Chapter 92: I Bloom Amidst Slaughter, Like a Flower at Dawn!

Outside the window, the crowd's voices roared.

Inside, there was dead silence.

Su Ming withdrew his gaze and fixed it again on Zhao Gang standing nearby.

The fellow looked nervous, instinctively shielding his wife and daughter half a body length behind him.

Their family had just escaped hell and could no longer endure any further turmoil!

Su Ming suppressed all the distracting thoughts the dream brought.

A thought flickered, and a chess piece formed from billions of starlights silently materialized in his palm.

It was a Legendary-grade artifact—

Dingding Chess Piece!

"Zhao Shu, extend your hand."

Zhao Gang froze for a moment, then without hesitation handed over his rough palms, thick with old calluses.

The icy chess piece gently settled into his palm.

Buzz—!

Starlight burst forth suddenly.

Gentle, yet domineering!

A vast stream of information instantly surged into Zhao Gang's mind.

"The world is a chessboard, all beings are pieces!"

"You have been selected; do you wish to become a 【shi】 on the board?"

"Agree!"

Zhao Gang let out a roar in his heart, without any hesitation.

Becoming Mr. Su's piece is not a restraint…

It is his greatest honor!

In Su Ming's mind, an odd connection emerged.

He now…

Can clearly sense Zhao Gang's location!

There's something!

"Enough!"

Su Ming glanced at Zhao Gang, his voice lowering.

"Remember, no pies fall from the sky."

"Everything outside now is merely deadly poison wrapped in honey."

"From now on, no matter what happens, no matter what good news you hear…"

"You three, stay home obediently!"

"Lock the doors, close the windows, trust no one!"

"Understood?"

Su Ming's words sent a chill through Zhao Gang and his wife.

"So…"

Quiet Xiao Xinghe lifted her small face, eager to answer.

"So we stay home, go nowhere, be good, right?"

"I've heard Grandma Wolf's story! Outside isn't Grandma, it's the Big Bad Wolf!"

Su Ming looked at her, managed a rare smile, and nodded.

He looked at Zhao Gang again, his expression solemn.

"Definitely! Reject all temptations!"

"Yes! Mr. Su!"

"We're leaving."

Su Ming said no more, and waved to the silent-as-a-mountain Crimson beside him.

"Go out… to pick up the pies!"

Before the words finished, the two vanished at the doorway.

In the living room, Zhao Gang's family stared at each other, their expressions extremely odd.

Ah?!

Is this… how the script goes?

"Dad…"

Xiao Xinghe tugged at Zhao Gang's sleeve, her big eyes full of doubt.

"Why did Uncle Su…"

"No! Brother Su said no pies fall from the sky, yet he himself goes to pick them up?"

Zhao Gang was stunned, his face exceedingly complex.

He stared at the direction they left, and after a long while, slowly exhaled a breath of foul air.

"Because…"

"He is so strong, strong enough not to fear knives disguised as baked pies from the sky!"

In this society, strength ultimately speaks.

The so-called price is set for the weak.

A strong person can shift the cost onto others!

What remains for oneself is only benefit!

It was 2:30 p. m., and the moonlight was bright.

On the streets of Jiangcheng, the crowd surged, shoulders brushing shoulders.

Cheering, music, and screams blended together, like a grand celebration!

Su Ming wore a 【Pure Deterrent Heart】‑unactivated 【Lingren Score】, and blended into the crowd with 【Chi Hong】, completely unremarkable.

After all, in this global party.

There were many people wearing masks and black veils.

Especially those 【Artist】s, whose makeup and costumes were wildly varied.

"How does it feel?"

Su Ming asked casually.

"A bit strange."

【Chi Hong】's voice was low.

The current atmosphere made him inexplicably uncomfortable…

It's not as good as that ten‑thousand‑year battlefield!

Su Ming smiled.

"It's fine, just be an 【Audience】 for now, have some fun!"

The two of them also joined the main crowd.

They watched an exciting puppet show and took a walking wooden puppet that the 【Craftsman】 handed over casually.

They listened to a poet recite, receiving a poem page that made blood boil.

Pleasant!

【Eye of Truth】 scanned one by one.

【Inferior walking puppet】

【Quality: Common】.

【Nameless poem fragment】

【Quality: Common】.

They were all solid props, with no falsehood at all.

But precisely because of that, Su Ming's sense of danger grew stronger.

This indicates…

The 【Planner】's scheme is too grand!

So massive that they wouldn't even bother fiddling with these appetizer‑like details!

"Ten art forms…"

"What exactly are the two that are lacking?!"

The crowd grew even more packed.

Yet many obscure gazes were watching all this from every corner.

The gazes were calm, restrained, and disciplined.

"Have those 【Official】 guys also noticed something amiss?"

Time passed, minute by minute, second by second.

Soon, it was 4:30 p. m.

"It should be soon…"

The 【development】 of this show had already reached its most frantic, most joyous peak.

"Let's go, watch the show elsewhere."

Su Ming whispered a command to 【Chi Hong】, and calmly walked toward a relatively sparse street corner.

Fewer people, easier to act.

The two arrived at the dimly lit Alley Entrance.

A magician dressed in a tailcoat, with an elegant demeanor, was performing close‑up magic for a few young girls.

"Wow!"

Fingers fluttered, and playing cards turned into butterflies.

When the performance ended, the magician smiled, produced several beautifully packaged candies from his top hat, and handed them out.

"Next is the moment to witness a miracle."

The magician's voice was magnetic.

"I need to invite a beautiful 【Audience】 member to complete this final act with me."

"Me me me!"

"Pick me pick me! Magician brother!"

Several girls raised their hands one after another.

Everyone knows—

As a guest, the reward received is certainly better!

Besides, the magician is so handsome!

"It's you, beautiful miss."

The selected girl stepped forward with delight, her eyes full of anticipation and shyness.

Su Ming and Chi Hong stood at the edge of the crowd, watching quietly.

"Please stand inside this box!"

The magician pointed at the wooden box standing beside him.

The girl obediently walked in.

The magician closed the box lid, a mysterious smile on his face.

"Watch closely, I'm going to split this beautiful miss... in two!"

He lifted a sharp Long Saw, aiming at the middle of the box.

A few girls nearby held their breath, faces excited.

This is a classic magic trick!

Hiss—!

The saw began to cut the wooden box, emitting a screeching sound.

The girl's scream echoed from the box, overly dramatic.

Everything seemed perfectly normal.

But Su Ming felt his heart suddenly jump for no reason!

He glanced at his phone screen.

16:44!

It's time!

And right at that instant!

Puff—!!!

The scream from the box abruptly stopped.

Tick—!

Tick—!

Blood overflowed from the wooden box.

"Good!"

A few girls nearby continued to applaud and cheer at the realism of the performance.

"Damn..."

Su Ming's heart trembled, and inexplicably Jin's line surfaced in his mind—

I bloom amid slaughter, just like a flower at dawn!

That woman seemed...

Just then.

The magician slowly set down the saw, and gracefully bowed toward the surrounding crowd.

Then he looked up, his gaze piercing through the crowd.

It landed with pinpoint precision on Su Ming, who wore a mask and stood in the shadows!

"This masked gentleman..."

"Would you like to step onto the stage?!"