Chapter 994
Chapter 994 - 980 Interlude
1,513 words
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8 min read
"’Barehanded’ Lu Ping’an, huh? Ha, there’s another alias ’A Smooth Journey’....Does he have such good relations with people? Or is he lucky enough to bestow blessings upon others?"
Generally speaking, titles are not what the individuals in question want.
After all, they are often the opinions of others, a high-degree fusion of "subjective bias" and "non-objective fact."
And professionals often bring death and disaster; hence, negative titles are more common.
This positively connotated ’A Smooth Journey,’ akin to a phrase of blessing, indeed surprised those in the know.
"It’s Barehanded Bandit. As for A Smooth Journey... there seems to be a problem with that, it refers to the certain chaos he brings wherever he goes, the kind who causes trouble and plays around the whole journey."
"Ah, that makes sense..."
The person speaking, watching the "execution" footage before them, had much reflection.
This scene, doesn’t seem like one from a normal person...
"Tsk, a Rule-level, to die so miserably..."
With the young man’s reputation spreading, there was also a segment of execution footage, a death scene of a Rule-level traitor named "Zhao Yan."
A Rule-level, a despairing Rule-level, publicly incinerated into charcoal by the "morning sun"... It was very much adults-only, but it spread even faster.
The cameraperson was evidently experienced, not only capturing the pain from the torture, the premature aging that indicated a nearing end but more importantly, focusing on the facial expressions, permanently etching into view the Rule-level Strongman’s complete despair.
But before he died, he transformed into a living being, as if a fish grilled on a table struggled once more... That final resistance was also unwilling, the fearful indignation, fear, and despair all the more heart-wrenching.
Many knew the Official’s mindset behind releasing this video; it was declaring...
"This, is the cost of being a traitor."
"No matter where you flee to, no matter whose protection you obtain, this is still your inevitable end."
No pictorial aids, no words, no causes and consequences, just the short video. The Strongman’s numb to despair, despair to unwilling expressions, were the answers.
"...Being a traitor, there’s no good end."
This saying, always spoken by someone.
But only when a scene like this surfaces in public view, when the picture of the traitor’s execution is laid bare, does this saying become all the more persuasive.
Without the deterrence of blood and death, the memory won’t sink into people’s hearts. If a Rule-level can die so tragically, then many "hesitators" would seriously consider the cost of betrayal.
This, is the value of Revenge.
At the same time, it is also the rationale behind the many Divine Boats spent at no small cost...
"Barehanded Bandit must refer to his modus operandi. Even after a Massacre, with blood all over the ground, his hands beneath the gloves stay clean... This time, it’s said that the two Rule-levels that died didn’t even have a chance to face him directly; they were just outright killed by him. One of them even had their complete corpse left, although it was charred, while the other, you couldn’t find a single bone longer than half a meter on their whole body."
As widespread as the video, probably the handles "Barehanded Bandit" and "A Smooth Journey" were too.
Lu Ping’an’s guess was correct; being able to handle a Rule-level, and in such an intense, trending manner at that, he and his team naturally wouldn’t remain unknown.
Perhaps this first burst of fame wouldn’t elicit fear and amazement, but afterwards, anyone who encountered him, who heard of or saw Lu Ping’an, would at least know that he was not someone nameless.
Barehanded Bandit Lu Ping’an gives off the impression of "cruelty," "indifference," "merciless Revenge"... At least for a professional, this is an advantage.
It’s just that Lu Ping’an, at this moment...
"...Three fives, does anyone want it?"
"Hold on, didn’t someone just play a pair of fives, how come you still have three fives... You’re cheating aren’t you, Lu Ping’an!"
"Haha, if you’re not caught in the act, it doesn’t count. If you can’t follow, then I win again, and you guys are on garbage and dish duty for the month."
"What do you mean ’not caught in the act?’ Dare you swear that you didn’t cheat? You’re a Contractor full of nonsense."
"Tsk, being a Contractor really is inconvenient..."
Meanwhile, "Barehanded Bandit" Lu Ping’an, was fully engaged in cheating while playing cards with friends.
However, due to being a Contractor, it seemed his attempt at cheating was going to fail yet again...
"Not playing anymore, it’s annoying."
"...Can’t you just play without cheating?"
"I just got this career ability, and you’re asking me not to use it?"
As he spoke, Lu Ping’an spread his hands, and the cards danced on his palm; with a casual touch, he produced more than a dozen spade fives.
The "Playful Boy" path of a 2-tier Tamer named "Acrobat" with the "Sleight of Hand" trait had been turned by him into a tool for cheating at cards.
But it had to be admitted that, with continuous use, his mastery of professional skills also improved noticeably...
"Meow! I’m so tired. Again, I don’t believe I’ll lose this time, meow! This time, the loser has to not only run errands but also do it while standing on their head, meow!"
The Cat who had just been losing terribly in the punishment game hadn’t seen the previous scene and started boasting as soon as it entered the room, and then....
"....Just you wait, meow!"
Five minutes later, the Cat was standing on its head and heading out the door.
"Don’t always pick on Shuiyun; she’s a good honest little girl....."
"Can’t help it, it’s too easy to farm ’achievements’ using her; I just can’t resist."
Lu Ping’an shrugged his shoulders, showing no intention of giving up.
The "Circus" path of the Playful Boy was quite peculiar, its abilities were rather delicate, and even the prerequisites for advancement and cultivation were odd, such as "complete a hundred deceptions."
But considering that Lu Ping’an’s "Heavy Equipment Evil God" path required a sacrifice of "a number of people strangled," this path seemed not so excessive by comparison.
Thus, the unlucky Cat became the target of Lu Ping’an’s data farming...
"...Meow! I’ve finished running, let’s go again, meow!" The Cat, drenched in sweat and indignant, refused to believe that it couldn’t win even once today.
"Uh, aren’t you embarrassed to run upside down...?"
"I covered my face, meow!"
In an instant, everyone burst into laughter.
There were only so many people here; covering your face does nothing, let alone when you still have a cat tail and ears.
"...Why don’t you just spiritualize and then use your career ability? Then a lot of people wouldn’t be able to see you."
"There’s still that move, meow!"
The Cat was shocked and immediately regretted it... And so, Lu Ping’an’s achievement for "frustrating the deceived" was also completed.
"...Wait, at noon, I’ll treat you to a big meal."
Perhaps the looks of the others were too piercing, or maybe it was a rare moment of conscience from Lu Ping’an, but he decided it was time to treat the Cat.
"You’re not going to take me to eat Zhi Xi’s creative cuisine, are you? Meow!"
In an instant, the Cat’s fur stood on end with fright.
In that moment, remembering the ordeal of being tricked into taste-testing food the day before, it turned tail and ran without a second word.
"...Eh, my count for deceit just went up again, what kind of bizarre judgment is that?"
This left even Lu Ping’an at a loss for words.
"Let’s just keep playing cards; she’ll come back when it’s time to eat.... Or, how about we try playing Mahjong this time?"
"I’m not playing unless you swear a Contract not to cheat."
"Heh, what’s the point of playing if I don’t cheat? What’s Mahjong without a little supernatural ability..."
When they first boarded the ship, many people were still very ambitious, but after too many days of the same dull routine, it naturally turned into vacation time.
Mahjong, Poker, and even Pai Gow slot machines; this time someone even came prepared and set up a makeshift casino from the start.
For someone like Lu Ping’an, who was only gambling for fun without using money... For those unfortunate souls whose achievements he was farming, they might even prefer that he won some cash.
Time passed, and amidst a mix of entertainment and work, while adjusting his body and mind, Lu Ping’an and his company were also preparing for their return home.
"Finally, we’re home....."
— End of Chapter 994 —