In the courtyard.
Xiao Hei squatted aside.
The Wu family boy, without any hesitation, devoured his dry rations.
He took sips of well water from time to time.
He ate with gusto.
But he didn't touch the cooked meat left over.
"Why don't you eat meat? Are you afraid I poisoned it?"
Zhang Chen asked curiously.
"No!"
The Wu family boy swallowed his dry rations before saying, "Meat is expensive. I see your family isn't well off, so just eat some dry rations!"
Zhang Chen laughed.
This kid was quite considerate.
"Alright, eat if you want, it's not a big deal!"
Zhang Chen waved his hand.
The Wu family boy thought for a moment.
He figured, why not eat?
After all, he was at a disadvantage, so there was no harm in eating a little.
While he was eating heartily, Zhang Chen looked at the black dog.
It looked just like the other village dogs.
It wasn't very tall.
It was even a bit shorter than the others.
But its eyes were full of intelligence.
The meat was right there, but without the Wu family boy's command, it wouldn't touch it at all.
Was this kid's dog training skill already so advanced at this age?
Soon.
The Wu family boy finished his meal.
He even took the initiative to wash the bowl.
After cleaning up, he sat down in front of Zhang Chen and asked, "Brother, how did you know my identity?"
"Do you recognize my father or my uncle?"
"I've heard of your Wu family's reputation. You are one of the Nine Gates in Changsha City!"
Zhang Chen said.
The Wu family boy wasn't sure.
The Nine Gates were famous.
But it was impossible for ordinary people to recognize them in the darkness of night.
One would have to know them to be certain.
But he had no recollection of this person before him.
But he didn't dare ask again.
It was clear that the other party didn't want to talk about it.
But he felt like everything about him was under this person's control.
"Brother, you feed me, you don't kill me, what exactly is your purpose?"
The Wu family boy got straight to the point.
That was what he was most puzzled about.
"Just making a friend!"
Zhang Chen said.
"Making a friend?"
The Wu family boy was bewildered.
Just that reason?
"Don't understand? You are one of the Nine Gates. If I happen to dig up some stuff from underground in the future, wouldn't I need to exchange it with you for money?"
Zhang Chen was blunt.
"I've thought about that too, but... my father, my second brother, and my uncle, all died in tombs. Our branch of the Nine Gates is weak now. Who knows what will happen in the future!"
The Wu family boy said.
Zhang Chen was quite surprised.
It seemed that this kid was quite perceptive.
"It depends on your ability. Since you have dog training skills, you should focus on that. If necessary, you can come to me for help. I can consider lending a hand!"
Zhang Chen said.
As soon as the Wu family boy heard this, his eyes lit up.
This meant...?
Helping him?
He never expected this to happen.
But to be honest, after seeing this person's strength.
The Wu family boy knew that even if his father, uncle, and second brother were still alive, they wouldn't be a match for him, combined.
Perhaps only the Buddha Master and Second Master in Changsha City could fight him on equal terms.
In short.
Although he hadn't seen this person fight.
But judging from what he had seen, this person was definitely a master among masters.
He was the only one left in his family.
If he didn't use any tricks.
His Wu family, among the Nine Gates, would probably be wiped out.
The little wealth they had accumulated would surely be coveted by many.
If this person helped, it wouldn't be so difficult.
Only...
The price would definitely be high if he intervened.
But...
It was worth it.
A master like this willing to help him.
He was confident he could quickly gain a foothold.
Then, would he be afraid of not getting rich?
Only...
This was very different from what he expected.
"Thank you, Brother!"
The Wu family boy bowed.
He was truly grateful.
Although he was still a little wary.
But he could tell.
This person was not some villain.
Of course, if you think he's kind and easy to deal with?
Then you're foolish.
Although he was kind on the surface.
But his skills were not weak.
He intimidated him with his strength.
Then he treated him to a meal as a bribe.
He also analyzed his current situation with great insight.
And then he offered to help, saying they were making friends.
This series of tactics was not something a brute could achieve.
Only someone like the Buddha Master, the Second Master, or the head of the Chen Yu Lou on Constant Victory Mountain would have such tactics.
"Not an ordinary person!"
The Wu family boy secretly judged.
"Thank you, Brother. If you need anything, I'll come to you!"
The Wu family boy was also able to adapt.
He was calling him "brother" now.
"No problem, I'll need your help if I have anything to sell!"
Zhang Chen chuckled.
"No problem!"
The Wu family boy nodded.
Seeing that they had finished their conversation.
He stood up, bowed, and said, "Then I'll be on my way. Things in Changsha City can't be fixed overnight. I need to go back early. Before they find out what happened to my family, I need to use some tricks!"
"Alright, stay safe!"
Zhang Chen nodded.
"Xiao Hei, let's go!"
Then the Wu family boy called out.
The black dog immediately stood up.
It followed the Wu family boy, disappearing into the night.
Watching them leave.
Zhang Chen stroked his chin and muttered to himself, "He's a cunning kid indeed!"
...
Midnight.
Twelve o'clock.
Zhang Chen suddenly opened his eyes.
"It's here!"
Then, he saw a door appear before him.
Zhang Chen pushed open the door and stepped inside.
It was a void space.
The surroundings were dark, but there was an ancient and mysterious aura.
In the middle, there was a chair.
There was also a cabinet for placing items next to it.
A Xuan Tian Bao Lu was currently placed in one of the compartments.
But Zhang Chen didn't look at it.
He went straight to the chair and sat down.
The moment he sat down, his consciousness instantly seemed to merge with this ancient and mysterious space.
At the same time, his body began to fade.
The chair seemed to become a thousand feet tall.
His fading body, along with the chair, became a thousand feet tall, overlooking the world below.
"Open!"
Zhang Chen's consciousness moved.
Instantly, a thousand-foot-tall door appeared out of thin air before him.
Then, a person walked out from behind the door.
His body was tiny compared to the door.
He seemed a little confused at the moment.
He looked up at the door.
He suddenly looked forward.
He saw a huge palace in front of him.
On the thousand-foot-tall chair.
A huge, terrifying, ancient, mysterious black shadow was looking down at him.
Its eyes were bigger than lanterns, emitting red light, like a demonic cultivator.
"Where am I? Is this the Immortal Realm?"
"But this black shadow doesn't look like an immortal, but rather a demonic cultivator's Nascent Soul monster!"
The man in ancient robes muttered to himself.