Chapter 516 - 516: Integrity Shattered All Over the Floor

After dividing up the Talismans, Zhao Yuan got down to business. "How are the plans for the operation coming along? I was so focused on Drawing Talismans that I lost track of time and couldn't join you for the discussion."

"It's all settled!" Ying Ji said. "We'll set out first thing tomorrow morning. Once we reach Putuo Mountain, we'll survey the terrain and find a suitable spot to plant the explosives and set up an ambush. Then, we'll figure out a way to lure the Raccoon Power over and hit it with a massive blast."

Zhao Yuan wasn't at all surprised that these people could get their hands on explosives. With their financial resources and influence, getting such things was a piece of cake.

He was just a little worried. "We're not going to blow the Raccoon Power to bits, are we?"

"No way," Cheng Haoyu said with a laugh. "The Raccoon Power's hide is tougher than a rhino's, and it's covered in a layer of resilient fur. Its defense is almost on par with an armored car. With the explosives I got, we'll be lucky to even injure it. The moment we spot a wound, we'll immediately focus our fire and try to kill it before it can recover!"

Zhao Yuan mulled it over for a moment before nodding. "That's true. You can't apply common sense to these Exotic Beasts."

Ying Ji took over and continued the explanation, "According to our estimates, even if the explosion doesn't wound the Raccoon Power, it will definitely stun it for a moment. That will be the best time for us to attack. Cheng Haoyu and Fatty Hao will move in for close combat, while you and I will be responsible for long-range support and harassment. At the critical moment, we'll have to charge in too!"

"Understood." Zhao Yuan knew that to hunt an Exotic Beast like the Raccoon Power, they had to rely on teamwork, so he had no objections to these arrangements.

After Ying Ji finished explaining the plan, Cheng Haoyu glanced at his watch and said, "It's getting late. Let's go get something to eat."

Ying Ji pointed at Hao Li and said with a smile, "With Fatty Hao here, why would we need to go out to eat?"

Cheng Haoyu slapped his thigh excitedly. "That's right! How could I forget about Fatty Hao? I can still taste the meal he personally cooked last time at the Lakefront House. I finally have the chance to feast again today."

Hao Li was speechless. "So you guys dragged me over here just to be your cook?"

"That's right," Ying Ji and Cheng Haoyu said in unison. "Otherwise, why do you think we brought you along?"

"Fine, I give up. Having friends like you, what can I do but chalk it up to bad luck?" Hao Li sighed and shook his head, then asked, "Where's the kitchen? What ingredients do you have?"

Cheng Haoyu said, a bit awkwardly, "The kitchen is on the first floor. As for ingredients... uh... we don't have any right now. But that's okay, I'll have someone go buy some."

He walked quickly to the staircase and shouted down to the first floor, "Shen Qian, sorry to trouble you, but could you go to the supermarket and buy some ingredients? Oh, right, you'll need to buy some seasonings like oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar too."

Hao Li was surprised. "You don't have anything here? Don't tell me you don't even have pots, bowls, and pans."

Cheng Haoyu said with perfect confidence, "You're right, I really don't. Don't glare at me. The kitchen in this villa has never been used since I moved in. How could it possibly have those things?"

Hao Li was utterly defeated. He said with a wry smile, "Forget it. Don't trouble the young lady. It'll take forever to buy all the ingredients, seasonings, and cookware now. I'll just use what I brought."

Now it was Cheng Haoyu's turn to be surprised. "You carry cookware, ingredients, and seasonings around with you? You guys from the Tripod Cuisine School are way too dedicated. Where is it all? Is it in the car? I'll go get it."

As he spoke, he was about to head downstairs and out of the house.

Hao Li held out his right hand, showing it off. "Not in the car. It's right here."

Cheng Haoyu was taken aback. It wasn't until he saw the Storage Ring on Hao Li's finger that his eyes widened. He asked in disbelief, "What is that you're wearing? Is that a Storage Ring?"

"That's right," Hao Li replied smugly.

Cheng Haoyu was so envious his eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Holy shit, where did you get this treasure? Is it really a Storage Ring? Take something out for me to see!"

Hao Li, intending to show off, immediately opened his Storage Ring Space and took out pots, bowls, pans, and other cooking utensils. But in his haste, he also accidentally pulled out a KanColle smut book.

"What did you just pull out?" Ying Ji glared at him and snapped.

Hao Li's face turned green. He quickly shoved the smut book back into his Storage Ring Space and explained awkwardly, "Ah... this... this is, uh, just a book for passing the time when I'm bored. Don't get the wrong idea."

It wouldn't have been a big deal, but his explanation left everyone speechless.

'To pass the time when you're bored, my ass... Why not just call it your "joystick startup program"?'

Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Cheng Haoyu stepped in to smooth things over. He put an arm around Hao Li and said, "So that's the type of girl you're into, huh? Forget those smut books. After we deal with the Raccoon Power, I'll find you a dozen pretty girls. Whatever kind of ship girls you want them to dress up as, they'll do it."

"Really?" Hao Li's eyes lit up.

Ying Ji scolded, "Cheng Haoyu, can you not be such a bad influence?"

Cheng Haoyu threw up his hands and said innocently, "What bad influence? I'm discussing a very serious matter of physiological health with Fatty Hao, okay?"

Seeing that Ying Ji was about to blow a fuse, he quickly changed the subject. "Fatty Hao, where on earth did you get that Storage Ring? You're amazing, man, getting a Magical Artifact like this. I'm dying of envy!"

Hao Li said humbly, "What's so amazing about me having one Storage Ring? Sister Ying got eleven of them. She's the really amazing one."

Cheng Haoyu's jaw dropped. "Eleven? Are you kidding me?"

Hao Li said, "Why would I kid you? Sister Ying really did get eleven Storage Rings. If you don't believe me, ask her yourself."

Cheng Haoyu immediately whipped his head around to look at Ying Ji.

Ying Ji nodded and replied, "He's not lying. I did indeed get eleven Storage Rings."

Once he confirmed Ying Ji was telling the truth, Cheng Haoyu was shocked beyond belief. "Holy shit! Did you rob the Dragon Palace or excavate the mansion of an ancient Great God? Please, sell one Storage Ring to me! Name your price, I'll pay anything!"

"Want to buy a Storage Ring? It's no use asking me. You have to ask him." Ying Ji pointed at Zhao Yuan.

"What do you mean?" Cheng Haoyu looked confused.

Ying Ji glanced at Zhao Yuan and said with a chuckle, "He made all of our Storage Rings."

Cheng Haoyu gaped, saying in disbelief, "Isn't he a Talisman Master? How does he also know Artifact Creation?"

Hao Li adopted a tone as if Cheng Haoyu was completely out of the loop. "What's so strange about it? Zhao Yuan has a ton of other skills; you'll find out eventually. You absolutely can't judge him by normal standards, or he'll just crush your spirit until you question your very existence."

Ying Ji nodded, fully agreeing with that statement.

"Brother Zhao! I'm calling you Brother Zhao from now on! Look, when can you make a Storage Ring for me too? Name any price, I swear I won't haggle!" Cheng Haoyu grabbed onto Zhao Yuan and begged, his integrity instantly shattering all over the floor.