Beginning with the Ubume Bird Chapter 38 – Chapter 38: Chapter 38: A Thought Arises

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: A Thought Arises
Editor: Larbre Studio

Li Jiangyu was startled and raised his pistol, but Li Yan wasn't a bit slower, pointing the dark muzzle of his gun at the other man.

Sweat appeared on Li Jiangyu's palms.

“Chang Shen's gunmen couldn't kill you; you're not even afraid of the Serpent. This can't be your first Yan Fu event…”

He clenched his teeth, a chill suddenly running through his heart.

“Are you a Renegade?”

Li Yan frowned, suddenly recalling the fragmented corpses in Xiu's house.

“You say Chang Shen sent people to kill me; it turns out you really are with United Victory.”

Li Jiangyu pursed his lips and said nothing.

Li Yan glanced at the gun in Li Jiangyu's hand.

“An M1923? You can't hold that steady with your left hand, can you?”

“Why don't you try?”

Li Jiangyu hissed through clenched teeth, though somewhat blustering inside.

Li Yan licked his gums, tasting the sweetness and blood in his mouth.

“Let that woman go, and I'll make you a deal. We both throw away our guns, how does that sound?”

Yu's temples throbbed with black veins. Thick black smoke swirled around his body, gradually condensing into the shape of a black python.

Li Yan's eyes widened. If Li Jiangyu had the Serpent with him now and held a pistol in his hand, the advantage he'd gained by sacrificing his right hand would vanish into nothing.

“Shoot, his gun has no bullets!”

Li, who could barely stand, suddenly spoke out. Not loud, but startling enough for both men.

In the end, Li Yan reacted slightly faster and threw his gun over. Why didn't he shoot? Because his gun also had no bullets.

The Serpent bit the pistol but stumbled, as if it might dissipate at any moment.

Li Jiangyu's eyes bulged with rage, and Li Yan's fist was already in his face!

The Serpent hissed furiously to the sky, shattering like glass continuously. As its body shattered into countless pieces, a black streak aimed straight for Li Yan's forehead amid the fragments!

Blistering, fierce, and terrifying.

That was the taste of death.

There was no dodging it…

Li Jiangyu's faced bled from every orifice, eyes bulging outward.

“You've detonated the Serpent voluntarily. The inherited ability will now enter a cooldown period due to a Yan Fu event.”

“Your Expertise forcefully drops by 10%.”

His last skill, Inheritance Detonation!

“Detonate your inheritance actively, paying a huge price for a lethal strike.”

Get past this obstacle first…

Li Jiangyu's gaze was sinister,

“You have discerned your opponent's weakness!”

A Fleeting Glimpse suddenly gave Li Yan a hint!

Weakness Revealed: The next attack (including but not limited to gunfire, bladed weapons, toxins, and any other actions that can harm the opponent) will have its release speed increased by 100%, and its damage intensified by 100%.

“Da”

A hand landed on the handle of the Crooked Leg Knife on Li Jiangyu's shoulder. Drawing the knife and sweeping across in one fluid motion, a ghastly line of blood appeared on Li Jiangyu's neck. The black streak also pierced through Li Yan's forehead!

Li collapsed to the ground, staring blankly at the two motionless men.

Blood dripped down thickly. After a while, she struggled to reach for Li Yan's pant leg.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

Li Yan looked down, gazing indifferently at the woman.

“You…”

Li found herself at a loss for words.

Li Yan, bypassing his injured right hand, picked up Li tenderly, not mentioning the smooth feel of her skin.

“I'll take you to the hospital. Where's Judy?”

Sirens sounded outside the window. Holding Li, Li Yan went to the window to see Judy in the police car looking around frantically, then catching sight of Li Yan holding Li and looking down at her from above, his dirt-streaked face raising an eyebrow at her.

“Huh!”

Judy slumped into her seat.

“You killed the Predator!”

“You have obtained all the purchasing rights the opponent acquired in this Yan Fu event and 30% of the final rewards.”

“Since you possess no inheritance, unfortunately, you do not qualify to devour the Serpent.”

“In three months, I want to see Chang Father and Son in Stanley Prison.”

Sitting in a wheelchair, Judy clasped her hands on the table.

The person opposite to her was quite old, his face buried in the shadows. He glanced at a soup spoon and exchanged words with Judy in proficient Chinese.

“Miss Judy, I fully understand your sentiments; I assure you, the government will not tolerate such heinous criminals running wild in Hong Kong.”

Judy narrowed her eyes.

“Mr. George's Chinese is really good, but I hope you are not just placating me.”

“How could that be?” The man shook his head. “However, I would still prefer Miss Judy to call me by my Chinese name.”

“Then I'm counting on you, Uncle Zhong.”

Judy's face blossomed into a smile. She stood up and picked up the hat that lay beside her.

“In that case, I must take my leave now.”

“So soon?”

George stood up.

“My two friends died in that accident, and I have to attend their funeral.”

Judy's bright eyes dimmed, her appearance stirring pity.

“That's very unfortunate.”

The man sighed and shook his head.

“Uncle Zhong, I've heard that Chang Shen and his son are involved in organized crime and drug trafficking on a large scale in Hong Kong. You must investigate thoroughly.”

“You can count on that.”

The man nodded.

On July 2nd of the Year of the Tiger, Li Yaoguang received a call from The Governor. The moment he hung up, he knew Chang Shen was finished.

…

“Achoo~”

After finishing his third bowl of wonton noodles, Li Yan let out a loud sneeze.

The salty, fishy sea breeze tousled his hair, and sitting across from him with her legs crossed was Judy, wearing a pair of white sandals, her sparkling toes exposed.

At the moment, the two were on a dining boat called Treasure Seafood House, one of Hong Kong's most famous floating restaurants. The boat had a displacement of 3300 tons, could seat nearly four thousand people, and cost 32 million Hong Kong dollars to build, with intricately carved beams and painted rafters that made it resemble a palace.

It's worth mentioning that this boat had been featured in Stephen Chow's 1990s film “God of Cookery,” serving as the very boat where the final “Sorrowful Rice” was made…

Today, the entire boat was reserved for just Judy and Li Yan.

“Have you had enough to eat? Let's talk after you've eaten well…”

“I think I could have another bowl,” Li Yan answered earnestly.

Judy snapped her fingers and said to the approaching waiter,

“Get this gentleman another ten bowls of wonton noodles.”

She said to Li Yan with a cheerful smile, “We have all night.”

The waiter retreated with a smile. This woman had rented the entire boat and ordered thirteen bowls of wonton noodles; he certainly wouldn't have objected, even if Judy had asked for thirty or three hundred bowls, as he would've instructed the kitchen to prepare them immediately.

“That's too much…”

“Why did you break up with me?”

Judy's smile was forced.

Li Yan shrugged.

“Why not ask the Magic Conch?”

Judy swallowed hard, suppressing the urge to curse.

“Is it because of Taishuai?”

When Judy asked this, her eyes were filled with a murderous glare.

“Who?”

Li Yan was slow to catch on.

“Don't play dumb.”

Li Yan shook his head.

“A sharp sword needs a suitable scabbard to rest, not another sword sharper than itself.”

“Then why?”

Li Yan took a sip of hot soup:

“These wonton noodles are really good. Later, you should call the chef over, and I'll ask how they're made.”

Judy watched the man in front of her, not looking too pleased.

“This way, when I leave Hong Kong, I can make them myself.”

Li Yan said this and then looked directly at Judy.

The woman's pretty eyebrows furrowed.

“Where are you going?”

Li Yan didn't speak. The woman took a deep breath.

“I'm asking you, where are you going?”

Judy's gaze was serious, and her voice was raised.

“What's important is not where I'm going, but that I must leave.”

Li Yan's expression became grave,

“Speaking of breaking up, I've been thinking, was I out of my mind? You're beautiful, have a sweet voice, sexy, and come from a wealthy family. A quick fling, take the money, and run—who could find me?”

Li Yan seemed to be talking to himself, yet also explaining to Judy.

“To be honest…” Li Yan looked at Judy seriously.

“I thought you were just playing at first…”

Some issues might be cliché, but cliché does not mean they don't need to be faced. People develop feelings over time, and one thing leads to another, naturally, with an understanding to draw the line.

But Li Yan later realized it wasn't so. He couldn't identify the exact moment—it might have been when Judy flipped her hair revealing her earlobe, or the time when she laughed with her eyebrows arched—but suddenly, he had an absurd epiphany.

“This girl isn't bad, don't hurt her.”

Once this nagging, wholesome idea took root, it just wouldn't go away.

Chapter end