Chapter 99 - 96: Friend

Chapter 99: Chapter 96: Friend

While Zhong Shu was thinking, Jiang Chaosheng made a move.

He fiddled with his teacup and said,

"I’m someone who takes his work very seriously.

So, I woke up the Old Dragon King in the early morning, had him make it rain, and set out for the abandoned train station in Dongpu.

On the way, I saw an old woman scavenging for scraps.

The old woman was carrying a large woven sack on her back, and it was so heavy it bent her over."

Zhong Shu blinked.

’Is he telling a story?’

Zhong Shu listened intently, just as he would a lecture from a famous scholar back in college.

The Evil Crow poured a cup of tea for Jiang Chaosheng.

Jiang Chaosheng continued,

"The old woman wasn’t the only one up early and hard at work.

I saw a Mercedes-Benz drive down the street. It looked like a new model—very nice.

The old woman didn’t even give the car a second glance.

Maybe it’s because all rich people are diligent, but it wasn’t long before a Panamera drove up from the end of the street.

The old woman paid no attention to that car either.

That Panamera was truly beautiful. Even I stopped to admire it for a moment.

Then, another scavenger passed by me, pushing a tricycle cart.

And I clearly heard the old woman say something."

Zhong Shu asked,

"What?"

Jiang Chaosheng smiled.

"The old woman said with great envy, ’If only I had a tricycle cart like that.’"

Zhong Shu was stunned.

The story wasn’t exactly full of twists and turns, but it captivated him in that moment.

’There seems to be some kind of philosophy in this.’

Why didn’t the old woman desire a Mercedes or a Panamera, but instead coveted another scavenger’s tricycle cart?

Jiang Chaosheng said,

"This is about unity.

The old woman had already decided that she shared no unity with the owners of those luxury cars. They simply don’t exist in the same world.

The old man pushing the tricycle cart was also a scavenger. They shared a unity."

Zhong Shu understood.

The reason he hated the actor and the masked gunman was because he shared a unity with them.

Because they were all human, and not invincible.

Jiang Chaosheng spoke up:

"The Sea Coachman is too powerful. So powerful that you see him as an irreversible natural disaster.

You have no unity with him. You naturally place him on a higher plane of existence.

No one truly hates a hurricane or a volcanic eruption.

People just pray that such disasters don’t befall them."

Zhong Shu lowered his head in shame.

Because the Sea Coachman was too powerful—powerful like a Demon God. A single roar from him was enough to make his spirit tremble.

He had always despised people who were timid toward outsiders but fiercely aggressive toward their own kind.

’The reason isn’t just servility, it’s more complicated than that.’

’The bigger reason is that, deep down, I believe they are simply impossible to defeat.’

Zhong Shu murmured,

"I... I don’t want things like this to happen again.

But I... I’m too weak..."

Jiang Chaosheng said slowly,

"The Taboo Association can’t bring you wealth or fame. It will even require you to change your world and spend your life hiding in the shadows.

But the Taboo Association can give you unity with those fearsome beings. You will grow stronger and stronger."

Jiang Chaosheng looked out at the night beyond the door and said somberly,

"The ones who bring true disaster to ordinary people aren’t wicked men, but those truly terrifying things.

Those wicked men who resort to petty tricks are simply too insignificant.

This world has ambitious people who use Taboo Items to commit great evils, and perhaps there are so-called gods and demons barely surviving among us.

Since you have this desire to prevent good people from being oppressed, you should focus your strength where it truly matters."

Zhong Shu’s breathing grew ragged.

He felt as if his life had found a new purpose.

A purpose for which he was willing to sacrifice everything, to be burned to ashes and have his bones crushed!

For over twenty years, many people had called him a "Holy Mother."

These days, "Holy Mother" isn’t a compliment.

Zhong Shu felt he wasn’t a "Holy Mother" in that negative sense.

’The so-called "sanctimonious Holy Mothers" are those who sacrifice others for their own perceived contribution to the collective.’

’But what about me?’

’I’m willing to give this body of mine for a great and righteous cause!’

’It’s a bit foolish, but I’m happy to do it.’

Zhong Shu’s expression turned serious. He said with sincerity,

"Sir, I am willing to join the Taboo Association!"

Jiang Chaosheng glanced at Yang Xiao, who was sitting at the entrance watching the moon.

"Take him to Black Rose Manor."

Black Rose Manor was a base of operations that Xia Li had given to the Taboo Association.

Now that Zhong Shu had joined the Taboo Association, he needed to be introduced to Xia Li.

After all, Xia Li was the Taboo Association’s primary steward in the mortal world.

Yang Xiao leaped up from the threshold.

"Alrighty, let’s go, buddy."

Jiang Chaosheng watched Zhong Shu leave Antique Shop Zero, then drank the cup of tea on the table.

The Evil Crow stood on the table.

"You’re brainwashing him."

Jiang Chaosheng said,

"I’m giving him a purpose."

The Evil Crow was silent for a moment.

"You don’t actually believe that he’s willing to be crushed to pieces for the sake of the common people."

Jiang Chaosheng nodded.

"Mm, I don’t. I’ve never met anyone that good."

The Evil Crow glanced around Antique Shop Zero.

’Just what kind of characters are in here?’

A Fox Spirit, a Succubus, the Crow of Luoyang Slope—every one of them a vicious creature.

And as for that Yang Xiao, don’t even get me started. He’s more Devil than a Devil!

’Look around. Is there a single decent one in this whole shop?!’

Jiang Chaosheng continued,

"However, his feelings for Bai Tasha are real.

And since I have Bai Tasha, he has no choice but to be loyal."

The Evil Crow paused, stunned.

"Feelings? You have the gall to say you can see other people’s feelings?"

Jiang Chaosheng shot the Evil Crow a look, his eyes somewhat cold.

The Evil Crow shrank back and chuckled sheepishly.

"I, I was just kidding."

With that, it flew toward the back room.

Jiang Chaosheng looked toward the counter.

Su Daji was sitting there, her eyes languid, a gentle smile playing on her lips, lost in thought.

Jiang Chaosheng mulled it over for a moment.

"You can sleep upstairs tonight."

Su Daji froze for a second, her bright red lips parting slightly in a clear expression of shock.

Jiang Chaosheng added,

"There’s a guest room upstairs."

In his mind, Daji was no longer a Taboo Item.

Since she wasn’t a Taboo Item, she shouldn’t have to sleep in the back room.

Su Daji suddenly smiled.

That smile was more dazzling than fireworks.

.....

「Antique Shop Zero, Study」

Jiang Chaosheng was writing in his diary:

"I’ve lifted the Curse. I think I’ll go for a walk tomorrow."

The entry was very short.

He felt that’s how a diary should be.

Just enough to record the most important event of the day.

Jiang Chaosheng put down his diary and looked at the moon outside the window.

It was full and bright, just like on the night his mother left him.

Jiang Chaosheng murmured,

"I think I have friends now."

After his mother left, Jiang Chaosheng lost a period of his memory.

The next thing he knew, he was in an orphanage.

Those days weren’t easy. Loneliness was a constant for everyone.

Jiang Chaosheng shook his head.

"I’m getting too sentimental. I almost forgot I still have things to do."

Jiang Chaosheng put down the diary and took out a notebook.

The notebook contained his ideas for the Taboo Association, as well as notes on its future development.

Jiang Chaosheng muttered to himself,

"It seems the investigation team has arrived. I should send them a little gift first."

Jiang Chaosheng tapped his fingers on the desk.

The Shadowy Little Person on his wrist tumbled off, bowing and scraping before Jiang Chaosheng.

Jiang Chaosheng said,

"Do you have any of your shadows in the public security bureau?"