Chapter 89
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Chapter 89: Kunxu’s Dark Side
Hearing the doll mention such a large sum, Zhang Yu’s heart skipped a beat and a flicker of longing appeared in his eyes. He desperately needed to make more money.
After all, in Kunxu, money was potential, a future, and power. Without it, he could not even afford next month’s loan interest. Being broke left him with no sense of security whatsoever.
The doll continued to persuade him, “Moreover, the risks are not as great as you think.”
“The reason you feel it is so dangerous is solely due to the Company’s propaganda. They have relentlessly implanted ideas like ‘do not oppose the Company’ and ‘those who oppose the Company meet a terrible fate’ into your mind.”
“The Dark Tutoring World has persisted for a reason…”
As the doll explained further, Zhang Yu gained a deeper understanding of the situation.
The major companies exerted immense control over the first layer of Kunxu and could even enlist the Eight Ministries of Principal Deities to investigate information on their behalf.
However, their control was not absolute. There were still places beyond their reach and forces capable of concealing themselves from the Eight Ministries’ scrutiny.
“The poorer the place, the more destitute souls there are, and the fewer people who practice cultivation, the worse the infrastructure. There are barely any surveillance cameras, making it the easiest to evade the Company’s oversight.”
“As for the Eight Ministries of Principal Deities and the city government, every major gang pays taxes and professes devout faith. They are still under the protection of the Righteous Gods.”
Zhang Yu was dumbfounded. “Paying taxes and professing devout faith allows you to break the law?”
The doll replied matter-of-factly, “And paying taxes and professing devout faith should prevent you from breaking the law?”
“Moreover, every major gang has the backing of other large companies. Gangs are just one of the tools large companies use to deal with each other. After all, while the Ten Great Sects monopolize Kunxu, the companies under them still have to compete.”
“Gangs are the companies’ tool for dirty work, which is why they have their own space to survive.”
“Listen to me. If you were just an ordinary first-year high school student, I would definitely not recommend you go. But since you possess a Level 10 cultivation technique, you are perfectly suited to hide your identity and do some illegal tutoring.”
“Besides, we’re in the same boat now. If anything happens to you, I will suffer the consequences too. Why would I lie to you?”
Zhang Yu had heard vague rumors about gangs before, but this was his first time hearing such detailed insider information.
Although everything sounded plausible, Zhang Yu still could not fully trust the Evil God before him. He sent a message to Zhang Pianpian to ask about the Dark Tutoring World.
【Zhang Pianpian: Why did you suddenly think to ask about this?】
【Zhang Yu: A friend of mine told me about it. You know I’m short on cash, so I was just looking for ways to make money.】
【Zhang Pianpian: I see. Winning first place in the Martial Dao competition does give you some capital.】
【Zhang Pianpian: Go to this address and give it a try. If you can do it, then do it. If you cannot, then just continue to build up your strength.】
Then Zhang Pianpian video called him.
When Zhang Yu answered, he saw her drawing a talisman with her fingertips. A Concealment Talisman had already traveled through the internet connection and settled on his head.
Zhang Pianpian said, “Alright, this Concealment Talisman can prevent others from seeing your true nature for twelve hours and will help you hide your identity.”
“Additionally, if you want to conceal your face and figure, you can also try using your newly cultivated Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi.”
Zhang Yu watched Zhang Pianpian draw the talisman with curiosity and asked, “What Faith Level is required to master this skill of drawing talismans across the internet?”
Zhang Pianpian replied, “Do not even think about that right now. Just focus on the task at hand.”
After hanging up, Zhang Yu looked at the address Zhang Pianpian had sent. It was a place nearly 70 kilometers from the center of Songyang City, truly a suburb beyond the suburbs.
As he pondered Zhang Pianpian’s words, a thought struck Zhang Yu. Sister knows about the Dark Tutoring World, but she seems to think I might not be able to get a lesson?
Is it because she does not know I already have several Level 10 cultivation techniques? Does she think I will not be able to make it in the Dark Tutoring World?
Zhang Yu’s trust in Zhang Pianpian definitely exceeded his trust in the doll.
He glanced outside at the deep night, where neon lights hung high in the sky. It was the perfect time to head out, especially since he had the Concealment Talisman to hide his identity.
But if I am to enter the Dark Tutoring World, I will definitely need to conceal my identity. Sister mentioned I could try using the Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi for that?
As this thought crossed his mind, Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up. Could it be that I need to control all my muscles to change my appearance?
Just as Zhang Yu was pondering how to use the Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi to alter his appearance, the doll hanging around his neck exclaimed in surprise, “You have such a formidable woman protecting you? She can even draw talismans across the network. Her talisman cultivation must be quite advanced.”
Ignoring the doll, Zhang Yu focused on manipulating the muscles in his face.
With his Level 10 cultivation of the Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi, his control over his entire body’s muscles had already reached an unprecedented peak. He just had not realized this ability could be used to change his appearance.
After a few experimental movements, he saw his reflection drastically transform. His once striking features softened into ordinary ones. By further controlling his muscles, he even managed to shrink his height, completely transforming into what looked like a complete stranger.
***
More than half an hour later, as Zhang Yu drew closer to his destination, the infrastructure grew steadily worse. With about 10 kilometers still to go, even the bus stops disappeared.
Zhang Yu had no choice but to run the rest of the way. Fortunately, his current physical strength allowed him to run quickly without tiring easily.
Along the way, the houses grew shorter, the roads worsened, and the alleys on both sides were pitch-black and silent, with hardly any lights visible.
Zhang Yu felt as if he had traveled from a futuristic metropolis to a dilapidated small town.
Compared to this place, his rented apartment felt like a luxury.
The quiet night made Zhang Yu feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Right, the people living here are all mortals. Naturally, they’re all asleep at this hour.
Sleep. It was a concept that had grown increasingly distant for Zhang Yu and it stirred a wistful feeling in his heart.
But it’s precisely these impoverished areas that give gangs space to survive. They lack surveillance and management because the Companies are unwilling to invest in development here.
Continuing onward, Zhang Yu was just beginning to feel his body warm and sweat beads on his skin when he finally arrived at the address.
The imposing gates, the steady flow of vehicles, the security booth at the entrance, and the sign for the “Songyang Beiyue High-Tech Service Industry Park” all presented a stark contrast to the dark and damp gang hideout he had imagined.
Zhang Yu exclaimed in surprise, “This is a gang territory for illegal tutoring? It looks far too legitimate!”
The doll replied, “They pay their taxes legally and have a devout Faith Level. They’re a legitimate gang.”
Zhang Yu frowned, never having associated the words “gang” and “legitimate” before.
“But shouldn’t gangs be all about violence and operate in the shadows?” he asked, puzzled.
The doll chuckled softly. “Those are just the low-level thugs at the bottom, disposable tools. In this business, it’s all about money and connections. If you only know how to fight and kill, you’ll end up dead in the streets sooner or later.”
The doll seemed to know the area like the back of her hand. “Look at this service industry park,” she explained. “This is the Shadow Study Gang’s territory. They specialize in all kinds of shady business, from illegal tutoring and distributing pirated cultivation arts to reverse-engineering and modifying existing ones. The company behind it all is the Deep Sea Education Group.”
Zhang Yu was surprised again. “Deep Sea Education Group?”
He remembered that the cram school the original owner had sought out was affiliated with the Deep Sea Education Group.
Zhang Yu asked, puzzled, “But isn’t Deep Sea Education Group itself a company that develops cultivation arts and runs tutoring institutions? Why would they support the Shadow Study Gang?”
The doll chuckled. “How naive. They’re not the only company in the education business. The Shadow Study Gang serves as their tool for cracking competitors’ cultivation arts, conducting secret experiments, and taking out rival gangs. In short, they handle all the dirty work.”
As they spoke, Zhang Yu had already entered the park. Following the address Zhang Pianpian had given him, he found the small building’s number.
Along the way, the security guards in the park were courteous and the roadside scenery was pleasant. Zhang Yu could not see a single sign that this was gang territory.
Looking at the small building before him, Zhang Yu pushed the door open and went inside. After a moment’s thought, he followed Zhang Pianpian’s instructions and told the receptionist, “I’m here to offer a class.”
The receptionist smiled and said, “Very good, sir. Please wait in Room 105. Our sales representative will be with you shortly.”
Zhang Yu walked in the direction the receptionist pointed. As he passed several rooms, he faintly heard the sounds of an argument coming from inside one.
“Fucking hell. To sell this martial arts technique, two of my brothers were penalized into bankruptcy, and one was dismembered by the company and sold off. And now you’re trying to undercut me?”
“You blind dog, threatening me won’t work. Gang rules are what they are. This is the tutoring price for a Level 7 technique.”
“Rules! Rules! I used to single-handedly smash the Golden Class Gang’s operations and personally shut down sixteen of their underground tutoring spots. You never told me about the rules back then. Now that I’m old and can’t keep up with the training anymore, you start talking to me about rules…”
As if sensing his approach, the door to the room closed, and Zhang Yu could no longer hear any sounds from inside.
He entered Room 105 and waited for a moment. A refined middle-aged man walked in, closed the door, and politely asked, “Can I help you, sir?”
Just then, the doll’s voice echoed in Zhang Yu’s mind. 「Tell him I have a batch of tutoring sessions to offer. Let him inspect the goods first.」
「You don’t understand the local gangs. Do as I say. Don’t let him think you’re a newbie. Let me handle the pricing. There’s more money to be made that way.」
Zhang Yu was slightly startled, surprised that the doll could transmit its voice directly into his mind.
However, he felt there was nothing wrong with what the doll wanted him to say. He decided to use the doll’s information to guide his conversation with the man.
Lowering his voice, Zhang Yu said, “I have a batch of tutoring sessions to offer. You can inspect the goods first.”
Zhang Yu’s body trembled as streams of milky-white Gang Qi surged from within him, instantly forming a swirling mist that enveloped him.
It was the Level 10 Limitless Cloud Hands.
