The next morning, Nightingale held Mi La’s hand and led her out of the Kyoto Spiritual Martial Research Institute.
Mi La was dressed in black leggings with a little skirt, a white jumper and a small waistcoat on top, a white hat on her head, and a red schoolbag on her back. Her delicate little face was brimming with happiness.
“Nightingale sister, hurry up~”
Nightingale straightened her posture, her face showing clear discomfort. It was rather heavy.
Girls have their own troubles too.
On the street beside the research institute, a figure dressed as an ordinary passer-by in a hat glanced at Mi La.
He lightly pressed his earpiece and whispered, “Target has appeared. Information confirmed accurate.”
In a rundown hotel room, Shadow Demon grinned. “Everything proceeds according to plan.”
As he spoke, a black shadow detached from his body. Ten bound people stood before him, their faces twisted in terror, making muffled sounds as they struggled.
The shadow suddenly split into ten parts and burrowed into the ten bodies.
The next moment, the struggling people all fell silent. An evil smirk curved on each of their lips, and they spoke in unison.
“Heh heh heh! Jiang Nan, let’s see how you choose!”
The ten untied themselves and walked out of the hotel.
…
By eleven o’clock, Nightingale and Mi La had reached the fried chicken shop beside Sunset Plaza.
They ordered a children’s meal. Mi La sat on her stool, swinging her little legs, her big eyes drifting to the window now and then.
“Hmm~ Why hasn’t Brother Jiang Nan arrived yet?”
Nightingale smiled. “We agreed on twelve o’clock. You were the one who couldn’t wait to come early.”
Mi La, too impatient to sit still, hopped down. “I’ll wait for Brother Jiang Nan at the door!”
She dashed out of the shop and stood on tiptoe outside, looking around eagerly.
…
At that moment, Jiang Nan and his group of six had already arrived at Sunset Red Plaza.
The plaza was packed with people, many elderly folk out for a stroll.
They had come early because Jiang Nan had a big deal to close with Wang Gang.
Jiang Nan was about to message Wang Gang to ask where he was when he noticed a huge crowd gathered around the sun statue below the plaza, letting out bursts of surprised gasps.
Led by Wang Gang, more than a dozen devilishly muscled men were bare-chested in the depths of winter, flexing and showing off.
Some had even started working out on the spot, steam rising from their bodies.
Wang Gang: ᕕ(ꐦರдರ)ᕤ
“Interested in swimming and fitness?”
One little girl watching the spectacle burst into tears on the spot.
˚‧º·(˚˃̣̣̥᷄⌓˂̣̣̥᷅)‧º·˚
“Grandma! That uncle is so scary!”
Wang Gang’s face froze. He wanted to comfort her but had no idea how, standing there utterly helpless.
Jiang Nan rolled his eyes and walked over. “I’m telling you, you’ll get arrested behaving like this.”
The moment Wang Gang spotted Jiang Nan, his eyes lit up. More than ten muscled giants crowded around.
A wave of heat rolled over, so intense that Zhong Yingxue and Xia Yao dared not come near.
“Nan God, that muscle tonic is insane!”
“We drained all ten barrels. Couldn’t stop.”
“I feel like I’ve reached a whole new level. Give us 100 barrels to start!”
He transferred a billion straight to Jiang Nan. This time Jiang Nan skipped the stall cloth, avoiding the system’s cut. Skill points were plentiful for now anyway.
Better to earn some side money to support the household.
So Jiang Nan began pulling out barrel after barrel of Vigour, while Wang Gang and his men gazed at them in reverent awe.
…
Meanwhile, outside the fried chicken shop, Mi La looked around. Her eyes landed on a candied hawthorn stall nearby, and she hurried over.
“Grandpa! I want three… no, six sticks. Hawthorn flavour!”
“Haha, such a cute little girl. Six sticks, coming up.”
At that moment, Fang Liu approached in a beige trench coat. She removed her mask, revealing a warm, friendly smile.
“Mi La, do you remember me? I’m your Aunt Fang Liu, your Brother Jiang Nan’s friend. We met in the Sahara.”
Mi La paused, staring at Fang Liu with wide eyes for a full three seconds.
Then she broke into a sweet smile. “I remember! Hello, Aunt Fang Liu. What did you want to see me about?”
Fang Liu smiled. “Come with Auntie. I’ll take you to see your Brother Jiang Nan. How does that sound?”
Mi La tilted her head. “Why isn’t Brother Jiang Nan coming to fetch me himself? We agreed he’d meet me here.”
Fang Liu replied, “Jiang Nan is here. He’s over there with his stall. Business is booming, he can’t get away, so he asked Auntie to come pick you up.”
Mi La’s eyes sparkled. “Brother Jiang Nan is here? Really? I’ll go now. Wait while I tell Sister Nightingale!”
She turned to run back inside, but Fang Liu grabbed her arm.
“Tell Sister Nightingale later. Don’t you want to see your Brother Jiang Nan right away?”
Mi La nodded eagerly. “Yes! I’ll tell Sister Nightingale afterwards.”
Grandpa: “Here you go, little girl. Your candied hawthorn. Twelve yuan.”
Mi La rummaged in her schoolbag for money. Fang Liu could no longer keep up the act. Cold sweat soaked her back. She urged, “Forget the candied hawthorn. Just come with Auntie now.”
Mi La frowned. “Auntie, why the rush? These are for Brother Jiang Nan and the others.”
Fang Liu gave an awkward smile and fell silent, waiting quietly to the side.
As Mi La turned away, a cold glint flashed in her big eyes.
The scent of the Undead serum. Mi La knew it all too well.
One of Dracula’s people?
She pulled a twenty-yuan note from her schoolbag. Out of Fang Liu’s sight, she quickly scribbled a few lines on it with a pen.
Fang Liu forced another smile. “Ready yet?”
Mi La took the candied hawthorn and handed the grandpa the twenty-yuan note. “Grandpa, keep the change!”
Grandpa blinked. “Hey, hey, little girl, you can’t do that.”
But Mi La had already walked off, one hand holding the candied hawthorn, the other holding Fang Liu’s hand.
Grandpa scratched his head, looked down at the note, and stood there baffled.
Written on it: “Dracula! Bait! Tracking. Do not worry!”
“What does that mean?”
…
Inside the fried chicken shop, Nightingale glanced at her phone and sent Jiang Nan a message.
