Chapter 27 – The Culprit Was Actually Him!
No, that wasn’t right!
He hadn’t vanished; he had entered a hidden little shop.
The shop was located right at the corner. Because the signs of the two neighboring shops were very prominent, this one was inconspicuous by comparison.
Most importantly, while other shops had stairs leading upward, the stairs to this shop’s entrance tilted slightly downward.
Coupled with its old and dim signboard, one wouldn’t even notice it without looking closely.
The only reason Shen Yan noticed it was because of the lingering scent of Gu Zhuoran’s pheromones in the air.
That warm, solar breath, as scorching as fire, was incredibly obvious in the dim, damp air.
Following the scent of these pheromones, Shen Yan naturally ended up standing before the door of this shop.
He could tell at a glance that there was something strange about this place.
Other shops did everything they could to decorate their storefronts and attract business, yet this shop seemed hidden among them, as if it were afraid of being seen.
What kind of merchant would open a shop like this?
The more Shen Yan looked, the more he felt this unremarkable little shop was suspicious.
Shen Yan didn’t rush in recklessly. He looked up at the shop’s name—Niu’s Clinic—and was about to enter when he saw two or three middle-aged men walking out. They stood at the entrance discussing something and didn’t leave.
Seeing this, Shen Yan frowned slightly and had no choice but to turn and leave.
Meanwhile, inside Niu’s Clinic, Gu Zhuoran had no idea that his movements had already been tracked by Shen Yan.
His mind was entirely focused on the matter of the “leaked news,” so he was naturally somewhat negligent.
After entering the clinic, Gu Zhuoran didn’t see Niu Xing’an. Only a single dim lamp was lit in the shop. He turned back to close the door and found an old barstool by the counter to sit on, quietly waiting for the owner to appear.
Niu’s Clinic looked small from the outside, but the space inside wasn’t small at all, divided into an inner and outer room.
The counter in the outer room was split into left and right sides. One side sold ordinary medicines, while the other was locked, its contents unknown.
Gu Zhuoran was incredibly anxious, but he didn’t let it show on his face.
When Niu Xing’an came out of the back room wiping a pair of blood-stained hands, he saw this “Great Buddha” sitting there.
“Phew… You’re finally here. I was just saying I had something to find you for,” Niu Xing’an said the moment he saw Gu Zhuoran.
Gu Zhuoran frowned slightly and didn’t speak, only watching him silently.
Niu Xing’an was used to this attitude and continued on his own, “Lately, someone in the rings below has been calling you out by name, wanting to fight a few matches. The boss wants me to ask what you think.”
Halfway through his sentence, Niu Xing’an took a bottle of wine from the cabinet and poured two glasses. He handed one to Gu Zhuoran and shifted the topic, “However… I don’t suggest you take this job. The other party has no good intentions.”
Gu Zhuoran watched Niu Xing’an quietly for two seconds. Hearing the concern for him in those words, the coldness in his eyes softened slightly.
“Is there anything else?” Gu Zhuoran asked, seemingly casually.
Niu Xing’an didn’t think much of it and waved his hand, draining his glass in one gulp.
Gu Zhuoran’s hand holding the wine glass suddenly tightened, looking as if he were about to crush it, when he heard Niu Xing’an suddenly add another sentence.
“Sigh, you reminding me like that actually makes me remember something. Last time you came to buy the suppressant, someone followed you into my shop right after you left and was snooping around. To me, it didn’t look like they were there to buy anything, but rather like they were tailing you. That face was a bit unfamiliar.”
After Niu Xing’an finished, he poured himself another glass, completely unaware that he had just skirted the line between life and death.
Because of this sentence, Gu Zhuoran slowly relaxed the strength in his hand.
So… it wasn’t Niu Xing’an.
The culprit was actually himself.
Gu Zhuoran cursed inwardly, wanting nothing more than to slap himself.
Author’s Note: Updating early in the night. Wishing the great ones taking exams tomorrow a triumphant victory and a lucky star! The next update is coming soon too~ Praying for all the Gaokao test-takers to perform beyond their limits~~ Fist bump!
Translator’s Note:
- Niu’s Clinic (牛氏診所): The shady clinic run by Niu Xing’an.
- Xiacheng Qu: Lower City District.
- ** suppressant**: The high-purity Omega medicine Gu Zhuoran bought. Oh man, Gu Zhuoran realized he was the one who led the enemy right to the secret! Talk about a heavy realization. He’s beating himself up over it, but at least he knows Niu Xing’an is trustworthy.
Chapter 28 – The Brat Won’t Come In, Shen Yan is Furiously Angry
“I was in too much of a hurry back then,” Gu Zhuoran said regretfully.
“I can tell! Otherwise, I wouldn’t have kept it in mind. It’s not a big deal!” Niu Xing’an said, completely oblivious.
Gu Zhuoran didn’t drink the wine. Instead, he looked at Niu Xing’an gratefully. “Uncle Niu, thanks.”
In Niu Xing’an’s impression, Gu Zhuoran was someone who rarely said such things. This kid had a cold and foul temper; he didn’t thank people easily.
“Yo, is the sun rising from the west today?” Niu Xing’an laughed.
Gu Zhuoran didn’t explain much, only saying, “Uncle Niu, help me check someone.”
“Who?” Niu Xing’an asked, stunned.
“Wu Youbin,” Gu Zhuoran said.
“Him… That’s the kid who wants to find trouble with you,” Niu Xing’an said crossly.
Niu Xing’an pulled a long face and continued, “After you washed your hands of this and left, I don’t know where the boss found this newcomer. He puts on huge airs, he’s ruthless, and his price is high. He specifically beats his opponents to death. He’s no good bird.” By the end, Niu Xing’an gave a cold snort, clearly having no positive feelings toward this Wu Youbin.
Just now, he had been in the back room trying to save someone, but unfortunately, the injuries were too heavy and they didn’t make it. That person had been beaten to death alive.
Having been a specialized doctor for so many years, Niu Xing’an had seen many fighters, but heartless ones like Wu Youbin were truly rare.
In the underground boxing ring, everyone was just trying to earn some hard-earned money.
Why bother taking someone’s life?
In Niu Xing’an’s view, that Wu Youbin was sick—mentally sick, and severely so.
“Sorry for the trouble, Uncle Niu,” Gu Zhuoran said as he stood up, taking out some change and placing it on the counter.
“What are you doing?” Niu Xing’an was confused. Given their relationship, there was no need for “even brothers keep clear accounts” to this extent.
“Paying for your wine,” Gu Zhuoran said expressionlessly.
“Ha, why are you being so polite with me? This wine is on me…”
Before Niu Xing’an could finish, the wine glass on the counter suddenly shattered with a “crack.” The entire glass of wine spilled out with a “whoosh,” and the broken glass flew out like an explosion, giving Niu Xing’an a start.
“Holy shit!!” Niu Xing’an’s hair stood on end from the shock.
This was a damn Alpha Pheromone Materialization Attack!
When “Black Fire” retired from the underground ring after being injured, people said his strength had suffered a massive decline. But looking at it now, not only had this kid’s strength not declined, it had become even more refined and overbearing than before.
By the time Niu Xing’an regained his composure and looked up, Gu Zhuoran had already left the shop.
Niu Xing’an was both shocked and suspicious. He really couldn’t figure out why Gu Zhuoran, instead of drinking a perfectly good glass of wine, decided to crush the cup for no reason.
Niu Xing’an, who had no idea he had just been tested by Gu Zhuoran, cleaned up the debris without a clue and went to sleep after closing up.
Meanwhile, after leaving Niu’s Clinic, Gu Zhuoran walked slowly through the night.
He never imagined that the leak was due to his own momentary negligence.
This was a massive mistake. He had actually been stupid to such a degree.
He had actually been so foolish as to place Shen Yan in danger.
As Gu Zhuoran walked, he stumbled slightly and leaned against a wall.
He took a long breath and stood quietly outside the door, but he didn’t go in.
Like a child who had done something wrong, he bowed his head slightly and whispered an apology to the Shen Yan inside the house through the darkness: “I’m sorry.”
Truly, truly sorry. It was his negligence that had implicated Shen Yan.
Filled with remorse, he curled up by the door and kept watch for the entire night.
He didn’t know that inside the room, separated only by a door, Shen Yan—who had returned a step ahead of him—had also been awake for a long time.
He had so many questions for Gu Zhuoran, but in the end, this brat came back and didn’t even enter the house, instead sleeping at the door like a dog?!
“Tch!” Shen Yan gave a light scoff. This night had also left him incredibly frustrated.
Author’s Note: Double update today. Wishing everyone a good night. Welcome to bookmark and support, may everything go smoothly and happily. Happy reading~
Translator’s Note:
- Black Fire (黑火): Gu Zhuoran’s underground alias.
- Alpha Pheromone Materialization Attack (信息素質化攻擊): A high-level Alpha technique where pheromones physically affect the environment.
- Even brothers keep clear accounts: A Chinese idiom (qin xiongdi, ming suanzhang) meaning that even close friends/family should be clear about money. Poor Uncle Niu! He got caught in the crossfire of Gu Zhuoran’s pheromone flex. And Gu Zhuoran… dude, just go inside! Sleeping at the door like a kicked puppy isn’t going to help your case with a grumpy Shen Yan.
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