Wang Li stepped into the ruins, a stark contrast to the slum he had known. The air felt different here—charged with a strange energy. He looked around, confused, only to overhear two people gossiping nearby.
"Did you hear? The government destroyed the slums," one man said, shaking his head. "They couldn't have a ruin so close to those filthy areas. Too many problems, you know?"
"Yeah, but they gave the people good money to relocate. Now this place is a hunting ground for explorers," the other replied, glancing at Wang Li.
As the words sunk in, a wave of dread washed over Wang Li. With the slums gone and no friends left to help him, he was utterly alone. He had to think fast. The bodies of the golem and the snake were his only assets, but selling them through legitimate channels would raise too many questions. He wasn't a recognized hunter, and without a license, he'd only draw suspicion.
No, he needed to sell them on the black market. There, it didn't matter who he was—only what he had to offer.
Before heading to the black market, he decided he should clean up. He hadn't bathed in three days, and his clothes were in tatters. With a few coins in his pocket, he purchased a set of fresh clothes and made his way to a public bathhouse. The water was soothing against his skin, washing away the grime and fatigue. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, realizing his hair had grown unkempt during his struggles.
After a quick haircut, Wang Li emerged feeling like a new man. He dressed in clean clothes, the fabric hugging his newly toned physique, a result of battling countless monsters.
With a slight bounce in his step, he headed to a nearby restaurant. As he entered, heads turned, and whispers filled the air. Women blushed as they looked at him, their eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and admiration. Wang Li was oblivious to the attention, brushing it off as he found a seat.
He washed his hands in the restroom, glancing at himself in the mirror once more. I look different, he thought, surprised by the changes. Perhaps the battles had transformed him more than he realized.
Wang Li ordered ramen, his stomach growling in anticipation. As he waited, a news segment blared from the television mounted on the wall.
"Breaking news: Mr. Zhang Tao, the sixth strongest member of the Black Demon Guild, has died in the ruins. Only Ms. Luciana and her Cloud Guild team survived, while Mr. Kim Yun is in a coma. The Cloud Guild has stated they have no knowledge of the events that led to this tragedy, as they retreated some time ago. With such heavy casualties, the Chinese government has decided to send another team to investigate."
Wang Li's heart raced. So those two were from the Black Demon Guild and the International Guild! They had entered the palace he had warned them about. His stomach twisted at the thought. He had tried to save them, but they hadn't listened.
He shook his head, the implications of their deaths weighing heavily on him. If the new team comes, I must close the portal. I can't let anyone else fall victim to that entity. He finished his meal, the taste bland against the backdrop of his thoughts.
"I can't even taste this," he muttered, realizing his loss of smell power from previous battles. He had no time to waste; he needed to reach the black market and sell the bodies before anyone else could interfere.
As he stepped outside, the noise of the bustling street faded into the background. His mind raced with possibilities, but one thing was clear: he had to act fast. The ruin was a dangerous place, and he couldn't afford to let more lives be lost.