Chapter 37: With this thing in hand, you can eventually have it!

Thinking of that, the middle-aged man hurriedly waved his hand.

"Boss, I... I'm not hungry..."

"Eat first; we can talk after you're full."

Su Ming smiled lightly, unmoved.

The steaming dishes were brought out, and the long-missed scent of meat rushed straight into his nose.

The middle-aged man could no longer hold back; he lifted the bowl and devoured it greedily.

But as he ate, tears became uncontrollable and fell into the bowl.

When he finished in a whirlwind, his emotions steadied a bit, and Su Ming finally spoke.

"Brother, what's your name?"

"I... I'm Zhao Gang."

"Zhao Shu, that cup of yours, I want it."

Upon hearing that, Zhao Gang shivered, and hope instantly flashed in his eyes.

"Well, I don't have that much cash on me."

Hearing that, Zhao Gang's face turned pale again.

"In a moment, come with me; I'll take you to get it."

"Alright... good! I'm going!"

Zhao Gang hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and agreed.

Even if the other party might truly be a tough guy, he would still go.

He truly needed money!

He couldn't wait!

"Here... have a little more, stay with me until I'm done!"

During the meal break, the two started chatting.

Su Ming deliberately or inadvertently steered the conversation.

From the chat, it was learned—

This Zhao Gang had once been a senior analyst at a well-known investment firm.

A true elite in finance!

But just two years ago, his daughter was diagnosed with a terminal illness.

His mind unsettled, he could not calmly manage trades.

That is a major taboo in the industry.

He resolutely quit his high-paying job to care for his daughter.

He sold family assets and spent all his savings.

And this teacup was the hope his wife exchanged this morning for a copy of his daughter's pathology report!

They are now so poor that...

They have nothing else to sacrifice!

"Let's go, Zhao Shu, to get the money."

Su Ming settled the bill and patted Zhao Gang's shoulder.

Zhao Gang stood up awkwardly, clutching tightly the grayish blue-and-white porcelain cup.

This item is the money to prolong his daughter's life!

The two, one ahead of the other, walked into the bustling Night Color Bar.

"Little brother... you... you really trust me?"

Zhao Gang couldn't help but speak, his voice hoarse.

Su Ming's steps faltered, but he did not look back.

"Zhao Shu, what I believe in is not this cup, but the image of a father willing to give everything for his daughter."

"The most precious thing in this world has never been some antique porcelain, but the light that still glimmers in your eyes."

Zhao Gang heard that, his body shivered, and his eyes welled up again.

All along this road, he had endured too many scornful looks and mockery.

But this young man...

Those two lightly spoken sentences weighed as much as a thousand pounds!

"Little brother, I, Zhao Gang, swear to heaven, this money is absolutely for saving a life!"

"I have recorded this gratitude!"

"If there is still a chance, I will definitely repay you!"

"Enough, stop being sentimental."

Su Ming waved his hand.

Soon, the two arrived at the ATM.

Su Ming operated a few times and withdrew the cash.

He barely managed to earn some, and even tossed in his last bit of capital.

At this moment, Zhao Gang, though still gaunt,

but in his eyes, the flame of hope had reignited.

When that heavy thirty thousand yuan landed in his hands, he could no longer hold back.

His trembling hands made a motion as if to kneel before Su Ming.

"Truly unnecessary!"

Su Ming steadied Zhao Gang, took the Cup of Tranquility, and narrowed his eyes slightly.

He thought of his Crimson Throne.

It was a bottomless pit.

He needed a massive amount of "trash" items to feed it, so they could be transformed into a never‑ending Source Blood, letting him become infinitely stronger!

So, he had already conceived a grand idea—

to establish a Trash Recycling Network!

Specifically to purchase those low‑quality items that people despise and cannot discern a use for.

In others' eyes, those are junk.

But to him, they're all resources for getting stronger!

However, this plan has two fatal obstacles—

First, he doesn't have that much seed capital.

Second, he lacks sufficient time and energy to acquire them one by one.

He needs manpower.

He needs some shrewd, reliable people who won't betray him in the short term.

But where on earth can one find such people?!

The one before him…

A desperate financial analyst, a father willing to give everything for his daughter.

Such a person, once you give them a hand…

"Zhao Shu."

Su Ming's voice interrupted Zhao Gang's profuse gratitude.

"Leave a contact method, please."

"In the future, if you have anything, you can still sell it to me!"

Zhao Gang froze for a moment, then quickly nodded.

"Alright! This is my phone number."

"Little brother, if you have any orders in the future, I, Zhao Gang, will never refuse!"

He watched Zhao Gang, careful yet hasty, disappear into the crowd.

Su Ming stood in place, his eyes flickering.

"Perhaps… manpower, that thing, can be gathered slowly!"

Su Ming looked up at the huge digital clock on Pedestrian Street.

7:40 PM.

Only a little over four hours remained until the Gray Rain's arrival.

"Next, it's time to look for an altar…"

Su Ming murmured softly, his gaze instantly sharpening, and turned to merge into the endless sea of people.

8:00 PM.

Su Ming weaved through the crowd, and the Eye of Truth swept across the streets and alleys.

Along the way, he'd seen three or four altars.

But either the numbering was absurdly high, or the requirements were extremely odd.

The only advantage was that

at this spot, although Pedestrian Street was crowded,

very few actually gathered around the altar to operate.

The vast majority used up their three chances during the day.

At night, the crowd's eyes are scattered.

The principle of "guilt by possession"—those who understand, understand.

"Hm?"

Su Ming was about to turn into a side alley.

But a sudden commotion erupted on the square ahead.

"Look up at the sky!"

"What's up there? Another altar descending from the heavens?"

"Huh?! What… is happening to the moon?!"

"Sss—!"

Shouts rose one after another, tinged with unmistakable terror.

Su Ming's steps halted, and he instinctively looked up.

In the sky, the once‑bright full moon.

At some point, it became veiled by a faint blood‑red hue.

At first, only the edges tinged red.

But within just a few dozen seconds, that red spread and deepened like ink dropped into water, at an astonishing speed!

"This!"

"It's… a Blood Moon?!"