76: Forced conscription

Bitter Leaf Island, Market Town.

Although the three terrifying Auras in the sky had retracted slightly, they remained like the Sword of Damocles hanging overhead, making the atmosphere of the entire market town oppressive to the extreme.

On the once bustling streets, only squads of Cultivators wearing different attire remained on patrol.

There were white-robed Disciples of the Qingyun Sect, red-robed thugs from the Blood Shark Group, and eerie ghost soldiers summoned by the demonic Cultivators.

These three factions, which usually fought on sight, had actually reached a subtle understanding—clear the area first, then divide the spoils.

And the so-called "clearing the area" was a disaster for Loose Cultivators.

"You! Qi Refining level five, report to the scouting team!"

"You! Understand Formations? To the Formation Breaking Camp!"

One by one, the hiding Loose Cultivators were forcibly dragged out. Whether they were willing or not, they were driven toward the Black Algae Forest.

Outside the Cold Pool Cave Dwelling.

Zhou Wannian had just opened the Restriction, intending to slip away under the cover of night, only to find himself blocked.

The one blocking the door was none other than his old acquaintance—the manager of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, Zhao the Abacus.

At this moment, Zhao the Abacus no longer had the calm and composed appearance of a wealthy man. He was drenched in sweat, and his gold-patterned robe had several holes, making him look quite disheveled.

"Brother Han! Oh, my dear brother! You've finally shown your face!"

As soon as Zhao the Abacus saw Zhou Wannian, he acted as if he had seen a savior. He scrambled over and grabbed Zhou Wannian's sleeve. "I knew you hadn't left! What 'old sow having a difficult birth'—that kind of nonsense only fools outsiders!"

Zhou Wannian's heart skipped a beat, but on the surface, he maintained a dazed expression as if he had just woken up and hadn't figured out the situation yet.

"Manager Zhao? What's going on? I just... just came back from visiting relatives, why is the island in such a mess?"

He deliberately let the word "Seclusion" slip halfway before clumsily switching back to "visiting relatives." That secretive act was played perfectly.

"Stop pretending!"

Zhao the Abacus stamped his feet in anxiety. "The Water Mansion is about to open! Although those three lords up there haven't started fighting yet, they've already set the rules—the three sides will join forces to break the Formation! Now they're press-ganging people everywhere!"

"Press-ganging?" Zhou Wannian shrunk his neck and turned to duck back into the Immortal Cave. "Then I'd better go back and continue visiting relatives. The old sow at home hasn't finished giving birth yet."

"Don't!"

Zhao the Abacus grabbed him tightly. "Brother Han, this time you really can't escape. The Sect Elders have given a death order to conscript all Cultivators on the island with technical skills into the logistics team! Especially someone like you who can repair Magical Artifacts—you're a primary target!"

"I'm not going!"

Zhou Wannian shook off his hand, putting on the philistine face of someone "afraid of death." "Who doesn't know that's just going to die? I'm just an old man who only wants to safely earn some coffin money, I don't want to throw my life away!"

"Who's asking you to throw your life away?"

Zhao the Abacus lowered his voice and leaned into Zhou Wannian's ear. "It's logistics! Logistics, do you understand? You'll be in the far rear repairing Formation Flags and fixing Magical Artifacts. You won't have to go to the front lines at all! And..."

He held up two fingers and shook them.

"Double pay! Twenty Spirit Stones a day! And there will be Sect contribution points when it's over!"

Zhou Wannian's eyes flickered, seemingly tempted, but he still hesitated: "Really? You're not lying to me?"

"I could lie to anyone but you!" Zhao the Abacus said anxiously. "To tell you the truth, I was assigned by the Elder to be in charge of this logistics section. If you don't go, I'll have to make up the numbers myself. For the sake of our friendship, just consider it helping a brother out, okay?"

These words were half-true.

Zhao the Abacus did need the performance, but what he valued more was Zhou Wannian's skill and his "obedience." Having such an acquaintance under him was better than managing a bunch of troublemakers.

While Zhou Wannian was still "hesitating."

"Old Man Han! So you were hiding here!"

A thunderous roar came from the other side.

Red Beard led a squad of Blood Shark Group elites, charging over aggressively.

"Well now! Zhao the Abacus, you dare to poach from our Blood Shark Group?" Red Beard glared with eyes like copper bells, his large saber pointing directly at Zhao the Abacus. "This Old Man Han is our group's specially appointed appraiser! If anyone is conscripting him, it's us!"

Zhao the Abacus was not to be outdone, puffing out his fat belly: "Bullshit! Brother Han has always cooperated with our Four Seas Chamber of Commerce; he's a talent specifically named by the Sect! Who do you think your Blood Shark Group is?"

"You're looking for death!"

"Try me!"

The two squared up like fighting roosters, and their subordinates behind them also brandished their Magical Artifacts.

Sandwiched in the middle, Zhou Wannian watched this scene, his heart blooming with joy.

Go ahead and fight, go ahead and argue.

The more you fight over me, the higher my value becomes, and the safer I'll be.

He hunched his body, looking left and right, appearing caught in a dilemma and scared enough to cry.

"Lords... my lords... please stop fighting..."

Zhou Wannian raised his hand tremblingly. "Could you listen to a word of advice from this old man?"

Red Beard and Zhao the Abacus turned to look at him simultaneously: "You say it! Who are you going with?"

"I..."

Zhou Wannian swallowed hard, his eyes darting around as he revealed an extremely philistine, greedy, and somewhat cunning expression.

"I'll go with the Spirit Stones."

"What?" The two were stunned.

"Ahem."

Zhou Wannian cleared his throat and held up three fingers. "I can see that I can't hide from this. Since I can't hide, I'll set some conditions."

"First, these old bones can't take much strain. I will absolutely not go to the front lines; I'll only repair things in the far rear."

"Second, regardless of who I'm with, it's thirty Spirit Stones a day, paid daily, no arrears."

"Third..."

He looked at Red Beard, then at Zhao the Abacus. "Since both of you value me so much, I'll make a compromise. I'll join the 'Joint Logistics Team' and set up a shed on the outskirts of the Black Algae Forest. I'll repair the Magical Artifacts of both your houses! I'll fix whoever pays!"

"That way, it won't hurt our relations or delay business. How about it?"

Red Beard and Zhao the Abacus glanced at each other.

Thirty Spirit Stones? This old man really dared to ask!

But on second thought, it was indeed a good idea. Although the three parties were currently allied, they were still secretly wary of each other. If Old Man Han only followed one side, the other side would certainly not feel comfortable letting him repair their Magical Artifacts.

"Fine! Thirty it is!"

Red Beard waved his hand with grand generosity. "As long as you sharpen our brothers' blades, I can afford this money!"

"Deal."

Zhao the Abacus also breathed a sigh of relief. Although it was a bit painful for his wallet, he had at least kept the man, and his task was considered complete.

"Then it's settled."

Zhou Wannian chuckled, the wrinkles on his face blooming like a flower. "You lords are magnificent! I'll move over tonight and guarantee your Magical Artifacts will be even better than new!"

...That evening.

In an inconspicuous corner on the outskirts of the Black Algae Forest.

Zhou Wannian set up a simple repair shed.

The location was excellent, backed by a dense thicket of bushes, not far from the camps of the major powers, yet relatively independent. More importantly, behind that thicket was the entrance to the underground Dark River he had concealed—the mandatory path leading to the back door of the Water Mansion.

"Han the Runner, online."

Zhou Wannian sat in the shed, humming a little tune while repairing a broken sword, using his peripheral vision to observe the movements in the distance.

There, the three Foundation Establishment powerhouses were joining forces to blast the Restriction on the main gate of the Water Mansion.

The light and shadows were brilliant, and the booming sounds shook the heavens.

"Fight on, the more chaotic it is, the better."

"Once you've lured away the guard dogs, it'll be time for this mouse to enter the hole and steal the rice."

He felt the water repelling token in his bosom, sensing the warm and cool sensation emanating from it.

Everything was ready.

Just waiting for tonight's full moon.