Chapter 26: “even Crying Takes Time.”
Jiang Nannan was originally walking normally on the main road in the South District, pondering in her heart what kind of breakfast to prepare for Clinic Master Huo tomorrow.
The bright moonlight illuminated the road ahead, with bustling crowds occasionally passing by, everything just as usual, an unremarkable night among the countless in Xuan Feng City.
But accidents always fall silently from above, and just as she was about to leave the South District, her Sea of Consciousness was suddenly assaulted by a powerful surge of Spiritual Power.
That Spiritual Power far exceeded her own; despite her full resistance, she still couldn’t bridge the massive Level gap between them.
Until her Consciousness grew groggy, as if plunging into endless darkness.
When she opened her eyes again, she found herself surprisingly in the Medical Clinic, surrounded by her mother and Clinic Master Huo fussing over her with concern.
She was just about to speak when she sensed something off; she shook her head at her mother and Huo Yuhao, then went outside for a walk.
Everything here was beautiful, but she still noticed a sense of dissonance in this world—every flower, every blade of grass, every tree was so perfect it felt unreal.
Xuan Feng City was perfectly harmonious, free of strife, with everyone living peacefully and contentedly.
But how could that be possible?
She should have been trapped by some Soul Master in a Dream based on her own desires.
Jiang Nannan began trying various Methods to break free from the Dream.
But whether self-harm or Soul Power outbursts, it was all like a stone sinking into the sea, unable to stir even a ripple.
Jiang Nannan realized the opponent’s Cultivation was at least two Levels higher than hers, possibly even a Spiritual Attribute Soul Master.
In despair, she didn’t know where her Fate would lead, and could only keep attempting futile Soul Power bursts.
Until the entire Dream suddenly shattered for some reason, the sky cracking inch by inch like glass, emitting a grating sound that set her teeth on edge.
When the sky fully collapsed, she fell back into darkness; only when gentle moonlight fell on her Eyes again did she realize she had somehow collapsed to the ground.
And not far behind her came intense sounds of combat—clearly a battle was raging, and she had been rescued by someone.
She wanted to go help, but realized she was too weak, her Strength too feeble; going would only drag them down.
Once the battle Commotion died down and she confirmed she hadn’t fallen back into the Dream, and that her rescuer had won, she limped over to check the situation.
Then she saw land that had been practically plowed over, the air thick with the smell of charred remains, and a lump of charcoal in the distance.
She looked around and spotted something familiar in a corner.
A damaged Small Bag.
Jiang Nannan hurriedly picked up the bag, confirming it was one she had seen before.
Because there was an indigo stain on the edge of the bag.
This was Clinic Master Huo’s bag!
Huo Yuhao himself probably didn’t even know what made his bag so distinctive that someone would remember it so clearly.
During her time as an apprentice at the Medical Clinic, Jiang Nannan had memorized nearly everything in the clinic, especially Huo Yuhao’s belongings.
She had every distinctive mark committed to memory.
If Huo Yuhao knew about this, he’d probably break out in a cold sweat.
“Fuck, it’s a yandere, I’m in deep shit now.”
Jiang Nannan held the bag, looking toward the Medical Clinic, her Eyes exceptionally clear and bright under the moonlight, like rippling waves within them.
After a long while, she took the bag and returned home.
………
“Achoo!”
Huo Yuhao couldn’t help but sneeze, scratching his head; he felt like someone was always thinking about him.
“It must be that innately Evil Tang San kid.”
“Damn, how is Tang San so wicked!”
He couldn’t think of anyone else who might be thinking about him behind his back, so he just pinned it on Tang San.
On the Douluo Continent, for any bad thing, blame Tang San—it’s definitely him.
“Knock! Knock! Knock!”
Without thinking more, Huo Yuhao continued hurrying toward the East District to claim Yu Hongzhi’s Inheritance.
After getting the Inheritance, he’d go kill Chen Wen.
Damn it, setting his sights on people right beside him.
Daring to ambush Jiang Nannan today meant he’d dare to shit on Huo Yuhao’s head tomorrow.
This was no ordinary Douluo peasant; he needed to strike with an iron fist!
Upon arriving in the East District, Huo Yuhao finally understood what those Soul Masters at the Medical Clinic meant by decadence and Decadence.
It was already late at night, yet under the brilliant lights here, it was no different from daytime.
Women in revealing clothes solicited customers on the streets, drunken passersby lay ignored by the roadside, and the people here treated it as normal.
Gamblers knelt at the Casino entrance, kowtowing and begging nonstop, while those around held Wine Cups as if enjoying a show.
Huo Yuhao even saw ragged, malnourished people leading a young Child into an Alley.
Then, with something added to their arms, they hurried away with heads down, the Child’s figure no longer visible beside them.
Huo Yuhao stood on a Rooftop Ridge, the Mask’s single Eye surveying the varied spectacles of life.
He couldn’t help but lower his gaze.
“Heh, so this is the Douluo Continent.”
“A man-eating society.”
With a night breeze blowing past, Huo Yuhao’s figure vanished from the Rooftop Ridge, without stirring any Commotion.
Soon, Huo Yuhao arrived at the Ruyi Green House, following Yu Hongzhi’s Memory to effortlessly retrieve the Necklace-shaped Storage Soul Tool from the Flower Pot.
Probing it with his Spiritual Power, holy shit, it nearly made Huo Yuhao’s Eyes pop out.
“Whoa, so much money.”
“So many Soul Tools, and Medicinal Herbs!”
A rough estimate showed this Necklace Storage Soul Tool was quite valuable, with an internal Space of about thirty-six cubic meters—a high-Level Soul Tool.
Inside were stored eight Soul Tools, two Soul Tool Ray Cannons, four Soul Guiding Cannonballs, one Soul Tool Cannon, and one Flying Soul Tool.
Along with various Rare Medicinal Herbs unavailable on the market, and the Profound Water Pill placed deepest within.
“As expected of a former Main Team Member of Zheng Tian Advanced Soul Master Academy.”
“Even after falling into depravity, his wealth is beyond imagination.”
Huo Yuhao put the Necklace around his neck and headed to the top floor of the Ruyi Green House, following the Dream’s recorded images.
Once Yu Hongzhi fully took Control of Jiang Nannan, he would bring her here for the exchange: one hand the person, one hand the goods.
As for whether the East District’s crowds might expose them, Chen Wen wasn’t worried; he trusted Yu Hongzhi’s spiritual abilities—they were in the same boat, and he was sure Yu Hongzhi would handle any witnesses himself.
Moreover, the Chen family had served the Profound Nether Sect for so many years, reaping plenty of benefits.
This Green House was one of the Chen family’s assets, staffed entirely by his confidants.
Chen Wen leisurely soaked his feet in the luxurious top-floor room, awaiting Yu Hongzhi’s arrival.
Huo Yuhao was now casually making his way to the top floor; under the effect of his Spiritual Eye, no one stopped this obviously suspicious one-eyed Masked man.
“Heh, your teammate’s fighting for his life outside, and here you are listening to Music while soaking your feet.”
Huo Yuhao had approached cautiously at first, but this guy showed zero alertness.
So he simply drew the White Tiger Dagger, flashed behind him, and pressed the White Tiger Dagger to his neck.
“Shh, don’t shout.”
Chen Wen felt a chill on his neck and was about to yell when he heard Huo Yuhao’s words and immediately clamped his mouth shut.
“Spare me, good sir!”
“Don’t kill me!”
“Whatever you want, I’ll give it!”
Huo Yuhao patted his face and said, “Turn around and look at me.”
Chen Wen didn’t dare turn, saying in a panic:
“I dare not! I dare not! I know the Rules, no looking at your face.”
Enraged, Huo Yuhao twisted the entire sofa around; only then did Chen Wen see his threatener was a one-eyed Masked man, with a blade pointed at his head.
“You should have at least three things you want to say right now.”
Chen Wen was so scared he pissed himself.
“None! Not a single word, really, good sir!”
“All the money’s in the cabinet beside you!”
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, calming himself, and said: “Why send someone to tail Jiang Nannan? Three minutes, or your head comes off.”
Chen Wen realized then that Yu Hongzhi had failed and the enemy had come knocking; he burst into tears.
“Ah!”
“Hey, no crying; crying counts toward the time.”
He hurriedly stopped his tears and, in the smoothest and fastest speech of his life, explained the reason for tailing Jiang Nannan.
Huo Yuhao nodded in satisfaction: “I like honest people.”
Then Huo Yuhao swung the blade down, directly severing his head.
“Just kidding; even if you talk, your head still comes off.”
Huo Yuhao stepped over his corpse, found a Storage Soul Tool Ring in the nearby cabinet, and a preliminary Spiritual Power scan revealed it was even larger than Yu Hongzhi’s Storage Soul Tool!
