That night, Stirling sat indoors and drank a potion with an enhanced hematopoietic pill. Then, he forged bones using King Kong Boxing.

  Inside, Stirling moved like the wind under the lamplight, his shadow cast on the window.

  Outdoors, Master Kim stood in the corridor. He watched powerful punches reflected in the window glass, hope rising in his eyes.

  "How hard work! No wonder he made rapid progress in breaking through the skin barrier."

  "Sigh, it's difficult to find such a promising talent; better to let him stay out of it. Oh well, let's decide later!"

  Thinking of the bleak reality, the hope in Master Kim's eyes slowly dimmed.

  In the days that followed, the outer city felt peaceful. It was as if all the external malice case had disappeared.

  Stirling took enhanced blood-nourishing soup daily, strengthening himself. He also refined Yearning malice to forge his bones. In just half a month, he completed over eighty bones.

  Inner City Patrol Shaman's Mansion.

  Khan sat in the mansion's main hall, fiddling with the agate signet ring on his hand. He spoke to the person next to him without looking up:

  "Junior Sister, I've had people searching for the monks and nuns you mentioned for days. All the

  Alena sat in a chair beside him, eyes closed and silent. After a long while, she finally spoke:

  "Senior Brother, you should know more about what is happening in Farfield City than I do. Playing both ends against the middle seems wise, but it often ends up losing everything."

  Khan gave a sneer.

  "Junior sister, just mind your own business. I heard your attendant cracked the Gray Spector's outer malice case a few days ago. Impressive!"

  Khan said gloomily.

  "She's more valuable than the useless guys around you."

  Alena remained calm, took a sip of tea, and stood up.

  "Senior brother, my message is delivered. See you later."

  With that, Alena left the living room with poise.

  After Alena left, Khan put down the ring in his hand and turned to look to the side.

  A shadow approached and said to Khan:

  "Hoffmann seems to be quiet. Looks like he has stopped."

  "That bitch! She ruined my plans!"

  Khan's face twisted in horror upon hearing this. "Have everyone over there keep a close eye on things! Tell me if Hoffmann makes a move!"

  Khan waved his hand, and the shadow bit by bit receded, leaving him alone in the hall.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  "The hunter becomes the hunted. I'll see how you vermin play with me!"

  Khan's voice was low and menacing. He then clenched his fist, twisting the agate ring on his finger into a clump of powder.

  On August 3rd, the weather was getting cooler.

  Stirling sat outside the tavern, watching people walk by. He felt a bit dazed.

  Before he knew it, he had been in this strange world for over two months. His journey went from almost being drained mummies to becoming a Night Watchman. It was incredibly tough.

  Right now, he has finished tempering all 173 bones in his body. It took just half a month to perfect the bone forging.

  It was hard to believe that Stirling would finish bone forging in the next two months. On average, this takes three to five years for most people. To outsiders, this was beyond mere genius.

  Just then, a thin man with a mustache entered the tavern and sat down, beginning to tap the table with his fingers, seeming careless.

  "Tap tap tap."

  Two long taps followed by one brief tap, repeated three times.

  This peculiar signal immediately caught Stirling's attention. He looked at the newcomer and also tapped the table feather-light with his fingers.

  "Tap tap tap."

  One long tap followed by two quick taps, repeated twice. This action naturally drew the man's attention to Stirling.

  Once the beer arrived, the man carried it to Stirling and sat down opposite him.

  He looked Stirling up and down, raised an eyebrow, and said in a low voice:

  "Where's Charlie?"

  "Leave Charlie's affairs to me from now on. But I do not work for the Gray Specter."

  Stirling, wearing a human skin mask, spoke in a flat tone.

  "Heh, looks like Charlie trusts you very much. Alright, in my line of work, it's all about money rather than people. What do you want?"

  Derek smiled and asked Stirling.

  "Eighth" was Derek's code name. He called himself that because he was the eighth child in his family.

  "Same as Charlie, I want that thing."

  Stirling said.

  "Heh, fair and square, three hundred silver coins apiece."

  Old Eight said with a slight laugh.

  "Are you kidding? You didn't deal with Charlie at that price."

  Stirling narrowed his eyes.

  "Man, I don't do business with anyone. This is the price. If it works out, we deal; if not, we're done."

  Derek stared at Stirling, rubbing his teacup.

  "How many do you have?"

  Stirling was silent for a moment, then asked.

  "What?"

  To Derek's surprise, he was just testing Stirling with words. But Stirling was so boastful, he even suggested buying out all the pieces!

  "Four pieces. This stuff is scarce; I only get this much a month."

  Derek held up four fingers.

  "Malice-Breaking orb, do you want to trade?"

  Stirling was silent for a moment before asking.

  "Do you have Malice-Breaking orbs? From where?"

  Derek's eyebrows shot up. In this time of post-calamity, the Malice-Breaking orb was in great demand.

  Having traveled far and wide, he knew the value of the Malice-Breaking orb. For him, it was not only for self-defense but could also fetch a good price elsewhere. Trading this rarely demanded fragment for the Malice-Breaking orb would be a good deal.

  "From Yearning Palace, one hundred silver coins each."

  Stirling said.

  "Bullshit!"

  Derek hissed.

  "The market price is only fifty silver coins each. Even if they come from Yearning Palace, they're only worth five silver coins more at most!"

  "Charlie told me you are a credible businessman, but I don't think so now."

  "You're going to charge me the market price, but sell me at an exorbitant price?"

  Stirling sneered, completely unmoved.

  Derek was a little speechless and awkwardly touched his nose.

  "How about this: four Malice-Breaking orbs for one fragment?"

  Derek said after a moment's calculation.

  "My Malice-Breaking orb I traded my lifespan for: three for one fragment."

  Stirling shook his head.

  "Brother, in this world, who doesn't trade their lifespan for money? What, you think my stuff just falls from the sky?"

  Derek scoffed.

  Stirling looked reluctant, then seemed ready to make a tough sacrifice.

  "When can we trade?"

  Derek was secretly pleased.

  "As usual. I'll be in Farfield City for three days every month. If you want something, find me at this place."

  "By the way, do you have a complete statue?"

  Stirling asked.

  "Are you kidding me? How could I get one anyhow?"

  Derek dropped his jaw.

  "I'm saying, in case you get one, I can give you a good price."

  Stirling said.

  "I've been a merchant for so many years, and I've never got one of these. Even if I could, it would be over-the-top expensive."

  Derek shook his head, then stood up. " No waiting for latecomers." Derek left with those words, ending the negotiations. Both sides were content with the outcome.