Chapter 93: I Rely on My Own Skills to Make a Living

The smile slowly faded from Ye Ping’s face as he lowered his head to look at the contents recorded on the paper. The information matched perfectly with what they had uncovered in their investigation, not a single detail out of place. It was precisely this that amazed him—someone who could live exactly as described in an investigative report, yet in person, gave a completely different impression. What kind of feeling was that?

A chill ran down his spine, his heart fluttered with unease, and a coldness crept across his back, but there was also a hint of excitement. The more he thought about their earlier conversation, the more uncomfortable Ye Ping felt.

The last question he’d asked had gone unanswered by Tang Shen—not denied, not affirmed. As for the real answer, he could only guess for himself.

At some point, the director, who looked nothing like a master, reappeared with his usual cheerful demeanor. He asked with a smile, “Ye Ping, what do you think?”

Ye Ping shook his head. “We can’t recruit him. I can’t see through him. Before I met him, I thought he’d be easy to handle, maybe a bit of trouble, but after meeting him, I realized I was wrong. His mind is far too strong—I can’t hypnotize him, and every word out of his mouth is impossible to judge as truth or lie.”

The director asked again, “What if I raise the offer?”

The office fell eerily silent. Ye Ping looked down for a long time before finally replying, “He’s not like me.”

…

Tang Shen stepped out of the Special Department and stretched lazily.

Of the three gene warriors who’d accompanied him, two had left; only the talkative one remained, chatting away happily. This one was called Hu Da, and he wasn’t the least bit standoffish.

“Tang Shen, where are you heading next? Why not go straight to the Gene Martial Hall for your assessment?” Hu Da suggested. “It’s not far, you can get your certificate and start collecting your salary right away. Even the most basic members get a place to live.”

Upon hearing about a salary and a house, Tang Shen’s eyes lit up instantly. He said eagerly, “Of course, let’s go! I’m really strapped for cash right now—poverty like mine is beyond your imagination.”

Damn it, since arriving in this world, except for the food in the game, he’d only been able to eat the cheapest nutrition packs in real life. Today was the first time he’d mooched some snacks at the Special Department.

Taking advantage of the game update this time was all about solving his meals and, if possible, finding a better place to live. That tiny room really was too cramped.

“Which one should we go to?” Hu Da continued.

“How about Thor’s Hall?” suggested a plump, smiling man named Qiao He—known as Qiao San, one of the three who had vouched for Tang Shen. “I’m based there, so I can look after you. It’s a good place to take it easy.”

“I’m with Snow Wolf,” said another, the thinner and more somber-looking man with a hooked nose, named Yu Guang. “I can help out too, though I wouldn’t suggest slacking off in our hall.”

“Heh heh, I think if you want to take it easy, you should come to our War God Alliance. It’s laid-back and free, and it’s the biggest Gene Martial Hall. I might not be able to do much for you, but I can help out a little—how’s that?” The last one, Yang Zhi, was tall, muscular, a bit dark-skinned, and his grin was rather cheeky.

“That’s true,” Hu Da nodded. “The War God Alliance is recognized as the best—biggest, and not run by the government or a family, so the management isn’t strict. Gene warriors there form their own teams freely, strength rules, and outside of special missions, there’s no forced group activity. But resources are harder to compete for, since you’re on your own.”

Tang Shen listened with a cheerful smile and made a decisive choice. “Then let’s go to the War God Alliance! Taking it easy is the most important thing.”

At his words, the corners of the others’ mouths twitched. For gene warriors his age, who wasn’t filled with ambition, pushing themselves to become strong? Only Tang Shen could so casually talk about coasting through life.

Just then, the usually silent bodyguard of Bai Xue suddenly spoke up. “Miss Bai says you can join the Bai family. You can take it easy for as long as you like, and the conditions are even better than the Special Department.”

The car fell silent, leaving only the sound of breathing. Everyone looked at Tang Shen.

They were all a little envious—being chosen by Miss Bai of the Bai family meant never lacking anything again. Resources would never be a problem.

So what would Tang Shen choose?

Tang Shen’s face darkened. That woman still hadn’t given up. He snapped, “No way! I have my pride—I’m not joining the Bai family just to be kept.”

Seeing how quickly Tang Shen had refused, Qiao San and the others couldn’t help giving him a thumbs up. They hadn’t expected that someone like Tang Shen, who always talked about coasting along, would actually have such pride.

Back at school, Qiao San and the others had only heard rumors; they hadn’t taken it seriously. Seeing him refuse right to their faces was truly shocking.

To be honest, if someone had offered to sponsor them—even if it wasn’t the powerful Bai family, even if the woman was ugly—they’d have jumped at the chance. Resources were hard to come by, and while gene warriors looked glamorous to ordinary people, they fought and risked their lives for those resources, with death always looming.

Only with enough resources could they survive and become stronger.

The temptation was huge; few could refuse.

The bodyguard was silent for a moment, remembering Bai Xue’s promise—if he could get Tang Shen to join the Bai family… His eyes flickered and he tried again, “If you go to the War God Alliance, you’re still just coasting. No one there can guarantee your safety—you could die at any time. You’d be better off joining the Bai family, where Miss Bai can protect you.”

Tang Shen raised an eyebrow. Even this silent type could argue so sharply, and he found himself agreeing.

If he truly were a gene warrior, maybe he would have accepted. But he wasn’t, and he couldn’t help but feel regret—not that he didn’t want to be kept, but because the so-called gene warrior resources were useless to him.

So he replied with righteous resolve, “Going to the War God Alliance, I’ll be earning my keep with my own abilities. Joining the Bai family just to be taken care of—what kind of man would I be? There are things a man should and shouldn’t do.”

Hu Da: “...”

Qiao San: “...”

Yu Guang: “...”

Yang Zhi: “...”

Bai Xue’s bodyguard: “...”

You make a good point—no one could argue.

Yes! Going to the War God Alliance means making a living with your own skills. How is that the same as the Bai family? Being kept by a woman?

Though they found his answer a bit ridiculous—after all, in this world, joining the Bai family was the smart choice, since survival was hard and getting resources even harder—they still admired Tang Shen’s resolve.

But the answer wasn’t a surprise. He’d already turned down the Special Department’s generous offer.

This refusal, too, was only to be expected.

Unfathomable, truly unfathomable.

From beginning to end, none of them could understand what Tang Shen was really thinking.

Even Ye Ping and the director of the Special Department found themselves puzzled by this very question.