Forge a path to success

"If you're not number one, there's no need to contact me."

"opinionated!"

Wang Quan posted a GIF of a baby seal frolicking in the snow: "By the way, please pass on a message to your boss: stop investigating. She can't find anything, but the older folks don't like being investigated."

"It's just that you don't like it."

"No, I'm just a scepter. I do whatever the king tells me to do."

It sent a few crying emojis and then went offline. Chu Hengkong opened the QQ account and found that it belonged to a female junior high school student studying in the north. It was full of convenience store snacks and horoscopes, and occasionally she would post a few riddles complaining about her teachers and classmates.

This damned killer probably just randomly hacked an account to contact him... or perhaps that "middle school girl" was just another disguise for Wang Quan, and he had countless similar identities to hide himself.

He returned to his boss's office and placed his hands on the desk: "Vilbert, stop investigating the royal power."

“I’ll pause for now,” Vilbert said without looking up. “What do you think of No. 0?”

"What?"

Vilbert turned her laptop; a newly released leaderboard was displayed on an internal website. She refreshed the page, and a line of blood-red text appeared out of nowhere at the top of the list, accompanied by a photograph and the seal of the caduceus.

"Your new nickname."

·

"Let us congratulate the strongest person in the world!"

"His new year will surely bring more... bloodshed to the world!"

"Bullshit! That's called merit!"

The family's thugs were shouting and yelling, banging bottles around, making so much noise that the restaurant staff dared not say a word. On his 17th birthday, the whole family was celebrating, and even Wilbert suggested they join in for a couple of drinks.

They had reason to be happy; the reputation of the "Snake of Sacrifice" was so great that the family's business had improved significantly this year. People said that Violet was a brilliant strategist, exchanging a hollow title for billions of dollars. But Chu Hengkong knew that this had nothing to do with business; the boss simply wanted to help him prove himself.

"Are you alright, A-Kong?"

Violet held her wine glass in one hand; her alcohol tolerance was still quite low, and her face began to flush after only a few sips. Caught up in the party atmosphere, she seemed even more adorable than usual. Chu Hengkong approached her, one hand resting against the wall behind her.

He pinched the girl's ear: "Your earlobes are all red. Drink less alcohol."

In a fit of pique, Violet downed her drink. He thanked everyone profusely for their support, led the drunkards back to their hideout, and then escorted his boss back to her room. Only when the manor quieted down again did he breathe a sigh of relief in the corridor.

He was insane. For a split second, he almost kissed Vilbert. Years of trust could be destroyed by such a simple action. That impulse would tear their relationship apart; Vilbert would never trust him again. And he would never trust himself.

"Have some backbone," Chu Hengkong told himself in a low voice. He walked back to his room, intending to vent his frustrations and fall asleep quickly.

He froze when he turned on the light. Standing in his room was a slender figure, dressed in country-style overalls and a cowboy hat, her face dotted with youthful freckles. The blonde girl jumped up, holding up a large plastic sign: "Happy 17th Birthday!"

The damn sign had a picture of a smug little snake wearing a tacky gold chain and smoking a cigar. Chu Hengkong gave it the middle finger in response: "Go to hell. Thanks."

"How was it? How was it?" Wang Quan, the country girl, eagerly leaned closer. "You're 17 now! No longer a little boy. Did you take this opportunity to confess your feelings to your favorite, Violet?"

"Get out of my way, that's my boss."

He shoved Wang Quan aside, pressing his forehead down. This bastard was disguised as a blonde, blue-eyed American country girl this time, a head taller than him and with a stunning figure. Having her constantly in front of him was really bad for his mental and physical health. Wang Quan sat on his bed, covering his mouth and groaning, "Oh, oh, oh, someone's shy! On one hand, they're ashamed to face their own feelings, and on the other hand, they feel embarrassed to be alone with Sister Wang Quan because she's so lecherous..."

"Do you still remember that your persona is that of a country girl? Now you talk like one of those open-minded, weird aunties from Japanese anime."

Wang Quan made a gun gesture with his hands: "American country girls are more open than you think. Even if you don't have a great figure, they don't mind having sex with you."

"Is that right?"

"Look at you, you're showing your inexperience. That's a sign of a lack of life experience," Wang Quan sneered. "When I first finished my investigation and got the conclusion, I couldn't believe it, but now it seems... you really are still a virgin!"

"What's so strange about a 17-year-old not having any sexual experience?" Chu Hengkong took off his coat.

“You’re in America, boy. By local standards, you’re practically a loser.” Wang Quan lay casually on the bed. “Do you know how much you’re suppressing yourself? You were practically smitten when you saw me just now, you were practically overflowing with hormones.”

"Go to hell."

"Honestly, I suggest you speed up your pursuit. Your girl is getting more and more beautiful, and many people will fall for her, but she won't wait for you forever."

“I’ve already said we’re not in that kind of relationship.” Chu Heng went into the bathroom and casually washed his face. “When that day comes, I will proudly send her to church and wish her a bright future.”

"And what about you?" Wang Quan shouted. "What will you do?"

Chu Hengkong was splashing cold water on his face when he heard this and was taken aback. He had considered many things, but this was the one thing he had never considered.

He wiped his face haphazardly and said casually, "I... I don't know. Maybe I'll find a compatible woman to date later."

"Hmm?" Wang Quan leaned over the bed and looked at him.

"Find someone who can protect themselves... maybe a colleague?" He shrugged. "I haven't considered it."

“Like this…” Wang Quan nodded slowly, “Then what about me?”

Chu Hengkong nearly choked: "What the hell did you say?"

"I really can't bear to see the number one in the world suffering from uncontrollable lust during puberty. How about we date?" Wang Quan said with a grin.

"roll roll roll!"

Wang Quan rolled over and looked up at him: "Think about it seriously! The only person in this world who can communicate with you on an equal footing is me. You don't need to worry about anything in front of me. Besides, I'm the person who understands you best in the world."

She grabbed two strands of hair and styled them into pigtails: "If you like pigtails, I'll tie them into pigtails; if you like long, straight black hair, I'll change to long, straight black hair; if you're tired of the mature, big-breasted girl look, no problem, I'll become a flat-chested beauty the next day! I know what kind of look you like, and I can change my style every day for 365 days without repeating. Doesn't that sound tempting?"

Those blue eyes blinked, their innocent charm tinged with a hint of deliberate fawning. Chu Heng cursed inwardly; he was actually somewhat taken aback… after all, he genuinely liked that type…

But he still didn't approach, instead pulling up a chair and sitting down: "No discussion."

"Why, why?" Wang Quan asked, looking aggrieved.

"How can I even talk to you if I don't know if you're a man or a woman? What if you're a man? Wouldn't I be the ultimate bastard?!"

"Damn, that's not true at all! True love knows no gender!"

"True love, my foot..." Chu Hengkong gradually calmed down and casually lit a cigarette. "Would you fall in love with someone who wears a mask? Would you say 'I love you' to an image built entirely of lies?"

Wang Quan pinched his cheek: "If you really like it, what does it matter whether it's true or false?"

"The only true love left in a person's heart is that little bit of love; no one would give it to someone wearing a mask." Chu Hengkong exhaled a smoke ring. "If you want to play for real, then take off your mask. I'll seriously consider you no matter what you look like."

Wang Quan patted his cheeks and said seriously, "No! Trying to find out the true identity of a mysterious beauty is unromantic!"

"See, that's why you, a scoundrel, haven't made a single friend after all this time."

“Don’t I still have you?” Wang Quan chuckled. “Everyone always speaks with a mask on. Once the hidden truth is exposed, who can still see the other person with the same mindset as before? So you have to learn to play dumb and enjoy the happiness of ignorance.”

Chu Hengkong scoffed: "Once you chicken out, you start spouting all sorts of mystical nonsense, but that can't hide the fact that you chicken out."

"Did Violet ever tell you that you have a terrible personality?" Wang Quan retorted. "If not, I'll add for her: Your personality is awful, you self-righteous idiot. Enjoy your 17-year-old single life, Mr. Virgin."

"Call me next time it's your birthday, I'll celebrate with you."

"Hypocrisy!"

Wang Quan jumped out of the window and left. Chu Hengkong leaned against the window for a while, pondering whether the other person was male or female. This question concerned his vital interests, because if Wang Quan was really a beautiful girl, wouldn't he have just thrown away a romantic encounter that was practically within his grasp?

But after thinking about it, he realized that everything the masked person said was insincere. The so-called romantic encounter was just another despicable joke from the other party. If it actually happened, a bald, middle-aged man would emerge from under the pretty girl's mask in less than two seconds, and the next day, stories would circulate about the sacrificial snake touching the bald man inappropriately.

This is the way monarchy operates; anything can become a weapon in its hands. Even friends must maintain their distance.

Chapter 359 A Friendship as Faint as a Phantom (4)

Wang Quan claimed his birthday was January 1st, so Chu Hengkong spent New Year's Day the following year on the Eiffel Tower. When Chu Hengkong reached the top of the tower with his bare hands, Wang Quan, disguised as a disheveled vagrant, was smoking heavily against the wind.

"Happy birthday." Chu Heng tossed a watch over.

Wang Quan held it up with both hands, his eyes filled with lust like a true pauper: "God's egg, this is a Patek Philippe!"

“You’ve given yourself away; the homeless man won’t recognize this brand.”

Wang Quan skillfully fastened his watch: "How do you know the homeless man wasn't a millionaire back then? We're in Paris, a romantic city full of men and women who are completely devoid of reason. The taxi driver who's helping you might have been a big shot ten years ago."

"Do you like to create a story behind every identity? Then you'd be suited to be a writer."

"Thank you for your kind words. When I get too old to move, I'll switch careers and write books. If those idiots on the internet dare to nitpick my details, I'll just type on the keyboard and share with them the little-known facts that even friends who frequently commit murder know."

Chu Hengkong glanced around. The night sky was brightly lit by the New Year's Eve fireworks, and only the two of them stood in the small space more than 300 meters above the ground. This place should be quiet and deserted like this. No one would be out and about during the New Year, and even the maintenance workers of the iron tower wouldn't climb to the top with their bare hands.

"What about the rest?"

"There's no one else here. Unlike you, a gang leader, I'm a reclusive loner with no friends. Aside from missions, I don't have much to do except observe humans."

“That only shows that you are arrogant,” Chu Hengkong said. “You have been indulging in your delusional myths for too long, to the point that you are unwilling to associate with those ‘mortals’ you look down on.”

Wang Quan smiled and said, "It's not a matter of power! I don't want to communicate with people who don't love."

"This city is full of romantics overflowing with love."

“That’s fake love.” It pointed to itself. “True love is selfless. Most people don’t have love, so I’m very distressed when I’m with them.”

Chu Hengkong found it even more absurd: "Parents all over the world would be furious with your words."

"Is the love of parents for their children selfless?" Wang Quan countered. "Even the most enlightened and gentle parents will consider their child's future and worry about how they will grow up. If a child becomes unambitious or even turns into a rude and unruly person, can his parents still love him as much as they did at the beginning?"

“Anyone who can still spoil their children to that extent is a fool,” Chu Hengkong said. “Do you want love that is equal and unchanging forever? Then you’d better go believe in God and chant with the priests about God’s love for the world.”

"God has also brought suffering to the world, sending down His Four Horsemen to spread death. A god like that probably wouldn't love me."

Wang Quan stretched out his hand exaggeratedly, as if searching for a phantom angel. Chu Hengkong shook his head: "Then you are destined to be lonely for the rest of your life. You want a god who transcends the world, disregards morality, and spreads love without restraint. Such a thing is impossible. Even the fanatics of ancient times would not have imagined such an image, because even mythology emphasizes clear rewards and punishments."

Wang Quan ignored him and gazed wistfully at the moon in the sky.

"Perhaps such a god really exists?" it whispered.

"impossible."

“You’re so heartless,” it laughed. “That’s why you can be my friend.”

"I am a million miles away from being compassionate."

“Don’t you realize that you are very similar to true love?” Wang Quan toyed with the watch. “You did so many things without seeking any reward. You saved that girl in the rain but received nothing in return. You took the wealth that Verus gave you just to put their minds at ease. In reality, you never asked Vilbert for anything in return. You just like the feeling of silently giving to the one you love, just like me.”

"Do as you please. You can apply this twisted logic to everyone you know. A person knows best what they are really like."

Chu Hengkong didn't care; he had never cared about such games of words and definitions. He lit a cigarette in the cold wind, and Wang Quan, who also had a cigarette in his mouth, leaned over to borrow a light.

This means the topic is over. They are friends, and friends won't continue talking about something uninteresting.

"As a return gift for the watch, here's some intelligence: the sniper is heading to Paris." Wang Quan tightened his tattered coat. "You know who the target is without me having to tell you."

Chu Hengkong took a deep drag of his cigarette, feeling the smoke linger in his lungs. He blew the smoke into the cold wind: "Who hired him?"

"One of the elderly people."

Wang Quan spat out his cigarette butt, watching the tiny spark drift away in the wind: "Keep an eye on your girl, don't let her go any deeper. We can be at peace in the mire of ignorance, but if she insists on going deeper, even I can't change the outcome."

Chu Hengkong patted its shoulder: "Thanks for the advice. If one day they send you to kill me, remember to dress up as a hot beauty... that way my attention might be diverted, and you'll have a slight chance of winning."

"I would never do that!"

Wang Quan spoke flippantly, watching the assassin leap from the iron tower and move nimbly through the steel jungle like a primitive man.

“I won’t do that,” it repeated softly.

·

A week later, at the Paris Fashion Week show, Chu Hengkong faced off against Shax for the first time. This was his first tough battle in years; the mercenary's gun was damnably accurate, and the specially made bullets could even break through his defenses.

That evening, they retreated to a temporary base. Due to a shortage of medical personnel, the boss personally changed his bandages.

“Vilbert, take my advice,” he said seriously. “Stop investigating the royal power. This is a warning from the Blood Alliance. We have no grudge against them, and there’s no need for us to fall out with them out of curiosity.”

“I stopped investigating after that,” Vilbert said. “I was investigating who was behind my father’s murder.”

Chu Hengkong realized what was happening. They had always suspected that the Blood Alliance's higher-ups had framed Old Velus, and that suspicion had been confirmed today.

“Then you can investigate with confidence. I’ll kill as many people as come,” he told Vilbert.

·

Since that day, the situation has gradually become dangerous.

The men on the list began to appear one after another. The person who hired them was quite shrewd, and the mission requirement was not to kill on sight but to retreat if the attack failed. He didn't expect to achieve victory in one strike; he wanted to wear down Verus's will through this unpredictable war of attrition until the moment of weakness arrived.

Chu Hengkong began a hectic and interesting life. The assassins were all quite skilled, and the intensity of the enemy's attacks allowed him to deduce the boss's investigation progress. He gradually became less involved in the extermination of the aliens; the boss's newly developed drones performed faster and better in this regard than the thugs. The more frequent the assassinations, the more alien missions the Blood Alliance directly issued, prompting him to ponder the underlying meaning.

“Some things are changing.” Wang Quan handed him a can of Coke. “The old folks have found something… and they’re starting to get increasingly anxious.”

"An elixir of immortality?" Chu Heng laughed.

Wang Quan didn't smile. Today, she was dressed as a powerful career woman in a suit and tie, and her face seemed to be naturally meant to be taut and tense.

“Outsiders always have some strange methods,” it said vaguely. “Listen, soon the Blood Alliance will issue a new mission to wipe out the dark wizards in London. This is an unprecedented large-scale mission, and you must be there this time. If the Verus family doesn’t show sincerity, they will raise the banner of breaking the alliance.”