Zack Wallace walked around Hunter Daltonâs company.
He spotted a redwood bead bracelet and found it quite nice. Then he saw a white jade âpeaceâ pendant that also caught his eye, followed by a metal lump.
In a delicate glass showcase, only treasures were displayed; it was impossible for a piece of junk to be there without a reason.
Zack Wallace concentrated and took a closer look, noticing an endless string of zeros on the tag of the metal lump, and he took a deep breath.
â¦Man, thatâs expensive!
Given its high price and bizarre appearance, it must be something extraordinary.
Zack Wallace waved over a junior employee from the company and asked what that thing was.
The junior employee, smiling, said, âDo you know Hou Yi?â
Zack Wallace frowned. âYeah, I know him.â
âHou Yi was skilled with the bow and arrow. This is an arrowhead he used, extremely firm and yang to the utmost, able to ward off evil spirits.â
Zack Wallace: ââ¦â
He really wanted to ask: Do I look like an idiot to you? Hou Yi shot the suns, thatâs a figure from mythology!
Zack Wallace asked, âDo you guys sell Changâe then?â
The employee was slightly embarrassed and replied, âSir, we donât have Changâe here. However, Hou Yiâs things are genuine. Hou Yi was the leader of the Youqiong clan of the Eastern Yi Tribe in the Xia Dynasty. Many of his burial items have scattered overseas, and this arrowhead was not easy for our boss to get back.â
So thatâs how it isâ¦
Zack Wallace stroked his chin, thinking: Itâs really about hitting the books more. The decision to send my nephew to military management school was absolutely correct!
At that moment, Hunter Dalton came out the door calling for his compass. It seemed he was done talking with Alexander Summers and was about to visit the Summers Residence.
Zack Wallace approached with a beaming smile and asked Hunter Dalton, âMr. Dalton, could you give me a discount on this arrowhead?â
Hunter Dalton looked startled and asked, âWhat does Mr. King plan to do with it?â
âWhen youâre out and about, disasters can hardly be avoided.â Zack Wallace grinned cheekily. âBesides, the last copper coin is no longer usable. I have to buy some new trinketsâ¦â
âOh, I see,â Hunter Dalton smiled and said, âWell, Mr. King probably wonât need that arrowhead. Iâll give you something else instead.â
Hunter Dalton took a string of copper coins from the bottom shelf of the glass showcase and stuffed them into Zack Wallaceâs hand.
A quick glance estimated there to be over thirty coins, heavy and substantial in weight.
Zack Wallace fell silent.
He hesitated for a moment and asked, âIsnât this⦠too heavy to carry?â
Hunter Dalton said, âItâs not too heavy. Just remember to keep it close to your body. Even losing one could drastically reduce its effectiveness.â
Zack Wallace: ââ¦â
A single copper coin had once blocked a bullet for him; with these thirty-plus coins⦠was he supposed to turn into a sieve?
While they were talking, Hunter Daltonâs compass and gear were ready, and he called two bearded mages to follow Alexander Summers to the Summers Residence.
Of course, Master Xanderâs matters were more pressing; Zack Wallace didnât dare to ask more and hurriedly pocketed the whole string of coins to follow them.
The coins were so heavy that walking with a wide stride made his legs ache.
â¦
Upon arriving at the Summers Residence, Hunter Dalton and the two mages started to move around the small western-style building.
Zack Wallace stood by Alexanderâs side, watching these mystical folks busily at it, feeling thoroughly perplexed.
The two old mages looked somewhat impressive, but Hunter Dalton with the compass seemed all wrong, like a man in a suit awkwardly holding prayer beads and chanting âAmitÄbha,â simply too bizarre.
Zack Wallace quietly squeezed the copper coins in his pocket, half-believing, and half-doubting.
He wondered if this freely given trinket could really work. Was Hunter Dalton not just playing him?
At the other end, Hunter Dalton was discussing something with the mages, occasionally pointing at nearby trees, but it was unclear what he was actually talking about.
After a good wait, Zack Wallace eagerly perked up to listen attentively as the group gathered.
âWe have good news and bad news,â Hunter Dalton said with a smile.