Chapter 34 - Stamped

There were four commercial streets in Lan Cheng, which were built in the center of the trading area and distributed in a cross-shaped. The junction of the center was the office of the 'Trading Order Patrol Management Center' of the trading area. It's called patrol management office for short. Next to the patrol management office were the four largest shops in Lan Cheng, each covering an area of hundreds of square meters, selling grains, groceries, weapons, and gasoline respectively.

Under the influence of these four shops, there was a clear distinction between the things sold in the four commercial streets. The ordinary trading area where zombie hunters and small vendors set their stall in the open area was also deeply affected by this pattern, making the small trading area took on four distinct operations as well. Of course, while the operations were distinct, it was only natural that grain street, grocery street, weapon street, and gasoline street pervade each other.

On the four commercial streets, with the exception for the top ten large shops built of brick and stone, the other shops were all built with simple boards with shutter doors, which was only a little better than the open-air stalls. But, in fact, before the base was besieged by zombies, these small and broken shops were exclusive to the five major forces of the base.

In addition to the joint authorized shops, each of the five major forces relied on their skills to get materials and sold them in their own shops. The significance behind this was self-evident.

After the zombie siege, finally, there were four more shops that didn't belong to the five major forces out of the 300 or so shops on the commercial street.

Wu Ye and the others only had a shallow foundation in Lan Cheng. So, even if they were appreciated by Ji Xiang, they were given the worst tax-free shops amongst the four groups.

Wu Ye's tax-free shop was located in the grocery street, which sold a bunch of things from cheap old clothes of unknown origin to expensive scarce medicine and even luxuries that were more precious than medicine. His store was on the tail-end of the grocery street, next to the periphery of open-air stalls.

People, who already knew the order of the shopping street, knew that the more valuable goods were located on the inside of the streets, while the less valuable goods were located outside it. So, those who could afford the high-end goods all knew that the good products were located ahead. Who would be free enough to stroll around the periphery?

By the same token, people hanging around the trading area were eager to cut down two more transparent nucleus from the stall vendors, who would go to the store to buy products that did not allow for bargain?

On the opening day, a few customers came to the shop, and they all came to see Yang Qi and Yang Li Na's, these pair of relatives, face.

However, when these people came into the store and saw the wares, their eyes squinted one by one——

Imitation hibiscus cigarettes: 400 transparent crystals per pack, 50 transparent crystals one stick.

Penicillin: 50 transparent crystals per pill.

Special cold medicine: 80 transparent crystals per tablet.

50ml bottle of alcohol: 300 crystals per bottle.

50ml of Yunnan Baiyao: 350 transparent crystals per bottle.

Snickers: 100 transparent crystals per bar.

Compressed biscuits: 30 transparent crystals one pack

Salt: 100 transparent crystals per 500 grams.

Pure dark chocolates: 80 transparent crystals one piece.

Fruit-flavored hard candy: 20 transparent crystals one piece.

At the most conspicuous location of the shop's counter was a bottle of Chanel No.5, priced at 100 crystals. Of course, it was not transparent crystals or red crystals, but orange crystals.

When Wu Ye did exchange with the system, the value of 1 orange crystal was equivalent to 100 transparent crystals. So, 100 orange crystals was equivalent to 1W transparent crystals. For ordinary zombie hunters, 1W transparent crystals was not a number they dare to think of. However, for some capable zombie hunter leaders, that number was still, absolutely, within the realm of possibility to take out.

Orange crystals were different. Right now, third-level zombies were very rare and powerful. Capable zombie hunters, individually, might have one or two orange crystals in their hands, but they would never be able to come up with more than double digits. The ability users all yearned for greater power. That's why, every time a new and more advanced crystal nucleus appeared, the price would be much higher than the actual value of the crystal nucleus itself for a short period of time.

As such, at this time, the price of an orange crystal was expensive. The trading price of an orange crystal was 5000 transparent crystals, which was 50 times higher than its actual value, but still, no one was willing to sell it.

And, while Wu Ye was really anxious to exchange for Wu Li's first gene repair solution with the system, at this time the trading price of orange crystal had far exceeded his bottom line he could bare. So, he had no choice but to use this trick.

With the amount of zombies besieging the base, the five major forces in Lan Cheng were bound to harvest so many crystal nuclei. Perhaps, one of those forces really had that many orange crystals in their hands?

Anyway, even if it was not right now, there was no need to be in such a hurry. After all, the system had said that third-level zombies would only get more abundant everyday.

The zombie hunters introduced by Yang Qi and Yang Li Na had little surplus in their hand. They couldn't afford to buy Chanel. However, it was not a problem to buy a bottle of rare Die Da alcohol, and a bottle of Yunnan Baiyao.

"F*ck! If I hadn't eaten this hard candy today, I would have forgotten what apples tasted like. Give me ten more. I need to take them back for my wife and son to taste. Can you give me some different flavors?"

Zeng Xin smiled as he said, "I'm sorry sir, but there's no sign on the fructose wrapper. We can't differentiate the flavors. However, we should have plentiful fructose flavors. Like, apples, lemons, bananas, strawberries, watermelons, mangoes, lychees, and pears. Each taste is equally delicious."

The middle-aged zombie hunter unconsciously swallowed his saliva and waved his hand to command. "Alright. Then, you take out whatever you want, just choose a big one for me."

"How come you sell the hibiscus so cheaply here? The authorized shops all sell it at 1200 transparent crystals for one pack."

Chen Zhao Yang explained earnestly. "The hibiscus we sell is an imitation, so of course the price is cheaper than that of an authorized shop."

"How dare you sell a pack of counterfeit cigarettes for 400 transparent crystals nuclei?!"

Chen Zhao Yang merely explained. "The quality corresponds to the price. Sir can first buy one for a taste, then we will know whether it is worth this price or not."

The young zombie hunter came to check the business out in consideration for Yang Qi's face. He didn't come to deliberately find fault, so he paid for one stick, lit it and took a few puffs. After that, he immediately transferred the card and bought two packs.

"I can't believe there is cold medicine! That's great! What is the name of your medicine's brand?"

Zeng Xin said, "Ganyoukang." This was the brand name given by Qin Wuhua for the brand after seeing Wu Ye's cold medicine capsules. It just so happened that the 50 grams capsule didn't have a logo attached. There was no difference in colors between the capsules and the medicine's granule. While the untested compositions were completely indistinguishable to the naked eyes, it was estimated that there was little difference with the tested compositions.

"It's not out of date, is it?" A skinny zombie hunter asked warily, looking at the medicine.

"You can rest assured, the medicine is absolutely not expired."

"Give me five, no, I'll take three first." With that, he took out his temporary residence ID card, drew 240 crystals. He thought about it briefly before he bought two fruit candies for his sick daughter.

For the whole morning, there were only ten guests in the shop, but when each guest left, the guests bought something more or less. Looking up the transaction records on the artificial intelligence, the turnover of the shop actually reached 3000 transparent crystals.

After listening to Zeng Xin's report, Wu Ye's eyes narrowed with delight. He hung up the phone and excitedly spoke to Qin Wuhua. "Great. The sales volume is much better than I expected."

Qin Wuhua looked at his satisfied smile and couldn't help laughing. "It has just opened today. The business surely will get better and better in the future."

Qin Wuhua's facial features were bright and handsome. When he didn't smile, he gave off a dignified and indifferent feeling to people. But, when he showed his rare smile, he unexpectedly gave birth to a warmth feeling of melting ice and snow.

F*ck, this foul is too much! Do I still have a chance to have fun with the beauties if I take him out with me?

Second Young Master Wu thought sourly. But, then another thought came to his mind. He would leave this world sooner or later anyway, so even if he really found a beautiful woman that's to his liking, it's improbable to have a good outcome.

Besides, once he thought about how Lian Yu pretended to be noble and virtuous while stringing him along, even though she was tangling under the sheet with Wu Sen all these years, he felt a brief moment of nausea. And all thoughts of hitting on girls were temporarily ceased at that point.

Qin Wuhua saw Wu Ye's frank (sour) , attracted gaze (distracted look) directed at him, and mistakenly thought that he was looking at his smile. Then he reflected to himself, wondering whether his usual expression was too serious? From his memory, it seemed that the recruits he brought up before were afraid of his cold face.

So, if I smiled more at Wu Ye in the future, would he be tempted?

So, although the two were sitting next to each other on the sofa, their mind was absolutely not on the same wavelength!

Second Young Master Wu retrieved his wayward mind, face revealing various small cockiness. "That is a must. Furthermore I don't want to be seen as the one who owns the shop. And, after two days, I will bring some milk powder, cosmetics, and mosquito repellent. At that time, the business will certainly be better."

Hearing that Wu Ye was about to leave again, the smile on Qin Wuhua's face disappeared. He then asked in a deep voice, "How long until you are going to come back this time?"

Wu Ye said, "I'll be back in the evening. My parents will get the goods ready for me."

"Does your family know about you coming here? Will they agree?" For the first time, Qin Wuhua took the initiative to pry into Wu Ye's private affairs. In fact, what Qin Wuhua would like to ask was whether they were using Wu Ye or not. After all, wealth is tempting and it's so easy for Wu Ye to gather wealth from his position.

"They are aware, but what can they do if I disagree? My brother's illness can't be dragged on anymore. I have to come to this world if I want to get something to save his life." Since Qin Wuhua had already known his secret, Wu Ye didn't want to hide anything in front of him.

So, when you get what you want, will you leave this world completely?

In the end, Qin Wuhua didn't ask the question in his mind. He didn't want to hear the answer that he didn't want to hear. After a moment of silence, he patted Wu Ye's shoulder and said. "If you ever need my help, I will do whatever I can to help."

When he heard that, Second Young Master Wu's heart was warmed. He then thought to himself.

Is this the passionate emotion described in the chicken-blood story where one is willing to risk his life and death for his brother?

At this thought, he decided that when he left this world in the future, he must leave something for Wuhua to save his life.

Oh, that's right, the 'bind your comrade-in-arms' function!

Wu Ye slapped his head. He had almost forgotten a key point. "Wuhua, would you like to be my comrade-in-arms and bound with me?"

"What do you mean?"

Wu Ye had exposed a lot of his secret to him, so even if he didn't say it, with Qin Wuhua's intelligence, he had probably already guessed around seven to eight points. Thus, Wu Ye simply told Qin Wuhua everything he knew about the Cosmic Mercenary System.

Qin Wuhua did guess something about the system. He had even guessed that Wu Ye kept killing the zombies in order to accumulate something that could be traded with the system. Something that was not the crystal nucleus.

He originally thought that the system could only open the portal to travel back and forth between the two worlds, and exchanged for things that didn't exist in the world. That capability was shocking enough, but he had never thought that the system was even more frightening than he had imagined.

That's right. It was frightening. The system's existence had completely surpassed and subverted today's humanity cognition. Human beings were always in awe of the unknown. But, when the unknown had completely surpassed human's understanding, then human beings would only either respect or fear it.

Qin Wuhua was completely afraid of the system. And if people knew that there was such an unnatural thing in Wu Ye, he could not imagine what methods those people, who had become more insane in the apocalypse, would do to Wu Ye.

"The stuffs about the system could only be told from your mouth to my ears. It must not be known to a third person. Otherwise, not only you, but all of us will die without a burial place." Qin Wuhua was not an alarmist. However, if the secret of the system was exposed, perhaps only Wu Ye would have a chance to escape. But, the fate of those who follow him would definitely be worse than death.

Wu Ye solemnly nodded and said, "I know all this. The only one I told about the real secret of the system is you. Not even my family knows as much as you do." Wu Ye himself was surprised at his words. He didn't know from when Qin Wuhua became the person he trusted the most.

Is it because the initial god-damn circumstances, or is it because Qin Wuhua had saved me at the moment of life and death time and time again?

Once he heard that, Qin Wuhua settled down a little bit. He had been getting along with Wu Ye for nearly two months. He knew that Wu Ye was not really a fool who was as simple as a blank sheet of paper.

While he looked careless, Wu Ye had his own set of principles and limits when dealing with people. Otherwise, even if those proud and arrogant ability users looked at their group's force, they still would not sincerely call out to Wu Ye as the boss and tried to follow them.

"Thank you, boss, for trusting me so much."

So, this means he still has a place in Wu Ye's heart, right?

"No need for thanks. I really take you as my own brother. You can call me Ah Ye later on. I feel awkward when you call me boss."

In fact, Wu Ye had wanted to say this for a long time already. Although he often thought that Qin Wuhua was his number one gold medal younger brother, this younger brother was by no means his little brother.

Perhaps at the beginning he was a bit like a little henchman, but now it was no longer the case. In his mind, Qin Wuhua was now just like Pang Zhi, Hua Peng, and Qiu Xiaohao, who wouldn't betray him, a good friend and someone who could share his troubles with him.

Qin Wuhua once again showed Wu Ye a smile that he envied and hated. "Ok. However, you're still the boss in front of outsiders."

It was not good for the unity of the whole team without this obvious relationship between superiors and subordinates.

Second Young Master Wu's secretly compared his own 'steamed stuffed bun' with Qin Wuhua's handsome and manly face together in his heart. And he realized, there's no need to compare. The small heart of a young man, yearning for pure countenance, had broken into pieces.

"Well, I've said everything I have to say. Would you like to be bound with me and become my comrade-in-arms?"

Qin Wuhua didn't understand how Wu Ye suddenly became depressed, but he was used to Wu Ye's expression changing from time to time. "I would like to."

"Hold out your hand, palm up."

Qin Wuhua stretched out his hand in front of Wu Ye, following his words, and then Wu Ye covered his hands with his own.

System: [Are you sure you want to bind Qin Wuhua as a comrade-in-arms?]

Wu Ye: [I'm certain.]

Qin Wuhua looked at the hands that are one size smaller than his own.

How could they be so white, so tender... At the junction of the hand's palm, a white awn flickered and disappeared into Qin Wuhua's body. Then, there was a burning sensation on his right arm.

Soon, a black tattoo the size of a coin appeared on the outside of the arm's skin. The complicated and mysterious pattern was actually the word 'Wu' in the higher universe, representing that Qin Wuhua had signed a comrade-in-arms contract with Wu Ye and that he was dominated by Wu Ye.

[Successfully bound the first comrade-in-arms. You can get a random reward once.]

The author has something to say: The time has once again come for the RP test. How will the young man pass?