Chapter 272: Want to Kill

"Is that so? How much?"

Ah, he actually accepted.

Shen Zexi watched Chi Jinan actually turn to ask about the gate fee; the incident was some time ago, and Ying Duo no longer remembered, but that didn't stop him from casually quoting a number.

"Maybe... five thousand?"

Is the Slum's gate that expensive?

Shen Zexi glanced surprised at Ying Duo behind him, but his calm expression looked justified.

No, this guy's expression never changed!

"Fine then." Chi Jinan casually took a few bills from his wallet and handed them to Ying Duo, adding, "No change needed."

"Thanks, boss!"

Ying Duo swiftly moved to Chi Jinan's side, tucked the money into his own backpack, and performed a standard bow; the whole sequence was exceedingly smooth and natural.

"You... know each other?"

Shen Zexi spoke uncertainly; he had heard many negative rumors about Chi Jinan, but this was their first real meeting.

Just from the fluidity of handing over money, their relationship... seems not bad?

Could this be a kind of twisted mutual appreciation?

Two negatives making a positive?

Ying Duo silently moved away from Chi Jinan, sat on the sofa behind Shen Zexi, and shook his head.

"We don't know him. Last time he tore down our bar's gate; the 'collapse' might be because he was beating people nearby?"

"Beating people?" Chi Jinan's mouth curved wider, but the smile was cold.

"Hmm, why wouldn't that count as beating? I was just a target for others?"

He took a slow step forward, a violent pressure roaring toward Shen Zexi who stood in front, and even Ying Duo, seated on the sofa, was pushed further back a few inches.

He didn't care whether this was the Chen Family or whether the person before him was a student; he only wanted to force out the truth, or rather... force out a flaw!

Since parting after the last auction, he had scoured the world searching for the Flame City Cannon's whereabouts; the leads were either unrelated, and each time he got news, he was always a step too late, as if the person was deliberately evading him.

Shen Zexi let out a low hum, his complexion turning a few shades paler instantly.

His strength wasn't weak, but facing a madman like Chi Jinan, whose realm far surpassed his, directly bearing his energy pressure was quite taxing.

Yet he didn't retreat; instead, a faint blue glow emanated from his body as he spoke in a deep voice.

"Judge Chi! This is the Chen Family after all; your actions aren't appropriate, are they?"

Shen Zexi didn't expect those words to be useful; dealing with ordinary people might work, but reasoning with these lunatics was a waste of time.

He could only hope someone outside would notice the situation here and rush over...

While Shen Zexi strained to hold on and Ying Duo silently calculated which device to pull from his backpack to interfere with Chi Jinan without revealing too many cards, the heavy door of the reception room was violently shoved open from outside.

"Head of the family! They should be right here!"

The escorting servant spoke hurriedly; they were only tasked with bringing the two people to this reception hall.

Who would have thought that just after leaving, they heard the elders feared Chi Jinan would tear the Chen Family apart, so they sent that Chi Jinan from the Heresy Tribunal to the reception hall as well.

A usual reception hall would be empty, but today the two groups happened to collide, and one of them was that Chi Jinan!

He didn't know the other group, but they seemed important to the head of the family.

"Chi Jinan, wait!"

Min Tianyou's voice was urgent as he stepped into the room first, followed closely by the sullen Chen Mo Zhi and Meng Kexin.

Anyone's family would look displeased if someone bullied guests in the reception room, let alone the Chen Family during these turbulent times.

Chi Jinan glanced at the suddenly appearing Min Tianyou, raised an eyebrow slightly, but still reined in his pressure.

Anyway, Ying Duo couldn't run away from him.

Min Tianyou exhaled in relief, thinking Chi Jinan might just be in a bad mood; if a clash occurred, he wouldn't resolve it so easily.

"You still have time to bully kids here?"

Seeing that Chi Jinan was not only unannoyed but even in a good mood, Min Tianyou couldn't help rolling his eyes and snarking.

"No, just that green fur looks familiar."

Chi Jinan examined Ying Duo closely; compared to their last meeting, Ying Duo was considerably stronger, yet still weak for him now.

"Familiar?"

Min Tianyou's brow twitched; he knew that Chi Jinan had gone mad recently for unknown reasons and had been chasing the Co-Absorption Flame City Cannon, ignoring any suspicious clue.

For a while, he even felt a bit sorry for the guy Chi Jinan was after.

But what could Ying Duo have to do with the Flame City Cannon? He hadn't even directly crossed paths with Chi Jinan before...

Wait.

"It must be the operation in the Black Stone Mountain Range."

Min Tianyou realized that only that mission could have given Chi Jinan a single encounter with Ying Duo, making him seem familiar.

After all, Ying Duo's Ying Guang Lu hue was indeed unforgettable.

"I recall that last time, because the Flame City Cannon was involved, you rushed over immediately, but you were still a step late; by the time you arrived, it was already over."

"At that time, Ying Duo was in a temporary camp established by the Supervision Bureau; although he returned to the city quickly, you might have seen him from a distance then?"

However, Min Tianyou miscalculated this time.

He underestimated Chi Jinan's paranoia and overestimated Chi Jinan's concern for 'irrelevant details.'

"Black Stone Mountain Range?" Chi Jinan's eyes narrowed, locking onto Ying Duo.

"He was also in the Black Stone Mountain Range that time? During the mine explosion and landslide, he was nearby?"

Coincidence?

Chi Jinan never believes in coincidences.

But the crux of the problem is that Ying Duo's displayed strength is simply too weak.

How about he steps in and pushes him? If Ying Duo really is him, there's no loss; if not…

If he dies, let him die.

Ying Duo still shows no expression when facing Chi Jinan's scrutiny.

"At that time we took a Mercenary Corps contract, and we were inadvertently drawn into it, that's all."

Shen Zexi keenly sensed the tension and immediately spoke up.

In Yang Yixie's eyes, the Blood Bar on Chi Jinan's head was already showing a tendency to turn red.

Just now, when we took the money from Chi Jinan, Ying Duo also obtained his character sheet; honestly, it's a bit troublesome.

【Name: Chi Jinan (Lv. 49)】

【Title: Blood Lotus】

【Age: 21】

【Race: Human】

【Faction: Heresy Tribunal】

【Affection: -90 (wants to kill)】

【Mutation Value: 9】

【Current Status: Healthy】

【Preferences:....... (locked due to negative affection)】

This NPC's level is a bit high; the freshly obtained experience card Yang Yixie intended to use elsewhere, he doesn't want to waste it here at all.

But he cannot confirm whether Ying Duo's death would affect his real-world self, so he still has to try to avoid Ying Duo's death as much as possible.