Chapter 248: No Longer Able to Endure
Wang Yin thought to himself: "If a man dares not fight for his own interests, how can he possibly fight for the company? How can he possibly seize what’s rightfully his?"
"If Zhang Yu is this timid, this spineless—if he can’t even muster the courage to come to me when someone close to him is in danger—then his future is limited."
Wang Yin knew with absolute clarity: in Kunxu, one must dare to strive, dare to seize. Only then does a path forward open.
A dog that’s too meek won’t bite anyone.
But one that bites blindly, recklessly—no matter how bold—still has no place.
"He mustn’t lose all courage."
"But he mustn’t disregard rules, either—no biting without my command."
"This time, I’ll break him in. Let him learn that the company’s interests are the absolute bottom line—touching them is unforgivable."
Wang Yin planned to suppress him for now, then later offer a few favors—fine-tune this promising talent, mold him into someone capable of rising under his command.
…
Time passed in fits and starts. Before long, it was September.
With Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen officially becoming seniors, Songyang High School welcomed a new batch of first-year students.
Zhang Yu looked at the fresh faces arriving, seeing in them the same reflection of his past—poor, weak, anxious, desperate.
He glanced down at his bank balance: 43 million.
The number hadn’t grown this month. In fact, it had dipped slightly, drained by his recent expenses and debt repayments.
Because this month’s payment from Wang Zong hadn’t come through.
Zhang Yu understood—Wang Zong was waiting for him to apologize.
If he wanted more money from Wang Zong, he’d have to play by the other man’s rules—crawl, obey, become a dog.
But what if he went to Xinghuo Immortal? What if he chose Wanfa University instead?
Then he’d have to give up the four million Wang Zong promised every month—millions in total.
At this moment, neither the Jinyu Man Tang cultivation technique nor the Cannibal Cow Serenity Heart Technique worked.
It was as if two diverging paths lay before him—but neither appealed.
Zhang Yu remembered the countless times, when he first arrived in Kunxu, he dreamed of escaping poverty, of becoming someone who never had to worry about loan interest.
Now, holding 43 million, he realized: the struggle remained the same.
Either endure endless hardship…
Or ease the pain a little, and become a dog for the rich.
He kept repeating to himself:
"You must endure, Zhang Yu."
"Just like you endured Zhou Chichen, endured Lan Ling."
"With my talent, if I keep enduring, I’ll one day grow strong enough."
At that moment, his phone buzzed.
A message from Chi He, the general manager of Luzhou Group—inviting him and Bai Zhenzhen to a gathering that evening.
…
At the party, as soon as Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen arrived, Wang Zong greeted them with open arms, pulling them close, feeding them drugs, forcing drink after drink.
Then he led them to a massive blood pool.
Before them stood a vast, pulsing basin, its outer walls carved with lifelike reliefs—figures that looked disturbingly real.
“This is a Qi-Refinement Blood Pool, built upon the foundation of eighteen Peak Qi-Refinement masters,” Wang Zong explained.
“Their life force is bound to the pool. They continuously circulate energy through it, day and night.”
“Whoever enters it will naturally be swept up by the flow. It’s as if those eighteen masters are channeling energy for you—just by soaking in it, you gain the benefits of constant, relentless cultivation.”
“Should you complete your foundation-building here, your physical strength will reach Level 12 or higher from the start. You’ll skip at least a year of grueling effort.”
Zhang Yu stared at the figures carved into the wall—chest rising, heart still beating.
He didn’t feel the same nausea he had when seeing the living racks before.
After all, he’d grown used to the aesthetic of Youming Sect—its style was unapologetically extreme.
It was all about birth, unrestrained, unremitting.
You could only imagine, they’d go beyond anything you could conceive.
Though Zhang Yu still disliked the style, he no longer showed it on his face.
What chilled him more was: "These things are priceless."
"Wang Yin gives me such valuable gifts… without me even apologizing?"
It wasn’t just the style—it was the man himself.
Wang Yin’s behavior was becoming clearer to Zhang Yu.
And the fact that he’d handed over something so extravagant, without any prior condition…
That sent a cold shiver down his spine.
After finishing the explanation, Wang Zong patted Bai Zhenzhen’s shoulder, his tone soft, almost affectionate.
“A Zhen,” he said, “there’s something I need to tell you.”
He gently brushed her hair.
“I’m sorry,” he continued, “but a guest of great importance has taken an interest in your body. They’ve offered a fortune to purchase it.”
“The deal came suddenly, but the price is more than fair. So I’ve decided to accept it on your behalf.”
“A Zhen… it’s time to change bodies.”
The words hit like thunder.
Both Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen froze—shocked, stunned, hearts thundering.
Wang Zong stroked her head like a beloved pet.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “After the change, I won’t treat you poorly.”
“There’s this blood pool. I’ll find you a stronger body. You’ll recover your cultivation in no time.”
“Just endure a little pain now. In the future, I’ll train you well. I’ll make sure you’re rewarded.”
He smiled.
“Once you’re at Youming University, you’ll understand—changing bodies is common. Nothing unusual.”
His gaze was calm. His tone, matter-of-fact.
Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen both felt it—the sincerity in his words.
He wasn’t bluffing.
He truly intended to sell her.
He genuinely believed he was doing her a favor.
That he was paying enough.
That changing bodies was nothing.
As Bai Zhenzhen trembled slightly, Zhang Yu reached out and gripped her hand.
He smiled at Wang Zong.
“Sure, Wang Zong,” he said. “I’ll accept on her behalf.”
“But can we have a few days to prepare?”
Wang Yin gave a slight nod.
“Go ahead.”
…
Outside the Luzhou Tower, walking back to their apartment in silence, hands still clasped, neither spoke.
Only when they stepped inside did Bai Zhenzhen break the silence.
She tightened her grip on Zhang Yu’s hand, turning him around.
“Yu-zi,” she said, “don’t do anything reckless.”
“I’ll give you Zhen Linggen. If I have to change bodies, I’ll change bodies.”
“As long as the Spirit Root remains, it doesn’t matter. It’s just like Wang Zong said—once you’re settled, you’ll recover quickly.”
Zhang Yu spoke quietly.
“And what if you can’t recover? What if you can’t do it in these next two years of senior high? What if the new body doesn’t suit you? If it doesn’t match your spirit?”
He shook his head.
“A Zhen… I’ve made up my mind.”
Bai Zhenzhen sighed.
“What do you propose? Fight Wang Zong? Even if we ignore how much money and manpower Luzhou Group has—do you think we can even beat Wang Zong’s Semi-Automatic Lushu? We’ve already tried. We’ve died trying. The odds? Zero.”
She had combat experience. She had the insight from Zhen Linggen.
And through countless simulations, she had reached one undeniable conclusion:
Zero chance of victory.
Zhang Yu exhaled slowly.
“A Zhen… I want to endure.”
“He stirred up trouble in Songyang City—I endured.”
“He disrupted the First Layer—I endured.”
“He sold Lao Zhao—still, I endured.”
“I kept thinking… if I just endure, if I get rich, if I grow strong… then I won’t have to endure anymore.”
“But he should never have done this.”
Now he wants to sell you.”
Cold light flickered in Zhang Yu’s eyes.
A fierce, unyielding battle spirit began to gather in his mind.
“A Zhen… I really wanted to endure.
But this damned Kunxu. This damned world. This damned company. These damned rich men… they keep pushing us. Pushing us until there’s no more room to endure.”
“So I’ve realized.”
In his mental visualization, the long-dormant, broken ox—the残牛—seemed to stir, slowly opening its eyes.
“To Wang Zong, if someone offers enough, he’ll sell us.”
“That’s Luzhou Group. That’s Youming Palace. That’s Kunxu.”
“To them, we’re not even pets. We’re just assets.
To sell us, they’ll give you a warning, a little compensation, a high price—that’s mercy.”
Now, Zhang Yu’s face was cold. Still.
The sharp edge he’d lost in the comfort of recent days had returned, honed anew.
“But the same applies the other way.”
“If someone offers enough, he’ll sell us.”
“Then if someone offers us enough… we can sell him.”
Zhang Yu said coldly:
“That’s just how Kunxu works.”
Fujie, hearing this, suddenly burst into laughter.
“Nice one, kid. You’re getting deeper into Kunxu than ever.”
She knew Zhang Yu wouldn’t give up Bai Zhenzhen.
Trying to talk him out would only anger him.
So instead, she stopped persuading—and decided to help plan.
Beside her, Bai Zhenzhen listened, her gaze flickering.
If she could avoid selling her body… why would she want to change?
Now, seeing Zhang Yu’s resolute expression, she felt the strength of his will.
“Yu-zi,” she said softly, “I understand.”
“I… don’t want to sell my body either.”
She exhaled, her eyes sharpening with blade-like intent.
“Then we won’t endure anymore.”
“Fine. We’ll fight.”
“After all, poor people like us have to carve our own path. And fighting is inevitable.”
“We’ve been too comfortable these past months.”
“Tell me… what’s your plan?”
Fujie added:
“From your last talk with Xinghuo Immortal and Deng Bingding, it’s clear—the higher sects are using Zheng Shen and that Golden Core Immortal to counter Luzhou Group.”
“You need to ride their momentum.”
Zhang Yu opened his phone’s contact list, found Deng Bingding’s number.
He called.
“Alright,” he said, “what’s your plan to deal with him?”
Deng Bingding’s mind stirred.
So… the time has come.
(End of Chapter)
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