Chapter 82: The Shameless Chu Shaojiang

District Seven, at the city gate...

"End of the line, everybody off!" With the driver’s loud shout, the passengers poured out of the vehicle.

Song Qi followed the crowd into the city and hurried straight to the city lord’s manor. When he reached the twelfth floor, the city lord was reclining in his chair, gazing out at the city as though he had been waiting for some time.

Beside the city lord stood another man: Chu Shaojiang.

Seeing Song Qi finally arrive, the city lord rose from his chair, giving him a curious once-over.

“You’re a summoner—why are you dressed like a warrior?”

Song Qi shrugged. “This is the Heroic Spirit Set: a hero-grade set that boosts all attributes of summoned creatures. It just looks like this, nothing I can do.”

The Heroic Spirit Set’s weapon was a one-handed sword, and its armor was plate, not robes. Coupled with Song Qi’s tall stature, the silver-white armor made him look valiant and imposing—a striking figure indeed.

The city lord nodded. “Alright, now that everyone’s here, let’s head out soon.”

Song Qi hesitated. “Is our district really only sending two people to the Genius Tournament?”

“In theory, I could pick five, but those who can’t even pass the assessment would only embarrass District Seven.” The city lord explained, then suddenly slapped his forehead as if he’d just remembered something.

“Oh, right! This is Chu Shaojiang—the one you previously suspected of colluding with outsiders. But don’t worry, I’ve checked him out. He’s got nothing to do with them.”

“I still need to fetch our identification documents. You two wait here for a bit.”

With that, the city lord stepped into the elevator and descended.

Song Qi: “...”

Chu Shaojiang: “...”

Really, did the city lord have to say all that right in front of both of them? How awkward!

With his departure, an odd silence fell between the two.

Song Qi was not one to force conversation, so he ignored whatever the other might have been thinking. This time, however, Chu Shaojiang’s attitude took a complete turn.

He approached with a slightly ingratiating smile. “Um, Brother Song?”

“It was my fault before. Please don’t take it to heart.”

“Mm.” Song Qi, though surprised by the change, didn’t even turn his head—he just grunted in acknowledgment.

Chu Shaojiang wasn’t offended. If, before, he’d seen Song Qi as a nobody he could afford to cross, now, after the city lord’s actions, Song Qi was the city lord’s true disciple in his eyes—a future principal at least, and possibly even a lord-level powerhouse. His future was blindingly bright, far beyond what a minor figure like Chu could afford to provoke.

From his storage ring, Chu Shaojiang produced two bottles of pale blue potion. “I heard your parents used to work in a factory, Brother Song? Things aren’t like before the apocalypse; the work is tough, and the safety measures are lacking. After so many years, your parents must have inhaled a lot of toxins and suffered hidden injuries. Even though we’re all professionals now, old age brings its own problems. It’s best to treat these things early!”

“So? What’s your point?” Song Qi turned, a bit impatient.

Chu Shaojiang, unfazed, respectfully set the two bottles before him. “These were crafted specifically for your parents by a senior pharmacist from my clan—a detoxifying and healing potion, tailor-made for them.”

“Tailor-made for my parents?” Song Qi asked, somewhat puzzled.

Chu Shaojiang nodded eagerly. “A few days ago, I visited your house as a classmate, bringing along one of our clan’s senior pharmacists—level eighty-five, no less. He examined your parents and made these potions just for them. They’ll clear away toxins and hidden injuries, improve their health, even restore youth and beauty—they’ll look years younger!”

At this, Song Qi frowned. This guy... utterly shameless. Just days ago, hadn’t he wanted to fight to the death? Now he was currying favor?

Still, the potion reminded Song Qi that he really should be more concerned about his parents’ health. Maybe, when he reached a higher level, he could take them out to hunt wild monsters. Not for anything else—just to boost their attributes a bit.

He thought for a moment, then asked, “My sister’s a warrior—she’s run dungeons for years. She must have a lot of hidden injuries too, right?”

Far from being annoyed, Chu Shaojiang beamed. “Don’t worry, Brother Song. Your sister wasn’t home that day, but I’ll be sure to have a potion crafted for her, too!”

With that, he presented the two potions to Song Qi.

After a moment’s hesitation, Song Qi accepted them. There were plenty of detoxifying and healing potions on the market, but none could compare to something custom-made by an advanced pharmacist.

Let alone one at level eighty-five.

“Thank you,” Song Qi said.

“No thanks needed. I’ll be counting on your help in the tournament, Brother Song.” Chu Shaojiang smiled.

“Mm.” Song Qi only responded perfunctorily, but his attitude had softened.

At last, Chu Shaojiang could breathe easy. Ever since learning how much the city lord valued Song Qi, he’d been eager to make amends. But he knew that, with the city lord’s support, Song Qi lacked for neither gear nor skills—at least not at the legendary level, and Chu absolutely couldn’t afford that kind of compensation. Legendary items could cost tens or hundreds of millions, even billions—far beyond his means. Even his own best equipment was only hero-grade. Giving one of those would barely register.

To scrape together millions for amends would be too much—and might not even work.

So, he changed his approach. After much deliberation, he focused on Song Qi’s family. Using his status as a Chu family prodigy, he spent some money and called in a few favors to persuade the clan’s senior pharmacist to custom-make two potions for Song Qi’s parents.

A level eighty-five pharmacist—someone who wouldn’t work for money alone!

Of course, Chu understood that a level sixty pharmacist could have treated such minor ailments just as well. It would have cost less and required no favors. But the difference wasn’t about the treatment—it was about signaling his sincerity. A level eighty-five pharmacist was much harder to refuse, even if the effect was only one percent better.

And in the end, the extra effort had been well worth it.