Chapter 59 Wagering Chips on the Future

Half a year later, inside a stately mansion in Beiping.

A middle-income man wearing gold-rimmed glasses violently pushed open the heavy courtyard gates.

"Hahaha, Mr. Zhao, you truly are remarkable! An entire warehouse of medical supplies, and you actually managed to have it delivered completely unnoticed! And it took less than a day—truly a miracle!"

Inside the room, Zhao Zhen waved his hand and smiled slightly at the middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man was named Zhao Yufei, an immensely wealthy tycoon in the city of Beiping.

"Manager Zhao, the honorable army should have received the cargo by now, right?"

"The honorable army?"

Zhao Yufei froze slightly, then asked with a puzzled expression, "Mr. Zhao, what do you mean by this? When I asked you to help transport these medical supplies, it was simply to smuggle them into the black market within the war zone to turn a profit."

Zhao Zhen did not reply. Instead, he reached into his robes, withdrew three gold bars, and slowly placed them on the table beside him.

"Manager Zhao, this is the deposit you paid earlier when you asked for my assistance."

"Mr. Zhao, what is the meaning of this?" Zhao Yufei's gaze narrowed slightly.

"Manager Zhao, we are both sensible people, so there is no need to test each other like this.

Although I haven't been in this business for very long, since I was the one who delivered this batch of supplies, I naturally know full well into whose hands they ultimately ended up.

To speak quite frankly, I also look favorably upon the faction behind you, so I don't mind forging a good connection with you all.

Let's treat this transaction as a favor where I transported the goods for the honorable army free of charge. Afterward, if there are any particularly crucial items that need escorting, you are welcome to look for me again.

As for the price, Manager Zhao, you may simply pay whatever you deem appropriate."

Zhao Yufei pushed up his glasses, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"So that's how it is. It seems Mr. Zhao is a remarkably forthright person as well. Since things have come to this, I will no longer conceal the truth.

That's right; just as you suspected, this batch of medical supplies was indeed transported to our soldiers on the front lines.

Lately, the enemy's offensive has grown increasingly fierce, and our army on the front lines is indeed..."

Zhao Zhen raised a hand, signaling Zhao Yufei to say no more.

"Manager Zhao, you should also be aware that I am an insider of the paranormal world; ordinary mortal conflicts are something I neither interfere with nor wish to interfere with."

"I understand, I understand. To be honest, for an ordinary person like me to be able to make contact with someone from your circle is entirely a matter of chance and coincidence.

Had it not been for the guidance of Family Head Lu, I'm afraid I wouldn't even have been able to catch a glimpse of you, let alone sit here and discuss business with you."

"Manager Zhao, while you may be an ordinary person, the things you do are far from ordinary.

Secretly delivering life-saving medicine to them—if the authorities of today were to find out, I'm afraid it would be a capital offense, wouldn't it?"

"If it's a capital offense, then so be it! What is there to fear in death? I only need to know that what I am gambling with right now is the future of this country!" Zhao Yufei replied with boundless heroism.

"Well said!"

Zhao Zhen smiled faintly, then raised the wine glass on the table.

"Manager Zhao is truly righteous; I propose this toast to you."

"You flatter me, Mr. Zhao."

Zhao Yufei hurriedly raised his cup in return.

"Very well. I thank Manager Zhao for his hospitality these past few days. Now that the matter is concluded, it is time for me to take my leave."

Just as Zhao Zhen put down his wine glass and prepared to take a step away, Zhao Yufei suddenly spoke up once more: "Mr. Zhao, please stay your steps!"

"Does Manager Zhao have any further instructions?"

Zhao Zhen turned his head to look at Zhao Yufei.

"To be frank with Mr. Zhao, I actually have another crucially important document here that needs to be urgently dispatched to Xi'an."

As he spoke, Zhao Yufei picked up the three gold bars from the table, and then retrieved another three from his own pocket.

"This is the deposit for this commission. I sincerely hope Mr. Zhao will accept!"

Zhao Zhen looked somewhat surprised at the six gold bars in Zhao Yufei's hand.

Six bars—that was a full six bars!

And they were solid gold bars at that. Although he had long known that this estate of Zhao Yufei's was overflowing with wealth, Zhao Zhen was once again slightly shocked by his sheer extravagance.

However, the more lavish the reward, the more it demonstrated the supreme importance of this document.

Xi'an... now that was a fine place indeed.

After pondering for a brief moment, Zhao Zhen readily agreed to the commission.

"Very well. Even if Manager Zhao hadn't mentioned it, I was originally planning to make a trip to Xi'an anyway. Since it is merely along the way, you may keep your money."

"Mr. Zhao, how could I possibly do that?"

"Manager Zhao, I said before that I merely wish to forge a good connection with the faction behind you.

Since Manager Zhao was able to learn of my existence from Family Head Lu, then you must surely have a general understanding of my past, correct?"

"Naturally." Zhao Yufei nodded.

"My lineage traces back to the former Quanxing member, Immortal Jinguang. Strictly speaking, therefore, within the insider circle, I belong neither to the righteous sects nor to Quanxing.

Yet a person cannot walk alone through life forever, so I wish to emulate Manager Zhao and wager all my chips on the future of this country.

Only, while Manager Zhao's chips are an immense family fortune, I possess nothing; the only chip I have left as collateral is this mediocre set of skills that barely passes muster.

As the old saying goes, once one masters civil and martial arts, one sells them to the imperial household..."

"Mr. Zhao, you are being far too modest. When Family Head Lu spoke of you to me, his words were brimming with praise and admiration—even surpassing his own young master.

According to Family Head Lu, your abilities among the younger generation of the circle are truly second to none, and your character is personally vouched for jointly by the Heavenly Master of Longhushan and the Immortal Daying.

If such accomplishments can only be considered 'barely passing muster,' then an insignificant person like myself, who lacks even the qualifications to step foot into the circle, should truly die of shame.

If you are genuinely willing to join us, we would naturally welcome you with open arms!"

Zhao Yufei had once attempted to study Qi cultivation, but unfortunately, he had the path without the talent. That was precisely why, despite being an ordinary mortal, he was exceptionally well-versed in the affairs of the paranormal world.

"Manager Zhao flatters me. Since you trust me, please rest assured—I will deliver this document to Xi'an as swiftly as possible."

"In that case, I offer Mr. Zhao my deepest thanks."

After taking the document from Zhao Yufei's hands, Zhao Zhen did not linger in the city of Beiping, choosing instead to set off directly toward the west.

As for what kind of document this escort mission actually entailed, Zhao Yufei did not say, and naturally, Zhao Zhen did not ask.

Heading to Shaanxi this time, Zhao Zhen actually had another hidden objective: to venture deep into the Qinling Mountains in search of the legendary Twenty-Four Solar Terms Heavenly Valley.

He was not going there for the Eight Wonders—after all, several years still remained before the manifestation of the Eight Wonders.

What Zhao Zhen truly desired was the heritage left behind by the Ziyang Immortal within the valley.

The Ziyang Immortal, whose original name was Zhang Boduan, also known as the Master of Awakening to Truth, was the patriarch of the Southern Lineage of Internal Alchemy.

To acquired practitioners, the status of the Ziyang Immortal was equivalent to that of Lu Ban among carpenters.

The internal alchemy system he pioneered can rightfully be said to be the foundational cornerstone of Taoist internal alchemy theory!

Therefore, what was erased by that "profligate prodigal" Wugen Sheng in the original plot was very likely none other than the internal alchemy heritage left behind by the Ziyang Immortal!