After putting the canned food, energy bars, and compressed biscuits that needed to be exchanged for coins into an unmarked cardboard box and handing it to Shang Jianyao, Bai Chen shook open the tent cloth to cover the Orange rifle, the Berserker assault rifle, the Tyrant grenade launcher, the Death rocket launcher, the various ammunition rounds, the first-aid kit, and the remaining supplies.
This way, one couldnât discover anything of value if they only looked in through the window.
Upon seeing this, Jiang Baimian nodded indiscernibly, her eyes filled with praise.
After packing the trunk, Bai Chen turned around and saw Long Yuehongâs confused expression. She simply explained, âItâs easy to hide from serious bandits, but itâs difficult to guard against petty thieves. Auntie Nanâs place isnât too orderly.â
In places that were too orderly, outsiders were relatively eye-catching.
Jiang Baimian smiled and added, âWhen we return, we have to move some things upstairs and place them by our side. Only then can things be safe.â
She didnât mention the continuation of night shifts and monitoring the jeep from the second floor because she didnât know what trouble they would be embroiled in next. Maintaining their energy was a relatively important matter.
Sometimes, in a situation where one had insufficient sleep for days, oneâs reaction would be half a beat slower or even a full beat slower when something unexpected happenedâeven if they felt energized and fine.
Humans could make sensory mistakes, especially when it came to their self-awareness.
Long Yuehong nodded, not fully understanding. He saw Shang Jianyao carrying the cardboard box and walking to the courtyard exit by Ah Fuâs Gun Shop.
The alleys were relatively narrow in Weed City, allowing only one car to pass through. The buildings around them were more than ten meters tall. This resulted in only having abundant sunlight at noon every winter that could chase away the coldness.
But when they left the alley and came to the main street, the sunlight became warm. It warmed them, and the wind was not that biting.
Jiang Baimian looked at the pedestrians coming and going and said to Long Yuehong and Bai Chen, âTwo of us will each form a team and widen the distance between us a little. The characteristics of a team of four are too obvious.â
Without needing much explanation, Bai Chen immediately understood her team leaderâs meaning and quickened her pace with Long Yuehong.
Soon, the two teams were about five to six meters apart.
Long Yuehong looked around curiously. âThereâs no public cafeteria here? There are quite a number of people in noodle shops and restaurantsâŠâ
This didnât match his imagination of wilderness nomad settlements.
Be it Moat Town or Qifeng Town, they were closer to what he expected in this regard.
âThere are many foreign Ruin Hunters here,â Bai Chen explained in the simplest words.
Long Yuehong knew this fact very well. He even knew that Weed City was a spot where supplies were exchanged amongst three major factions. There were many people coming and going every day, but it was a little quiet during winter. However, he didnât understand what this had to do with his question.
Bai Chen glanced at him and continued, âMost outsiders wonât stay long in Weed City. Every time they come, they will stay for two weeks at most. They will either stay in motels or rent short-term rooms. Thereâs no place to cook.â
âIs that soâŠâ Long Yuehong finally understood.
This was an impossible situation inside Pangu Biology.
Even if one went to other floors to visit their relatives and friends, they could return home quickly or be invited to stay overnight. Therefore, there were no hotels or rooms rented by the day in the underground building.
As they spoke, Jiang Baimian suddenly quickened her pace and rushed forward. She spoke as if she were a stranger asking for directions. âWill there be more people in this alley at night?â
She was referring to the alley opposite the South Street Slave Market.
Bai Chen recalled and answered, âOn winter nights, thereâs nobody outside except in the West Street area.â
âThank you.â Jiang Baimian smiled brightly. She then returned to Shang Jianyaoâs side.
âTeam Leaderâs acting is really goodâŠâ Long Yuehong praised sincerely.
Bai Chen didnât say anything else and continued walking toward Central Square.
Compared to other places in Weed City, this place appeared very spacious. The ground seemed to have been repaired and was relatively flat. In the middle of the square was a stone statue of a human. It was of an elder holding a gun in one hand and a book in the other.
He had a thin face and wore a hooded robe that didnât seem conducive for movement. His slightly sunken eyes were watching the humans coming and going in front of him.
âIs this the illegitimate son, Xu Erde?â Long Yuehong asked with interest.
âYes.â Bai Chen circled around the stone statue and walked toward the municipal building in the north. âActually, the most accurate title for him should be Weed Cityâs governor. However, everyone is more accustomed to calling him castellan. Yes⊠Thereâs also a tax collector who directly answers to First City. The kiosks also come under him.â
Long Yuehong wanted to ask what âtaxâ was, but he felt that he had asked too many questions along the way. It was better to ask next time.
Before long, they arrived in front of the municipal building.
This was a four-story building. It was brownish-yellow in color, and there were some flower beds in front of it. Nearly ten windows had their shutters open at the municipal buildingâs ground floor. Many people were lining up in front of each kiosk.
âThe seven on the left are the exchange kiosks.â Bai Chen led Long Yuehong to the line with the least people. âThe blackboard in front has the exchange rates for the different supplies today. We canât exchange using supplies that arenât on it.â
âAre ours fine?â Long Yuehong suddenly felt a little worried.
âNo faction will refuse food.â Bai Chen was very certain.
In fact, people like them who exchanged food for coins were a minority. Most people came to Weed City to exchange other supplies for food reserves. However, they had to use First Cityâs coins during this process.
Long Yuehong heaved a sigh of relief and curiously asked, âWhat should we do if there are supplies that canât be exchanged? Head to the underground market?â
Bai Chen looked around as if she wanted to determine the length of the other lines. âYou can also go through the streets and peddle them. Or you can spend some supplies and set up a stall in an official market. These are all considered relatively wasteful choices. After coming here a few more times and getting familiar with them, you can get to know the main buyers of different supplies and directly negotiate with them.â
At this moment, Jiang Baimian cupped her hands and pointed at Long Yuehongâs team with her chin. âGo line up there. I saw a public library by the side. Iâll go in and take a look.â
On the right side of the square was a white-walled building with multiple entrances. One of the entrances had a signboard: âWeed City Public Library.â
This was also one of the hallmark contributions of the greatest castellan, Xu Erde. Therefore, the stone statue had a gun in one hand and a book in the other.
Shang Jianyao glanced at Jiang Baimian and didnât say anything else as he walked toward Long Yuehong and the others.
Jiang Baimian exhaled and watched it spread into a white mist in the air. She then came to the libraryâs entrance in satisfaction.
On the wall beside the entrance was a piece of paper. On it were words in Ashlandic and the Red River language: âOnly citizens of this city and Official Hunters and above can borrow books.â
The Hunterâs Badge is really useful hereâŠÂ Jiang Baimian sighed and walked in.
This place was similar to Pangu Biologyâs library. It was also made up of bookshelves and reading areas.
Jiang Baimian went straight for the former. She casually browsed through the bookshelves and quickly came to an inconspicuous corner. She pulled out a rather old, thick book.
The title was written in pure Red River language. It was translated as: Internal Revenue Code.
In the Ashlands at this stage, this was a useless book. It was mainly used to fill up the bookshelves; no one would borrow it.
Jiang Baimian quickly flipped to the 650th page of the book and folded it. She then took out a piece of paper and a fountain pen from her pocket. In this deserted area blocked by many bookshelves, she scribbled a sentence: â8 p.m., in the alley opposite South Street Slave Market.â
This was the way to contact the intelligence personnel. If it was completed before 2 p.m., 8 p.m. referred to 8 p.m. of that very night. If it exceeded 2 p.m., it meant the next night.
After folding the note, Jiang Baimian placed it in the middle of the book. She then pushed the book back to its original spot.
âŠ
In front of the kiosk, Long Yuehong looked at the coins in his hand and suppressed his voice. âIsnât this paper?â
Their supplies had been exchanged for a total of 10 Oray. At todayâs rates, they could probably buy 12 pounds of raw pork. But these Oray were only thin, textured pieces of paper. On them were colorful patterns, a manâs side profile, and the number â1.â
âOutside of First Cityâs sphere of influence, they are indeed equivalent to paper,â echoed Bai Chen casually. âIf you have a choice, it will be better to choose the gold and silver coins minted by First City.â
Unfortunately, this could only be chanced upon by luck.
âThen, letâs go have lunch quickly.â Long Yuehong suddenly felt like the money in his hand would quickly turn to paper if he didnât spend it.
At this moment, Jiang Baimian had already returned and rendezvoused with them despite maintaining a distance.
Under Bai Chenâs suggestion, they returned to South Street, entered Time-Honored Noodle Restaurant, and âsharedâ a table.
âTheir spicy oil-drenched noodles are very delicious.â Bai Chen seemed to recall something, and her expression turned rather mellow.
âSpicy oil-drenched?â Long Yuehong asked in surprise.
It sounds extravagant! Is this the life of a large settlement in the Ashlands?
Bai Chen gestured at the boss for four bowls and said, âWeed City is very suitable for planting oil vegetables and chili. Many nearby manors produce them, so the prices are very low. However, the noodles in such a small restaurant arenât very good. They arenât as exquisite as what the nobles eatâŠâ
At this point, Bai Chen suddenly paused and didnât continue.
Jiang Baimian glanced at her and smiled. âI just hope itâs done quickly. Look, how long has it been since Shang Jianyao spoke?â
Just as she said that, there was a sudden commotion outside.
After a while, someone passed by.
The bossâwho was making noodlesâcasually asked, âWhat happened?â
The people passing by pointed in the direction of the square. âIt seems like the library is on fire.â
Jiang Baimianâs eyes instantly narrowed.
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