CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 49: MONEY-GRUBBER

As soon as the words were spoken.

Chen Shouyi, who was still sitting in the pavilion, moved like the wind.

Before the young man could react, Chen Shouyi’s left foot sprang like a coil, kicking heavily into the opponent’s stomach, sending him flying two or three meters before he rolled to the ground.

He rolled several times, his face ashen, his body curled up like a shrimp, beads of cold sweat streaming down his forehead as if his intestines had been kicked out.

Even among Martial Artist Apprentices, there are differences. There are greenhorns like Chen Xingyue, who have just passed the assessment, and then there are Senior Martial Artist Apprentices like Wang Ruyue, who are close to becoming Martial Artists.

However, right now, it seems that even Wang Ruyue wouldn’t fare much better against the enhanced Chen Shouyi.

The mere reaction speed and agility were enough to crush.

In the distance, a girl who had wanted to run over to dissuade her boyfriend from hitting others, saw this scene and couldn’t help but cover her mouth in shock and stop in her tracks.

Chen Shouyi glanced at the girl, coldly smirked, and took a few steps to stand before the young man.

Grabbing a handful of his hair, he lightly patted the young man’s face.

Faced with such humiliation, the young man’s neck muscles bulged with rage, eyes glaring: "Your mother!"

"Martial Artist Apprentice? Haha, when you become a Martial Artist, come speak to me about ’giving me face.’ Maybe then I’ll consider your face."

The young man’s pupils contracted violently. He had intended to threaten a bit, to save face, but now the words stuck in his throat, unable to come out.

Chen Shouyi released the young man, and after a few steps, as he brushed past the girl, he turned his head and said coldly:

"This place is yours now!"

The girl was so frightened her face turned pale and her body froze, only coming to her senses after he had walked ten meters away, quickly running to her boyfriend.

...

Walking on the mountain path steps.

Looking at the lush trees on either side.

The restless feeling in Chen Shouyi’s heart gradually calmed down.

Reflecting on his actions just now, ever since the two slaughters, he has felt his own aggression growing heavier.

There was even a moment earlier when a trace of killing intent arose in his heart.

Fortunately, at the last moment, he restrained some of his strength and changed his intended kick from the chest to the stomach.

Otherwise, with his ferocious power, even if the opponent was a Martial Artist Apprentice, he might have died on the spot.

He couldn’t help but warn himself: he must not lose his head again in the future; whenever possible, try to avoid physical confrontation.

If by any chance someone dies and it gets discovered, he might have no choice but to wander the world.

...

The fourth day of a power outage.

After dinner.

The candle burned quietly on the desk, occasionally sputtering with tiny sparks.

He pressed his phone, but no boot screen appeared; the last bit of remaining power had finally drained away.

The only good news in the streets today was that the traffic jam was finally cleared this afternoon.

During the clearing process, Dongning City was in considerable chaos, with numerous cars breaking down and being ruthlessly crushed into iron pancakes by road rollers, causing many people to become emotional, nearly inciting a riot.

It wasn’t until a large number of military police were deployed that the situation was suppressed.

However, this sparked restlessness in the hearts of many people. Just in a neighborhood not far from his home, a young couple was forced into their home and murdered by masked men at dusk, only discovered when blood seeped out the door.

...

At that moment, there was a knock on the door outside.

"Brother, brother, quickly open the door, I need to talk to you."

Chen Shouyi quickly put the Shell Lady, who was bored playing with two Glass Beads, into a briefcase, then swiftly zipped it up.

After doing everything, he went and opened the door: "What is it?"

"Why are you so slow in opening the door? What were you doing, not doing something disgusting, were you?" Chen Xingyue eyed both sides suspiciously, as if trying to find some evidence, having just heard the sound of a zipper.

"Don’t force your filthy thoughts onto me, speak up if you have something to say." Chen Shouyi said impatiently.

In the end, Chen Xingyue couldn’t find any useful handle, so she had to tell the truth:

"Uncle Wang and his wife just came to the house."

"Uncle Wang?"

"It’s Wang Debiao, the eldest son of Uncle Wang?" Chen Xingyue hurriedly explained.

"What is he here for? Didn’t their family just finish dealing with the funeral?" Chen Shouyi asked in confusion.

"It’s not finished yet, originally, after the roads were cleared this evening, they planned to go for the cremation, but the national highway over there is still blocked, so they came back. And besides, yesterday Uncle Wang’s corpse went missing again, fortunately, the police found it, fired a few shots, and they brought it back." Chen Xingyue said cautiously.

"Their family is really unlucky, but what does this have to do with you? You’re unrelated, after all, what are you trying to say?" Chen Shouyi listened, feeling perplexed.

Intimidated by Chen Shouyi’s way of speaking, Chen Xingyue found herself on the losing side of the argument quite quickly. Having been out for a while, she found her brother’s way of speaking increasingly adept, which she found unsettling.

"I’m a Martial Artist Apprentice, you know, people here know about it, so they want to invite me to quell the evil energy. Mom and Dad told me to decide for myself."

"What’s the point of going? Our parents are considerate people, and after decades of being neighbors, it’s natural they can’t refuse outright, but what face do you need?"

"Yeah, that’s what I thought too!" Receiving sharp criticism from her brother, Chen Xingyue forced a laugh and finally spoke her mind.

Seeing her expression, Chen Shouyi, thinking sharply, knew the outcome: "You agreed? How much are they paying to hire you?"

"I mainly wanted to exercise my courage."

She still tried to cover it up.

"How much?"

"Five thousand!" Chen Xingyue laughed awkwardly.

My dear sister, I didn’t expect you to be such a money-grubber, selling yourself for just five thousand.

Chen Shouyi said mockingly: "Since you agreed, then go on, Uncle Wang was shot a few times last night, today he probably can’t stir up any trouble!"

From last night’s observation, "Uncle Wang," though terrifying in appearance, actually posed no real danger. His slow pace couldn’t even catch up with a three or four-year-old child.

"You’re not expecting me to go with you, are you?"

Chen Xingyue instantly nodded vigorously.

"Dream on?" Chen Shouyi dashed her hopes: "With that time, I’d rather be sleeping."

"One thousand, I’ll split one thousand with you."

"How generous of you, taking four thousand and leaving your brother with just a thousand." Chen Shouyi gave Chen Xingyue a sideways glance and said.

"Two thousand!"

He sneered, unmoved.

"Three thousand at most; you’ll take the bigger share, alright?" Chen Xingyue said angrily.

"Deal, but you said it!" Chen Shouyi immediately agreed.

Though he no longer cared much for such a small amount of money, he was still concerned about his sister going alone. Moreover, he wanted to see up close what abilities such a bizarre thing might have.

"When do we go?" Chen Shouyi asked.

"We’re going right now!" Chen Xingyue said resentfully.

Though she was reluctant, having spoken, it wasn’t easy to take back her words. However, inwardly, she let out a sigh of relief. She really wouldn’t have dared to go alone.

"Then wait a moment while I change clothes."

After Chen Xingyue left, Chen Shouyi immediately closed the door.

He found a jacket and put it on.

You never know, such bizarre things might have corpse poison like the zombies in the legends?

If accidentally grabbed, at least there’s the clothing as a barrier.

Of course, he thought his chances of being caught were incredibly low given his reflexes, yet caution never hurts.

Next, he fetched an old down jacket he hadn’t worn in ages and laid it under the bed.

Then he took out the Shell Lady from the briefcase.

After a brief negotiation.

Finally, Chen Shouyi secured one night of freedom for the Shell Lady for the price of a pea-sized Glass Bead.

She cheerfully held the Glass Bead as Chen Shouyi bound her with thin ropes, sealing her mouth with tape and placing her onto the down jacket spread beneath the bed.

ps: Seeking recommendations, ah ah ah.