Chapter 16: Black Market
In the span of eight days, Huo Zaiyuan"s interdimensional s.p.a.ce already held a large pile of food items: rice, wheat flour, pasta, instant noodles, mantou, cabbages, various kinds of meat, seeds, as well as a hundred different plastic containers…
Just looking at the pile of supplies, satisfaction fills his heart. In the last few days, he spent money as though it was water flowing from a tap, the seven million dollars speedily shrinking, leaving only three million behind. During the day, Huo Zaiyuan goes out to purchase supplies, using night-time to cultivate "Mysterious Nine Dragon"s Heaven" arts first level, as he realised if he practised under circ.u.mstances when his body is exhausted and his spirit battered, he is able to achieve twice the results with only half the effort. On top of that, by cultivating for the entire night, it is as if he slept soundly that whole time. The next day, he will be full of energy, as lively as a dragon and as vigorous as a tiger.
Along with his nightly cultivation, Huo Zaiyuan senses that the peculiar warm current flowing through his body is gradually growing stronger. And the peach seed he planted apparently grows along with his spiritual energy, slowly maturing as each day pa.s.ses. It is now about half a meter tall, its leaves" exuberant style inciting fondness no matter how you look at it.
Even as his spiritual force grows, and the little peach tree increases in height, Huo Zaiyuan still faces a big question every morning when he wakes…and that is the next day after cultivating for the entire night, when his body returns to peak condition, a layer of jet black stain always appears on the surface of his skin, and will increase day by day in size. Not to mention how unpleasant it smells.
Fortunately, the warehouse has its own running water. Every day, the first thing Huo Zaiyuan does early in the morning is to wash his entire body once. At the same time, he discovered another unusual matter. Presently, it is the middle of May, therefore, the temperature early in the morning is relatively low. But he doesn"t feel cold even though he uses cold water to take a shower. His body instead stays warm and comfortable. He also realises after that black stain is washed from his body, his skin"s complexion becomes better and better, delicate and soft, translucent and pure. Not a blemish is left, it is as though he has become a completely different person.
This makes Huo Zaiyuan can"t help but shout loudly in his heart with joy. His Taoist ancestor"s cultivation manual is indeed formidable ah!
As today is the last day, he temporary doesn"t plan to purchase more food. First, he goes to a bookstore and finds a pile of all-inclusive cookbooks, then heads over to a liquefied petroleum gas store to buy a hundred cans of liquid gas and several gas stoves. At the same time, he studiously soaks up information on how to operate, install and fix them from a staff member. Thanks to Huo Zaiyuan"s keen mind, he quickly learns how to use them in a short amount of time.
After departing from the gas store, he goes to a special store selling kitchen implements to purchase several pots, pans, ladles, basins, chopping boards, kitchen knives, etc. As long as they might be useful in the future, it went into the basket. Finally, he still needs a vehicle that will be capable of enduring the environment after the apocalypse, as well as weapons for self-protection, for example, knives and steel pipes. He hasn"t forgotten that besides going hungry after the end of the world, there are still things like zombies and bloodthirsty devil ants…
Naturally, there are many different cars, but none were deemed suitable in Huo Zaiyuan"s eyes. Also, he is unable to find a store selling steel pipes and iron tires. Therefore, he decides to browse a sports store first to purchase a hundred sports bats. After leaving the sports store, he directly takes a taxi to V City"s underground black market.
Before, Huo Zaiyuan was very rebellious and often visited places like the underground black market. Although he is not familiar with V City, it still is easy for him to find a shop selling swords.
"Yo, little older brother, looking at your action and stance, you aren"t confused. Asking for a hundred swords the moment you open your mouth…you are not looking to hack someone up, right?" The owner of the sword shop looks to be a rather experienced merchant, but still can"t help being shocked upon hearing Huo Zaiyuan asking for a hundred swords from the get-go.
"Boss, you already said I am not confused, so how can I use these swords to chop people? Can you or can you not help me deliver them to this location?" Making the down payment, Huo Zaiyuan hands over the address of the warehouse to the boss.
"I can. I"ll send men with your order over in the afternoon."
"Then I thank you. That"s right, boss, do you happen to know if the black market recently has any collision durable vehicles?" Huo Zaiyuan asks at the same time.
"Collision durable vehicles?!" The boss" eyebrows raise as he counts the cash in his hands before approaching Huo Zaiyuan. "Oi, youngster, your luck"s pretty good. Up ahead, there"s someone dealing in car-related business who recently got new stock. Amongst those goods is a Hummer. Don"t know if someone has already bought it but go ask him. Say Sword San[1] is the one who introduced you."
"Right. Thank you." Hearing there"s a Hummer, Huo Zaiyuan"s eyes lit up.
Although Hummers are heavy on petrol consumption, but it is extremely durable, unlike those good-looking but fragile branded cars. It will definitely suit Earth"s condition after the apocalypse.
Discovering the place dealing with car-related business, he walks through the door and is immediately astonished to the point of bulging eyes. Because he absolutely was not expecting to see a fierce-looking Hummer H1.
This is precisely a Hummer for military use ah! Huo Zaiyuan"s heart cries out in alarm.
Footnotes:
[1] It"s basically a nickname, typically created by sticking their surname after their speciality (store or trades or otherwise).