Vent Anger

A moment later, a faint, almost inaudible snort came from Scarface's nose.

"Let's go!"

He barked the order and led his men straight out of Chen Yue's home, heading toward the next dwelling.

Only when the heavy footsteps faded and disappeared at the end of the alley did Father Chen seem to have all his strength drained away. His legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the edge of the bed, gasping for air, his forehead slick with cold sweat.

Mother Chen leaned weakly against the wall, her face deathly pale. She looked at Chen Yue, her lips trembling as if she wanted to say something.

Chen Yue gave her a slight shake of his head. She immediately bit down hard on her lower lip, forcing the words back down her throat. But the lingering fear and worry in her eyes were thick and unshakable.

Inside the room, only the three of them remained, their strained breathing the sole sound, accompanied by the deepening dusk outside the window.

Scarface led his men through every corner of Pearl Village they could reach.

His face was dark, his gaze sharp, but deep down, he didn't truly believe any of these Pearl Households had committed murder.

In his eyes, these Pearl Divers only knew how to submit. His ostentatious search was more of a gesture—a show of upholding order—and a chance to see if any clues might surface.

Scarface was even more inclined to think that rivals within the gang had made a move, or that the unlucky bastard had stirred up trouble elsewhere and met his end in Pearl Village by accident.

But the overnight rainstorm had washed away almost all traces, and the Pearl Households' uniform fear and bewilderment revealed nothing. House by house, he came up empty.

Back at the Sea Shark Gang's outpost in Pearl Village, Scarface spat on the ground and waved at his men. "Alright, scatter. That idiot Zhou Zhe probably owed gambling debts and got himself killed. From now on, keep your damn eyes open during night patrols, and don't go looking for death yourselves!"

The death of a low-ranking gang member was no big deal to the Sea Shark Gang.

Soon, aside from one or two who had known him, no one mentioned it again.

Over the next two days, Father and Mother Chen were like birds startled by the mere twang of a bowstring, jolting awake at the slightest sound at night.

Only after confirming that the Sea Shark Gang hadn't come knocking again and that no new rumors had spread through the village did they finally catch their breath, as if recovering from a serious illness.

That day, the relentless drizzle finally let up. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining down on the damp Pearl Village, stirring up a briny stench of mud and seafood.

"Father, Mother, the weather's good today. I'm planning to go to the county town." Chen Yue paused, meeting his parents' instantly tense gazes, and said clearly, "To register for the Martial Examination."

The words "Martial Examination" struck like two stones, crashing into the fragile calm Father and Mother Chen had just managed to regain.

Father Chen opened his mouth, but in the end, only a heavy sigh escaped.

All his life, like the vast majority of Pearl Households, he had resigned himself to fate, accustomed to cowering under oppression and exploitation.

But that night, Chen Yue had displayed a power he couldn't understand—a faint glimmer of light piercing the gray, hopeless perception of his life.

Maybe... maybe there really was a path that didn't require being a Pearl Diver trampled by everyone?

Father Chen's withered hands clenched and unclenched. Finally, as if using every ounce of strength he had, his voice rasped, "A-Yue... if you've really thought it through, if you think this path is viable... then go. Your father... has no ability, can't help you much..."

Beside him, Mother Chen's eyes were already red.

The Martial Examination—fists and feet knew no mercy, and blades and spears had no eyes.

She had heard too many tales of deaths being dismissed as nothing. To her, it wasn't just a ladder to change one's fate; it could just as easily be a road to the gates of hell.

She was afraid, terrified. Afraid that if her son went, he might never return.

But when she looked at Chen Yue, her lips trembled, and in the end, not a single word came out. She just nodded hard, tears streaming down her face.

She turned away, pretending to tidy the stove.

Chen Yue gave his parents a reassuring glance and said no more. He took out the mid-grade pearl he had set aside to cover the registration fee and, following the old method, swallowed it with water.

Preparations complete, Chen Yue slung a worn, empty cloth bag over his shoulder and headed toward the entrance of Pearl Village.

Before he even reached the village gate, he saw eight or nine Pearl Households gathered there—men and women alike, carrying baskets or bags, apparently planning to take advantage of the clear weather to go to the county town for supplies.

But right now, they were all blocked inside the gate.

On the wooden table at the gate stood a Sea Shark Gang member. He was in his early twenties, one hand resting on the knife at his waist, looking down at the cowering Pearl Households.

"Listen up! My brother, Zhou Zhe, died in this crappy village a few nights ago! Who knows if one of you bastards did it!"

He slapped his chest hard. "I'm Zhou Qi, and Zhou Zhe was my blood brother! This isn't over! Until it's settled, every last one of you cheap skins is under suspicion!

From today, no one leaves Pearl Village! Anyone who takes a step outside, I'll chop off their feet! Got it?!"

The gathered Pearl Households' faces twisted in alarm. The news of the Sea Shark Gang member's death and the subsequent search had already spread through the village.

Word was that a gang member had disappeared at night, suspected killed and dumped in the sea. No one expected the dead man to have a younger brother also in the gang, now clearly venting his rage.

The crowd groaned inwardly. This lockdown order had completely ruined their plans to go to town for supplies.

But faced with Zhou Qi, who was clearly on the edge of fury, who dared to say no? To argue was to throw themselves onto his blade. The crowd stirred briefly, then fell into dead silence. Everyone lowered their heads and turned back.

Chen Yue stood a little farther off, taking in the scene, his brow furrowing slightly. This sudden lockdown had directly disrupted his plans.

"The registration period still has a few days. It doesn't have to be today."

Chen Yue calculated quickly in his mind. "Besides, the gate guard isn't fixed to one person. The Sea Shark Gang's men have to rotate shifts. Zhou Qi can't stay here forever. Maybe after his shift, the next guard won't be so extreme. I can find a chance to leave then."

With that thought, Chen Yue, like the other Pearl Households, silently turned and walked back the way he came.

Standing on the table, Zhou Qi watched the Pearl Households not even dare to fart. The violent, pent-up fire in his heart didn't subside—it burned even hotter.

He was full of rage, just waiting for some clueless Pearl Household to complain, or even just glance at him wrong, so he could lash out and vent some of his grief and frustration over losing his brother.

But these lowlifes didn't offer even a shred of resistance. They just silently obeyed and retreated!

"Pah! A bunch of spineless cowards!" Zhou Qi spat fiercely in the direction the Pearl Households had gone, jumped down from the table, and paced back and forth irritably, his hand never leaving the knife at his waist.