Chapter 23: Reflection and Gains (Two-in-One)

Separated by a single door, a cruel murder was underway inside, with manic and oppressive giggles echoing through the room.

Yet, the hallway was deathly silent. The neighbors, as if all struck deaf, slept soundly; not a soul was awakened, let alone anyone opening their door to peek out.

Strange, isn't it?

No, not strange at all.

This is the survival wisdom of the Lower City. The residents of the shantytowns understand this logic all too well. Furthermore, the second-floor apartment was occupied by thugs from the Green Wolf Gang—vicious and bloodthirsty men—and even a stray glance could invite trouble.

05:11, March 25th.

That was the time displayed on the phone after recording the video.

"What’s your phone number? I’ll send the video to you as a souvenir," Feng Mu said cheerfully, seeing that the corpse’s neck had been stabbed to shreds, leaving only a layer of skin intact.

Having killed Zhang Tong, Ma Wei’s soul seemed to have undergone a metamorphosis.

"Big Brother, please, spare me. You keep it. If you send it to me, I’ll have nightmares all night," Ma Wei wiped his face, his expression twitching with a hint of hysteria.

Although he remained terrified of the man in the black mask, he was suddenly no longer trembling so violently. Deep down, a morbid desire for expression had taken root.

Ma Wei wasn't good at analyzing his own psychological changes, but after a moment of reflection, Feng Mu roughly understood what was happening.

"Because the relationship shifted from hostility to coerced complicity, his mindset has relaxed. And because he killed his intimate 'Big Brother,' he’s started to have a bit of a morbid, dark awakening."

"In this way, this 'eye' planted within the Green Wolf Gang is now set. And who knows, it might prove even more useful than I imagined."

"Of course, I must remain vigilant. After all, a darkened pawn is prone to turning against its master."

Feng Mu pocketed his phone, deciding to back up the video once he got home. This was the other man’s Achilles' heel, and he had to keep it safe.

Ten minutes later.

Feng Mu sat on the sofa while Ma Wei knelt beside him, skillfully dressing his wounds. Medicine was applied to his chest and wrists, followed by gauze bandages.

In the past, this was exactly how Ma Wei had tended to "Brother Tong."

Feng Mu remained expressionless, his peripheral vision sweeping over the still-warm corpse on the floor, whose pale, glassy eyes were fixed in a glare.

It gave him a strange sense of *Netorare*—no, wait, that wasn't right. It was a bizarre "widowed wife" sensation.

The medicinal powder was a secret concoction of the Green Wolf Gang, excellent at stopping bleeding. Once wrapped in gauze and covered by clothing, nothing looked amiss from the outside.

Feng Mu extinguished the wicked urge to drink some of Ma Wei’s blood to heal himself.

He had already exposed some of the powers of [Iron Eater] and [Blood Frenzy] to Ma Wei, though the man might not have understood the intricacies. Still, just to be safe, [Feast] was his trump card, and he had to keep it hidden.

Ma Wei subconsciously touched his own neck. He didn't know if it was an illusion, but he felt that Feng Mu’s gaze kept drifting toward his throat, making his neck break out in a cold sweat.

Ma Wei packed away the medical kit and asked tentatively, "Is there anything you need me to do, Big Brother?"

"Sharp. I like smart people." Feng Mu pulled at his mask to cover his face more securely and smiled. "I heard the Green Wolf Gang has been acting like madmen, looking for someone based on a list?"

Ma Wei couldn't tell if Feng Mu was asking casually or if he had come specifically for this.

He stole a glance upward, their eyes meeting for a split second. The lingering blood-red hue in the other man’s pupils revealed no emotional ripples.

Ma Wei’s heart chilled as he poured out everything he knew: "The gang suspects Zheng Hang is dead. The killer is a student from No. 47 High School, so they are investigating that."

Ma Wei didn't bother explaining who Zheng Hang was; that would make him look stupid. Regardless of the man’s identity or purpose, if he was asking about this, he couldn't possibly be ignorant of the details.

Feng Mu glanced at the still-damp corpse on the ground, then at the lizard in the fish tank, and finally at the stack of A4 paper used as a plate mat on the dining table.

Ma Wei quickly moved the plate, pulled out the list, wiped the oil stains off with a tissue, and handed it to Feng Mu.

He said, "I heard Brother Tong say that the list was circled by the second-in-command, Ma Bin—Brother Bin. The gang made many copies, and most of the underlings have been sent out to check the names one by one."

He added, "Brother Tong wasn't focused on this because Brother Bin had assigned him something more important."

Feng Mu took the list—a thick stack of about 20 pages. Each page listed about ten names, detailing their full names, photos, grades, home addresses, parents' occupations, and citizen status.

Feng Mu flipped through the pages, his eyes not lingering on any single one; he seemed to be browsing casually.

In reality, he quickly locked onto his own position: the fifth name on the sixth page.

Feng Mu: Male.
Headshot: Feng Mu.jpg
Age: 17
Bone Structure: 49 (Entrance Exam)
Grades: Liberal Arts 521, Martial Arts 236, Total 757. (Senior Year First Mock Exam)
Home Address: District 9, xxx Street, xxx Residential Compound
Status: Withdrew from exams, early graduation. (Date: March 18, Year 233)
Citizen Status: Blank Citizen
Father: Feng Ju
Occupation: Police Station Captain
Citizen Status: D
Mother: Wang Xiuli
Occupation: None
Citizen Status: Blank Citizen
Sister: Feng Yuhuai
Occupation: First-year high school student
Citizen Status: Not yet filed, has not participated in the college entrance exam.

"This is definitely first-hand information obtained from the school’s archives. Every detail is accurate, and the timing is very recent." Feng Mu felt a chill in his heart.

As he flipped through, he asked nonchalantly, "On what grounds does the Green Wolf Gang assume the killer is in the school?"

Ma Wei shared what he knew: "Brother Bin deduced that since the murder happened in the school warehouse, and there were traces of an evil ritual, and the sacrificed victim was also a student of the school, whether the killer acted on impulse or had planned it for a long time, it was most likely done by a student."

Feng Mu asked a question he already knew the answer to: "Ritual?"

Ma Wei: "The gang’s underlings took pictures of the police transporting the shattered altar stones used in the evil ritual. So, Brother Bin concluded that Zheng Hang didn't run away, but was killed and sacrificed, and his body was disposed of by the true killer."

The expression under Feng Mu’s mask turned slightly ugly. His deception had fooled the police, but the Green Wolf Gang had seen through it instantly.

Ma Bin, second-in-command of the Green Wolf Gang—he had memorized that name.

Feng Mu closed the list and sneered, "How was this list narrowed down?"

Ma Wei shook his head: "I don't know. Brother Bin circled the list himself; the underlings just follow orders."

Feng Mu felt a slight disappointment, though it was within his expectations. He hadn't counted on getting all the details from a random Green Wolf lackey.

That’s why he had to plant an "eye" first.

Seeing Feng Mu deep in thought, Ma Wei’s back broke out in a cold sweat. He quickly added, "Give me some time, I can find out."

Feng Mu held up a finger: "One day. I want the answer by tomorrow."

Ma Wei’s expression shifted. Although Brother Bin valued Brother Tong and always appeared compassionate and gentle, he knew well that Bin was suspicious and sinister.

Many in the gang would rather take a beating from Boss Zheng than be targeted by Brother Bin.

Feng Mu frowned: "Whether the video is sent to you or to this 'Brother Bin' of yours depends on the value you can demonstrate. From today on, your life is on a timer. You must learn to race against time, understand?"

Ma Wei nodded vigorously: "Understood."

After the threat, Feng Mu threw him a sliver of hope: "I won't hide it from you—my goal is to bring down the Green Wolf Gang, or kill Zheng Si."

"What you need to do is keep a close watch on every move the Green Wolf Gang makes and finish the tasks I give you."

"Don't just nod. Don't become a mere puppet in my hands. You need to exercise your own initiative to help me achieve this as soon as possible."

"The sooner I reach my goal, the less of a threat the video will be to you, and only then can you regain your freedom, right?"

Ma Wei’s expression flickered between shadow and light. He felt that the "pie" the man was throwing at him was one that required his life to eat. It was truly thought-provoking, damn it.

"Figure out how to dispose of the body yourself. Keep your phone on 24 hours a day; I will contact you." As Feng Mu spoke, he also made Ma Wei turn over all the cash in the room.

Ma Wei watched the limping figure depart, then bent down to pick up the broken dagger and stabbed his own stomach twice.

Only after the blood from his stomach soaked his pants and his head began to swim with dizziness did he stumble out the door, sprinting into the night, screaming at the top of his lungs...

Feng Mu, not far away, heard the wail that tore through the night.

His heart gave a violent jolt. He cursed "Damn it" under his breath and immediately opened his stride, fleeing the shantytown in a flash.

He ran all the way home, encountering a few drunks on the way, but since he was wearing a mask and a hat, he wasn't worried about being recognized.

Entering the hallway, he calmed his breathing and checked the time.

06:24.

There was still an hour until the Upper City turned on its lights to illuminate the world.

Feng Mu pressed his ear against the doorframe. Confirming that it was quiet inside, he removed his mask and walked softly back to his bedroom. His palm paused briefly on the doorknob before he fished out an intact pencil lead.

He let out a long breath, applied slight pressure with his fingertips, and the lead crumbled into dust, falling to the floor.

Shedding his black clothes and changing into clean ones, Feng Mu sat at his desk, turned on the lamp, and reviewed his actions for the night on paper.

Planting an eye (√)
No identity exposure (√)
Confirmed the list (√)
Confirmed the Green Wolf Gang’s suspicion (√) — They believe Zheng Hang died in an evil ritual and the killer is a student.
Deduction logic for the scope of suspects (?) — Tomorrow's inquiry results?
Confirmed who created the list (√) — Ma Bin, second-in-command of the Green Wolf Gang.
Basic structure of the Green Wolf Gang (√)
Disguised as sleeping at home, never left (√) — Pencil lead on the doorknob remained intact.
Safe return (√)

In terms of results, the operation was a huge success, and the basic goals were achieved. The only slight flaw was that the deduction logic for the suspect range wasn't clear, but he could collect Ma Wei’s "homework" tomorrow.

If the results on the paper were graded like an exam, he could easily get a 90+.

"But the actual process exposed some extremely dangerous problems." Feng Mu still felt lingering fear when he looked back on it. "I was almost finished off by a single combo."

Ambush (Half-failed, 50 points)
Combat experience (A mess, 0 points)
Technique (Appalling, 0 points)
Courage/Ferocity (Cowardly then manic; luckily succeeded in a death-defying counterattack, 20 points)
Overall average: 17.5 points.

Feng Mu graded his own combat performance, his expression turning extremely dark.

"I survived this fight entirely by cheating with my Golden Finger. Otherwise, I would be the one dead." Feng Mu had fooled Ma Wei into thinking he had overpowered Zhang Tong in a fair fight.

But he couldn't fool himself; otherwise, the next time he faced a stronger opponent, he would be the one to die.

"Combat can't always rely on luck or a last-second burst of power. The Golden Finger isn't a 'guaranteed pass' immunity card. I still need to build a solid foundation."

Feng Mu realized that mere calisthenics were far from enough.

"My weaknesses are too obvious: lack of offensive means, stiff reactions in the heat of battle. These shortcomings must be addressed."

Feng Mu made his plan. He couldn't pin all his hopes on [Iron Eater]. That was too lopsided, and he would easily be beaten to death if someone found his weak spot.

"In a life-or-death struggle, those with greater strengths win the battle, but those with fewer weaknesses live the longest!"

Though Feng Mu possessed the divine skill [Blood Frenzy], he truly didn't want to stage another last-second counterattack. It was too stimulating; his heart couldn't take it.

Most importantly, people weren't game characters. Health didn't necessarily drop one bar at a time; it was more likely to result in sudden death, clearing the health bar to zero.

Just like today—a hole in his wrist, a knife in his chest. Theoretically, he lost 10% of his blood, but in reality, he was in a state of near-death, critical health.

"So, when I traded injuries for a kill with Zhang Tong, that madness... was it really me bursting with ferocity while near death, or did [Blood Frenzy] give me a 'courage' buff?"

Feng Mu then recalled his own villainous face, which seemed to overflow from the screen when he coerced Ma Wei, and suddenly realized something was wrong.

"I even made Ma Wei smile and pose for the camera?"

"That doesn't sound like something I would normally do. While I’m a bit cold and selfish, my nature is pure; I only want to protect myself. I shouldn't be this morbidly insane."

"That's right, the 'me' at that time wasn't the real me, but a 'me' whose sanity was polluted by [Blood Frenzy]."

"Yes, any morbid behavior committed in the [Blood Frenzy] state from now on is absolutely not my intention and cannot be held against me."

"I don't need to doubt my own nature, nor feel guilt, depression, anxiety, or darkness. Yes, that’s it."

Feng Mu muttered to himself several times, using this method to soothe and cleanse his shocked mind, while preemptively setting a psychological defense.

People in this world generally ignored mental health, which was why so many harbored resentment and mutated into Calamity Corpses after death.

As a transmigrator, Feng Mu was undoubtedly at the forefront of this era in terms of mental health prevention.

With the summary and reflection complete, it was time to enjoy the fruits of his labor.

Feng Mu took out a black bag and laid it on the table.

A stack of cash, 12,400 yuan after counting.
Two gold bars, value unknown.

All were relics of Zhang Tong. It was normal for a gangster to hide gold bars and cash at home. Feng Mu had killed him and inherited the wealth; even Ma Wei couldn't say a word against it.

A paper book with a blood-stained cover—*Crane Claw Technique*. He had stripped it from Zhang Tong; it was essentially a "secret martial arts manual."

A switchblade, voluntarily offered by Ma Wei. One had to admit that the guy had a real talent for adjusting his identity and had maxed out his ability to read the room.

This switchblade could perfectly replace his broken folding knife. Its craftsmanship and feel were significantly better—a weapon upgrade from "flea market trash" to "Taobao quality."

Finally,

[Detected that the player has completed an act highly consistent with their status for the first time: breaking and entering, killing, looting a corpse, and coercing others into crime.]
[Game inheritance rate increased; inheritance rate now at 2%.]
[Current rewards have been issued and delivered!]
[Wishing the player a pleasant game...]