Chapter 231: Traffic Jam
Wei Chen walked out of the lounge and onto the deck. He saw a small flying ark docking beside his own. A few men walked down the gangway onto the deck before moving toward him with respectful demeanors.
The leader cupped his fists alongside his followers and greeted Wei Chen.
"Ma Zhong, Young Master Ximen’s servant, greets Young Master Wei," Ma Zhong said respectfully.
"Okay, folks, don’t get too formal. It wastes both our time," Wei Chen said in his usual casual tone.
"Ah haha, you really are as approachable as Young Master said," Ma Zhong said with a laugh before dispensing with the formalities and standing up straight.
"Since that’s the case, Young Master Wei, please follow us. Our flying ark will lead you to our private Void Shipping Lane." Ma Zhong gestured toward the small flying ark docked nearby.
"Okay, you guys lead the way. We’ll follow," Wei Chen replied.
Ma Zhong remained on the deck as the representative while his followers returned to the flying ark to guide Wei Chen’s flying ark to the destination.
Wei Chen went back to the lounge to think of a way to improve his cultivation.
As he sat down and thought of a solution, not even ten minutes later, the flying ark suddenly came to a halt. Like a large ship, the stopping process took time, unlike the cars from his previous world.
Then came the crashing sounds of wood and metal plates slamming together from the starboard side, along with the creaking of metal plates and wood scraping against each other as the ship shook violently.
Crash!
The plate of fries dropped to the ground. Bob had been about to eat them, but now they were scattered all over the floor.
"Awwww, what the hell!?" Bob cursed as he stormed out of the lounge and onto the deck to see what had happened.
As for Wei Chen, the coffee splashed into his nostrils, causing him to quickly blow it out.
"F*ck!" Wei Chen then walked outside.
On the deck, directly in front of the flying arks bow, a long line of massive freighter-type flying arks had occupied every usage slot of the Void Shipping Lane.
The colossal gate-like structure floated in midair, supported by the power of a massive spiritual levitation array.
The freighters had been stopped from entering the Void Shipping Lane by the traffic guards stationed at the gate. Even from afar, Wei Chen could see two groups of people arguing about something.
"Mr. Ma, are you sure this is the private lane and not the public one?" Wei Chen asked as he looked at the long line in front of him.
Ma Zhong shook his head. "No, Young Master Wei. Since this place is a private Void Shipping Lane, there are only two lanes built for use. If this were the public one, it would have six lanes, but the line would be much longer because of the heavy traffic."
"What’s all this about? Why aren’t they entering the lane already so we can get through?" Wei Chen asked while gesturing toward the line ahead.
"Young Master, I think there’s some kind of problem. Half of today’s time slots were booked entirely for your flying ark and any entourage that might follow. There shouldn’t be any freighters using this time slot," Ma Zhong explained.
"Please wait here. I’ll go see what’s wrong with the situation."
With that said, Ma Zhong flew toward the commotion near the checkpoint, where two groups of people were arguing with each other.
The first group consisted of the traffic guards responsible for managing the traffic of the Ximen Clan’s private Void Shipping Lane.
The other group consisted of the freighter crew and officials from the Ximen Clan’s food supply bureau.
When he arrived, he noticed that the situation was becoming more and more heated and was about to escalate into a physical confrontation.
"Why can’t you understand!? This time slot has already been booked for the clan’s honored guests! Can’t you just wait a day or two? And look at your freighters! They’re so large that if we let you pass first, the power stored in the gate will be drained dry, and our honored guests will have to wait for weeks!" the traffic guard argued loudly while his people glared at the convoy group as if they were troublemakers.
But the official accompanying the convoy took out a paper with an order written on it.
"Is your heart made of stone!? This convoy is carrying food for the people within our territory! If the convoy doesn’t arrive today, what are our people supposed to eat!?"
He then pointed at the paper in his hand.
"Do you see this? This is the permit for the usage of the Void Shipping Lane, issued by Lord Ximen Ren! Everything is completely in order!" the official said indignantly.
"Let me see the paper." Ma Zhong cut in as he gestured for the official to hand it over.
"Mr. Ma!"
Both the traffic guards and the convoy group blurted out the name of the man standing before them. Ma Zhong was someone well known throughout the Ximen Clan as the capable servant of Ximen Hao.
The official quickly handed the paper over to Ma Zhong.
Ma Zhong immediately began reading the document, practically scrutinizing every detail. The paper was genuine, and the order seal belonged to Ximen Ren, Ximen Hao’s younger brother.
He was the one in charge of Ever-Green Manor, the bureau responsible for food and agriculture within the Ximen Clan’s territory.
Ma Zhong narrowed his eyes. As someone who supported Ximen Hao as the future heir of the clan, he did not want to make things easy for Ximen Ren, his young master’s competitor.
But this was a serious issue. A food shortage would definitely destabilize the Ximen Clan’s authority.
Yet even if he looked at the bigger picture and allowed the convoy to pass first, it would mean the honored guests of the clan would need to wait weeks for the traffic guards to request additional spirit crystals from the clan in order to recharge the lane.
Ma Zhong glanced at the official.
"Why is there suddenly an emergency shipment? Didn’t the convoys already have their own time slots? What happened to the arranged schedule?"
"Reporting to Mr. Ma, this official was dispatched to purchase emergency food supplies from nearby provinces because the granary in the western district was burned down by an unknown intruder. We had no choice but to use the clan’s private Void Shipping Lane to bring the food back as quickly as possible," the official explained.
Ma Zhong said nothing and merely stared at the official.
He knew about the granary in the western district. It was under Ximen Ren’s supervision. A granary that was supposed to have powerful protections and numerous experts guarding it twenty-four hours a day had suddenly burned down?
And why did the timing just so happen to coincide with the schedule?
Coincidence?
Ma Zhong did not believe it. As a supporter of his own young master, Ximen Hao, he was naturally skeptical of Ximen Ren, his young master’s rival.
He remained silent. He truly wanted to reject the request and force the convoy to wait. He had that much authority.
But... thinking about the bigger picture made him unable to voice those thoughts aloud.
While Ma Zhong remained silent, Wei Chen arrived beside him alongside Bob. The two of them wanted to know what was going on with the convoy, especially Wei Chen, who had come with the mentality of watching a drama unfold.
"Popcorn?" Wei Chen took a bag of popcorn out of his storage ring and gave it to Bob.
"Thanks, bro." Bob did not stand on ceremony. He took it and tore open the bag. The popcorn was still piping hot since the storage ring preserved the state of anything placed inside it.
Crunch crunch crunch crunch.
Bob started munching on the popcorn while watching the official desperately explain and plead with Ma Zhong, trying his best to guilt-trip the man into letting them pass first.
Wei Chen was starting to get bored since the two sides had not started slapping each other yet, so he spoke up.
"Mr. Ma, why not let them go first? I can wait, no problem. That guy Ximen Hao probably wouldn’t mind either. This matter concerns the lives of the people under your clan after all."
"Young Master Wei... this..." Ma Zhong was afraid Wei Chen might misunderstand his young master and think he was being neglected. So he tried to come up with the right words to prevent Wei Chen from misunderstanding Ximen Hao.
But while Ma Zhong was still searching for a proper response, the official’s smile widened. He cupped his fists and bowed toward Wei Chen.
"Thank you, Young Master Wei. You are as benevolent as Lord Ximen Ren said. And to avoid wasting your time, how about this? Our convoy has a prestigious guest room reserved for honored guests. Why not travel with us so you can still arrive on time?" the official offered.
Hearing this, Ma Zhong’s eyes immediately turned sharp as he glared at the official.
So this was their goal!? You sly fox!
The fact that Young Master Wei was the young master of the Underworld Palace, the legendary Hidden Ancient Clan, was already an open secret among the higher-ups of the Ximen Clan.
Whoever managed to gain Young Master Wei’s trust and friendship would gain a huge advantage in the competition for the heir position.
Hearing this, Wei Chen let out a smile.
"I’m sorry, buddy, but I have a bad habit. If I don’t sleep in my own room, I won’t be able to sleep properly, and my appetite will go down."
