Contrary to Li Yan's expectation that Chen Pingchuan would fly into a rage out of shame, his voice, though tinged with laughter, carried an inexplicable melancholy.

"You wouldn't understand."

He paused, his gaze seeming to pierce through the layers of darkness toward some infinite distance.

"The world we live in is far crueler than you can imagine. The truths hidden behind the power and wealth of the lavishly dressed elite are darker and more shameful than you can comprehend.

"Often, the line between good and evil is as thin as a cicada's wing—a barely perceptible membrane. A gentle poke is all it takes to shatter it, reversing good and evil in an instant."

After he finished speaking, Chen Pingchuan fell into a silence, as if lost in unbearable memories.

As for Li Yan, the nervous blush on her face gradually faded. The pure light in her eyes was now clouded with a trace of doubt and contemplation. Her soft lips quivered slightly as if she wanted to argue but didn't know where to begin. She just stood there quietly in the dim, perilous environment. Unprecedented waves of emotion welled up in her heart, giving her a completely new, and confusing, perspective of Chen Pingchuan, this handsome young man from the fortified bank.

After Li Yan's Spirit had mostly recovered, she conjured the light once more. The two of them were more silent than before. They had started as strangers exchanging pleasantries, but now they felt more like familiar friends, harmonious even in their wordlessness.

This time, Chen Pingchuan led Li Yan directly to a weapon display case he believed would be useful. His final choices were a sharp physical dagger and a pitch-black rod made of some unknown material.

"Here!"

Chen Pingchuan casually tossed the weapons he had taken from the protective casing to Porcupine. He then explained to the three of them how to use the principle of leverage to open the metal grille. He explained the concept that with the right fulcrum, one could move the Earth. Because the environment was completely dark, Chen Pingchuan failed to notice the increasingly strange look in Li Yan's eyes.

After explaining all the necessary details, Chen Pingchuan turned back to Li Yan and asked softly, "How are you feeling? Are you recovering?"

"I'm alright. I should be fine."

"Good. Don't push yourself."

Li Yan blushed and murmured, "Mmm."

"Go on!" Chen Pingchuan ordered his new subordinate.

"You got it, Boss!"

"We're on our way."

Noticing the movement, Ren Fei's group watched as Li Yan once again cast her faint light. Everyone used the dim illumination to clear a path for Porcupine's trio.

And just like that, the two groups began their first collaboration.

Porcupine ignored the stares from the surrounding bank staff. He squatted slightly, his muscles tensing like bowstrings, then exploded with force. His entire body shot through the air like a black bolt of lightning, tracing an arc before landing squarely on the Money Mountain. The massive pile of currency rustled loudly, seeming to deform under the immense pressure.

Next, he jammed the dagger into the vent's seam and used the rod made of unknown metal as a lever. He put his entire strength into it, his hands turning pale from the effort, though he paid it no mind. Down below, Wei Hao and Lilia began using their abilities to support Porcupine.

Thanks to the trio's tireless efforts, the metal grille of the ventilation duct finally began to deform slightly.

"Keep going!"

Seeing this, Chen Pingchuan felt quite gratified. Looks like all those middle school science classes weren't for nothing.

Porcupine gripped the metal rod tightly, his muscles bulging and his veins standing out like azure serpents. He let out a low growl as he continued to exert force. The once seemingly indestructible metal grille began to warp under his astonishing brute strength, letting out loud creaking noises.

BANG!

The sharp sound of metal striking metal shattered the silence.

"AHHH!"

The moment the grille sprang open, the dagger was sent flying, embedding itself in an unlucky man's lower leg and drawing a piercing scream.

But at that moment, no one paid him any mind. All eyes were fixed on the vent opening.

Porcupine leaped down excitedly and yelled to Chen Pingchuan, "Boss, the vent's open!"

Chen Pingchuan frowned and nodded at Porcupine, then turned his gaze to Li Yan.

"Do you trust me?"

"Huh?"

"No matter what happens next, stay by my side."

"Mmm..."

Li Yan nodded obediently. Her trust in Chen Pingchuan had grown.

With the metal grille now open, the atmosphere in the bank vault grew increasingly tense. Ren Fei and his group watched Chen Pingchuan's every move with caution, completely ignoring the injured man.

"I'm going to take my payment now," Chen Pingchuan announced.

"Fine, but she can't go with you!" Ren Fei stated flatly, pointing a finger at Li Yan.

Being singled out, Li Yan froze. She didn't understand what Ren Fei meant. The vent was open, so what more did they need from her?

"If she doesn't come with me, how am I supposed to get the rest of the serums?" Chen Pingchuan retorted, his expression turning grim.

"We'll get them for you."

Perhaps realizing that excuse wouldn't convince Chen Pingchuan, Ren Fei added, "Besides, we'll need her light to explore the ventilation duct."

"Hahaha..."

Ren Fei's words didn't intimidate Chen Pingchuan in the slightest; instead, he erupted in derisive laughter.

"Are you sure you just need light, and not a scout to test for traps?"

"Forget it. I don't want to waste my breath on you. Let the person in question decide. If she agrees to go with you, she can. If not, I will ensure her safety."

Ren Fei's expression changed. He looked cautiously at Li Yan and said softly, "I don't know what he told you or what he promised, but I can tell you this: he's lying to you. Come over here. Are you going to trust me, or are you going to trust a hardened criminal?"

Ren Fei's words were extremely aggressive.

Li Yan's expression faltered, and she immediately looked at Chen Pingchuan, expecting him to become angry. But he just gave an innocent shrug, as if to say the choice was entirely hers.

The difference in their caliber was plain to see.

"Thank you, but I don't want to go back on my word. We made a promise... to this gentleman. We said that as long as he helped us open the vent, we would give him the remaining gene serums." Li Yan said firmly. "We can't break our promise."

Her words stunned Ren Fei. She wants to talk about fairness and justice with a robber? He knew this was different from before. Back then, he had no other choice and had to gamble on Chen Pingchuan's character. But now...

Li Yan didn't give Ren Fei another chance. She took Chen Pingchuan's hand and started walking toward the location where the remaining gene serums were stored.

"Don't worry, little brother," Chen Pingchuan called back over his shoulder. "Once I have what I came for, Yan'Er and I will come help you out."

"...."

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