All at once
===Chapter 29: Reaping What One Sows (Part 1)===
Standing in place, with his right hand in a plaster cast, Chen Yu looked at the sniveling and teary-eyed chubby neighbor with a sense of pity and affection. "My dear subject, please rise."
"Yu ge, I'm begging you sincerely." The neighbor hugged Chen Yu's leg tightly. "Stop tormenting me, okay? It was my fault for reporting on you. How about I sell one of my kidneys to compensate? Spare me, please. Okay?"
"Silly child." Chen Yu gently stroked the neighbor's head with his healthy left hand. "If I spare you, who will spare you then?"
"...Huh?"
"Great responsibilities are bestowed upon individuals by heaven, but first their hearts and aspirations must suffer, their bodies must toil, their wealth must be harmed, and their lives must be destroyed. I just memorized it these past two days," Chen Yu said, pausing for half a second.
"That's not right, is it?" the chubby neighbor questioned.
"Not right?" Chen Yu was taken aback. "What was the original then?"
The chubby neighbor, kneeling, tried to recall by counting on his fingers. "The original should be 'Heaven bestows great responsibilities upon individuals, and it will surely make their hearts and aspirations suffer, their bodies toil...' No, we're not discussing that issue now! Can you stop bothering me?"
"No," Chen Yu shook his head firmly. "You are the hope of humanity. I cannot just stand by and watch you continue to..."
Before Chen Yu could finish his sentence, the chubby neighbor suddenly stood up, seemingly gone mad. He rushed into the kitchen, frantically searching. After a hysterical frenzy, he grabbed a kitchen knife and ran back, trembling with excitement, and shoved it into Chen Yu's hand. "Come on! Big brother, kill me! Can you just kill me directly? Strike! Yes! One blow! You'll have your revenge, and I'll be liberated. The whole world will be free! We'll all be free!"
Taking the knife, Chen Yu carefully examined it, even sniffed at it, and frowned. "Did you use this to chop onions before? Why isn't it clean? It smells strange."
The chubby neighbor: "..."
"Clang!"
Chen Yu casually tossed the knife aside and gently patted the neighbor's shoulder. "Silly child, how could I bear to kill you? You are my happiness... you are the source of my future and a better life."
"Chen Yu!"
With eyes as wide as a human's, the chubby neighbor's nostrils gradually started to breathe heavily, and the veins in his neck bulged. "I'm telling you, don't fucking deceive me too much! You're just playing with me! Don't think I don't know!"
"Mm. You're right," Chen Yu nodded and asked, "So, what do you think of the latest artificial intelligence, GPT?"
"Do you even fucking listen to me!" the neighbor shouted.
"Hush!" Chen Yu suddenly lowered his voice, cautiously looked around, and then spoke seriously. "When it comes to the high range for male singers, once it reaches the A4 pitch, we should switch to mixed voice in advance. Otherwise, it causes significant damage to the vocal cords. Moreover, the quality of such high notes is not good."
The chubby neighbor: "..."
Chen Yu asked, "Have you learned it?"
Gradually, the rising anger twisted and dissipated. The chubby neighbor stood silently in place for a long time, forcefully rubbing his face. He turned around without looking at Chen Yu, took out a new mouse from under the bed, connected it to the computer, and silently started the game.
As the surging anger gradually twisted and dissipated, the chubby neighbor stood silently in place for a long time. He forcefully rubbed his face, turned around, and silently walked towards his computer desk. "Chen Yu, you like to play, right? Fine. From now on, I won't even have the slightest emotional fluctuation because of you. Let's see how long you can keep playing."
Sitting at the computer desk, he started the console expressionlessly. But as soon as it booted up, he shouted in anger again, "Fuck! Why is my mouse broken?"
"...And the computer desk is cracked too?"
"Damn it! What about my wall? Why is the wallpaper gone?"
Chen Yu shrugged helplessly, spreading his hands. "I have no idea."
"Get out!!" The chubby neighbor screamed at the top of his lungs. "Get out of my house!"
"You need to calm down a bit," Chen Yu pressed his left hand lightly. "Your fly is open."
The chubby neighbor: "..."
His lips trembled slightly. The chubby neighbor couldn't help but well up with tears again. Without even looking at Chen Yu, he took out a new mouse from under the bed and connected it to the computer. Silently, he started the game.
Crying and playing.
Really.
He regretted it so much now.
Why did he have to make that foolish report phone call?
To exchange for this torment and misery.
In the past three days at the police station, he carefully reflected on his recent life. It was like being visited by a star of ill fortune.
His good days were completely ruined by this damn Chen Yu.
Fortunately, the female instructor had no life-threatening injuries and had a decent physique, although she fainted for a while.
Otherwise, he would have spent his entire life in prison!
But what if it continues?
He believed that one day, Chen Yu would eventually play him to death.
"Whew—"
He sighed deeply, adjusted his mood, and focused his attention on the computer screen. He decided to completely ignore Chen Yu after making this decision.
A clown without an "audience" has no meaning in continuing to "perform"...
However, perhaps his mindset hadn't completely adjusted.
In this ranked match, the chubby neighbor played extremely poorly.
A score of 0-27-0.
Not only were his in-game teammates furious, but they also cursed vehemently.
Even Chen Yu, who stood behind him watching, was infuriated. He suddenly kicked with tremendous force, smashing the computer and desk into pieces!
"Crash—"
Scattered all over the floor.
Sparks flew.
"With this level, why the fuck are you even playing!" Chen Yu was so angry that his superhuman strength erupted. With one hand, he lifted the stunned chubby neighbor, who weighed over two hundred catties, and flung him fiercely!
[Chapter 30: Evil Begets Evil (Part 2)]
Thrown onto the bed four meters away.
"Boom!"
A cloud of dust and wood chips filled the air...
When the settling dust cleared, the chubby neighbor was completely dumbfounded, looking at Chen Yu in disbelief. "You... You... You... Are you a human or a ghost?"
"Damn it, if the game development company knew their game could make you play so badly, they would delete the code overnight."
With a kick, Chen Yu smashed the remaining intact computer components. He approached aggressively, grabbing the neighbor's collar once again. "You're just pure and utter trash! Stop polluting the gaming community and focus on studying!"
As he spoke, Chen Yu magically pulled out a stack of "Three Years of High School, Five Years of Mock Exams" exercise books and slammed them forcefully onto the neighbor. "Study! Study hard for me! Get rid of that idiotic 'Trash Otaku' title on your head!"
Suspended in mid-air, the chubby neighbor seemed to have forgotten why he was angry. He quickly took the stack of papers, asking dumbfoundedly, in a low and cautious voice, "Aren't we supposed to train...?"
"I changed my mind! Someone like you needs to work on your brain first!"
The anger gradually dissipated. Chen Yu felt that the "fat guy" in his hands was becoming heavier. He immediately put him down. "Ungrateful wolf. I put in so much effort to help you grow, and you still throw tantrums. From now on, you listen to whatever I say! Otherwise, I'll throw you into the septic tank downstairs and wash your brain thoroughly! Do you understand?"
"Uh... Uh, yes, yes!" The startled chubby neighbor nodded like a scared chicken.
"Now go! Finish all of it today!"
"Okay, okay." The chubby neighbor quickly hugged the stack of papers tightly to his chest, cowering and lowering his head as he ran out of the house, seeking refuge in Chen Yu's rented apartment.
"..."
"..."
Standing in the doorway of Chen Yu's house, the chubby neighbor stared blankly for about two minutes. Suddenly, he blinked, looking up at the ceiling. "Something doesn't seem quite right..."
...
===Chapter 30: Evil Begets Evil (Part 2)===
December 27th.
Under Chen Yu's tyranny and after several days of "arduous study," the title of "Trash Otaku" on the neighbor's head finally transformed again.
It became "Reader Enthusiast."
"To be honest, I find reading and studying quite interesting," the chubby neighbor adjusted his new pair of glasses. "It feels much more fulfilling than playing games."
[(D+ level) (Green) Fighter: A combination of extraordinary coordination, explosive muscle strength, and immediate responsiveness that surpasses ordinary individuals, creating unimaginable comprehensive combat potential.]
[Copy 'Fighting Superhuman' ability?]
[Yes.]
[Confirmed copy.]
"But the truth is, no matter how many books a loser reads or how many practice questions they do, it's all just a waste of time." After copying the ability, Chen Yu directly took off the neighbor's glasses and threw them away. "Go back to being a trash otaku."
Chubby neighbor: "..."
...
December 28th.
The title reverted back to "Trash Otaku."
Kicking open the door, Chen Yu pulled the chubby neighbor, who was lying on the bed playing with his phone, and threw a stack of books in his face. "Play, play, play! That's all you fucking know! Do you realize you're wasting away? Study! Study hard for me!"
Chubby neighbor: "..."
...
January 1st.
The title changed to "Study Enthusiast."
[(D- level) Strong Spirit: Can resist certain hypnotic, suggestive, and mind manipulation effects.]
[Copying the "Strong Spirit" ability?]
[Confirming the copy.]
Unfolding the perfect score test paper in his hand, the chubby neighbor excitedly said to Chen Yu, "When I was in school, how come I didn't realize that math problems weren't that difficult?"
"Tear!"
After copying the ability, Chen Yu snatched the test paper and ripped it apart fiercely. "Math? You pig brain, dare you study math? You can't even calculate the damage of in-game skills. Don't you fucking disgrace math. Go play games! Just coast through life and wait for death!"
...
January 2nd.
At the moment when his title changed back to "Trash Otaku," the chubby neighbor had a vague premonition. He turned around and saw a large foot coming towards him!
"Thud!"
"If I let you play, you play! If I want you dead, you die!" Chen Yu fiercely threw dozens of foreign classics. "Translate them! Translate them all! If you dare to be one word worse than ChatGPT, I'll skin you alive!"
Chubby neighbor: "..."
...
January 6th.
With the title of "Good Student" above his head, the chubby neighbor adjusted his glasses and restrained his excitement. "Yu Ge, do you know that there are many techniques and shortcuts to learn English?"
"Fuck learning English as a Chinese!" After copying another skill, Chen Yu's expression changed drastically, and he once again knocked off the neighbor's glasses. "I bought you a PS5, if you dare to break the controller, I'll rip out your prostate."
...
January 7th.
The neighbor's title remained as "Good Student."
Chen Yu found it suspicious and, after a search, discovered a pile of study materials hidden under the bed.
"I'm telling you to study!"
"Thud!"
"I'm telling you to study!"
"Thud!!"
"I'm telling you to study!"
"Thud thud thud—"
"Go play games!"
...
January 8th.
The title changed back to "Trash Otaku."
However, Chen Yu couldn't find the neighbor anywhere.
It seemed that the chubby neighbor had installed hidden cameras in his house, and every time Chen Yu went to find him, he managed to escape.
So, Chen Yu bought a drone overnight, attached a camera to it, and through the window on the twelfth floor, he discovered that the neighbor was hiding in the kitchen cabinet every time.
"I told you to hide!"
"Thud!"
"I told you to hide!"
"Thud thud—"
"So it's a game of hide and seek?"
"Thud—"
"It's like playing cat and mouse?"
"Thud thud—"
"So it's the Thirty-Six Stratagems!"
"Thud thud thud thud—"
...
January 9th. (Interlude)
The neighbor seemed to be attempting suicide, trying to show off to Chen Yu.
But because he was too heavy, the rope that Chen Yu had secretly replaced snapped.
...
January 12th.
The title changed back to "Good Student."
Chen Yu continued his usual routine, going crazy and studying textbooks to death, and he gave the neighbor the latest VR gaming console.
The chubby neighbor took the VR without much expression and started playing without saying anything.
"Why aren't you angry this time?" Chen Yu was surprised.
"I've gotten used to it," the neighbor's tone was indifferent. "Life is pretty good like this."
...
January 12th, evening.
The chubby neighbor knocked on Chen Yu's door, cautiously pointing to the title above his head and said, "Yu Ge, I've changed back to 'Trash Otaku' again."
Chen Yu: "?"
...
January 14th.
"Yu Ge! My title has changed again! Hurry, come here!"
Chen Yu: "..."
...
January 15th, early morning.
"The title has changed! It has changed! Yu Ge, open the door! Open the door!"
"...Let me sleep a little longer."
"Open the door!"
"Thud thud thud—"
"Open the door, Yu Ge!"
"Damn it! Let me sleep a bit longer!"
"Thud thud thud thud—"
"Open the door, Yu Ge..."
...
With every twist of fate, the price is silently marked.
Chen Yu, who continued his "wrongdoings" without restraint, finally faced the wrath of the heavens.
On this day, as he descended the stairs as usual, preparing to go to the supermarket to buy some food for himself and the neighbor, he noticed a van approaching rapidly.
It stopped right in front of Chen Yu.
Chen Yu: "?"
Before he could react, four or five masked men in black jumped out of the van. One of them carried a bag while the others wielded clubs.
They walked menacingly towards him.
Chen Yu: "Which organization are you from?"
"Bang!"
The four clubs struck at once, instantly knocking Chen Yu unconscious.
Then they stuffed him into a sack, loaded him into the van, and drove away.
"A miscalculation."
"The chubby guy with thick eyebrows and big eyes actually learned to hire thugs for murder!"
As he fainted, the only thought that flashed through Chen Yu's mind was...
...
"Drip."
"Drip."
"Drip—"
The sound of water droplets falling echoed clearly in the empty room.
Chen Yu was awakened by the noise, groggily opened his eyes, but immediately shut them again.
Because the water droplets were falling onto his face.
Upon opening his eyes, the water droplets entered his eyelids, causing a sharp and uncomfortable stinging sensation.
"Ugh."
His consciousness instantly cleared, and Chen Yu quickly turned his head, avoiding the water droplets. With his hands tied behind his back, he struggled to sit up, realizing that his wrists and feet were also bound.
"..."
'Right.'
'I've been kidnapped.'
'And I took a few blows as well.'
"..."
Sorting out his thoughts and memories in his mind, Chen Yu wriggled his body, using his shoulder to wipe away the water from his face. He looked around, but there was no sign of anyone.
This place seemed to be an unfinished basement.
Dark.
Damp.
Stuffy.
Except for the single incandescent lightbulb hanging from the ceiling, there was nothing around.
"..."
"Gurgle."
Struggling to swallow a mouthful of saliva, Chen Yu's face grew increasingly grim. He suppressed the fear welling up inside him, took a deep breath, and suddenly shouted, "Is anyone there?! Help!"
"Don't shout, keep it down. There's someone here."
A slightly familiar voice came from behind him.
Startled, Chen Yu quickly turned his head and found a man standing behind him all along. The man was holding a half-empty bottle of mineral water. It was evident that he had used water to "wake" Chen Yu.
Looking up, Chen Yu's gaze moved upward. When he saw the man's face clearly, his pupils dilated in shock. "It's you?!"
...
"Is it really you?!"
Chen Yu couldn't believe his eyes as he recognized the person before him.
"Hehe, Boss, you still remember me," the man took off his hat, revealing the title "Released Ex-Convict" on his head. He respectfully bowed to Chen Yu. "Finally, I get to see you again."
Surprisingly, it was the cellmate Chen Yu had known during his time in prison!
"You've been released?" Chen Yu assessed him from head to toe.
"That's right, I was released last month," the cellmate nodded. He immediately squatted down and untied Chen Yu.
Looking down at the ropes being undone around his ankles, Chen Yu's expression changed. "Are you asking me for money?"
"Money?" The cellmate was taken aback. "What money? Ah! I asked my family to transfer one million to you. It was meant as a token of respect."
"It's not about the money, then why did you kidnap me?" Chen Yu furrowed his brows. "And you gave me four blows."
"Boss, how could I dare to kidnap you?" Helping Chen Yu untie all the ropes, the cellmate helped him up and gave an embarrassed smile. "It was our gang leader's plan. We knew you were under police surveillance, so we had to resort to this strategy to bring you here safely."
Rubbing his wrists that were sore from being bound, Chen Yu narrowed his eyes. "So, you're involved with the underworld."
"Yes," the cellmate nodded. "After a mission went wrong and leaked, I was arrested and locked up until now."
"What does your gang leader want with me?"
"Boss, come with me and talk to our gang leader in person. Let's make everything clear," the cellmate said, getting up and leading the way. He opened the iron gate of the basement. "Boss, follow me."
Pausing for a moment, Chen Yu contemplated and then followed the cellmate. Together, they walked out of the basement.
Ascending the stairs, Chen Yu realized they were in an abandoned factory. Rusty machinery, broken doors and windows, overgrown weeds and trash formed a scene of desolation.
Clearly, this factory was far from the urban area of Qingcheng. It might not even be in Qingcheng...
The sense of crisis gradually surged within Chen Yu, but he forced himself to remain calm and continued to follow the cellmate. They took several turns and arrived at a relatively clean room.
Inside the room were three people: two men and one woman.
One of the men, a tall bald man, was sitting down and clearly seemed to be the leader.
"Gang Leader," the cellmate brought Chen Yu into the room, closed the door behind them, and nodded to the bald man. "I've brought my boss here."
"Brother, I apologize sincerely," the bald man immediately stood up, carefully observing Chen Yu for a moment, then took a big step forward and embraced him. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you! If it weren't for circumstances beyond our control, the Iron Blood Gang wouldn't have resorted to bringing you here in this manner."
Pushing away from the bald man, Chen Yu calmly said, "Brother, please get straight to the point. Why did you bring me here?"
"Four words," the bald man raised four fingers. "Achieve great deeds!"
Chen Yu: "..."
"Brother, I've already heard about you. Your initial title was 'The World's Number One Dissector and Murderer,'" the bald man excitedly embraced Chen Yu again. "The Iron Blood Gang needs talents like you!"
"???" Chen Yu looked horrified.
"The World's Number One Murderer! The methods, the ambition, the great achievements! It's simply..." The bald man touched his bald head and sighed, "It's simply incredible."
"So, you kidnapped me too..."
"That's right!" The bald man's eyes gleamed. "It's to have you join our Iron Blood Gang and lead us forward!"
"What the hell..." Chen Yu was truly shocked.
Was this "Iron Blood Gang" out of their minds?
"Brother, to be honest, this gang is our family's enterprise." Letting go of Chen Yu, the bald man folded his arms behind his back and reminisced, "It was established by my grandfather, went through hardships, and finally became the ruler. In the Qingcheng area, nobody doesn't give a thumbs-up to our gang."
"What was the gang doing during your grandfather's time?" Chen Yu asked.
"Drug production," the bald man replied.
"And what happened later?"
"My grandfather was executed. My father took over and transitioned into smuggling."
"And then?"
"My father was also executed. My second uncle took over and transitioned into kidnapping."
"And then?"
"My older brother took over and got into thievery," the bald man continued.
"And then?"
"My brother was also executed. Now it's my turn."
"What are you doing now?" Chen Yu's face was filled with disbelief.
"We're currently involved in human trafficking," the bald man turned around and introduced the middle-aged woman behind him. "She's my cousin, the leading lady of our Iron Blood Gang."
"Hello, Mr. Chen," the cousin forced a smile at Chen Yu, her face covered in at least two ounces of makeup. "We'll be counting on your support in the future."
Chen Yu: "...You've fallen on hard times pretty quickly."
"Yeah," the bald man sighed, rubbing his bald head. He patted Chen Yu's shoulder and said, "That's why we found you. We want to revive the glory of my grandfather's era under your leadership! Even surpass it!"
"I see," Chen Yu nodded and turned to leave. "But I'm not interested. Goodbye."
However, as soon as he pushed open the door, he saw that dozens of gangsters had gathered outside, each one wielding a large cleaver (or a kitchen knife), staring at him intently.
Chen Yu: "..."
After a moment of silence, he closed the door, turned around, and smiled at the bald man. "Actually, I do have some interest. Let's talk."
"Haha!" The bald man was ecstatic and gave Chen Yu another bear hug. "I knew you wouldn't refuse me. Come, have a seat! Let's talk in detail."
"Alright," Chen Yu nodded and sat on one of the only two chairs available, extending his hand. "Please proceed."
"Brother, I want you to lead us in a grand plan that will shock the world," the bald man eagerly said. "Just like your previous title, 'The World's Number One Murderer'! We must reach a global level, bringing honor to our ancestors."
"You seem to have a misunderstanding of the phrase 'bringing honor to our ancestors,'" Chen Yu remarked.
"I understand, I understand," the bald man looked puzzled. "I'm talking about my family's ancestors."
"I see," Chen Yu realized. "Well, that's not an issue. But right now..."
Chen Yu pretended to hesitate and pointed to the title above his head. "It's not that I don't want to help you, brother. But no matter how great I was in the past, it's all history. Now, I'm just a 'Useless Otaku.' I can't be of any help to you."
"Ah! Speaking of your title, it really infuriates me," the bald man suddenly stood up, took a few steps forward, pushed open the door, and in front of the hundred or so people both inside and outside the room, he pointed at Chen Yu's title and exclaimed, "Brothers, look at this! How brutal and absurd is it? The mighty 'World's Number One Dissector and Murderer' has been debased by the human government into a 'Useless Otaku'! Where's the justice? Where's the rule of law? Where's freedom?!"
The gang members exchanged glances, murmured among themselves, their faces filled with anger. They shouted in unison, their voices deafening, "Destroy the tyrannical government! The world belongs to the Three-Body!"
Chen Yu: "?! "
"The elimination of human tyranny! The world belongs to the Three-Body!" The bald man roared with fervor.
"Eliminate human tyranny! The world belongs to the Three-Body!" Everyone shouted hoarsely.
The roar shattered several pieces of broken glass in the factory...
"Brother, let me explain to you." As the voice subsided, the bald man regained his senses and tried to appease Chen Yu. "The term 'Three-Body' refers to the trinity of decadence, indulgence, and crime. It's not the Three-Body from that novel."
... Chen Yu sat as if on pins and needles, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. "You... Your gang's current goal is already at the level of the Milky Way. I... I guess you don't need me anymore..."
"We do need you! How can we not?" The bald man sat back in front of Chen Yu, his spirits high. He stared intently at Chen Yu, eyes wide open. "Brother! So, the first goal of our gang now is to help you regain the prestigious title of 'Global Number One Dismembering and Killing Murderer!' This way, our gang's reputation and power will reach its peak!"
"But I..." Chen Yu tried to interject.
"Listen to me!" The bald man interrupted. "The second goal is for you to assume the title of 'Global Number One Killer' and rally the global underworld. We'll fiercely fight against human tyranny! We'll establish a resistance movement."
"... Thirdly, under your leadership, we'll gradually conquer the world and liberate human civilization completely! The world belongs to the Three-Body!"
"... Brother!" The bald man couldn't contain his excitement, anxiously asking Chen Yu, who sat there restlessly, "Are you filled with passion?"
"I need to pee."
...
===Chapter 32: Crisis===
"Did you hear that, brothers?!" The bald man exclaimed, turning to the hundreds of knife-wielding men outside the door. "Mr. Chen is so excited he needs to pee!"
"Hahahaha!"
The gang members burst into laughter, then silently clanged their knives together, displaying a heroic demeanor. In unison, they shouted, "Fight against human tyranny! The world belongs to the Three-Body!"
"Fight against human tyranny! The world belongs to the Three-Body!"
"Alright, alright, everyone calm down." The bald man pressed his hands lightly, quieting the crowd, and then sat back in front of Chen Yu with a serious tone. "Brother, my lifelong wish is to restore the prosperity of the Iron Blood Gang. For this, I don't care about any rights or positions. So, I promise you, from the day your 'title' changes, you will be our new leader!"
"... " Hearing this, Chen Yu's face turned green.
"Do any of you have objections?" The bald man surveyed the entire room.
"No objections!" The leader was the first to speak up. "We're here to assist!"
"I don't have any objections either." The bald man's cousin raised her hand. "We're here to assist."
"We'll listen to the boss!" Everyone echoed in unison.
"Eliminate human tyranny! The world belongs to-"
"Shut up, you idiot. That's not the slogan right now."
"Oh, oh... I'll listen to the boss..."
The crowd was in chaos.
The words were chaotic.
It made Chen Yu's thoughts chaotic.
"Are these people all filled with crap in their heads?"
His expression fluctuated for a while, and Chen Yu gritted his teeth and cautiously probed the bald man. "Um... If I... um... disagree..."
"Who dares to disagree!" The bald man instantly widened his eyes and looked at the crowd. "Who here disagrees?"
"We all agree!" A burly man brandished his knife and roared, "Whoever disagrees, we'll stomp on them!"
"Yes! Stomp on them!"
"Ya ya ya ya - turn them into minced meat! Together we..."
"Make dumplings out of them!"
Chen Yu: "..."
"I agree." Chen Yu nodded seriously and raised his hand. "I don't have any issues. Um, let's do it like this."
"Good, brother!" The bald man clenched his fists in excitement. "Then change your title back now, whether it's 'Global Number One Killer' or 'Terrorist.' Mr. Chen, what preparations do you need us to make for you?"
"Just prepare a single room for me, so I can calm down for a while."
"No problem!" The bald man waved his hand. "Find a clean room for Mr. Chen! Once his title is changed, we'll hold the inauguration ceremony for the new gang leader!"
"I'll take the boss there now." The leader stepped forward.
"Okay." Nodding, the bald man gave Chen Yu a thumbs-up. "Brother, I believe that no matter how much they brainwashed you and turned you into a 'worthless shut-in,' your ambitions and aspirations cannot be completely extinguished. Each of us looks forward to the day when you regain your glory and reclaim your great 'title.'"
Chen Yu: "..."
He didn't say anything.
Chen Yu stood up and followed the leader, leaving the scene amidst the awe, anticipation, and eager gazes of the hundreds of men from the Iron Blood Gang.
They returned to the underground basement where he had been confined before.
"You can go out first." As they entered the basement, Chen Yu wearily waved his hand.
"Boss, do you want me to find some video footage about crimes and violence? So you can quickly regain your former title?"
"No need, you can go out."
"Okay, I'll be outside, boss. Call me if you need anything." The leader respectfully left and closed the door behind him.
Chen Yu: "..."
Chen Yu: "..."
"This is bad."
"We're screwed."
Chen Yu's scalp tingled, feeling a surge of coldness washing over him.
His "title" always went from bad to good, from suppression to prominence.
And today was the 16th, the day his title would change.
Not to mention being a "killer," he wouldn't even be surprised if his title changed to "upstanding youth promoting good deeds"...
Within the Human Security Bureau, no matter how freely his title changed, he wouldn't face major trouble. At most, he would be accused of a few crimes.
But this was the world of gangs!
Once these people were dissatisfied, they could turn on him without hesitation.
"No, I can't let this happen."
"I have to find a way to escape."
With that thought, Chen Yu stood up, tiptoed, and glanced outside the door.
The leader had already left, and there were six burly men guarding the door.
"Six of them."
"Even if we count the leader, there are only seven people."
"If I can provoke my anger and activate my 'Beast Force' ability..."
"..."
After contemplating for a while, a gleam flashed in Chen Yu's eyes, feeling that there was potential.
As an extraordinary power, superhuman abilities were far beyond the reach of ordinary humans.
A trained and mature superhuman, even if they were just a low-level "E rank," could easily slaughter dozens of armed teams.
Of course, he hadn't received specialized training from the superhuman world yet.
He couldn't use his abilities to enhance his overall physical qualities to the level of withstanding bullets and sprinting dozens of meters in a second.
That's why his arm was injured when he punched the sandbag a few days ago, as his body was still fragile.
But there were only seven people outside the door.
Trading blows for blows, it wouldn't be a problem to take them down with a strong attack.
...
Meanwhile, in the factory room where Chen Yu had left:
The bald man and the leader were engaged in a secret planning session.
"Are you sure we didn't kidnap the wrong person?" The bald man frowned, "He looks so young and fragile. How can he be the 'World's Number One Killer'? Is the threshold for crime so low these days?"
"I'm sure it's him. Boss, you know me well. When it comes to reliability, I'm the most reliable," the leader patted his chest to assure him, then lowered his voice and asked, "But as for you, boss, I'm not so sure. Have you thoroughly investigated Chen Yu's background?"
"Nonsense! If we're talking about reliability, I'm more reliable than you!" The bald man's eyes widened like copper bells, "I've dug up everything about Chen Yu and his family, eight generations back!"
"So, he doesn't have any significant background?"
"No. Just an ordinary commoner." The bald man rubbed his forehead, "That's why I'm puzzled. How can an ordinary person who doesn't seem to be skilled in fighting become the 'World's Number One Killer'?"
"..."
The leader lowered his head, pondering for a moment, and a gleam flashed in his eyes, "Boss, if your investigation is correct, wouldn't that prove how extraordinary Chen Yu is? A nobody who managed to accomplish such big things! A true talent!"
"Could he have superhuman abilities?" the bald man wondered.
"If he had superhuman abilities, would he be locked up in prison?" The leader laughed, "Which city's system would have the audacity to imprison a superhuman? From top to bottom, they would have to turn the place upside down! The entire Qing City wouldn't be at peace."
"That's true," the bald man nodded, "Next, let's see how long it takes for Chen Yu to reclaim his title as the 'World's Number One Killer.' We've already made arrangements. Once we have a criminal of that caliber, one billion in funds will be immediately transferred to us, allowing us to upgrade our arsenal."
"Don't worry." The leader's mouth curled upward, "A top-tier criminal with extreme violent tendencies won't change just because of some simple brainwashing. I believe in Chen Yu. He was born to achieve great things."
With that said, the leader stood up, pushed the door, and left, saying, "I'll put in some extra effort and brainwash him. I'll strive to have his title restored within three days."
However.
They didn't have to wait for three days.
Just twenty minutes later, the leader returned in excitement, followed by a large group of gang members.
"Boss!" The leader shouted in excitement, "Chen Yu's title has started to fade!"
"What?!"
The boss was momentarily shocked, but quickly stood up, almost bursting with excitement, "So soon?"
"Yes! It should change any moment now!"
"Good! Good, good!"
Indescribable joy surged in his heart, and the boss trembled as he waved his big hand, "Summon all the gang members!"
"Immediately hold the inauguration ceremony!"
"Welcome our great 'World's Number One Killer' boss!"
...
===Chapter 33: No Escape===
"It's over."
"We're finished."
"We're screwed."
"I'll be nailed to the stage, won't I...?"
"They won't even give me a chance to escape."
Surrounded by over a dozen high-ranking gang members, Chen Yu ascended the platform and gazed down at the sea of people below. He felt an urge to urinate, flowing from his hypothalamus into his bladder.
"There must be hundreds of people, right?"
"This sleazy gang has so many people..."
"They could easily chop me into minced meat."
Through the reflection in the broken windows of the factory, Chen Yu looked at his fading "Waste Otaku" title above his head. He had even prepared his last words.
What kind of title was he left with now?
It was the countdown to his demise!
At this moment, hundreds of people in the factory were waiting for his title to change back to "Number One Killer" so they could follow him and enjoy a life of luxury.
But when the time came, his title changed to "Gentleman"...
Wasn't this pure mockery and provocation?
From the bald gang leader to the female gang members, they all wanted to tear him apart.
"Gulp."
Struggling to swallow a mouthful of saliva, Chen Yu turned his head and hoarsely said to the bald gang leader beside him, who had been eagerly anticipating the moment, "Um... Do we really need such a grand ceremony?"
"We do! We must!" The bald man rubbed his forehead excitedly, jumping up and down, "This is the most historic moment for our 'Iron Blood Gang'! We must make it grand and special!"
"But..."
"There are no 'buts'. " The bald man enthusiastically patted Chen Yu's shoulder, "From now on, you are our gang leader. You'll have to get used to grand events."
Chen Yu: "..."
"Boss, it looks like my boss's title will change in five minutes at most." The leader standing beside them was also impatient, rubbing his hands in excitement, "We can start the inauguration ceremony."
"Good!" The bald man nodded vigorously and immediately faced the crowd below, waving his big hand, "Are all the branches ready? Quickly bring up the sacrificial pig."
"Boss, we're ready."
"Sharpening the knives, coming right up!"
"Eliminate human tyranny, the world belongs to..."
"It's you again, you idiot. Shut up for a moment."
"Oh..."
Half a minute later, four big men carried a squealing pig and arrived directly below the platform.
While restraining the struggling pig, they all said in unison to the bald gang leader, "Boss, the pig is here."
"Good." The bald man happily embraced Chen Yu and shouted loudly, "So, I hereby announce that the Iron Blood Gang's inauguration ceremony for the new gang leader begins now! Blood oath! Raise the flag!"
"Blood oath!"
"Raise the flag!"
Hundreds of people shouted together!
The momentum was quite shocking!
Chen Yu was so frightened that he was about to run away.
"Splurt—"
Then, at the moment when the crowd's roar subsided, a naked muscular man raised a sharp knife in his hand and forcefully plunged it into the pig's throat with his bulging muscles!
The pig immediately struggled vigorously: "Ahhhh, your mother ahhh—"
"Splurt—"
The knife was withdrawn, and a gush of blood sprayed all over the pig butcher.
"Gulp."
Chen Yu swallowed another mouthful of saliva and tremblingly said to the bald man, "J-just... just now, did it curse at us?"
"What curse? Who cursed?" The bald man was taken aback.
"That pig..."
"Hahaha, Mr. Chen, you're so humorous. How can an animal speak?" The bald man ignored it and continued to lead the chant, "Blood oath! Raise the flag!"
The crowd: "Blood oath! Raise the flag!"
Then, Chen Yu saw the burly man actually sucking on the pig's wound!
And then, he filled his mouth with blood, stood up with a flag tied with white cloth on the ground, pouted, and forcefully spewed it out!
"Spurt—"
The red blood instantly stained the white cloth with speckles.
"Crack!"
He forcefully planted the flag into the ground, completing the flag-raising.
The gang members at the scene immediately cheered and roared.
Chen Yu didn't understand what these people were playing at.
He just stared straight at the struggling and twitching pig on the ground, which increasingly resembled his future self...
At the same time, the "Waste Otaku" title above Chen Yu's head also disappeared simultaneously.
The bald man noticed and his spirit soared. He immediately raised both hands and roared with his loudest voice, "Now, I announce it! Mr. Chen is the new generation leader of our Iron Blood Gang!"
"Gong welcome, Gang Leader!"
In the audience, hundreds of people bowed in unison. They lowered their heads towards Chen Yu.
"Gong welcome, Gang Leader!"
The bald man, the number one underling, and the hall sister on the stage also bowed to Chen Yu. Almost at a ninety-degree angle.
For a moment, within this abandoned factory, it was both solemn and solemn.
In the environment of hundreds of people, it was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop...
Chen Yu: "..."
With great difficulty, Chen Yu swallowed his third mouthful of saliva, and his legs trembled.
Through the reflection in the glass window, he saw that the title above his head had changed.
From "Waste Otaku"...
To "One who punishes evil and promotes good"...
"..."
"Fuck!"
In his heart, Chen Yu let out the same roar as the pig.
The only difference was that unlike the pig, these "butchers" in front of him hadn't straightened up and given him a blow...yet.
"Alright! Ceremony complete!" The bald man maintained his bowing posture and shouted. He was about to stand up and see what "title" Chen Yu had turned into.
However, before he could even lift his head, a hand suddenly reached out and pressed down on his head.
Chen Yu: "Don't stand up."
With those words, the hundreds of gang members who were just about to straighten up all bent down again.
"Let me enjoy it a bit," Chen Yu added.
"Huh?" The bald man bowed even lower, his face filled with question marks.
"I still have a few words to say," Chen Yu's indifferent voice echoed in the not-so-empty factory.
"Gang Leader, please speak!" The bald man immediately bent his bowing angle even lower.
"Um. The ancients said, 'The beauty rolls up the beaded curtain, and all footprints disappear from the paths. The cries of gibbons on both banks cease, while the frog calls fill the air.'"
The bald man: "?"
The number one underling: "?"
All the gang members: "???"
"The ancients also said, 'Two golden orioles sing in the green willows, and a row of white egrets flies up to the blue sky. The window holds the snow of the Western Ridge in autumn, as if the Milky Way descends from the ninth heaven.'"
The bald man looked completely bewildered, instinctively wanting to stand up and inquire, but Chen Yu pressed him back down.
"Don't stand up."
The bald man: "..."
"Tonight, the sunlight is beautiful. Tonight, the clouds clear up. Tonight, I..."
"Gang Leader, what are you trying to say?" The bald man stood up.
"Smack."
Chen Yu pressed him back down again.
"Don't stand up."
The bald man: "..."
"We're getting to the main point soon."
The bald man: "..."
"What do I want to say? It's actually quite simple. Our gang's discipline is still not very good. Hmm. For example... that person on the left side of the audience, their head is about to lift up! Damn it! Bend down! How improper!"
...
===Chapter 34: No Sense of Sportsmanship===
This is a bizarre scene.
In a large factory, hundreds of people all bowed in unison, facing Chen Yu on the stage.
And on the stage, Chen Yu carefully pried open the window behind him while speaking in a casual manner.
"The story starts with Pangu creating the heavens and the earth."
"Once upon a time, there was chaos. There was no heaven above, and there was no earth below. Mind you, the chaos I'm referring to here is not the kind you eat."
"Then, in this chaos..."
The bald man couldn't bear it anymore and wanted to stand up straight. "Gang Leader, you..."
"Smack!"
Chen Yu moved swiftly and took a big step forward, pressing the bald man back down. "You think you can interrupt me? Listen to me finish."
"...Okay." The bald man gritted his teeth and bent down once again.
"Right, where was I?"
"There was chaos in the heavens and the earth." The number one underling lowered his head, his face filled with bitterness, feeling his waist getting more and more painful.
"Oh, right, chaos. Speaking of chaos, the most authentic way is to add white pepper. Because chaos, this kind of food, is different from dumplings. One is dipped in sauce, and the other is not. So one has a savory taste, while the other doesn't. But to maintain the original flavor of the meat filling, you can't put too much salt in it. You can't use coarse salt, rock salt, or pink rock salt. So, what seasoning do you use? Ah, right. Just use pepper..."
"Crack." The glass was pried open at one corner.
"What was that sound?" The bald man raised his doubts as he stood up.
"Smack!"
Very quick!
Chen Yu pressed his palm down again. "Did I let you get up?"
"G-Gang... Gang Leader, there seems to be a sound."
"I've been struggling my whole life, finally becoming the Gang Leader, and I can't even fart in public?"
"Ah... It's the sound of a fart. Well... well, that's fine then." The bald man's body began to tremble. "But Gang Leader, I... I have a herniated disc and can't stay in this position for too long..."
"This bit of pain you can't endure?" Chen Yu's voice suddenly turned stern. "Do you think I'm making you bend over all the time just to show off? To embarrass you? Nonsense! That's not it at all! I'm giving you all your first lesson!"
"Endurance!"
"Endure your current position."
"Endure your current hardships."
"Endure your temporary insignificance."
"Endure the torment that you find unbearable!"
"In this world, nobody succeeds easily! Perseverance and determination are always the most valuable qualities we possess."
"Now you can't even bear to bend over for a while. How will you endure the pain of sacrificing your life and shedding blood in the future? How will you withstand it?!"
His words echoed like thunder.
The bald man's face turned pale, immediately bending his waist even lower. "Gang Leader! I understand your lesson!"
"Do you still remember our slogan?" Chen Yu raised his left hand high while accelerating the prying of the window with his right hand. "Eliminate human tyranny, the world belongs to the Three-Body!"
The hundreds of gang members were inspired, shouting in unison with hoarse voices, "Eliminate human tyranny! The world belongs to the Three-Body!"
"This great undertaking is not easy. So, what should we do?"
"Endure!" the crowd roared.
"Good! You bunch of youngsters are teachable!" Chen Yu's voice revealed satisfaction. "In this world, there is nothing that can be obtained easily. So now, I will also bend over with all of you! Let you all experience the responsibility and endurance of being a gang leader! No one should raise their heads; raising your head is for puppies."
"And also, where did I stop just now? Never mind, let's start from the beginning. The story starts with Pangu creating the heavens and the earth."
"Once upon a time, there was a person named Pangu, who loved playing basketball. One day, his father asked him..."
"Smack—"
With a barely noticeable crisp sound, the dilapidated window of the factory was finally pried open by Chen Yu with his fingertips.
Blood rushed to his head!
Chen Yu forcefully suppressed the "rage" surging in his brain, carefully placed the glass window down, and continued with a trembling voice, "So... so I'm saying, playing basketball and eating chaos are not contradictory at all."
"Why is it that Pangu can eat chaos without dipping it in soy sauce?"
"It's because the pepper on basketball is the most delicious seasoning..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The words came to a halt.
Silence once again filled the factory.
The bald man continued to maintain his bowing posture, his ears twitching. "..."
Hao Chang's legs trembled, struggling to endure the intense pain in his waist. "..."
The gang members below started to lower their heads and exchanged glances, but not a single person dared to lift their heads.
As for the leading lady of the Iron-Blood Gang, Tang Jie, she seemed to have fallen asleep while bending over. She swayed back and forth but maintained a strange balance.
She was quite used to this posture.
"..."
"..."
"Hey, take a look at the new gang leader." After a long minute, the bald man whispered to Hao Chang.
"You should take a look," Hao Chang persisted.
"...Tang Jie, take a look. The gang leader won't treat women the same way," the bald man turned to Tang Jie beside him.
Tang Jie: "...zzZ"
"Gang Leader?" After hesitating for a while, the bald man decided to take matters into his own hands. He tentatively called out several times, but received no response. He then slowly, softly, and inconspicuously lifted his head.
"..."
A gust of cold wind passed through the window frame, chillingly "splashing" onto his scalp.
It blew, leaving him chilled to the bone, a stroke in his brain.
Gradually, the wind subsided.
The clouds faded.
The bald man, standing alone in place, his blurry vision finally became clear. He realized that there was no one in front of him...
After a brief silence, he gradually understood everything.
"..."
"Chen Yu!!"
"Fuck you!!!"
...
"Your mother..."
"Mother..."
"..."
The echoes in the distance reverberated continuously in Chen Yu's ears.
Chen Yu's spirit trembled, hastening his running speed, gradually reaching the same pace as his usual running speed.
"Damn it."
"What kind of factory is this?"
"It's actually built on a mountain! You deserve to go bankrupt, fuck!"
The scenery on both sides rapidly retreated, and Chen Yu exerted all his strength.
At this moment, he really wanted to turn into a ball.
Rolling down all the way to the foot of the mountain, with a "jiggle-juggle."
"Wait a minute..."
Feeling his exhaustion, Chen Yu began to calmly analyze the situation.
"I ran for three minutes, which means they will also chase for three minutes. Plus, their waist injuries must be hindering their speed now. With so many people, they will be crowded while running."
"There's at least a five-minute gap between us!"
"So, I need to preserve my stamina. There's no need to compete for short-term speed."
With these thoughts in mind, he slowed down. His speed returned to his slower pace.
"Should I say it or not?"
Taking even breaths, hands in his pockets, Chen Yu glanced around for a moment before taking out his phone and snapping a selfie. "The environment in these mountains is quite nice."
"Ring ring—"
"Ring ring ring—"
But in the next second, accompanied by the clamor of brass bells, hundreds of fierce and brawny men descended from the top of the factory on the mountain!
Each one of them rode a bicycle with thick tires, creating sparks as they pedaled...
Chen Yu: "..."
...
===Chapter 35: The Terrifying Abilities of Supernaturals===
Qingcheng, outskirts.
On Mount Lora, a chase was taking place.
"Faster!"
"Don't push me."
"Run faster, catch up..."
"The person in the gray jacket ahead is Chen Yu!"
Chen Yu, running at the front, decisively took off his jacket and tossed it forcefully to the side.
"Chase him!"
"Getting closer! Keep going!"
"The person in the black jeans ahead is Chen Yu!"
Chen Yu quickly stopped again, frantically tearing off his jeans and throwing them away.
"Don't let him escape!"
"Increase your speed!"
"The person in the sweater ahead is Chen Yu!"
Muttering curses, Chen Yu took off his sweater.
"The person wearing clothes ahead is Chen Yu!"
"What the hell!" Chen Yu turned around and cursed loudly, "I'm the only one running ahead, why the hell are you all blabbering!"
Saying that, he jumped off the mountain path and hid in the lush vegetation of the forest.
"Chase him! Chen Yu is running through the trees up ahead!"
"Who has a lighter? Let's set the mountain on fire!"
"Who the f*** said that?" The bald man riding an electric bike at the forefront was getting furious. "I want to burn you alive!"
"Squeak, squeak—"
In no time, accompanied by a series of screeching brakes, hundreds of gang members stopped at the spot where Chen Yu took a different path.
The bald man dismounted and waved his flushed hand. "Everyone, go down and chase! Capture Chen Yu!"
The gang members immediately discarded their bicycles and rushed into the forest.
"Split into two groups! Twenty people keep chasing ahead! The rest, search the area!" The bald man ran into the woods while barking commands. "If he's not running ahead, he must be hiding. We must find him, no matter what! Whoever catches him alive will be rewarded with 800 bucks!"
Under a hefty reward, brave men emerged.
Upon hearing this, the gang members became excited and cheered.
A quick-thinking young man with yellow hair found a stick and swung it at the dense vegetation, clearing a large area and speeding up the "search."
Others followed suit, picking up branches, sticks, stones, and began harming each other.
"Damn it! You f***ing hit me!"
"Sorry, it was unintentional."
"Smack!"
"Ah! My waist! Who threw that stone?"
"Help! He's bleeding from his head... Ah..."
"Stop fighting!"
The scene quickly descended into chaos.
The bald man, standing behind the gang members, looked on anxiously and roared hoarsely, "Damn it, be careful! Before you catch that bastard, you'll all be wiped out."
"Doesn't make sense, right?" Beside him, Hao Chang looked puzzled and bewildered. "Why did Chen Yu run away? Isn't being a gang leader a good position?"
"How the hell would I know?" The bald man redirected his anger and gave Hao Chang a hard slap. "These are the people you brought!"
Inside the "battlefield," the search parties gradually spread out.
The gang members began forming teams of two or three, significantly reducing casualties.
At this time, it was early winter.
Although the vegetation in the mountains was still relatively lush, it was far from the impassable state during summer.
There weren't many places to hide.
Therefore, both the bald man and the gang members believed that capturing Chen Yu was only a matter of time.
But as the search area expanded, minute after minute, three minutes after three minutes... they still couldn't find a trace of Chen Yu. Everyone started to grow impatient.
"What's going on? Is this guy a slippery eel? Did he disappear into the ground?"
"Even eels don't burrow into the ground."
"Shut up! I'm using it as a metaphor, you illiterate."
"F***! Can't you find a better spot to take a dump? Almost tripped me."
"Lighten your load early, so you can run faster. By the way, do you have any paper?"
"Keep looking up, that Chen Yu guy might have climbed a tree."
"If he climbed a tree, how are we supposed to find him? Couples have never looked up since ancient times!"
"Can you all shut up?!"
"Hey, bro, are you listening to me? Who has some paper?"
"Damn it, this lazy donkey takes forever to do his business!"
"I have... It's Chen Yu! Chen Yu is taking a dump here!"
"Damn it! Capture him quickly!"
"Don't push, don't push."
"Ugh... I stepped on shit! Ugh..."
"Retreat, retreat quickly!"
"Chase him! The one pulling up his pants ahead is Chen Yu!"
Watching the chaotic crowd from behind, the bald man's anger was about to explode. "You bunch of idiots! If he escapes today, I'll sacrifice you all to the gods!"
Perhaps because relieving oneself truly lightens the load, Chen Yu pulled up his pants and ran faster and faster, gradually distancing himself from the pursuing gang members behind him.
Thus, within this mountainous area, three "running" teams gradually formed.
The first team consisted of the twenty gang members dispatched by the bald man, running in a straight line, chasing after thin air.
The second team was Chen Yu.
The third team was composed of the people chasing after Chen Yu.
As Chen Yu ran faster and faster, before long, he caught up with the "first team."
Using all his strength and panting heavily, Chen Yu reached the end of the "first team" and patted the shoulder of the person in front of him. "Bro... bro, want to buy some goods?"
"Not buying!"
Chen Yu caught up with the second-to-last member of the "first team" and patted his shoulder. "Hey! Bro, want to buy some goods?"
"Get lost!"
Chen Yu caught up with the third-to-last member. "Are you buying or not?"
"Hell no! Get lost!"
He caught up with the fourth-to-last member. "Bro, are you buying?"
"Can you stop wasting time? Hurry up and chase!"
Seeing this, Chen Yu sighed, accelerated once again, and ran directly to the side of the first member of the "first team." "Brother, how about buying one? It works really well."
"What the hell are you... Chen Yu! The one selling goods up ahead is Chen Yu!"
As the bald man witnessed everything through a telescope, he became even angrier.
There was such a group of idiotic gang members. How could the Iron Blood Gang ever have a chance to rise?
However...
Just when the gang members were slowly falling behind Chen Yu, he suddenly, mysteriously stopped running.
When the twenty members of the "first team" approached, they realized that there was a cliff in front of Chen Yu...
The road had come to an end.
"Hahaha!"
"Why aren't you running anymore?"
"Didn't expect this, did you? This used to be a quarry, and half of the mountain has been dug for sand."
Standing in front of the cliff, Chen Yu's expression changed constantly.
If this were a movie, the protagonist would undoubtedly choose to jump off the cliff without hesitation.
But this was reality, and he wasn't an idiot...
"..."
"Since it's like this."
Taking a deep breath, Chen Yu mechanically moved his joints with an emotionless face, his eyes as cold as ice. "Then don't blame me."
The gang members were stunned, looking at each other.
"Do you know the difference between mortals and the extraordinary?" Opening his arms, Chen Yu closed his eyes. "Today, I'll let you witness the terrifying power of superpowers."
The gang members were all shocked by his words!
"May I ask..." Opening his eyes, Chen Yu's eyes flashed with killing intent. "How would you evaluate the singing skills of Lin Junjie?"
The gang members: "..."
Chen Yu: "..."
The gang members: "..."
Chen Yu: "..."
"I won't evaluate shit!" The leader of the gang members raised the stick in his hand and directly struck Chen Yu's head.
"Thud!"
Chen Yu fell to the ground with a thud.
...
===Chapter 36: Just Live One Day at a Time===
"No good."
"This 'superpower' is useless."
"Anger is not something that can just manifest like that..."
Squatting in a corner of a dilapidated warehouse, Chen Yu, with a bruised and swollen face, drew circles on the ground with his fingers.
Outside the door,
The bald man's face turned icy.
Especially after seeing the "title" on Chen Yu's head, his expression became even colder.
"Damn it."
"He did it on purpose!"
"His title is 'Preemptive Appellation.' He can become whatever he wants with just a thought."
"He's deliberately provoking us!"
"He doesn't even care about our Iron Blood Gang!"
Clenching his fist, the bald man was furious. "What's even more infuriating is that he called the police! He reported it while taking a shit! If I hadn't run fast, our Iron Blood Gang would have been wiped out today! Fuck!"
"How dare he?!"
"...Boss," on the side, the lieutenant lowered his head and sighed deeply. "What do we do now?"
"What do you think?" The bald man narrowed his eyes. "Shouldn't we just take care of him directly?"
"What? Boss! Please calm down!" The lieutenant was shocked. "As the saying goes, 'A prime minister's belly can carry a boat.' Those who achieve great things aren't afraid of small setbacks. If we kill him, wouldn't it all be in vain?"
"Then what should we do?" The bald man became agitated. "Look at that damn title of his. Can he become the boss?"
"I think we should discuss this matter thoroughly," the lieutenant tried to ease the bald man's emotions. "Think about it, he called the police and caused us to lose so many people. And yet, we treat him as if nothing happened. What is this? This is repaying evil with kindness!"
"...," the bald man fell silent.
"What is our ultimate goal? To strengthen the gang! Even if it's for the funding from our benefactor, Chen Yu is an indispensable member! Yes, it's true that he looks down on us right now because our gang is small. So he deliberately changed his title to mock us. But even Zhuge Liang had to invite Kong Ming three times. As long as our sincerity is enough, an iron rod can be ground down to a needle!"
"...," the bald man continued to remain silent.
"Boss, you know my character," the lieutenant saw that the bald man seemed somewhat swayed and immediately seized the opportunity. "I'm a reliable person. Before joining our Iron Blood Gang, I was involved in pyramid schemes. You can trust my persuasion skills and brainwashing abilities."
"So what are you trying to say?"
"Just leave Chen Yu to me!" The lieutenant patted his chest. "At most, one week! I will make him understand our intentions and the potential of our Iron Blood Gang! I will make him rekindle his 'evil' nature, develop a liking for crime! He will become the 'Number One Global Murderer' again and lead us to take off!"
"One week?" The bald man raised an eyebrow.
"That's right! At most, one week."
"...Fine." The bald man nodded and turned to leave. "Just one week. If his title doesn't change back to 'Murderer,' then we'll take care of him directly."
"Don't worry."
Watching the bald man walk away, the lieutenant stood up straight, straightened his clothes, and confidently walked into the warehouse. "Boss, I'm coming in..."
...
One week later.
"Boss, you know me. When it comes to reliability, no one is more reliable than me! But Chen Yu has been heavily brainwashed by the authorities, so it's not easy to handle."
"But rest assured, I have already broken through his toughest defenses!"
"Give me one more week. Ah! Just one final week!"
"I guarantee I can make him change his evil ways!"
...
Another week later.
"Boss, please don't worry. We're close to success! We're just one small step away from success!"
"That's right." Chen Yu nodded in agreement. "I have fully recognized my mistakes. A man should carve out his own territory! Even if I can't leave a lasting legacy, I will leave a lasting stench!"
"Chen Yu says his title will change soon, right?" The lieutenant asked anxiously.
"Yes." Chen Yu raised his middle finger. "I swear it will change soon! By then, I will regain control of the Iron Blood Gang and lead everyone to liberate the world!"
"So, give us one more week. Just one final week!"
...
After the third week.
"Will it change today?" Faced with the gun-wielding bald man, the lieutenant seemed oblivious and asked Chen Yu, "Or will it be tomorrow?"
"I can change my title whenever I want, but I'm a bit superstitious. The Feng Shui hasn't been good these past few days," Chen Yu replied seriously, shaking his head. "I need to wait for an auspicious day. Hey, Boss, you're here? I've made up my mind. A life of crime suits me. I was born for the darkness."
"He just thinks it's not auspicious to change the title these days," the lieutenant added.
"That's right," Chen Yu nodded. "Boss, you should prepare for these few days. We should hold some ceremonies as well. I'm about to change it."
"Three days, at most three days!" The lieutenant pounded his chest.
...
Three days later.
"Boss, put the gun down first. Here's what I'm thinking: a title is a person's most important business card. And first impressions are a person's most crucial representation! So, after discussing with the lieutenant, we've decided not to keep 'Number One Global Murderer.' If we're going to change it, let's change it to something more badass!"
"Yes!" The lieutenant exclaimed excitedly. "Our boss has decided to become the 'Global Godfather' directly! Just think about it, isn't this title cooler than 'Murderer'?"
"Mmm, mmm, mmm. Give us three more days. I will completely take over the Iron Blood Gang!"
...
Another three days passed.
Watching the bald man, who was now on the verge of madness, Chen Yu firmly grasped the muzzle of his gun, his breathing rapid. "Just one day! Only one day! I have obsessive-compulsive disorder! It's been exactly one month since I last changed my 'title'! Isn't that lucky? Just one day!"
"Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!" The lieutenant shouted in fear. "Just one day! Give us one day! If he doesn't change, you can even kill me!"
...
One day later.
January 16th.
Chen Yu's title had finally changed.
Under the tears of joy from the bald man, the relieved lieutenant, and the eager anticipation of several high-ranking members of the gang, his title successfully became "College Entrance Exam Top Scorer."
"..."
"..."
The empty warehouse fell into a dead silence.
The bald man stood dumbfounded in place, unable to regain his senses for nearly ten minutes.
The lieutenant beside him was also stunned, his entire body stiff as a statue.
Even Chen Yu himself, who had the mindset of "live one day at a time," was greatly shocked and unimaginably impacted upon seeing his new title.
"Uh..."
"Um..."
"This is what I think."
"Yes. As the saying goes, a strong youth leads to a strong nation."
"A gang can be filled with hooligans, but a gang leader must have an education."
"Everyone knows that a strategist with a dog's head like you is not trustworthy. Therefore, as the leader, you must have a strong cultural and intellectual background."
"So, as a result, I've decided..."
Chen Yu couldn't continue speaking.
The bald man had already raised his handgun and pressed the barrel against his forehead.
"Bang."
He released the safety, turned to look at the lieutenant with a particularly puzzled expression, and asked, "Genius, I asked you to teach him how to commit crimes, not physics and chemistry, right?"
...
===Chapter 37: Police, Did We Kill the Wrong Person?===
"Chen Yu."
"One month after another."
"One week after another."
"When will it end?"
"Do you know that Chinese New Year is coming?"
"You fucking dare to push it too far!"
After giving a resentful glare at the lieutenant, the bald man grabbed Chen Yu by the collar and pressed the gun against his temple, his emotions going wild. "You've been playing me all along! You've never stopped!"
"Do you really think I won't kill you?"
"I know you would." Despite wearing the title of "College Entrance Exam Top Scorer," Chen Yu's face turned pale, but he tried to maintain a steady voice. "But I also know... that without highly educated individuals, we cannot grow."
"Are you treating me like an idiot? Trying to fool me?" With a strong push, the bald man knocked Chen Yu backward, causing him to fall. His eyes filled with murderous intent as he walked out of the warehouse, gun in hand.
Before closing the door, he threw the handgun toward Chen Yu.
"Bang!"
The iron door shut.
"Snap."
The handgun fell into Chen Yu's arms.
Chen Yu: "?"
Chen Yu was dumbfounded.
Was he supposed to handle this situation "properly" on his own?
"After repeatedly playing me like a fool, you have completely destroyed any trust I had in you." Standing outside the door, the bald man coldly spoke through the iron bars to Chen Yu. "Since you claim that you took the college entrance exam to better manage things, then prove your determination now."
"What do you mean?" Holding the gun, Chen Yu leaned against the wall as he struggled to get up, completely bewildered.
"Kill him." The bald man pointed to the stunned lieutenant who had been spectating. "Or you die."
Upon hearing this, the lieutenant, who had been watching the situation, froze for a moment but quickly realized what was happening. Unable to help himself, he burst into laughter. "You're testing him like this, isn't it difficult for him? While it's true that successful people need to be ruthless, I am my boss's confidant and loyal follower! Moreover, our current relationship and feelings are..."
"Bang!"
Before he could finish his sentence, the gun went off.
The lieutenant trembled all over, wearing a face of disbelief.
He first looked back at Chen Yu, who had raised the gun, then lowered his head to look at the bloodstain on his chest. Then he looked at Chen Yu with confusion...
"Brother." Chen Yu's face was filled with sorrow. "Rest in peace."
Slowly covering his wound, the lieutenant took weak steps backward, unable to believe it. "You... couldn't even... wait... a little longer?"
Pulling out the magazine, Chen Yu expressionlessly inspected the handgun without replying.
How refreshing.
If he had hesitated for even half a second, it would have been a betrayal of his parents' upbringing.
Would he be captured and suffer in a place like this if it weren't for this person?
And now that the other person was dead, he didn't have to repay the one million yuan.
Is there anything more perfect than killing three birds with one stone?
Simply an angel...
"Thump!"
With a face full of incredulity and questions swirling in his mind, the lieutenant fell to the ground. After a few convulsions, he left us forever.
Outside the door, the bald man, who witnessed everything, couldn't help but click his tongue.
After so many years.
He had seen countless "warlords" big and small, but there were very few like Chen Yu who could face their "one and only confidant" and kill them without hesitation.
So decisive...
"..."
"Clap clap clap clap—"
"Good."
After clapping a few times with force, a hint of a smile finally appeared on the bald man's gloomy face. "It seems like I misunderstood you. A top scorer in the college entrance exam, a bookworm like you couldn't be bloodthirsty. You really are a good material."
"So, now everything is fine?" Chen Yu relaxed and casually threw away the handgun.
There was only one bullet left in the magazine.
And now it was empty.
"Everything is fine." The bald man nodded. "Prepare for your college entrance exam. And when your title reverts back..."
"No problem!" Chen Yu's heart was ecstatic, but he maintained a calm expression. "You can always trust me, Chen Yu."
"As long as you're truly on the same page as me, I don't mind waiting for you for a while."
With that, the bald man turned and left. "Take a rest. I'll go make arrangements for the inauguration ceremony. I'll have someone clean up the body."
Watching the figure disappear, Chen Yu couldn't help but feel excited. He jumped up and threw a punch in exhilaration, then quickly ran to the lieutenant's side and crouched down to observe.
"Brother, are you okay?"
A touch of the carotid artery.
The skin had turned cold...
"You said within seven steps, how could the shot be so accurate?" Chen Yu painfully revealed a smile.
"Ah, brother. Rest in peace."
"You will forever live in my heart."
Praying, Chen Yu searched through the body and found three hundred yuan in the corpse's pocket, which he put into his own pocket. Then he found a bank card in the jacket pocket.
"Brother, what's the password?" Chen Yu asked.
The corpse: "..."
"Bang!"
"Bang bang bang bang—"
Outside the warehouse, firecrackers suddenly went off. Clearly, the bald man was celebrating something.
Chen Yu found it irritating to listen to, so he threw away the bank card, covered his ears, and sat next to the lieutenant's body, planning his next move.
According to the bald man, it seemed like he was allowed to take the college entrance exam. Wasn't this a perfect opportunity to escape?
"The police are useless."
"The police in Qingcheng are useless."
"In the end, I can only rely on myself, right?"
Sighing, Chen Yu felt increasingly delighted, and he lay directly on the corpse, happily humming a song.
"I thought I would cry~ but I didn't~"
"I just stared at your bones blankly~"
"Give you my final blessing~"
"Isn't this a kind of enlightenment~"
"Let me see myself clearly..."
The long-held fear and oppression were finally released at this moment. Surrounded by a sense of "safety," Chen Yu felt like he was about to burst with joy.
Feeling fabulous, he sang with increasing happiness.
"Squeak—"
But after a while, the warehouse door opened. The deputy director of the Hongtu Police Station, dressed in a police uniform, rushed in with four policemen.
"Ah~ What a painful enlightenment~ You once..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Chen Yu: "..."
Police officers: "..."
Five police officers and one civilian.
The six people looked at each other, speechless.
Their minds were all blank.
"...Why did you come?" It wasn't until half a minute later that Chen Yu broke the silence.
"...We came to rescue you."
"...Isn't it a bit too sudden?"
"We also think so."
"Ah!!" Chen Yu suddenly realized and sat up abruptly. "So the gunshots outside just now! It wasn't firecrackers!"
"Wait, rather than that, what I'm more concerned about is..." The deputy director stared at the "Top Scholar in the College Entrance Examination" title above Chen Yu's head, asking his colleague next to him, "Are you sure... that it's not from a cram school, right? Did we kill the wrong person?"
"It... should be." The colleague hesitated upon seeing Chen Yu's title.
"So, they kidnapped you for the purpose of sending you to college?" The deputy director made a puzzled expression, with all his facial features coming together.
Chen Yu: "..."
...
===Chapter 38: Great Fortune===
"With such abilities, not engaging in education and resorting to crime, this person's life is truly a failure."
In the familiar interrogation room.
The deputy director closed the file, put down his pen, and still couldn't let go of his grudge regarding the "educational ability" of the bald man. He kept complaining, "What a failure, such a big failure."
"Um..." Chen Yu sat in the interrogation chair, cautiously asking, "Deputy director, can I leave now?"
"The record has already been taken." He sighed and waved his hand wearily. "You can go back."
"Alright, then I'll leave."
"Also, from now on, you should address me as director."
"Sure, sure, sure."
Picking up his coat and putting on his hat, Chen Yu stood up to leave.
This interrogation room always reminded him of that unpleasant memory.
He didn't want to stay a single moment longer.
"Oh, by the way." The deputy director also stood up and suddenly reached out to stop Chen Yu.
"Huh? Is there something else?"
"Just wanted to congratulate you." The deputy director pursed his lips. "From being the 'World's Number One Killer' to becoming the 'Top Scholar in the College Entrance Examination,' you've truly made me take notice."
"Not bad, not bad," Chen Yu responded indifferently.
"Although the premonitory title of being the 'Top Scholar in the College Entrance Examination' most likely means that you will indeed become the top scorer, I still hope you study hard and have a successful exam."
"Thank you, thank you. Anything else?"
"That's all."
"Goodbye!"
Wearing his coat, Chen Yu walked away without looking back.
Watching Chen Yu's figure fade away, the deputy director stood in place, increasingly admiring the educational level of the Iron Blood Gang's leader.
He knew very well just how stubborn Chen Yu could be!
Even in the Human Security Bureau in the capital, there was once a distinguished professor who was infuriated by him.
And that ordinary hoodlum managed to turn this kind of person into the top scorer in the college entrance examination...
"Our human race also has great talents."
"Unfortunately, he took the wrong path..."
...
Leaving the interrogation room and walking out of the main gate of the Hongtu Pit Police Station, Chen Yu stretched out his arms and took a deep breath. Looking at the vast sky above and the vibrant colors of early winter, he felt a sense of relief in his body and mind.
"Finally free."
"Ah—"
After savoring the moment, he put his hands down and caught sight of a familiar figure.
Turning his head and focusing his gaze, it was his chubby neighbor next door.
"Finished with the record?" Seeing Chen Yu looking over, the chubby neighbor scratched his head.
"Finished." Chen Yu walked up and tightly hugged his neighbor. "Brother, thanks. You saved my life."
That's right.
The police were able to find the secret base of the Iron Blood Gang this time, thanks to the neighbor's help.
Because this chubby guy had hidden a tracker in his shoe sole...
The purpose, of course, was to evade Chen Yu.
To the extent that for a few days, Chen Yu couldn't find him at all. He even thought there were surveillance cameras installed in his room. He had to buy a drone online and monitor through the window, only to discover the chubby guy's "hidden" location.
"When you realized I was missing, did you report it to the police?" Chen Yu asked as he released his neighbor.
"Ah... no." The chubby neighbor kept scratching his head. "The police found me during their routine check on you."
"I knew it." The gratitude in Chen Yu's heart instantly vanished. "You were hoping for me to die, yet you still reported it to the police?"
"No, no, no! I just..."
"Alright, stop babbling." Chen Yu casually draped his arm around the neighbor and walked towards the courtyard outside the police station. "No matter what, you did save my life. Come, I'll treat you to a feast."
Ten minutes later.
The two entered a fast-food restaurant and sat in a window seat.
"The feast you mentioned is just spicy hotpot?" The chubby neighbor's face darkened.
"This is Zhang Lang's Spicy and Bright Hotpot. It's delicious." Chen Yu opened a can of cola. "And they serve generous portions. I used to order their takeout frequently."
"..."
The chubby neighbor didn't say anything but followed Chen Yu's lead, taking a can of cola and opening it.
"Phew—"
He ended up splashing it all over himself.
Soon, the spicy hotpot was served.
The two of them ate in silence, heads down, focusing on their meal.
After all, they were both grown men. There wasn't much to talk about in this situation.
Moreover, there was still some unspoken tension between them, and they remained silent until they finished eating, without a single word exchanged.
"Clap."
Setting aside the bowl and finishing the last sip of broth, Chen Yu wiped his mouth and asked, "Are you done eating?"
"Finished," the chubby neighbor licked his lips.
"Let's go."
Putting on their coats, Chen Yu led the neighbor out of the restaurant and stood on the sparsely populated street. Suddenly, he reached out and took off the neighbor's hat.
The words "Waste Otaku" shone like stars, radiating a dazzling light.
"What are you doing!" The chubby neighbor was startled and quickly snatched back his hat, putting it back on his head.
"You truly live up to it," Chen Yu pursed his lips, whether it was mocking or praising, it was unclear.
"Let's go home," the chubby neighbor turned around and headed in the direction of his house.
"Hey, come back." Chen Yu grabbed the neighbor's collar, a mysterious smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "I'm going to give you a great opportunity."
Chubby neighbor: "...Your mouth is about to reach your ears."
"That's not important." Chen Yu's smile receded. "Didn't you understand what I said? I'm going to give you a great opportunity."
"I don't need it," the chubby neighbor wiped his mouth. "I've had enough opportunities."
"I'm fucking talking about a life-changing opportunity, not the kind you eat! Where are you from?"
"I'm from the northwest," the chubby neighbor replied dumbfoundedly.
"Then why do you speak northeastern dialect?"
"We speak it in the northwest too."
"Alright, stop babbling." Chen Yu waved his hand, getting straight to the point. "I never owe anyone a favor. You helped me, so I'm going to repay you."
"No need!" The chubby neighbor took a step back in panic. "No need to repay me."
"Don't worry, it's a good thing." Chen Yu forcefully pulled the neighbor along and got into a taxi. He said to the driver, "Master, go to the Extraordinary Individuals Office in this city."
"Got it." The driver glanced at Chen Yu through the rearview mirror, nodded, and stepped on the gas pedal.
The scenery outside quickly receded.
The chubby neighbor felt uneasy deep down. "Where are you taking me? The Extra... Extraordinary Individuals Office?"