Do You Want to Be a Cleaner

Fang Chu hadn’t even spoken when one of the men—dyed blond with bangs covering his eyes—suddenly swung his hand.

Swish!

A throwing knife, no larger than a finger, flew past Chai Wang’s ear.

Bang!

The sound echoed.

Everyone present turned their heads to see the massive television behind them pierced clean through by the knife.

“Questioning me?”

The man with the straight-cut bangs spoke coldly. “If I’d aimed just a little differently, this knife would’ve landed in your skull.”

Chai Wang’s fingers, clutching a cigar, trembled slightly. But he quickly composed himself and forced an apologetic smile. “My apologies, sir. I spoke out of turn.”

Fang Chu chuckled from the side. “Chai Wang, the Love Burial Family isn’t some group of kids.”

Chai Wang glanced at Chai Xiongtao beside him and realized the truth in those words.

His own son was already thirty-five.

He remembered when Xiongtao was in his twenties—same hairstyle, same smudged eyeliner.

Now, his hair was cropped short, the long locks gone, even thinning a little at the top.

Chai Wang grinned. “The deal your organization’s offering is a flat-rate contract, right?”

“Exactly.”

The straight-banged man stood up. “Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Cui Chong, Second Hall Master under the Third Leader, Heartbreak, of the Love Burial Family.”

Chai Wang nodded. “Mr. Cui, how does this flat-rate system work?”

“Simple. For half a month, we follow your orders—but no more than four tasks. Once they’re done, we leave early.”

“Also, since you’re getting the group discount, targeting high-profile figures costs extra. If the target’s a martial artist, we reserve the right to refuse.”

Cui Chong’s tone was indifferent, though his eyes remained hidden behind his bangs.

“Good. Then my first request—capture Feng Yue for me.”

Chai Wang shot a look at Chai Xiongtao, who retrieved a file from the side and handed it to Cui Chong.

“This woman isn’t a public figure or a martial artist. Just some illegitimate daughter. No extra charge, right?”

His expression darkened.

Feng Yue had grown too arrogant.

Back when Feng Kang was still around, she’d grovel and fawn over him whenever they met.

But now that Feng Kang was gone, just because she’d stumbled upon some “beauty pill” formula, she dared to disrespect him?

This morning, Chai Xiongtao had personally gone to discuss a partnership—only for Feng Yue to shut him down outright.

Who did she think she was?

When Feng Kang was alive, Chai Xiongtao had at least given her some face.

Now that Feng Kang was six feet under, who’d indulge her anymore?

Cui Chong opened the file, and his gaze immediately locked onto Feng Yue’s photo.

“This woman’s got some fire to her,” he muttered with a leering grin.

Hearing this, Chai Wang smoothly interjected, “Gentlemen, the Chai family may lack many things, but one thing we don’t lack is signed talent. Later, I’ll arrange for a few celebrities to welcome you properly.”

——

Xu Mu didn’t head home. Instead, he drove to the river outside Yang City.

This newly discovered ancient ruin had piqued his interest.

Then again, he couldn’t afford not to be interested.

Logically speaking, who were these ruins meant for?

The protagonist, of course.

And given the protagonist’s sky-high luck stat, he’d inevitably walk away with the treasures inside.

Xu Mu didn’t care if Chen Xuan got his hands on them.

What he didn’t want was for Fang Chu or Ye Chen to benefit.

The stronger they grew, the more danger Xu Mu and the Xu family faced.

Xu Mu was improving, but the protagonists weren’t idle either. They wouldn’t just stand around waiting for him to catch up.

“Still too few capable allies,” Xu Mu sighed.

The only true loyalist by his side was Meng Wanyue.

Dai Xingluo and Jiang Huihui counted as allies, but they had their own families to consider.

Whatever they did, their actions would always be weighed against their kin’s interests.

Meng Wanyue, though—no parents, no ties. She thought only of him.

That said, if forced to choose between Dai Xingluo and Jiang Huihui, Xu Mu would pick the former.

After all, Dai Xingluo’s relationship with the Dai family was strained. Her sole goal was to kill her father’s current wives.

As for Jiang Huihui? Beyond her family, she had her duties as a Cleaner.

“Whoa! Bro, what a coincidence.”

Xu Mu’s gaze landed on a disheveled man approaching, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

He carried a toolbox, a bulky backpack, and a fishing rod slung over his shoulder.

“Running into you here isn’t that weird. I fish around here all the time.”

Du Yan’s half-lidded eyes flicked toward Xu Mu before he set up his gear under a willow tree.

Xu Mu thought back and nodded. Come to think of it, the last time he’d been chased by assassins, it was near this spot too.

Du Yan unfolded a fishing chair, cast his line, and settled in with a lazy squint.

Xu Mu sat beside him, curiosity getting the better of him. “You know Jiang Huihui, right?”

“Yeah.”

Du Yan nodded.

“I’ve noticed you two are nothing alike. She’s always hunting down criminals, while you seem… pretty laid-back.”

Xu Mu grinned.

“I’m old. Already checked out.”

Du Yan took a drag from his cigarette and sighed. "Right now, I'm just coasting along, waiting for retirement."

"I'm guessing something must have happened, old man?" Xu Mu glanced at Du Yan.

Du Yan held the cigarette between his fingers, bringing it to his lips but not inhaling. A full five or six seconds passed before he took a few quick puffs. "What could possibly happen to me?"

Xu Mu smiled but didn’t press further. Everyone had their secrets—himself included.

For instance, he wasn’t from this world.

He figured this was one secret he’d never share with anyone. Even if he did, no one would believe him.

"Last time you went to the Sanitation Department, I thought you were there to register." Du Yan stubbed out his cigarette in a beer can on the seat.

Xu Mu raised an eyebrow. "Old man, why are you secretly investigating me?"

Last time, he had taken Meng Wanyue to register. If Du Yan knew, it meant he’d checked the records.

"Just curious about you."

Du Yan pulled another beer from the crate beside him and grinned. "Want to be a cleaner? I can write you a recommendation letter."

Xu Mu chuckled. "I’m a henpecked husband—I’d have to discuss it with my wife first."

He neither agreed nor refused.

...

The sky darkened.

Outside Muyue Group.

Inside a black sedan, three punk-haired men sat waiting in silence.

"Second Boss, all the workers have left. Only that woman hasn’t come out yet. You think she’s staying here overnight?"

A green-haired guy with one eye hidden behind his hair peered through the window at the company grounds.

Cui Chong studied the factory. Only two places were still lit—the security guard’s booth and the office building inside.

"Enough waiting. We’ll go in from the side. Quick and clean."

Cui Chong smirked at the two beside him. "Once we grab her, we can have some fun. They never said we couldn’t rough up the hostage."

The other two grinned in response.

When they’d arrived, they’d noticed the Sanitation Department right next to the company.

The longer they lingered, the riskier it got.

All three pulled on black ski masks and vaulted over the wall on the opposite side of the compound.

The barrier was child’s play for them.

But the moment their feet touched the ground, they spotted a man in a security uniform walking toward them from a distance.

Against the dimming sky, the glowing ember of the cigarette between his lips stood out starkly.

"Bad luck for you today, you damn rent-a-cop."

Cui Chong’s voice was low and icy.