The Setup

"Alright."

Skinny Monkey had no objections. He turned and picked two nimble-handed hunters to clear away the insect corpses strewn across the ground.

An hour later, Skinny Monkey returned clutching a crumpled notebook, dust clinging to his forehead and a slight rasp in his voice.

"Brother Lin, the count's finished."

He opened the notebook and read each entry clearly.

"You personally killed ten mid-stage first-rank Shadow Spiders, eight late-stage first-rank ones, and five peak first-rank Shadow Spiders. During the encirclement of the Spider King, you were the main force, so you get the greatest credit."

Lin Yun nodded and laid out the distribution plan.

"The materials from the second-rank Spider King are worth around one million. Six people took part in the encirclement. I contributed the most, so I take thirty percent. Bearded Man and Old Guo died in battle, but they still have families. They each get twenty percent, and make sure the money reaches their families. The remaining thirty percent goes to the other three brothers who joined the encirclement—ten percent each."

The three hunters beside them who had participated in the encirclement were all stunned.

They had thought they would be lucky to get a few scraps of the broth. After all, Lin Yun had been the key to killing the Spider King. They had never expected him to truly distribute everything according to merit—and to give such a large share to those who had died.

"Brother Lin, this..."

Someone tried to say something, but Lin Yun raised a hand and cut him off.

"Merit is merit. A life is a life. What belongs to someone belongs to them." Lin Yun's tone was calm. "The Spider Queen's materials are valued at 1.2 million. Black Brother killed it alone. Did Black Brother have any family?"

Skinny Monkey shook his head, his voice dropping even lower. "After Sister-in-law left, Black Brother had no family anymore."

After a brief moment of thought, Lin Yun made the decision on the spot. "Then the proceeds from the exotic beast Black Brother killed will be divided equally among all survivors who fought last night."

No one objected.

Everyone knew that they had survived last night only because Lin Yun had remained calm in the face of danger and devised a plan, and because Black Brother had risked his life to hold back the Spider Queen.

Lin Yun did not take a cent less from the battle merits that were his, nor did he touch half a cent that was not. His distribution was crystal clear, leaving no room for anyone to find fault.

Skinny Monkey immediately wrote down the distribution plan. In his heart, he grew even more convinced by this young man.

Unfortunately, Boss Chen at the outpost was dead, so they could not sell the goods there.

Lin Yun planned to take everything straight out of the fallen zone. Merchants waited outside year-round to buy goods. Their prices were somewhat lower than official channels, but it was quick and hassle-free, without the need to enter the city and go through tedious procedures.

Everyone busied themselves for another half day, burying the bodies of the dead in the open ground outside the outpost.

At around two in the afternoon, everyone packed their belongings, hoisted the bundled exotic beast materials onto their shoulders, and left the abandoned mall where they had stayed for nearly a month.

Once they crossed the warning line of the fallen zone, several cargo trucks were indeed parked by the roadside, with a few purchasing merchants squatting nearby and smoking.

The moment they saw people coming out, they immediately crowded over.

Lin Yun separated his own share of materials and found the merchant offering the fairest price to inspect the goods and settle the payment.

The materials from the late-stage and peak Shadow Spiders, plus his thirty-percent share of the Spider King and his equal share of Black Brother's portion, came to a total of 3.2 million.

After the merchant confirmed the transfer, a payment notification chimed from his phone. Lin Yun lowered his head and checked his balance.

Adding the 2.6 million already remaining in his account, his total assets had reached 5.8 million.

That amount should be enough to purchase a low-grade Heaven-tier foundational cultivation technique capable of pushing Foundation Establishment to the limit.

The other hunters also settled their accounts one after another, each wearing an expression of relief at having survived a great calamity.

Skinny Monkey came over to bid Lin Yun farewell. He said he would lead the remaining men back into the city first and deliver Bearded Man's and Old Guo's compensation to their families.

Lin Yun gave him a few reminders before parting ways with the group.

He did not return to his rented apartment. Instead, he found a nearby hotel with tight security and booked a room.

After fighting desperately one battle after another last night, he had several wounds large and small. Coupled with the side effects of the combat stimulant kicking in, every muscle in his body ached, and he truly had no strength left to fuss about.

After entering the room, he took a hot shower, applied medicine to his wounds, then leaned against the bed wrapped in a bath towel. Only then did he remember to pull the phone from his backpack.

After turning it on, several unread messages popped up. The top one was from Su Nianhe, sent ten days earlier.

"Lin Yun, the family's emergency training called me back to the Imperial Capital. I couldn't refuse it. Take care of yourself."

Lin Yun's fingertips paused. He replied, "Alright. I just came out of District 33. Everything's fine. See you in the Imperial Capital."

He waited several minutes after sending it, but there was no response. She was probably in closed training and unable to check her phone.

Instead, Lin Yun breathed a sigh of relief.

It was just as well that Su Nianhe was not in Azure City.

He was going to settle accounts with Wang Dalong next. Given Su Nianhe's temperament, she would definitely interfere if she found out.

He did not want to owe Su Nianhe any more favors. He would settle this debt himself.

After transferring back the five hundred thousand he owed Su Nianhe, Lin Yun tossed his phone onto the bedside table and fell straight asleep.

He slept deeply, without even a single dream.

By the time he opened his eyes again, the sky beyond the window had already darkened, brightened, then darkened once more.

He picked up his phone and saw that two days had somehow passed.

The weak period from the combat stimulant, along with the exhaustion of days of hunting, had all eased during that sleep.

He stretched his limbs. The wound on his left arm had already scabbed over, while the scratch along his waist had mostly healed, leaving behind only a faint red mark. His blood and qi circulated smoothly, and his condition had fully returned to its peak.

Lin Yun threw off the covers and got out of bed. Walking to the window, he looked in the direction of Wang Family Manor, his gaze gradually turning cold.

His wounds had healed. It was time to settle the score.

Standing by the window, Lin Yun lightly tapped the glass with his fingertips as he rapidly sorted through the Wang Family's background in his mind.

The Wang Family was one of Azure City's four great families. They had been rooted there for decades, with deep foundations.

The Wang Family's old master was a renowned Great Martial Artist, only one step away from the Grandmaster realm. His voice carried immense weight in Azure City.

Beyond the old master, at least four elders at the Martial Artist realm held the fort within the family. As for capable Martial Apprentices among the branch families, they were as numerous as the hairs on an ox.

Forcing his way into Wang Family Manor would be no different from walking into a net. Let alone taking revenge, he would likely be surrounded and killed before he could even enter the front gate.

If he wanted to move against Wang Dalong, he could only lure him out.

He turned and dug something out from the very bottom of his backpack: the satellite phone he had seized after killing Ghost.

This phone had not been registered under any real name. It was a communication tool used exclusively by assassins, and Wang Dalong's number was still saved inside.

Lin Yun stared at the screen for a long time in thought. Then his fingers moved swiftly as he typed out a text message and sent it.

"Mission completed. An accident happened. Head injury, temporarily unable to speak. I have the target's belongings, and you'll definitely be interested. But the original payment isn't enough. Add another five hundred thousand. Ten tonight, abandoned sugar factory in the eastern suburbs. Bring cash."

After sending the message, he put away the phone and left the hotel.

The afternoon sun blazed fiercely. In the backyard of a villa within Wang Family Manor, Wang Dalong lounged on a poolside deck chair, sunbathing while two servants massaged his shoulders.

Chilled fruit wine sat on the table. Life could not have been more comfortable.

Just then, the private phone at his side vibrated.

Wang Dalong lazily picked it up and glanced at it. The instant he saw the sender, he shot upright, not even noticing when the bath towel around him slipped down.

It was Ghost's number.

After reading the message, his brow furrowed at first. Then a cold, sinister smile curled across his lips.

So an accident had happened. He had not run away.

But this time, he actually dared to jack up the price on the spot. He was truly tired of living!

The first price increase had been one thing, but now that the mission was complete, he still dared to demand another five hundred thousand. He was clearly betting that Wang Dalong would not dare refuse.

Killing intent flashed through Wang Dalong's eyes.

He had not wanted to pay the remaining two million anyway. Since Ghost had delivered himself to the door, then he could not blame Wang Dalong for being ruthless.

He picked up his phone and dialed a number, his tone hard and cold. "Tell Jiang Peng and Sun Biao to come see me immediately."