"It's already welded to your body. Are you going to cut that piece of skin off and give it to me?" Qin Ze said.
"That's easy." Brother Biao pressed his right hand against Qin Ze's chest.
Qin Ze frowned slightly. His chest grew scorching hot, as though a branding iron had been pressed against it.
"All done."
In less than a minute, Brother Biao withdrew his hand. The little tree on his body had disappeared.
Qin Ze pulled open his collar and saw that the little tree had transferred to his chest.
Somehow, he could sense a subtle connection between himself and the little tree.
If he wanted, he could return the little tree to Brother Biao or give it to Brother Devour beside him with a single thought.
"You're just giving it to me?"
Although he didn't know exactly what the little sapling did, judging by how much attention the Fairness Society and law enforcement had paid it, it was definitely no ordinary thing.
Brother Biao was being a little too generous. That was just like a military general.
Brother Biao waved a hand. "It's no use to me anyway. Consider it your payment. The Fairness Society never paid you the balance, either."
He thought Qin Ze was smart, with a bit of the air of a dog-headed strategist. Something as mysterious as the key ought to be entrusted to a smart person.
His reasoning was that simple.
"I'll take it."
Qin Ze turned back to his fishing.
Brother Devour stood respectfully to one side, his hands behind his back.
Brother Biao scratched his head.
Why had everyone suddenly stopped paying attention to him?
"Hey, what are you going to do with me?"
"Get lost. Go wherever you want."
Brother Biao stared. "You're just letting me go?"
Qin Ze glanced back at him. "What else? Keep you here and buy you dinner?"
He had the key and the information on the Fairness Society. Brother Biao was of no further use to him.
A military general like this wasn't suitable to keep around. He was too much of a jinx to his foster fathers. Better to let him go.
Brother Biao smiled. "I like your style."
"After we part today, I'll continue to fight for the new order."
Brother Biao braced himself against a tree and slowly rose to his feet.
He had been injected with a suppressant earlier, leaving him unable to circulate his qi and blood or muster any strength.
Now he had finally recovered a little.
Qin Ze said, "Weren't you fighting for fairness?"
Brother Biao said, "That was before. Now I think the new order you mentioned is way more badass."
Qin Ze said, "What is the new order I mentioned?"
Brother Biao shook his head and said with a determined look, "It doesn't matter what it is. I just think you're right."
Qin Ze rolled his eyes.
"What level martial artist are you?"
"Level five."
No wonder he had been able to kill so many martial artists and still get away unscathed.
"See you."
Brother Biao pushed off hard with both feet and raced toward the opposite bank, his feet going slap, slap, slap against the water.
But when he was only halfway across...
Splash! He fell into the water.
A moment later, Brother Biao surfaced and swam toward the opposite bank, cursing as he went.
"Damn it, I failed to show off. My qi and blood haven't fully recovered yet."
Brother Devour watched Brother Biao recede into the distance and asked, "Why didn't we off him?"
"If he goes around blabbing that we have the key, won't we become the target of everyone's arrows?"
Qin Ze said, "Didn't you hear that he's a Level Five Martial Artist? Even without his qi and blood right now, he could just stand there and neither of us could break through his defenses."
"Whatever. Brother Biao's someone who enjoys a bit of fun, too."
"I'm looking forward to seeing him again."
What Qin Ze didn't know was that his inadvertent actions and decisions had given the Circus a loyal missionary in the future.
Teacher Yao returned home dusty and disheveled.
She walked into the bathroom, took off her tattered coat, and stepped under the showerhead, turning on the hot water.
Steam curled through the air, and a hazy silhouette showed through the fogged glass door.
Ring, ring-
The phone in the living room rang.
Teacher Yao heard it but ignored it.
She bit her lower lip hard, her heart full of unwillingness.
"Damn it!"
Bang!
She raised her hand and punched the wall, shattering the marble tiles.
The plan had clearly been seamless, and she had even considered every possible situation.
But something unexpected had happened in the end.
"The Circus..."
Teacher Yao gritted her teeth.
She swore she would find those rats and crush them underfoot one by one.
Drip, drip, drip...
Teacher Yao turned off the shower and walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her.
When she saw the missed number on the phone, a hint of fear appeared in her eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Teacher Yao called back.
A moment later, a man's voice came from the other end.
"Wang Biao is gone. You failed your trial mission, and the family is very disappointed in you."
Teacher Yao hurriedly said, "Wang Biao's disappearance was only an accident. I've already pulled up the Fairness Society's main force hiding in Jiang City by the roots."
"Give me a little more time. I'll definitely bring Wang Biao back."
The man on the other end said, "Failure is failure. I don't want to hear any explanations or excuses."
"Come back immediately."
Teacher Yao was unwilling to accept it. "I've already found a lead. Wang Biao was taken by a newly risen local organization. I can definitely find him."
"Come back."
The man's tone brooked no argument.
"Wang Biao might have been nothing more than a smokescreen. The key might never have been on him at all."
"The family has assigned you a new mission to carry out."
"You must return in two days."
"Beep, beep, beep-"
Teacher Yao put down the phone, her face filled with endless sorrow.
She curled up on the sofa as silver moonlight spilled in, draping the room in a silvery mantle.
"Alas..."
After a long time, a helpless sigh sounded in the unlit room.
In a dimly lit conference room, three black-robed figures sat around a huge round table.
Twelve chairs stood around the table, each bearing a totem corresponding to one of the twelve zodiac signs.
The chairs bearing the lion, ram, and Fishes were occupied, and each occupant wore a mask representing their own sign.
"All the members hiding in Jiang City were wiped out by law enforcement, including two gray-robed deacons and twenty-six members."
"The president is very angry right now."
"Ram, Jiang City was your responsibility. Do you have anything to say?"
Leo spoke in a deep voice.
Ram looked coldly at Fishes. "If it weren't for that lousy key, my people wouldn't have been exposed."
Pisces snickered. "I wonder who was so eager to claim the credit that they came to me asking to cooperate."
"Enough." Leo slammed a hand down on the table. "In a little over a month, the Maka Race will arrive in Jiang City. This time, we're determined to take the Jiang City Otherworld."
"Ram, I hope you won't disappoint the president again."
Aries snorted coldly. "Are you telling me how to do my job?"
Pisces started speaking sarcastically again. "Exactly. Lord Ram is one of the president's favorites. What right does a little lion like you have to point fingers?"
Boom-
Terrifying killing intent erupted from Aries, instantly enveloping Pisces.
"Oh my, I'm so scared~"
Fishes unleashed a burst of qi and blood that clashed with Ram's.
"Both of you, stop."
Leo's oppressive aura bore down on everyone present.
By comparison, Ram and Fishes were like two candle flames in a gale, ready to go out at any moment.
"You broke through?"
Fishes's eyes were full of shock.
Ram couldn't help sitting up straight as well.
Leo didn't answer, saying calmly, "Fishes will continue investigating the key's whereabouts. Ram will be responsible for the Jiang City Otherworld."
"Fail again, and bring me your heads."
With that, Leo vanished from the chair.
"Little lamb, do you still want to work with me this time?" Pisces asked playfully, crossing one leg over the other.
"Get lost." Ram disappeared.
"Tch, you really can't take a joke." Fishes left as well.
The conference room fell into darkness once more.
(P.S. I've already imagined the scene of the two lions fighting in the future, hehehe...)