Chapter 026: [There Is Only One Path Forward]

Comprehension enhancement successful!

Just like when treating Xu Dalu, the font, symbols, and color of "Comprehension+" had faded by a third. Clearly, consuming lifespan to enhance Fang Shuixian's comprehension could be done three times as well.

Returning to the system panel, the lifespan section now showed only 26.7 years remaining, down from the original 56.7 years.

"So, enhancing comprehension once consumes thirty years of lifespan?"

Tang Mubai pondered silently, keeping his expression calm. Fang Shuixian was getting on in years; whether this expenditure was worthwhile remained uncertain.

After all, the optimal age for martial arts training was between ten and twenty. Of course, nothing was absolute. With the system's help in enlightening Fang Shuixian, even if her aptitude was somewhat lacking, she ought to achieve something.

Tang Mubai considered inwardly as he quietly finished breakfast.

...

Joining a mercenary group wasn't simply a matter of verbal agreement; one had to register at the Martial Arts Association.

Thus, after breakfast, all four family members left the house together.

Xu Dalu went off to work at the Miracle Restaurant, while Tang Mubai, accompanied by Fang Shuixian and his younger cousin, first drove the little girl to school, then headed straight for the city center. Entering the Martial Arts Association building, he registered Fang Shuixian, adding her to the Miracle Mercenary Group's roster.

Only after the registration was complete did Fang Shuixian officially become a member of the Miracle Mercenary Group.

Having lived for decades and only begun martial arts training in middle age, Fang Shuixian was in high spirits. After leaving the association, she urged Tang Mubai to take her back to the mercenary group's headquarters; she was eager to head to the training room and practice, hoping to be of service to the group as soon as possible.

Tang Mubai agreed with a smile. With one enlightenment, Fang Shuixian should have no trouble grasping the basics of "Golden Mist Art" and "Tiger Roar Fist," but mastering them would not come quickly.

Ultimately, Tang Mubai was the system's host; Xu Dalu and Fang Shuixian were not. At best, they benefited from some auxiliary conveniences.

To expect them to undergo the transformation from amateur to professional martial artist in a few days, as Tang Mubai had done, was simply unrealistic.

...

After dropping Fang Shuixian at the headquarters, Tang Mubai resumed his previous sweep, first circling several hospitals in the eastern district, then visiting a few slaughterhouses, harvesting the lifeforce lost by humans and animals upon death and converting it into lifespan. Soon, it was noon.

He ate lunch casually at a roadside stall, then continued driving to the Hongyun Slaughterhouse.

Afternoons were the busiest time at Hongyun. Tang Mubai, together with a young man surnamed Feng, worked hard all afternoon.

...

As dusk approached, the two pushed a cart piled high with goods toward the warehouse.

"Xiaobai, why didn't you come yesterday?" the young man surnamed Feng asked curiously as they walked. "You have great strength; maybe you'd find better prospects practicing martial arts at a dojo. Unlike me—I know nothing, just have a bit of brute force. Working here, we're constantly looked down upon. If you have other options, you should just quit, save yourself from all this indignity."

"What, did Supervisor Zhang scold you again?" Tang Mubai responded with a question.

"He did! Not just me—yesterday, you and Da Peng and the others all got scolded!" Feng replied angrily. "That old guy, because his daughter has connections with the boss's son, looks down on us loaders in every way. Lucky you weren't here yesterday; if you had been, he'd have infuriated you too. Da Peng and the others nearly fought with him! Thankfully, they held back; otherwise, we'd have lost this job. Sigh..."

He finished with a heavy sigh, his face full of dejection and helplessness.

Tang Mubai wanted to offer some comfort, but after opening his mouth, he said nothing. It wasn't that he was indifferent, but such matters were beyond his control.

Indeed, Tang Mubai could invite him to the Miracle Restaurant, but their relationship was only average. Besides, from their past interactions, Tang Mubai had found that most of Feng's hardships stemmed from his own character.

Simply put, Feng was lazy and fond of eating without working!

He only worked as a loader at Hongyun because he'd been forced into it, with no other options.

For people like this, Tang Mubai would never lend a hand; he chose to ignore Feng's complaints entirely.

As for Tang Mubai's nominal supervisor, Zhang, so long as he didn't cause trouble, Tang Mubai could pretend he didn't exist.

...

Tang Mubai's deliberate indifference frustrated Feng, though he dared not show it.

The two entered the warehouse in silence.

Just as they reached the warehouse entrance, Tang Mubai paused, his expression subtly changing.

"What's wrong?" Feng asked, puzzled, turning to Tang Mubai. "Why did you suddenly stop?"

"It's nothing, just remembered something I forgot this morning," Tang Mubai replied with a smile, brushing it off.

"Ah, I thought it was something serious," Feng laughed, dismissing it.

Pulling the cart, they walked to the center of the warehouse and began unloading goods.

Then, amid the silence, a strange chewing sound suddenly echoed through the warehouse, just as they finished unloading.

"What was that sound!"

Feng's movements halted as he turned to look behind him, toward the depths of the warehouse, past the towering shelves.

"Did you hear something?" Tang Mubai feigned surprise, inwardly sensing danger. "You must be mistaken. Other than us talking, what else could make noise here?"

"Is that so?" Feng scratched his head, confused.

"Definitely your imagination," Tang Mubai laughed and shook his head. "All right, we're done unloading. Let's go."

"Okay," Feng replied, still gazing into the depths of the warehouse, bewildered.

After a moment, prompted by Tang Mubai, he pulled the empty cart toward the exit.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept up from behind.

Tang Mubai, pulling the cart, turned pale, pushing Feng aside with force and stamping his foot, launching himself into the air.

Swish!

The wind howled.

A hand drenched in blood, its fingernails sharp as blades, swung swiftly beneath Tang Mubai's airborne body.

The terrifying strength stirred the air, producing a shrill sound.

Had Tang Mubai not leapt, that lethal claw would have struck his head!

"Xiaobai, what are you—"

Feng, pushed aside and now sprawled on the ground, turned to protest, only to see a ferocious, blood-stained middle-aged man with crimson eyes, growling at Tang Mubai, "You were prepared after all!"

"Roar!"

The middle-aged man snarled, both hands—fingernails razor-sharp—attacking Tang Mubai again as he landed.

"Prepared for what? I don't know what you're talking about!" Tang Mubai retreated, wearing a bewildered expression. "I just have keen instincts. You're ambushing me, and you think you're in the right?"

"Hmph! Whether you're feigning ignorance or truly clueless, since you've seen me, there's only one path left—death!"