Tata Mingqi spread his arms wide!

“The great Sir Lin Feng, as well as Lin Lei who exchanged for that new Track of Fate — his brother. Both obtained their new Track of Fate from the tenth layer, making it the origin point of everything. “

“The point where all things end and begin again… the harbinger of Death… “

After reciting this line, Yang Zicang asked:

“The tenth layer has no distributor, so how did these two gentlemen manage to exchange their Track of Fate? “

“Oh? Asking that question so soon? You’d better be careful—don’t let that little spark of curiosity of yours accidentally give birth to some strange possibilities. For someone like you right now, the appearance of any one of those possibilities would be like a towering mountain impossible to climb, a burden on your shoulders. So save these inquiries for another time. “

Loki. Tata Mingqi gazed at the full moon.

“But I’m genuinely happy to meet someone who asks those kinds of questions. Hmm, I’ll say it again—sign a contract with me. My long-term pact only costs thirty Glorious Lights, or one Flash, for a term of a hundred years. Of course, if you want to offer me more deals, I won’t say no, either. “

“Aren’t we doing just fine selling these ‘Distribution Beacons’ one by one? I’m not too fond of feeling bound by contracts. “

“Haha, some things… well, signing does have its perks. Especially when signing with a distributor like me from the first layer—those benefits blow any other layer’s out of the water. “

No sooner had Loki. Tata Mingqi uttered these words than his body suddenly convulsed—forcing out two sharp belches.

He clawed at his throat, which glowed fiercely red as if a burning coal were lodged inside, only calming down after a long moment.

“You, are you alright? “

“Hah… guessed as much. Saying things I shouldn’t always backfires like this, ” he said hoarsely, his throat raw and parched.

“Alright, let’s not talk about that anymore. “

Yang Zicang recalled many pitfalls he’d encountered in the past and shuddered. Changing the subject, he asked, “What about the necklace you promised to remodel for me? “

These past two days without Di An’s voice, I actually found myself missing that distributor a bit.

“Ah, about that…“

Tatamingi’s eyes rolled, shifting elsewhere.

“Since it’s an Alchemical Spirit Device that can carry four ‘Distribution Beacons’ at the same time, I’ll need a bit more time on it. If you want to sell the Glory Light, you can still trade with me over these two days. I’ll raise all your prices by ten percent—how about eleven thousand Monochrome Moonlight in total?“

“Sizzle~“

“As long as you sign with me, I’ll even help with small stuff like fixing Distribution Beacons or weapon magic patterns in the future. Look at these two,” he said, pulling out two prepared trinkets.

“These are beacons that can support up to five distributors at once, pretty rare to find. You want ’em or not?“

“This…“

“Besides, who knows? Someday I might even become a second-tier distributor. With good performance—after a long while—I could climb to third, fourth, even fifth tier. By then, I’d be able to exchange more and better Moonlight for you. This is a long-term business for us, don’t you think?“

Yang Zicang felt a flicker of temptation.

“I just don’t have much Glory Light and I’m running desperately low—it’s not that I don’t want to sign. Well… if that’s the case then… I’ll take it.“

— “Buzzzz… Hold on!“

Flutter, flutter, flutter…

A teacup-sized ball of energy swooped down rapidly from the sky!

It transformed into a gray pigeon, fluttering its wings as it rushed to hover above the two of them. A small radio-like speaker, no bigger than a thumb, hung around its neck, with a pale red electronic signal light glowing on the surface of its black casing.

Loki Tata Mingqi was startled and quickly stuffed the two “Spiritual Alchemical Seals ” he was holding into his robe.

— “Honorable sir, please don’t sign a contract with him… “

Yang Zicang took a step back and let the pigeon land on a broken stone wall protruding about three meters high beside him.

“What’s this? “

— “This is a complete waste. Mr. Yang Bucheng, I presume? Please sign a contract with me, and I’ll give you a treasure… “

“Shut up! ” Tata Mingqi grabbed a stone and hurled it at the gray pigeon, which fluttered up into the air with apuff-puffof wings.

— “The treasure I grant can automatically absorb the Moonlight from the first layer of the Moon Realm! It’s extremely close to the mortal world, so signing a contract with a first-layer distributor is entirely unnecessary… “

“That’s business slander! ” the boy barked.

Yang Zicang stood dumbfounded.

The gray pigeon flailed wildly in midair, its neck-hung little radio swinging back and forth with sharp, wide arcs.

Tata Mingqi jumped in exasperation.

“Does that thing really exist? And who are you? ” Yang Zicang asked.

— “Of course it does, and it’s absolutely true. I am a third-layer distributor of the Moon Realm old ’Good Old’ Duli! It’s called the Moon Realm treasure, Master Bucheng… Earthlings don’t… “

The voice suddenly grew faint, for the pigeon had flown to a very high place; a few stones traced high parabolic arcs across the sky before falling back down.

Tata Mingqi, who had thrown those stones, said angrily:

“Don’t believe that nonsense, Brother Buchen. That kind of treasure doesn’t absorb moonlight fast enough for your needs. He’s just trying to trick you into signing a contract! “

“Hmm… but… “

— “How old are you still calling him ‘brother’? You’re old enough to be his great-grandfather. “

The pigeon perched atop Yang Zicang’s head, “Coo-coo~ “

“You have no morals! ” Tata Mingqi pointed at the gray pigeon and cursed. The pigeon tilted its head, staring at the boy, “Coo-coo~ “

-｛Loki · Tata Mingqi indicates “There “｝

— “I’m only considering the guest’s interests, so he can make perfect use of the Radiance in his hands, don’t you think? “

Yang Zicang squinted, watching the scene unfold before him.

— “Feilü Inn is a major Radiance devourer; you don’t honestly think our honored guest can bid successfully for all the rooms in one go, do you? Why have you traveled such a distance, if not to… “

Slap~! The boy jumped up and swung a palm at the pigeon on Yang Zicang’s head.

Flap flap flap!

The pigeon, having taken a solid hit, wobbled crookedly to one side.

— “…For an experience related to divinity… “

Yang Zicang rubbed his forehead, moved a few steps to the right against the wall, and said, “Alright, alright. You two, just talk things out properly. “

“Duli’s reputation has never been good. When he signs a contract with someone, he hardly manages anything beyond the transaction! Brother Yang, you need to think this through. “

He hadn’t thought much of it before, but now hearing those three words “Brother Yang ” again, Yang Zicang felt a wave of disgust.

— “I pledge that the Moon Realm treasures I grant can absorb approximately two hundred ten to two hundred twenty-five strands of first-layer moonlight each day… “

“You’re lying; that’s in the old real world! In this place, being at fifty percent efficiency is already considered high! “

After a ‘hiss’ from the radio hanging around the pigeon’s neck, no rebuttal followed.

Sure enough, this guy’s a shady businessman! thought Yang Zicang.

Tower-ing Ming took a quick look left and right, then rushed over to his chest, closed it, hoisted it up, and with a running start headed straight toward the cliff edge.

“Take care, Brother Yang. I’ll come find you later. “

Flap flap flap—the pigeon followed the boy as he leaped down, cooing, “Coo-roo-coo~ “

— “Hey… you little scoundrel… Yang Buchen… my guest is the founder of the Fire Dance Gazette… remember… to con… tact… “

Yang Zicang dashed to the cliff’s edge. The child had already hit the water, towing his chest as he swam across the sea, shimmering under the glorious moonlight.

The gray dove landed on the surface of a wooden crate, rising and falling with the crate in the rolling sea. From the small radio hanging around its neck, no words could be heard anymore—only the boy’s faint curses occasionally drifting over with the waves.

……

Farther out at sea.

Anxi floated on the water’s surface behind the ship. After the graceful woman on board finished a dance, Anxi took a deep breath and extended a hand.

｛Radiance: Wave of Repose!｝

Swish!The surrounding churning water instantly calmed across a full expanse of over a hundred square meters.

Then, with awhoosh, a large wave surged in from the distance, pushing the entire ship as it slid several hundred meters away.

……

The next day, theQingying Gazettewas still published.

However, it contained no criticism of the founders of theDancing Fire Gazette, nor any evaluation of the previous day’s events. It only featured some modern poems and an initiative promoting cleanliness, hygiene, and the prevention of malaria.

But theDancing Fire Gazettewas something else. It actually criticized the arrest of certain eminent figures in the Grand Duchy by the Teransi Navy!

This caused an uproar among those trapped in Baoyu Village.

In a stone house at a bend in the road, Ma Shuo sat grunting on a wooden chair, holding a pen and writing on a sheet of rough paper. Yin Bo was busy at work in the kitchen.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, which was then pushed open.

Ma Shuo, letting out an “Hm? ” turned to look. It was a young man wearing straight-leg trousers and a dark blue navy cap.

“You…! ” Ma Shuo stared in shock at the other man’s ears.

-｛Distributor March. Duli is watching my actions.｝

-｛Distributor Duli gave me a favorable review.｝

“Ha. Please, have a seat. ” Ma Shuo’s heart steadied a little.

He watched cautiously as Yang Zicang, who had entered uninvited, sat down at the table. The man placed a dictionary on the tabletop.

Yin Bo poked his head out of the kitchen, spatula in hand. “Hey you, who are you? “

Yang Zicang glanced at the two of them, his expression shifting before he let out a soft laugh.

“You two have studied with me for several days, yet you still don’t know who I am? “

“What do you mean? “

“Your intelligence work is truly abysmal. I am the founder of the Qingying Gazette. “

Ma Shuo shot to his feet. “You—you’re…! “

-｛Distributor February. Lanyue is watching my actions.｝

-｛Distributor January. Xiaotao is paying attention to my actions.｝

-｛Distributor March. Duli is brewing a message.｝

Ma Shuo’s shock turned to elation.

All distributors focusing on one matter at the same time—this was a first!

Surge of immense confidence welled up in Ma Shuo’s heart!

What did this mean? It meant this glorious light had reached a critical turning point!

Wasn’t this visitor before him here to surrender?

The risk today was truly worth it!