A new day quietly dawned. Sunlight streamed through the bright windows into the room, filling it with a warm, comforting air.
Last night had been the best Xu Jiang had slept since arriving in this other world three months ago.
Not only were Team 17's accommodations far more comfortable than his shabby room, but the battle last night had left him utterly exhausted.
Fortunately, the rewards this time had been exceptionally generous.
The orange-grade mech he had bought at such a high price last night gleamed with an imposing sheen beneath the sunlight. In its iron arms, it held a stack of books. It really was...
Wait! Why were there books?
Xu Jiang jolted upright. His lingering drowsiness instantly vanished as he rushed to the mech and inspected the books.
He remembered clearly that the mech he had bought yesterday had come without any instruction manuals. Had these suddenly appeared because that old man had deliberately left him some kind of inheritance?
Excitedly, he picked one up and looked at the cover: "Sister-in-Law's Secret—Part One."
Xu Jiang: ...
Fine. With that old man's physique, he probably wasn't suited to reading books like these. Even the cover was rather revealing, never mind the contents.
But where had these books come from?
After three seconds of silence, Xu Jiang thought of a possibility.
"Qianji!"
"Here." Qianji climbed in through the window.
"Where did you just go?"
"Reporting to the General, I acquired new equipment last night, so I conducted special training throughout the night. The results were remarkable." Qianji tapped the Tactical Goggles around her neck.
It was obvious that Qianji was extremely satisfied with the night-vision function, because it allowed her to maintain ample training even at night.
Resting was impossible. From the moment she became a machine, Qianji had never considered resting.
Xu Jiang patted the twenty-odd monster-fighting picture books in his hands and asked, "Qianji, do you know about these picture books?"
"Yes. They are spoils I acquired during training."
"Spoils? From where?"
"From beneath the bed of someone named Baozi."
And so, Qianji solemnly described her personal training journey after Xu Jiang had fallen asleep last night.
After the real combat against the Black Tiger Gang, Qianji had fully recognized her own shortcomings and trained even harder.
Since she could not find a suitable place to practice Quick Draw, Qianji had decided to train Shadowstep and Reconnaissance Sense.
As for how to level up those two skills the fastest, naturally it was by quietly infiltrating a target area and taking away a piece of loot.
Ying Xiaoxiao was too scary, Sha Tu was too vigilant, and she did not want to bully Xiao Zhen. The only one left was Baozi.
"So these little porn books belong to Baozi?"
"Yes. He hid them beneath his bed and sealed them with three locks. They were the most tightly concealed items there. I took one each time as proof of my results."
"...Your use of the word 'took' is truly masterful."
Qianji really was dense. Why did she have to keep "taking" things from Baozi alone?
She had made more than twenty trips in a single night. Poor Baozi had merely closed and opened his eyes, only to find his years of treasured collection completely gone.
"General, has my behavior caused you any trouble? Do you require me to return them?"
"No need. Keep them. I've recently developed an interest in literature as well."
For Baozi's physical and mental health, Xu Jiang decided to silently bear it all.
Checking the time, he saw that it was already ten o'clock. It was time to go out, get something to eat, and stretch his legs.
As soon as he left the bedroom, he found Grandpa Lei waiting in the reception room.
He was dressed quite formally today, wearing a suit and looking rather respectable. The moment he saw Xu Jiang, he asked, "Xu Jiang! You're up? Did you get used to staying here last night?"
"Not bad. Murder, arson, robbery, jumping off buildings. Very fulfilling."
Xu Jiang's honest answer did not draw Grandpa Lei's attention. He assumed Xu Jiang was joking. How could such a harmonious Team 17 possibly do those things?
"Come, let's have breakfast together. Once you're full, your master will give you special training today."
He was already calling himself my master? I haven't agreed yet!
Xu Jiang was just about to object when Grandpa Lei handed him a bag.
"These are the materials I found for you. Thirty pieces of Mana Alloy."
The moment Xu Jiang heard that, he immediately changed his tune. "You found them? Master, you're so generous!"
"Of course! If you become my disciple, your future will be limitless!"
To take on this disciple, Grandpa Lei had truly spent a fortune.
Mana Alloy was an important forging material and extremely scarce. The old man had mobilized quite a few connections just to gather enough.
Without another word, Xu Jiang took the last of the Mana Alloy and excitedly returned to his room, where he handed it to Qianji.
"General, Qianji requests permission to begin advancement immediately."
"Granted!"
Congratulations, advancement has begun. Estimated completion time: thirty minutes.
As the notification ended, Qianji returned to her mech case form. The orange-grade Powered Mech beside her, along with a massive pile of materials, all turned liquid and flowed into Qianji's body.
At last, the materials were complete. With so many good things, she would definitely become incredibly powerful after the advancement was finished.
Satisfied, Xu Jiang dragged the mech case back to Grandpa Lei.
"Fine. Seeing how much effort you've put in for me, I'll accept you as my master. Oh, right, I still don't know your full name."
"Accept me as your master? Why does that sound so strange? My full name is... no rush, I'll tell you later. Come with me first. I'll take you to meet an old friend."
Giving gifts to buy a disciple? That was only the inferior approach.
Grandpa Lei had racked his brains last night and designed a perfect plan to take on a disciple.
First, he would bestow favors and make Xu Jiang deeply grateful.
Then, he would bring Xu Jiang around both the underworld and the respectable circles, letting various important figures gradually reveal his formidable reputation.
Only then could he make Xu Jiang genuinely admire him.
With his plan in mind, Grandpa Lei eagerly set off with Xu Jiang.
They rode the same shabby little car, bumping all the way to their first stop: Blackwater District.
The streets remained as chaotic as ever. Several gangs had fought from last night until dawn, and the battle had been brutal.
Grandpa Lei smugly asked, "Well? You've never been to Blackwater District, have you? This place is..."
"It's the most chaotic place in all of Yong'an City, a paradise for criminals. There's also a Black Market over there that only opens at night."
Xu Jiang's sudden interruption left Grandpa Lei's prepared display of worldly knowledge stuck in his throat.
"You've been to the Black Market?"
"Of course. What's so surprising about that? You haven't?"
Xu Jiang's question made Grandpa Lei's old face twitch. He answered loudly, "Of course I've been there. With my vast experience, I know every street and alley in Yong'an City like the back of my hand."
"Really? So you visit this place often?"
"Of course, I visit often..." Grandpa Lei's words became stuck in his throat again.
Because he noticed that Xu Jiang's gaze had drifted somewhere it should not have.
At the street corner, three scantily dressed women immediately rose to greet them upon seeing them approach. They swayed their slim waists, crooked their fingers, and threw them flirtatious looks like mad.
Weren't these the lightly dressed girls who had made a move on Baozi last night? They were already open for business in broad daylight?
"What are you thinking! As professionals, how could we possibly linger in a place like this!" Grandpa Lei roared indignantly.
Xu Jiang looked unconvinced. "Are you sure? You've never accepted dragon service?"
"Nonsense! Do I look like that kind of person? Women only slow down my draw!"
Grandpa Lei stood righteously, waving his sleeve as he declared himself a lofty man beyond worldly desires.
Unfortunately, that noble bearing lasted only one second.
Behind the three scantily dressed women emerged a woman in her fifties. The heavy makeup on her face was thick as starch paste. The instant she spotted Grandpa Lei, she hurried over warmly.
Her hands skillfully climbed onto the old man's shoulders as she spoke in a syrupy voice:
"Oh my! Isn't this Brother Lei Luo? You haven't come by in ages. Did you bring a friend today? Then I'll have to charge double."
Together! Xu Jiang staggered back two steps in shock.
He bowed toward Grandpa Lei and said, "So your name is Lei Luo, Teacher! It's unfortunate that I learned your full name this way."
Grandpa Lei: ...
A miscalculation! What a miscalculation!
Who would have thought that his lifelong reputation would be ruined in a place like this?
Just as Lei Luo was beating his chest in regret and trying to think of a way to salvage his image, something changed.
Rumble—
The ground suddenly began to shake, and cracks rapidly spread beneath their feet.
At the same time, a piercing alarm suddenly sounded across the skies above Yong'an City.
Attention! All citizens of Yong'an City! A Void Rift disaster has appeared near Seventh Street in Blackwater District. Residents nearby, please evacuate immediately.
Repeating: A Void Rift has appeared on Seventh Street in Blackwater District. Nearby residents, please evacuate immediately.
Seventh Street in Blackwater District? Wasn't that where they were? And what exactly was a Void Rift?
Before Xu Jiang could figure it out, Grandpa Lei cried out beside him, "Quick, Xu Jiang, grab my hand!"
Grandpa Lei tried to grab Xu Jiang, but the panicked woman beside him blocked him, and his hand could not reach over.
The next second, the sudden change struck. The ground beneath them abruptly sank, and a massive black hole appeared below.
Xu Jiang fell into the black hole.
Before you continue