Dong Qingke came over on his knees and stopped beside Zhao Gan, slapping himself over and over and cursing himself for having been blinded by greed, for being less than human...
Zhao Gan jolted awake and kicked Dong Qingke sprawling. "Get lost! Get out of here! You lowlife! Just standing in front of my house has sullied this whole Green Flat. Get lost!"
Dong Qingke had never heard anything so beautiful in his life. As if pardoned by the heavens, he was about to flee the den of demons when a commotion came from outside. "Well, look at that, the gate's shut tight. Brother Zhao, open up! Why lock it so firmly? It's not as if you just refined a Primordial Core. We've come to have a look. Surely your Co-learning Society won't turn us away at the door?"
At that moment, the mist Dong Qingke had conjured still shrouded Green Flat, sealing it off. Those outside couldn't see or hear what was happening within, and those inside couldn't see what was happening outside, but the voices came through clearly.
Everyone's gaze turned to Dong Qingke. His face crumpled like a rag, and he waved his hands frantically. "It wasn't me! It really wasn't! Am I crazy? Why would I call them here? What good would that do..."
As Dong Qingke hurriedly tried to defend himself, someone thumped to the ground. It was Fan Jiu. His whole body shook like a sieve, his lips quivered uncontrollably, and he pressed his face into the dirt.
Meng Fu flew into a rage, hauled him up, and slapped him back and forth several times. "Are you fucking trying to get yourself killed?"
Fan Jiu waved his hands frantically. "No, no... I, I..."
He was so terrified that his mind had gone hazy. His