Chapter 36: Translation

So that was it.

Digesting Tie Shan’s words, Chen Chong’s understanding of the essence of an Awakener’s power in this world became clearer, and enlightenment dawned in his heart.

As an Awakener who had broken through the awakening threshold only by using a fantasy item like Ultra Divine Water, Chen Chong had not discovered any special ability born within him, which left him feeling a bit regretful. However, according to Tie Shan’s explanation, most Awakeners possessed Recessive Abilities, and few of these Recessive Abilities were truly valuable or useful. The Life Field Intensity was the root source of an Awakener’s strength, so he felt relieved.

Unlike the Awakeners in this world, he possessed a fantasy cultivation technique that he could practice, which was already enough to guarantee his unsurpassable superiority!

“Kid, train yourself hard.”

Tie Shan chuckled darkly:

“The strength of the General is something ordinary people, even us Awakeners, cannot imagine. When you reach Qiao Jun’s level, you’ll also have a chance to be favored by the Blood General and be granted a Bloodline Gu.”

The corner of Chen Chong’s mouth twitched, and he forced a smile.

He truly had not expected that Tie Shan, who was clearly being controlled in life and death by the Blood General’s Bloodline Gu, would speak with a sense of honor in every word, as if it were some kind of rare opportunity. It was simply bizarre.

Was this Stockholm syndrome?

Many people in this world might have become psychologically twisted due to the long-term oppression and killing of the wasteland. This top enforcer under the Blood General was clearly such a person. He had likely submitted completely under the Blood General’s long-term shadow and intimidation, even treating the Blood General as a god in his heart, which was why he acted like such a masochist.

Chen Chong could not help but sneer inwardly.

At that moment, he and Tie Shan passed through a shantytown area. This shantytown was divided into small, tiny compartments, each one still hung with filthy cloth curtains. At the same time, unkempt figures, barely recognizable as female survivors, occasionally lifted their curtains to peer towards the road, revealing pairs of numb eyes.

Chen Chong felt curious and changed the subject:

“What is this place for?”

Tie Shan looked in the direction Chen Chong was gazing, and an extremely lewd, ugly smile immediately appeared on his face:

“Heh heh, kid, this is the pleasure quarter. It was mercifully opened up by the General specifically for survivors who refuse to do hard labor and lack any special skills to do business. As long as you can afford a portion of food or water, you can go inside for a moment of fun. Whether you like men or women, you can be satisfied… I assume you understand what I mean?”

Chen Chong swept his gaze over the pleasure quarter and was silent for a moment.

Even just a portion of food? In this wasteland world, dignity truly was the most worthless thing…

Seeing Chen Chong silent, Tie Shan thought he was already tempted and immediately laughed slyly:

“But kid, I have to warn you, most of the people inside, whether men or women, have diseases. Especially those few who are considered desirable, they’ve almost been used to ruin. Even though an Awakener’s physique is stronger than an ordinary person’s, if you go for it, your thing might still rot. If you want to live a bit longer, best to come here as little as possible.”

Chen Chong withdrew his gaze, a cold smile surfacing on his face: “Thanks for the warning, but I’m not interested in this!”

“Not interested? That’s for the best, then.” Tie Shan drew out his tone and burst into loud laughter.

They did not communicate further along the way. Tie Shan swaggered along, leading Chen Chong past patches of dilapidated housing areas until they arrived downstairs from a few two-story buildings. Several lackeys were joking around downstairs. When they saw Tie Shan approaching, they hurriedly came forward to greet him:

“Boss Tie Shan, do you have business here?”

Tie Shan waved his hand impatiently: “Is Yin Hu here? If not, go find him immediately and tell him the General has orders for him!”

“Squad Leader Hu just went to the chemical plant, I’ll go find him right now and bring him back!”

Yin Hu was one of the Territory’s supervisor squad leaders, responsible for overseeing the work attendance of some technicians and laborers. Upon hearing the Blood General’s name, these lackeys became extremely attentive and dashed off in a flash.

In less than ten minutes, a man with a sinister face, wearing a leather trench coat and exuding a feminine and cold aura, rushed back. After seeing Tie Shan and Chen Chong beside him, his brow furrowed, and he spoke in an androgynous tone:

“Tie Shan, what did the General send you to see me for?”

This Yin Hu was also an Awakener, and his Life Field might not be weaker than Qiao Jun’s!

The moment the man called Yin Hu drew near, Chen Chong faintly sensed a vague impression, clearly indicating the other party was also an Awakener whose Life Field far exceeded ordinary people’s.

Tie Shan did not say anything in front of Chen Chong but raised his hand, gesturing for Yin Hu to enter the building. In just a few short minutes, the two of them walked back out again.

Yin Hu measured Chen Chong with an ambiguous, sinister look, while Tie Shan heavily patted Chen Chong’s shoulder, gave a strange laugh, and turned to leave.

Huh?

Chen Chong frowned. Before he could speak, the supervisor squad leader called Yin Hu raised his eyebrow and said in a tone that was neither friendly nor hostile:

“New kid, I am the supervisor squad leader personally appointed by the General. From today on, your work and accommodations in the Territory are my responsibility. Since the General has given you preferential treatment, you can carefully consider your choice of work, and then I will arrange it for you.”

He then summoned the two nearby lackeys, whispered a few words in their ears, and then gestured: “Take him up first and get him settled.”

Hearing Yin Hu’s whispered instructions, a strange and astonished expression immediately appeared on the two lackeys’ faces. Then, the two walked towards the two-story building in front of them while beckoning to Chen Chong:

“Hey, come with us.”

A warning show of force?

Chen Chong’s eyes flashed, and he let out a silent, vicious laugh in his heart as he followed the two lackeys into the two-story building.

This two-story building seemed to be used as a dormitory. It was very crudely made inside. The long corridor was filled with a foul smell, and rooms lined both sides.

Following the two lackeys ahead all the way to the room at the very end of the corridor, one lackey kicked the tattered wooden door open directly, revealing a room of about ten square meters. Inside, aside from two beds and a wooden bucket, there was practically nothing—if those things made of a few planks could even be called beds.

The other lackey pointed a finger inside and said to Chen Chong with a chuckle:

“Look, this is the room the squad leader arranged for you. Usually, each room houses four people, but you’re very lucky. This room is not only the largest but currently only has one person living in it. It won’t be as crowded as the other rooms. During the day, the people living here are all working in various factories and won’t return until very late. You can tidy up by yourself first.”

Chen Chong nodded. After all, he had just escaped from a dark, sunless prison. Although the environment here was very harsh, for him now, being able to have a relatively safe environment to cultivate was sufficient.

The only issue he had to consider was how to conceal his cultivation from the person sharing this room with him.

“Alright, new guy, don’t wander around. Hope you have a pleasant night.”

The two guiding lackeys blinked, shared a mysterious smile, and then left.

Chen Chong frowned. He vaguely sensed a tone of Schadenfreude and anticipation for a good show in the two lackeys’ words.

However, he couldn’t bother thinking too much about it. Once the sound of the two lackeys’ footsteps completely faded away, Chen Chong let out a long breath, immediately closed the door, then came over to sit cross-legged on the bed plank. At the same time, he issued an instruction to the Main God in his mind:

“Translate, Ultimate Infinite Qigong!”