Chapter 9: Now That Feels Good

Originally, Gu Changqing hadn't felt any particular urgency to increase his strength, but after returning from that other world, everything had changed. An overwhelming sense of crisis surged within him, followed closely by a rising ferocity in his heart.

"The flow of time is one to one between the two worlds. I can cross over in as little as one day, and stay for up to six days... If I can hold out, even seven days is possible."

"In these seven days, I must find a way to become stronger, then escape those mountains."

"The so-called inheritance of the Blood Sovereign must be the 'Blood and Flesh Refinement Method.' Judging by the other party's attitude, it’s not going to be simple..."

Now, Gu Changqing felt an urgent need for power. He was even tempted to fuse the gang members of the Southern District with himself.

But after considering it briefly, he dismissed the idea.

According to the Blood and Flesh Refinement Method, one increases their blood energy by refining flesh and blood. When the blood energy surges like a river, one begins to cleanse the marrow and change the blood, shedding the mortal body.

Just this step alone would require refining at least a thousand people.

Even using a fraction of one's brain, it's obvious that the disappearance of a thousand people would cause an unimaginable uproar, not to mention the complications that would arise from further cultivation.

Instead, the ghostly thing he encountered upon arrival would be equivalent to the blood energy of hundreds of people if he could refine just one.

After pondering for some time, Gu Changqing let out a long breath.

It seemed that an official identity was still important—he would need to rely on the power of the authorities to enhance his strength.

Then he could go back and deal with that man named You... and Yu as well.

Although the man named Yu was already dead, Gu Changqing had never believed that death settled all debts. You might be dead, but your family remains, don’t they?

Moreover, that wretch You had pinned the blame on him. Even if he wanted to let them go, they wouldn’t let him off.

So, let’s see who kills whom first!

Gu Changqing looked with a touch of regret at the crowd below... So many people! If only he weren’t such a good person!

Even after making up his mind, he still felt unsettled.

He got dressed, went downstairs, grabbed breakfast at a random shop, and then took a taxi to the Southern District branch.

"Quan, how are you? Have you remembered anything in the past couple of days?"

Right at the entrance of the Public Security Office, he bumped into Zeng Shiqian.

"No," Gu Changqing replied, not in the best of moods.

"That’s alright. You’ll remember sooner or later," Zeng reassured him. "By the way, there’s someone who might jog your memory!"

"Who?"

"Old Dao! He’s been asking about you, and we suspect he’s involved in your case," Zeng explained.

Old Dao was indeed unlucky—on the night Gu Quan’an was knocked out and stuffed into a car outside the bar, he had no idea what had happened. After hearing the news, he sent people to inquire about Gu’s situation.

Gu Quan’an had just been attacked and left amnesiac, and Old Dao’s men were asking about him. Once the branch office heard, they immediately brought Old Dao in.

"Where is he?" Gu Changqing raised an eyebrow.

Old Dao was the leader of the Sea Gang. Previously, after drugging and killing a female student who was traveling, he’d bribed Gu Quan’an with tens of thousands to cover it up.

"In the holding cell—he’s been locked up for over sixty hours and won’t say a word," Zeng said.

The third squad had been investigating Old Dao for two days. If they didn’t find anything soon, they’d have to release him by nightfall.

"Bring him to the interrogation room. I’ll talk to him," Gu Changqing said with a smile tinged with menace.

"Alright, but let’s go to the office first to see everyone else," Zeng replied, leading him inside. Raising his hands above his head, he clapped to get everyone’s attention.

"Look who’s back!"

"Quan’s back?"

"So soon? Not taking a few more days to rest?"

"No need for rest. The doctor said familiar surroundings help with memory recovery. If he can’t remember at home, maybe returning to the force will help," the others said as they gathered around.

Gu Quan’an was well-liked in the squad.

"You chat with them for a bit; I’ll go bring the man to the interrogation room," Zeng told him.

Gu Changqing was left to deal with the others, then was taken to his desk.

As the crowd dispersed, each returning to their own tasks, he noticed an ornamental bird on his desk. Each of its eyes had two pupils, making it look rather eerie.

"What’s this?" Gu Changqing, always curious, asked.

"A Chongming Bird! It wards off evil spirits. We offer a little prayer before missions for luck, so we don’t run into trouble," someone answered from nearby.

"What kind of trouble?" Gu Changqing’s interest was piqued.

He guessed they meant the sort of things he’d recently encountered. He hadn’t expected to hear about them so soon after arriving at the Public Security Office.

Clearly, this was a place that often dealt with such incidents.

"Really weird stuff... The first time you see one, you’ll nearly wet yourself. But they’re not our responsibility—if we notice any sign, we just notify the Guards."

"The Guards? Who are they?" Gu Changqing asked, hearing another unfamiliar term.

Apparently, the existence of those things wasn’t a total secret, just that ordinary people rarely came into contact with them. The Guards must be a dedicated department for such matters.

"They’re another department, very mysterious. No one knows where they are most of the time. Only when something truly unmanageable happens do we call them in..."

As he listened, Gu Changqing idly opened his drawer but found nothing of note inside.

He turned his thoughts to the Guards.

As for how to join them... he already had some ideas.

"Quan, the man’s in the interrogation room!" Zeng Shiqian called from the door.

Gu Changqing got up and followed Zeng to the interrogation room.

Pushing the door open, he saw a short-haired man in his forties, with a burn scar covering part of his face, sitting inside.

This was Old Dao.

Seeing them enter, Old Dao immediately fixed his gaze on Gu Changqing, then laughed. "I told you it had nothing to do with me! Now that the man himself is here, you have to believe me, right?"

Gu Changqing glanced around the room—no cameras.

He turned to Zeng Shiqian. "You wait outside. I’ll question him."

"Are you sure you’re up for it? I’ll wait in the hall—shout if you need anything," Zeng replied. The interrogation room door was thick; to call for help, you’d have to go out.

Once Zeng left, Old Dao chuckled. "I thought something happened to you, so I sent people to ask around, and ended up here instead. Damn, I’m really unlucky!"

A cold, violent glint appeared in Gu Changqing’s eyes as he strode over and slapped Old Dao hard across the face.

Crack!

The sharp sound echoed through the room.

Half of Old Dao’s face swelled instantly. He spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva and looked up, both shocked and enraged. "Are you crazy?"

Gu Changqing slapped him again, then kicked him square in the chest, knocking him off the chair.

Since his return, anger had been simmering inside him.

Old Dao struggled to get up from the floor, rage burning in his eyes. "You really have lost it. You’ve taken tens of thousands from me over the years! Believe me, I’ll skin you alive!"

The fury in Gu Changqing’s eyes only deepened, but the corner of his mouth curled up in a twisted smile.

"Skin me alive? With what? Tell me, I’d love to hear it."

He kicked Old Dao again, sending him crashing into the wall.

Old Dao spat out another mouthful of blood; he felt sure his ribs were broken.

"You’re finished... You think I’m unprepared? I’ve had you recorded for insurance..." Old Dao’s bloodshot eyes were locked onto Gu Changqing.

"Insurance? Are you threatening me?" Gu Changqing’s grin grew even wider. He pulled out his sidearm and shoved the grip into Old Dao’s hand.

Old Dao’s eyes went wide with disbelief. What the hell was this bastard trying to do?

"Grab my gun and attack an officer... I could kill you right now," Gu Changqing said, baring his teeth in a feral grin that, to Old Dao, looked absolutely demonic.

Old Dao tried to drop the gun, but Gu Changqing held his hand tight around the grip.

His grip was like iron; Old Dao couldn’t break free.

"You’re insane... completely insane..." Old Dao stammered in shock.

But his hand, utterly beyond his control, was now pointing the gun at the ceiling.

With his thumb, Gu Changqing pressed down hard on Old Dao’s trigger finger.

Bang!

The gunshot rang out in the interrogation room.

Outside, Zeng Shiqian, who’d been leaning against the wall lost in thought, jumped at the sound and rushed in.

He arrived just in time to see Gu Changqing wrench the gun from Old Dao’s hand and smash him in the temple with his elbow.

Old Dao slumped down, barely conscious.

But Gu Changqing didn’t stop—he spun and kicked Old Dao in the head with lightning speed.

With a dull thud, Old Dao’s head crashed into the wall.

"What happened?" Zeng Shiqian hurried over to check on Old Dao.

"This lunatic snapped—he grabbed my gun and tried to attack me!" Gu Changqing said breathlessly from behind Zeng, as if still shaken.

But as he spoke, a twisted, satisfied smile spread across his lips.

All that pent-up anger—finally, he felt relief.