Matrix Survival: I Get A Random Chest Every Day-Chapter 817 - 578: "Write an IOU!

"Don't rush, don't rush, just go through the motions!"

Chen Rui came near, seeing Li Zheng leading his people to clean up the ground, hurriedly went up and held his hand, smiling particularly kindly: "This kind of complaint is not particularly serious, we're just going through the motions, we can't let this little thing make our friendship awkward, right?"

"...Is it really okay?" Li Zheng looked at Chen Rui, then at Xiong Li, who looked honest, thinking that those two potions were indeed worth it, otherwise with that official face from last night, who knows what the result might be.

"Of course it's fine!" Chen Rui nodded, his prominent nose twitching continuously: "Having breakfast? Then I won't disturb you, just clean up after eating, and I'll handle things with the law enforcement team."

After saying that, he turned around and left with Xiong Li.

"Hey, Li, when did you get connections in the law enforcement team?" Zhan Zhouzhou picked up an empty bowl and put the cleaned-up crumbs in it to prevent having to do it again later.

"You bet, didn't I just say so?" Li Zheng smiled proudly: "I have connections in the law enforcement team!"

"Hmph." Zhan Zhouzhou glanced at him disdainfully: "If you have connections, why were you so flustered earlier?"

"Was I flustered?" Li Zheng defended: "I just didn't want to use personal connections for such a small matter, it's a waste! Get it?"

The group sat down to resume their meal as the crowd, seeing there's no drama to watch, gradually dispersed.

Li Zheng surveyed the dispersing crowd and shook his head helplessly. These Outer City residents were really idle, not doing anything productive, just wandering the streets, hoping to report violations and earn commissions from the law enforcement team.

This phenomenon made Li Zheng feel utterly disappointed. If the world sheltered by the terminal is filled with such people, it might as well throw them outside to face the psychic storm.

Even if they all die, it would be considered squeezing out the last bit of value.

"Forget it, let's not talk about those." Zhan Zhouzhou waved her hand, "Where were we? Uh... right! Those memory release devices are best unused, as they only have a short-term effect, like having daydreams."

"Got it." Li Zheng nodded: "However... My improvement this time is somewhat related to the memory release device, but the main core tool wasn't them."

"Oh?" Zhan Zhouzhou put down the fritter in her hand, thought for a moment, then realized: "Right, if relying solely on the memory release device, you probably wouldn't have been able to integrate those skills. Clearly, there's something else aiding it!"

"Mm." Li Zheng pondered, then asked her: "Do you... want to try it?"

The enlightenment effect of the Bodhi Tree could elevate even a martial arts novice like him to a monstrous level, so what kind of astounding effect would it have on someone like Zhan Zhouzhou, who's already a martial arts prodigy?

However, just when Li Zheng thought Zhan Zhouzhou would agree readily, she made a choice beyond his expectation.

After hesitating for a moment, Zhan Zhouzhou ultimately declined Li Zheng's offer: "I hope my swordsmanship remains pure and isn't interfered by external things, so I won't try it."

"Why?" Li Zheng was puzzled: "Don't you want to experience drastic improvement?"

He thought of the swordsmanship image modeled after Zhan Zhouzhou in the Dark Realm, the move that could compress space, 'Passing Swift'. Even with the Bodhi Tree's aid, he only grasped the basics.

If not, their duel earlier wouldn't have been as simple as a fritter exploding into bits.

But this also indirectly showed just how profound the 'Passing Swift: Space Compression Version' was, definitely a groundbreaking martial art that, once mastered, could dominate the entire Outer City.

"When I was young and just starting to practice swordsmanship, my dad often taught me that martial arts, like life, should be approached step by step, steadily and not in haste." Zhan Zhouzhou said softly: "If a martial artist becomes impatient and eager to succeed, it can destabilize their foundation, resulting in their martial achievements being nothing but castles in the air, mere floating duckweed."

Some say that martial arts are like building skyscrapers on flat ground, with the foundation being essential; it must be built solid and firm to support the towering structure in the future.

However, the Zhan Family's code goes further in seeking stability, not only must the foundation be solid, but each brick, each beam, each pane placed afterwards must be truly solid and reliable, without any oversight.

Otherwise, even with a reliable foundation, encountering a strong setback later would cause it to collapse instantly, leaving little of martial achievements intact.

Li Zheng wanted to persuade again, but seeing Zhan Zhouzhou's firm expression, he changed his words: "Okay, I won't insist."

Each person walks their own path.

Li Zheng had experienced the Bodhi Tree's power firsthand and knew it doesn't have the concerns Zhan Zhouzhou fears.

But when someone is determined to refuse something, no amount of persuasion works.

It's like trying to wake someone who's pretending to sleep—it's futile.

The time will come when she decides to awaken.

"Let me know if you change your mind someday, or..." Li Zheng said: "I'll share that thing in the future, but by then you may have to pay a greater price to use it."

The Bodhi Tree, such a heaven-defying treasure, Li Zheng naturally wouldn't let others use it for free; otherwise, he'd be the foolish son of a landlord.

A gift of rice, but resentment over a bushel.

Li Zheng wasn't unaware of the stories between bankers and beggars.

Previously, when occasionally being generous in the Matrix, giving away small low-tier items to win over people was a necessary method, not because Li Zheng was foolish enough to give away treasures for free.

Moreover, those he had gifted were carefully chosen, whether it was Li Chun or Phoenix Mountain, both benefited significantly from Li Zheng, helping them through the somewhat challenging early stages of the Matrix.

Their subsequent actions proved Li Zheng's good judgment; Phoenix Mountain would exhaust himself to help Li Zheng during instances, and Li Chun frequently sent him equipment, armor, handmade goods, clothes, without asking for anything in return.

Isn't this the benevolent connection formed earlier?

If Li Zheng hadn't contributed first, why would they open their hearts to him?

What would they gain?

His baldness?

His daily baths?

"Let's talk about it when the time comes." Zhan Zhouzhou said nonchalantly: "Even if by then I have to pay a huge price, I'll accept it!"

"Alright, agreed!" Li Zheng remembered this, pointed at Mirel: "With Mirel as the notary, don't come crying to me to lower the price later."

"Ha!" Zhan Zhouzhou sneered: "If I come crying to you, I'd be your real daughter! And Lu Li would be my brother!"

"Well..."

Li Zheng stroked his chin, took out an A4 paper from a capsule, and slapped it in front of her: "Write an affidavit!"

Mirel covered his face: "..."

Zhan Zhouzhou was dazed: "…?"