Scientific Travel

Chi Lin couldn't hide his thoughts; he made them too obvious.

Deng Yin didn't turn on the light, but lit two candles, just enough to see the other person's expression.

The candlelight flickered, just like Chi Lin's heart.

"Speak," Deng Yin said, sitting across from Chi Lin at the table. He figured the conversation was going to be heavy, so he didn't pour himself a cup of tea or grab a handful of melon seeds.

We just chatted.

Delaying it wouldn't help; he was going to say it no matter what. Once the words were on his lips, he felt a sense of relief.

"If you're willing to join us, I'm willing to give you money. Name your price."

Deng Yin seemed to have anticipated that Chi Lin would say these things, and he wasn't angry.

"What makes you think I'm short of money? And what makes you think you can afford to pay me?"

“It’s not that I think you’re short of money, I just think you might be willing to join us for the money. As for the compensation…” Chi Lin took a deep breath and said, “As long as you agree to me, I’m willing to give you any amount of money.”

"But what if I don't want money, but something else?" Deng Yin's eyes were clear; she didn't seem to be joking. She leaned forward, closer to Chi Lin. "If I wanted something else, would you still be willing to give it to me?"

"I'm willing." Chi Lin agreed without hesitation. "As long as you agree, I'll give you anything you want."

Even if it's your life?

Even if it's my life.

Deng Yin leaned back in his chair and asked with some curiosity, "What are you after? To tell you the truth, Mei Shengke is the female lead of this world, and Wei Wujiang is the male lead. With the two of them, it's only a matter of time before you solve the natural disaster. But why do you insist on having me join you?"

“My time…” Chi Lin’s voice was very soft, so soft that it seemed as if he was saying to himself, “…maybe not much time left.”

It was completely quiet all around, with only the flickering candlelight, but Deng Yin still couldn't hear clearly. "What did you say?"

Chi Lin concealed the dejection on his face and forced himself to say, "It's nothing. I just mean that every day the natural disaster lasts, another person might die. If you join us, the natural disaster will definitely end sooner."

“That makes sense,” Deng Yin said. “Then let’s get back to the issue of compensation. I’m not short of money, so if you want to hire me…”

"...Even the entire national treasury wouldn't be enough."

“Just tell me,” Chi Lin said. “As long as you name a price, I will definitely find a way to raise it.”

"Alright, give me 80 million gold coins. Remember, not silver notes, but gold coins. As long as you can afford it, I'll agree to your terms."

Deng Yin said this only to discourage Chi Lin; she had no interest in the heroic savior role. Besides, what would happen to her unfinished tasks if the natural disaster ended prematurely?

She had rejected Chi Lin many times, but he always held onto his illusions. It would be better to set him an impossible goal to prevent future problems.

To Deng Yin's surprise, Chi Lin agreed.

"Okay, give me a month. I'll come back to you with gold coins in two months, and then you won't be able to refuse me anymore."

"Where are you going to get so much money?" Deng Yin frowned and said, "No one in the entire Xiye City could come up with that much money, right?"

"You forgot? I can tell fortunes." Chi Lin said with a smile, "The richer a person is, the more they cherish their life. I am the junior brother of the old imperial advisor. Do you think many people would be willing to pay a lot of money to have me tell their fortunes once that name is established?"

"Each person has ten million gold coins. I only need three days to get eight people. The rest of the time is for them to exchange them for cash."

Deng Yin: "......" Are there really that many rich people? If I had known this would happen, why would she sell cakes? She should have become a charlatan instead.

No, let's just sell water instead. Water that can prolong life, though I don't know how long it will prolong it. I think quite a few people would be willing to buy a bowl for ten gold coins.

"What kind of expression is that? You're not thinking of backing out, are you?" Chi Lin held the candlestick in his left hand and leaned forward with the candlestick.

The candlelight shone on his face, and the firelight reflected in his eyes.

Deng Yin, like him, gripped the candlestick and lunged forward.

Both of their eyes were glowing red from the candlelight, but Deng Yin only saw his own reflection in his own eyes.

"How could that be? As long as you can afford it, I will not go back on my word."

"Pinky promise." Chi Lin extended his little finger, a gesture he had learned from Wang Xi.

"childish."

Deng Yin said this, but he still stretched out his hand.

.......

Chi Lin didn't sleep all night...

The next morning, he woke up Mei Shengke and said he was leaving.

Having already spent enough time here, and having already met Deng Yin, Mei Shengke agreed.

The two walked in a hurry and didn't even eat breakfast.

Before leaving, Chi Lin leaned out of the carriage and called upstairs, "Don't forget our promise."

The doors and windows were tightly shut, but Chi Lin knew that Deng Yin had heard them.

Mei Shengke didn't know what had happened, but she felt that their relationship seemed to have improved a little overnight.

Everyone has their own secrets. Mei Shengke is not a very curious person, nor is she someone who wants to pry into other people's secrets.

Chi Lin took the initiative to speak, saying, "I'm going to Shimu City. You don't need to come with me. The army needs you right now."

"Okay, I'll take you there first, then I'll go back to the barracks myself." Mei Shengke asked, "Do you need me to pick you up?"

Chi Lin thought for a moment and said without ceremony, "Yes, come pick me up in five days."

Mei Shengke: "...Do you know that it takes at least three days to get to Shimu City from here? Moreover, the wind is strong now, so it will only take longer. Five days is simply not enough to make a round trip."

"Really?" Chi Lin changed his mind and said, "Then come with me. It's almost Chinese New Year, so we can buy some New Year's goods while we're at it."