Chapter 545: Zhang Zhang Gunli and Huang Huang Zenan

Sun Sun Tiecheng told Gui Gui Jianchou to move the abacus farther away—just beyond ten meters, and Zhang Zhang Gunli's soul would stop moving.

This certainly wasn't Zhang Zhang Gunli, but whose soul was this?

Sun Sun Tiecheng said to Gui Gui Jianchou: "Call your dream cultivator and painting cultivator spirit servants."

Gui Gui Jianchou turned and called: "Achun, Ase, come to the city lord."

Two beautiful women arrived beside Sun Sun Tiecheng; Sun Sun Tiecheng instructed the dream cultivator: "Make him half-asleep, half-awake."

Achun nodded.

Sun Sun Tiecheng then told the painting cultivator: "My memory isn't great—write down everything you see and hear."

Ase quickly prepared his brush.

"Give me the abacus," Sun Sun Tiecheng waved to Gui Gui Jianchou, who brought the abacus back.

As the abacus neared Zhang Zhang Gunli again in Sun Sun Tiecheng's hands, Zhang Zhang Gunli slowly opened his eyes.

As a dead soul, Zhang Zhang Gunli's features had been blurred, but now they gradually sharpened.

He stared intently at Sun Sun Tiecheng, his eyes widening further and further.

One of Gui Gui Jianchou's traveler-soul servants shouted: "Danger! Get away!"

Gui Gui Jianchou reminded Sun Sun Tiecheng: "City Lord Sun, keep your distance from that soul."

The soul's eyes bulged outward, his forehead swelled, his cheeks sank, and his whole form twisted.

Sun Sun Tiecheng spoke calmly: "You're a living man—living men must live properly; you can't just explode."

The soul's twisting slowed, but an inner force still churned, ready to burst forth.

Sun Sun Tiecheng brought a bowl of tea and poured it into the soul's mouth: "Thirsty? Drink some water first—water makes you feel better, right? If you can drink, you're a living man.

Living men don't explode—living men must live properly. Drink this whole bowl, then we'll eat something after."

No matter who this soul was, any living being has the will to live.

He wanted to live.

Using this desire to live, Sun Sun Tiecheng built a bridge—the soul's twisted form slowly returned to normal.

Sun Sun Tiecheng ordered Gui Gui Jianchou to prepare incense and candles, and had his men bring a plate of salt-baked chicken; the soul ate the chicken

while also consuming incense smoke—satisfying both hunger and craving.

Watching the soul recover seven or eight percent, Sun Sun Tiecheng asked: "What's your real name?"

The soul said: "I'm Zhang Zhang Gunli! Sun Sun Tiecheng, you owed me money back then—how can you forget?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng chuckled: "You still remember something from so long ago? How much did I owe you?"

"Three hundred and sixty-three silver dollars. You borrowed money and never paid me back!"

Sun Sun Tiecheng sipped tea, recalling the past: "Why didn't I pay you? I wasn't short on cash, was I?"

"Not short?" the soul sneered. "Back then you weren't city lord—we were both stuck at Earth Level.

If I hadn't lent you three hundred silver dollars, how would you have started? How would you have opened your restaurant, your inn, your brothel? How would you have built Fool's City?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng grew angry: "You lent me three hundred, and now you want three hundred sixty-three back?"

The soul also grew angry: "Are you kidding me? Don't you charge interest? What was I supposed to eat?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng wasn't convinced: "You're mistaken. I'm smart—I wouldn't have started from borrowing money from you. I remember having wealth before I entered the Dao."

"You had no wealth at all!" the soul scoffed. "Old Sun, you've spent years fooling others—have you fooled yourself too? Others don't know you, but I do.

Before you entered the Dao, you were a hunter, wandering mountain gullies, quiet and timid, afraid to speak to anyone.

Every animal you caught passed through my hands to sell.

Until ten?"

"No, you're lying to me," Sun Sun Tiecheng waved his hand. "I remember being born into a wealthy family."

"Bullshit wealthy family—your father was a hunter too, never touched a woman in his life."

"Shut your mouth! If he never touched a woman, how did I come into the world?"

The soul snorted: "You were picked up by him from a mountain ravine!"

Sun Sun Tiecheng roared: "You're lying! Before I was born, I was a rich young master!"

The soul laughed: "Now you're talking about before birth? Old Sun, you've fooled yourself so badly you've lost your mind—always trying to paint yourself gold."

"Are you any better off than me?"

"I never said I was better off. My father herded sheep for the rich. As soon as I could walk, I followed him to graze. I was poor—had I not stolen and sold my master's sheep, I'd never have started!

I know I'm poor, but I don't lie—I admit it!"

Sun Sun Tiecheng waved his hand: "Forget childhood. Let's talk about before you were born—I knew you before you were born. I remember your nickname was 'Toad.'"

The soul shook his head: "Stop making things up—there's no such thing as memories before birth."

"Of course there is. Before I was born, I was a rich young master—I always called you Toad. You had a lover named Rabbit."

The soul sneered: "You're delusional. Who remembers anything before birth?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng said seriously: "I remember. If you can't, you must listen to me—you were Toad before birth."

"I'm not Toad!"

"You're a toad!"

"Why do you say I'm Toad?"

"I saw it with my own eyes—you were Toad!"

The soul roared: "You're wrong! Toad is Ge Jun—he's not me!"

At this, the soul froze, murmuring: "Who is Ge Jun? Why does that name sound familiar?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng said: "Forget Ge Jun for now. Tell me—are you Toad?"

The soul's expression went blank; he muttered: "I'm not Toad. Ge Jun is Toad. I'm terrified of Ge Jun."

His voice changed—it was no longer Zhang Zhang Gunli's. It became shrill, erratic, and jumpy.

Sun Sun Tiecheng said: "Why fear him? We're good friends—if he bullies you, we'll beat him together!"

"We can't beat him—he's too strong," the soul turned to Sun Sun Tiecheng. "Who are you again?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng said: "I'm your friend—the poor Chushen friend!"

"Poor Chushen friend," the soul mused. "Do I even have friends? Don't everyone look down on me?"

"I look up to you—I truly consider you a friend!"

"It doesn't matter if you do," the soul shook his head. "I'm Lower Clan. I'll always be Lower Clan."

Gui Gui Jianchou stared, frozen, forgetting what he was supposed to do.

In an instant, this soul had transformed into someone else—from Zhang Zhang Gunli, a poor man who rose from herding sheep to lending money, to now claiming he was Lower Clan.

But now he claimed he was Lower Clan.

"Lower Clan" was a term from Neizhou—how had he become a Neizhou man?

Sun Sun Tiecheng continued chatting with the soul, speaking as if they'd been friends since lifetimes ago.

"What's wrong with being Lower Clan?" Sun Sun Tiecheng punched the soul lightly. "I'm Lower Clan too—I don't feel inferior."

"You don't feel inferior?" the soul laughed. "Does that matter? Do Upper Clan people even look at you?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng scoffed: "Do I care if they look at me?"

"I care! I was the strongest in my generation—why should they look down on me? I must become Upper Clan—I must!"

Sun Sun Tiecheng snorted: "You want to become Upper Clan? Can you change your bloodline?"

"I can! I did! You didn't know?" the soul looked at Sun Sun Tiecheng. "I changed my bloodline. I'm no longer Huang Ze—I'm not that grasshopper anymore. I'm Huang Huang Zenan! I'm Upper Clan now!"

"Pfft!" Sun Sun Tiecheng sneered. "You change your name and you're Upper Clan?"

The soul shook his head, leaning close to Sun Sun Tiecheng earnestly: "It's not about the name—it's about changing the bloodline!"

"Can bloodline even be changed?"

"Yes—but you must accomplish one great deed. If you fail, they'll revert you back."

"What great deed?"

The soul lowered his head: "I can't tell you."

Sun Sun Tiecheng cupped his hands, crouching beside the soul: "Aren't we childhood friends? Like brothers! I only got started because you lent me three hundred silver dollars!"

The soul stared blankly at Sun Sun Tiecheng, two memories churning in his mind.

These two memories had once been sharply separated—but Sun Sun Tiecheng seemed to have used a spoon, slowly stirring them together.

"Are we really good friends?" the soul looked at Sun Sun Tiecheng. His tone had changed—no longer Zhang Zhang Gunli's calmness, but no longer erratic either.

"Yes! You herded sheep, I hunted!" Sun Sun Tiecheng nodded vigorously.

"Yeah, we're good friends," the soul nodded too; the two memories merged within reasonable bounds.

Sun Sun Tiecheng said: "If you've become Upper Clan, won't you help me? What did they make you do? Give me a path too!"

The soul's voice grew erratic again; he whispered mysteriously: "I'll tell you one thing—don't tell anyone else. To become Upper Clan, you must first put your body into a furnace and burn it."

Sun Sun Tiecheng listened intently: "And then?"

"After burning, you turn to water, then recast."

"And after recasting?"

"After recasting, you become different—you become another person. Then you burn your soul again, just like your body.

I passed out from the pain. When I woke up, I was someone else—I was Zhang Zhang Gunli. I remember all his life, just as if it were my own."

Sun Sun Tiecheng asked: "Do you still remember your own life?"

"At first I did. Then an Upper Clan man came—Luo Shigang.

You know the Luo family—Upper Clan, high status. He gave me medicine. After I took it, I forgot everything—even my own name."

"And then?"

"Then I remembered—I'm Zhang Zhang Gunli, I lend money at exorbitant interest, I'm from Pulu Province."

"At first I thought Pulu people lived like trash, but later I realized they weren't trash, because I'm one of them, since birth."

"I go out to collect debts, I count my promissory notes one by one, demanding repayment."

"Other people's money doesn't matter—I must get back Feng Feng Chongli's money, I must get it back."

The spirit's tone grew steady, as if Zhang Zhang Gunli had returned.

Sun Sun Tiecheng said: "Why's his money so special?"

The spirit said seriously: "It's special—his money is the most special. If he can't repay, he has to get me sent to Snowflake Bay."

"Once I'm in Snowflake Bay, half the mission's done. Then I find out what's going on there, gather our people, and wipe out Snowflake Bay—I'll earn great merit, and become an Upper Clan member!"

Sun Sun Tiecheng sighed: "So that's the plan. Did you make it into Snowflake Bay?"

"I couldn't get in—I never even met Feng Feng Chongli. First I met Shen Shen Rongqing. She, she was truly..."

Sun Sun Tiecheng asked: "What about her?"

"She's beautiful!" The spirit fell into memory. "Truly beautiful—not just looks, but talent too, just like Luo Su Lijun. One glance and you can't forget her."

"I Quanta —I couldn't bear to let her go. I told her not to take out high-interest loans. No woman who borrows from me ever escapes."

"But she insisted—she wanted to borrow cultivation base to get revenge on Ma Ma Junyang. I believed her. I lent it to her. I knew she couldn't repay. If she couldn't repay, she'd be mine!"

"I could never reach someone like Luo Su Lijun, but Shen Shen Rongqing is mine. She's no worse than Luo Su Lijun—she's even more talented!"

Sun Sun Tiecheng said: "So you got tricked by He He Jiaqing and Feng Feng Chongli?"

"What are they?" The spirit sneered. "You don't know me? I can't beat you, but can't I beat them?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng said: "But Gui Gui Jianchou and Mu Yuejuan were there too!"

"I'm not afraid of them. The only thing I fear is losing my walnut—I have no weapon left."

Sun Sun Tiecheng raised his abacus: "Aren't you still holding this?"

"This can't be used!" The spirit lunged to snatch it back, but Sun Sun Tiecheng pulled his hand away—the spirit failed to grab it.

"Why can't you use it?" Sun Sun Tiecheng asked.

The spirit pointed at the abacus: "This—this abacus—is me. My life. If this abacus is gone, my life is gone. If someone takes it, I—I—I'll—"

As he spoke, the spirit's eyeballs bulged again.

Sun Sun Tiecheng hurriedly urged: "Don't explode! You can't explode! You're still a living man—how can you just blow up?"

"You absolutely must not explode—"

"Who are you?" The spirit's tone shifted. The merged memories split apart again.

"I don't know you. Who are you? Give me back my abacus!" The spirit lunged for it, but Sun Sun Tiecheng blocked him.

"Brother, think again—I'm the hunter!"

"I don't know any hunter."

No matter how Sun Sun Tiecheng pleaded, the spirit's distortion continued.

This time, he was truly beyond saving.

Sun Sun Tiecheng said: "Don't rush, brother. Live a little longer. Being alive is hard—living longer is always better. I'll feel bad seeing you go—I'll even cry for you!"

As he cried, Sun Sun Tiecheng ordered his two ghost servants to retreat.

He waved his hand, and everyone in the mansion withdrew.

Outside the mansion, Gui Gui Jianchou heard voices from inside: "I'm Huang Huang Zenan! I'm an Upper Clan member! I'm Zhang Zhang Gunli! I'm rich!"

"I command wind and rain! I'm a big shot! Luo Su Lijun followed me! Shen Shen Rongqing is mine too—they're both so beautiful, they'll all be mine—"

The spirit's voice grew shrill, then sank into a hoarse rasp. His form swelled like a bubble, filling the entire hall.

Sun Sun Tiecheng held the abacus and said to the spirit: "Brother, it's all yours. When you die, I'll burn you plenty of paper servants as companions. When you die, I'll give you the whole mansion. You can only explode inside this house—don't you dare explode outside!"

Shuowan, Sun Sun Tiecheng took the abacus and left the mansion.

Without the abacus, the spirit seemed to lose consciousness.

His soul continued swelling—then, with a soft crack, it shattered into pieces.

Sun Sun Tiecheng's mansion was flattened, dust everywhere.

Gui Gui Jianchou stood frozen—he still had no idea what had happened.

Sun Sun Tiecheng ordered: "A Gui, cry! Tell all your ghost servants to cry!"

Why cry?

Since Sun Sun Tiecheng ordered it, Gui Gui Jianchou dared not delay. He wailed: "Our house!"

Sun Sun Tiecheng kicked Gui Gui Jianchou: "Why cry about the house? My childhood friend is dead—don't you care?"

Gui Gui Jianchou wailed again: "Our childhood friend!"

The ghost servants wept: "Our childhood friend is gone!"

Sun Sun Tiecheng ordered his men to spread the word across the city: everyone must weep for their childhood friend. The townsfolk didn't know who it was, but since the mayor ordered it, they all joined in crying.

After more than half an hour of weeping, ash rained from the sky—the fake Zhang Zhang Gunli, the real Huang Huang Zenan—vanished into dust.

Sun Sun Tiecheng looked at A Se: "Did you draw everything from just now?"

A Se nodded rapidly: "I drew it all."

Sun Sun Tiecheng ordered Gui Gui Jianchou: "A Gui, take A Se, find Old Seven. Tell him to increase his guard."

"Got it!" Gui Gui Jianchou prepared to leave.

"Wait!" Sun Sun Tiecheng stopped him. He held up the abacus. "Do you know what this is?"

Gui Gui Jianchou nodded: "I know—it's an abacus."

Sun Sun Tiecheng kicked Gui Gui Jianchou: "Do you think I don't know it's an abacus? I'm asking—what else can it do besides counting?"

"It can be a weapon—offensive and defensive. Pull off the beads, they become hidden projectiles. Very clever!"

"Besides being a weapon, what else?"

Gui Gui Jianchou understood what Sun Sun Tiecheng was hinting at, but he dared not guess blindly: "That man from Inner Province said this abacus is his life. What else it hides—I can't say."

"Do you have any Gong Xiu under you?"

"Yes. A Tie, come take a look."

A ghost servant named A Tie took the abacus and examined it closely for a long time: "There's special craftsmanship inside, but I can't tell what kind."

"Your level's still too low," Sun Sun Tiecheng said gravely. "How many disciples of Old Huoche do you know?"

Gui Gui Jianchou thought: "I know most of them, but none are close. The only one I'm familiar with is a cart-puller in Yaowang Gou—"

"That cart-puller won't help," Sun Sun Tiecheng said. "Even if he sees something, he won't tell you. Think again. Go to Heishi Po, find Tang Shi. Show him this abacus—he might recognize something. He knows the difference between inside and outside."

Gui Gui Jianchou hesitated: "Tang Shi isn't easy to deal with. On his turf, I can't force him..."

"No need to force," Sun Sun Tiecheng waved his hand. "Just say it came from Inner Province. He'll help. He knows how to tell what's what."

"Alright," Gui Gui Jianchou agreed. "Then should I delay finding Old Seven?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng shook his head: "This can't wait either!"

Seeing Sun Sun Tiecheng pressed on both sides, Gui Gui Jianchou turned to A Se: "I'll go to Heishi Po. You take the drawings and find Old Seven yourself. Be careful on the way."

A Se was unhappy.

Ghost servants rarely acted alone—some demonic cultivators feared losing control, while some ghost servants feared being abandoned.

A Se was a beautiful woman, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Among Gui Gui Jianchou's servants, her cultivation base was low, her combat power weak—she belonged to those afraid of being discarded. When Gui Gui Jianchou told her to go alone, she sniffled, then burst into tears.

Gui Gui Jianchou frowned: "Unruly woman—I'm giving you a task, why are you crying?"

A Se, tearful, said: "I don't even know where to find Li Qi."

"First go to Lüshui City, then search Xiaoyao Wu. If you can't find him, go to He He Yuxiu's territory and ask Ye Ye Jianhuang for help."

A Se wiped her tears: "You think I'm useless—you don't want me anymore."

Gui Gui Jianchou comforted her: "You're useful—among my people, you're the most useful. Don't be afraid. I'll send A Chun with you."

In the Chu family mansion, Chu Chu Huaiyuan sat at her dressing table, applying makeup.

Her makeup was still heavy, especially the eyeshadow—thick and dark.

After finishing, she picked up a hat from the table and placed it on her head. The brim cast a shadow over her eyes and nose, leaving only her chin and lips visible.

Xiang Xiang Fenglan watched and laughed: "You spent so much effort on your eyeshadow—now it's all hidden under the hat. All that work for nothing? Who are you painting it for?"

Chu Er didn't answer. She stared at the necklace around Xiang Xiang Fenglan's neck. "Who gave you this?"

"I bought it with my own money."

"Do you know how much this jade pendant is worth?"

Xiang Xiang Fenglan snorted: "Mind your own business!"

Chu Er lifted the jade pendant, studied it a moment. In the shifting light, she saw the character "five."

"Have you met Ma Wu?"

Xiang Xiang Fenglan blushed: "No."

"Still lying!" Chu Er snarled. "Wait till I tell Granny—she'll beat you, you little slut!"

Xiang Xiang Fenglan snapped: "You're not a slut? Who gave you that hat?"

Chu Er smirked: "Granny lets me be flirtatious with him. Granny wants me to be flirtatious with him. Doesn't that drive you crazy?"

Just then, Yang Yang Yanzheng entered: "Second Miss, He He Jiaqing, Master He, requests an audience."

Chu Er blinked: "Why is he here?"

"He says it's about business—he wishes to discuss matters with you."

"Have I ever done business with him before?"

Yang Yang Yanzheng shook his head. There was none right now.

Chu Er had heard that Li Qi and He He Jiaqing were at odds; without hesitation, he said: "Tell him I'm sick and can't receive guests."

Yang Yang Yanzheng nodded, about to go deliver the message, when he saw He He Jiaqing standing at the stairway, dressed in a white long robe, holding a folding fan.

Chu Er glanced at Xiang Xiang Fenglan; she had already drawn an arrow from her waist.

Yang Yang Yanzheng called for Wen Wen Hongyan, then turned to He He Jiaqing: "Young Master He, this is a breach of decorum!"

He He Jiaqing fanned himself, smiling pleasantly: "Ladies and gentlemen, don't be angry. I've come to see Miss Chu Huaiyuan about an urgent matter—absolutely no ill intent."

Chu Chu Huaiyuan said: "If it's something, say it right there on the stairs."

He He Jiaqing glanced around: "That's inappropriate. What we need to discuss is confidential."

Chu Er shook his head: "There's nothing confidential between you and me. Whatever you tell me, they can hear. If it's something they can't hear, you shouldn't be telling me at all."

He He Jiaqing, seeing Chu Chu Huaiyuan's firm stance, finally revealed his purpose: "I want to buy the Bailymen."

1

Chu Er lifted the brim of her hat, looking up at He He Jiaqing: "What did you say?"

"Don't rush. I know you value the Bailymen dearly, but you must calculate this carefully. You've spent your entire fortune chasing it—what was your real goal? Do you truly love the Bailymen's business?"

The Bailymen is, in essence, a dance hall, restaurant, and inn. Such places are plentiful in Lüshuicheng. It's neither the largest nor the best.

What you value is its reputation, because the Bailymen is Lüshuicheng's flagship. But think: is the flagship still the Bailymen?"

This year, over a dozen song concerts were held; Xiaoyao Weng took half, Pinghe Building took three-tenths, and the Bailymen got less than two-tenths. Can that flag still stand?"

Your top singers have all left. The Bailymen now has no one who can even hold the stage. Even if you truly want to host a concert, won't you still have to beg Ma Wu for performers?"

He He Jiaqing spoke the truth.

We're all friends in daily life—that's true—but in business, Ma Wu never shows mercy. Over the past year,

the Bailymen has been crushed by Xiaoyao Weng.

But this is none of He He Jiaqing's business.

Chu Er's face remained expressionless: "What's it to you?"

"It's none of my business," He He Jiaqing closed his fan. "We all do business to make money, Chu Huaiyuan.

While you hold the Bailymen, you're not making money—you're draining your own family's assets."

He wasn't wrong. The Bailymen had been losing money for the past two months. The Qiuqi business had improved and earned well—but all the profits went to plug the Bailymen's losses.

But Chu Er's stance wouldn't change. She still looked up at He He Jiaqing: "Does it matter to you whether we make money or not?"

The fan opened and closed slowly as He He Jiaqing spoke: "Chu Huaiyuan, we've known each other a long time. I've come here sincerely to help you.

You own fifty percent of the Bailymen. Sell me thirty percent, hand over the management rights, and within three months, the Bailymen will turn around. You just wait for your dividends."

"Finished?" Chu Er glanced at Yang Yang Yanzheng. "Old Yang, show him out."

He He Jiaqing said: "Chu Huaiyuan, I truly want to help you."

Yang Yang Yanzheng said: "Young Master He, please leave."

He He Jiaqing shook his head: "Chu Huaiyuan, if you refuse, I won't leave."

Chu Chu Huaiyuan's eyes turned icy: "What do you think this place is? You say you won't leave, and you think you're who?"

He He Jiaqing held his fan and made a gesture of invitation toward Chu Chu Huaiyuan.

It was an invitation to strike.

Da Zhi, Wen Wen Hongyan, a fifth-layer Wu Xiu, charged forward first, her mantis arm slicing toward He He Jiaqing's neck.

He He Jiaqing stood still. Wen Wen Hongyan circled half a turn—she didn't touch him.

She didn't know how she missed. Before she could react, she tumbled backward down the second-floor stairs and collapsed on the first-floor hall, unconscious.

Yang Yang Yanzheng stepped forward, closing in on He He Jiaqing. He He Jiaqing shifted slightly, appearing behind Yang Yang Yanzheng and grabbing him.

"I'll take your Traveler Technique," he said, then waved his hand—Yang Yang Yanzheng also tumbled down the stairs.

Xiang Xiang Fenglan stepped in front of Chu Er and hurled her arrow.

The arrow flew with astonishing speed, but He He Jiaqing reached out and caught the shaft firmly.

Xiang Xiang Fenglan shouted: "Disperse!"

The single arrow split into over a hundred, flying toward He He Jiaqing.

He He Jiaqing reached out, caught one arrow, and tossed it downstairs. One by one, he caught them all and hurled them down—not a single arrow touched him.

Xiang Xiang Fenglan drew a second arrow, turned back to Chu Chu Huaiyuan, and shouted: "Run!"

Judging by his skill, Xiang Xiang Fenglan knew clearly: she couldn't beat He He Jiaqing. Even two more like her together couldn't harm him.

There was only one way out now: she would buy time, letting Chu Chu Huaiyuan escape.

Chu Chu Huaiyuan refused to leave. She summoned her magic treasures, ready to fight to the death—when suddenly, the hat whispered in her ear: "Don't go. If you go, you'll die."

It was the hat Li Qi had given her. After accompanying Chu Chu Huaiyuan for a month, it began speaking—rarely,

but its voice resembled Li Qi's.

Chu Chu Huaiyuan trusted the hat's words—but her family's lives were at stake. She hesitated.

He He Jiaqing spoke: "Chu Huaiyuan, don't be foolish. The Bailymen is useless in your hands. Hand it to me—it's better for everyone. Why refuse?

Honestly, I pity you. You don't know how to run a business, yet you cling to this pride. But today, if you won't give me this pride, I have no reason to spare you. I've said all I can. If you still refuse to see sense, I'll—"

Bang!

A gunshot.

He He Jiaqing ducked swiftly.

The bullet grazed the back of his skull, scraping off skin, blood flowing.

Who the hell fired so suddenly?

He He Jiaqing flashed downward. Another gunshot rang out—the bullet aimed for his heart.

He He Jiaqing judged the bullet's trajectory, caught the round bare-handed, and tossed it aside: "Who fired? Show yourself."

No answer came from across. He He Jiaqing only heard the sound of a bullet being chambered.

The reloading sound didn't match the bullet's origin—the shooter had moved.

Only two bullets were fired, but in reality, six shots were fired—four had misfired.

The hat whispered: "He's here."

Li Qi!

Chu Chu Huaiyuan's heart surged with joy—but she stayed silent.

He He Jiaqing fanned himself calmly: "You think this pistol can kill me? Isn't that childish?"

Li Qi replied: "Wanna bet?"

He He Jiaqing glanced around: Yang Yang Yanzheng and Wen Wen Hongyan lay on the floor; Xiang Xiang Fenglan and Chu Chu Huaiyuan stood by the railing.

"What are you betting?" He He Jiaqing laughed. "The lives of everyone in this room?"

"Dare you?"

Click.

Li Qi pulled back the hammer. He He Jiaqing heard the sound—but still couldn't pinpoint the shooter's location.

This was deadly. With a Thief's perception, if he couldn't sense the opponent's position, He He Jiaqing abandoned the gamble and dashed straight out of the mansion.

Li Qi immediately chased after him. The street was crowded; the two darted through the throng, their forms invisible to all.

Around the corner, He He Jiaqing stood silently beside the café's wall, waiting for the other to approach.

Li Li Banfeng stood silently on the opposite wall, listening to the other's movements.

He He Jiaqing dared not move. He didn't know who was across from him.

Li Li Banfeng didn't strike either. He wasn't certain if the man was He He Jiaqing.

PS: Is this man really He He Jiaqing?