Seeing people streaming in and out of the shop, Chen Mu's newly darkened mood brightened at once. Lei Zi really worked fast. Chuckling inwardly, Chen Mu headed toward the shop.
Only after entering did he realize it was packed with people, the vast majority of them women.
"Shopkeeper, I came here last time to buy Encounter, and you were sold out. This time I told you in advance, but you still didn't save me a set. What's the meaning of this?" The woman speaking was tall, with a rather shrill voice. One look told him she was not someone to cross.
The girls around her who had also failed to buy a set immediately joined the clamor.
The shopkeeper looked so miserable that bitter water could almost have been wrung from his face. Every young lady who attended East Guard Academy came from a wealthy or influential family. None of them was someone a small-time shopkeeper like him could afford to offend.
"My dear ladies, you really can't blame this old man! The fellow making the delivery today only dropped off twenty sets. Who knew one young lady would happen to see them and snatch up ten in one go? Before this old man could even make a sound, half my stock was gone. And you saw what happened afterward. I didn't even get to touch the Card Films before the remaining ten sets vanished." The shopkeeper hurriedly apologized and explained.
"I don't care. I'm telling you, if I can't buy the Card Film today, hmph..." Once these spoiled young women lost their tempers, there was no reasoning with them.
Chen Mu stood dumbfounded at the entrance. Was this really the Card Film he and Lei Zi had made?
A Card Film could sell like this?
Even after leaving the little shop, Chen Mu's head was still buzzing.
Was all that really necessary? It was only a set of Card Films. Walking down the street, he still found it difficult to understand. Of course, once he put those doubts aside, he was thrilled! Seeing the work he and Lei Zi had created become such a success, he would have been lying if he claimed he felt no sense of accomplishment.
Of course, what pleased him even more was that this also meant their income would rise substantially.
Just think how many materials that would buy! Chen Mu marveled inwardly.
Looks like I need to get home and start working sooner. Every extra set means more money, and more money means more materials. Chen Mu quickened his pace, eager to get back.
Suddenly, he sensed something wrong. Tilting his head slightly back, he caught sight of a figure ducking away.
Chen Mu's mind cooled, shaking off his excitement. Although that brief glance had not let him see the person's face clearly, the furtive way the man had dodged out of sight was enough for him to draw a conclusion.
Do I look like a fat sheep ripe for the fleecing? Chen Mu was rather puzzled. The way he dressed would never attract a pickpocket's attention. Then who could it be? I don't think I've offended anyone lately.
No, wait. He suddenly remembered that day in the classroom at East Guard Academy.
After walking a few more steps, he turned his head again, pretending to do so casually. Sure enough, the man was still following him. Chen Mu recognized him vaguely as the fellow he had struck with a chair that day.
Here to make trouble for me? Chen Mu sneered inwardly, but immediately picked up his pace.
In a situation like this, he absolutely could not give his opponent a chance to contact his companions. Otherwise, he would be in serious trouble.
Sure enough, the man behind him was about to activate his Communication Card. Seeing Chen Mu speed up, he abandoned the idea of calling anyone else and hurried after him.
Chen Mu's physical fitness had improved beyond measure, and his stride made that plain. Each step covered a great distance, and he moved so quickly that the man behind him almost had to jog to keep up.
Chen Mu twisted and turned, deliberately choosing secluded alleys. These narrow lanes were like a maze, making it difficult to tell which direction he was heading. Without his childhood experience of living on the streets, he would have lost his way long ago. Still, he was unfamiliar with this area, which was hardly any different from being lost.
"Stop!" The man behind him was panting with exhaustion. Realizing he could not keep this up, he shouted for Chen Mu to halt.
Chen Mu turned a deaf ear and quickened his pace.
"Trying to run? Not so easy!" The man behind him snorted coldly.
Looking back, Chen Mu saw the fellow press the activation button on his Wrist Device.
Chen Mu's heart lurched. Could this fellow be a Card Adept? That couldn't be right. I remember there weren't any formidable figures among that bunch last time.
"Heh heh, I didn't have my combat card with me last time. That's the only reason you two got the better of me. This time, I'll give you a taste of pain." The man grinned viciously, and a pale blue arrow of light suddenly formed before him.
He really is a Card Adept! Chen Mu could no longer afford to hesitate. He kicked off the ground and rolled to one side.
Whoosh! A streak of pale blue light grazed his left arm and struck the wall with a crack, sending chips of stone flying and leaving a shallow crater.
A bloody gash appeared on Chen Mu's left arm, and the smell of blood reached his nose.
All his fear seemed to be swept away by that bloody scent. Chen Mu's eyes abruptly turned utterly cold. Before his opponent could fire a second light arrow, he charged toward the man.
Only by closing in would he have a chance of winning. Like a cheetah, Chen Mu surged forward, trying to use his superior speed to disrupt his opponent's rhythm.
The light arrows were only about as powerful as bricks thrown in a street fight. They were simply faster and harder to dodge.
Shielding his face with both hands, he advanced toward his opponent in a zigzag.
In street brawls, this was an effective way to dodge thrown bricks. And as long as he was not hit in the head, he would not lose his life.
His opponent grinned viciously, as though mocking him for overestimating himself. A second light arrow whistled toward Chen Mu.
Crack! An agonizing pain pierced Chen Mu's left arm. The second light arrow had struck the arm shielding his face.
He wants to kill me! That realization sent the savage fury in Chen Mu's heart exploding. Gritting his teeth without making a sound, he closed in at astonishing speed, as though springs had been fitted beneath his feet.
Tempered by the Body-Strengthening Exercise, Chen Mu's body possessed astonishing explosive power.
His opponent clearly had not expected Chen Mu to charge on fearlessly even in the face of the light arrows, and a flicker of panic crossed his eyes. Perhaps that was why his third light arrow missed Chen Mu by a hair.
Between the arms shielding his face, Chen Mu's expression was visible, twisted with ferocity and killing intent. His eyes in particular were as savage as those of an enraged lion.
The third light arrow's failure threw the man into an even greater panic. He clearly had no experience in real combat. Chen Mu's fearless, death-defying charge had already frightened him, and with the distance between them shrinking by the moment, he immediately lost his composure.
(End of chapter)