by Tai Baiyang
Back to the Doomsday: The Great Merchant in the Cataclysm Book 1
Written by Tai Baiyang
Published by Zenith Novels
Edited by Soo-Bin
© 2019 by Zenith Novels
All rights reserved. Published 2019
Originally published as 末日之大亨崛起 in Chinese by kujiang
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Table of Contents
Copyright Page
Chapter 1: Stealing
Chapter 2: Qi Fang (Weapon Shop)
Chapter 3: Tailored Tang Sword
Chapter 4: Bloody Massacre
Chapter 5: Let the Plan Begin
Chapter 6: Fish in Troubled Waters
Chapter 7: Run Away
Chapter 8: Break Through the Heavy Encirclement
Chapter 9: No. 37
Chapter 10: Sub-merchant's Task
Chapter 11: The First Reinforcement
Chapter 12: A Pure Girl
Chapter 13: A Critical Situation
Chapter 14: Instant Kill
Chapter 15 Yuan Rui's Awakening
Chapter 16: Clear the Street
Chapter 17: Mutated Beetle
Chapter 18: Become the Beetle's Master
Chapter 19: Squeeze Upon the Poor Beetle
Chapter 20: Wipe Out the Zombies
Chapter 21: Getting Robbed
Chapter 22: Butterfly Effect
Chapter 23: The Dark Side of Human Nature
Chapter 24: Zhang Mu’s Help
Chapter 25: Role Play
Chapter 26: Ready to Go
Chapter 27: Determine the Goal
Chapter 28: Across the Highway
Chapter 29: Two Survivors
Chapter 30: Perfect Cooperation
Chapter 31: Zhan Hong
Chapter 32: It’s Better to Leave
Chapter 33: The Longmen Grottoes
Chapter 34 The Mutated Monkeys
Chapter 35 The Debugging Period Is Over
Chapter 36: Start working
Chapter 37: The Monkey King Appears
Chapter 38: A Tough Battle
Chapter 39: Arrival of the New Weapon
Chapter 40: The Secret of the Great Buddha
Chapter 41: The Bloodvine Demon Lotus
Chapter 42: Temptation of Lotus
Chapter 43: Taking a Night Off
Chapter 44: Forge ahead
Chapter 45: The Local Forces
Chapter 46: Start a Deal
Chapter 47: The Power of the Bloodvine Demon Lotus
Chapter 48: Dead or Alive
Chapter 49: Counterattack
Chapter 50: Merging the Rings
Chapter 51: A Major Decision
Chapter 52: Every Minute Counts!
Chapter 53: Start to Trade
Chapter 54: The Real Opportunity
Chapter 55: Making a Huge Fortune Overnight
Chapter 56: Because of Money
Chapter 57: Metamorphosis of the Bloodvine Demon Lotus
Chapter 58: Returning from the Grave
Chapter 59: Every Minute Counts!
Chapter 60: Homeward Journey
About the Publisher
Chapter 1: Stealing
-Luo Yang City-
An unkempt young man was curled up under the shade of the bridge. He gazed dully at his filthy hands, his thoughts unknown.
Many people passed by him. Most just took a glance at him before ignoring him and continuing on their way.
A middle-aged woman thought that the young man was too poor, so she threw a few coins at him. However, no gratitude was expressed. She complained a bit about the rudeness of the young man then turned around to leave.
As if the crisp sound of the coins had woken him up, the young man’s eyes began to recover and gradually brightened.
The young man blinked at the continuous streams of people in surprise. He seemed to not believe what was in front of his eyes.
“This... place... ten years ago? Interesting. That ‘thing’ they had thought to be useless... but it actually had this function! Hehe, I really want to let those fools see this and look at their expressions.”
The young man seemed very optimistic. He didn’t look unperturbed after having realised that he had leapt through time, instead he was laughing like a crazy man. The passers-by rolled their eyes and shook their heads as they sped up their pace. They were not willing to stay even one second longer around the young man.
After a while, the young man's laughter died down as he began to regain his calm. His eyes turned frighteningly still as if he had changed into a completely different person.
He quietly peered at the digital clock on the opposite wall, whispering, "18:29. There's still an hour and thirty-seven minutes before that ‘thing’ happens."
The youth man quickly did a few calculations in his head. All of a sudden, his eyes became ruthless and tyrannical as he whispered to himself in a chilling tone, “That ‘thing’ should be a BUG of ‘Paradise’. Otherwise, it can’t undermine the rules.”
My power wasn’t enough to touch the world’s truth. This time, I, Zhang Mu, will try my best to find out what pitiful presence is hiding behind the rules!
Zhang Mu’s face was ferocious at this moment, but he knew that there wasn’t much time left. Now wasn’t the right time for resentment.
Ignoring the surprised gazes the others casted on him, Zhang Mu got on his feet and looked around.
He was 1.83 meters tall. His face was slightly gaunt and there were also a few scars on his arms and legs. From his appearance, he looked like a delinquent.
However, his body was straight and his piercing eyes gave him an entirely new look. Standing inside the zombie-like crowd, he looked more like an alien than a human.
His powerful calculative ability could help him plot the safest plans. This was his most powerful ability that allowed him to survive as an ordinary person in the future.
In a few minutes, a simple schedule was formed in Zhang Mu’s mind after dozens of calculations.
Gunpowder weapons would be useless metal scraps the moment the new era arrived. By that time, only well-made cold weapons would help him survive.
Of course, knives weren’t one of his options and a fire axe was also a bad choice. As for where he could obtain well-made cold weapons... Zhang Mu recalled the location of a famous hand-forged sword shop. Coincidentally, its location was not far away from where he currently was.
The first step of his plan was to find a good weapon to help him survive.
Even in the future, he had no guts nor power to confront danger unarmed. At present, choices were scarce. A handmade sword was the best weapon he could obtain.
However, even in the modern world, the costly price of a hand-forged sword was already unaffordable to many people.
Although Zhang Mu knew that the business was poor, it being in a remote location and the goods being very cheap, they were still hand-forged swords, not some wholesale fruit knives. The cost was still very high.
How could he get the money?
He couldn't even afford decent clothes.
Oh, right！
Zhang Mu patted his forehead. A strange smile formed on his lips.
Ten years ago, which also meant now, he had just left the Thieves Sect and drifted along aimlessly. In other words, he was a thief. There was a simple method for him to quickly obtain money.
However, the Thieves Sect wasn’t your ordinary thieves' guild. It had centuries of history and strict rules.
The disciples of the
Thieves Sect could only steal from officials, local ruffians, unscrupulous villains, and dishonest traders. They could never steal from students, women, children, old men, and poor men.
However, Zhang Mu didn’t have a chance to steal from those rich and cruel people. Most of the people he saw everyday were ordinary people and most of them had their own troubles. It was not easy to find suitable targets.
It was also the main reason Zhang Mu lost his interest in theft. After his master’s death, Zhang Mu had left the Thieves Sect to make a living. Just after a month, he was already in such dismal conditions.
Zhang Mu leaned against a column, scanning the crowd on the platform bridge as he searched for his prey.
Around the same time, a fat and bald man slowly ambled onto the platform bridge. He wore an ill-fitted oversized coat, a pair of expensive sunglasses, and a dazzling gold necklace. In a word, his every characteristic showed that he was an upstart.
All right, I choose him, Zhang Mu whispered in his heart.
After returning to ten years ago, Zhang Mu felt that he had also became luckier. Although it's wrong to judge a person from his or her appearance, sorry dude! I really need your money!
The street was filled with old people or poor people, only the fat bald man looked like a rich man.
I really need money. If I have the opportunity, I will return it to you.
Zhang Mu apologised in his heart, then walked into the stream of people. He lowered his head, slowly approaching the fat man.
Seeing that a shabby and smelly beggar was nearing them, the people around Zhang Mu subconsciously kept a distance from him.
Coincidentally, it was off time from work now. The platform bridge was really crammed. The people near Zhang Mu tried to avoid him, but the crowd jostled them back, causing them to push Zhang Mu out of the crowd.
Zhang Mu looked like an innocent person that was feebly pushed out by the crowd. However, he secretly moved closer and closer to his target as he neared the gap.
Finally, they were close enough. Zhang Mu would soon pass by his prey.
His body subtly bumped against the crowd, and the crowd gave an immediate response, pushing him back towards the fat and bald man like a spring.
“Who? Don’t crowd!”
“Yes, the space is so narrow. Stop pushing!”
The people around Zhang Mu complained. Zhang Mu pretended that he was fighting against the crowd, placing both his hands on the bald man’s coat without exerting any strength.
Other people did not think as much of him. Some people had even directly hit the bald man.
As Zhang Mu had expected, the bald man slightly frowned. He raised his right hand to push back a scrawny man.
As the bald man raised his right arm and glanced towards his right side, Zhang Mu started moving. His right hand slid into the bald man’s coat like a nimble fish. His fingertip lightly pressed against the inner pocket of the coat, as he picked out the wallet.
He picked up the wallet with his index finger and middle finger, then drew back his hand.
Everything was completed in a flash without the realisation of anyone.
“I haven’t done this in a long time. It’s really hard.” Zhang Mu muttered.
Although he had exaggerated, he did feel somewhat dissatisfied. He knew that when he stole the wallet, his movements were a little stiff.
Although it was his body, but he had just returned from ten years in the future. He was unfamiliar with this youthful body.
Zhang Mu walked forward with a straight face. The texture of the crocodile leather in his hand gave him a kind of weird feeling in his heart.
His ten years of business experience told him that the wallet was made of the best abdominal skin of an estuarine crocodile. Furthermore, the wallet was bulging.
“Yo! The fat man was really rich! This should be enough. It will save me from looking for another target.”
Zhang Mu walked along the crowd with satisfaction. He deliberately adjusted his direction, moving further and further away. When his figure completely vanished from the platform bridge, the bald man slowly turned his head and looked towards the direction Zhang Xiang had left. A grin was hanging on his face as he was smiling from ear to ear.
“Incredible. That was the old Thieves Sect’s stealing technique. If it wasn’t because that kid’s moves were a little stiff, I wouldn’t had even noticed. The last time I witnessed this stealing technique was ten years ago. I thought it was completely lost.
Crap, is my appearance really like a scumbag? Nah, forget it. For your master’s sake, I’ll lend you my money this time, but kid, I've remembered you!”
Chapter 2: Qi Fang (Weapon Shop)
"So much money... that fat man... interesting."
Looking at the wallet in his hands, Zhang Mu was shocked. He checked the wallet again and again, then sighed with emotion.
The wallet actually only had money in it; it was stuffed with three thousand RMB.
Zhang Mu felt like something was wrong. The man didn't even put any identification or credit cards in his wallet. Zhang Mu remembered the fat man's nonchalant performance, then slightly frowned.
That man wasn't a nobody.
However, Zhang Mu didn't have the time to think over it. He was really running out of time. Anyway, he had obtained enough money, which meant that he could go ahead with his plan.
As the passers-by looked at Zhang Mu with surprise, he ran towards a certain direction. If one didn't know the reason, they would probably think that he was a robber. It wasn't because Zhang Mu was reluctant to take a taxi, but because his clothes were too ragged. None of the drivers were willing to take him.
After about ten minutes, Zhang Mu swiftly ran into an alley. He bent forward, put his hands on his knees and gasped for air. Although he had a robust and youthful body, he had been running at full speed after all. He had almost used up his strength.
Zhang Mu rested for a while, then raised his eyes, carefully looking at the shop sign.
Qi Fang (Weapon Shop).
That’s right. It should be here.
Fortunately, the shop was famous in the future. When he talked about Luoyang City with the merchants he knew, they often mentioned a man called "Soldier King". Hence, Zhang Mu remembered that there was such a powerful character in the city where he lived.
Zhang Mu adjusted his breathing and arranged his messy hair and clothes. He was about to see a legendary person, even Zhang Mu couldn't stop himself from feeling nervous.
Zhang Mu walked through the old wooden threshold. Due to his curiosity and longing, he looked around the room.
There were a few account books and a lunch box randomly placed on the desk and several empty bottles of Tsingtao beer on the ground.
The whole shop was empty and there were no weapons on display. It was a little bit different from Zhang Mu's imagination. He was a little disappointed.
Zhang Mu didn't see anyone in the room. He walked a few steps, then saw a door with a light blue curtain in the corner. He thought that the shopkeeper should be in the room, so he shouted towards the door.
"Hey, is the shopkeeper there?"
The shopkeeper should have heard his voice. After a while, with a rustling sound and the sound of a few heavy footsteps, a thick, black arm suddenly lifted the curtain.
What a tall and muscular middle-aged man! The shopkeeper was taller than Zhang Mu by about half a head. His eyes stared at Zhang Mu, giving him a very piercing feeling. However, after taking a careful look, Zhang Mu found that the shopkeeper hadn't shaved for a long time and looked unkept.
The middle-aged shopkeeper looked at Zhang Mu up and down. He saw Zhang Mu's ragged clothes, then his bright eyes dimmed, but it was not very obvious.
He asked Zhang Mu in a heavy voice, "Little brother, what's the matter?"
Zhang Mu caught the change in the middle-aged shopkeeper's eyes, but he didn't mind it. He knew his current appearance. It was already very lucky that the shopkeeper didn't treat him as
a beggar and drive him out.
He raised his eyebrows, looked up at the shopkeeper and said with a smile, "Hey, I want to buy a sword."
"Sword?"
The middle-aged shopkeeper showed a playful look, gazing at Zhang Mu in silence.
The shopkeeper realized that Zhang Mu was serious. Although Zhang Mu was ragged, he didn't fear to look at him eye to eye. Therefore, the shopkeeper changed his attitude and began to face him seriously.
"Anyone who comes to buy my swords is my guest. I'm Xue Liang, the shopkeeper of this handmade sword shop. What sword style do you like?"
After hearing Shopkeeper Xue's question, Zhang Mu didn't answer him immediately but asked him a new question which he had been wanting to ask the shopkeeper ever since he entered the shop.
"Boss Xue, my friend told me that I could buy high-quality swords from you. Why isn’t there any swords in your shop? Have they all been sold out?"
Shopkeeper Xue showed an embarrassed look on his face. He smiled bitterly and said, "Little brother, don't make fun of me. These days, less and less people like collect swords. Even if some young people wanted to buy some swords to decorate their houses, they wouldn't buy my handmade swords but order machine-made swords from the Internet.
To be honest, my shop hasn't received any orders for a whole month. I have taken back all the swords to the basement because of that, plus I wouldn't have to close the shop even if I was resting in my room. After all, who knows when I will have new guests?"
Zhang Mu sighed with emotion in his heart. Unlike what he had imagined, the shopkeeper wasn't domineering like what his friends told him, but was very honest and amiable. He didn't aggrandize but instead mocked himself.
However, that wasn't a surprising thing. The people who could survive in the catastrophic future had all experienced a lot. It wasn't surprising to know that the shopkeeper had been twisted into a different person in that environment. The people who struggled at the bottom of society, but still remained positive were extremely rare.
Of course, Zhang Mu knew that some machine-made swords were really good, but they were also terribly expensive. Besides, he didn't know where he could buy them.
As for the machine-made swords that were cheaper than the handmade swords... They only had a beautiful exterior. Their shapes and strength were far inferior to the shopkeeper's handmade swords.