Crunch. Chewing on a bitter pill, Bubai walked down the corridor, still can’t quite believing that a windfall fell straight into his laps with the blessing of the heavens above.

  Merlin’s beard. He was really pushing their buttons harder and harder, yet somehow... they still let him get away with it!

  Sure, the scorching pain raking his back wasn’t just going to go away, but... “Worth it.”

  Sometimes, life handed you lemons. Other times, it handed you deadly fragrances and a fortune in spirit stones.

  Today was clearly all of the above.

  “Crazy as it sounds, but man… I think I actually really like these folks.”

  Bubai let out a half-chuckle, but his expression quickly sobered.

  Liking their disposition didn’t mean forgetting his priorities.

  His heart was already getting prepared for what came next.

  This round, he’d taken heavy hits.

  Anyone with half a brain to smell the blood will know to beat him while he’s down.

  After all, he’s literally a free bag of wealth jingling around.

  Only an idiot wouldn’t challenge him next!

  This demonic sect wasn’t short on opportunists. The next fights will only get more gruesome.

  But... who will be the last, true blue fisherman? Haha. That’s hard to say.

  If push comes to shove, he didn’t mind taking out his trump card to show these folks what it means to do sit-ups during a battle!

  Survival wasn’t about playing fair—it was about playing smart.

  Now, will any fish get hooked?

  There should be. It’s just that…

  “How come the next challenge letter hasn’t come down yet?”

  No matter how quick it was, sweeping scraps on the battlefield took time.

  By now, the announcement should’ve long reached everyone’s ears. Yet… there was zero notice.

  How odd. Next up should, no doubt, be that “Lucky Seven” baldy from the Jia Clan.

  But why the hold-up? Did something happen?

  Bubai wasn’t sure but he didn’t plan to sit back and wait.

  Give him more time and he didn’t mind staging a full miraculous recovery!

  Then, he’ll milk that miracle for all it was worth.

  Bubai cast a half-smirk out.

  "Not sure if the sect’s insurance covers my burns, but since there is no lady in black coming, then…"

  Just when Bubai was about to determine his follow-up scheme selection and excuses, his ears perked up.

  The faint hums of some familiar female voices echoed in the corridor. From the lounge?

  The clarity sharpened once he got closer…

  "...Just leave the Healing Marrow Cream to me, little chili pepper."

  "Stop calling me that! I’m not a kid anymore!"

  There was an audible pause, a sigh, and then the all-too-familiar attendant spoke again, softer this time: "Listen, I—"

  Whatever she was about to say evaporated the moment Bubai stepped closer.

  Bubai slowed his pace, surveying the bend ahead.

  There she was, the crimson hottie in a black qipao. Her eyes screamed “boss of all I survey.”

  That’s Miss Hong alright.

  Facing off against her and shooting him a barbed glare was a rather familiar masked law enforcer sporting a red ponytail.

  Hey, that’s the Miss Hothead that quite literally gave him a kick during his interrogation. What’s she doing here?

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  Dropping his gaze, it landed on the pair of frozen-still hands still half-locked in a fight over a little ointment box.

  Reason found.

  Honestly, the pieces on this board were too interesting to ignore, but that red-head pair was really giving him that “you’re unwelcomed here” staredown.

  Well, seems they’ve still got matters to discuss. Just pretend not to see them and uh… move on.

  Neither lady blocked his way, and soon they were left behind...

  It was a smooth journey out, all the way until he stepped into the lounge, when a sore loser came up to block his road.

  Right besides him was a heavyweight gramps – the previous owner of Leng Meng: Tai Yinshe!

  Merlin’s buttocks! This sore loser really went and complained to his uncle!

  “Haha… fancy seeing Senior Snake here...”

  “Hey, hey, what a loss. Little friend really pulled a fast one on these old bones. Just knew anyone getting along with that old lion won’t be simple!”

  This old snake was putting himself on a pedestal? A low-key threat? What for?

  Was there some new twist in the soap opera of sect politics?

  Do they still want to take back the doll after he got the blessing from above? Or...

  “Senior Snake, you are here to ask for…”

  Seeing Bubai’s souring face, Tai Yinshe waved his hand dismissively, “No, no, don’t misunderstand. These old bones isn’t here to demand anything back.”

  “Suffering a little loss is just a part of growth. Recultivation is a good thing for these impetuous brats. A solid foundation can’t be rushed. I’ve already given this brat a good lecture! Right?”

  The elderly gramps heartily slapped the sore loser on the shoulder.

  The frail Tai Yingui’s face pinched with bitterness and grudges, but he didn’t refute.

  Really not here for the foundation seed?

  “Then…” Bubai searched their faces inquisitively.

  The old weathered face sported a grin and a hand firmly pushed the sore loser’s head down into a bow.

  “Aye, this nephew of mine still hasn’t seen the world. As they say, a newborn calf isn’t afraid of a tiger. His words and actions might’ve been a bit harsh. Hope little friend won’t hold it against a junior.”

  An apology? Well, that’s kinda unexpected.

  Bubai was caught slightly off-guard by this old snake’s tact.

  He thought it’ll be the cliché of beating the young to provoke the old.

  Instead, the elder came bearing olive branches – or at least, the appearance of one.

  Bubai didn’t know whether the sentiment was genuine or not, but there was no need to slap away a smiley face.

  Especially since this old gramps might be a potential loyal customer.

  Presenting a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, Bubai lightly nodded back. “Understandable. No hard feelings.”

  “Gahaha, good! No bad blood is always good!”

  As soon as Tai Yinshe released his nephew’s head, the sore loser snapped upright and glared at Bubai with an unhappy face.

  Bloody Merlin, this boy really doesn’t look repentant at all.

  Bubai arced a brow. “Problem?”

  “Geh.” The sore loser’s eyes strayed down and almost burned a hole through his windbreaker.

  “How did you do it? Others hit by the molten spells of our Taiyin clan can’t be like you.”

  Crunching down on another pill, Bubai cracked his neck, his smile widening into something sharp and mocking.

  "Oh, that’s because your flames just aren’t hot enough."

  "You—!"

  Before the sore loser could explode, Tai Yinshe stepped in and gave his neck a jab, effectively muting him mid-outburst.

  A firm hand planted on his nephew’s shoulder and held him down.

  “Hey, hey, don’t listen to these muscleheads. Their skin is just too thick to admit it. Gahahaha...”

  The old snake gave Bubai a wink. His sleazy eyes then strayed to the corridor behind Bubai.

  Seeing the crimson-haired pair approaching, Tai Yinshe’s friendly smile turned a touch sleazy like that of a crook.

  “Aye, we should really get going, before that old coot catches me and chews my ears off. Hey, hey, how troublesome... Aye, little friend, take good care of my old lady, aight?”

  Not giving him any chance to respond, the old snake steered his muffled nephew away, leaving Bubai behind with skepticism boiling.

  That yinyin-yangyang well-wishes really made Bubai think that today’s “windfall” came with strings attached after all.

  There wasn’t much time to dwell on conspiracy theories though.

  The grandpa-nephew duo left on the front foot, and a pair of ladies replaced them on the back foot.

  Mature versus young. Qipao versus uniform. Hot versus conservative.

  Age. Outfit. Three sizes. They’re all different.

  But say they’re not related? He’ll eat his stinking boots!

  Though Bubai was curious what appearance was hidden under that mask, the ponytail Miss Hothead didn’t give him any chance to say anything.

  “Che. I’m here to deliver medicine. If you want it, follow up. Otherwise, I’m leaving.”

  Not sparing him a second glance, she stomped away towards a side room with ponytail swaying like a horse’s tail.

  Bubai’s eyes silently asked for answers from Miss Hong, only to see her avert her eyes, attempting to throw him off with rather unusual nonchalance.

  "Her temper’s a bit… childish. But the medicine she’s delivering... isn’t a sham."

  Oi. Oi. Oi. Just by looking at that guilty face of this rose, Bubai was sure there’s a spicy story!

  This was something not to be missed out on, just like the Healing Marrow Cream.

  That cream is said to heal any physical wounds from skin surface down to bone marrow deep!

  Bubai was unsure about the effective treatment period nor how much exaggeration there was, but…

  He was set on taking advantage of this opportunity!

  “Oh. Then let us go.”

  Whether it was for the sheer fun or just to earn his insurance’s worth, Bubai happily chased after the rude fiery pepper.

  Miss Hong lagged behind for a moment before trailing after him…

  Stepping into the small side-room, Bubai saw Miss Hothead impatiently tapping her foot beside a long, solid stone bed planted at the center.

  “What are you waiting for? Hurry up and lie down! This Miss doesn’t have all day to waste on you!”

  Click. Seeing Miss Hong sliding shut the opaque glass door behind, Bubai finally shrugged off the windbreaker draped over his back.

  A single glance at his back was all it took for Miss Hong to take a sharp breath.

  Feigning indifference, Bubai moved to the stone bed, laying himself face down and bared his back.

  When the masked Miss Hothead saw the exposed back, the hand holding the ointment bottle trembled.

  Charred black flesh stretched across his back like scorched earth after a wildfire, and jagged scraps of hardened rocks grew all over the surface.

  The finishing touch was the inflamed scars crisscrossing like fissures on a crumbling cliffside.

  Looking at that devastated landscape, she really didn’t know where to start.

  Feeling time tick away, Bubai nonchalantly peeked over his shoulder.

  "You gonna stare all day? How about you two help get the rock-hard stuff off first? Just make it quick, yeah? There’s not much time before the next match.”