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Chapter 319 An Overly Passionate Horror Fairy Tale!
The crystal chandelier in the hotel lobby casts a warm glow.

The smooth marble floor reflected the shadows of people passing by.

As soon as Lei Meng led the group through the revolving door, Liu San frowned and leaned close to his ear, his voice extremely low: "Brother Meng, Han Li and the others' behavior just now... didn't seem right."

Lei Meng did not stop walking, but the hearty smile on his face faded a bit, and his brows furrowed.

Of course he knew that something was wrong with Han Li and his group.

“It’s a bit crazy.” He responded in a low voice as well. “There are some minor frictions in the border areas, but this open confrontation today is really not like the style of that old fox Han Li.”

"With our current strength, which of those old gangs in the Gray Rock District dares to say they can easily defeat us? Even if we really have to make a move, we should at least leave ourselves some room to maneuver."

He frowned, then relaxed, and patted Liu San on the shoulder: "I'll have Scarface investigate this matter thoroughly; he knows Iron Stream Sect better. Right now, let's focus on the competition and keep our eyes peeled. If we can find one or two more decent prospects, our Green Dragon Gang's foundation will be even stronger."

As they spoke, the group arrived at the front desk.

Lei Meng straightened his back and addressed the receptionist, who was dressed in a crisp uniform, in a loud voice: "Get a room! The best room, just enough for all of us!"

The receptionist, a professional smile on her face, quickly typed on the computer: "Okay, sir, we currently have fifteen deluxe suites available. Each suite costs 260 gray crystals per day, including service charge. Please see below."

"Fifteen rooms?"

Lei Meng's eye twitched almost imperceptibly.

Standing behind him were the current core members of the Azure Dragon version, plus the members of Dawn, totaling more than forty people.

He glanced instinctively at the group of precious kids behind him, gritted his teeth, and said, "Open! Fifteen rooms it is! They have to be connected together!"

"Okay, sir. Fifteen luxury suites, deposit plus three days' prepayment, totaling 11,700 gray crystals." The receptionist's smile was sweet, but the number she announced felt like a knife to Lei Meng's heart.

Liu San, standing behind him, felt his eyelids twitch uncontrollably.

"Cough," Lei Meng forced himself to remain calm and pulled out a thick stack of brand-new gray crystal cards from his pocket.

That was one of the spoils that had just been counted in the Blood Wolf Gang's vault.

He slammed his hand on the counter with a pained expression, then declared with a flourish: "Swipe card."

His feigned magnanimity, coupled with the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth, seemed rather comical to Fang Qingyu.

"Brother Meng is so generous!"

Chu Kuanglan was the first to show his support, his loud voice making the hall buzz and attracting the attention of the surrounding guests.

Lei Meng's smile returned.

But that smile looked somewhat forced.

After receiving their room keys, everyone dispersed.

Chu Kuanglan grabbed Liu San's neck and said, "Old Liu, come on, let's go to your room and discuss with you what those bastards from the Iron Stream Sect are up to!"

He had to help Qingzi keep Lei Meng's attention focused on gang affairs.

To avoid them wondering about the strange thing about their own people going to the toilet so frequently.

Fang Qingyu and Jiang Wei exchanged a glance and walked towards the elevator in tacit agreement.

Their rooms were right next to each other.

Fang Qingyu stopped in front of Jiang Wei's door and gently knocked.

The door slid open silently, and Jiang Wei had changed into an inconspicuous plain-colored casual outfit. Her long, bright red hair was tied up with a simple wooden hairpin and hidden under her hood.

She nodded, and the two walked out of the hotel side by side.

The Divine Punishment district in the city center is a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the rest of Injustice City.

The dark stone buildings, like a crouching behemoth, cast heavy shadows in the night.

It exudes a solemn and oppressive atmosphere that is unsettling.

Even the ordinary streets surrounding this core restricted area seemed to be shrouded in a gloomy hue, with few pedestrians and the shop lights appearing listless.

Fang Qingyu and Jiang Wei got out of the taxi one street away from the strange group of buildings.

The two did not approach the area of ​​the Heavenly Punishment Society directly.

Instead, he strolled slowly along the outer streets.

His gaze seemed to casually sweep over the shops on both sides.

A small shop with a wooden sign that read "Established Beef Shop" caught Fang Qingyu's attention.

The dim light shone from inside the door, carrying a warm, homey atmosphere.

It stood out starkly in this gloomy neighborhood.

The shop door was open, and a rich aroma of beef wafted out, carrying the familiar scent of spices.

"Go in and sit down?"

Fang Qingyu turned his head to look at Jiang Wei.

Jiang Wei glanced around the store with her clear red eyes and nodded gently: "Mm."

The shop is small, with only four or five wooden square tables, and it is kept clean and tidy.

A woman in her forties with a kind face, wearing a floral apron, was wiping the stove. When she saw the guests come in, she immediately smiled warmly and said, "Please come in, gentlemen! What would you like to eat?"

"Two steak set meals."

Fang Qingyu naturally pulled out a chair and sat down.

Jiang Wei sat quietly opposite him.

"A steak set meal?"

The older woman's eyes lit up, and she paused in her work. She looked Fang Qingyu up and down carefully, and asked in a slightly surprised, local accent, "Handsome guy, are you from Qingjian?"

Fang Qingyu smiled slightly and nodded, saying, "Yes, I'm from Qingjian. When I saw this sign, I thought I'd come in and try it."

"Oh my! It's someone from my hometown!"

The older sister's smile became even more genuine, revealing a sense of closeness to seeing fellow villagers. "This is quite rare! Wait here, I'll make it for you right away, I guarantee it will taste just like it did back home!"

She turned and rushed into the kitchen.

A moment later, the eldest sister came out carrying two large trays and quickly placed the items on the table.

Two large earthenware bowls held steaming, tender, and juicy beef ribs, cooked until they were falling off the bone.

The two smaller blue-and-white porcelain bowls contained fragrant beef soup.

There were also two bowls of savory rice, each grain distinct, mixed with diced shiitake mushrooms and carrots.

"Here, eat it while it's hot!"

The eldest sister put down her things but didn't leave immediately. Instead, she leaned against the edge of the table next to her, a kind smile on her face like that of an elder, her gaze lingering on the young faces of Fang Qingyu and Jiang Wei.

Jiang Wei quietly picked up her chopsticks and began carefully picking off pieces of the steak that Fang Qingyu had handed her, mixing them into the salted rice.

Fang Qingyu then picked up his own portion.

They skillfully repeated the same steps.

Watching the quiet and tacit interaction between the young couple, the older woman's smile deepened, and she asked with a hint of concern, "You two kids, you look so young, how did you end up in this city of injustice?"

Fang Qingyu swallowed a mouthful of food mixed with the rich aroma of meat juice and rice, looked up and smiled, his expression frank: "We are superhumans. We heard this place is quite special, so we came to take a look. You could call it tourism."

"Extraordinary?"

The eldest sister's smile faded slightly, her brows furrowed a little, and a hint of worry appeared in her eyes.

She glanced instinctively towards the huge shadow outside the door, leaned forward slightly, and whispered, "Then we need to be even more careful! You're from the same hometown, so I'm just saying a few words. This place, especially near that side..." She gestured with her eyes towards the Heavenly Punishment Society's buildings, "It's not safe! I've heard that superhumans often disappear without a trace!"

Fang Qingyu paused slightly in his meat-carving, then looked up calmly at his eldest sister: "Gone without a trace? Near the Heavenly Punishment Society?"

The older woman nodded nervously, her eyes filled with lingering fear and warning: "That's right! It's all hearsay, but it's all very detailed. Listen to me, finish your meal and leave as soon as possible. Don't linger in this area, especially at night!"

She seemed to realize she had talked too much, so she quickly straightened up and waved her hand, "Oh, look at how talkative I am. You guys keep eating, call me if you're not full."

After saying that, he hurriedly turned around and went back to the kitchen.

Fang Qingyu and Jiang Wei exchanged a glance.

I never expected to encounter such a pleasant surprise while having a meal here.

The frequent disappearances of extraordinary individuals near the Heavenly Punishment Society are certainly not accidental.

The two ate their dinner in silence, a meal that tasted like home but tasted bland.

After paying the bill, Fang Qingyu sincerely thanked the kitchen staff: "Sister, the taste is very authentic, thank you."

The eldest sister poked her head out from the kitchen, forcing a smile on her face.

Watching them walk out of the store and head towards the Heavenly Punishment Society's area, he finally just sighed softly and muttered to himself, "Sigh, they won't listen to advice."

Fang Qingyu and Jiang Wei walked straight toward the complex of buildings surrounded by tall, thorny stone walls.

We crossed a relatively wide street but with few pedestrians.

They officially entered the territory of the Heavenly Punishment Society.

The scene before them was completely different from the eerie and bizarre atmosphere they had imagined.

The streets were lined with shops, all brightly lit.

The store has everything: general stores, snack stalls, and even a small shop selling items for superhumans.

There were also pedestrians on the road.

Dressed in ordinary clothes, walking hurriedly.

however.

The eerie thing is the atmosphere.

The shop owners and staff here all have very warm and attentive smiles on their faces.

Their eyes were bright, and their movements were nimble.

Even though it was nighttime, when they saw Fang Qingyu and Jiang Wei, two obviously unfamiliar young people, walking by, they took the initiative to beckon them.

"Hey buddy! Look at this freshly arrived dried sea fish, it'll make a really delicious soup!"

"Girl! Here's some freshly baked sweet cake, would you like to try it?"

"Two guests, would you like to buy some daily necessities? Our shop has a full range of goods at fair prices!"

This enthusiasm.

It stands out starkly in this city of injustice.

Normal people would be at least a little wary when they see strangers outside.

If you ignore the architectural style, you might think it's the same as the shopping street in the Federation.

This is definitely wrong.

Fang Qingyu and Jiang Wei walked past expressionlessly.

They ignored the enthusiastic greetings.

The two walked around the main street and then turned into several alleys.

Apart from the religious architectural style and the unusual enthusiasm of the shopkeepers, no other obvious abnormalities were found.

There were hardly any patrolling guards to be seen.

Only occasionally could one or two figures wearing dark gray linen robes with hoods covering most of their faces hurry by, ignoring the noise on the roadside.

They disappeared straight into the shadowy doorways of those tall buildings.

It was quite peaceful.

Gathering information was out of the question.

Fang Qingyu tried stopping in front of a general store, pretending to select items, and casually asked whether the headquarters of the Heavenly Punishment Society was open to visitors.

The boss's smile froze for a moment.

His eyes brightened even more, but a flicker of extreme fear crossed his gaze. He waved his hands frantically, speaking rapidly, "Oh, you jest, sir! That's a sacred place, how can you just walk in like that! We small business owners wouldn't even dare to get close! Would you like anything else? These spices are fresh from the south."

That fear cannot be faked.

Fang Qingyu knew that he wouldn't get any useful information by asking any further questions, so he casually bought a bag of unimportant spices and left the shop with Jiang Wei.

Standing by the street, Fang Qingyu took one last look at the buildings behind him.

After a walk around.

The overall feeling is like a meticulously arranged stage.

Everyone is performing their normal lives according to a predetermined script.

It's just that it's normal to a point that's a bit too much.

It felt like I had traveled to another world.
An overly enthusiastic horror fairy tale.

"Let's go."

Fang Qingyu said in a low voice.

The two did not linger, but hailed a taxi at the street corner and returned to their hotel in the city center.

……

The next morning.

The Injustice City's Arena was once again engulfed by a deafening roar of voices. This contrasted sharply with the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the qualifiers.

The atmosphere in today's main competition was noticeably more tense, with the air thick with the smell of gunpowder.

The second-tier group consisted of 1600 elites who had fought their way through the qualifying rounds. They were randomly divided into 8 groups of 200 each.

The brutal round-robin tournament system, like a giant millstone, has begun to slowly turn.

"Listen up, everyone!"

The rules of the competition were clearly projected onto the huge screen.

The host's voice resounded throughout the venue through the megaphone, "Within each group, all contestants will compete in ten rounds of single round-robin matches. A win earns 2 points. A loss deducts 1 point. A draw results in 0 points! After ten rounds, the top 64 players in each group with the highest scores will advance to the next stage of the knockout rounds!"

"If players have the same score, a tiebreaker match will be played to determine the winner!"

After the rules were announced, a buzz of discussion immediately arose in the stands.

This competition format not only tests absolute strength.

It tests endurance, tactics, and intelligence even more.

Ten games.

Lei Meng sat in the stands, stroking his chin, his eyes gleaming. "This is interesting. It's not enough to just be good at fighting; you also need to be good at calculation, knowing which opponents you can fight against, which opponents you should let go of, conserving your strength, and even feigning injury to confuse the opponents later on?"

He looked at Fang Qingyu beside him, "Brother Su Yu, don't you think that makes sense?"

Fang Qingyu nodded: "Brother Meng is right. Intelligence and strategy are crucial today."

His gaze swept casually over the person behind him.

Wei Banmeng, Lin Yu, and Su Wanqing were huddled together, heads close together, exchanging information in low, rapid voices.

Several match schedules they had just received were spread out in front of them.

The paper was covered with names and simple annotations.

What they need to do is analyze the most advantageous battle strategies for the other participants.

When to go all out for victory, when to strategically concede, and how to avoid encountering strong opponents or suffering serious injuries before crucial rounds.

Chu Kuanglan, Lao Lu, and the others leaned back in their chairs, seemingly relaxed.

In reality, he was listening intently, receiving tactical instructions from the three strategists at any time.

His gaze occasionally swept over the huge arena below.

With a resounding chime that echoed throughout the stadium.

The game officially begins!
The three enormous arenas lit up once more, and a force field barrier rose, isolating the inside from the outside.

The match-up list is displayed on a large screen.

The stands erupted in cheers!

Unlike the one-sided domination in the qualifiers, today's battle was noticeably more closely contested.

Many evenly matched opponents fought fiercely, their energies clashing, accompanied by gasps and cheers from the audience.

Of course, there were also more wise concedes.

When a player finds themselves facing a recognized top player in the group, or when they are not in good condition, in order to avoid unnecessary exhaustion and injury, they should decisively raise their hand to indicate that they are giving up before the referee announces the start, so as to save their precious energy and opportunities for the later battles.

Lei Meng and Liu San watched intently, leaning forward and scanning the three arenas with their eyes.

They occasionally whispered among themselves about which contestant was worth paying attention to.

Fang Qingyu and Jiang Wei sat steadily beside the two, occasionally chiming in with a few words, keeping most of the two's attention firmly focused on the intense competition.

Meanwhile, Old Chu and his group behind them continued their "urinate escape" tactic.

They took turns getting up and leaving their seats, only to quietly return shortly afterward.

With Fang Qingyu and Jiang Wei providing cover, and the competition being far more exciting than yesterday, Lei Meng and Liu San didn't notice the frequent movement of people behind them.

The competition was in full swing.

Chu Kuanglan still wore the ferocious bronze ghost mask. Most of his opponents were not strong. Occasionally, when he encountered a tough opponent, under Wei Banmeng's tactical arrangement, he would symbolically fight for a few rounds, and then seize the opportunity to punch his opponent off the stage.

Qi Hao's swordsmanship is as fast as a ghost; often, before his opponent can react, the cold blade has already stopped in front of his vital points.

The other participants also performed admirably.

Lin Yu's sword light was as bright as a deep pool, and Su Wanqing's divine skills were impossible to defend against.

The other peak second-tier individuals also made their own gains.

Of course, not everyone has a smooth journey.

Three members of the second tier of Dawn, after encountering opponents far stronger than themselves or cultists whose abilities were extremely effective against them, failed to score enough points despite their best efforts and were unfortunately eliminated in the group stage.

When they silently returned to their seats, their eyes betrayed their disappointment, but they all managed to control their emotions well.

Lin Yu and Qi Feng comforted them in low voices.

Lei Meng, however, had already focused all his attention on the battle on the third arena.

He was a young martial artist who looked to be in his late twenties. He was well-built, had a resolute face, and used a long sword with an ancient design.

His opponent was a cultist whose aura had clearly reached the late stage of the second tier.

He was surrounded by several rapidly spinning, sharp-edged ice crystal shields.

He fired ice spikes continuously from both hands, launching a fierce attack.

The young martial artist was clearly at a disadvantage, given the difference in their skill levels.

Every time he thrust his longsword, it was blocked or deflected by the ice crystal shield, and he also had to constantly dodge the dense ice spikes.

However, his eyes were unusually calm, his footwork was solid, and although his sword moves were not flashy, they were extremely precise and efficient. He always managed to dodge fatal attacks at the last second and find an opening to counterattack.

His body was covered in cuts and bruises, and his clothes were stained with blood.

His movements, however, showed no sign of panic.

Suddenly, the cultist seemed impatient and abruptly activated his mental power. Several ice crystal shields suddenly merged into one, transforming into a huge ice crystal hammer. With a chilling aura and immense power, it smashed down on the young martial artist!
This strike was as powerful as a thunderbolt!

A gasp rippled through the stands, and Lei Meng held his breath.

At this critical moment, a sharp glint flashed in the young martial artist's eyes.

He didn't dodge or evade. Instead, his body sank slightly, and the long sword in his hand emitted a clear and melodious hum. The tip of the sword instantly lit up with a point of extremely condensed cold light!
"break!"

With a low shout, he shot forward like an arrow, fiercely thrusting towards the falling ice crystal hammer!

The sword tip struck the weakest point of the giant hammer with perfect precision!
Click——!
A sickening cracking sound rang out as the mighty ice crystal hammer was shattered into pieces by this single sword strike.

The shattered ice crystals exploded like fireworks.

The cultist was clearly not expecting that his opponent could break through his strongest attack. His mind was shaken, and his movements became slightly sluggish.

In that split second...

The young martial artist's figure had already passed through the sky full of ice crystals, his long sword moving like a venomous snake, so fast that only a blur remained, and he came to a steady stop in front of the cultist's throat!
The cold blade touched the skin, and the cultist's body instantly stiffened, his face drained of color.

"Concession."

The young martial artist's breathing was somewhat disordered, but his voice was steady and powerful.

The referee paused for a moment, then announced loudly, "Ring number three, number 76 wins!"

"it is good!!!"

Lei slapped his thigh and stood up excitedly, his eyes shining. "Good lad! He defeated a strong opponent with weaker skills! Solid swordsmanship, calm temperament, dared to fight desperately at crucial moments, and even found a weakness! He's a talent! An absolute talent!"

He turned to Fang Qingyu and Liu San, his tone resolute, "We have to poach this guy! Let's go! Strike while the iron is hot, go to the lounge and ambush him now! If we're too late, someone else will snatch him up!"

He called out to Fang Qingyu and Jiang Wei, pulled Liu San along, and eagerly squeezed out of their seats, walking quickly toward the passageway to the players' rest area.

Upon seeing this, Chu Kuanglan immediately gave Wei Banmeng a wink and got up to follow.

When it comes to the technical skill of poaching talent, how could we do without him?

……

The athletes' rest area was bustling with activity, resembling a huge market.

The players who had just finished their matches were either sitting and resting, exhausted, or excitedly discussing the results.

Many more people were surrounded by delegations from various gangs and factions, with promises, temptations, and attempts to build connections constantly being made.

With his powerful aura as a third-tier Martial Saint and his imposing physique, Lei Meng carved a path through the crowded throng like a tank.

Liu San and Fang Qingyu followed closely behind, with Jiang Wei close behind.

Chu Kuanglan also squeezed in thanks to his size.

Their goals are clear.

That swordsman number 76 who just created a miracle of defeating a stronger opponent on the third arena.

Number 76 was sitting on a bench in the corner of the lounge, breathing slightly, carefully wiping the ice shards and bloodstains off the ancient longsword in his hand with a clean cloth.

The wounds on his body have been simply bandaged.

His face was still a little pale, but his eyes were unusually bright.

Lei Meng strode up to him, his imposing figure casting a shadow.

He forced out what he thought was his most amiable smile, his voice loud yet as gentle as possible: "Young man! Hello, I am Lei Meng, the leader of the Green Dragon Gang in Gray Rock District!"

He Zhi raised his head upon hearing the sound, his gaze lingering on Lei Meng's face for a moment, a hint of displeasure at being disturbed showing in his slightly furrowed brows.

But when his gaze swept over Lei Meng.

When the light fell on the hooded young man with a calm expression behind him, his pupils suddenly contracted.

His face was instantly filled with extreme shock and disbelief.

He abruptly stood up, his finger instinctively pointing at Fang Qingyu, and blurted out, "Fang."

"Old He! What are you doing here?!"

Fang Qingyu's reaction was incredibly fast.

Before the other party reveals their real name.

Fang Qingyu took a step forward, instantly overtaking Lei Meng, and enthusiastically put his arm around the other's shoulder, patting him hard twice.

The voice carried just the right amount of surprise and familiarity.

It instantly interrupted what he was about to say.

This sudden turn of events stunned Lei Meng, Liu San, and Chu Kuanglan, who had just squeezed in.

Number 76 was completely dumbfounded.

Holding Fang Qingyu, her body stiffened and her mind went blank.

Fang Qingyu casually draped his arm over his shoulder while simultaneously speaking quickly in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Don't reveal my identity."

These words brought the other person to their senses.

The shock on his face hadn't completely faded yet, but his eyes had already shifted from bewilderment to suspicion, and finally to a suppressed excitement.

"Brother Su Yu, this...this gentleman is your friend?"

Lei Meng finally realized what was happening, and seeing the two of them walking arm in arm so familiarly, a surprised smile immediately appeared on his face.

Fang Qingyu released He Zhi, a smile on his face, and nodded vigorously: "Yes, Brother Meng! What a coincidence! This He Zhi is a friend I met when I was out there making my way in the world. I haven't seen him for many years, and I never expected to run into him here!"

He turned to look at the still somewhat dazed Number 76 and gave him a look.

Number 76 took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turbulent emotions churning within him.

Before us stood Fang Qingyu, the invincible warrior who, like a god, turned the tide on the Arctic front and was idolized by countless soldiers.
And now he's standing right in front of me!?
However, he quickly composed himself, met Lei Meng's gaze, forced a fairly natural smile, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "So it's Chief Lei. I've heard so much about you. Su Yu and I are indeed old acquaintances."

"Haha, that's great!" Lei Meng was overjoyed, rubbing his hands together vigorously. "Brother He, I saw your performance on the stage just now clearly. Awesome! How about joining our Azure Dragon Gang? Although we're still based in the Gray Rock District, our future is absolutely bright! The gang prioritizes brotherhood, and the atmosphere is fantastic! You can ask Brother Su Yu about that!"

He patted his chest and recounted his story of recruiting people, his eyes gleaming with eagerness.

Number 76's gaze turned to Fang Qingyu once again.

Fang Qingyu maintained her smile and mouthed to him, "It's up to you."
This person made a decision in an instant.

The opportunity to follow Fang Qingyu, the invincible warrior in the human world, would be something that any soldier on the Arctic front who knew Fang Qingyu would not refuse.

So he looked at Lei Meng.

A hint of hesitation crossed his face, then he said as if he had made up his mind, "Joining your gang is fine. However, I need some money."

"Easy to say! Easy to say!"

When Lei Meng heard that all he wanted was money, he immediately beamed with joy.

In his view, problems that could be solved with money weren't problems at all. "Old Liu! Remember this, and arrange it immediately when you get back!"

He turned to Liu San and instructed him, then warmly put his arm around No. 76's shoulder, "Brother He, there are too many people and too much chatter here, it's not the place to talk. Come on, let's go outside and find a quiet place to have a good chat! From now on, we're family!"

Then they saw the group of people walk out.
Jiang Wei, who was standing next to him, then turned to look at Fang Qingyu and asked curiously:

"How come I didn't know you knew him?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Kuanglan, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Your Qingzi has a wide network of connections, it's normal that you don't know."

(End of this chapter)