The dinner was quite simple.
The Ning Family had prepared meticulously crafted homemade dishes.
Although Ning Fugui and his wife Ning had risen in the ranks early on without attending university and were born to common origins, their speech and behavior showed no arrogance at all.
This humility stemmed from within.
As among the five major merchants in charge of the Zenith Commerce Guild, Ning Fugui’s status was much higher than expected. Being able to maintain such humility was particularly admirable.
"Baiyu, remember to come often in the future. Don’t be a stranger; treat this place as your second home."
Outside the villa door.
Ning Fugui smiled broadly as he bid farewell.
Baiyu promised and said goodbye to Ning Qian before returning to the hotel.
All the students in Linjiang City temporarily stayed here, in a hotel chosen by the school to facilitate the students’ exams in Zenith City.
"Before returning to Linjiang City tomorrow, I should check if the market has the Body Refining Medicine I need. First, go to the merchant Ning Fugui recommended."
Baiyu made up his mind.
After winning first place in the martial arts exam, the Linjiang First Middle School, represented by Jiang Gan, directly awarded him one million.
In official terms, this was a motivational bonus.
Every year, the top scorer in the Linjiang City college entrance exam would receive such an award, and those from other cities would be rewarded even more.
One million sounds like a lot.
You could even buy a decent house in Linjiang City.
But if it’s really spent on medicine for Bone Forging, it would be gone in no time. Martial artists spend money like water, and Baiyu truly felt this after embarking on the Martial Dao.
"How to make money now?"
"I’ve got Earth’s knowledge in my mind, maybe I could do some copying work? Songs, movies, just copy something over, as long as it matches the current world’s context."
Baiyu felt a bit troubled.
Before traversing, you might feel that in an alternate world, you can survive in any way; even being a copycat would work. But after crossing over, you realize it’s not that easy to copy things.
Practically, it’s quite difficult.
He can’t even get into the circles.
Excluding copycat methods, Baiyu could only think of doing business. But in his previous life, he was a 996 worker, not really understanding business.
Baiyu felt urgency for the first time.
It’s not just about studying; he needs to make money too. He feels he’s bearing burdens unsuitable for his age.
Taking out the rugged diary.
Baiyu begins to record on it:
"June Ninth, participated in the martial arts exam today, obtained first place. If there are no major issues, I should seize first place in the county too, choosing to be a rooster head in life’s crossroads.
The school’s one million reward sounds a lot but is far from enough for me to advance to Tier Eight Martial Artist.
Extraordinary Abilities remain at Sequence Nine, with no news or clues about subsequent Magic Elixir Recipes. I
Nine-Tier Mechanical Armament is no longer quite suitable for me.
Now I need to make money.
This world is too dangerous. Even without actively seeking trouble, heaps of problems will follow one after another. Before I thought as long as I hugged Pang Fei’s leg, I could be safe, but later facts proved, in face of Extraordinary events, no one is truly reliable, only one’s strength is true strength.
So making money is the primary goal now; I must quickly become Tier Eight.
ps: Ning Qian has grown up again."
Baiyu glanced at the scholastic space, finding no movement. His task is yet incomplete, needing to wait until actual college entrance exam results come out, i.e., a week later, before he can complete the task.
"Cang Yan, what do you think about making money?"
Inside the hotel room.
Taking advantage of no one around, Baiyu pulled the fat hamster out of the scholastic space for some air, delving into conversation rarely with the one human and one beast.
"Here, gave you the method; don’t say I’m being ungenerous." Cang Yan twisted his short legs, inputting a series on the nearby laptop, finally displaying several large words "East Prosperity Imperial Criminal Law" on the screen.
Baiyu’s expression turned dark.
"Actually, think about it, why are you short of money? Isn’t it just because of medicine. According to my recent data from online research, actually low-tier martial artist medicine isn’t very rare, its high price largely due to middlemen profiting from the price difference."
Cang Yan’s fingers tapping the desk, composed.
"You mean from the Shelter to the market on Canglan Star, undergoing layer upon layer exploitation, raising prices madly, draining the blood of consumers like us?"
This seems to be the case in the previous world.
"Right, see. The Zenith Commerce Guild is the largest in Zenith City, and one of them is specialized in the medicine business, with only this business.
Relying solely on this business to join the ranks of the five major merchants, the profit is terrifyingly high."
Cang Yan opened another interface.
Detailed information of the Zenith Commerce Guild’s five major merchants appeared.
"In medicine business, official background is needed; who among ordinary people would dare touch it? But you reminded me, if I buy things from the Shelter, it would be much cheaper."
Baiyu thought of this method.
If unable to expand income in the short term, just cut down spending.
"Yes, that’s right. Moreover, the Shelter surely has abundant materials, I can also buy some to create Magical Items, selling them for money as well." Cang Yan suggested.
Yes, this is also a solution.
Baiyu realized he had never fully utilized Cang Yan’s abilities.
She can make Magical Items!
The sequence capable of creating Magical Items among Extraordinary is few; ’craftsman’ sequence of the Church of the God of Steam and Mechanics, ’Transformer’ sequence of the Anomaly Bureau...
If really short on money, private work can be taken up.
Baiyu suddenly grew relaxed.
Nice, very nice indeed.
Just at this moment, strange sounds like wallpaper scraping abruptly echoed in the room, sending chills up his spine.
It was from the next-door!
After making rounds in the room, Baiyu confirmed the sound’s source.
He slightly frowned, thinking the sound would stop soon, but it turned more intense.
On his left was Gan Yuhan’s residence, a cat demon even if sharpening claws, won’t grind on the walls, right? Thus violating Sub-human identity exposure?
Indicating sound was from the right.
The right... the right seems to be a quiet girl from his class, not talkative usually.
Baiyu sensed things weren’t so simple.
He promptly took out Soaring Eagle Gloves from the scholastic space and wore them, then retrieved the modified R8, grimly opened the door.
The hotel hallway was empty.
Upon stepping outside.
Baiyu saw Gan Yuhan open her door too, staring alertly over.
This cat demon must have heard the commotion too.
"Did you hear that too?"
She poked her head from behind the door, cautiously asking.
Baiyu nodded: "Should be from the neighbor, did you notice anything unusual?"