Money Grubber

As soon as the words fell.

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

Before the youth could react, Chen Shouyi's left foot sprang up like a spring and heavily kicked the other man's stomach. He was sent flying into the air, tumbling to the ground after two or three meters.

He rolled a few times, his face pale as wax, his body curled up like a lobster. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead from the pain, as if his intestines had been kicked to pieces.

There was a difference between Martial Apprentice and Martial Apprentice. Some were fresh, tender new Martial Apprentices like Chen Xingyue who had just passed the assessment, while others were experienced Martial Apprentices like Wang Ruyue, who were close to becoming Martial Artists.

However, Chen Shouyi estimated that even Wang Ruyue would fare no better than this youth when facing him after his body had been strengthened once more.

His physical reaction speed and agility alone were enough to crush the opponent.

The girl in the distance, who had originally intended to run over and tell her boyfriend not to hit people, stopped in her tracks, covering her mouth in astonishment as she witnessed the scene.

Chen Shouyi glanced at the girl and, with a cold smile, walked up to the youth.

He grabbed the youth's hair and lightly patted his face.

Facing such humiliation, the youth's neck veins bulged, and he glared with wide eyes, "Your mother!"

"Martial Apprentice? Heh, wait until you become a Martial Artist, then tell me to 'give you some face'. Perhaps then I'll consider your face."

The youth's pupils contracted sharply upon hearing this. He had originally intended to utter a few threats to save face, but now the words were stuck in his throat, unable to be spoken.

Chen Shouyi released the youth and walked a few steps before brushing past the girl. He turned back and said coldly:

"This place is yours now!"

The girl's face turned ashen with fright, her body stiff. She only snapped back to reality when the other person had walked more than ten meters away, and quickly ran to her boyfriend.

Walking on the mountain path's steps.

Looking at the lush trees on both sides.

Chen Shouyi's inner restlessness gradually subsided.

He reflected on his actions just now. Since the two killings he had experienced, he felt his violent tendencies growing stronger.

There was even a moment just now when a hint of killing intent arose in his heart.

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

Otherwise, with this explosive strength, even if the opponent were a Martial Apprentice, he would likely have died on the spot.

He couldn't help but secretly warn himself never to act rashly again. If he could avoid using force, he should avoid it as much as possible.

If he accidentally killed someone and was discovered, he would have to wander the world.

The fourth day of the power outage.

After dinner.

The candle burned quietly on the desk, occasionally flickering and emitting sparks.

He pressed his phone, but no startup screen appeared. The last bit of battery power had finally depleted.

The only good news on the streets today was that the traffic congestion had finally been cleared this afternoon.

Dongning City had been quite chaotic during the clearing process. Many abandoned cars were ruthlessly crushed into iron cakes by steamrollers, and countless people became agitated, nearly sparking a riot.

It was only after a large number of military police were deployed that the situation was finally suppressed.

However, this also stirred up unrest in many people's hearts. In the residential complex not far from his home, a young couple was forcibly entered and murdered by masked assailants in the evening. It wasn't until blood flowed out the door that they were discovered.

At this moment, there was a knock on the door.

"Brother, brother, hurry up and open the door, I need you for something."

Chen Shouyi quickly put the Shell Girl, who was boredly playing with two glass marbles, into his briefcase and zipped it up.

After finishing everything, he went to open the door. "What is it?"

"Why are you so slow? What were you doing? Don't tell me you were doing that disgusting thing?" Chen Xingyue looked around suspiciously, as if trying to find some evidence. She had heard the sound of the zipper just now.

"Don't project your filthy thoughts onto me. If you have something to say, say it quickly," Chen Shouyi said impatiently.

Chen Xingyue couldn't find any useful leverage in the end and had to state the truth:

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

"Uncle Wang?"

"You mean Wang Debiao, Old Man Wang's eldest son?" Chen Xingyue quickly explained.

"What did he come for? Didn't their family just finish the funeral?" Chen Shouyi asked, confused.

"It's not finished yet. They were planning to cremate the body this evening after the roads were cleared, but the national highway was still blocked, so they came back. And Old Man Wang's body had another incident yesterday. Fortunately, the police found it and fired a few shots, so they carried it back again," Chen Xingyue said with a hint of a smile.

"Their family is really unlucky. But what does this have to do with you? You're not related to them, what are you trying to say?" Chen Shouyi was completely bewildered.

Chen Xingyue, overwhelmed by Chen Shouyi's imposing manner, quickly found herself at a disadvantage. After going out, her brother's words seemed to have become increasingly powerful, making her feel unaccustomed to it.

"I'm a Martial Apprentice, everyone here knows that. So they want to invite me over to suppress the ill fortune. Mom and Dad told me to decide for myself."

"Why would you go? Your parents are people who care about face. They've been neighbors for decades, so it's naturally difficult for them to refuse directly, but what about your face!"

"Yeah, that's what I thought too!" Chen Xingyue let out a dry laugh at her brother's sharp retort, hesitating to speak further.

His mind was sharp now, and seeing her expression, Chen Shouyi knew the answer: "You agreed? How much are they offering to hire you?"

"I mainly want to build up my courage."

She was still trying to hide it.

"How much?"

"Five thousand!" Chen Xingyue gave an embarrassed laugh.

My dear sister, I never expected you to be so money-grubbing; five thousand and you're sold.

Chen Shouyi said with schadenfreude, "Since you agreed, then go. Old Man Wang was shot a few times last night; he probably won't be able to stir today!"

After observing last night, although "Old Man Wang" looked terrifying, he wasn't actually dangerous. With his slow speed alone, even a three or four-year-old child could outrun him.

"You're not thinking of asking me to go with you, are you?"

Chen Xingyue nodded vigorously.

"Dream on?" Chen Shouyi burst her bubble. "If I have this time, I'd rather sleep."

"One thousand, I'll give you one thousand."

"You're quite generous, keeping four thousand for yourself and giving your brother one thousand," Chen Shouyi glanced sideways at Chen Xingyue.

"Two thousand!"

He sneered, unmoved.

"Three thousand at most, you take the lion's share, alright?" Chen Xingyue said indignantly.

"Deal, you said it!" Chen Shouyi immediately replied.

Although he no longer cared about this small amount of money, he was still somewhat uneasy about letting his sister go out alone. Moreover, he wanted to see up close what abilities such a strange creature possessed.

"When are we going?" Chen Shouyi asked.

"Right now!" Chen Xingyue said resentfully.

She was unwilling, but since the words were out, she couldn't take them back. However, she breathed a sigh of relief in her heart; she really didn't dare to go alone.

"Then wait for me for a moment, I'll change my clothes."

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

He found a jacket and put it on.

What if this strange creature has corpse poison like the zombies in legends?

If I accidentally get scratched, at least the clothes will provide some barrier.

Of course, he felt the chance of getting scratched was extremely low with his reflexes, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

Next, he dug out a down jacket he hadn't worn in a long time and spread it under the bed.

Then he took the Shell Girl out of his briefcase.

After a brief negotiation.

Finally, Chen Shouyi exchanged one night of freedom for the Shell Girl at the cost of a glass bead the size of a mung bean.

She happily clutched the glass bead as Chen Shouyi tied her up with a thin rope, taped her mouth shut, and then stuffed her under the bed onto the spread-out down jacket.