As soon as I left the police station, I headed straight to the bank. According to The Netherworld Live Show, everything I redeemed with my livestream points should be locked inside my personal safety deposit box.
Though I had no idea what a personal safety deposit box even was, The Netherworld Live Show probably wouldn't lie about something like that.
Covered in mud and with my pant legs torn, I looked like a refugee fleeing disaster as I arrived at one of Jiangcheng's biggest banks.
"Sir, how may I help you today?"
"I want to retrieve the contents of my personal safety deposit box. Card number 622843."
"Personal safety deposit box? Sorry, sir, we don't offer that service here. Are you sure you're not mistaken?" The teller was polite enough, but the people waiting behind me weren't nearly so patient.
"Where did this country bumpkin come from? Personal safety deposit box? Does he think this bank belongs to him?"
"The Rural Credit Union is right next door, bro. Maybe you're in the wrong place?"
"Hurry up, I'm in a rush!"
The crowd behind me was grumbling, but I was used to that by now. I calmly said, "Please check again. My card number is 622843."
The teller looked uncomfortable. The security guard at the door started walking over.
"How about this: I'll ask the manager. If she doesn't know, then I really can't help."
This teller was probably a fresh college grad on internship; anyone else might have lost patience already.
"Our time is valuable too."
"Bumpkin, step aside!"
After a short while, the teller hurried back without a word, placing a "Service Temporarily Suspended" sign on the counter.
"What's this? Neglecting duty? We'll be filing complaints!"
"Yeah, where's the floor manager? I want to complain!"
Within seconds, not just my counter but the next three counters all suspended service. The staff hurried backstage.
"What's going on? Bomb drill or something?"
I was puzzled too, when suddenly a sweet voice came from the VIP entrance:
"Mr. Gao, this way please!"
"VIP entrance? For accounts over a million? Just him?"
Everyone stared at me like they could see right through me, whispering. The beautiful floor manager called out again:
"Mr. Gao, please rest in the VIP lounge."
Feeling the astonished stares around me, I finally lifted my head. "Alright… but I've been standing for a while. I'm a bit thirsty."
"Our apologies. Would you prefer Longjing or Pu'er tea?"
"Don't bother. Just a cold Coke will do."
It was my first time in the VIP lounge. I never imagined a bank could be so luxurious inside.
"Nice place… that sofa looks like genuine leather."
"You flatter us, sir."
After about ten minutes, the young teller brought a tray:
"Sir, here is the key to your safety deposit box."
On the tray lay a pure black bank card — no shine, no reflection — very understated.
"Your deposit box is in the basement. Shall we open it now?"
"Of course."
Escorted by four staff, I went downstairs, swiped the card, entered the password, and opened the box to retrieve the black cloth-wrapped contents.
The whole process felt like a movie scene. Even after I stepped out with the package, it still felt unreal.
"Impressive. The Netherworld Live Show really is impressive," I muttered, wondering what kind of organization it was, as I opened the package.
Ding!
A shiny golden object fell to the ground, drawing a crowd of onlookers.
"That color, that shine, that blinding glow…"
"Holy crap, a gold bar!"
I picked it up without looking back and jumped into a taxi. "Driver, please hurry!"
Sitting in the passenger seat, I secretly slipped the gold bar into my pocket and opened Essence of the Celestial Eye.
"One point for a full gold bar, and this book cost me three points — definitely special." My eyes gleamed as if I'd opened Pandora's box. "Clairvoyance? Wow, I'm actually kind of excited."
The book was thread-bound and looked very old. On the first page, elegant calligraphy read:
"Each drop reveals bright truth,
Five eyes, six powers to judge Buddha and demon,
Sight and sound stretch thousands of miles,
Isn't the universe but a small boat?"
"Beautiful writing, profound meaning — this is the essence of humanity, brilliantly expressed!"
I was so excited I nearly stood up to applaud — but then I flipped to the second page.
Blank.
"A printing error, maybe? Nobody's perfect, gotta cut them some slack."
But a bad feeling crept in as I flipped on:
Blank, blank, all blank!
I punched the seat in frustration, ignoring the shocked driver, flipping furiously — except the first page, the whole book was empty.
"Bro, even a bootleg wouldn't be this bad, right?"
"Bootleg? Three gold bars is nearly seventy grand. What kind of bootleg sells at that price?"
I barely stopped myself from tearing it apart, carefully wrapping it again.
"Wonder if The Netherworld Live Show offers refunds…"
After a sleepless day and night, utterly exhausted, I finally made it back to my small shop. "Maybe now I can finally sleep."
But as I got out of the taxi, I realized how naive I was.
Three people — standing, sitting, or crouching — had been waiting at the tiny entrance of Happy Pinnacle for some time.
"What the heck? An ambush? Talk about bad luck…"
One leaned against a BMW X1, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a sharp suit, holding a red folder.
Another looked forty or fifty but still strong and tall, eyes covered by a black cloth, holding a bamboo pole, crouching outside the adult shop with a murderous glare.
The third was much cuter — a shy schoolgirl clutching her backpack, stealing nervous glances at the other two.
"Why are these three together?" I knew all of them. The suited man was the secretary to the head of Jiangjin Real Estate, a well-known figure in Jiangcheng.
The one holding the pole was Liu the blind — judging by his hostile look, he'd probably found out about the thunder talisman incident.
And the shy girl? Of course, it was Xia Qingzhi, worried about her brother.
"Heh, your presence really honors my humble shop. But I'm feeling unwell today, so we're closed. Well, goodbye."
I turned to leave — but a gust of wind brushed my cheek, followed by a smack — the seven-foot bamboo pole hit the ground an inch from my foot, cracking the paving stone.
My throat tightened. I realized this was serious. Especially Liu the blind — he was definitely here to settle things with me.
"Old Liu, what's this? We're living in a civilized society now. If you have something to say, talk it out — no need for weapons."
Bitterly, I pulled out my keys. "Let's not block the street. Come inside and talk."
"I won't keep you." The suited man pushed up his glasses, smiling professionally. "This is an invitation to the wedding of Mr. Jiang and Miss Ye Bing. We hope you can spare some time. It's not just Ye Bing — Jiang also wants to see you."
"See me?" The rich heir wants to meet me, a broke nobody? Just so he can humiliate me and show Ye Bing who's the better choice.
I already knew how the wedding would go — a pack of sycophants mocking me, trying to suck up to Jiang, making me look like a fool.
What a petty man. But whatever — I promised Ye Bing. I'll show up.
"It's a small-minded guy, but it doesn't matter. I promised Ye Bing. I'll be there."
"We look forward to your presence."
He placed the gilded invitation in my palm and drove off in his BMW.
"One down, two more to go."
I opened the shop door and hung the "Closed" sign.
I invited Liu the blind and Xia Qingzhi inside.