C2 The Housing Crisis

It must be said, Wang Xiaohua could be incredibly irritating...

Zhang Lieh had been aware of the situation for quite some time. However, since his rebirth, he had been preoccupied with his own development plans and hadn't anticipated this confrontation coming so soon.

Zhang Lieh and Wang Xiaohua's fathers were close friends; in fact, Zhang Lieh's father had once saved the life of Wang Xiaohua's father.

The two families had always maintained a good relationship, and as children, Zhang Lieh and Wang Xiaohua played together and even shared a fleeting, innocent romance.

However, Wang Xiaohua's affections shifted when she fell for the cousin of Qin Xiao, a notable figure on the Genetic Ranking, and she left with him.

Since his rebirth, Zhang Lieh had been secluded in the White Liquid Jade Wormhole, which meant he and Wang Xiaohua no longer crossed paths.

In these times, simply surviving was a challenge, and living well was even harder.

Wang Xiaohua's decision to abandon Zhang Lieh for her own benefit was understandable, but her current ruthlessness seemed excessive.

Zhang Lieh's expression darkened as he proposed, "Can't we just continue to pay the rent?"

Wang Xiaohua scoffed, "You can only continue renting if I agree to it."

Zhang Hanshuang, looking pale and desperate, pleaded from behind him, "Sister Xiaohua, please, if we don't have a house, where will we live?"

Wang Xiaohua replied with feigned concern, "There's always a spot on the street or in the underground park."

Zhang Lieh inhaled deeply, restraining his anger, "Wang Xiaohua, what are your terms?"

Wang Xiaohua replied with disdain, "Leave the Black Iron Base and get out of my world."

"Do you have any idea how nauseating it is for me every time I see you? Being associated with you is humiliating. I never want to lay eyes on you at the Black Iron Base again."

Leaving the Black Iron Base would derail all of Zhang Lieh's plans. Currently, his livelihood depended on exchanging Gene Creatures he killed near the Black Iron Base in the Void Realm.

Without the base, even with a house, he wouldn't have the funds to rent it, and he would never be able to turn his life around.

Zhang Lieh scoffed, "Without the Black Iron Base, we wouldn't even have food to eat!"

Wang Xiaohua spoke with a dismissive air, "He's a grown man, not as disabled as your sister. With hands and feet, he can surely do some hard labor to earn his keep."

"I'm looking out for you. You're nothing but a bottom-dweller, dreaming of making a name for yourself in the Void Realm. Take a good look in the mirror before you get ahead of yourself."

"I'm trying to save you here. With your meager skills, you could end up dead in the Void Realm any day, without even a body to bury."

"My life and death are none of your concern."

"Oh, come on, what's with the tough act? You're probably unaware, but your dear brother has always been at the bottom in Genetic Space!"

"Listen to some advice for once. This path isn't for your brother. He needs to face reality and stop chasing pipe dreams. The Void Realm isn't for just anyone to stumble through."

Seeing Zhang Lieh's resolve, Wang Xiaohua shifted her focus to his sister, trying to persuade her.

Zhang Hanshuang was taken aback, but Zhang Lieh stepped protectively in front of her, warning, "Wang Xiaohua, I'm telling you, don't overstep."

Wang Xiaohua, with a threatening tone, retorted, "What's that? Don't want a roof over your head anymore?"

His sister tugged at Xiaohua's sleeve and pleaded, "Please, Sister Xiaohua, let us stay. I'm begging you."

Wang Xiaohua, with no hint of compassion, kicked the wheelchair away and sneered in disgust, "Get lost, cripple. Don't touch me. Can you even afford to compensate if you stain my clothes?"

"Born a cripple, what are you even worth? Your brother is just as useless. You're both defective humans, needing to be completely remade."

"Smack!"

Blinded by rage, Zhang Lieh's eyes were bloodshot. When he snapped back to reality, he had already landed a heavy slap across Wang Xiaohua's face.

The slap left her face red and swollen. Wang Xiaohua, clutching her cheek, snarled, "Zhang Lieh! You dare to strike me?"

Enraged, Wang Xiaohua faced Zhang Lieh, whose eyes brimmed with a murderous glare. Despite her genetic advantage, she hesitated to fight back.

The space was too cramped. Although my genetic count was somewhat higher than his, the difference was marginal. What was truly daunting, though, was the intensity of his gaze.

Zhang Lieh took a deep breath, forcefully quelling the surge of murderous rage within him.

Wang Xiaohua switched into full shrew mode, "Zhang Lieh, I had intended to simply banish you from the Void Realm and, in a grand gesture of mercy, allow you and your sister—society's leeches—to continue squatting in that decrepit house."

"This dump is no better than a pigsty. Nobody would take it even if it were free. But after that slap, we can't just let things slide."

"Can't we just apologize and be done with it?" Zhang Lieh, considering his sister and their plans, aimed for a peaceful resolution.

Wang Xiaohua burst into laughter, "Too late for apologies. If you want to make amends, kneel down at the entrance of the base for all to see."

Zhang Lieh's eyes glinted with a frosty chill, "Do you really think that's going to happen?"

With a contemptuous snort, Wang Xiaohua retorted, "The contract is in my possession, and the house belongs to my family. You're trespassing. I can have the guards throw both of you out."

Zhang Lieh shook his head, "You're mistaken. I've examined the contract carefully; the house isn't fully yours yet."

"It's my family's property!"

Zhang Lieh replied with a cold smirk, "According to the contract, the term ends at the month's close. We still have fifteen days. Until then, even if you're the owner, you have no right to encroach."

Wang Xiaohua reviewed the contract once more. Zhang Lieh was correct, but she remained unconvinced.

"What's the difference? Whether it's now or the end of the month, you'll be evicted all the same. It's merely a question of timing."

Zhang Lieh's eyes flashed coldly, "For now, it's still our home. This ground beneath our feet is ours. You're the intruder here. I could call the guards to remove you. So, will you wait for them, or will you leave on your own?"

Zhang Lieh, you've got nerve. I'll be back at the end of the month. We'll see then!"

Realizing he was no match for Zhang Lieh today, Wang Xiaohua huffed and stormed out with a slam of the door.

Having driven the detestable Xiaohua away, Zhang Lieh checked his sister's wheelchair. She clung to him tightly, seeking solace in his embrace.

"Brother, what are we going to do? What if mom and dad can't find us when they return? Without this house, where will they stay? And where will we go?"

The house was a treasure trove of family memories, a testament to their parents' existence.

Moved by his sister's glistening tears, Zhang Lieh reassured her, "Don't worry, as long as you have your big brother, everything will be fine. If Xiaohua refuses to rent to us, we'll buy the place outright with an offer Uncle Wang can't refuse."

"How much will that cost?"

Zhang Lieh was unfazed, "Money is no object. Whether it's one million or ten million, I'll earn it back!"

Zhang Hanshuang expressed her concern, "But do we have enough time?"

Zhang Lieh smiled confidently, "Don't worry, just trust in your brother."

Once his sister was soothed, Zhang Lieh caught a few hours of sleep. Five hours later, he was ready to re-enter the Void Realm. Before departing, he stashed most of their money beneath a floor tile under his sister's bed for emergencies.

Sensing his impending departure, Zhang Hanshuang woke up and asked, "Brother, are you setting out again?"

"I'm sorry for waking you," Zhang Lieh whispered. "I've left the money here in case you need it."

"Can't you rest a bit longer?"

"There's no time to spare."

"Please be careful and avoid danger. You're all I have left in this world. Don't leave me alone."

Zhang Hanshuang's eyes, brimming with tears, shone in the darkness as she clutched at Zhang Lieh's sleeve.

Zhang Lieh gently touched her forehead with a reassuring smile, "Don't worry, I promise you, nothing will happen to me."

Stepping through the Teleportation Device into the Void Realm once more, Zhang Lieh's arrival was met with jeers from many at the Black Iron Base.

Ignoring the mockery, he returned to the cave to continue his hunt for the White Liquid Jade Worms.

Time flew, and before they knew it, three days had passed.

Over the course of three days, Zhang Lieh managed to get only two to five hours of sleep each night, dedicating the remainder of his time to relentlessly hunting White Liquid Jade Worms. Despite his efforts, the fabled super creature remained elusive.

"How is it possible that it hasn't shown up? Could the rumors from my past life have been mistaken?"

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