Chapter 83 - 82: An Old Acquaintance
While Yang Shen was attending a funeral somewhere.
Meanwhile, in Jinshui District’s commercial street.
As it was an underdeveloped suburb, the relatively lively areas consisted of just a few streets clustered together. It was a rare Sunday, and the streets were still bustling with people.
The group of ten from Nanliang High School ambled along. Tian Zihan, who had painstakingly organized the outing, led the way, trying to liven things up.
"That restaurant just opened. I heard the food is amazing!"
The other top students were either indifferent or disdainful, seeing Tian Zihan as a major clown.
Only those who feel they don’t belong in the circle would try so desperately to please everyone.
Those who truly had the standing to be there simply didn’t care.
Yuan Rui, the new number-one student in their grade, yawned. "Hurry up. I need to get back after we eat. I have to break in a new tutor tonight."
Another student, wearing headphones, asked, "What’s your tutor’s realm? How much do they charge?"
"Middle Stage of Innate, 5,000 an hour."
"That cheap? Does he have any open slots?"
"Nope. Besides Liu Yuankui, he’s the most famous tutor in Jinshui District. He’s been fully booked for ages. It’s cheap because he teaches at a school during the day, so his schedule is extremely tight."
Not far away, gongs were being beaten and drums pounded in front of a pharmacy.
It was called a pharmacy, but it was decorated more splendidly than a karaoke club, occupying several floors. There were lion and dragon dances, and the sign read "Jinkang Pharmacy."
An outstanding enterprise of Jinshui District with 36 stores throughout Jianghuai, it was currently celebrating the arrival of the "Eight-Root Medicine King" at its flagship store with a 5% discount on everything.
As their crown jewel, Jinkang Pharmacy had even remodeled the layout of its flagship store’s main hall for the eight "Sinking Dragon Incense." The moment you walked in, you were met with eight pillar-like display stands.
As soon as you stepped inside, you could smell the rich, deep fragrance. A Martial Artist would feel the inner source within them stir. With a feature like that, it was more effective than any amount of advertising money.
Weaving through the bustling crowd, a man who looked like an old farmer was gazing up at one of the "Sinking Dragon Incense" sticks, a smile on his face.
Beside him followed a pale young woman, as listless as a puppet.
The old farmer stroked his chin and watched for a long time. Amid the clamor, his words would be heard by no one, and cared for by no one:
"The natural laws of Cyan Blue are always so bizarre, yet so uniquely blessed. The gates to Exotic Realms always seem to open here, bringing plunder and conquest to worlds that were once peaceful..."
"But for one to open in the deep sea... this is the first time on record. And it’s an Exotic Realm that thirsts for Water... Long Jiu, what do you think they’re like?"
The young woman behind him showed no reaction.
The old farmer muttered to himself, "Their Power isn’t great enough... but their circumstances are desperate enough."
"They don’t understand the situation on Cyan Blue, but Cyan Blue has yet to detect their presence either."
The old farmer pondered for a moment, then smiled as if in sudden realization. "They are... a school of natural-born fish bait..."
"And the most interesting part is... they think they’re the Sea Beast about to tear into the prey..."
A group of young people walked into the pharmacy out of curiosity. At the end of the line, a tall, burly young man built like a door panel passed by. Being so broad and clumsy, he bumped into the old farmer’s shoulder.
The woman called "Long Jiu" reacted for the first time, her gaze as sharp as a blade.
Tian Zihan quickly apologized, "Sorry... we didn’t see you..."
The old man smiled. "It’s alright, son. It’s no big deal!"
He turned his head and said, "Let’s go, Long Jiu. Let’s check on the items we ordered. They should have arrived ashore by now... This shop is about to get too rowdy, and this old man doesn’t like it."
Watching the two of them leave, Tian Zihan’s heart fluttered again.
’What a beautiful girl... like a doll...’
’Damn it, how could my resolve for the Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin be shaken again!’
***
After paying his respects, Xu Bamboo left with his mother. Huang Gang, however, stayed behind to help with odd jobs.
In his own words, if he went back, he’d just be sitting around in an internet cafe, so he might as well help out.
He hadn’t been getting along with his family since the Training Camp and had been drifting around for nearly a month. Other than occasionally sneaking home for a quick raid and a shower when no one was around, he had nowhere else to go.
Yang Shen didn’t try to comfort him much about it. At least Huang Gang hadn’t brought up words like "family of origin."
That meant he was just sulking and there was still hope.
By the time the funeral affairs were completely over, it was dusk.
Yang Shen had calmly stayed for the entire duration, not leaving midway just because of a mission notification from his system.
Only after the memorial hall was dismantled did he and Huang Gang bid a final farewell to the old couple.
The clumsy Huang Gang had just gotten downstairs when he said he’d forgotten his phone upstairs and ran back up.
The residential complex was bathed in a layer of crimson by the twilight. While waiting for Huang Gang to return, Yang Shen pressed his palms together and gave one final bow in Zhou’s direction.
’I probably won’t have another chance to pay my respects in this lifetime. Zhou is going home.’
’Next up... it’s time to investigate that so-called "treasure."’
’Several hours have passed... That "Treasure of Heaven and Earth" has gotten much closer. It’s only 40 li away, and... it’s still moving.’
’Judging from the map’s direction, it seems to be heading toward the Jinshui District commercial street, which isn’t far from here.’
Yang Shen decided to check it out anyway.
If the item were still in the sea, then no matter how close it got...
it would be jack shit to him.
But if it was within the city, he could at least go see what it was.
’Taking a look from a distance isn’t illegal. What are they gonna do, arrest me?!’
Yang Shen confirmed the general area. He was about to wait for Huang Gang to come down so he could say he was leaving, when he suddenly saw a strange person standing at the building’s entrance.
The person was leaning against the mottled wall, seemingly just playing on their phone.
But one glance was enough to send a chill down Yang Shen’s spine.
’This person’s face... why are there viscous traces of "Spiritual Qi" on it!’
’Others probably couldn’t see it at all, but to Yang Shen’s "Qi Sensitivity," it was as if the person’s face was crawling with disgusting insects!!’
In his vision, those "insects" were alive, constantly squirming across the person’s face. It was enough to trigger Yang Shen’s trypophobia.
The person seemed to sense his gaze and immediately looked over. Yang Shen retracted his eyes, controlling his expression.
’It doesn’t look like a disease... No illness is this horrifying!’
’It must be some kind of technique that uses Spiritual Qi or the "inner source"...’
’Other people probably can’t see it at all, otherwise passersby would have screamed already. Only Yang Shen, with his "Qi Sensitivity," or a high-level Martial Arts Practitioner could detect the abnormality.’
An image immediately flashed through Yang Shen’s mind: the Giant-mouthed Woman!
’How similar it was to her spewing insects from her stomach!’
’This is the "Witchcraft and Gu Technique"!’
Yang Shen pretended not to care and made a show of leaving. As expected, he saw the person head into the building entrance, so he immediately changed direction and quietly followed.
This person wore a special disguise on their face and also a baseball cap, obscuring most of their features.
They seemed to have a purpose, heading straight for the door of a particular apartment.
Traces of the funeral hadn’t been completely cleaned up yet, and the door was ajar. Inside were only the old couple and Huang Gang, who had just found his phone and was about to come out.
Zhou Yao’s father stood up and said, "Are you... here to offer condolences? I’m sorry, it’s already over, but you’re welcome to come in and sit for a while."
Huang Gang stepped aside. He didn’t recognize the stranger’s face.
The corners of the black-clothed man’s mouth curled up slightly. "Hello, sir. I’m a friend of Zhou Yao. Last year..."
BAM! With a loud crash, a big foot flew in from the side, kicking the man in black and plastering him against the wall.
Yang Shen said, "Go fuck yourself."
Plaster dust trickled down the wall, which had even started to crack. The scene was just like Xu Bamboo’s astonishing kick at the Training Camp.
"Sir, Ma’am, I’ll hold him off! You two get inside and call the police!"
Fearing the old couple wouldn’t understand, Yang Shen had no choice but to add:
"He’s the one who murdered Zhou!"
***
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