[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces":3,"chapter-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-19":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dragon of a Thousand Faces",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2269665,4431,"Chapter 19","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-19",19,"\u003Cp>The dream ended; Li En could resume his usual morning training, starting the rhythm of a new day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire life trajectories of those candidates had been utterly shattered and reassembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Spiritual Heritage? I have the qualification.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bonebreaker” Dimon awoke from sleep, but without the arrogance of his dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The former boss’s room was luxurious and vast, but he couldn’t sleep there—he still lived in the kitchen where he’d worked as a chef.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wooden bed groaned under his massive frame, drenched in cold sweat; memories of death surged into his heart, reminding him it was all real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Was it a dream… or real?” Even though reason told him it was real, he remained stunned, unable to believe it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spiritual heroes, the world’s crisis, the kingdom’s future—these things were far too distant from a man drowning in mud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t be fooled by how fiercely he stood up to the Holy Knights; as the only non-supernatural and gray-area figure, he’d always been hesitant and uneasy inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could someone stained with blood and filth truly be worthy of inheriting the sacred figure on the altar? He’d heard enough fairy tales and epics as a child to know what it meant to be an epic hero emerging from ancient history—and what his inheritance implied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many epic tales began with an ordinary person receiving this legacy from history—but was he worthy? He wasn’t a noble prince, nor a pure country boy; he was a gangster drenched in blood, the kind of minor villain who always showed up in legends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since the moment he severed the former boss’s head yesterday, he had no path left to retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Any news about the tail-cutting case? Did anyone try to stop you from investigating?” This case was the beginning; his family’s fate had made Dimon finally understand what it meant to be kind and get trampled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cook couldn’t protect his family. A bastard could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His first order as boss was to send all of Bonebreaker’s men to investigate his younger brother’s case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, everyone’s been cooperative. All the gang leaders know that the increasingly insane killer remains a persistent threat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too smooth? “Bonebreaker,” who appeared crude but was in fact meticulous, frowned. This wasn’t what he expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hesitated—not because his men had failed to gather useful information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And none of the men I sent out got hurt?” He hadn’t expected any of them to get answers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those fools were good at extortion and causing trouble, but investigating and chasing killers? They were meant to stir up trouble—to force the enemy into making mistakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his view, the killer had been able to roam freely here, always slipping away, because he had local forces as accomplices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, the men I sent out should’ve been blocked by someone—if resistance appeared, at least I’d know who was behind it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, nothing happened. Other gangs and organizations in the docks area were even cooperating. Could they truly have nothing to do with it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then how did the murderer manage to appear and vanish without a trace? Supernatural invisibility has limits and always leaves traces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d even prepared a plan: if anything happened to him, one of his men would deliver the information to the young Holy Knight who’d come to pay respects that day!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Probably, the only person in the entire dockside police force worth trusting was that Holy Knight everyone thought was insane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keep sending them out. Make it louder.” Perhaps the pressure wasn’t enough? Perhaps the pebble he’d thrown to test the waters was too light—should he step in himself?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same early hour, in a wealthier district, a furious family argument raged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a house countless times larger than Li En’s, a father and his children were locked in heated conflict.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Loud quarrels echoed outside the master’s tightly shut door; the servants outside were too frightened to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Occasionally, objects shattered. Finally, with a crash, the front door flew open, and the furious young Holy Knight stormed out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the open doorway, only the old spider remained—furious, helpless, and utterly defeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Crack!” The more he thought, the angrier he became; he flung everything on the table onto the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Investigate! Find out how she knew! Who told her!” This time, Baron Labol exploded in rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In another corner, the little Dragoness still slept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d been the last to leave, and as a Dragonkin, her sleep quality was always excellent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was already past ten, yet she showed no sign of waking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the door opened from outside; the maids entered slowly, and she was still fast asleep, bundled in her quilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-haired head maid, wearing glasses, first pulled back the curtains, letting sunlight fall on the bed—and saw her rolling around clutching a pillow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took out her pocket watch and waited patiently for half a while; still no reaction. Only then did she sigh and call out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Lady, Young Lady, wake up—the appointed time has come. Lord Sudar is here to visit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a professional warrior, a day without practice dulls the hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morning training was habit; after sword practice, Li En didn’t rush out to patrol the streets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still needed to keep accumulating good deeds to raise his approval rating, striving for higher-level “rewards.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially since he couldn’t predict how much of the soul-power would remain—he himself had no control over it. Su Er might be beyond awakening, but the Spiritual Hero still watched him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Synchronization Rate: 42.6%, Approval Rating: 25.6%】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Synchronization rate rose sharply again; approval rating increased slightly, but remained limited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll aim to push synchronization past fifty percent and approval past thirty percent before it ends. Half should unlock a higher-tier reward—if I were designing it myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the examiner, Li En was still Su Er’s student—he needed to prove himself worthy of this inheritance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with some secrets revealed, certain things could no longer be ignored, and some troubles could no longer be avoided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I should go see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning to the bathroom attached to his bedroom, Li En closed the door and gave his reflection a bitter smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I must admit—the previous Li Ensu… was probably not a good man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With new information in hand, some suspicions were confirmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Missing Heroine.” Heroine Laina vanished two years ago; now she was bound in his bestiary, half-mad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who did it? Why? If the bestiary was truly bound to Li Ensu, the likelihood that the previous Li Ensu was the perpetrator was extremely high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he did it, his activity cycle must be very recent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the real nightmare—a Li Ensu likely aligned with evil, still stirring chaos two years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was entirely possible. Experience shapes character; if he, like Su Er, regained full memory only at death, turning to darkness was entirely plausible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he could only hope the man wore a mask, or had severe beastly features obscuring his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Touching the ancient bestiary, the rift in space opened again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as a mere spatial item, this book’s value remained immense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, Li En had no time to consider such tricks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Roar!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sudden beastly roar erupted from within—like the bellow of an ancient colossus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’s awake?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Li En’s expression grew tenser, yet he had no reason to retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped into the rift, slowly entering the crimson passage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Red… wait! It’s burning hot!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The walls were like molten lava; even a fleeting touch burned his skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gritted his teeth and pressed forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.Hmm, it smells foul… my hair’s on fire?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After only two steps, Li En turned and ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t ordinary heat—his skin and clothes were burning; the air ahead was warped by extreme temperatures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beastly roar still echoed through the passage, but this path was clearly impassable for Li En now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The passage now felt like a living volcano, spewing lethal heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll try again when I get the Holy Knight armor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Li En could only abandon it—for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he was drenched in sweat, with minor burns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En took another bath, applied ointment, and found his scheduled visitor already waiting in the parlor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For a three-story villa, to minimally activate the ground-floor hall, reception room, servants’ quarters, and kitchen, you’ll need at least one chef and one servant. If you manage the garden yourself, you’ll save a bit. You’ll need at least two maids for cleaning and daily care, one male servant for errands, a gardener, a guard…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The merchant guild’s hired steward spoke, and Li En sweated more with every word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was one of the rules of this world: noble estates and large homes required servants to maintain appearances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t even the standard for a count’s heir—it was already a fallen noble. A rough calculation showed he’d need at least a dozen servants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most expensive were the steward and guards—especially the guild-recommended professional guards, who earned gold coins monthly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Li En’s own freelance consulting income was paid in silver coins weekly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… I don’t think I qualify as nobility anymore. Maybe I should follow the commoner standard?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commoners can’t afford your house,” the man replied with polite amusement. This was a three-story villa with a well-preserved courtyard and over twenty rooms—commoners lived in single-story hovels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En paused, wondering if the man was treating him like a fool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d only intended to hire one or two “nannies” for occasional cleaning when he contacted the local merchant guild’s service.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he couldn’t use local cookware or ingredients, he’d maybe hire one cook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But don’t merchants live in big houses too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re even more extravagant than minor nobles. Such houses can be packed full, with young maids and grooms, dedicated stables and servants’ quarters built in the yard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world was profoundly unfair—and at this moment, Li En saw it again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d only asked the guild to assess the house and estimate staffing needs—but they’d casually handed him a massive bill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now was no time to pretend—he laid out his actual situation and demanded minimal staffing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noble dignity? It clearly didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For the bare minimum… hire one cook who also serves as a maid—older, quick-handed—and one cleaning maid. You could also subscribe to our guild’s regular cleaning service. Then, just one or two maids to handle your personal needs will suffice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were very professional, saying that under your circumstances, you could abandon most of the second- and third-floor rooms and only activate a few rooms on the first and second floors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for female servants, middle-aged or older women who are capable and cheap are available.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reality is harsh—even in a transmigrated world, there are no cute cat maids with silver hair and red eyes; the only ones you can afford are probably big-bosomed bear-women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En asked a little more: young, attractive female maids cost far more than middle-aged women, and those who hint at offering certain services cost several times more. Li En had zero interest—he only asked out of curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Actually, you could try buying slaves. Though the initial investment is high, it won’t take long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.” Without a second thought, Li En refused outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Regardless, your house still needs guards—these times aren’t safe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En could understand that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you don’t want bandits sneaking into your home at night, a “wealthy household” like yours needs at least some armed protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an unstable era, “wealth” itself is a crime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He considered it, still planning to refuse, when the other party made a suggestion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Our chamber of commerce actually offers intermediary services. You know, the most valuable industry in Huicheng is underground exploration. Every year, countless outsiders come here, and we also have dedicated training institutions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are quite a few outsiders like you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long-term stays at inns aren’t ideal—on one hand, they’re expensive; on the other, they risk information leaks and insecurity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chamber of commerce that Li En encountered offers an ongoing intermediary service, providing long-term rental housing for adventurers with good reputations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re alone, and at least six guest rooms are empty—you could rent them out to seven or eight people. The adventurers we work with are honest and trustworthy; if they move in, they’ll provide a degree of security, and you’ll save on guard fees.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En’s house could easily accommodate one or two adventurer teams—it’s spacious, dilapidated, and on the outskirts, meaning low rent, perfect for adventurers with tight pockets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En thought about it, planning to refuse—his secrets were too many to share.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, he had plenty of messy matters on his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rent is over four gold coins per month. You’re a Holy Knight—many teams have high standards for landlords’ character. With you as the owner, we could even raise it further.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With no more than five tenants, your daily life won’t be affected. You could also hire more servants to keep the house running—at least maintain your noble dignity. In this city, Holy Knights are considered part of the nobility.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this world, one gold pound equals sixteen silver huī, which equals over sixteen hundred copper sī. Li En’s weekly salary is five silver coins and fifty copper—already a high income in the outskirts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A quick calculation showed the rent was three or four times Li En’s monthly income.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Send me some candidates. No riffraff.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, even in a transmigrated world, being a landlord earns far more than working a job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En couldn’t refuse. After paying the Weier family’s compensation, he truly had no money—and no visible way to earn any.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expenses, however, were many: equipment, professional cultivation, and racial ability development all demanded massive investment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En realized now: this sharp, successful merchant wasn’t here to sell him servants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few silver coins in commission after deducting dozens of silver—how much could he possibly make? He was offering rental services to other wealthy adventurers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sum was one Li En simply couldn’t refuse—he fully understood: having no money was unthinkable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, Li En did have some interest in those who explored the underground. Technically, as a Holy Knight, he was one of the transcendent professions, but he truly lacked knowledge in this area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perhaps, it’s an opportunity to connect.” Li En considered it. Absorbing local influences might not be a bad thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alright, to be blunt—it all comes down to money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When your total savings are two thousand, your weekly salary is fifteen hundred, and you don’t even know how many more weeks you’ll get paid, who could resist a monthly rental income of over ten thousand?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a righteous superhero has to eat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even so, he still set some conditions—no criminals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry. We know your name in the docks—the Mad Knight of Justice. No one’s stupid enough to come here and die. In fact, some come precisely because of your reputation—they’re more worried about their own safety than you are. Even the strong can die in their sleep. A morally reliable landlord is a huge plus.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En worried about problematic tenants; the tenants worried just as much about cruel landlords—in fact, the tenants were even more vulnerable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After demanding that the chamber of commerce send a cook and a female servant first to get the house running, this minor incident passed quickly, and Li En went to work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, though curious about the new Bone Shatter Gang in the docks, he didn’t ask around. He simply followed his usual patrol route, further narrowing down the criminal’s possible range of activity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering the recent frequency of crimes and the fact that the perpetrator needed Diego as a transporter, Li En guessed the killer likely lived in the outskirts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He already had a solution in mind—now he just needed to wait for reinforcements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He went about his daily routine, doing various “good deeds.” Anyone who’s won the lottery knows: if you’re in an unsafe environment and want to survive well, besides claiming your prize anonymously, it’s more important to maintain your old habits for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to pretend everything was normal—but someone wouldn’t let him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chief Li En! Chief Li En! Something happened! Someone came to seek revenge on you!” His team members rushed up to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh, uh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a Labol! Super strong! Beautiful sword! Beautiful person!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Spider…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just arriving at the special task force, Li En was left stunned by the two kids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What? Someone came for revenge? Labol just showed up directly? Their skills aren’t that crude—even if assassins came, they wouldn’t announce themselves so openly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, he underestimated the sheer naivety of a Holy Knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tall, elegant figure stood in the street, surrounded by locals pointing and whispering. Her radiant silver armor clashed utterly with local styles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All six of her arms gripped swords as she let out a deafening roar!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Evil ones of the Tail Hunt! I, Lari Labol, swear to exterminate you all!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice echoed through the entire neighborhood—everyone stood dumbfounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait—you’re not here to avenge the Mad Knight? You’re here to investigate and find the real killer?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Evil ones of the Tail Hunt! If you’re not just cowards who prey on the weak, come face me directly! I am waiting for you!” She continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this how you investigate? Shouting insults and mocking the whole district?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alright, Li En had truly underestimated the sheer foolishness of Holy Knights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Moth #3 Satisfaction Increased: Compatibility: 31%, Satisfaction: 30%】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait, Su Er, you’re supposed to scold her—this isn’t something to praise!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2912,"2026-06-19T21:45:41.002Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","7551266bef29855bffa5754de5dd9f01e9d11c82c33cebf667db41aa612e06d4","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-20","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-18",362,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-cover.jpg"]