his thigh and said, "You need about two bathtubs full. If you immerse the two of them in it for a month, they should recover."

"Holy crap, that much!" Cockroach was internally shocked upon hearing this and couldn't help but exclaim.

Heng Yang glanced at Cockroach, who instantly lowered his head, covered his mouth, and was so frightened his heart stopped beating.

Dodge and the others were also filled with shock. It would have been better if he hadn't said anything.

The Chemical Zone has strict regulations: Moon Soil Evolution Fluid is not allowed to be traded into the Pollution Zone. Anyone who sells it to a Contaminator will be executed without mercy! Let alone Moon Soil Evolution Fluid Pure Liquid, and two bathtubs full of it.

Even major families might not be able to produce that amount.

Even if they could produce it, who wouldn't use it to cultivate promising family descendants instead of giving it to outsiders?

Furthermore, Moon Soil Evolution Fluid Pure Liquid is mostly reserved for the advance exploration teams, who bear the destiny of the entire human race.

Injected into hibernation pods and supplemented by energy stones, it allows team members to maintain peak physical condition while sleeping through the long and lonely journey.

Expanding territory in the cosmos is not a playground fight on the ground; a single failure results in incalculable losses.

The total resources on the Blue Star are finite; every bit consumed is one less bit remaining.

Xu Jingzhe looked at the moon in the sky, a deep sense of helplessness in his eyes. It was too difficult; he felt as if he was carrying two great mountains on his back.

This was harder than reaching heaven.

"Is there... no other way?" Xu Jingzhe asked uncomfortably.

Heng Yang shrugged and said, "This is the only way to save their lives."

After a long silence, he slowly let out a breath of stale air and said, "Then I will go to the Chemical Zone and get the Moon Soil Evolution Fluid Pure Liquid, no matter what!"

"Don't joke with me, old man," Heng Yang said with a laugh.

"You are an unregistered resident, you know? Without an identity card, you can't even leave the Pollution Zone. How are you going to the Chemical Zone?"

"Taking a step back, even if you sneak out and reach the high-speed rail station or the airport, how will you pass inspection? Taking another step back, if you pass inspection, how will you buy a ticket to take the high-speed rail, plane, or airship to the Chemical Zone?"

"You can't walk the whole way, can you? It would take you decades."

Xu Jingzhe felt numb. He looked at Dodge, who nodded silently, indicating that Heng Yang was correct.

At the age of sixteen, those whose overall quality was below average during their coming-of-age ceremony were thrown into the Pollution Zone as trash. In the archives, they are all unregistered residents, identified only by numerical codes.

Xu Jingzhe's numerical code was 9527.

However, what he didn't know was that his numerical string had already been erased by the system.

No such person exists.

Therefore, when Xu Jingzhe first appeared in Musileke City, Adam Five couldn't find his identity no matter how hard they searched.