Bai Ye’s thoughts weren't meant to belittle Gao Ming.
Gao Ming had actually done quite well, at least in keeping tabs on Liu Shiyue.
In comparison, Bai Ye found Hua Zhixiao to be truly terrifying.
Liu Shiyue, with such a large group, could certainly be tracked and investigated, and Gao Ming had indeed done so.
However, Hua Zhixiao’s ability to know Liu Shiyue’s target, including the content of hidden quests, or triggers for restricted areas, and even the rewards for the objectives, was somewhat frightening.
This was because these matters were not superficial.
To put it more directly, these were not things that could be known by mere observation, nor could they be discovered by following Liu Shiyue and investigating the places he had been.
Liu Shiyue wasn't foolish enough to broadcast the content of his hidden quests to the world, letting everyone know what he was doing?
What benefit would that bring?
If Gao Ming’s methods were merely at the level of tracking, then Hua Zhixiao’s was true intelligence gathering.
Bai Ye couldn't help but ask, "How did you know?"
Hua Zhixiao hesitated for a moment and replied, "I asked."
Bai Ye was puzzled, "Asked?"
That sounded a bit far-fetched.
You asked, and they answered?
Hua Zhixiao’s face showed a hint of sorrow and pain, then she said mournfully, "When men are asleep, their minds tend to wander, and they become less guarded with their words."
"Uh!"
Bai Ye twitched the corner of his mouth. With that explanation, he understood how Hua Zhixiao had obtained her information.
Bai Ye said, "That's not an easy feat, nor something anyone can accomplish. You did well."
Hua Zhixiao was stunned for a moment and asked, "Don't you think we're dirty?"
"Heh!" Bai Ye showed a hint of disdain and looked at Hua Zhixiao, saying, "Some people believe their dignity is more important than life and death, and refuse to accept charity. What do you think?"
Bai Ye didn't expect Hua Zhixiao to answer and continued speaking.
"That's because they have never faced death, nor starvation," Bai Ye said. "Is it wrong to do whatever it takes to survive? Or, for someone who doesn't even dare to live, how can they talk about dignity?"
As Bai Ye spoke, he lifted Hua Zhixiao's chin.
"In my opinion, anything is permissible to stay alive."
"You are beautiful, and your body is alluring. These are your weapons, and what you've done is simply picked up your weapons and fought."
"It's all for the sake of living, isn't it?"
"Dirty?"
"Do you think your corpse lying by the roadside, covered in mud, being gnawed by snakes, insects, rats, and ants, would be any cleaner?"
"You don't need to care about what others think; you need to know what you need."
"Or, when you become strong enough to kill anyone, no one in this world will dare to point fingers at you, because..."
Bai Ye's expression suddenly turned playful, with a clear hint of mockery.
"They fear death, they want to live!"
As Bai Ye spoke, he stood up, took out the light sword, and placed it on the coffee table.
"Trade it for your mount."
Hua Zhixiao quickly said, "It was just a small favor, I'm currently..."
"I don't need you to do such small favors for me," Bai Ye interrupted. "Because I am greedy, and I want more."
After speaking, Bai Ye ignored Hua Zhixiao, opened the door, and left the private room, exiting the tea house.
And then...
"The romance of men is gone!"
Outside the tea house, Bai Ye looked up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, feeling melancholic.
Trading a red-quality light sword for a blue-quality beast tamer, his forehead was practically branded with the words "Big Sucker."
As expected, a moment of showing off leads to a lifetime of regret...
Bai Ye sighed. Although he regretted it as soon as he left, he was too embarrassed to turn back and ask for the item back. Forget it, forget it, let it be.
Bai Ye reluctantly returned to the trading market.
He now had his mount, and could set sail, but some preparations were still necessary.
First, provisions.
The mount could catch fish itself, but Bai Ye also needed food. Moreover, the specially formulated feed for beast tamers was custom-made, beneficial for increasing the mount's loyalty and improving its abilities.
Since he was going out to sea, he would have to rely on his mount long-term, so he should treat it well.
Besides that, he also needed some daily necessities.
For instance, a sleeping bag specifically for use at sea, which could be secured to the mount's body for sleeping, and a seawater filter. A compass was also essential, as it was easy to get lost at sea without a sense of direction.
After finally gathering all the necessary items, in the evening, a large seagull crashed into the glass window of the inn.
Bai Ye opened the window and retrieved a box from the seagull's leg. It was a sea chart mailed by Gao Ming, consisting of two maps. One showed how to reach the sea area where Liu Shiyue was currently located, and the other was the sea area of the Turtle Rider.
With this, everything was ready.
Bai Ye spent the night in the town's inn and arrived at the seaside the next morning, preparing to depart.
But at this moment...
"Beep, beep, beep..."
Bai Ye's Den Den Mushi suddenly rang.
Bai Ye was speechless. Gao Ming was truly working tirelessly. Did he really need to call about just two sea charts? Or did he not want to pay for the collect delivery by the seagull express?
However, when Bai Ye answered the call, he discovered it wasn't Gao Ming.
"Brother, Uncle, I'll call you Grandpa if you want. What exactly are you trying to do?" Li Jiayi's voice came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
"Hmm?" Bai Ye frowned. "Why is it you?"
Li Jiayi replied, "I'm the one who should be asking that. Why is it you again? Can you just leave me alone?"
Bai Ye looked confused. "What do you mean, 'again you'? No, you're also in the coastal beast taming area? Is there anything good here?"
"Hmm?" Li Jiayi asked, "What are you doing here?"
Bai Ye replied, "Looking for Fang Hu, just passing through."
"Ah?" Li Jiayi was stunned for a moment, then decisively said, "Goodbye!"
Li Jiayi hung up the phone directly, and then Bai Ye heard a busy signal in his receiver.
"Hello, hello, hello, you scoundrel..."
Bai Ye shouted a couple of times, but it was clearly too late. He could only angrily put down the receiver.
Li Jiayi could find Bai Ye, but Bai Ye couldn't contact Li Jiayi. This was because Li Jiayi possessed some kind of communication ability, not using a tool, while Bai Ye lacked this ability and did not have Li Jiayi's contact information.
"This guy never acts without a reason. Could it be that something good is about to appear here?"
Bai Ye stroked his chin. Should he interfere?
Or, could he use his interference to blackmail Li Jiayi?
Bai Ye's attitude towards Li Jiayi had shifted somewhat, because Bai Ye realized that this guy was actually quite useful.
This was because Li Jiayi knew a lot.
...