Ming Yue's demand was simple and crude. She was even willing to give up the power of management and distribution of supplies. That was to pay money.
The money here, of course, was crystal cores. She demanded that the base compensate He Si with five hundred high-level crystal cores of level five or above.
However, she wasn't too harsh, saying that if the high-level crystal cores were insufficient, a proportional amount of mid-level and low-level crystal cores could be used as a substitute.
This made Bu Ying's expression turn ugly. Even Ji Shiyou and the others exchanged glances, not understanding what Ming Yue was up to.
It was known that their team was quite wealthy and lacked nothing, especially crystal cores. Ming Yue's spatial storage was piled high with crystal cores.
But with Bu Ying present, even though they didn't understand, Bu Zhi didn't utter a word. He obediently kept his mouth shut and pretended to be mute.
"Ming Yue, you know, our base not only has to take care of the residents within the city.
Every day, we also have to accommodate a large number of survivors who come to seek refuge. Resources are scarce, and our finances are tight. This amount is too large; we simply cannot produce it."
Bu Ying looked troubled. Bu Zhi's expression shifted, and he was about to speak up to plead for his brother.
Tian Shang grabbed him, stopping him from speaking. Who were they trying to fool? Yuncheng Base could be said to be making a fortune every day. Bu Ying was just crying poverty.
"City Lord Bu, this shows no sincerity. There is no need for us to continue this discussion.
We, the Ming Yue team, dare not stay in this Yuncheng any longer. Everyone, pack up. Before it gets dark, let's leave now."
The reason Ming Yue proposed the crystal core compensation was actually to test Bu Ying. She had always felt that Bu Ying's attitude today was not right.
Logically speaking, this was his territory. Even if they fell out and fought,
the base had a large number of people. Ming Yue and her team would not have the advantage. At most, they would just leave the base.
But Bu Ying had been enduring and choosing to resolve the matter peacefully. This was very unusual, and he must have had another motive.
He seemed to be afraid of them leaving. After today's observations, Bu Ying should be a greedy person.
Therefore, Ming Yue made an outrageous demand, asking for five hundred high-level crystal cores as compensation, just to see if Bu Ying would directly turn hostile.
To her surprise, Bu Ying did not turn hostile, which further confirmed Ming Yue's suspicion.
To test Bu Ying's motive, whether he wanted to keep them, Ming Yue proposed to leave immediately.
Although they didn't know why Ming Yue said that, everyone was very tacit. Ji Shiyou and the others immediately began to pack their belongings with great seriousness.
"Ming Yue, how about this? Give me five days. Let me gather the resources.
I promise, after five days, I will deliver five hundred high-level crystal cores to you, not a single one less."
Seeing everyone start to pack, Bu Ying panicked and promised Ming Yue that he would gather the crystal cores in five days.
"What if I want them now?"
Ming Yue pressed on, her eyes fixed on Bu Ying's expression, trying to discern something.
"If that's the case, can the deficient crystal cores be replaced with equivalent resources?
But if that happens, the base's operations will be in trouble, and the residents in the city will run out of food and starve."
Bu Ying still didn't turn hostile. Instead, he proposed replacing them with resources. This made Ming Yue suspicious.
With Bu Ying's means of amassing wealth, obtaining five hundred high-level crystal cores should not be a problem; it was just a drop in the bucket.
But looking at Bu Ying's expression, Ming Yue realized that he genuinely seemed unable to produce five hundred high-level crystal cores.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have proposed replacing them with resources. In the apocalypse, crystal cores were indeed very important as currency,
but resources were the foundation of survival. Crystal cores could still be obtained by killing zombies and mutated plants and animals, while resources were non-renewable and would only become scarcer.
"Alright, since you are so sincere, I cannot bear to see the people in the base starve.
Then, five days later, please have City Lord Bu deliver the five hundred high-level crystal cores. We won't see you out!"
Ming Yue intended to probe further, but then her ears twitched, and she changed her tone.
She directly agreed to Bu Ying's proposal of a five-day extension and stood up to see him off.
Bu Ying was caught off guard by such a rapid change, but as soon as he reacted, he smiled and took his leave.
"Sister Ming Yue, why did you pressure my brother so much? He really shouldn't have money.
Uncle He's matter was all done by that old hag. It shouldn't have anything to do with my brother."
After Bu Ying left, Bu Zhi couldn't help himself and pleaded for Bu Ying to Ming Yue.
"He has no money? How do you know he has no money? He's a wolf that devours people without spitting out the bones. All the crystal cores in Yuncheng have entered his pockets."
Tian Shang, knowing Bu Ying's actions, immediately retorted when she heard Bu Zhi making excuses for him.
"Don't argue. He's gone, and we're safe. Come out!"
Ming Yue's expression was stern. She stopped Tian Shang and Bu Zhi and then activated her Heavenly Sight and Earthly Hearing. After confirming that Bu Ying had left, she spoke to a corner of the living room.
Immediately, a figure flashed, and Wen Qingtian appeared, looking disheveled, holding Gong Que, who was covered in blood.
When Bu Ying returned to his residence, he heard He Shi's wails and hurried to the bedroom.
Several wood-element ability users were surrounding He Shi, treating her.
He Shi's face, which had been beaten into a pig's head by Ming Yue, had already subsided and recovered. The ability users were continuously channeling their abilities to heal her knee.
"How do you feel? The bones in your knee have returned to their original state, but you still can't get out of bed for the next few days to prevent the healed bones from deforming."
After the ability users finished their treatment and left the room, Bu Ying sat by the bed and said with concern.
"Brother Bu, kill Ming Yue! Kill that bitch Ming Yue for me. She killed my mother. I don't have a mother anymore."
Seeing Bu Ying, He Shi screamed hysterically. She had watched her mother's body explode and turn into a pool of blood and flesh.
It was all that bitch Ming Yue. She had to kill Ming Yue and avenge her mother.
"You've suffered. But you still have to let her live for a few more days. I promise you, I will definitely kill her and avenge Auntie.
Go to sleep. You won't be sad when you're asleep. Give me some time, and I will fulfill your wish."
After gently coaxing He Shi to sleep, Bu Ying went to his study, where a young man with a furtive and lewd appearance was waiting for him.
"Any discoveries?"
Bu Ying sat in a large leather executive chair and asked the man, rubbing his temples.
The lewd man was named Bi Shiyuan. He possessed a rare ability, a camouflage ability like a chameleon.
He could quickly blend his body and aura with the surrounding environment, making him undetectable.
And unlike invisibility, there were no restrictions. As long as he wished, he could maintain this state indefinitely, making him very suitable for tracking and surveillance.
Last night, after Bu Ying returned from the villa, he had ordered him to monitor Ming Yue's every move. Therefore, he had been following Ming Yue all day.
It was he who, seeing He Shi in danger, ran back to inform Bu Ying. Otherwise, He Shi might have been killed by Ming Yue.
"They acted separately today. I followed Ming Yue. She and two other female team members were with that child named Ba Jiu.
First, they went to the city gate and found a guide named Little Monkey, then they went to Little Monkey's home."
"Get to the point."
"City Lord, I discovered that Ming Yue has a medicine with miraculous effects, one that can even bring the dead back to life.
Today, I saw her use it twice, saving Little Monkey's sister and her father respectively.
Also, that Little Monkey told Ming Yue about our method of earning crystal cores."
Seeing Bu Ying's impatience, Bi Shiyuan quickly stopped rambling and reported the key points.
"Oh! There's such a thing?"
Upon hearing that Ming Yue possessed a divine medicine that could bring the dead back to life, Bu Ying's eyes lit up. Then, hearing about Little Monkey, a cold light shot from his eyes.
He beckoned Bi Shiyuan closer and whispered a few words in his ear.