This is the raw version of this chapter. Please see the next chapter for the translation.
The next day, early morning.
Huoying Building, Task Assignment Office.
"Class 7, your mission is..."
Three Generations of Huoying took a deep smoke from pipe.
His eyes moved back and forth between report in his hand about "Serious Damage to No. 3 Training Ground" and three prisoners in front of him.
Finally, he sighed a tone.
"Your mission is to repair No. 3 Training Ground."
"In addition, because damage degree is serious, material cost and labor fee for repair will be deducted from your future task rewards."
"Lord Huoying, most of this damage is my responsibility, so I will take full responsibility for task rewards."
Xuanwo Mingren stepped forward and said in deep voice.
Although face was expressionless at this moment, eyes were firm as a man who dared to take responsibility.
But in fact, his heart was dripping blood.
Xuanwo Mingren's brain turned fast, quickly calculating a terrifying bill.
Pits blasted by Detonating Talisman needed to be filled, dozens of blown-up trees needed to be replanted, and burnt turf needed to be replaced... this did not even include cost of Detonating Talisman!
"Wait a moment."
Teacher Qimu Kakasi, standing by side, raised his dead fish eyes and spoke:
"I am supervising Shangren, and I failed to supervise properly."
"My share of reward should also be included."
Tone was casual, yet carried responsibility a teacher should have.
"No, no need, Teacher Kakasi!"
Chunye Ying hastily waved hands, face flushed red, and lowered head in shame.
"I, I also have responsibility, I didn't do anything well... my share too..."
Yuzhibo Zuozhu, with hands in pockets, snorted coldly and turned face away:
"Mine too."
Although he didn't say much, attitude was clear.
He hated such trivial social interaction, but hated owing Xuanwo Mingren favor even more.
Especially this kind of "being taken care of" favor.
Watching this scene, a hint of satisfaction flashed in Three Generations of Huoying's eyes.
Shirk responsibility and arguing is normal, but this clumsy desire to share burden is embryonic form of "Will of Fire."
He knocked pipe, making final decision:
"Okay, task rewards will be handled as Xuanwo Mingren said."
"Kakasi, keep your share and treat them to good meal."
"I estimate Xuanwo Mingren will only be able to eat rice balls for long time to come."
"As for you two..."
He looked at Chunye Ying and Yuzhibo Zuozhu.
"Your mission is to assist Xuanwo Mingren well and restore training ground to original state."
Finally, after paying 100,000 Liang cash and signing debt confirmation of up to 700,000 Liang—Xuanwo Mingren officially declared bankruptcy.
Walking out of Huoying Building, Xuanwo Mingren looked up at sky, tears of poverty welling in heart.
"Is this price of being cautious..."
"However..."
"If had to do it again... I would still blow it up!"
Although bleeding money, he remained unrepentant...
Ten o'clock in morning, No. 3 Training Ground.
It had clearly become a bustling construction site.
Not just Class 7; due to huge workload, village temporarily dispatched several other Xiaren squads to help.
"So troublesome... Why was this place damaged so badly? I hate physical labor most."
Not far away, Nara Luwan of Class 10 complained while directing Qiudao Dingci to move rocks.
"I heard Xuanwo Mingren caused all this. Did that guy treat this place like battlefield?"
Qiudao Dingci said, wiping sweat from brow after putting down rock.
"Oh my god... First mission is manual labor, is this what being Xiaren is like..."
Shanzhong Jingye also couldn't help but complain.
And in center of construction site.
"Multiple Shadow Avatar Technique!"
Xuanwo Mingren formed hand seals.
Bang bang bang...
White smoke rose, and over five hundred Shadow Avatars instantly occupied half of construction site.
These avatars lined up in long row, some carrying saplings, some laying turf, and some leveling ground.
They shouted in unison, efficiency comparable to ten construction teams.
Yuzhibo Zuozhu, with black face, held shovel.
He was filling large pit that had blasted him away earlier.
"I, a ninja of Yuzhibo Clan, am actually now..."
But he glanced at highly motivated Mingren Corps nearby, and with hint of stubbornness, he sped up shoveling.
Under shade of trees, Teacher Qimu Kakasi leaned against tree trunk, looking completely drained.
During yesterday's practice, he used too many Ninjutsu to deal with Xuanwo Mingren.
Coupled with reading climax of "Intimacy Paradise" last night... he was now somewhat dispirited.
In every sense.
"Teacher Kakasi, seems you need a little help."
Xuanwo Mingren's main body approached at some point, holding bottle.
Bottle contained amber-colored liquid, refracting inviting glow in sunlight.
"What is this?"
Teacher Qimu Kakasi weakly lifted eyelids.
"Secret Fang Black Tea."
Xuanwo Mingren unscrewed cap and handed over, a gentle, harmless smile on face:
"First bottle is sample, it is free. Would you like to try?"
Teacher Qimu Kakasi took bottle with suspicious look and took sip.
Next second, eyes suddenly widened.
Clear tea aroma mixed with special mint and herbal scent instantly exploded in mouth.
Immediately after, warm current rushed straight to brain.
Temples, which had been throbbing due to strain of Sharingan, miraculously calmed down.
Even nerves that had been constantly tense due to psychological trauma seemed to relax at this moment.
"Hoo..."
Teacher Qimu Kakasi let out long breath, feeling completely resurrected.
"Good stuff... What kind of tea is this? Effect is so immediate?"
For him, who suffered from Chakra exhaustion and after-effects of war, it was simply divine water.
"Mingren's Secret Fang: Tranquilizing Black Tea."
Xuanwo Mingren pushed up glasses and began performance:
"Recipe is confidential, but it contains herbs that nourish spiritual energy."
"It can not only eliminate fatigue and calm mind, but long-term consumption can also significantly enhance spiritual energy."
Teacher Qimu Kakasi drank it all in one gulp, then handed bottle back, still wanting more.
"Any more? Another bottle."
Xuanwo Mingren didn't take bottle back; instead, he pulled out new one with other hand.
Then, he held up a finger:
"That will be one thousand Liang, thank you."
"Pfft—!"
Teacher Qimu Kakasi almost spat out tea he had just drank.
"One thousand Liang? Is this tea made of gold, or is bottle made of gold?"
You know, doing full day of D-level missions, rewards split among everyone would be around few hundred Liang.
This one bottle of tea directly cost two days of wages.
"Not only is it one thousand Liang, but due to raw material shortages, it also requires three-day advance booking."
Xuanwo Mingren began to blow cow without changing expression.
"Teacher, you have to understand, a secret medicine like this that combines restoring energy, calming mind, and even nourishing spiritual energy is priceless in market."
"Most important—it has no side effects!"
"For Shangren like you, condition is life. Is one thousand Liang expensive for a life?"
Teacher Qimu Kakasi looked at empty bottle in hand, falling into dilemma.
Reason told him that Xuanwo Mingren was extorting, but body told him that Xuanwo Mingren wasn't entirely wrong.
Aside from outrageous price, there were indeed no substitutes on market.
Moreover... that feeling of mental clarity was truly addictive.
It was more refreshing and rational than reading "Intimacy Paradise" late at night.
Seeing Teacher Qimu Kakasi waver, Xuanwo Mingren revealed true tail.
He leaned closer and lowered voice:
"Of course, I also know that salary is limited, teacher."
"But you are experienced Shangren, so you must have wide network of connections."
"If you could help me promote this, and sell it to other Shangren... for every ten bottles sold, I will give you one for free, and from now on, I will sell to you at cost price. How about that?"
Teacher Qimu Kakasi looked at student, who appeared sincere but whose face clearly spelled "profiteer," and couldn't help twitch mouth.
Where did this black hearted businessman come from?
"Okay then..."