A long time passed.
Zhao Hang finally accepted reality.
It was normal for there to be uncontrollable accidents in card research and development, and besides, it wasn't the first time. Last time, he also felt a chill in his backside because of this.
"Brother, we're really going to the Research and Development Center to test the cards," Zhao Hang said tearfully.
"Don't worry."
Chen Ming was also helpless.
It was one thing for the Ice Cone Card to fail last time; it was his mistake. But this time, even card making failed! He had never heard of anyone else's card making going like this! It was outrageous!
It seemed that this was his own fault for wanting to take shortcuts.
As for the dormitory...
Zhao Hang's place was no longer habitable.
Since the failure this time was due to his mistake, he would naturally compensate fully. Therefore, Chen Ming said, "Zhao Hang, calculate how much you've lost and give me a quote. I'll transfer the money to you."
"You don't have to."
Zhao Hang sighed. "I'm graduating soon, I've given away most of my stuff. It's just that I can't sleep there these few days..."
"Why don't you squeeze in tonight?" Chen Ming said casually.
"..."
Zhao Hang fell silent. "Brother Chen, that's a dangerous thought."
...
A long time passed.
Zhao Hang left.
His nightlife was extremely rich, and he was often out fighting battles, so he rarely came back. Thus, Chen Ming suddenly had two single rooms.
"Let's take it slow."
Chen Ming said with a wry smile, tidying up the messy dormitory.
Hmm...
He should focus on making cards properly.
Although the completion rate was extremely low this way, his mental power still improved steadily.
So.
He made cards again.
Stroke by stroke, he immersed himself in cultivation. With each failed card that appeared, his mental power continued to increase...
Until a certain moment.
Suddenly.
He reached out and felt nothing. Looking up, he realized that all the blank cards on the table had been used up.
"They're all gone."
Chen Ming was dumbfounded.
This method of cultivation, although it improved extremely quickly, was quite expensive and consumed a lot... Fortunately, he had some money now, even if it was scrounged from his younger brother.
So.
He went out to buy blank cards.
Night.
The neon lights of Star City twinkled.
Occasionally, some flying cars zipped by in the sky.
"Showing off..." Chen Ming sighed with emotion.
Indeed, no matter the era, there were always such people.
A long time passed.
As usual, he went to a nearby shop to buy cards. Just as he walked past an alley on Hépíng Avenue, someone suddenly bumped into him carelessly.
Bang!
The two collided.
"Are you blind?" The other party was furious.
Chen Ming looked up. It was a young man with green hair, covered in rivets, his entire style from clothing to demeanor screamed rebellion.
"What are you looking at?" The rivet boy was enraged.
"On purpose?" Chen Ming mused.
He had clearly dodged to the side just now, yet he still bumped into him.
"Try looking again?" The rivet boy said abruptly, then pulled out a card.\swoosh!
Chen Ming quickly stepped back.
Just as he thought.
He knew this guy was trouble!\swoosh!
Light and shadow flickered.
The rivet boy leaped into the air, performing a spectacular 360-degree spin, intercepting Chen Ming's escape route with an elegant mid-air maneuver.
"Armed Master?" Chen Ming's expression turned grave.
This movement technique...
Although both Card Makers and Armed Masters could use cards, this person's graceful movement was definitely not something a shut-in Card Maker could cultivate.
Physical training!
Origin Power!
This was a standard Armed Master.
"Sir."
"This is Star City."
Chen Ming tried to communicate. Riff-raff of this age were the most reckless, daring to take any job. They needed to be made aware of the danger.
However.
The rivet boy grinned.
"I know."
"But even in Star City, fights are common."
"Where there are people, there is Jianghu, hehe. Of course, I know not to kill, but it's Midsummer, tempers run high, and fighting is normal."
"Since fighting is normal, then getting injured is also normal."
As he said this.
He tapped a light screen. A lot of electronic noise came from it, along with some fuzzy audio clips like "What are you looking at? What about you?"
"Hmm..."
"This recording is enough."
He was satisfied. "This way, if law enforcement comes, it'll be mutual combat between us."
"..."
Chen Ming fell silent.
This was a case of the governed finding ways to circumvent the government's policies.
As for the enemy...
He originally thought it was Zhāng Yúntiān, as he had only offended him.
Now, he realized he had been too narrow-minded.
This person clearly intended to injure his hands. There was only one possibility: to prevent him from making cards for the next few days...
Hmm...
Chen Ming's eyes narrowed.
He threw out a card without hesitation.
Whoosh!
Arc Ice Sculpture Card, activate!
Three ice sculptures of peculiar shapes attacked. However, the rivet boy sneered and actively charged forward, knocking down each ice sculpture on the spot.
"I've researched this card of yours."
"Its greatest threat is the combined effect that might be generated when three attack at once. That brat from your school failed because of it."
"But as long as I destroy them separately..."
"They're just three ordinary Ice Cones!"
The rivet boy sneered.
Competing in combat experience with an Armed Master?
Too green!
"Is that so?"
Chen Ming was not afraid at all.
He certainly couldn't defeat an Armed Master, but the problem was—he didn't need to.
At this moment, he took out a stack of cards.
That's right.
A stack!
The pile of unsellable cards left from his previous cultivation, and some energy recharge cards he had just bought, were all here. He just needed to throw them all out, and the sky full of ice cones would submerge the enemy, and then he could run to a place with many people.
Fighting?
Who was he fighting?
Boom!
Light and shadow flickered.
The rivet boy charged over, and just as Chen Ming was about to activate his cards.
However.
At this moment,
A figure suddenly appeared from the corner on the right and charged forward with incredible speed, blocking Chen Ming's path.
Poof!
A punch landed.
"Ugh--"
The person groaned, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.
???
Chen Ming was completely baffled.
What's going on?
Who is this?
Why was he suddenly receiving the treatment of an idol drama heroine?
Wait, this familiar face...
"It's you! That brat."
Chen Ming remembered. Lin Quan! That genius from the Research and Development Department!
At this moment.
Lin Quan looked up, staring intently at the rivet boy. "Get lost!"
"You are..." The rivet boy was still in shock.
This person...
"I'll say it again."
Lin Quan said word by word, "Get! Out! Now!"
After speaking, he took out a card, channeled energy into it, and a faint purple glow appeared, radiating killing intent. "This is my final warning! Get out!"
"..."
The rivet boy stared for a moment, then turned and left, disappearing at the end of the alley.
"Puke!"
Lin Quan coughed up blood, leaning against the wall. "Sorry, for making a fool of myself."
"Oh?"
Chen Ming's heart stirred.
"It's probably my foolish father's doing."
Lin Quan wiped the blood from his mouth. "I tried my best to prevent it, but I still couldn't. I just went to the restroom for a moment, and he had already given this order."
"Why?"
Chen Ming asked, confused. He didn't remember offending Lin Quan.
"A Recommendation Slot."
Lin Quan shook his head. "Your recent popularity might affect my evaluation, so he planned to use his own methods to deal with it."
Oh...
Chen Ming understood. This was what they called paving the way.
Tsk.
This family is quite interesting. Lin Quan actually came to help him.
Although...
This was their family's mess.
And at this moment, Lin Quan also realized the problem, so he somewhat awkwardly transferred some money to Chen Ming. "Sorry, I couldn't manage my father properly. I hope this money can compensate for your losses just now."
"Who do you think I am?" Chen Ming said coldly. "I, the dignified..."
At this moment.
He opened his message log and saw the transfer amount. He suddenly fell silent.
"Lin Quan, is it?"
Chen Ming walked over and patted his shoulder. "From today onwards, you are my sworn brother, Chen Ming."
"Huh?"
Lin Quan was bewildered.
I tried to be friends with you two days ago, and you didn't agree!