153: Chapter 153 Gods...

Li Yangze stared blankly at the other person.

After the man finished speaking, he reached out, grabbed the chain, and gave it a gentle snap.

With a crisp "crack," the chain snapped.

The hands that had been forced above his head finally managed to drop down.

However, Li Yangze didn't react much, still staring blankly at the other party.

A trace of pity seemed to flash in the other's eyes, and then he tapped a few times in the air.

Soon, a Pale Green Recovery Potion appeared in his hand.

He bent down, popped the cork with his thumb, pressed the mouth of the potion bottle against the youth's cracked and bleeding lips, and poured the liquid down.

Li Yangze instinctively tilted his head back, swallowing unconsciously, but his gaze remained fixed on Gu Changming.

The other person had his back to the light from the alley entrance, his silhouette blurred, his entire being seemingly enveloped in a layer of faint light.

A god...?

Li Yangze thought groggily.

"Are you alright?" Gu Changming spoke again, wanting to check the other's condition.

"Mhm..." Li Yangze managed a weak response, his voice so raspy it was almost inaudible.

Then, he propped his hands against the rough ground, trying to pull himself up from his slumped position.

He wanted to take a look at the person—who was it that had saved him?

However, he had only just staggered to his feet...

When footsteps echoed from outside the alley.

The footsteps grew closer, mingled with the casual conversation of two people.

"It's been half an hour; he should be dead by now, right?"

"If he's dead, the curse shouldn't be contagious anymore, right?" the other one asked, sounding a bit uncertain.

"Who cares? Just leave him there for now. We'll find someone to collect the body after the Assessment is over."

They went back and forth.

The footsteps drew nearer, and the light at the alley entrance was partially blocked by two figures walking side by side.

Li Yangze snapped his head up, his pupils constricting instantly.

It was them... they were back.

Almost as a reflex, Li Yangze reached out and gave Gu Changming a shove, then staggered to block Gu Changming with his still-trembling body.

His swollen, bruised face was now filled with immense terror as he stared intently at the two devil-like figures at the alley entrance.

Gu Changming's body only swayed slightly; then he lowered his gaze, glancing at the thin, trembling back shielding him.

This kid is a good person.

...

Opposite them.

Upon approaching the alley, the casual nonchalance on Zhao Chenghan's face froze the moment his eyes fell upon the scene inside.

His gaze first swept over the still-living Li Yangze standing at the very front.

Then, it snapped onto the person behind Li Yangze.

That person stood casually with a pitch-black crow perched on his shoulder; that unique attire was exceptionally eye-catching.

Then, Zhao Chenghan's eyes flickered uncontrollably, as if pricked by something.

Subsequently, the corners of his mouth slowly curled into a grin.

It wasn't a simple smile, but a mixture of surprise and astonishment that eventually settled into a sort of feverish amusement and delight.

Heh, he had just been thinking about it; now the tables have turned, and he's fallen into my hands?

He took two more steps forward so the other party could see him clearly.

Then, he sized Gu Changming up and down, the curve of his lips becoming more pronounced, finally letting out a mocking snort.

"Heh!" he spoke, drawing out his voice, "The Savior has arrived."

He looked at Gu Changming, expecting to see a trace of fear and shock on the other's face.

However, Gu Changming only blinked, his face devoid of expression.

Then, in a calm, even slightly confused tone, he responded:

"Who are you?"

The carefully prepared expression on Zhao Chenghan's face suddenly froze.

The curve of his lips remained, but the smugness and amusement in his eyes instantly turned to ice.

This was the ultimate contempt.

He regarded the other as an enemy who must be killed for revenge, yet the other didn't even remember who he was?

The stiff smile on Zhao Chenghan's face completely collapsed, and his gaze turned cold.

Then, without further nonsense, he reached for his waist; when he raised his hand again, a pair of glinting Metal Claw Blades were fitted between his fingers.

"It's fine, it doesn't matter if you don't remember... I'll help you remember."

The Tall and Thin Subordinate behind him was stunned, a look of surprise crossing his face as he instinctively asked, "Zhao Chenghan, what are you doing?"

Without looking back, Zhao Chenghan dragged the other into it:

"The higher-ups told us to catch troublemaking thugs. If that kid survives and reports this, saying we just grabbed someone to take the fall..."

"If there's trouble later and morale becomes unstable, do you think the higher-ups will use the two of us to appease the anger of others?"

He paused, his voice turning even colder: "Now we can only keep going down this wrong path. Kill both of them... dead men tell no tales."

Listening to this, the Tall and Thin Subordinate's eyes flickered intensely; a flash of struggle crossed his face, but it was soon replaced by a look of ruthlessness.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, a Short-handled Stabbing Blade appeared in his hand.

Seeing the two men before him, Li Yangze, who was shielding Gu Changming, remembered how they had beaten and kicked him before, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably.

Then, he turned his head and shouted at Gu Changming.

"Run!"

However, seeing this scene, the corners of Gu Changming's mouth curled up.

Even without being the villain, there's still a good show to watch.

He raised his hand, gently rested it on Li Yangze's shoulder, and then, with a slight pull, moved him behind himself.

"It's fine, let me handle this."

Gu Changming looked at the two of them, his mouth still upturned, and beckoned them with his hand, signaling that they could attack at any time.

Seeing Gu Changming's calm reaction, the bit of confidence Zhao Chenghan had gained from anger and resentment began to dissipate rapidly.

He was starting to feel uncertain.

When they had met before, the other's strength was far superior to everyone else's.

And having survived until now, he didn't show even the slightest hint of tension or defensiveness when faced with drawn weapons, nor did he seem to be taking out a weapon of his own...

Perhaps his strength had grown even greater... and he was still no match for him.

As soon as this thought surfaced, it sent a chill down Zhao Chenghan's neck.

His eyes flickered rapidly as he suppressed his inner impulse.

Then his mind raced, and in less than half a second, he had a new idea.

So what if he's strong?

This is the Xinhuo Stronghold! This is the territory covered by Enforcers like them—or rather, the faction behind them!

What kind of waves could he possibly make alone?

On the contrary, he could use the power of the system to crush him directly!

At this thought, Zhao Chenghan suddenly raised his left hand, grabbed the Silver-white Badge on his chest, and pressed the Emergency Contact Device.

"South District, Alley Seven! Violent resistance against the law discovered! Strength unknown, carrying a dangerous curse! Request immediate backup! Repeat, request immediate backup!"

The Tall and Thin Subordinate listening nearby became tense. Was he crazy? Was he going to blow this out of proportion?

After finishing his shout, Zhao Chenghan released the badge and stared gloomily at Gu Changming, a smug curve reappearing on his lips.

What use is being strong? Once his backup arrives and forms a perimeter... no single person could be a match for so many of them.

At that time, as long as a fight breaks out and things get chaotic...

If he 'accidentally' kills an Enforcer or two...

Then his final end will be nothing but death.