I am grinding experience in another world

On the banks of the Jinshui River, at the Changrui Dock.

The Startling Swan Gang's majestic flagship, like a floating island amidst the river, was moored steadily at the riverside. Despite the deep waters and large waves, it remained utterly motionless.

In the deep of the night, the lights on the boat were still blazing brightly. The gang members, clad in black tight suits and well-trained, patrolled at regular intervals.

Suddenly, a window in a pavilion at the stern of the ship exploded open.

A slender figure in black, shrouded in a layer of dark film, burst out through the window.

"Who goes there!"

A roomy figure leapt from the highest level of the ship following the shout.

Jin Wuduan, like a stone flung by a catapult, enveloped in a robust wind, smashed down towards the figure in black.

His hand, as big as a fan and pitch-black, swung open and slapped heavily towards the other's back.

The person seemed to have anticipated this.

Twisting in mid-air against all common sense, he turned around and with his right fist, like a battering ram, hammered down towards Jin Wuduan's large hand.

Clang!

Like a hammer striking an iron plate, the grating sound of metal on metal exploded.

The man in black, leveraging the massive reactive force, became like an arrow released from a bow, his speed increased twofold. With a mere tap on the ship's rail with his toes, he whooshed away from the pavilion ship.

Jin Wuduan's expression changed. He noticed that the man in black was holding a little boy under his left arm.

The child was delivered by Sikou Yu three days prior. He had been pampered with food and drink and under tight protection.

Jin Wuduan had been curious about the boy's identity. Unfortunately, Sikou Yu was fiercely protective, viewing everyone as if they were thieves. Jin Wuduan immediately put aside his curiosity.

Born to a clan's Lower Courtyard, nurtured since childhood, he always remembered not to inquire about things he shouldn't.

He hadn't expected the man in black to actually take the child away.

That was unacceptable. If the boy was lost, Sikou Yu would surely cause him trouble.

No sooner had he landed than his leg muscles bulged violently, Shell Soul enveloping his entire body, ready to spring forth.

Clang!

As if a temple bell had been struck, a loud sound blasted by his ear.

Jin Wuduan felt a severe headache, as if a steel needle had been thrust into his brain.

Even with his completed Shell Soul and powerful body, it took him five or six breaths to regain his senses.

Looking up again, all he saw was a piece of the black-clad figure's cloak flipping in mid-air, before it completely vanished into the night.

Jin Wuduan's face became extremely grim.

"Magic Artifact!"

"And a Shell Soul master at that!"

"Thirteenth Young Master, what kind of monster have you provoked?!" Jin Wuduan felt irritable.

Just as Sikou Qing had led people up north, this Thirteenth Young Master had attracted such a formidable enemy.

It was clear the other party had come to rescue someone. And he had failed to stop them.

Thinking about the possible trouble the Thirteenth Young Master could bring, Jin Wuduan felt an even greater pain in his head than when he had been shaken by the Magic Artifact.

"Someone, go to Chunfeng Tower and inform the Thirteenth Young Master. Tell him that the child he was protecting has been snatched away," Jin Wuduan sighed. Such matters couldn't be hidden or delayed. It was better to tell the Thirteenth Young Master sooner to see what course of action he had in mind.

But when the words fell, there was no reply for a long time.

Jin Wuduan turned around to look, only to find the many disciples who had previously patrolled the deck all lying unconscious.

"As expected of a Magic Artifact," Jin Wuduan's expression worsened.

He was unscathed because he was protected by Soul Strength. The common gang members didn't have this ability.

Having such an enemy, a slight mishap could potentially lead to the annihilation of the Startling Swan Gang.

...

In the middle of the night, on the flagship of the Startling Swan Gang.

At the top floor of the pavilion ship, the lights were still brightly lit.

Jin Wuduan sat at the head with a complicated expression, "Sheng Er, I was originally planning to recommend you to the family's Lower Courtyard."

"Unfortunately, there has been a mishap. I can hardly save myself, let alone you."

Zuo Sheng looked puzzled at Jin Wuduan, "Master, it's just a lost child."

"Moreover, the people who came were strong and had a mysterious magic artifact. The Sikou Family shouldn't make things difficult for you, right?"

Jin Wuduan shook his head and sighed, "I now probably guess the child's identity. Too bad it's too late. If I'd known earlier, I would've followed that child closely."

Zuo Sheng looked puzzled at Jin Wuduan. Could a child be that important?

"Sheng Er, you don't understand."

"Seventh Miss exhausted her efforts, amassing a great deal of manpower and resources, all to obtain an item."

"That child's identity is special, almost equivalent to that thing."

"Having lost the child, do you think the people in the clan will spare me?"

Zuo Sheng's complexion changed, and he looked at Jin Wuduan with concern.

"Don't worry," Jin Wuduan reassured with a dismissive gesture, "There won't be any threat to my life. But being the boss of the Startling Swan Gang is no longer an option."

"Without my support, you must be careful of those old foxes in the gang."

Zuo Sheng wanted to comfort his master, but he didn't know what to say.

The Sikou Family was high above, far beyond the influence of people like them.

"At worst, I'll follow Seventh Miss to the North for a trip," Jin Wuduan said with a smile. "With my strength, enduring a bit more hardship is all."

At this moment, an agile figure quickly darted into the hall and knelt on one knee before them, "Boss, Young Master Yu has disappeared at Chunfeng Tower."

"What did you say?" Jin Wuduan's teacup in hand was suddenly crushed, the black Soul Strength on his face flashing and vanishing.

The half-crouching messenger trembled from head to toe.

"Speak up, what exactly happened?" Jin Wuduan suddenly stepped in front of the messenger, lifting him by the collar.

"Young Master Yu disappeared at Chunfeng Tower, there were signs of a fight at the scene, and all his followers were found unconscious," the messenger said swiftly, his voice shaking.

Jin Wuduan turned pale, "Was it that middle-aged man with Shell Soul?!"

"It's over!"

...

In Shanglin Neighborhood, Chen Residence.

Chen Mu was wearing a pair of sheepskin water-resistant gloves marked with mottled bloodstains, adeptly gutting a big fish.

While busy at work, he asked Jie Jia, who was playing with silver beads in the pavilion, "Old man Jie, do you know what a Body Protection Aura is?"

"The missing young master from the Startling Swan Gang, he wouldn't happen to be related to you, would he?" Jie Jia's eyelids lifted fractionally.

"The Startling Swan Gang also has a young master from a noble family?" Chen Mu was startled, then he rolled his eyes, "What a joke! How could a lowly commoner like me be related to a noble family's young master?"

Jie Jia's eyelids drooped, "Indeed, you don't look like someone who could cultivate Shell Soul."

Chen Mu paused his hands. What did that mean?

"Last night a young master from a noble family disappeared, and this morning the Startling Swan Gang initiated a city-wide search."

"They're looking for a man in his forties with Shell Soul strength, carrying a Bell Instrument, capable of swaying souls and capturing spirits."
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"The Startling Swan Gang has made a promise: they'll pay any price, they just want the person, not the magic artifact."

Forty years old, Shell Soul, Bell Instrument...

Cheng Yi?!

It was I who killed the man. The Startling Swan Gang is pinning Sikou Yu's death on Cheng Yi?!

Chen Mu: "..."

There's actually such a stroke of luck?!

"Old man Jie, I'm in a good mood today, order whatever you want to eat!" Chen Mu declared with a grand wave of his hand.

Jie Jia glanced at Chen Mu, "Even so, if you want to know about the Body Protection Aura, you still have to pay."

With that, a flicker of bright white light in the depths of his eyes vanished. He fixed his gaze on Chen Mu's chest.

Chen Mu: "..."

I already put the silver in the Five Ghosts Bag, and you still found it?!

You're really something!