193: Chapter 192: Settling affairs after death? Bah! It's settling affairs about the shop! Then rushing towards the unconquered dungeon.
Six o'clock in the morning, the sky was just beginning to brighten.
Lin Feng stood at the entrance of the Fusion Workshop, holding three bags of warm buns and three cups of soy milk.
The shop's rolling shutter hadn't been raised yet, but the light in the second-floor window was already on—Pan Jingjing was always the first to arrive, a habit she had maintained since the first day the shop opened, unshakable as a rock.
He knocked on the door, and in less than ten seconds, it opened.
Pan Jingjing stood at the door, her hair already neatly tied up. She wore a deep blue professional suit and held a tablet computer, her eyes behind the lenses as clear as a pool of lake water.
“Boss?” She froze for a moment, then stepped aside to let him in. “So early? Aren't you supposed to set off today?”
“Just came to see you all before I go.”
Lin Feng placed the buns and soy milk on the counter.
“Where are Xiaoyu and Mengmeng?”
“Washing up upstairs, they'll be down in a moment.”
Pan Jingjing took the soy milk, inserted a straw, and took a sip, her gaze scanning over Lin Feng.
Today, he was dressed in a black combat suit, with the dragon slaying sword hanging at his waist and a sword casket she had never seen before on his back. He looked sharp and ready.
Having followed Lin Feng for so long, she could tell the difference at a glance—usually, Lin Feng came to the shop in casual clothes, and if he wore a combat suit, it was because he had just returned from outside.
With today’s outfit, he was going on a long journey.
“Boss, where are you going?”
She set down the soy milk, her fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the tablet.
“Void Corridor.”
Lin Feng didn't hide it.
Pan Jingjing’s fingers stopped.
Although she was just a shop assistant, she had heard of the Void Corridor’s reputation—it was the most famous unconquered Dungeon in Donghai City, where countless Explorers had gone and never returned.
“That Dungeon...”
“Yes.”
Lin Feng leaned against the counter, his tone very calm.
“My parents went missing in there six years ago. I’m going in to find them.”
Pan Jingjing was silent for a few seconds, then nodded. She didn't say “It’s too dangerous,” nor did she say “Boss, don’t go.”
She simply placed the tablet on the counter, looked up at Lin Feng, and her gaze was very serious.
“Don't worry about the shop. I'll handle the factories and stores as you instructed. I've already organized the equipment list for those three Zhou Family factories. Two of them can resume work immediately, and the third needs a batch of equipment replaced, but the buildings and production lines are ready. We can start production within two weeks of hiring and training.”
She pulled up a spreadsheet on the tablet and turned the screen toward Lin Feng.
“The locations for the five stores are all good—two are in the city center and can continue as equipment retail; one is next to the teleportation center with high foot traffic, so I suggest turning it into a supply station specializing in potions and consumables, as the profit margins are higher than equipment; the other two are a bit more remote, so we can consider wholesale or online channels.”
Lin Feng glanced at the spreadsheet.
It was densely packed with data—equipment lists for each factory, production estimates, hiring plans, rent comparisons for each store, foot traffic analysis, category positioning, and even a cash flow forecast for the next three months.
He looked at it for a few seconds and pushed the tablet back.
“You decide. If you need money, take it directly from the shop’s account; no need to ask me. Those Zhou Family stores are worth a lot; you can rent them out or open them ourselves, it's up to you.”
“What about the factories? The three factories combined will need at least a hundred people.”
“Hire them. Hire whoever you think is suitable, offer high wages, and don't mistreat the employees. These assets were basically free anyway; whatever we make is profit, and it doesn't matter if we lose money.”
The corners of Pan Jingjing’s mouth quirked up slightly, and she pushed up her glasses.
“If you say so, Boss, then I won't be polite.”
“When have you ever been polite?”
As they spoke, a flurry of footsteps came from upstairs.
Li Xiaoyu rushed down the stairs, her hair still damp. She had a hair tie in her mouth and was tying her hair as she ran. Seeing Lin Feng standing at the counter, her eyes instantly lit up.
“Boss! Why are you here! I thought you left yesterday! I sent you a message last night and you didn't reply. Mengmeng and I thought you’d already set off, we almost had a good cry!”
“My phone died.”
Lin Feng handed her a bag of buns.
“Eat while they're hot.”
Li Xiaoyu took the buns but wasn't in a hurry to eat.
She stared at Lin Feng for a few seconds, her gaze sweeping back and forth between the dragon slaying sword at his waist and the sword casket on his back, then she asked cautiously.
“Boss, where are you going? You're not going to fight the Zhou Family again, are you?”
“Going to a Dungeon. I might be in there for a while.”
Li Xiaoyu froze.
She had been by Lin Feng's side for a while now. She had seen him laughingly beat back dozens of foreign Explorers and seen him chase a Zhou Family Guest Elder all over the mountains with his dragon slaying sword. Every time before a battle, he had that lazy look, as if he were just going out to buy breakfast.
But he wasn't lazy now—his gaze was serious, so serious that it made her heart flutter with anxiety.
“Is that Dungeon... dangerous?”
She asked.
“It's alright.”
Lin Feng said.
Li Xiaoyu opened her mouth to say something, but in the end, she just nodded vigorously.
“Then come back soon, Boss. I'll look after the shop. Mengmeng and I will work hard to sell equipment so Sister Pan isn't busy all by herself.”
“I know.”
Lin Feng patted her head, knocking the ponytail she had just tied slightly askew.
Normally, Li Xiaoyu would have jumped up in protest, but this time she didn't dodge.
Li Xiaoyu was the last to come down, rubbing her sleepy eyes. Seeing Lin Feng at the counter, she froze for two seconds, then suddenly pulled her hands away from her eyes, instantly wide awake.
“Boss! You haven't left yet! I thought you were already gone! Last night I dreamed you were being chased by a pack of monsters, Xiaoyu and I were behind you picking up equipment, and Sister Pan was nearby calculating how much we could sell it for...”
She finished in one breath before noticing the buns and soy milk on the counter.
“For me?”
“Yes.”
“Thanks, Boss!”
Li Xiaoyu took a big gulp of soy milk, then looked up at Lin Feng.
“Boss, how long will you be gone?”
“Not sure. Maybe a few days, maybe longer. While I'm away, Pan Jingjing will coordinate the shop's equipment; follow her lead. If the factory lacks Materials, go directly to the Su Family—I've already signed the supply agreement the old man from the Su Family sent over. The prices are much lower than market value, and the quality is far better than the stock in the Zhou Family’s warehouse. If you encounter any problems you can't solve, go find General Chen; I've already cleared it with him.”
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the three girls' faces.
“If anyone tries to bully you while I'm gone, don't endure it—just give them my name. I've already torn down the Zhou Family; there shouldn't be anyone in Donghai City who dares to touch my people now.”
He spoke casually, like he was giving a very mundane instruction, such as “remember to bring in the laundry if it rains.”
Li Xiaoyu hid half her face behind the soy milk cup, nodding frantically, her eyes a bit red.
Li Xiaoyu’s knuckles turned slightly white as she gripped the bun. Her lips moved, but in the end, she only whispered, “Boss, be careful.”
Pan Jingjing stood behind the counter, holding the tablet. Her eyes blinked behind her glasses; she took them off, wiped them, put them back on, and then lowered her head to continue looking at the spreadsheet, though her page-turning speed was much slower than usual.
After Lin Feng finished explaining what needed to be done, he didn't stay any longer.
He handed three Storage Pouches full of equipment to Pan Jingjing—this was the last batch of stock he had fused overnight, enough to keep the shop selling until he returned—then he picked up the dragon slaying sword, turned, and pushed the door open to leave.
The morning light was just right.
The market wasn't very lively yet. Only a few breakfast stalls were steaming, white mist rising as steamer lids were lifted, mixing the scent of freshly steamed buns with the aroma of green onion oil from a pancake stall.
Occasionally, a few passing Explorers would see him, freeze for a moment, and then quickly move aside—news of the Zhou Family’s downfall had grown wings, spreading through the entire Donghai Explorer circle in just a few days.
Now, no one in Donghai City didn't recognize Lin Feng: a youth around 1.7 meters tall, in a black combat suit, with a black-sheathed longsword at his waist, his gaze calm but always making people feel like something was watching the back of their necks.
He hailed a taxi at the market entrance and headed straight for the Explorer Association.
Upon arriving at the Association, the lobby was much more crowded than usual.
Several staff members were posting new mission notices on the bulletin board, while the television screen nearby played a loop of the Explorer Association’s latest Dungeon walkthrough video.
Lin Feng glanced at it—the screen was explaining how to clear a Level 45 Dungeon. The narrator was a middle-aged Explorer with slicked-back hair, speaking like he was at a fair, his speed so fast it was hard to hear.
He withdrew his gaze and walked straight to the front desk.
The receptionist with glasses saw him and stood up reflexively.
“M-Mr. Lin!” Her voice carried a hint of nervousness, but her attitude was much better than the first time she’d seen him—at least this time she didn't stutter so much that she couldn't finish a sentence.
“Help me book a teleportation array.”
Lin Feng placed his s-rank explorer badge on the counter.
“I want to enter the Void Corridor.”
The receptionist froze.
The Void Corridor.
Those two words were a taboo within the Explorer Association—an unconquered Dungeon that had been sealed for years. No Explorer who entered had ever come out alive, including that famous husband-and-wife duo six years ago.
She looked down at the computer screen, then back up at Lin Feng, her lips moving as she clearly wanted to say “that Dungeon is very dangerous,” but the words died in her throat.
Because the person standing before her was Lin Feng, who had single-handedly defeated seven members of a foreign race at the Yanjiao Arena Tournament; Lin Feng, who had killed over a hundred foreign experts in the Kunlun Secret Realm and blown the Taotie into pieces; Lin Feng, who just a few days ago had charged alone into the Zhou Family’s front gates to face the Level 79 Zhou Tiannan.
“I-I'll check that for you right away.”
Her fingers tapped rapidly on the keyboard, pulling up the teleportation records for the Void Corridor, and her brow soon furrowed.
“Mr. Lin, the teleportation array for the Void Corridor is a bit special... it's not in the regular sequence. The permissions are locked and require the personal approval of the Association President—ordinary staff don't have the authority to open a teleportation request for this Dungeon. You might need to wait a moment; the President happens to be in a meeting upstairs today. Shall I go inform him for you?”
She spoke with a cautious tone; after all, the person in front of her was a ruthless man who could pin Zhou Tiannan to a wall with one hand.
Lin Feng nodded.
“Thanks.”
The receptionist quickly got up and hurried toward the elevator.
After waiting about ten minutes, the elevator doors opened. The person who stepped out wasn't the President, but a white-haired elder wearing a long grey robe.
The badge on his chest was engraved with a golden five-pointed star—the Donghai City Explorer Association Branch President, Zhao Zhengyang. He was in his early sixties, hale and hearty, with a steady gait, and he held a document in his hand.
Behind him followed several staff members, each with a serious expression. One was the supervisor, Zhao Tianhai, who caught Lin Feng's eye from a distance and gave a subtle wink—meaning “the Branch President heard you wanted to enter the Void Corridor and came down personally.”
Zhao Zhengyang walked up to Lin Feng and sized him up.
“You want to enter the Void Corridor?”
“Yes.”
“I know about your parents. Lin Zhan and Su Wan—I was the one who signed their entry permissions six years ago.”
Zhao Zhengyang was silent for a moment, as if reminiscing, before continuing.
“They were the most excellent Explorer couple I have ever seen. One was skilled in direct assault, the other in analysis. To be honest, it's a regret that the Association couldn't fulfill their final wishes.”
He paused, looking at Lin Feng, and said slowly, emphasizing every word.
“I've heard of your exploits—the Yanjiao Arena Tournament, the Kunlun Secret Realm, the Zhou Family. You are even stronger than your father was back then.”
“Thank you, President.”
Lin Feng took the document and signed his name on the last page.
“Lin Feng, before you enter the Void Corridor, there's something I need to tell you in advance.”
Zhao Zhengyang pointed to a line of small red text below the Dungeon’s name as he put away the document.
“The fact that the Void Corridor is listed as unconquered not only means it's a new Level 50 Dungeon, but it also means it's extremely dangerous. There is no record of anyone who entered coming out alive. You should be clear on this.”
Lin Feng nodded.
“I know. That's why I'm going.”
Zhao Zhengyang was silent for a few seconds, then nodded.
“Fine. The teleportation array is in Area B on the third floor. I'll open it for you personally.”
He turned toward the elevator, and Lin Feng followed.
The elevator was quiet, with only the floor indicator lights blinking upwards one by one.
When they reached Area B on the third floor, the hallway was quiet, without any queuing Explorers. Only a few staff members were maintaining the teleportation array’s runic array.
At the end of the hallway, a heavy iron door slowly opened, revealing a solitary teleportation array inside.
The base of the array was covered in ancient runes, just like the one Lin Feng had seen in the basement—no, this one was larger, the runes more complex, and a ring of black spatial rifts floated slowly around the edge of the base, like black flames flickering in the wind.
“This teleportation array was built specifically for the Void Corridor; it took twelve years to complete. Each activation consumes over a hundred gold-quality Spirit Stones and one S-Rank spatial core.”
Zhao Zhengyang walked to the control console, took a ring from his pocket, and pressed it into a slot on the console.
“Among the Materials you brought back from the Kunlun Ruins last month, there happened to be an S-Rank spatial core. Along with the Spirit Stone quota specially approved by the military, it's just enough for this one trip. This core is of extremely high quality, and its matching frequency with the Void Corridor’s space exceeds ninety percent—you shouldn't feel too much dizziness during the teleportation.”
He turned the ring in his hand, and the entire teleportation array began to hum. The runes on the base lit up ring by ring, the pale blue glow growing thicker, spreading from the base to the entire hall, casting a ghostly blue light on everyone’s faces.
“Are you ready?”
Zhao Zhengyang asked.
Lin Feng stepped onto the humming teleportation array. The blue-white light already filled the center of the hall. The light was so bright it was hard to keep one's eyes open, but he was very still in the light, as if he had been waiting for a long time.
Xiao Guang poked its head out of his pocket, looking up at the swirling runic light above. “Little Lin Feng, the energy fluctuation of this teleportation array is so strong. I feel it's even more unstable than those spatial rifts in our Secret Realm—but it's okay, I've already set up a shock-proof zone in the snack area, the cola won't spill.”
Xiao Jin perched on Lin Feng’s right shoulder, its compound eyes staring at the black rifts dancing at the edge of the base, the half-piece of purple Spirit Stone in its mouth forgotten and unchewed. It felt that those rifts emitted energy similar to spatial tearing, somewhat like the Taotie’s breath.
Zhao Zhengyang stood at the control console, watching the youth’s back. The light from the teleportation array grew brighter, and Lin Feng's silhouette was mostly swallowed by the glow.
“Teleportation countdown: thirty seconds. In thirty seconds, spatial jump will automatically initiate, and you will be teleported directly to the entrance of the Void Corridor. Note—there may be unstable spatial rifts around the landing point; deploy your shield immediately upon arrival.”
After Zhao Zhengyang finished, his finger tapped the console one last time.
Red countdown numbers popped up on the console. Twenty-five seconds. Twenty seconds. Fifteen seconds.
Lin Feng took out his parents' diary from his void mithril ring and held it in his hand. The cover was slightly cool. Six years later, he was once again standing where his parents had set off. Ten seconds. Five seconds. Three seconds. One second.
A blue-white pillar of light shot to the ceiling, lighting up the entire hall brighter than midday, then suddenly contracted like a lens snapping shut, drawing out every last bit of air. Lin Feng’s figure vanished within the pillar of light, leaving only the slowly dimming runes on the base.