Chapter Thirty-One: Awakening Complete Please vote and add to your favorites.

The atmosphere in the room became strangely tense...

“Black, Thin, Little Bo, what are you still standing there for? Come over now—can’t you see the situation? Are you really going to side with them?” Suddenly, the middle-aged security guard picked up a machete and gestured menacingly, shouting at the three guards to the side. “If that’s really what you want, then I’ll go alone to see Brother Hongbin in town today. Do as you please!”

The three guards, having escaped from upstairs, hadn’t seen much action. Their assistance to Liang Jing had been brief, and during the fight with the Steel Spine Beast, they couldn’t even intervene. The few scrapes and bruises they bore were from minor bumps and scuffles—nothing serious. Apart from the middle-aged man, they were in the best shape of anyone in the room.

Hearing the middle-aged guard’s words, the three exchanged uncertain glances. Looking at the others—exhausted and injured, some resting, Yang Yuyuan unconscious, and Liang Jing lying motionless on the floor—they made their decision, quietly moving to stand beside the middle-aged guard.

“Alright... Today we’ll go together to find Brother Hongbin, but let’s settle things first. Disarm them, then tie everyone up,” the middle-aged guard finally regained his sense of authority, directing the trio with a commanding air.

Though they despised him, resenting his cruelty and self-serving nature, for their own futures they acted quickly, showing no mercy for anyone.

“How can you do this? Without us, would you even be alive right now?”

“Turning on your own, you heartless traitors! I’ll fight you to the death!”

“Boss Li, brothers, don’t do this... I'll follow you from now on, whatever you need me to do—”

“...”

Within minutes, everyone in the room, including the unconscious Yang Yuyuan, was subdued and tied up by the guards. Whether they pleaded or cursed, it made no difference; those who insulted them suffered extra blows.

Yet, no matter how much the middle-aged guard shouted, no one dared approach Liang Jing, let alone tie him up.

In the guards’ minds, only a fool would try. They’d seen the slaughter last night—how this “god of death” tore through the monsters as easily as killing chickens. They watched it all. To them, Liang Jing was synonymous with death incarnate.

“Fine, if you won’t tie him up, then kill him! Don’t bother leaving him alive—just make sure he’s dead!” The middle-aged guard, realizing his commands were useless, switched tactics. If he couldn’t take his revenge personally, watching his enemy die before him would suffice.

The three, clutching machetes and clubs, glanced at Liang Jing lying on the floor—but none dared move.

By now, Liang Jing understood the situation between these four guards and Hongbin and Jinghui. How pitiful, he thought. They didn’t even realize the “boss” they hoped to join had already been killed by Liang Jing—likely reduced to nothing but bones.

“Don’t you want to make a name for yourselves? Killing Liang Jing would be a huge accomplishment—Hongbin hates him deeply. If you succeed, who knows what reward awaits you? Isn’t that tempting?” Now, he tried to lure them with promises.

The three hesitated, tempted, but still didn’t act. Compared to uncertain rewards, their own lives mattered more—they wouldn’t risk them.

“Alright! You really won’t do it? Then I’ll tell Brother Hongbin about last night, tell him you were with Liang Jing, his comrades in life and death, and that he saved you!” The middle-aged guard now threatened loudly, abandoning all pretense.

“You know what Hongbin is like—ruthless, cold-hearted. For traitors, even if you don’t die, you won’t fare well. Think about it: Hongbin has guns!” As he spoke, the middle-aged guard quietly edged away from the three, his eyes darting towards the broken window. He was ready to bolt if things went awry.

This finally spurred the three to action—they were afraid. They’d always heard about Hongbin’s cruelty. If he found out, forget joining him—just surviving his revenge would be lucky.

Though Liang Jing was terrifying and killed without hesitation, he was now seriously injured and motionless, perhaps just a paper tiger. They decided it was worth the risk. Compared with Hongbin, they chose to strike against Liang Jing.

After all, killing someone incapacitated didn’t require getting close.

As for silencing the middle-aged guard, it never occurred to them. Perhaps it was habit—years of obedience. They could’ve tied him up earlier, but now, seeing him moving closer to the window broken by monsters, even if they wanted to, it was too late.

They prepared to act—to kill Liang Jing.

“Stop! You can’t do this! Liang Jing’s never wronged you—even saved your lives!” At that moment, Yang Yuyuan, who had been unconscious, woke up. Ignoring his bound hands, he shouted at the three guards poised to attack.

“Yes, you can’t do this—”

“That’s right! Where’s your conscience? Are you even human?”

“You...”

“Shut up! You want to die? Believe me, I’ll cut your hands off right now!” roared the middle-aged guard, brandishing his knife.

It worked. The room fell silent. The middle-aged guard was pleased, a satisfied smile on his face.

“Li Nianhua, you’re beyond saving. For petty gains, you’re so vicious and twisted—it’s perverse.”

“And you three, still following him? Remember what he did to you last night? If you keep going down this path, you’ll never end well!” Yang Yuyuan wasn’t intimidated. Bound or not, he shouted angrily.

“Yang Yuyuan, let me tell you—you’re just pretending to be a good guy, but I know what you’re really like...” The middle-aged guard was wary of Yang Yuyuan. His courage had already been shaken twice by Liang Jing, and even though Yang Yuyuan was tied up, that fireball spell was too strange and terrifying—he dreaded the unknown, so he kept his insults within limits, arguing back.

The three guards stood uncertain, caught between Yang Yuyuan’s words and the middle-aged guard’s threats and temptations. Neither choice seemed safe—they didn’t want to gamble with their lives, so if possible, they’d rather do nothing.

The rest remained silent. Compared to themselves, if Liang Jing died, they’d lose only a super bodyguard. If they suffered harm, it would be their own loss.

Isn’t that the way of modern society? Money and self-interest above all; selfishness and indifference are habit. As long as there’s profit, what won’t people sell?

No one noticed that Liang Jing, lying on the floor, suddenly opened his eyes—bright and resolute, deep and mysterious, as if holding endless secrets.

Crash...

“It’s time this matter was settled,” Liang Jing said, rising from the pool of blood and corpses, flexing his strengthened, resilient body.