"Either we cover the RV with magic circles, safety rating four stars, feasibility three stars. Or we travel in a group, safety rating four and a half stars, feasibility four and a half stars. Or we wait for trains, high-speed rail, and planes to be available in all safe zones, but I don't know how long that will take."

"Then let's take a three-pronged approach. The most urgent task is to leave District Seven." Yan Shi carefully considered the plan provided by Zhuang Zhao and found it quite reasonable.

"I've been asking around, and no one else seems interested in going north with me." Yan Shi held his phone and inquired around, ignoring the private messages that hadn't been replied to yet.

However, people are not very interested in moving to the north, especially those who have partners, who do not want to move.

"It would be wonderful to take a road trip in peaceful times, but in this world, it's easy to go and never come back."

Bu Ke was interested, after all, he was a loyal fan of Yan Shi, but his brother was dating Chang Ge, and Chang Ge was a member of Team 404. The girls in Team 404 didn't want to break up.

"I suggest you listen to your family's advice first, since there are still significant safety risks."

"I understand. I'll try to persuade my brother when we get back. He can find another girlfriend, but he only has one sister."

"Chang Ge knows I'll be the first one killed, little ancestor, don't harm me."

"Just kidding. My brother finally found a girlfriend. If I mess her up, my parents will be the first to hold me accountable."

"But I really want to go. Anyway, I'm going to leave him eventually, so a few years earlier isn't a big deal."

"Why do I have this strange feeling that I'm trying to abduct a child?"

Marquis Quan was so engrossed in the group of exotic helpers brought by Si Yue that he lost interest in even Yan Shi, let alone joining their northward expedition.

Yan Shi was especially sad at this moment.

"I wish I had more friends. Do you have anyone over there?"

"Han Yan insisted on going. He is the future head of the Han family, and the Han family would never dare to let him take such a risk. However, Han Yan said that the Jin family and the Jiang family might be interested. Both families have many juniors scattered in the north, and they want to try to find them."

Are the Jin and Jiang families both sorcerer families?

"Um."

"That makes me feel much more at ease."

"Otherwise, we could openly recruit bodyguards and offer high salaries to warriors. There would definitely be many aliens and sorcerers interested."

"Yeah, we're rich, but we're so used to being poor that we always forget we have the power of money."

The two took some time to settle their assets. Since Si Yue unified the seventh and ninth districts, and the currency was universal, there were places to exchange both currencies, so they didn't have to worry about not being able to spend their money.

The money they saved from previous jobs, the money they earned from missions, the crystal cores Quan Hou gave them, the money Zhuang Zhao accumulated (whose origins are unknown), the bounty they received from clearing levels in the Ninth District Amusement Park, etc., all added up to about seven or eight hundred thousand, enough for the two of them to live in the Seventh District for fifty years.

"Would it be enough to hire people with half of the money?" Yan Shi wasn't quite sure about the market.

"It's enough, but if we want to attract more powerful people, we need more than half."

“We need to save some money. When we come back, we can’t just stay at Quan Hou’s place. We need to rent or buy a house. We need to save at least a few hundred thousand.”

"Yes, we should save some." Zhuang Zhao was delighted to hear that they were going to move out together.

"Then let's budget 500,000."

The two had just posted the mission when Si Yue appeared outside the door.

"I heard you're heading north? Are you avoiding me?"

“You don’t have the face to make us leave our homes. I’m going to find my parents.”

"Are your uncle and aunt to the north?"

"Yes, my hometown is in Northeast China."

"Count me in."

Why would I bring you along?

"Aren't you short of guards?"

"Big brother, you're the highest-ranking person in charge of the safe zone, where are you going?"

"In ancient times, emperors should either go to the battlefield or travel to the south of the Yangtze River."

Yan Shi was speechless.

"What was your first question?"

"I heard you're heading north."

"The next sentence."

"They're avoiding me," Si Yue recalled after a long pause.

"Yes, I'm avoiding you."

"You think I won't follow you just because you're avoiding me? You're being too naive."

Yan Shi clenched his fist and closed the door in front of Si Yue. Luckily, they were talking at the door, so he wasn't let in from the start; otherwise, it would have been easy to invite a god in but difficult to send him away.

"Yan Shi, open the door. I'm done talking, let's change the subject."

Yan Shi threw herself into Zhuang Zhao's arms, looking utterly devastated.

"If I could have a chance to do it all over again, I definitely wouldn't go to District Nine."

"Let him come if he wants to."

"That won't do. I'm scared of him now. By the way, aren't you jealous at all? Or do you have other plans?"

"They're thinking of taking the opportunity to silence them."

"Let's forget about silencing him. He was quite strong, and his death would be a great loss to humanity. Besides, he saved us before. It wouldn't be right to repay kindness with enmity."

"Are you reluctant to part with it?" Zhuang Zhao questioned.

"My conscience wouldn't allow it."

"First comes guilt, then embarrassment, and finally, it would be impolite to refuse."

"Zhuang Zhao, are you looking for trouble?" Yan Shi sensed something was wrong.

"Didn't you say I don't get jealous? I'll show you." Zhuang Zhao's expression changed instantly, showing weakness and acting coquettishly.

"Let's get down to business. What if the Commander of the Right Axe wants to come along?"

"We'll just have to do what we have to do. Either we abandon him halfway, or we wait for him to give up, or we wait for him to cross the line, and then we cut him off."

"Your solutions are always simple and crude."

"Whether it works or not is all that matters. Girls should worry less and get angry less, which is good for their health."

"Fine, I'm happy to have some peace and quiet." Yan Shi said in an unfriendly tone, got up and went back to the house, while Zhuang Zhao closed his eyes and clapped along.

"Zhuang Zhao, do you want some of the snacks I bought? They'll go bad if you don't."

"Eat." Zhuang Zhao stood up with a smile.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!