Tailing

Yu Sheng laid out his request clearly, then handed over the USB drive.

The clerk took the drive somewhat nervously, plugged it into the computer, and watched the videos carefully.

The stirring script and emotionless narration echoed through the hall, drawing everyone's attention once more.

Just as everyone was growing numb...

Very soon, the second video began playing.

Several clumsy attacks, followed by that final, devastating strike, delivered a powerful visual shock.

Although the man who died was among the most useless of even the once-awakened, Yu Sheng... was an apprentice.

"This video shows signs of editing."

"And..."

The clerk spoke cautiously, leaving the rest unsaid.

Yu Sheng remained perfectly calm. "It has indeed been edited, but you can assign a specialist to analyze the situation on the battlefield."

"There were two fights in total, and the two sides were unevenly matched."

"So barring any unforeseen circumstances, the students would certainly have lost and been wiped out."

"That qualifies as a courageous intervention."

"According to the Ink Pavilion..."

Yu Sheng earnestly explained the relevant rules, meticulous in every detail.

"Approve it."

In the distance, the middle-aged man in a suit who had been watching the surveillance feed suddenly spoke. Faced with the clerk's bewildered look, he added, "Award the full standard bounty."

"Huh? Oh..."

Still somewhat dazed, the clerk worked at the computer and asked for Yu Sheng's bank account number. After a while, he said, "The bounty application has been submitted. The money will arrive within three business days."

"Thank you."

Yu Sheng stood and looked toward the middle-aged man in the suit. "May I ask why?"

"Have you considered working for the Dark Pavilion?"

Instead of answering, the man asked a question of his own.

Yu Sheng considered it for two seconds, then shook his head. "I have no such plans for now."

"If you ever change your mind, you can come here and find me anytime."

"My surname is Lin. I'm the deputy pavilion master of the Ink Pavilion's Jiangbei Province branch."

"Believe me, once you join the Dark Pavilion, your income will far exceed this."

As he spoke, he took out a business card and handed it over.

Chen Yimo immediately panicked!

"You sneaky old bastard! Don't think I don't know what you're planning!"

"He's fucking one of our Reserve Corps!"

"Do you know how hard it is for us to get someone smart after all these years?"

He hurled abuse at Pavilion Master Lin.

"Heh..." Pavilion Master Lin responded with only a chuckle. He could not even be bothered to acknowledge the old brute and simply turned and went upstairs.

Chen Yimo was left standing there, utterly furious.

"Look at him!"

"Making money takes brains! Brains, understand?"

"Thousands of fucking people in the Reserve Corps, and not one has a brain."

Chen Yimo vented his anger on Wang Wenxuan, landing another kick squarely on his backside. Then he turned to Yu Sheng and contorted his face into something resembling a smile. "Brother Yu, we botched things today."

"But trust me, we absolutely won't let you down next time."

"We're still reliable. We might not have brains, but we never hesitate when it's time to fight. Say the word and we'll do it, as long as you pay!"

"If another money-making opportunity comes up, consider our Reserve Corps first. We've had enough of being poor."

With that, Chen Yimo turned and left, too ashamed to stay any longer.

He had originally thought he could come to the Ink Pavilion and see if he could shamelessly squeeze a little money out of them. When he spotted Yu Sheng, he had even thought his luck had turned.

Who knew that old bastard Lin would be so bad-tempered today?

In the end, he had not gotten a single cent and had made a complete fucking fool of himself.

Once that little brat Wang Wenxuan got back, he was definitely getting extra training!!!

"Brother, I've got a bad feeling about this. I'm going to lie low somewhere else for a while."

"We can discuss the details over comms later!"

"Gotta go!"

Watching Chen Yimo's retreating figure, Wang Wenxuan grew restless and uneasy. Looking vexed and rather like he was fleeing in disgrace, he slipped out of the Ink Pavilion before Yu Sheng could even speak and disappeared into the crowd in an instant.

As for the money... he was too ashamed to ask.

Everyone knew perfectly well why Pavilion Master Lin had approved that payment.

An Xin, however, watched Yu Sheng with considerable interest and murmured, "Is this the one Luo Yun mentioned?"

"Decisive and ruthless."

"Agile footwork."

"He'll probably be a formidable one after awakening, too."

"Young people these days really are getting more and more impressive."

With a sigh of admiration, An Xin stood and headed outside.

"An Xin, we..."

"We still don't have enough money for new equipment."

"Will this affect the plan?"

One of the team members asked hesitantly.

An Xin kept walking. "There's always more money to be made. We didn't manage to talk them into it this time, so we'll try next time."

"But... we spent what little bounty money we had on video editing. We don't even have money for dinner..." The team member was on the verge of tears.

An Xin stopped abruptly.

"And the bank loan payment is due..."

An Xin's smile gradually faded.

"There are still twenty-seven days until payday..."

The team member dealt another blow.

For a moment, her youthful, lively figure seemed to have aged considerably.

Sometimes, what crushed a person might not be danger, but... money.

The Ink Pavilion was very efficient. Though they had said within three business days, the money arrived in only about two hours.

Yu Sheng walked along the street, seemingly wandering aimlessly.

Then, after passing through the crowd, he vanished around a corner.

An Xin came running from a distance with three team members. They kept looking around but found nothing.

"That rich bastard must have spotted us!"

Standing there, An Xin ground her teeth. "I just wanted to borrow some money from him. He sure ran fast!"

"I'm so pissed off!"

She gave a disgruntled snort. "Next time I see him, I'm borrowing a few tens of thousands to spend."

"Come on. I saw a part-time job listing online. It pays daily."

"Let's earn enough for dinner first."

As she said this, An Xin looked somewhat dejected.

It seemed all the more ridiculous.

The proud Third Team of the Demon-Slaughtering Pavilion was so poor they could not even afford dinner, and she was even a four-times-awakened ability user.

But this...

Was reality.

Awakened people were mysterious, powerful, and glamorous.

They seemed like beings countless people envied and aspired to become, yet the funds required for cultivation were enough to crush a person.

If you wanted to become stronger, you had to spend countless resources.

And resources... all cost money.

Especially for people like them, working unpopular posts in remote areas, their meager salaries truly were not enough.

Unless one day, they worked up the courage to cross the Demon-Suppressing Pass and enter Demon Clan territory. As long as they survived, they could reap abundant rewards.

But given their team's overall strength, they might... probably... perhaps...

Be delivering a lavish dinner to the Demon Clan.

In a corner.

Yu Sheng leaned against a wall, watching their retreating figures with an expressionless face.

Sure enough.

Whether in Sin City or the outside world, it was all the same.

When you carried wealth others coveted, they would try every possible means to kill you and take everything you had.

But these people's tailing methods were far too obvious.

Not professional at all.

After killing someone to silence them, they would easily leave clues behind and get caught by the Guard Bureau.