Chapter 6

Qi Yuan nodded slightly and put the items into his bag. Although his shooting skills were inaccurate, they could be improved. This flying eagle, along with two armor-piercing rounds, could fully compensate for his offensive shortcomings.

The one thousand two hundred yuan in banknotes included ten one-hundred-yuan notes, and the bald man also carefully took out twenty ten-yuan notes, stacking them into a thick pile.

This currency, issued by the Gate of Truth, had characteristics that even supernaturals could not forge. After its introduction, it quickly gained recognition from other forces and became the only currency of the new era.

Although some people had lost faith in paper money and only trusted bartering, in Blackstone Town, this currency was still the primary medium of exchange.

With one thousand two hundred yuan in his pocket, Qi Yuan instantly became a wealthy person in Blackstone Town.

Blackstone Town did not prohibit the residence of outsiders. As long as you had money, you could enjoy the best food, the purest water, and the most beautiful women here.

Spending ten yuan, Qi Yuan found a clean place to stay. The only drawback was that it was somewhat noisy. After Qi Yuan threw two women, who were dressed provocatively and liked to knock on doors, directly from the second floor, it finally became quiet.

This was a suite built in the style of the old era, a one-bedroom, one-living room apartment. Besides a large window that overlooked the street, the most luxurious feature was the 24-hour hot water supply, though there was a limit on water usage. However, with enough money, this restriction would not exist.

Filling the bathtub with hot water, Qi Yuan lay in it, closed his eyes, and began to think about his subsequent plans.

In this unfamiliar new world, strong power was the greatest guarantee for survival.

The talent tree, which seemed like a miracle, could bring various powerful abilities, but obtaining enough talent points was not an easy task.

The sign-in point at Si Tu's residence was proof of this.

This talent tree clearly did not want him to easily obtain powerful strength.

These sign-ins were its tests for him!

"Three sign-in points, one in Si Tu's underground secret room, and the other two in the north, probably in the two northern mines, none of which are easy to sign in."

"The most dangerous should be the sign-in point in Si Tu's underground secret room. The sign-in points in the mines can be approached with some planning. I should get the two talent points outside first, and once my strength is enhanced, I can think about going to Si Tu's secret room!"

"The northern mine that has been abandoned by insect beasts, besides a large number of black-toothed rats, is likely to be inhabited by many powerful insect beasts. Even Si Tu has not reclaimed the mine from the insect beasts, so going there recklessly would only result in a dead end."

"The other mine is firmly controlled by Si Tu. As the main resource point of Blackstone Town, Si Tu has invested strict defenses in this mine, with his trusted supernaturals guarding the entrance. It's not easy to sneak in, but there might be a way."

...

The hot water in the bathtub gradually cooled, and after washing away the stench of the corrupted wolves, Qi Yuan changed into clean clothes and left his residence, heading to the only tavern in Blackstone Town.

As a settlement with over a thousand people, one-third of the population in Blackstone Town were wilderness hunters. For these hunters who lived on the edge, strong liquor and women were the best ways to relieve stress.

As night fell, the bright searchlights illuminated the vast wilderness, and Blackstone Town became lively. The tavern became the most bustling place in the entire town.

Even Si Tu, the nominal leader of Blackstone Town, turned a blind eye to the tavern's management. As long as no one was killed, no one would care what you did in the tavern.

Pushing open the door, a strong smell of sweat mixed with the scent of strong liquor hit him. In the noisy atmosphere, some were drinking alone, while others were shouting loudly. A group of provocatively dressed women were circulating among the crowd, holding glasses. People were constantly stuffing dirty banknotes into their palm-sized undergarments and then roughly touching them, eliciting moans that made the blood boil.

Qi Yuan looked around and finally found his target in a corner of the hall. A few middle-aged men with bare torsos were huddled around a round table in the shadow of the chandelier, drinking the cheapest beer, and whispering to each other.

One of them was thin and wiry, with eyes that glowed like a rat in the dark, constantly scanning the hall as if looking for prey.

Qi Yuan walked over and sat down opposite the thin man.

The group, who were originally chatting, instantly fell silent, their eyes filled with anger, and their hands quietly gripped their weapons under the table.

The tavern's rule was that guns were not allowed, but knives were not prohibited!

Qi Yuan's sudden move was a strong provocation. If they didn't know his background, they would have already attacked him with their knives.

Only the thin man's eyes showed a hint of confusion, as if he recognized Qi Yuan.

"Morin, we meet again!" Qi Yuan said calmly.

Hearing this voice, Morin's pupils instantly contracted, seemingly not expecting to see Qi Yuan here.

Qi Yuan ignored Morin and called the bartender over, then looked at Morin and smiled, asking:

"What do you like to drink? Don't be shy, it's on me!"

Facing the hostile group, Qi Yuan remained calm, his gaze sweeping over the others, who were holding daggers, but his smile remained unchanged. He snapped his fingers and said:

"One ice beer for each of you, remember to add ice, and put it on my tab!"

The bartender, who had appeared beside him with a tray, nodded slightly, ignoring the tense atmosphere. Suddenly, a white frost appeared on his right hand, and he placed five ice beers on the round table in front of Qi Yuan.

A first-tier spell ability—Frost Touch—could quickly produce ice beers, but it could also freeze people into ice sculptures, though the latter required more time.

Seeing the five ice beers neatly placed on the table, Morin could no longer sit still. He suddenly stood up, accidentally knocking over a beer glass, and the sound of it falling attracted the attention of the surrounding patrons.

The bartender, who had just left, reappeared and looked at Morin, who was about to cause trouble, and said coldly:

"You broke a glass, which costs ten yuan. Cash or equivalent goods?"

In this dangerous world, the Blackstone Tavern always collected payment first, except for some supernaturals!

"You—"

Morin looked at the bartender with anger, as if he was about to shout, but the bartender's cold gaze was like a bucket of ice water, dousing his anger and making him shiver.

A cup of the cheapest beer cost one yuan, but a glass cost ten yuan. This was a warning to those who dared to cause trouble in the Blackstone Tavern.

"I—I—I'll pay!"

Morin felt his pockets but only found two one-yuan notes, and cold sweat immediately broke out. The consequence of eating and running in the tavern was only one: being thrown into the mine to work.

Morin looked at his companions for help, but saw that they had already released their daggers and deliberately turned their heads away, pretending not to know him!

The bartender's willingness to put Qi Yuan's tab on hold, rather than demanding payment upfront, revealed a lot of information, making them realize what they needed to do to avoid danger.

"You bastards, the beer you drank was paid for by me!" Morin shouted in his mind but dared not move.

The bartender looked at him coldly, and his right hand again emitted a cold frost.

"Put it on my tab."

Qi Yuan spoke again, defusing the situation for Morin.

The bartender dissipated the frost on his hand, and the other bare-chested men quietly left their seats, leaving the table to Qi Yuan and Morin.

Morin sat down dejectedly, picked up the ice beer, and drank it in one gulp, then stared at Qi Yuan with bloodshot eyes, as if ready to explode at any moment.

"How are you still alive! Where are One-Eyed Qiang and the others?"

One-Eyed Qiang, despite having only one eye, had awakened a supernatural ability. His marksmanship, combined with his AK, made him a formidable hunter in Blackstone Town. Along with his brothers, One-Eyed Qiang was a significant force in the town.

Moreover, One-Eyed Qiang had successfully hunted corrupted wolves, giving him some fame in the settlement. Otherwise, Morin wouldn't have sold the unconscious Qi Yuan to him for ten yuan, trying to curry favor.

Now, the person he had sold for ten yuan had returned, but the one he had relied on had not!

Qi Yuan took a sip of the ice beer, feeling the coolness slide down his throat and into his body.

"Since I'm back alive, they are obviously dead!"