Chapter 56 Fungal Remains Frenzy 17 Reconciliation? Protection? Conditions! ...
Everything happened so fast that Lu Yunxiao and the others didn't even have time to react. By the time it happened, the others stood up in shock.
"What are you doing?!"
"Let go!"
"Don't come any closer!"
Amid the chaos, Deng Erhuai stopped the few people who were about to step forward with a stern look, and glared angrily at Cheng Xiuye, whose expression remained unchanged.
"Cheng Xiuye, do you know what you're doing?"
Wei Chongru struggled slightly, but was pressed down even lower by Jin Jian and another Ziming. His voice trembled, not only from fear but also from anger, "Our guild will know how we died. You Ouroboros can't cover up everything!"
Cheng Xiuye smiled and said, "It seems a bit noisy. Should we cut out their tongues first?"
The two were dumbfounded, finding it hard to believe that he had actually done such a thing.
Everyone fell silent.
Nanmen Jue was capable of intervening, but she didn't move. She sat on the chair with her legs crossed, and coldly lifted her eyelashes.
"Is this your gift to me?"
"Isn't that enough?" Cheng Xiuye asked humbly. "If you have any further requests, feel free to ask. Ouroboros always treats capable reincarnators with utmost sincerity. As long as you agree to join, we will do our best to make you satisfied."
Nanmen Jue chuckled, "These benefits are really good."
"So, did you agree?" Cheng Xiuye asked.
"What's the rush? Such a wonderful thing, can't I enjoy the surprise a little longer?" Nanmen Jue said casually, "Let my feverish brain cool down."
Realizing that she wanted to see Zhang Zhi first, Cheng Xiuye didn't object and waited with her.
However, Nanmenjue's brain was indeed feverish.
Cheng Xiuye's actions—ruthlessly breaking the alliance and using human lives as bargaining chips to please her—reveal the ruthless practices of the Ouroboros behind him, all of which disgusted Nanmen Jue.
She was waiting for Zhang Zhi and also assessing the overall combat strength of the team. Orange Name was not to be underestimated, especially since he was the second-in-command of Ouroboros; who knew how many tricks he had up his sleeve.
These are all minor matters. If Nanmen Jue were alone, the scene would definitely not be so peaceful now, but there are too many people present.
Nanmen Jue closed her eyes and took a deep breath. A slender bone knife slid between her fingers and began to spin at her fingertips.
Cheng Xiuye's gaze fell on her knife, lost in thought. "Is this knife made of human bone?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's eyes turned to him, including those who were still feeling uneasy and indignant.
Nanmen Jue didn't open his eyes. "The second-in-command has some sense."
This was an admission, and some people gasped, their gazes towards Nanmen Jue becoming even more sinister.
Even those who knew Nanmen Jue were giving him strange looks, except for Mo Gui who said, "So cool! Whose bones are they?"
Nobody paid him any attention.
However, Nanmen Jue replied, "My own bones."
A moment of silence.
Nanmen Jue opened her eyes, and even Cheng Xiuye's gaze changed; she looked at Nanmen Jue as if she were a pervert.
Killing is commonplace; even slaughtering the entire world could earn her the title of a tyrant. But using one's own rib as a weapon is indeed too much for a human being.
Nanmen Jue smiled and leaned forward, looking at Cheng Xiuye. He said softly, "I used my rib. It was long, hard, and perfectly shaped. It just took me a bit of effort to polish it into such a fine tool."
Cheng Xiuye's eye twitched slightly.
His eyes flickered, and Nanmen Jue raised her knife, brandishing it right in front of his eyes. The blade gleamed coldly; with just a little force, she could blind him.
“I spent several hours, painstakingly sharpening this knife by hand, bit by bit. I even spent points to upgrade it, ensuring it would be invincible in these post-apocalyptic worlds.” Nanmen Jue looked at her knife, her tone calm. “People are more comfortable using parts of their own bodies. I’ve held a scalpel many times, and I like this one the most.”
She suddenly turned her eyes and stared into Cheng Xiuye's eyes. "What do you think, Second-in-Command Cheng?"
Cheng Xiuye swallowed almost imperceptibly, her Adam's apple bobbing slightly, but her tone remained steady. "Mr. Nanmen, are you a doctor in the real world?"
Nanmen Jue smiled enigmatically. "Inquiring about me? You can't do anything to me in the cycle of reincarnation, so you want to see if I have any family or friends in the real world, to use them as bargaining chips?"
“Sir, you’re overthinking it,” Cheng Xiuye said. “I just have great respect for doctors. Even in the cycle of reincarnation, doctors are a respected profession. After all, in these worlds, you can’t contact the main god to repair your body.”
“Really?” Nanmen Jue said. “I thought this was your guild’s style.”
Cheng Xiuye said, "Sir, you seem to be referring to something."
The knife at Nanmen Jue's fingertip stopped spinning. "Xu Yang, do you recognize him?"
They were so close that Nanmen Jue could clearly see the flicker of emotion in Cheng Xiuye's eyes when she heard that name.
"It seems they know each other," she said.
"As fellow high-ranking members of Ouroboros, we naturally know each other," Cheng Xiuye said frankly. "It seems that the one who offended you in the previous world was Xu Yang?"
During their exchange, no one else dared to breathe. Regardless of which side they were on, whether kneeling or standing, everyone listened intently to their conversation. What Nanmen Jue had experienced in his previous world was something everyone in the entire space was eager to speculate about, and they were all listening with complete focus.
“Xu Yang…” Nanmen Jue smiled and leaned back in his chair. “He killed my people, turned them into monsters, and even tried to use my people to kill me. He almost succeeded, leaving me half-dead in that world, neither human nor ghost, and I also got this rib.”
She held the bone knife between her smooth, jade-like fingers, her smile gentle and beautiful.
Cheng Xiuye nodded slightly. "I will tell the president about this matter. If it was Xu Yang's fault, then Ouroboros has even less reason to kill you, sir."
"Did you know that Yu Wanyan is here too?" Nanmen Jue asked abruptly.
Cheng Xiuye's expression finally changed slightly. "You saw her?"
“She really wants to kill me,” Nanmen Jue said. “You mentioned two people from your guild, who should I believe?”
The air tightened, and Cheng Xiuye paused for a moment before speaking: "Although Yu Wanyan is a member of Ouroboros, she has an eccentric personality and is not very obedient. She is just an ordinary member and not considered a high-ranking member. She has no way of knowing the chairman's true decisions, so her actions don't count."
“Oh, that doesn’t count,” Nanmen Jue said.
Her attitude was ambiguous, and Cheng Xiuye couldn't figure out what she was thinking either. He hesitated for a moment, and was about to say something more when there was a knock on the door.
"The person you asked for has arrived," Cheng Xiuye said.
Nanmen Jue turned to look at the door. Sure enough, the person who had just gone out brought back a man and a child. The middle-aged man was Li Yushu, and the little girl next to him lost all fear the moment she saw Nanmen Jue.
"elder brother!"
Nanmen Jue jumped off the table and hugged the girl who was running towards her.
Zhang Zhi finally broke down in tears, throwing herself into Nanmen Jue's arms and clutching his clothes.
"Brother, I'm so scared! Their emotions are so terrifying. I thought I would never see you again."
"I'm here. It's all right now," Nanmen Jue said softly.
Seeing Zhang Zhi's attachment to Nanmen Jue, everyone except Deng Erhuai and others who already knew the whole story was dumbfounded.
Cheng Xiuye also looked surprised, "Sir, you already knew her?"
“I have entrusted this child to your care, and I will take responsibility for her whereabouts and whether she lives or dies,” Nanmen Jue said.
These words indicate that she will not abandon Zhang Zhi; they are a declaration to all the reincarnators present.
“Of course, she’s yours.” Cheng Xiuye wasn’t indifferent to the 5,000 points, but compared to Nanmen Jue, the latter was more important. Zhang Zhi was just an ordinary NPC, a native. If Nanmen Jue wanted her, he could just give her to him.
Nanmen Jue could tell he didn't care. At this moment, this arrogant contempt actually saved her some trouble.
She looked up at Li Yushu, and behind him, the pale-faced Hong Chenxi.
Seeing the situation in the conference room, Li Yushu knew that there was a tense standoff and people were about to die. He hadn't originally intended to come, but Cheng Xiuye called him, so he came anyway.
His gaze swept over the two people who were being held down, then he looked at Cheng Xiuye and asked, "What do you want?"
Cheng Xiuye looked down on these natives who had no real strength and were unrelated to the mission but were high in status. He said indifferently, "The person looking for you is not me."
Li Yushu looked at Nanmen Jue suspiciously again. He was quite perceptive and could tell that only these two people were qualified to speak in this place.
Nanmen Jue said, "I'm a little curious, why would you, a sheriff at an isolation facility, have the second-in-command at the Furnace Base so obedient to you?"
Upon hearing the title of "second-in-command," Li Yushu showed his displeasure.
But before he could say anything, Cheng Xiuye said, "I have some cooperation with Director Li."
Unexpectedly, he directly told others about this secret cooperation, and Li Yushu's expression showed obvious astonishment.
Nanmen Jue said "Oh," and then said, "So, you, Cheng Xiuye, were involved in those heinous acts of bullying men and women?"
“Those are just small businesses.” Cheng Xiuye smiled slightly on her pale face. “If you want them, sir, I can transfer them to you as a small gift.”
"Chief Cheng!" Li Yushu looked at him in disbelief.
Nanmen Jue wasn't surprised by Cheng Xiuye's answer. Upon receiving confirmation, she turned to Li Yushu, "Li Yushu?"
Li Yushu slowly turned his head, his eyes filled with fear.
He could already tell that Cheng Xiuye wasn't going to stand up to this young man, but was subtly backing down!
He had witnessed Cheng Xiuye's ruthlessness over the past few days, and even he had to yield to someone like that... Li Yushu quickly adjusted his expression, revealing a reliable and polite smile, "Young man, I am Li Yushu, the second factory director of the Furnace Base."
He emphasized the words "Second Factory Director" to highlight his status.
Nanmen Jue smiled amiably, "So, you're the one in charge of all those businesses?"
Li Yushu's eye twitched. Even in the apocalypse, these businesses weren't exactly honorable. Even if everyone knew the truth, no one dared to ask him about them to his face.
But judging from Nanmen Jue's expression, since she would be taking over Cheng Xiuye's part in the future, he had nothing left to hide.
“Yes, I’m the one in charge, I’m the big boss,” Li Yushu said.
Nanmen Jue's smile deepened. "I'm new here and don't know much about this business. What does it include?"
Seeing that Nanmen Jue actually seemed genuinely interested in learning about the business and appeared to be planning to take over, some people showed disbelief, some showed surprise, and others showed disdain.
Regardless of whether this business is clean or not, these reincarnators can only stay for a few months at most, so what's the use of making a lot of money here?
Even greedy for short-term gains, Nanmen Jue is nothing more than that.
Hong Chenxi's eyes were a little red. She bit her lip and looked at Nanmen Jue, lost in thought.
Li Yushu undoubtedly believed that Nanmen Jue was genuinely interested, and couldn't help but put on a bit of airs, "This business covers a wide range. After all, doing business requires connections. Although Chief Cheng is of high status, he is still a bit sensitive, so I'll have to handle most of the situations."
Nanmen Jue nodded solemnly.
"Of course, this doesn't mean that Chief Cheng's position isn't important. He has military power over the quarantine facility and has opened up many avenues there." Li Yushu glanced at Cheng Xiuye and continued, "Generally speaking, we have three main categories: weapons, organs, and sex. Chief Cheng has been a great help in the weapons sales."
Nanmen Jue said, "You've got a good eye for things. You've got all the most profitable things in the apocalypse."
"Not at all, it's just following the trend of the times," Li Yushu said with a smile, looking quite pleased with himself.
“Since Director Li is involved in so much business, he must know the market very well,” Nanmen Jue said as he approached him.
Li Yushu said, "Do you want to buy or sell any goods? That's easy to say. Whatever it is, I can negotiate a good price for you."
“Alright.” Nanmen Jue nodded, then suddenly changed his tone, “What I want to ask is, conscience.”
The atmosphere in the room froze.
Li Yushu looked at her in astonishment, "What did you say?"
Nanmen Jue smiled and asked, "How much does conscience cost per pound here?"
Li Yushu was dumbfounded, and the others were also surprised that Nanmen Jue would ask such a question. Hong Chenxi looked relieved, her eyes filled with tears.
Li Yushu was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Cheng Xiuye and asked in a deep voice, "What do you mean by this?"
Cheng Xiuye was looking at Nanmen Jue.
Nanmen Jue didn't look at anyone. She lowered her head and gently asked the girl in her arms, "Are you still scared?"
Zhang Zhi shook her head. "With you here, I'm not afraid."
“I didn’t want to do this in front of you, but you’re unlucky to have drawn a hidden identity, so you need to grow up quickly.” Nanmen Jue patted her head. “From now on, you have no right to be afraid.”
Zhang Zhi blinked in confusion. She could sense the intense emotions surging in Nanmen Jue's heart, but she was still young and could not accurately judge what the adult was thinking.
The others were also puzzled as to why Nanmen Jue would say such a thing to Zhang Zhi. Just then, they saw Nanmen Jue pat Zhang Zhi's shoulder, his expression encouraging.
"What exactly do you mean by this? Are you playing me?" Li Yushu's face darkened as he glared at Cheng Xiuye, taking a few steps forward. "Chief Cheng, if you're unhappy with the current cooperation, you can say so directly. Sending a young upstart to insult me? Me? I, Li, am the factory manager of the Furnace Base, after all. How can you..."
With a soft thud, a crystal-clear white bone knife pierced his neck, entering from the back of his neck and exiting through the left carotid artery. Blood gushed from the wound, splattering even onto Cheng Xiuye's face.
Everyone slowly shifted their gaze, following the hand holding the knife, to look at Nanmen Jue, who had a gentle smile on his face.
"I wanted to ask more questions, but I felt it wasn't necessary," Nanmen Jue said softly.
With a soft "plop," she pulled the knife back, flicked it lightly, and all the blood instantly disappeared, as if it hadn't been touched by dust.
Li Yushu's vision seemed to be stretched out. He futilely covered his neck, trying to turn around to look at the person who attacked him, but he could no longer muster any strength.
He turned his neck with all his might, and Nanmen Jue's face blurred into a hazy mass in his eyes, but he could still see her stunningly gentle and beautiful face. He slowly fell to the ground, unable to understand why anyone would dare to kill him in the Furnace Base.
The most emotional person among the others was undoubtedly Hong Chenxi. She covered her mouth and tears welled up in her eyes.
Nanmen Jue turned to look at her and held out his hand to her, "Come here."
Without the slightest hesitation, Hong Chenxi walked towards her step by step. Her hand warmed as Nanmen Jue handed her her bones, which still carried her own body heat.
"I acted with great restraint. He's not dead yet, but he's incapacitated," Nanmen Jue said casually. "Of course, it's more satisfying to take revenge yourself, isn't it?"
Hong Chenxi understood her meaning and subconsciously tightened her grip on the knife.
"Afraid? Or unable to bear it?" Nanmen Jue misunderstood her hesitation. "Then think of those who have died..."
Before she could finish speaking, Hong Chenxi squatted down in front of Li Yushu, and under the gaze of his bulging eyes, resolutely raised the knife and plunged it into his neck.
"Pfft!" Li Yushu spat out another mouthful of blood.
Hong Chenxi stabbed him again, her alluring face splattered with blood. She grew increasingly ruthless, and Li Yushu's breathing grew weaker and weaker. In the moment before he breathed his last, she let out a heart-wrenching laugh.
She laughed and cried at the same time, her face a mess of tears and blood.
"Li Yushu, remember this: the one who killed you is me, Hong Chenxi. If you're looking for someone to take your life, don't go after the wrong person!"
With her final blow, she plunged the knife into his eye. The Second Factory Director of the Furnace Base, who held countless sins in his hands, died completely, at the hands of his mistress.
From beginning to end, the other reincarnators just watched, some still reeling from the shock, others unwilling to intervene.
Although I don't understand why Nanmen Jue would do this, it's just the death of an NPC, it's not a big deal.
Nanmen Jue watched Li Yushu breathe his last, then looked down at Zhang Zhi, "Still not afraid?"
Zhang Zhi's lips turned white, and her legs were trembling, but she stubbornly shook her head, her hands tightly gripping Nanmen Jue's clothes, "I'm not afraid, he deserves to die."
Nanmen Jue gently pulled out her clothes, stepped forward and took her knife back from Hong Chenxi's hand. She was wiping away the blood when suddenly her arms were full. Hong Chenxi threw herself into her arms, hugging her neck and sobbing.
Nanmen Jue paused with his outstretched arms, then helplessly hugged her shoulders and patted them gently.
“It’s alright,” she said. “You’re free.”
This scene, when viewed by others, has been interpreted in various ways.
It turns out that Nanmen Jue acted out of anger because of his confidante.
Nanmen Jue didn't care what they thought. He whispered to Hong Chenxi, "Do me a favor. Take Zhang Zhi out and wait for me. Things here aren't finished yet."
Upon hearing this, Hong Chenxi immediately pulled away from her embrace, vigorously wiping her face twice, and said nervously, "Kill him, what are you going to do? Otherwise, hand me over..."
"You still don't believe me even now?" Nanmen Jue looked down at her.
When Hong Chenxi met her eyes, her face turned red from head to toe, but her disheveled appearance made it impossible to tell.
She nodded gently, said "Be careful," stood up, and took Zhang Zhi's hand to walk outside. Zhang Zhi looked back at Nanmen Jue with concern. Nanmen Jue smiled and waved to her with a small arc, looking quite adorable.
The door closed again, and Nanmen Jue casually wiped the blood and foam off his face. "Does what you said earlier still stand?"
Cheng Xiuye asked, "Which sentence?"
Nanmen Jue pointed at the two people who were still being held down, "Give these two to me."
Cheng Xiuye said, "So you've agreed to join Ouroboros?"
"Hand these two over to me, and then I'll think about it." Nanmen Jue blinked. "Or are you worried I'll run away in the middle of the night?"
Cheng Xiuye paused for a moment, "You are also renowned, so I suppose you wouldn't do such a thing."
So this is what you're really worried about?
Nanmen Jue smiled and gestured with his chin in that direction. Cheng Xiuye nodded, and his men escorted Deng Erhuai and Wei Chongru toward Nanmen Jue.
The two men looked at her with mixed feelings, and Wei Chongru almost burst into tears.
"If I may ask one more question," Cheng Xiuye said, "what do you plan to do with the two of them?"
"What's it to you?" Nanmen Jue said.
Unexpectedly, she retorted so bluntly. Cheng Xiuye choked for a moment, then turned to look at the wary Lu Yunxiao and the others.
“These people are with those two,” he said.
Nanmen Jue was still smiling, but his expression turned serious. "What do you mean?"
"If we don't kill all the people who know the truth, there will be endless trouble in the future," Cheng Xiuye said matter-of-factly.
His words were filled with undisguised murderous intent, and Lu Yunxiao and the others immediately jumped up, while Mo Gui let out a strange cry.
"No way, friend, we didn't do anything, and just because we know a few people, they want our lives?"
Cheng Xiuye's men moved like ghosts, each one watching one of them, and stood behind them, scaring Mo Gui into shutting up.
"Cheng Xiuye! I don't know them at all!" Deng Erhuai said angrily. "They're not from either of our guilds, they just met them after entering this world! Don't touch them, they won't say anything!"
"Whether or not you're spreading rumors isn't up to any of you to decide," Cheng Xiuye said calmly. "I do see that you and those other girls have a very good relationship."
Deng Erhuai stared at Lu Yunxiao and the others with bloodshot eyes. Ji Chengying was already sobbing from fright, and Guan Junren was in no better shape. Lu Yunxiao shrugged helplessly at Deng Erhuai.
"move……"
"Didn't you say the Ouroboros could protect me? You're scared just because of these few people?" Nanmen Jue suddenly said. "Or is your so-called protection method to kill everyone except me every time you enter a world?"
Cheng Xiuye slowly looked at her, "What's wrong with that?"
Such a cold and self-evident statement left everyone speechless, when suddenly a burst of laughter rang out.
Nanmen Jue was so angry he laughed.
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