The Usual Routine

Then he let go.

There wasn't much money in the bag. Most of the proceeds from selling that crystal were still hidden at home—after all, with Yi Zhengen watching over the place, ordinary people wouldn't dare break into his house to steal.

As for the gesture, it wasn't out of sorrow or pity.

Zhou You merely sighed.

—In a world like this, how many more existed within the Black Book?

He could save one, two, three, four people—but what about the countless others?

Watching the kid clutch the wallet and run into the darkness, Zhou You shook his head. First, he spread his hands to show that he had nothing left on him. Then, before that pack of starving madmen could swarm him, he punched the brick wall beside him.

Seeing the cracks spreading inch by inch across the wall, the onlookers hesitated for a moment before choosing to retreat into the shadows.

What they wanted was a cripple they could bully at will, some wicked person without an infectious disease whom they could swallow whole—not a "troublemaker" who could smash a brick wall with one punch.

Only after those people left did Zhou You turn and head toward the mouth of the alley.

His previously good mood had sunk to the bottom again because of this.

Perhaps to clear his head, he did not take the main road. Instead, he followed the twisting side paths, wandering around and taking in the sights.

When he had first arrived, he had only taken a fleeting glance. Then, over the past few days, he had been busy treating his leg and had no time for anything else. Only today, when he finally took the time to look closely, did he realize—

This damned world was even worse than he had imagined.

The