Upon hearing this.
Old Octopus also restrained his smile, his expression turning serious: "Lying?"
"Centaur said the prosthetic body was purchased through proper channels, but they ordered the wrong model and the seller wouldn't refund, so they sought us out."
"Is there a problem?"
"Big problem!" Lu Xun frowned and said, "This is a second-hand prosthetic, manufactured ten years ago. I estimate it was taken off a Hippo Race corpse, likely involving a murder case."
"Tch~ why are you worrying unnecessarily again? Coward."
Old Octopus sneered dismissively: "Can't it be a gift from a Hippo Race friend? Or picked up off the street? We're running a black clinic, why worry so much?"
"You're too unreliable."
Lu Xun said in a deep voice:
"I've said it more than once, you shouldn't welcome any guest and accept any job. It's easy to bring trouble upon us. Even if you earn money, you need to live to spend it."
This was also a point of conflict between them.
Old Octopus was blinded by money, greed consuming him, sometimes disregarding risks for profit.
Even if it was a notorious fugitive, as long as they paid enough, he'd dare welcome them.
Like the Centaur client this time.
If the client was truly involved in a murder, and after being caught reports the black clinic, Old Octopus would be doomed and might even drag Lu Xun down, facing fines and expulsion!
But Old Octopus insisted on taking this job, first cajoling and then enticing with profits, bothering Lu Xun for many days.
Plus, Lu Xun was indeed short on money, so he finally agreed to join him in this dangerous venture for wealth.
"We're running a black clinic, having clients is good enough, and you dare be picky?"
Old Octopus huffed angrily: "I'm not afraid, what are you afraid of?"
"Nonsense!" Lu Xun glared and retorted: "You've got one foot in the grave, of course you have reason not to fear. I'm young, with a promising future, can you compare to me?"
Poof!
Old Octopus was so angry that he blew his moustache, almost spat blood.
This brat's attitude towards him, his "mentor," had changed too much!
When they first met three years ago, this brat called him "Master" and was respectful.
Half a year later, Lu Xun had graduated, and Old Octopus had nothing left to teach him. The address changed from "Master" to "Old Man."
A year later, Old Octopus's status at the clinic declined again, becoming Lu Xun's assistant in the operating room.
The address changed again, like "Old Octopus, pass me the bone saw," "Old Octopus, give me the scissors," "Old Octopus, get out of here, stop being in the way."
Of course, this wasn't really Lu Xun's fault.
Initially, he did respect his mentor.
But as they spent each day together, the old man's image in his mind gradually collapsed.
He's just a profit-driven, greedy and stingy, unreliable, extremely selfish old man!
The other never treated Lu Xun as an apprentice, only used him, all for benefits.
"You're increasingly resentful towards me, aren't you?"
Old Octopus crossed his arms, faking a smile:
"You're right, youth is an asset. You have a bright future, the time left for you here isn't much, can't keep those who need to leave."
"But in the limited time we have left together, let's argue less and make more money. You need money more than I do, don't you?"
Upon hearing this.
Lu Xun remained silent for a few seconds.
Then, he gave the other a cold look and said:
"Anyway, you're in the open, I'm in the dark, I can always escape. If you die, I'll find another partner."
"You contact the client, I'll go prepare for the surgery."
With that, they passed by each other.
Each going to handle their own work.
.
.
.
"Whizz whizz whizz——"
In the operating room, the sounds of various cutting machines, drills, and saws roared.
Lu Xun wore a dark green surgical gown, with a mask and goggles, his eyes as calm as ice.
The blade tore through skin, fascia, and muscle, bones were sawed through one by one.
Blood and bone fragments splashed, staining the surrounding curtains, arterial blood spattering onto the ceiling.
Crimson blood gurgled on the operating table, flowed onto the floor, pooling like a creek.
Old Octopus stood nearby as an assistant, with six mechanical arms plus his left and right hands, holding various surgical tools.
When Lu Xun needed something, he could promptly pass it to the lead surgeon's hand.
This major surgery lasted a full 8 hours!
The Centaur woke up several times during the procedure, letting out piercing screams, but soon fell back into a drug-induced sleep.
By the time Lu Xun stepped out of the operating room, it was nearly dawn.
He changed out of his blood-stained surgical gown and gloves, went to the bathroom to wash his face, exhaustion filling his eyes.
"Seven missed calls?"
Lu Xun glanced at the communication device on his wrist.
He had put it on silent during the surgery and missed the calls.
Aunt had called three times, and his cousin four times.
He quickly called back home.
The call was answered after half a ring, as if someone had been holding onto the device, still awake at this hour.
"Hello? Aunt, I just finished work, I'll come later. What? No need to heat the food, I'll grab something to eat outside for supper... Okay, I'll come back earlier. Just leave it on the table after you heat it, don't wait for me. Yes, yes, I know, you should rest early, you have to take Xiao Yu to school in the morning."
Ended the communication.
Lu Xun showed a helpless expression.
Aunt insisted on heating up the food for him, saying it was unsafe outside late at night.
No arguing with her.
But the Outer City District indeed wasn't very safe at night.
Street drifters and small-time hooligans were rampant, often accompanied by racing gangs causing disturbances.
There were even occasional showdowns between criminal forces.
...
After washing his face, he became more alert.
Lu Xun put his wig, sunglasses, and mask back on, and walked out of the bathroom.
Just as he stepped out, he saw the two-meter-tall Centaur warrior from afar.
Its upper body was human-like, and below the waist was a tall horse body with four legs.
The horse's back was covered in blood, but the hideous wounds had already closed up.
After the surgery, a lifelike "tattoo" of wings appeared on the horse's back, which could be activated to unfurl mechanical wings.
Having just undergone a major surgery, it could still walk, bounce around energetically.
This was thanks to technological advancements.
As long as it didn't engage in vigorous activities and took painkillers on time, it wouldn't affect daily life.
It would fully recover after a while.
Implanting civilian-grade prosthetic bodies wouldn't cause too many side effects.
Old Octopus bowed and scraped as he saw the guest off.
Then he walked over to Lu Xun and handed him an account sheet.
"According to our prior agreement, after deducting costs, you get eighty percent of the profits from the deal, and I get twenty. Check it over, and if everything looks fine, I'll settle with you."
Lu Xun took it, looked it over, and nodded.
Most of the time, they split the profits fifty-fifty.
Old Octopus handled the clients and provided the venue, tools, and drugs needed for the surgery, also helping as an assistant.
Lu Xun, on the other hand, was purely the surgeon.
But this time was special; Lu Xun put a lot of effort into completing the prosthetic transformation, an accomplishment deserving great credit.
So he earned eighty percent.
Old Octopus was straightforward, immediately pulling out a wad of cash and counting it out in front of him.
Although transferring money would be more convenient, getting it instantly, it's not safe, prone to exposure.
In the gray and black market, cash is more reliable.
"Ninety-eight thousand six hundred bucks, let's make it an even amount, so you don't have to put on a sour face in front of me every day."
Old Octopus grumbled and slapped ten thousand in cash into Lu Xun's hand.
Lu Xun weighed the thick stack of cash, couldn't help but smile, and stuffed it into his pocket.
Yet Old Octopus began mocking coldly: "Damn it, you were yelling about quitting before, and now you're grinning ear to ear when getting your cut. The bigger the storm, the more expensive the fish, do you understand now?"
"The bigger the storm, the easier the ship capsizes." Lu Xun raised an index finger, shaking it at him: "We're in the same boat, but you're the one rowing, I don't have an oar in my hand."
"Old Octopus, if you're heading out to fish in stormy weather, I won't oppose, but next time, kindly let me off the boat first."
"I don't want to go down with you, understand?"
He thought Old Octopus would argue with him as before, with neither willing to back down.
Surprisingly, Old Octopus didn't talk back this time.
The old man's electronic eyes fixedly stared at Lu Xun, silent.
He stared at Lu Xun for over ten seconds.
Suddenly, he spoke, asking abruptly:
"Xiao Lu, if going out once in the stormiest weather lets you catch all the fish in the sea... would you still want to get off the boat?"