Chapter 147: New Enmity

Chapter 147: New Grudge

When Li Jun returned to the Bampo Slum, the round moon had already set, and the starlight was gradually fading.

The intricate, narrow alleyways unfolded before his eyes, with unhardened roads uneven and bumpy, and faint, unsettling sounds often echoed from the shadows.

On both sides of the road stood rows of dilapidated sheds, with bean-sized lights leaking through the cracks in the walls.

The dots of light gradually connected, as if stars had fallen to earth.

Li Jun walked through such squalid lanes, yet felt more at ease than in the bustling, lively Hongya Mountain.

There were no dreamlike projections here, nor any ghostly or demonic figures.

Even the traces of technology had vanished, erased by poverty.

Primitive, backward, yet real.

A gentle breeze wandered through the alley, and Li Jun caught a strand of it between his lungs, blowing the madness from his mind.

"Zou Si Ji"

Li Jun carefully recalled every word spoken by the yin-yang Bauluo Gong, dissecting each syllable and chewing on them.

The hatred between Zou Si Ji and the Qixia Group was certainly not just about business dealings.

Otherwise, he could have collaborated with Li Jun under the name of the Peace Hotel without having to dig into his own pocket.

The expression on Zou Si Ji's face when he produced the Yanshi mask was as sorrowful as if his wife had run away with someone else, and he had to pay the fare himself.

That agonized look, Li Jun still remembered vividly.

But one thing Zou Si Ji said struck a chord with Li Jun: rather than waiting to be killed by others, it was better to take the initiative and strike first.

Besides the hefty reward on his head, there was also a blood vendetta etched into his genetic sequence.

Once the Qixia Group learned he was in the Chongqing Mansion, they would surely rush at him with bared fangs.

Now, with his own resources tight, it was just right to use the money from these Daoist masters to rebuild Li Hua's body.

And while at it, kill a few people and plunder some resources.

During his time in the Chengdu Mansion, Li Jun had the Jin Yi Wei's sword hanging over his head, with the Gu family pressuring him from behind and wolves circling ahead.

Thus, he could only hide his resentment and bury his ferocity.

But now that he had broken free from his shackles, he naturally wouldn't cower or tread carefully.

To act recklessly, to revel in vengeance—this was the nature of a true man.

As he wandered around the dilapidated courtyard on the outskirts of the slum, Li Jun strolled leisurely, and in no time, he reached the street where the courtyard stood.

Suddenly, a red light flared from the rooftop of the courtyard, drifting down to Li Jun's shoulder.

It was Li Jun's mortgaged Xiqinglang.

The insect spread its wings, and a preset message softly echoed: "The deal is off, return to the original owner, go!"

"What kind of reputation does this kid have? He's already in trouble?"

Li Jun tapped the Xiqinglang's head with his fingertip, muttering to himself: "Still, he's got some principles."

"Ah, I'm really busy tonight."

Li Jun suddenly sighed, pulling out a communication device the size of an earpiece from his pocket, and gently pressed it.

"Zou Si Ji, help me find someone. Don't worry, I'll pay."

Bang!

The muffled impact echoed through the already closed Minge Tavern.

The young man's head pressed against the cold wooden floor, with one foot stepping on his neck.

The rusted mechanical vertebrae slowly ground under the shoe, emitting a grating, tooth-aching sound.

"Just you, in such a wretched state, daring to play the fake boxing game like others?"

Zhou You clenched his lips, staring with blood-red eyes, his gaze as fierce as a lone wolf pup.

Slap!

The cold blade struck his face again and again.

"You've got some guts, but it's useless. The ten thousand silver notes that Hu Lao gave you—hand them over now, and you'll suffer less."

Zhou You sneered through gritted teeth: "You turned the Bampo upside down to find me, just for ten thousand silver notes? That's quite the grand gesture."

Pfft!

The blade moved, and the young man's ear was severed cleanly.

"Stop being sarcastic. Take back the money you took, no matter how much, it must be returned in full. That's the rule."

Zhou You's entire body tensed, his fingers clawing into the floor, pulling out threads of fine debris.

"Quite the rule," the young man laughed lightly, "but I have my own rules. If you want money, there's none. If you want my life, take it!"

The strongman raised his blade and roared, "You little bastard, you're asking for death!"

"Try it if you've got the guts!"

Zhou You let out a furious shout, his right foot, as if without joint restrictions, shot up like a scorpion's tail, striking the strongman's back.

Pfft!

The long blade grazed the young man's nose and plunged into the floor, sending splinters flying across his face, which still had skin.

Seizing the moment as the strongman staggered, Zhou You lunged forward, his fist hammering toward the opponent's waist.

The strongman clearly hadn't expected Zhou You to dare fight back, and in shock, he immediately kicked the ground, sidestepping.

Zhou You seized the advantage, his fists raining down in a fierce assault.

The strongman waved his blade, trying to drive this clinging leper away.

The young man neither dodged nor flinched, his left mechanical arm blocking the blade head-on.

Clang!

The blade's edge only chipped a tiny gap, while the mechanical arm split open a deep gash.

The milky synthetic blood gushed out like an open tap, splattering everywhere.

Before the strongman could retreat, the young man's right hand clenched his collar, his grotesque face lifted high, his neck stretched, then suddenly bent, his head crashing down in midair!

This headbutt was vicious—if it had connected, the strongman would have been left disfigured beyond recognition!

"If you're hurt by this kid, you won't be allowed to work with me anymore."

At the critical moment, a lazy voice suddenly rang out.

"Hehe, just playing around with him, boss, don't get mad."

The strongman's previously panicked eyes suddenly shifted, revealing hidden mockery and sarcasm.

His head jerked, and he too launched a headbutt at Zhou You!

Bang!

The malformed youth's body arched backward, soaring through the air before crashing to the floor and tumbling in circles. His face, upturned to the ceiling, was smeared with blood, his forehead split open, revealing the pale white of his skull beneath.

"Can't even afford to upgrade your skull, yet you dare swing a sledgehammer at someone?"

The hulking man brushed imaginary dust from his forehead, twisted his wrist into a blade flourish, and sneered, "Since you can't pay, you'll have to settle for paying with your life."

"Enough with the chatter. You're just a street brat—move quickly. Don't splash blood everywhere, or you'll be the one cleaning it up later."

He Cang Jia lounged in a reclining chair, cracking melon seeds and cursing under his breath.

"Don't worry, boss."

The hulking man seized his knife and stepped closer, gazing down at the dazed youth's eyes, a feral grin spreading across his face. "Kid, remember this—if you're reborn as a human in your next life, steer clear of the Sichuan-Yu gambling ring!"

A creak.

The tavern door burst open, and a tall figure stood silhouetted in the moonlight, beyond the lanterns.

"It's you?"

He Cang Jia lifted his eyelids, his face etched with surprise as he took in the newcomer.

The youth, who had been resigned to death with his eyes closed, suddenly snapped them open, lifting his head against the blade of the hulking man.

"I've already returned your things—why are you still here? Get lost!"

He Cang Jia's gaze flickered between the two, realization dawning. "So it was a gang all along."

"This is my landlord."

Li Jun, one foot on the threshold, grinned at He Cang Jia. "Give me some face and let him go?"

He Cang Jia shook his head. "I can't. He was the one who stripped me of my dignity first."

Li Jun's smile didn't waver. "Wait till I cross this threshold—you'll lose even more face."

"I'm terrified."

He Cang Jia spat out the melon seed husk, gesturing forward. "Try stepping inside!"