Chapter 70: If You Can't Even Become a Ghost, How Will You Wait for Me Below?

“Let me go. I’ve told you everything I know… I can join Chongming… I can help you with anything…” Zou Zhanfeng moaned in pain.

“Not a bad suggestion!” Gu Changqing smiled.

A fourth-level physically enhanced Awakened could be quite useful—far more valuable than Ding Lizhi ever was.

“But I did say I’d kill you, didn’t I? If I spare you now, people will think I’m a man of empty words, lacking honor.”

“I have many virtues, but the most important is that I keep my promises. If I say I’ll kill you, then I must kill you!”

Zou Zhanfeng froze for a moment, then gave a bitter laugh. In the end, there was no escape.

“I’ll wait for you below,” he said at last, not with resentment, but as if simply stating a fact.

“I’m afraid you won’t even make it as a ghost,” Gu Changqing laughed, and with a wave of his hand, a blood python lashed onto Zou Zhanfeng’s face, splitting into rivulets of blood that streamed into his ears and nose.

Zou Zhanfeng groaned in agony, but with half his bones already shattered, he couldn’t even struggle, only twitching helplessly.

He soon melted into a pool of blood, leaving behind only a set of corroded, hollowed-out white bones.

The enlarged blood python then dissolved the bones completely before flying back to Gu Changqing, a new human face now appearing on its back—Zou Zhanfeng’s.

Vital energy surged into Gu Changqing, transforming into spiritual power.

Gu Changqing sneered, spitting onto the ground with disdain. “Wait for me below? Which below? You can’t even become a ghost—how are you going to wait for me?”

With a swagger, he returned to the car.

“Back to the bureau!”

Zeng Shiqian had watched everything through the rearview mirror, but simply swallowed down the incident as if he’d seen nothing at all.

Upon returning to the Chongming headquarters, Gu Changqing summoned the others.

“This is Zeng Shiqian, former officer of the Southern District substation,” Gu Changqing introduced him and then left them to it.

Whether Zeng Shiqian could hold his own with the team was up to him. If he had the ability, he’d lead; if not, he’d step aside. Gu Changqing had always been fair in that regard.

…

In the pavilion of Luo Xiu’s courtyard at River View Villa, Secretary Bai and Luo Xiu sat drinking tea.

“I never expected he’d be living right next door… Do you know anything about him?” Secretary Bai asked, cradling her teacup.

“No,” Luo Xiu shook her head directly.

Bai said nothing more. As dusk deepened, they heard the sound of a car pulling up next door.

“I’m going to meet him,” Secretary Bai put down her cup and walked out through the gate, just in time to see Gu Changqing alighting from his car.

The sight of him made her heart skip a beat. The last time she’d seen Gu Changqing, he hadn’t exuded such a fierce, intimidating presence.

He’d been arrogant enough before, but now he was on a whole different level.

“Gu Changqing, may I have a word?” she called out.

Gu Changqing looked at her with a touch of arrogance and contempt, then grinned, baring his teeth. “Talk about what?”

“Interested in joining the Sentinels?” Secretary Bai took a deep breath, steadying herself.

Gu Changqing picked his ear, his derision only more apparent. “Not a bad offer. What’s in it for me?”

“Top-tier benefits. A third-grade spirit weapon. Priority access to all kinds of resources.” As she spoke, Bai felt a flicker of embarrassment, but still named the best terms.

Gu Changqing burst out laughing, pulling out his phone and pressing record. “Say that again. I’ll ask the minister what kind of deal he can offer me!”

“I know there were misunderstandings before, and I can apologize for that. The path of an Awakened is long, and you should consider your future. The Sentinels’ resources are far superior to Chongming’s—you should know this. With your talent and strength, you’ll receive the best cultivation, and the minister himself might mentor you,” Bai pressed on.

“Sentinels?” Gu Changqing sneered, tilted his head, gave a thumbs-up—and then turned it downwards.

Then, laughing uproariously, he closed the car door and headed inside.

He was in high spirits now.

Secretary Bai watched him vanish behind the door, her face expressionless, lips parting slightly though she made no sound.

“You’ve chosen wrong. You’ll regret it,” she mouthed.

Then she turned and left.

…

The next morning, as Gu Changqing was leaving his house, he saw Luo Xiu coming out as well.

He flashed a grin. “Long legs, interested in joining Chongming? I could use some capable people under me!”

Luo Xiu ignored him, got in her car, and drove off.

After breakfast, Gu Changqing returned to the office and went straight to Gao Wenxin’s office.

He plopped down in a chair, grinning at her.

“What is it?” Gao Wenxin asked.

“The Sentinels tried to poach me! Tsk tsk!” Gu Changqing said gleefully.

“And?” Gao Wenxin’s expression didn’t change a bit.

“Minister, you should show me some respect! Want to know what they offered me?”

“Probably spirit weapons, resources, the usual…” Gao Wenxin said, unmoved.

“All right, enough small talk! I got you an opportunity!”

“The first batch of people sent into the Qingjiang battlefield has already come back—there were significant casualties, but now we know more about what’s inside. They’re about to send in another team. Both the Sentinels and Chongming will send people, but spots are limited. I got you a place. It’s dangerous, but there are great opportunities. It’s perfect for you!”

“Sounds good!” Gu Changqing raised an eyebrow, clearly interested. “When do I go?”

“Report in three days! Prepare yourself—only you will be going. As for information on the Qingjiang battlefield, you’ll receive it when you arrive! There’ll be plenty of people there—don’t go stirring up trouble! I don’t want people from Angang making enemies everywhere they go!” Gao Wenxin warned, though not with much earnestness.

She’d said her piece; whether he listened was up to him.

“Can’t it be delayed a day or two?” Gu Changqing asked.

“You think the whole operation is waiting for you? Everyone reports there, then goes in together,” Gao Wenxin snapped.

“Understood. I won’t be in for the next few days then,” Gu Changqing said, getting up to leave.

After he left, Gao Wenxin lowered her head, a faint smile on her lips.

Gu Changqing had been seconded at the request of the district headquarters—the news had come in the night before. It was just as well to send this troublemaker elsewhere; otherwise, it wouldn’t be long before Chongming and the Sentinels were at each other’s throats.

With his hands in his pockets, Gu Changqing strolled back to his office.

“Captain!”

“Captain Gu!”

The team members greeted him respectfully, a hint of admiration in their eyes.

“I’ll be away for a few days. Keep up your training!” Gu Changqing said casually.

Then he headed to the logistics department.

“Where are my knuckle dusters?” he called as he barged in.

“They arrived yesterday!” The logistics officer got up from his chair. “I’ll fetch them for you!”

He disappeared into the back room, and Gu Changqing, grinning, poked his head in after him.

Inside was another metal door—ordinary enough, Gu Changqing thought he could break it open himself.

The logistics officer keyed in a code and went inside, coming back with a metal case, which he set on the table and pushed toward Gu Changqing.

Inside were a pair of black knuckle dusters with a faint red tinge, each set with four short spikes about two centimeters long. They looked like the legs of some kind of arthropod—or something equally strange.

“Tuman alloy, with the blood of a Feather-grade oddity mixed in. It’ll do some damage to oddities. But most importantly, it’s tough, just as you wanted—even second-grade spirit weapons can’t chop through it. The spikes are from the horns of a Rainbow Scale Bug—sturdier than most alloys, and they’re laced with a paralyzing toxin. The toxin isn’t strong, but it can affect third-grade Awakened.”

“This bottle is Eight-Eyed Moth venom. Just smear it on, and it can paralyze even a fourth-grade Awakened—though I doubt you’ll need it,” the officer explained.

Gu Changqing had traded for the moth venom as an extra precaution—back then, he might have needed it, but now, as the officer said, it was almost useless.

For a fourth-level Awakened, he could just beat them to death outright.

Gu Changqing’s power had grown too quickly.

He slipped the knuckle dusters onto his fingers. They felt just right.

He still couldn’t block swords and knives with his bare fists, but with these, things were much easier.

Though just first-grade spirit weapons, and not especially damaging to oddities or Awakened, their toughness was enough for him.

He returned to his office, unfastened a pouch from his belt, and drew out a sword—Xu Daoren’s Listening Wave.

He set the knuckle dusters on the desk, then struck down with the sword. Sparks flew, and the dusters embedded themselves into the desktop.

He pried them out and saw a sword mark a millimeter deep—still a long way from being cut in two.

That was good enough for Gu Changqing.

He’d heard that at Nine Mountains and Twelve Ridges, there was a marketplace selling magical implements and talismans. He could buy something suitable there when the time came.

As for the money… that was never a problem.

There were plenty of ways to get rich—he’d find one that suited him.

Afterward, Gu Changqing went to the supermarket, bought some food, tossed it into his pouch, and headed home to change clothes. With a thought, he returned to the alley in that other world.

It was daytime now, and there were people nearby. When they saw someone suddenly appear in the alley, they jumped in fright—almost thinking they’d seen a ghost.

Gu Changqing didn’t care and headed straight for the Giant Mountain Gate.

“Is Daoist White Elephant here?”

“Please wait, Immortal Gu. The venerable one is resting. I’ll send word.”

“It’s midday—still resting?” Gu Changqing glanced at the sky, thinking White Elephant must have some health issues.

After the time it took for a stick of incense to burn, White Elephant appeared.

“I thought you’d need a few more days, Daoist Gu!” White Elephant laughed heartily.

“Things went quickly. We’ll depart now!” Gu Changqing asserted, taking charge. “Wen Liangong, have someone fetch my maid from the inn and San Yan Quan.”

“Now? There’s another Daoist to join us. How about waiting a day?” White Elephant hesitated.

“I said we leave now!” Gu Changqing grinned at him.

White Elephant immediately sensed the deadly aura radiating from him—like a beast ready to devour.

The savagery in Gu Changqing sent goosebumps up his arm.

(End of this chapter)