Chapter 1779: Nine Years

Nine years later.

Ruoshui Prison.

*Knock, knock, knock—*

Dull and rhythmic knocking sounded. As the shop door was pulled open, a young man in a stylish black leather jacket walked into the narrow grocery store, each step making the old floorboards creak.

The young man walked with his hands in his pockets, looking around curiously, and then stopped slowly in front of the counter.

An old tungsten light bulb emitted a faint light in the dimness, illuminating an aged figure behind the counter. The old man looked up at the young man and spoke expressionlessly:

"If you want to buy something, go get it yourself."

The young man hesitated for a moment before tentatively speaking:

"I want to buy a glimmer of hope."

The old man’s eyelids twitched slightly. He scrutinized the young man for a long time and continued in a low voice:

"Human civilization..."

"Shall never be extinguished!" The young man finished the second half of the sentence without hesitation.

At the same time, he took a playing card from his chest and placed it slowly on the counter... In the dim light, a [Heart 9] came into the old man’s view.

The old man’s expression finally relaxed, and he said leisurely,

"So, you are the last [9] card... I am the intelligence coordinator for Ruoshui Prison. You can call me Old Fan. Nice to meet you, newcomer."

"I'm no newcomer," Li Shangfeng chuckled. "I just recently got my card and officially joined the Twilight Society... In terms of seniority, I'm older than those Js and Qs."

"Hmph, you've got a big mouth, newcomer."

"What, you don't believe me? I knew the Red King before the Js and Qs were even a thing!" Li Shangfeng said proudly, lifting his chin.

Old Fan rolled his eyes. "Lord Red King hasn't shown his face in almost ten years... The Twilight Society’s recruitment has always been handled by Lord Gray King. You're a 9-rank, and you know the Red King?"

"If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do." Li Shangfeng shrugged.

Old Fan didn't intend to bicker with him; he had never liked people who talked big. He looked Li Shangfeng up and down for a long time and spoke again:

"This is your first mission for the Twilight Society, right?"

"...Yes."

"Do you know what this mission is?"

"I don't. The guidance Lord Gray King gave me was to come to the Ruoshui Boundary and meet with you... I don't know anything else."

"Just joined the Twilight Society and already hit such a big mission... I don't know whether to say you're lucky or not." Old Fan sighed.

Li Shangfeng’s eyes lit up at the words "big mission":

"Don't keep me in suspense, tell me!"

Li Shangfeng was looking forward to a challenge.

He and Li Wanhua had been lying low in the repair shop for nine years. Nine years was a long time—long enough for the repair shop to open several chain stores, for Li Shangfeng to become a small boss, and for Li Wanhua to grow into a beautiful young woman and get engaged to the man she loved.

Li Wanhua no longer lived in the repair shop, but she often came back to see Li Shangfeng. Most of the time, however, Li Shangfeng was alone... Over the years, besides running the repair shop, he spent his days tinkering with new inventions using his abilities and installing them into his own body.

Li Wanhua had asked Li Shangfeng if he wanted to find a girl he loved, start a family, and live a stable life in the Chengtian Boundary, but Li Shangfeng knew very well that this wasn't the life he wanted.

He was an unconventional genius of the Craft Divine Dao. He had seen the peak scenery of this world nine years ago. What flowed in his body was no longer blood, but machine oil used to nourish various weapons... How could someone like him be content to be an ordinary person, getting married and having children?

From the sixth year on, he had been waiting for Chen Ling to return, tell him the truth, and take him to start a new life.

Li Shangfeng had long since made up his mind: whether it was climbing a mountain of blades or a sea of fire, he was willing to accept it. He craved battle, craved excitement, and craved a world full of unknowns and risks. This was something carved into his bones, and as he grew older, these cravings became even more intense.

He waited day and night, waiting for a full three years...

Until one late night, Li Shangfeng pushed open the door of the repair shop as usual. At that moment, blank playing cards surged out like a blizzard, obscuring his vision... In a daze, a woman in a black dress took shape from within.

She called herself the Gray King of the Twilight Society, sent by the Red King, Chen Ling, to fulfill the promise and clear up Li Shangfeng’s confusion.

That night, Li Shangfeng learned everything.

He had felt lost and incredulous... but in the end, he chose to join the Twilight Society without hesitation.

The Gray King said he no longer owed the Twilight Society anything and didn't have to take risks anymore. Li Shangfeng’s reply to this was quite simple:

"What debt or no debt... What does the me from the previous world have to do with the current me?"

"I just like this kind of exciting life!"

That night,

The sky was filled with [Heart 9] playing cards, scattered on the floor of the repair shop...

Li Shangfeng, the good citizen of the Chengtian Boundary, vanished into thin air.

Li Shangfeng joined the Twilight Society to experience a novel life, and now that a major mission was right in front of him, he felt no fear, only eager anticipation.

"Don't be impatient." Old Fan checked the time. "Another newcomer is coming in a moment... You can listen together."

"Another newcomer? Shouldn't I be the newest one?"

Li Shangfeng asked, surprised.

"Another one joined last night. If nothing goes wrong, he should already be on his way."

"Joined last night and already participating in a major mission today?" Li Shangfeng’s expression was a bit strange. "What's his card? Is it also a 9?"

"The 9 cards have all been issued. He should be an 8."

Before Old Fan finished speaking, rhythmic knocking sounded again.

Both of them looked toward the shop door. The door was pushed open slowly, and a green-looking boy carrying a drawing board walked in... He was young, yet exuded a maturity beyond his years.

Seeing this boy, Li Shangfeng froze... He had thought this "newcomer" would be very "new," but he didn't expect him to be this new... Just looking at his age, he should be about the same age as Li Wanhua was nine years ago, right?

Can someone this young join the Twilight Society??

No...

Maybe he’s just a kid living nearby, coming to buy some snacks.

The boy’s gaze paused on Li Shangfeng for a moment, then looked at Old Fan behind the counter. He hesitated for a moment before walking straight to the counter.

"What do you want to buy?" Old Fan asked with a hint of curious probing.

"I want to buy a glimmer of hope."

The boy gently placed a playing card on the table—a [Club 8] came into view for both of them... He paused for a moment and said firmly:

"Human civilization... shall never be extinguished."

……

……

The pace is picking up, there were some omissions in the plot line after nine years, leading to slow updates... One chapter today, one and nine are both nine~ (doge)