The Card Apprentice

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The new issue of the Black-Line Star Listing came out as promised. Each month's issue contained a detailed listing of any fluctuations for the past one or two months. No one knew who published the list, but it was certainly authoritative.

People were skeptical about the listing at first, especially about some of the listed credentials, which made it hard for people to tell how they really got their information. Quickly, though, people were surprised to discover that the listing was pretty darned accurate.

Many of the larger firms were terrified of the compilers' powerful information channels. Starting from when the Black-Line Star Listing had first grabbed their attention, they had never stopped investigating it. But even a behemoth like Moon Frost Island had still come up with nothing.

There was always one issue per month, and it was never delayed and never seemed to be influenced. Its initial circulation had only been among the local powers, but it had gradually spread.

Having gone through several decades of development, the Black-Line Star Listing had already become one of the most authoritative lists in the Heavenly Drum Village District. It was more authoritative in people's minds than the Heavenly Drum Rolls, which were officially published by the Heavenly Drum Village District. It was unfortunate that the Black-Line Star Listing was only concerned with underworld card artisans and wasn't interested in card artisans with a formal background.

Ever since the situation in the federation had started to get worse, people had become more and more interested in the Black-Line Star Listing. The large firms, especially, couldn't wait to have those on the listing under their command. With the situation as it was, the federation government's prestige had already reached an historic low, and no one was even scrupulous about their existence anymore. All of the laws were valid in name only, and it seemed that people had suddenly reverted to the state of warlords, all vying for power that had prevailed before the Heavenly Federation was established.

By then, each city was controlled by the strongest local power. For example, Zargan was under the control of the Southern Star Firm. That was also why Miao Xuan was so unbridled.

With the old order destroyed, the new order had yet to be established.

That issue of the Black-Line Star Listing would inevitably get a lot of attention. With social conflicts increasingly apparent, quite a few aces who had previously faded had reappeared. That had also led to a lot of fluctuation on the Black-Line Star Listing. It was totally unlike the slowly reacting Heavenly Drum Rolls, and it naturally got a lot of eyeballs. The most interesting thing was that each issue of the Black-Line Star Listing would feature a "card artisan on the move," which really satisfied people's curiosity.

There were a lot of changes in that issue of the Black-Line Star Listing. For example, Lan Long, who had been listed as 26th, had suddenly jumped ahead six names to be listed among the top 20. Then, there was Mao Hao, who had been listed 97th but had since been assassinated.

The thing that got everyone's attention in the new issue wasn't those two, however. It was someone with the strange name of Qiao Yuan, who was the "card artisan on the move" for that issue.

That part of the listing said the following:

"Qiao Yuan; origin unknown; card unknown. Encountered his first battle with Mo Ta and his small team. Mo Ta's small team was destroyed, and the captain, Mo Ta, also died. Mo Ta's famous Golden Word Shackle fell into his hands.

Later fought with Jin Yin and successfully escaped after heavily wounding Jin Yin. Subsequently fought through the forest, killing 20 members of Constellation.

In the last issue, Mo Ta was listed at No. 89. Jin Yin was listed at No. 93.

Qiao Yuan is initially designated as No. 72 for reference purposes, pending more observation.

The reason for designating him as this issue's 'card artisan on the move:' During continual fighting this month with two card artisans listed among the top 100, killing one and wounding the other, that brilliant record is sufficient to show his tremendous power!"

Interestingly, after Jin Yin was wounded, his name had actually gone up instead of down. He had gone from 93rd right up to 85th. Constellation's fame, on the other hand, had taken a hit.

When that issue of the Black-Line Star Listing came out, the unusual name Qiao Yuan entered everyone's field of view. Everyone was speculating about what sort of god Qiao Yuan really was. If one were to say the issue of the Black-Line Star Listing was only a topic of conversation in other places, the sensation it caused in Zargan was unprecedented.

Any doubts among those who had been skeptical of Chen Mu totally vanished and were replaced with fanatical adoration! What made them still more pleasantly surprised was that the mysterious, ugly man had not only killed Mo Ta, but he had also seriously wounded Jin Yin. How could they fail to worship him with such a battle record?

Overnight, the Chichi Trading Firm became surrounded by people. Quite a few firms harbored the hope for a fluke that they could strike up a relationship with the newly promoted ace. Still more of the crowd consisted of young card artisans. With such an ace as the 72nd on the listing to be moving around freely in Zargan, if they could become a pupil to such a powerful master, their future would be self-evident.

Unfortunately, even though there were so many people around the Chichi Trading Firm, nothing was happening there. Under Ah Sang's orders, the Chichi Trading Firm had suspended operations for those few days. No one, including those who wanted to ask around for news, make friends with Chen Mu, or be his pupil, could do anything.

Sending someone in to spy out some news? You'd have to be kidding. It wasn't just anyone living there—it was the great Qiao Yuan, who was listed 72nd on the Black-Line Star Listing his first time on it!

Meanwhile, Chen Mu was devoting himself to staying in the training room and groping through the Golden Word Shackle. He took care of himself to be able to concentrate on training. Unless he encountered a dangerous situation, no one could come in to bother him. If something was happening outside, he didn't know about it.

Suddenly, the apparatus on his wrist sounded. He opened the communications card, where Bogner's image appeared on the screen.

As soon as he saw Chen Mu, he laughed. "You sure are powerful, Boss. You're now on the Black-Line Star Listing, and not so low down, either."

"Black-Line Star Listing?" Chen Mu's expression was wooden. He had been concentrating on his training those last few days and hadn't yet come back to his spirits after the sudden interruption, so he looked rather expressionless.

"Do you mean you don't know yet?" Bogner was surprised by Chen Mu's reaction.

Chen Mu didn't understand and asked back, "What happened?" He had just been getting the knack of the card and didn't wish to be interrupted like that.

"Wha…? Um… it's nothing," Bogner muttered.

"I'll go practice, then." Chen Mu snapped the communications card shut and continued to bury his head in his fumbling around.

At the base, Xi Ping didn't even raise an eyebrow as he said, "I've long said the boss isn't interested in this kind of stuff." Bogner looked defeated.

* * *

The Yan family of Zargan was not an ostentatious clan and would seldom get mixed up with the other powers. They only single-mindedly operated their transport company. But that clan, which wouldn't be called either small or large, seemed vaguely to have some intimidating power. Even such a firm as the Southern Star Firm—which was the biggest firm in Zargan—wasn't going to provoke that low-key clan.

Yan Hao was the current head, already 60 by then. He looked like he still had pretty good energy, though he did show some worry on his brow.

In front of him, Zeng Yushan was sitting properly and listening carefully. Their mission at the time was to investigate the incident of the Yan family's Chum Salmon Passenger Company snow shuttle vessel being robbed.

"We've already had something happen to seven of our snow shuttle vessels, involving up to 600 passengers. Our adversary still hasn't approached us, and we don't know what their objective really is. We've already suspended all the snow shuttle vessels."

Yan Hao's gruff, old voice was full of exhaustion. It was a devastating blow for such a thing to happen to a passenger company. It was only by sheer will and determination that he was still hanging on.

Zeng Yushan said calmly, "Where did all those snow shuttle vessels disappear?"

"Here are their route maps." Yan Hao opened the card player, and a map of the area around Zargan appeared on the screen. He used a red line to mark the routes where the seven snow shuttle vessels had crashed.

Zeng Yushan looked carefully at the details on the map. After a moment, his eyes lit up as he pointed to an area on the map. "Our adversary must be hiding in this vicinity. That area is perfectly positioned in the middle of those seven routes, making it convenient to go anywhere."

Yan Hao was impressed by Zeng Yushan's insight. Zeng Yushan had seen at a glance what Yan Hao's own technical department had concluded after a lot of work.

"We surmise that the adversary must be in that area, but our current manpower can't satisfy the needs of a search in the forest," Yan Hao said helplessly.

Zeng Yushan rubbed his temples. It was a vexing issue, and he couldn't think of a good solution just then. Their adversary would have plenty of manpower; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to make that many hits all at the same time. Each of the snow shuttle vessels had been accompanied by plenty of protective force, and the adversary had still been able to easily seize them. That showed how powerful they were.

The thing Zeng Yushan had a hard time understanding was their objective in acting that way. If it was ransom, why hadn't there been any news yet? If it wasn't ransom, what was it?

Seeing that Zeng Yushan was also bewildered made Yan Hao rather tired to look at him, which reminded him how far they had gone with no rest.

"Why don't you rest, Yushan? We'll slowly figure this out. There's always some way." Yan Hao spoke mildly.

Zeng Yushan promptly responded that he would. He then got up, saluted, and left the room.

The dormitory where Zeng Yushan and the seven of them were staying had been specially prepared. Lin Rou and the few girls were surrounding Yan Hao's daughter-in-law, Xu Qianchen, and chattering away noisily.

"What are you talking about?" Zeng Yushan was laughing as he walked by. He had previously met Xu Qianchen and nodded with a smile. "How are you, classmate? Professor Xu had been really missing you."

Xu Qianchen promptly stood. "It's been a while since I've seen you, elder classmate. Now, here I am bothering you again."

Just then, another female student said excitedly, "Elder classmate! Elder classmate! The new issue of the Black-Line Star Listing has come out! We were just discussing it!"

"Oh. Let me take a look." Zeng Yushan looked rather interested.

The women hurried to give him the Black-Line Star Listing, and he lowered his head to scrutinize it.

Qiao Yuan. Zeng Yushan couldn't hide his look of shock. As he read further, the look of shock deepened. When his gaze fell onto the four words "struggle through the forest," he suddenly realized something!