My Dream Connects to 3000 Years in the Future

’Damn it,’ Yang Keshe cursed inwardly. ’Qi Heng must have deliberately investigated my casino back when he was a captain. He probably even planned to fleece me for all I’m worth at some point—otherwise, there’s no way he could have such a precise grasp of my bottom line right now...’

"Mr. Zhu... I believe I’ve heard that name!" Seeing Yang Keshe agree, Qi Heng’s expression returned to normal. He sat back down and mused, "Isn’t he the capable new subordinate Li Kang just recruited?"

Chu Bamboo’s lips tightened slightly. It wasn’t surprising that Qi Heng didn’t know him well.

After all, in this main timeline... he and Qi Heng hadn’t come face-to-face during this period.

"This man... he’s not easy to deal with!" Qi Heng’s attitude seemed to shift again, but Chu Bamboo could tell at a glance that Qi Heng was just posturing...

"With your magnanimity, your imposing presence, and your immense strength! Would you really fear a petty slum mafia boss?" Yang Keshe flattered smoothly, adding a little jab at the end. "Besides, he has a grudge against you..."

"Hmph! My grudge is with Li Kang. That man is just his subordinate. What kind of grudge could I have with him?" Qi Heng said dismissively. ’While I was under house arrest, I did hear that he supposedly had a hand in my capture, but I never met him, not once!’

’It just means Li Kang must have given the order, and the man was just acting professionally... There’s no reason for me to bypass Li Kang and go after a mere subordinate.’

"Then what you’re saying is..." Yang Keshe looked at Qi Heng with a pitiful expression. ’We already agreed on a price, what’s this about?’ "And if you’re asking for more money," he added, "you should know... what I offered before really is my absolute limit!"

There was a bitter edge to Yang Keshe’s voice.

"I know. So, I won’t ask for any more money... In addition to the Qian Coins... I want a Second Realm Spiritual Artifact!" Qi Heng’s demand was exorbitant. ’I’ve already decided to take the job anyway,’ he thought. ’Even though this Mr. Zhu from the slums has a big reputation, and I’ve heard he recently got connected with some big shot in the First District...’

’But what does that have to do with me?!’

’I’m leaving anyway! I’ll go to the Celestial Capital, or some other big city, and live under a new identity.’

’Even a big shot from Jinghai City couldn’t force the Celestial Capital to cooperate with a full-scale investigation of me.’

’In terms of political status alone, as one of the two capitals, it ranks slightly higher than Jinghai City... Besides, no one here could know that my first destination will be the Celestial Capital... Under these circumstances, as long as the reward is high enough, I might as well take the job!’

Yang Keshe froze. When he snapped out of it, his scalp went numb. ’He might as well have just asked for more money.’

’Where am I supposed to get a Spiritual Artifact...?’ After a moment of thought, Yang Keshe’s gaze drifted over to Chu Bamboo.

"...My Lord?" his voice was filled with hope. ’I don’t get why the real boss isn’t here, but you’re my superior, aren’t you? This is your problem to solve!’

"Even if you helped me once, business is business!" Qi Heng’s gaze shifted back to the fox-masked Chu Bamboo, his brow furrowed and his words cold. ’If it was just a matter of face, I could grant a favor... but if someone stood in my way...’

"Mr. Qi... In my opinion, if you really kill the ruler of the slums, with a contribution like that, forget a Level 2 Spiritual Artifact—we could even consider giving you a Third-level Forbidden Artifact!" Chu Bamboo’s tone was calm and unhurried.

The ferocity in Qi Heng’s eyes deepened... ’Huh?’ He was stunned, thinking he must have misheard. After organizing his thoughts and understanding Chu Bamboo’s hidden meaning, his eyes instantly lit up. "Please, speak plainly."

"Oh, by the way," Chu Bamboo said, as if it were an afterthought, "I believe, according to the latest information I’ve received, the Chief... just gave Li Kang a 4-24 Forbidden Artifact?"

Qi Heng suddenly fell silent.

"...You know a lot?" Qi Heng no longer saw the person before him as just some lucky guy who’d happened to earn a favor from him. His words now carried a hint of apprehension... ’Anyone who can get intel on the Chief... you can’t overestimate them! And it sounds like this intel is from today... That’s terrifying.’

’After all, the Chief was...’

Even now, the memory of the oppressive presence the Chief exuded was enough to make an uncontrollable cold sweat trickle down Qi Heng’s back.

"I only know what I should know," Chu Bamboo said calmly. "However, I adhere to the principle of Equivalent Exchange, as advocated by the Third."

’The Third!’ Qi Heng inwardly sucked in a cold breath, his posture straightening subconsciously. ’Aren’t you connected to the Eleventh Apostle? How did you get involved with the Third...’

’But considering the thirteen insane Apostles of the All-Powerful Lineage are completely incompetent at managing their factions, and their subordinates are a total mess, it wasn’t entirely impossible that the person before me was a two-timing servant working for both Eleven and the Third...’

"What do you want in exchange?" Qi Heng asked, choosing his words carefully. "Let me be clear, if it’s about money..."

"What would I want with that?" Chu Bamboo sneered coldly. "The only use you have for me right now is to satisfy my curiosity. After all, you’re just a stray dog..."

The harsh words made Qi Heng’s expression darken, but this attitude actually made him more convinced.

He suppressed his inner rage and listened quietly.

Chu Bamboo’s fingers idly stroked the armrest of the sofa. "Tell me," he said nonchalantly, "how did you get out of prison?"

"..." Qi Heng was quiet for a long moment, calculating inwardly. After a while, he determined that telling him probably wouldn’t have any consequences. ’As I keep telling myself, I’m about to get a new identity anyway!’

’So, is this guy really just asking a random question because he’s a firm believer in Equivalent Exchange?’

At this thought, Qi Heng’s demeanor relaxed slightly. In a calm voice, he said, "Actually, it wasn’t prison, just house arrest... As for how I escaped!"

"For one, the Chief didn’t pay much attention to me after ordering my confinement. And for another... I also have some connections with the Hehuan Sect."

Yang Keshe: "???"

Chu Bamboo, however, was not surprised at all and simply continued to listen intently. ’Qi Heng is merely cooperating with the All-Powerful Lineage; he hasn’t actually joined them... Given his status, once he crossed the mental threshold of allying with a Demon Dao Sect, he naturally threw all caution to the wind.’

’Never mind the Hehuan Sect; Qi Heng probably wouldn’t even spare the remaining Five Poison Sect.’

"The Hehuan Sect has infiltrated the logistics department very deeply! Hmph, those orphans in logistics may seem as proud as wolves, but they’re helpless against the gentle women of Jiangnan." A smile touched Qi Heng’s lips before disappearing again. "So, with the Hehuan Sect’s help, I cashed in a favor they owed me... They pulled some strings, influenced those hot-blooded young men in logistics, and got me released... And the Hehuan Sect also promised they’d have logistics buy me some time!"

"But no matter how hard they try... the most they can buy me is one day... Otherwise, if this gets out, the moles they’ve planted will be exposed too... The risk is too great! They’d never accept that."

He paused briefly.

"Alright, so what’s your next..." Qi Heng looked at Chu Bamboo again.

"Tell me the Hehuan Sect’s infiltration list," Chu Bamboo demanded, his expression unchanged as he made another exorbitant request.

The moment he saw Qi Heng’s expression change, Chu Bamboo, completely unflustered, shot him a sidelong glance and scoffed, "Don’t tell me... You don’t seriously think that just saying those few sentences is worth a... Fourth-level Forbidden Artifact, do you? And don’t forget, you also asked me for a Third-level Forbidden Artifact!"

"? Wait, you mean," Qi Heng was so startled he thought he misheard, repeating in disbelief, "you’ll give me an additional Level 3 one?"

’I’d assumed the "4-24" intel was just a ploy because this man was reluctant to part with a Third-level Forbidden Artifact. The idea was for me to kill Mr. Zhu of the slums, then use the opportunity to get my revenge by ambushing and killing Li Kang before he could use his new Forbidden Artifact, letting me steal the Artifact for myself.’

"What do you think?" Chu Bamboo snorted. "Speak!"

This time, Qi Heng truly hesitated, seriously considering whether to talk or not. He’d had his share of fleeting affairs with the women of the Hehuan Sect, and he’d even developed some genuine feelings for one of them.

But, thinking of how things had come to this, he finally gritted his teeth. "Fine..."

’I’m leaving anyway! Might as well sell them out... With money and a Forbidden Artifact, will I ever be short on women in the future?’

At this thought, Qi Heng suddenly felt a sense of clarity. He immediately began to describe in detail the Hehuan Sect’s list of contacts as he knew it—he wasn’t worried that the fox-masked figure in front of him would go back on his word.

’After all, I have confidence in my own strength...’

’Besides, even if the fox-masked man is stronger than me, he can’t possibly kill me in one shot! Otherwise, he could have just captured me and forced me to do his bidding, right?’

’And it wouldn’t have cost him a thing!’

’And as long as I’m not killed instantly, I could tear through the wall if I wanted to... and expose my Extraordinary power to the gamblers outside... At that point, the Captain’s Office would arrive immediately. Although I’d be captured, the All-Powerful Lineage would also be rounded up and purged!’

’I’m holding the possibility of mutual destruction in my hands!’

’Under these circumstances, a win-win situation is for the best. The other party has no reason to first offer an unbelievably huge benefit when they could have just haggled, only to go back on their word later.’

’Analyzed from this angle, the cost and the risk are negligible... but the potential return on investment is far, far greater than the potential cost...’

「Finally.」

Chu Bamboo finished listening. His expression was somewhat stern as he compared the new information with the intelligence on the Hehuan he already possessed, cross-referencing them... and came to realize many things.

"Whew! Truly remarkable," Chu Bamboo suddenly exclaimed in admiration. "These Demon Cult Influences... they really have their own methods and countless heroes among them."

’On the surface, the various Orthodoxy sects in Jinghai are at each other’s throats. Given that the Demon Dao Sects are being suppressed by both the Orthodoxy and the Officials, it’s nearly impossible for them to compete... But the three great Demon Dao Sects found another way, choosing to become parasites on the most powerful faction...’

"So, may I ask, about that Level 3..." Qi Heng finally couldn’t hold back any longer, his tone slightly urgent. But before he could finish, Chu Bamboo bit down on the poison capsule hidden in his back tooth.

「The next moment.」

Time began to reverse.