They had met.
Cheng Shuili's gaze lingered on Master of Slacking for two seconds. Her eyes were calm and waveless, yet they made Master of Slacking feel as if he had been scanned by X-rays, his every little thought laid bare.
He clearly hadn't done anything wrong, yet he suddenly started to panic.
Cheng Shuili, however, shifted her gaze away. She watched the person leading the group outside with great interest.
Going so far as to use supplies to bribe Master of Slacking just to enter a hell-level dungeon was truly suspicious.
Normal people were desperate to avoid high-difficulty dungeons; some in the regional channel were already cursing the moment they matched with teammates for an elite-level one. Yet this person had actually come to a hell-level one of their own accord.
Cheng Shuili narrowed her eyes. The leader was a tall, thin man wearing dark combat gear that looked ordinary but revealed high quality in its details. Rainwater slid down the lines of his neat, short hair.
His features were not exactly strikingly handsome, but they possessed a strange sense of harmony and... composure when combined. His brow bone was slightly prominent, and his eye sockets were set a bit deep.
At this moment, he held his hands up to show he had no weapons. His posture was very low, yet his spine was held straight, showing no fawning or fear. It was more of an equal stance, a posture of someone seeking dialogue.
"Boss Crow," he spoke again, his voice clear and steady through the sound of the rain, "We have no malice. The behavior of that bunch of idiots earlier has nothing to do with us. We are just here to talk business."
Cheng Shuili did not speak. Her fingertips tapped lightly against the wall of her cold teacup.
Ailin's muzzle dipped slightly, but it remained locked precisely on the center of the man's forehead.
Xinxue nervously licked her lips, looking outside and then back at Cheng Shuili.
Qi Wanyi and Jiang Tang were quite relaxed, standing right beside Cheng Shuili. Jiang Tang even picked up the small teacup Cheng Shuili had brought out and took a sip. Seeming to find the tea too bitter, she silently stuck out her tongue.
The most nervous person was naturally Master of Slacking, who tried his best to minimize his presence, praying frantically that Fengyun Tianxia would not see him.
Normally, Cheng Shuili would welcome someone who came to talk business so proactively, but...
This team was too strange.
And so proactive...
Cheng Shuili always felt they had ill intentions.
"Talk business?" Cheng Shuili finally spoke, her voice devoid of emotion. "Fine. However, I am accustomed to collecting a sincerity deposit first."
Outside, Fengyun Tianxia seemed to relax slightly, his tone remaining sincere. "As it should be. What would you like as a sign of sincerity?"
"It is simple."
Cheng Shuili set down her teacup, stood up, and walked slowly toward the warehouse door.
"The three of you, walk forward ten steps, then stand still and do not move. Especially you," her gaze landed on Fengyun Tianxia, "raise your hands and turn around once for me to see."
This request was a bit strange, but not entirely unreasonable, as if she were checking if they were hiding heavy weapons on their persons.
Fengyun Tianxia hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright."
He walked forward ten steps as instructed. The rain immediately soaked him further; his raincoat had several holes, and the acid rain seeping in was already corroding his clothes.
Fengyun Tianxia, however, seemed not to care. He held his hands high and slowly turned in a circle where he stood.
"Is this acceptable, Boss Crow?"
His tone was sincere and his voice gentle. If Cheng Shuili had any further requests, it would seem like bullying.
But Cheng Shuili really did have another request.
She tilted her head, as if appraising an interesting item. Her gaze roamed over him before landing on his mud-caked military boots.
"Hmm, the attitude is good," Cheng Shuili said, her tone languid. "However, just turning in a circle doesn't seem like quite enough sincerity."
Inside the warehouse, Ailin's muzzle remained as steady as a rock. Xinxue found it strange but would certainly not say anything.
Qi Wanyi could only be described as having eyes full of indulgence; Cheng Shuili was the boss! The boss could do whatever she wanted!
So what if she was making things difficult for you? You are the one begging us, so you have to take it even if we make things hard for you!
Besides, Cheng Shuili was not the type to lack morals. Looking at the redundant guy in the warehouse was proof enough—the fact that Master of Slacking was here meant there were definitely many things to be careful about.
Qi Wanyi didn't understand the details, but she knew that trusting Cheng Shuili blindly was the right thing to do!
Actually, speaking of redundant people, Jiang Tang was also quite redundant. This person took another sip from her cup; the taste of the tea certainly hadn't changed, but she was like a fool, thinking that drinking more would allow her to taste something different.
Outside, the expression on Fengyun Tianxia's face was impeccable, still carrying that sincere and slightly humble look. "Please speak, as long as it is within our power."
"Of course it is within your power. It is very simple."
Cheng Shuili hooked the corner of her mouth into a smile devoid of warmth. "I see the mud on your boots is quite thick. This rain won't stop anytime soon, and it's an eyesore. You, right now, take off your boots and your socks, and stand here barefoot. Tell your two companions behind you to do the same."
Once these words were spoken, even the sound of the wind and rain seemed to go silent for a moment.
Take off their boots? Stand barefoot in acid rain and mud?
This was no longer checking for weapons; this was blatant humiliation and difficulty!
Although the acid rain was diluted, prolonged contact could cause significant damage to the skin, not to mention the broken glass, metal shards, or other things that might be hidden in the mud.
This was simply grinding a person's dignity into the dirt.
The burly man behind Fengyun Tianxia let out a suppressed growl from his throat, the muscles in his face twitching. He was clearly furious.
The woman's eyes also turned as sharp as knives in an instant, and her hands tightened slightly.
Fengyun Tianxia himself was slightly taken aback, a flicker of icy coldness passing through the depths of his eyes so quickly it was barely perceptible. But his facial expression management remained perfect, even revealing a hint of appropriately placed awkwardness and a wry smile. "Boss Crow, this... the ground is wet, cold, and slippery in this rain. Walking barefoot would likely be inconvenient, and if some accident were to happen, it would affect our subsequent trade. What do you think..."
"I think it's perfect."
Cheng Shuili interrupted him, her tone unquestionable. "It's precisely because the ground is uncomfortable that it shows your sincerity, isn't it? Or is it..."
She drew out her tone, her eyes becoming playful. "...that your sincerity only stops at your words?"
She was plainly telling the other party: I know you have issues, I am intentionally making things difficult for you, so are you going to take the bait or not?
Fengyun Tianxia was silent for a few seconds.
Rainwater lashed his face, making it impossible to read his eyes.
Then, he actually laughed, a hint of helplessness in that smile, and perhaps even a trace of... indulgence?
It was as if he were dealing with an unreasonable child.
"Alright."
He sighed, as if compromising. "Since this is the rule of Boss Crow, we will follow the customs of the land."
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