Chapter 48: You Don’t Even Spare the Fish

Lumpy flesh was devoured greedily by Gluttony.

Before long, Liu Zheng's ribs were exposed, along with the dark purple heart beating beneath them.

"Your turn."

He gritted his teeth and handed Gluttony to Garcia.

……

Garcia stared at Liu Zheng for a long time before finally speaking.

"If I refuse to trade, does Your Excellency intend to keep stabbing yourself?"

"Indeed. Who else is as dedicated to their job as I am?"

Liu Zheng said with pride.

"Besides, I'm in better physical shape than you. You'll definitely die before I do."

He said with a beaming smile.

As he spoke, granulation tissue was already sprouting from Liu Zheng's wounds, working hard to patch the hollow like living stitches.

Garcia watched this horrific scene, his eyes flickering.

"I retract my previous assessment, Your Excellency. Even without receiving the Gospel, you are the kind of talent our sect needs."

He said sincerely.

"We are willing to make the deal with you."

Garcia waved his hand, and the cultists immediately stopped sealing the box.

"That's much better. Stabbing oneself hurts quite a bit, you know."

Since his goal had been achieved, Liu Zheng dropped the act and grinned in pain.

"Mutual respect is forged in bloodshed."

Garcia smiled and said.

"Makes sense. Inspect the goods."

He nodded.

"Naturally."

Garcia produced a candle from his cloak and lit it.

Then, he dripped the wax onto the ice block, drawing a circle.

The circle gradually seeped into the ice and imprinted itself onto the mermaid's belly.

Garcia cast a reluctant look at the candle, which was now only a third of its original size, and tucked it back into his cloak.

"Break the ice."

He instructed one of the cultists.

The cultist, whose mask bore two quarter-circles, immediately pulled out a hammer and a chisel and struck the ice fiercely.

A series of sounds like shattering glass rang out, and the ice vanished like foam.

"The mermaid has been suppressed by the Bounded Circle. Please inspect the goods, Your Excellency."

Garcia said.

"Salmon, go ahead."

Liu Zheng waved his hand casually, striking a dashing pose.

It made the Bull-Horse's hooves itch with annoyance.

The Calico Cat, however, didn't mind at all and pounced forward with glee.

It poked and prodded the mermaid from top to bottom, occasionally sticking out its tongue to give her a lick or two.

The mermaid trembled under the Calico Cat's tyrannical presence, unable to resist as tears streamed down her face like they were free.

"Inspection complete, meow. No problems found, meow. She is indeed of royal mermaid blood, and she tastes quite good too, meow."

The Calico Cat stepped away from the mermaid with lingering reluctance.

"What about her purity?"

"I can't inspect that part, meow."

The Calico Cat spread its paws.

"I can handle that. Let me do it."

The Bull-Horse eagerly chimed in.

"Wow, you wouldn't even spare a fish? Aren't you ashamed of yourself as a beast of burden?"

Liu Zheng despised.

"You country bumpkin know nothing. Mermaids are consistently in the top three of the black market's companion rankings. They're super popular, okay?"

The Bull-Horse retorted with contempt.

"Then who's number one?"

"The latest issue features a white-furred fox-eared girl, but rumors say there's shady business behind the scenes, and the true number one is a human JK loli."

The Bull-Horse said.

"You non-humans really know how to play wild games."

Liu Zheng sighed.

"Actually, Your Excellency need not doubt. Mermaid Tears is an ability that can only be used by mermaid priestesses possessing a pure body."

"Since she can use Mermaid Tears, she is undoubtedly a virgin."

Garcia spoke up.

"Fine, I believe you."

He nodded.

"Many thanks, Your Excellency. Please accept this. Should Your Excellency ever change your mind, it will provide guidance."

Garcia smiled and handed Liu Zheng a piece of leather cut into a circle.

"Name: Token of the Circle God Sect"

"Type: Item"

"Quality: Excellent"

"Effect: Presenting this item prevents attacks from members of the Circle God Sect. Lighting it with a candle will produce unknown effects."

"Remark: All things form a ring, all matters become a circle."

"Can be brought out of the instance: Yes"

I knew this old bastard had ulterior motives.

Looking at the item description, Liu Zheng sneered inwardly.

If I were to burn this piece of leather, I might just end up meeting that Father and Savior figure.

Hhm, though that might not necessarily be a bad thing.

Liu Zheng had a sudden realization.

If he heard that Gospel again, he could summon the Circle God to the battlefield and let them tear each other apart.

Why does he always end up acquiring these mutually-assured-destruction types of items?

Liu Zheng felt the universe's deep malice toward him.

"Easy come, easy go. Safe trip, don't bother seeing me out."

He waved enthusiastically.

Garcia took no offense and left with his cultists.

As soon as the last cultist departed, the glowing circle around them vanished instantly, and the scenery returned to normal.

"Tch, we didn't even end up fighting. I thought you'd unleash the hounds."

The Bull-Horse said regretfully.

"If I really let the dog out, you'd be the first one it bites."

Liu Zheng rolled his eyes.

Just look at all that sinewy meat on you—good enough to eat. Even a dog knows to go for the best parts first.

Of course, biting the Salmon first was also a possibility.

After all, cats and dogs are eternal enemies.

"Bring it on, Grandpa Bull-Horse will sit on it and turn it into dog meat paste."

The Bull-Horse vowed confidently.

Ignoring its Ah Q-style coping mechanism, Liu Zheng called out to the Mermaid Princess in his mind.

"Hey, the Circle God people are gone."

"Thank you so much for your help. You truly are a kind human."

The Mermaid Princess said with emotion.

"Cut the crap. Make good on your promise."

He said impatiently.

"Uh, alright."

The Mermaid Princess said somewhat aggrievedly.

A moment later, her chest glowed brightly once again.

"I have shared my power with the Heart of the Ocean. Please take it. And please wipe the wax off me."

The Mermaid Princess said.

"Got it."

Liu Zheng scooped up the pendant and scraped the wax off her belly.

His movements were rather rough, causing the Mermaid Princess to let out a low, indignant sigh.

"Hey, you wouldn't let me inspect the goods, but you're taking advantage of her yourself?"

Hearing the commotion, the Bull-Horse looked deeply displeased.

"I'm just pilfering a bit."

Liu Zheng dangled the Heart of the Ocean.

"Big Boss, is this mine now?"

"Trying to hog it all? Not a chance!"

The Bull-Horse shouted.

"Hey, if it weren't for me, this whole deal would've fallen through."

"Bullshit. If I weren't here, Garcia would've tied you up as a divine slave the moment he saw you."

The Bull-Horse sneered.

"Then I'll unleash the dog."

"Crap. Without me holding you back, you'd just end up a dead fish like her."

The Bull-Horse pointed at the Mermaid Princess and said.

"This beast of burden has no manners at all! It's the ugly, smelly piece of cured meat here!"

The Mermaid Princess snapped, cursing in Liu Zheng's mind.

"Stop! Quit bickering, you two are giving me a headache."

Liu Zheng let out a yell, then dug a few bills out of his pocket and shoved them at the Bull-Horse.

"Will this do?"

"That's more like it."

The Bull-Horse was satisfied.

"This portion is yours."

He pulled out a few more bills and stuffed them into the Calico Cat's apron pocket.

"Oh, I get some too? Thank you so much, meow. I can buy dried fish again, meow."

The Calico Cat was overjoyed as well.

A bunch of bastards, even more money-obsessed than humans.

Liu Zheng cursed inwardly and turned his attention to the Heart of the Ocean, which had been enhanced by the Mermaid Princess.