Chapter 71: The Traveling Merchant, Rocky

“In summary, the resolutions we’ve reached at this session of the Elders’ Council are as follows.” As the Chief Secretary of the Independent Company, Chen Lin was always tasked with concluding each meeting.

“First, in light of the current power seizure by an unknown superior at the base, the Independent Company, which is the foundation of our survival, will steadfastly maintain its autonomy and independent operations in external affairs.

“Second, we will continue with the previous arrangements left by the company commander, adding further measures based on our discussions—chiefly increasing the strength of the main infantry platoon, expanding the special operations squad, and enlarging the armored platoon...

“Third, centered on the campsite communications tower, we shall simultaneously install signal-boosting antennas in the four cardinal directions. Our aim is to double our communications range within a month.

“Fourth...

“And finally,” Chen Lin looked up from her neatly organized tablet notes and addressed the Chief Elder, Mouse, at the head of the table. “I ask Elder Zhao Xiaoquan, as our representative, to officially authorize these resolutions.”

Mouse’s expression was solemn as he produced his own tablet, pressed his thumb to the authorization screen Chen Lin had presented, and declared, “I approve.”

After the tablet registered Mouse’s voice and fingerprint, Chen Lin, Li Chengming, and the other four elders followed suit, giving their formal consent.

Mouse swept his gaze around the room, his voice low and grave. “If no one harms us, we will not harm others. Remember this as you return to your duties—let’s work hard, so that when the company commander comes back, he’ll find a transformed base.”

“Yes!” everyone responded in unison, the fiery resolve in their eyes betraying their overflowing motivation.

If, after this council, the Independent Company could withstand Zhang Tingfang’s attempt at annexation, they would be set for rapid and visible development.

…

Far to the southwest, Wang Ji and Long Qianwen were in the throes of a passionate romance.

The two were inseparable, doing everything lovers could short of the final step. With the Independent Company’s soldiers and the southwestern base personnel now fully armed and escorting Long Qianwen’s younger brother, the couple felt even more at ease, trailing leisurely behind the convoy.

If all went well, they’d reach the F City region within half a month. Then, Wang Ji would have to prepare the equipment and energy points needed to treat Long Qianwen’s brother.

“Brother Wang Ji~ they’re moving so slowly!” After scouting the convoy ahead, Long Qianwen returned to Wang Ji’s side and complained.

Wang Ji smiled, ruffling her hair. “They’re being cautious. It seems that fiery-haired seductress has really learned her lesson this time—she’s making sure her people do things properly.”

“Hmph, don’t mention her, Brother Wang Ji. She used to torment me and my brother at the base.” Long Qianwen wrinkled her delicate nose.

“It’s all right—we already got a ten-thousand crystal core compensation, didn’t we? And for future cooperation, we can just take our time bleeding them dry!” Wang Ji laughed.

Long Qianwen’s eyes lit up. “Brother Wang Ji, are you sure that gene serum of yours can really be encrypted? It’s not like a program—you can’t just encrypt it to stop someone from cracking it.”

Thinking of the power of the X System, Wang Ji replied with confidence, “Unless she has a century’s advantage in biotech, I guarantee they won’t be able to reverse-engineer the formula.”

“That’s great! I bet all she wants is to buy a dose and try to copy it herself. Ha—there’ll be a show to watch! Ten thousand crystal cores for a single gene serum! Brother Wang Ji, how much profit is that?!”

Wang Ji shook his head and did a quick calculation. “Not much, about five thousand times the cost.”

“Wow!” Long Qianwen gasped, staring at him in astonishment.

He patted her hair again, smiling. “Surprised? Your brother’s trump cards are deeper than you can imagine!”

“You’re so annoying!” Long Qianwen smoothed her tousled hair, and the two started playfully bickering.

…

After a while, Wang Ji suddenly stopped. His habitually unfurled psychic sense had detected an unusual vehicle approaching from the north.

It was a cart drawn by two donkeys.

There were two people aboard: a young driver, not yet twenty, and someone half-reclining in the back. Sensing with his mind, Wang Ji realized both were ordinary people in terms of combat ability.

A glimmer of interest appeared in his eyes. “An intriguing pair. Shall we go say hello?”

“Hmm? Brother Wang Ji, did you sense someone?” Long Qianwen’s curiosity was piqued.

He nodded, pointing north. “Let’s take a look. Don’t show your strength—we don’t want to scare them. They’re just regular folks.”

The two exchanged a smile, then darted swiftly northward, slowing as they neared the donkey cart and approaching hand in hand.

At the reins was a youth who, upon seeing the striking pair—and the weapons they wore—froze in surprise.

“Master! There are people ahead!” the young man hastily slowed the cart, shouting to the one in back.

A lazy groan came from the compartment, followed by the opening of a side door and the emergence of half a figure—a bearded, square-faced man in his forties, still bleary-eyed. He glanced at Wang Ji and Long Qianwen and burped, the stench of alcohol on his breath.

“Heh, business at last. Get ready.”

“Yes, Master.” The youth steered the cart over to Wang Ji and slowed to a stop by the roadside.

“Friends, I am Rocky, a traveling weapons merchant. Interested in buying some arms? All handmade, family craft, guaranteed quality.”

Rocky hopped from the cart, calling out to them as his gaze lingered on Wang Ji’s chainsaw sword and Long Qianwen’s spiked spear.

Wang Ji hadn’t expected to run into a weapons dealer and, after a surprised glance, smiled. “Sure, but how do you propose we trade?”

Rocky’s eyes brightened. He swiftly pressed a few buttons on the cart, which emitted a mechanical whirring, then pulled a lever to slide out a two-meter-long platform covered in gleaming cold weapons.

“Take your pick. Payment’s easy—crystal cores or equivalent supplies.”

Wang Ji’s gaze swept over the armaments, his curiosity growing. The new features in his X System let him scan objects—especially weapons—using a tiny amount of energy, providing detailed analyses.

[Wolf Fang Dagger: Excellent quality, sharpness trait.]

This paid feature of the X System had come after Wang Ji’s breakthrough, allowing for item scans and, particularly, weapon trait identification.

[Tiger Bone Machete: Excellent quality, durability trait.]

[Steel Nunchaku: Excellent quality, shock trait.]

The continuous notifications about these weapons made Wang Ji even more interested in Rocky.

“Boss, your family craft isn’t simple. These weapons are practically legendary quality,” Wang Ji said, laughing. Even his mass-produced chainsaw sword from a high-tech assembly line was only “excellent” grade—though with superior materials and technology.

Rocky’s eyes shone even brighter. “A man of discernment! I like you, young fellow. All purchases today are twenty percent off—how’s that sound?”

…

“Thank you, Boss.” Wang Ji signaled Long Qianwen to pick what she liked.

As they browsed, Rocky drew closer, eyeing Wang Ji’s weapon with keen interest.

“Young man, if you don’t mind, may I have a look at your sword?” He seemed utterly fascinated by the chainsaw sword.

Wang Ji cheerfully unslung it and tossed it over. “Sure, but it’s a bit heavy—be careful!”

Rocky caught it easily, his eyes lighting up. “Well, well, what a marvel!”

Seeing Rocky handle the heavy sword with such ease, Wang Ji’s estimation of him rose—he no longer considered him a mere ordinary person, but rather someone of rare skill.

Rocky examined the sword with rapt attention, prodding and tapping it with odd tools from a kit.

His apprentice, looking a bit embarrassed, explained, “Sorry, sir, my master always gets like this when he finds a good weapon. He just has to study it.”

“I don’t mind.” Wang Ji had by now chosen a pair of gauntlets and smiled as he tried them on.

Long Qianwen picked a collapsible spear, her fondness for polearms evident since using her spiked lance.

“Ahem, Boss Rocky, we’ve made our choices—how much for these?” Wang Ji asked, approaching the still-enraptured Rocky.

Rocky snapped out of his trance, sheepishly returning the sword to Wang Ji, his gaze lingering on it like a parent parting from a beloved child.

Long Qianwen couldn’t help laughing at the sight, her radiant smile making the young apprentice blush and retreat shyly to the back.

Rocky, embarrassed, explained, “Sorry, it’s a lifelong passion of mine. By the way, would you consider selling your sword?”

“Boss Rocky, my name is Wang Ji, and this is my girlfriend, Long Qianwen.” Wang Ji introduced them, then activated the sword’s combat mode, demonstrating it for Rocky. “This is how it’s operated, though it requires a power source I didn’t bring, so it’s mostly used in static combat. The technology inside is probably beyond what your workshop can handle, so selling it to you wouldn’t be much use.”

Rocky looked at Wang Ji regretfully and smiled wryly. “I suppose so. I never imagined cold weapons could incorporate such high technology. It’s truly enlightening.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, Boss Rocky. Your craftsmanship could be the best in the country,” Wang Ji said with a smile.

The apprentice lifted his chin proudly. “Of course! My master is the twenty-third-generation heir of the Divine Arms Smiths—”

“Little Ke!” Rocky cut him off, turning back to Wang Ji. “Sorry, just empty titles.”

Wang Ji waved it off. “No problem. So, how much for these two weapons?”

Rocky replied readily, “Ten crystal cores each. With your discount, just sixteen in total. And if you have raw materials like the fine spear the lady carries, we can do a trade—and I’ll throw in three extra weapons for free. Anything you like!”

As he finished, Rocky’s eyes shone as he glanced at the long, spiked spear on Long Qianwen’s back.