{"id":13079,"date":"2020-11-09T13:00:25","date_gmt":"2020-11-09T18:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/?p=13079"},"modified":"2025-09-08T18:33:26","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T22:33:26","slug":"death-progress-bar-105","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/death-progress-bar-105\/","title":{"rendered":"Death Progress Bar 105"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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On the way back to school, Shi Jin was subjected to a storm of questions from his classmates.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThe instructor really is your brother?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin nodded. \u201cHonest to goodness.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThen why were you hiding it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin let out a sigh. \u201cWhen the training started, people thought of me as a good-for-nothing pampered young master. If everyone knew that we\u2019re brothers, I was afraid the rumors would get even worse, so I decided not to say anything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Everyone understood the implication and fell silent, unable to refute. Indeed, if back then they\u2019d heard that the \u201cspoiled young master\u2019s\u201d brother was one of their military instructors, the rumor mill would\u2019ve gone into overdrive churning out outrageous tales.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cBack then we all thought those rumors were true, and everyone repeated them. I believed them too and didn\u2019t even bother to find out if they had any basis. I even repeated them to others\u2026 I\u2019m sorry, Shi Jin, I won\u2019t be so careless from now on,\u201d one student apologized.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin hurriedly waved the apologies off. \u201cIt\u2019s okay, it was just a misunderstanding. Besides, we\u2019ve cleared it up already,\u201d he said, topping it off with other pleasantries such as \u201cas classmates, let\u2019s try to get along well\u201d and the like.<\/span><\/p>

After the first person apologized, others promptly followed suit, and the atmosphere in the bus gradually relaxed and warmed. A student who\u2019d happened to witness Shi Jin reporting to school teased good-humoredly, \u201cBut, Shi Jin, you can\u2019t blame us for misunderstanding. The sports car you came in? It\u2019s a limited edition. The model looks very distinctive, too. It\u2019s no wonder everyone noticed. And your relatives were, uh\u2026 how should I put it, extremely outspoken.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin recalled Li Jiuzheng\u2019s <\/span>\u201cThe front gate looks rather plain\u201d<\/span><\/em> and Rong Zhouzhong\u2019s <\/span>\u201cRed cars are girly\u201d<\/span><\/em> and other aggro-pulling remarks, and covered his face with his hands. He said despairingly, \u201cI\u2019m sorry, I know what they sounded like, but they really didn\u2019t mean it. They weren\u2019t mean on purpose, just\u2026\u201d <\/span>Just extraordinarily brainless<\/span>.<\/span><\/em><\/p>

\u201cNo, it\u2019s fine, you don\u2019t have to apologize, it\u2019s not like anyone has any right to judge anyone else\u2019s family. That aside, who were they? They looked pretty young\u2014your cousins?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cYe-yes, something like that,\u201d Shi Jin replied vaguely, his expression stiff.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cYour family\u2019s genes are really good, everyone looks handsome,\u201d a student who also saw Shi Jin at that time sighed with feeling.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cYeah, I thought some people from the nearby film and television school lost their way and wandered in,\u201d someone else chimed in, joining the conversation.<\/span><\/p>

Back then, rumors were numerous and spread like wildfire. Now that the students got an opportunity to get to know the truth, they, of course, latched on to it without hesitation. Shi Jin sat there, blank-eyed, wondering how the topic turned into this.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI remember that one person had been wearing a mask the whole time. Why? Did he have a cold?\u201d Classmate A asked.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cNo\u2026 His mouth was badly swollen from eating chili peppers the day before, and he didn\u2019t dare to go outside without a mask,\u201d Shi Jin replied with an awkward smile.<\/span><\/p>

\u201c<\/span>Hahaha<\/span><\/em>, so his mouth was swollen! Some people were wondering if he was a celebrity. They ridiculed him for being conceited and believing he was so famous he had to hide his face when he accompanied a relative to report at school, as if he was some kind of superstar,\u201d Classmate B laughed out loud.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin was a little unhappy with these words. Squeezing his cap, he said, \u201cWhy? He\u2019s free to wear a mask if he wants to. Insulting him because of this is too much.\u201d And Rong Zhouzhong <\/span>was<\/span><\/em> very famous\u2014him going out without covering his face was asking for trouble.<\/span><\/p>

Classmate B stiffened, his expression turning embarrassed. \u201c<\/span>Uh<\/span><\/em>…<\/span><\/i> Er, yeah, it\u2019s too much.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

The inside of the bus fell quiet for a moment. After a pause, Classmate C broke the silence: \u201cShi Jin, I heard that your cousin said that our dormitory was too shabby and unfit for people to live in, and that he would buy you a villa next to the school. Is that true?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Where did they even hear it? What \u201ctoo shabby and unfit for people to live in,\u201d what \u201cbuy you a villa\u201d\u2014the way it was phrased was too malicious.<\/span><\/p>

His brow furrowing, Shi Jin explained, \u201cMy fifth brother\u2026 er, he\u2019s the fifth-oldest child in our generation. Anyway, my fifth brother is a doctor and is a bit of a neat freak. He only felt that not having an independent bathroom in the dorm room was inconvenient and suggested that I\u2019d live off-campus and commute to school. He never said anything about the room being too shabby or buying a villa. Whoever started this rumor distorted the truth, and then it probably got even more exaggerated as it was passed on.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cWhat about you being filthy rich?\u201d Classmate D asked. \u201cPeople say you started showing off as soon as you arrived at school.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Up until now, Shi Jin had only a vague idea of what people were saying behind his back. At this moment, bombarded by everyone\u2019s questions, he understood why a usually amiable Luo Donghao tried to pick a fight with him at the beginning of the military training. These weren\u2019t some ordinary, garden-variety rumors\u2014they reached the level of malicious slander and character assassination!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Shi Jin suppressed his displeasure with gossipers and replied helplessly, \u201cWhat do you mean by showing off? As far as I remember, that day, I simply came to report at school accompanied by my relatives, just like everyone else. If by \u2018showing off\u2019 you mean I wore slightly more expensive clothes than the others, then I guess yeah, I was showing off.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

After spending more than a month together, Shi Jin\u2019s classmates already understood his character. They saw that he was upset and hurried to comfort him, saying that he didn\u2019t choose to be born to a wealthy family and that nobody should be discriminated against because of their family\u2019s conditions, and scolded the people who spread the rumors.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin was relieved to see this topic abandoned. He smiled and calmed his classmates, saying that it was fine since they didn\u2019t misunderstand him anymore.<\/span><\/p>

The atmosphere was easing down again when a discordant voice cut in:<\/span><\/p>

\u201cSo you say that it\u2019s because your family is loaded, people started calling you a show-off? I find it hard to believe\u2014there are a lot of rich students in our school, but no one thinks of them as \u2018arrogant young masters.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>

In an instant, the silence fell. Everyone turned to look at the speaker and were stunned to find an unfamiliar face.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cWho are you?\u201d Liu Yong asked, confused. \u201cI thought each squad rides on a separate bus<\/span>.<\/b> How come we have a stranger?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI know!\u201d Classmate D said. \u201cOne of the instructors brought him. He\u2019s a second-year student. Because of a leg injury, he didn\u2019t participate in the military training last year, so he was making up for it this year. There were not enough places on the other bus, so the instructor let him ride with us. He took second place in the military training\u2014I remember seeing him go on stage to receive the award certificate!\u201d<\/span><\/p>

So it was a sophomore. Everyone looked at each other, at a loss; for a moment, they weren\u2019t sure how to deal with the situation.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cSo, Young Master Shi Jin, what is it that your family does? How wealthy has someone to be to make others feel that he\u2019s showing off just by acting normally?\u201d The young man seemed to relish being the center of attention. He looked as if he was simply curious, but his gaze fixed on Shi Jin was full of malice.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin thought the guy was sick. He looked the other person up and down, and instead of replying, asked leisurely, \u201cLittle Ming\u2019s grandfather lived to be one hundred years old, do you know why?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

The joke was so old that everyone knew it. The originally tense atmosphere became odd in an instant, and the already recovered Luo Donghao laughed out loud and said, \u201cBecause he minded his own business! Even if someone had a pile of gold bars stacked in their house, what business of yours is that, senior?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cYeah, no one likes a busybody,\u201d Liu Yong immediately added.<\/span><\/p>

The other students echoed their remarks, uniting against the outsider. This result was quite different from what the sophomore expected, and his countenance alternately blushed and paled as he faced their unanimous opposition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin happily watched from the sidelines, breathing a sigh of relief\u2014great, there appeared a cannon fodder to take everyone\u2019s attention off him.<\/span><\/p>

Because there was an \u201coutsider\u201d present, they were more restrained and only chatted about casual topics for the rest of the journey.<\/span><\/p>

More than an hour later, the bus arrived at the school. After putting their baggage away in their dorm rooms and retrieving their mobile phones from the teachers, everyone was ready to enjoy the short holiday after the military training.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cShi Jin, do you want to go to my family\u2019s bowling alley? We can stop for lunch on the way, my treat!\u201d Liu Yong asked as he rushed into Shi Jin\u2019s room, followed by Luo Donghao, who had already changed back into casual clothes.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin, still in uniform, was packing his documents and some other things in a backpack. He shook his head and said, \u201cThanks for the invitation, but my boyfriend came to pick me up. Let\u2019s play together next time? I need to go now, see you guys later.\u201d Finished, he threw the backpack on his back and pretty much sprinted out of the room, never looking back.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cOh\u2026\u201d Liu Yong could only watch him disappear. He turned to look at Luo Donghao and asked, \u201cDid I just hear what I think I heard?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Luo Donghao blinked, rubbing his ears suspiciously. He was in a daze for a few seconds, then roared in disbelief, \u201cBoyfriend? Shi Jin actually has a boyfriend?!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Death Progress Bar is translated by Betwixted Translations<\/a>. Read on the original translator’s site to get the fastest updates!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Shi Jin ran all the way to the school gate. He turned off the main street outside the school, crossed an alley to reach another main road, and looked around. Sure enough, he saw a familiar black car parked on the left side of the street. His eyes brightening, he ran over to it, opened the rear door, and got in.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cYo! Where did this little policeman come from? His skin looks very dark,\u201d Gua Two teased from the driver\u2019s seat.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin flipped him the bird, threw off his backpack, and reached out to hug Lian Jun, who was watching him fondly. After he fully confirmed his lover\u2019s presence, he released his hold and sat upright, straightening his cap. \u201cHow\u2019s my uniform?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cIt makes me want to pull out my gun on you,\u201d Gua Two replied first. Receiving a \u201cfull of love\u201d eye roll from Shi Jin, he sensibly shut up and raised the partition wall while starting the engine, making the back of the car a separate space.<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun shot an admonishing glance at Gua Two, then carefully studied how Shi Jin looked in uniform. \u201cIt looks very cool,\u201d he said, reaching out to caress the younger man\u2019s cheek.<\/span><\/p>

Complimented by his beloved, Shi Jin was content. \u201cThe summer uniform is relatively plain. The winter uniform, on the other hand, is quite intricate and looks even cooler\u2014when we\u2019re allowed to change uniforms, I\u2019ll show you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

With Shi Jin\u2019s return, the atmosphere instantly seemed to become brighter and more lively. Feeling the corners of his mouth rise, Lian Jun nodded. \u201cOkay. Are you hot? Have you had lunch?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThe car has air conditioning, I\u2019m not hot. I haven\u2019t eaten lunch yet,\u201d Shi Jin replied. Suddenly, he took out his phone, saying, \u201cLet\u2019s take a picture together as a memento. I don\u2019t get so tanned very often.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun\u2019s smile deepened. He leaned over and took several photos with Shi Jin, then took off the younger man\u2019s cap and tidied up his flattened hair. \u201cWe\u2019re going straight to the airport,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, there\u2019s no time for you to rest properly.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cStraight to the airport?\u201d Shi Jin was stunned. The joy on his face faded, and he stopped flipping through the pictures on his phone. \u201cWhy are you in such a hurry? Is the situation in G Province so bad?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun nodded. \u201cYes. Other organizations got involved\u2014I have to go and take a look at the situation in person. Must be hard on you, following me running about.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cIt\u2019s not hard on me at all,\u201d Shi Jin replied, frowning. Seeing that Lian Jun was in a low mood, he remembered something and reached for his backpack. He took out two award certificates and two red velvet boxes and thrust them all into Lian Jun\u2019s hands, saying, \u201cHere, your gift. Do you like it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Gift?<\/span><\/em><\/p>

Lian Jun was taken aback. He first read the award certificates; his expression changed a little, and he glanced at Shi Jin\u2019s face, full of pride and expectation. The corners of his mouth hooking up, he opened the velvet boxes.<\/span><\/p>

Two carefully made medals laid inside. One was a golden five-pointed star with Shi Jin\u2019s name and a date engraved in a <\/span>regular script<\/span><\/a> in the middle; it was modest and elegant. The other was round with spikes around it, resembling the shape of the sun. A red band ran along the edge of the circle, enclosing a picture in relief: two ears of wheat converging towards the center from the edge, surrounding a number written in cursive script, with Shi Jin\u2019s name below, and a string of numbers in a smaller font under it.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThis medal is for getting first place in military training. The big number is our class year, and the small number under my name is my student number. This one is the \u2018outstanding cadet\u2019 medal\u2014the five-pointed star symbolizes hope,\u201d Shi Jin explained, then took both medals out of the boxes and put them in Lian Jun\u2019s hand. \u201cYou said that we are one. All the honors I get, half is yours.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun\u2019s hand trembled, then he quickly clenched the two medals in his palm. Looking at Shi Jin\u2019s silly expression, completely unsuitable for this moment, he couldn\u2019t help but pull the younger man into his arms. He felt a lump in his throat and didn\u2019t speak.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI knew you would like this gift. My efforts to get it weren\u2019t wasted, then.\u201d Shi Jin hugged him back, contentedly breathing in his smell, the smell that was part of his <\/span>home<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/i> \u201cLian Jun, I won\u2019t let you regret sending me to the police academy. I want to protect you, too.\u201d <\/span>So don\u2019t be afraid that after I set foot on the sunlit path, I will leave you behind in the darkness. We are one, and we will be one forever.<\/span><\/em><\/p>

How could Lian Jun not understand the meaning of this gift? Tightening his embrace even more, he turned his head to the side and kissed Shi Jin\u2019s hair, whispering, \u201cI understand, I heard you loud and clear\u2026 Thank you, Shi Jin.\u201d <\/span>Thank you for appearing in my life.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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If you’re seeing this notice, you’re reading this chapter on pirate site – the original translator of Death Progress Bar is Betwixted Translations.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Shi Jin changed his clothes in the car, took out the proposal ring Lian Jun gave him and put it on. He also ate some light snacks prepared in the car to tide him over until dinner. Lian Jun frowned at this, regretting that he didn\u2019t order the kitchen to prepare a proper meal to bring with him.<\/span><\/p>

To get to G Province, they again chartered a plane. Besides Annihilation members, there were also some unfamiliar people on board.<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun got in his seat with Shi Jin\u2019s help. Seeing the teenager glance around suspiciously, he explained, \u201cThey\u2019re officials. G Province is Tarantula\u2019s home ground. The government plans to wipe out Tarantula completely or, at the very least, to deal some serious damage to its foundation. Tarantula started out as a smuggling ring, and they also made money off the sex trade; potentially, there is a lot that can be used against them. When Aunt Lu became the organization leader, she immediately cleaned up the worst of Tarantula\u2019s businesses, but she didn\u2019t have enough time to fix everything that could bite them. This time, the officials are cracking down on Tarantula\u2019s smuggling business. They want to destroy Tarantula\u2019s main network\u2014first, the channel between G Province and Formosa, then the channels leading out of Formosa. These officials are here to assist us. We\u2019re supposed to coordinate to bring Tarantula down, with us working in the darkness and them aboveboard.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

So decisive? Directly destroying Tarantula\u2019s main business network?<\/span><\/em><\/p>

Frowning, Shi Jin stopped peeking at the officials and sat down next to Lian Jun. \u201cYou said that other organizations got involved. What\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cTarantula\u2019s channels in G Province are a goose laying golden eggs. Some underworld organizations with empty pockets would <\/span>fish in troubled waters<\/span><\/a> to gain control over it,\u201d Lian Jun replied. He called for a flight attendant and ordered Shi Jin a lunch.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin waited for the flight attendant to leave, then asked, \u201cUnderworld organizations also can be short of money? From what I\u2019ve seen, everyone seems to be filthy rich.\u201d Whether it was Annihilation, Tarantula, Nine Eagles, or the now-dissolved Phantom, the organizations\u2019 upper echelons all treated money like dirt.<\/span><\/p>

Seeing him full of curiosity, Lian Jun didn\u2019t mind sharing more knowledge. \u201cOf course they can, especially when they\u2019re rapidly expanding. Underworld organizations make money quickly, but they also spend it quickly\u2014the stakes are always high and their business environment is unstable. A small conflict between organizations can consume more resources than a medium-sized enterprise can earn in a month. In addition to weapons, which account for the largest part of expenditure, there are other expenses such as transportation and accommodation of personnel, medical support, vehicles for local transport\u2026 All these things cost a lot of money. Organizations that don\u2019t have it can\u2019t survive\u2014those that last all have some chips in their hands.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin shuddered as he recalled the \u201cextravagant\u201d way Gua Two and the others used weaponry during every operation, and what Lian Jun must\u2019ve spent to help him put on the \u201cplay\u201d for Xu Jie. \u201cThat, um, Annihilation\u2019s chips\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cWe have more than enough.\u201d Seeing through Shi Jin\u2019s thoughts at a glance, Lian Jun reached out to stroke his head, reassuring him, \u201cDon\u2019t worry, what you spent was just a chump change\u2014you\u2019ll have to try much harder than that to bankrupt me. Right now Annihilation is basically self-sufficient, and we also have our own channels for weapons, so we don\u2019t spend much money.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u2018A chump change,\u2019 you say… You wouldn\u2019t have a private munitions factory, would you?<\/span><\/em><\/p>

Shi Jin glanced at him, but he wisely decided not to ask this question out loud. Catching sight of the flight attendant coming to deliver him lunch, he put this topic on hold for the time being and prepared to fill his stomach.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Death Progress Bar is translated by Betwixted Translations<\/a>. Read on the original translator’s site to get the fastest updates!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The flight arrived in G Province on schedule. After getting off the plane, Gua Two contacted Gua One, then led their group out of the airport through the VIP exit and to the black commercial MPVs waiting outside.<\/span><\/p>

The government personnel had a separate car. Finally able to relax, Shi Jin leaned on Lian Jun the moment they got in, and said, \u201cThose officials kept sneaking glances at us, it felt kind of creepy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cIgnore them, someone will \u2018educate\u2019 them,\u201d Lian Jun comforted, letting him rest against himself. \u201cHow\u2019s the situation?\u201d he asked Gua One, who had been waiting in the car.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cNot too great.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

This short sentence immediately grabbed everyone\u2019s attention.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin sat up and looked at Gua One with a frown.<\/span><\/p>

Gua One didn\u2019t keep them in suspense. \u201cOur investigation shows that aside from previously identified Snake Fang, Meridian Gate and Epoch are also involved.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Gua Two\u2019s expression changed. \u201cWhat? They\u2019re all top echelon legal organizations! Have they gone mad?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cIt gets worse. We originally expected these organizations to slowly gravitate towards Tarantula\u2019s side in the aftermath of the conflict between Tarantula and Annihilation, and eventually form an alliance with Tarantula to attack us. But now that the government interfered, Tarantula might not be even considered as an ally. They even decided to take advantage of their misfortune.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cFuck! The officials are damn <\/span>pig teammates<\/span><\/a>!\u201d Gua Two couldn\u2019t help but curse. The situation was worse than they thought; he was so angry he could kill those \u201cteammates.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cWho\u2019s leading them, Snake Fang?\u201d Lian Jun asked. \u201cTop echelon organizations are so tacitly helping the government crush Tarantula\u2014someone must be a middleman.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cYes, it\u2019s Snake Fang. They must\u2019ve offered to share the \u2018spoils\u2019 with Meridian Gate and Epoch to persuade them to form an alliance,\u201d Gua One replied, his expression grim. \u201cIf they succeed, we\u2019ll be in a tight spot.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Gua Two\u2019s mood had already been homicidal. Tight spot? How about\u00a0 \u2018done for\u2019? Other underworld organizations had always been fearful and resentful of Annihilation, because of its relationship with the authorities. If Tarantula fell, Annihilation would have no one to rely on, no insiders on the enemy side, and the only ally they\u2019d be left with would be the government\u2014the very same government that would get rid of them the moment they stop being useful. They would pretty much lose the game before it even started!<\/span><\/p>

Aware of the seriousness of the situation, everyone turned to look at Lian Jun, waiting for him to come up with a plan.<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun slowly tapped his finger on his knee, eyes half-closed as he pondered. His composed and steady appearance made the others calm down as well.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThere\u2019s no need to worry,\u201d he said finally, breaking the silence. \u201cThe fact that Snake Fang is in charge means that things aren\u2019t difficult to handle. Forging an alliance isn\u2019t that easy for large organizations; it hasn\u2019t been long since this situation broke out, and the three of them should not have a close relationship yet. After Nine Eagles and Phantom disappeared, Snake Fang began to expand wildly\u2014it\u2019s obvious to anyone what its ambition is. But the leaders of Meridian Gate and Epoch? One is prideful but cautious; the other cunning and greedy. I doubt that either of them likes Snake Fang\u2019s reckless and wanton style. They haven\u2019t come here to fish in troubled waters, they\u2019ve come here to test the waters.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Gua Two looked thoughtful. After a few seconds, his expression suddenly relaxed and even became a little gloating. \u201cJun-shao, you mean that Meridian Gate and Epoch are actually more inclined towards Tarantula?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun nodded. \u201cNeither Meridian Gate nor Epoch lacks money\u2014what they lack is an environment where they can develop freely. In other words, on the surface, they have the same goal as Tarantula: to get rid of Annihilation and cut off the government\u2019s connection to the underworld.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cEveryone wants to kill us. <\/span>Ah<\/span><\/em>, it\u2019s so lonely to be hated by the entire world,\u201d Gua Two pretended to lament, cheerfully leaning back in his seat and crossing one leg over the other.<\/span><\/p>

Gua One also relaxed. \u201cI was so anxious I almost took things at the face value. I\u2019m sorry, Jun-shao.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun waved his apologies away. Having finished the discussion, he turned to Shi Jin to ask what he\u2019d like to have for dinner, only to face the teenager\u2019s bewildered, inquiring gaze.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cUm\u2026 can anyone explain to me why you all suddenly stopped being worried?\u201d Shi Jin asked sheepishly, wondering if his IQ had suddenly dropped. \u201cI don\u2019t really understand what you discussed just now\u2026\u201d Although he had read the information about all the large organizations, in the end, it was just dry facts, so he still was confused about the relationships between them.<\/span><\/p>

The inside of the car fell silent. Gua Two looked at Shi Jin\u2019s tanned, befuddled face, and suddenly burst out laughing. Patting the teenager on the shoulder, he said, \u201cThey say that the army toughens people up. Turns out that the army really toughens people up\u2014to the point that even the brain turns into muscle. C\u2019mere, bud, this big brother will explain everything to you, slowly and in simple words.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Embarrassed and angry, Shi Jin threw off his hand and tried to punch him.<\/span><\/p>

Gua One and Lian Jun watched them roughhouse and smiled unconsciously, their mood lightening. Sure enough, as long as Shi Jin was around, the atmosphere would never be tense.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Extra:<\/span><\/em><\/p>

The brothers\u2019 group chat, the second day after Shi Jin finished his military training:<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Silence.<\/span><\/p>

Silence.<\/span><\/p>

Dead silence.<\/span><\/p>

Rong Zhouzhong [suddenly stirring]: Fourth, I think being a teacher at the police academy is a great line of work. You could retire from the military and change careers.<\/span><\/p>

Xiang Aoting [seeing through his scheme]: There\u2019s no point. I just got the message that Xiao Jin was assigned to a mission and he won\u2019t be back until the end of the term. Looks like Lian Jun\u2019s handiwork.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Weichong [patient]: He shouldn\u2019t neglect his studies.<\/span><\/p>

Fei Yujing [perceptive]: As expected of Lian Jun, snatching people with such finesse. All right, everyone, snap out of it and go do your own things.<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng [\u2018Go do your own things\u2019?]: Oh.<\/span><\/p>

System prompt: Li Jiuzheng has left the group chat.<\/span><\/p>

Rong Zhouzhong: ???<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Translator’s Notes:<\/strong><\/h3>
  1. “My fifth brother\u2026 er, he\u2019s the fifth-oldest child in our generation”<\/strong><\/em> – in China, you’d call your (paternal) cousins “brothers” too, so no one is surprised that Shi Jin calls his “cousin” Li Jiuzheng “brother.”<\/span><\/li>
  2. \u201cLittle Ming\u2019s grandfather lived to be one hundred years old, do you know why?\u201d<\/strong><\/em> –\u00a0
    the anecdote goes something like:
    Someone saw a small child eating ice cream. Out of concern, he told him, “Eating ice cream on such a cold day will make your tummy hurt!”
    The child replied, “My grandpa lived to be 103 years old, do you know why?”
    “I don’t know\u2014because he liked to eat ice cream?”
    “No, because he never meddled in other people’s business!”<\/span><\/li>
  3. Formosa<\/strong><\/em> – as we all know, DPB’s action takes place in a sort of an alternate reality. “Formosa” is one of the historical names of Taiwan.<\/span><\/li>
  4. Meridian Gate<\/strong><\/em> – the name comes from the southern and largest gate of the Forbidden City in Beijing<\/a>. It seems to be an odd name for a criminal organization, I thought… until the moment I consulted the opinions of the team members and Velvet said, “Oh, this name is interesting. That’s the place where they chopped people’s heads off.”<\/span><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Translator: Eques<\/em>
    Editor: LA_meimou
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