First-Year Internship—And You Went to Site 749 to Contain Monsters?!

Lu Ding stepped forward and pressed a finger against his shoulder. ”Remember this—when you’re wrong, admit it; when you’re beaten, stand straight. Don’t even think about hiding things from me.”

”The Huang Family is the main culprit, while your Zeng Family is an accomplice. I want detailed records of all your shady, borderline illegal businesses.”

”But listen carefully—this isn’t about redeeming yourselves through meritorious service.”

”This is about separating merits from faults. Those in your Zeng Family who committed crimes will face judgment as they deserve.”

”As for merits—after the guilty are imprisoned, the remaining Zeng members will continue living here as they always have.”

”Your business shares won’t decrease one bit.”

”In fact, with the Huang Family gone, you can even take over some of their businesses—if your Zeng Family can handle them.”

As Lu Ding spoke,

He Chaojun hurriedly voiced his support:”Old Zeng, rest assured! I swear before the Grand Guardian today—after your main family members are imprisoned, my He Family won’t take even a sliver of your business!”

”We won’t engage in malicious competition or suppression either. We’ll unify the market under supervision, following the Grand Guardian’s lead—gray is acceptable, but absolutely no black!”

”Moreover, my He Family will assist your remaining members. We won’t monopolize everything!”

He Chaojun was clever.

Normally, someone like Lu Ding wouldn’t care about monopolies—he’d just crush anyone who stepped out of line.

But He Chaojun knew to show proper restraint.

He needed to demonstrate his attitude—absolutely no intention of monopolizing!

Money could be earned slowly. As long as they stayed on the right path, profits would come.

Without competitors, who else would claim these businesses?

Why risk provoking the tiger?

Zeng Chuanxiong nodded heavily. ”Understood. I’ll return immediately to compile the evidence and personally report every crime—ensuring righteous justice, leaving none unpunished, none spared, none mistaken.”

”I hope you can grant me some time.”

Lu Ding nodded. ”You’ll have time. How much—that’s up to you.”

He turned and walked onto the cobblestone street outside.

He Chaojun clasped his hands over his belly. ”Quit sulking, Old Zeng. Your family’s basically saved.”

Zeng Chuanxiong gave him a once-over and snorted. ”None of your damn business!” before striding away.

He Chaojun pointed and yelled, ”What’s with the attitude flip? You’re like a damn moody dog!”

Outside,

On the cobblestone street,

Yan Feifan and He Gu restrained Huang Xun, preventing him from approaching the two separated corpses.

Huang Xun kept screaming: ”Let me go!!! Let me go!!!!”

Lu Ding approached.

Squatted down. ”Crying now? Where’s that tough attitude from earlier? Who were you calling for? Still want to shout? I’ll wait if you’ve got more to say.”

”I’ll call your—”

Before ”mother” could escape his lips,

Yan Feifan smashed the back of his knife against Huang Xun’s mouth, shattering half his teeth.

The pain left Huang Xun trembling uncontrollably.

Lu Ding’s voice continued calmly: ”I heard you and Di She are sworn brothers. I need to verify some things with him—where is he?”

Huang Xun initially wanted to deny knowledge.

They’d sworn brotherhood with ritual wine and blood—sacred bonds.

But his parents’ corpses lay before him.

If he talked, survival might still be possible.

As long as he lived,

No matter how slim, hope for revenge remained!

His bloodied hands, previously clutching his mouth in pain, stopped shaking.

Slowly lowered.

Blood dripped from his lips.

”If I tell you... can I—”

”No.”

Lu Ding stood. ”Gag him. Take him inside.”

Yan Feifan clamped a hand over Huang Xun’s mouth—he already knew Lu Ding’s plan.

Originally, Lu Ding hadn’t wanted to bother with silver needle acupuncture.

Such skills were best used sparingly, kept hidden.

Lest enemies chose suicide upon capture.

Yet this fool dared negotiate terms.

Wanted to live?

When his initial intent was Lu Ding’s death?

How could Lu Ding possibly spare him?

Fair’s fair—you wanted me dead, so now you die. Reasonable, no?

Mutual understanding through perspective-taking.

Huang Xun never imagined,

That one momentary shift in thinking,

Would cost him his last chance!!

Even if I overbid, you should’ve haggled!

This... this isn’t how it’s supposed to work!

Of course it wasn’t.

He approached this as business negotiation—but Lu Ding never considered him worthy of bargaining.

Dragged into a room,

Under Huang Xun’s terrified gaze,

Dozens of silver needles pierced his scalp.

Lu Ding asked: ”Where’s Di She? Any contact?”

Huang Xun mumbled dazedly: ”Don’t know his location... contacted me today... wanted me to monitor the Di Family...”

Cross-referencing He Chaojun’s earlier intel, Lu Ding pressed: ”Did you give him access to the Drowned Corpse Cave? Will he go?”

”Gave him one slot... he’ll be there...”

Good enough—could capture him there directly.

”How do you communicate?”

”Through... Lu Xiang...”

With answers obtained, Lu Ding removed the needles.

Instantly,

Huang Xun regained clarity.

The memory gap terrified him. ”WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME!?”

Lu Ding ignored him,

Walking out calmly.

Huang Xun kept struggling.

Yan Feifan pinned him down, his tone eerily mirroring Lu Ding’s usual cadence:

”You’re not even worthy of dying by Lu-ge’s hands.”

”My... my Huang ancestors bled for the 749 Bureau, you—”

Hand rose.

Blade fell.

Silence.

Outside,

Lu Ding instructed He Chaojun: ”Monitor all Huang members. Let none escape.”

”Understood!”

Meanwhile, Yan Feifan emerged wiping blood from his dagger.

Lu Ding ordered: ”Feifan, contact Yunhai. Have them prepare documentation to annex Blackwater Market. Since local authorities can’t manage it properly, we’ll take over.”

”Also draft reports about today’s events.”

”Got it, Lu-ge.”

Yan Feifan produced Huang Xun’s phone: ”Lu-ge, check this. Our bodycams were concealed on the boat, so we lack footage.”

”Everything today was lawful self-defense. For accurate reports, we’ll need Tang Miao’s eyewitness testimony.”

”Plus, they’re not at the Huang residence.”

Lu Ding took the phone.

Messages with Tang Tian showed that before Huang Xun departed, Tang Tian had already left with Tang Miao.

Lu Ding wouldn’t touch these two—uninvolved parties.

But Tang Tian couldn’t disrupt plans.

Who knew if he had alternate means to contact Di She?

If he sensed trouble and alerted Di She,

The target might skip the Drowned Corpse Cave gathering.

Better safe than sorry.

Lu Ding scrolled through messages,

Then mimicked Huang Xun’s tone to send:

[Bro, wrapped things up here. Where you at? Celebratory drinks tonight—no sobriety allowed!]

Minutes later, a reply:

[Tang Tian: With Miaomiao at Lantern Boats. Heading back soon—drinks till we drop lol...]

Reading this, Lu Ding instantly flew toward Blackwater Market’s Lantern Boats.

Trusting others to fetch them? Unthinkable.

He’d handle this personally.

Yan Feifan and Wutian followed closely, leaping across rooftops.