Chapter 354: Extra (16)
After Marshal Sisheng obliterated over a thousand interstellar beasts with overwhelming force, the battle officially came to an end.
The soldiers began processing the battlefield spoils, while Li Zhecheng left to report the outcome of the expedition.
He had only intended to scout, yet with the help of the two “wandering merchants,” not only did he return with over a hundred Xisa survivors, but not one soldier died.
As for injuries—on the battlefield, that was normal. As long as one still had a breath left, water-healers and light-healers could save them.
This was undeniably a total victory!
Li Zhecheng was naturally overjoyed. But as for how exactly they should treat these two mysterious “wandering merchants,” he needed to ask for instructions.
Soon, Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi were granted an audience with the Commander-in-Chief of the border army.
He was a man with silver hair and violet eyes, beautiful features, and an extraordinary presence—so striking that Tang Yu’an couldn’t help staring.
Then—
Zhou Qi stepped in front of him.
Tang Yu’an blinked and gave Zhou Qi a puzzled look.
Was Brother Qi… unhappy?
“Greetings,” the silver-haired man said. “I am the Crown Prince of the Roland Empire, Sainos Roland, and the supreme commander here.”
So he was a prince? No wonder he had such an exceptional aura!
“Hello, I’m Zhou.”
Zhou Qi quickly returned to his usual calm. After introducing himself, he glanced at Tang Yu’an. “This is…”
“I’m Tang. You can call me Little Tang.”
Tang Yu’an took a step forward, grabbed Zhou Qi’s hand, and declared, “We are wandering merchants from another world—currently on our honeymoon!”
Zhou Qi: …(//o///o//)
He lowered his gaze toward Tang Yu’an, who was spouting nonsense, his pale cheeks flushing visibly red.
Their marriage application had been rejected—how could this be considered a honeymoon?
But Tang Yu’an’s bold, open desire to announce their relationship to the entire world delighted Zhou Qi.
He liked being chosen by Tang Yu’an, openly and without hesitation.
Sainos studied the couple with mild surprise.
Because the Roland Empire had struggled to survive a century of natural disasters, coming close to destruction many times, the people had adopted a culture of living in the moment and cherishing the present. Same-sex relationships weren’t condemned.
However…
Wandering merchants from another world?
Although he had already heard Li Zhecheng’s report, Sainos was still astonished.
“Could it be… you come from the world of the Heroes?”
Now it was Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi’s turn to be surprised.
“The world of the Heroes?”
“Yes. In Roland we have an ancient legend.”
Sainos spoke gently, “It is said that when certain conditions are met, a colossal summoning array left by the ancients will be unsealed.”
“Heroes from another world will be summoned here—to save the people from suffering and lead the Roland Empire back to glory.”
He looked at Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi, eyes burning with expectation.
“Are you… the Heroes?”
According to Li Zhecheng, these two wandering merchants possessed tremendous power—able to block out interstellar beasts within a certain range.
He hadn’t witnessed it himself, but knowing Li Zhecheng, he would never lie about such a matter.
And when Sainos asked the other soldiers who had been there, their accounts were even more exaggerated.
Didn’t this fit the prophecy perfectly?
Facing Sainos’s increasingly eager gaze, Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi exchanged a helpless look.
[Message Board (Private Chat)]
[Eastern Sugar Tang]: Brother Qi, what do we do?
[Handsome Zhou]: I didn’t expect the Roland Empire to have such a legend. Saves us the trouble of explaining.
[Eastern Sugar Tang]: But… we’re not heroes…
Zhou Qi thought for a moment and answered honestly.
“We haven’t heard of the Hero legend, nor were we summoned here. I believe you may be misunderstanding.”
Sainos paused slightly.
He studied them again, hesitating.
“But you did come from another world, and you possess great power. This aligns with the prophecy.”
“You call yourselves wandering merchants. If Roland wished to obtain that power of yours—the one that can ward off interstellar beasts—what sort of price would we have to pay?”
Hearing this, Tang Yu’an couldn’t help scratching his head.
They really were just traveling—they had never thought about opening a branch store in Roland or expanding their business here!
Of course, gaining more customers would only benefit them, not harm them.
But without a dimensional locator stone, traveling back and forth between worlds would be troublesome—unless they stayed here permanently and moved their main store to this world.
Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi discussed the matter on the message board and finally reached a decision.
Since they were already able to cooperate with the Huaxia government, forming friendly relations with a magical nation didn’t seem like a problem at all.
Besides, this would help Tang Yu’an spread faith and gain more divine power.
A magical world should have gods… right?
So they prepared their explanation and said to Sainos:
“Your Highness Sainos, to be honest, we are followers of the God of Commerce.”
“Followers of the God of Commerce?”
“Yes. The God of Commerce is a great deity—kind and merciful—whose purpose is to bring prosperity to all impoverished lands, allowing commerce to flourish across the entire world.”
Hearing himself recite this kind of line again, Tang Yu’an’s toes curled into the ground from embarrassment.
In the past, he had only been “borrowing a tiger’s might” or bluffing. But now he truly possessed a divine spark—he had actually become the God of Commerce.
He could only try to keep a straight face and imagine himself wearing that silver-glowing mask.
Sainos’s brows knitted tightly.
In ancient times, Axin Star had also worshipped various gods, with religions once flourishing. But since the natural disasters arrived and the gods did nothing, people gradually abandoned faith.
Nowadays, few Roland citizens believed in any deity—Sainos himself included.
And as the crown prince, he understood well the dangers religion could bring to a nation.
“You want to spread your faith in Roland?”
Zhou Qi shook his head. Roland was not the wasteland; establishing a religion here would not be easy. They only wanted to plant a seed.
How that seed might grow in the future—whether it would match their expectations…
Zhou Qi had absolute confidence in Tang Yu’an. 🙂
“We are not divine envoys. But the kind of power you seek can only be granted through the God of Commerce’s blessing.”
“What do I need to do?”
“You must find someone trustworthy and skilled in business. We will recommend that person to the divine envoy. If they pass the envoy’s trial, then you will receive what you wish for.”
Sainos’s frown deepened as he studied the two teens.
Their temperaments were too bright and upright—he couldn’t associate them with cultists—but since the matter involved religion, he had to remain cautious.
“What price would this person have to pay?” he asked again.
Zhou Qi considered and answered, “They will become very busy. They’ll need to complete daily trade tasks. The more trades they complete, the more they will earn the God of Commerce’s favor.”
“Just… making trades?”
“Yes.”
“Any kind of trade?”
“As long as it follows the rules and does not harm others.”
Sainos was surprised again. This sounded too simple—which only made it more suspicious.
“Forgive me, but this is a serious matter. I may need to consult my father, the emperor.”
As he said this, his expression suddenly softened.
He smiled slightly. “Coincidentally, my younger brother Sino is about to hold his coming-of-age ceremony. Why not accompany me to attend the celebrations?”
