Chapter 305

Hu Xiao had just come out of the Sacrificial Hall when he saw someone crouched by the wall, sneakily peeking into the Revenue Department (Hu Si).

“What are you doing?”

Shu was startled, taking a guilty step back before composing himself and saying, “Nothing, just looking around.”

Hu Xiao gave him a suspicious look before saying, “Come with me. Our Great Priest is looking for you.”

Only then did Shu remember why he had come. He familiarly moved closer, following behind Hu Xiao and probing, “What’s going on over there? Why is everyone bringing so many supplies?”

Shu was pointing at the place he had just been watching. Beastmen pushed carts of goods, entering the courtyard one by one in an orderly manner. When they came out, only a few empty beast skin bags remained on their handcarts.

Shu had some suspicions. Qingchi City also collected many supplies from its residents every year for the City Lord's expenses. But those beastmen always made excuses, trying to give as little as possible. He had never seen people so主动 (zhǔdòng - proactive/initiative) in delivering supplies before, as if those bags of supplies meant nothing to these beastmen.

Similar to Shu's guess, the Revenue Department was currently conducting tax collection, but Hu Xiao wouldn't tell this outsider so much.

“You should ask less about our Blackrock's affairs,” he said, leading Shu past the entrance of the Sacrificial Hall into the backyard, his tone neither warm nor cold. “Wait here first. I’ll go inform the Great Priest.”

Shu, having been rebuffed, didn't continue seeking awkwardness and turned to examine his surroundings.

This look made Shu somewhat surprised. Hu Xiao had brought him into the Blackrock City's Sacrificial Hall, but Shu hadn't expected such a spacious large courtyard behind the solemn/stately two-story building. There were at least seven or eight rooms alone with exquisite/delicate wooden doors.

Before Shu could finish looking at all the rooms, Hu Xiao said, “Come in.”

Hu Xiao opened the door, and Shu entered the room directly ahead. Inside was a large wooden desk, and Qi Bai was sitting behind it.

Shu was about to greet Qi Bai when voices sounded behind him.

Those entering were precisely Songwu's Hu Liao and Sun, and the Sacred Antelope's Ling Ping and Ling Ta

Qi Bai gestured for them to sit, speaking with slight apology: “The City Lord and I have been away from the city for the better part of a year. We just returned and have been swamped with matters. You all have been in Blackrock City for many days, yet the two of us simply couldn't find the time, had to let Priest Yang Luo and Elder Yun Tan receive you. It’s somewhat discourteous/rude), to be honest.”

Ling Ping waved her hands repeatedly: “We don’t think that at all! Priest Yang Luo and Elder Yun Tan have taken very good care of us. We’ve been very comfortable these days.”

Ling Ping was absolutely not just being polite. Their Sacred Antelope was merely a medium-sized tribe; they didn't have all the etiquette of a city. In their view, Blackrock City had already done more than enough.

“Regardless, the City Lord and I intend to express our regards,” Qi Bai pointed west. “The cafeteria will prepare plenty of food tonight, along with our Blackrock’s unique fruit wine. Please come and sample our Blackrock’s cuisine together.”

Sun’s ears twitched. He quite liked Blackrock’s apricot wine with its slightly astringent/rough) taste. Hearing Qi Bai mention it now, he happily accepted: “Then thank you, Great Priest.”

Hu Liao cleared his throat and said, “It’s also a coincidence. Even if the Great Priest hadn’t summoned us today, we were planning to come inform the Great Priest and City Lord that we intend to leave in the next few days.”

Although Qi Bai hadn't appeared personally, Hu Meng, Niu Yong, and the others regularly reported the envoy group's situation to Qi Bai and Lang Ze. Qi Bai wasn't too surprised by Hu Liao's farewell.

This was the norm for communication between the beast continents. Hu Liao and Sun's task was to locate Blackrock City's position. Once the task was completed, they had to return to their city to report as soon as possible, even if the journey here had taken nearly half a year.

Qi Bai only made a symbolic effort to persuade them to stay. It was currently August. If Hu Liao and the others started back now and were willing to take the risk) of setting out from the direction of the Eastern Barbarians (Dongyi), they might, if all went smoothly, make it back to Songwu before winter, suffering much less on the journey.

However, this required one prerequisite, a prerequisite Qi Bai would not bring up himself.

Sure enough, Hu Liao straightened his posture and said, “Before we leave, we hope the Great Priest can do us a favor.”

Qi Bai picked up his teacup and took a sip of water, smiling faintly: “What is it? Just say it directly, Head of the Envoy.”

Hu Liao glanced seemingly casually at the Qingchi and Sacred Antelope people before speaking: “We wish to exchange for several handcarts with the Great Priest.”

If this matter failed, so be it. But once it succeeded, it definitely wouldn't escape the notice of the other two groups, so there was no need to hide it from them.

Upon hearing this, the gazes of Shu and the others snapped towards Qi Bai.

Hu Liao wanted handcarts, but how could they not want them too?

At the Blackrock city gates, hundreds of handcarts came and went every day.

Anyone with eyes could see how incredible Blackrock City's handcarts were.

Just the large stones piled high on those carts—each load weighed at least as much as several adult horned beastmen's beast forms.

Yet even with such heavy cargo, thanks to the handcarts, a nearly chéngnián  horned beastman youth could easily pull one.

If this were in their cities or tribes, moving just one cartload of stones would probably require thirty horned beastmen working together.

It was important to know that not all beast forms were suitable for carrying heavy loads. At the very least, the tiger tribe beast forms from Hu Liao's background weren't. Often, even if it required more effort and time, they had to use their human forms to complete the work.

Blackrock City indeed had countless good things, but in Hu Liao's view, these handcarts were the most important resource for Songwu and their Blazing Tiger tribe.

However, what he could analyze, the Blackrock people naturally couldn't be unaware of.

There was a shop specializing in handcarts on Trading Street. Unfortunately, no matter how many times they asked or how many supplies they offered, that beastman remained unmoved.

The response waiting for them was always the same sentence: “Our handcarts are not for external exchange.”

If this were a small tribe, Hu Liao and the others would have long since started a fight to seize the handcarts. In fact, Hu Liao had considered this more than once, secretly observing Blackrock City's defenses and the small teams going out to gather.

Yet the more he paid attention, the more alarmed he became. Blackrock City wasn't just seamless from the outside; internally, it was even more tightly knit.

The city walls, the city interior, even the patrols outside the city—not a single flaw could be found anywhere. Most terrifyingly, the other side had quickly noticed him and had even started observing them in return.

Hu Liao knew that what they faced now was absolutely not a city like Ten Thousand Bones that could be casually destroyed. Blackrock City was a city they could not afford to offend, one they lacked the ability to offend.

So, if they wanted handcarts, they only had one method: to obtain Qi Bai and Lang Ze's permission.

“How important handcarts are, I don’t need to explain; you can all see for yourselves,” Qi Bai set down his teacup, smiling faintly. “Using them for travel, beastmen can take turns resting, cutting the travel time by more than half.”

Everyone’s eyes widened. They truly hadn't thought of that!

This way, even the vast distance between Songwu and Blackrock could be traversed much faster.

Under everyone's expectant gazes, Qi Bai shook his head and said, “It is precisely because the handcarts are too important that Blackrock City has never intended to trade them. Many tribes have wanted to exchange for them before, and we have refused them all.”

Sun grew anxious: “Great Priest, our Songwu fought alongside Blackrock! We even have a contract! How can we be treated the same as those tribes?”

Hu Xiao thought to himself: They’re not the same. The four tribes that mentioned this before have all joined Blackrock now.

“No matter how many supplies, just give us a number. We will definitely find a way to gather them.”

“It’s not a question of the quantity of supplies. Our Blackrock City does not lack supplies.”

Qi Bai pretended to frown thoughtfully, then sighed after a moment: “I will discuss this further with the City Lord. But whether he will agree or not is hard to say.”

Ling Ping stared fixedly at Qi Bai: “Great Priest, you must persuade the City Lord! We, Sacred Antelope, can guarantee we will absolutely not trade the handcarts to other tribes, and we will absolutely not reveal the source of the handcarts. Trading them to us is absolutely safe.”

Qi Bai didn't give a definitive answer, only shaking his head slightly. He then turned to Shu, who was equally anxious and had something to say: “Young City Lord, you came early. Did you have something else to discuss with me?”

How could Shu not be anxious? Unlike Sacred Antelope and Songwu, Qingchi had not fought alongside Blackrock and Silver Moon. Their group's ability to come to Blackrock was entirely due to his thick-skinned/brazenness. Trying to claim closeness now felt almost too late.

However, seeing that Qi Bai clearly didn't want to continue that topic, Shu had to bring up the purpose of his visit, though saying it in front of so many people was somewhat awkward/embarrassing.

“I wish to borrow some supplies from Blackrock.”

“Borrow supplies?”

Some things, once started, become easier to say. Shu explained: “I have lived in a city since childhood. I’ve been to two of the three Upper Cities. I know very well what those cities have, and I know the goods in Blackrock City are absolutely unavailable elsewhere.”

“It’s just a pity we came hastily on this trip and didn’t bring many supplies with us. So, I wanted to borrow some supplies from the Great Priest, exchange them for goods to take back to Qingchi and present to my father. Next spring, I will bring more supplies to Blackrock. At that time, I will definitely repay the Great Priest with even more supplies.”

Qi Bai asked, “How much does the Young City Lord want?”

Shu then quoted the figure he had in mind. Ling Ping, sitting beside him, couldn't help but suck in a breath upon hearing it.

Because the amount Shu asked for was nearly half the quantity the Sacred Antelope tribe gathered during their autumn hunt.

Qi Bai, however, was somewhat impressed by Shu. This person seemed unreliable, but he acted with surprising pòlì -/daring and resolution.

Qi Bai agreed quite readily and cheerfully this time: Can do. I can lend you these supplies from my private assets. If Songwu and Sacred Antelope have needs, you can also make requests to me.”

Hu Xiao softly reminded him: “Great Priest...”

Qi Bai raised a hand to stop him. He looked around at the people at the table: “These supplies can be lent to you. But if any tribe fails to repay by the agreed time, Blackrock will not only cease trading with them henceforth, but I will also personally come to collect the supplies I lost.”

“The Young City Lord has no objections, right?”

Shu laughed heartily: “None, of course none! The Great Priest is direct and agreeable! Rest assured, I will definitely arrive on time next spring! I haven’t had my fill of Blackrock’s delicious food yet!”