The world has turned into Hell's Game, why should I stay human? Chapter 1358 1358: Rushed After Overtime—Refresh at 12:30 for Updates

Yaksha made an addition.

With anyone else, she would have taken this information for granted and wouldn't have bothered mentioning it.

However, when she found herself facing Liu Zheng, she decided clarity was the better approach.

After all, this particular human was known for his enigmatic nature and his tendency to hold grudges; if he decided to retaliate later, even a Dark Elf would struggle to cope with the aftermath.

"Alright, but you must give me at least ten seconds' notice."

Liu Zheng accepted the condition.

"Deal. So, where shall we meet?"

Yaksha inquired.

"Let's rendezvous at the entrance of the Jidao Public Bath,"

he suggested after a moment's thought.

This location was conveniently situated near the clinic, yet sufficiently distanced from the delivery point, making it an ideal spot for their meeting.

He opted not to have Ma Baoli navigate her own way there, considering her unfamiliarity with the route and the potential time wasted if she got lost. It was simpler for him to collect her personally.

"Okay."

Yaksha ended the call.

Liu Zheng, who had been speaking on his phone while walking, was now settling into the driver's seat.

"Whew~"

He exhaled deeply before starting up the spirit car and accelerating towards the "Mixed Yuan Xingyi Tai Chi Sect."

"Why are you dressed like that?"

Upon seeing Ma Baoli waiting by the entrance, Liu Zheng couldn't help but be taken aback.

"What's wrong? Does it look bad?"

Ma Baoli retorted, slightly defensive.

"Never mind whether it looks good or not, can you even fight effectively in that attire?"

He remarked, his lips twitching.

Ma Baoli was adorned in an elaborate and ostentatious court dress, with a lower half resembling a yurt; one could have roasted a whole lamb within its voluminous folds.

Engaging in combat while wearing it seemed impossible, and even simple movement was a struggle, leaving her breathless after just a few steps.

"You lack vision. Take a closer look."

Ma Baoli lifted the hem of her skirt, revealing that the structure supporting it was not made of metal wire or whalebone, but rather layers of yellow paper. Visible red markings adorned the paper, presumably talismans inscribed in vermillion ink.

"What is that?"

Liu Zheng inquired.

"It's a birthday present from my father. These Yellow Talismans can amplify the power of Thunder Skills and lessen the physical strain of using them. But the most crucial aspect is..."

Ma Baoli paused, her words trailing off at this point.

"What's the most crucial aspect?"

He pressed for more information.

"You'll discover it soon enough."

Ma Baoli decided to keep him in suspense.

"Very well, as long as you are aware of the risks. This isn't some friendly spar; it's a fight for survival. Your opponents will not hold back their attacks as I would."

Liu Zheng cautioned her sternly.

"Understood. You're even more of a nag than my dad,"

Ma Baoli replied, rolling her eyes at him.

"Ignoring the counsel of elders often leads to misfortune, young one,"

Liu Zheng stated in an old-fashioned tone before starting the engine.

By the time their vehicle reached the "Jidao Public Bath," Yaksha was already waiting at the entrance.

"Small wonder you're a Mage; even your travel arrangements are this swift,"

Liu Zheng commented with a hint of envy.

"I drove here,"

Yaksha responded with an impassive expression.

"Oh. So, where is your car then?"

"My driver took it to park. We're all significant figures here, don't you have a driver?"

She retorted coolly.

"... Hurry up and get in. We're going to be late for the delivery window."

Liu Zheng urged them onward.

Yaksha offered a faint smile and gracefully entered the spirit car.

"Who might this be?"

Ma Baoli asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Yaksha, the Dark Elf who is my partner,"

Liu Zheng introduced her.

"Oh. She doesn't exactly give off the impression of being a kind person,"

Ma Baoli murmured softly.

"It's fine. Our cooperation has been smooth so far, and that's what matters. This isn't about selecting a wife, so the criteria don't need to be exceptionally high,"

he stated matter-of-factly.

"I have absolutely no interest in you, human. Besides, Dark Elves have a matriarchal society; at best, you could aspire to be my Star Slave,"

Yaksha stated her position bluntly.

"Coincidentally, my interest in you is even less, and I wouldn't even consider you worthy of being my Star Slave,"

Liu Zheng shot back.

"Your choice of words is rather coarse. Just focus on driving,"

Ma Baoli nudged his back, signaling him to cease the exchange.

However, a smile played on her lips, clearly pleased by Liu Zheng's sharp retort to Yaksha.

This wasn't born from jealousy, but rather a personal dislike for Yaksha.

Regardless of whether a society was matriarchal or patriarchal, in Metropolis, respect was ultimately earned through strength.

Ma Baoli acknowledged Liu Zheng's superiority, having been defeated and subsequently protected by him, thus commanding her respect.

Yet, this woman, who was demonstrably weaker than Ma Baoli, carried herself with an air of arrogant superiority, which irked her.

If it weren't for the imminent need for Yaksha's assistance, Ma Baoli would have already taught her a valuable lesson.

"Hmph!"

Yaksha let out a snort but refrained from escalating the argument.

While habitually haughty, she was not entirely without shrewdness; she had encountered numerous aggressive remarks throughout her life even before assuming the title of Yaksha.

Had her opponent been weaker than her, she would have undoubtedly made them pay dearly for disrespecting a noble.

However, if faced with a superior foe, she would meticulously remember every detail, waiting for the day when the tables turned, granting her the opportunity for retribution.

Rather than launching a surprise assault, Liu Zheng piloted the spirit car directly to the designated delivery point. With unwavering confidence, he then guided Ma Baoli and Yaksha from the vehicle.

A woman, positioned not far away, observed their approach with keen eyes. She possessed long, wavy golden hair, a tall and slender physique, and was clad in gleaming Silver Armor, a Great Sword resting in her grasp.

"Are you Teresa?"

Liu Zheng inquired.

"Indeed. And you must be Liu Zheng?"

The woman responded, her gaze steady.

"That's correct. State your business,"

He asked directly, cutting to the chase.

"You've acquired someone. Someone has tasked me with their retrieval."

Teresa stated her purpose clearly.

"Lin Pinru?"

"Precisely."

Teresa confirmed with a nod.

"And who is this employer?"

Liu Zheng inquired further.

"That, I cannot disclose,"

Teresa answered quietly.

"What's the proposed transaction, then? Surely they don't expect a free service?"

"Whatever Green Shade Culture offers, they will pay double."

Teresa replied, laying out the terms.

Her consistent reference to the employer as 'they' suggested a detachment, hinting at a purely transactional relationship with the individual pulling the strings.

If that were the case...

"How formidable is she?"

Liu Zheng turned to question Ma Baoli.

"Extremely potent, though I cannot ascertain the exact level of her strength. I've never encountered an aura quite like hers,"

Ma Baoli replied, her brow furrowed in thought.

In this metropolis, powerful individuals could often discern each other's might through their auras. The closer the auras, the more precise the perception; the greater the disparity, the more obscured the understanding.

"Stronger than you?"

"We would need to engage in combat to ascertain that."

Ma Baoli responded, a hint of challenge in her voice.

"I see..."

Liu Zheng shifted his gaze back to Teresa.

"Then I shall offer the same terms: whatever compensation they are providing you, I will offer double that amount."

He declared.

If financial resources could resolve the conflict, why court unnecessary danger? Recently, his acquisition of Extraordinary Items had been scarce, and he had already pledged all spoils of war to Yaksha. Even a victorious outcome would yield no personal gain.

-----------------

"Whew~"

He exhaled deeply, a sense of resolve settling upon him. Then, he activated the spirit car, its engine humming as it sped towards the "Mixed Yuan Xingyi Tai Chi Sect."

"What's with the extravagant attire?"

Upon seeing Ma Baoli awaiting him at the entrance, Liu Zheng couldn't help but be taken aback.

"What's wrong? Does it not suit me?"

Ma Baoli retorted, a playful glint in her eyes.

"Never mind whether it suits you; can you even fight effectively dressed like that?"

He remarked, his lips twitching slightly.

Ma Baoli was adorned in a remarkably complex and ornate court dress. The lower half billowed out like a yurt, appearing spacious enough to roast an entire lamb within its confines. Engaging in combat while wearing such an outfit seemed improbable, and even simple movement appeared to be a strenuous endeavor, causing her to pant after merely a few steps.

"You lack perspective. Observe closely."

Ma Baoli lifted the hem of her skirt, revealing that the support structure beneath was not crafted from wire or whalebone, but from tightly rolled sections of yellow paper. Intricate red patterns, presumably mystical runes inscribed in vermillion ink, were clearly visible upon them.

"What is this?"

Liu Zheng inquired, intrigued.

"It's a gift from my father. These Yellow Talismans serve to amplify the potency of Thunder Skills while reducing the physical strain involved in their execution. However, the most crucial aspect is..."

Ma Baoli paused, her explanation trailing off.

"The most crucial aspect?"

He pressed for more information.

"You shall discover it soon enough."

Ma Baoli decided to keep the key detail a secret.

"Very well. Just ensure you understand the gravity of the situation. This is not a friendly sparring session; it's a battle for survival, and your opponents will show no mercy, unlike myself."

Liu Zheng cautioned, his tone serious.

"Understood. You're even more meddlesome than my own father,"

Ma Baoli responded, rolling her eyes at him in mock exasperation.