Zhuang Xin really didn't dare to make another move.
She had only been talking tough, that was all.
She never imagined that Ma Jun would be this fierce—he didn't look like a young man at all.
He had the stamina of youth, yet also the refined, mature technique of someone far more experienced.
Even now, her heart still hadn't fully settled.
The two of them headed west together, arriving at a slightly remote area of Harbor Island.
This was also where the Aberrant Association was located.
The car stopped in front of a large building that exuded an ancient, incense-laden atmosphere.
"Sir Ma, we're here."
Zhuang Xin lowered her brows and eyes as she spoke, looking like a meek little wife.
"Mm."
Ma Jun helped her out of the car, and the two of them walked toward the interior of the Aberrant Association.
They hadn't gone far when Ma Jun spotted a stone stele.
On the stele was an imprint of calligraphy—vigorous strokes, free and powerful, with an outstanding bearing.
The text was Li He's "Bitter Day Short."
Ma Jun's body suddenly stiffened.
"Wait for me here."
Before Zhuang Xin could reply, he quickly walked over to the stele and began carefully examining the writing.
As he looked and looked, his body began to tremble slightly.
A huge surge of joy welled up uncontrollably from the depths of his heart!
"I knew it—I knew it!"
Ma Jun murmured in a low voice.
He was extremely familiar with the style of this "Bitter Day Short."
When he was little, his father often practiced copying calligraphy. The characters he wrote looked exactly like this.
Exactly the same.
There was no way he could be mistaken!
This was also one of the most important reasons Ma Jun had insisted on entering the horror game.
Back then, his parents had been selected to enter the game—then they mysteriously vanished.
Everyone else believed his parents were dead, but only he knew they had simply disappeared.
Their whereabouts were unknown.
He desperately wanted to enter the horror game to search for clues about his parents.
He never expected that in this instance dungeon, he would see calligraphy identical to his father's handwriting!
Ma Jun's emotions were exceptionally complicated.
Zhuang Xin watched his reaction, feeling slightly puzzled.
But she didn't think too much of it—after all, Ma Jun had plenty of strange quirks.
Maybe he was just a calligraphy enthusiast.
"Sister Xin!"
Suddenly, an excited voice rang out from nearby.
With a quick jog, Liu Changsheng ran over to Zhuang Xin, delight written all over his face.
"You're back!"
"So, how was it? Did you get the treasure?"
"How many points can it be exchanged for?"
The joy on Liu Changsheng's face was practically overflowing. He had already been thinking about it for two days.
That treasure from the Everprosperous Hall—one look and you could tell it was no ordinary item.
What a pity it had fallen into that damned brat's hands.
But now that Zhuang Xin had stepped in, returning it to its rightful owner was guaranteed. Zhuang Xin's curse techniques were considered top-tier even within the Aberrant Association.
Dealing with a skinny punk who only had brute strength would be effortless.
Even though Zhuang Xin had only agreed to give him thirty percent, thirty percent was more than enough!
He had already set his sights on a hundred-year-old thunderstruck peachwood sword, just waiting to exchange points for it.
Zhuang Xin's gaze flickered.
Her expression immediately changed.
"What are you talking about? What treasure? I don't understand a thing."
Liu Changsheng froze.
"You're not thinking of reneging, are you?!"
"I'm telling you—don't think that just because your curse techniques are powerful, I wouldn't dare—"
Before he could finish, a familiar voice sounded beside his ear.
"What are you all talking about?"
Liu Changsheng subconsciously turned his head and saw that grin—the one he hated most—full of bared teeth.
"It's you!"
His face changed instantly.
What was going on?
Wasn't this brat supposed to have already been taken care of by Zhuang Xin?
Why was he still here?!
"Sir Ma, are you done looking?"
Zhuang Xin didn't say another word. She hurried over and pressed herself against Ma Jun, deliberately pushing her alluring curves against him.
"Let's go. I'll help you submit it. Don't worry… I don't want any of the benefits. They're all yours."
"Who said I'm yours?"
Zhuang Xin blinked innocently, her expression seductive.
"Daoist Liu, do you know each other?" Ma Jun asked with a faint smile.
Zhuang Xin tossed her head. "Who knows him? Just some irrelevant nobody."
"Sir Ma, let's hurry up."
With that, she grabbed Ma Jun and dragged him toward the lively main hall nearby.
Only Liu Changsheng was left behind, eyes stiff, mouth agape, staring at the backs of the two as they walked away—like he'd just seen a ghost.
It wasn't until Ma Jun and Zhuang Xin disappeared from sight that Liu Changsheng slapped himself.
Smack!
"Ow."
He clutched his face, which stung slightly.
"So it wasn't a dream…"
He muttered in disbelief.
"But why… why would a witch like Zhuang Xin treat a young man like that…?"
There were so many people chasing after Zhuang Xin.
No matter how he thought about it, Liu Changsheng just couldn't understand.
"What the hell does that little bastard have that's so attractive?!"
He ground his teeth, seething with jealousy.
...
Zhuang Xin dragged Ma Jun along at top speed.
She was terrified that Liu Changsheng might say a few more words and expose her.
If Ma Jun got angry, she'd be finished.
She really couldn't take any more of Ma Jun's torment.
"Do you know who wrote the calligraphy I was just looking at?" Ma Jun suddenly asked.
"Huh?"
Zhuang Xin thought about it carefully, then shook her head.
"I'm not sure. But… when I first joined the Aberrant Association, that piece of calligraphy was already there."
"How long have you been here?"
"More than ten years, I guess." Zhuang Xin sighed a little nostalgically. "When I first came, I was still just a young girl."
More than ten years…
Ma Jun frowned slightly.
More than ten years ago, the horror game shouldn't even have been open yet.
And his parents had disappeared about ten years ago as well.
Could it be that time flowed differently?
"Within the Aberrant Association, who's the most senior person?" Ma Jun asked.
He wanted to find out exactly where that calligraphy had come from.
If even the most senior person didn't know, then there was nothing more he could do.
"The most senior?"
Zhuang Xin laughed. "Of course it's the president. Relax—you'll be seeing him very soon."
…
While talking, the two of them entered an extremely grand hall.
The décor style… how should one put it—pure nouveau riche.
As if they wanted to coat everything in gold.
Everything screamed gaudy gold.
It was so dazzling it hurt the eyes.
At that moment, there was a group of people talking in the hall.
A crowd surrounded a round-bodied old man in a Daoist robe, who was speaking animatedly.
When they got closer, Ma Jun could finally hear clearly.
"Master Jingming, I can offer five million!"
"Only five million? You think that's worthy of asking Master Jingming to act? I'll offer ten million!"
"Then I'll offer twenty million!"
The old man's smile was stretched nearly to his ears.
When the bidding heated up and reached fifty million, he finally spoke leisurely:
"Why are you all in such a rush? I never said I could only take one job."
"Since you're all so sincere, I'll help each of you once more."
"The price will be as you said."
"Fifty million per person!"
The two bidders went pale on the spot.
Dazed, they were dragged away to pay.
Zhuang Xin pointed at the old man. "That's the president of the Aberrant Association—Daoist Jingming."
She led Ma Jun up to him and said bluntly, "Old man, I've brought you money!"
Daoist Jingming didn't get angry at all.
On the contrary, when he heard the word "money," his eyes lit up again.
"What good stuff did you get this time?"
"Don't disappoint me."
"Quick, take it out and let me see."
Zhuang Xin smiled. "I guarantee you'll be satisfied."
As she spoke, she gently tugged on Ma Jun's hand.
"Sir Ma, take the items out."
A strange glint flashed through Daoist Jingming's eyes.
"'Sir Ma'? Are you from the Harbor Island Police Force?"
Zhuang Xin quickly introduced him. "This is Sir Ma from the Major Crimes Unit."
"He's a superintendent!"
"Hm?"
Daoist Jingming's smile instantly stiffened, his eyes full of disbelief.
"A superintendent?"
"So young?"
Ma Jun ignored his reaction and calmly took out everything he had obtained from Na Mi's hands.
Except for the two items he needed himself, he handed over everything else.
At first, Daoist Jingming was still composed.
But as Ma Jun kept taking out more items, the expression on his face gradually changed.
"There's more?"
"Even premium corpse oil?"
"My heavens…"
He stared in shock at Ma Jun and Zhuang Xin.
"Did you wipe out that Southern Witchcraft faction's stronghold or something?"
Zhuang Xin looked smug, clearly proud of herself.
"More or less."
"Do you know Na Mi, the one who specialized in Southern Witchcraft curse techniques?"
"He went astray and turned to witchcraft. We killed him."
Daoist Jingming's eyes widened.
"Na Mi? I know that young man—his curse techniques were quite unique."
"You two… actually managed to kill him?"
At that moment, Ma Jun took out the final item.
That blue manual.
Comprehensive Guide to Southern Witchcraft Curse Techniques.
When Daoist Jingming saw the book, his gaze froze, then he let out a long sigh.
"Looks like what you said is true…"
"Na Mi really did die at your—(Li Wang's) hands."
"He was young and promising. What a pity. But cultivation is a dangerous path."
"One wrong step, and there's no turning back."
Zhuang Xin impatiently cut him off.
"Hurry up and exchange the points. Enough of the rambling."
Daoist Jingming's expression quickly turned cheerful again.
"Alright, alright!"
"These are all genuine treasures. Don't worry—the prices I give will definitely satisfy you!"
Ma Jun looked at him and felt a bit speechless.
So this was the president of the Aberrant Association?
He seemed more like a merchant obsessed with money.
Practically blinded by profit.
But Ma Jun didn't care—as long as he could exchange for what he wanted.
"Premium corpse oil: 100 points."
"Ordinary corpse oil: 30 points."
"Infant bone nails: 150 points."
As Daoist Jingming quoted the prices, Zhuang Xin nodded repeatedly, clearly very satisfied.
"As for this cultivation manual…" He hesitated. "Hmm… I'll give you 5,000 points."
Zhuang Xin immediately shouted in shock.
"No way!"
"Why so much?!"
"Five thousand?! Old man, have you gone senile?!"
Daoist Jingming laughed mysteriously.
"Five thousand points isn't much at all."
"Do you know what this is? It's a comprehensive-grade cultivation manual—enough to support an entire sect!"
"The association is in desperate need of manuals like this."
"You're actually getting a bargain!"
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