The rotund man turned to look at Li Yan, his expression inscrutable.

"I have an emergency that I must attend to immediately. If you have any questions, ask them now. You might not get another chance to see me."

Li Yan cut to the chase.

"Can you explain in detail about the enhancement methods in Yanfu World, like Heritage, Specialization, and skills?"

"Let's start with Heritage. In Yanfu, aside from a few exceptions, there are ten categories of Heritage: Heaven, Earth, Human, Deity, Ghost, Naked, Scaled, Feathered, Furred, and Carapaced."

"The first five sound much more high-end than the last five."

"Not necessarily."

Tapir shook his head. He looked at Li Yan and said, "Indeed, there are differences in the level of Yanfu Heritages, but there is no distinction of nobility among the categories.

"For example, the Vermilion Bird falls under the Feathered category, while Tapir is under the Ghost category, yet the Vermilion Bird ranks above the Tapir."

"What about the Guhuo Bird?"

Li Yan inquired.

Tapir just smiled without speaking, then said, "But the current Vermilion Bird can't beat me, so you don't need to be too concerned about the hierarchy of Heritages."

After a pause, he continued, "As the awakening level of a Heritage increases, so does one's physical condition and even lifespan, but each of the ten categories has its own focus. Typically, an Enlightened Beast of the Furred category will see a significant improvement in healing and resistance to physical blows."

With a flick of his finger, the battle between Li Yan and Zhang Mingyuan on the arena appeared vividly before them, where the young man, despite repeated setbacks, remained unyielding.

"The Ba Snake falls under the Scaled category. Its own growth is slow, but it has an innate ability to suppress those creatures under its dominion."

He pointed again, but this time the image faltered.

"Strange, the recording of your fight with Li Jiangyu should be here. Well, these things happen."

Tapir didn't seem concerned. "As for your Guhuo Bird, it belongs to the Feathered category, which is why your speed has increased significantly."

"The Carapaced category tends to have balanced enhancements, while the Naked category excels in tool mastery."

"Of course, these are general cases. Yanfu is full of anomalies, so don't be too surprised if one day you encounter a Feathered Heritage that is unexpectedly resilient."

"What about the focus of the first five Heritages?"

"You'll find out when you encounter them."

Tapir chuckled.

"From this, you can imagine that if you possess both Feathered and Furred Heritages, both your speed and strength will be significantly enhanced. And if you have several Carapaced Heritages, you could become a superhero. Naturally, the more Heritages you have, the greater the investment required."

"How do you increase the awakening level?"

"By devouring Yanfu Relics imbued with the power of Heritage. This is the bountiful fruit that Yanfu has bestowed upon us beetles."

Tapir struck a pose as if he were a divine prophet or a charlatan.

"However, you can possess several Heritages, but ultimately you can only become the Proxy of one. When I first entered Yanfu, I acquired the Heritage of Calamity Fight, a Strange Beast recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas with the power to wield the Flame Authority. But in the end, I felt Tapir was more suited to me."

Flames surged from his fingertips before he swiftly snuffed them out.

"How did you come by the title 'Tapir'?"

"You earn the right to vie for any Heritage title once you've dealt with the Yanfu Incident six times, or if your Degree of Heritage Revival hits one hundred percent. The more precious the Heritage, the fiercer the competition."

"So, I'm to call myself a 'Guhuo Bird' in the future? Doesn't sound too pleasant."

"If my memory serves, the woman who once claimed that title called herself 'Xia Huo.' But clearly, names like 'Taowu' or 'Gluttonous Beast' would suit you better, provided you can secure them."

"Let's talk about skills. There are two sources: one is by enhancing the awakening level of your Heritage, and the other is through purchase within the system. However, be mindful that conflicts can arise between skills or even between a skill and your Heritage. Yan Fu will warn you of such conflicts; just pay attention."

"Lastly, Specialization. Think of it this way: the level of one's Specialization represents how effectively they can harness their abilities. If two people gain a lifetime's worth of inner strength from falling off a cliff, one being a world Sanda champion and the other the director of the Nanshan Nursing Home, who do you think would win?"

"Heritage is like a game profession, Specialization is the gameplay," concluded Li Yan.

"That's about the size of it."

"What about the 'Fallen'? What are they?"

"Pests," replied Tapir with an indifferent expression. "Anything else?"

Li Yan pondered for a moment.

"If you have no further advice for me, then no."

Tapir looked surprised.

"That's it? Don't you want to know the ultimate purpose of repeatedly traversing the Yanfu Incident? Or who's behind all this?"

"I'm only interested in what it can bring me. Of course, if you're willing to share, I'm all ears."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Li Yan's words were a mix of sincerity and pretense.

Tapir gave him a meaningful glance, then stood up and stamped his foot emphatically.

"I've mentored many newcomers, but it's rare to find one who achieves a Shang Ji rating on their first try. Luck seems to be on my side lately. I hope it lasts a while longer."

He looked at Li Yan: "Let's go over the rules.

First, all grudges among the walkers must be settled within the Yanfu Incident. No interference with other walkers' lives in reality by any means is permitted.

Second, do not disclose any information about the Yanfu Incident.

Third, try not to use Heritage or any abilities and items that clearly don't belong to this world. Self-defense is permissible when necessary, and someone will cover for you, but expect to be scrutinized.

Fourth, the Yanfu Incident occurs every two months. Find a secluded place so as not to frighten the children. If you wish to return to that room, simply meditate in privacy. That's all."

"Am I to spend the latter half of my life in six death-defying struggles each year?"

Tapir glanced at him.

"No matter how passive your approach may be, Yan Fu will not erase anyone's life. But if you seek to break the chains of fate that bind you, you must be prepared to gamble with your life, right?"

"Then, I hope to see you again in the future."

"Me too."

They exchanged a smile.

...

"Clang!"

Li Yan, bare-chested, with well-defined muscular arms dripping with sweat, ceased the ringing of his Han Sword, Ring Dragon.

Before him lay a bizarrely ferocious beast, resembling a cross between a wolf and a bear, bleeding from all seven orifices, its fur eerily trembling.

Li Yan exhaled softly, placing the Han Sword back on the rack before wiping the sweat from his neck with a warm towel.

When he swung the Ring Dragon, Li Yan felt as if he could cleave through bullets.

A fast runner doesn't necessarily possess great strength, but someone with explosive speed is bound to be powerful.

What Hook Star granted Li Yan was an exhilarating surge of power. Just now, Li Yan had unleashed five sword strikes in the span of a single breath. The ringing of the sword continued even after he had stopped.

This was perhaps the most confident Li Yan had felt about his skills in twenty-five years, yet it was also the time he felt most uncertain about the future.

The audio shop had closed down, and Li Yan had returned to his ancestral home in Cangzhou, practicing in the martial arts room of the Ancestral House. The once vast Li Clan from Hejian had now branched out; his cousins were doing well for themselves, and none remained at the Ancestral House, which had been locked up for a long time.

It had taken Li Yan quite some time to return to the ancestral estate, to procure items, and to set up the martial arts room again.

Before him lay a Colt Handgun with 10 magazines and 20 Hand Grenades.

After tonight, it would be two months.

His phone rang, and Li Yan glanced at it before answering.

"Hello?"

There was a long exhale on the other end, "Ha, hearing your strong voice, it seems you're still alive."

The voice belonged to a young man.

"I found an old traditional Chinese doctor; there's been some improvement in my condition," Li Yan responded with a laugh.

"I went to your shop and didn't find anyone. Where are you now? I'll come to you."

Li Yan glanced at the clock.

Four hours left...

"I've still got some fight left in me; no need to mourn just yet."

"Is your condition really improving?"

"Yeah."

"How much will it cost?"

"Don't worry about it."

Li Yan sat on the sofa, "By the way, how's Zhang Daojing? It's been years since I last saw her."

Li Yan's lips curled up, recalling Zhang Mingyuan, who bore some resemblance to her sister.

"Daojing, I'm not sure. I heard she went to Shandong many years ago."

"What's she doing in Shandong?"

"Got married, what else?"

"Oh..."

Li Yan gave a noncommittal grunt, his expression distant.

"Hey, seriously, can traditional Chinese medicine cure your illness?"

There was a mix of surprise and skepticism in the voice on the other end.

"Give me the address, I'll check it out soon."

"You think you can just visit a Hermit from Outside the World as you please?"

"Yan Zi, don't mess with me. Are you really..."

"I'll visit you in a while," Li Yan suddenly said.

"Alright, it's settled then. I'll have my wife cook up a feast for you."

The man on the phone chattered away, while Li Yan, tilting his head to hold the phone, listened intently, occasionally responding. His hands slowly pressed bullets into the gun's chamber, fingers caressing the weapon.

...

Hong Kong, 1986

"You hit like you've got no strength. Been with a woman and got your legs all wobbly, have you?"

Red Ghost, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, shouted with a ruffian's sneer.

"Hit harder! You hear me?" he complained. "Lately, the talent pool at Fortress Village is drying up, all sorts of trash stepping into the Boxing Ring. Everyone better wise up, Fuk Yee can't just disappear a boxer and have no one to fill in. You hear?"

Liao Zhizong approached with a sullen face, and with just one sentence, Red Ghost's face twisted in anger.

"Ah Hong, Taisui is in trouble."

...

That night, a torrential downpour flooded Fortress Village in Kowloon; Dragon Ferry Road was submerged halfway, with water in some places deep enough to reach the waist.

Yu Shu stepped through the rainwater that reached her ankles, glancing at the nervous Ah Mei leading the way.

Her voice was gentle: "Where's the person you mentioned?"

"Just ahead, that building there."

"Alright, lead the way."

She nodded.

Suddenly, several fiery red lotuses bloomed amidst the downpour, the muzzles spitting out thousands of bullets in an instant—a Steel Torrent that swept through the crowd!

...

Blood dyed half the street red, dozens of bodies piled up. Yu Shu, under an umbrella, wore a black jacket, her brows furrowed.

"Taisui, I really don't know what happened?"

Ah Mei knelt in the rain, her gaze vacant, her face smeared with blood. Her long legs trembled uncontrollably.

Red Ghost's expression was icy.

Yu Shu squatted down, lifting Ah Mei's chin.

"We're all on the same side here. I'll take your word for it. I remember when you first came to Hong Kong, working the stables, any man could have you for two hundred bucks. You told me that, and I was willing to believe you. Now, after all these years with me, why wouldn't I believe you?"

The woman stood with her mouth agape, only to swallow a mouthful of rainwater.

Yu Shu draped his windbreaker over her, helping her to her feet.

"Have some ginger soup, then get a good night's sleep. I know it's tough, pulling your brother along all by yourself. If you really run into trouble, just talk to us. Do you think I'd stand by and do nothing?"

Ah Mei collapsed to her knees with a thud.

"Taisui, I was forced into this—they've kidnapped my brother..."

"So you admit it?"

Yu Shu's tone remained unchanged.

Ah Mei looked up, her pupils reflecting the bright gleam of a knife.

The blade plunged into the woman's temple, leaving only the handle sticking out. Her body fell with a thud, a string of blood bubbles floated away on the water's surface, drifting far off.

"Ah Hong, take her further away. Uncle Liao, you and the others head back first."

Liao Zhizong glanced at Red Ghost, nodding his head.

Red Ghost lifted the body and also walked away.

Apart from the torrential rain, blood, and corpses, Yu Shu was the only living person left on the long street.

"Aren't you coming out, or are you waiting for me to take my own life?"

Footsteps approached, one after another.

Tall and short, fat and thin, they varied in size. Although they wore raincoats, a careful observer would notice not a single raindrop touched their heads.

One, two, three, four, five... eleven people.

A burly man stepped forward from the crowd.

He lowered his hood, revealing a face covered in scars.

"Those who betray Yan Fu will ultimately be forsaken by Yan Fu..."

"Aren't you ashamed to say such things at your age?"

Yu Shu spat out in disdain.

His gaze suddenly shifted to someone in the crowd.

"Fatso, you're quite capable, aren't you? Even Emperor Jiang couldn't find me, but you lucked out."

Tapir emerged from the crowd, his expression complex.

"I was hoping to cultivate some new talent, but instead, I dug up a big fish. Such good fortune, to have found Taisui among so many of Yan Fu's fruits..."

"Even if you've found me, what can eleven Proxies do to me?"

The woman tilted her head.

"Let's find out."

A person stepped forward, a woman's voice.

"Hahahaha~"

Taisui laughed uproariously.

A gigantic Black Moon Disk rose into the sky, and amidst the raging storm, Thunder Snakes danced wildly as the woman's long hair whipped about in the wind.

"Great Taisui."

The storm seemed to pause for a moment.

Yu Shu turned his head, glancing at Red Ghost, who stood petrified.

"Didn't I tell you to throw it farther away..."

**********

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