162: Chapter 162 Can we listen now?

In this area, the three-story brick building in the center was the most luxurious structure.

After all, other buildings were constructed from metal sheets or strange materials, while this one alone used bricks from the era before the Assessment.

In that brick building, the largest room on the third floor had a window facing the street.

The window was large, inlaid with stained glass scavenged from some old-era building, pieced together into a colorful pattern with a peculiar beauty.

When the sunlight hit it, several swaying, rainbow-colored spots of light would be reflected onto the street.

"Crash!!!"

A piercing explosion erupted without warning!

That exquisite stained-glass window shattered instantly! Countless glass shards, like exploding fireworks, carried colorful light as they splashed out toward the street.

A figure flew backward violently from the broken window!

He had completely lost control of his body, like a tattered sack thrown by a massive force, crashing straight into the metal wall of a two-story short building across the street.

"Bang!"

With a dull thud, the building opposite seemed to tremble.

The Skinny Monkey Man's body slammed against the wall for a moment, and then he fell heavily from a height of seven or eight meters onto the street below.

"Ugh..."

He let out a groan of pain, his body rolling several times on the ground before finally coming to a halt.

The Skinny Monkey Man lay paralyzed on the ground, his eyes wide and his pupils dilated from intense pain and shock.

His mouth hung open as he gasped for breath like a fish out of water, each inhalation bringing a sharp pang of pain to his chest.

What happened?

"Cough..." He spat out another mouthful of bloody saliva.

Fear and survival instinct made him struggle to get up; he propped himself up with his one functional elbow, trying to lift his upper body.

But in the next second...

A dark shadow appeared silently before him, blocking the sunlight on his face.

Gu Changming looked down at the struggling Skinny Monkey Man on the ground, then raised his foot and stepped on his chest, pinning him back down.

"Ugh..."

The Skinny Monkey Man let out a muffled groan, his body slumping back onto the ground in submission.

Forced to tilt his head back, his gaze shifted upward, meeting Gu Changming's eyes.

At this moment, his previous arrogance was gone, replaced by eyes full of terror.

Just now, inside the room, so many of them hadn't even managed to hold out for a few seconds.

His own exchange with this guy hadn't even lasted two rounds; he hadn't even seen the moves clearly... His chest felt like it had been struck by a battering ram, followed by a dizzying spin as he fell from above onto the street.

Perhaps feeling that stepping on him was a bit "impolite," Gu Changming moved his foot away.

Walking to the man's chest, he crouched down and continued to press down on his chest with his hand, asking slowly:

"Can you listen now?"

The Skinny Monkey Man pursed his lips, his teeth chattering uncontrollably, but he forced his face to remain taut, struggling to maintain the last shred of dignity as a "boss," refusing to fully submit.

"If it weren't for... the fact that I sent most of my brothers out on business today... someone like you..."

He didn't finish his sentence because he felt the pressure on his chest lighten.

Gu Changming let go and then waved at him.

The Skinny Monkey Man was stunned, not understanding what the gesture meant.

"Get up," Gu Changming's voice came. "Go call your people. I'll wait for you here."

The Skinny Monkey Man's pupils constricted sharply; he almost thought he had misheard.

Go... call people? He's letting me go call people?

Is this kid crazy? Or does he really think he's invincible?

Enduring the intense pain, he propped himself up with his elbow again and scrambled to his feet somewhat unsteadily.

He immediately backed away several steps from Gu Changming.

Once steady, he turned to look at Gu Changming, his lips curling into a smile that was a mix of shock, suspicion, and a sudden surge of ferocity.

He extended a finger and pointed forcefully at Gu Changming from a distance.

"You said it! Don't regret it later!"

Gu Changming maintained the same posture and waved again. "Go on, hurry up."

The muscles on the Skinny Monkey Man's face twitched twice, finally turning into two cold snorts from his nostrils.

He said no more, facing Gu Changming as he began to back away... Once he was over ten meters away and certain the other couldn't charge him instantly, he spun around and sprinted into the distance.

How could he be so honest as to just call his own men? He was going to drag others onto his sinking ship as well. With seven or eight C-ranks, he didn't believe they couldn't take the guy down!

Only after the man's figure disappeared around the street corner did Gu Changming look away.

Then, he slowly turned and looked toward an alley diagonally across the street.

After a few glances, he called out, "Come out, stop hiding."

...

Several days had passed since the encounter in that dark alley.

Since that encounter, Li Yangze felt as if he had been reborn; his entire being was different.

His previous resentment and cowardice seemed to have been left in that alley, dying along with his old self.

Now, he was replaced by something newer—a silent, teeth-gritting determination to risk everything to achieve something.

Even he couldn't explain where this change had come from.

Was it because of the realizations he had when facing death, or because of that man...?

Over the past few days, he had been wandering all over the Xinhuo Stronghold like a madman.

He was looking for Gu Changming.

Why was he looking? Li Yangze didn't know himself.

Was it to say "thank you" in person? It seemed so, but not entirely.

It was more of an obsession that he couldn't quite untangle.

If he could just see him again, his "reborn" life seemed like it would find a new direction and a sense of reality.

However, unfortunately...

Gu Changming's figure had vanished without a trace from the entire Xinhuo Stronghold.

Every time, he was half a step too late, learning from others about who the man had saved next.

Li Yangze couldn't help but feel disappointed. Was it only meant to be a one-time meeting?

Li Yangze swayed as he continued walking down the street.

Honestly, no matter the reason... he wanted to see him one more time.

"Bang!!!"

A loud bang, mixed with the crisp sound of shattering glass, suddenly erupted not far ahead of him!

Li Yangze shuddered and jerked his head up.

He saw the stained-glass window of that three-story brick building—the most grand in the South District—completely explode!

The colorful glass shards glittered in the sunlight, falling onto the street like a sudden rain shower.

A body followed the broken glass, landing heavily on the ground.

Seeing the way the person writhed in pain, Li Yangze's eyes widened instantly.

He knew this person.

It was the boss who controlled this area of the South District and kept a group of fierce thugs under him.

Wasn't he a C-rank Ability User?

Who could have beaten him like this?

While he was wondering...

In the next second, a familiar figure suddenly appeared before the Skinny Monkey Man and raised a foot to step on his chest.

Li Yangze's breath suddenly caught.

It was... him!