Showing Goodwill

Only upon reaching the Martial Master realm could one infuse vital energy and blood into ordinary objects, allowing a soft, brittle plastic fork to pierce flesh, bone, and a thick tabletop.

He had never expected this scruffy-looking man to be a Martial Master powerhouse.

The people around them all sucked in a breath, and no one dared make a sound. The hall fell silent in an instant.

Black Brother slowly pulled out the fork, shook off the beads of blood, then stuck it back into the cup of instant noodles. He picked up a forkful of noodles and stuffed them into his mouth, eating with great relish.

"Eighteen hundred thousand. This young man risked his life in the fallen zone, so don't be so stingy."

"Yes, yes, yes! Eighteen hundred thousand!"

The owner was drenched in cold sweat from the pain. How could he dare say no?

With his uninjured hand, he tremblingly counted out a large stack of cash from the cash box and pushed it before Lin Yun, not even bothering to wipe the blood from the back of his hand.

Lin Yun reached out and put the money into his backpack. The bills were stained with a little blood, but he did not care.

He turned to Black Brother. "Thank you, Black Brother."

"No need to thank me. He was the one who broke the rules first."

Black Brother was about to leave after saying that, but then seemed to remember something and added to Lin Yun, "Kid, don't always keep such a stiff face. Once you're inside the stronghold, loosen up a little. Staying tense all the time won't just slow your recovery—it can mess up your head too."

Lin Yun nodded and forced out a faint smile. "Thanks for the reminder."

He did not want to stay on edge every second either, but this was the fallen zone. He had barely escaped death two days ago. How could he not stay vigilant at all times?

Still, Black Brother had a point.

Since he had entered the stronghold, remaining on guard the whole time would not only prevent him from resting properly, but would also show distrust toward the stronghold's owner.

Black Brother said nothing else. He casually waved his hand and turned to leave.

Lin Yun wandered around the first floor, using the money on him to buy rations, medicine, and maps in preparation for the coming hunt.

Just after Boss Chen had his hand bandaged, two hunters approached him with gloating expressions.

"Old Chen, hit an iron plate this time, didn't you?"

Boss Chen still felt lingering fear. "What's that kid's background? How can someone so young fight like that?"

One of the taller hunters said, "Black Brother rescued him from outside. Not only did that kid survive Ghost, he even killed Ghost in return."

"Ghost?" Boss Chen's face changed dramatically. "The one ranked third on Azure City's assassin rankings?"

The two hunters nodded.

Boss Chen sucked in a cold breath.

Ghost was a notorious assassin in the underworld. No fewer than five peak Martial Apprentices had died at his hands. Yet a youth who looked no older than eighteen or nineteen had actually killed Ghost?

It was simply unbelievable!

So Black Brother stabbing him with that fork just now had not been punishment at all—it had actually saved him?

With that thought, Boss Chen did not hesitate in the slightest. He led the four employees involved toward Lin Yun.

Boss Chen hurried over with three subordinates. The men who had just been beaten all kept their heads lowered, having completely lost their earlier arrogance.

The bandage on the back of Boss Chen's hand was still marked with pale red stains of blood. He stopped steadily half a step before Lin Yun, bent slightly at the waist, and wore a cautious smile. He looked entirely different from his previous sharp-tongued, mean-spirited self.

"Young brother, I, Old Chen, failed to recognize greatness. Greed clouded my judgment, and I tried to lowball you. I even let my men offend you. I apologize."

As he spoke, he raised his hands in a respectful salute, lowering his stance to the extreme. The four subordinates beside him hurriedly bowed and nodded as well, repeatedly apologizing.

Leaning against a shelf, Lin Yun looked at him calmly and did not respond in a hurry.

Most people who survived in the fallen zone knew how to read the situation. Acting arrogant before becoming respectful afterward was commonplace.

He had no intention of dwelling on such a minor matter, but he also had no intention of showing kindness too easily.

Rules were fought for. Being too soft would only make people think he was easy to bully.

When Boss Chen saw that he did not respond, panic rose in his heart. He quickly took a sealed brown medicine bottle from his clothes and presented it with both hands.

"Young brother, I know you're seriously injured. I've kept this first-tier top-grade healing potion hidden away for over half a year. Its effects are two or three times stronger than those of an ordinary first-tier high-grade potion, and it works on both internal injuries and flesh wounds. Take it and recover properly. What happened earlier was entirely my fault. Please accept this as a token of my apology, and don't think it's too little."

The eyes of several nearby hunters watching the show shifted. Healing potions were hard currency in the fallen zone, and a bottle of first-tier top-grade healing potion was worth at least three or four hundred thousand at market price.

It seemed Old Chen was truly frightened. He was afraid Lin Yun, this ruthless star, might kill him too when he was not paying attention.

Lin Yun glanced at the medicine bottle.

His injuries had only recovered sixty percent. With this bottle of first-tier top-grade potion, he would likely be fully healed by tomorrow or the day after.

He did not stand on ceremony and reached out to take the bottle.

"Since Boss Chen puts it that way, I'll accept it. As for what happened before, consider it settled."

His tone was calm, without the harshness of refusing to let the matter go just because he was in the right, nor any deliberately magnanimous pleasantries.

He dealt with matters as they were, cleanly and decisively.

Boss Chen instantly let out a deep breath, and the weight in his chest finally settled.

He had feared that the youth would be hot-blooded and refuse to let it go, then seek revenge afterward.

"Ah, good! Good!"

Boss Chen answered twice in succession. The smile on his face became more genuine as he struck while the iron was hot.

"Young brother, if you have any more mutant beast materials to sell in the future, just come to me, Old Chen. Let me be frank with you—among all the strongholds in District 33, my prices for you will absolutely be the fairest. They won't be much lower than the official purchasing stations in the safe zone, and you'll save yourself the trouble of running back and forth."

He had made up his mind to build this connection.

A youth who could kill Ghost and had earned Black Brother's favor had limitless prospects ahead of him.

Even if he did not lowball him—or even made a little less profit—it would still be worth it to establish this relationship.

After thinking for a moment, Lin Yun nodded.

He would continue training in District 33 for some time. He could not possibly carry materials back to Azure City every time.

Having a fixed and reliable buyer would not only save him plenty of trouble, but would also be safer.

"Sounds good."

"Ah, thank you for bringing me your business, young brother!"

Boss Chen was overjoyed and quickly agreed.

"Then you carry on with your business. I won't disturb you any longer. If you need anything, just come find me at my stall."

After saying that, he respectfully nodded again and led his four subordinates away quietly.

On the morning of the third day, dawn had only begun to break, and the first floor of the stronghold still reeked of lingering alcohol and snores.

Lin Yun silently sat up and lowered his head to untie the bandages around his body.

The wounds on his abdomen and thigh had formed thin, dark-brown scabs. Their edges itched slightly, and the gashes that had once been deep enough to expose bone had healed seven or eight tenths of the way. Other than a pulling sensation during large movements, his daily activities were no longer affected.

The effects of a first-tier top-grade healing potion were indeed far stronger than those of ordinary potions.

Without alerting anyone, he silently put the bandages into his backpack and inspected his equipment one piece at a time.

The Armybreaker Fistguards fit snugly over his knuckles, the short blade was tucked behind his waist, the satellite phone and cash were securely stored, and his remaining supplies were neatly arranged.

After confirming that everything was in order, he picked up his backpack and quietly walked out of the stronghold's entrance.

The ruins in the early morning carried the dampness of dew, and the wind held a trace of chill.

Lin Yun did not head deeper in right away. He first circled the outside of the stronghold twice, confirming there was no trace of anyone following him. Only then did he slip into a concealed abandoned basement and shut the broken iron door behind him.

With a thought, he summoned the system panel.

The panel clearly displayed his current vital energy and blood: 76 points.

"Exchange for 12 points of vital energy and blood."

Lin Yun did not hesitate and directly exchanged for an increase in vital energy and blood through the system shop.

One hundred and twenty thousand Dragon Nation currency was instantly deducted. A gentle yet vast current of heat surged from every limb and bone, slowly flowing along his meridians before finally settling into the sea of energy in his dantian.

[Vital Energy and Blood: 88 points]

[Realm: Eighth Level Martial Apprentice]

As the warm current faded, Lin Yun clenched his fists, and his knuckles let out crisp cracks.

Every muscle in his body brimmed with strength. Even the aching swelling around his wounds had faded by more than half, and his punching force had increased by at least a thousand kilograms.

If he encountered an Ironclad Turtle again, he would not even need to deliberately seek out the weak points in its joints. He could shake its massive body head-on.

Feeling the changes within his body, Lin Yun did not continue exchanging points.

He left the remaining one hundred and ten thousand untouched.

Only after experiencing Ghost's pursuit did he understand that there were too many unpredictable variables in the fallen zone. Realm was not omnipotent.

When it truly came down to life and death, a life-saving spiritual medicine was often more useful than a few points of vital energy and blood.

He had to keep some money for emergencies. He could not spend it all on raising his realm.

That was the lesson Ghost had taught him with his life.