Chen Xingzhou was nearly out of breath.

This was the news that had spread like a storm that evening, quickly diffusing everywhere.

Numerous curious netizens frantically searched through all channels for information; however, except for some ambiguous responses that seemed like broken records, the only thing they got was an annoyingly clueless reply from the editors.

Chen Xingzhou was going to die, Chen Xingzhou was gasping his last breaths, Chen Xingzhou lived, Chen Xingzhou punched the bullet and exploded it on the spot...

Rumors were rampant, yet there was no solid proof.

In this day and age, the truth sometimes seemed like a luxury, with most people having to sift through a sea of lies to find that tiny bit of something valuable.

Soon, even more sensational news captured everyone's attention.

Among Lei Wuye's godchildren, the one who controlled all the smuggling businesses in Nanlu District, known as the fourth, was also dead.

It happened right after the severed head feast hosted by Lei Yaoxing.

The discontented fourth was the first to flip the table, cursed Lei Yaoxing with "can't afford pineapples," and the moment he got into his car, he was blown to the sky, turned into character fragments in the gacha pool, distributed free to every lucky bastard present.

Everyone present fell silent, heads bowed, saying nothing.

They didn't even dare to look up at the figure in the front.

Throughout the ordeal, Lei Yaoxing remained silent.

His face was ashen.

Everyone bowed their heads, staring at the spreading blood on the ground, as if they could see the reflection of the dark sky above... and even the approaching thunder and lightning.

A new storm was on the rise.

Unfortunately, no aliens descended from the sky to save the day, and the beasts on the ground had descended into complete madness.

In the restaurant, members of the Northern Mountain group ate supper and drank beer, watching a squad hurriedly heading toward a dark alley with watermelon knives in hand.

In the distant sounds of killings, they found a sense of tranquil times.

"Did Lei Yaoxing really do it?" Ji Jue frowned, instinctively sensing something off.

Even if he aimed to kill competitors and troublesome siblings, why would he get his hands so bloody? True, he was the biggest beneficiary, but at the same time, countless supporters were dead or injured.

The uncles helping him speak out left the scene with pale faces, not uttering half a word more even with earnest retention, unwilling to take even a red packet.

After all, having half a lifetime's reputation trampled on like a pig's urine bladder was already too much, not picking up a watermelon knife to fight it out on the spot was already very composed and restrained. They've probably already bought airship tickets and fled, hoping never to be involved with Cliff City's shitty issues again.

The big sponsors behind him must be reconsidering, right?

Everyone invested and sponsored you to be a decision-maker for profit, not to fucking wage a war that leaves bodies everywhere... Even though he is now the strongest competitor, from another perspective, signs of defection were already showing, subtly pushing him toward a cliff's edge.

"He said it, didn't he? He's not, he didn't... who believes that?"

Almost fooled by that bastard, Wen Wen sneered, pinching soybeans, "Not is as good as yes!"

Chen Xingzhou was deceived by you to come out and speak, now he's been sent to the ICU; your brother was summoned by you to testify, now blown to bits without a trace.

The uncles backed you up to call people out for a meal, and before the meal ended, nearly everyone was dead. The Security Bureau asked if it was you, you said it had nothing to do with you, then under the Security Bureau's watch, there was a mutation.

You say it has nothing to do with you, where's your horse!?

It's not you, then it's me, huh?

Hearing this, Ji Jue sighed and couldn't help but shake his head.

"No need to feel sad for a bunch of criminals. If you're feeling down, just wait until they've finished tearing each other apart, then go up and kick them a couple of times, right?"

Wen Wen nibbled on the soybeans, tilting her head back, gulping down the strong liquor.

It's not just your damn White Deer that holds grudges; doesn't Tian Yuan have a bad temper too? Ignoring you now is to avoid further complicating the already worsening situation. After this blows over, won't there be a reckoning?

Wen Wen had already drafted a list in her stomach.

A long list.

The accidental injury quota for this year to next year was filled; there wasn't a single spot left!

Moreover, it's not only Tian Yuan that has an organization. With Cliff City now in such chaos, does the Taiyi Ring have less to say because they've made less money? So much material rotting in warehouses across the sea can't be delivered, and Ji Jue's deliveries have been delayed. Chongguang Church's charity hospital is nearly overwhelmed; they can't keep up with the injuries, and if truly provoked, wouldn't the crazy ascenders care about consequences?

On the surface and underneath, every large organization's normal operations were gradually being disrupted by this civil war.

The state of affairs in Desert Market was already starting to spiral out of control...

"Even if all the scumbags die, what's it to me? Looks like a cat!"

Ji Jue chewed on the particles in his slushie, pausing for a moment, "It's just that I'm worried about a friend."

Chen Yubo.

The helpful Mr. Chen, the devoted pink-lover Chen Da-Shao.

Even though Chen Xingzhou and Chen Yubo hadn't openly associated for many years, everyone knew the relationship between the brothers. The moment Chen Xingzhou staggered and fell, Chen Yubo's situation became perilous.

These days, expecting the ruthless followers of White Deer to lend a helping hand was impossible; adding decoration to the brocade depended on one's character, but they seemed to take endless pleasure in kicking someone when they were down. Moreover, it was a profit without risk, merely requiring a flick of the wrist.

When a lion fell, the hyenas would swarm.

His situation now was probably terrible.

He looked at the empty screen of his phone.

He had just made a call, but no one had answered.

He probably couldn't afford to check his phone now.

It's a pity, he hadn't gone to see his cat's backward somersault yet.

Ji Jue shook his head, unable to speak, just as Wen Wen thrust a glass of beer into his hands: "Why are you dawdling with an empty glass? Drink!"

He gave a wry smile.

After experiencing the late-night feast after dealing with the Northern Mountain group each time, he found that he, who used to be teetotal, had actually grown accustomed to drinking.

"Drinking harms people," Ji Jue sighed, lifting his head to drink up in one gulp.

After finishing the late-night snack, Ji Jue returned to the workshop for a while, seizing the opportunity to "process materials" while simultaneously destroying the corpse and erasing all clues.

He didn't know if it was good luck or the temporarily imposed Mercury Seal was unexpectedly effective, but with the assistance of Brother Qiu, he had actually extracted a complete blessing.

It was the precious blessing "anticipate the enemy," which Herbert had used to fully block Ji Jue's bullets without even opening his eyes. The drawback was that the blessing, having undergone numerous transformations, had reverted to its basic shape.

Even so, just selling this blessing alone could make a huge profit.

But why not keep it for his own use?

Although dealing with such a powerful blessing was still beyond his current abilities, he could at least save it for future use.

Once he mastered it, Ji Jue wouldn't have to worry about being effortlessly overpowered by close-combat experts. At least he would be able to futilely resist a bit.

From the perspective of hunting blessings, working at the Security Bureau didn't seem as troublesome as anticipated.

Although Tian Yuan consistently dehumanized the lower levels, and the two departments' male officers were always busy with troublesome tasks, the internecine strife was somewhat severe, and the multitude of factions were excessively ruthless... at least the spoils weren't few!

With a slightly guilty conscience, he could earn even more.

As they say, one isn't rich without windfalls, and more of these lucrative outsourcing opportunities would massively benefit Ji Jue when he later establishes his own workshop!

At least more blessings would mean he could borrow more money when mortgaging at Yongji Bank.

Looking back on every Ember's life, they almost always revolve around loans—from apprentice to craftsman, making money like water, and spending it even faster. Without one or two financial backbones or investors, it's nearly impossible to continue and lack resilience against risks.

Life is hard, money is hard to earn, and shit is hard to eat.

Now under Professor Ye's protection, even if he risks his life and death, at most he needs to worry about money, without having to bow down for anything or degrade himself by pleading for mercy.

If one day, Professor Ye feels Ji Jue is robust enough, having learned enough to face society's harsh realities, and then kicks him out to fend for himself, and if he's unprepared, he'll likely face challenges.

It's always wise to prepare in advance.

Even though his dependance on the workshop would lessen with the blessings, he couldn't completely disregard it, right? Wouldn't that be just like feeling warm in winter and then running outside naked?

Hmm, today too he fought for his future workshop—progress marked [1/9999999999].

Riding his automatic tricycle while contemplating the future, Ji Jue sighed all the way back to his doorstep. Just as he took out his keys to enter his house, he heard a distant, faint calling from the long night behind him.

"Ji...Jue..."

He stiffened on the spot, suddenly turned his head, and in the pitch-black night, amidst the dim shadows...his hair stood on end, suspecting he had just experienced a hallucination. Yet, the voice resounded again, more and more distinct, almost pleading.

"Ji Jue...Ji Jue..."

Instantly, he was terrified.

Instinctively, he had already drawn his gun, cocked it, and aimed into the darkness: "Who's there! Come out!"

"Ji brother? It's me... It's me..."

From the stinking garbage can, a disheveled face slowly rose, lid in hand, looking at him with tearful eyes, choking without words.

Like a soul come to claim a life.

Unknown how long he'd been waiting in the chilly night, wearing only a T-shirt, Chen Yubo huddled up, shivering.

In recognizing that face at that moment, Ji Jue blacked out.

Good news, Chen Yubo wasn't dead.

Bad news, he had turned up at his doorstep...

I'm nearly there!

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