Free Web NovelChapter 163: Chapter 115: Ambushed? Kill
WHIR!
「That night.」
Five figures walked out of a restaurant in the Iron Ring District.
Other than Lu Chao, Chen Xiao and the other three were only at the Fighting Level and hesitated to drink alcohol. Lu Chao wasn’t fond of it either, so the celebratory dinner ended quickly.
As for Yang Wangtao, Lu Chao had also contacted him separately.
Unfortunately, since he had just recently taken over the position of Major Captain, he was swamped with work and couldn’t find the time to come.
TAP, TAP!
As they walked, the night grew darker.
The five of them stood on the old paving stones of the district, facing each other in a circle.
"Thank you for the treat, Captain."
Fang Xu was the first to speak, thanking him politely.
He carried the reserved formality unique to a top student from the academies. After spending a few days together, the other four could all sense a faint, almost imperceptible distance from him.
"You kid, what’s with all the formality?"
Chen Xiao grumbled in dissatisfaction, but Lu Chao cut him off with a slight shake of his head.
Then, seeing that Fang Xu seemed about to leave on his own, he asked, "Heading back to the inner city?"
Even though he was just an intern patrol officer, the Patrol Department had assigned him an apartment in the Iron Ring District. There was no need to go to all this trouble.
"I’m just more used to living in the inner city."
Fang Xu explained softly.
Lu Chao glanced at the designer casual wear he was wearing and wasn’t surprised. He just nodded slightly and said, "Alright, be safe on your way back. Let me know when you get home. See you tomorrow, on time."
"Okay."
After nodding, Fang Xu then politely said goodbye to Chen Xiao and the other two before hailing a taxi and leaving.
"That kid... he’s great in every way, just too formal."
Chen Xiao shook his head helplessly as he watched Fang Xu’s retreating back.
"Those from the academies are all like that. You’ll get used to it." Wang Shisong chuckled, not finding it odd at all.
At the side, Xiong Cheng felt a bit awkward. He scratched his head, not daring to interject.
"Old Wang has a point. Everyone goes through an adaptation period. It just takes time."
Lu Chao nodded in agreement and deftly changed the subject. "As for you three, be careful on your way back, too. Let me know when you get home."
"Yes, Captain!"
"Yes!!"
The three replied differently—some earnest, some teasing—but they all agreed.
Then, he saw the three of them off.
Lu Chao watched their figures disappear down the street one by one before turning to walk toward the nearest station.
The neon sign of the restaurant behind him cast a glow. This was the place Chen Junhao had brought him and Zhao Yuanqing to eat before. The food was pretty good.
Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but wonder how Brother Hao was doing lately.
WHIR!
His thoughts drifted as the tram pulled in.
Watching the doors slide open, Lu Chao quickly suppressed his stray thoughts and stepped into the car.
"I heard the punitive force has started fighting. Did you guys know?"
"For real?"
"Of course it’s real. I heard the punitive force found a roving warlord unit fifty kilometers outside the city and opened fire immediately. It’s probably Lu Shan’s men."
"Sigh, who knows how long this will go on... Hey, if the punitive force is defeated, Lu Shan wouldn’t attack the city, would he?"
The tram car wasn’t crowded at this time of night, mostly filled with office workers just getting off their overtime shifts and a few idle gang members.
The sound of the discussion reached his ears. Lu Chao found a window seat and sat down, not at all surprised.
The punitive force numbered in the thousands.
Though it was nominally led by the City Defense Department, many of its members actually came from corporate giants, drafted directly from their security departments. There were also some fighters from martial arts dojos.
The Wilderness Daily had reported on it just two days ago.
He had even heard a rumor that Lu Shan had almost completely devoured the territory of another warlord, Ogrin.
That was why the punitive force had rushed out of the city to engage, aiming to keep pressure on Lu Shan before Ogrin was completely defeated and thus maintain the balance of power in the wilderness.
’In the end, it all comes down to strength.’
’The reason Lu Shan has the largest territory and the most extensive influence is because he himself is a Superpower Strongman whose Life Energy has broken the one-hundred mark. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to command respect or intimidate his unruly subordinates.’
’Ring City has been able to stand on the westernmost border of the Alliance Country for so many years without falling not only because of the Alliance Country’s support, but also because it has powerful Martial Artists and superhumans garrisoned within...’
His gaze deepened as Lu Chao also thought of that A-rank dangerous individual from the [Rebels], who was still on the wanted list.
Faceless Legos.
Even with the Superpower Bureau and the Patrol Department mobilizing numerous personnel and tightening controls on entry and exit from the city districts, they still hadn’t managed to capture him.
All of this was undoubtedly due to his immense strength and troublesome abilities.
Thinking of this, Lu Chao tapped open his watch again.
The situation in Ring City was becoming increasingly treacherous, and he hoped to build a stronger foundation to face it.
And upon careful consideration...
He knew that no method of increasing his strength was more potent than awakening his talent.
But all of this had one prerequisite: more resources and more advanced Nutritional Potions.
Instantly, he swiped the screen.
Lu Chao once again used the travel time to review the theoretical knowledge of Superpower Potions.
The merits for a promotion weren’t so easy to come by.
But if he could become an intermediate or Senior Alchemist sooner, the rate at which he accumulated Potential Progress would surely speed up significantly.
For a while, he sat quietly in his window seat.
The lights outside receded continuously, while the illustrated text on his screen turned page after page.
It wasn’t just Nutritional Potions; he also saw descriptions of some special potions.
[Crimson Fire Pharmacrystal (Crystal-type Potion): Made primarily from the Life Essence of a Red Fire Beast, refined and fused with twelve mineral elements. Allows the consumer to temporarily gain a certain degree of fire resistance...]
[Multiplication Capsule (Capsule-type Potion): An intermediate-level potion combining materials such as the Life Essence of a Giant Tiger Beast, Python Bone Powder, Earth Dragon Grass... etc. Allows the consumer to temporarily expand parts of their body to gain greater strength.]
[Stamina Recovery Potion (Liquid Potion): One of the intermediate-level potions. Can accelerate a fighter’s stamina recovery...]
Line after line of information, most of it from [Theory of Primary Potion-Making Methods].
Perhaps to inspire future generations, it specifically mentioned some intermediate and senior-level potions, not with recipes, but mostly just descriptions of their effects.
His eyes grew brighter and brighter. Lu Chao felt his horizons broaden considerably.
The Alchemist profession could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with augmentation and modification professions like Biological Modifiers and mechanical repairmen, and even held a more prominent status. This undoubtedly proved it had its own unique advantages.
Now, seeing this, he felt that status was well-deserved.
COUGH, COUGH...
While he was lost in thought, someone leaning on a cane suddenly walked over and sat down beside him.
The sound of coughing reached his ears, and Lu Chao glanced over at the person.
He was wearing a black woolen overcoat and a wide-brimmed hat. The hair showing was somewhat gray, and he wore a scarf. He was clearly a hunched-over old man in his sixties or seventies.
COUGH, COUGH...
He coughed again, propped his cane upright against the seat, and casually took a white handkerchief from his pocket to cover his mouth.
As if sensing something, the man turned his head to look.
His face was covered in wrinkles, but his eyes were not the least bit cloudy. Instead, they seemed profound, as if he had comprehended many truths and mysteries.
He met Lu Chao’s gaze, thinking his coughing had made the young man uncomfortable.
"My apologies, young man."
The old man said apologetically.
An intuitive feeling from his panel suddenly surfaced. Seeing this, Lu Chao fell silent for a moment.
"Are you ill, sir?"
He asked in a casual tone, meeting the other’s gaze openly as if making small talk.
He gently lowered his left hand, and the light from his watch screen, now untouched, gradually faded.
"Yes, the weather’s gotten cold recently. I wasn’t careful and caught something..."
The old man in the black coat and wide-brimmed hat coughed again, then smiled as if he was happy to find someone willing to chat. He said with interest, "You’re a fighter, aren’t you, young man? I see you’re dressed rather lightly."
"You have sharp eyes, sir."
Lu Chao smiled calmly. He was wearing a black casual jacket.
Looking curious, he asked in return, "I imagine you must have seen quite a few fighters in your time?"
"Heh heh, I suppose you could say that."
The old man smiled and nodded, looking like a kindly, neighborly old gentleman.
Raising his hand to cover his mouth with the white handkerchief, he coughed softly again. "COUGH, COUGH... However, most of them are rather short-tempered, not as patient as you, young man."
"Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since anyone was willing to chat with me like this."
The two exchanged a few words of small talk. Other passengers in the car glanced over curiously but didn’t give it much thought.
As they spoke, the tram arrived at a district station.
The old man smiled apologetically and picked up the mahogany cane by his seat, slowly rising.
"Are you leaving, sir?" Lu Chao asked, looking at him.
"Yes, this is my stop."
The old man in black smiled and nodded. Then, Lu Chao flashed a grin, his smile as bright as a neighborhood boy’s. "What a coincidence."
He stood up and helped the man to his feet.
"Sir, I live in this district too."
"Seeing as you have trouble getting around, let me walk you."
The conversation between the old man and the young man drew the gazes of more passengers in the car.
Some nodded in appreciation, finding the scene quite peaceful and heartwarming. They praised Lu Chao’s kindness, while others remarked on the old man’s polite speech, figuring he must have been a respectable gentleman in his youth.
"Oh?"
The old man was momentarily taken aback, as if considering it for a moment.
He didn’t refuse. He simply thanked him and let Lu Chao help him off the tram.
By now, the night had deepened outside, and there were few pedestrians on the street.
After watching the tram depart, Lu Chao asked the old man where he lived.
Then, following the direction he pointed,
the two continued their small talk as they walked toward a secluded alley behind the station.
"Do you have any children, sir?"
Lu Chao supported the man as they walked step by step into the alley. freёwebnoѵel.com
The streetlights on either side gradually disappeared, and the walls between the buildings blocked out much of the light.
"I did when I was younger, but they passed away prematurely."
The old man coughed softly. The hand holding the white handkerchief was slightly pale, the veins almost visible. "And you? Are your parents well?"
"They passed away long ago."
Lu Chao shook his head gently and gradually came to a stop.
The old man paused at his words, then nodded.
For a moment, the alley was quiet. There were no other passersby, only a little light spilling in from the entrances at either end.
The two looked at each other—one coughing, the other calm.
"Sir, this last stretch of the road..."
Lu Chao met his gaze directly and said seriously, "How about I see you off just to here?"
"Oh?"
The old man paused, then nodded while holding the handkerchief to his mouth. "That’s fine as well..."
BANG!! freēwēbnovel.com
A fist shot out, smashing into the man’s head.
The wrinkled face convulsed violently, and the old man’s unfinished words were cut short as his body flew off the ground and slammed into the alley wall.
Watching this scene with cold indifference, killing intent flared in Lu Chao’s eyes.
Wisps of Martial Arts Power surged through his entire body. At some point, a layer of white ash had covered both his arms. His right fist, held in the punching position, was poised in mid-air like a spear.
And at his waist, his rock-like left hand had its five fingers pressed together, somehow pinching a small, thin blade.
In the blink of an eye.
The so-called kindly old man and the sunny neighborhood boy vanished.
In their place was a murderous intent that signaled a fight to the death!
