Chapter 408: To Go or To Stay

Imagine a tiger in a cage that has been starving for twenty-one days; after it descends the mountain, how insane will its killing spree be?

It was as if he had already seen the terrifying scene of the Great Emperor emerging from seclusion with his Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon, sweeping across all the heroes of the world...

Ji Jue felt as if there were an air conditioner in his mouth, and he began to suck in cold air frantically.

It was bitterly cold.

"She didn't quit drinking at all..."

Old Zhang's voice sounded from beside his ear, a thin, bitter line: "Run, kid... She's been drinking like this for half a month already!"

What the hell?

Are you stacking a Soulstealer here? How is there a 'Berserk Mode'?!

Ji Jue's scalp went numb, his legs turned to jelly, and he nearly slid off his chair, only to be grabbed by the scruff of his neck and hauled up.

"What kind of ruckus are you making, kid?"

Wen Wen's eyes were inches away, carrying a playful smile. "Come on, drink."

*Slap! *

A bottle was shoved into his hand, followed by a practiced clink, and then—*glug, glug, glug*.

Seeing Ji Jue still staring at her in a daze, she gave a mischievous grin: "What, want to drink mine? Want to swap?"

Ji Jue rolled his eyes. He never expected that after reaching the Rebirth Rank, the first thing he'd have to test was his alcohol tolerance. Fine, drink it is... He couldn't die from it anyway, so he might as well drink until he dropped...

Otherwise, if he were any slower, Wen Wen would just force-feed him.

"Good, refreshing!"

Ji Jue had just put down the bottle and hadn't even managed to grab a bite of food when he felt Wen Wen's hand slap heavily onto his shoulder—it nearly cracked his bone—and then, another bottle was shoved into his hand.

Wen Wen had finally met her match and was full of fighting spirit: "Come on, again!"

"Drink it is!"

Ji Jue rolled up his sleeves and looked at Wen Wen, his fighting spirit burning.

Times had changed. Although he hadn't been as lowly as a minion before, today he would at least let her see that even in the Rebirth Rank, there were levels!

What it meant to have heavens beyond heavens, and people beyond people!

God of War, jump!

And then, ten minutes later... God of War, sleep!

Comparing physical constitutions between Embers and the Ruins? How could anyone have such a ridiculous dream? He couldn't hold on, he absolutely couldn't hold on!

The main thing was that there was a blockhead nearby, staring at Ji Jue, strictly preventing him from cheating with material property interference.

Ji Jue couldn't even break down the alcohol in his stomach; he didn't even dare to use his Furnace Blood.

He could only bite the bullet and force himself to endure.

After a few bottles, he was already dizzy and began to drool.

"Hiss, can we call a truce?"

"Are you kidding me?"

Wen Wen grinned, draping an arm over his shoulder, and brought her bottle over: "Come on, show me that toughness from before... 'Heaven did not give birth to me, Ji Jue, and the Dao of Wine is like a long night for eternity,' right? Xiao An, write that down for him. Make him drink!

Good, refreshing! Brother Ji Jue is so amazing! Have another cup..."

Ji Jue lay on the chair, *aba-aba*.

Old Zhang shook his head and sighed, Tong Hua gloated, Xiao An looked on with half-understanding, feeling sorry for GIEGIE, and Wen Wen laughed up at the sky.

When Ji Xue pushed the door open following the address, this was the terrifying scene she saw.

"Sorry, I'm late..."

Her smile froze on her face, and she looked dazed: "... huh?"

She subconsciously wanted to retreat.

Unfortunately, it was too late!

Ji Jue, that dog, seeing a chance to shift the fire, jumped up, grabbed her, and pressed her into a chair: "Late, are you? Start with one!"

*Slap! *

With a sleight of hand that moved like a blur, before Ji Xue could react, a cup was already in her hand. Then, *clink*, *glug-glug-glug*, and immediately, everyone looked at her.

In this atmosphere, not drinking... wouldn't be right, would it...

One cup, just one cup, it shouldn't matter, right?

When her trembling little hand subconsciously raised and she took the first sip, everything that followed was like a mudslide.

Ten minutes later, Ji Liu, who had arrived slowly on his motorcycle, pushed the door open and saw his own younger sister with one foot on a chair and the other on the table, face flushed red, recounting the thrilling scene of fighting a mermaid.

"At that time, that fish was only a few centimeters away from Ji Liu's crotch, just a few centimeters... yeah."

Turning back to see Ji Liu, she immediately glared:

"--General, report your name at once!"

*Gulp... *

Under the gaze of those pairs of eyes, Ji Liu instinctively sensed something was wrong, swallowed his saliva, and took a step back: "Sorry, I went to the wrong place."

Unfortunately, it wasn't just Ji Jue here; his own younger sister was here too.

"Dog thief, don't run!"

*Whoosh*, Ji Xue flashed behind him, grabbed her own brother, and dragged him back. Then Ji Jue pried his mouth open and poured drink after drink into him, just like filling a thermos.

*Glug-glug* sounds even emerged.

Ji Liu tried to struggle, but his hands were pinned down by his sister, who had found a scapegoat. She laughed wildly: "Haha, he swallowed it, he swallowed it! How do you feel? How do you feel, huh?"

"Brother Shan, save me--"

Unfortunately, Brother Shan couldn't hear him; Brother Shan was still being pinned down to work overtime, having just sent an apology text.

Without the slightest sadness over Ji Liu's defeat, the next to arrive at the scene was Xu Guan, who was still completely unaware of his fate!

It should have been knowable, but who let Tong Hua, that Aether, be inside?

He hadn't sensed a single clue at all.

He walked in hurriedly with his head down, pushing the door open with a guilty expression: "Sorry, the parking spot was bad—holy crap... what are you guys doing?!"

Immediately, beside the wine table, pair after pair of red, glowing eyes looked over.

Silent grins.

The conspirators sneered.

And then, friends were no longer friends...

Whoever entered the door next was pinned down and made to drink, just like a bottomless pit. Even the waiter who went in to change the plates barely escaped their clutches.

After coming out, he told the manager: "Manager, you should call the police; the people inside are crazy, they're drinking Water of Life by the bottle!"

The manager looked at the visitor list for the night with a numb expression and sighed helplessly.

*Newcomers, huh? We're barely getting started. Go tell procurement: the stock of hard liquor is in danger. Don't care if it's red, white, or yellow, just send a truckload over first! *

When Tong Zhiwu finally rushed over and pushed the door open, he felt like he had traveled through time... Why was a group of lunatics dancing around the wine table?

Is this really the place I booked?

He took a step back, looked at the name of the private room, and began to sweat.

When he pushed the door open again, he heard Ji Jue's insane laughter: "Come on, Big Liu, do a trick for him!"

"Damn it, go, ignore him!"

Ji Liu, drinking until he only had a small vest left on his upper body, immediately slapped the table and did a backflip. The dice cup steadily caught the dice falling from the sky, slapped onto the table, and he shouted the count:

"Four sixes!!!"

Sixes my ass! You slapped it to pieces!

Xu Guan, bleary-eyed from drink, was just about to point and laugh when he suddenly felt something was wrong—the dice fragments leaking from between Ji Liu's fingers, and even, a glimmer of silver light among them...

Damn, how does this dice have a filling when it's broken?

Huh? Mercury?

But the next moment, the mercury vanished without a trace.

Eyes playing tricks?

"What's wrong, Old Xu?" Ji Jue leaned over with a look of concern: "What's the matter? Can't drink anymore? If you can't, go sit on the side; don't force yourself!"

"Bullshit!"

Xu Guan's face flushed red, tossing the minor matter to the back of his mind: "Open!"

Immediately, a new set of dice appeared under Ji Liu's hand as if by magic. The others roared with laughter. Xu Guan was furious again, picked up his cup, and *glug-glug-glug*, bottomed it out!

"Awesome! Awesome!"

Ji Jue clapped his little hands in praise, fanning the flames: "Much more refreshing than Big Liu!"

"That's right, he's useless!"

Xu Guan grinned, draping an arm over the potted plant next to him, and smiled. "I don't like to talk much, buddy. No worries, Team Leader Tong doesn't talk much either; you two must have a common language. Let's have one!"

"..."

Behind him, Tong Shan, who had a lot in common with plants, felt his eyelid twitching wildly.

Look at this chaotic dance; it had only been an hour, and the empty wine bottles in the corner of the room were piled up like a mountain, while the food on the table hadn't been touched at all!

"You guys..."

Just as he opened his mouth to speak, he was pinned to the chair by everyone, and a cup the size of a fist was filled and slapped in front of him: "Drink!"

Tong Shan sighed: "I..."

"Looking down on us with that little bit? Bring a basin!"

Ji Jue pulled a beer mug out of thin air and slapped it down: "Come on, fill it up for Brother Shan! Xiao An, bring another crate; let Brother Plant rinse his mouth!"

"You guys..."

Tong Shan sighed up at the sky, glanced at the malicious faces, suddenly laughed, threw off his uniform and tie, rolled up his sleeves, and looked down at his opponents.

"Come on!"

How many years had it been since he felt this relaxed and happy?

Tossing his complaints and bitterness to the back of his mind, he laughed, raised his glass, and drank it in one gulp.

As a result, in the end, no one managed to eat the food...

Two hours later, Xu Guan was lying on the sofa drooling, Big Liu had almost turned into a small fountain, and even Tong Hua, after being ruthlessly sanctioned by his own brother, was slumped on the table.

Wen Wen was three parts drunk, and only Old Zhang remained as calm as ever, refusing no one, grinning.

That's the one good thing about the Vortex system: pure alcohol can be drunk like water. If you really wanted to knock this old guy down, even poisoning him by the pound would be a struggle.

Although the constitution of the Chosen is exaggerated, there is also liquor specifically brewed for them, and the sales aren't low, especially with the Tong family's financial power; it was impossible to be short of this.

Ji Jue and Tong Shan were already complaining with their arms around each other's shoulders: "If you ask me, you're just too stubborn. If you're not happy doing it, just quit. Come to Outside Xinquan; I'll make you the Spring Master!"

"What the hell is a Spring Master?"

Tong Shan was amused: "In charge of the water faucet?"

"Not important. The main thing is, how can you stand that idiot Xu Chaoxian?" Ji Jue curled his lip and made a throat-slitting gesture: "If it were me, I would have long ago... you know, right?"

"Who wouldn't?"

Tong Shan sighed, shrugged, raised another glass of wine, and drank it in one gulp: "Sometimes I want to hack him to death too, but it's useless, you know?"

In every sense, it was useless.

Not to mention whether this dog could be killed or not, as a 'Saint' recognized and approved by the Heaven Overseer, an existence inheriting the holy name of 'Solomon', unless he died of natural causes, it was absolutely impossible for him to die in an accident.

This authority was bestowed by the Heaven Overseer; even other existences who were also Saints could not strip it away. In fact, they couldn't even strip it away; they had to maintain his survival instead. After all, the existence of a 'Saint' could be seen as an extension of the Heaven Overseer. If Xu Chaoxian were really removed, it would instead damage the Heaven Overseer's limited spirituality.

Therefore, Xu Chaoxian was able to retreat unscathed from his position in the Ministry of Internal Affairs during the last reshuffle. His opponents could only throw him out of the Central City, wipe his records and history, and use his limited life to restrict him, making him a mere ornament.

And Xu Chaoxian, living up to expectations, became an ornament.

Thoroughly so.

Turning into the pathetic mess he was today, one that even dogs would shake their heads at.

But he couldn't possibly tell Ji Jue all the inside stories; even if they were close, it wouldn't work. Telling him wouldn't benefit anyone. He could only sigh with disgust amidst the surge of alcohol: "Sometimes I also think he's had it pretty hard."

"No matter how hard he has it, can it be harder than the scavengers outside the city?" Ji Jue sneered: "Is it harder than the person who had nothing today and came to assassinate him?"

Scavengers all know that if there's a chance, the opportunity to cast off the past and live a clean life is incredibly rare.

But Xu Chaoxian doesn't choose it. Isn't he just getting what he deserves?

Perhaps there's a reason for his rot, but rotting is one thing, raking in money is another, occupying a position without doing the work is one thing, and letting the situation deteriorate to this point is yet another.

Ultimately, this is what he chose himself.

Why shouldn't people be allowed to hate him?

Besides, Ji Jue didn't pull out Panying and Chunjun to hack off his dog head, did he?

Tong Shan shook his head: "If Xu Chaoxian dies, things won't get better. Who knows what kind of thing will replace him? Like the one in Chaocheng? Taxes collected fifty years into the future..."

The Viceroys sent by the Central City, one by one, are all pieces of trash. When they are near the Central City, they at least care about their reputation, but the further away they are, the uglier their faces become.

For the sake of political achievements, they stop at nothing.

By comparison, Xu Chaoxian is just an ornament. At the very least, life in Yacheng and Haizhou is relatively easier. This is the only benefit besides being obedient.

When the Federation was founded, among the taxes set by the Heaven Overseer for each city, the most important was the Spiritual Quality Tax, used to maintain the operation of the Heaven Overseer's Law.

But over the past four hundred years, with the changes in the situation and all sorts of messy conditions, the original tax of one in twenty has almost reached one in ten.

Yet, in order to show their own ability, the local Viceroys only ever increase it; it's absolutely impossible for it to be lower, only more, never less.

Xu Chaoxian, while rotting, gave up on political achievements and kept the Spiritual Quality Tax at one in thirteen, loosening the reins on Yacheng's neck just a little bit. Everyone is actually already thanking the heavens for that.

As for more...

It's really hard to expect.

Just be a good ornament and don't make things worse.

"Have another cup!" Ji Jue raised his glass.

Tong Shan laughed: "What's the reason for this one? Wishing me a smooth journey, wishing me a bright future, wishing me a steady promotion... we've already wished for all of those, right?"

"Hmm, then let's wish for the disease to defeat Xu Chaoxian soon."

Ji Jue also laughed: "Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

*Slap! *

Drank it in one gulp.

"When are you leaving?"

"The day after tomorrow, first thing in the morning. Don't come to see me off; it's inconvenient."

Being transferred from the head of a department at the Yacheng Security Bureau to become a supervisor at the Action Division in the Central Lands seems like a lateral transfer, with the same rank, but in reality, it's a qualitative leap.

You must know that the Yacheng Anquan Bureau is, after all, merely a local agency, whereas the Central Plains Action Division is a direct subordinate department of the Lianbangzuigaofa Academy's Central City Headquarters. Furthermore, the material power and resources it can mobilize are simply not in the same league as its current position.

On the surface, it is an Action Division, but in reality, it is the Central Plains branch of the Anquan Force. Moreover, behind the scenes, there are unknown identities and responsibilities involved. From now on, Brother Plant can be considered the same as a commander of a special agent department in a movie, able to sit in a tent and remotely control the various operations of the agents.

Whatever achievements are made can easily reach the ears of the authorities, and promotions will be fast and smooth.

If everything goes smoothly...

One can tell with their heels that the water behind this is deeper than usual. Involving such vast power and resources, given Tian Yuan's habits, I fear they will first have an internal conflict and fight until they break each other's heads.

Moreover, in that hellhole of the Central Plains, all sorts of monsters and demons pop up like leeks, one batch after another.

The Bai Bang has been destroyed for so many years, yet the Bai Wangs are killed one after another without end, and now they are even about to restore their nation, once again arm-wrestling with the Chi Bang.

After the hardline hawk Regent in the Empire took power, the foreign policy style has once again become aggressive; if things go wrong, it will be another proxy war...

"Stay safe."

Ji Jue patted his shoulder, hesitated for a moment, and said in a low voice: "Do you want me to get you something potent?"

"Sure."

Tong Shan nodded decisively, without hesitation: "However, there is no need to worry about safety."

He paused, and as his spiritual quality circulated, his aura appeared for an instant, only to quickly dissipate and be sealed again.

Only the smile hooked at the corner of his mouth became increasingly cheerful.

Ji Jue froze in place.

Feeling that surging aura for that instant, he was stunned.

Damn it, I haven't even shown off to you yet, why are you showing off to me first?

Who exactly is the dog between the two of us!

More importantly, the aura Tong Plant just displayed, without a doubt, had already touched the true essence of transcendence, and it carried the characteristics of an Encircled Realm, capable of transforming everything around him into his own domain at any time...

"How did you transcend?!"

Ji Jue was shocked: "When?"

Hearing this, Tong Shan sipped his strong liquor and sighed with emotion: "Last time when you were causing trouble, I got some inspiration. I broke through while working overtime on the high seas a few days ago."

"What last time?" Ji Jue asked blankly, "Which time?"

"..."

For a moment, the entire private room fell into silence once again.

Now, it was Tong Shan's turn to be stunned; he looked over, shocked and speechless:

"What other trouble did you cause?"

"..."

Ji Jue lowered his head awkwardly and coughed twice: "Well, not much, just, a few small things here and there."

Tong Shan didn't want to talk anymore.

He just treated it as hearing a dog bark and rolled his eyes.

Drink!

I broke through to transcendence and got transferred to the Central Plains, you caused trouble after the Heavenly Artisan and then caused new trouble; we all have a bright future, okay?

"Right, this is for you."

After a long drinking session until dawn, when they were finally wrapping up, Ji Jue took something out of his pocket and threw it into Tong Shan's hand.

"Work badge?"

Tong Shan was stunned for a moment, squinted his eyes to look closer, and was amused: "Coastal Industry Central Plains Branch Agent... Manager? What the hell is this? Are you asking me to work for you and expand business?"

"Don't worry, I don't need you; this branch company doesn't have a single person besides you, it's just an empty shell. If you have time, you can help me move some goods."

Ji Jue waved his hand indifferently, paused, and told him: "If there are any... small, inconvenient things to do, take this and find the Hometown Knights, they will definitely handle it beautifully for you.

Of course, the money must be paid as agreed!"

Tong Shan flipped the badge over, touched the back, and immediately sensed the secret spiritual quality circuit inside; it seemed to be some kind of authentication credential.

Since Ji Jue could take it out, it meant it definitely wasn't an ordinary membership card.

If he could say he would handle it beautifully, it would definitely be beautiful.

But this path is a bit too wild, isn't it?

"Perfect."

Tong Shan laughed and tucked it into his pocket: "Thanks a lot."

"Alright, go, go."

Ji Jue waved his hand one last time, "Wish you smooth sailing in the Central Plains, Manager Tong!"

"That doesn't sound like a good term."

Tong Shan sighed lightly, turned back, looked at those smiling faces on the street corner for a long time, finally laughed, and waved:

"Everyone, goodbye."

Just like that, taking Tong Hua, he boarded the departing car.

And disappeared from sight.

"He's gone," Old Zhang sighed.

"He's gone," Ji Jue sighed lightly.

"He's gone," Xiao An repeated instinctively, half-understanding.

Wen Wen leaned on her motorcycle, smoking, and after a long while, sighed sincerely: "It's really good."

"Hmm? Promotion and raise?" Ji Jue laughed: "Plant is gone, Sister Wen, do you plan to make some progress? I support you, I will definitely vote for you!"

"... And then kill Xu Chaoxian on the first day of taking office?"

Wen Wen thought about it and was amused by herself; she waved her hand and didn't say anything else: "I'll go first."

"See you."

She put on her helmet and started the motorcycle.

Amidst the roar, the motorcycle merged into the heavy traffic, weaving nimbly and driving forward.

In the wind blowing against her face, Wen Wen began to become absent-minded.

The motorcycle drove across the overpass, and she turned her head to look at the sparkling light on the distant sea surface.

Only after coming back to her senses did she realize that she had already become accustomed to such scenery.

She had thought about changing her environment, going to a place where no one knew her, turning over a new leaf, and starting over. As a result, so many years have passed, and yet it is still...

Old habits die hard.

Suddenly, she wanted to drink.

Immediately after, the sound of a phone call suddenly rang, and it connected.

Lu Lu Yingyue's voice came through.

"Hello?"

"I'm here," Wen Wen said, "You should have seen the email from a few days ago, right?"

"I was going to wait until the afternoon to call you, but thinking about it, you probably haven't slept yet, did I disturb you?" The voice on the other end of the phone laughed, "Sorry, I just saw it now."

Wen Wen subconsciously twisted the throttle and accelerated: "What do you think?"

"What do I think?" Lu Lu Yingyue acted as if she didn't understand.

"My email, the resignation letter," Wen Wen said: "Even if it's just going through the motions, isn't it a bit too slow?"

"I called you just to talk about this."

Lu Lu Yingyue paused and sighed lightly: "Sorry, I cannot approve it. As for the reasons, there are many; if you like, I can find as many as you want."

Wen Wen frowned: "That's not what we agreed on!"

"Indeed, we agreed back then to use Yacheng as a foothold, giving you the widest possible range of authority to act, coming and going freely," Lu Lu Yingyue sighed: "But the key is, are you really free, Xiao Wen?"

"Governor Lu, can we not play word games?" Wen Wen said irritably: "How am I not free? I'm incredibly free; I'll be even freer after I resign, okay?"

"And then? Dive back into your original path?" Lu Lu Yingyue asked back: "You wrote so much in your resignation reason, why didn't you write the most important one?"

"..." Wen Wen was silent.

"Because of Wen Zheng, right?"

Lu Lu Yingyue said: "You heard the news about that guy, and then anger rose from your heart, and you couldn't wait to draw your blade, to have a showdown, to win cleanly and die painlessly?

But will that guy really do as you wish? As the Holy Fool known as the Guide, isn't his greatest strength subtle guidance and control?

Without the constraints of the Tian Du Law, how are you going to suppress the nature you loathe and resist? Or are you planning to step onto the 'right path' he has designated for you?"

When Wen Wen subconsciously twisted her wrist, she realized the throttle was already at the limit.

She retorted: "Can't it be because I can't stand that dog Xu Chaoxian, and I want to crush his dog head and don't want to work anymore?"

"Unfortunately, no," Lu Lu Yingyue shook her head: "If it were you, when you were saying this to me, Xu Chaoxian's head would have already been crushed."

Wen Wen had nothing more to say.

"So, just consider that I broke the agreement... Xiao Wen, I cannot let you walk onto a divergent path and repeat the same mistakes. Throwing away burdens and constraints is indeed beautiful, but where exactly are you going? Are the things you discarded really worthless?

Can you really move forward without any scruples, never looking back?"

Wen Wen was silent.

The phone call hung up at some point.

The motorcycle roared, weaving through the traffic during rush hour, brushing past trucks and constantly overtaking, its speed getting faster and faster, yet it couldn't find a direction, just instinctively moving forward, numbly continuing.

Until the fuel tank ran dry and the overheated metal groaned, the motorcycle stopped on the side of the road.

When she looked up at the front, she realized that, unknowingly, she had actually driven back to the North Mountain District branch office. On the street outside the shopping mall, people were coming and going.

Wen Wen took off her helmet, raised her head, and stared at the sunlight reflected on the glass curtain wall of the office building.

After a long while, she sighed silently.

She cursed a dirty word.

In the crowd, the girl in the white dress watched her quietly, and after a long while, turned and left.