The vendor first put on a smile, then his expression turned to disbelief.
"What? You mean... the Yaoqing? The Xianzhou Alliance?"
"That's the Xianzhou. Their inspections are very strict..."
After speaking, the vendor looked down.
The black, white, and brown Beagle blinked its big eyes and voluntarily showed off its pink paw pads.
They were known as the "Bells of the Forest."
The title wasn't because their voices sounded pleasant. It meant that even deep in a forest and far from humans, people could still hear their highly penetrating barks.
Beagles chew on anything they find.
More accurately, this breed chews all inorganic objects without discrimination.
They never bite people, breed very easily, have body structures similar to humans, and are good at enduring pain. Because of this, they were chosen as laboratory dogs.
Their sense of smell is sharp, and they have abundant energy, making them suitable as working dogs. They can be seen at major transportation hubs.
But if raised at home... these strengths become extremely deadly weaknesses.
The Beagles in the vendor's hands were currently at their cutest age and looked extremely deceptive.
Afraid that Zero might change his mind, he gritted his teeth and said, "I have another one at home that's mute from birth. I originally planned to sell it for a high price..."
"I won't even charge you. Take it right now. I'll give you the whole litter, along with the dog food and dog house."
As soon as he heard this, Zero knew he had chosen correctly.
A puppy born with a disability was actually more expensive than the others.
This breed was definitely unusual.
Zero refused the vendor's offer.
He bought all the Beagles at three times the asking price, added the vendor's contact information, and said he would find someone to take them after the trip ended.
Then he and Jingliu set off for their original destination.
The tourists traveling with them had all been attracted by promotional videos on the StarNet.
They thought they would see all kinds of animal groups spread across mountains and rivers, but in reality, it depended entirely on luck.
Some people spent seven days traveling under the scorching sun and blowing sand and still never saw the animals they wanted to see.
So Zero chose the local zoo, which had the largest variety of animals, as their first stop.
They fed many animals and took photos with them.
The fur of tigers and lions felt hard and rough.
Zero withdrew his hand.
"If Jade smells us afterward, it'll definitely get scared."
Jingliu nodded in agreement.
Next, they went to see animal cubs.
For some reason, the cubs were not very cooperative.
With help from the staff, the two finally managed to hold them.
The koalas were small and looked soft and fluffy.
But once they held them, they found them much heavier than expected, and their fur felt surprisingly prickly.
After finishing their visit to the zoo, they headed to their hotel to check in.
The clothes Zero had previously chosen for Jingliu had been delivered there in advance.
Jingliu entered the walk-in closet.
The staff had already prepared matching outfits, with tops and bottoms placed together.
Jingliu looked through them briefly. The style was similar to what she wore on the island.
The island had belonged only to the two of them, and Zero had chosen dresses of various colors for her.
Jingliu had gradually figured out Zero's preferences.
He didn't like her exposing her chest, but showing her collarbone was fine.
She could show her back, shoulders, or legs.
But only one of those three options at a time.
Now they would encounter other tourists, yet Zero had continued the same style.
Jingliu took out a halter-neck V-neck camisole and raised an eyebrow.
"I thought you didn't like this kind of clothing."
Zero tilted his head.
"I searched online to see what other tourists wear."
"I couldn't decide, so I just bought all of them."
Jingliu understood.
Not saying he liked it meant he didn't like it.
She didn't want Zero to suppress his true thoughts.
But this wasn't a problem that could be solved overnight.
It would take time.
The next day, the hotel had already arranged a driver, a guide, and two bodyguards for them.
Zero didn't refuse.
He had already spent the patrol tokens, so it would be a waste not to use them.
The driver took them through the sandstorms.
After driving through several regions, they finally saw a herd of migrating elephants.
They were enormous, larger than the vehicle they were riding in.
After waiting for a long time, the elephant herd finally left.
The vehicle started moving again.
This time, they saw a cheetah resting on a tree branch.
The driver slowed down and gave them enough time to take pictures.
Next came a zebra that had been ripped open by lions.
The driver received a message from a colleague and changed routes midway, heading toward a river.
The guide handed over a telescope and introduced the area.
"You two are really lucky."
"This is the Heavenly River Crossing you've seen on the StarNet."
"My previous guests didn't get to see this."
"Every year, over a million wildebeests cross this river..."
Using the telescope, Zero saw one wildebeest trapped in the river, surrounded by three crocodiles.
He shifted his gaze into the distance.
Black wildebeests formed massive groups.
As they ran, dust filled the air.
Like a muddy flood, they surged into the river one after another.
Some of their companions died before reaching the riverbank.
Others were held back by crocodiles.
The scene before them was far more shocking than any video on the StarNet.
He slowly lowered the telescope, and the vehicle set off again.
As night approached, they returned to the hotel.
The hotel restaurant prepared local specialties and invited an elderly man wearing ox horns and a long robe.
According to the hotel, he was the most accurate fortune-telling shaman in a certain tribe.
Jingliu became interested and pulled Zero over.
The old man raised his eyelids and extended a hand like dried orange peel from his sleeve, pointing to the instructions on the table.
State your question aloud or silently in your heart, draw a fortune stick, then let the old man interpret it.
Each person could ask only one question.
If the result was bad, they were not allowed to redraw.
The words "No Redrawing" were bolded and highlighted in red.
Jingliu silently asked herself a question.
Will Zero love himself more?
She drew a bamboo fortune stick.
The old man glanced at it and said, "He will. You will change all of this."
Hearing this, Jingliu unconsciously smiled and turned to look at Zero.
Zero thought for a moment and casually drew a stick.
"Then I'll ask about my future luck."
The old man lowered his head.
When he looked up again, he stared at Zero with pity.
"Something you do not want to happen will happen in the future."
Zero's expression stiffened.
Jingliu took out her wallet, pulled out a stack of bills, and placed it on the table.
The old man's eyelid twitched.
When he remained unmoved, Jingliu took out another stack.
The old man closed his eyes and slightly raised his chin, signaling Zero to continue.
Zero changed his question.
"Can I solve it?"
The old man lifted his eyelids.
"This is not something within your control."
Zero raised an eyebrow and drew another fortune stick under the old man's gaze.
The old man's mouth twitched.
"You will have no choice but to compromise."
Zero laughed and drew another stick.
The old man's expression twisted for a moment.
"It will cause a great sensation."
Zero still wasn't satisfied.
He silently repeated his original question and drew a fourth stick.
The old man took it.
His expression changed, and he once again became a mysterious tribal shaman.
Holding up the stick, he said meaningfully, "Everything you want, you will have."
Zero chuckled.
"That's right."
"Everything I want, I will have..."
During the next five days, the group encountered all kinds of unexpected situations.
For example, a giraffe ate the breakfast the hotel had prepared for them.
They had no choice but to delay their schedule while the hotel made another meal.
At another stop, while resting in a tribe, several monkeys stole the guide's filming equipment. The guide had to find the tribal chief and ask him to negotiate with the monkey king.
Afterward, the two flew to the polar region.
The temperature there was extremely low.
The local guide brought the clothes Zero had bought beforehand and delivered them to the hotel.
Whether they could see the aurora depended entirely on luck.
Only a cloudless sky made it possible.
It rained for three straight days.
The two could only stay in the hotel.
After the rain stopped, the weather turned cloudy again.
Zero rented a snow vehicle and drove Jingliu wildly through the forest.
This time, he didn't encounter any reindeer.
On the fifth day, the sky finally became completely clear.
The guide drove them to their destination.
After getting out of the vehicle, everything around them was pitch black.
The guide explained, "There are no streetlights here. If you want to see the aurora, you have to stay away from any light sources."
He looked toward a nearby lake.
"The view here is open. It's the best spot."
The group walked to the lakeside.
Many tourists had already gathered there waiting for the aurora.
They came from different planets and chatted with one another through Synesthesia Beacons.
Someone invited Zero's group into the conversation.
They talked about the weather, local food, reindeer, and snow vehicles.
By chance, everyone treasured the brief time they spent together and began talking about their home planets and dreams.
One person looked up at the ink-black night sky and loudly declared, "This is my life's dream. If I don't see the aurora, I won't close my eyes even in death..."
Someone else immediately teased him.
"Your life's dream is attending a Xianzhou student's study tour?"
"Think bigger. Have your children become Xianzhou people."
The man laughed and cursed.
"I'd have better luck winning the lottery."
Everyone laughed and chatted while waiting in the cold wind for the beautiful sight to appear.
Zero helped Jingliu put on her hat, tightened the drawstring, and tied a knot.
The two leaned against each other, fingers intertwined, quietly looking up at the sky.
No one knew how much time had passed before the crowd stirred.
A dreamlike green ribbon swayed across the sky, moved by the night wind.
Suddenly, someone dropped to one knee and reached into their pocket.
Their hands seemed frozen stiff. They tried several times but couldn't pull out the ring box.
The person being proposed to sighed helplessly and simply reached over to take out the ring themselves.
The others applauded the couple.
Jingliu joined in as well.
The newly engaged pair smiled and thanked everyone.
Just before the aurora disappeared, cool lips brushed against Jingliu's cheek.
The kiss was brief.
Her eyes widened instinctively, and she quickly turned toward Zero.
His expression remained calm.
He looked straight ahead, then met her gaze and gave her an extremely innocent smile.
Back on the Xianzhou, Zero would never have done something like this.
The reason he kissed her this time was...
Because it was completely dark here.
There were no light sources.
The two sat in a corner. No one could see Zero's actions.
And even if someone did see them, what of it?
They were all strangers.
After parting ways here, they would never meet again.
Jingliu immediately grabbed the drawstring on Zero's hood, stood on tiptoe, and bit his lips.
The crowd let out good-natured laughter and offered them blessings just as they had the newly engaged couple.
The drawstring tightened suddenly, pulling the hood closed and blocking Zero's vision.
Her lips and tongue sealed his mouth.
He remained silent and responded with his own tongue.
The next day, the two boarded a ship and headed for the Yaoqing.
After hesitating for a long while, Zero asked, "Jingliu, should we hold a few more..."
Jingliu anticipated the question and immediately refused.
"We've already had one wedding. There's no need for another."
Zero could only agree.
The two successfully reunited with Hua.
First, Hua took them through the former Marshal's Manor and showed them the golden nanmu tree in the courtyard.
After touring the manor, Hua parted ways with them and arranged transportation to Zhizhong Forest.
Zero stood before Chaoyan's memorial tablet and stared at it for a long time.
Then he placed the ornaments he had bought on the island and in the tribe onto the table.
He picked up three incense sticks and placed them in the burner.
Zero stepped back and quietly watched the rising smoke.
Jingliu said nothing and stood beside him.
What he needed was companionship.
She only needed to stand by her husband's side.
As they passed the golden nanmu tree, Zero raised his jade communicator and took a photo of the one in Zhizhong Forest.
As time passed, he gained more and more followers. The platform had also begun recommending his posts to others.
Zero automatically ignored the comments calling him a big shot or rich guy and posted the photo.
The next second, he deleted it.
Xianzhou Cloud Knights and Six Commissions personnel had their jade communicators checked from time to time to prevent inappropriate remarks or negative public influence.
This was Zhizhong Forest.
The resting place of the Xianzhou people.
Zero didn't care what outsiders thought.
But if people started suspecting he was a Xianzhou executive and then accused Xianzhou leadership of wasting taxpayer money, that wouldn't be appropriate.
After thinking for a moment, Zero added his location and posted an emoji.
[EricFish1028, ^_^: From Xianzhou, Yaoqing]
Combined with the username, anyone who saw it would assume he was an executive from the IPC.
He and Jingliu left Zhizhong Forest and headed to a clinic Guanliang had mentioned.
In the square across from the clinic stood a three-meter-tall bronze statue.
Guanliang arrived before them and waited beside it.
He lit three incense sticks and handed them to Zero.
Zero took them and sighed.
"I don't know what you liked, so I'll burn you a check."
Guanliang, "...One with your signature on it, right? Don't worry. He'll like it."
Zero continued, "I'll donate the money to people who need it."
Guanliang then led them into the clinic.
The doctor looked pleasantly surprised.
"Uncle Guanling, you're here."
Guanliang nodded and pointed at Zero.
"Mm. Check his pulse."
The doctor placed his fingers on Zero's wrist and frowned.
Seeing this, Jingliu couldn't help asking, "What's wrong? Is... there a problem?"
The doctor quickly shook his head.
"No problem. He's in very good health. Just... try not to overwork yourself or stay up too late."
While the doctor lowered his head to write a prescription, Zero quietly slipped a check under the table.
Guanliang casually tested the waters.
"I heard from Chanzhen that you've been pretty busy lately."
Zero had always been good at hiding things.
Until the Beagles arrived at the Yaoqing, he wouldn't reveal a single flaw.
He smiled and nodded.
"Yeah. So busy I don't even have time to check my jade communicator."
"Every day it's either chasing whales or watching guides fight monkeys..."
After hearing this, Guanliang immediately relaxed.
Makes sense. Zero was busy on his honeymoon. Why would he have time to check work software?
In a good mood, Guanliang personally saw Hua and Zero's group off as they left the Yaoqing for their next destination.
Then he returned to his home, which covered over a thousand square meters.
The attendants were in complete chaos, chasing a group of puppies around.
Guanliang frowned.
"What are these things?"
As a high-ranking Xianzhou official, he couldn't use his real address when buying things.
Their delivery addresses were located on certain Xianzhou planets.
The Sky-Faring Commission had no authority to inspect their packages.
After arrival, the items would bypass inspection and be transferred directly to them.
Guanliang had a habit of clearing his shopping cart in one go.
Usually, he only remembered what he bought after the attendants unpacked everything and showed it to him.
The attendants were already used to this and started guessing the puppies' breed along with him.
"Corgis?"
Guanliang said, "Their ears are way too big. They don't look like Corgis."
An attendant added, "Uh, maybe their ears just haven't stood up yet?"
"Maybe their parents were a Corgi and a village dog?"
Guanliang thought for a long time but couldn't remember ever buying puppies.
He stopped worrying about it and immediately waved his hand.
"Forget it. Raise them in the southeast garden."