Chapter 10: Mù Xīng

Chapter 10: Mù Xīng

Simon watched as Cang Cheng rapidly drew several runic patterns he didn't recognize, his neck craning in eagerness.

Wow… so many runic patterns!

So many unfamiliar runic patterns!

These could fetch a high price, couldn’t they?!

If only he could get the agency to sell these runic patterns, he could quickly make a fortune and reach the peak of his life.

Simon’s eyes were glued to the runic board, his head almost touching it.

Cang Cheng spoke up, "Do you want to devour these runic boards?"

Sensing the displeasure in Cang Cheng’s voice, Simon shook his head rapidly.

He then pointed to his gagged mouth, indicating he wanted to speak.

"I’ll allow you to speak."

Simon, fawning and rubbing his hands eagerly, said, "My lord, about the matter of letting our merchant association sell the runic boards..."

Cang Cheng lowered his gaze in thought.

The runic patterns he created were essentially magic, though named runic patterns. They differed from this world’s runic system, offering great potential for innovation. Cang Cheng was also very willing to allow magic to thrive in this world in a new form.

After all, the runic patterns in the Canglan Star Region could only be used for support, which was a terrible waste of potential.

Cang Cheng: [Mo, what do you say?]

Hilmeth: [Transporting goods from the border star is inconvenient. You can have the merchant association help transport the runic boards.

Once your reputation grows and demand for your runic patterns outstrips supply, you can open up the copyright and allow other runic masters to replicate your runic patterns.]

Although the destructive power of the runic patterns Cang Cheng created was not yet comparable to high-powered thermal weapons, Hilmeth could already foresee their potential.

He was eagerly looking forward to what other creative runic patterns Cang Cheng would create next, perhaps… even causing a revolutionary change in the runic world of the Canglan Star Region.

Cang Cheng found their interlocutor's argument reasonable: [That's true. Transportation on Luo Ri is inconvenient, and the spiritual patterns can't be delivered without the operation of a merchant guild.

Sooner or later, I'm going to make Luo Ri the second most prosperous planet in the Canglan Star Domain, after the main planet. The stellar trade routes will be accessible in all directions, and everyone will be eager to settle on Luo Ri.]

Thinking about how all shops in the Canglan World posted notices saying "No delivery to border planets," Cang Cheng felt a surge of frustration.

The shops couldn’t even treat everyone fairly.

All bad reviews.

Simon suddenly felt a drop in the room’s pressure and shivered.

Why does it suddenly feel hard to breathe...

Cang Cheng took a deep breath inwardly, pushing the unpleasantness aside.

Cang Cheng: [Should I give the Lion Merchant Guild the distribution rights for the spiritual patterns?]

Hilmeth: [Give it to Simon. He's signed an indenture with you; he can't play any tricks.]

Then, Hilmeth added another point.

[You can also negotiate a better price.]

Cang Cheng chuckled to himself: 'Alright.'

Noticing Cang Cheng's silence, Simon feared he had offended his lord and, with a swift motion, dropped to his knees, forehead touching the ground.

"My lord, I didn’t mean to force anything on you. Please don’t take my head over this."

Cang Cheng snapped back to reality, confused: When did he ever ask for Simon's head?

"My lord, my loyalty to you is as clear as the heavens and the sun and moon. I only wish to sell the exquisitely crafted spiritual patterns you create even better. I have no intention of deceiving you... My lord..."

Cang Cheng’s tone was cold. "Get up. I never said I wanted your head."

Simon looked up. "Really?"

"Really, get up."

Simon wiped away Schrödinger's tears and stood up again.

"I can appoint you as the distributor, responsible for selling my Spirit Patterns on other planets."

"Really?"

Simon felt like he was dreaming.

"If you agree to make me the distributor, I’ll only charge the minimum shipping fee and take just 0.5% commission. I’ll work extremely hard for you, Lord!"

Cang Cheng smiled faintly. "0.5% is all?"

"Well, then… how about 0.1%? I need to cover my meals and social expenses, Lord."

Cang Cheng didn’t press further and signed a contract with Simon.

Cang Cheng said, "I will first generate some excitement for the Spirit Patterns at the arena. There’s no need to rush for now."

"Yes, Lord."

After securing the desired contract, Simon left, bouncing with joy.

Quite the nimble big man.

A moment later, the smart gatekeeper emitted an emotionless electronic voice.

"Visitor: Resident of Luo Ri Star, Mù Xīng. Allow entry?"

Cang Cheng had no memory of the name. "Mù Xīng?"

Philip reminded him, "Mù Xīng is the brother of the child who gave you the mushroom potion and healing potion yesterday—Mu Mu."

Ah, the one who cultivates mushrooms.

"He came to me before I could find him."

Cang Cheng’s pitch-black eyes sparkled like brilliant gemstones.

"Let him in!"

Mù Xīng had seen images of the fifth prince Cang Cheng in the news before. Although Cang Cheng had a handsome appearance, his expression was timid, his eyes cautious, like a mushroom growing in a dark corner, hidden from the light.

Mù Xīng had imagined that Cang Cheng would look different from the images, but at this moment, upon seeing him in person, he realized, startled, that it was not just different; it was as if he were a different person.

Cang Cheng was currently sitting by the window, his black medium-length hair casually falling over his shoulders. The hair on his right side was tied back with a light blue ribbon, keeping the strands from falling into his eyes.

His same-colored black eyes, under the sunlight, had a faint golden hue, glistening softly.

He wore a simple white shirt with no patterns, his long legs crossed over each other, exhibiting an elegant and graceful demeanor.

He was indeed very handsome, possessing a hazy and delicate beauty.

This was the first impression everyone had of Cang Cheng.

There was a tear-shaped mole under Cang Cheng’s right eye, which should have made him appear even more fragile.

However, Cang Cheng’s eyes were bright, like stars falling from the night sky, radiant and dazzling. This made the apparently fragile tear-shaped mole seem strong instead.

He exuded a contradictory and inscrutable presence.

When Mù Xīng’s eyes met Cang Cheng’s, his heart skipped a beat because of those enigmatic black eyes.

Instinctively, he looked away.

Prince Cang Cheng was completely different from the rumors.

And, he was indeed very handsome.

Mù Xīng lowered his head, joined his right middle and index fingers together, and tapped his chest twice.

This was the gesture used by subordinates to salute superiors on Canglan Star.

"Mù Xīng, paying respects to the Regent."

"Hmm. What is it you need?"

Cang Cheng, without putting on any airs, asked directly.

"I heard from my brother Mù that you saved him yesterday, so I came to express my gratitude," Mù Xīng said.

"Oh?"

Cang Cheng uttered a single syllable and fell silent.

Cang Cheng and Hilmeth conversed: [Do you think he's capable of producing food for me? Since he can make mushroom potions, he should be able to create potions for potatoes, tomatoes, and meat, right?]

Hilmeth was initially taken aback and struggled to understand Cang Cheng’s logic. However, he responded: [Uncertain. The best alchemists are Awakened Ones. He is not.]

Surprised, Cang Cheng: [He's actually not an Awakened One?]

Hilmeth: [I've heard of him before. His spiritual core was extracted, and now he's just an ordinary person.]

Astonished, Cang Cheng: [Who on earth was so ruthless to dig out Muxing's spiritual core?!]

Was his designated food provider about to slip away so easily?

Then, Cang Cheng had another thought.

Cang Cheng: [Wait… You said you've heard of Muxing's name? He doesn’t look very old, so you… haven’t been dead for long, have you?]

Previously, the forbidden spell mage had summoned spirits through the Gate of Truth—these were souls who had already died but held deep grudges. Thus, Cang Cheng naturally assumed Hilmeth was also a spirit.

Hilmeth: [He’s neither dead nor fully alive.]

There was a moment of silence.

Cang Cheng: [Never mind, if you don't want to talk about it, I won't ask. But by the way… I saw Admiral Hilmeth wearing the same uniform as you in the Canglan World a few days ago! You're not one of Admiral Hilmeth's subordinates, are you?]

Hilmeth, unsure how to respond, noticed his tail, bound to his leg, deflate like a punctured balloon, drooping from his thigh to his ankle. Seeing this, Cang Cheng stopped teasing Hilmeth.

Cang Cheng lightly tapped his finger on the sofa’s armrest, creating a soft sound.

He then said to Muxing, "I’ve received your gratitude. What’s next?"

Cang Cheng’s gaze examined Muxing for a moment. Though it was just a casual glance, it carried an intangible pressure.

Mù Xīng tightened his hand placed beside his body, the shadows of his eyelashes casting a darker hue over his light brown irises. The thick lenses masked his gaze, concealing the peril in his eyes.

His milk tea-colored hair had grown unkempt from neglect. His skin was unnaturally pale, devoid of any healthy color, giving him a more unhealthy appearance than Cang Cheng.

His hands bore scars from splashes of chemical reactions. These hands, meant for cellular modification, should have been well-maintained, but now their owner no longer cared for them.

Mù Xīng made his decision in a second and looked up, his ambition clearly evident in his eyes. "I would like to propose a deal with you, my lord."

Cang Cheng's eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of light in his dark eyes.

This finally piqued his interest.

"Do tell."