Cataclysm Chapter 137: Extras – Mao Xiaoli 01

Chapter 137: Extras – Mao Xiaoli 01

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

When Mao Xiaoli first entered the branch office, there were only Ma Shanfeng and Zhang Qiudao. Ma Shanfeng was a kind man who always wore a smile, radiating warmth and gentleness, but he was also very shrewd. Despite the branch office’s small size and lack of strength, he was able to secure jobs from various factions and the headquarters to keep the branch office running. Each time, the assignments were arranged according to Mao Xiaoli’s and Zhang Qiudao’s expertise. If the task was too difficult, they would hand it off to someone else or take a commission as a middleman.

To Ma Shanfeng, no matter how high the payment for a job, the most important thing was the lives of the team members. He always made sure to thoroughly investigate every job before taking it on, to avoid any confusion or hidden dangers. Because of this, Mao Xiaoli felt at ease staying at the branch office, and she also went to university. In her free time, she would take on tasks.

It wasn’t until a week after Mao Xiaoli had arrived at the branch office that she finally met Zhang Qiudao, who Ma Shanfeng had mentioned as a colleague but whom she had never seen before. He had been out on assignment. One sunny day, with clear blue skies and fluffy clouds, Mao Xiaoli rode her bike into the branch office yard. Just as she was locking her bike, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned to see a young man in a black hoodie with red trim, black pants, and military boots. He carried a black messenger bag and a Seven-Star Sword.

He had a handsome face but looked young, with a cold, aloof expression that suggested he kept to himself. He was stylish and attractive, and if he were in her school, he would surely catch the attention of many girls. Mao Xiaoli’s first thought was that he was a customer. But when she saw the Seven-Star Sword, she realized he was one of their own. She smiled and greeted him, “Are you here for an interview or looking for someone?”

Zhang Qiudao ignored her greeting and walked straight past her. Mao Xiaoli was momentarily stunned but quickly followed him, “Who are you? I’m Mao Xiaoli, a member of the branch office. If you’re here for an interview, I can help you sign up. If you’re looking for someone, I can assist you too.”

Zhang Qiudao suddenly stopped. Mao Xiaoli, not expecting this, bumped into him, and she winced in pain as she covered her nose. Rubbing her nose, she grumbled, “Why did you stop suddenly? What are you up to? If you don’t tell me your purpose, don’t blame me for being impolite.”

Zhang Qiudao’s gaze shifted from Mao Xiaoli’s face to the badge hanging on her waist. The black tassel indicated she was a low-level practitioner, not even a Sixth-Rank Tianshi. “Mao Xiaoli?” he said with a hint of mockery. Mao Xiaoli responded curtly, and he barely suppressed a sneer, “You’re recruiting a weakling?”

Mao Xiaoli froze, replaying his words in her mind. She realized he was referring to Ma Shanfeng, implying that Ma Shanfeng had hired her, a newly initiated, weak Tianshi. Feeling like a firecracker ready to explode, she quickly drew out her Five Thunder Spirit Talisman and Peach Wood Sword and immediately challenged Zhang Qiudao, “Let me see how capable you are.”

Zhang Qiudao didn’t even look back. He blocked her Peach Wood Sword with his Seven-Star Sword, the hilt striking her hand, forcing her to retreat in pain. He then pointed the tip of his sword at her throat, “Still want to fight?”

After three moves, Mao Xiaoli had already been restrained, her teeth grinding in frustration. She lifted her chin and said, “I’ve lost now, but we’ll fight again in two months.”

Zhang Qiudao retracted his Seven-Star Sword, too lazy to respond to her challenge. At that moment, Ma Shanfeng came out after hearing the noise. Seeing the tense atmosphere between the two, he asked, “Back already?”

Mao Xiaoli asked, “Uncle Ma, do you know him?”

“Of course I do—”

“The order was completed, and the money was transferred over. I’ll send you your share later,” Zhang Qiudao interrupted Ma Shanfeng’s words, informing him that the order was finished before heading upstairs to rest.

“Such a show-off,” Mao Xiaoli thought. She assumed this person looked down on her cultivation, which is why he acted so arrogant, but to her surprise, he treated Ma Shanfeng the same way.

“Uncle Ma, is he the other member of the branch, Zhang Qiudao?” she asked.

Ma Shanfeng nodded with a smile, “You two need to get along well.”

Mao Xiaoli pouted, “That’s difficult.” She had heard of Zhang Qiudao before, as there was a post on the Tianshi forum dedicated to documenting the young and talented Tianshi in the community. Zhang Qiudao was ranked among the top twenty at the youngest age. It was said that he was a cultivation fanatic, coming from a wealthy family but often taking orders to go out and experience the world. She also heard he had already been promoted to the Fourth Grade Alliance Wei Talisman and might become the youngest Five Thunder Tianshi in two years.

Ma Shanfeng continued to smile without offering any comment. Mao Xiaoli then asked, “Uncle Ma, I won’t be taking any orders for the next two months.”

“Oh? Why?” Ma Shanfeng asked curiously while pulling out a tea bag.

“I need to prepare for the promotion to the Sixth Grade All-Power Talisman,” Mao Xiaoli replied. In two months, she planned to challenge Zhang Qiudao again to see if he still dared to call her useless.

Ma Shanfeng pondered for a moment, “I can hold off on taking orders for you, but it might be difficult to achieve the Sixth Grade All-Power Talisman within two months. With your talent, your cultivation might reach the Sixth Grade, but the Daoist Association may not recognize it.” After all, achieving the All-Power Talisman required the Daoist Association’s assessment, which included not only cultivation but also merit and mastery of scriptures and talismans. With Mao Xiaoli’s lazy tendencies, it would be difficult for her to master all the scriptures in such a short time.

“It’s fine,” Mao Xiaoli shrugged. “I just need my cultivation to improve. I don’t want to lose again in three moves like today.”

Ma Shanfeng sighed, “Alright. I wish you success. Also, try to get along well with Qiudao. He may have a solitary nature, but he’s not hard to get along with.” Mao Xiaoli was skeptical about Zhang Qiudao being easy to get along with.

Over the next period of time, Mao Xiaoli barely saw Zhang Qiudao, as he would usually rest for one or two weeks after finishing an order. During that time, aside from attending school, he stayed in his room, ordering food deliveries. According to Ma Shanfeng, Zhang Qiudao was a passionate gamer, and gaming was his way of relaxing and entertaining himself.

One night, Mao Xiaoli couldn’t sleep and went downstairs to the living room to draw talismans. She heard rustling noises coming from the kitchen. Thinking it was a mouse, she quickly made a Five Thunder Spirit Talisman and stealthily went over. The kitchen refrigerator was open, casting a faint glow. Mao Xiaoli quickly slid over and pressed the Five Thunder Spirit Talisman onto the fridge, chanting, “Yuqing Shizhen, Zhenfu Gaomen—”

Suddenly, a pale, muscular hand, veins protruding, grabbed her wrist and tore the talisman from her fingers. Zhang Qiudao’s cold gaze pierced through her, “You want to kill me?”

Mao Xiaoli chuckled, “I thought it was a rat.”

Zhang Qiudao let go of her wrist. “Does your mouse open the fridge by itself? You’re using a Five Thunder Spirit Talisman to kill a mouse?” As he spoke, he tore up the talisman and threw it into the trash can, casually grabbing a bottle of milk, then standing up to look down at Mao Xiaoli with a cold, disdainful stare.

Mao Xiaoli shrugged innocently, “Maybe our mouse can indeed open the fridge. Who else would open the fridge in the middle of the night for no reason? Oh, I forgot there are others in the branch. I thought I was the only one here.” She rubbed her wrist and opened the fridge, finding only milk and a bunch of bananas. She grabbed one, closed the fridge, and leaned against the door, tearing open the banana and taking a big bite. “Did you eat all the junk food in your room?”

Zhang Qiudao inserted the straw into the milk box and took a long, deep sip, draining half of it in one go. The box collapsed as he sucked it dry. Standing in the shadows, his fierce, emotionless gaze bored into Mao Xiaoli, his ruthless demeanor making her heart skip a beat.

After finishing the milk, Zhang Qiudao inflated the empty box by blowing into it, then slapped it hard in his palm. There was a loud snap, and the box flattened. He crushed it into a ball and threw it into the trash, then shot Mao Xiaoli a mocking glance before turning and leaving.

Mao Xiaoli stood stunned for a moment before quickly swallowing the rest of the banana in one go. She then ran back to her room, making a training plan. She was determined to crush Zhang Qiudao in two months!

Of course, after two months of hard training, there was not much progress. But the Mao family had one thing in common: once they were determined to do something, they would pour all their effort into it. So, after four months, she managed to increase her cultivation from Seventh Grade Tianshi to Sixth Grade Tianshi and scheduled a rematch with Zhang Qiudao. Although she still lost, the gap between their cultivation levels—Sixth Grade versus Fourth Grade—was too great, and her loss was understandable.

However, Mao Xiaoli didn’t let Zhang Qiudao off easy. She was quick-witted and used her talent for drawing talismans to trap him. In the end, neither of them gained the upper hand, but Zhang Qiudao no longer underestimated Mao Xiaoli.

To rise from Seventh Grade Tianshi to Sixth Grade in just four months was impressive, showing Mao Xiaoli’s extraordinary talent. During this time, she still attended school and took on two orders, meaning her cultivation time was even less than two months. The Mao family’s terrifying talent was as rumored—no one should underestimate them.

From then on, the atmosphere between Zhang Qiudao and Mao Xiaoli had become less tense. When Mao Xiaoli greeted him, he no longer ignored her. Their relationship gradually improved, and Ma Shanfeng was pleased with this development.

After a year of casual interaction, Mao Xiaoli seemed to have completely forgotten their earlier confrontations. She no longer held any grudges and treated Zhang Qiudao the same as she did with everyone else. Sometimes, when they worked together on orders, Mao Xiaoli chatted nonstop, driving Zhang Qiudao crazy, wishing he could seal her mouth shut. But when she was absent on a solo mission, the silence made him feel strangely lonely, and he found himself missing her chatter.

When Zhang Qiudao worked with other Tianshi, he tried to crack a joke, but his partner mistook him for being possessed and threw talismans and spells at him. Zhang Qiudao learned the hard way not to joke with strangers after that.

On Mao Xiaoli’s side, after getting to know Zhang Qiudao better, she realized he was actually reliable—at least when taking orders. He was meticulous and strong. Over time, she understood that while Zhang Qiudao was overly meticulous with his magical practices, he was rather rough in daily life, but overall, he was easy to get along with.

After Chen Yang joined the branch and the department grew larger, it became more lively. Mao Xiaoli, who loved a bustling atmosphere and big crowds, enjoyed the new dynamic. She especially enjoyed teasing the chubby guy, who always brought a smile to her face. After school, she would often find herself in the busy branch, smelling the delicious food being prepared, no longer having to deal with bland takeout meals.

During summer, everyone moved to the courtyard for dinner, and if Mao Xiaoli hinted at it, Ma Shanfeng would give in and offer two bottles of his beloved fruit wine. When chilled, the fruit wine was refreshingly cool, and the summer evening breeze would blow gently across their faces as they gathered together under the starry sky, chatting and laughing. These were Mao Xiaoli’s favorite moments. During these times, she would sneak half a bottle of fruit wine and drink it all, feeling slightly tipsy and excited. She would roll her face into the chubby guy’s lap, or hug Zhang Qiudao and Kou Xuanling, becoming fast friends with them.

Kou Xuanling would kick her away in disgust, and Mao Xiaoli would shout at him, “You’re definitely going to die alone!” At that time, she had no idea that Kou Xuanling was a fast-paced winner in life. After yelling, she would skip over to Zhang Qiudao, who, despite his apparent displeasure, never pushed her away. Instead, he would brew her some tea to help her sober up.

Zhang Qiudao’s tea-making skills were unexpectedly good. After Mao Xiaoli sobered up, she couldn’t resist the temptation and secretly brought Ma Shanfeng’s tea set upstairs for him to brew the tea. Ma Shanfeng, unaware, shouted from downstairs, “Where did my tea set go? Who stole my tea set?”

Zhang Qiudao paused in his tea-making, looking up at Mao Xiaoli, who looked a little guilty. Mao Xiaoli, however, stood her ground and said confidently, “Just keep going. Don’t mind Uncle Ma. He drinks tea all the time, missing one session won’t hurt.”

She always acted so confidently, but afterwards, she would secretly buy tea bags online and stuff them into Ma Shanfeng’s tea canister. This led him to grumble about never finishing the tea bags, as he wanted to try different kinds of tea. Zhang Qiudao couldn’t help but chuckle, pushing the brewed tea in front of Mao Xiaoli. “Here, drink up.” But when he raised his eyes, he caught Mao Xiaoli staring at his face, mesmerized.

Mao Xiaoli mumbled, “Zhang Qiudao, when you smiled just now, it was so gentle and indulgent. You looked so handsome, my heart was racing.”

Zhang Qiudao’s hand trembled slightly as he held the tea cup, his heartbeat out of sync from Mao Xiaoli’s words. “Finish the tea and get lost. I want to play video games,” he snapped, his harsh words covering up the brief moment of feeling.

Mao Xiaoli shrugged. “I’ll leave as soon as I’m done… Zhang Qiudao, have you ever thought about getting married and having kids?”

Zhang Qiudao didn’t respond. Mao Xiaoli finished her tea and said, “I’m still young. My family keeps pushing me to find a boyfriend while I’m in college. If I don’t have one by twenty, they’ll force me into blind dates. Hmph. They just don’t want me to end up like my aunties, never getting married. But why should I get married? I’m still young. If they push me into blind dates, I’ll just run off into the mountains to meditate.”

Zhang Qiudao laughed. “You? The deep mountains have no internet or gossip. Do you think you’ll be able to survive there?”

“I wouldn’t last,” Mao Xiaoli admitted. “So, I’d rather live in the city, but in a low-key way.” She glanced at him, eyes twinkling. “Zhang Qiudao, if your parents push you to get married and have kids, and you don’t want to, how about we team up and escape together? It could be fun.”

“Are you trying to make me your ally?” Zhang Qiudao asked, laughing, but then suddenly turned cold. “Finish your tea and take the tea set downstairs.” He immediately gave her the boot.

As Mao Xiaoli carried the tea set downstairs, she tried to persuade him again. “You really should consider teaming up with me. You don’t want to get married, and I don’t either. Why don’t we form an alliance to fight against the evil forces in our families? Hey, why are you getting physical? Fine, I’m going now.”

As Zhang Qiudao closed the door, he suddenly said, “I never said I didn’t want to get married.”

Mao Xiaoli stopped in her tracks. “Huh?”

Zhang Qiudao’s tone was serious. “I didn’t want to before.”

Mao Xiaoli caught the hint of gossip in his words and was about to pounce on him for more details when the door slammed shut with a bang, leaving her outside.

 

 

 

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