Hell Game: Starting from Metropolis

Since that's what they said, he just let it be.

Seeing that Liu Zheng did not object, the maid became even more unrestrained and directly stuck out her tongue to clean his wound.

The warm, moist sensation continued to flow, and Liu Zheng felt his blood concentrating in two directions.

As she continued to absorb Liu Zheng's blood, the maid's pale lips became increasingly rosy.

Instead of feeling pain or weakness, Liu Zheng became increasingly energetic and even excited, even wanting to peel off her skin like an egg on the spot.

"Alright, that's enough. I still need to take him to see Old Man Qing."

The old man suddenly spoke up.

Upon hearing his words, the maid immediately released her mouth and then looked at Liu Zheng with lingering reluctance.

If the injury occurred there, the blood sucked out would probably be even more.

"Let's go."

The old man pulled Liu Zheng along, urging him to keep walking.

After taking a couple of steps, he turned his head slightly and saw the maid pick up the bloodstained kimono and stick out her tongue.

"I told you not to look around, but you wouldn't listen. If I hadn't stopped you, you would have been completely taken advantage of by now."

"That's what the old man said."

"Thank you for your care, senior. This is just a small token of my appreciation."

Liu Zheng then took out a few more banknotes and stuffed them into his bird's claw.

"You're quite the smooth talker. But if you're so rich, why are you working at a bathhouse?"

The old man took the banknotes and asked curiously.

"Senior, you misunderstand. I'm not rich; I'm just willing to spend money."

Liu Zheng shook his head.

"Really? I don't think so. Never mind, whether you have money or not is none of my business. I'm just showing you the way."

The old man shook his head and continued walking forward.

Several more shoji doors were opened along the way, but this time he learned his lesson and closed his eyes and plugged his ears, and thus he traveled safely.

"Old man Qing, I've brought your nephew over."

Arriving at a shoji screen, the old man called out through the paper door.

"I know, what are you shouting for?"

As the sound came from inside, the door was opened, and a small, elderly woman came out.

She was dressed in a shrine maiden's outfit, covered with ribbons, beads, and rice stalks.

A strong fragrance emanated from her, filling the entire corridor with its aroma.

But after a few more sniffs, the aroma turned into an indescribable smell, neither entirely pleasant nor entirely unpleasant.

It smells nauseating, but it's subtle enough not to be unpleasant.

If I had to use an analogy, it's like after running around outside all day in sandals in the summer, you rub your finger between your big toe and second toe, and then smell it.

"Old man Qing, I've brought the person, but where are the things?"

The old man said with a grin.

"I will give you what I promised. Wait outside, and come in with me."

Old Qing said indifferently, then raised his chin at Liu Zheng.

"Oh, okay, Uncle."

He paused and then shouted.

Actually, he originally wanted to change his address to "aunt," but since he had already called the old man "uncle" before, he decided to keep calling him "uncle" to avoid trouble.

As expected, neither the old man Qing nor the old man Hun had any meaning in addressing Liu Zheng.

"Shh!"

The shoji door was pulled shut, and the old rascal was locked outside.

"Where is the token?"

As soon as he entered, Old Man Qing stretched out his withered, bird-claw-like hand towards Liu Zheng.

"Give."

He took out the half-burnt incense stick that Yuan Bao'er had given him.

Old Man Qing grabbed the base of the incense stick and pulled it upwards. The incense stick immediately ignited without a flame, turning into wisps of blue smoke, which she inhaled into her nose.

"Hmm, it's been a long time since I've smelled such authentic musk."

After he finished inhaling the incense, Old Man Qing's expression became much friendlier.

"Go and scoop the stuff out of that pot and give it to that old man."

She pointed to the earthen stove in the middle of the room and said.

A ceramic pot sat on the earthen stove, filled with a thick, black, sesame paste-like substance that was bubbling in the roaring fire.

"Ok."

Liu Zheng walked to the pot, but did not see any spatula, spoon or anything like that.

"You can't scoop it up with your hands; you can't use anything else."

"Old Qing said calmly."

"it is good."

Liu Zheng glanced at her and, without hesitation, plunged his hands into the boiling fluid.

Chapter 376 Is it the aroma of large intestine or small intestine?

"what?"

Liu Zheng made an unexpected sound.

When he put his hand into the boiling liquid, he didn't feel it was scalding hot; in fact, he felt a slight coolness.

The liquid doesn't feel as viscous as it looks; instead, it feels more like playing with bubble solution.

"Why aren't you pulling it out yet? What are you waiting for?"

Old Man Qing urged.

"I didn't get anything."

Liu Zheng scooped it up a few times and said in confusion.

"You can just scoop it out with your hands."

"That's what the old man Qing said."

"Oh well."

He clasped his hands together and lifted the pot out.

A black, brain-like object appeared in his hand, while the pot turned into a pool of clear water.

Liu Zheng tentatively shook it twice, and the black, brain-like object bounced slightly in his hand, emitting a faint fragrance, like brains baked in tin foil.

"what is this?"

he asked with some curiosity.

"You'll know just by looking at it."

"Is that even a brain?"

His brow twitched.

"That's right. Why don't you try to guess what kind of creature's brain this is?"

A smile finally appeared on the old man's face, but it was the kind of smile that suggested a wicked sense of humor.

"Humans?"

After a moment of silence, Liu Zheng asked.

"Yes, but not much. Humans always think too much, and the aroma of the brain is more complex, so only a little bit can be added, otherwise it will ruin the main aroma of the brain fragrance."

"That's what the old man Qing said."

"Oh."

He nodded noncommittally.

"Go and give it to that old man."

Old Man Qing waved his hand.

"it is good."

Liu Zheng held the incense sticks in his hands, walked to the paper door, and pushed it open with his foot.

"Quickly, give me the brain incense."

Sure enough, the old rascal was still waiting outside, and he excitedly said as soon as he saw him.

"Please take this."

Liu Zheng handed him the brain incense.

"Be careful, be careful, this is a valuable item, don't drop it."

The old man muttered to himself as he carefully took the incense sticks.

Then, he opened his mouth.

A black beak emerged from its mouth, its sharp edges gleaming with a cold light.

Then, the old man suddenly lowered his head and stuck the bird's beak into the brain incense.

"Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle!"

The old man sucked hard, and the brain odor made a sound like blowing bubbles.

Soon, his body began to tremble, and eventually every hair on his body was dancing.

However, his expression grew increasingly calm until it became as still as a corpse.

Finally, the old man finished consuming the entire piece of brain-infused liquor.

"Whoo~"

With a final, violent tremor, he let out a long breath.

The previously lifeless expression gradually returned to normal, eventually transforming into the serene look of a baby nursing.

"It has to be this one. Of all the fragrances in the bathhouse, the one Qing Laotou mixes is the best."

The old man said leisurely.

"If you like, I'll try to get you some more."

Liu Zheng said tactfully.

"Stop talking big, kid. That old woman is the stingiest. Even Da San Yuan and his gang can't get a good deal from her."

The old man shook his head.

“My uncle and I are family, how can you say I’m taking advantage of him?”

he said with a smile.

"Hmm, the shamelessness of you is more like my nephew. Keep up the good work, if you can really get me some incense, I won't treat you unfairly."

The old man gave him an admiring look, then patted his shoulder with his bird claw before turning and leaving.

Liu Zheng watched him walk away, his steps uneven, then turned and went back into his room.

"Close the door."