"I also heard about this. There have been a lot of rumors about Black Team Six going around these few days." Xu Xiaohui, who was at the side, helped Xu Qing and Zhou Qingpeng to their food while saying with a smile.
Over the past few days, the disciples from the various departments of the Seventh Peak were indeed discussing the operation to capture Night Dove. This was especially so for the powerful figures in this operation. Most of them had discussed it before.
Xu Qing was a little surprised. For the past few days, he had been focusing on finding an opportunity to kill the merfolk youth and didn't pay attention to these things. This was the first time he heard of the rumors in the outside world and the first time he heard that he was going to be promoted.
"It has nothing to do with us. To us… survival is the key."
Zhou Qingpeng sighed and touched his leg. There was a scar there that hadn't completely healed. He looked at Xu Qing who had been silent the entire time, and spoke earnestly.
"Junior Brother Xu Qing, you can't always be too solitary. You have to change your personality. You have to learn to be flexible and give some gifts to your superiors. Only then will you have a chance to obtain protection and survive better."
Xu Qing simply nodded. He wasn't good with words and didn't know what to say, so he mostly just listened. Zhou Qingpeng also slowly regained the vigor he had when he hadn't entered the sect. Sometimes, he would raise his glass amidst his laughter, affecting the atmosphere.
Zhou Qingpeng had clearly drunk too much and showed off his accomplishments.
For example, how he had a good relationship with his current superior in the Coast Guard Department, how he made many friends and obtained many benefits. He even took the initiative to help Xu Xiaohui increase her social circle.
Of course, he didn't forget to persuade Xu Qing many times to change his temper. He also told Li Zimei that he could ask if the Coast Guard still needed handymen and would recommend her if she wanted.
"My boss has promised me that as long as my results are slightly better this time around, he will introduce me to Senior Brother Ding Xiaohai. You guys know Senior Brother Ding, right? He is known as the number one person in our Seventh Peak in Qi Refinement." Zhou Qingpeng was very pleased with himself. Xu Xiaohui also smiled and flattered him, causing the atmosphere in the private room to become increasingly harmonious.
Xu Qing also smiled and raised his cup to congratulate him.
He didn't hate Zhou Qingpeng. Everyone had their own way of living. Since Xu Xiaohui was able to obtain the magic boat so quickly, she must have her own capabilities as well. As for Li Zimei, Xu Qing wasn't good at communicating, but he felt that since she could recognize him at first glance, her observation skills must be extremely sharp.
This meal lasted for almost two hours.
After three rounds of drinking, it was already late at night outside. Zhou Qingpeng continued to get more drunk. After everyone was done with the meal and drinks, Zhou Qingpeng passed the Ghost Desires to Xu Qing. However, before Xu Qing could pay, Zhou Qingpeng waved his hand.
"My family is well off. This little thing can be considered a gift between friends."
Xu Qing glanced at the bag that contained the Ghost Desires and noticed the sincerity on Zhou Qingpeng's face. He was really planning to gift them to him. After some thought, he didn't force the payment and cupped his fists in thanks.
The four of them walked out of the private room and arrived at the entrance of the restaurant. Zhou Qingpeng looked at Xu Qing and smiled.
"Junior Brother Xu Qing, I'm from the Coast Guard Department's Kun Department. I still don't know which division of the Homicide Department you're from. Let's interact more in the future. When I'm free, I'll look for you to reminisce about the past. We're from the same batch, so we must interact more. In this cold and detached sect, we can trust each other the most. We have to move forward together."
Xu Qing nodded when he heard this.
"I'm from the Mystical Division."
"Xuan department? The same department as that fierce man. He's from Team Six. Brother Xu Qing, which team are you from?" When Zhou Qingpeng heard this, he sobered up a little. Xu Xiaohui was also surprised.
Xu Qing looked at Zhou Qingpeng and Xu Xiaohui, as well as Li Zimei, who was staring at him. He hesitated.
"I'm also from Team Six…"
Zhou Qingpeng's eyes widened and he was stunned for a moment.
A look of disbelief appeared on Xu Xiaohui's face as she asked in surprise.
"He's in the same department and team as that fierce person? I think that fierce person's surname is also Xu…"
Before he finished speaking, no matter how slow Xu Xiaohui's reaction was, she still thought of something and was instantly stunned.
"It seems that each team only has 20-odd people…" Zhou Qingpeng said in a low voice. At this moment, he was completely sober.
Only when Li Zimei looked at Xu Qing, her gaze was filled with shock and realization. In reality, when she saw Xu Qing for the first time earlier, she had keenly sensed that there was still the stench of blood on him.
The surrounding atmosphere instantly fell silent. After a long while, Zhou Qingpeng laughed and cupped his fists toward Xu Qing to hide the horror in his heart.
As for Xu Xiaohui, she had a dazed look on her face. She looked at Xu Qing and wanted to say something, but she didn't in the end.
Very soon, everyone left in a hurry with their thoughts.
However, after Zhou Qingpeng left, his body trembled. His eyes were filled with disbelief and a hint of anticipation. He immediately took out his identity token and inquired about the rumors. He wanted to know how many people with the surname Xu were in Team Six of the Profound Division…
Xu Qing glanced at the departing figures of his peers and was about to turn and leave in the darkness. However, after taking a few steps, he seemed to have discovered something and turned back to look at the restaurant.
There was a small and skinny figure at the entrance of the restaurant. He seemed to be discussing something with the staff, and the staff looked a little impatient.
"No matter what, you're still a sect disciple. Don't make things difficult for me. I've already taken all the food you guys ate earlier. If you wanted to pack them up, you should have said so earlier."
This small and skinny figure was none other than Li Zimei. She had returned after leaving, and her expression was somewhat bitter as she listened to the staff's words.
When Xu Qing saw this scene, he fell silent before walking over. As he got closer, Li Zimei immediately sensed it. When she turned her head and saw Xu Qing, her face instantly flushed red before turning pale in the next instant. She stood there in a daze, her pride causing her body to tremble faintly.
"They probably won't accept it so quickly, right?" Xu Qing walked closer and looked at the staff as he calmly spoke.
The shop assistant swept a glance at Xu Qing. He had seen many disciples in the restaurant and faintly felt that this person in front of him wasn't someone to be trifled with. Hence, his attitude became respectful.
"It should be confiscated." With that, he hurriedly entered and came out not long later with a packed box in his hand. He then passed it to Li Zimei.
Li Zimei thanked him in a low voice and stood there in an incomparably reserved manner. The reason why she left and returned was because she didn't want others to see her. Her pride made her bite her lip so hard that it felt like it would bleed.
"It's fine. Food shouldn't be wasted in the first place. When I was young, I ate too much of other people's leftovers. Sometimes, we have to fight over food together before there's food," Xu Qing calmly said.
Li Zimei lifted her head and looked at Xu Qing. She opened her mouth but couldn't utter a word. Under the moonlight, the wind gusted and lifted Li Zimei's hair, revealing a deep scar on her neck that was usually covered up.
Looking at Li Zimei, Xu Qing didn't know why, but he thought of the little girl at the scavenger campsite. He also sensed the dense anomalous substances on her body.
Although the income of the disciples who didn't exchange for the magic boats wasn't much, that was only when compared to the magic boats.
Compared to commoners, it was still very good. Hence, Li Zimei's condition shouldn't be like this. Unless it was to purchase a magic boat and use all her income to exchange for contribution points, she should be extremely frugal.
Hence, after Xu Qing fell silent, he took out a few white pills he had refined and placed them in Li Zimei's hands.
"All the best. I want to see the day you exchange for the magic boat."
With that, Xu Qing turned and left.
Everyone had their own way of living. There wasn't much he could help with. Everything was his own choice.
Li Zimei stared at Xu Qing's back in a daze. After a long time, she lowered her head and looked at the white pill in her hand. An indescribable warmth surfaced in the depths of her heart. In this cold world, in this cruel sect, such warmth surfaced for the first time.
Hence, she fell silent for a long time. When she lifted her head again, her eyes were filled with gratitude.
She was grateful for the white pills he had given her, but she was even more grateful for his words of encouragement.
Her self-esteem made it so that she didn't need sympathy or any pity, but she needed encouragement.
"Thank you, I will definitely exchange for a magic boat!"
