Chapter 13: The Cult Reveals Itself

The man known as Fifth Uncle was momentarily taken aback. However, he quickly grasped the deeper meaning behind Qian Xiaoyun’s words. After a brief hesitation, he spoke, “The Lin family has been running the provincial elixir company for nearly ten years. Without the right catalyst, if we rashly confront them head-on, we could suffer heavy losses.” Qian Xiaoyun, who had anticipated this answer, could only let the matter drop after hearing his response.

The meeting soon came to an end, leaving only Wen Uncle by Qian Xiaoyun’s side. In truth, once Fifth Uncle had spoken, the purpose of her meeting was already fulfilled. “Wen Uncle, do you think Fifth Uncle’s reasoning is sound?” Silence. Qian Xiaoyun already had the answer in her heart.

That night, in Changping Village, Er Long and his companions welcomed a group of unusual guests. The woman standing before them was only about twenty-five or twenty-six, yet her mere presence exerted great pressure on Er Long and the others. Others might not know, but Er Long was keenly aware: this Lin Ziwei was the eldest daughter of the Lin family and wielded considerable authority in the elixir company.

“Miss Lin, I believe you’re already aware of Blind Man’s actions this afternoon. Now you claim you’ve started cooperating with them…” Er Long suppressed his shock, fixing his gaze firmly on Lin Ziwei. “Do you expect me to believe that?”

“Do you think he has any choice?” Lin Ziwei’s voice was calm, tinged with disdain. “I’ve come to both your families personally. First, I haven’t demanded you reveal the source of your elixirs. Second, I’m offering you the same price for the elixirs. Tell me, would he dare refuse?”

With her words hanging in the air, Er Long and the others fell silent, and the mockery in Lin Ziwei’s eyes became even more pronounced.

Leaving Changping Village behind, Lin Ziwei had just entered the car when her secretary in the passenger seat pressed her with a question. “Miss, why must we provide low-priced elixirs to these people? They don’t seem to serve any purpose for our upcoming plans.” The secretary, in her twenties as well, shared some personal rapport with Lin Ziwei.

Lin Ziwei chuckled softly, explaining, “Aside from my Lin family, who else in Anqing Province can supply elixirs to these people?” Without waiting for a reply, her voice continued, “The Qian family is simply trying to establish a solid market among them, aiming to challenge our authority in the elixir company. But do you think I’ll give them that chance?” Unlike what one would expect from someone her age, every word Lin Ziwei spoke carried a chilling air of ruthlessness to her companion.

“But if the headquarters finds out we…” The secretary’s concern was clear.

“They won’t find out.” Lin Ziwei cut her off, well aware of what she wanted to say. “Let’s go into the city and check on my foolish brother.”

Late at night, in a provincial capital hotel in Heyue City. After parting ways with Fatty that afternoon, Zhang Ze had come to the capital with Li Sanqing. As arranged by Li Sanqing, he would be taken to the martial arts gym the next day.

To put it plainly, the martial arts gym was one of the ways the Martial Bureau recruited students. Usually run by instructors from the Martial Bureau, these institutions served the general public. In essence, they were similar to the tutoring centers of his previous life, except they taught martial arts and charged exorbitant fees.

As a result, most who trained at these gyms were adults already employed, with some savings, seeking to enhance their status through breakthroughs in martial arts.

For Zhang Ze, the gym was tempting, but he was even more eager to see what skill the system would grant him the next day. Because of this, he lay wide-eyed late into the night, staring at the system interface.

Wealth: 1.19 million
Cell Strength: 169S
Cell Spirit: 120
Talent Skill: Shielding (Proficiency: 11%)

It had only been two days since he broke through to First Grade Martial Artist. Yet, ever since he solved the system’s issue, Zhang Ze knew he was destined for an extraordinary life.

“I still need to visit Er Long and the others. A First Grade Strength Elixir sells for sixty thousand, but it only costs me thirty thousand wealth to make with the system. Their supply source can’t possibly be lower than thirty thousand.” Muttering to himself, Zhang Ze began to imagine his future riches thanks to the system.

“Thankfully, the system is quite reliable…” Unbeknownst to him, Er Long and the others he had his eye on had already been intercepted by someone else.

“Surround them!”

“Bang—”

Just as Zhang Ze was lost in thought, there was a sudden commotion outside. Not feeling the slightest bit sleepy, Zhang Ze immediately got out of bed. As he stepped out, he ran into Li Sanqing.

“You’re going too?” Li Sanqing glanced at Zhang Ze. Without hesitation, Zhang Ze followed him downstairs.

Several shadows flashed past the street corner, their speed astonishing. The city was brightly lit, and Zhang Ze and Li Sanqing wasted no time, instantly determining the direction in which the figures had disappeared.

“Be careful—they’re at least Second Grade Martial Artists,” Li Sanqing warned, then suddenly took a stride forward, leaping over ten meters in an instant.

Zhang Ze hesitated at the warning, but seeing Li Sanqing’s speed, he was even more surprised. Gritting his teeth, he followed.

Rounding the corner, Zhang Ze saw a middle-aged man slumped against the wall. Li Sanqing also stopped by the man’s side.

“What happened?” Before Li Sanqing could answer, Zhang Ze caught sight of a pool of crimson under the streetlight, and a sticky mass protruding from the man’s abdomen.

Having lived a sheltered life before, Zhang Ze had never witnessed such a scene. His stomach churned violently.

“Evil… cultists…” The middle-aged man was at the end of his rope; before he could finish his words, he was gone.

“Ding—”

Shocked to his core, Zhang Ze didn’t even notice the system notification.

Second Grade, Cell Strength 489S.

Only when the data appeared before his eyes did he snap back to reality. But there was no time to dwell on it. Li Sanqing spoke sharply, “Call the Investigation Department—their operation has been exposed. Wait here, I’m going to help.”

Without giving Zhang Ze any time to react, Li Sanqing dashed away, disappearing at the street’s end.

In the darkness of night, the streetlight seemed feeble. Alone with the corpse, Zhang Ze felt an icy chill down his back.

“Damn it—novels are all lies! What kind of world is this, where people die without warning?” He cursed inwardly, his lips twitching uncontrollably for a long time, unable to process what had happened.

Fumbling for his new smartphone, he nearly dropped it in his panic. Seeing the crimson liquid, he couldn’t help but glance at the man’s abdomen.

For a brief moment, Zhang Ze thought that although he’d been a pauper in his past life, he’d been happy.

He stood dazed for a while before finally mustering the courage to pick up his phone.

“Hello?”

“Damn it, there’s been a death! Someone’s dead—do you understand?”