8: Huge gains

Swamp Crocodile!

That was a four-star blue card that Ah Hu had obtained at considerable cost!

It was also the strongest combat power under his command, besides himself!

This kid's way of taking things is a bit unsightly.

"Bro... Brother..." Zhao She's voice was pleading, "This... this card is Ah Hu's lifeblood... Can you..."

Ah Hu was already planning to run away. He wasn't Zhao She; if he couldn't win, couldn't he at least run?

This Swamp Crocodile was something he had scrounged for, combining his savings with the rewards from several missions, to finally get from the black market!

It was his reliance as an ordinary thug to live such a comfortable life!

Losing it would mean everything he had built would turn to dust!

"Either give it, or..."

Lu Yuan made a gesture to activate his Source Power, seemingly intending to summon Raging Waves Sea Soul.

Zhao She understood. Today's matter, if they didn't completely satisfy the other party, would likely not end well.

What lifeblood?

Compared to his own life, it was nothing!

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes as he glared at Ah Hu and growled:

"Ah Hu!"

"What are you dawdling for! Didn't you hear what this brother said?!"

"Give the card! To this brother!"

"Give your mother's head!" Ah Hu immediately tried to run, but Zhao She was even faster, abruptly raising his foot and kicking Ah Hu hard in the shin!

It broke!

"Ow!" Ah Hu screamed and fell to the ground.

"Are you all rebelling against the heavens?!"

"It's just a broken card! If it's gone, we'll find another way! Why are you all thinking of running?!"

"Hurry up! Don't you dare waste my time!"

Ah Hu looked at his former boss, then at Lu Yuan's fair face.

He knew he had no choice.

In Zhao She's eyes, he was just a dog that could be sacrificed at any time.

And in front of this young man, he didn't even dare to think of resisting.

A huge sense of humiliation and unwillingness surged into his heart, and Ah Hu's eyes instantly turned red.

He gritted his teeth, his fingertips pressing hard, as if he wanted to crush the card alive.

But in the end, he still loosened his grip and tremblingly handed it to Lu Yuan.

A card is a Card Master's painstaking effort, and an Origin Card even more so.

Having personally given up his Origin Card, Ah Hu seemed to have had all his spirit drained, and his whole person became listless, his eyes hollow.

He didn't want to live anymore.

Lu Yuan reached out and took the Swamp Crocodile.

As the card came into his hand, he could feel a faint resistance and a lingering Source Power connection.

This was the residue left after a forced stripping.

Lu Yuan's fingertips moved slightly, and a faint Source Power probed into the card.

Buzz! Without any effort.

He severed the lingering connection.

After all this, Lu Yuan put away the Swamp Crocodile and the saber-toothed turtle cards, then weighed the bulging wallet.

He looked up and gave Zhao She a final glance. As for Zhao Feng, he didn't need to do anything; presumably, all of his cousin's anger would be directed at this kid.

If he could still come back to school on Monday, it would only mean that the brothers' bond wasn't deep enough.

"Scram."

One word, like a pardon.

Zhao She felt as if he had been granted a great amnesty, scrambling backward, repeatedly nodding and bowing to Lu Yuan.

"Yes! Yes! We'll scram right away! Right away!"

He yanked up the disconsolate Ah Hu, then glared fiercely at the petrified Zhao Feng.

"What the hell are you still standing there for! Scram!"

The three of them, like dogs with their tails between their legs, supported each other and ran in a sorry state towards the other end of the alley, not daring to look back.

Their footsteps were chaotic and hurried, quickly disappearing around the corner deep in the alley.

The last ray of sunset also completely sank below the horizon.

In the alley, only Lu Yuan remained.

He turned his back, his school uniform already soaked with cold sweat.

That brief confrontation, especially the moment he severed the connection, had almost exhausted his already dwindling Source Power.

He could only say that Earthlings were the best at bluffing.

At this moment, he felt a wave of weakness.

The deterrent power of the gold card was undeniable.

But this deterrence was ultimately built on the other party's fear and ignorance.

If Zhao She had been a little more ruthless, or if he had a stronger Card Master under him, even just a genuine second-stage apprentice Card Master who dared to probe.

His meager Source Power would not have been able to support any effective attack from Raging Waves Sea Soul.

At that time, with his trump card exposed, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"Still too weak..."

Lu Yuan murmured softly, clenching his fist.

Source Power!

He must increase his Source Power as soon as possible!

He no longer lingered, turned and walked away from the notorious West Alley entrance... Night deepened.

Lu Yuan walked on his way home.

The streetlights stretched and shortened his shadow.

Leaving the chaotic area of West Alley entrance, the surroundings gradually became familiar and quiet.

The air was filled with the aroma of food, and occasionally vehicles drove by.

Lu Yuan's mood also gradually calmed down.

He touched the wallet and the two cards in his pocket.

Fifteen thousand star coins.

One blue one-star saber-toothed turtle.

One blue four-star Swamp Crocodile.

This revenge not only recovered the money the original owner had been swindled out of, but also gained an additional good beast taming card. In terms of value alone, it was probably eighty thousand star coins.

Although the quality was only blue, a four-star Swamp Crocodile was already quite a good combat force in the early stages.

Much more practical than that saber-toothed turtle.

Thinking of Zhao She and his gang's pathetic escape, Lu Yuan shook his head and smiled again.

However, this time he also exposed the fact that he possessed a gold card.

Although Zhao She and his group might not have been able to see the specific information of Raging Waves Sea Soul, the concept of "gold" was enough to cause a huge stir.

He hoped they would be sensible, otherwise, trouble would likely follow one after another.

Lu Yuan quickened his pace.

The place he lived was an old residential area on the outskirts of the city.

Both his parents were ordinary workers, leaving early and returning late every day, working hard, with meager incomes.

The reason the original owner borrowed usurious loans was also because he yearned to get a good card, wanting to achieve good results in the upcoming College Entrance Examination and change his and his family's fate.

Unfortunately, he met the wrong people, was tricked by Zhao Feng and Zhao She together, and ultimately despaired and committed suicide.

Lu Yuan sighed.

Since he occupied this body, he naturally had to bear this responsibility.

Not only to avenge the original owner, but also to live a decent life.

Soon, he returned home.

An old six-story residential building, the lights in the stairwell flickering on and off.

He fumbled for the key and opened the door.

The house was quiet, with only a faint "humming" sound coming from the kitchen.

The living room light was on, and a thermos lunchbox was on the table, with a note beside it.

"Xiao Yuan, the food is warming in the rice cooker. Your dad and I are working overtime tonight and might be back late. Eat by yourself first, don't wait for us. — Your loving mom."

Familiar handwriting, filled with concern.

A warmth flowed through Lu Yuan's heart.

Although he had transmigrated, the memories and emotions left by the original owner gave him a natural sense of closeness to these hardworking parents.

He walked to the kitchen and opened the rice cooker.

Inside were two simple dishes and a soup, still steaming.

The taste of home.

Lu Yuan served himself food and sat at the simple dining table, slowly eating.

While eating, he organized his thoughts.

The most urgent task was to improve his strength.

That is, to raise his Source Power level.

He moved his thoughts slightly and brought up his attribute panel.