Chapter 18: Significance

“Wait, Captain, are you saying Uncle Zhu is also a superhuman?” Ning Linglong only just realized this and stared at Chu Zhu in astonishment, looking him up and down before asking with confusion, “How could that be so normal... Uncle Zhu, you’re not—no, that can’t be.”

Hesitating, Ning Linglong cautiously inquired, “You’re male, right?”

“? What do you mean? I don’t look like a woman... Are you talking about muscles?” Chu Zhu was uncertain. Now that she mentioned it, the men brought out by Li Kang all had unusually developed muscles to some extent, but women...

“His case is somewhat special...” Li Kang’s face twitched before he explained to Chu Zhu, “Most men will look like me, but the lighter the contamination, the more normal their muscle condition... As for women, the thinner, paler, and lighter their weight, the heavier the contamination! Ning Linglong seems pretty normal, right? That’s because she’s exceptionally gifted!”

“...” Li Kang suddenly stopped and covered his forehead. “Alright, if you’re not exceptionally gifted... in fact, ‘exceptionally gifted’ isn’t even enough to describe you! As a physical cultivator, your form hasn’t changed at all... Saying this in front of you is my mistake.”

At that moment, Ning Linglong’s gaze toward Chu Zhu shifted—he could sense it was mixed with confusion, disbelief, and existential doubt.

It seemed, Chu Zhu thought, that zero contamination might be even more incredible than he had imagined... After all, Ning Linglong’s expression was already like that just guessing low contamination.

...

In the distance.

On the steam carriage.

“This is terrifying!” A young, inexperienced man gasped coldly as he watched Ning Linglong at a loss before Chu Zhu. “No, is that really the expression a woman can make? Shy? But somehow it doesn’t quite look like it. But, can I even be seeing this... I-I hope I don’t get beaten to death afterward!”

The young man shivered.

“That’s why you’re stupid!” A man, unnaturally obese, didn’t look outside but was focused on fiddling with his phone. “If you can’t look, then don’t look!”

“So, who exactly is that big shot? I really want to hear what they’re saying... but I’m too scared! Damn it.” The young man ignored the fat man’s words, caught in turmoil.

However, no one else in the steam carriage paid him any attention.

...

After chatting for a while, Chu Zhu casually asked, “By the way, what did these robbers steal? Didn’t you say you don’t get involved in ordinary robbery cases?”

“...” This time, Li Kang was silent for a very long time before finally saying, “We don’t know!”

---

“This is a topic you can’t even touch.” Ning Linglong’s expression turned serious.

“?” Chu Zhu squinted. Interesting. It seemed that the nuclear facilities involved were even more terrifying than he had previously imagined.

“We should head back!” Li Kang said midway, but the tablet in his hand suddenly sounded an alarm again. “Damn it, another one?”

Li Kang flew into a rage and dashed toward the distant steam carriage without even saying goodbye to Chu Zhu. Ning Linglong hurriedly nodded to Chu Zhu and followed close behind.

Watching the steam carriage disappear into the distance, Chu Zhu looked at the bank for a while longer before turning to leave.

...

In the redevelopment zone.

Chu Zhu stopped, inexplicably staring at something blocking his doorstep.

It was a small tent!

A long queue stretched out in front of the tent.

At the tent’s entrance stood Zhang Xu. Someone emerged from the tent, their face radiating joy.

“Next!” Zhang Xu folded his hands.

“It’s my turn! Host, I have committed an unforgivable mistake...” Another person rushed into the tent. Strangely, although his voice was loud, once the tent flap was drawn, not a sound could be heard inside.

“Master Zhang!” A man in his twenties standing beside Zhang Xu’s eyes suddenly lit up as he pointed distantly toward Chu Zhu’s direction. “That’s Mr. Zhu!”

A look of delight appeared on Zhang Xu’s face, but when he turned to see Chu Zhu, he froze. After scrutinizing him, he exchanged a glance with the young man beside him and frowned, knocking on the tent flap. “Master, someone’s here!”

After several breaths, the flap opened.

Zhang Hai wore an apologetic expression, nodding repeatedly at the man who had just entered the tent. “There really was something today! Next time, you can come to the Jinghai District Three Cathedral. I will personally conduct your atonement ceremony.”

“Everyone, another day then, next time for sure!” Zhang Hai then looked at the long queue of people, showing no trace of the cathedral host’s usual arrogance.

---

“No problem, no problem! Host, you should talk with Mr. Zhu!”

“Mr. Zhu, you’re back? Have you eaten dinner? Want to come to my noodle shop for a meal? It’s on me.”

Among the queued people, some brightened upon seeing Chu Zhu and shouted excitedly.

Zhang Hai spoke calmly for quite some time, gradually dispersing the crowd.

“You all?” Chu Zhu observed coldly. He waited until the Zhang master and apprentice approached before speaking.

“You probably don’t know me! Let me introduce myself first...”

“Zhang Zihai, what do you want from me?” Chu Zhu interrupted, his tone unusual. “Don’t tell me you want to spread your God’s faith in the redevelopment zone! You found out I have a good reputation here, hoping to use me as an entry point?”

“Heh, I never interfere in people’s faith issues! Let alone...”

“Although I don’t believe in the God Worship Church, if I had to choose between its two factions, I’d lean toward the local faction!” Chu Zhu’s voice was calm. “Alright, anything else? If not, you can leave! Otherwise... I might just report your fondness for playing with lifelike dolls and your enjoyment of obscene literature to Zhao Qian, the host of the District Two Cathedral who just arrived in Jinghai City.”

“?” Zhang Xu’s expression froze, then he flew into a rage. “You bastard, how dare you! You dare to slander my mas—”

But before he could finish his curse...

“Let’s talk it out calmly!” Zhang Hai showed no change in expression as he stepped forward and shook Chu Zhu’s hand, forcing a polite smile. “Disagree if you want, but is it necessary? I’m simply here to spread the Lord’s faith! I know that when the redevelopment zone was being maintained, my church didn’t contribute, but that’s not... Moreover, with our help, the city’s governor will pay more attention to the redevelopment zones! This is beneficial for the redevelopment zone and for you...”

“You still have the nerve to say that? Playing with dolls would be one thing, but you even prefer playing with beautiful boy dolls...”

“My point is! After my investigation, I found the order in the redevelopment zone is very well maintained.” Zhang Hai’s attitude shifted again, serious and solemn as he shook Chu Zhu’s hand firmly. “After understanding the situation, I deeply realize that it is under your guidance and education that the redevelopment zone has become what it is today. There’s nothing that needs to be changed! I will emphasize this to the city governor.”

“I sincerely thank you for your work in transforming the redevelopment zone. I have always believed that your actions back then had an extremely profound and extraordinary significance in maintaining social order throughout Jinghai City!”