Chapter 81: Ruthless Enough
Without enough high-grade upgrade crystals, Fang Xia couldn't further advance himself; now, the only option was to enhance the overall strength of the group. As he pondered this, the little girl walked up with weary steps.
“Brother Fang, you’re still awake?”
Seeing Fang Xia smoking in the living room, Yun Yun quickly called out.
“How did it go?” Fang Xia didn’t answer her question but posed another instead.
“Six thousand three hundred twenty-one first-tier upgrade crystals, one thousand one hundred forty-seven second-tier, and six third-tier,” she reported promptly.
Despite some losses, the gains were tremendous.
“We have enough second-tier crystals to advance two people now, right?”
“We do, we do! There were nine hundred forty-three before.”
Fang Xia nodded. With two more fourth-tier warriors soon to rise, he felt a weight lift from his heart. Liu Rui had been knocked aside today—not because she was weaker than that fourth-tier zombie, but simply because she was deceived. Zombies above the fourth tier were not just fearsome in power; their intelligence was the real threat. Hidden by the night and the horde, they could appear at any moment and deliver a shocking blow.
“Yun Yun, go sleep in my room,” Fang Xia said after a moment, noticing the little girl still standing nearby. He pointed toward his door.
What? Sister Rui is injured, and Brother Fang is losing control? No, wait—what do you mean ‘losing control’? I’m a great beauty myself! No, Brother Fang isn’t trying to sleep with me, is he? Yun Yun, stop thinking nonsense!
The little girl panicked.
A large hand reached over, a crisp flick sounded on her forehead.
“Rui Rui is injured and sleeping in your old room. You’ll bunk with Bai Xing tonight,” Fang Xia said, exasperated. This girl—short in stature, but her imagination ran wild.
“Oh, thank you, Brother Fang! What about you?”
“Go on, you’ve been up all night. I still have things to do.”
Once Yun Yun had gone inside, Fang Xia went to Liu Rui’s bedside and simply watched her sleep.
“Where’s Brother Fang?”
“No clue. Haven’t seen him since waking up.”
The girls questioned each other, even asked the four bodyguards downstairs, but none knew when Fang Xia had left.
“If Brother Fang isn’t here, everything proceeds as usual. Everyone goes today.”
---
Liu Rui emerged from her room. A night’s rest and an upgrade crystal upon waking had improved her greatly, though her right hand remained somewhat impaired. Without Fang Xia’s guidance, she felt uncertain, so she decided the entire group would go together. That way, even if something unexpected happened, they would have the strength to meet it.
Outside the villa, the girls were already waiting. Seeing Liu Rui and her entourage emerge, some of the girls exchanged odd glances, but these quickly disappeared.
“Is the cigarette stall open today?” Liu Rui asked, puzzled, looking toward the door, where a few girls were preparing to open the shop at the edge of the territory.
“Yes. They said Brother Fang gave instructions this morning,” Yun Yun replied, though she wasn’t sure herself. But no one would dare lie about this. Besides, the cigarettes in their hands were genuine; only Brother Fang could supply so many.
“All right, you take charge here. We’re heading out.”
Yun Yun, not a combatant, stayed behind.
It was nearly nine o’clock. Liu Rui led nearly a thousand girls out of the territory. After last night, who knew what Dawn City had become.
---
“Low-grade cigarettes, two upgrade crystals.”
“What, the price dropped? Give me two cartons.”
“Sorry, it’s two upgrade crystals per pack. High-grade is six per pack.”
The man was dumbfounded by the stall girl’s earnest reply. Yesterday, it was six per carton; today, two per pack? Was this really wise?
Her sincere smile now looked like the sly grin of a profiteer to him.
“Don’t worry. We’re not profiteers, we never force sales. But a friendly reminder: low-grade cigarettes are running out.”
“Damn it,” he muttered, but still dug out two upgrade crystals for a pack of Furong King.
The stall girl, smiling brightly, handed over the goods with enthusiasm.
“Hope to see you next time.”
Her sweet voice lingered as the man left, unwillingly.
The others in line overheard and some left immediately. So expensive—will smoking make you live longer?
But after a few steps, they ran into people from other stalls. Upon inquiry, they learned that cigarette prices had risen across the city today.
“Hell, smoking won’t make you live longer, but not smoking might mean you don’t live much longer at all.”
After last night’s battle, the survivors felt even more despair. Who knew if they’d survive tomorrow? Better to enjoy while they could.
“I want cigarettes! Me too!”
---
Soon, the crowd swarmed again, growing ever larger.
“Damn it, who knows when I’ll die? What good are these upgrade crystals? Might as well indulge.”
He wasn’t alone in thinking so. This not only boosted cigarette sales in Dawn City, but also fueled another special industry—many girls had finally switched from surviving on their knees to living on their backs.
Afternoon.
The Wolf Pack’s cigarette stall had long since sold out, but the other three major stalls were still packed.
The queue stretched out of sight, making those at the end increasingly anxious.
Yesterday, believing the rumors, they’d held off buying cheap cigarettes. If they missed out again today, even their spiritual comfort would be gone.
“There’s a new stall over there—go quick!”
Someone shouted, grabbing attention.
“It’s at the intersection of Yangtze Avenue—hurry, or it’ll be gone.”
The person called again.
Those at the back, doubtful it would reach them, rushed toward the indicated spot.
“That’s the Storm Team’s leader, right?”
“And the Tiger-Leopard Team’s leader.”
These were also Dawn City teams, but only a couple hundred people each—not comparable to the others.
On approach, they discovered cigarettes really were for sale, at the same price as the other three big stalls.
News spread quickly, and soon the whole city knew.
A fourth long queue formed.
Dawn City’s west side, City Lord’s Mansion.
“What do you make of Fang Xia?” Chen Gang asked, sipping tea.
“He’s got strength, ambition, cunning—and above all, ruthlessness.”
“How so?” Chen Gang pressed.
“He leads a team of women. Normally, how many cigarettes would you expect? He must have stockpiled early this morning. And the pair of sisters buying up cigarettes recently? Almost certainly his people.”