Chapter 281: Do Mental Patients Need to Look for Work Too?

Chapter 281: Do Psychopaths Also Need Jobs?

Language is a strange thing.

Behind it, perhaps, lies something more.

Qi Yuan did not dwell on this further but sat down to ponder.

“I can’t cultivate the *Qi Yuan Sutra* here; I’ll need to practice a simplified version.”

In this game world, Qi Yuan’s goal was to enhance his strength.

So far, he had found no clear way to gain experience by killing monsters, so cultivation was the only option.

The *Qi Yuan Sutra* was quite complex to practice—not to mention the Stellar Golden Core, but even the Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment was difficult to replicate.

Thus, Qi Yuan decided to create a castrated version of the *Qi Yuan Sutra* for cultivation.

To boost his own power.

After all, the innate seed had been integrated into this body, and the cultivation returned to his original form was no longer the pitiful trace it once was.

Qi Yuan’s current plan was to rapidly advance his realm and gain the ability to protect himself.

Then, he would participate in the Martial Arts Tournament.

After all, if his martial arts talent proved insufficient and he couldn’t win the tournament, he still had his Dao arts, didn’t he?

There didn’t seem to be any rule forbidding the use of immortal techniques in the Martial Arts Tournament.

Outside the Jun’an Residential Area, two men and one woman, carrying fruit, chatted and laughed as they walked toward Qi Yuan’s home.

Wang Xu adjusted his glasses. Tall and imposing, he was the center of attention among the three.

During college, Wang Xu had been the class monitor, leveraging his family connections and his own efforts to secure a job at the Maritime Bureau.

The maritime hegemony of the Qin Yuan Kingdom was unmatched in Gongxing, and maritime trade was thriving, making a position at the Maritime Bureau a coveted prize.

Such a respectable job naturally drew envy from other classmates.

“Li Yan, what about you? Still have feelings for Qi Yuan?”

Li Yan wore a high ponytail, her long legs clad in flared pants. She was tall and slender, though her face was only slightly above average. Today, she had applied light makeup, and her eyes carried a hint of melancholy.

Hearing Wang Xu’s words, a smile appeared in her eyes: “Young and foolish back then. Now…”

She shook her head.

During her university days, she had been drawn to Qi Yuan.

After all, Qi Yuan’s looks were unmatched in their class.

She had tried to pursue him, but was always rejected.

Later, when she learned that Qi Yuan had developed a mental illness, she immediately distanced herself from him.

Qi Yuan might have a handsome face, but she had no desire to marry a madman.

Otherwise, if her other girlfriends found out, it would be too embarrassing.

One of her dormmates had gotten pregnant right after graduation and married a young man from a small town under a county.

Her roommates, both openly and behind her back, had spoken ill of that dormmate, saying she had lost her mind, married beneath her, and ruined her life.

With such a cautionary tale, how could Li Yan truly want any connection with Qi Yuan?

A one-night stand might be acceptable, but marriage was out of the question.

Otherwise, she would be laughed to death.

“Ah, Qi Yuan’s fate is truly bitter. An orphan to begin with, barely made it through university, then got mental illness, and now… he’s seriously ill. Who knows how he’s doing?” said the crew-cut man, a tone of regret in his voice.

Yet, hidden in his expression seemed to be a flicker of greed, well-concealed, unnoticed by the others present.

“Sigh, misfortune always targets the unfortunate,” Wang Xu lamented, with an air of compassion.

Soon, the three of them knocked on the door of Qi Yuan’s home.

The crew-cut man looked around, seemingly satisfied.

The door opened shortly after.

Qi Yuan stood at the entrance, looking calmly at the three outside: “Old classmates, you’re here. Come in and sit.”

Wang Xu’s face showed a flicker of surprise, quickly hidden: “Qi Yuan, your complexion… why is it so pale?”

Qi Yuan now looked like a sickly man, as if he might die at any moment.

“Yeah, I’m sick,” Qi Yuan answered truthfully.

He looked at the three former classmates before him, memories flooding back like a tide.

When the innate seed was still present, they had come to see Qi Yuan.

But Qi Yuan had been lying in a hospital bed, unconscious and asleep, unable to speak a word, so naturally there had been no conversation.

“Have you… been to the hospital? Is it serious?” Li Yan asked with some concern.

After all, her former idol had become like this, possibly on the verge of death, and she felt a bit melancholic. Was this the price of growing up?

“Not serious, just a minor issue,” Qi Yuan waved his hand.

As long as he could cultivate immortality, were these even problems?

Of course, the curse-like affliction on his body he couldn’t resolve for now, but returning to a normal state and delaying the curse’s recurrence was still achievable.

“A minor issue? Look at your face!” Li Yan couldn’t help saying, her eyes reddening, as if deeply saddened for Qi Yuan.

Though she no longer thought highly of him, she couldn’t bear to see him die so young.

“Li Yan, you’re overthinking. Qi Yuan can stand and talk to us now; it shouldn’t be too serious,” said the crew-cut man.

Indeed, if he were truly gravely ill, he’d be bedridden. Being able to stand and speak suggested the problem wasn’t major.

“Right, I’m perfectly fine. I can eat six steamed buns in one sitting,” Qi Yuan said, then sat down on a chair.

Though this kind of pain meant nothing to him, he had no masochistic tendencies, so he naturally chose comfort.

“In a few days, I’ll be all better,” Qi Yuan said with confidence.

His words put the others at ease.

Then, Wang Xu asked, “Qi Yuan, have you found a job yet?

Want me to recommend one? The pay isn’t high, but it’s relaxed and stable.”

Wang Xu revealed his purpose.

Currently, he was in a probationary period at the Maritime Bureau.

Helping the child of a martyr like Qi Yuan would earn him extra points.

Qi Yuan was taken aback: “Aren’t I a psychopath? Do psychopaths also need jobs?”

Would any company dare to hire a psychopath?

Was Gongxing so competitive that even psychopaths had to find work?

Wang Xu couldn't help but freeze for a moment.

Because it was the first time he had heard it said so matter-of-factly that a mental patient should also work?

It sounded especially bizarre.

Li Yan was also stunned.

Then, after a moment's thought, she understood—being mentally ill didn't mean being stupid, just having some issues with one's thinking.

"If you don't work, with the state subsidies, you could indeed get by.

But..." Wang Xu mused, "Qi Yuan, what I'm about to say might be a bit harsh, so please don't take it to heart.

If you keep living at home without a proper job,

it'll be very hard to find a wife and have children.

Even with the state-arranged blind dates, those women won't take a liking to you."

For the children of martyrs, Qin Yuanguo had many guarantees.

Not only were there various subsidies, but blind dates were also arranged.

However, because Qi Yuan had some mental issues, he was likely at the very bottom of the dating market.

After all, what woman would want to take on a burden?

"That's right, Qi Yuan. Without a stable job now, your chances of success in blind dates are too low.

Unlike Wang Xu, who works at the Maritime Bureau and is about to get promoted at such a young age.

If he went on blind dates, he'd be a hot commodity." Li Yan smoothed her hair, casting an envious glance at Wang Xu.

"That's an exaggeration. I just have an ordinary job." Wang Xu waved his hand, but the pride in his eyes was unmistakable. He continued looking at Qi Yuan and said slowly, "The job I found for you is very easy—just watching over a warehouse, making sure no one steals anything. No skill required, anyone can do it."

Li Yan quickly chimed in, "Right, Qi Yuan, why not consider it?

Your parents wouldn't want you to end your family line, would they?"

Seeing this, a smile appeared in Qi Yuan's eyes: "Working for someone else? That's never going to happen."

He shook his head directly.

Coming back to a modern society similar to Blue Star, and still having to work for someone else?

Was that supposed to kill him?

"Don't worry about me. Even without working, I'll find a wife!" Qi Yuan said without hesitation.

If he wanted, he could even go straight to the civil affairs bureau with Xiao Jia and get a marriage certificate.

And once he improved his strength a bit and projected the Star Core Golden Elixir into this universe, he could summon Ning Tao down as well and get a marriage certificate with her too.

Though that might constitute bigamy.

But Qi Yuan wasn't afraid.

He had a mental illness certificate.

That certificate was a protective talisman.

Not even afraid of breaking the law, so why fear bigamy?

"This..." Wang Xu wanted to persuade him further.

After all, with Qi Yuan's illness and no job, finding a wife and having children would be extremely difficult.

"If you don't have a job..." Li Yan tried to add, "You won't have money either. You can't even eat a nice meal."

Just then, the crew-cut man's eyes lit up: "Oh, come on, your thinking is too old-fashioned.

With Qi Yuan's conditions, how could he not find a wife?

I know a girl—pretty good-looking, virtuous, and she's been wanting to go on blind dates lately. I'll introduce her to Qi Yuan."

Hearing this, Li Yan froze for a moment and whispered in the crew-cut man's ear, "Don't ruin that girl's life."

Wang Xu looked at the crew-cut man with a thoughtful expression: "What kind of girl? What's her character like?"

"Her character is great. She even got a student grant in college.

Ah, her background is a bit poor—she's from a remote area—but she's very hardworking.

She's always wanted a Tianyue household registration... so..." The crew-cut man explained the girl's situation.

A girl from a poor background, very ambitious.

Tianyue City was the provincial capital in Qin Yuanguo.

Household registration there was quite valuable.

Especially for someone like Qi Yuan, who also had a three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment.

If that apartment were sold, it would be worth four or five million Qin Yuan coins—something a poor person could never afford in a lifetime of hard work.

Wang Xu hesitated: "Qi Yuan is your old classmate. Don't screw him over. What if that girl..."

He couldn't finish the sentence.

What if she tricked him into marriage?

After all, Qi Yuan had some mental issues.

That girl could easily use some tricks to get her hands on Qi Yuan's property and wealth.

"Don't worry, the girl I know is very honest." A smile appeared in the crew-cut man's eyes. "She's also very conservative and traditional. If she sets her mind on someone, she probably won't give up for life.

Last time, she even complained to me about a blind date—after only three meetings, that guy was already impatient to hold her hand. She looked down on him for that. You can see how conservative she is."

The crew-cut man said cheerfully.

Of course, those words were spoken when that girl was in his bed.

At the time, the crew-cut man had asked, "Haven't I only met you twice? That's fewer times than that blind date guy. How come..."

The girl had shaken her head and said, "You're different. He was a blind date."

Hearing this, Wang Xu said nothing.

"What, class monitor, you don't trust me, Cui Fan?" The crew-cut man asked, a hint of accusation in his voice.

Wang Xu hesitated for a long time, still unable to speak.

Then Cui Fan said discontentedly, "Class monitor, I know I made mistakes when I was young in college—borrowed some high-interest loans—but after graduation, I've turned over a new leaf. I've had a proper job for a while now. Don't look at me through tinted glasses!"

Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Li Yan said, "Wang Xu, Cui Fan is different now from before. Less than a year after graduation, he's already become a supervisor at a pharmaceutical company."

At this point, Qi Yuan's eyes lit up.

Although he had subsidies now, only a little over two thousand a month.

That was barely enough for his own living expenses.

If he wanted to buy materials for cultivation and martial arts training, he couldn't do it without money.

Hearing Cui Fan mention high-interest loans, many ideas sprang to mind.

What if he followed the example of those old stories... and took out high-interest loans without repaying them?

Qi Yuan had watched many TV shows and anime where the protagonists, in the early stages of starting out, were short on cash.

What to do when you're short on cash?

Take out a loan from loan sharks!

Just don't pay it back after borrowing!

After all, most of Qin Yuanguo's loan shark operations skirt the edges of the law.

These loan sharks often have underworld connections and do no good.

Qi Yuan's defaulting on loans could even be seen as ridding the world of a menace.

Because, after all, he borrows money and never repays.

"I'm not getting involved in this anymore. You just need to convince Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan, about the job I recommended—if you have time, you should still go check it out," Wang Xu continued.

Whether for a promotion or not, lending Qi Yuan a hand wouldn't hurt.

"Alright." The crew-cut man revealed a bright smile.

Qi Yuan also nodded and, with social grace, said, "Thank you."

For the rest of the time, everyone chatted in the room for a while.

Worried about Qi Yuan's health, they didn't stay long.

Now, looking at the empty room, Qi Yuan took out his phone and found Cui Fan in his contacts.

He thought for a moment and sent a message: "Cui Fan, can you lend me some money?"

Rather than searching on his own, it was easier to bother someone else.

After all, Cui Fan clearly had ill intentions toward him.

"Huh? Borrow money? How much? What for?" Cui Fan's reply came quickly.

"Lend me ten thousand. I'm really short on cash right now," Qi Yuan said casually.

"Well..." Cui Fan hesitated. If he weren't scheming for Qi Yuan's property, he wouldn't bother with someone asking for a loan. But now, he was considerate: "I don't have any money on me right now. Sorry.

Oh, by the way, Qi Yuan, do you want to meet Xiaomei in three days? If you do, I can tell you a way to make some money."

"Sure." A smile appeared in Qi Yuan's eyes. He had been waiting for this very line.

Given Cui Fan's nature, how could he bear to lend ten thousand to him?

"I have a contact for a loan shark. How about this: in three days, after you meet Xiaomei, you can meet with that loan shark?" Cui Fan said hesitantly.

"Hmm... Do they lend a lot? I'm really in need of money," Qi Yuan asked.

He wanted to borrow more.

"A lot. Don't worry. With your house as collateral, borrowing four or five million is no problem," Cui Fan answered truthfully.

Qi Yuan's house was worth four or five million, but in reality, even that amount wouldn't secure it.

Meanwhile, both he and Xiaomei owed the loan sharks hundreds of thousands.

It was precisely because they couldn't repay the debt that they had conspired to trick Qi Yuan out of his house.

(End of chapter)