Chapter 97: There Are a Lot of Good People These Days
Chapter 97: Chapter 97: There Are a Lot of Good People These Days
"That’s Free Street up ahead."
Zhang pointed to the blocked intersection, his tone wistful.
"This place used to be deserted. Ever since Boss Lu showed up, people have been waiting here even during the day. Come on, I’ll take you a different way so we don’t have to squeeze through."
Mumu could faintly hear people discussing Boss Lu, which finally put her at ease.
’There are still a lot of good people in the world.’
She and Tian Tian followed Zhang, eventually ducking through a small door.
Excited about the skewers they were about to eat, the two were in high spirits, playfully jostling each other along the way. Zhang watched them, a polite smile on his face, but his eyes held the gleam of a scheme about to succeed.
After walking for a while, they found themselves in a large, dark room. Someone was inside, waiting for them.
Candlelight flickered in the corner, and a strange smell filled the air.
Mumu had killed before, so she knew the sight of blood.
She could tell that the smell in this room was the stench of old, coagulated blood.
Foul and coppery.
When the pungent odor hit her, Mumu’s expression changed.
’Damn it,’ she thought. ’We’ve fallen into a trap.’
"Quick, let’s go!"
She grabbed Tian Tian and started to turn back the way they came, only to see that Zhang had, at some point, put some distance between them.
Seeing that they wanted to leave, he quickly backed out of the room and slammed the door to the secret chamber shut.
With a deafening BOOM, Mumu and Tian Tian were left alone to face the person inside.
"Don’t be afraid. It won’t hurt."
Tian Shou sidled up to the two of them with a sinister grin.
His Fallen Immortal Association had always cast a wide net to catch unlucky souls. It’s just that before, they’d only ever caught gamblers. But ever since those skewers appeared, Free Street’s profile had soared.
Using Boss Lu’s name, they had already managed to reel in plenty of foolish foodies.
’With these two,’ he thought, ’this month’s quota should be about met.’
"Come on now. Be cooperative, and it’ll be more comfortable for you."
Tian Shou moved closer to them and opened his hand, revealing two small insects in his palm.
He had no choice. Recently, the bugs hadn’t wanted to eat the gamblers from the casino, and he still couldn’t figure out why. Seeing that the gamblers were no longer enough to sate them, he had to go out and catch some "clean" ones.
His little darlings loved to eat those who weren’t "tainted" by the casino.
And just look at them now. The two little bugs wriggled their antennae, broadcasting their intense hunger.
"Get away!"
Staring at the disgusting bugs, Tian Tian scowled and shouted, then flung a bolt of Spiritual Power.
The two girls had traveled far and wide in search of food. Their courage suggested they had some tricks up their sleeves.
Faced with this situation, both of them appeared quite calm.
But soon, that composure rapidly slipped away.
"How can this be?"
Mumu also tried to attack, but found her Spiritual Power was greatly diminished. When she launched her attack, Tian Shou didn’t even bother to dodge.
The blow was completely harmless. Tian Shou’s expression turned cold.
"So you’d rather do this the hard way. Fine, I won’t go easy on you anymore."
’Perhaps these "guests" all had some strange kink and liked it rough.’
This secret chamber was specially designed for "processing" guests. The materials were sturdy, and it was reinforced with an Array that suppressed Spiritual Power. Once you were in, there was no getting out.
Tian Shou strode over and pinned them down. Ignoring their struggles and despair, he forced their mouths open and shoved the Gambling Bugs inside.
In an instant, the two little bugs, like fish in water, burrowed into their bodies.
They had been starving for a long time. Having finally found food untainted by that fragrant aroma, how could they let it go?
For a moment, the girls’ eyes went vacant.
"It’s done."
Tian Shou clapped his hands, and after opening the door to the secret chamber, a casino was revealed before them.
"Go on, take your time and have fun."
He said with a smile, guiding the two of them forward.
"Fun?"
Mumu’s voice was a bit fuzzy, as if she’d been forcibly rebooted. When her vision cleared, she saw the feverish atmosphere of the casino, and an impulse surged within her.
"Well, since we’re here, we might as well play for a while."
Her tone returned to normal, as if nothing had just happened.
"Okay!"
Tian Tian nodded in agreement.
’She’d never been to a casino before and had always been curious. Now that she had the chance, she couldn’t possibly miss it.’
Chatting, the two of them walked side-by-side into the casino.
Just like all the gamblers before them, they would start by trying their luck with a small bet or two. But with the influence of the Gambling Bugs and the casino’s intoxicating atmosphere, they would slowly wager everything of value they owned, until their very flesh and blood were hollowed out.
Tian Shou looked up.
In his eyes, plumes of black energy drifted from the tops of the gamblers’ heads, all flowing in the same direction toward some unknown location.
This "desire" generated by the gamblers was the true target of the Fallen Immortal Association.
To the side, Zhang weighed the "hard-earned fee" in his hand and smiled as well.
’He hadn’t lied,’ he thought. ’This really is the fastest way to see Boss Lu.’
’After all, Boss Lu sets up shop right outside the door. You just have to push it open to see him.’
’Speaking of which, Boss Lu should be arriving around this hour. I’d better go get in line, or I might miss out on tonight’s skewers.’
’One thing’s for sure, though,’ he thought. ’Those skewers really are amazing.’
...
"I hear Boss Lu has a new soup base tonight."
At that moment, a crowd of foodies had gathered on Free Street. They waited anxiously, passing the time by chatting with those around them.
Someone in the crowd mysteriously whispered this piece of news.
"How do you know?"
"That can’t be true, right? Boss Lu didn’t say anything yesterday."
Some believed it, while others were skeptical.
Boss Lu only ever sold one type of item at the stall, but the flavors were always whatever they felt like making.
"It’s true! The source is extremely reliable."
"A high-ranking member of the Bun Sect told me. I hear some members have already tried the new skewers."
The person tapped their One World Communication, flashing a chat log from the Bun Sect members in front of everyone before quickly pulling it away, grinning as they showed it off.
The one who provided the information was the mysterious Great Elder.
This Great Elder rarely showed their face, but the information they provided was always accurate.
Uncle Li relished his role as "Old Li from next door." Being a neighbor was great, he declared, because you could freeload food and drinks anytime without paying.
And since Uncle Li had eaten his fill, wasn’t it only right to share some perks with his fellow sect members?
And so, after Lu Wu updated the soup base during the day, Uncle Li, as usual, hopped the wall to get in, eating his fill and taking some to go.
"Wow, a tomato soup base! I love tomatoes! I’ve decided, I’m ordering twenty skewers tonight!"
"Tsk, what a bird-like appetite. Get outta here. I’m getting a hundred all for myself."
Once the news was confirmed, the foodies grew even more excited.
When Boss Lu makes a move, you know it’s going to be good.
The new soup base was sure to provide an even more stunning experience. Their eyes shining, they stared down the road from which Boss Lu would arrive.
’Oh, Boss Lu,’ they thought, ’we’re waiting for you~’
...
「Holy Sword Sect, back mountain.」
Qin Zhan opened his One World Communication, scrolled a bit, browsed a bit, and then his face fell.
"This time it’s skewers... Ahh, I really want some skewers..."
He was filled with regret. What was he thinking, personally returning to the Holy Sword Sect to report back?
’The once-a-decade Prodigy Tournament? Strengthening the Holy Sword Sect’s prestige? This matter requires long-term deliberation? He couldn’t bear such heavy responsibilities! This child just wants a bite to eat!’
’Hungry... Food...’