The timeline rewinds to an hour earlier.
Ding Renfeng and his gang of hoodlums arrived at the entrance of the Yelaixiang Bathhouse.
"Let's go, boys. Tonight, we're treating ourselves here," Ding Renfeng declared boldly.
Yaoji grinned and chimed in, "Since Brother Ding's paying, everyone should go all out—play hard, enjoy yourselves!"
"Damn right!"
The twenty or so thugs cheered raucously.
The hostess at the door frowned slightly.
This was Yelaixiang—the most upscale establishment in all of Jiangbei City. Since when did lowlifes like these dare to show their faces here?
A squad of security guards nearby stirred, itching to kick them out.
"Apologies, sir, but this place—"
The hostess forced a professional smile, trying to block Ding Renfeng.
With a flourish, Ding Renfeng pulled out a wad of cash from his pocket and stuffed it into the hostess's revealing cleavage, pressing a finger to his lips. "Shh! Don’t judge a book by its cover. I hate that."
"P-please, come in!"
The hostess plastered on her practiced smile and hastily gestured them inside.
This guy might dress like a nobody, but the tip he’d just given her—a mere greeter—was easily three or four thousand yuan.
Such extravagance couldn’t belong to someone short on cash.
He had to be some nouveau riche.
Plenty of newly rich folks—those whose tastes hadn’t caught up with their wallets—came here to blow their money recklessly.
And with a crew of twenty in tow? Clearly, he was a big spender.
Of course, it would never cross her mind that those three or four thousand yuan were the collective life savings of all twenty men.
Phew, we’re in!
Ding Renfeng whistled under his breath.
Once inside, causing trouble would be a piece of cake.
Wreaking havoc here? Child’s play.
Following An Yi’s earlier instructions, Ding Renfeng bellowed the moment he stepped in, "Hey! Bring out all your prettiest girls!"
"Coming, coming~"
Mama Liu hurried over, all smiles—until she saw the group of shabbily dressed delinquents.
Her face darkened.
What the hell? How did these penniless losers even get in?
Every last security guard deserved to be fired!
"Mama, where are the girls? My boys are starving," Ding Renfeng leered, eyeing Mama Liu’s curvaceous figure. "Hell, you’ll do in a pinch!"
Mama Liu’s gaze turned icy. Her chest heaved with indignation as she snapped, "Get the hell out before I lose my temper!"
"The fuck you just say to me?"
Ding Renfeng’s rage flared. He raised a hand to strike.
The nearby guards couldn’t hold back any longer and rushed forward.
Yaoji and the other twenty thugs surged into the fray, clashing with the guards in a chaotic brawl.
Though An Yi had once taken him down in three moves, Ding Renfeng’s skills were nothing to scoff at.
Holding his own against five men, his punches landed with brutal precision. In moments, three guards were already down.
"What the hell is going on here? Stop this now!"
The commotion drew not only the discreet gentlemen here for leisure but also a squad of black-suited enforcers—Yelaixiang’s real muscle.
The so-called "security guards" were just for show. When it came to real fights, these black-suited enforcers were the ones who kept order.
Ding Renfeng kicked down one of the enforcers but immediately sensed trouble.
These men were hardened professionals, their combat skills far beyond what street punks like them could handle.
Yaoji was already on the ground, ass in the air, begging, "Grandpa, please don’t hit me!"
The others weren’t faring much better. The twenty-man crew was being pushed back, overwhelmed.
Ding Renfeng’s expression darkened. At this rate, they’d be crushed before they could even make a scene.
Just then, a bald man with a bandaged head and a sling stormed in, leading a small army.
Ding Renfeng froze when he saw the leader. "Brother Bao?"
They moved in the same circles, so he recognized Brother Bao, though they’d rarely crossed paths. Running into him here was unexpected.
Brother Bao raised a hand and roared, "Brothers! The young mistress was taken by these bastards! Chengzi’s here too! Smash this place and get them out!"
"Charge!"
Eighty men surged forward behind Brother Bao.
Seeing the situation escalate beyond control, Ding Renfeng smirked inwardly and hit send on the pre-written message he’d prepared.
Meanwhile, in a hidden elevator.
A man emerged from the subway, cursing under his breath.
"Fucking useless! Can’t even handle a bunch of troublemaking thugs. I told them not to call us unless it’s serious!"
As he grumbled, he bumped into a masked teenager absorbed in his phone.
The man glared. "You blind or what? Watch where you’re going!"
"Sorry, didn’t see you there," the teen replied smoothly, slipping his phone away.
"Little shit."
The man scoffed at the lack of fight in the kid and stalked off.
The teen pocketed his phone, then tossed an elevator card in his hand.
He headed for the elevator.
"Stay—stay away from me!"
Nie Qinglan’s scream echoed through the chamber.
Chengzi, barely conscious after having his blood drained in the dungeon, jolted awake at the sound.
"Boss! Boss, I’m here!"
He scrambled up, spotting Nie Qinglan trapped in a cage as the hulking Gourd Immortal closed in. Desperate, he shouted, "Stop! She’s Boss Nie’s daughter! Touch her, and you’re dead!"
At the name "Boss Nie," the burly man’s expression shifted.
"Chengzi?"
Nie Qinglan turned toward the voice, tears welling in her eyes.
The burly man’s instincts screamed danger.
Boss Nie’s daughter, handed to us on a platter? This has to be a setup.
He knew Boss Nie’s power and influence all too well.
Right now, they were no match for a titan like him.
"Immortal, hold on!"
The burly man called out to Gourd Immortal.
Gourd Immortal, eyes bloodshot, growled, "You got a problem?"
"N-no, it’s just—you haven’t taken your essence blood yet. Wouldn’t want to ruin your focus," the man said smoothly.
Gourd Immortal paused, then reluctantly stepped back from the cage.
"Right, almost forgot the main event. The girl can wait."
With a heavy sigh, he lumbered back to his seat, casting one last longing glance at Nie Qinglan.
Saved… for now.
Nie Qinglan collapsed to her knees, drained.
But what next?
If that monstrous giant laid a hand on her, she’d rather die.
A dry chuckle came from the cell next to Chengzi’s.
"Guess it’s my turn again."
The young man inside spoke as if death meant nothing to him anymore.
"Why… why were we taken?" Chengzi muttered, clenching his fists.
He’d been tricked into storming this place by some slipper-wearing loser.
Yet only he had ended up in this dungeon. It made no sense.
"Because your blood’s richer than most. In their words—you’ve got the makings of a blood slave."
The young man looked indifferent, pointed at himself, and revealed a mocking expression: "And to that fat bastard who's lived who knows how many years, I'm the perfect blood slave!"
Creak!
The dungeon door swung open.
Watching the frail, slender figure of the young man walk away, Chengzi pursed his lips and asked, "Brother, what's your name?"
"Me?"
The young man paused slightly before answering slowly, "My name is Zhou Jun."
--
th】 【No prior gaming knowledge required】【The First Cultivation + Game Design Novel on the Platform】 In a world where the righteous path dominates and crushes the demonic sects, Lu Ze unlocks the "Son of the Demon Path" system. Killing righteous cultivators now grants him power-ups. Wait—deaths in illusions count too? As a former game designer, Lu Ze decides to give the cultivators of this world a little—no, a massive—shock... Sect Elders: "What is this 'Escape from the Demon Sect' game? Why have all our disciples abandoned cultivation to play it??" Elite Disciples: "You're saying... mastering 'Demon Slayer' can help us counter demonic schemes?" Reclusive Masters: "Why did I leave seclusion? Ask that backstabbing rat who ambushed me in 'Eternal Strife' yesterday!" Rogue Cultivators & Civilians: "'Immortal Abyss Action' is addictive! You can even earn spirit stones by loot-running..." Sect Prodigy: "My Dao heart is unshakable... except for that cursed black hammer." Royal Scions: "Can skins have stat boosts? I’ll pay 10,000 spirit stones for one!!" Sect Leader: "WHO IS CORRUPTING MY DISCIPLES?!!!"
ey change clothes. Li Chuan contributed all his possessions, only to find that things were not as they seemed. Almost a year after joining, he hadn’t managed to get a single Daoist consort. Thinking he had been deceived, he was approached by a stunning senior fellow disciple who asked if he would like to form a spiritual bond. For those who don’t practice cultivation, they might not know what “forming a spiritual bond” is. Let me put it this way: A long-term relationship is called a “Daoist consort,” while a short-term relationship is known as “forming a spiritual bond.” From then on, Li Chuan discovered the true way to interact with the Yin-Yang Sect’s Daoist consorts. As long as he had enough spirit stones, he could form a spiritual bond with anyone, Whether it’s Senior Sisters, aunts, Daoist consorts of aunts, female elders, Daoist consorts of elders, or even the Daoist consort of the sect leader, anyone can form a spiritual bond as long as there are enough spirit stones.” I've already joined the Yin-Yang Sect, and you're telling me to focus on cultivation? Do you even know what the Yin-Yang Sect is all about?
g Yu was preparing for retirement when her organization decided to eliminate her. She transmigrated to a zombie apocalypse world. However, a tiny unexpected situation occurred: She somehow transformed into an adorable little girl?!
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"