It was just a fleeting glance.
Yet, the countless dark red crystals shimmering with light were enough to blind Zhao Sifang.
He quickly clutched his backpack.
People around him, startled by his sudden exclamation, all turned to look at him.
Feeling a little embarrassed, Zhao Sifang held up his phone and smiled awkwardly at them. "I just… found out my fiancée cheated on me. Sorry for the disturbance."
'Cheated?'
The crowd gave him a glance full of sympathy before returning their attention to the drama unfolding at the nearby mourning hall.
Some who recognized Zhao Sifang sighed inwardly.
'Family-arranged marriages—never reliable.'
Zhao Sifang's heart pounded wildly.
Qin Siyang's entire bag of crimson crystals was in his hands.
Even though his family had always taught him to be righteous, to never steal or cheat because they weren't lacking in money.
Even though he had always prided himself on being a gentleman.
Even though Qin Siyang had entrusted his backpack to him with absolute trust.
Even though he had always wanted to be a proper heir to the business association.
But—
Some things were exceptions.
This bag of crimson crystals was too tempting.
Shame flooded his heart, yet he was practically drooling.
Compared to these crystals, his so-called righteousness, kindness, integrity, benevolence, loyalty, dignity, self-control, honesty, gratitude, and tolerance all seemed utterly fragile.
Just this once.
He swore on his family's name—just this once.
Just this once, and his family could rise again.
After upholding his morals for over a decade, Zhao Sifang gritted his teeth and made a decision that went against everything his family stood for.
He took them without telling.
Even if his family would scold him, he'd take it.
Even if they each took a knife and skinned him alive for being a disgrace, he'd accept it.
Zhao Sifang sighed, 'In the end, I still couldn't resist temptation. I can't be the gentleman my family wants me to be.'
With his decision made, he quietly slipped into an empty corner.
Opening the backpack, he examined the crimson crystals inside.
The two biggest ones were larger than his fists.
He swallowed hard.
'They really are crimson… huh? Why are there traces of blood seeping into them? Did he already form a contract with them by dripping his blood?'
Zhao Sifang quickly checked every crystal in the bag.
All of them had traces of blood.
'That's not right. Uncle Cui said he confirmed with Li Tianming that Qin Siyang didn't know crimson crystals could be bonded with bloos. With something this valuable, who would dare recklessly mess with it if they didn't know?'
'Does he not know that some treasures become useless if you drip blood on them?'
Suddenly, Zhao Sifang realized something.
On the way here, he had mentioned to Qin Siyang that crimson crystals could be bonded with blood.
Recalling their conversation, Zhao Sifang's face slowly turned pale.
'Could it be that this guy only bonded with the crystals after confirming it with me?'
'So, in the end, I helped Qin Siyang?'
But who could've expected that they'd run into a naked Sequences user on the road, and that his backpack would be filled with crimson crystals?
Zhao Sifang furiously smacked himself twice.
'Why did I have to run my mouth? WHY?'
Then, another thought hit him.
Maybe this was fate—telling him he couldn't go through with such a dishonorable act.
He lowered his head in shame.
As for this incident…
He had to keep it a secret.
Since the crystals were already bonded to Qin Siyang, only he could use them. Telling his family wouldn't change anything.
After over ten years of abiding by morals, Zhao Sifang gritted his teeth and made another decision against his family's principles.
He wouldn't tell his family.
He would keep this secret with Qin Siyang.
Maybe, if he got close to Qin Siyang, the guy might even give his family two crystals.
'Yes!'
With his mind made up, Zhao Sifang zipped up the backpack and let out a bitter laugh.
'So that's why he handed me his bag without worry… Turns out, all the crystals belong to him alone.'
With a drooping mouth, Zhao Sifang slung the backpack over his shoulders and returned to the mourning hall.
Just as he was sulking over missing out on a fortune—
His gaze met Qin Siyang's, who was grinning at him.
At that moment, he suddenly recalled something his second uncle once said at a family gathering: 'There isn't a single person under thirty in the Safe Zone with more tricks up their sleeve than that brat Qin Siyang.'
Back then, Zhao Sifang had scoffed.
Now, he fully believed it.
He stood quietly in the distance, waiting to see what kind of performance Qin Siyang would put on next.
Qin Siyang held the crimson crystal in his hands, gazing at it with infatuation—
As if he had never seen such a treasure before.
"What an actor," Zhao Sifang muttered under his breath.
Meanwhile, those who had come to pay respects stopped crying and gathered around, their eyes fixed on the crimson crystal in Qin Siyang's hands.
Seeing the layers of people surrounding his mourning hall, Qin Siyang smiled, "Thank you all for coming to my funeral. But luckily, I'm still alive. So, there's no need to worry about this crimson crystal anymore!"
The others stared at the egg-sized crystal, their greed almost palpable.
Qin Siyang chuckled, "To put an end to this farce, I've decided to bond with the crimson crystal right now."
"What?"
"This…"
"This is mine. I'll do whatever I want with it. You all understand that, right?"
"No way! You can't just form a contract!"
At that moment, a man stepped forward and sternly objected.
Qin Siyang looked up at the square-faced man, "And you are?"
"Minister of Education, Xiao Zhigang."
"Oh. And? You have a problem with that?"
"You only got this far because of the Education Ministry's support. Now that you've obtained a crimson crystal, shouldn't you repay the favor?"
Xiao Zhigang had stepped forward as the representative of the United Government, tasked with overseeing the distribution of the crimson crystals.
Now, if Qin Siyang bonded with them, all of Xiao Zhigang's previous efforts would be wasted.
Qin Siyang sneered, "So, Minister Xiao, are you saying the United Government wants to rob a Sequences user of his spoils?"
"This isn't robbery. It's about gratitude."
"Sorry, but I'm an ungrateful, selfish bastard with no moral compass."
"If that's the case, then you definitely can't keep the crimson crystal."
Qin Siyang raised his voice, "The United Government is stealing a Hunter's spoils? Where's the law? Where's the justice?"
Xiao Zhigang gestured, and several officers in United Government uniforms stepped forward.
Judging by their presence, they weren't weak.
"If the school didn't educate you, the Education Ministry will."
Qin Siyang exaggeratedly gasped, "Ganging up on me?"
Xiao Zhigang smirked coldly—clearly, that was his plan.
He had already decided to kill Qin Siyang, seize the crystals, and continue negotiations afterward.
Seeing this, Qin Siyang raised his hands and shouted: "These crystals may be mine, but they also belong to the Safe Zone. After bonding with them, I'll discuss their distribution—just like with the Vine Core. Military officers, school leaders, church members, and government officials—all are welcome."
Then, he pointed at Xiao Zhigang with a grin, "Except for Minister Xiao."
"If Minister Xiao wants to murder and steal, I hope you all support me."
Swish—
The moment he finished speaking, dozens of figures appeared in the mourning hall.
Judging by their auras, they were all powerful individuals.
And they all stood behind Qin Siyang, glaring coldly at Xiao Zhigang.
"You—?"
Xiao Zhigang stared at them in fury.
No one responded.
He clenched his fists, seething.
Qin Siyang beamed.
"Minister Xiao, weren't you planning to gang up on me?"
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