Chapter 49 - 47: Still Waters Run Deep

"Teacher Su, don’t you think you’re asking for too much?"Hang Yu really wanted to ask, doesn’t your conscience hurt for gouging people like this?

Su Yunbing looked calm as always, unwavering, as if nothing in the world could move her.

But Hang Yu knew that beneath her beautiful and aloof exterior was a mischievous yet somewhat silly soul, as evidenced by her scaring him with an exploding illusion last time.

"Given the current market conditions, this is a fairly reasonable price," Su Yunbing blinked and said: "After all, Skill Stones are quite rare, not something you can buy just because you want to. Procuring this Skill Stone took quite some effort, I might even owe some favors, so you’ve got to let me make a little profit, right?"

Hang Yu indeed needed the Skill Stone.

No need to waste time haggling like a market woman.

As it stands now, the fruit seems dispensable; a few more or fewer points of Spiritual Power make little difference.

From the start, the supply-demand relationship was imbalanced, and taking a slight loss was inevitable. The most important thing now is getting the Skill Stone.

Teacher Su’s asking price wasn’t low.

But it was within his acceptable range.

After thinking for a few seconds, he said directly: "It’s impossible for me to offer another piece of White Equipment, the Spirit Realm Tax for White Equipment is too high. I can only add two more pieces of Bright Gray Equipment at most."

Su Yunbing caught some critical information from this statement.

First, Hang Yu’s Storage Space isn’t void of White Equipment. Second, Hang Yu has at least more than two pieces of Bright Gray Equipment. Third, he can truly produce three tree spirit fruits.

This guy seems to have a very solid foundation.

Su Yunbing said: "I need to see the Attributes first."

Hang Yu opened the Spirit Realm Assistant and displayed the two pieces of Equipment.

"Fine Purple-striped Wood Staff", Level 3, Gray Upper Grade Quality, Physical Attack +1, Magic Attack +3, Durability 15 (requires six Gray Crystal Stones to bring to the real world)

"Fine Black Wood Vine Armor", Level 3, Gray Upper Grade Quality, Physical Defense +3, Elemental Resistance +3, Durability 15 (requires six Gray Crystal Stones to bring to the real world)

Both are Level 3 Bright Gray Equipment!

These were probably dropped from killing Level 3 Bronze Elites.

Su Yunbing’s bright eyes sparkled a bit more, and she became even more wary of Hang Yu; he’s already started taking down Level 3 Bronze Elites? What level is his current strength at?

Su Yunbing had killed a Level 3 Bronze Elite once before.

Having killed one, she knew it wasn’t easy; she had done it with team assistance and had two people wiped out in the process, which was quite a devastating and counterproductive endeavor.

"Though these two pieces of Equipment are not White Equipment, as Level 3 Bright Gray Quality Gray Equipment, they’re not too far off from Level 1 White Equipment. So you can say Teacher Su still profits... There’s no need to waste time; if you agree, let’s close the deal. If it’s a no-go, I’ll find someone else."

Hang Yu isn’t a fool, so this is his bottom line.

Skill Stones are precious, but Production Skills themselves aren’t.

Considering the current market, there are many with Medicine Refining skills who can’t find jobs, so merely giving up his hold on this skill, he could easily hire someone else to do it.

Su Yunbing clearly understood Hang Yu’s stance.

She knew there was no need to continue bargaining.

"Alright, deal. But aside from this, I have another proposal."

"What proposal?"

"You don’t have to give up anything; you can directly take this Skill Stone and even more things," Su Yunbing gently stirred her coffee cup, "as long as you join my team."

Hang Yu laughed heartily: "Then I have a proposal too; besides these fruits and Equipment, I could add more Equipment and resources as gifts to you, provided that Teacher Su will join me in entrepreneurship in the future. Would you agree to that?"

The two exchanged glances for two seconds.

Then they both knowingly smiled.

This impractical suggestion was thus set aside.

Because they both knew that the other could not be used for their gain.

At present, Su Yunbing certainly didn’t have the Skill Stones, so she had to make a trip to the Spirit Realm Camp.

Hang Yu only had one tree spirit fruit right now, and not enough Gray Crystals to pay the Spirit Realm tax for two pieces of Gray Equipment, so the transaction was agreed to take place after the next Spirit Realm opening.

"Alright, since business is over, I’m ready to have a feast. Teacher Su, you made me bleed today, so this meal’s on you, no ifs, ands, or buts."

Su Yunbing joked: "Let’s see if you can recover health through eating."

Hang Yu thought.

No amount of eating will replenish what’s been lost.

But don’t get too cocky just yet!

What goes around comes around; you might be gouging me now, but one day, I’ll get my revenge!

Once I acquire the Skill Stone and master Medicine Refining, becoming the biggest pharmaceutical supplier in early Jiang City, won’t you, Su Yunbing, come running to me? Until then... hmph, you can be smug for now!

The two had a simple meal in the café.

Even though the food in this upscale café was good, it was mostly common food which held little value for Su Yunbing and Hang Yu, merely something to snack on.

Dining with a beauty is a pleasant thing.

But it’s also a very exhausting one.

Especially with a goddess who excels in both looks and intellect, who subtly pries one moment and gently persuades the next, truly a testament to her prowess as a female Ph.D. and teacher, her skill with language was quite overwhelming for Hang Yu.

However, the meal wasn’t without value. On one hand, Hang Yu settled the acquisition of the Medicine Refining Skill Stone, and on the other, he learned some insights from Su Yunbing that he couldn’t find online.

Still waters run deep.

The present situation can be described with these four words.

Organizations like Celestial Net and the Spirit Relief Association have already surfaced, yet beneath the still waters of Jiang City, many more forces that can stir up storms are lying in wait.

Nobody in this world truly, wholeheartedly accepts a mundane life, never underestimate the wisdom and potential of humans driven by ambition and dreams, or you will surely meet a grim end.

Hang Yu and Su Yunbing both understood this clearly.

Thus, up to this point, both remained quite low-key.

Hang Yu also gained an important piece of intel that Su Yunbing has deep ties with the Spirit Relief Association; her family elder is one of the top figures in Jiang City’s Spirit Relief Association. Although she primarily ventures independently, she also holds a position within the association.

The Spirit Relief Association is different from Celestial Net.

It is an organization of a guild nature.

Its structure is relatively loose, and thus, its binding power is weaker.

Though Hang Yu had no intention to join the Spirit Relief Association himself, he could have his proxies, Pang Dahai and Bald Qiang, find opportunities to join, as the organization did seem worthwhile.

......

At dusk, the glow of the sun spread across the sky.

With only a few hours left until the Spirit Realm would open once again.

Nearby the old house, the croaking of frogs and chirping of insects were everywhere, reminiscent of the countryside.

Hang Yu first went to check the situation of the Spirit Field.

The Spirit Plants were growing well, and at this rate, he’d be able to refine medicine after returning from the Spirit Realm this time, an exciting prospect indeed.

Strange?

Where did the Husky go!

Back in his room, Hang Yu could hear noises coming from within.

"Howl! Push the tower! Quickly push the tower!"

"Someone’s in the bushes, Yasuo, stop jungling and get your ass over here!"

"Howl howl, don’t be a wimp; Barbarian King, use your ult and charge straight in... are you stupid!"

A black and white Husky sat on a raised stool, wearing earphones, looking serious, tongue out, one paw holding the mouse clicking continuously, while the other paw clacked away at the mechanical keyboard.

The laptop screen showed intense battle.

The dog was controlling the character, weaving in and out, achieving godlike performance.

In the end, under his leadership, they destroyed the enemy’s crystal, the victory scene frozen before his eyes.

"Way to go, Brother Dog!"

"Amazing, Brother Dog!"

"Brother Er Gou, add me as a friend, please, let’s play with the girls next time!"

Wang Ergou exchanged a few boastful remarks with his teammates, then set down the headphones.

He kept his sitting position, tilted his head to look at the bewildered Hang Yu standing beside him, and said, "Howl, boss, you’re back!"

Hang Yu: "..."