Chapter 5

Lin Jie felt extremely uncomfortable under Dong Xue'er's unwavering stare.

"Are you losing it too?"

"I'm not like them." Dong Xue'er said calmly. "I just suffered some mental shock. A few days of rest at the Mental Rehabilitation Center and I'll be fine. Don't worry."

"Hah! That's a relief." Lin Jie said.

"By the way, Lin Jie." Dong Xue'er suddenly grabbed his arm. "I've realized you're the only man I want. When we get back, let's make a baby."

"..." Lin Jie struggled internally for a long time before gritting his teeth. "You should go to the Mental Rehabilitation Center with them for a couple of days too."

"Is that wise? This opportunity might never come again, you virgin." Dong Xue'er teased him as she spoke.

"No problem! My style is **bold but not lewd, sleazy but with dignity." Lin Jie's teeth were nearly bleeding. "Something like this has to wait until your mental health is restored, or I'd feel guilty. If it's necessary, we can write a contract first, and make a baby after you're out of the Mental Rehabilitation Center."

As Lin Jie spoke, a pen and a piece of paper appeared in his hand.

"Tch, boring man. No wonder you're still a virgin." Dong Xue'er released his arm. "You've lost your chance."

"...I shouldn't have been so coy."

The next day, the headline of H City News Daily read: "On the immense mental pressure of superheroes—several of our city's superheroes have collectively entered the Mental Rehabilitation Center for treatment."

This story not only made the news but also drew out a slew of expert professors offering commentary.

"Looks like my workload's about to increase again." Lin Jie couldn't help but sigh. "I really want to know what kind of training they went through."

That afternoon, a giant Lizardman appeared on the streets of H City.

"Prepare to face our judgment!" Ten Gods said, striking a powerful pose in front of the Lizardman, while the other members behind him began playing explosive music.

Just as the atmosphere was heating up, a Wolf Fang Club appeared above the Lizardman's head, and the Lizardman collapsed unconscious.

"That bastard again!" Ten Gods glared angrily at Lin Jie's retreating figure and cursed.

The next day, a group of super criminals appeared in H City. Just as Ten Gods and his team were getting ready for their performance, the entire group had already been taken down. By the time Ten Gods came to his senses, he saw Lin Jie walking away with the Wolf Fang Club over his shoulder.

"That bastard!" At the Star Agency, Ten Gods angrily drank a cup of coffee and said to his agent beside him, "Which criminal is next?"

"No one is willing to take the job anymore." The agent said helplessly.

"Aren't those guys in it just for the money?" Ten Gods asked in confusion.

"The word has spread throughout H City's underground. The city's Decontamination Squad has a Club Hero who never speaks, just shows up and fights." The agent said helplessly. "The key point is that his strength is overwhelming. No one is willing to take jobs in H City anymore."

"That bastard again!" Ten Gods said angrily. "Fine, I'll pay out of my own pocket. Hire someone strong enough to take that Club down, and make sure he loses face! Then we'll come in and clean up the mess."

"That's not a bad idea. It'll teach him a lesson too." The agent said excitedly.

During the time H City's main heroes were away, Lin Jie was forced to help Xiao Zhan and the others continue the squad's daily activities. But without even noticing it himself, Lin Jie had unconsciously slipped back into his old style from when he was Zero.

Under his iron-fisted suppression, H City's crime rate had directly dropped by eighty percent during this period. Now rumors were spreading outside that H City had produced a powerful Club Hero.

Of course, Lin Jie's habitual style had also drawn dissatisfaction from many heroes. After all, plenty of heroes would barely have time to make an appearance in front of an enemy before the criminal was already taken down by someone else. It was like saving up a big ultimate move in a game to steal a kill, only for someone to jump in and snatch all the kills, not even leaving you an assist.

And Ten Gods was the one who suffered the most from Lin Jie's kill-stealing. If Lin Jie had at least said something after taking the kill, it might have been bearable. But Lin Jie, as if mocking those who desperately showed off in front of the crowd, simply left without a word.

Thus, Lin Jie earned the title in H City: "Silent Club."

"Alright, I'll contact the B-Rank criminal, Butcher, to deal with him." The agent said to Ten Gods. "I guarantee he'll lose face this time."

"I'm counting on you." Ten Gods said excitedly.

So that evening's news headline read: "Shocking news! D-Class hero Club Hero knocks down B-Rank criminal Butcher in one blow—a rare cross-rank solo kill."

Below, a special expert analysis appeared: "Hmm... this incident is actually a very special coincidence. After all, our rank certification system is very serious, and Butcher's strength is beyond doubt, as reflected in his past record. Secondly, Club Hero's victory over Butcher involved multiple factors, such as the terrain favoring Club Hero's actions, Butcher's physical condition that day, and so on..."

"Listening to that, I almost believed it myself. Truly an expert professor." Lin Jie remarked.

"What's an expert professor?" Lin Mumu asked curiously.

"Those guys on TV who analyze things to fool ordinary people." Lin Jie said. "Your Sister Lin might become one of those in the future."

"Sister Lin will become an expert professor too?" The Little Girl tilted her head.

"Not necessarily. It depends on her future plans." Lin Jie said.

"Ah, big brother! That's you!" The Little Girl pointed excitedly at Lin Jie's video on TV. "Big brother is so amazing! I want to be like you when I grow up and knock down all the enemies with that club."

"..." Lin Jie's mind involuntarily conjured up a scene: the Little Girl holding a giant Wolf Fang Club several times her height, smashing a monster over and over, and then the next day's news headline reading 'Female Club Hero knocks down little monster again...'

"Mumu, that kind of thing isn't suitable for a girl." Lin Jie said. "How about this: when I get the chance, big brother will teach you how to use a blood-dripper."

"Okay!" The Little Girl said happily.

"It's about time to feed Doudou." Lin Jie said, pulling out a few packs of spicy sticks. "Doudou" was the dog they had adopted a few days ago.

"Yay! Feed Doudou! Feed Doudou!" The Little Girl happily followed Lin Jie, and the two of them made their way to Xiao's Building. Since Xiao Zhan had gone straight into the mental rehabilitation center after returning, taking care of Doudou during this time required Lin Jie to come over himself.

Just as they arrived at the entrance of Xiao's Building, a person wearing a hat and sunglasses that completely obscured their face grabbed Lin Jie.

"You're here after all." That person said.

"Who are you?" Lin Jie asked, looking at the suspicious figure.

"Talk with me." That person said.

"Mumu, go up and feed Doudou first." Lin Jie handed the spicy sticks to Lin Mumu, then turned to the figure in front of him. "I've taken down quite a few people lately. Who are you here to avenge?"

"Neither. Come with me." The man made a follow-me gesture toward Lin Jie. "There are too many people here. Let's find somewhere private to talk."

"What a hassle." Lin Jie said helplessly. "I hate that kind of mysticism the most."

And so the two of them arrived at an ecological park that usually saw few visitors.

"Alright, if you have something to say, just say it." Lin Jie said. "I can't keep Little Mu Mu waiting too long."

The man then took off his hat and sunglasses, revealing his true face.

"Ah! You're that Ten Gods who hired criminals to beat himself up." Lin Jie said, looking at the face that made countless girls scream.

"Are you mocking me?" Ten Gods' expression was far from friendly.

"So what did you call me out here for?" Lin Jie asked.

"I'm asking you what it'll take for you to stop." Ten Gods said.

"Stop what?" Lin Jie asked curiously.

"Don't play dumb with me!"

"I really don't know what you're talking about." Lin Jie said.

"Then I'll speak plainly!" Ten Gods said. "What will it take for you to stop targeting me?"

"Have I been targeting you?" Lin Jie said, confused. "I don't remember targeting you at all."

"Don't play dumb with me!" Ten Gods was thoroughly provoked by Lin Jie's words. "Every time we hire a super-criminal, you show up and beat them down! Are you telling me that's not targeting me?"

"What? You mean those super-criminals that show up around you are actually hired by your company?" Lin Jie seemed to understand something.

"Now you have nothing to say!"

"Well... I just got into the habit of taking them down. Old habits aren't so easy to break." Lin Jie said.

"You dare say it's just a habit? I suggest you stop while you still can." Ten Gods looked at Lin Jie.

"I never specifically targeted you." Lin Jie said. "I just beat criminals when I see them. That's my job now, isn't it?"

"It seems you won't stop." Ten Gods stared at Lin Jie with a hostile expression. "If you want to take this vicious competition all the way, then I, Ten Gods, will oblige."

"Vicious competition? What's that about? Do superheroes need to compete? Isn't this supposed to be a public welfare job?" Lin Jie found that his worldview and this handsome man's were clearly in two different universes.

"You pretentious bastard!" Ten Gods said. "All those achievements you've made lately should have been mine! They should have been mine."

With that, Ten Gods charged at Lin Jie, a fist carrying the flow of energy swinging toward his face.

"Since you want vicious competition, let's fight it out." Ten Gods said, launching a series of attacks at Lin Jie. "We're both D-Class! The loser gives up being a hero."

"Does this guy have a messed-up worldview or what?" Lin Jie muttered while dodging Ten Gods' attacks.

By now, Lin Jie had lost his patience. He casually threw a punch into the man's stomach, and Ten Gods fell to his knees clutching his abdomen.

"How?" Ten Gods said in disbelief. "How could you see through my movements?"