Blade to the Throat

"Fang Ming, you looked stiff today. Hehe... Listen here, yesterday, I was forced to accompany our manager to meet a client. I have to say that the place we were going was amazing. Here... If you need some place to release your 'tension', if you know what I mean."

Fang Ming was still looking at the card. At first he thought it was a brothel but it seems to be a bar.

'No, a strip club?'

"Impossible... but... I remember that guy was saying something else."

Fang Ming threw his head back. Bending it on his sofa, trying to remember, as if he instinctively knew that he need the information.

'What was it... Black Market? Stolen goods... No, it is more serious... I believe... Right!'

Fang Ming snapped open his eyes but slowly closing it again after stuck from the information he uncover.

It was the gate to Underground Society.

A place that said to guarantee anything, as long as money was around.

While Black Market also consisted of illegal stuff, but the two couldn't be compare to each other. Since at least, you won't find human organ in the black market like some cheap merchandise.

"Useless... Even if I know about it... I don't know what to sell... or how to get in..."

Fang Ming thought for a moment as his mind still linger on the possibility. As the sky turned blood red and darkness corrupted the color.

Fang Ming realized something.

"System, you can find what is wrong on people's Spirit Beast too, right?"

[Affirmative]

"So, I don't necessarily need to go that deep. No, but even if I sell my service in the Black Market, I don't know whether it will be risky or not. Again, do I need to go there? Even when I have the system?"

Fang Ming rose some questions when a stranger's voice came taunting him,

"Hahaha... Do you think this company truly need you? It is your fault for not doing any action despite knowing the problem. You cause us to lose this project. This is your responsibility."

Reminding him, the day when he was fired from the company. Fang Ming gritted his teeth tightly. Like a crocodile's jaw, once shut, it won't open again until it tore the pray apart.

Fueled with rage, Fang Ming bit his nail and soon made his decision to check the place out.

Changing his outfit, Fang Ming wore a hood and made his way down the road. Each of his steps were made with care of making no sound.

Deep down, he was also feeling scared and anxious. He wanted to go back and rest. Spending his day in his room without any trouble.

But once the step has been made, Fang Ming ignored those feelings. All he could do now was to be cautious.

"ID..."

Even when lining up to enter the place, Fang Ming could hear the music vibrating below his feet.

"Enter..."

A giant burly man stepped aside to let Fang Ming go down the stairs to the main venue. As he moved forward, the dark stairway soon had a bright end. The music grew louder and louder. The vibration creeping in slowly from the ground toward his heart.

Soon, Fang Ming arrived at the place.

A bar that already turned into night club.

People were dancing.

Drinking.

Socializing.

'System, find people with Spirit Beast's problem. Rate them based on urgency from 1 to 10.'

[It can't be done...]

'Hm? What do you mean?'

[To be able to detect abnormality or problem for other people, the system will need Host to be in direct contact with the person. Contract through clothes is enough.]

'Ah, fuck...'

The first place Fang Ming glanced was the dancing floor but he soon shook his head.

Thud!

"Ah, sorry... Hm?"

[Analyzing...]

Fang Ming glanced at the man who just bumped into him. His appearance was shady. Even more so than him. He walked like a drunken person. His back arched forward like an old man.

[Priority : 9]

Just when Fang Ming saw the number, he also felt something in his hand. A warm sticky feeling with iron-like scent.

"Blood?"

Fang Ming said as he inspected it closely.

"Hey, wait!"

Passing through the crowd, ignoring the people who bumped into him, Fang Ming set his eyes on the person and grabbed his shoulder.

Tap!

"Huh?"

But he didn't expect his hand was also grabbed before his whole sight blurred out. Only pain came next as everything screaming in pain.

"Ugh... Fuck..."

Fang Ming automatically shut his eyes before the moment of impact and slowly opened it again, only to see people laughing and pointing finger at him, except for one.

The man who threw him down.

"Wha..."

"You have trouble with your bond with your Spirit Beast. I can help you..."

Fang Ming muttered slowly as he trying to gained his vision back to clear. He didn't see as the man's expression hardened and dragged Fang Ming away.

Bam!

"Ugh... Again?..."

Fang Ming grunted as he was having a hard time standing up after being thrown like a rag toward the wall. As he opened his eyes, his body froze because the first thing he saw was a blade being placed on his neck.

"How do you know?"

The person in front of him asked him directly in the eyes, but Fang Ming was mad. Firstly, from being thrown down, then getting dragged into a room, before being threatened with his life.

"Fuck! I was being nice, wanting to help! Is this how you treat people that is willing to help!? Even then, what am I going to do with this measly body!? Huh!? Ugh..."

The blade grazed Fang Ming's neck a little. A stinging pain entered his brain, as a drip of blood seeped into his clothes.

"I won't ask one more time. How do you know!?"

"I know because I have an ability, okay!? Your condition can still be saved! But if you delay more, even Gods won't be able to safe you!"

The man swallowed his expression up and withdrew his blade. He remained still, waiting for something while Fang Ming relaxed a bit and watched closely. He didn't want to move from his spot right now. It was too dangerous. Even if he tried to escape, the guy could kill him swiftly.