License Plate Number

That day, Chen Feng changed clothes in the locker room and waved goodbye to Lin Hao.

The two had added each other on WeiChat, so there were ways to stay in touch.

Then, carrying his clothes bag, he stood at the entrance of the martial arts gym.

Taking one last look at this branch gym, Chen Feng knew he probably wouldn't be coming back here again.

"Let's go."

As if saying it to himself, he stepped forward and soon walked toward the bus stop.

Maybe luck was on his side—the bus arrived just in time.

Without waiting more than a few seconds, he boarded smoothly and found an empty seat by the window.

He still had to go to work at the supermarket later.

Even after becoming a Core Disciple, Chen Feng had no intention of giving up this job for now.

After all, being a Core Disciple only meant free access to Martial Dao School teachings.

For daily life—food, clothing, shelter, transportation—he still had to handle things himself.

"According to Cao Tong, once I grasp the basics of a Martial Dao School, I can become an official disciple of Yan Wu Academy and work there."

"In other words, I can get a formal job at the academy and earn a salary."

His eyes flickered as Chen Feng started forming some ideas.

His steadily improving physical condition meant his appetite was growing, especially his need for high-nutrition food.

So, at least for now, if he could get by with his supermarket job to sustain himself temporarily, and then switch to a higher-paying job once he became an official disciple of Yan Wu Academy, that wouldn't be bad.

Thinking this over, Chen Feng nodded to himself.

Get stronger, make money.

Those were still the two points of his future plan.

Clunk!

The bus pulled into a stop, and more passengers boarded.

Empty seats grew scarce, but Chen Feng just sat calmly by the window, silently watching the street scenes recede outside.

"Did you hear? Someone died on Little Stone Street last night."

"Huh? How'd they die?"

"No idea. I heard when they found the body this morning, the organs were all gone—probably cut out and sold by the killer."

"No way."

The two old men in the seats ahead whispered quietly, their voices low, but Chen Feng caught most of it.

Another body with missing organs?

He raised an eyebrow slightly, involuntarily recalling the blood-red eyes he'd seen in the alley a few days ago.

His strength had grown over the past few days, and since the monster hadn't reappeared, he'd almost forgotten about it.

But now.

His mind stirred, and Chen Feng grew curious.

Taking advantage of this free moment, he pulled out his phone and quickly opened the local city news app.

He deliberately typed in keywords like organs, body, and Little Stone Street.

Soon, a stream of headlines appeared.

[Body with Missing Organs Discovered on Little Stone Street!]

[Resident Found the Deceased While Taking Out Trash in the Morning, Mistook Him for Unconscious, Approached and Saw the Horrific Scene, Was So Shocked He Nearly Had a Stroke.]

[Security Bureau Has Launched an Investigation; City Residents Are Advised Not to Panic.]

Headlines flashed by, and Chen Feng scrolled through three or five of them.

The content was mostly similar, with some on-site photos included.

Though he didn't see the body, looking at the dried blood spatters on the walls in the scene, Chen Feng couldn't help raising an eyebrow.

"Just like it."

He felt the bloodstain pattern at that scene was almost identical to what he'd seen that morning in the alley near his neighborhood.

Both seemed to be caused by flesh and blood torn apart and splattered by some immense force.

"Maybe this was caused by that monster too?"

A bold guess surfaced in his mind, and the more Chen Feng thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

He wasn't particularly afraid, though.

Just a bit more vigilance, and the pressure to grow stronger.

He didn't want to encounter monsters.

So, he hoped to gain the strength to defeat them as soon as possible.

Half an hour later.

Chen Feng stepped off the bus and arrived at Yong Le Fu supermarket.

"Ding dong!"

"Welcome."

The mechanical voice at the entrance chimed as someone entered. Aunt He, who was playing on her phone behind the checkout counter, looked up.

"Aunt He."

"Eh, Xiao Feng, why are you here so early today?"

A bit surprised, she instinctively glanced at the time on her phone.

3:40.

Still twenty minutes until the shift change.

"Nothing much today, so I came straight here."

Chen Feng explained.

Because of the assessment today, he had left earlier than usual.

He couldn't be bothered to go back to the neighborhood and waste time. Since it was only twenty minutes, he figured he might as well come directly.

"Eh, too early, too early."

"Go hang out over there for a bit, and take over when it's time."

Aunt He felt a little awkward, but Chen Feng didn't push it. He soon walked to the sofa area behind the shelves to rest and wait.

Before long, the supermarket's mechanical welcome chime sounded again.

He heard a familiar voice.

"Sister Zhang, thanks for switching shifts with me today."

"Hah, no problem. Morning or evening, it's all the same."

"Thanks, Sister Zhang. Xiao Yao, say hello."

"Aunt He, Aunt Zhang."

"Eh, Xiao Yao is such a good girl."

The chatter quickly ended, and then Chen Feng saw Xu Yao walk through the shelf area, carrying her backpack.

A white short-sleeved shirt, denim trousers, and slightly yellowed white low-top canvas shoes.

Plain and ordinary clothes, but the little girl had fair skin, delicate and pretty features, and her black hair tied back in a ponytail—very well-behaved.

"Chen, Chen Feng gege."

Surprised to see him here, Xu Yao was clearly taken aback for a moment, but then she obediently called out.

"Mm, Xiao Yao."

Smiling and nodding, Chen Feng glanced at the time. Figuring it was about right, he stood up to take over the shift.

His sturdy frame rose inch by inch, in an instant casting a shadow that enveloped Xu Yao's entire field of vision.

Sensing she was still a bit shy, Chen Feng ruffled her hair.

She didn't resist. Smiling, he walked over to the checkout counter.

Soon, the supermarket grew quiet, and he exchanged a greeting with Li Hongxia.

Everyone busied themselves—some ringing up customers, some cleaning.

In the sofa area, Xu Yao was very quiet. Occasionally, the sound of a ballpoint pen clicking could be heard.

Gradually, night deepened.

Customers came and went. Chen Feng raised an eyebrow as that trace of malice appeared again in his Perception.

"Here again."

Looking out the supermarket window, a black car slowly pulled up and parked in a spot beside the streetlamp.

The license plate was the same as this morning's. Two figures—one tall, one stout—sat inside.

Their eyes met. Perhaps sensing his gaze, the two casually looked away, each lighting a cigarette.

They seemed to be waiting for someone, but Chen Feng knew the malice came from them.

"What are they after?"

Chen Feng remained alert and averted his gaze.

He had previously guessed that Xu Dongtai wanted to pull some tricks before the assessment.

But looking at it now, that clearly wasn't the case.

"Could it be that I've offended someone without realizing it?"

Chen Feng frowned, involuntarily beginning to recall his past experiences.

He shook his head inwardly, his thoughts scattered.

Until finally, his phone buzzed with a vibration.

A message arrived at just the right moment.

[Lin Hao: The license plate you asked me to look up, I found it.]

Thank you for the tip, Explosive Little Tender Leaf!!! Thank you to all the brothers for your support!