"Hmph! As long as there's money, there's no intelligence that can't be bought." Old George simplified the matter, for people like them, as long as the problem could be solved with money, it wasn't a problem at all.
"Alright!" The old man shrugged, with a hint of mockery, "Buying the information on the culprit behind the theft of the Snake-Cutting Sword cost one hundred and sixty million dollars. To find out the true identity of Kung Fu Panda this time, it might cost one billion dollars. Who's going to foot the bill?"
"You want me to foot it, don't you! Fine, I'll do it!" George snorted coldly, his tone changing, "But once we have the Snake-Cutting Sword, it must be entrusted to me for safekeeping."
"Hahaha, that's a big joke. The Snake-Cutting Sword is China's national treasure, how can it be entrusted to you alone? It should be our collective responsibility to safeguard it."
"Then I can also demand that this intelligence fee be shared by everyone!"
"Both of you calm down." Seeing the two men getting louder, the silver-haired man intervened helplessly, "You've been fighting for so many years, and now you're both old. Do you really want to keep fighting? God help you, you're definitely going to hell."
"Hmph!" Both old men gave face to the silver-haired man, snorted coldly, and ignored each other.
"What George just said makes sense." Seeing the two men quiet down, the silver-haired man smiled slightly, "The most urgent task is to find out the true identity of Kung Fu Panda. Compared to the Snake-Cutting Sword, even if it costs a hundred billion or a trillion dollars, it's worth it, because in the future, we can regain these losses a hundredfold or a thousandfold."
The silver-haired man's words were agreed upon by everyone present, and in the end, the heads of the fifteen major families unanimously agreed to allocate a maximum of one hundred billion dollars to purchase the real-life identity of Kung Fu Panda.
Three more days passed unconsciously. One afternoon, when Li Nianlong finished building a wall, a melodious voice echoed in his mind: "After unremitting efforts, the host has finally reached the perfect level as an architect, with a special reward of +10 to all four attributes, 100,000 gold coins, and 50,000 experience points. Experience points have reached the maximum, level up!"
"Congratulations to the host for reaching level thirty, and for comprehending the skill 'Plucking Flowers and Leaves.' With this achievement, your permissions are upgraded, and you gain level three permission: Alchemy Room unlocked."
Finally, level thirty!
Li Nianlong immediately immersed his mind in the system space to check his current status.
Li Nianlong: Level 30: (8580/93000)
Strength: 198
Speed: 178
True Qi: 449
Intelligence: 203
Remaining Points: 0
Talent: Seizing Fortune and Avoiding Disaster: Innate ability to sense fortune and disaster, easily avoiding misfortune.
Skills: Wild Fist (Advanced 31%): A chaotic fist can defeat the master. There's no method to the attack, making it difficult for enemies to defend against. Strength +30%, speed +30%, effective time 30 seconds, no cooldown, consumes 20 points of True Qi each time.
Stealth (Grandmaster 8%): Enter stealth mode after activation, speed decreases by 20%, 30% chance of not being detected by interference, cooldown time 7 minutes, effective time 4 minutes, consumes 160 points of True Qi each time.
Heavenly Guardian (Advanced 31%): A layer of protective qi surrounds the entire body, increasing defense by 300%, effective time 3 minutes, no cooldown, consumes 200 points of True Qi each time.
Plucking Flowers and Leaves (Beginner 0%): Powerful True Qi allows for attacking with ease, with a range of 50 meters. Attack power +100%, attack speed +100%, no cooldown, consumes 100 points of True Qi each time.
Gold Coins: 6,724,050
Equipment: Omitted...
Special Items: Seventh layer of "Golden Bell", ninth layer of "Iron Palm", ninth layer of "Snow Traces", ninth layer of "Tiger-Crane Stance", eighth layer of "Diamond Fist", ninth layer of "Praying Mantis Fist".
Life Occupation:
Architect (Perfect Level): Can construct any building. Okay, you can go build a space fortress now.
Acupuncturist (Beginner 0%): Relieves body and mind by stimulating acupoints, equivalent to a top masseur.
Body Artist (Intermediate 23%): Bones meld with flesh, allowing for manipulation of height and appearance without fear of fractures.
Permissions: Level 3 — Shop, Training Ground, Alchemy Room.
...
Dropping the tools, Li Nianlong brushed off the dirt on his body, turned around, and headed downstairs.
"Hey? Xiaoliu, where are you going?" A nearby coworker was puzzled. Li Nianlong usually worked like crazy. Why did he suddenly stop today?
Li Nianlong stopped and turned around, smiling slightly, "I'm done for today. My experience is over." With that, he strode downstairs without hesitation or nostalgia.
The coworker was puzzled: "What does he mean?"
Li Nianlong left in a relaxed manner, without saying goodbye to anyone or asking for his half-day's pay. He just left the construction site like that.
Back at the villa, seeing Li Nianlong return home in the afternoon, Nalan Ruyue's eyes flashed with surprise. She gestured with her hands: Brother, why are you back at this time? Are you not working anymore?
"It's too dirty and tiring. I want to find a new job." Li Nianlong took off his coat, which Nalan Ruyue took over, smiling slightly as she gestured: In that case, why don't you work with me selling buns in the future? The work isn't tiring, and we make good money.
"Forget it." Li Nianlong shook his head. "I've already found a new job. I'll go see it this afternoon. If everything goes well, I'll start tomorrow."
Nalan Ruyue nodded and hung up Li Nianlong's clothes. She smiled and gestured: Brother, have you eaten yet?
"Not yet." Sitting on the sofa, stretching lazily, Li Nianlong turned on the TV. "Get me some buns and another bowl of egg soup."
Nalan Ruyue smiled gently and went into the kitchen to prepare lunch.
"Our latest news, Mr. Liu suddenly vomited blood this morning and was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. Mr. Liu is now out of danger. For more details, please stay tuned to our evening news."
Seeing this news on TV, Li Nianlong clenched his fists, leaned back on the sofa, and felt a wave of fatigue wash over him. He closed his eyes: Old man... Is it almost over?
The steaming buns and egg soup were placed on the coffee table. Li Nianlong opened his eyes and saw the caring and worried
look in Nalan Ruyue's eyes. He gently rubbed her soft hair: "I'm fine, just a bit tired."
Nalan Ruyue nodded gently and gestured: Brother, let's not work for a while, okay? We have enough money at home to cover our expenses for a year. Let's relax together for a while?
Li Nianlong felt warm in his heart, holding Nalan Ruyue's tender hands in his palm, gently rubbing: "Ruyue, don't worry about me. You're the one who shoulders all the household chores. You need to rest more... How about this, my last job just ended, and the new one hasn't started yet. I won't go anywhere these days, just stay at home and relax with you, alright?"
Nalan Ruyue's eyes lit up with joy, her long eyelashes fluttered gently, and her dazzling eyes sparkled with happiness: Okay.
The sun hung high, the autumn air crisp and refreshing.
Since arriving in Tianfu, Nalan Ruyue had never felt as comfortable as she did today. It didn't matter whether she lived in a beautiful house or ate delicious food. When she felt lonely, having Li Nianlong by her side was more important than anything else.
For the first time in over two months, Li Nianlong also relaxed like this, staying at home without working, accompanied by a beautiful woman, with food and drinks readily available, basking in the warm and quiet sunlight of autumn.
As night fell, Li Nianlong accompanied Nalan Ruyue to buy groceries and found an unexpected visitor waiting at the door.
In his twenties, about five feet seven, neither fat nor thin, dressed in a decent gray suit with a touch of charm, but a hint of vulgarity, standing beside a red Maserati, exuding a flamboyant aura.
"Zhao Tianming, why are you here?" Seeing this person, Li Nianlong's eyes flashed with surprise. Just a few days ago, he had thought of this person, his college roommate, and the deputy leader of the Black Rat Gang — Zhao Tianming.
"Hahaha, Long ge, it's been a long time, how have you been?" When Li Nianlong got out of the car, Zhao Tianming's face was full of smiles. He took a few steps forward, giving him a warm hug. "It's been over two years, and I've missed you so much!"
"It's rare for you to think of me." Li Nianlong smiled, patting Zhao Tianming on the back. "How come you're here?"
"I just missed you, so I came to see you." Zhao Tianming laughed heartily, his eyes suddenly falling on Nalan Ruyue, and his eyes lit up, showing a pig-brother-like expression. "Is this the heavenly beauty incarnate, your sister-in-law?" Before Li Nianlong could reply, Zhao Tianming punched him in the shoulder. "Long ge, you're not being honest! You're married and didn't even tell me."