Chapter 1219: Chapter 366: Shen Family Dung Beetles, Do You Still Remember Me? (6k)

"Little friend, we meet again!" Seeing Zhou Qing once more, Elder Mo Tianheng had a big smile on his face.

Zhou Qing respectfully saluted, "Elder Mo, sorry to disturb you again."

"You," Elder Mo shook his head in mock displeasure, "you say this every time, it makes us seem distant."

Though he spoke like this, his eyes were full of laughter.

Zhou Qing awkwardly touched his nose.

Indeed, every time he came, he troubled Elder Mo, but he himself hadn’t helped him even once, so he inevitably felt bad.

"I remember last time you left, you said we would hear news from you soon." Elder Mo sipped from a teacup.

"It’s been nine months already, and aside from the people in the Imperial City guessing which force you joined after leaving Bibo Celestial Lake, there’s been no news."

Zhou Qing gave an embarrassed smile, then scratched his head.

Plans couldn’t keep up with changes.

Originally, he thought he would cause quite a stir at the border, killing Xuanyuan Yichen in public to see the Royal Family’s reaction.

Who would have thought such a turn of events would happen...

Seeing Zhou Qing’s complex expression, Elder Mo wisely didn’t ask further, and instead took out two wood attribute spirit stones that glowed with a green light.

"These were just sent from the branch last month, and so far, only these two have been collected!"

"Thank you, Elder Mo!" Zhou Qing gratefully accepted them.

"Are you...all used up?" Elder Mo asked meaningfully, pointing to the sky, clearly hinting at the matter of the Royal Treasury.

After all, when they parted last time, he had reminded Zhou Qing to be cautious in his cooperation with Sikong Yan.

Zhou Qing lightly shook his head, "I haven’t used them yet. This time, I’m here to see if Elder Mo could help me gather these materials."

Saying this, he took out a list he had already prepared.

Mo Tianheng took the list, glanced over it, and mused, "These seem to be...array materials?"

He paused, then smiled, "Forget it, this old man won’t ask much. Wait here; I will go check the warehouse."

"I’m sorry to trouble you, Elder Mo."

After Elder Mo left, Zhou Qing waited quietly in the hall.

Not long after, Mo Tianheng returned holding a storage bag, looking slightly serious, "These materials are indeed rare. It seems you intend to set up a Four-Color Array?"

"Currently, we’re still missing about a dozen types; a few Spirit Severing Realm families do have them—those you met at Bibo Celestial Lake."

"But they’re scattered across various provinces..." Elder Mo stroked his beard and pondered, "It’s just that I have nothing to do lately, so I can make a trip and see if they are willing to part with them."

"However, this might take a year or two; you’re not in a hurry, are you?"

Zhou Qing was taken aback by his words.

He didn’t expect that the materials for the Four-Color Array would be so valuable that he would have to purchase them from Spirit Severing experts.

This was just one of the Four-Color Arrays of moderate difficulty from Master Xuanqing’s legacy.

If even a colossal entity like the Duobao Trading House had trouble gathering them, how would he manage higher-grade arrays in the future?

Once again, plans were disrupted.

But he quickly cupped his hands, "No hurry, no hurry. It’s too much trouble for you. How about you give me a list, and I’ll go negotiate with them myself?"

Mo Tianheng chuckled at this, fine wrinkles appearing around his eyes, "You certainly can, but are you sure you want to owe so many people favors?"

"The hardest debt to repay in this world is the debt of gratitude."

Seeing Zhou Qing’s hesitation, Mo Tianheng directly handed him the storage bag, "Don’t think too much about it."

"Lately, there have been things to take care of at various branches. Even if you hadn’t come, I would have planned to make a trip."

Though Zhou Qing didn’t know if this was true, a warm feeling still surged in his heart.

He weighed the storage bag in his hand, "About how much are these materials worth..."

"No need to rush about the price," Mo Tianheng waved his hand, "I’ll settle everything together once I’ve gathered the remaining materials. Who knows how those old folks will ask for a lion’s share."

Zhou Qing bowed once again in gratitude.

Leaving the trading house, Zhou Qing looked at the bustling crowd on the street, feeling myriad emotions in his heart.

Back then, when he rushed from the Imperial City to the Nangong Family at Yaoguang Mansion, using Sikong Yan’s space technique along with the flying ship, it took over eight months one way.

Now that the remaining materials are scattered among the various family mansions, Elder Mo said he could gather them in one or two years, which must require immense effort in traveling.

"This favor is truly a great one to owe..." he softly sighed as he glanced back at the trading house’s gilded plaque.

...

In the inn’s private room, according to the Communication Jade Scroll’s agreement, the group finally met again.

"Brother Zhou!" Upon seeing Zhou Qing, Lu Yaoyao happily rushed over.

Zhou Qing removed his mask, his gaze sweeping over the group who were safe and sound, and the worry between his brows finally eased.

"I say, Brother Zhou, it’s been over nine months since you left Bibo Celestial Lake. Where on earth did you go?"

As Shen Huangmao entered, he grabbed chopsticks and began eating, speaking with his mouth full.

"Just traveling around." Zhou Qing casually replied.

"Don’t fool us!" Shen Huangmao swallowed a mouthful of braised beef, not caring as oil dripped on his clothes.

"I made a bet with your senior brother and sister that you must have secretly joined some family to refine a Four-Color Array. My sister takes about that long to refine a set."

"You guessed wrong." Zhou Qing turned to Ghost Mastiff and Luo Lingling, a mischievous smile on his lips, "Senior brother, senior sister, you can claim your bet from him."

The two exchanged a wry smile.

Shen Huangmao wiped his greasy mouth, asserting confidently, "We didn’t bet real gold and silver! You had the nerve to take on work just after being promoted to a Level 4 Array Master, so you must be impressive."

Zhou Qing was taken aback, "So the bet was ’you must be impressive’?"

"Indeed!" Shen Yunzhou slapped the table, causing the dishes to clatter, "In our man’s world, that’s the highest honor!"