Chapter 71: You... How Could It Be You? [Third Update - Recommendation Votes]

Page 1 of 3

The morning light was faint and gentle.

Luffy sat cross-legged on his bed, having cultivated the Dragon Emperor’s Domineering Art throughout the night. When he opened his eyes, sunlight slanted softly through the window, casting a warm glow.

Summer had passed, and early autumn had arrived. The maple leaves outside had turned slightly yellow and drifted down from time to time.

Luffy rose and went to the restroom.

Afterward, he brushed his teeth and washed his face before heading to the living room, where his parents were already having breakfast. The delicious aroma made Luffy swallow involuntarily.

“Xiaofei, you’re up! Come have breakfast,” Lu Haoran said kindly.

“Wash your hands first,” Li Lian said seriously.

Luffy obediently washed his hands. There were still five days before the advanced zombies launched their attack, but he wasn’t worried. With his six-thousandfold strength, even if an eighth-tier zombie appeared, he could still put up a fight.

He ladled a bowl of porridge for himself, and noticing his mother had just finished her own, he helped her to another serving. His parents had always cared for him; now it was his turn to show filial piety. Such a small gesture, but it brought them joy.

The porridge was fragrant and sweet, the breakfast delicious.

After the family finished eating, they sat in front of the television.

Lu Haoran switched on the TV and sat on the sofa by the coffee table, making tea while watching the news.

The aromatic tea was soon ready.

“Have some tea,” Lu Haoran said, taking a sip before raising his head to watch the television.

A news item played:

Last night in the Western District, a person died under mysterious circumstances, their body left a shriveled husk, as if all life force had been drained—a terrifying sight. Residents of the Western District are urged not to go out alone at night. The Li and Wang families are investigating, so there is no need to panic.

“I can’t believe something like that happened in our Western District,” Lu Haoran remarked, surprised and curious. “Son, what kind of creature do you think killed that person?”

“I’m not sure either,” Luffy replied, shaking his head. It seemed that even the safe zone wasn’t entirely secure—some monsters still managed to slip in.

Page 2 of 3

“I’m going out for a walk,” Luffy said, after drinking a cup of tea, and headed outside.

“Alright, be careful,” Lu Haoran responded, while his mother was busy washing dishes.

Luffy activated his Samsara Heavenly Eye and discovered that Qin Bailing was no longer at home—she must have gone out.

He made his way toward the Western District, employing both the Dreamy Violet Step and the “Move” secret technique. His speed was astonishing, and he arrived in no time, though the wind had tousled his hair.

Approaching the scene of the incident, Luffy slowed his pace. The area was cordoned off, with several members of the Li and Wang families conducting their investigation. The body had already been removed.

Luffy activated his Samsara Heavenly Eye, searching for any anomalies. He saw a faint green mist lingering on the ground where the deceased had lain, gradually dissipating.

What could that be? Luffy frowned.

“Ding. That’s demonic energy, a type of power belonging to mutated wild beasts. It’s similar to Liu Yanmeng’s, but this kind is particularly evil.”

“So that’s what it is.” Luffy hadn’t expected mutated wild beasts to infiltrate the safe zone, and such malevolent ones at that. The world was indeed vast and full of surprises.

“Ding. Today’s red envelopes have refreshed: three in total, within a two-hundred-meter radius, disappearing in one hour.”

“Another batch of red envelopes?” Luffy was a little surprised. He activated his Samsara Heavenly Eye to search for them—after all, it could see through things.

He spotted a red envelope within the chalk outline marking the deceased’s position.

This system certainly picked random spots.

Luffy strode forward. He hadn’t intended to disturb the investigators, but he couldn’t let the red envelope vanish.

He stepped over the police line, heading straight for the red envelope.

“Who are you? You can’t just barge in here—get out!” barked a man from the Li family in a black suit.

“And who are you? We’re investigating a case, what are you doing here?” demanded a man from the Wang family, clad in blue, blocking Luffy’s path.

“Get lost! What I do is none of your business. Even if the third young master of the Wang family or Li Chaodan showed up, I’d make them eat dirt.”

Page 3 of 3

Luffy’s gaze turned cold. Were these two really courting death, daring to block him from claiming the red envelope?

The two men in black and blue suits suddenly felt as though they were facing the domineering Dragon Emperor himself. Unconsciously, they retreated two steps, cold sweat pouring down their faces as they gasped. Who was this boy, to exude such imperial authority?

Luffy reached the spot where the red envelope appeared and was about to claim it when the two men rushed at him.

He ignored them entirely. Dragon energy burst forth, sending the men flying backwards.

The others were startled, and none dared approach. This youth was terrifying.

“Go get the boss! Someone’s disrupting the crime scene!” shouted a Wang family member, and someone dashed off.

The Li family members, however, simply watched, uncertain what the youth was doing as he pressed his hand to the center of the chalk outline left by the deceased.

Was this guy insane? He kept his hand there for over ten seconds before lifting it.

“Ding. Red envelope opening in progress. Fifteen seconds required. Fifteen, fourteen, thirteen…”

“Ding. Red envelope opened successfully. Congratulations, host, you have received a bottle of Six-Flavored Emperor Pills.”

“What? Six-Flavored Rehmannia Pills? I’m not suffering from kidney deficiency—what am I supposed to do with these?” Luffy was speechless. This red envelope was a bit of a letdown. He stood up, noticing the demonic energy had now dissipated.

“Captain, it’s him! He barged right through the Wang and Li family cordon!” cried the blue-suited man, his face bloodied from being blasted aside by Luffy’s dragon energy. “Kid, you’re dead. Our boss is a peak fourth-tier—he could crush you with a finger.”

“Oh, it’s the Wang family’s chief captain? What an honor to meet you,” a few Li family members said with respect, evidently impressed by the newcomer’s strength.

“Hey, kid, turn around! Are you too scared to face our boss? Coward,” jeered the blue-suited man.

“Heh… I want to see who dares make trouble on the Wang family’s turf,” the chief captain said coldly, a smug curve on his lips. He was the strongest here, so it was only natural for him to be arrogant—and he judged others by their status.

Luffy, meanwhile, turned to face the Wang family’s chief captain, his hands behind his back, regarding him with the calm detachment of a king looking down on ants. His eyes were serene, utterly unruffled, as if the captain was nothing but a pile of dung—a foul speck of sand to be swept away with a flick.

“You… it’s you?” The chief captain’s expression changed dramatically when he saw the youth’s face, utterly shocked.

(End of this chapter)