LWGP - Chapter 52
Chapter 52: The Manure Truck Exploded
Xie Lu had already received his orders from above, but strangely, people like them had not been dispatched.
If not them, then…
"It's them?" Li Ting realized, his expression strange.
He really didn't want to have any contact with that group.
"They're all a bunch of weirdos and deviants," Li Ting thought. He believed he could hide his feelings and endure it, but since that group wasn't present, he seized the chance to complain.
Hearing this, Xie Lu's expression also grew a little odd, but he didn't say anything, only remarking, "We probably won't have any opportunity to meet. Those people, they look down on us."
His tone carried a hint of frustration.
Across the entire country, at least here in the capital, even a golden child like him had times when he was snubbed?
Li Ting felt more and more that the group was toxic.
However, just as Xie Lu finished speaking, his expression suddenly changed.
Because he heard the familiar sound of a sports car's engine.
That restless roar, like a leopard's snarl, was filled with a man's untamed wildness. The kind that wild boys loved most?
Soon, a gaudy green sports car appeared in his line of sight.
As the car approached, Xiao Qing and the others, whose perception wasn't as sharp as Xie Lu's, had only just noticed this person appear and speak with Li Ting, guessing his identity was unusual. However, none of them had left, as they planned to thank Wang Jiu.
But since Wang Jiu was inside, everyone waited for her to come out.
"Here she comes, here she comes. She's out," Wang Peng said, craning his neck. When he saw Wang Jiu emerge, his glasses seemed to glint.
The group turned to look. The woman's jacket was still on the flowerbed outside. Her black shirt was stained with a large amount of blood, and there was a trace of it on her face, but the gold-rimmed glasses concealed half of the evil and indifference she had previously revealed.
Perhaps because her skin was so fair, a natural cool-toned white, and her lips so crimson, the sight was exceptionally shocking at first glance.
If one had to describe it, it would be…
"A refined scoundrel?" Wang Peng muttered, only to have his head flicked by Xiao Qing, who was usually too fake to gossip behind someone's back.
Then, Xiao Qing took the initiative to thank Wang Jiu for the loot from the secret realm's boss.
Wang Jiu pushed up her glasses and replied, "Then give me the Old Lady's manuscript?"
Xiao Qing: "No."
Wang Jiu: "Then go skiing with me?"
Xiao Qing: "…"
This person really wasn't good. She was too wicked.
She couldn't help but violate her usual principles and bad-mouth Wang Jiu.
Wang Jiu had a black heart and a dirty mouth. She had teased three people with a single sentence, but she gave everyone equal attention. She casually dealt with the others who had complex thoughts, people who still held onto moral principles and didn't want to accept a favor for free. She acknowledged their words but didn't say much more, clearly showing her disdain for moral codes like gratitude. She didn't care about it.
She also saw Xie Lu. Xie Lu deliberately met her gaze, attempting to judge the woman's deeper nature, but Wang Jiu merely raised an eyebrow and casually looked away, sighing internally.
A master indeed, and quite handsome.
Setting aside attributes, in terms of skill, she definitely couldn't beat him—she could see that beneath his young-master-like appearance and demeanor, the skin on his hands was covered in old calluses and wounds, including the mark of a bullet wound on his left palm.
He was clearly a battle-hardened veteran.
To be like this at his age showed just how formidable he was.
Wang Jiu was about to leave when she saw the flashy sports car arrive. It parked on the outer side, and a man pushed open the door.
Long legs, stylish clothes, a leather jacket—he was practically bursting with hormones, exuding a powerful aura from every pore.
The man strolled into the plaza. After he approached and ascended the steps, Li Ting, shocked, wore an unpleasant expression, showing a hint of apprehension and fear.
Xie Lu, on the other hand, quickly composed himself after his initial surprise. Seeing the man walk toward him, he immediately took a step down the stairs, about to speak.
The tall man reached out, placed a hand on Xie Lu's shoulder, and pushed him aside.
Just like sweeping away trash.
Xie Lu: "?"
The man walked up to Wang Jiu and looked her up and down, his eyes clearly trying to identify something.
Wang Jiu didn't speak either, letting him scrutinize her while she tried to guess his intentions.
She recognized this person.
After a moment, the man spoke. "Remember me?"
Wang Jiu: "The guy who was buying seafood today?"
The man: "I wasn't buying seafood. I went there specifically to see you."
Wang Jiu paused internally. This was a bit unexpected.
To see her?
But she figured it out in the next breath.
Someone from that website? And from the high-level account group.
Here to investigate her?
That didn't seem right.
Wang Jiu's expression didn't betray her thoughts. She just said slowly, "Sir, please state your purpose directly. Otherwise, it's easy for people to misunderstand. My reputation hasn't been very good all day today."
Her words were also easy to misunderstand. Was she trying to play the part of the wronged Little Cabbage from the case of Yang Naiwu?
The man glanced at the group of well-dressed but beastly social elites nearby. "Oh, I get it. Then I'll be direct. Excuse me, are you that 'Pitiable Widow Wang'? Your ID."
???
Yan Yanting, who was drinking water, choked and looked at Wang Jiu, completely speechless.
Had he just been happily awarded the title of deceased husband?
Wang Jiu: "Hmm? No, you have the wrong person."
The man: "It really is you. You don't remember me. I'm the one who reviewed your application back then."
Had a male version of Xia Yuhe arrived?
Wang Jiu: "Who? I really don't know you. Sorry, I have things to do."
She started to leave, but the man took a step to block her, his tone somewhat serious. "Twelve years ago, you applied for an account. I checked your information, and holy hell, only sixteen years old, exceptionally talented. I was ecstatic. I excitedly handled your assessment personally, planning to recruit you under my wing once you passed. But the moment you passed the review, you turned ruthless and vanished as if you'd been buried. The first year, when others asked about my disciple, I said you were low-key. The second year, I said you were busy with school. The third and fourth years, I said you were busy lining up backup partners. The fifth year… after that, I didn't know what to say anymore. I couldn't just say you died, could I?"
Wang Jiu: "There's no need for that. You could have said I was in a slump after being dumped and divorced."
The man: "Didn't your husband die?"
Now I don't like the sound of that.
Wang Jiu sensed this man might be even more ruthless than Xie Lu and was unwilling to confront him head-on. So she smiled pleasantly. "Sir, your ID is 'Singing of Courtyard Flowers Across the River,' but you don't exactly seem to live up to your name either."
A subtle jab was fine; she guessed he had come to her today with a purpose anyway.
The man was unfazed. "The ID isn't important. But you seem a bit cold. Have you already been recruited by someone?"
"It's them, isn't it."
He pointed a finger at Xie Lu and Li Ting, his sharp, sword-like brows furrowing. "Don't be fooled by their appearances; they're not good people. See that pretty boy over there? He's here today to either assassinate that idiot mercenary or to assassinate you."
"They even called me over to assassinate you. Aren't they terrible!"
What the fuck! He was making things up out of thin air!
At the very least, that last sentence was definitely not true!
Li Ting's face turned green. Just as he was about to explain, Xie Lu said helplessly, "Sir Xie, please don't talk nonsense…"
The man glanced at him and scoffed. But when he turned back, he saw Wang Jiu saying tactfully, "I've already deleted the account. That dangerous, dark world isn't for me. I want to live an ordinary life. Sorry."
The man thought for a moment. "Do you think our website's name is lame?"
Wang Jiu gave an awkward but polite smile, then walked away.
Watching her departing figure, Qi Dong couldn't help but ask Li Ting what the website was called.
Li Ting's face was flush with embarrassment. "Cai Genhua Human Labor and Specialty Farmers' Market."
It sounded like a rustic, illegal market that was a hybrid of human trafficking and smuggling operations.
Qi Dong: "…"
No wonder Wang Jiu had stayed inactive for twelve years.
"Sigh, Lao Cai's family's trashy aesthetic is killing people, damn it," the man complained before strolling inside. Xie Lu followed him in.
Once inside, Xie Lu began, "Sir Xie, about the higher-ups…"
"By the time I got here, our Cai Market people had probably already found those guys. I hope the police will cooperate later, you know, with collecting the bodies and all. Leaving them to stink up the place isn't very sanitary."
In other words, all the suspicious personnel had already been ruthlessly eliminated.
The government hadn't acted, but other groups could.
These were extraordinary times, calling for extraordinary measures.
Xie Lu lowered his dark eyes. "We will. Thank you for your organization's help."
"You're welcome. We're in the market business, so of course we follow the state's economic directives."
"Grandpa asked when you're coming home for dinner."
Xie Jiang lit a stick of incense, placed it in the holder, and replied, "Eat my ass. He just wants to set me up on a blind date again."
Facing Lin Zi's memorial portrait, he bowed three times, then said, "It's the last day. We're still in the novice protection period. Once it's official, who knows how many people will die. Tell the old man to run an extra three kilometers."
Are you afraid that your dad's/my grandpa's leg, which is already halfway in the coffin, isn't sturdy enough?
Xie Lu had a cool and reserved personality. No matter how much he wanted to retort, he couldn't bring himself to say it out loud, so he could only stand there in silence.
Boring! Not as interesting as that Wang Jiu.
"By the way, if she doesn't join our Cai Market, can you guys tolerate her? You won't place an order for me to kill her later, will you? If so, I might not be able to bring myself to do it."
He said that, but Xie Lu knew just how ruthless this man was. If the profit was sufficient, the reason was sufficient, and he was capable of doing it, he would definitely kill.
After all, Wang Jiu had now rejected the Cai Market.
"We won't."
"Fine." Xie Jiang couldn't be bothered to say more. He started to walk away but seemed to remember something. "Oh, right. I just saw the Song family's old man's car broken down at the intersection on Lotus Road. Heh, he probably can't get much help right now. A lot of people have been dragged into the tutorial instances."
"I know. I'll go over in a bit." Xie Lu still held great respect for Song Yuanqiao, who was, after all, a senior within the system.
"Take my car. I happen to have something to ask him."
Wang Jiu walked up to a black sedan and knocked on the window. The window rolled down, revealing Chen Jun's cautious and nervous face.
"Nice directing on the art film. Very atmospheric. Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Chen Jun saw Wang Jiu smiling, then noticed the blood on her and tensed up. He took the initiative to say, "Boss Xie is very powerful. I couldn't refuse. I could only tell him you were here."
"Oh, don't be scared. I'm not that bad." Just as Wang Jiu finished speaking, the door of a nearby car was pushed open, and a fatty holding a large basket of fruit, incense, and other items rushed forward.
"Director Wang, Director Wang, I've finally found you!"
Wang Jiu looked at the man, somewhat surprised.
RNG God Wang Shu?
"Hmm? Here to offer incense to the Old Lady? Thanks."
Wang Jiu glanced at the basket and thanked him with a smile.
"No, I already paid my respects to Professor Lin Zi this morning. This is for you."
"I'm not dead yet."
"What are you saying, Master! I want to become your disciple, Master!"
From inside the car, Chen Jun watched as this damn fatty, who sounded like he was in an opera, dropped to his knees with a thud and quickly arranged the fruit, incense, and other items.
Behind them, Xiao Jue and the others were just walking out to get in their car and leave. They were all stunned by the scene.
Forget them, even Wang Jiu was stunned.
"Ever since you saved me, I knew you were kind-hearted, saving people from fire and water. What's rare is that you're also low-key and unassuming, never asking for anything in return. You're simply the perfect earthly incarnation of the great merciful and compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva! In a world like this, with disaster descending from the heavens, for heaven to let me meet you—it must be fate! I must become your disciple!"
What a voice. His howls could be heard throughout half the funeral home, full of vigor.
Wang Jiu summarized the core of the damn fatty's long speech—in order to survive, he was spouting flowery praise with both eyes completely blind.
She couldn't hold back a laugh. She winked at the dumbfounded Chen Jun. "See? I really am a good person."
"Of course, Master, you're definitely a good person! You've saved so many people!" Wang Shu was confident he had done detailed market research and definitely hadn't misjudged.
"You're too kind. A kindness given is a kindness remembered. A doctor's heart is like a parent's. Get up quickly and come with me."
"Okay, okay."
Overjoyed, Wang Shu gathered the items from the ground and got into Wang Jiu's car, holding them.
Chen Jun silently watched Wang Shu's back, as if he were watching Pleasant Goat being led home by Big Big Wolf.
"That fatty…" Wang Peng was about to say something but was pushed into the car by Xiao Jue.
"Bro!"
"Why are you minding other people's business! What time is it now? It's the end of the world!"
Then why are you tailing their car?!
Wang Jiu drove while Wang Shu sat in the passenger seat. He wiped a pear on his shirt, took a happy bite, and asked between juicy mouthfuls where they were going next.
"Finish eating. It's almost dinnertime." They were at a traffic light on Lotus Road. A car ahead seemed to have been stopped there for quite a while.
She recognized the license plate number.
Old man Song's car.
Wang Jiu glanced at it, then at her rearview mirror, where she saw the car with Xiao Jue and the others behind them.
Lotus Road was a necessary route, so she didn't mind.
However…
In the other car, Qian Cheng said, "Later, if she asks us to get in her car, we shouldn't go, right?"
Song Yuanqiao ignored him.
The light had been red for twenty seconds, and Wang Jiu's car next to them also paid him no mind.
Qian Cheng: "…"
As a psychologist, why did he have to subject himself to this humiliation?
But the situation today was indeed unusual. The number of people on the streets had been reduced by more than half, and many cars were stopped motionlessly for no reason, clearly having been dragged into dungeons.
A quick look around revealed that some shops along the street were still doing business as usual, but some people were gathered in small groups, discussing something.
While they waited at the light, only a single large and cumbersome transport truck rumbled slowly out from the middle lane.
Just that one, and it was moving quite slowly.
"How many dungeons have you been through?" Wang Jiu suddenly asked Wang Shu.
Oh, a test from the master!
Wang Shu got serious and answered obediently, "Two in total. One of them was a tutorial instance."
"Was the other one dangerous?"
"Not very. A group of red-eyed rabbit monsters appeared at the train station entrance. I killed a few of them with a chair. It's nothing compared to you, Master. I heard you can even KO a dungeon that opens on a plane. You're so amazing!"
"Then tell me, if a wilderness invasion dungeon can open on a plane, is it possible on a vehicle too?"
"Of course. But if it opens in a vehicle, it's much less dangerous. Worst case, you just jump out and run."
Wang Jiu's expression was very calm. She kept her eyes fixed on the large truck and asked again, "What kind of truck is that up ahead?"
"From the logo, it looks like a manure truck. What's wrong, Master? Hey, what the fuck!"
Wang Jiu's lips suddenly tightened. With fifteen seconds left on the red light, she abruptly slammed the accelerator. The car let out a sharp, ferocious roar and shot directly onto the empty sidewalk.
Wang Shu was shocked and instinctively grabbed his seatbelt.
The commotion startled many cars to their left, right, and behind them.
This included the cars of Xiao Jue, Xu Zhiyan, and the others, who watched in astonishment as the wine-red sports car shot forward.
"That's Wang Jiu's car."
Xiao Qing glanced over. "Not just hers. There's another one. It looks like that Sir Xie's car."
Xiao Jue saw a red and a green car both break traffic rules, not waiting for the red light before charging out, and both cars avoided the truck. He sensed something was wrong, because he could now hear a strange gurgling, restless sound coming from the tank on the back of the truck.
It was as if the liquid inside was churning violently.
Could it be… it was going to explode?
"Bro, that's a manure truck," Xiao Qing's voice trembled for the first time.
Xiao Jue's face turned pale. He decisively stomped on the accelerator, but!
He was too late. The large truck suddenly lost its balance and skidded. As it crossed the middle of the intersection, it slid in an arc of four or five meters. As the tank on top swayed, it let out a tremendous bang.
A goddess scattering flowers…
In that instant, Wang Jiu's car had just completed a swift drift. The moment the manure truck exploded, the steering wheel bent under her hands, the wheels turned, and the car shot directly onto the road in front of the shops on the side. Then, amidst the wide-area "attack" of terrifying liquids and solids raining down like a goddess scattering flowers, the engine roared violently. The car, like a fierce tiger, climbed the steps and rushed under an unoccupied large-flowered photinia tree by the roadside.
Just as they got into position, Wang Shu, in the passenger seat, turned his head to look out the window. He saw the giant vortex inside the ruptured tank and the terrifying substances raining down over a large area. His face twisted in horror.
It was more terrifying than the first time he saw Sadako climb out of the TV when he was seven or eight years old.
"Ah—"
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