Self-Destruction

Self-Destruction. At this moment, outside Jiaqing County, in Jiangyu Village.

A courtyard, quite refined compared to the dilapidated houses surrounding it, sat within the fishing village.

Inside a room, Zhang Mingxi and Li Niuhe sat opposite each other.

Their gazes rested quietly on the Treasure Fish in the basin before them.

"A-Xi, now that this Treasure Fish has been bought, how should we split it?"

Li Niuhe knew his own limitations; he was not as shrewd as Zhang Mingxi.

Therefore, rather than beating around the bush, it was better to be direct.

Zhang Mingxi smiled and said:

"Old Li, we are like brothers from different parents. As the saying goes, even brothers must settle accounts clearly, so let's be fair."

"Today, for the fish, I put up sixty-four taels of silver, and you only put up thirty-six."

"How about this: I'll give you my Foundation Building Soup from the martial arts school this month, and return your thirty-six taels of silver. Why don't you let me have this Treasure Fish? Consider it compensation for the trouble you took accompanying me today, Old Li."

Li Niuhe's expression turned anxious in an instant.

"No way!"

Treasure Fish were hard to find.

Their effects were even better than the Foundation Building Soup from the martial arts school; they were rare treasures.

Seeing that he had a chance to become a martial artist before the school kicked him out, and perhaps even a chance to walk within the school as a formal disciple in the future, Li Niuhe became uncharacteristically firm.

Li Niuhe said:

"Fifty-fifty. We bought this fish together."

"Afterward, I will make up the difference in silver for you! I don't want your Foundation Building Soup either."

Zhang Mingxi's eyes darkened for a moment. After pondering for a while, he persisted earnestly.

"Old Li, if we split the Treasure Fish, the effects will be greatly diminished. You know this... why waste such a precious gift of nature?"

Li Niuhe sneered and said, "Even a diminished Treasure Fish is still far better than that Foundation Building Soup, right?"

"How about this: I'll pay you back the silver for the fish, give you my Foundation Building Soup, and you give me the whole Treasure Fish?"

Zhang Mingxi looked up, smiled, and said without changing his expression:

"Then let's split it fifty-fifty."

"After all, we are brothers and dear friends; how could we let a single Treasure Fish hurt our harmony?"

Seeing Zhang Mingxi back down, Li Niuhe's tense expression relaxed. He looked at the Treasure Fish before him, his eyes shining.

"A-Xi, why don't we split the fish today to avoid any complications? I want to try breaking through the fifth level of martial arts tonight."

Zhang Mingxi waved his hand. "Consuming a Treasure Fish usually requires the help of some common herbs to stimulate its spiritual essence; only then can it reach its maximum effect."

"Tomorrow, once I purchase the herbs from a shop in town, we will consume it."

Li Niuhe scratched his head. He didn't suspect anything and just said, "I see."

Zhang Mingxi's eyes flickered, and he smiled.

"However, I will still need Brother Li's help tomorrow to get back the hundred taels of silver we lost."

Li Niuhe naturally knew that Zhang Mingxi was talking about the silver spent buying the fish from Lin Yi.

Both of them were accustomed to gang life, used to taking things by force; how could they swallow the bitterness of being taken for a fool today?

It was only because they feared Lin Yi might suddenly lash out and destroy the Treasure Fish that they had adopted this temporary expedient.

As for the silver, it had to be retrieved.

They wanted the fish, and they wanted the silver.

Li Niuhe said in a low voice, "Easy. He's just a sixteen-year-old kid who has practiced some martial arts; what kind of tricks could he have?"

"I've already looked into his family situation. His family just runs a tea and pastry shop. His father died long ago, and he was adopted by his eldest uncle. His second uncle is a degenerate gambler. Besides him, there's only a ten-year-old cousin who counts as an able-bodied man. Nothing to worry about."

"If it really comes to it, we can just find someone to kill him."

Zhang Mingxi smiled and echoed, "That's true."

Immediately, Zhang Mingxi stood up and said, "Old Li, sit for a moment. Let's stop talking about those annoying matters. Since today is a happy occasion, it just so happens that my father received a bottle of fine wine a few days ago. It's perfect for us brothers to enjoy."

Li Niuhe loved wine, and upon hearing there was good liquor, his eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly.

The moment he turned around, Zhang Mingxi's expression turned gloomy.

A moment later, Zhang Mingxi returned, carrying a wine pot in one hand and smoked bacon in the other. He smiled and scolded Li Niuhe:

"What are you staring at? Come over and help me with the wine; I'm setting out the snacks."

"Coming, A-Xi." Li Niuhe stood up and walked toward Zhang Mingxi.

Zhang Mingxi went straight ahead and handed over the wine flask in his hand.

In an instant, Zhang Mingxi's heart leaped into his throat. His peripheral vision was locked onto the flask he was extending, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts.

The flask did not contain wine, but kerosene. Furthermore, Zhang Mingxi had rigged the lid with a hidden weapon known as a Fire Mist Pill.

The moment the flask was opened, the Fire Mist Pill would erupt into a cloud of fire, igniting the kerosene.

He would then seize the opportunity to launch a sneak attack and kill Li Niuhe in a single strike.

This was his own home, making it easier for him to dispose of Li Niuhe's corpse.

Afterward, by using the Treasure Fish to break through to the fifth level of Martial Pass, he could begin to walk the path as a disciple of a martial arts school.

With the status of a martial arts disciple, his standing within the gang would rise accordingly.

Even if Li Niuhe's father suspected him, with the dual status of a martial arts disciple and a high-ranking gang member, the man would be unable to touch him.

Zhang Mingxi felt his mind growing increasingly clear, his blood boiling throughout his entire body.

Kill him.

He would be able to ascend to the next level.

He would be able to climb higher, step by step.

Thinking of this.

The emotions in Zhang Mingxi's eyes grew increasingly complex; guilt, greed, longing—countless feelings were churned together.

Sorry, my good brother. Just consider it for the sake of brotherhood; please go to your death... Zhang Mingxi thought silently as he watched Li Niuhe approach to take the flask.

Rip!!

A crisp sound of flesh being torn apart suddenly rang out.

Zhang Mingxi's pupils constricted violently.

"You..."

Zhang Mingxi looked at his chest, now stained red, and at the dagger that had pierced through it.

"Sorry, Axi..." Li Niuhe's face no longer held the foolish air of an honest man; instead, it was cold and indifferent. "Sorry, Axi, I know you too well."

"If I don't make a move, you will."

"I want to live, and I want to climb higher, too!"

Thud!

Zhang Mingxi collapsed heavily to the ground. Blood bubbled from the wound torn open by the dagger in his chest, and he couldn't help but convulse uncontrollably.

However, these convulsions did not last long.

In less than ten breaths, he fell into complete, deathly silence.

Li Niuhe glanced at Zhang Mingxi with an indifferent expression, then walked over to the fish basin. Looking at the Treasure Fish, he spoke in a muffled voice, though his tone was clearly trembling.

"You... are mine now."

Clang, clang, clang!

In the dead of night, a very distinct and clear sound rang out in the room.

Li Niuhe's breath hitched, his pupils shrank, and he didn't dare to even draw a full breath. His head turned slowly, like a machine.

His eyes were fixed tightly on the door behind him.

Three breaths passed.

Clang, clang, clang...

The crisp knocking sounded once again.

Neither hurried nor slow, two light knocks followed by one heavy one—the visitor was being remarkably polite.

Li Niuhe walked toward the door, step by step, his movements light and cautious.

The knocking had stopped for the moment.

Still uneasy, Li Niuhe gently pressed his head against the door, trying to detect any movement outside.

Silence!

An abnormal silence.

Li Niuhe's senses were heightened to the limit; in his ears was the sound of his heart pounding, and at the tip of his nose was the thick scent of blood.

Rustle!

Suddenly, there was a sound of rustling and rubbing against the wooden door.

Who would come to someone else's house in the middle of the night and grope the door!

Li Niuhe felt it was incredibly eerie, and he couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.

Bang, shuck!

With a loud crash, the wooden door shattered.

At the same time, Li Niuhe, whose head had been pressed against the wooden door moments before, suddenly had his skull pierced through by a dark, cyan-colored arm.

The arm slowly retracted.

Li Niuhe's body lost all support.

With a gaping hole in his head, he slumped straight to the floor.

As the bolt turned, the door swung open.

The intruder, dressed in a suit of pitch-black night-traveling gear reinforced with armor and wearing a black-and-red Vengeful Ghost Mask, walked into the room.

Meanwhile, far away at the martial arts hall, Lin Yi, who was sharing vision with the Corpse Puppet, glanced at Li Niuhe, who lay before the door with his temple pierced through.

He then looked at Zhang Mingxi, who had fallen to the ground ahead with a dagger embedded in his chest.

Lin Yi's gaze swept across the room, his tone laced with astonishment.

"Simpler than I expected..."