Chapter 127 The Mask

Zhou Ze silently put down his phone and rubbed his eyes.

Deadpool stood up, picked up a rag, and walked to where the two girls were sitting. He bent down and began to wipe up the blood that the little boy had spilled.

Deadpool's job at the bookstore was simple: cleaning.

No salary, no room and board, no complaining, no protesting, no talking back, just diligent work.

"Oh my god, he's alive!" one of the girls exclaimed.

They had noticed Deadpool before, but because he had been standing still, they and the two children had thought he was just a humanoid model placed there by the bookstore.

Deadpool diligently cleaned up, stood up, and prepared to leave.

But Zhou Ze gestured for him to stop.

At this moment, the two girls, whether out of mischief or interest, voluntarily came up to take a picture with Deadpool. One was in charge of taking the picture, and the other was responsible for posing with Deadpool.

Perhaps, in their eyes, this was an actor hired by the bookstore for promotion.

Boss Zhou lit a cigarette and watched the two girls take pictures with Deadpool. One of the girls, a little too excited, asked Deadpool if she could take off his mask and take another picture.

Deadpool didn't move, looking at Zhou Ze, waiting for his command.

"Your boss is really strict, making you wear all this stuff in such hot weather," one of the girls said, speaking up for Deadpool.

"Boss, let him take off his mask and take a picture with us, what if he's handsome?" the other girl pleaded with Zhou Ze.

Zhou Ze nodded, indicating that Deadpool could take off the mask.

Then, Deadpool took off the mask.

Immediately, there was a dead silence that lasted for several seconds.

Followed by:

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The two girls screamed and scrambled out of the bookstore. The girl who had tripped the little boy tripped on the glass door and hit her face, drawing blood.

Zhou Ze cringed at the sight. It would probably leave a scar.

Deadpool was a little dazed, but didn't show any emotion.

The last time, he was slashed by the ghost samurai, leaving a huge scar down his face, making his already terrifying appearance even more horrifying.

Rather than saying he was a "person" now, it would be more accurate to describe him as a humanoid worm.

Zhou Ze didn't know why he kept him. Was it to clean? To save on the cost of a cleaning worker?

Of course, it certainly wasn't because of some sentimental nonsense about "fatherly love."

Perhaps, it was a sense of pity.

The priest, even if he wasn't a good person when he was alive, really knew how to stir things up!

And the fact that he could stand up again after death... although it didn't seem useful now, it felt like a waste to throw him away like trash.

"Put it back on."

Zhou Ze said.

Not only the two girls, but even Boss Zhou, who was used to seeing things, found it a little hard to look at.

Deadpool nodded and put the mask back on.

Zhou Ze subconsciously flicked his cigarette ash.

Seeing Deadpool pick up the rag again and walk over, he felt embarrassed and rubbed the ground with his shoe, ordering:

"Go to the counter and get two spirit money to burn at the door."

…………

The old Daoist knew people from all walks of life. His life had been about drifting, failing to build a family or raise children. By traditional Chinese standards, he was a failure.

But he only wanted to live freely and happily. Since everyone had to walk the road to the Yellow Springs after death, and jump across the Naihe Bridge, he might as well be as casual as possible while alive.

He had been in Tong City for more than half a year and had made many friends.

Actually, according to Zhou Ze's intentions, he wanted a set of basic research equipment like what was found in hospitals or high school chemistry labs. He needed to crudely purify and package the Spider Lilies, making them easy to carry and ingest.

The old Daoist didn't know exactly what Zhou Ze was going to do. He only knew to complete the task the boss gave him as perfectly as possible.

After leaving the bookstore, he picked up his phone and called a friend he had made in Tong City, saying that he wanted a set of purification laboratory equipment and asking if he could get his hands on it.

The man was silent for a moment, then said, "Okay."

They agreed to meet at a coffee shop on South Street. The old Daoist felt a little stupid after sitting down. He should have just arranged to meet at the bookstore, which was just across the street, saving him the cost of the coffee.

The man arrived, with a full beard. He was a distant relative of the old Daoist. When the old Daoist went to visit a fallen woman, he was standing at the door waiting.

The old Daoist shared a cigarette with him, and they nodded to each other. Then, he thanked the old Daoist for greasing the wheels, making it easier for him.

Later, the old Daoist went again, but when the rolling door opened, it was him who came out.

After those two experiences, they were practically relatives. They even added each other on WeChat and went out for barbecue together. The old Daoist knew that he was a smuggler, just a small-time gangster, but older.

"Yo, you look terrible," the old Daoist asked with concern. "Go less often next time, take care of yourself. Who will they rely on if you collapse?"

The bearded man paused, nodded, and said:

"What do you want that thing for?"

"My boss plans to use it to purify something. Anyway, ordinary people can't touch the stuff he makes. If they do, there will be big problems."

The old Daoist said seriously.

"Is that thing... domineering?" the bearded man asked.

"Domineering?"

The old Daoist thought for a moment. Xu Qinglang had been carried back to his room yesterday. Although the boss said he was drunk, the old Daoist could tell it was clearly not the case. He immediately said:

"Very domineering. Anyway, it's very cool and high when you sleep in bed. It's scary to watch."

The bearded man swallowed and continued to ask, "Where will you mainly distribute it after you make it?"

"Distribute?"

The old Daoist thought about it. Ordinary people probably couldn't use the stuff the boss made. Maybe it could circulate with Little Loli or Boss Liang. He replied:

"It will probably only circulate within their own circle."

"The original market?"

"Huh?"

"I'm asking, will it only circulate in Tong City?"

The old Daoist remembered that Boss Liang seemed to be in Shanghai and added:

"Maybe it will be sent to Shanghai too."

"It's also circulating in Shanghai?" The bearded man's expression became more and more solemn. He was visibly nervous.

"Hey, what's wrong with you?"

"Nothing...nothing..."

Saying that,

The bearded man reached out, took a small earphone out of his ear, and put it on the table. Then he put his hands together and said apologetically:

"Sorry, brother, I was just caught by the police for smuggling."

"This…………"

The old Daoist was dumbfounded.

This,

No,

Wait, this...

Just then,

A group of customers at a nearby table stood up. One person held down the bearded man, and the other two pressed down on the old Daoist's shoulders, forcing him to sit on the sofa.

"Be honest!"

The old Daoist looked aggrieved.

There's a misunderstanding here,

Officer!

"This is my ID. We now suspect that you are involved in the production and sale of drugs. Please cooperate with our investigation."

Several more police officers walked in, and one of them showed the old Daoist his ID.

…………

"Boss, where's the old Daoist?" Bai Yingying asked Zhou Ze after washing up.

"He went out to buy something for me. I want to process the Spider Lilies I brought back yesterday," Zhou Ze replied. "What's wrong with that guy, why hasn't he brought the stuff back yet after so long?"

Bai Yingying nodded, but then her expression suddenly changed. She immediately went to the boss and said:

"Boss, there are a lot of eyes watching us out there."

"Huh?" Boss Zhou hadn't woken up from his leisurely newspaper-reading state.

"Those few pedestrians over there, and the ones sitting on the steps reading newspapers and playing on their phones, the two women waiting for the bus at the bus stop, they're all staring at us."

Bai Yingying said firmly.

Boss Zhou stood up and went to the bookstore door to take a look.

He wouldn't doubt Bai Yingying's judgment. She was actually better than him in this regard. After all, when he didn't activate his powers, there wasn't much difference between him and ordinary people.

Just then, Xu Qinglang staggered downstairs, wearing pajamas, looking disheveled, pounding his head and complaining:

"My head hurts so much."

"Did you have a good dream last night?" Zhou Ze turned around and joked.

"You really can't touch those Spider Lilies," Xu Qinglang shook his head and said. "It's even worse than being drunk."

Across the street, on the third floor of a large building, a reconnaissance officer observing with high-powered binoculars immediately relayed a message through his headset:

"Report, there is another woman in the bookstore. She has come downstairs. Suspect she has an improper relationship with the suspect shop owner."

Just then,

Little Loli, who had just been released from school, got off the bus, carrying a big schoolbag, and walked towards the bookstore.

She was in a good mood, humming a song, looking innocent and lovely.

Just thinking about how she would be able to take some back to eat for a midnight snack after Zhou Ze made that stuff, she felt very happy. She had been craving it for a long time and wanted to experience the joy of eating again.

She opened the bookstore door, walked in, and for the first time ever gave Zhou Ze a smiling face and greeted him:

"Captain, is that thing done yet?"

The reconnaissance officer in the distance reported again:

"Report, request to postpone the forced entry plan;

A girl has entered the bookstore, suspect she may be taken hostage by the suspect."