Chapter 1 The Deluge

The seventh day of Xichuan Town's fall.

A thick fog still enveloped the world, obscuring any hope or path to escape. Xichuan Town was isolated, the time for humans shrinking, the time for beasts expanding.

Many people indulged their desires in the remaining moments, while others strived to prepare for future survival. How to live was their primary concern, and attaching themselves to stronger individuals became the first choice.

At this time, the news Zhang Ji brought back about three giant wolves spread through Xichuan Town like wildfire, causing a sensation.

Some disbelieved, some doubted, but others packed their bags and hurried to join him.

In front of the Heavenly Serpent Gang's headquarters.

Stood a huge billboard with a large portrait of Zhang Ji on it, followed by an introduction to the Heavenly Serpent Gang:

"The Heavenly Serpent Gang, founded on the sixth day of the Strange Fog Disaster, currently led by Zhang Ji, a descendant of Zhang Wuji, is exceptionally brave, unparalleled in wisdom, and even single-handedly captured three giant wolves in a world-shaking feat."

"Heroes emerge in troubled times, and Zhang Ji, the leader of the Heavenly Serpent Gang, is our hero!"

"He once said: 'If there are no stars to illuminate the world, then I will be the only light in the darkness, willing to light the way for all living beings, illuminate the path ahead, and bring hope.'"

...

"Your enemies are sharpening their knives, Old Wang next door is practicing his waist, brothers and sisters, never slacken, come and join the Heavenly Serpent Gang!"

"There is no base salary here, nor five insurances and one housing fund, but joining the Heavenly Serpent Gang guarantees your safety, and your mother will never have to worry about you being eaten by a ferocious King Cobra!"

...

When Zhang Ji arrived, he saw many people gathered around the billboard, and a long queue in front of the Heavenly Serpent Gang's headquarters.

They were all registering to join the Heavenly Serpent Gang, holding resumes in their hands, their faces full of nervousness and anticipation, occasionally craning their necks to look ahead.

"Serpent Lord, good!"

A young man in a peaked cap, maintaining order at the entrance, recognized Zhang Ji and was very excited. He was a new member of the Heavenly Serpent Gang, and he hurriedly bowed and greeted him with a flattering smile, while offering a cigarette.

"Slap!"

A slap landed, knocking off the hat.

It was Liu Youshan who had arrived, pushing aside the young man in the peaked cap and scolding, "No respect for elders, what right do you have to offer Serpent Lord a cigarette, get out of the way!"

After speaking, he hurriedly apologized to Zhang Ji, saying that the newly joined gang members didn't know the rules.

Zhang Ji nodded, his expression indifferent, and walked inside without stopping. Liu Youshan hurriedly followed.

The young man in the peaked cap behind him covered his face and picked up his hat, his face full of fear and unease, but he didn't dare to say a word.

The people in the queue for the interview saw this scene, and each of them swallowed a mouthful of saliva, so domineering!

At this moment, an excited and surprised female voice suddenly rang out from the crowd...

"Zhang... Zhang Ji, is that you?!"

The voice called him by his name, and Liu Youshan subconsciously wanted to get angry, but he saw Zhang Ji turning his head to look at the crowd, with a smile on his face.

"Xian Xiaoping, my old classmate, what are you doing here?"

Zhang Ji was very surprised, sizing up his old classmate.

Her name was Xian Xiaoping, Zhang Ji's high school classmate, and also the school beauty of the year. Like many boys, Zhang Ji had written her love letters, but they were all thrown into the trash.

Now, after many years, she had become even more beautiful and outstanding, as moving as a lotus emerging from water. Her tall figure reached one meter nine, and her graceful and slender figure was very eye-catching in the crowd.

Her long hair draped over her shoulders, her exquisite face was both aloof and charming, her thighs were slender and straight, and her jeans made her hips look even fuller and more attractive.

Zhang Ji praised, "You're still so beautiful."

Xian Xiaoping smiled happily when she heard this, and brushed the hair beside her ear. "Zhang Ji, I've heard of your great name for a long time, and I thought it was just a coincidence, I didn't expect it was really you!"

Her voice was light and clear, and her beautiful eyes stared at Zhang Ji, with some surprise and disbelief.

She sighed inwardly.

The little boy who used to stammer when he saw her had now become the object of her admiration. He was tall and burly, full of masculine vigor, with a cold and domineering temperament, and a majestic and bright gaze. She was lost in thought for a long time, and her beautiful eyes flashed with brilliance, saying:

"You've changed, you've changed a lot!"

Zhang Ji also thought of the scenes in the school in the past, and was in a daze for a while, sighing, "Yes, I've changed!"

Xian Xiaoping smiled with pursed lips, "You've become a real man!"

Her eyes were filled with inexplicable emotions, and the floating, watery luster was very charming.

However, she noticed that Zhang Ji's eyes were very calm, as deep as a quiet spring, and even a bit cold. Apart from the surprise when he first saw her, there was no other ripple.

"This kind of man... what is he thinking, can't even beauty move his heart?"

Xian Xiaoping was disappointed.

"Zhang Ji, I..." Just as she was about to say something, a man squeezed out of the crowd beside her and waved to Zhang Ji, saying, "Hey! Er Danzi, don't you recognize me?"

His voice was loud, and he called Zhang Ji "Er Danzi."

Seeing that Zhang Ji didn't react, he said in a sour and strange tone, "What's the matter, Er Danzi has become the leader of the Heavenly Serpent Gang and doesn't recognize me, the old monitor?"

"I remember you often skipped class and failed your exams, I gave you the nickname Er Danzi, hahaha..."

He laughed to himself.

Around them, Liu Youshan and several other gang members had cold expressions.

Where did this brainless guy come from, daring to expose Serpent Lord's shortcomings in public.

Xian Xiaoping also frowned.

After the Cataclysm, she met this guy, and he kept pestering her, saying he wanted to protect her, but when they encountered a giant wolf last night, he ran faster than a rabbit.

He came again early this morning, which was very annoying.

Zhang Ji narrowed his eyes and smiled, not caring at all, and said, "So it's the old monitor Liu Tao, please forgive my poor eyesight, I didn't recognize you after not seeing you for many years."

The other party was indeed his old classmate, and also the monitor.

Liu Tao took a step forward, wanting to pat Zhang Ji's shoulder, but found that Zhang Ji was much taller than him. He smiled awkwardly and put down his hand, "Zhang Ji, you've made it now, you're powerful, you're lucky enough to become the leader of the Heavenly Serpent Gang."

His tone was jealous and sour, thinking that Zhang Ji was able to become the leader of the Heavenly Serpent Gang because of good luck.

He didn't believe the rumors outside that Zhang Ji single-handedly captured three giant wolves. That must be a marketing ploy, a lot of hype.

"I remember when we were in school, you kid would hide when you saw me, and you would secretly write love letters to Xian Xiaoping and hide them in her books after school. When I found out, I only punched you once, and you cried and wanted to report to the teacher, hahaha..."

He laughed loudly, looking back at Xian Xiaoping, whose face was livid with anger, his eyes full of smugness.

Did you hear that, this guy used to be such a small character, I, Liu Tao, am the big brother, a real man.

Liu Youshan and other gang members' eyes flashed with cold light, and they shouted sternly, "Shut up, if you dare to talk nonsense about Serpent Lord again, I'll tear your mouth apart!"

Zhang Ji waved his hand with a smile and said, "What he said is true, I was indeed timid as a mouse back then!"

Liu Tao showed a smug smile and said, "It's good that you know!"

He took out a cigarette and smoked it without offering it to Zhang Ji, spitting out smoke rings as he said:

"Er Danzi, give your brother a hand... Well, my zodiac is the Dragon, and the beastial mutation is the Silver Scaled Flood Dragon. I've evolved five times. Give me the position of Dragon Hall Master, it's not too much, right?!"

He had a confident smile on his face, and Liu Youshan and others frowned even more at the sight.

Zhang Ji licked his lips, a strange light flashed in his eyes, and he grinned and said, "Your mutation is the Silver Scaled Flood Dragon?! And you've evolved five times? Not bad, very good! The Dragon bloodline is indeed extraordinary!"

Liu Tao raised his eyebrows proudly.

Zhang Ji said loudly, "Liu Tao is my old classmate, just give him the position of Dragon Hall Master!" He looked at Xian Xiaoping and pondered, "Let her follow the triplets Leng Yue and the others."

"Yes!"

Liu Youshan obeyed.

Liu Tao was overjoyed, flicked his cigarette ash and smiled, "It seems you have some vision."

Then he winked at Xian Xiaoping. Seeing Zhang Ji walking away, he smiled smugly and said, "How is it? This kid used to be a coward, but now he's lucky enough to become the leader, but when he sees me, he still has a psychological shadow!"

"Xiaoping, just be my girlfriend, I'm no worse than him, I..."

He babbled and boasted about himself, but Xian Xiaoping looked disgusted. Did this stupid guy really think it was before the Cataclysm?

So naive!

How could such a person have survived until now?!

She looked at Zhang Ji's departing back, her beautiful eyes filled with worry, afraid that Zhang Ji would also resent her because of this. At this moment, seeing the triplet sisters walking by in the distance, she gritted her teeth and hurried up to them...

In the distance.

Zhang Ji left the Heavenly Serpent Gang's headquarters, and Liu Youshan followed behind. After hesitating for a moment, he mustered up his courage and said, "Serpent Lord, do you want me to take care of that Liu Tao?"

He made a neck-cutting gesture.

Zhang Ji stopped, turned his head to look at him, and showed a sunny smile, saying, "Why are you always killing, killing, don't be so murderous!"

"He has the Silver Scaled Flood Dragon bloodline, just send him to Zhu Tiandao's dissection table. Remember to tell Zhu Tiandao that when dissecting, don't use anesthesia, let him watch himself being dissected and cut piece by piece while he's awake..."

Liu Youshan shuddered when he heard this. Serpent Lord was still the same Serpent Lord, ferocious and ruthless.

He thought that Serpent Lord had softened his heart and was thinking of his old classmate. Now he was relieved. This kind of ferocious, ruthless, and heartless Serpent Lord was the big boss in his mind, and his persona hadn't collapsed!

"By the way, Serpent Lord, what about that Xian Xiaoping? How should we deal with her?" Liu Youshan asked.

Zhang Ji glanced at him without answering and walked away with his hands behind his back.

Liu Youshan was puzzled, but suddenly noticed Zhang Ji's hands behind his back, one hand clenched into a fist, tightly gripping the fingers of the other hand, which was a "finger-poking" gesture.

He was puzzled, raised his hand to imitate Zhang Ji's gesture and poked his fingers back and forth, and suddenly his eyes lit up, revealing a lewd smile that all men understand.

"I see, Serpent Lord ah Serpent Lord, you are too profound, even asking for a woman, you are so subtle... Well, I'll go prepare quickly..."

He trotted off, busy with preparations.