Thomas sorrowfully recounted the rough, fallen first half of his life.
Wang Jixuan played the part of a qualified listener.
To Daoist Wang, Thomas's story held little interest, but observing the lives of mortals could still deepen his understanding of the mortal world.
The handmade car drove along a bumpy, winding road into Level Forty-Nine, deliberately avoiding the standoff zone between the Black Fire Gang and the Wanlijin Gang, and entered Wanlijin territory without obstruction.
Just as the Black Fire Gang's territory had the alternate name [City of Rebirth], Wanlijin's territory had its own distinctive designation.
[Emerald Manor].
This place was a massive farm that supplied brewing materials.
Emerald Manor covered roughly the same area as the City of Rebirth. White greenhouses for growing crops stood everywhere, while the main residential area had been compressed into a narrow space, creating the strange sight of a "container forest."
Wang Jixuan suddenly heard children laughing and shrieking.
He looked out through the car window.
Children played and chased one another through the maze-like "container forest." Energy-saving lamps glowed outside many container homes, beneath which adults stitched and mended clothes.
Other than the City of Joy, Emerald Manor was the Lower City district that consumed the most electricity for lighting.
Besides fermenting alcohol and supplying the Upper City with vegetables and fruit, Wanlijin's third-largest business was hand sewing. Forty percent of the clothes, shoes, and hats in the entire Lower City came from this container forest.
That included the green tracksuits worn by their enemies in the Black Fire Gang.
Wang Jixuan could also see groups of people drinking and chatting on platforms, while quite a few armed men and women patrolled the area.
His attention was quickly drawn to those greenhouses.
In his perception, the spiritual energy over there...
Was incredibly pure!
There was slightly more spiritual energy, too!
Was it because there were more plants?
This accidental discovery filled Wang Jixuan with greater anticipation.
The facts proved that his luck today was quite good.
The broker who had brought him here, Thomas "Goat's Ass," finally stopped reminiscing and lamenting. Pointing at a stretch of greenhouses, he said in a hoarse voice:
"We'll go there in a bit.
"Thank you, Brother Zhou. I've never told anyone else my story, except my driver... Just now, you made me reconsider my life.
"As repayment, I'll introduce you to my adoptive mother. That was my old home, and she's one of the most respected elders in the Wanlijin Gang.
"All right, I'll tell you the truth.
"Since your uncle is a man of influence, I planned this from the beginning. I wanted to place you in my hometown, hoping you could get along with my younger brothers and sisters here. Then, if they need help in the future, you can offer them a little favor.
"Wait a moment. I need to change my style, or that eccentric old lady will smack my sexy ass with her broom."
Thomas began wiping off his makeup.
"Thank you," Wang Jixuan said softly.
After listening to the story all the way here, Daoist Wang felt somewhat moved as well.
Thomas was this guy's stage name. To make business easier in the City of Joy, he also had a rather poetic real name, Hua Queyue, which he barely used anymore.
The contrast was the whole point.
Thomas claimed to be sexually conservative and had a secret girlfriend. His usual flamboyant attire, way of speaking, and style of conduct were all meant to increase his acceptance among different groups of people.
For someone in his line of work—settling Middle City people in the Lower City and moving Lower City people into the Middle City—connections were the most important thing.
A few minutes later.
Thomas wiped away his eye makeup, foundation, and bright red lipstick. He changed into a black shirt, skillfully smeared sticky hair gel over both hands, and quickly transformed his original mohawk into a smooth six-four side part.
A charming middle-aged man in his forties with a muscular build promptly appeared before Wang Jixuan.
The transformation techniques of this world don't even require spells or incantations!
"What do you think?"
Thomas deliberately used a breathy voice.
"Could I be a cover model? Actually, my first job in the City of Joy was as a display-window model, you know."
Wang Jixuan forced a smile. "What are we doing next?"
"Come with me. Put away that wild expression of yours. Just... keep your heart as calm as possible and try to look like an intellectual."
Thomas rubbed his nose.
"My adoptive mother has a terrible temper and hates loafers with no proper work. Don't tell her why you were forced into the Lower City, either. She hates murderers most of all.
"Just say you offended some well-connected people in the Middle City, and they wanted you dead. Your uncle arranged for you to hide down here for a while. That'll be enough.
"Understand?"
"More or less."
"Get out and wait for me. I'll go make some arrangements so they'll look after you in the future."
Thomas changed into an ordinary pair of sneakers, pushed open the car door, and climbed out.
A warm shout immediately came from nearby. "Brother Hua! You haven't been back in ages!"
"Hahaha! Long time no see!"
"Haven't seen you bring anyone over in a long time. Another peanut you can squeeze dry this time?"
"This one's different. His uncle handles logistics on Level Eleven, so he's got serious influence... Don't tell anyone about this, especially not the old lady at my place."
"Wow! Why would someone like that come to our slum?"
"They have enemies too. This poor bastard got framed, so he could only come here to lie low..."
Wang Jixuan got out of the car and saw Thomas chatting beneath a streetlamp with seven or eight men and women.
More Wanlijin gang members hurried over, gathering around Thomas to talk while accepting cigarettes from his hand.
The middle-aged driver opened the trunk and carried out two foam boxes.
"Brother Zhou, come give me a hand."
"Sure." Wang Jixuan took one of the boxes and found it filled with bags of edible flour.
The fortress's staple food was Starch Bars, which were not made from this kind of wheat flour. Flour was considered relatively expensive in the Lower City.
Wang Jixuan waited with the driver for more than ten minutes before Thomas finally finished handing out cigarettes and exchanging pleasantries.
Looking radiant, Thomas walked over, gave Wang Jixuan's shoulder a hearty slap, switched on a tiny flashlight, and headed toward the greenhouse district.
The closer they got to the greenhouses, the stronger Wang Jixuan's senses became.
The spiritual energy here truly was purer.
Who would have thought that, through such a twist of fate, he had found such a fine place to cultivate!
The greenhouses stood close together. Each was a standard ten meters long and three meters wide, and every greenhouse housed one family. The people living here were all families of Wanlijin Gang members.
Thomas lit the way as he introduced the place to Wang Jixuan.
"The formula soil capable of growing crops is Wanlijin's top-secret technology.
"Don't underestimate this dirt just because it looks common. Every household's greenhouse receives a fixed yearly quota of formula soil.
"Accordingly, every greenhouse must produce enough crops each year, mainly grapes for brewing and vegetables for the Upper City. If they fail to reach the designated output, that family loses its right to plant the following year.
"Taking care of plants is the easiest job in the Lower City.
"If they can raise the yield higher, they'll receive rewards for the excess.
"To keep things fair, the Wanlijin Gang handles all harvesting. If they catch growers stealing food, those people will permanently lose their planting rights and get beaten badly."
"That actually sounds pretty good," Wang Jixuan said.
"In terms of living conditions, choosing Wanlijin was actually your wisest choice. But as a broker, I have to say that your chances of rising through the ranks here are relatively low—unless you go fight the Black Fire Gang."
As he spoke, Thomas cleared his throat and unconsciously straightened his back. Looking at the three-story wooden building that stood head and shoulders above the greenhouse district, he let out a soft breath.
The wooden building was somewhat old and had stood here for many years.
Word of Thomas's return had already reached the place. Seven or eight children, ranging from three years old to twelve or thirteen, crowded beneath a yellowing porch light by the entrance and looked eagerly in their direction.
"Brother Hua!"
A little girl shouted in delighted surprise.
"Hahahaha!"
With a burst of laughter, Thomas opened his arms and charged over, his flashlight swinging wildly.
All eight children rushed up to meet him, chirping noisily like a flock of little magpies.
Wang Jixuan had listened to Thomas chatter all the way here. Besides learning about Thomas's rough, violent, and erotic little coming-of-age tales, he had also heard Thomas mention his "adoptive mother's wooden house" many times.
These children had all been adopted by that old woman.
The reason they could claim out an area here, create a small courtyard, plant some darkness-resistant fruit trees, and grow simple vegetables was all because of Thomas. After Old Thomas became a prominent figure in the Lower City, he had spared no effort in repaying the adoptive mother who had raised him.
Watching the scene before him, Wang Jixuan could not help feeling a touch of emotion.
So this was mortal affection...
Hm?
Wang Jixuan's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly as he looked toward a newly appeared figure beneath the porch light.
It was a white-haired old woman who looked to be in her sixties or seventies. She wore a light-colored floral dress and a brown cardigan, leaning against the doorframe with a smile as she watched her adopted sons and daughters play and make noise outside.
In the Lower City, elderly people who lived to that age were extremely rare, but that was not why Wang Jixuan frowned.
Perhaps because Wang Jixuan's gaze had suddenly sharpened, the old woman looked up at him.
By the light spilling over from a nearby greenhouse, she clearly saw the appearance of Wang Jixuan's disguised identity, "Zhou Tiantian."
Her face darkened. "Little Hua! You bastard! You've finally brought your business to my doorstep!"
"Mom! This young man is different!"
Thomas moved up with a grin, spreading his arms in hopes of receiving a hug, only to retreat when the old woman feinted a kick at him.
"You're still as healthy as ever," Thomas praised, secretly waving Wang Jixuan and the driver over.
Wang Jixuan's expression had already returned to its previous smile. Carrying the foam box closer, he carefully sensed the aura around her.
That was right.
A thread of mottled, chaotic energy surrounded the old woman.
The energy within Wen Heisen, the Black Fire Gang's third-in-command and a D-Class Psionicist.
Before you continue