Cornered

Li Ye went straight to the Pest Control Bureau and immediately knocked on the door of the section chief's office.

Seeing him, Sun Shun's face broke into a wide grin.

After Li Ye sat down, he took out a cigarette and offered one to Sun Shun. Just as he was about to light it, Sun Shun waved his hand, picked up the lighter, and stood up to light Li Ye's cigarette first.

Then he lit his own, took a satisfying puff, and blew out a stream of smoke, chuckling, "Li Ye, what can I do for you? Let me tell you upfront, no promotion for now, unless you officially join. I can get you some benefits though. Did you give away your family's stuff? Don't worry, I can handle small matters like this."

Li Ye had been giving out cigarettes to everyone he met these past few days; it certainly wasn't something a pack or two could cover.

As for this special brand of cigarette, he, as a section chief, only received a carton at the end of the year. Only the Bureau Chief could smoke them limitlessly. Li Ye's generous distribution could only be possible if the Bureau Chief was backing him.

Given such great honor, he, as a section chief, knew better than to pry.

"It's enough for now, Section Chief. I'm here to ask about something else."

Li Ye smiled, "Do you know about the Ren family?"

Sun Shun's smoking motion paused for a moment. Holding the cigarette, he tapped it into the ashtray twice. "Five Flavors Chopsticks?"

Anyone who became a section chief couldn't be stupid.

Li Ye didn't beat around the bush. He used those exquisite jade chopsticks that repelled oil and dirt even when eating in the cafeteria. Even someone completely ignorant could tell the chopsticks were extraordinary, let alone Sun Shun, who was quite knowledgeable.

The matter of the Five Plagues Ghost originated with them. Anyone with eyes could guess that Li Ye had definitely obtained a Magic Treasure.

It was natural for a regular person like Li Ye to get a Magic Treasure, so it must have been given by Bureau Chief Pan. Therefore, those who saw through it pretended not to know, and those who were unaware were in awe of Bureau Chief Pan, not wanting to investigate further.

"Yes, when I arrived, I encountered someone named Ren Xu. He insisted on buying something I had and even investigated my home."

Li Ye asked, "What kind of person is he?"

Sun Shun thought for a moment, took another drag from his cigarette, and said, "Just think of him as the child of a wealthy family."

Li Ye blinked. "A wealthy person among martial artists?"

Sun Shun nodded. "Don't blame our colleagues at the bureau. These wealthy people are resourceful and it's normal for them to be on good terms with certain individuals. Perhaps he just wanted to make a good impression. Whether you sell it or not is up to you."

Li Ye looked at Sun Shun. "Section Chief, if it were you, could you refuse?"

Sun Shun chuckled and shook his head. "My family has no power or influence, and I'm just a Second Dragon Gate practitioner, not even at the same level as some First-Tier Data Clerks. If the sincerity is enough, I might sell, but no one would dare say anything if I didn't."

As he spoke, he leaned back, and the Xiezhi emblem above his head seemed to stand out even more.

It didn't matter if one's martial arts realm wasn't high; the backing one had was the strongest martial arts!

"You don't need to worry. Whether you sell or not is your decision. In Ningjiang City, no one will do anything to you, after all..."

He raised the cigarette in his hand and smiled, "Special supply cigarettes like these aren't common in Ningjiang."

"I understand, Section Chief. Thank you."

Li Ye said, then stood up and left.

Sun Shun smiled and watched Li Ye leave. After the door closed, he flicked the ash from his cigarette and clicked his tongue. "They're already reaching this far... Don't do anything foolish. Our esteemed Bureau Chief is looking for an excuse."

Li Ye walked down the corridor, glancing at the brightly lit surroundings, and sneered, "Wealthy families and influential clans among martial artists, huh?"

He wasn't surprised by the existence of such people; it wasn't a deeply hidden secret or anything particularly mysterious.

Even he, after stepping into the martial arts world and reaching First Dragon Gate, felt his parents' backs straighten a little. Like his classmate Deng Hao, if he achieved martial arts success and combined it with his family background, he would also have influence.

However, Li Ye had always believed these things wouldn't affect him, much like how ordinary people and the wealthy essentially belonged to two different worlds.

"So rich, yet they don't offer sincere payment for goods. A typical case of looking down on people."

Li Ye shook his head and smiled, heading towards the first data room.

He hadn't cared before, and he certainly wouldn't now. He only came to ask to understand the situation.

After all, he had just become a disciple at noon, learning a martial art that was about to be lost. Pan Zhengyang had a good relationship with him, his cheap master.

Therefore, if he said no, no one would be able to force him to buy it.

In the evening, Li Ye had dinner in the cafeteria before heading home.

From the West District to the East District, the fastest route was naturally along the riverside avenue, which was also Li Ye's most familiar route.

He twisted the electric scooter to fifty kilometers per hour, the river breeze blowing through his hair, dissipating some of the muggy heat.

By tomorrow, once the rice arrived, he would be able to practice martial arts freely. And with his 'natural' increase in appetite, he could eat to his heart's content.

In two months, even with slow progress, he felt he could reach Third Dragon Gate.

And then there was the final year of high school...

As long as he reached Seven Dragon Gate and passed the General Knowledge exam, he could get into a top-tier Martial Arts University.

For General Knowledge, he wouldn't even need to study. As for his martial arts score, perhaps by the time of the martial arts college entrance exam, he would reach Nine Dragon Gate!

As he was thinking this, his electric scooter rounded a corner, preparing to change roads. But at that moment, under the dim streetlights, a figure quickly lunged out, blocking his path.

Screech!

Li Ye reacted quickly, squeezing the brakes. His strong feet stomped heavily on the ground, creating a friction sound as he brought the electric scooter to an abrupt halt.

"Ouch!"

The electric scooter was still some distance from the figure, but a pained cry was heard. A guy with dyed yellow hair fell to the ground, clutching his stomach and writhing.

The blonde guy, swaying his body, yelled with all his might, "You hit me! You hit me!"

Li Ye froze.

A scam?

Suddenly, a screech of brakes sounded from behind. A van stopped, its doors quickly opened, and a group of people got out.

About ten of them.

"What happened? Are you okay?!"

The Rune Warrior at the front, with a Black Dragon tattoo on his arm, shouted as he hurried towards Li Ye.

The people behind him also moved quickly, spreading out as if to surround the blonde guy.

Something's not right!

Li Ye didn't even have time to marvel at how so many people could emerge from the van. He grabbed the handlebars, ready to leave.

"You can't leave!"

The fallen blonde guy suddenly lunged, managing to stop the electric bike whose wheels had already started turning. His hands reached out towards Li Ye.

"You hit someone and think you can just leave! No way!"

In that instant, Li Ye understood. He immediately dropped the electric bike, leaped into the air, landed quickly, and took off running.

The blonde guy's outstretched arms were strong, and though he wasn't tall, the muscles displayed were terrifying. His skin was rough, like sandpaper.

And he could easily stop his electric bike from starting...

There was a classmate in his class who was similar.

He practices Iron Body Technique!

Confirmed, these guys are here for me!

"Chase!"

As expected, seeing Li Ye run, the Rune Warrior shouted, and the people around him moved in unison, all giving chase. As they ran, the wind whistled around them.

Their speed... some of them could actually keep up with Li Ye!

He's not slow!

His legwork was excellent, his hundred-meter sprint speed comparable to Bolt in his previous life. Those who could keep up with him were definitely not ordinary people.

Ten of them, all trained at martial arts schools?

Especially the Rune Warrior in front, his speed seemed even faster than Li Ye's. He moved as if he were floating.

"You can't escape!"

The Rune Warrior shouted. He leaped forward, as if stepping on air, and flew close to the ground into the nearby green belt. He stepped on the plants above, increasing his speed even further.

Lightness Skill!

Damn it, he's a martial artist too!