I Don't Agree to the Terms

"Damn it, how dare you revoke my citizenship!" Wang Qi clenched his fists, a bloodshot gaze fixed upon the middle-aged man before him.

The man's tone was filled with disdain as he glanced at Wang Qi, "Scram. I'm in a good mood today, so I'll spare your life. But if we meet again, I won't be so merciful."

After speaking, he carried away the tile pot filled with stinky tofu and eggs, clearly in an exceptionally good mood.

"You...argh!!!" Wang Qi's performance was very spirited. It was only after the man had left that he hurried onto the somewhat miniaturized sea vessel, ready to make his escape.

As for the middle conspiracy and scheming, all of that was skipped over. With Gu Shanhai's guidance and his own destiny, everything had gone off without any real danger.

"Speaking of which, do you know how to sail?" Gu Shanhai looked at Wang Qi, who hesitated at the helm, and asked curiously.

"Nope..." Wang Qi confessed honestly. How would he possibly know how to sail?

He was just a citizen of the land, feeling uncomfortable with just a breeze from the sea, let alone operating a sea vessel.

"Do you?" Wang Qi retorted.

"I know a bit, roughly just floor the gas pedal and that's it," Gu Shanhai explained, his experience coming from Little White who apparently sailed like that.

Wang Qi searched around and then asked, "Where's the gas pedal?"

"I don't know, but don't you feel like the boat's moving? Oh right, did you pull up the anchor?" It seemed that Gu Shanhai really found the situation troublesome.

"I did...I think."

"Hold on, please don't tell me you don't know what an anchor is," Gu Shanhai picked up on Wang Qi's uncertain tone. Wang Qi was illiterate, and although ships passed by his area, he had no understanding of them. Before, as a land citizen, he definitely wouldn't have had any contact with ship-related work.

Living more like someone scratching a living from the land, food and drink were unpredictable, and work was out of the question. He was too frail; nobody would want him.

"Alright, I really don't know. I've been racking my brains planning my escape from work, I don't know anything about the sea," Wang Qi admitted the truth.

"Did you prepare any fresh water?" Gu Shanhai asked.

"Why not just drink seawater? Why do we need fresh water?" Wang Qi asked, puzzled. In his mind, as land citizens weren't allowed to drink seawater, that's why they didn't drink it. But if sea dwellers aren't afraid of the sea, why bother with fresh water? Just drink seawater.

Hearing this, Gu Shanhai was internally cursing. He had been hasty in getting him out here, resulting in an underdeveloped situation.

No wonder, according to the established routine, they had to go through those trials. It was not only to toughen up Wang Qi's experiences and mind but also to provide him with appropriate knowledge; otherwise, he might head out to sea without even preparing supplies.

"Fine, pack up that Isatis root instant noodles you got as a tribute; that stuff might just become your lifesaver," Gu Shanhai suggested with a deadpan hint that the lad was doomed.

"What did I do wrong?" Wang Qi, not a fool either, immediately sensed the implication in Gu Shanhai's words.

"Well, you've done quite a lot wrong. Like now, do you know where to steer the ship to? Do you know where you can get supplies?"

"Or how to deal with Sea Beasts when you encounter them, and how to counterattack when other sea dwellers attack you, etc.?"

One question after another was thrown out by Gu Shanhai, leaving Wang Qi somewhat overwhelmed.

"No worries, I can offer a tribute to your true form, achieve Transcendent powers and food, as long as there's enough Sea Beast meat. If that fails, scooping up a few buckets of seawater works too."

Confronted with these issues, Wang Qi simply relied on brute force. It didn't matter that he didn't know anything; having a connection with the Divine was enough.

"You're so arrogant, be careful you'll only get dark cuisine in return; I wonder how you'll swallow that," Gu Shanhai commented.

"To me, dark cuisine seems more practical. Not only is it edible, but it can also double as a weapon, much more valuable than normal gourmet food. Just like this Isatis root instant noodles, one bite and I'm energized for three days," Wang Qi bragged vividly.

It was like the potency of the stinky tofu and eggs was a Transcendent effect, while the Isatis root instant noodles had its unique effect—boosting vitality, although there might be slight side effects afterwards.

If you're wondering what those side effects are, well, it's persistent nausea during the temporary energy boost.

But it was bearable, a physical issue. As long as one's focus is there, such side effects can be ignored.

"Next time, if I can get another stinky tofu egg, I'll have a long-range weapon. If I become Transcendent again and enhance the stinky tofu egg to a +12 level, I refuse to believe anyone could battle me."

Since becoming enlightened and swayed by Gu Shanhai, Wang Qi had developed a penchant for dark cuisine, especially since it could be enhanced. It was certainly something to make good use of.

If that stinky tofu egg were truly enhanced to a +12 level, its power could easily create a vast wasteland.

"You? I don't believe you'll live long enough to enhance a stinky tofu egg to a +12 level. With your frail body, you'd probably die from the emitted stench while trying to reach +3," Gu Shanhai remarked mockingly.

He loved a spectacle and didn't mind escalation. If a +12 stinky tofu egg were to be born, then casually throwing it at someone would be comparable to a nuclear weapon.

"No problem, I can take it slow. There's plenty of dark cuisine, it doesn't have to be the stinky tofu egg. That Pie in the Sky also worked. The eerie light in those fish eyes—perfect for scaring folks," Wang Qi smacked his lips, still savoring the taste of the Pie in the Sky.