Chapter Fourteen: So We Have to Throw in Some More Elixirs, Don’t We?

Early morning.

Jiang Taichu and his two companions got up for breakfast; today, they had no work duties. Tang Yu and Zhang Jing were permitted to rest, having used the excuse of looking after Jiang Taichu to gain Yang Xianzhi’s consent.

As they ate, Tao Zhong approached with a group of men, his expression icy cold. Tang Yu and Zhang Jing instinctively stood up, gripping their bowls as if ready to smash them over Tao Zhong’s head.

Jiang Taichu glanced up slightly. “Uncle Zhong, is there something you need?”

“Have you forgotten what you promised last night?” Tao Zhong ground out between clenched teeth.

“What promise?” Jiang Taichu looked baffled and turned to Tang Yu and Zhang Jing. “Didn’t the three of us come back and rest straight away? Did we see him at all?”

“No, we didn’t.” The two shrugged and sat back down.

Tao Zhong’s face darkened further. “Kid, you have to play by the rules.”

“Rules? What rules?” Jiang Taichu looked at him with mocking disdain. “Care to clarify?”

Tao Zhong, seasoned by years of life, could see clearly that Jiang Taichu was turning hostile. Could it be Yang Xianzhi who persuaded him last night to pursue things to the end? That must be it!

“Kid, you should know when to let things go. If you keep acting ruthlessly and take money without handling your business, no one will dare hire you.” A middle-aged man spoke in a low tone.

“Ruthless?” Jiang Taichu’s eyes turned frosty. “If I had a Particle Shield right now, I’d kill you where you stand! Did you spare any mercy when you tried to kill me?”

He was about to say more, but Tao Zhong raised a hand, took a deep breath, and said, “Since you refuse to do the job, then return the pills.”

“What pills?” Jiang Taichu looked genuinely puzzled.

“You—” Tao Zhong was struck speechless, his face red with anger, his hand shaking as he pointed at Jiang Taichu. That was thirty Five-Mystic Qi Nourishing Pills! Two years’ wages without eating or drinking! Now he could see that Jiang Taichu was clearly planning to take the money without doing the job. This kid was nothing but a scoundrel!

“What’s going on here?” A cold voice interrupted. Yang Xianzhi entered, his expression chilly.

“N-nothing, just having a chat with the young man,” Tao Zhong and his men instantly changed their faces, forcing smiles faster than chameleons.

“Nothing much, they just want to take back the pills,” Jiang Taichu said with contempt, shooting Tao Zhong and the others a disdainful glance.

Tao Zhong and his men tensed. Was this man truly so brazen as to disregard all rules? How could he say such a thing out loud?

Yang Xianzhi’s gaze sharpened as he turned to Tao Zhong. “What is this? I just privately compensated Taichu with thirty pills last night, and now you want to seize them? When did employees of Terra Corp start banding together for extortion? Would you be happier if I sent you all to the justice bureau?”

Tao Zhong was speechless. The others also fell silent. How had those pills become Yang Xianzhi’s compensation? They were ours!

“A misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding. I had no intention of demanding anything. I was just concerned about Brother Taichu.” Tao Zhong stammered, his lips quivering in anger.

“Concerned?” Yang Xianzhi’s tone was icy. “Is this how you show concern?”

“Truly, we’re concerned. Lu Fangtai is a despicable man who deserves to be executed—again and again, if possible,” one of the men blurted out.

“So how are you showing concern? Did I mishear you? Were you giving pills rather than asking for them?” Yang Xianzhi feigned surprise.

The crowd fell silent. Did this mean they were expected to hand over even more pills?

“Yes, yes, we’re giving pills. I bought one earlier, never got a chance to give it to my family—might as well give it to Taichu,” Tao Zhong said through gritted teeth, producing a pill and handing it to Jiang Taichu.

The others, seething with resentment, patted their pockets—they genuinely had nothing left.

Receiving a free pill, Jiang Taichu was naturally satisfied.

Yang Xianzhi spoke coolly, “We live in a society governed by law. I expect you all to observe it. Now, I have an announcement. This month, there will be overtime duty on Star One. Anyone willing to work will receive double pay, and any resources found will earn double rewards.”

“Double pay for a month’s overtime?” Tang Yu asked excitedly.

Yang Xianzhi shot him a look. “What are you thinking? Only double pay for those two days.”

Tang Yu laughed awkwardly and fell silent.

“Although Star One is the oldest of our company’s territories, after years of cultivation, it’s now rich in resources. If you’re unwilling to do overtime, speak up now,” Yang Xianzhi said.

“We’re willing! With such good terms, of course we’re willing,” Tao Zhong and the others replied at once.

“Good. Then work hard. Taichu, you take a proper rest, and you two look after him,” Yang Xianzhi instructed Tang Yu and Zhang Jing. “Don’t wander about unnecessarily.”

Relieved, Tao Zhong and his group hurried to suit up in their mechas and rushed off.

“Understood,” the two replied.

They knew well that Yang Xianzhi was giving them time off out of concern they might become targets for Tao Zhong and his group.

Although there was no Heavenly Dao Particle Shield, if those men tried to disrupt their work, provoke, or curse them, it would still be unbearable.

Jiang Taichu handed over his backpack, which contained geospirit stones and twenty Five-Mystic Qi Nourishing Pills. As for the Essence of the Earth, he had already hidden it in his room. Rooms were private spaces; the system didn’t monitor them.

“No need to give me more pills, nor compensate me so much,” Jiang Taichu said.

Sharing some pills with Yang Xianzhi was a way to curry favor; if he could use this to enter the company’s middle management, so much the better. As for upper management? How could they ever care about a single planet?

“Keep them; you’ve earned them. That pill is your reward for the geospirit stones. I’ll contact you later—come to my room, and we’ll discuss your compensation,” Yang Xianzhi said quietly. “Pay attention to this overtime assignment. If you perform well, I won’t treat you badly—making you deputy manager is not out of the question.”

“I’ll do my best,” Jiang Taichu promised, then asked in puzzlement, “But this deputy manager position—I don’t think it existed before?”

“It’s a new role. You’ll understand in time,” Yang Xianzhi replied, unwilling to say more. He took out a new mecha. “This is your new unit; trade in the old one.”

Jiang Taichu nodded, handing over the old mecha and taking the new one.

When Yang Xianzhi left, Jiang Taichu began pondering the overtime mission. It was clear this assignment meant a great deal to Yang Xianzhi, or he wouldn’t have given such special instructions and made such promises.

The deputy manager position would essentially act as Yang Xianzhi’s proxy, overseeing the entire planet.

“No work today—let’s play some games!” Tang Yu exclaimed in excitement.

Zhang Jing was just as enthusiastic. “Hey, fatso, let’s have a duel!”

Real mecha battles took place in the virtual combat space created by the system, called War. Based on their own abilities, pilots could exert their mecha’s power in one-on-one, team, or simulated warfare modes. Back in university, they often trained and competed there to hone their skills.

“You two go ahead, I’ll join you later,” Jiang Taichu said. Since his parents had passed and his work became overwhelming, he hadn’t played in a long time. He planned to refine the Essence of the Earth first, then train himself in the game.

Jiang Taichu returned to his room, locked the door, swallowed a drop of the Essence of the Earth, and sat cross-legged to cultivate.

After refining the Essence of the Earth, his progress increased by 3.1%.