I'm Just a Beast Tamer

Chapter 92: Chapter 90: 100-Year Earth Fire

In the fifth batch of three Seated Mountain Eagles, the Nuhai Gang and the Iron Palm Gang each bought one for around two hundred thousand taels.

The bidding for the third one was even more outrageous, with the Earth Dragon Gang ultimately winning it for two hundred forty thousand taels.

"It’s one thing for the Earth Dragon Gang to be planning a freeload, but why would the Nuhai Gang and the Iron Palm Gang spend so much money on one?"

"Two hundred thousand taels... even for gangs like them, they can’t just scrape that together on short notice, can they? Are they planning to halt all other operations?"

"It is strange. Unless they’re also planning on a full refund, they’d still lose money even with an eighty-percent refund."

"Is there something that absolutely requires a Seated Mountain Eagle?"

When the results of this auction were announced, the people of Fire Mist Island were utterly shocked, even though they were used to the annual Seated Mountain Eagle auction.

If everyone had been like the Earth Dragon Gang, dead set on freeloading a Seated Mountain Eagle, no one would have been surprised by the prices.

But the Nuhai Gang and the Iron Palm Gang were different. Neither had ever asked Jiang Zuo for a refund.

The fact that they, who clearly didn’t lack Seated Mountain Eagles, were still willing to pay such a high price left many people not just shocked, but also deeply puzzled.

Even though they were both major gangs, they couldn’t possibly be this wasteful with their money.

If it was just for show, one Seated Mountain Eagle would have been enough.

During a gang war, Seated Mountain Eagles could play a significant role, but right now, both Wangxiang Sea City and Fire Mist Island were at peace. Their only uses were for quick travel and for show.

’Are the Nuhai Gang and the Iron Palm Gang preparing to start a war?’

Many people couldn’t help but speculate.

If that was the case, the more Seated Mountain Eagles one had, the greater the advantage in a fight.

"No! It must be because of the Hundred-Year Earth Fire eruption!"

As more people speculated, someone finally arrived at the real answer.

Fire Mist Island was, in fact, a giant active volcano. The entire island had been formed over countless eons by repeated eruptions from the volcano at its very center.

Every ten or twenty years, the central volcano would erupt on a small scale, as if to announce its presence.

The volcanic ash would occasionally carry some Jade Stones, which would fall either on the island or into the sea.

And about every hundred years, that volcano would have a massive eruption.

When that time came, flames would blot out the sky over Fire Mist Island, and a single careless step could mean being buried in lava.

However, the great eruption that occurred once a century often showed clear signs months in advance, so most people would leave early to avoid an untimely death.

"The Nuhai Gang and the Iron Palm Gang... they’re planning to snatch the Longevity Jades that will be spewed out during the volcanic eruption!"

Some people finally understood what these two gangs were plotting.

The great Hundred-Year Earth Fire eruption was dangerous, but it also held immense treasures.

Longevity Jades, buried deep within the earth beneath the volcano, would be spewed out in large quantities during the great earth fire eruption.

During past eruptions, many people had chosen to remain on the island and try their luck.

"So the Nuhai Gang and the Iron Palm Gang have been plotting around the Hundred-Year Earth Fire eruption all along. They must have calculated the timing and known it would happen in the next few years, which is why they were willing to spend so much at the Seated Mountain Eagle auction."

"With a Seated Mountain Eagle, they’ll have an immense advantage when snatching the erupting Longevity Jades. Grab just a few extra Longevity Jades, and they could easily make back hundreds of thousands of taels!"

"Their willingness to pay such a high price to secure a Seated Mountain Eagle this time probably means the earth fire eruption is happening this year!"

It was a moment of sudden realization for countless people.

The area around the volcanic crater was barren due to the perpetually high temperatures, so few people ever went there.

Now, many people went to the crater to see for themselves, and they quickly confirmed it: the Hundred-Year Earth Fire would definitely erupt within the year!

"Hahaha! We’re going to strike it rich! I can’t believe we’re here for the great Hundred-Year Earth Fire eruption. Our Earth Dragon Gang has three Seated Mountain Eagles. Besides the Nuhai Gang and the Iron Palm Gang, who can possibly compete with us!"

Hearing this news, Lu Shengchun was ecstatic.

He had only planned on freeloading the Seated Mountain Eagles for the thrill of it; he never expected to stumble upon such good fortune.

’With three Seated Mountain Eagles, as long as our luck isn’t too bad during the great earth fire eruption, making a few hundred thousand taels will be a piece of cake, right?’

"Gang Leader Lu, it’s not that simple. The ones you’ll be competing with for the Longevity Jades won’t be the Nuhai Gang and the Iron Palm Gang," Old Chen couldn’t help but say as he watched Lu Shengchun roar with laughter.

A hundred years was too long a time for ordinary people.

Many people knew nothing at all about this great eruption that happened only once a century.

But that was unavoidable. For the average person, living to seventy was considered a long life.

Who would care about something that only happened once a century?

"Oh? Old Chen, go on. Who else is going to compete? Before the earth fire erupts, we’ll find a way to crush them!"

Lu Shengchun boasted shamelessly.

"Gang Leader Lu, it’s not people. It’s flying beasts and giant sea fish!"

"When the Hundred-Year Earth Fire erupts, it attracts huge numbers of flying beasts and giant sea fish from the surrounding ocean."

"Moreover, according to the records, most of the erupted Longevity Jades fall into the sea, where they’re snatched up by those birds and sea creatures."

"Very few ever land on the island itself."

Old Chen explained patiently.

"I see. That is a bit of a hassle. It seems it would be quite difficult to get any without a Seated Mountain Eagle. But we have three, so this is actually a good thing for us!"

"Old Chen, you’re so familiar with this matter. Did you already know about the Hundred-Year Earth Fire eruption?"

Lu Shengchun’s tone shifted as he questioned Old Chen.

"I did."

Old Chen nodded sullenly.

’Isn’t that obvious?’ In his youth, he had been a scholar of sorts, but he’d read too many unorthodox books and strayed from the proper path. He only learned carpentry later to make a living.

"Well, well, Old Chen! You knew and didn’t say so sooner! If you had, the gang could have prepared earlier and made more money! You’ve caused the gang to suffer a loss. I’m docking your monthly silver!"

Hearing Lu Shengchun’s words, Old Chen nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

He never imagined that Lu Shengchun, this moronic Vice Gang Leader, would not only fail to praise his insight but actually dock his silver!

’Fuck!’

’I can’t stand another day in this moronic gang!’

...

Although Jiang Zuo wasn’t overly concerned with external affairs, he eventually learned of the matter as the news spread.

’The great Hundred-Year Earth Fire eruption? No wonder the competition for the Seated Mountain Eagles was so fierce this time.’

’I can try to grab some Longevity Jades myself when the time comes. As for that moronic Earth Dragon Gang, I can’t let them get off easy this time.’

Jiang Zuo thought to himself.

With three Seated Mountain Eagles, as long as the Earth Dragon Gang’s luck wasn’t too bad, they would manage to snatch at least a few Longevity Jades.

Although, when the time for a reckoning came, everything the Earth Dragon Gang possessed would fall into his hands.

But for now, it wasn’t a good time for Jiang Zuo to make his move.

If the Earth Dragon Gang suddenly struck it rich, there was no telling how long they’d be able to enjoy their new wealth. By the time Jiang Zuo came to settle the score, it was unlikely much of the money would be left.

So, as for striking it rich, the Earth Dragon Gang could just keep on daydreaming.

...

「The days passed, one by one.」

At the volcanic crater in the center of Fire Mist Island, the signs grew increasingly obvious.

The great Hundred-Year Earth Fire eruption was imminent.

Seeing that the great earth fire was about to erupt, many people gradually chose to return to Wangxiang Sea City to seek refuge.

Just as many people stayed behind, however. After all, though the chances were slim, snatching even a single Longevity Jade would mean living a life of luxury.

The Earth Dragon Gang was particularly ambitious, preparing to make a big score during the Hundred-Year Earth Fire.

With three Seated Mountain Eagles in their possession, no one saw any problem with the Earth Dragon Gang’s plan.

「That night.」

The Earth Dragon Gang’s three Seated Mountain Eagles, one from the Nuhai Gang, and one from the Iron Palm Gang, took off from their respective gang headquarters and flew to Jiang Zuo’s residence by the sea.

More than four and a half years after being auctioned off, the Seated Mountain Eagles from the first batch had finally decided to fly away.

For the Nuhai Gang and the Iron Palm Gang, it was only their very first ones that were leaving.

Only for the Earth Dragon Gang were all three Seated Mountain Eagles leaving.

This was, of course, Jiang Zuo’s doing.

To this end, he had even personally snuck into the Earth Dragon Gang’s headquarters to instruct the two newer Seated Mountain Eagles to leave with the first one.

"Be careful on your journey. When you get there, don’t force things if you run into danger. If you can return in the future, come back as soon as you can," Jiang Zuo said, stepping out of his wooden cabin to see the five Seated Mountain Eagles off.

After one last big meal at Jiang Zuo’s home, the five Seated Mountain Eagles flew off together, heading east toward the Endless Sea.

「The next morning.」

"What? All the Seated Mountain Eagles are gone?"

Lu Shengchun, still lost in his sweet dreams, couldn’t believe his ears when he heard the news.

He rushed to the wooden shed where the Seated Mountain Eagles were kept, only to find it completely empty.

All three Seated Mountain Eagles had flown off together, including one that he had only acquired a little over six months ago.

’Is there no justice in this world?’

Furious, Lu Shengchun immediately rushed over to find Jiang Zuo.

"Qianhai, you’d better give me an explanation today! All of the Earth Dragon Gang’s Seated Mountain Eagles have flown away!"

Lu Shengchun said, fuming.

This was far more than just the Seated Mountain Eagles flying away. With the Hundred-Year Earth Fire eruption imminent, the Earth Dragon Gang’s losses were staggering!

"What do you mean, ’all’ flew away? Didn’t your Earth Dragon Gang only have one Seated Mountain Eagle?"

Jiang Zuo said, looking at Lu Shengchun with feigned surprise.

"There’s nothing to be done if they fly away. I’ve stressed at every auction that I can’t guarantee they won’t leave. I’ll just give you a refund, same as always."

"Actually, several Seated Mountain Eagles flew off last night. Yours from the Earth Dragon Gang probably saw the others leaving and decided to follow. Just bad luck, I suppose."

"But don’t worry, the next batch of Seated Mountain Eagles is coming along. There’ll be another auction in half a year. Gang Leader Lu, you can just bid on another one then."

"I’ll refund you over two hundred thousand taels of silver. No one will be able to outbid you."

Jiang Zuo added, as if to console Lu Shengchun.

"Several flew away?"

Lu Shengchun’s voice shot up several octaves.

’Those were clearly his gang’s Seated Mountain Eagles!’

"Five, I believe. One of yours, and probably two each from the Nuhai Gang and the Iron Palm Gang. I still have to notify them to come for their refunds."

Jiang Zuo nodded.

’Fuck! Son of a bitch! Those were my gang’s Seated Mountain Eagles!’

Lu Shengchun wanted to curse up a storm, but he couldn’t say a word.

’They’re already gone. It’s not like he can get them back, can he?’

What frustrated Lu Shengchun even more was that even though three of his gang’s Seated Mountain Eagles had flown away, he could only get a refund for one.

Factoring in the missed opportunity of the Hundred-Year Earth Fire, the loss was simply catastrophic.

The mere thought of it made his heart ache so much he could barely breathe.

That day, a piece of news spread quickly across Fire Mist Island.

The previous night, five of the Seated Mountain Eagles raised by Jiang Zuo had all flown away.

But strangely, the Nuhai Gang, the Iron Palm Gang, and the Earth Dragon Gang had each only received a refund for a single Seated Mountain Eagle.

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