Above Destiny

Chapter 572 Goodwill is Rare
"Hello, Mr. Ji."

The elderly man in the wheelchair was the first to extend his hand: "I am Long, a church elder in Tacheng... Thank you for your help with Deng's matter last time."

Deng.

Ji Jue was taken aback for a moment, then remembered that it was the surname of the elder of Yacheng. However, after becoming an elder, he was usually referred to by his teaching title, and his real name was rarely known.

He was referring to the incident where Ji Jue had previously pushed through the Seven Cities to intercept the church's hijacked ships and rescue the medical team.

Ji Jue grasped his hand, but the touch was brief.
"It was nothing, no need to worry about it."

"No, in this world, others may do evil and get no results, but if you do good, you must repay the debt."

Elder Long's voice was hoarse: "This is the church's purpose and the principle we uphold. Deng sent a special letter, entrusting me to convey his greetings and thanks."

Later, you will receive a procurement letter that you need to confirm. From now on, all equipment needed by the church in Tacheng will be procured from the coast.

And please, if there's anything else you need, please feel free to ask.

"..."

Ji Jue paused for a moment, then asked in confusion, "Is it really that straightforward?"

The elder's tone was less of a thank you and more of a repayment of a previous favor; he had no intention of getting closer to the person he was talking about, and his manner was polite yet distant.

"Being in this position, I unknowingly became like this."

Elder Long replied calmly. His face, covered with wrinkles and sunspots, had long been accustomed to a harsh, expressionless demeanor. Occasionally, his eyes would twitch in a spasm of nerves, but more often than not, it was a harshness and indifference from the heart that could hardly be described as approachable.

They were completely different from the church members that Ji Jue had in mind!
"I may not speak rudely, and my face may not look good, but as a decoration, I am good enough to make people feel disgusted. Please forgive me if I have offended anyone."

Ji Jue was speechless for a moment.

There's no way to blame the church for speaking harshly; they did it on purpose. They don't need to be obsequious or charming; speaking harshly and having an unpleasant expression is precisely the attitude and style the church needs most in a godforsaken place like China.

This is also a deliberate attitude and persona.

The best way is to keep irrelevant people away from you, and to keep the scheming and exchanging of interests within the Empire and the Federation away from you.

To survive in such a latrine for a long time and to avoid being fundamentally altered, one must transform oneself into a stinky and hard rock.

Kindness is precious, but good deeds are hard to perform.

The rain was too scarce. Compared to the chaos in the Central Plains, any amount of investment would be a drop in the ocean. He had to ensure that this meager power was not coveted by anyone and that it could be used in the most critical places.

Elder Longge cannot be blamed.

Ji Jue really needs to find the reason within himself.

At this critical juncture, as a representative of Haichao Military Industry, an arms dealer who is about to make a big splash but may become infamous, the fact that the elder is willing to come over and shake your hand to show goodwill is already the greatest effort he has made.

The Medal of Supreme Virtue, Elder Deng's favor, and his past actions.

If anything is missing, Elder Long will ignore him.

Moreover, it also proactively opened up a market breakthrough for coastal industries.

If we are not careful, the neutral stance and halo of the Chongguang Church will be questioned or even tarnished.

Once the noodles are eaten, if anyone questions how many bowls there were, Elder Long will probably have no choice but to cut open his stomach to prove the church's innocence.

They place too much importance on personal relationships.

"Thank you."

Ji Jue sighed and expressed his heartfelt gratitude: "Elder, you really didn't need to show up. There was no need to waste such a precious opportunity on someone as petty and despicable as me."

"Doing good deeds is difficult, but that doesn't mean we should do nothing."

Long's expression remained indifferent: "Even now, I'm willing to take a gamble. Mr. Ji, your arrival in the Central Plains may not be a bad thing for many people."

"I don't even know what I'm supposed to do."

“That’s true, but Mr. Ji has always maintained boundaries by not doing anything. That’s enough. If he can do that, the church’s reward will not be in vain.”

For a fleeting moment, in the dim light, the corners of that withered, emaciated face twitched again, as if trying to smile, even if only for a brief instant.

Fleeting.

Yet, it was the most sincere gratitude and expectation that Ji Jue had received from the people of this land since he set foot on the Central Plains.

In comparison, all other enthusiastic smiles seemed pale and insignificant.

"Then, please excuse me, Mr. Ji."

Elder Longge swayed his wheelchair back a bit and turned around: "Time is precious, I need to go back and organize the firefighting efforts."

"Do you need any help?" Ji Jue asked.

"No need. The fire that Mr. Ji is trying to put out will probably only get bigger."

Long shook his head, but before leaving, he paused for a moment, remained silent for a while, and then slowly turned around and glanced at him.

If Mr. Ji has the time in the future, he might consider visiting the church in another capacity.

He said softly, "Although the conditions are simple, with only coarse tea and plain food and no delicacies or fine wine, the fruits that the children picked from the wilderness are also very sweet and delicious, and they taste good without any guilt."

"must."

Ji Jue nodded solemnly in assurance and did not follow.

Standing there, I watched the elder push the wheelchair away slowly, disappearing into the crowd. I paid no more attention to the luxurious world of bright lights and revelry.

Ji Jue remained silent.

After a long while, he let out a soft sigh.

In this shitty world, it's so hard to be a good person...

Being a truly good person is even more difficult.

After the banquet ended, the venue gradually quieted down, but the luxurious lounge remained bustling with activity.

"The situation is terrible."

Shaban lay on his couch, smoking a hookah, glancing at the various orders constantly refreshing on the wasteland, and how most of them pointed to the same target. He couldn't help but shake his head, as if sighing.

Yet, he couldn't help but beam with joy.

It's a bumper harvest, family.

As soon as Ji Jue arrived, Tacheng became lively; as soon as the tide came in, the results were achieved!

Seeing the booming market and numerous bounties, Shaban couldn't help but hug Ji Jue and kiss him twice. Where did this god of wealth come from?

"Oh dear, it seems that young man has been targeted." Shaban grinned, looking at the middle-aged man lounging on another sofa smoking a cigar with a half-smile: "The people from the Empire have already made their move, and they probably won't let him go. Are you, Huanyu Heavy Industry, just going to stand by and watch?"

On the sofa, a middle-aged man smoking a cigar casually exhaled a puff of smoke and sipped his strong liquor. He didn't look old, but his temples were already gray.

"Huanyu Heavy Industry doesn't even have enough to eat for itself, so where will it find room to feed the extra mouths?"

Dugu Ming said calmly, "There is no place for Hai Chao on the table in the Central Plains. If he wants to get on the table, he has to go and snatch it himself. If he fails, he deserves to be beaten to death."

"Even if you snatch it, it'll still be on your plate, right?" Shaban couldn't help but shake his head.

Huanyu Heavy Industry: A Great Creation.

The former T5 is now little known, while the one that has survived to this day, is thriving and has also changed beyond recognition, is the World Heavy Industries, which has split into the Federation and the Empire.

With personnel changes, repeated financing, mergers and even reorganizations, the two have now become a terrifying alliance that encompasses almost 90% of the world's current industrial capacity.

Theoretically speaking, Haichao Military Industry is also a member of Huanyu Heavy Industry. However, the internal struggles and infighting within Huanyu Heavy Industry never stop, and there is no brotherhood between them.

At this point, not taking drastic measures was already out of consideration for Lü Yingyue, giving Ji Jue some breathing room.

Whether Ji Jue is willing to admit it or not, the arrival of Hai Chao Military Industry will inevitably seize the market in the Central Plains. For the Empire, this is undoubtedly a test and expansion by Huanyu Heavy Industry, and it certainly will not sit idly by.

If Ji Jue makes any move, no, even if he dares to show such a tendency, he will inevitably suffer a head-on blow.

Just like when the coastal industries of yesteryear wanted to get back on the table.

“But what if he doesn’t move?” Shaban asked quietly.

Then, Dugu Ming's smile turned mocking, and he retorted, "Why would he come here if he didn't move?"

From the moment Ji Jue set foot on the Central Plains, the signal he released had already spread throughout Tacheng. Unless he really did nothing and slunk back, he would definitely not be tolerated by Tacheng.

"Hmm? Let me see... the person next to him isn't simple either."

Shaban flipped through the latest news in his hand, a new file, the photo of a middle-aged subordinate accompanying Ji Jue: "It seems he also brought someone from the Xun family. Does Nancheng also want to get involved?"

"That person has already been investigated. He chose the wrong side in the family head struggle and has been expelled from the family genealogy. He is also not allowed to use the surname. If he is dead, so be it. If he is alive, let fate decide."

"Coastal Industry, Tide Military Industry, and Tide Sound Workshop, all backed by masters with connections reaching the Heavenly Furnace, the Golden Ribbon of the Taiyi Ring, collaborators with the Security Bureau, and even the Central Earth Operations Department and the Red Alliance..."

Shaban clicked his tongue in amazement: "Hey, this kid's background is really something else. Now I understand why Chen Xingzhou dared to ask me for six more percentage points from his shipyard back then... With someone like this around, how can we not have business to do?"
No wonder everyone 'likes' him.

He paused, squinted, and looked at the photo of Ji Jue in his hand.

Filled with admiration, as if appreciating a peerless divine weapon.

—What a fine knife!

This is true for everyone.

Who wouldn't like an outsider with no connections, a newcomer who overestimates his abilities and wants to join the game, and an arrogant craftsman who has the ability but can't see reality?
At this very moment, in the desolate wilderness of southern Central Plains, in this vast and chaotic world, it had long been a paradise for predators.

In this seemingly chaotic and turbulent quagmire, there is no place for outsiders.

Federation, Empire, military industry, wasteland, local compradors, itinerant brokers... each of them is sharpening their knives in the face of this impending storm.

For Ji Jue, there is only one path left.

If he doesn't choose, plenty of people will choose for him.

Even if Ji Jue is kind to people, there will still be people who will offer to 'help' him. Just like those old dogs at Huanyu Heavy Industry who are hoping that Ji Jue will be their cannon fodder and charge into battle.

If you can't eat, you'll be eaten.

After finishing one, you start another, and then the next one.

Until Ji Jue truly fights his way out and is qualified to sit at the table and share the meal. Or, his knife becomes dull, breaks, he becomes exhausted, he takes the wrong path, goes astray, and ends up as an enemy of the world, no longer tolerated by the Central Plains, and ultimately his body is left to rot in the wilderness.

He was already looking forward to it.

Shaban squinted his eyes.

The days ahead are sure to be wonderful!

(End of this chapter)