172: Chapter 172 Three Years, Awakening

Lu Qingfeng was somewhat surprised to hear this: "Brother Qiang, isn't joining a gang too risky? Do Brother Sheng and Xiao Lan know?"

"Don't tell them, A-Feng. I never told you, but I'm actually a Level 5 Cancer-mutant. I've been stuck at Level 5 for a while now. If I join the gang, they'll help me reach Level 6 quickly. Besides, I learned five special abilities in college. I believe I won't die that easily!"

Lu Qingfeng was very surprised. Brother Qiang was an elite among elites; he hadn't expected him to end up here.

"Hmm... then Brother Qiang, you'd better be careful."

"And you, A-Feng..."

Lu Qingfeng gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Eat, drink, and be merry today... That's what I admire most about you, Brother Qiang. You don't smoke and only drink occasionally. Unlike me, I'm riddled with all the vices."

Gao Qiqiang fell silent. He knew he couldn't help this young man. In this dog-eat-dog world, everyone was struggling just to stay alive.

When you can barely take care of yourself, how can you help others? Who knows when your own end will come!

The two chatted for a bit longer before Lu Qingfeng left.

The journey back was boring, so he decided to play a few rounds at an arcade. Surprisingly, the old Street Fighter-style games there weren't any worse than the virtual games on Blue Star; at least Lu Qingfeng found them fun.

After dark... he went alone to eat a bowl of pig trotter noodles.

Then, carrying a bottle of liquor, he walked and drank while watching the flickering neon lights in the distance. He paused for a moment in front of 'The Waters Edge,' but for some reason, he eventually turned around and went home to sleep.

At noon the next day... he woke up with nothing to do.

He went downstairs to play cards... lost 2,000 and cursed his bad luck.

On the third day, he went to an internet cafe and then to the arcade to play games.

On the fourth day, he lost another 1,000 playing cards and swore he would never play again.

On the fifth day, he won 500 and went out to drink happily.

On the sixth day, he lost another 1,000.

By the seventh day, he had less than 100 bucks left.

He shamelessly went to find A-Li.

"Brother Li... take me to do some heavy lifting today. I'll treat you to dinner tonight!"

A-Li knew he was unemployed and had been losing at cards recently, but Lu Qingfeng was a decent guy with good sportsmanship.

So he nodded. "You can't slack off, or I won't be able to bring you along next time."

"Don't worry, I'll work hard!"

"Mhm..."

And so, on the seventh day, he carried cement. Perhaps because people had better physical fitness now, to save on bags, each bag of cement weighed 200 pounds. He and A-Li carried 200 bags each by the end of the day, earning 150 bucks.

Even Lu Qingfeng was exhausted, let alone someone like A-Li who hadn't undergone Cancerous Mutation or any training. Supposedly, A-Li was a mixed-blood Mohren; he was tall and dark, but he was indeed muscular and could handle the work, resting for three days after working one.

This was their daily routine. Sometimes, if the mood struck, they would work for ten days or half a month straight, then blow it all in one night at the gambling table or 'The Waters Edge.'

However, while Lu Qingfeng would go anywhere else, every time he approached 'The Waters Edge,' a voice in his head would always stop him.

Because of this, he had been mocked by his coworkers countless times.

Every time, he just laughed it off.

...

In the blink of an eye, three years passed.

In the starry sky of the Chaos Galaxy.

A medium-sized human scout ship sailed through the cold sea of stars.

"Warning... Warning, enemy warships detected one million kilometers ahead."

The super radar displayed a cluster of red dots representing the three-eyed beings.

"Oh no... It's the Three-Eyed Race's Soul-Slaying Legion. We need to send the news back immediately."

"Yes, Captain..." a girl answered crisply.

After a series of operations, the message was sent, and the scout ship quickly broke light speed and vanished from the spot.

"Chihiro, your internship ends in six months. How about it? Stay with our Calamity Legion!"

"Captain, I have to ask for my family's opinion!"

"Hmm, true. You're so talented, we in the Calamity Legion really hope you'll stay. Within three years, you could be a reserve captain. It's easier to get promoted in our new legion than in the old ones."

"I know, Captain!"

"Sigh, I wonder how long this war will last!"

"Alas..." both sighed.

They traveled all the way back to the Calamity Legion's spaceport.

They had completed today's scouting mission.

As soon as she got off the ship, Shen Qianxun quickly opened her wristband and made a call.

The call connected, and a girl in a white lab coat appeared in the video.

"Chihiro... you're finally free."

"Yeah, this mission took half a month. I'm exhausted. I called you the moment I got off the warship. I missed you."

"Tsk... are you sure you missed me?"

"Absolutely sure!"

"Stop pretending. Fine, I'll tell you: still no news. Dean Xiao says he's fine."

"But it's been four years!" she said softly.

"I know..." Mo Xiaoyu also whispered.

...

"A-Feng, have you heard? The Black Hand Society and the Brotherhood Group have been clashing again lately. They fight whenever they're bored. So many people die every day!"

"Yeah... let them die, it's none of our business... as long as it doesn't affect us. Want to play cards after dinner?" Lu Qingfeng slurped his noodles; he was unshaven, his hair was almost shoulder-length, and his eyes had become very cloudy.

"Let's play... Damn, I've been unlucky lately, always losing. I don't believe it. I have 500 bucks left; if I lose, I'll go work tomorrow."

"Hehe... My luck has been pretty good lately, I keep winning."

"What's the point of you winning? You don't even know how to enjoy life, hahaha... You're not still a virgin, are you?" Thinking of this, A-Li laughed heartily.

Lu Qingfeng smiled but didn't respond.

He didn't know why, but he really wanted to go, yet he never did. He seemed to have forgotten who he used to be; he only knew his name was Lu Qingfeng.

A native of Chaos City...

"Stop your yapping and eat up, let's go play cards," Lu Qingfeng cursed. He was most annoyed by these guys mocking him for that every day.

Cursing all the way, they arrived at the card room. It was crowded today, with everyone shouting and cheering.

"Four of diamonds, four of diamonds... Crap, why is it a heart!"

"Face card, give me a face card... Damn, missed it by a mile!"

Suddenly... a figure flew in from a distance and crashed at the entrance.

"Boom..." A small crater appeared on the ground.

Everyone was stunned, then instantly scattered in terror.

When a fight broke out here, if you were slow to run and got caught in the crossfire, you were just incredibly unlucky.

They still remembered the battle of the Heavenly Gods here a few years ago—so many people died!

Soon, dense gunfire erupted, followed by chaotic footsteps and the whistling of special abilities.

The building was set on fire. With explosions and cries, Guangsheng Community was in total chaos. People fled frantically, while others hid in their homes.

Lu Qingfeng chose to run, following the crowd to the community entrance.

A group of people blocked them. Seeing them in the way, they raised their guns and began to spray bullets.

Energy beams crisscrossed... hitting someone left a gaping hole; they were as dead as could be.

As energy beams shot toward him, Lu Qingfeng felt the threat of death, and a terrifying aura suddenly erupted from him.

His blood and Qi surged toward the heavens like a pillar of smoke, and a massive Taiji Diagram manifested behind him.

The gang members were stunned by the sight, hearing only a bone-chilling voice.

"Die..."

A giant hand descended from above like a dark cloud blotting out the sun.

"Boom..."

A massive handprint appeared on the ground... along with a pile of mashed meat...