{Yang Zicang, get your weapon back.}
{杨子藏，快拿回你的武器。}
[Pour a 4000 into me.] (Authorization: Boss Wang promises to invest 4000N in me.)
[王总为我投资4000N.]
Wang Yu’an’s voice boomed loud and clear in his mind, frantic and screaming, nearly frantic with rage.
王育安超大声的在心念中响起，他焦躁不安大吼，近乎气急败坏。
{You must sell it to me!}
{你要卖就卖给我！}
{You son of a bitch! You don’t understand the value of Chrono Weapons at all; you might not even know that Amplified Chronal suppression takes two days to regenerate. Yet a Chrono Weapon can strike with dozens or even hundreds of years of chronal impact with a single swing!}
{你根本不懂时序战器的价值，你甚至可能都不知道增幅时序被抵消后会有两天才能恢复，而时序战器随便一挥动就能造成数十上百年时序打击！你这个傻叉！}
“Ah? Really? Why didn’t you all say so sooner? They’re already gone.”
“啊？真的？你们干嘛不早点说啊，他们都走了。”
{They haven’t even stepped out the door! Hurry up!}
{他们连门都还没走出，快去啊！}
“This… that’s awkward, isn’t it? I already said it. Isn’t that going back on my word?”
“这，不好吧，我话都说出口了。这不是不讲信用吗？”
{Screw you, man.}
{我去你大爷的。}
This remark nearly infuriated certain individuals. Amid the storm of curses, Yang Zicang nodded in satisfaction and silenced everyone’s telepathic communication.
这话让某些人的肺都快炸了。听到一片破口大骂声，杨子藏满意地屏蔽了众人的心念通讯。
Never did he expect getting robbed could bring such benefits—Yang Zicang delightedly sensed the thousands of years of lifespan coming in, albeit invested a bit late.
没想到被抢劫还能有这种好处，杨子藏欢喜的感应着这堆慢了步才投资过来的数千年寿命。
Insults aside, Wang Yu’an, that scoundrel, didn’t withdraw his investment.
骂归骂，王育安这家伙并没有抽资。
“Over four thousand years, huh.”
“居然有四千多年。”
Not bad, this kid—he’s got quite a long life, a true professional investor indeed.
可以啊这小子，这么命长，不愧是玩投资的。
Wonder how many chrono-years Luo Bin will charge Wang Yu’an for this deal.
不晓得这单洛宾会收王育安多少时序。
Ahead, the bare-armed Luo Bin was already charging in with a roaring battle cry.
前方，晃着光膀子的洛宾早已经嗷嗷叫着冲了上去。
“No one takes the Chrono Weapon—that’s our tool. Yang Zicang’s my team member, the weapon belongs to us!”
“谁也别想拿走时序战器，这是我们的武器。杨子藏是我的队员，武器是我们的！”
The streak of crimson golden light in his hands made the expressions beneath the masks of the seven men shift dramatically, as they scurried to evade the fatso’s pursuit.
手上带着缕红色的金芒让那七人面具下的神色大变，纷纷躲避着胖子的追赶。
Though brandishing a long spear, Yu Chen dared not step forward; with just a century of chrono-force, it was no match for a single swipe of that blade that could drain a man’s life away, pale in comparison to common steel.
余晨虽手握长枪，但一百年时序跟一剑戳来就会要人老命的普通钢剑相比，却根本不敢上前。
Just then, the door through which everyone had intended to leave dimmed abruptly.
正在这时，众人要出去的门突兀灰暗起来。
“Shit, this space has been synchronized by a frequency crystal!”
“不好，这片空间被晶石同频了！”
Yang Zicang turned his gaze to Liang Xi beside him, who was cocking his head and scrutinizing his expression.
杨子藏看向身旁歪着脑袋打量着自己神色的梁喜。
“What does ‘synchronizing’ mean?”
“同频是啥意思。”
“It means someone’s locked this place down with a C-grade interleaved frequency crystal.”
“有人用C级交错频晶，将这里绑定了的意思。”
In the distance, Yan Yi assessed the newly arriving group of masked individuals through his detection feed.
远处的燕逸通过感知画面，看着新进入的又一群蒙面人。
This time, it’s truly a case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
这次真是螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后了。
This group, carrying New Moon-level frequency crystals, sealed off the rift as soon as they entered. Now, without the permission of those holding the crystal stones, no one would be able to leave this place until this overlapping land was stabilized!
这群人带着新月级频晶，一进入就将裂缝给封闭了起来。这下子，没有手持晶石之人的允诺，将无人能够在稳定这片交错地前，离开此处！
“With this, we can lock the door and beat the trapped dogs, hahaha!”
“有这个东西，我们就可以关门打狗了，哈哈哈！”
“Brothers, charge!”
“兄弟们，给我上！”
The two chaotic groups instantly clashed into melee, while Yu Chen, wielding a spear, was the primary target.
乱糟糟的混乱两帮人瞬间就战斗到了一起，而手握长枪的余晨则是首要目标。
“Damn, this weapon can’t infuse a time sequence at all.”
“靠，这武器根本无法注入时序。”
Bang! Two figures leaped out from the crowd. One was holding an iron rod radiating a dense golden shadow, smashing it onto his arm in one blow.
嘭！两道身影从人群跃出，其中一人手持冒着浓烈金色虚影的铁棍，一棍子敲在他手臂上。
Yu Chen’s expression changed. That sudden blow aimed at him actually carried a time-sequence amplification of over five thousand years.
余晨面色一变，这朝着自己的一闷棍居然带着超过五千多年的时序增幅。
Just having saved his arm, before he could react, another tall figure landed beside him and sent over a gold-shadowed uppercut straight for his chin!
刚刚保下手臂的他还来不及有所应对，另一道高大身影已经落在他身旁，一记带着金色虚影的上勾拳就向着下巴砸来！
“Aaaah!”
“啊啊！”
With countless battle experiences, Yu Chen hastily jumped back to dodge.
有过无数战斗经验的余晨仓皇后退躲过。
He raised his spear and swung it, but the opponent, clearly better-trained in professional combat, snorted coldly, kicked the Century Weapon spear aside, and rapidly rained down blows with both fists.
他抬起长枪挥动，而对方明显是受过更专业格斗训练的人，来人冷哼一声，一脚踢开百年器长枪，双手快速砸了过来。
Bang! Bang! After two punches, Yu Chen’s arms were blown apart. Wracked by the bloody, shell-ripped agony, he stumbled and fell backward.
嘭嘭！两拳下去，余晨双臂被打爆，血肉翻飞的痛苦后仰倒地，
“Got him!”
“得手！”
This opponent was clearly the leader of this team. His voice was deep as a bell, filled with authority.
来人明显是这只队伍的首领，声沉如钟，充满威严。
“Give back the weapon!” Luo Bin cut a bloody path through the chaotic crowd with his steel sword. At this moment, the red glow atop it had turned pure gold, signifying that the timeline had dropped to less than ten thousand years.
“武器还来！”洛宾持钢剑自混乱人群中开辟出条血路。此刻上面的红芒已经转为纯金色，说明时序已经降到了一万年以下。
“Hmm? The Chrono Weapon is under control!”
“嗯？时序战器被掌控了！”
The masked leader lifted his gaze toward Yang Zicang, his eyes cold as ice, as if regarding a mere beast to be toyed with at will.
蒙面首领抬头注视向杨子藏，其目光冰冷，仿若看待只可随意拿捏的牲畜。
“Third, stop this guy.” He glanced at Luo Bin and said in a deep voice.
“老三，拦下这家伙。”他瞟了眼洛宾沉声道。
“Yes!”
“是！”
One of the men in the group quickly retreated. His model rapidly expanded, and then a pitch-black object smacked heavily onto Luo Bin with a thud.
队伍中一人迅速后退，他的模型快速展开后，一个黑乎乎的物体啪地声砸在洛宾身上。
Luo Bin’s nimble figure instantly seemed pierced by something. The longsword clattered to the ground as cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and he collapsed.
洛宾灵敏的身姿顿时如被什么刺中般，手中长剑啪嗒落在地上，额头顷刻间就渗出虚汗跌倒在地。
Clutching his chest, he stared at the masked man.
他捂住胸口，看向蒙面之人。
“Luo Bin, what’s wrong?” Yang Zicang called out urgently from the stairs.
“洛宾，你怎么了？”楼梯上的杨子藏急道。
“My… heart… this ability… you are… You are the palace master of the Red Squirrel Palace, King Li?”
“我的，心脏….这能力…你们是…你是…赤魈宫的宫主，李王？”
“Recognized me, huh? That’s right, I am the palace master.”
“居然认出来了，没错，我就是宫主。”
Luo Bin’s expression shifted abruptly: “So it really is you… my heart state… it’s been swapped. You lot—you must be imprisoning someone somewhere and swapped our states.”
洛宾神色一变：“果然是你们…我的心脏状态….被调转了，这些家伙，你们肯定在哪里囚禁了其他人，把我们的状态对调了。”
The few people around, including Yu Chen, trembled slightly.
周围包括余晨在内的几人微震。
Recalling how their previous opponents had suddenly suffered inexplicable severe injuries, they now realized the cause. It turned out to be imprisoning someone, injuring them, and at a critical moment swapping that person’s state with another.
联想到之前这帮人的对手都突然莫名奇妙重伤，他们这才惊觉是什么原因。居然是囚禁人后将其弄伤，在关键时刻让这人的状态与别人对调。
The tall masked man tore off his face covering, revealing a face that inspires awe without anger.
那身材高大的蒙面人将脸上面具一扯，露出下方不怒自威的脸庞。
“So what if I am.” He casually tossed the silver Chrono Weapon in his hand, and someone nearby caught it.
“是又如何。”他将手上银色的时序战器随手一抛，身边自有人接住。
“Yang Zicang, relinquish control of the Chrono Weapon immediately, or I will personally see you to your death.”
“杨子藏，马上解除时序战器的控制权，否则我就亲自动手，送你归天。”
King Li exuded a tangible aura of pressure as he stepped onto the stage and headed toward the stairs.
李王身上散发着如有实质的压迫力，踏上剧台走向楼梯。
Yang Zicang squinted, realizing that delivering this weapon today would not be easy.
杨子藏眼睛微眯，看来今天这武器还真不好送出去。
……
……
He took a deep breath, looking down at the man who, though unarmed, radiated a formidable threat.
他深吸口气，看向下方明明赤手空拳，却散发强大威胁之人。
The white ring on the so-called Palace Master’s chest reappeared, and his fists were also covered in a golden mist-like flame.
这所谓的宫主胸口白色环形再次显现，双拳也随之覆盖上了金色的虚雾般的焰火。
“Surrender willingly, or it will be taken from you by force after death.”
“主动解除，或者死后，被动解除。”
King Li’s voice shook the entire space.
李王声震这片空间。
Yang Zicang extended his arm sideways, his gaze fixed on the man below, and whispered to Liang Xi, “Lend me the weapon.”
杨子藏侧伸手臂，目光直视楼下之人，轻声对梁喜道：“武器借我一用。”
Feeling the wooden grip in his hand, he exhaled two streams of turbid air.
感受到手上的木柄触感，他鼻息喷出两道浊气。
The young man, clad in a worn-out elderly shirt, his face as sharp as if carved by a knife, resolutely raised the sword—a blade honed from reinforced steel. Within the four-thousand-year number inscribed in the circle on his chest, it instantly reset to zero.
身穿陈旧老年衫，脸庞似刀削的青年坚毅地竖起这把，由钢条打磨出的利剑。胸口圆圈内的四千年数字顷刻间归零。
Four thousand years, fourfold amplification.
四千年，四倍增幅。
Boom! Red phantom flames erupted!
轰！红色虚焰燃烧冒出！
Yang Zicang leaped into the air, and mid-flight, he gripped the longsword with both hands and brought it down.
杨子藏一个纵跃而起，身体在半空时，双手握住的长剑劈下。
“Haah!”
“哈啊！”
Below, the palace master, Li Wang, instantly revealed a cruel smile. Amid the golden phantom of his fists, strands of red threads suddenly emerged.
下方的宫主李王脸上顿时露出残忍笑容，他双拳的金色虚影内部突然冒出缕红色丝线。
“Since I dared to come here, of course I’ve prepared. Come on, let’s have a man-to-man fight!”
“敢来这里，我怎会不做应对。来吧，来场男人之间的战斗！”
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
嘭嘭嘭嘭！
The moment Yang Zicang landed, he closed in with steady and swift steps, his fists leaving afterimages as the air exploded with sounds like an avalanche.
杨子藏落地瞬间，他步伐稳健迅捷的欺身上去，双拳打出残影，空气都发出爆鸣，势如山崩。
Li Wang’s fists surged like a roaring tide.
李王的拳势如山呼海啸。
“Hah!”
“喝啊！”
Yang Zicang sidestepped the inevitable punch, maneuvering through the flurry of fists like a leaf on the water.
杨子藏侧身躲过必中之拳，他如一叶扁舟般在拳影中腾挪。
“How can this be…”
“怎么会。”
Each time Li Wang’s fists were about to strike Yang Zicang, they would barely miss his face, hair, or the side of his chest by a hair’s breadth.
李王的拳头每每要在砸中杨子藏的瞬间，从起脸庞、头发、胸侧差之毫厘的打过。
Countless onlookers held their breath watching this battle: this newcomer could actually hold his own against such a martial arts master!
这场战斗看得无数人众人屏住呼吸，这个新人居然能应对这样的武道大师！
The moment Li Wang tore off his mask, everyone had already confirmed his identity.
当李王扯下面具的那一刻，众人都已经确定了他的身份。
Li Wang, who named his team like an ancient martial arts sect, was in reality a fist-fighting expert who once owned his own fighting club.
把队伍名起得宛若古代门派的李王，正是现实世界中的一位拳道高手，曾拥有自己的格斗俱乐部。
In this world where everyone found it hard to cope, he instead grew fond of it. This place was perfect for someone like him, who could profit from martial arts techniques.
在这个人人都感到难以应对的世界中，他反而是喜欢上了这里。此处，是正他这样能以格斗技来获得利益的好地方。
Within this past year, he had already defeated several individuals who had once roamed freely in this area, obtaining a large amount of sequence and gathering a following of like-minded enthusiasts. Thus, he proclaimed himself the sect leader, intending to establish his own school. He even changed his real name.
在这一年之间，他已击败过数名曾经在这片区域驰骋无忌之人，获得大量时序，也笼络了批喜好此道的追随者，因此自封为宗门之主，打算开宗立派。就连真名都做了更改。
“If the Century Weapon falls into Li Wang’s hands, even the headquarters will have a hard time taking it back!”
“百年器若落入李王手里，恐怕总部都难以拿回去了！”
“It depends on whether he can kill Yang Zicang. If he can kill him, then the headquarters will have a reason to discipline him!”
“就看他能不能杀死杨子藏。如果能够杀死，那么总部就有理由惩戒他了！”
“Hah, discipline Li Wang? That will probably just be another waste of sequence in battle. Those elites at headquarters won’t waste their sequence on a strong man like him.”
“呵，惩戒李王？那恐怕又是番浪费时序的战斗，总部那些名人才不会浪费时序在这种强者身上呢。”
[I have received an investment of 1,000 N from Yang Qian.]
[我获得了杨千的1000N投资。]
“Yang Qian? That good-for-nothing?”
“杨千？好家伙。”
Yang Zicang was afraid that the surnamed Wang would withdraw his investment, which would mean he was finished for today. Unexpectedly, just as he was worrying, someone came to invest.
杨子藏生怕那姓王的抽资，那今天自己就算是交代在这里了。没想到正在担心的时候，还有人给自己投资。
And it turned out to be that Yang Qian, whom he had just beaten up badly.
居然会是那被自己胖揍了顿的杨千。
Could it be that I have some talent for salesmanship? As he dodged a flurry of punches, this thought crossed his mind.
难道我还有点搞推销的潜质？躲避拳影他不禁想到。
{Yang Zicang, if you consent to sell the weapon to me, I will vest five thousand units in you to set you up for eventual survival.}
{杨子藏，你若愿意将武器卖给我，我可为你投资五千年，助你活下来。}
A voice he didn’t immediately recognize proactively relayed inside the Mental Link.
一个陌生声音在心灵链接中主动说道。
{And so with me; if you consign me a like favor, I will assign two thousand sequence and full authority for but one year from now. You may sling them in all freedoms,”}
{我也是，杨子藏，你若愿将武器卖给我，我为你投资两千年全权时序，时间一年，随你挥霍。}
Another added. Straight of that went some other third person.
另一个声音道，紧接着是第三人。
{“What say you, my boy? There is among us quite richer in output these for you—they pass funds to your claim on condition for yay or nay them then momentaneously!}
{怎么样杨子藏，我能比他们出更多，只要你愿意，时序马上到账。}
Voices chattered in the Mental Link, but no one actually offered any investment.
七嘴八舌的声音在心灵链接中喊话，却没一个人真的给出投资。
“Ha.”
“呵。”
Under the shadow of fists, Yang Zicang dodged and retreated. Fortunately, he only faced this one opponent; if another expert of the same caliber showed up, he would definitely have no room to maneuver.
拳影下的杨子藏边躲边退，还好眼前只是这一个人，要是再来个这样的高手，自己肯定来不及腾挪。
This person was nothing like the brainwashed individuals who had rushed down from the subway.
这人可不比那些从地铁上冲下来的被洗脑者们。
Even though his ability could alter the trajectory of the opponent’s punches, the enemy noticed this after a few seconds and began using both fists to restrict his movement range, continuously forcing him into cramped corners with his body.
哪怕有自己的能力去改变他的拳势轨迹，但他却在几秒后就发现了这点，正在用双拳封锁自己的移动范围，并不断用身体将自己逼到逼仄角落处。
And although he himself wielded a weapon, he couldn’t find a chance to strike.
而自己虽然手持武器，却找不到一个可以刺出的机会。
This was what it meant to face a martial grandmaster!
这就是面对武道大家！
Even if his ability could adjust part of the opponent’s punch trajectory, against someone whose every casual move was a seamless technique, he wasn’t one hundred percent sure he could land a sure hit.
自己哪怕可以用能力去调动对方的部分挥拳轨迹，但面对这种随意出手都一招一式之人，自己根本没百分百把握能够一击必中。
Even ten thousand years of Chrono amplification couldn’t afford him any mistake.
哪怕是上万年的时序增幅，居然也不允许自己能够有所失误。
Once offset, he would fall into an abyss of no return.
一旦抵消，就会陷入万劫不复之地。
“Damn it.”
“可恶啊。”
At the same time, Yan Yi had withdrawn from Yang Zicang’s Mental Link and contacted his companion on the scene.
于此同时，燕逸已经从杨子藏的心灵链接中退出，与在现场的同伴取得联系。
“Bro, can you hold on?”
“老弟，hold住吗？”
[Don’t worry at all.]
[放一百个心。]
Tong Wenqi had been hiding behind the crowd all along.
童文奇一直躲在众人身后。
After the other group acquired the Chrono Weapon, they surrounded Luo Bin and started beating him with the weapon, using it like a club.
另一伙人得到时序战器后，就将洛宾围了起来，正用这把武器当做棍子抽打着洛宾。
“Worthless! Even if this weapon is yours, what does it matter?”
“废物啊，这武器就是你的又如何？”
“You said it’s yours, so have it stop deducting your Chrono!”
“你说是你的，就叫它不要抵扣你的时序啊！”
One hundred per hit, and even thousands of years of Chrono can only withstand a few dozen blows.
一击一百，数千年时序也只能挨几十下。
Luo Bin’s blue cap had long been knocked off, his horrific-looking wound appearing somewhat fierce and vicious.
洛宾的蓝色软帽早已被打飞，骇人的伤口看上去有几分狰狞。