We agreed on the twelve zodiac animals, but you've transformed into the Monkey King?

The strong smell of liniment mixed with the musty smell of the basement wafted straight into my nostrils.

Wen Xiao abruptly opened his eyes and sat up from a hard wooden bed. His body was still limp from exhaustion, and before he could even regulate his breathing, a row of blood-red data streams suddenly exploded on his retina:

[System Notification: Countdown to the capture of Gonghexiang Wharf has reached zero]

[Main Storyline: Earthly Branches Event - Sea Monkey Cry Completion Status: 1/6]

[Judgment: You have protected Gonghexiang for the Hongmen Union. Due to the tacit approval of a high-ranking figure (Shelly), you have effectively taken control of the dock.]

[Note: There is a risk of losing already acquired control nodes a second time.]

[Settlement Reward: 50 Sumeru Points. Sumeru Points rewards for completed tasks can be withdrawn. The System Shop is now officially open.]

Wen Xiao took a deep breath. The excruciating pain that felt like her soul was being torn apart last night was still raging within her like a persistent, insidious infection.

Without hesitation, he mentally summoned the [System Shop].

He bypassed the flashy cold weapons and precisely targeted the recovery category section, his gaze locking onto the top-pinned exchange entry.

[Exchange: Body-Targeted Repair Serum (Type α)]

Price: 20 Sumeru Points

【Origin: Night City - Trauma Team Core Biological Research Institute (Watson District Main Research Center)】

[Effects: Targeted ablation of necrotic lesions, powerful repair of damaged nerves and tissues, and to a certain extent, suppression of the spread of organic lesions]

[Access Permission: Purchase Qualification Granted by a High-Ranking Expert]

[Note: Newbie here, I'm still very good to you — Pig]

[Extra purchase privileges for those born in the Year of the Pig: 0/2]

With a thought, a syringe emitting a ghostly blue light appeared out of thin air in my hand. The syringe was engraved with a cyberpunk staff snake pattern—mechanical segments with fine circuitry covering the snake's body, and its head held high.

Without hesitation, Wen Xiao inserted the needle into his thigh vein.

"Well--!"

A chilling current surged from his thighs to his chest, exploding outwards and enveloping his riddled lungs and brain. The throbbing pain in Wen Xiao's eyes subsided rapidly, and the oppressive pressure in his skull finally dissipated, leaving only a slight drowsiness.

The stuff in this system's shop is actually fucking useful!

Wen Xiao felt an overwhelming surge of excitement!

He looked down at the empty syringe in his palm. The next second, it turned into a thin stream of pale blue data, which dissipated into the air along his fingertips without leaving a trace.

Mom, your son can stay with you now.

The red light on the system panel is flashing:

[Status: You have successfully redeemed and used the Body-Targeted Repair Essence (Type α), and the lesions have been alleviated. The current risk of spiraling out of control is frozen at 46%! Actively activating "Fighting Spirit" will significantly increase the probability of mutation.]

Since "fighting" is banned, a direct confrontation is too risky. The most crucial thing right now is to find a way to understand the opponent and seize the initiative. As Wen Xiao searched, the entry for "Shen Monkey Sequence" caught his eye.

【Shen Monkey Sequence 9】Sequence 9 Unique Skill Scroll - Fiery Eyes (Beginner), Price: 20】.

[Authority: Sharp Eyes (Beginner) successfully loaded]

[Consumption: Each activation deducts 1 Sumeru Point. No risk of loss of control. Consecutive use within a short period will double the Sumeru Point consumption.]

[Effect: Detects basic character information and has a chance to detect character weaknesses and faction affiliation.]

Just as the skill loading was complete, the wooden door creaked open.

Chen Jinbiao walked in, carrying a rough porcelain bowl in his hand, with a faint steam rising from the rim.

He changed into a well-pressed black mandarin jacket, and walked slowly to the bedside. He first placed the bowl on the wooden stool by the bed, and then looked at Wen Xiao on the edge of the bed and said, "It's good that you're awake. Look at how pale you are. I just warmed up a bowl of brown sugar ginger tea. Drink some while it's hot to warm yourself up."

He handed over the bowl and sighed, "Anyone else would have given up last night's ordeal. You're really tough. You deserve the title of 'Fifth Master'."

Wen Xiao accepted the tea, silently reciting a prayer in her heart.

"Fiery Eyes, open."

[Consumed Sumeru Points: 1. Current Balance: 9]

A barely perceptible glint of dark gold flashed deep within Wen Xiao's pupils. Chen Jinbiao before him transformed into a set of detailed data:

[Target: Chen Jinbiao]

Race: Human

[Affiliation: Hongmen of Shencheng (Manager of Shiliupu)]

[Core Skills: Hung Kuen (Minor Mastery), Waterborne Escort Technique]

[Weakness detection in progress... Detection successful!]

[Weaknesses: New knife wound on left forearm; severe meniscus tear in right knee (long-standing condition), limiting power generation on the right side of the lower body, resulting in sluggish turning.]

They can even expose his background and martial arts style completely!

The golden light in Wen Xiao's eyes vanished. He traced the warm rim of the bowl with his fingertips, then looked up at Chen Jinbiao: "Uncle Biao, you're too kind. I was just lucky to get through it." He took a sip of ginger tea to suppress the bitterness in his throat, then changed the subject slightly, "There's been quite a commotion in this courtyard. I suppose we have guests?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Jinbiao frowned and sighed heavily: "You're a sharp-eyed and sharp-eared kid. Yanluo has already given his approval, and Hongmen will guarantee your success. Gonghexiang's place is temporarily under your control. But last night's shipment of opium has stirred up a hornet's nest."

"In Shanghai today, the concessions, warlords, and gangs are all tangled up in a mess. Lu Yongxiang's things have been moved, so how could Zhang Sulin of the Qingmen let it go? He has been sitting in the incense hall for half an hour."

Wen Xiao put down his teacup.

"I just heard Uncle Biao mention Yama, who is that?"

Chen Jinbiao was speechless upon hearing this. After a long while, he forced a smile, glanced at the door, and said in a low voice, "You don't even know Yama? Well, you've only just established yourself, and there are many things about the inner workings of Hongmen that I haven't had time to tell you yet."

He didn't explain further, only waving his hand: "This person can't be explained in just a few words. You'll understand when you meet him."

……

Inside the Hongmen Xiangtang, the aroma of tea filled the air.

Sitting in a grand chair, Zhang Sulin, dressed in an exquisite Hangzhou silk robe, held two lion's head walnuts in his hands. This wildly rising tycoon of the Qingmen Clan was smiling like a Maitreya Buddha, showing no sign of anger or accusation.

"The waves of the Huangpu River are big. We're all just trying to make a living in Shanghai. Let's keep the peace and make money together," Zhang Sulin said, blowing on his tea as if he were having a casual conversation, making no mention of the death last night.

The elders of the Hongmen across from them all had solemn expressions. The senior member of the hall sitting in the head seat said in a deep voice, "Brother Sulin is right. However, the chaos at the dock last night was caused by some ignorant scoundrels. The Hongmen had no choice but to do so."

Zhang Sulin smiled, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and as he put it down, the porcelain cup tapped on the mahogany table with a soft sound that quieted the room slightly. "It's one thing for these scoundrels to cause trouble, but as for that batch of 'country bumpkins' from Yihe Trading Company, Commander Lu specifically sent someone to inquire about them yesterday."

He glanced at the crowd and said, "I assured the Commander-in-Chief that the brothers of Hongmen are all sensible, patriotic men who understand the bigger picture. You Hongmen members will definitely help 'escort' this batch of military funds to my residence, to give the Commander-in-Chief an explanation, right?"