Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies Chapter 1308: Diary of a Madman
Previously on Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies...
As Pagyi Gesang finished his explanation, a sudden clarity enveloped Zhang Yi's mind, recalling the harrowing early days of the apocalypse in Tianhai City.
He had secured a substantial stockpile of food then, thus avoiding any morally compromising actions. But if he had been in the same desperate situation as everyone else, facing starvation, what would he have chosen? Zhang Yi found no easy answer within his heart.
Perhaps he would have succumbed to death by starvation, or perhaps he would have yielded. Either path would have been a source of unbearable torment.
Liang Yue furrowed her brow, questioning, "The past is gone, and the present is here. Why continue such practices now? Why do you still consume that kind of food?"
At her words, Pagyi Gesang let out a sudden laugh.
"It's simply because Chef Luodan prepares it so wonderfully!"His hearty laughter echoed, yet a chilling sensation coursed through Liang Yue and the others.
While Zhang Yi maintained a calm exterior, an involuntary shiver traced its way down his spine. He understood that some transgressions, no matter how heinous, lose their sting of guilt after the first offense. Eventually, they can become normalized.
The profound inner pain eventually becomes a dull ache after repeated acceptance, fading into indifference.
By this point, Zhang Yi and his companions had lost their appetites entirely. They had consumed very little all day, their earlier disgust lingering, opting instead for some wine.
Zhang Yi rose, signaling his intention to depart.
Pagyi Gesang addressed them, "Everyone, please rest well and conserve your strength. Once the Prayer Festival commences," he paused, taking a deep breath, his gaze sharpening, "that will mark the beginning of the truly brutal conflict!"
Zhang Yi gave a nod, leading his group out of the drawing room. As they pushed open the grand redwood doors, a lengthy indoor corridor, adorned with elegant white pillars, stretched before them.
Passing through, they observed a figure pushing a cart.
Zhang Yi recognized the man immediately. His posture was impeccably straight; even while maneuvering the cart, he exuded an air of performing a solemn rite. This man was the Pagyi Family's head chef, Pagyi Luodan. He was the creator of that renowned delicacy cherished by the upper echelons of the Snowy Plateau Region; it was said that no high-society event was complete without his presence as the master chef.
As he heard the approaching footsteps, Luodan turned his head to look. He appeared to be in his forties, his salt-and-pepper hair neatly styled. His eyes held a deep, enigmatic darkness, hinting at an underlying melancholy. Such a demeanor could easily captivate impressionable young women.
Upon seeing Zhang Yi and his entourage, Luodan promptly halted by the wayside and offered a respectful bow.
Zhang Yi merely acknowledged him with a nod, offering no words.
The group instinctively moved aside, the mere thought of what his hands had handled in the kitchen making them recoil.
However, just as Zhang Yi and the others passed him, Luodan suddenly inhaled, then lifted his head with a knowing smile.
"You have not yet sampled the fare I prepared!"Zhang Yi cast him a glance and replied coolly, "I have no taste for such things."
"Oh, to be precise, I've never consumed it. And it's highly unlikely I ever will in this lifetime."Luodan nodded with approval.
"Well spoken. Yet, within the annals of Huaxu Kingdom's five-thousand-year history, those two words are inscribed extensively."He raised a finger, his gaze locking onto Zhang Yi with a faint smile. "Your person bears no trace of that particular cuisine. However, the scent of blood upon you is more potent than any other."
"Does that not constitute consumption in a different manner?"Zhang Yi scoffed. "You certainly indulge in a great deal of nonsensical talk!"
He had no desire to engage in cryptic, philosophical exchanges with such an individual and swiftly guided his companions away.
A gentleman judges by deeds, not by intentions. If intentions alone were the measure, no one in this world would be deemed perfect.
Unperturbed by the insult, Luodan watched as Zhang Yi and his group proceeded down the corridor, eventually exiting the opulent, palace-like structure.
...
While some celebrated, others stewed in resentment.
As secondary players in this affair, the Lhamin and Xia Zha families found themselves seething with suppressed anger. Coerced by Deji to deploy their forces, they reaped no rewards from the failed endeavor, leaving them deeply incensed by Deji's oppressive rule.
La Min Ouzhu, standing once more before the Lhamin family emblem, vowed retribution, declaring that she would one day force Deji to his knees beneath it, begging for forgiveness.
The imposing superhuman within her mansion paid little attention initially. However, upon catching wind of the Pagyi Family's sudden acquisition of formidable mercenaries, his gaze sharpened slightly.
"Miss Lhamin, do you have any insight into the origins of those mercenaries?"
Having expounded her earlier frustrations, La Min Ouzhu curbed her anger as the towering superhuman addressed her.
"I have no idea! Even the Yasha Langtai Family couldn't ascertain their background."
"Too many individuals have arrived from beyond this region recently."
As she articulated this, the corners of her mouth began to curve subtly.
"Aren't all of you the same?"
The towering superhuman offered a gentlemanly smile. "Those individuals possess considerable might. If... an Epsilon-level superhuman is among them, the situation could indeed become quite troublesome."
La Min Ouzhu exclaimed without hesitation, "Impossible! Utterly impossible!"
The towering superhuman arched an eyebrow. "Oh? What makes you so certain?"
La Min Ouzhu stated, "Within the Six Major Regions of the Huaxu Kingdom, superhumans do not traverse borders without explicit invitation. Especially the paramount superhumans hailing from each major region. To cross boundaries casually is akin to issuing a provocation, a veritable declaration of war!"
"Furthermore, such an action is no different from inviting a wolf into one's own home. Should a significant external regional force truly intervene, the party extending the invitation will reap no benefits whatsoever."
Cooperation, it must be understood, is predicated on the mutual capacity of both parties to negotiate terms.
Would one seek an alliance with a power that they are utterly incapable of confronting, only to be completely consumed?
Moreover, the other major regions, bound by the pacts governing the Six Major Regions, would not lightly meddle in the internal affairs of the Southwest Region.
To do so would be to effectively shatter those very agreements.
In the current landscape of the Huaxu Kingdom, only the Shengjing Region possesses the sheer strength to supplant entrenched local powers as an imposing external force.
Yet, even for them, engaging in cross-border operations would entail substantial risks, with a significant likelihood of encountering failure.
The towering superhuman rested his chin upon his clasped hands, his expression veiled in ambiguity.
"Could it be that formidable experts, unaffiliated with the official authorities, still exist within the Huaxu Kingdom?"
His initial assumption was that arriving in this domain would be akin to a higher-dimensional entity effortlessly crushing ants.
His plan was simple: obliterate the Lord of the Charnel Ground from the esoteric sect, after which no one would dare oppose him.
At worst, he could undertake a venture with zero risk, pilfering a portion of the underground Demon Kingdom's treasures from the Lord of the Charnel Ground.
However, on that very night, he unexpectedly encountered three other Epsilon-level superhumans!
This revelation compelled him to retract his initial underestimation of this place.
Simultaneously, a potent surge of excitement and trepidation coursed through his heart, imbuing him with an intense exhilaration regarding his current expedition.
"Conduct a more thorough investigation. Among the Pagyi Family's mercenaries, there might indeed be an extraordinary individual!"
Within the tall superhuman's ice-blue eyes, an undisguised fervor blazed like an unyielding inferno.