I Will Grind My Way To Godhood

In a certain suite on the seventh floor of Rui Zhu Hotel in East District, darkness sat heavy in the room. A figure, bare-chested and with bandages wrapped around his head and legs, sat smoking in a chair, the only sound the soft crackle of his cigarette.

Swirls of smoke shrouded the room, and through the slight gap in the curtains, a sliver of light illuminated his somber face.

It was none other than Duan Kaiping, a member of the Razor Gang and a disciple of the Hidden Dragon Dojo.

His gaze was fixed on a corner of the room, his expression shifting between uncertainty and menace.

There stood an oblong object, about two meters long and one meter wide, leaning against the wall.

The entire thing was wrapped tightly with black tape, obscuring what lay within.

Yet now and then, it emitted strange rustling and crunching noises, sending shivers down one's spine.

Duan Kaiping watched it, tension evident in his eyes; he pulled out his phone and made a call.

The call connected swiftly.

Although he was merely making a call, Duan Kaiping's demeanor immediately transformed.

He bowed his head slightly, ingratiatingly smiling as he spoke, "Yes, I apologize, I didn't expect it—Number One—to break out of its cage after being fed.

Thankfully, it's been raised within the cage since birth and considers it home, so it returned after eating..."

He reassured, "Rest assured, there won't be any mistakes.

Those naive heirs haven't the faintest idea that they are our targets, yet they dare to hold a banquet today...

I've installed the device you provided.

I've calculated its range; it perfectly covers the entire floor.

By then, they won't be able to contact the outside world."

“...”

After ending the call, Duan Kaiping shed his fawning demeanor and took a long drag from his cigarette, still nervously fixating on the rectangular object.

Rustling sounds occasionally broke the silence.

Nighttime, at the Hidden Dragon Dojo, in the Nurturing Mind Chamber.

“What about this one? How about wearing this?” Zhu Shanying held up a meticulously folded burgundy suit—a garment that was evidently crafted from high-quality materials.

“It's a banquet, after all. You have to dress the part. Trust me, I've got experience in this!”

She said with a beaming smile, holding the suit against Xue Jing to see how it would fit.

Chen Fuguang clicked his tongue and remarked, “Junior Sister Zhu, you're missing the point. You need to realize that our junior brother’s greatest asset is his youthfulness! Just look at that innocent and youthful face.”

“In my opinion, he shouldn’t wear something that makes him look too mature. He should emphasize his youthful charm. The uniform from Qingfu High School would be perfect—it's a suit style but exudes the freshness of youth. I wanted to attend Qingfu just because their uniforms looked so good, but alas, I didn't make it.”

Xue Jing let out a sigh and said, somewhat helplessly, “I'm just going to be a bodyguard... I can wear anything, right? I’ve already contacted the hotel, and the car will be arriving soon, Brother Chen, Sister Zhu.”

On Zhu Shanying's youthful face, her expressive eyes glinted like those of a playful young creature. “You're going there as a representative of our Hidden Dragon Dojo. How can you dress casually? You’ve got to outshine disciples from other dojos!”

“This one is perfect. Wear this one—I spent ages picking it out from my wardrobe at home!”

Just then, Meng Qingjiao, who had been standing quietly to the side, approached with a set of clothes cradled in her arms.

"Senior Sister Meng." Xue Jing paused in surprise.

"..."

Meng Qingjiao's cold and beautiful face revealed no expression as she quietly handed an outfit to Xue Jing and gently patted his head with her delicate hand.

Xue Jing smiled and said, "Alright, I'll wear what Senior Sister chose."

"Hey~ Why is it like this? I clearly arrived first." Zhu Shanying pouted, feeling a bit dejected.

Chen Fuguang glanced at the outfit and praised, "Senior Sister Meng certainly has taste."

Xue Jing chuckled.

With no one embarrassed by his presence, he unhesitatingly stripped down to his shorts and changed into the new outfit.

It was a traditional Chinese martial arts suit—black linen with a white undershirt, a black jacket, and black pants, with the cuffs rolled up to reveal the white interior. It perfectly matched the clean and efficient aura of a martial artist.

Overall, it was like the outfits often seen in kung fu films set in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican era.

"Hmm, somehow...it fits so well?" Zhu Shanying stroked her chin, hesitating slightly.

Chen Fuguang rolled his eyes, "Well, with Junior Brother's physique and looks, even wearing a sack would look fine."

Xue Jing nodded in agreement after checking himself out in the mirror.

As expected of me, I'm so dashing.

"Alright, thank you, senior brothers and sister, I'll be off now."

Xue Jing smiled at the trio.

"Go on, go on, little junior brother. This is your first time going out on a mission. Remember, safety comes first. If you encounter any danger you can't handle, run immediately, don't hesitate!" Chen Fuguang patted his shoulder.

Zhu Shanying nodded repeatedly, "Safety first, don't push yourself."

Meng Qingjiao extended her delicate hands to gently squeeze his palms, as if offering encouragement.

Xue Jing nodded, "I understand, senior brothers and sister, don't worry about me."

Like parents seeing a child off to college for the first time, they gave him a few more words of advice before letting him leave.

He left the Hidden Dragon Dojo, took the elevator down to the first floor, exited the office building, looked around, and heard a few car horns.

Xue Jing turned towards the sound and saw a large, well-known luxury car parked on the road nearby.

He walked over, and as the car door opened, a professionally dressed, slightly chubby middle-aged man wearing glasses stepped out.

The man glanced at Xue Jing and spoke somewhat reverently, "Are you Master Xue from the Hidden Dragon Dojo?"

Xue Jing nodded, "Yes, that's me."

"I'm your chauffeur, Zhao Dequan. You can just call me Xiao Zhao. It was me who spoke to you over the phone just now."

As he spoke, he opened the door to the backseat of the car, gesturing an invitation with his hand.

“Please, get in.”

Xue Jing smiled, “Thank you for the trouble.”

“It’s nothing, really. Just doing my job,” Zhao Dequan replied respectfully.

Once Xue Jing settled into the backseat, Zhao Dequan closed the door and jogged around to the driver's seat.

The car roared to life with a powerful, pleasant engine sound, heading towards the Rui Pearl Hotel.

In the sunny city of Qing, the saying always goes that Eastern District signifies wealth. Nothing states it more clearly than the fact that an inch of land here can be worth a king's ransom.

Operating a grand hotel covering thousands of square meters in a place like this is a bold display of wealth.

Naturally, those who can book the top-floor banquet hall at such a hotel are undoubtedly among the wealthy and powerful.

The car slowly drove into the parking lot.

After parking the vehicle, Zhao Dequan got out first, making his way around to Xue Jing's door to open it.

Xue Jing stepped out, glancing around him.

The expansive parking lot was crowded with luxury cars and sports cars whose names escaped him.

The people stepping out from them were well-dressed, carrying themselves with sophistication as they laughed and chatted on their way into the Rui Pearl Hotel.

Xue Jing exited the car with his hands behind his back, following behind Xiao Zhao, who led the way in front.

...

(End of Chapter)