Chapter 021: Taking Aim for the Kill?

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He wouldn’t let Murakami turn back.

Holding him tightly, he hurried to the stairwell, climbed the steps, and only then did Yang Tang breathe a little easier.

But Murakami’s gaze had grown increasingly hostile, as if he were on the verge of losing control. “The black cat’s news… can you tell me now?”

“Of course!” Yang Tang kept his arm locked around Murakami’s neck, refusing to let go. “As far as I know, the black cat fell from the dam…”

Murakami’s eyes widened. “Who told you that?”

Yang Tang didn’t answer, instead posing a question of his own with a mysterious air. “You always thought the black cat was dead, didn’t you?”

Murakami’s eyes grew even wider. “You mean the black cat… isn’t dead?”

Yang Tang tapped his temple with his free hand. “As you wish, the answer is that she’s indeed alive. But…” Before he could finish, Murakami was already in tears, trembling uncontrollably.

“She really isn’t dead? Not dead? Where is she now?”

Murakami was nearly incoherent.

Yang Tang felt a sudden clarity rise in his heart: “[Super Memory] copy countdown: ten, nine, eight, seven, six…”

“The black cat lost her memory. She’s now called Black Feather!”

Upon hearing this, Murakami jerked his head up, staring fiercely at Yang Tang. “How do you know all this? Where is she now?”

Without answering, Yang Tang shoved Murakami against the wall and indifferently made his way toward the rooftop of the teaching building.

“Hey, you bastard, you haven’t told me the answer… where are you going?”

Yang Tang didn’t look back, simply raising his hand. “Black Feather is in the classroom.”

Those five words froze Murakami in place as if under a spell. After a few seconds, he suddenly dashed down the stairs, no longer caring about Yang Tang.

“Buzz—”

Yang Tang returned to the golden haze. Floating in midair was a solitary skill plaque: [Super Memory].

“I want to redeem the skill!”

“There is currently only one skill available for redemption. It will cost one hundred merit (sin). Please confirm whether to redeem.”

“Redeem, use sin for it.”

“One hundred sin deducted!”

“You currently have nine hundred eighty-six sin!”

“The second dream’s single skill redemption will cost one hundred ten merit (sin)!”

“Damn, the skill redemption price is rising!”

“Would you like to solidify the skill [Super Memory]?”

“Solidify.”

“Warning… Physical attributes are slightly insufficient for skill solidification. Please spend eight point two merit (sin) to enhance physical attributes!”

“What? So my intelligence is the issue? This is outright discrimination… Enhance, hurry up and strengthen me, use merit points for it!”

“Eight point two merit deducted!”

“You currently have fifty-three merit!”

“Physical attributes will gradually strengthen within eight hours. [Super Memory] will also solidify within eight hours!”

“Skill cannot be used until solidification is complete.”

“Since [Aimed Shot] and [Super Memory] require non-conflicting physical attributes, solidification times may overlap.”

“Enhancement begins…”

“Using [Skill Solidification Slot] one!”

“Solidification begins…”

“You now have zero [Skill Solidification Slots]!”

…

Faintly, Yang Tang heard an alarm ringing and abruptly opened his eyes, awakening.

He got up as usual, washed, ate breakfast, and began a new day of study. Yang Tang had no plans to go out on the weekend; if, after a few hours, [Super Memory] truly worked, he’d likely spend a long time accumulating merit (sin) and instead devote himself fully to preparing for the college entrance exam.

But just as Yang Tang began studying, he heard the notification of insight: “Skill [Aimed Shot] solidification complete!”

“Didn’t they say the solidification times overlap…”

“How is it so fast?”

“No, the overlap must only be partial. After all, [Aimed Shot] started solidifying as soon as the first dream began.”

Upon realizing this, Yang Tang summoned the newly solidified skill’s attributes, only to be astonished that even the skill’s name was unfamiliar to him.

“Aimed Sniper: tenfold enhancement, cooldown zero seconds, aim, snipe; three attack modes: 1. Assassination, 2. Combo, 3. Heavy Snipe; active skill, requires shooting posture, instant activation, mana cost zero.”

“Damn, what kind of bizarre skill is this?” Yang Tang was utterly surprised as he read the description. “I remember the old [Aimed Shot] required equipped shooting weapons. Now, what does ‘shooting posture’ mean? Do I just make a gesture?”

“Forget it. I don’t need it right now. I’ll try it later.”

So, Yang Tang spent the entire morning buried in his studies.

******

Noon, after class, outside the gate of Shizhong.

Across the street, many private cars and small trucks were parked, so nobody noticed the two Jinbei vans (eleven-seaters), one white and one gray, parked nose-to-tail—utterly inconspicuous.

The gray van had clearly been modified. Aside from the immobile driver and passenger seats, the first row in the cabin had been removed and reinstalled backward, so its backrest leaned against the driver and passenger seats, making the gap between the first two rows much wider.

At this moment, Big Fei and Rascal sat in the first row, smoking sullen cigarettes. Opposite them sat a horse-faced man with a scar running across his left eyelid, making it appear as if a chunk of his forehead had been sliced off.

Finally, unable to bear the tense atmosphere inside the van, Big Fei broke the silence. “Brother Hua, the graduating class is already out at this hour.”

“I know. So you and Rascal go greet Brother Yang together!” Brother Hua’s smile was all surface, his eyes cold. “Remember, even if he refuses, don’t use force…”

Rascal was immediately troubled. “So how do we invite him?”

“Idiot, just follow him. If he boards a bus, you get on too. He surely won’t be dumb enough to lead you home, right?” Brother Hua had clearly thought through the plan. He secretly mused that if Yang Tang really did lead them home, then he was a fool—not someone worth roping in.

“Got it, we’ll go now!” Rascal replied, gestured to Big Fei, then slid the van door open with a flourish and exited in single file.

When the door closed again, a pale-skinned, buzz-cut youth in the last row spoke up. “Brother Hua, if I were that Yang kid, after figuring out your intentions, I’d lead Rascal and Big Fei home.”

“Oh? Why?” Brother Hua asked, puzzled.

“That way, you’d think he’s a fool and naturally distance yourself. He wouldn’t have to bother with us anymore!”

“Hmm, you’re right—I hadn’t thought of that!” Brother Hua chuckled. “Black Screen, looks like your mind works pretty quick!”

“Thank you for the compliment, Brother Hua. But compared to the bits of information Rascal brought back about the Yang kid, I reckon my insight doesn’t even come close!” Black Screen said modestly.

“Yeah…” Brother Hua sighed. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t resort to such a desperate move, blinded by the urge to forcibly recruit someone!”

“Whoosh—”

The van door slid open again.

Outside stood Big Fei and Rascal.

Brother Hua glanced outside, his brows furrowing deeply. “Where’s the man you were supposed to invite?”

Big Fei said, “Yang Tang isn’t at school. We just asked around—he took leave two days ago and went home.”

Brother Hua: “……”

Rascal spoke up, “But…”

“But what? If you’ve got something to say, spit it out!”

“When Big Fei and I were asking about Yang Tang, another group was also asking after him. And each one had a badminton racket bag—they were obviously hiding weapons!”

Brother Hua’s eyes instantly lit up. “You’re saying someone wants to attack Yang Tang?”

Rascal nodded. “That’s about right.”

“Well, stop wasting time. Tell the brothers to grab their gear—you and Big Fei lead the team.” Brother Hua grinned wickedly. “Go chop those bastards up!”

“Huh?” Big Fei was stunned.

“Yes!” Rascal answered crisply, shoving Big Fei and heading toward the front van to rally the crew.

In the van, Brother Hua ordered, “Black Screen, you go oversee the operation. If you can catch the mastermind, even better.”

“Understood!”