Gu Jianlin was returning to the shop when he saw a group of men in black cursing loudly as they exited. From a distance, he could see they were carrying steel rods, machetes, and even a shotgun.

Three stowaways stood at the shop entrance, watching with expressions full of fear.

Gu Jianlin ignored them and directly walked into the store to take a look.

The goods in the shop were intact, but other everyday items had been smashed into pieces. The ground was covered in broken glass, shattered fans, and torn electrical wires.

On a wrecked recliner, Zhong Guoqing sat with his head hung low. His hair had gone noticeably grayer overnight. His clothes bore muddy footprints, and his collar was stained with blood from his nose.

"Xiao… Xiao Gu."

Zhong Li was squatting on the floor, cleaning up her father's nosebleed. Keeping her head down, she softly said, "You're back."

Gu Jianlin asked indifferently, "What happened here?"

"Nothing, nothing, just a little conflict with some people."

Zhong Guoqing raised his head, wiped his nose, and forced a laugh filled with bitterness and spite. His expression was pitiful yet fierce—so ugly it provoked discomfort. "Keep working. The store's business can't be delayed, lest we draw blame from above."

He got up, took a broom and dustpan, and began to clean up the debris, not uttering a word about the unprovoked trouble.

"Xiao Gu, here's your pay for yesterday, plus a fifty-yuan bonus."

Zhong Li wiped her tears before retrieving 350 yuan from the shop and placing it in his palm. "I heard you didn't take that ten thousand yuan yesterday… Thank you. Really, thank you."

Gu Jianlin said nothing. He could sense that the attitude of this father and daughter toward him had shifted significantly.

The arrogance Zhong Guoqing had displayed as a shopkeeper was gone, and Zhong Li's demeanor had become cautious.

The reason? Likely that Golden Card.

Here, everyone fighting in underground matches aimed to win their way into the finals and claim the Golden Card.

Alternatively, they had to walk out of the fighting cage alive, defeating a Fallen.

Yesterday, when Gu Jianlin killed Vulture, it wasn't for money but to end his suffering quickly, to free him.

The ten thousand yuan was merely an added perk.

For those living in the Forbidden Zone, this sum was opulent, though for anyone who landed a decent job, ten thousand yuan could amount to just a month's salary.

Clearly, to Zhong Guoqing and Zhong Li, family meant far more than money.

"What happened earlier?"

Gu Jianlin noticed Zhong Li's hesitancy to speak, her reluctance evident in her expression. His voice turned cold. "Tell me."

She shook her head, biting her lip and saying nothing, then turned and ran off.

Even Zhong Guoqing disappeared into the warehouse, broom in hand, smoking quietly.

Left with no choice, Gu Jianlin turned to the three stowaways and placed a hundred yuan on the table.

"What happened?"

One stowaway, quick and alert, snatched the money immediately. "Boss Zhang's men just came by because Vulture lost his fight, costing Boss Zhang a fortune. All those resources spent on training Vulture were wasted. The shopkeeper and his daughter had reserved spots through Boss Zhang to leave here on a human-snake ship bound for Southeast Asia."

"Now, those spots are gone. Boss Zhang said they have to stay behind and keep working."

He added, "Until they pay off the debt."

Gu Jianlin said calmly, "That's it?"

"Yep. Boss Zhang manages port trade, and if you want to leave this place, you have to go through him."

The stowaway explained.

Gu Jianlin understood and replied evenly, "I thought he'd come looking for me instead."

The stowaway quickly smiled obsequiously. "It's not the same for you. You've probably got a Golden Card already, right? That means you're under Mr. Liu's protection. Mr. Liu has strict rules—Boss Zhang wouldn't dare use those means to coerce you into working for him. Unless you voluntarily seek him out as your ally."

Gu Jianlin considered this. "I see."

As luck would have it, Boss Zhang happened to be the one overseeing port trade.

The stowaway continued, "Boss Zhang just stepped away. He's given them five hours to come up with the money. If they can't, then the only choice will be to sell themselves into labor for him."

Gu Jianlin gave a subtle nod to indicate his understanding.

Such were the ways of social relationships in the Forbidden Zone. Just yesterday, he had been an unremarkable novice worker.

But the moment he got his hands on a Golden Card, everyone greeted him with smiling faces.

And yet, Gu Jianlin could see beneath the surface of every smile—the emotions concealed deep below.

Zhong Guoqing and Zhong Li's smiles hid sadness and humiliation.

Meanwhile, the three stowaways wore ingratiating yet sly smiles, masking deceit and treachery.

Five hours. Fine, let's wait it out.

Might as well use this chance to get closer to Boss Zhang and wait for the Yan Family to show up.

Gu Jianlin stood behind the counter, patiently waiting for customers.

Suddenly, a shifty figure sneaked a glance at him before darting away.

Minutes later, an overwhelming crowd of people flocked to the shop for treasure appraisal.

At the shop, there were five counters in total. With Scholar absent, only four counters remained.

Yet not a single customer ventured to the counters of the three stowaways.

Instead, everyone clustered around Gu Jianlin.

"Please, help me. My daughter is sick and can't hold on much longer."

"My wife is in labor, but I don't have hospital money."

"I want to get my father out of here, but I'm short five thousand yuan. Could you help me?"

Desperation or flattery, anguish or resentment, sincerity or pretense.

Faced with the crowd, Gu Jianlin was momentarily overwhelmed.

It felt like those historical dramas where a wealthy son visits the slums, and a swarm of scruffy beggars rush up with bowls, pleading for charity.

Gu Jianlin understood now.

Word must have spread, likely thanks to yesterday's attacker at the dormitory, about there being a soft-hearted "good guy" in the Treasure Appraisal Shop. Now, every needy person in the area had come flooding in.

Those eyes—they all craved that the young man in front of them would appraise treasures for them.

And afterward, hand them the money.

Right then, Zhong Guoqing and Zhong Li burst out with shotguns, shouting, "Get out! All of you, get out! You shameless bastards, huh? Are you trying to kill Xiao Gu by making him appraise treasures over and over?"

Perhaps this father and daughter duo could only stand tall at such moments.

Because they had to protect the shop's people.

The treasure-seekers recoiled at the sight of the gun barrels and left, albeit reluctantly.

One person spat toward the store before walking away.

"Don't worry, Xiao Gu. Those people won't dare return. Over the next couple days, if necessary, you can stay here at the shop. We've got guns—it's safer. You take my bed; I'll sleep on the floor."

Zhong Guoqing glared viciously at the departing crowd. "Those damn dogs."

The older man turned out to be more resilient than Gu Jianlin had imagined.

Despite losing his brother yesterday and having his hope of escape snatched away today.

Surprisingly, he had already begun bouncing back.

This was the tragedy of adulthood.

No matter what you face, you have to hold it together.

And you must hold it together.

Because behind you, there were no more people to lean on.

Zhong Li set a shotgun on the desk, forcing a smile. "The gun's here—be careful with it."

Gu Jianlin felt inexplicably agitated, his breathing turning heavier. In his mind, the waves of spirituality surged and roared, resonating loudly like a rumble of thunder.

Then suddenly, the world quieted down.

The roaring tide stopped abruptly, and the howling sea winds vanished without a trace.

The entire world seemed to rapidly recede, the noisy chaos of humanity drowned in silence and disappearing completely.

Someone pushed a wheelchair to the shop's entrance.

"The first lesson is over."

Jing Ci appeared in the doorway at an indeterminate moment, still impeccably dressed in a suit. His demeanor remained classical and refined. "This lesson is called human nature. I believe after these past two days, you've gained a thorough understanding of it."

The old man in the wheelchair appeared drowsy, his breathing steady and deep.

Gu Jianlin said nothing.

"Originally, the teacher and I were debating how to get you into the Forbidden Zone, but it turns out you came here on your own accord. Saves us the trouble. Since you're here, let's discuss your feelings."

Jing Ci gazed toward the sky. "The second lesson will begin shortly."

[PS: The book first debuted on the Qidian app. Next update at 11:30 PM tonight.]