Chapter 23: Reflection and Harvest (Two-in-One)

A door apart, inside the room a cruel murder was underway, manic and stifled bitter laughter echoing.

The stairwell was terrifyingly quiet, the neighbors as if all deaf, sleeping soundly, not one awakened, nor anyone opening the door to peek out.

Strange, isn't it~

No, not strange at all.

This is the survival wisdom of Lower City people; residents of the Di Hu Qu understand this even better, besides, the villains occupying the second-floor household are scum of the Blue Wolf Gang, extremely evil, and even an extra glance could bring trouble.

3.25, 05:11.

This was the time displayed on the phone after recording the video.

"What's your phone number? I'll send you the video as a keepsake." Seeing the corpse's entire neck crushed, leaving only a layer of skin, Feng Mu said cheerfully.

Ma Wei killed Zhang Tong, and his whole soul seemed to have undergone a transformation.

"Boss, don't mess with me, just keep it for yourself. If you send it to me, I'll have nightmares at night." Ma Wei wiped his face, with a somewhat nervous expression.

Although he still greatly feared the black-masked man before him, suddenly he wasn't trembling so much, and a morbid desire to express himself arose in his heart.

Ma Wei wasn't good at analyzing his own psychological changes, but Feng Mu thought for a moment and roughly understood what was going on.

"Because shifting from an adversarial relationship to submission and being an accomplice relaxed his mindset, and because he killed his close Big Brother, he started to become morbidly dark."

"This way, the eye planted inside the Blue Wolf Gang is established, and who knows, it might be more useful than I imagined."

"Of course, more vigilance is needed, after all, a darkened pawn is prone to backlash."

Feng Mu put his phone in his pocket, deciding to back up the video after returning home; this was the other party's fatal weakness, and he had to keep it safe.

10 minutes later.

Feng Mu sat on the sofa, Ma Wei knelt beside him, skillfully stopping the bleeding and treating his wounds, medicine applied and gauze wrapped on his chest and wrists.

In the past, Ma Wei treated Tong Ge this way.

Feng Mu was expressionless, glancing at the still-warm corpse on the floor, the latter's pale eyes glaring angrily.

It felt like a husband before and a crime after—no, wrong, it was the uncanny déjà vu of a widow...

The medicine powder was secretly made by the Blue Wolf Gang, with excellent hemostatic effect; wrapped in gauze and covered by clothes, nothing unusual could be seen from the outside.

Feng Mu thus suppressed the evil thought of drinking Ma Wei's blood to heal his injuries.

At Ma Wei's place, he had already revealed a bit of the power of 【Iron Eater】 and 【Blood Frenzy】, although the other party might not understand the intricacies. But just in case, 【Grand Feast】 was his trump card, and he had to keep a hand hidden.

Ma Wei subconsciously touched his neck; not knowing if it was an illusion, he always felt the other's gaze would occasionally glance at his neck, making the back of his neck run cold.

Ma Wei put away the medical kit and asked tentatively, "Boss, is there anything you need me to do?"

"Straightforward, I like smart people." Feng Mu pulled his mask, covering his face more tightly, and smiled, "I heard the Blue Wolf Gang has been going crazy lately with a list, looking for someone?"

Ma Wei couldn't guess whether Feng Mu was asking casually or came specifically for this matter.

He secretly raised his head, their lines of sight meeting for an instant; the latter's eyes still held a trace of blood, showing no emotional fluctuation.

Ma Wei's heart sank, and he told all he knew: "The gang suspects Zheng Hang is dead, and the killer is a student from No. 47 Middle School, so they're investigating."

Ma Wei didn't explain who Zheng Hang was, as that would make him look stupid.

Because, regardless of the other party's identity or purpose, since they asked about this matter, they couldn't possibly know nothing at all.

Feng Mu glanced at the not-yet-dried corpse on the floor, then glanced at the lizard in the fish tank, and finally looked at the stack of A4 paper used as a plate mat on the table.

Ma Wei hurriedly moved the plate, pulled out the list, wiped the oil stains off it with a tissue, and then handed it to Feng Mu.

He said: "I heard Tong Ge say the list was circled by Second-in-command Ma Bin, also known as Bin Ge; the gang copied many copies, and the underlings have mostly gone out to check them one by one."

He added: "Tong Ge didn't focus on this matter because Bin Ge assigned him something more important."

Feng Mu took the list, a thick stack of about twenty pages, each page listing about ten names, with detailed registration of name, photo, grades, home address, and parents' occupations and Citizen Grades.

Feng Mu flipped through the pages, his gaze not lingering on any page, as if just casually flipping.

Actually, he quickly locked onto his own position, the fifth name on the sixth page.

Feng Mu: Male

One-inch photo: Feng Mu. jpg

Age: 17

Bone Quality: 49 (Entrance Test)

Grades: Liberal Arts 521, Martial Dao 236, Total 757. (Senior Year First Mock)

Home Address: Ninth District xxx Street xxx Residential Compound

Current Status: Gave up the exam, graduated early. (Time Year 233, 3.18)

Citizen Grade: Blank Citizen

Father: Feng Ju

Occupation: Patrol Bureau Constable

Citizen Grade: D

Mother: Wang Xiuli

Occupation: None

Citizen Grade: Blank Citizen

Younger Sister: Feng Yuhuai

Occupation: Class 1, Grade 10 Student

Citizen Grade: Unfiled, has not yet taken the College Entrance Exam.

"This must be first-hand information from the school archives; all information is accurate and the timeliness is very fresh." Feng Mu's heart turned ice-cold.

He flipped through while casually saying: "Why does the Blue Wolf Gang think the killer is in the school?"

Ma Wei said what he knew: "Bin Ge inferred that the homicide happened in the school warehouse, there were traces of the Curse of the Evil Sacrifice inside, and the sacrificed person was also a student of this school; whether the real culprit acted on impulse or planned it long ago, it was most likely done by a student of this school."

Feng Mu asked knowingly: "Sacrifice?"

Ma Wei: "The gang's underlings photographed the Patrol Bureau transporting the shattered altar stones of the Curse of the Evil Sacrifice, so Bin Ge concluded that Zheng Hang didn't flee, but died, was sacrificed, and his corpse was disposed of by the real culprit."

The expression on Feng Mu's face beneath his mask turned slightly ugly; his disguise tricks had fooled the Patrol Bureau, yet were seen through at a glance by the Green Wolf Gang.

Ma Bin, the Green Wolf Gang's second-in-command — he committed this name to memory.

Feng Mu closed the list and gave a cold laugh: "How was this list circled out?"

Ma Wei shook his head: "Don't know. The list was circled out by Bin Ge alone; the gang's underlings just listen and do as they're told."

Feng Mu felt a slight disappointment in his heart, but it was within his expectations — he hadn't hoped that grabbing some random Green Wolf Gang underling would yield all the details.

That's why he had to plant a surveillance eye first~

Seeing Feng Mu ponder in silence, cold sweat seeped out on Ma Wei's back; he hurriedly remedied: "Give me some time, I can find it out."

Feng Mu extended one finger: "One day. By tomorrow I'll want the answer."

Ma Wei's expression shifted; although Bin Ge valued Tong Ge and always showed himself as considerate and gentle, he knew very well that Bin Ge was suspicious and sinister.

Many inside the gang would rather take a beating from Zheng Laoda than let Bin Ge set his sights on them.

Feng Mu frowned: "Whether the video gets sent to you or to this Bin Ge of yours depends on the value you can demonstrate. Starting today, your life is on a clockwork spring — you'd better learn to race against time. Understand?"

Ma Wei nodded fiercely: "Understood."

After threatening him, Feng Mu tossed out a bit of bait: "I'm not afraid to tell you — my goal is to bring down the Green Wolf Gang, or kill Zheng Si."

"What you need to do is keep a tight watch on any stirrings in the Green Wolf Gang, and carry out the tasks I assign."

"Don't just nod. Don't become a mere marionette in my hands — you must show initiative and help me accomplish this as soon as possible."

"The sooner I achieve my goal, the less leverage the video has over you, and the sooner you regain your freedom. Isn't that right?"

Ma Wei's face cycled through gloom and brightness; he felt the pie the other party dangled really had to be eaten with one's life — too damn thought-provoking.

"Dispose of the corpse yourself. Keep your phone on 24 hours a day — I'll contact you." Feng Mu spoke, then also made Ma Wei hand over all the cash in the room.

Ma Wei watched the limp-legged figure depart, then bent down, picked up the broken dagger from the ground, and stabbed himself fiercely in the stomach twice.

Ma Wei waited until the blood on his stomach soaked through his trousers, until his head grew a bit dizzy, then stumbled out the door and sprinted into the night, tearing his throat with heart-rending howls.

Feng Mu hadn't gone far when he heard the miserable shrieks tearing through the night.

His heart gave a violent thump; he cursed "Holy shit" inwardly and immediately broke into a run, bolting out of the Di Hu Qu in a flash.

He ran all the way home; on the road he ran into a few drunks, but with his mask and hat on he wasn't worried about being recognized.

He entered the stairwell, steadied his breathing, and glanced at the time.

06:24.

One hour remained until the Upper City lights came on and illuminated the world.

Feng Mu pressed his ear to the door frame; confirming the room inside was very quiet, he only then removed his mask, walked softly back to the bedroom, his palm pausing slightly on the doorknob, and felt out an intact pencil lead.

He let out a long breath of turbid air, fingertips exerting slight force — the pencil lead was crushed into powder that fell to the ground as ash.

He took off the black clothes, changed into a set of clean clothes, and Feng Mu sat at the desk, turned on the desk lamp, and on paper reviewed and reflected on tonight's operation.

Plant surveillance eye (√)

Identity not exposed (√)

Confirm list (√)

Confirm Green Wolf Gang's suspicious attitude (√) — believe Zheng Hang died from the Curse of the Evil Sacrifice, culprit is an internal student

Deduce logic of suspicion scope (?) — ask for results tomorrow?

Confirm who the list came from (√) — Green Wolf Gang second-in-command Ma Bin

Green Wolf Gang basic organizational structure (√)

Disguised as sleeping at home, never went out (√) — pencil lead on doorknob intact and undamaged.

Safe return (√)

In terms of results, the operation counts as a great success; the basic objectives have all been achieved. The slight imperfection is that the deduction logic of the suspicion scope is not yet clear, but tomorrow he can collect Ma Wei's homework.

Judging by the marks on the paper, if graded like a test paper, he could basically score 90+.

"But the problems exposed in the actual process were extraordinarily dangerous." Feng Mu still felt lingering fear recalling it now. "Almost got taken away by a full combo."

Sneak attack (half-failed, 50 points)

Combat experience (a complete mess, 0 points)

Technique skill (too miserable to watch, 0 points)

Guts, ferocity (cowardly at first then crazy; fortunately the death's-door counterattack succeeded, 20 points)

Comprehensive average score: 17.5 points

Feng Mu gave himself a combat score; his face darkened to the extreme.

"My survival in this fight relied entirely on the golden finger cheating; otherwise the one dead would be me." Feng Mu could deceive Ma Wei — he had genuinely knocked down Zhang Tong in a hard clash.

But he couldn't deceive himself; otherwise next time against an even stronger opponent, the one dead would be him.

"Combat can't forever rely on luck, on exploding at the last sliver of health to reverse-kill; the golden finger isn't a 'guaranteed pass' death-free gold medal — he still has to harden his own fundamentals."

Feng Mu realized that just hammering the Body Forging Exercise was far from enough.

"My shortcomings are too obvious — attack methods are scarce, on-the-spot adaptation is stiff; these shortcomings all have to be filled in."

Feng Mu calculated in his heart — he couldn't pin all his hopes on the Iron Eater; that would be too specialized, easy for someone to seize the weakness and beat him to death.

"In a life-and-death struggle, the one with the longer strengths often wins the fight, but the one with fewer shortcomings is the one who lives long!"

Although Feng Mu has the Blood Frenzy divine technique, he truly doesn't want to stage another sliver-of-health reverse-kill — it's too stimulating; his heart can't take it.

Most importantly, a person isn't a game character — health doesn't necessarily drop bar by bar; it's more likely sudden death, health bar zeroed out.

Just like today — a hole in the wrist, a knife in the chest; theoretically he lost 10% blood, but the actual situation was he was thoroughly in a near-death residual-health state.

"So, my final trade-blows-for-life with Zhang Tong — that madness might not have been me erupting with ferocity at death's door; it could also be Blood Frenzy giving me a courage buff?"

Feng Mu further associated to when he was coercing Ma Wei — he almost displayed a villainous mug that would overflow the screen — and suddenly realized something was wrong.

"I even had Ma Wei smile and pose for the camera?"

"That's not something I'd normally do. I may be a bit cold and selfish, but I'm fundamentally good-natured, only wanting to protect myself—I'd never go so far as to be so sickly insane."

"Right, back then I was absolutely not my true self, but me with my reason polluted by 【Blood Frenzy】."

"Right, from now on, the sick acts committed under 【Blood Frenzy】 are absolutely not my true intent and cannot be counted against me."

"I don't need to doubt my own nature because of this, nor feel guilt, depression, anxiety, corruption... mm-hmm, yes, that's it."

Feng Mu silently repeated those words several times, using this method to soothe and purify his frightened spirit, and gave himself a psychological preventive shot in advance.

People in this world generally neglect mental health, so many harbor resentment in their chests and mutate into E Corpses after death~

As a transmigrator, Feng Mu was undoubtedly at the forefront of this era in preventing mental illness.

With the summary and reflection complete, finally came the joyful moment of organizing the harvest.

Feng Mu took out a black bag and spread it on the table.

A stack of cash, counted to be 12400 yuan.

Two gold bars, value unclear.

All relics of Zhang Tong; it's normal for a gangster's home to hide gold bars and cash. Feng Mu killed someone and inherited the other's property—Ma Wei couldn't find any fault with that.

A blood-stained paper book—Crane Claw Technique, stripped from Zhang Tong's body, commonly called a violent secret manual.

A spring knife, actively offered by Ma Wei. One has to say this person is quite talented at adjusting his own identity, and his skill at reading people and situations is maxed out.

This spring knife could just replace the damaged Folding Dagger, with workmanship and feel clearly much better—a weapon upgrade, from street-stall goods to online-shopping goods.

Finally,

it was...

【Detection: Player first completed room-entry murder, looting corpses for gold coins, coercing others into crime, and other acts highly consistent with their own identity.】

【Inheritance Degree increased; this time Inheritance Degree rose to 2%】

【Current reward issued, reward delivered!】

【Wishing the player an enjoyable game...】

Please vote for tickets, please keep reading, please reward!!!

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Chapter End