Chapter 122: The Innocent Jiuhua Sect Caught in the Crossfire

The next morning.

Just as he left his dormitory to head to the training grounds, Zhang Ze ran into Leng Bingbing.

She asked, "You haven't been at the Martial Arts Bureau these past two days?"

Zhang Ze didn't hide anything and replied with a smile, "That's right, I went out to take on a couple of missions. I was just planning to head to the mission hall to settle the rewards once training ends today."

As they chatted, they walked toward the Third District dormitory. It was only then that Zhang Ze realized their respective training grounds were not actually that far apart.

"Have you heard? A student from the Capital Martial Arts Bureau has been traveling south, challenging third-grade students at various provincial martial arts bureaus. They say he's trying to use the opportunity to break through to the fourth-grade realm," Leng Bingbing said before they parted ways.

"Oh?" Zhang Ze found this intriguing. "I honestly never thought someone would try to break through that way."

Leng Bingbing countered, "Are you interested too?"

Zhang Ze simply shook his head and explained, "I have quite a few missions to complete lately, and my mentor wouldn't advise me to get involved in that."

In truth, Zhang Ze wasn't lying. Woody was likely only thinking about getting Zhang Ze and his partner to that place to acclimate as soon as possible.

Without further conversation, Leng Bingbing and Zhang Ze went their separate ways to their respective training grounds.

...

Upon arriving at the training ground, Zhang Ze saw Zhang Yue already practicing the same punch from last time.

It didn't take long for Woody to appear. However, Zhang Ze didn't expect to be reprimanded the moment Woody arrived. With a cold expression, Woody scolded, "Zhang Ze, why did you act alone during yesterday's mission?"

"Huh?" Zhang Ze was stunned; he hadn't expected Woody to know about that. A thought crossed his mind, and he glanced at Zhang Yue beside him. Seeing the resentment in Zhang Ze's eyes, Zhang Yue quickly waved his hands to indicate that he hadn't been the one to report him.

"What?" Woody snapped at Zhang Ze. "Did you think I wouldn't know? Let me tell you, if this happens again, you don't need to continue training under me."

"Yes!" Hearing this, Zhang Ze immediately declared, "I guarantee it won't happen again."

Woody didn't dwell on it further and soon urged them to begin their training. Even so, Zhang Ze still ended up being berated relentlessly.

"Is that a punch?"
"It looks like you're giving someone a massage!"
"How many times do I have to tell you? A punch is about the instantaneous explosion of all the energy contained within your cells!"

Zhang Ze heard these kinds of rebukes far too many times throughout the day.

...

When training ended, Zhang Ze and Zhang Yue were about to head to the mission hall to settle their earnings for the past two days, but Woody called them back.

Looking at Zhang Ze, he demanded, "Have you decided what to do with those mid-grade pieces of equipment you have?"

Asked by Woody, Zhang Ze muttered to himself, "It's over, it's over. The weapon company people haven't even shown up yet, and my own mentor is about to snatch them!"

Seeing the thoughts behind Zhang Ze's expression, Woody scoffed, "Do you think I'd be interested in your two pieces of junk equipment?"

Hearing this, Zhang Ze regained his composure. You're not interested? That's great! I was worried you'd try to take them! Naturally, Zhang Ze didn't dare voice these thoughts.

Woody didn't waste time and advised, "I'll offer you two a way to handle that equipment."

The two looked up at Woody.

"Heh," Woody said, "Go to the Logistics Department and exchange them for points. As long as the items aren't in your hands, no one else can do anything about it!"

With that, Woody left, not forgetting to urge them to do more missions instead of just focusing on closed-door cultivation.

...

"Can the Logistics Department just take these things?" Zhang Yue asked as they left the training room.

Zhang Ze was unconcerned and smiled, "Since Mentor Woody said it's okay, then it must be."

As they chatted, they walked to the mission hall together. Having completed three missions in total, they received 480 points. Feng Hang and Tian Guan had each provided a reward of 100 points, while the third-grade mission Zhang Yue had accepted to capture Wang Tianguang brought in 280 points. Even after splitting them, they each received 240 points. Adding the 90 points contributed by Qi Lijun, Zhang Ze now had 330 points.

This was equivalent to 1.65 million RMB. Although it wasn't much for Zhang Ze now, it still made him quite happy for a while.

...

Leaving the mission hall, Zhang Yue reminded him, "Once you transfer this batch of equipment to the Logistics Department, you should quickly buy a weapon that suits you. It will be easier to ask your mentor for advice on a suitable martial technique later, which will also improve your strength."

Zhang Ze nodded repeatedly at the suggestion. He had realized this himself; if not for the inner armor he was wearing, he likely would have been killed by Wen Ran's palm strike!

"I know." As they spoke, they headed toward the Logistics Department.

...

One mid-grade inner armor and three D-grade alloy weapons brought Zhang Ze and his partner 1,800 points! After splitting them, they each got 900. Including the three completed missions, Zhang Ze had gained a total of 1,140 points.

At this moment, Zhang Ze's system wealth value finally changed:
Wealth: 25,413 points
Cell Strength: 813S
Cell Spirit: 154/189

...

After stocking up on necessities, Zhang Yue departed. They agreed to meet tomorrow to take on more second-grade missions.

Zhang Ze then went to the Logistics Department alone. Arriving at the window, it was a familiar scene. Since they were acquaintances, Zhang Ze didn't stand on ceremony.

*Bang!*

He reached in and slammed his hand onto the old man's desk. The latter, who had been sleeping soundly, was jolted awake.

Fang Huaide shouted immediately, "Are you looking to die? Do you know who I am? Apologize and get out!"

"Heh," seeing the old man still had the same temper, Zhang Ze chuckled, "What? You don't remember me, Senior? I've still got the energy ball I bought from you last time! Since I've finished a few missions and have some points in my pocket again..."

"Heh heh!"

Good heavens! Upon hearing that Zhang Ze had points, Fang Huaide's face changed instantly. He grinned, "I told you I wasn't lying to you, didn't I? If you absorb that energy ball, your cultivation will surely advance by leaps and bounds!"

Zhang Ze couldn't help but curse silently. You have the nerve to say that?

The old man looked innocent, his face full of smiles, as if he didn't know that the energy ball was essentially useless to Zhang Ze. Zhang Ze couldn't be bothered to argue with the old man.

...

A moment later, the two arrived at the familiar warehouse. Fang Huaide asked with a beaming face, "Tell me what you want! If you can think of it, I have it!"

Seeing that smile, Zhang Ze reminded himself to be careful. "I'm going out on missions, and since I haven't chosen a suitable weapon while training with my mentor, I've come to find an alloy weapon..."

"Pah!" The old man grew excited at the mention of weapons. He dove deep into the warehouse, shouting, "I don't have anything else here, but I have plenty of scrap copper... oh, wait, I mean alloy weapons!"

*Clatter!*

As soon as the old man finished speaking, a cacophony of sounds echoed from the warehouse. Zhang Ze frowned, suddenly feeling he shouldn't have come to see this guy. Just then, he saw Old Man Fang walking toward him carrying a piece of a tattered curtain.

"Take a look." He pulled back the curtain on the floor, revealing nothing but genuine scrap metal.

Zhang Ze was speechless. "I asked for alloy weapons! What is this stuff?"

"Pah!" The old man tapped his forehead, looking regretful. "I was just trying to help you save some money! Alloy weapons are expensive. Don't go saying I, Old Fang, am cheating you. If you don't believe me, go ask around at the Logistics Department... my stuff is definitely the most affordable!"

Despite his incessant chatter, the old man eventually brought out a few decent weapons. "How about this staff?"

Seeing Zhang Ze examining the alloy weapons, the old man shuffled over holding a large staff. Zhang Ze suddenly felt like he had seen this thing somewhere before...

A moment later, it dawned on him. Didn't I swipe one of these last time? How did he get another one?

...

As Zhang Ze was picking out his weapon, someone else was furious.

A subordinate stood with his head bowed, regretfully saying, "Manager Zhu, that batch of mid-grade equipment from the Jiuhua Sect is gone!"

The portly middle-aged man stood up abruptly, shouting, "Gone? Do you know that Duan Qingkuang was asking me for that batch just two days ago?"

The man was annoyed and pressed, "What about Wang Tianguang, who was in charge of the delivery? Bring him to me!"

The subordinate replied quickly, "He... he's already at the Detective Agency..."

The middle-aged man's brow furrowed tightly.