Chapter 164: Demonstrating Strength

Having made arrangements in his mind, Jiang Cheng felt a little better.

Therefore, these money can't be used unless it's actually in hand, but it's also preparation for the future.

After all, just having a Bid Token to enter the Black Market isn't enough; he also needs money.

As for reaching Level 3 Original Force Warrior.

In the next two or three days, he will be able to breakthrough to Second Level.

With Spiritual Power increased tenfold, the time from Second Level to Level 3 will also be shortened by several times.

If it really doesn't work, he can earn more money later, buy some Spirit Nourishing Pills, and speed up the process.

After checking and confirming there was no problem, Jiang Cheng opened the door and walked down the stairs.

He walked along the wall, seeming to be taking a stroll.

During that time he also encountered people; they glanced at Jiang Cheng twice and then looked away.

A fat man; strolling is quite reasonable.

He was wearing a mask, which was a bit odd.

Finding a corner and noticing no one around, Jiang Cheng sprang up, grabbed the wall edge with both hands, and climbed up.

He chose the side of the wall that didn't face the street.

He looked around.

Sure enough, there were hardly any people.

He leapt down.

It was noon, so Jiang Cheng headed straight home.

Halfway there, he found an empty corner, took off his coat, wrapped his tote bag, removed his mask, and, like an ordinary person, kept walking.

When he reached the courtyard entrance, Chen Sao and the others had already packed up, clearly having gone home for a meal.

The two security guards at the entrance, seeing Jiang Cheng return, greeted him warmly and, in a self‑praising way, said they had been watching all morning.

Jiang Cheng generously gave them verbal praise.

As for a tangible reward, he'll talk about it in a few days.

Just two or three packs of cigarettes—it's barely a drop of water for him, right?

When he got home, indeed Grandma and the others were having a meal.

Seeing Jiang Cheng return, the three of them were quite surprised.

"Xiao Cheng, have you eaten? If not, Chen Sao will serve you a bowl?" Chen Sao asked while standing up.

"Not yet."

"Then I'll serve you."

"Okay, thank you, Chen Sao."

Jiang Cheng smiled, entered the house, and hid the bag.

But in his room, Chen Sao comes to clean every day; over time, she might discover it someday.

Maybe later he should buy a safe to store it?

He could put the household money inside; after Grandma and Chen Sao see it, they'd know it's valuable and wouldn't pry.

After taking some money from it, Jiang Cheng returned to the living room to eat.

While eating, Jiang Cheng brought up what he had learned from the entrance guard.

Chen Sao's eyes widened.

"Xiao Cheng, you mean that woman is a scammer?"

"Very likely."

Jiang Cheng said, "According to the guard, five thousand a month, nine‑to‑six schedule, four days off each month—it's impossible. Many people were scammed and vanished, and none have been found to this day."

Chen Sao and Lin Yue instantly felt a chill of fear.

So that fashionably dressed, aristocratic woman is a villain? All those flowery words just to sell them elsewhere? "Mom, I think that person is really a bad person."

"She saw we wouldn't agree, then handed us 1,000 yuan saying it was an advance salary. I thought it was strange—could anyone be that generous? We hadn't done anything, yet there was 1,000 yuan." "Yes."

Chen Sao realized, "That was probably a small perk they gave us just to lure us to go with her, but luckily we didn't agree at the time."

"Yes, how scary."

Lin Yue nodded repeatedly.

He hadn't expected Outer City District to be so dangerous; the key is that this danger isn't as obvious as in Poor District—one can't see the ill intent at a glance.

That woman seemed friendly, but in fact harbored malicious intent.

"Xiao Cheng, it's thanks to you; if you hadn't warned us yesterday, we probably would have been duped," Chen Sao said, her eyes filled with both gratitude and relief.

"It's nothing."

Jiang Cheng smiled faintly, "I just had an instinct that nothing that good exists under the heavens; reality proved it. It seems Outer City District isn't as safe as we imagined."

"Indeed."

Chen Sao's expression turned complex.

She and her daughter only wanted to earn a bit of money, not to keep taking advantage of Jiang Cheng, but after just two or three days out, they got into this mess.

Can they still set up a stall at the entrance after this?

"Chen Sao, you don't need to worry too much."

Jiang Cheng comforted, "These incidents do exist, but they're rare; as long as you avoid sparsely populated places and don't go out at night, you can mostly avoid them."

I've already instructed the two guard brothers at the entrance; if you set up a stall there and something happens, just call them, and if they can't handle it they'll call me.

"So that's it."

The two suddenly understood.

No wonder those two security guards kept staring at them.

They even thought the other was some bad person, and when they came back they walked around.

"Yeah, don't put any pressure on yourselves; you don't need to worry about the money, just treat it as something for you to handle."

Saying that, Jiang Cheng took a stack of cash from his pocket and placed it on the table.

The three people at the table were instantly stunned.

"If it's not enough, I still have more."

"That's enough, that's enough," Chen Sao didn't know what to say, "Xiao Cheng, you barely used the money I gave you last time, yet you give so much again—how could you use it? You must have many places that need money, so quickly take it back."

"Yeah, Xiao Cheng, how could we possibly need so much money?" the Old Man also said, his eyes full of satisfaction.

Jiang Cheng can make money, he was naturally happy.

Now his only wish left is to quickly hold his grandson.

"It's fine, I still have some over there; I took this money out just to tell Chen Sao and Xiao Yue that you shouldn't feel any psychological pressure. You help me take good care of Grandma; I'm deeply grateful, and giving you wages isn't a pressure for me."

Jiang Cheng said very calmly.

Because it is indeed so.

"No need, no need."

The two quickly refused.

"Xiao Cheng, we believe in your ability, but you can skip giving us wages; taking care of Grandma is something we should do." Chen Sao said with a helpless smile.

"Yeah, Jiang Cheng, even if we were beaten to death we wouldn't dare ask for your wages." Lin Yue also quickly shook her head.

"Whatever you like, but it's still the same advice: don't feel any pressure about making money; even if you sit at the gate of the community all day and have few customers, that's fine—just think of it as getting out more, clearing your mind."

"Got it."

The two exchanged a glance, seeing that Jiang Cheng truly meant it, not just polite talk.

Moved, the guilt in his heart also eased considerably.

(End of Chapter)