First-Year Internship—And You Went to Site 749 to Contain Monsters?!
Chapter 331: Dodged a Bullet, Folks - Those Who Live by the Sword Die by the Sword [1/4]

...

Meanwhile.

At the Blackwater Market pleasure boats.

Though it was already late at night, the place remained brightly lit.

A Qi Refiner's vitality and spirit naturally surpass ordinary people's.

The higher one's realm and strength, the less sleep they require.

Some don't need to sleep at all.

Spiritual energy is the purest supplement between heaven and earth.

Absorbing spiritual energy can completely replace the rest and recovery that sleep provides for cells and bodily organs.

Of course, this doesn't mean one absolutely shouldn't sleep.

Sleeping is a matter of habit, and moreover, a pleasure.

On the moored pleasure boats, people came and went.

Tang Tian and Tang Miao walked among them, experiencing the different local customs.

Turning his head,

Tang Tian looked at his younger sister.

He wasn't stupid.

He knew his sister's attitude toward Huang Xun wasn't as favorable as he'd initially hoped.

Puzzled in heart,

he asked: "Miaomiao, you don't seem to like Huang Xun much? Why is that?"

Tang Miao reached out to play with a small doll displayed at a vendor's stall.

Replying: "Brother, why must I like him? You get along with him because you naturally don't care about many things."

"Magnanimous, free-spirited, not constrained by minor details."

"But I'm different from you - I pay more attention to details, and his details make me uncomfortable."

"In my view, he's quite rude, lacking any sense of boundaries. Must I really have a favorable impression of him?"

"Who made that rule?"

"Uh... that's not exactly what I meant. It just feels somewhat inappropriate. I'm in a bit of a dilemma,"

Tang Tian said offhandedly.

One was his sworn brother, the other his blood sister.

Caught between them, neither position felt quite right.

Tang Miao showed no particular emotion.

"A dilemma? Because of the Drowned Corpse Cave? Big brother, don't feel torn. We're siblings - let's not speak hypocritical words."

"If you hadn't invited me, I probably wouldn't have much interest in coming here. I admit the Drowned Corpse Cave holds some appeal, but for me... it's not essential."

"If it troubles you, I can choose not to enter."

"I know what bothers you - that we're using their connections to access the Drowned Corpse Cave, creating an obligation."

"But the premise wasn't that I asked to come. I didn't hint at anything - you invited me, so I came."

"Moreover, before coming, no one told me that getting into the Drowned Corpse Cave required getting along with him!"

"It's like going out to eat - you invited me to join you because you're my brother, but after arriving, you tell me we're splitting the bill."

"I didn't know! Had I known, I wouldn't have come. So here's the solution, big brother - I won't enter the Drowned Corpse Cave, and you needn't feel torn."

Tang Miao's stance was clear - state the price upfront, and she'd pay if she partook.

Without prior knowledge, she naturally wouldn't accept.

Moreover, she felt Huang Xun wasn't as admirable as her brother claimed - just personal bias.

Dodged a bullet, folks.

Tang Tian hurried to explain: "Ah no, Miaomiao, listen to me - that's not what I meant at all. You're my blood sister, we grew up together."

"With decades of shared history, how could I possibly favor an outsider? It's just that I think..."

The flustered Tang Tian suddenly stopped speaking.

Following his gaze,

through the crowd opposite,

a man was walking straight toward them, his aura markedly different from those around.

Tang Tian instantly positioned himself before Tang Miao, shielding her.

His expression turned grave as he assessed Lu Ding approaching.

An internal assessment formed:

This man - strong! Extremely strong! Absurdly strong!

Though his approach seemed casual, without any pretense,

the energy he radiated showed not the slightest opening.

Tang Miao recognized the newcomer too.

She patted her brother's shoulder: "Brother, don't act rashly. This is one of the three people I mentioned from the boat."

"Unless I'm mistaken, he's the strongest among them."

Tang Tian nodded silently: "Indeed formidable."

He could also tell Lu Ding approached without hostile intent.

But that didn't mean he could simply step aside.

He was her elder brother!

Standing before his sister, prepared to intercept any potential danger.

Lu Ding approached.

A nod served as polite greeting.

"Miss Tang, Mr. Tang, might I trouble you both to accompany me? We need to record your statements on video."

His manner immediately eased their tension.

At least for now, he seemed to bear no ill will.

Just as Tang Tian prepared to speak,

he saw the identification Lu Ding produced.

749!!!

Connecting this with recent events, Huang Xun's departure, and the earlier explosion...

Putting it together...

Huang Xun must have lost.

And that earlier message likely came from this man.

To so boldly wield Huang Xun's phone within Huang family territory...

This man before them must possess strength beyond anything they could oppose.

Tang Miao reached the same conclusion.

Without unnecessary questions: "Where would be convenient for you?"

"Anywhere will do."

As they spoke, Yan Feifan and Wutian arrived.

The group found a relatively secluded spot to begin.

Yan Feifan primarily handled recording Tang Miao's statement.

Tang Tian listened guardedly nearby, his expression growing increasingly pensive.

When the process concluded, he could no longer restrain himself.

"Investigator, may I ask about my sworn brother... he..."

Lu Ding saw no point in concealment - it would be impossible anyway.

He stated directly: "Dead."

Tang Tian raised his head, meeting Lu Ding's gaze squarely.

First establishing his position: "The current outcome is simply give-and-take - fate determines life and death. Those who live by the sword die by the sword. The Huang family's affairs don't concern me."

"But my sworn brotherhood with Huang Xun was genuine, untainted by other considerations."

"Since he has died, as his sworn brother, I cannot remain completely passive."

Gathering qi within himself, an aura gradually unfurled.

"Tang Clan, Tang Tian, seeks instruction!"

Lu Ding appreciated reason.

Tang Tian's words resonated with him.

After all, they'd sworn brotherhood with ritual!

Had Tang Tian said nothing, that bond would have been truly meaningless.

Instead, his current words and actions earned Lu Ding's respect.

As the saying goes: Those who live by the sword die by the sword.

If you can kill others, others can kill you.

Fair!

Moreover, Lu Ding sensed no murderous intent - only pure combat spirit.

Under these circumstances, Lu Ding would provide him an honorable exit.

Allowing him to act according to conscience.

Empathizing - were it Bai Hemen or Yan Feifan in this situation, Lu Ding would do the same.

Beyond all other considerations - this was about honor.

Tang Miao understood her brother's character and thus didn't interfere.

Sometimes, conviction holds importance surpassing all else for a person.

Lu Ding clasped his hands: "Yunhai 749, Lu Ding."