Crossgate Seal Chapter 438

After satisfying his small wish to catch a glimpse of a celebrity, Lu Zheng continued to explore this world-famous tourist destination.
To be honest, there wasn’t anything particularly special about it. The Hollywood Hills were just a small mound, and the rest were various shopping spots, with a level of bustle comparable to Haicheng.
In terms of natural scenery and cultural architecture, this place was far behind Haicheng. It was, frankly, just a reputation.
Lu Zheng checked a travel platform and found that Los Angeles’s must-visit attractions were Universal Studios and Disneyland California.
That was awkward!
Going to those places would, of course, be something to do with Lin Wan. Lu Zheng couldn’t just go wandering there alone. What fun would that be, watching other couples show off their affection?
It’s not like he didn’t have someone!
Of course, as the second-largest city in Beacon Country, dubbed the City of Angels, Los Angeles did have its highlights.
For instance, it had a plethora of nightclubs, far more than Haicheng, along with advertisements for gun shops and shooting ranges. And then…
It seemed that consumable products made from a certain serrated-leaf plant were legal in Beacon Country, so Lu Zheng also noticed shops selling such items and official consumption or injection points.
Truly… a surreal world…
Lu Zheng marveled at the sights, strolling along, his route heading toward Allen Artworks in downtown Los Angeles.
“I’ll scope it out first, then find a hotel in the afternoon and check in with Lin Wan to see how she’s doing.”
Muttering to himself, Lu Zheng followed the map, only to find himself in increasingly remote areas. Then, he saw three Black men blocking the road ahead.
“What’s this?”
Lu Zheng blinked, looking around, and realized the buildings were noticeably shabbier than those on the earlier streets.
“Holy crap, have I wandered into a dangerous neighborhood?”
Looking back, he saw two burly Black men blocking the exit.
Glancing up, he noticed vague faces peeking from a few windows, seemingly watching the spectacle.
“This map navigation isn’t smart at all. It didn’t avoid dangerous areas. What if other travelers followed this route? Wouldn’t that be risky?”
Lu Zheng raised his phone, addressing the three men who had completely blocked the path. “I’m just passing through. Can you let me by?”
The leader sneered, gesturing with his right hand, and the two lackeys rushed forward to grab Lu Zheng’s arms.
“Ugh, why bother?”
Lu Zheng sighed, standing still, then lifted his leg and kicked.
“Thwack! Thwack!”
With two soft thuds, the two charging men flew back even faster.
Lu Zheng shrugged, smiling. “Can I pass now?”
“Chinese kung fu, Jackie Chan!”
Lu Zheng nodded. Fair enough. It was a different era from Bruce Lee’s time. Now, when people saw a Chinese person with martial arts skills, they immediately thought of Jackie Chan.
The two who’d been kicked struggled to their feet, not daring to charge again but cursing under their breath.
Lu Zheng frowned, discreetly casting a Yin-Gathering Curse on each of them.
Seeing Lu Zheng take down his two buddies in an instant, the leader gasped but didn’t answer. Instead, he pulled out a Glock.
Lu Zheng: “…”
The leader spat viciously, “You dare fight back? Wanna die, Chinese guy?”
“Oh, come on!”
Lu Zheng shook his head, then lightly stepped forward, charging straight at him.
“F**k!” The leader cursed, instinctively firing at Lu Zheng.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!”
Three shots later, he realized Lu Zheng was already in front of him.
In a flash, Lu Zheng snatched the gun and pressed the barrel against the leader’s forehead.
The barrel, still hot from firing, made the leader flinch from the burn.
But he didn’t dare cry out, fearing any move might make Lu Zheng pull the trigger.
So, with lightning speed, he raised his hands.
“I surrender! I surrender! Don’t shoot!”
The next moment, one of the burly guys behind pulled a P226 from his waistband, aiming it at Lu Zheng with both hands.
“Drop the gun, or I’ll kill you!”
Lu Zheng smirked, then spun around and charged at the burly guy.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!”
Two seconds later, the burly guy stared dumbfounded at the P226 now pressed against his forehead, while his companion had already expertly put his hands behind his head and crouched down.
Twirling the two guns on his index fingers, Lu Zheng mimicked a move from a Jackie Chan movie, dismantling both guns single-handedly into parts.
“Clatter, clatter—”
Dozens of parts hit the ground. Lu Zheng pulled out his phone, showing the leader the navigation screen. “I’m just passing through. Can I go now?”
“Of course! Of course! Please, go ahead!”
The leader, startled, quickly stepped aside, nodding repeatedly.
Lu Zheng nodded, casting another Yin-Gathering Curse on each of them, then continued on his way following the navigation.
“Talk about bad luck, running into this on my first day.”
“Forget it, Beacon Country’s too dangerous. Better go invisible.”
Turning the corner and ensuring no one could see him, Lu Zheng cast an invisibility spell, and his figure vanished abruptly.
…
“F**k! Chinese kung fu!”
“That was terrifying! Chinese kung fu can really dodge bullets!”
“Movies didn’t lie!”
“Even Jackie Chan can’t dodge bullets, right? This guy’s better than Jackie Chan!”
“Mom, I’m scared to death!”
“Tom, you almost got us killed!”
“Don’t blame me, you shot too!”
“Wait, the direction he’s going… isn’t that Eric’s turf?”
“F**k! Is Eric about to get screwed too?”
“Let’s follow and see!”
The group cautiously shuffled forward but lost sight of Lu Zheng even after leaving their block.
As for how they’d deal with the torment of the curses later, that was their problem.
…
Now invisible, Lu Zheng let loose, scaling walls and rooftops, quickly arriving at the building housing Allen Artworks, a high-rise in the bustling downtown.
“So blatant?”
Allen Artworks occupied an entire floor, the seventeenth, of the office building.
Lu Zheng didn’t bother undoing his invisibility or taking the elevator. He climbed the stairs, reaching the seventeenth floor in no time.
Emerging from the stairwell, he saw the Allen Artworks logo and a pretty receptionist at the front desk.
Bypassing the desk, Lu Zheng slipped inside.
There were several offices, a small meeting room, a few small auction rooms, and a secure vault at the back.
Allen Artworks specialized in acquiring, auctioning, and consigning artworks.
Lu Zheng poked around but found no evidence or issues.
Then, his phone rang. It was Lin Wan.