"Ah!!!"
Piercing screams echoed through the clouds.
Looking at the distorted face of the security guard, Liu Zheng felt an inexplicable comfort.
This instance world was full of things that seemed right but weren't, always putting pressure on his spirit.
Those almost-human inhabitants also made him feel irritated deep inside.
But Liu Zheng had always been suppressing his thoughts, keeping himself rational to the point of numbness.
Now, that familiar wail was back.
It was as if he wasn't in an instance, but had returned to reality.
Being hit would cause screaming, being killed would result in death—how reassuring these rules were.
"Hahaha."
Liu Zheng's mad laughter tore open the security guard's clothes.
A standard-issue dagger with its scabbard appeared before his eyes.
"Oh, it's this."
He drew the dagger, holding it in reverse, with the blade extending from between his knuckles.
"You guys are really unlucky."
Liu Zheng ducked a security guard's punch, then with an upward thrust, hit the neck straight on.
He had never formally trained in close combat, but he happened to know a bit about knife fighting.
The unlucky security guard's eyes bulged as he reached out to grab the dagger, trying to stop Liu Zheng.
But in the next second, Liu Zheng pulled out the dagger, severing two tendons like earthworms along with two fingers.
Bright red blood sprayed out from the damaged artery due to high pressure, splashing all over Liu Zheng's face.
This made him even more excited.
"Bang!"
A heavy fist hit him right in the face.
Liu Zheng shook his head, looking at the security guard who had hit him.
The latter's face was already devoid of any smile, only seriousness remained.
"Don't be so tense, how about a smile?"
He said soothingly.
The security guard didn't speak but swung another punch, smashing toward his face.
Liu Zheng pushed off with his right foot, a standard left side-step dodging the attack, then used his fist, still holding the dagger, to strike right below the security guard's ear.
The hard metal handle made his palm hurt, but the security guard's feeling was much worse.
In the midst of intense dizziness, the security guard swayed and fell toward the ground.
Liu Zheng thoughtfully supported him, then used the dagger to cut the sides of his mouth.
Seeming to find the opening not big enough, he inserted his fingers and pulled forcefully to both sides until the bright red gums and white molars were exposed.
"Look, such a sweet smile."
Liu Zheng nodded in satisfaction, then said to the remaining security guard.
The other security guard let out an incomprehensible shout and rushed up, swinging a plastic baton like a madman.
Liu Zheng could have easily dodged, but a severe spasm in his throat stopped him.
The plastic baton hit his head solidly, blood flowing from his forehead, covering one eye.
"Damn!"
Liu Zheng cursed, desperately trying to focus.
But concussion wasn't something simple willpower could resist; his vision became blurry.
In a hazy view, he saw the security guard raising the plastic baton again.
Liu Zheng didn't have time to think and collided right into the security guard's arms.
Caught off guard, the guard could only raise the plastic baton to strike at his back.
One strike, two strikes, three strikes...
The security guard gradually stopped attacking, leaning his head on Liu Zheng's shoulder.
He pushed the security guard away; the dagger was buried in his chest, the handle all the way in.
"Hehe."
Liu Zheng sat on the ground gasping for breath.
Not just because of his throat discomfort but also the pain in his back and the throbbing in his lungs.
After resting for half a minute, he supported himself on the body of the security guard and stood up.
Although Liu Zheng was badly injured, he still had duties to attend to.
Fortunately, although the elevator didn't stop on the first floor, Yipin Tian Villa had a one-lift-per-apartment arrangement.
The elevator doors opened, and he staggered over to the door of 301.
"Ding ding ding."
Liu Zheng pressed the doorbell.
"Please wait."
A woman's voice came from inside.
"Hmm?"
He frowned slightly. Wasn't it Mr. Li?
A few seconds later, the door opened, and a maid in a Gothic dress with white silk stockings looked up at him.
Seeing Liu Zheng with his head covered in blood, there was not the slightest ripple of emotion on her face.
"I am the deliveryman from Bloody Restaurant. This is Mr. Li's order."
Liu Zheng took the initiative to say.
"Thank you for your hard work. Please hand it to me."
The maid spoke flatly, her voice and demeanour as steady as that of an old butler who had served generations.
"I'm sorry, but the restaurant requires us to deliver it directly to the customer."
He showed no intention of handing it over.
"Then please wait a moment. I will go ask the master for instructions."
The maid did not persist; instead, she turned and went back inside, then ascended the staircase.
A few minutes later, a silver-haired elderly gentleman, supported by the maid, came down the stairs.
He was emaciated, his face full of wrinkles, but with few age spots, and his eyes even clearer than those of a younger man.
He wore a set of pink silk pajamas embroidered with some type of spore-bearing plant pattern.
"Has my sashimi arrived?"
The old man asked loudly.
"May I ask if you are Mr. Li?"
"It's me."
The old man nodded his head.
"Sorry, Mr. Li. I'm new here. Do you have anything that can prove your identity?"
Liu Zheng asked.
Although this might annoy the other party, it was better than making a mistake at a critical moment.
"No problem, young man."
The old man said with an indulgent smile, then pulled out a mobile phone from his pajama pocket.
"Xiao Jiu, call Miss Si for me."
"Yes, Master."
The maid took the phone and dialed a series of numbers.
Unintentionally, Liu Zheng memorized that string of digits.
"Hello, Miss Si? Sorry to bother you. Your employee is here to deliver an order and wants to verify my identity. Could you please speak to him? "
After the phone connected, the old man took the phone and spoke, then handed the phone to Liu Zheng.
He took the phone, pressing the microphone to his ear.
"Good day, boss. I am Liu Zheng, the new deliveryman."
He said respectfully.
"I know. His identity is no problem. Please give him the order."
Indeed, it was Si Xue's emotionless voice on the other end of the phone.
"Understood, boss."
Before Liu Zheng had finished speaking, he heard a dial tone in his ear.
"So, young man, can you hand over the order to me now?"
Mr. Li said, smiling.
"Of course, here is your order."
Liu Zheng handed over the order.
Mr. Li looked at the order slip briefly, sighing.
"It's this one today. What a pity."
"Is there a problem with the dish?"
He asked.
"No problem at all. I really like this dish. Unfortunately, I've been ill lately, and the doctor has advised against eating any ìoffalî type foods."
Mr. Li said regretfully.
In appearance, "offal" refers to eyebrows, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth; medically, it refers to the eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and tongue.
No matter which version Mr. Li meant, eyeballs were included.
"Then I wish you a speedy recovery."
Liu Zheng said politely and turned to leave.
"Wait a moment, young man. It's a shame to waste such good ingredients, why don't you eat it yourself?"
Mr. Li stopped him.
"Ah, me?"
Liu Zheng turned around, startled as if he was some catfish spirit.
Well now, it seemed they had been waiting for him all along.