334 Zong Cheng the magician (1/2)

Ren Xiaosu felt that he could not be faulted for thinking that Stronghold 178 was very poor. After all, it was not like a place that was located in such a harsh environment should have much wealth to begin with. But Yang Xiaojin's explanation made him understand why so many people were eyeing Stronghold 178 even though it was situated at the border.

It was no wonder that Stronghold 178 wanted to exterminate the bandits and reopen the trade routes. Those minerals needed to be transported to the Central Plains!

More importantly, Zhang Jinglin had once refused to be the commander of Stronghold 178 even though they were so rich? Was he being melodramatic or what! Ren Xiaosu started judging Zhang Jinglin.

When they arrived at the second stronghold to do repairs and maintenance, Yang Xiaojin disappeared off to somewhere again. Meanwhile, Ren Xiaosu traded some more gold for money before returning to the assembly place in advance. When he got back, Yang Xiaojin hadn't returned yet. Zong Cheng was laughing and chatting with the Yang Consortium's nanosoldiers.

His own soldiers had brought over some folding chairs for the nanosoldiers and even provided them with some specialties from the North as snacks.

It seemed that Zong Cheng was highly interested in these nanosoldiers and was willing to interact with them. No matter how arrogant the nanosoldiers might be, they would still not put on any airs in front of an important figure from the Zong Consortium and conversed quite happily with him.

When Ren Xiaosu returned, he did not approach them immediately. Instead, he observed them from afar. It looked like Zong Cheng was performing some magic tricks for them. Zong Cheng asked one of the nanosoldiers while holding a water bottle in his hand, ”What do you usually like to drink?”

The nanosoldier smiled and said, ”You're too polite. I'll just have some water.”

”OK,” Zong Cheng said as he tilted the bottle slightly and poured some clear liquid out of it.

Zong Cheng turned to look at another soldier. ”What do you like to drink? Say something different this time.”

”I like grape juice,” the nanosoldier said.

”Alright.” Zong Cheng was still holding the same bottle in his hand but the previously clear liquid was no longer there. This time, he poured some purple grape juice out.

The nanosoldiers exclaimed, ”There must be a mechanism in the bottle, right?”

”Come here, you can inspect it for yourself.” Zong Cheng handed the bottle to one of the nanosoldiers. The nanosoldier looked into the bottle and found no mechanisms inside.

Then Zong Cheng turned around and saw Ren Xiaosu. ”Brother Xiaosu! Why are you watching from there? Come and sit with us for a while. We'll set off when Yang Xiaojin gets back.”

Ren Xiaosu walked over and said with a smile, ”Can you do card tricks?”

”That's something every magician has to learn.” Zong Cheng took out a deck of playing cards from his breast pocket and asked, ”What kinda trick would you like to see?”

Ren Xiaosu suddenly sensed that something was not right. Why would a core figure of an organization be obsessed with magic tricks? He had heard Zong Cheng was a supernatural being, so could his superpower be related to magic?

Ren Xiaosu smiled and said, ”Why don't you conjure up four 'fours' for me?”

”That's simple.” Zong Cheng said confidently, ”Pick out any four cards as you like.”

He fanned the cards out face down so that no one could see what the cards were.

Ren Xiaosu reached out and picked the cards. These were cards used for magic, and he happened to have similar cards.

”Wow, they really are four 'fours,'” Ren Xiaosu said in surprise as he looked at the cards in his hands. ”Brother Zong Cheng is truly amazing.” Then Ren Xiaosu returned the cards to him.

Zong Cheng was stunned. He felt like something was off but could not tell what it was exactly.

”Please don't say that. It was no big deal.” Zong Cheng smiled as he put the cards back into the box and then stuffed it into the inside pocket of his jacket.

Then Zong Cheng said with a warm smile, ”By the way, Brother Xiaosu, I just heard about something. Are you very close with Xu Xianchu?”