Chapter 31: The Wailing of the Departed Spirits

They say that, but how can I know exactly when they're going to the company?

Jinli Jianwu lay flat on the chair, gazing at the overcast sky and muttering.

His passion and dedication for rock music are second to none.

But now even Jiang Xia, who doesn't play rock, has been chosen, making Jinli Jianwu feel the world is terribly unfair.

Indignant, Jinli Jianwu shot up, grabbed the guitar from its case, slung it over his waist, and started to vent his inner anguish through music.

But he didn't notice a pair of eyes filled with longing staring at him—or rather, at the passionate dedication he showed for his dream.

"That's amazing!" Miyake Tetsu exclaimed, then randomly snapped a photo of Jinli Jianwu playing at that moment with his phone.

Jiang Xia stopped his motorcycle, took off his helmet, and said sternly, "This Tooth Blood Vampire is absolutely unforgivable."

But compared to the now passionate and confident Jinli Jianwu, that Tooth Blood Vampire that lures youths to fulfill their dreams before feeding on them seems utterly unforgivable.

"Wow, there's an ice pop! Quick, give me one!" Jinli Jianwu exclaimed.

Sensing the atmosphere here, Jiang Xia's disgust instantly peaked.

When Jinli Jianwu left to continue working, Hong Du finally couldn't hold back and spoke to Jiang Xia:

"We can't let this Tooth Blood Vampire continue; we must kill him as soon as possible."

Still, Jiang Xia greatly admires those who have dreams.

"Go ask him yourself—he's already seen you." Jiang Xia said.

This place is visible at a glance, but Jiang Xia merely lowered his presence to avoid that idiot coming to cause trouble, leaving it to Hong Du to deal with him.

"Here, the last one." Jiang Xia opened the remaining red bag in his hand and handed him the ice pop.

"As expected of my friend, you even prepared an ice pop."

In the sky thick with dark clouds, the scorching sunlight quietly pierced through the gloomy clouds,

The originally dim sky began to brighten gradually; as the sun rose, the sky's color shifted from dull gray to bright golden yellow,

"Ah, ah, ah! Why is this sand so heavy?" Jinli Jianwu roared.

Jinli Jianwu shook off the yellow hair that could cover half his face, emerging from the passage.

"Mr. Jiang Xia, I'm here." At that moment, Hong Du came running from beside the sun, out of breath.

The hunting ground of this Tooth Blood Vampire is fixed; that shop is the market where it picks its prey—just wait and catch.

What met Jiang Xia and Hong Du's eyes was a long flight of steps shrouded in dim light, slightly smaller than Hong Du's room, but this is the best route directly to the Rhino Ya Xuegui Lair.

The sun set, dusk passed, the sky gradually grew dim, streetlights flickered on, and their light sprinkled the streets, leaving only mottled shadows.

"This is the place; I can feel the wailing of the restless spirits here."

Looking at him wearing his blackened work clothes, a discolored towel draped over his neck, Jinli Jianwu was filthy from head to toe.

Boom—

"Who would be friends with you, you idiot!" Jiang Xia fumed inwardly.

Jiang Xia and Hong Du heard Jinli Jianwu's words, exchanged a silent glance, but neither spoke.

"Hmm, Mr. Jiang Xia." Hong Du said.

A burst of engine noise rose instantly, and bright light burst from the street.

They were talking in front of Jiang Xia for ages, yet they didn't notice he was listening nearby.

Jinli Jianwu eagerly dug in, as if his angry walkout yesterday had never happened.

A figure slowly materialized in the air—none other than Jiang Xia, who had been here all along.

But a loud roar shattered the quiet night.

"Thank you, Mr. Jiang Xia." Hong Du happily took a bite, looking left and right: "Where's Jianwu?"

"Here you go." Jiang Xia casually handed the ice pop he'd just bought to Hong Du.

Jiang Xia and Hong Du each rode a motorcycle, speeding toward Miyake Tetsu's company; compared to Hong Du's bright red,

Jiang Xia's motorcycle leaned more toward black; without those bright lights, its jet‑black silhouette would be invisible.

As expected, the moment Hong Du arrived, Jinli Jianwu spotted him at a glance.

The blazing sun relentlessly baked the scorching earth, and its fierce light distorted the air here.

Watching Jinli Jianwu work hard, Jiang Xia had an ice pop between his lips, sitting in a shade not far from the construction site, observing Jinli Jianwu.

But now Jinli Jianwu is feeling a bit uneasy.

"Hmm, the address is on the business card; let's check it out tonight." Jiang Xia said to Hong Du, who wore a murderous expression.

Jinli Jianwu continued:

"He said that if I want to debut, I need some funding. So I'll definitely work hard to save money, break into the professional circle, and I won't accept defeat."

"He really is Jianwu—what's he doing here? Weren't they saying the Tooth Blood Vampire had its eye on him? Why is he working here?" Hong Du wondered, looking at the laid‑back Jiang Xia.

As they spoke, the two entered the company.

"You're an unpolished diamond." Miyake Tetsu said, admiring Jinli Jianwu before him.

But Jinli Jianwu was still hard at work clearing sand.

"Hong Du, I've found Jinli Jianwu—he's definitely being targeted."

He now wears a whitish work uniform that's slightly darkened, a yellow‑raw‑skin hat on his head, and holds an iron shovel, vigorously moving the mountain‑high piles of sand.

"All right, Mr. Jiang Xia, I'll talk to Jinli Jianwu." Hong Du, on the other side, also received Jiang Xia's intel,

He mounted the red‑logo motorcycle and sped toward Jinli Jianwu's position.

"I've been saying I could be a big star too—this time I'll make that kid Hong Du see what a real superstar is."

Jiang Xia could only helplessly cover his face and turn his head away.

Meanwhile, Hong Du, standing nearby, felt his killing intent toward the Tooth Blood Vampire grow with every word he heard.

"That fool swinging the iron shovel in the sun—that's him." Jiang Xia pointed at Jinli Jianwu on the sand heap.

"Having a steadfast, unshakable goal is indeed a good thing, but you also need the ability to see through lies, huh." Jiang Xia spat out the popsicle from his mouth.

Dream Workshop.

The night's tranquility gradually enveloped this city.

"Hong Du!" Jinli Jianwu, excited, waved his hands, flung the iron shovel he held onto the ground, then sprinted toward the spot where Hong Du was.

"Jiang Xia, Hong Du, I also have a talent scout coming to find me." Jinli Jianwu said, eating a popsicle while talking to his two friends.

Though confidence is a good thing, don't be so delusional.

"Right up here, those dream‑filled wandering souls." Jiang Xia glanced at the steps before him.

Jiang Xia only gave it a quick glance and knew the very top of the steps was where he kept his collection, but when the two of them actually went up, they were still repulsed by that Tooth Blood Vampire.

(End of Chapter)