No. 100 Hope Lies Where the Chariot of War Passes
“I thought you didn’t believe in this virus thing?”
“Let me tell you straight, Yi Yao, you aren’t the type to joke about something like this.”
Pai Ge’s serious expression made me chuckle wryly.
“It’s true. The virus is real, but it’s not as dramatic as the movies.”
“How so?”
“The virus is called ‘Toilet Paper.’ The superficial effects resemble a zombie virus—fever, skin discoloration, bloodshot eyes, a pale complexion. But it’s based on a common cold virus. It’s not lethal. The mortality rate is even lower than the bird flu.”
“Then…”
“But it can still… cause widespread chaos. If things go as I predict, Upper Capital City will be paralyzed for at least two weeks.”
“But Yi Yao, where did you get this information?” Pai Ge leaned closer, his expression serious. “The Pai family has its own intelligence network, and we haven’t found any evidence of this ‘Toilet Paper’ virus.”
“I… I used to be part of an online hacker alliance. They stumbled upon this information during a hack into the Gathering Hall’s servers.”
A sudden chill filled the air.
“The Gathering Hall?”
Lu Kai, who had been sunbathing, sat up abruptly, removing his sunglasses. “What are those bastards planning? I haven’t even settled the score for them attacking my men, and now they’re pulling this stunt?”
“Haha, Kai Ge, looking for trouble again?” Pai Ge teased.
“Damn right! That Huang Qinghao punk’s father keeps demanding his release. You think those useless cops can handle this? Listen, Luo Wei, I don’t care about other territories, but if I see a single Gathering Hall member in Jiangnan District, they’re dead. I don’t care about special circumstances. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”
“Calm down, Kai Ge. We’re all friends here. We’re just discussing how to handle this virus situation.”
“How the hell should I know? Why are those Gathering Hall psychos so twisted? They have a perfectly good city, a chance to make money, and they choose to develop a zombie virus? They think they can bring down Upper Capital City with this?”
Their heated exchange caught the attention of Jesus, who had been sitting quietly in a corner. I quickly greeted him.
“Jesus.”
Xiaodie bowed respectfully.
It wasn’t just politeness. The old man exuded an aura of power that demanded respect. Unlike Luo Wei and Lu Kai, he was a true veteran of the underworld, a retired gangster who still commanded a palpable presence.
Beneath his casual floral shirt, his body was covered in scars, a testament to a life of violence. His eyes, though clouded with age, still held a chilling intensity, a remnant of his ruthless past. I hadn’t even dared to investigate his background.
A man like him had undoubtedly taken countless lives.
“Hmm.”
He nodded curtly in response to our greetings, his gaze fixed on Pai Ge.
“Any news about your uncle?”
Pai Ge shook his head. “What do you think about this, Jesus?”
The old man turned to me, his gaze piercing. “Little girl, are you sure this information is reliable?”
“Yes,” I replied without hesitation.
“You remind me of a former subordinate of mine.” He turned away, his voice tinged with sadness. “He knew everything that was happening in the underworld. I survived that disaster because of him. But he… Well, let’s just say I’ve heard of the Gathering Hall.”
“But instead of worrying about others, you should be more concerned about yourself.”
He patted my shoulder and walked past me.
“They might not be lions, but you’re not a tiger either. In times of chaos, only the cunning survive.”
He disappeared into the hallway without another word.
His cryptic message left me confused.
“What did he mean?” I asked Pai Ge, once Jesus was out of sight.
“Hahaha! Yi Yao, I’ve always thought highly of you, but sometimes you’re so clueless. Your little girlfriend is much sharper than you.”
“Xiaodie?”
“I think he’s warning you to be careful, Yi Yao,” Xiaodie said, her voice soft. “If the virus spreads and causes panic, the Gathering Hall might take advantage of the chaos to target you.”
“Target me?”
I was even more confused. “After the virus outbreak in my previous life, the police arrested them. I wasn’t involved at all.”
“It’s different now, Yi Yao. You can’t always rely on the past. Maybe, as you said, this is a new timeline. The future might be completely different from what you remember.”
“Seriously, you two? Can’t you stop flirting for a minute?” Pai Ge interrupted, standing up from his chair.
“Look, we’ve already built the shelter. If the virus spreads, the DK Corporation will gain the trust of the entire city. And the Gathering Hall will be exposed for the monsters they are. It’s a win-win situation. As for you, Yi Yao… Bing!”
Huh?
Before I could react, Lu Yibing, who had been practicing diving in her cute swimsuit, climbed out of the pool and dragged me towards the water.
“Wait… wait… I…”
“Splash!”
I was pulled into the water, my protests drowned out by the splash.
“Cough, cough, cough…”
The sudden shock of cold water jolted me awake, dispelling the lingering drowsiness from the afternoon sun.
“Haha! Xiaodie, do you mind if I borrow your girlfriend for a bit?”
Borrow? What am I, a tool?
Xiaodie simply smiled, her silence a tacit approval.
“Lu Yibing, you…”
I turned to face her, noticing an elderly man standing beside her.
He had a long beard, shifty eyes, and a lecherous grin.
“Who are you?”
“Ho ho ho! I haven’t seen such a handsome young lady in a long time. I like you, I like you. Feeling refreshed now?”
Refreshed my ass! My clothes are soaked! How am I supposed to go home like this?
Unlike Jesus, whose mere presence radiated menace, this old man was overtly creepy, his words and actions unsettling.
“Um… can I change my clothes first?”
My T-shirt and shorts were clinging to my body, my underwear soaked. It was uncomfortable.
I had seen him sipping coconut juice under a palm tree earlier, assuming he was just another harmless old man. I hadn’t expected him to be so… perverted.
“Heh heh heh, no need, no need. I love a good wet T-shirt contest. Especially with a tomboyish girl like you. That shy look on your face is priceless.”
He stroked his beard, his eyes crinkling with amusement.
“You…”
“Hey, Old Man, lay off her. She’s just a kid,” Lu Kai protested, his voice laced with annoyance. “You’re going to scare her away.”
“Heh heh heh, what’s the big deal? She needs to experience the real world. And trust me, she’ll hear those words again, whether I say them or not.”
Old Man?
My confusion deepened.
“I told you Bing had a master, right?” Pai Ge said, noticing my puzzled expression. He pointed towards the old man. “That’s him.”
“Him?”
I almost choked on the water. “You said her master was a reclusive hermit!”
“Hey, what’s wrong with my appearance? Don’t I look like a hermit?”
My words seemed to offend him.
“No.”
“Not even a little?”
“Not at all,” I replied flatly. “You look like a creepy old man.”
“Hahaha! You’re a smooth talker, little girl. Calling me an old man at my age… Wait, what does ‘creepy’ mean?”
“Exactly what it sounds like.”
“Bing, your friend is being mean. She called me creepy.”
Lu Yibing, her expression neutral, submerged her head again, avoiding the conflict.
“Tch, fine, fine. A daughter is like spilled water. I can’t expect you to defend your old master anymore. Ahem, Yi Yao, was it? Want to learn some martial arts?”
“No.”
“Splash!”
My blunt refusal made him flinch, a bead of sweat appearing on his forehead. “Why not? It’s free!”
“My instincts tell me you’re dangerous.”
I glanced at Lu Yibing, who was blowing bubbles in the water.
A perfectly normal girl had been transformed into a silent, emotionless doll under his tutelage. I wasn’t falling for that trap.
“Heh heh, of course I’m dangerous. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to protect the Lu family’s precious daughter.”
He puffed out his chest, his voice filled with pride. “Do you know how many men they sent after me? How many helicopters and armored vehicles they deployed to hunt me down in the jungle?”
“They?”
“A foreign organization that the Lu family had offended,” Pai Ge explained. “They’ve been expelled from the country now.”
I see.
“If I learn your martial arts,” I asked, “will I gain the ability to stop time, to create a pocket dimension where I can store an infinite amount of weapons, to summon battleships and fighter jets to attack my enemies?”
His eyebrow twitched. “No.”
“Can I transform into a flaming warrior with crimson hair, wielding a sword and fire magic, my attacks ignoring all defenses?”
“No.”
“Can I swing a forty-meter-long sword?”
“No.”
“Then what’s the point?”
My question stumped him. He turned to Lu Yibing for help.
“Bing, why did you choose to train with me?”
She emerged from the water, her expression blank, her eyes blinking slowly. “I don’t know.”
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