Inside the training building, a cacophony of different sounds mixed together.

The dull thuds of punches, the clang of metal equipment, and the buzzing whispers from one circle of people after another.

As if she had just made a casual remark, Fang Jingyi paid no mind to the slight change in Zheng Wu’s expression. She quickly found an excuse and walked away with light steps.

Without giving Lu Chao a second glance, she walked straight to the circle where Shen Tianchen and Lin Qingxue were. A moment later, her crisp laughter, followed by the responsive laughter of the group, could be heard.

[Carbon-Based Human — Fang Jingyi]

[Life Energy: 29 (Healthy)]

[Consumption Effect...]

Standing quietly on the spot, a panel of light quietly materialized in Lu Chao’s vision.

Jinshi Boxing Hall had certainly become famous, but with that fame came many unfamiliar faces and scrutinizing gazes.

"My apologies, Junior Brother Lu."

Zheng Wu apologized in a low, helpless tone.

He was worried her words had struck a nerve.

He had made the introduction with good intentions, hoping to let the Fighting Level junior and senior brothers get to know each other, but he never expected it to cause such a fuss.

"It’s nothing, Senior Brother Zheng."

Lu Chao smiled, knowing the other man meant well.

But at the same time, he knew even more clearly that strength was the best weapon to silence all gossip and rumors.

He promptly changed the subject.

He walked over to the rest area, took a bag out of a sheet-metal locker against the wall, and handed it to Zheng Wu.

"Junior Brother Lu, what’s this...?"

"If it weren’t for your help, Senior Brother, I wouldn’t have had such a smooth start at my job."

Lu Chao chuckled and explained, "I was busy moving recently and didn’t have the chance to thank you properly."

"Well, I just got paid, and I’ve noticed your clothes get a lot of wear and tear when you train. I hope you’ll accept these two martial arts uniforms."

He spoke with a sincerity that brooked no refusal.

Zheng Wu stared at the bag of clothes, slightly stunned.

"Junior Brother Lu..."

"Senior Brother."

Lu Chao said with another smile, interrupting the other’s polite attempt to refuse.

Feeling his sincerity, a warmth spread through Zheng Wu’s heart.

"Alright, then."

Shaking his head with a smile, he finally took it. "Thank you, Junior Brother. In that case, I’ll shamelessly accept."

The paper bag had some weight to it. The distance between the two martial brothers seemed to shrink a little more.

Afterward, as they chatted, Zheng Wu thought of the recent wanted notice.

Zheng Wu lowered his voice, his expression turning serious. "Junior Brother Lu, I know you’ve always been level-headed."

"But this group of wanted criminals is truly formidable... If you get a mission related to them, you have to be careful. Don’t just rush in headfirst."

It was rare for him to be so talkative, but Lu Chao nodded gravely, understanding his concern.

This band of criminals was exceptionally difficult to deal with, causing the Patrol Department to suffer repeated setbacks and lose many of its people.

The key was that all four were incredibly strong; the weakest was at a professional level.

Their leader, a man named Qiu Shan, even had a Life Energy of over 70 and was an Elite Level expert from the augmented armor path.

"Don’t worry, Senior Brother Zheng. I’ve always cherished my life."

Lu Chao said with a smile, taking the other’s words to heart.

When their chat was over, he once again focused his mind and dedicated himself to his training.

...

"Old Song, I hear you’ve been escorting supply runs through the wilderness lately. How’s the pay?"

"It’s alright, haha. What, you thinking of giving it a try?"

"Sigh, we’ve got a new mouth to feed at home, so money’s a bit tight..."

That evening, Lu Chao took the streetcar to Street Block Two.

The golden glow of the setting sun spilled over the tidy street, coating it in a warm hue. Tile-faced residential buildings stood in neat rows, the surrounding asphalt roads were clean, and passersby occasionally walked by, their laughter echoing cheerfully.

He walked straight to an apartment building where a truck was parked by the entrance. Two truck drivers were smoking cigarettes and chatting idly.

"Hey, hey, easy now, easy!"

"Don’t bang it up."

Soon, a familiar voice came from behind the truck, where three movers were carrying a huge brown cardboard box out of the cargo bed.

It had a picture and text indicating it was a freezer. Lu Chao glanced over and saw Zhao Yuanqing, dressed in a crew-neck long-sleeved shirt, also there lending a hand.

"What’s with the new appliance?"

Lu Chao asked as he walked closer.

Zhao Yuanqing snapped out of his focus, turning his head with a smile.

"Sigh, it’s just that Old Dong felt bad and gave me a raise."

"I figured the new place needed a new look. The old fridge was too small, right? So I decided to just buy a bigger one. It was on sale recently, so it didn’t even cost much."

He said with a grin. Despite the sweat on his face, his complexion was ruddy, he was full of energy, and his eyes seemed much brighter than usual.

Lu Chao gave a helpless smile at his words.

He and Zhao Yuanqing had discussed the move. Zhao Yuanqing had similar thoughts, feeling that Factory Street wasn’t safe, so they decided to move together to a place near the Patrol Department.

After all, the security here was better and the environment was more peaceful. The rent was quite a bit more expensive than other places, nearly three thousand yuan a month. By continuing to room together, they could split the cost and alleviate some of the pressure.

"Fair enough."

Lu Chao didn’t say much more. The new place was great in every way, except the fridge was too small.

The support he received from the Patrol Department and Brother Hao each month amounted to over fifty kilograms of Exotic Beast Meat. He needed a place to store all of it.

"How much was it? I’ll transfer you the money."

"Transfer what? If you insist on that, I’ll actually get mad."

Zhao Yuanqing shook his head, refusing and pretending to be angry. He knew the only reason Old Dong was willing to give him a raise was because of his friend.

If he didn’t show some gratitude, he would feel terrible and indebted.

Seeing how resolute he was, Lu Chao thought for a moment and didn’t press the issue.

Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he turned his head to look across the street.

Several cars drove past on the smooth asphalt road. The shops and supermarkets near the apartment building were doing good business, with many people coming and going.

Joyful laughter drifted from the side of the street, and children ran past, playing under a streetlight.

"What’s wrong?"

Noticing the change in his expression, Zhao Yuanqing followed his gaze. All he saw was the peaceful scenery of Street Block Two, a place whose prosperity and order far surpassed Factory Street’s.

"It’s nothing."

Gently shaking his head, Lu Chao’s eyes swept over the crowd.

The street was still bustling with people. He eventually withdrew his gaze but remained vigilant.

Even though they had moved, he couldn’t be sure if the masked man’s accomplices or Ah Bao from the Rock Gang would continue to make a move and track them to this new place.

The thought flashed through his mind, and then he joined Zhao Yuanqing in lending a hand, moving the freezer into the apartment building and up to their home on the third floor.

Unbeknownst to anyone.

In a corner diagonally across the street, on a public bench meant for rest.

Someone lowered a magazine and cast a cold gaze in their direction.

...

Light gray tiles paved the floor. The apartment had two bedrooms, one bathroom, and one kitchen.

The new living room was a third larger than their last one and quite spacious. A black LCD TV was mounted on the main wall, and a light-colored, soft leather sofa sat behind a marble coffee table.

A sliding door on the left led to a balcony, where a couple of potted plants sat in the corner. The evening sun filtered through the window, creating a warm and peaceful feeling.

"Say, you think we should invite Brother Hao and the others for a meal?"

Amidst the commotion, the movers successfully carried the freezer into the kitchen. Zhao Yuanqing took advantage of a break to walk into the living room and ask Lu Chao in a low voice.

"Good idea."

Lu Chao nodded. He had been thinking the same thing.

It was just that he’d been busy getting familiar with his duties at the Patrol Department, on top of his training and the hassle of moving. He really hadn’t found the time.

"I’ll contact Brother Hao and Brother Qiang later and see when they’re free."

"Okay."

The two chatted and settled on the plan. During the conversation, Zhao Yuanqing’s gaze shifted as if he wanted to say something.

"What is it?" Lu Chao asked.

"I heard... something seems to have happened to Lin Ze."

Zhao Yuanqing said, his expression complicated as he chose his words carefully.

Slightly taken aback, Lu Chao was a little surprised.

’Didn’t he get support from a benefactor at Lianwei Heavy Industry and was about to become an official staff member?’

"Apparently, Lianwei Heavy Industry lost a shipment of weapons."

"He got implicated in it and was locked up. I heard they even took his house, and he’s saddled with a huge debt."

Zhao Yuanqing’s tone was a mix of lament and pity.

Megacorporations like that offer excellent benefits, but when something goes wrong, they are ruthless and show no mercy.

Lu Chao fell silent for a moment upon hearing this, his emotions stirred slightly.

He remembered Lin Ze, always impeccably dressed in a suit, looking smug, and even boasting that he would earn residency rights in the inner city within five years.

And now...

His expression gradually calmed, and Lu Chao looked up at the view outside the window.

Vapor trails from airborne vehicles crisscrossed through the gray clouds, each one following a different path.