Chapter 177: From Killing the Dog and Seizing the Den Begins

West City, Outer Ring.

A figure peered out from a dilapidated street corner. With a face covered in grime and mud, a pair of eyes quickly scanned the surroundings. After confirming no one was passing by, the figure lunged towards the trash can across the street!

Reaching the trash can, he swiftly tied up the entire garbage bag, grabbed it, and dashed back to his original corner.

His eyes, green with hunger, stared wildly as he frantically tore open the garbage bag. Like a wild dog, he rummaged through it. Spotting half a leftover piece of bread, he didn't care about the unknown black liquid stuck to it; he crammed it all into his mouth.

He devoured everything edible with a ravenous fury, as if he hadn't eaten for days, making chewing sounds like a wild animal. His pale, emaciated body was curled up in the dark corner, looking from afar like a jackal that could be scattered by the wind at any moment.

This was Jian Changsheng's first meal in over ten days.

Ever since he was discovered in Winter Harbor and sent to the Constellation Merchant Guild, he hadn't been able to eat a single bite. After all, the people at the Guild had no intention of keeping him alive. Their approach was to conduct a soul-shattering interrogation once and then let him dissipate, so no one thought to feed him anything. Even if the Constellation Merchant Guild was wealthy, they wouldn't waste resources on a corpse.

Yet, he survived the first interrogation, and the second. After enduring the third, Jian Changsheng was thrown into the dungeon and left forgotten. Had it not been for the powerful life force granted by his Blood Robe, Jian Changsheng would likely have starved to death in that dungeon.

However, the mental agony inflicted by the soul-shattering interrogations had also hollowed out his body. Through each desperate struggle, his fat and muscles rapidly depleted. After three interrogations, his weight was less than eighty jin (approximately 40 kg), leaving him little more than skin and bones.

Jian Changsheng devoured half a piece of bread, a rotten apple, and a few yellowed vegetable leaves in one go. Only then did the extreme hunger subside slightly.

Just then, he heard the clamor of a crowd approaching from the distant street. His body immediately tensed, and he pressed himself against the wall, hiding in a blind spot, his eyes flickering with murderous intent and vigilance.

However, those people seemed not to notice his presence. After searching around the street, they simply headed off into the distance.

"To catch me... they're making such a grand show?" Jian Changsheng muttered to himself, listening to their departing footsteps.

Jian Changsheng had grown up within the Constellation Merchant Guild, and he was very aware of their extensive influence in Aurora City. Wherever there were people, there might be their informants. Thus, he could only continuously avoid crowds, moving only in deserted and confined spaces.

But how long could he keep hiding like this? He couldn't live the life of a fugitive forever. If this was all his life would be after surviving, he would rather have been killed by Chen Ling in the Ancient Soldier's Tomb.

But where could he go now?

His father's image immediately appeared in Jian Changsheng's mind. He had barely escaped death, and his father probably still thought he was dead. How was his father living alone? Jian Changsheng yearned to go home and see him, but he quickly dismissed the idea.

His father was originally a servant of the Yan family. After his escape from prison, those people would undoubtedly be closely watching his family's surroundings. If he returned, he would be walking straight into a trap.

Jian Changsheng's mind raced, recalling everyone he could trust in Aurora City. Finally, he focused on one person... now, he could only seek refuge with him.

Jian Changsheng remained hidden in the corner, resting with his eyes closed until darkness fell and the streets were mostly deserted. Only then did he open his eyes and set off.

He agilely climbed onto the nearby rooftops, moving like a phantom between eaves and walls under the cover of night. Silently, he traversed several streets, finally alighting near a certain house.

Jian Changsheng did not rush into the house. Instead, he hid in a corner on the opposite street, cautiously scanning his surroundings, seemingly confirming whether anyone was lying in ambush.

Just then, the house door opened, and a figure carrying several bags of trash walked directly towards the trash can across the street.

The moment he saw the figure, Jian Changsheng's eyes lit up slightly.

As the figure drew closer, Jian Changsheng, hidden nearby, lowered his voice and softly called out, "Uncle!"

The figure froze, then instinctively looked in his direction. Upon seeing Jian Changsheng, his face covered in grime and his body disheveled, the figure paused for a moment, surprise dawning in his eyes.

He didn't speak. Instead, he calmly continued to put the trash into the bin, simultaneously shaking his head slightly at Jian Changsheng, his gaze drifting towards his house behind him.

Seeing this, Jian Changsheng seemed to understand something, and his face turned exceptionally grim.

Those people from the Constellation Merchant Guild... they even found this place?

The owner of this house was Jian Changsheng's maternal uncle, who had watched him grow up. However, ever since his mother's death and his father brought him into the Yan family, the two families had lost contact. Logically, the Yan family's people shouldn't have known about them...

Yet, even so, informants had been placed here, hidden extremely well. They must have anticipated his arrival, intending to wait for him to walk into their trap.

Had he not happened to encounter his uncle taking out the trash, he would probably have been caught.

A cold sweat broke out on Jian Changsheng's back. He remained motionless in his hiding spot, watching his uncle finish disposing of the trash and turn back into the house. As the light from the door crack completely vanished, Jian Changsheng felt as though the last ray of light in his life had also disappeared.

He smiled bitterly, a hint of despair appearing in his eyes. Just then, the door opened again, and his uncle emerged, carrying two new bags of trash.

"Why are you taking out the trash again?" his aunt's surprised voice echoed from inside the house.

"These things are expired; they'll attract bugs if left inside," his uncle replied from the doorway, walking straight across the street to place the two bags next to the trash can.

Then, he looked up in Jian Changsheng's direction and whispered softly:

"Little Jian, my house is being watched... You'll have to tough it out outside for a while. There's some food here that will last you a few days... If you really have nowhere to stay, there's a dog kennel under the barren hill at the west end of the street... The conditions are harsh, but at least it will shelter you from the wind and rain."

After quickly saying this, his uncle turned and went back inside. Jian Changsheng watched blankly, a flicker of warmth appearing in his eyes.

Little Jian... He hadn't heard that name in a long time.

Jian Changsheng glanced around, confirmed no one was present, then picked up the two garbage bags. Following his uncle's directions, he arrived at the barren hill, and sure enough, among the dense, uninhabited trees, stood a wooden dog kennel.

The kennel was likely left behind by the previous owner of the neighboring house, but it had been completely abandoned when they moved. Now, a wild dog, its origin unknown, was crouched inside. Seemingly hearing Jian Changsheng's approach, it stood up cautiously, emitting low growls from its throat.

Jian Changsheng stared blankly at the scene, a strange sense of desolation suddenly washing over him. He had never imagined that one day he would have to compete with a wild dog for a place to live or scrounge for food in a trash can.

His life and dignity had sunk lower than a stray dog's; he couldn't return home, and his talents were useless. All of this was thanks to the Constellation Merchant Guild.

Jian Changsheng took a deep breath, released the two garbage bags, and slowly walked towards the wild dog... On his pale face, a hateful murderous intent emerged.

His life had hit rock bottom; it couldn't get any worse than this. As long as he was alive, he would have a chance for revenge...

And it would all begin with killing the dog and taking its den.