97: Wanted in the whole city

The room was small and somewhat cramped, but it was clean and tidy, with the pleasant scent of a girl lingering in the air.

"You're really something, aren't you? The Wang family sent their elites after you, right?" Qiu Jie patted her prominent chest to ease the energy depletion caused by passing through the wall.

"Then why did you dare to save me?" Xu Jingzhe asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Pfft." Qiu Jie slapped Xu Jingzhe on the shoulder with considerable force and said, "We're all Honghu, one big family. Fighting against the big families of the Chemical Zone is all part of the fun."

"Thank you," Xu Jingzhe expressed his gratitude.

"You're welcome. It's a small place, so make yourself at home. Land in Su City is worth its weight in gold, and housing prices are so high that I really can't afford anything better."

Xu Jingzhe pulled up a chair and sat down, asking, "Can you tell me more about the Wang family? I have a feud with them, and I'm afraid it won't end well."

"First, tell me what kind of feud?"

"I killed some people. Combat training personnel from Adam City. It might have been on the Wang family's turf."

Qiu Jie's eyes widened in surprise, and she gave a thumbs up, saying, "You're truly impressive!"

"The higher-ups of Adam City and Nüwa City are constantly frictioning, always looking for an excuse to squeeze a fortune out of Nüwa City. And here it is! No wonder the Wang family is making such a big fuss."

"It really won't end well." Qiu Jie fanned herself with her hand and said, "I regret saving you now. Tell me, what should we do? How are you going to repay me tonight?"

"Actually... I could have escaped on my own," Xu Jingzhe said softly.

"Oh? With my figure and my looks, are you really looking down on me even when I'm throwing myself at you?"

"That's not what I meant." Xu Jingzhe changed the subject and asked, "Do you know about the Ye family?"

"The Ye family? The South City Ye Family?"

"Why are you asking about them? Are you from the Ye family? Did you commit a crime and flee to Su City?"

Xu Jingzhe took a serious look at Qiu Jie. Her features weren't ugly; in fact, they were quite refined. Being able to know so much about the major families and not fearing the Wang family meant she definitely had real skills.

"Can you find a way to get me to South City? I want to go to the Ye family," he said.

"That won't do. If you run to South City right now, you'll only be causing trouble for the Ye family."

"The most urgent thing is to find a powerful backer. First, to prove your strength. Second, to figure out the conflict between you and those five combat personnel and prove that the fault lies with them."

"Let me think."

Half a minute later, Qiu Jie slapped her forehead and said, "Right! The Li family in Su City is a sworn enemy of the Wang family. The two have been competing in secret for years. I can bridge the gap for you and prove that it wasn't your fault."

"The Wang family will definitely suffer a huge loss!"

Xu Jingzhe looked at Qiu Jie and asked, "You really don't get along with the Wang family?"

"Not necessarily, not necessarily. We Honghu don't get along with anyone. Whoever pays, we're on their side."

"Then why would the Li family dare to use me?" Xu Jingzhe asked.

Qiu Jie blinked, looking at him as if he were an idiot, and asked skeptically, "Are you really from the Chemical Zone? If it weren't for the advanced technology of the Chemical Zone, I'd suspect you were a 'smuggler'."

"Every major family has a group of invisible assassins, all Honghu, pampered with good food and drink. When they have a grudge against someone, these people are sent out. Get it?"

Xu Jingzhe nodded. The world of the Chemical Zone was far more complex than he had realized.

It wasn't as peaceful as it appeared on TV.

There was only one room, but Qiu Jie didn't care. She stripped naked to sleep right in front of Xu Jingzhe and signaled for him to come up and join her.

Xu Jingzhe sat on the chair and meditated all night.

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, Qiu Jie disappeared and didn't return until noon.

"It's a big deal. Su City is in an uproar. The Wang family has issued a bounty, and I'm afraid quite a few people on the streets are looking for you."

"You're quite valuable. The reward is a 30-year pollution core, level two alloys, and unlimited consumption at Wang family entertainment venues for a year."

"Tsk tsk, even I'm tempted."

Xu Jingzhe looked at her and asked, "Then why don't you turn me in?"

Qiu Jie grabbed Xu Jingzhe's arm and teased, "Who told you to be so handsome? If you sleep with me, Qiu Jie is willing to go through fire and water for you."

"Don't bother." Xu Jingzhe pulled away and asked, "Has anyone from the Li family come?"

"Naturally. When your Qiu Jie takes action, one is worth two. They're waiting at the door."

They left the alley, and a black business van was parked at the entrance. Standing next to the van was a man with a buzz cut, wearing a black suit—the attire of a bodyguard.

He made a gesture inviting them in.

Xu Jingzhe and Qiu Jie got into the car together. The car started and vanished from the intersection in an instant, heading toward the main road.

Inside the car, there was a faint, pleasant fragrance that relaxed one's mood and lowered one's guard.

Xu Jingzhe also felt his mind growing hazy, but then his body jolted, and he regained consciousness. In contrast, Qiu Jie was already fast asleep.

"Whoosh!"

Just then, the buzz-cut bodyguard sitting beside him suddenly attacked, hooking his fingers and gouging towards Xu Jingzhe's eyes.

"Bang!"

Xu Jingzhe reacted quickly, raising his arm to block. The two fingers struck Xu Jingzhe's arm, and the buzz-cut man's expression changed—what hard flesh! It felt like his fingers were about to break.

After the failed strike, the man formed a fist with his left hand and smashed it towards Xu Jingzhe's head.

Xu Jingzhe's right hand, which was blocking, followed the momentum, rotating around the man's fist while gripping his wrist joint. With a forceful pull forward, he grabbed the man's neck with his left hand and applied slight pressure.

He could crush his throat at any moment.

"Alright, you've passed the test."

Just then, the man in sunglasses sitting in the passenger seat spoke.

"Tell us, how many times have you been baptized, and what are your abilities?"

"I've been baptized three times. My abilities are super strength, durability, and strong recovery."

"How did you get into a conflict with that squad?"

"They wanted to take advantage of me," Xu Jingzhe said without blinking.

At this point, the middle-aged man turned his head, looked at Xu Jingzhe, and said, "I believe what you said."

"It just so happens that we've always been at odds with the Wang family. Since they've dispatched some elites to capture you, you can just blend in with the Li family's assassins and wreak havoc."

"Perform well, and there will be rewards."

"You can tell us what you want first."

"I only want the Moon Soil Evolution Fluid," Xu Jingzhe said.

"You've got some nerve. Let's see if you have the skills to back it up."

"If your strength is top-notch, the Li family is willing to cultivate you with all our resources to become the king of the underground."

On the way, they dropped off Qiu Jie. Two hours later, they arrived at a large underground facility converted from an underground parking garage.

Quite a few people were waiting there, dressed in flashy clothes, looking slovenly, both men and women.

They were all assassins trained by the Li family.

"A new recruit is here. Lu Fei, get to know him. He'll be joining you for tonight's operation."

"Boo~"

Some clapped, some jeered, but without exception, they were all captivated by Xu Jingzhe's appearance.

He's fucking handsome!

"Uncle B, is this scrawny dog any good?" someone complained.

"Yeah, our group doesn't take trash."

"Just this scrawny dog? I don't think he'll make it."

The Honghu are all people who have committed crimes, so their strength goes without saying. People who live on the edge of life and death, with their heads on the line, naturally look down on newcomers.

"Whether he's any good or not, we'll find out tonight." The man in sunglasses said this and turned to leave.