This story takes place before the Stellaron outbreak that infected half of the Luofu.
"C'mon, Zhang Heng, you know I can't go lower than that. I've got a family to feed."
"Uncle Tian, you know how things are. How about this—you take 30% while I take 60%. This is my last offer." Zhang Heng gave a small smile.
"Ugh, 45%!" Uncle Tian retaliated, but seeing Zhang Heng's unmoving smile, he faltered before finally settling for 30%.
Shaking Zhang Heng's hand, he felt he had made a devastating deal, but having heard of Zhang Heng's skill from a friend, he was sure the profit would come.
"I'm glad we came to an agreement." Seeing Zhang Heng's satisfied smile, Uncle Tian's mood soured even further.
"Tsk, the goods are in the usual spot. I expect the money to be flowing within a week, got it?" Uncle Tian threw a key.
"You're underestimating me." Catching the key, Zhang Heng examined it briefly before storing it in his pocket.
Bidding farewell, Qin Shaoqing exited the dark alleyway while twirling the key.
"Well, well, another day, another victim." Qin Shaoqing muttered.
[Congratulations for deceiving a stall owner. Your reward is: Friendly Aura! Everyone who talks to you will naturally feel at ease with you.]
Qin Shaoqing hadn't meant to deceive the stall owner. He had merely been strolling down the dark alleyway looking for a drunkard to steal from when he stumbled into Uncle Tian, who had called him out.
"You're Zhang Heng, right?" Uncle Tian asked.
Seeing the man's nervous expression, Qin Shaoqing knew he had to play along.
"You got the guy. You're Tian Ha, right?" Reading the name floating above the man's head was easy. Hehe—people really let their guard down when you say their name.
Looking at the key in his hand, Qin Shaoqing wondered where the "usual spot" was, but asking Uncle Tian directly would raise suspicion.
"Mm, no matter. I just wanted to deceive you anyway," Qin Shaoqing mused to himself.
"Deceive who?!" A familiar voice rang out behind him.
He froze and cursed himself for speaking aloud.
Turning around, he saw Uncle Tian accompanied by another man who looked furious.
"You think you can pretend to be me without consequences?!"
"Gentlemen, calm yourselves." Qin Shaoqing broke into a nervous sweat.
"Here, take the key, and we'll pretend we forgot this conversation. Deal?" Seeing veins bulging on their foreheads, Qin Shaoqing took that as a no.
Without warning, Qin Shaoqing took off running.
"Hey! Don't think you can get away!" Zhang Heng, looking like an enraged bull, charged after him.
The commotion attracted attention from the street.
As Qin Shaoqing pushed through the crowd, many people stopped to watch.
"Should we call the Cloud Knights?" some muttered.
"Hey, big guy, how about we calm down and sort through some of your unresolved issues?" Qin Shaoqing shouted breathlessly.
"I think maybe you have some anger issues that need managing. I know a great therapist—20% friend discount just for you!"
"Shut up!!!"
[Congratulations for angering Zhang Heng. Your reward is: Disembodied Voice! Create a short sound from any direction.]
Looking at the reward, Qin Shaoqing racked his brain for a solution using his new ability. As they ran through the crowd, a Cloud Knight noticed the commotion and shouted for them to stop.
"Ah! My hero!" Qin Shaoqing made a beeline toward the Cloud Knight.
"Officer! Help! A drug dealer is trying to silence me!" Qin Shaoqing hid behind the Cloud Knight, his tense nerves finally calming.
"Who's running a drug scheme?!" Zhang Heng exploded in rage.
"Stand down. I need both of your cooperation to explain what's going on." The steadfast Cloud Knight positioned himself between them. "Accusing someone of running a drug scheme is a serious claim. Are you certain this man is involved in illegal activity?"
"Yes, officer! I was walking down an alleyway when this random guy asked me if I was his partner in crime. Of course, I—a valiant citizen—decided to expose their scheme and bring their wrongdoing to light!" Qin Shaoqing puffed out his chest proudly.
"You bastard! Who do you think we are?! We're just honest stall owners trying to make a living!" Zhang Heng shouted.
"Then why did you arrange a meeting in such a shady place? Clearly, you have something to hide." Qin Shaoqing retorted, folding his arms.
"Enough!" The Cloud Knight felt a headache forming and stopped the two grown men from shouting. "Give me a full rundown of what happened."
After hearing both accounts, the Cloud Knight asked for the key in Qin Shaoqing's hand and instructed Zhang Heng to show them the "usual spot."
—
Looking at the crate full of fruit, Qin Shaoqing realized he was reaping what he had sown.
"Ahem, gentlemen, let's—" Qin Shaoqing tried to speak, but the Cloud Knight cut him off.
"No excuses. Please surrender yourself to the law. You are charged with falsely accusing others of a serious crime." He retrieved a pair of iron-cast handcuffs.
Qin Shaoqing feigned surrender, then suddenly shifted his gaze past the Cloud Knight as if noticing something.
"Help! Someone!" An unfamiliar voice cried out in the distance.
Both the Cloud Knight and Zhang Heng turned to investigate—but saw nothing.
When they turned back, Qin Shaoqing was gone.
"…"
There was a moment of silence.
"F!#$%! !#E% #E#$% @$%# #$%@^"
Hearing the string of censored curses behind him as he ran, Qin Shaoqing couldn't help but laugh before wiping the cold sweat from his face.
[Congratulations, for deceiving Zhang Heng. Your reward is: A Crate of Oranges! It's a crate full of oranges!]
"Heh, good system. If you keep rewarding me like this, my dream of living a good life will come true!"
[Congratulations for deceiving a Senior Cloud Knight. Your reward is: Steadfast Demeanor! Your ever-calm expression gives the impression of a seasoned veteran!]
Qin Shaoqing froze as he read the second reward.
A Senior Cloud Knight—a rank far higher than he had anticipated.
Not only had he swindled an ordinary Cloud Knight, but he had also deceived a senior officer with enough authority to escalate the case and launch an investigation.
"Sigh… just my luck." Qin Shaoqing exited the alleyway and stepped onto the street.
His calm aura and composed demeanor radiated confidence, as though no enemy could threaten his life.
Wiping the accumulated sweat from his face, his red eyes glanced at the clock on his wrist.
"Better head home. Today's harvest wasn't bad—especially with that crate of oranges." Qin Shaoqing mused to himself.