Chapter 242 - 139: Old Shadow

Chapter 242: Chapter 139: Old Shadow

’A leopard can’t change its spots,’ Xu Mo sneered internally. ’Looks like this group is still running their old racket, preying on lone survivors who’ve just arrived.’

Just then, the man in the grey jacket turned his head, his gaze sweeping over Xu Mo by chance. When his eyes landed on Xu Mo’s face, he froze solid.

The smile on his face instantly congealed, then receded like a tide, replaced by a look mixing horror and dread.

Clearly, the impression Xu Mo had left on him was bone-deep. The prowess Xu Mo had displayed in the courtyard that night had haunted his nightmares for a long time. He never imagined he would run into Xu Mo again in a place like this.

Seeing the man’s terrified expression, Xu Mo’s lips twisted into something that wasn’t quite a smile. His calm gaze fell upon the man, then swept over to the young survivor next to him, who looked utterly lost, with no idea what was going on.

As Xu Mo’s gaze passed over him, the man in the grey jacket felt a chill shoot from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. Though it was the height of summer, he felt as if he had been plunged into an icy cavern, his limbs growing stiff and unresponsive. He instinctively wanted to retreat, to turn and run, but his legs felt as heavy as lead.

The young survivor also sensed that something was wrong. He looked at the stiff-bodied man in the grey jacket, then at Xu Mo, who was carrying some things and watching them with that same not-quite-a-smile. A look of confusion and unease appeared on his face.

’If I hadn’t seen this, I could have just ignored it. Out of sight, out of mind,’ Xu Mo thought. ’But since I’ve run into them, and it’s obvious this grey-jacketed guy is up to no good again, I can’t just look the other way. That young survivor looks like a newcomer; he could easily get scammed if he’s not careful.’

At this thought, Xu Mo’s expression quickly changed to one of warmly bumping into an old friend. He quickened his pace, walking up to the two of them and calling out a loud greeting:

"Hey! If it isn’t Wang! I finally found you!" Xu Mo casually made up a name, his voice rising with just the right amount of feigned surprise. "I’ve been looking all over for you! That... that part I asked you to find for me, any leads on it? I’m in a real bind here!"

As he spoke, he naturally walked right in front of the grey-jacketed man, blocking his line of sight to the young survivor. He clapped a hand on the man’s stiff shoulder in a seemingly friendly gesture, but there was a hidden strength in it, pinning him in place.

Hearing Xu Mo call him "Wang" nearly scared the soul out of the grey-jacketed man. The force from his shoulder terrified him even more. He didn’t dare utter a single "no," and could only squeeze a few broken syllables from his throat: "Ah... it’s—it’s you... That... that part..."

"Yes, yes, that’s the one!" Xu Mo cut in, giving him a look that said, ’You know what I mean.’ Then, as if he’d only just noticed someone else was there, he turned to the bewildered young survivor and gave him an apologetic smile. "My friend, sorry about this. I’ve got some urgent business with Wang. It’s about something really important, you see..."

The young survivor looked at Xu Mo, then back at the "Wang" who couldn’t even manage a complete sentence, and frowned. He was clearly annoyed by the sudden appearance of the grey-jacketed man’s "acquaintance," and by the interruption.

But seeing how familiar Xu Mo and this "Wang" seemed to be, and since Xu Mo was being polite enough, he couldn’t just make a scene. His expression just darkened noticeably, and he said in a sullen, muffled voice, "You two have business? In that case, I’ll just..."

Xu Mo immediately cut in. "Sorry, so sorry, my friend. Really. How about this, Wang, you come with me to sort this out first, and then you can help this gentleman later? Or..." He looked at the young survivor. "If you’re not in a hurry, friend, you could find a tea stall and have a seat? I’ve wasted your time, so let me buy you a bowl of cold tea to apologize."

The young survivor looked suspiciously at the man in the grey jacket, then at Xu Mo. Although he was doubtful and displeased, he was in an unfamiliar place after all. In the end, he just snorted heavily, said, "No need," and, shouldering his bag, turned and walked out of the alley. He glanced back a couple of times as he walked, muttering something under his breath, probably about his bad luck.

As the young survivor walked away, the "warm" smile on Xu Mo’s face vanished without a trace. He released the hand on the grey-jacketed man’s shoulder, but his cold gaze made the man feel even more pressure.

"Wang?" Xu Mo watched him with that not-quite-a-smile. "Business seems to be booming, my friend."

Hearing Xu Mo’s sarcastic words, the man’s legs went weak, and he almost fell to his knees. His face was deathly pale as he frantically waved his hands and explained, "B-Boss! A misunderstanding! A huge misunderstanding! I really wasn’t trying to do anything bad!"

He took a breath, trying to keep his voice from trembling. "That kid just got to the city and was looking for a cheap place to stay. Our courtyard is a legitimate place now; we just rent out a few bunks to make ends meet. Don’t believe me? You can ask him!" He pointed at the retreating back of the young survivor. "We already agreed on a price—two Contribution Points a day, hot water included. There was no coercion, I swear."

Seeing Xu Mo’s gaze remain icy, the man swallowed hard and his words tumbled out faster, a pained smile plastered on his face. "Boss, after you taught us a lesson last time, we were genuinely scared. We’ve seen the light now. In this world, if you walk the crooked path, you’ll eventually run into someone you can’t afford to cross, and that’s the end of the line. Jiang City is in a major construction boom right now; as long as you’re willing to work, you won’t starve. My buddies are all at the construction sites now, hauling bricks and materials. It’s tiring, sure, but the Contribution Points are steady, and we can sleep soundly at night."