Chen Xiao saw Pei Tianyuan fall silent and smiled. "What's wrong, Old Pei? If you don't want them, I'll find someone else. I asked you first because we're close."
He tilted his head slightly. "Do you think if I put these out, countless factions wouldn't scramble to trade for them?"
Pei Tianyuan shook his head. "No. They'd only think some madman would kill them and seize the goods."
He waved a hand and smiled bitterly. "Chen Xiao, let's be direct. You stole these Opportunities from the military district and now want to sell them back? Isn't that a little..."
Chen Xiao clicked his tongue and reached out to take them back.
Pei Tianyuan hurriedly stopped him. "Wait. I didn't say no. Name your price. These things don't look cheap."
He muttered to himself, already assuming Chen Xiao would demand something outrageous.
Chen Xiao chuckled. "Old Pei, I've plundered enough forces already. Do I look like I need your petty cash? I don't want money. I want non-paid Opportunities in exchange. If you can get me satisfactory ones, all of these are yours."
Pei Tianyuan picked up each item and examined them closely.
[Super Dimensional Bracelet] — storage space type[Pig Head Dagger] — sacrifices pain[Blood Hourglass] — sacrifices potential[Barrier Gloves] — rebound backlash to the user
The last three all had obvious flaws, but they were still priceless — especially the Super Dimensional Bracelet, a top-tier storage-type Opportunity.
Pei Tianyuan sighed. "I thought there were only one or two. I can't make that call alone. Give me a few days, and I'll get you a satisfactory answer."
Chen Xiao gathered the Opportunities back up. "Fine. But I only want free Opportunities."
Pei Tianyuan nodded. "We don't have many, but I'll try. I can even transfer some from other districts if needed. Contact me anytime if you get more Opportunities."
Chen Xiao remembered something. "And don't count Zhou Xun's death on me. That should be easy enough for you to handle."
With that, he vanished from the military district.
Pei Tianyuan sighed. "This kid... so carefree. He comes and goes like a ghost."
Without An Xinning's teleportation, Chen Xiao's trip back to Jiangbei would take longer, but it was unavoidable. He decided to find A Yao first.
He learned that A Yao lived in the Talent Building — the same place he had once stayed — and quietly slipped to her door.
Knock knock.
"Who is it?""Your man.""Eh? Brother Chen Xiao?"
A Yao's voice turned flustered. She peeked through the door, then opened it wider while still hiding behind it. Chen Xiao noticed her wet hair — she had just bathed.
He stepped inside and was greeted by a faint sweet fragrance and a cozy room: pink bedding, string lights, a pink sofa, and a plush toy.
A Yao asked proudly, "How's my little place?"
Chen Xiao's talent stirred, and through the thin bath towel he could make out her alluring figure. A Yao blushed hard and hurried to cover herself. "Brother Chen Xiao, stop looking!"
Chen Xiao awkwardly changed the subject. "Ah, right. The moonlight is nice tonight."
A Yao pointed to the bathroom. "Wait in there while I change."
Chen Xiao hesitated, but she insisted with a pout, "I'm shy!"
He entered the damp bathroom and immediately spotted a tiny black lace garment on top of the washing machine.
"Damn..."
A Yao rushed in to cover it, but her bath towel slipped even lower. Chen Xiao laughed and cupped her face. She stammered, "It's too bright... I'm not used to it."
Click.
The lights went out.
"Too dark!"
"Don't you like dark places?"
"Stop touching me!"
Two shadows tangled together in the bathroom, along with soft, shy sounds.
The next morning, Chen Xiao wore a black tactical jacket borrowed from the military — worth a small fortune in peacetime — and leaned against a truck while waiting for A Yao.
She appeared in casual clothes: a loose white T-shirt, dark blue jeans, and white sneakers. She looked full of youthful energy, with no trace of apocalypse fatigue.
Chen Xiao praised her, "You look great."
A Yao grinned. "I've been saving these white shoes. Today I'm going to Jiangbei with you, so of course I want to look pretty."
Chen Xiao pinched her cheek, then got ready to drive her back to Jiangbei.
And only then did he suddenly realize:
Wait... why am I driving a truck?