Chapter Seventy-Three: The Secretive Clan

Soon, he saw a figure rushing quickly toward the exit of the scenic area—it was Charlie. However, Charlie’s hand didn’t seem to have fully healed yet.

Not far behind him, another person followed, deliberately keeping a certain distance.

Marcus appeared to be in much better shape, but he was still carefully keeping his distance from Charlie.

Xiao Zhang hadn’t expected Marcus, after being beaten and sent who-knows-where, would still act as if nothing had happened.

The two of them saw Xiao Zhang from afar and paused in surprise, stopping in their tracks.

Charlie grinned broadly and shouted, “It really is you! I knew you wouldn’t die so easily! You were the one who completed the instance, weren’t you?”

Xiao Zhang didn’t reply, only smiled faintly at the two of them.

Marcus eyed Xiao Zhang warily and instinctively backed away a few steps, his voice cold, “Xiao Zhang? Where is Qi Guan?”

Xiao Zhang smiled, “He’s already been picked up by his people.”

Marcus’s expression eased considerably. “Thank you for saving me in the instance.”

“You’re welcome.”

Charlie suddenly spoke in a low voice, “Thank you for saving me!”

“You’re welcome,” Xiao Zhang replied with a gentle smile, stepping aside to clear the path. “By the way, do you know someone called the Resentful Ghost? Is that Mutian Yihuai your leader?”

Charlie shook his head. “No, he was just the temporary captain of our team.”

Marcus exhaled, fixing his gaze on Xiao Zhang. He spoke in a serious tone, “Thank you! You’re a good person, but in this game, good people rarely last long.”

He swiftly brushed past Xiao Zhang, walked a few steps away, then turned back and said, “But I hope you can last a little longer. If I leave my organization someday, would you take me in?”

“Of course. You’re always welcome,” Xiao Zhang replied with a smile, watching Marcus walk away.

Charlie glanced at Xiao Zhang and suddenly said, “Goodbye. Maybe we’ll have a chance to work together in the future.”

“Goodbye.” In truth, Xiao Zhang had come here to see if Lya would also leave this way.

At that moment, Mo Xiaoxiao poked her head out of the car window. “Xiao Zhang, Zhao Bai has already picked up his brother and returned to the hotel.”

Xiao Zhang breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. “What are we waiting for, then? Get in the car, let’s go!”

It was at times like these that the benefits of having a wealthy teammate like Mo Xiaoxiao became evident.

They returned to the city, where Mo Xiaoxiao had already booked a comfortable suite in a high-end hotel and prepared plenty of medical supplies, food, clothes, and more.

Xiao Zhang was the first to arrive back at the hotel. Upon entering, everyone began to enjoy the food.

Late at night, Xiao Zhang stood on the rooftop, gazing at the city under the night sky. He sat on the edge, his legs dangling over the side of the building. The strong night wind at this height tossed his hair about. Draining a can of beer, he crushed it in his hand and tossed it carelessly behind him.

Hearing footsteps behind, Xiao Zhang gave a wry smile. “You’re here?”

“Yes. I heard everything you and Zhao Bai said,” came Mo Xiaoxiao’s gentle voice from behind. “I figured you probably couldn’t sleep.”

“How did you know I’d be on the rooftop?”

“Zhao Bai told me,” Mo Xiaoxiao replied with a small smile.

“I’m just up here drinking beer,” Xiao Zhang said with a grin.

Mo Xiaoxiao sat down beside him, their shoulders nearly touching. Her long legs dangled over the edge as she glanced down. “It’s really high.”

“Are you afraid?”

Mo Xiaoxiao narrowed her eyes but said nothing.

“I almost forgot—you’re not exactly a delicate little flower.” Xiao Zhang chuckled. Mo Xiaoxiao picked up a can of beer from the ground, opened it, and downed half in one go.

“What’s your plan from here?” Mo Xiaoxiao turned to Xiao Zhang and asked softly, “Are you really planning to start your own organization?”

Xiao Zhang looked at her deeply, then nodded.

“Have you thought about what comes next?” Mo Xiaoxiao’s voice was low. “We’re already an organization, and you’re the leader. We made it through this instance, but in the future... all these things will be your responsibility as the head.”

“Honestly, thinking about the future gives me a headache,” Xiao Zhang said with a bitter smile. “You know, my mind is always a mess—so many problems, so many worries. But I’m afraid to think too deeply. The further I go down that path, the more I feel I’ll lose my mind, or be lost myself.”

“For example?”

“For example…” Xiao Zhang held a can of beer, his smile vague and uncertain. “For example, even now I barely know—what’s real? What’s fake?”

“Even the system told me—the reason I was chosen was because I myself am a loophole.”

The next morning, in the hotel restaurant, Zhao Bai and Li Shiwan were sitting with Tu Shanbai, drinking yogurt. When they saw Xiao Zhang and Mo Xiaoxiao walk in side by side, Zhao Bai immediately made a teasing face, though Li Shiwan showed no reaction.

Xiao Zhang blushed, but Mo Xiaoxiao calmly took a seat at the table and shot Zhao Bai a cool glance. “Feeling cheeky?”

“No, not at all…” Zhao Bai quickly wiped the smile from his face.

Xiao Zhang, slightly embarrassed, frowned. “Have you stared enough?”

Zhao Bai grinned. “Someone didn’t come back to their room last night. As a good brother, I was worried about you, so I brought a bottle of wine to your door—only to find the room empty.”

Xiao Zhang said seriously, “Last night, Mo Xiaoxiao and I were on the rooftop, drinking and chatting. We fell asleep up there, so don’t get any funny ideas.”

Zhao Bai laughed, “Drinking on the rooftop with a beautiful woman, admiring the city lights—that’s enough to make all the single guys jealous.”

Mo Xiaoxiao suddenly picked up the knife and fork on the table and made a subtle gesture with them. “What’s the matter, Zhao Bai? Not satisfied with Wanwan, or what?”

Zhao Bai glanced at the knife in her hand and swallowed nervously. “Wanwan and I are getting along great!”

Mo Xiaoxiao stood up, grabbed a few sandwiches at random, and left. “I’m going back to my room.”

After she left, Zhao Bai breathed a sigh of relief and patted Xiao Zhang on the shoulder. “Brother, looks like you’ve finally made it. Congratulations—you’re no longer suffering the woes of being single.”

Xiao Zhang ignored him and patted Tu Shanbai on the head. “Did you sleep well last night?”

“Of course! I slept with Sister Wanwan,” Tu Shanbai replied with a bright smile. “Brother, there are so many fun things in your world!”

Li Shiwan, for her part, seemed unbothered, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.