56: This author got kicked in the head by a donkey

“These dense numbers are the encrypted communication within the Apocalypse Cult.”

Gu Changfeng’s statement confirmed Shen Bei’s guess.

“This requires a professional cryptographer to decipher.”

“If the Apocalypse Cult hasn’t changed their cipher, then there shouldn’t be any problem in cracking it.”

Gu Changfeng immediately took a photo and sent it back to the police station.

Shen Bei asked, “How did the police station get the cipher?”

Gu Changfeng smiled mysteriously, “Naturally, by infiltrating. Did you think the country was just sitting around doing nothing?”

Shen Bei said, “Oh.”

It seemed that there were unnamed warriors silently contributing within the Apocalypse Cult.

Shen Bei deeply admired such people.

His eyes couldn't help but show genuine admiration, giving rise to a feeling of looking up at a towering mountain.

In the line between life and death, they still had to steal intelligence and ensure they weren't suspected.

This required immense psychological pressure, as well as the ability to remain calm in crisis and adapt flexibly.

Shen Bei had to admit that if it were him, he would absolutely be unable to handle such a secret and great task.

In a short moment.

The cipher was deciphered.

Gu Changfeng’s expression quickly changed, growing more and more alarmed as he read.

“What’s the content?” Shen Bei asked in a low voice.

Gu Changfeng let out a long sigh, forcefully suppressing the irritation in his heart: “Besides some normal communications, it mentions that Nine Lives Raven of the Headhunter Tribe might be entering the country.”

Nine Lives Raven!

As soon as this name was mentioned, Shen Bei immediately became unsettled.

In the past, Shen Bei didn't care about Martial Artists’ affairs at all.

After all, his own attributes were too poor, making him hopeless on the path of a Martial Artist.

It wasn’t until the daily settlement panel activated that he truly focused all his attention on the path of a Martial Artist.

However, even so, Shen Bei had heard of Nine Lives Raven’s deeds before.

He was the most discussed figure among students.

His real name was unknown.

It was rumored that he was born immortal, dying and then resurrecting.

He was extremely cruel and murderous, and loved to peel off the faces of his enemies.

The more handsome the enemy, the more excited Nine Lives Raven became, and the more tragically they died.

Shen Bei couldn't help but shiver.

“Didn’t your police station hear any rumors in advance?” Shen Bei asked.

Gu Changfeng shook his head, “Infiltrating the Headhunter Tribe requires too great a cost.”

Shen Bei nodded in sudden understanding.

Take You Wuchang, for example; he was merely an peripheral member and still needed to kill someone to join.

If the police sent in undercover personnel, they would also have to… kill someone.

Who to kill as a token of allegiance was not something they could choose themselves, but an order from the Headhunter Tribe.

Moreover, the target for this killing did not depend on the person's character, good or bad…

This was unacceptable for both the country and the police station.

Gu Changfeng sighed again and said, “It’s not that we haven’t sent people to infiltrate the Headhunter Tribe before. We even wrongly killed a police officer to get in, but it failed.”

There was such a past?

Shen Bei became interested and asked, “Why did it fail?”

Gu Changfeng gave a bitter smile, “He defected.”

Shen Bei’s mouth gaped wide open, an expression of disbelief and shock on his face!

What?

After all that trouble, indiscriminately killing countless people to join the Headhunter Tribe, he actually defected?

“W-why?” Shen Bei asked, his heart shaken.

Gu Changfeng waved his hand, “Don’t ask. That’s a state secret, an unbearable past.”

Shen Bei smacked his lips and didn't ask further.

“It also mentions a person…” Gu Changfeng furrowed his brows, “This person hasn’t shown up for five years.”

“Who is it?”

“His real name is unknown, only a codename: Shepherd.”

Shen Bei blinked.

Codename…

This was a unique designation of the Headhunter Tribe.

Just like Nine Lives Raven.

Gu Changfeng gritted his teeth, even with tears of sorrow in the corners of his eyes, and said with hatred, “Ten years ago, when I was still in the Martial Arts University, this Shepherd massacred over fifty students! Afterward, he disappeared, losing all trace and clue. I didn’t expect him to reappear now!”

Shen Bei had no knowledge of this past, but he vaguely felt that Gu Changfeng’s hatred for Shepherd was like an act of divine wrath, though he didn't know why.

“Another piece of intelligence is the disappearance of the Seven Stars Fist and the map of the Sea of Hopelessness. Also, Luo Chengyuan plans to mobilize the power of the church to search for these two things, and he has the full support of church cadre Lin Xiu.”

Gu Changfeng scratched his head, somewhat puzzled, “A Martial Skill and a map, is that enough for the Headhunter Tribe and the Apocalypse Cult to fight? I don’t understand…”

Upon hearing this, Shen Bei’s expression remained unchanged, feigning ignorance.

Yes.

What was there to fight about?

He couldn't understand the map.

As for the Martial Skill…

He could give it a five-star rating.

“Alright, that’s it. I’m taking my people back.”

Gu Changfeng seemed eager to return, it appeared that the reappearance of Shepherd might have ignited a powder keg in his heart.

Shen Bei said, “Oh,” and then reminded him, “Don’t forget about my matter.”

“What matter?”

“A master of feigning ignorance, I’m impressed.” Shen Bei grinned.

Gu Changfeng rolled his eyes, “The bounty, right? Sigh, you really are treating the police station like an ATM.”

“Isn’t it well-deserved?”

“I beg you.” Gu Changfeng cupped his hands, “Give us a chance to catch some criminals. If you catch them all, we’ll have to retire early.”

Shen Bei shrugged.

The police officers from the patrol office came and went quickly.

They didn't indulge Bai Luo either. With all her bones broken and muscles and Meridians shattered, her painful screams were constant.

Gu Changfeng found a tattered rag and shoved it directly into her mouth.

Treatment?

Treat your grandmother’s leg!

…

The bus restarted.

Shen Bei leaned against the window, his gaze directed outside.

This unexpected yet premeditated incident allowed Shen Bei to uncover many hidden veils concerning Martial Artists.

The defected undercover agent.

The Shepherd, who had been dormant for many years and hadn't shown his face…

Nine Lives Raven might be entering the country.

Luo Chengyuan’s search for the Seven Stars Fist and the map might also trigger a bloody purge.

Shen Bei took a deep breath, dark clouds covered the sky.

“Shen Bei, look at this novel, it’s so touching.”

Jian Tong, beside him, was reading a melodramatic novel on her phone, moved to tears.

Shen Bei asked, “What is it about?”

“A girl goes blind, and the boy who deeply loves her gives her his eyes so she can see the world again, but then the boy becomes blind himself, boo hoo~~ It’s so touching!”

Under Jian Tong’s messy black hair, her eyes were bright, seemingly shimmering with tears, as she simply recounted the story.

Shen Bei smacked his lips, “The author’s brain was kicked by a donkey.”

“Huh?” Jian Tong bared her teeth, saying in a cute but fierce tone, “What do you mean! You’re not moved? If I went blind one day, you’d definitely run away.”

Shen Bei spread his hands, “Don’t use my character to test the author’s intelligence.”

“I just want to ask how this author’s brain works. Why do they have to transplant two eyes? One for each, wouldn’t they both be able to see?”

Jian Tong: …

After hearing this, Jian Tong’s beautiful eyes instantly widened, staring round, and she stammered, “It… it seems what you said… makes a lot of sense.”

Jian Tong immediately gave the book a bad review, leaving a comment: Insults intelligence, an eyesore, bah!

Jian Tong was dejected for a while, then sighed and said, “Shen Bei, if there is no love, what is the meaning of life?”

Shen Bei looked at Jian Tong strangely.

Another girl poisoned by Qiong Yao novels.

Shen Bei thought for a moment and said, “The meaning of life is… to leave something that is remembered, even if denied. In most cases, it’s leaving behind one’s descendants, creating replicas of oneself, producing seeds, and raising them to adulthood.”

Jian Tong was stunned for a moment, not expecting Shen Bei’s answer to be so… realistic.

Shen Bei continued, “We always forget that safety is temporary, and danger is eternal. Living is not something we are entitled to; living is a gift.”

“Uh…”

With Jian Tong’s intelligence, she really couldn't grasp Shen Bei’s philosophical words.

However, Shen Bei still gave Jian Tong an opportunity to speak.

Shen Bei humbly asked, “How much do you know about the Apocalypse Cult?”