Chapter 34: The Grand Show Is About to Begin—I Have to Set the Opening Ablaze (Please Keep Reading)

Inside a dim little house by the roadside.

A small umbrella and some tissues lay by the bedside, the stagnant room filled with a sour, fermented odor.

The young woman sat on the edge of the bed, dressing as she pushed awake the blond-haired man, asking, "Brother, time's up. Are you renewing or settling the bill?"

The blond man snapped awake, glaring fiercely at her and cursing, "Damn it, what money? Who’s paying?"

She hesitated, a little afraid: "No, brother, you slept with me last night, so you have to pay."

He wiped himself with a tissue, smirking shamelessly. "I sleep with you and I have to pay? So does that mean you owe me since you slept with me too? Besides, I was the one working all night; my back’s killing me. You think I’m just here for your pleasure?"

She was utterly confused.

He tightened his belt, and seeing her still dazed, he grabbed a handful of her hair and snarled, "Hurry up and give me 500 bucks for ‘nutritional expenses.’ I’ve got urgent business."

Despite her resentment, her scalp nearly torn off by his grip and seeing the short knife hanging from his belt, she swallowed her pride and reluctantly handed over 500 yuan.

He snatched the money, laughed heartily, and left, "Alright, alright. I’ll come by and screw you again next time I pass through."

She closed the door behind him, cursing bitterly, "Damn the Green Wolf Gang bastards! They even cheat and rob on payment for prostitution. I curse that you’ll be hacked to death as soon as you step outside."

Ten minutes later.

The blond man met up with a red-haired companion, slurping rice rolls at a street vendor.

The redhead looked half asleep and irritated, "I don’t get what Brother Bin wants, having us watch people all day long."

The blond scratched himself and replied, "Whatever Brother Bin orders, that’s what we do. Are you questioning his decisions?"

The redhead hurriedly shook his head, "I’m just wondering what he’s thinking. Just following and not letting us take action? If you ask me, why not just tie up everyone on the list and drag them back to the gang?"

In truth, the blond thought the same, but his ability to be sent out by Brother Bin relied on being fierce and shameless—and keeping his mouth shut.

Just do the job, no questions asked.

“Here they come,” the blond said after rinsing his mouth with tea and spitting it back into the cup, then swaggered toward Feng Mu.

The redhead quickly followed.

The street vendor scowled and packed up the bowls silently, not daring to mention the bill.

Feng Mu was pedaling his bicycle when the blond forcibly stopped him. Feng Mu looked pale as he glanced at them.

The blond was pleased by Feng Mu’s washed-out complexion, assuming he was scared stiff and hadn’t slept all night.

He liked the feeling of being feared. Coldly, he asked, "Where are you headed?"

"To the incineration plant for work," Feng Mu answered honestly.

The blond yanked Feng Mu off the bike and mounted it himself. "Lead the way."

Feng Mu cast wary looks at passersby like they were carrying plague and kept his head down as he walked ahead.

The blond wobbled on the bike, the wheels bumping over rocks and splashing through mud, as if determined to wreck the bike.

They arrived at the incineration plant a full twenty minutes late.

It was Feng Mu’s first tardy at work; not only was his perfect attendance for the month gone, he’d also be docked 100 yuan, cutting his monthly pay by 500 in total.

At the incineration plant’s gate.

The blond kicked the bike over, beckoned Feng Mu closer, and asked, "Know why we’re following you?"

The security guard inside sipped from a thermos, watching coldly.

Feng Mu narrowed his eyes, thinking to himself that there were people all along the way this morning but no suitable moment to act; it was frustrating.

On the surface, however, he forced a look of panic, his cheek muscles trembling with nervousness. "I don’t know."

In truth, Feng Mu was controlling the bones beneath his skin; while he couldn’t break through like finger bones piercing the skin, he could manipulate muscles to reveal subtle expressions.

Maybe, when his "plastic embryo" level rose, he could change faces through his bones—or even grow a bony mask on his face.

Unfortunately, in this world, the entertainment industry was stunted by martial arts dominance, or Feng Mu might have stormed the showbiz world and earned himself a minor Golden Rooster Award.

Feng Mu, an actor trapped by cursed zombies.

The blond sneered coldly and threatened with a dark expression, "Think carefully about what you’ve been up to lately. The Green Wolf Gang doesn’t target you for no reason. Think it through and confess honestly."

Feng Mu was momentarily stunned. He thought the blond was too talented for a thug and should be working in the police station interrogations.

If not for Feng Mu having planted a spy within the Green Wolf Gang beforehand, he might truly have been rattled into a confession by now.

Seeing Feng Mu clench his lips in silence, the blond bared his teeth, pointed to his own eyes, then at Feng Mu, signaling that he would be watching him constantly.

"What time do you finish work?"

"Seven o’clock."

"See you then. Don’t think about running—we know where you live."

"Yeah, don’t miss it," Feng Mu answered with a trembling voice.

The blond and redhead strode away without noticing the strange excitement trembling beneath Feng Mu’s fear.

The security guard continued sipping his goji berry tea, looking at Feng Mu’s retreating figure with pity, thinking the plant might need to recruit more incineration workers soon.

Since he was already late, Feng Mu wasn’t in a hurry.

He leisurely pushed his bike into the shed, washed it clean with a basin of water.

While scrubbing, he chuckled and muttered, "Love to ride, love to ride. System activated a mission—you’ve dodged my clutches before, but today, you nearly got taken down. If I’d known, I might have just eaten you instead, huh? Don’t worry, I’ll get justice for you."

Bicycle Love Ride: "......Thank you, Master."

That morning, Wang Jian seemed to have heard something and asked about Feng Mu’s situation with concern.

Feng Mu remained silent.

Wang Jian then suggested he report to the police: "Go to the station. Wait, isn’t Feng Mu’s dad the chief? Just go to your dad."

In Feng Mu’s problem-solving dictionary, the phrase "ask Dad" simply didn’t exist, as if Feng Mu’s father, Feng Ju, was a forbidden word.

When facing difficulties, his instinct was to exclude Feng Ju as an option.

Partly because the original body had committed suicide, leaving lingering resentment inside that clouded Feng Mu’s thoughts.

Partly because Feng Mu was always ready to leave that family behind; he didn’t want extra complications or deeper ties, especially with Feng Ju—good or bad, he wanted none of it.

Yet,

Wang Jian’s suggestion was like a sudden arc of lightning piercing through a fog, briefly illuminating the full picture and giving Feng Mu a glimpse of understanding.

"Direct surveillance, constant pressure, all among the vulnerable and lowly—normally, you’d report this to the police."

"Someone like me trying to handle it alone, by killing off a gang, is the real outlier."

"So this is Ma Bin’s plan?"

"Using the list as a fuse to provoke the police into cracking down on the Green Wolf Gang. Putting me on the list wasn’t just coincidence—it’s because I’m related to the police, making it easier to rile them up."

"So Ma Bin wants the police to launch a special anti-gang operation. Why? Isn’t he the second-in-command of the Green Wolf Gang?"

"Oh, now I get it—it’s because he’s the second-in-command."

Though some details remained unclear, Feng Mu had grasped the gist.

"What a big show they’ve staged!"

He felt a surge of relief, his worries completely lifted.

The fog that obscured the situation concealed danger everywhere because you never knew where the hidden arrow might strike. But once you see through it, you become the hunter drawing the bow in the shadows.

And you’ll be the one hidden deepest, least noticed.

A well-set stage has its lead, supporting roles, comic relief, and extras... how could it be without the real villain?

Whether influenced or bewitched by the system, Feng Mu suddenly felt the restless elements in his blood and bones stirring.

"Without the real villain, this play isn’t complete. I need to take the stage and ignite the opening scene," he thought.