Beyond the Timescape

Chapter 70: I Invite You to Eat an Egg

“Greetings, Manager Li.”

The youth’s arrival brought the brawl between the Dispatch and Piloting Departments to a grinding halt. Awe washed over the bruised and bloodied disciples. Those who recognized the newcomer immediately bowed in reverence.

From the depths of the Dispatch Department, Zhao Zhongheng hurried out. The color drained from his face as he hastily bowed toward the sky.

Xu Qing’s eyes narrowed. He tracked the astonishing spiritual fluctuations radiating from the airborne youth. Running a quick threat assessment against his memories of the Vajra Sect’s Patriarch, Xu Qing concluded this newcomer was even more formidable.

Manager Li hovered above, his expression a mask of corporate indifference.

“By the Elder’s decree, all disciples from the Dispatch and Piloting Departments involved in this altercation will be docked three months’ pay. Piloting, your profit margins and share divisions remain unchanged!”

“As for you, Zhao Zhongheng. The Elder summons you. Come.”

Manager Li’s gaze locked onto Zhao Zhongheng. Though his face remained impassive, a profound disappointment churned within him. He knew the root cause of this violent labor dispute was the sheer incompetence of the Elder’s grandson. A core disciple with an incredibly lucrative and noble status, yet he still managed to incite a mass riot while slumming it in a middle-management position.

*How could such a shrewd Elder produce such a financially and tactically bankrupt heir?*

Manager Li raised a hand and made a grasping motion. Zhao Zhongheng, pale and trembling, was yanked into the air by an invisible force. The two streaked away toward the distant Seventh Peak.

With upper management’s intervention, the immediate dispute between the Dispatch and Piloting Departments dissolved. However, the corpses littering the ground and the pooling blood guaranteed this was merely a temporary ceasefire. Murderous intent still simmered in the glares exchanged across the aisle.

“Alright, the show’s over. Let’s move,” the Captain said, pulling out an apple and taking a loud bite. “That was Manager Li Diling, Elder Zhao’s right-hand man. If he personally came to collect Zhao Zhongheng, the kid is going to be liquidated this time.”

The Captain stood and walked out.

The Sixth Team followed. Xu Qing cast one last look over his shoulder. He noted Huang Yan, currently surrounded by Piloting Department disciples negotiating their next move, before withdrawing his gaze and walking away.

A salty sea breeze swept past, lifting the dark hair from Xu Qing’s forehead. It revealed his slender, calculating eyes—eyes that kept a meticulous ledger of every debt owed and every grudge earned.

The day’s patrol ground to a halt as the sun dipped below the horizon, bleeding orange across the sky.

Clocking out of his shift, Xu Qing used the fading light to tail the merfolk youth. Unfortunately, the target’s defensive perimeter remained too tight. Finding no viable opening for a lethal strike, Xu Qing abandoned the pursuit and returned to his Dharma Boat to cultivate.

Life in the Seven Blood Eyes Sect was a vibrant, hyper-capitalist meat-grinder compared to the lawless wasteland of the Scavenger Camp. Yet, Xu Qing’s grueling cultivation schedule hadn’t wavered. Power was the only currency that truly mattered; it was his absolute foundation.

Furthermore, his plan to venture into the Endless Sea was approaching, hinging entirely on his imminent breakthrough.

“Breaking through isn’t the bottleneck. It’s the capital required for the level-seven Dharma Boat upgrade materials. I still can’t afford them,” Xu Qing murmured. He pulled a wine flask from his leather pouch and took a swig.

He wasn’t sure when the habit had formed, but the harsh burn of the alcohol had grown on him. As the warmth settled in his stomach, he calculated the risk-to-reward ratio of returning to Banquan Road to harvest more funds. Ultimately, he decided against it. Until he had a guaranteed method to eliminate the target without taking damage, alerting his prey was a tactical error.

He took another sip, then shook the flask. Empty.

With the night fully set in, Xu Qing had no desire to expend effort venturing out for a refill. He set the flask aside and closed his eyes to meditate.

Hours slipped by. A bright moon ascended, casting a pale glow over the harbor. The black waters of the Endless Sea caught the light, turning the surface into a dark, glassy mirror that hid the crushing, mutagenic horrors below.

Within the quiet cabin, Xu Qing’s eyes snapped open. His gaze pierced through the wooden walls.

Footsteps echoed from the docks, their rhythm heavy and unhurried, steadily approaching his Dharma Boat. Xu Qing’s hand drifted toward his iron stick, a cold glint in his eyes, until a familiar voice called out.

“Brother Xu Qing, are you in? It’s Huang Yan from the Piloting Department.”

The lethal tension bled from Xu Qing’s posture. He stood and stepped out onto the deck. Under the moonlight, a plump figure stood on the shore, his gray robe straining against his belly and bunching into tight folds.

Seeing Xu Qing, Huang Yan broke into a wide grin. After the Piloting Department’s labor dispute had been settled, he had stumbled upon some incredibly good news on his way home. Riding the high, he had indulged in a few drinks. In his tipsy state, he recalled the subtle assist from earlier in the day, pulled a few strings to find Xu Qing’s name and berth, and came to pay his respects.

“Brother Xu Qing, thanks for the assist today.”

Xu Qing evaluated the little fatty’s posture for hidden weapons, found none, and gave a curt nod. “No thanks needed. You gave me Spirit-Condensing Leaves at the apothecary.”

“Huh?”

Huang Yan blinked, thought for a moment, and seemed to recall the incident. He scratched his head, curiosity piqued. “Because I gave you some Spirit-Condensing Leaves that day? So you helped me today?”

“Not some. Seven stalks,” Xu Qing corrected seriously.

Huang Yan blinked again, studying Xu Qing closely. As he looked, a grin spread across his face. Initially, he had come just to express gratitude, not intending to form any deep connection—at most, he planned to give a generous gift and be done with it. But now, he suddenly felt this Xu Qing was rather interesting.

He pulled two palm-sized eggs from his leather pouch. Their shells were a pale greenish-white, shimmering with a crystalline glow under the moonlight.

“Brother, you’re a fascinating guy. I invite you to drink an egg.”

With that, he tossed one over. The egg was peculiar, effortlessly passing through Xu Qing’s protective barrier.

Xu Qing’s eyes narrowed. With a wave of his hand, numerous water droplets materialized, enveloping the egg in a dense, floating cage. He inspected it carefully, finding the shell intact without a single crack. He looked up at Huang Yan.

“What is this?”

“A little novelty.”

Huang Yan chuckled, lifting his right index finger to his mouth, wetting it with saliva, and pressed it against the egg. It punctured easily. He swirled his finger inside, pulled it out, and placed the egg to his lips, taking a sip with an expression of pure bliss.

As the shell broke, a delicate fragrance wafted out. Even through the barrier, Xu Qing caught a faint whiff. His cultivation base stirred autonomously, as if drawn to it. A primal instinct from the depths of his life essence told him this egg was extraordinary.

Hesitating briefly, Xu Qing mimicked the action, poking the egg with his finger. The shell was incredibly tough; even with a bit of force, he couldn’t make a dent.

This piqued Xu Qing’s curiosity, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

“You need to wet it with saliva. This thing is weird—if you use too much force without saliva, it’ll just explode,” the little fatty explained with a burp.

Xu Qing hesitated for a moment, then moistened his finger with saliva and easily pierced a small hole in the eggshell. An even richer aroma burst forth, causing his cultivation base to surge abruptly. Even his flesh and blood seemed to yearn for this elevation in life essence.

Xu Qing’s breathing grew slightly heavier. He brought the egg to his lips and took a sip, his eyes widening in surprise. He looked down at the egg, then took a larger gulp.

Nearby, Huang Yan sat down with an expectant look, watching Xu Qing as if waiting for his verdict.

But after a long while, Xu Qing remained silent.

“So, how’s my egg? Is it good?” Huang Yan waited a bit longer, unable to contain his curiosity.

“Not bad.”

Xu Qing nodded, feeling a warm current spread throughout his body, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

“Of course! I went through a lot of trouble to get these eggs. My Senior Sister loves them the most. Consider this a treat for you today.”

Huang Yan looked proud, sizing up Xu Qing. He felt he was starting to understand Xu Qing’s character. He took a big sip himself and fell silent.

Xu Qing didn’t speak either, quietly savoring the egg.

Time passed, and a comfortable quiet settled between them—one on the shore, the other on the boat, each in their own space without intrusion.

This atmosphere felt refreshingly novel to Huang Yan. His body and mind gradually relaxed, and the alcohol’s haze quietly clouded his vision, making his gaze grow hazy. Under the moonlight, he glanced at Xu Qing’s strikingly handsome face and couldn’t help but offer some commentary.

“Xu Qing, your looks… they’re not very advantageous when it comes to pursuing someone you like. Too unsettling, gives no sense of security. Someone like me makes women feel secure.”

Xu Qing didn’t respond, sitting there sipping the egg, one mouthful after another, not wasting a single drop.

Unbothered by Xu Qing’s silence, Huang Yan lay back, hands behind his head, pillowed by the moonlight as he gazed at the bright moon in the sky. As if thinking of someone special in his heart, he sighed and spoke.

“Xu Qing, do you have someone you like?”

By now, Xu Qing had a vague understanding of Huang Yan’s conversational style—likely very casual and naturally familiar. He shook his head.

“See, I told you. With your looks, chasing women is tough. I’m different. Let me tell you, I’m over the moon today. Not because the Piloting Department got its reward back, but because I realized my Senior Sister still cares about me. That’s why I drank a bit extra tonight.”

“You know, Xu Qing, all these years I’ve been constantly sending my Senior Sister all sorts of things. Today, she finally wanted something and specifically asked me to deliver it to her as soon as possible. I was so touched. I think I like her even more now.”

Xu Qing paused. He had no one he liked and didn’t know how to express such feelings, but he had a vague sense that something was off about Huang Yan’s words.

He glanced suspiciously at Huang Yan’s somewhat intoxicated expression, confirmed he wasn’t being sarcastic, and fell silent.

Memories surfaced of the apothecary shopkeeper mentioning Huang Yan’s seven or eight years of relentless pursuit of a female disciple.

After a long moment, Xu Qing felt he should say something. He took a sip of the egg and spoke earnestly.

“Congratulations.”

Hearing this, Huang Yan beamed even brighter, patting his belly.

“Xu Qing, I can tell you mean that. It’s different from what others say!”

“I, Huang Yan, repay kindness with kindness. You helped me today, and I won’t let it go unrewarded.” With that, Huang Yan rummaged through his belongings and pulled out a leather pouch, handing it to Xu Qing.

“There are a few Dharma Boat upgrade materials inside. Consider it a meeting gift.”

“I’m off. See you around.”

Huang Yan scrambled to his feet, swaying slightly as he walked away, pulling out a jade slip and starting to send a flurry of voice messages…

Xu Qing opened his mouth as if to say something, but seeing Huang Yan’s silly grin as he sent messages, he thought it best not to disturb him. He watched Huang Yan disappear into the distance, then turned and headed back to the cabin.

A sea breeze swept past, brushing against his body, rustling through his black hair, carrying his scent into the night, drifting toward the main city of Seven Blood Eyes.

It blew past buildings, swept through streets, witnessing the unique bustle of the night, until its remaining force began to dissipate. Finally, in the southern part of the city, at the sixth mountain peak, it settled on a figure climbing the mountain path, lifting a few strands of hair from their forehead to reveal an aged face.

If the wind had consciousness and could bring this scene back to Xu Qing, he would recognize this person instantly—it was the Vajra Sect’s Patriarch.

At this moment, the Vajra Sect’s Patriarch walked silently up the stone steps.

Under the moonlight, the wrinkles on his face seemed deeper.

As if each crease held profound worry, piled together to make the Vajra Sect’s Patriarch appear utterly bitter.

He walked on in silence until, midway up the sixth mountain, he reached a cave dwelling and stopped.

The cave’s stone door was arched, hanging closed. Lush green grass surrounded it, and above the door, three characters were inscribed with flowing, elegant strokes.

Idle Gate Cave.

Judging by the name, the resident of this cave likely valued tranquility and elegance, evoking the poetic essence of spring grass closing an idle gate.

Outside the cave, the Vajra Sect’s Patriarch took a deep breath and bowed with clasped fists.

“Fellow Daoist Idle Cloud, an old friend visits. May I have an audience?”