Start by conquering the world with unlimited job opportunities.

Chapter 292 Traveling Together, Making a Bet! (Please vote with monthly tickets!~)

Jicheng, a small courtyard.

in the living room.

Three huge metal boxes were open, and Wei Banmeng and the others were squatting beside them, carefully counting the resources inside that would make any superhuman envious.

Mountains of second-tier Qi and Blood Crystals, high-quality Life Beads shimmering with light, and second-tier top-tier Meditation Flowers exuding a refreshing fragrance.

Chu Kuanglan picked up a fist-sized, deep red, second-tier Qi and Blood Crystal and weighed it in his hand, marveling, "Tsk tsk, the quality, the purity of the energy... that fool, that senior really spared no expense! This should last our team for quite a while!"

Wei Banmeng was sorting the life beads by attribute when she heard this. Without even looking up, her cold voice carried a hint of helplessness: "The resources are good, but this hush money is a hot potato. And what about Qingzi?"

Before he could finish speaking, the small gate to the courtyard was pushed open.

Fang Qingyu walked in, carrying with him the chill of the street outside.

The activity in the living room stopped instantly, and all four pairs of eyes turned to him.

Wei Banmeng stood up, keenly sensing something pressing beneath the calm surface of Fang Qingyu's face, and asked softly, "Qingzi, you're back? Is something wrong with Vice Minister Jiang?"

Fang Qingyu's gaze swept over the open box and the faces of his teammates.

He habitually tugged at the corners of his mouth upwards, revealing a gentle smile: "Well, something's come up."

Fang Qingyu paused for a moment, then turned his gaze to the stairs leading to the second floor without immediately explaining. "However, let's talk about it later. I'll go back to my room and have some peace and quiet first."

After saying that, he walked straight through the living room, steadily walked up the stairs, and disappeared at the end of the second-floor corridor.

"boom."

The sound of the door closing softly could be heard.

A brief silence fell over the living room.

Chu Kuanglan scratched his messy hair and looked at Wei Banmeng and Lu Jiuyuan with a puzzled expression: "What's wrong with Qingzi? She looks a little off?"

Lu Jiuyuan frowned slightly, his usually composed gaze also showing confusion: "This is a bit unusual. Usually, even if there's something really difficult, he'll let us know first. What exactly did Vice Minister Jiang say to him?"

Wei Banmeng shook her head slightly, her usually cool face also showing confusion.

She crouched down again, picked up a life bead, and felt its cool touch with her fingertips, but her thoughts drifted away.

This matter is too complex; anything could happen.
Jiang Wei sat quietly on a small stool in the corner, her clear red eyes gazing at the closed door of Fang Qingyu's room on the second floor, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.

As the person who has spent the most time with Fang Qingyu here...
She could sense that Fang Qingyu's mind seemed very troubled.

in the room.

Fang Qingyu did not turn on the light and went straight to the window.

With hands resting on the cold windowsill, my gaze pierced through the glass, landing on the ever-burning lights of the city.

The glow of the streetlights blurred into a halo in the cold wind.

In the distance, the searchlights of the garrison patrol silently streaked across the night sky.

The city's hustle and bustle was shut out of the window, leaving only the steady and powerful beating of my heart in my chest and the jumbled thoughts in my mind.

In Jiang Ying's office, he appeared calm and rational, even somewhat relieved.

He understood Hong Qitian's tacit approval, the weight of that stab, and the complex situation brought about by Luo Qingyi's achievements and predicament.

He accepted the seemingly impossible task without hesitation.

Deep into the Arctic heartland, where the Fate Demon resides, and slay a fourth-tier royal being with bizarre abilities.

However, I am alone at this moment.

The chaos and confusion that had been forcibly suppressed finally surged up.

"Grandpa, what kind of game are you playing?"

Fang Qingyu murmured silently, his molten gold vertical pupils gleaming faintly in the darkness.

From the filthy human trafficking that was exposed in the Shattered Skull Valley.

Fang Qingyu knew that this was no accident.

With Hong Qitian's unfathomable level of skill and control over the front lines, could the schemes of the Ji and Luo families really be kept from him?

Jiu's existence itself is the greatest support and protection the old man gave him, giving him the confidence to tackle these tough challenges.

But now?

The old man clearly supported his investigation and even tacitly approved his use of extreme measures to eliminate the Ji family's henchmen in the Arctic Great Wall, forcing the Luo family to take matters into their own hands.

But when the Supreme Council issued an order to transfer him away from the core war zone and send him to the chaotic city of injustice, the old man chose to acquiesce.

The contradiction between these events gave Fang Qingyu a strong sense of being torn apart.

This is different from the old man's original intention in bringing this matter to him.

Unless the Luo family pays some price.

Or perhaps there really is something in the City of Injustice that can help him, and the old man foresaw from the beginning that he would go to the City of Injustice.
This idea cleaved through the fog like lightning.

Hong Qitian made him discover this matter from the very beginning, and made him take charge, kill, and investigate.

It's not just about cleaning up the internal decay.

It's not just about sharpening his knife.
More importantly, it was to logically and smoothly push him to that place called the City of Injustice.

The Luo family exerted pressure, and the Supreme Council issued a proclamation.
All of this was probably within the old man's expectations, or even the result of his secret efforts.

Using the pressure from the Luo family as a perfect reason to send him to the City of Injustice.

Only in this way.

Only then can we explain the old man's seemingly contradictory attitude.

The last message the old man asked Jiang Ying to convey.

This is by no means empty talk, but a clear guideline.

Fang Qingyu thought about it more and more and felt that this was very likely.

Fang Qingyu had long understood the old man's original intention.

The old man wanted him to become a sharp blade that didn't need to care about anyone's opinion or anything.

Whether it can sever all the corruption within the Federation, or become the sharpest blade against gods or ghosts!

As for the Luo family
Fang Qingyu's eyes regained their composure completely.

As long as the foundation for their dealings with the spirits is severed.

With the royal seed that could extend lifespan, the Luo family's plan naturally failed.

Establishing a base in the City of Injustice and using it as a springboard to infiltrate the depths of the Arctic to carry out a decapitation strike does not conflict with the old man's plan; on the contrary, it may be a more effective path.

So, what exactly is on the other side of the City of Injustice?

After Fang Qingyu figured it out.

For the first time, I became interested in the City of Injustice.

The night is getting darker.

The city was still brightly lit, and pedestrians hurried along the streets.

When Fang Qingyu pushed open the door and walked down the stairs, the living room was already filled with the rich aroma of hot pot.

Red oil simmers in the copper pot, while slices of various exotic beast meats and cold-resistant vegetables unique to the icy plains float and sink in the soup.

The induction cooker emitted a slight hum.

It dispelled the chill of the winter night.

Wei Banmeng and the others sat around the table, with bowls and chopsticks neatly arranged in front of them and steaming hot food in the pot, but no one touched their chopsticks.

The atmosphere was subtly quiet until footsteps sounded on the stairs.

The four people's eyes instantly focused on Fang Qingyu. Seeing the familiar calm expression on his face, even with a faint smile, the weight that had been hanging over Wei Banmeng and the others was lifted off their feet.

"Qingzi! Come quick!"

Chu Kuanglan was the first to grin and greet everyone, his loud voice breaking the silence, "The hot pot is just ready, we've been waiting for you! If you hadn't come soon, Old Lu's drool would have soaked the bottom of the pot!"

Lu Jiuyuan rolled his eyes at him, annoyed: "Get lost! It's your stomach that's growling because you're hungry, isn't it?"

Wei Banmeng smiled easily and got up to go to the kitchen to get bowls and chopsticks: "Sit down quickly, let's eat and talk."

Jiang Wei didn't speak, but silently moved the bowl and chopsticks in front of Fang Qingyu's usual seat further in. Her clear red eyes lingered on his face for a moment, and only after confirming that the chaos had truly subsided did she lower her eyes slightly.

Fang Qingyu smiled and nodded, then walked to the table and sat down: "Okay, let's eat, we're all starving."

Just as he picked up his chopsticks and took a slice of meat that was rolling in the red oil...
"Ding dong!"

The crisp doorbell rang.

Wei Banmeng put down her chopsticks: "It's probably Sister Lin Yu and the others. I'll go open the door."

Looking through the living room's floor-to-ceiling windows, everyone saw three figures standing outside the courtyard gate: Lin Yu, Zhang Meng, and Chen Shan, members of the Dawn faction whose strength had also reached the peak of the second tier.

Wei Banmeng opened the courtyard gate, and a cold wind swirled in with snowflakes. Lin Yu and the other two walked in, their faces beaming with smiles, but their brows seemed to conceal something on their minds.

"Captain Fang, I apologize for disturbing you."

Lin Yu's gaze fell directly on Fang Qingyu, her smile gentle yet serious. "May I bother you for two minutes? There's something I'd like to discuss with you."

Fang Qingyu put down his chopsticks, stood up, and walked to the sofa area with a knowing smile on his face: "Of course it's convenient. Sit down."

He gestured for Lin Yu and the other two to sit down, and then sat down opposite them. "Actually, even if you hadn't come today, I was just planning to come and have a chat with you."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yu, Zhang Meng, and Chen Shan all exchanged knowing glances, a look of "I knew it" flashing across their eyes.

"Captain Fang, what brings us here this time?"

Lin Yu composed herself and spoke first, her tone earnest.

"Coincidentally, I also have something I'd like to discuss with you all." Fang Qingyu spoke at almost the same time.

Their voices overlapped.

The hot pot in the living room was steaming. Chu Kuanglan's chopsticks, which were holding a slice of meat, stopped in mid-air. Wei Banmeng and Lu Jiuyuan also stopped what they were doing. Jiang Wei watched quietly.

Fang Qingyu smiled and gestured for him to speak first: "You go first."

Lin Yu took a deep breath, placed her hands on her knees, and looked at Fang Qingyu with a calm and grateful gaze: "Captain Fang, actually, we came here this time to say goodbye to you."

"Farewell?" Fang Qingyu was slightly taken aback.

"Yes, goodbye."

Lin Yu nodded, and Zhang Meng and Chen Shan beside her also nodded vigorously, their expressions firm. "We hope that Captain Fang will stop investigating."

As soon as he said that, the temperature in the living room seemed to drop several degrees instantly.

Chu Kuanglan slammed down his chopsticks, making the copper pot shake. His eyes widened, and he asked gruffly, "Farewell? No more investigation? Sister Lin Yu, has someone contacted you? Threatened you?! Was it Luo..."

He almost blurted out that name, but Lu Jiuyuan, who was next to him, stopped him in time with a look.

Fang Qingyu's smile faded, and he stared straight at Lin Yu without saying a word.

But he clearly shared the same doubts as Chu Kuanglan.

"No! Absolutely not!"

Lin Yu quickly waved her hand, a wry smile on her face, and hurriedly explained, "Captain Fang, please don't misunderstand! No one has contacted us or threatened us!"

She paused, her eyes becoming incredibly sincere, even pleading: "We just... we're just afraid that if you continue investigating, your life will be in danger!"

"You've done so much for us!"

Lin Yu's voice was trembling with emotion. "You avenged us, pulled us out of hell with your own hands, and even let us kill those three beasts, Ji Wuying, with our own hands. This has far exceeded your initial promise of 'giving us an explanation'! Every one of us remembers this immense kindness you have shown us!" Her gaze swept over Fang Qingyu, then turned to Wei Banmeng, Chu Kuanglan, Lu Jiuyuan, and Jiang Wei at the table, her eyes filled with genuine worry: "That's precisely why we can't bear to see you continue to jump into that bottomless vortex for our sake! It's not worth it! It's really not worth it!"

Lin Yu's tone became incredibly earnest: "You and your teammates are still so young, your potential is limitless, and your future holds infinite possibilities! You are the hope of the Federation! There's no need for us, who have already 'died once,' to fight to the death over this matter and risk our lives!"

She took a deep breath, as if a heavy burden had been lifted, and a relieved yet slightly bitter smile appeared on her face: "To be honest, Captain Fang, it's quite something to see those high-ranking third-tier Martial Saints of the Ji family lying in the pit like dead dogs, being killed by us..."

"I never dared to imagine this before I was arrested."

"You have given us an ending we never dared to dream of. We are truly satisfied, the kind of satisfaction that makes us feel no regrets even in death!"

Lin Yu looked at Fang Qingyu one last time, her eyes almost pleading: "So, Captain Fang, we're begging you, for your own sake and for the sake of your teammates, please stop. Don't investigate any further, okay?"

The living room fell into a deathly silence.

The bubbling sound of the hot pot was exceptionally clear.

Wei Banmeng, Chu Kuanglan, and Lu Jiuyuan all fell silent.

Aren't they afraid of dying? Of course they are.

But having witnessed the horrors inside the ice cave and personally experienced that bloody revenge, they all harbored a deep resentment.

Lin Yu's words were like a bucket of cold water poured on the fire, leaving them speechless for a moment.

They said, "We are not afraid of death, we must seek justice."
This sounds exciting, but it also seems impulsive and foolish.

But if I agree to it, I'll have nowhere to vent my pent-up frustration, and it will feel so stifling.

Jiang Wei looked at Lin Yu quietly, a hint of understanding flashing in the depths of her red eyes.

The person who has experienced the deepest despair.

Sometimes, we cherish the hard-won light even more and are even more afraid of losing it.

There was silence for a long time.

Fang Qingyu suddenly chuckled. The laughter broke the heavy atmosphere.

He looked at Lin Yu with a calm and gentle gaze, and slowly said, "Actually, I've already found out."

"what?!"

Lin Yu, Zhang Meng, and Chen Shan all looked up in astonishment, their faces filled with shock.

Wei Banmeng, Chu Kuanglan, and Lu Jiuyuan also looked at Fang Qingyu instantly, their eyes full of questions.

Has the investigation been completed? Who was behind it all?
Is it the "Luo" family?

However, Fang Qingyu did not reveal the name. He simply looked at Lin Yu and said with a reassuring calmness, "So, don't worry. I know better than anyone the dangers of continuing. I won't foolishly go to my death without sufficient certainty, much less take my teammates on a risky journey."

Fang Qingyu gave a brief explanation and then changed the subject: "Alright, let's not talk about that. Tell me about you guys, where are you planning to go after you leave? Judging from your expressions, you seem to have a common destination?"

Upon hearing the first part of Fang Qingyu's words, especially the phrase "I won't foolishly go to my death," Lin Yu's tense nerves finally relaxed, and a genuine smile of relief appeared on her face.

As long as Fang Qingyu pays attention to safety, they have nothing to worry about.

"Ah."

Lin Yu nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling with hope for a new life. "We're going to the 'City of Injustice'!"

"The City of Injustice?!" Chu Kuanglan exclaimed belatedly, "Is that the City of Injustice, known as the most chaotic and lawless city in the Federation?!"

"Yes, that's right there."

Lin Yu affirmed, her tone filled with determination and anticipation, "There, the laws of the Federation have no jurisdiction, and no powerful family can reach in! It's a place where strength truly reigns supreme! There are no identities, no pasts, only fists and power speak! With our fighting strength, if we stick together and support each other, it shouldn't be difficult to gain a foothold there, or even join a decent gang and settle down."

She glanced at Zhang Meng and Chen Shan, who both nodded in agreement.

Wei Banmeng nodded thoughtfully: "It is indeed an option. The City of Injustice has its own unique rules, prohibiting beings above the fourth rank from entering. The highest combat strength is the peak of the third rank. With the strength of you dozens of second-rank beings, including several peak-rank beings, as long as you don't actively provoke those top forces, you will have more than enough to protect yourselves and gain a foothold."

She paused, then added, "Moreover, the area is a melting pot of people, and information flows quickly. As long as you act carefully, it's much better than being on the front lines, constantly worrying about being targeted by those behind the scenes."

Lin Yu smiled and nodded: "Yes, that's what we all think. Compared to these cities on the Arctic front, where we're constantly worried about our identities being exposed or being purged, it feels like there's more freedom over there, and it's more suitable for us 'homeless' people to start over."

"That's great." Wei Banmeng smiled as well. "Sister Lin Yu, when are you planning to leave? We'll come see you off."

"We plan to..." Lin Yu was about to reveal her plan.

"No need to send."

Fang Qingyu suddenly interrupted her, his expression becoming extremely strange, even carrying a hint of helpless smile.

"Huh?" Wei Banmeng, Chu Kuanglan, Lu Jiuyuan, and Lin Yu were all stunned and looked at Fang Qingyu in confusion.

Fang Qingyu looked at the confused faces of his teammates, shrugged, and said with a wry smile, "Because... our team also has to go to the City of Injustice. What's the point of sending them off? We're going the same way anyway."

"what?!"

"We're going too?!"

"Qingzi, what's going on?!"

Wei Banmeng, Chu Kuanglan, and Lu Jiuyuan exclaimed in astonishment almost simultaneously.

Jiang Wei's red eyes widened slightly.

Fang Qingyu explained simply, "It's a long-term mission we just received. It's a direct order from the Yuan Shou Command, requiring us to go to the City of Injustice as soon as possible to carry out emergency suppression and intelligence gathering. There's no way to back out."

Because Lin Yu and the others were present, Fang Qingyu deliberately concealed the matter of the Luo family.

He didn't want Lin Yu and the others, who had just been given a new lease on life, to bear these heavy burdens and potential dangers again.

This matter is no longer their concern.

Chu Kuanglan immediately panicked, disregarding Lin Yu's presence, and said urgently in a low voice, "Qingzi! Are we really going? What about this place... We've been investigating that big fish behind the Ji family for so long, and we finally got a lead..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.

Once they leave the Great Wall in the Arctic, the people behind the scenes have enough time to erase all traces.

Previous efforts may have been in vain.

Fang Qingyu stood up, the helpless smile on his face disappearing, replaced by his usual composure and confidence.

He patted Chu Kuanglan on the shoulder: "Don't worry, these two things don't conflict."

His eyes were deep and meaningful. "Alright, stop standing there. Pack your bags and get going as soon as possible. The City of Injustice... I'm getting a little interested too."

Lin Yu, Zhang Meng, and Chen Shan were taken aback when they heard Fang Qingyu's words, but then their eyes lit up with joy.

The three of them looked at each other.

Lin Yu suddenly stood up, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Fang Qingyu with excitement and anticipation: "Captain Fang! Then... how about we go together?!"

Her suggestion was immediately met with strong support from Zhang Meng and Chen Shan.

Seeing the anticipation for the new journey and the trust in their team in Lin Yu's eyes, Fang Qingyu thought for only a second before smiling and nodding: "Okay. It's good to travel together and look out for each other."

He promised to travel together, but only to look after each other on the way and arrive safely in the city of injustice.

This does not count as dragging the Dawn members into the vortex between the Luo family and the royal family.

Once they arrive in the city of injustice, they will naturally each find their own path.

"it is good."

Lin Yu was overjoyed.

Although Wei Banmeng and the others still had many questions in their minds, such as why the transfer order was suddenly issued and what Qingzi meant by "no conflict," their long-standing tacit understanding led them to choose unconditional trust.

Now that Fang Qingyu has made his decision, let's take action.

"Pack your things!" Wei Banmeng was the first to get up, acting swiftly and decisively.

"Understood!" Chu Kuanglan stopped hesitating and immediately rushed back to his room.

Lu Jiuyuan and Jiang Wei also silently got up.

Lin Yu and the other two were overjoyed: "We'll go back and gather everyone right away! It'll be done soon!"

After saying that, the three of them hurriedly left the courtyard.

The courtyard instantly became bustling with activity.

Pack up resources, organize equipment, and inspect weapons.
Although the group did not know the reason for the matter, they were used to acting swiftly and decisively.

I've also gotten used to suddenly having to move to a different place.

So without asking a second question, they started packing their luggage.

at the same time.

A glacier bank far from the hustle and bustle of the city.

A cold wind swept across the frozen river, carrying fine snowflakes.

Two figures sat beside a small hole carved into the ice, each on a small stool, holding a fishing rod that looked ordinary but exuded an extraordinary aura.

There was also a small tea table set up next to it.

A pot of hot tea was warming on top, along with an unfinished Go game.

It was Hong Qitian and the Old Man of Antarctica.

Hong Qitian was wrapped in his signature old military overcoat, his hat brim pulled low, an old pipe dangling from his lips, his eyes half-closed as he stared at the buoy.

The elderly man in Antarctica wore a thick gray cotton-padded coat, his back was slightly hunched, and his expression was focused.

The old man in the Antarctic seemed to sense something. He shifted his cloudy gaze from the buoy and glanced at Hong Qitian beside him. His aged voice sounded somewhat faint in the wind: "That silly boy Wujiu went to deliver 'hush money,' and came back happily thinking that the matter was settled. Did you deliberately send that boy away? Aren't you afraid that the crazy woman from the Luo family will get angry and abandon everything?"

Hong Qitian grinned, revealing his teeth, which were red from the cold wind. He chuckled and exhaled a smoke ring: "Hey, old Nan, you can't say that. How can you call it deliberately sending them away? This is called taking advantage of the situation and going with the flow."

He shook his head, a hint of smugness in his eyes. "That crazy woman, Luo Qingyi, wouldn't dare to really touch that kid Fang. Although Jiu is temporarily held back, if things really come to a head, the Luo family won't come out unscathed either. She wants that kid Fang to 'disappear' from her sight, but she doesn't dare to go all out. After thinking it over, what better way could she possibly come up with than sending him far away to that garbage dump of an unjust city? It's all expected, all expected!"

The old man from Antarctica rolled his eyes at his smug look.

I picked up the warm teapot next to me and poured myself a cup of hot tea, holding it in my hands to warm it.

After a moment of silence, he couldn't resist his curiosity and asked, "Then why did you insist on sending him to the City of Injustice? If he stayed at the Great Wall of the North Pole, under your watchful eye, with your protection, the resources of the Abyss Hunt, and Jiu's care, wouldn't he grow up faster and safer? Why send him to that chaotic and dangerous place to wade into the muddy waters?"

Hong Qitian's smile gradually faded.

He picked up his fishing rod and slowly reeled in the non-existent fishing line, his gaze fixed on the snow-covered mountain silhouettes on the opposite bank of the glacier, his eyes becoming deep and thoughtful.

"That's what I originally thought too. It would be so much better to work him out peacefully and steadily." He spoke, his voice lower and carrying an indescribable emotion.

He paused, then a strange, somewhat helpless smile appeared on his lips: "But... that crazy woman refused, she insisted on making a bet with me."

The old man in Antarctica paused in his tea-drinking motion, a look of doubt appearing in his cloudy eyes: "Hmm? She's unwilling? What right does she have to tell you how to train someone? What's the bet?"

"She bet that Fang Qingyu couldn't fight his way out of the City of Injustice alive."

Hong Qitian's voice was not loud, but every word was clear, striking the wind and snow.

Upon hearing this, the old man from Antarctica's eyes lit up with interest: "And what about the stakes?"

When the bet was mentioned, the last trace of a smile on Hong Qitian's face vanished completely.

The old man paused.

Pick up the teapot and refill your cup and Antarctica's cup with boiling hot tea.

Steam rose, blurring his weathered face.

"If I win"

Hong Qitian put down the teapot, picked up his own cup of tea, looked at the tea leaves floating in the cup, and spoke in a voice as soft as a sigh.

"That crazy woman will die in my place."

　The title of the fourth-order cultist in Chapter 289, "Goddess of the Gods," has been changed.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)