Da Ge

Chapter 27
Around two or three o’clock in the afternoon, when the restaurant was usually quiet, Wei Zhiyuan, serving as a dish-carrying waiter, often had some free time. So one day, with an innocent face, he asked the boss if he could play Snake on his phone, and the boss nonchalantly agreed.RAZBITPoIhCZjjCtKzqJowHGjcpcnG

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While Wei Qian studied the map and the city’s waste disposal system for a week, Wei Zhiyuan spent a week playing Snake… and sending a few messages to San Pang.UszZReBktSPyglZaEdsmkiDARRLMjO

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The first message was simple: “Brother, help, don’t reply to this message. Call my brother at nine tonight, let it ring once, then hang up. – Xiao Yuan.”LqZQbuJvIMpmvYzDldFCClGjRVInqt

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The second message, Wei Zhiyuan left the city name and address, with a note at the end: “Don’t reply, don’t look for us, find a place to stay on your own. When you arrive, call my brother, let it ring twice, then hang up.”SCafqZxetlHlNpSfmDhudyJunBOWLN

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On the fourth day, Wei Qian received two rings from San Pang.utjlnsLnjdFGazbyGqANMJitajmKsF

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Following Wei Qian’s instructions, Wei Zhiyuan then gave San Pang the third message: “Get a big dog, and when you get it, call my brother. Let it ring three times, then hang up.”pzPhYzQvmpOrmxcWmOHkIcmNvIitIX

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On the last day, Wei Qian adjusted his physical condition and prepared to go to the boxing arena.sfOchUDMxyPxlKwHiNQVOxxqegXDHb

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He woke up early, before Wei Zhiyuan, and drew a small turtle on the back of the child’s hand with a carbon pen.BwsamVgjDfATvJbbvwCejNEjAyEjDg

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Wei Qian had already flipped through the old math textbook from cover to cover. At the same time, he followed the original owner’s lead and drew a dozen sticky notes of little turtles. At first glance, it was almost a perfect mimicry of the “Turtle Sage’s” style, drawn with exquisite detail.OJvoRpQiWmXuYNapVDguHvMisCchDU

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After finishing the drawing, Wei Qian dressed and left gracefully.yQAQWlkFTyIsxNSVjtpGcrueiJtfgV

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Meanwhile, San Pang, accompanied by a large dog, had been sneaking around the outskirts of the western part of the city for a day and a night.aGFAYjIsdxckIRowivZkCfWvQBDQhh

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As a pickup truck approached, San Pang quickly dodged the headlights, pulled back the dog leash, and forced the dog to crouch down with him, vigilantly waiting for the truck to pass by.HgVEYpQKQhfNlMGchgBAeUaGWsFrad

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The large dog extended its long tongue, and seeing San Pang’s frightened face approaching, it casually licked him.uYsXMYqOQHEyNcuvtKeNGWGuIGwrYI

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After the car drove away, San Pang angrily roared at the dog, “Damn it, you just finished eating shit!”AVBIBHrGEbBrAwhgVPoktTZflTQGLZ

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The dog evidently didn’t see any hygiene issue with that, wagging its tail and replying, “Woof!”WZCPqFYwrafGaeNXEgnGBnGaYsPRKr

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San Pang looked at the dog anxiously. Somehow, it looked tall and handsome but seemed to have a significantly lower IQ than its counterparts. “Baby, we’ve been wasting a whole day here. If we can’t find him soon, that little bastard Wei Qian might have already slipped away.”zUNXTmbABuUEVuQmfWSbOnkmOyIOTa

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Let’s call the dog Happy for now. Happy happily dragged him forward, barking as if saying, “Let that little bastard die!”ODtZihMnqOeaKiiyuymzhIGlfcUeqm

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San Pang sighed, “Who wouldn’t want that? I also wish that little bastard would die. He’s like a trouble magnet with legs. I don’t know what mess he’s gotten into this time—searching for corpses in the western part of the city. Damn it, I’m supposed to be in a comedy, and now he’s got me guest-starring in a horror movie!”ncjNyhszJttmCsjKLFsCLOvCUSVQOy

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Suddenly, Happy stopped, and San Pang’s nerves immediately tensed. “What’s wrong? Are we near?”PKDWURtNJBPXNQlLLuHUooHHBVrKZO

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…As the dog, Happy, lifted his leg in delight and relieved himself under the tree, San Pang stood by, baffled.DnOvZOtNWpqAxmrVLTuLSARjhGscgx

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It was only then that San Pang realized Happy had led him to a slightly elevated spot. Peering down, he caught sight of the waste incineration plant, its noxious fumes filling the air. He marveled at how Happy, with his heightened sense of smell, could maintain his cheerful demeanor amidst such conditions.DPIGArukREFsiKbfmpOKyCeezxaGYD

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Squinting, San Pang noticed several large trash bins of different colors that hadn’t been disposed of with the rest of the garbage. A small pickup truck, which had passed by him earlier, was parked nearby, and a few individuals were unloading the bins from the truck.AyNFczrAayQOCiBgMRTXylxaDkMuGz

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These individuals were certainly not employees of the waste facility; San Pang could tell at a glance. Those willing to do such labor here were likely elderly, as few young people could endure such hardship. The newcomers, however, appeared robust and capable, effortlessly hoisting what seemed like heavy bins onto the truck.DrGOOTIHcAwQWaTKsjrPOWotnMPcdM

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Before long, the pickup drove off again.SoCTDmVyDIpNITQuJtAwKbDjIDSLLl

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San Pang crouched down, retrieving a map from his pocket, and whispered to Happy, “This doesn’t add up. The map shows nothing there but open land.”sSmqLIUMzFkgtwokwjuhjWOMbgmcEZ

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Ignoring him, Happy tugged at his sleeve, urging him to follow.dhxfPIXoHLAKGRSxThDgkBPWmVdjKX

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“Alright, I’ll trust your instincts,” San Pang acquiesced. “Let’s go.”BRtvAYkeTRkLoxEUcvGisDKPNeEXIZ

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San Pang, hunched over, cautiously skirted along, meticulously navigating through tire tracks and directions, relying on the dog’s nose. Following the tracks left by the pickup truck, it was nearly dawn when he stumbled upon a row of illegal structures, resembling makeshift iron smelting workshops common among the clandestine. The pickup had departed, leaving several trash bins outside, lids ajar, with one accidentally toppled over, empty.iWfVJdRuYZjeAKVFOJFPcDLVVfNTqQ

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Peering inside the overturned bin, San Pang scrutinized its contents, finding it inexplicably clean. The assortment within, especially the watery remnants, contradicted the pristine state of the bin; it must have contained something else.lGEwFwpYUegQgUfhUMqLimujIbwJpQ

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A vague premonition gripped San Pang; he felt he was onto something.kvwCRwfVOrXCAmOFdVfGBHkaLXinCj

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Only then did he notice Happy’s peculiar behavior.efmASBWFFyccEojbGkzGMaYtcMKUPl

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Eyes wide, fur bristling, Happy bared his sharp teeth toward the row of bins, his claws anxiously scraping the ground, vacillating between fleeing and attacking—a clear sign he had sensed something alarming.mQjEAbMGHlFHHTrTSwjrfQWSmLjByR

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Meanwhile, in the small diner where Wei Zhiyuan worked, an odd customer had arrived that morning. Despite the establishment just opening, he ordered a bowl of noodles and sat idly, seemingly biding his time.jpSLbtpnKeZxRvQIoMaYixWMlRtPAn

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The proprietors, uneasy, noted the unusual timing of his arrival. Most patrons didn’t come in for a steaming bowl of noodles at such an odd hour. The customer, with tattoos peeking from beneath his sleeveless vest and a head of unkempt blond hair, hardly seemed benign.UQcCOUJOCOyLxhprWHqvLFTdnAqulx

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Wei Zhiyuan, equipped with Wei Qian’s silenced phone, awaited news from San Pang. One ring would signal success, while two indicated completion. The morning’s first ring had come and gone, yet the second was conspicuously absent, leaving Wei Zhiyuan increasingly anxious.hCXidForUehyUXnJZKESoQjkRPrQJJ

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Unbeknownst to him, as he glanced at his phone, the strange customer had silently risen and was stealthily approaching.daqwDhAVcpRtcFbcBgNwPgWiwlPpgU

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Wei Qian had just finished his second match.TwCvHUtdxifYMdgQmHiqLWhQMlTVEa

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The moment he stepped onto the stage, he sensed something amiss. For someone like Wei Qian, accustomed to the ways of combat, he could usually discern whether someone posed a threat the instant they stood before him. In the second match, according to protocol, his opponent should have been stronger, yet this person was no more formidable than the first.eZAxTOQOyTFenmqhqXMFKXXnomCwuY

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Wei Qian effortlessly brought the man down, barely breaking a sweat.OBXgZMWXSUadfllSJPtfiahtyzkiod

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The audience emitted disappointed hisses—because, to the untrained eye, Wei Qian’s opponent appeared imposing, towering with bulging muscles.mMqlfDFunnDECJiQQOyUnvHMvdgCRs

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However, only those who had stepped into the ring knew the truth: the man’s muscles were so overly developed, akin to a bodybuilder’s, that they severely hindered his punching speed. Apart from resilience, they served little purpose.onRDlJuYmjfyYNRHqnFLdKvSxhRGUy

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Wei Qian wiped his brow, preparing to retreat to the dressing room.ySQFrtrKEPwigxKWvUPsPkTkSdTEUH

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Just as he descended from the stage, Zhao Laojiu rushed in, panting heavily. He grabbed Wei Qian’s hand, pulling him into a corner, first feigning anxious scrutiny before dramatically heaving a sigh of relief and patting his shoulder. “Phew, buddy, glad you’re okay, glad you’re okay.”xePkxbkNMFdSlOLWldUdNTgpRIYFJn

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Wei Qian knew trouble was brewing.tGssUxLaFGYCdnpRsdFkxkEscSGyNx

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Maintaining composure, he feigned bewilderment. “Huh?”UTQgChnfiAITruRmbkIFTVGIClIrcN

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Slapping his thigh, Zhao Laojiu exclaimed, “Ah, these people! What’s the use of keeping them around… They got it all wrong! Your opponent wasn’t some low-level guy like you. He’s mid-level, that big guy could take on two of you easily! Jiuge was worried sick about you just now…”PwhPwKUGpxREkdouQkeIQIptomxmRN

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Wei Qian inwardly sneered, but outwardly, he maintained a stunned expression, playing along with Zhao Laojiu’s charade.wGKSoNQMrDXIGgputpPGfzOFzjEgCK

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As if struck by a sudden realization, Zhao Laojiu opened his briefcase and pulled out a thick stack of bills—truly substantial, at least two stacks worth. Wei Qian could tell with a cursory glance that it was well over twenty thousand.oXnyJyXGQOmfKvjfCqqEUOqwtkSiQd

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“Here’s your appearance fee and prize money for winning, according to that guy’s level. Ten thousand each. Plus, another five thousand from Jiuge himself. Ah, Jiuge feels awful for letting this happen; if I hadn’t let my guard down, you wouldn’t have suffered like this.”JarUbnzyPVyNybHzQdvLRDSvSdazLl

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Wei Qian feigned reluctance, eventually succumbing to the pressure and “accepting” the money, stashing it in his wallet. Zhao Laojiu looked on, satisfied and benevolent. “Young man, you have potential! Now go, change your clothes.”yuCUAYLFcwtjNJcxqRyeUgSosKMTaF

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Wei Qian had foreseen various scenarios—of course, over twenty thousand was a sum he had never encountered in his life. A tremor ran through his liver, and his mind raced with excitement, but soon, his strong will reasserted control.omipEGQwDyJKforLYCtdRKMdyNjVdO

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With deliberate steps, he left the arena, glancing back at Zhao Laojiu along the way. He noticed a smug smile on the man’s face, tinged with satisfaction.KvFkkoPNLCZgZgaBRytIGDfsvBBcIA

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Using a weakling, convincing him he defeated a mid-level opponent, and then inflating his ego with money to willingly jump ranks? Impossible. True fighters could distinguish between real threats and mere showmanship. In the previous match, they would chalk it up to luck. How many would risk their lives for twenty-five thousand in their pocket?qAOgHviZiwLHXaORYLAnjzCwvMeeyc

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There were certainly individuals who would take such risks, but they typically required significant sums of money. These could include drug addicts, loan sharks, or those supporting seriously ill family members. Moreover, they wouldn’t agree to just three matches.rfGhkutrsoXDEZrrsOaEAmBCBcxBwR

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For most low-level fighters signed for three matches, the earnings from this match alone would exceed their expectations. Few would have the courage to risk another round.aJxHyAZYQuiBndPDQgJkpcxoioLEIt

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This was like throwing money into the water, or hitting a dog with a meat bun. Zhao Laojiu couldn’t be that foolish.vRijGUtJqnloucZdZesblWukjmeTae

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Wei Qian’s mind was unusually calm, racing at full speed. Suddenly, he halted his steps.IkpPVEKkerJgefkqjBThmTpjzpBYUC

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The words “go change your clothes” from Zhao Laojiu echoed in his ears, triggering a realization— the dressing room!nPyBwpfceYOzMVGnwaLUMCdPTRjnMm

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From the outset, Wei Qian had sensed something was off about the arrangement of the arena.zWDwVplWBfLldfbiJMoiHamBsHroqR

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In a normal setup, adjacent levels of the arena would be close to each other for the convenience of the audience. Indeed, the other levels were arranged in a straight line, but not the low level.HmVBWjMjOyDOLatGIXHbIopgxSmSeb

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The lowest level was positioned near the entrance, while the second level was deeper inside.cPQlUWwBmAOxcoDxuSEbmlHrNCaEOh

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As a result, for second-level fighters to return to the dressing room, they had to pass through a narrow, dimly lit corridor, barely wide enough for one person to pass through. Supposedly, the lights were broken and hadn’t been fixed yet.ffWmtQOMUQQCNxSvMIFdBfzlKGNiZx

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Fighters entered from the outside to ensure visibility for the guests, but exiting had different rules—they were required to use the fighter’s passage to avoid obstructing the guests’ view, guests they couldn’t afford to offend.fKyFbnaCrYsbrLEwCSLWdSEAwMRGoa

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In other words, for second-level fighters to exit, they had to take that dark and narrow path, which now lay before Wei Qian.qlfSOMWFPVnLAIrONwTSycXXCacvnX

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Money and… courage.MlrtdVbEEPjWthVrZBirFCFWTrajMv

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In the blink of an eye, Wei Qian understood how Zhao Laojiu would orchestrate this situation.VWRNIeaPeQXBfJysgWBFQaZcviDJpE

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Picture a destitute boxer, carrying a fortune he had never seen in his life, striding joyfully into this corridor, only to be ambushed at its darkest depths. How would he react?PxHITtkMhQUrfsTlRYZfNrCpROhtHo

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If the assailant not only struck him hard but also snatched away the money he carried, what would he do?BDTwoTZAHtXgjmzrhHVBakosHipnVi

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Being ambushed unexpectedly in the darkness would have a profound psychological impact on anyone. But for someone fresh from winning a match on the arena, their blood still hot, they wouldn’t feel fear or apprehension; they’d feel anger, even hatred. Uncontrolled rage would ignite the swelling sense of entitlement that had previously been manageable.EtxwchwtytFGeDQikjYOTtuJvqXbdT

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And then there’s the money.sZKMPYZuhFVrFohlVwUFmOBTRFauWt

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Losing out on money is one thing, but having it taken from you after you’ve already obtained it would enrage anyone… especially people like them. They would go mad.JfPKzwEnUjGatJCHOcKNgjgpQLUdlj

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It’s crude, but undoubtedly effective.iiamOPRkEaupZFBHYxqiqPECUShIFg

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Wei Qian’s palms were slick with cold sweat.pmPVxsCMJCKbDkuijkZEekpvRHgcFN

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Just then, a voice behind him murmured, “Why aren’t you leaving?”BjjHVcVTCeebpTCMCdbSZfPdmXpyRk

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In the western part of the city, San Pang felt like his body was about to explode from fear.kGzytcuMQmRpbYPXqQABWKrtzcSPOW

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To this day, San Pang still didn’t know what had happened with Wei Qian and Wei Zhiyuan. All he knew was that these two grandsons had up and left without a word, leaving Old Lady Song in a state of panic, almost beside herself. She was too preoccupied to scold him, Big Pang, anymore. Every time she saw him, she would barrage him with questions, incessantly probing like Xiang Lin’s wife.vWvFeFPzYAXrleiqEqJTurjYXKevpN

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San Pang was also anxious. Since the incident with Ma Zi, San Pang had developed a psychological shadow, though he never voiced it. And being constantly nagged by Old Lady Song was pushing him to the brink of collapse.LlXobSAUIwVGdMdmEaFBuKQjwlmbjc

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It wasn’t until he received a text message from an unfamiliar number, written in Wei Zhiyuan’s style, that he rushed over, buying a ticket from a scalper and traveling in a state of extreme tension. This was especially true when he received the message from Wei Qian and the others, instructing him to find a “corpse.”YasaZWUycSFBHJzwdXSIokmpaaVCar

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Of course, seeing the word “corpse” on paper only stirred up worry and apprehension in San Pang… but when he actually saw those genuine corpses, he was almost scared out of his wits without any buffer.ClbcjNCTNYkkqGJwabVttrCBBzhtnd

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San Pang and Happy sneaked into the illegal workshop. Along the way, Happy seemed to sense the fear and caution of the human beside him. Surprisingly, he didn’t bark once. The others had probably already left by car, leaving only a middle-aged man behind.pqeMtqsmYgtScjGEpqujZkuNiDJdpF

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Inside a gloomy shack, San Pang took a quick look around. It was a makeshift shrine, with a statue of Buddha, and the man inside was trembling as he lit incense and kowtowed. Outside, in the yard, lay a pile of scrap metal. San Pang and Happy cautiously avoided the debris, making their way towards what seemed like a storage area for refining tanks.JnxXvQajABdgVSqpOANbiwpmaqILar

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Upon entering, even the faint-hearted would have been scared witless. Rows of troughs contained corpses, facing outward, eyes rolled back, mouths agape. The outermost bodies were still stiff, but the innermost ones had begun to emit waves of putrid odor in the damp, warm weather of Guangdong… The troughs weren’t even full yet; they would probably be incinerated once they were.dGLyRfHGcsdFBHuCseYgpzGiSeqvyL

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San Pang immediately collapsed to the ground, while Happy let out a terrified “woof.”csgFjiOOVBWteSmLghbYUMiywjPACA

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