Chapter 138: Eve of the Great Battle, Everyone With Their Own Thoughts

After he finished speaking, the Old Man pulled another Badge from his pocket and handed it to Tiger.

"This one is yours, Huzi," the Old Man said.

"I get one too?"

Tiger stared blankly at the Badge in his hand.

"I made five in total." The Old Man lit his Hongtashan. A wisp of white smoke curled into the room, his expression placid.

"But you'll have to come up with your own title. Ours are Old, Weak, Sick, and Disabled, respectively."

Hearing those titles, Tiger froze again.

He gripped the Badge and said slowly, "Then I'll be... I'll be Bad Luck."

He scratched his head with an embarrassed smile. "I've always felt my luck was pretty bad. Maybe I'm the reason you and Mr. Yi Ji got dragged down."

"Alright, we'll go with that."

The Old Man nodded. Finishing his cigarette, he stood up.

"We're heading out, then."

At his words, Chen Nian and Tiger also rose to their feet.

As they reached the door, Chen Nian paused. "About how long until they make a move on you?"

"I don't know." Yan Jing smiled. "I hope it takes them a little longer."

"Yeah." Chen Nian nodded. "What about Mantou Girl? Aren't you going to tell her?"

"Mantou is a bit simple-minded. I'm afraid she wouldn't understand." Yan Jing smiled gently. "When there are things you can't figure out, it's better to just stay in the dark."

"Alright."

Chen Nian nodded.

They pushed the door open and stepped outside.

Mantou, who had been standing obediently by the door, gave a silly grin when she saw them come out. "G-Grandpa... are you done talking...?"

"Yes." Old Master Liu smiled, then spoke to Mantou. "That kid is inside waiting for you, Nizi. Go on in."

"O-okay!"

Mantou nodded happily and walked through the door.

Yan Jing's house was located in the southern part of Rotten Vegetable Village. The group walked north until they reached a crossroad.

"What's the plan?"

Chen Nian stopped in his tracks, looking at Old Liu, who had tacitly halted at the exact same moment.

"Tonight, the two of us will go tie him up."

Like a magic trick, a cigarette appeared at the Old Man's fingertips. He lit it. "You'll take him away."

"What about you guys?"

Chen Nian looked at the Old Man with calm eyes.

"I have my ways," the Old Man said nonchalantly, taking a drag of his cigarette.

"No, you don't," Chen Nian stated. Seeing the Old Man about to argue, he continued, "If you actually had a way out, you wouldn't have kept it from him."

"..."

The Old Man crouched down, the hem of his military overcoat sweeping the ground.

The cigarette cherry flared red in an instant. With a single drag, it burned down by a noticeable margin.

Exhaling a plume of white smoke, he pushed up his sunglasses. "I really do have a way. It's just... I'll have to gamble a bit... I came from the Unstable Domain, and I still remember the location. Maybe we can still head back through—"

"Impossible." Chen Nian ruthlessly popped the Old Man's lie. "Nobody has figured out the changing patterns of the Unstable Domain yet. You've been here for a few years already. There's an overwhelming probability that spot no longer leads back to your home."

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

The cigarette shortened sharply once more. The Old Man scratched his head and looked up at Chen Nian.

Only then did Chen Nian notice Old Master Liu's expression. His face looked indescribably haggard, and even the silver hair he had specifically pomaded for today appeared incredibly disheveled.

"In our Domain, outsiders can call us crazy or say we're sick in the head, but you should know that there are folks in that place who only value one thing."

"Honor."

The Old Man stretched out his two slightly crooked fingers holding the cigarette. "Back at the Sun-Swallowing Tower, if I hadn't been blown up, given your personality and Kid Yi's, neither of you would've meddled in that business. He wouldn't have met that woman, and naturally, it wouldn't have sparked his killing intent."

"If he hadn't formed that killing intent, then he wouldn't have been pushed to this stage today."

He looked at Chen Nian and said slowly, "Do you understand? If that kid dies, this old man will bear part of the blame."

"..."

Chen Nian let out a faint sigh. "If that's how you want to think about it, there's nothing I can do. But you should know, neither of us is in our original Domain anymore. If you try to fight a Third Tier here, can you win? If I'm guessing right, crossing over from that Domain dropped your power by at least a tier and a half."

Chen Nian looked at the Old Man.

"More than that."

The Old Man pulled out another cigarette with a completely natural expression. "Where we're from is way too far from here. Besides, I'm poor as hell, without any treasures to protect myself. So, I dropped a bit more than that."

Chen Nian nodded.

This was exactly why he understood Old Master Liu's state of mind.

Back in their respective Domains, the two of them could be considered slightly larger ants.

Now that they were here, the result was the same—they were still just slightly larger ants.

But the bunch of guys sitting above those ants? Back where they originally came from, they wouldn't have even spared them a glance.

That was why they both felt so stifled.

A long silence passed.

Chen Nian finally spoke. "I'll go back this time and try to modify that motorcycle. See if it can carry one more person."

"You built that motorcycle yourself?!"

The hand holding the Old Man's cigarette trembled as he looked at Chen Nian in astonishment.

Chen Nian nodded. "I built it when I had nothing better to do. If the modification works out, three of you will be chosen to leave."

Chen Nian glanced over at Tiger, who hadn't dared to make a sound this entire time. It meant Tiger was being factored in.

"I'll slip away in advance. When the time comes, I'll go into hiding across the city for seven or eight years. That should be enough time to build a slightly inferior replacement."

Finishing his thought, he added coolly, "I never lie."

"..."

"No, it doesn't make sense." The Old Man shook his head. "I can't drag you any deeper into this. Otherwise, I'll owe you way too much."

"I've met people from your end." Chen Nian stood up. "If you truly consider us one of your own, then you don't need to talk about owing me anything."

"..."

After a long silence, the Old Man's eyes gleamed, and he said with a chuckle, "Alright, it's all on you then."

...

...

Inside the room, Yan Jing was chatting with Mantou. Seeing her giggling happily, he lifted his head and looked out the window in the direction the others had left, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

That evening, he exited the Inner World.

He called Shen Youran.

"Hello? Xiao Yanzi, is your secluded cultivation over?"

Shen Youran sounded like she was in a great mood.

From her perspective, the concealment item was just about to fall into her hands and her grand ambitions were about to bud. It would be hard not to be in a good mood.

Listening to her voice, Yan Jing's previously tense mood also relaxed quite a bit.

He chuckled and said, "Teacher Shen, could you help me find some information?"

"Tell me, Xiao Yanzi."

"Help me look up information on the leaders of the several Domains around Old Sin City. Also, run a search using the keywords 'Inner World Pathway incomplete and repairing.' Let me know if there's any related news—the more detailed, the better."

"You got it," Shen Youran agreed without hesitation. "The tracking-blocker item should arrive in about two or three days. Oh, right, there's one more thing. Two people are currently looking for you."

"Who?"

"Chen Dalang and Fan Jue, who entered the Dungeon with you last time."

Yan Jing recalled the two names.

One was the number one figure among the Chen Family's new generation, who had been blown half to death.

The other was the strongest rookie riding high in the Public Security Association, who had been beaten half to death by Mo Nagu, Mu Wan, and their group.

"Yeah, push them back for a while. A week at most."

A week was the time limit he had given himself. If it dragged on past that, he would have to refocus his mind entirely on the next Dungeon.

"Alright."

The call disconnected. A short while later, the data was sent over.

Looking at the contents on his computer screen, Yan Jing's eyes flickered.

...

...

Night fell.

At the Old Man's house.

Old Master Liu and Tiger sat at opposite ends of the Eight Immortals table.

One person looked completely solemn, while the other looked entirely bewildered.

"Huzi, who brought you into the organization back then?" the Old Man asked slowly.

"It was you, Old Man."

Tiger nodded in gratitude.

"Excellent!"

The Old Man suddenly slammed his hand on the table. "Therefore, the two of us are the ones on the same team. Next, I will show you my super plan!"

With that, the Old Man yanked the cloth off the blackboard.

Looking at the densely packed plan written on the board, Tiger couldn't help but widen his eyes.

...

...

At Chen Nian's house.

Chen Nian pulled back the white sheet covering the object by the door. Underneath was a vintage-style motorcycle.

The front wheel was slightly larger than the rear. Its streamlined chassis shimmered with a silvery-white metallic luster, while a powerful V-twin engine was exposed to the air. The gas tank and leather seat looked slightly worn, adding a touch of historical character.

This was the machine that had accompanied him on a very long journey.

It was his greatest invention.

Now, he was going to rely on it to defy the heavens and alter his fate.

Just like it had done once before.

...

Four days later.

Inner World, inside the Cameraman's room.

Yan Jing exhaled a breath of stale air. Pulling the weird energy that permeated his surroundings back into his body, he slowly opened his eyes.

Yesterday, this body of his had successfully advanced to the Second Tier.

He had spent another day familiarizing himself with his two new Second Tier abilities and preparing some items.

And then he waited for another day.

This morning, his wait was finally over.

Bright and early, An Ze was running up and down the street, calling for a street clearing.

Furthermore, he even made a special trip over to inform him that this was a direct order from the Chief himself.

"Something dangerous is probably about to happen, Mr. Yi Ji. Even though the Chief was still smiling, according to reliable sources, he only ate fried dough sticks for breakfast this morning and skipped his porridge."

Yan Jing's eyes gleamed.

It was finally here.