Chapter 179: Probing

Chapter 179: Probing

"Jun-ge, what's that guy's deal? He didn't look like a good person to me."

Only after Wang Xie left did He Zangjia turn to Li Jun and ask.

Li Jun replied indifferently, "Just a water meter reader. Pretty honest fellow, actually."

"Water meter? Which company's business is that? Never heard of it before."

He Zangjia looked suspicious, two fingers scraping back and forth at the stubble on his chin, then suddenly grinned viciously: "Jun-ge, want me to take care of him?"

A mouse wanting to leap up and slap a cat?

Li Jun was filled with solemn respect, giving He Zangjia a thumbs up, admiring: "If you'd even dare touch him, then I've got to say—high or low, I'm impressed!"

"."

Hearing this, the murderous aura rising on He Zangjia's face abruptly dissipated by more than half. He scratched his head: "Big bro, don't mess with me. What's that guy's actual background?"

Li Jun's expression was strange, mocking: "You brushed past him and didn't even notice what clothes he was wearing?"

"Clothes?"

He Zangjia began searching his memory with purpose.

Black robe-skirt? Nothing rare about that, plenty of Ming people dress like that.

Could it be the patterns on the clothes? Right, that guy's shoulders seemed to have some silver lines.

That style... what was it called again? Flying fish flowing pattern?

Flying fish flowing pattern—Embroidered Uniform Guard?!

Li Jun watched He Zangjia's eyes suddenly widen, a wicked smile on his face: "Don't doubt it, your guess is right. He left me his contact info just now. Want me to call him back?"

"N-no need. That brother seemed like a really nice guy, let's not mess with him."

He Zangjia's mouth twitched uncontrollably. Right now he wished he could gouge out his own eyes and swap in a pair of cybernetic eyes with auto-recognition.

At least then he wouldn't have mistaken an Embroidered Uniform Guard for small fry.

Seeing He Zangjia acting like he faced a formidable enemy, Li Jun couldn't help but laugh: "What? You're the 'Tiger Head' of the Sichuan-Chongqing Gambling Association, for crying out loud. Do you really need to be this scared of an Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

"Not 'Tiger Head,' I'm 'Harmony Tile' now."

He Zangjia smiled bitterly: "But 'Harmony Tile' doesn't count for shit either. Even among the 'Eight Generals,' some have been killed by them! These Embroidered Uniform Guards are all genuine ruthless characters. Few who get targeted by them meet a good end."

'Eight Generals' level figures—that's at least Sequence Seven or above.

Now it was Li Jun's turn to be surprised. "Chongqing Prefecture's Embroidered Uniform Guards are that strong?"

"A dead camel is still bigger than a horse. The Embroidered Uniform Guards may have declined, but they're still the Empire's armed force. Those tech artifacts and energy weapons rare in the civilian world—they get direct supply from the Ministry of Works, never lacking."

"Plus the Embroidered Uniform Guards kill by imperial decree. Not only are they not suppressed by the Great Ming Code, they actually get buffed by it. The more they fight, the stronger they get. Real troublesome."

Li Jun looked baffled: "The Great Ming Code can boost the Embroidered Uniform Guards' strength? How did I not know this?"

He Zangjia pondered a moment, then slowly asked: "Old bro, what rank were you in the Embroidered Uniform Guards?"

"Captain."

He Zangjia said nothing, just gave Li Jun a you-still-don't-get-it look.

Li Jun realized: "You mean only high-ranking ones get the Great Ming Code's buff?"

"Strength-wise there's definitely a difference. That kind of mental will enhancement is hard to perceive to begin with. And big bro, you're a Martial Dao sequence—no mechanical heart, no mechanical body, no brain-machine spiritual aperture, can't even connect to the Yellow Millet Dream Realm. The Great Ming Code can't exactly buff your flesh and blood, right?"

"Going by what you say, my sequence is basically..."

He Zangjia nodded heavily, serious: "Exactly. Big bro, your type counts as an outlaw beyond the law."

No wonder the 'All Under Heaven Divide Martial' incident happened back then. Turns out the Martial Dao sequence is nothing but red flags from head to toe!

Seeing Li Jun fall silent, He Zangjia looked worried: "What do those Embroidered Uniform Guards want showing up here? Looking for trouble with you, big bro?"

He knew Li Jun had once killed an Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander in Chengdu Prefecture. That's a major taboo for the Embroidered Uniform Guards.

"If they wanted trouble with me, they wouldn't have sent just one person."

"True enough."

Li Jun waved his hand, switching topics: "How'd talks go with that Wind General?"

"Smooth sailing."

He Zangjia said lowly: "Just as you predicted, big bro. They really do want to borrow your reputation to legitimately claim the territory left vacant by Luohan Temple."

In a single night, Damoyuan's First Seat Huinan's life and death unknown, Abbot Huixin fled, the Buddhist Kingdom mainframe damaged. Luohan Temple no longer had the capital to stand in Central Yu District.

In Central Yu District where every inch of land was gold, a suddenly available piece of such tempting fat meat had the surrounding hyenas drooling, watching with tiger-like gaze.

But they all knew—whoever bit first would become the bird that sticks its head out, besieged by all other forces.

Among them, only Li Jun, who had personally punched through Luohan Temple, was most justified.

Because Chongqing Prefecture's unspoken rule had always been: might makes right. Whoever takes the territory owns it.

When everyone's evenly matched and the situation delicate, following rules is obviously the best choice.

And for Li Jun, he didn't need Luohan Temple's territory at all—or rather, didn't dare take it.

A Martial Dao sequence occupying territory? What's he trying to do? Revive a sect, rise from the ashes?

That would undoubtedly provoke the reverse scales of both Buddhist and Daoist sequences. No need to imagine what kind of difficult situation would follow.

Li Jun knew clearly: with his current situation, putting down roots anywhere was courting death. Only guerrilla warfare meant survival.

Since he didn't need it, why not do a favor and give it to He Zangjia's 'Tile System,' find someone to share the brunt of the Buddhist giant Shaolin Temple's potential wrath?

"'Tile System' has been entrenched in South Yu for years, long wanted to advance into the oil-rich Central Yu. Pity they've always been blocked by the 'Sparrow System' at the door, never got a chance. Now we deliver the chance to their doorstep—how could they let go?"

"Yeah, for 'Tile System' this is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

As a 'Tile System' member, how could He Zangjia not know Central Yu's importance?

Behind every high-sequence powerhouse lies massive resources.

But recalling the scenes in Listening Wind Pavilion, he couldn't help but sigh: "But I still didn't expect Wind General and them to be so decisive. I'll speak plainly, big bro, don't get mad. Aren't they worried about offending both Buddhist and Daoist families?"

Li Jun snorted coldly: "They're just gambling too."

"Gambling?" He Zangjia looked shocked. "Gambling on what?"

"Gambling that after all these years since 'All Under Heaven Divide Martial,' the Martial Dao sequence has withered to this extent. Gambling on whether the Buddhist and Daoist families still see this lone husband as a thorn in their eye, a splinter in their flesh."

Li Jun said indifferently: "If yes, they'll immediately draw a line between us. Worst case they pay blood money, apologize—they always have ways to survive."

"But if not, then only Qingcheng Group and Shaolin Group behind Luohan Temple have beef with me. These local snakes may not fear those two dragons crossing the river."

Li Jun looked up at the already bright horizon, a red sun struggling free of the high-rises' obstruction, ascending the firmament.

"Perfect. I want to see just where the Buddhist and Daoist families' bottom line lies now."

He Zangjia followed his gaze, but only found it blindingly bright. He lowered his eyes, thinking to himself: from now on, whoever says Martial Dao sequences have no brains, I'll be the first to fight them.

They're all scheming bastards.

At this moment, hurried footsteps sounded from outside the door.

CaoCang appeared in the doorway, weather-beaten and road-worn, his gaze burning into Li Jun.

He Zangjia muttered to himself, "Brother Jun, I reckon it's high time you found a new place to lay your head."

Li Jun nodded, grinding his teeth, "Moving out in a bit. How the hell is this any different from sleeping on the street? Any son of a bitch can find me here."