Chapter 135 - 132: New Year’s Plan

Chapter 135: Chapter 132: New Year’s Plan

Late at night, glasses clinked and toasts were made.

The Taboo Association members present were all a little drunk.

Jiang Chaosheng watched the members of the Taboo Association, a smile occasionally gracing his lips.

Every year during the Spring Festival, he would feel a sense of emptiness.

Tonight, that emptiness seemed to have been soothed away considerably.

He recalled the conversation he’d just heard between Xia Li and Liu Weiqian.

Xia Li planned to collaborate with Liu Weiqian to delve deeper into the secrets of the bacteria.

Even before Jiang Chaosheng, she had intended to recruit Liu Weiqian.

The reason was that Xia Li didn’t want her Vampire bloodline to go to waste.

Only a great master like Liu Weiqian could unlock the greater powers hidden within the Vampire bloodline.

Xia Li was the kind of woman who planned ten steps ahead for every one she took.

The day after she won over the shareholders, she had already begun construction on a bio-genetics building.

When Liu Weiqian learned last night that Xia Li was no longer human, he had also shown immense interest.

They were going to jointly establish a biotech company and a large-scale laboratory, recruiting top-tier researchers from all over the world.

To outsiders, this laboratory would look like the World Dream Group’s venture into the pharmaceutical field.

The World Dream Group’s growth had already hit a bottleneck and was in need of a new breakthrough.

Xia Li wanted to use Liu Weiqian to expand her commercial empire.

And Liu Weiqian wanted to study Vampire blood.

Both of them were also interested in the Divine Bacteria.

And so, it was a perfect meeting of the minds.

Around the time the New Year celebrations were over, Xia Li’s bio-genetics technology building would be ready to begin recruitment.

Jiang Chaosheng found it very interesting.

No, not just interesting. It was exhilarating.

He even felt a little admiration.

Using modern technology to uncover the secrets of Demons and Deities.

That was truly exciting!

Yang Xiao staggered to his feet.

"Since Miss Xia and Elder Liu have their plans for the new year, I’ll share mine."

Evil Crow and Jin Meiting looked at Yang Xiao in surprise.

’This guy has plans?’

Yang Xiao looked at Jiang Chaosheng, his gaze profound.

"I want to strengthen the... skills of the Cleaner Fish!"

Everyone turned to look at Yang Xiao, waiting for him to continue.

Yang Xiao said,

"The Cleaner Fish possess strength, speed, and reflexes that surpass human limits.

With these abilities alone, they are already invincible among ordinary people.

But that isn’t the most heaven-defying thing about the Cleaner Fish.

The most important thing is that they have practically infinite lifespans!

In other words, the Cleaner Fish have infinite time to learn.

If they spend their infinite lifespans learning ever-evolving ’skills,’ their potential will surely be limitless!

The art of killing, the art of combat, the art of poison, the art of hacking, and so on.

They can also minor in human treasures like arithmetic, poetry, and etiquette."

A smile played in Jiang Chaosheng’s eyes.

’This kid, Yang Xiao, always says exactly what I’m thinking.’

Yang Xiao spread his hands.

"If they’re only used for killing and cleaning up murder scenes, it’s a huge waste of their talent.

Only by becoming all-around masters, experts who can hold their own, will we be making the best use of them.

Only then can they truly ’clear the way’ for the Taboo Association."

Xia Li looked at Yang Xiao.

"I’ll find teachers for you.

Famed masters from all over the world can pass on their skills to the Cleaner Fish.

The Cleaner Fish will become, as you wish, the grand masters of humanity’s treasured skills."

Yang Xiao cupped his fist in his hand toward Xia Li.

"In that case, my thanks to you, Miss Xia."

Xia Li said,

"I have only one condition. My bio-genetics company will need the Cleaner Fish to act as guards."

Jiang Chaosheng thought to himself,

’This woman really has to state her terms no matter the occasion. However, I quite like this kind of situation. Only when the various departments and members of the Taboo Association cooperate with each other to form an ecosystem can the Taboo Association truly flourish.’

Yang Xiao gave Xia Li a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, staring at her teasingly.

"You don’t have to tell me, I’d do it anyway.

My shadows are constantly watching every single one of you.

If any of you betrays the Master, heheh, you’ll be the first one I slaughter."

The corner of Xia Li’s mouth twitched.

"That’s certainly a heartless thing to say."

Yang Xiao sat back down, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

"Even though Miss Xia and I are good friends in private, my primary identity is this: the Master’s most loyal servant."

No one said a word, but they all felt more or less uncomfortable.

Yang Xiao looked at Helian.

"Kid, starting tomorrow, you and your dog are with me.

I’m going to train you around the clock."

Just then, Daji spoke up.

"He calls me his master’s wife, so I should teach him a thing or two.

At four in the morning, I want him to practice Cultivation with me."

Evil Crow spoke up.

"The Yin Qi and evil energy on this kid are the thickest I’ve ever seen.

I’d like to teach him a few little tricks as well."

Yang Xiao paused for a moment, looking at the drunk and drowsy Helian.

"You really are the Crown Prince of Antique Shop Zero, aren’t you."

Jin Meiting remained silent the whole time.

’Is everyone growing stronger?’

’I’m not going to fall behind.’

’Just you wait. The day the Witch Association is formed, you will all worship at my high heels!’

Jiang Chaosheng spoke up.

"Since everyone has plans for the new year, I’ll add a little incentive."

Everyone fell silent, staring at Jiang Chaosheng without blinking.

Jiang Chaosheng said,

"From now on, you will contain Taboo Items on your own."

The members all drew in a sharp breath.

Contain Taboo Items on their own?

They all knew it was dangerous, but they were also eager to try.

Jiang Chaosheng continued,

"For every Taboo Item you successfully contain, I will grant you one Taboo Item as a reward."

Everyone stared at Jiang Chaosheng in disbelief.

They were all aware that the purpose of the Taboo Association was to help Antique Shop Zero collect Taboo Items.

The Taboo Items were extremely important to Antique Shop Zero.

If they contained one Taboo Item and the Master rewarded them with another, that was a net zero gain. Antique Shop Zero wouldn’t be profiting at all!

Little did they know, Jiang Chaosheng wasn’t losing out in the slightest.

First, as long as a Taboo Item in a buyer’s possession was not in a ’lost’ state, Jiang Chaosheng would not be affected by its Curse.

Furthermore, according to the new rules of Antique Shop Zero, for every two Taboo Items he contained, he could comprehend the secrets of one.

As long as he could keep containing them, Jiang Chaosheng was the one making a profit.

...

「Meanwhile, in Liancheng, at Qingshan Mental Hospital.」

Zhang Haoceng entered the room of the patient in bed twelve.

Every time he saw her, he was struck by her stunning beauty.

She had a frail figure and skin fairer than snow.

She was like a slender moon born of poetry, her slightly furrowed brows shrouded in the misty sorrow of the southern river lands.

Her bearing was that of a well-bred lady, strikingly similar to the Lin Daiyu from the classic novels.

Her name was Liu Yue. She was formerly a dance teacher, and her husband had been a competitive diver.

After an accident, her husband died in the deep sea.

She went mad, and now constantly fantasized that she was a Mermaid.

Originally, after obtaining the Killing Pocket Watch, the first patient he was supposed to have a counseling session with was Liu Yue in bed twelve.

But because the hospital director was making things difficult for him, he was switched to ’Little Nannan,’ who had severe dissociative identity disorder.

After Zhang Haoceng dealt with Little Nannan’s other, murderous personality, he came straight to Liu Yue—the patient he was originally supposed to counsel—as a show of defiance against the director.

When Zhang Haoceng saw Liu Yue, he froze.

’This woman is so beautiful. She’s exactly my ideal type.’

Zhang Haoceng had the ability to cure her completely with the Killing Pocket Watch.

But the little devil in his heart began to stir.

’What if I cure her? She’ll be discharged from the hospital. Will I ever have another chance to interact with her?’

Zhang Haoceng did not cure her delusions all at once.

’Anyway, every time I use the Killing Pocket Watch on her, it’s like I’m helping her a little bit.’

’From a practical standpoint, I’m still treating the sick and saving a life, right?’

Zhang Haoceng sat down in front of her and said softly,

"How have you been lately?"

Her lips moved, and she murmured,

"Water... I need water... I’m going to dry out and die."

Zhang Haoceng said,

"I’m here to save you."

Zhang Haoceng took out the Killing Pocket Watch and dangled it in front of her.

"You’re in the water. Don’t be afraid. You’re in the water, you can’t die of thirst."