Chapter 96 – A New Home

The next day, Su Hao came to the city to look for a job.

However, to his dismay, no one would believe that a little boy around four years old could do anything. After understanding Su Hao’s intentions, they refused him without any room for negotiation.

This put Su Hao in a difficult position. It’s not easy to find a job these days, and it’s not easy to make a living.

But he couldn’t keep stealing and cheating. If you walk by the river often, you’re bound to get your shoes wet.

After wandering around for another circle, Su Hao clapped his hands and immediately made a decision, thinking to himself, “Since no one wants to hire me, but I still need to make a living, then don’t force me to do things I shouldn’t!”

It’s normal to lower your standards a bit for the sake of your pursuits, right?

After causing a huge ruckus in the previous world, Su Hao’s mind gradually settled down, and he gained new insights into his own thinking and the thinking of humans.

Everyone’s life goals are different, and their choices are not the same.

Ultimately, the path one takes is the result of the influence of their environment. In other words, thinking is limited not only by genetics but also by the environment.

From birth, everyone is destined to be trapped in a vast web of interpersonal relationships, making it difficult to break free. The difference is that everyone is at a different position on this web.

Like a moth stuck on a spider web, no matter how hard it tries, it cannot escape its final fate.

But Su Hao is not like this moth; he can break free from this web and pounce towards another.

This has also caused his thinking to undergo tremendous changes.

He has experienced multiple deaths and can reincarnate each time, beginning to become fearless and unrestrained.

He seems unable to truly die, unless one day he suddenly loses himself and forgets his name is Su Hao.

As Luo Zhaohui, he gained immense fame and had inexhaustible wealth, losing his genuine passion for money.

As Wu Xiangwu, he was full of passion to accomplish something earth-shattering and renowned for eternity. Then, after changing worlds, this passion was suddenly doused with a bucket of cold water. Perhaps, this passion to change the world can never be found again.

The only constant might be the heart that constantly explores the world and curiosity about the universe.

What makes him passionate is simply four words: “So that’s how it is.”

Su Hao looked at his sharp nails and asked himself, “Am I still the original human?”

One could say yes, but one could also say he is no longer the original human.

He has already perceived that he is gradually shedding his human shell, and in the future, at an unknown time, he will also shed his human cognition.

Then, through repeated transgressions, he will forge a new soul.

So what is a soul?

Su Hao doesn’t know. He believes a soul is self-awareness.

What is will?

Su Hao didn’t know either. He thought will was the logic of perceiving things.

When his perception transcends the scope of humanity, is he still human? If not human, what is he?

Su Hao slowly began to understand. In the future, he would gradually change his perceptions, slowly deviating from a normal person’s way of thinking. The only factor determining his actions would be what he desired.

As long as he achieved his goals, he might do many outrageous things!

The rules that governed humans would bind him less and less.

For example, in this life, he stole to survive and didn’t feel it was wrong at all.

Besides the pressure to survive, he found it difficult to feel a sense of racial identity with the Zhu Huo People. Although he didn’t dislike them, he didn’t feel close to them either.

One could imagine, in the next world, if he were lucky enough to become a Human again, would his sense of identification with Humans decrease accordingly? Perhaps not!

This was unknown, but the future would surely reveal it.

…

Once Su Hao had saved enough money, he decided to find a new place to live. Living in a house was better than staying in that cramped little place. Moreover, as his body grew stronger and taller, that small place could no longer meet his needs.

Su Hao, carrying his money pouch, found a real estate agency that specialized in property rentals and chose a small house with a courtyard in a remote location.

Led by the young real estate agent, Su Hao arrived at the Small Courtyard. The tall agent was an ordinary person. He didn’t look down on Su Hao just because he was young, and even if he did, he wouldn’t show it, as people like him only cared about money. As long as there was money, the customer was king.

His curly hair was braided into small plaits all over his head. When he spoke, he liked to pinch a plait with his fingers, and with a smile, he introduced to Su Hao, “The owner of this courtyard is also a young child. His father suddenly disappeared two moons ago, leaving behind some property. Later, due to financial hardship, he decided to sell this house. The price is not expensive now. If you buy it, you’ll definitely make a profit.”

Su Hao toured the Small Courtyard and was very satisfied. He said, “This courtyard is two thousand Zhu. I’ll take it. But how is it guaranteed?”

The agent looked at Su Hao in surprise and said, “All property transactions in Small City are guaranteed by the ‘Shang He’ Merchant Association. You can rest assured about that.”

Su Hao took the opportunity to ask, “Shang He’ Merchant Association? What is that?”

Money makes the world go round. The agent patiently explained, “The ‘Shang He’ Merchant Association is a large organization spontaneously formed by various businesses, big and small, within Silin City. They elect nine representatives with the highest prestige to arbitrate all commercial disputes, big and small, in Silin City. Of course, sometimes it’s more than that. In short, the ‘Shang He’ Merchant Association can handle anything in the city.”

Su Hao nodded in understanding.

The agent took out two contracts from his bag and asked, “Can you write?”

Su Hao looked at the paper full of words and simply shook his head, “No!”

The agent took out a box, handed it to Su Hao, and gestured, “You just need to put your fingerprint on this paper.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the agent quickly added, “Don’t worry, there’s absolutely no problem.”

Su Hao didn’t hesitate at all and placed a large fingerprint on it.

Then he cheerfully handed over the money.

He wasn’t afraid of trouble; if they dared to bluff him, he’d sneak up at night, beat them up, and then get his money back.

The young man took the money bag, handed one of the contracts to Su Hao, put away his share, and then glanced outside the courtyard, saying, “Kid, there are some bigger kids outside who seem to have their eyes on you! What are you going to do?”

Su Hao pulled out another handful of money and handed it over, saying, “Can you help me solve this?”

The young man happily took it and said, “Of course, just you wait and see!”

Saying that, he pulled out a baton from somewhere, rolled up his sleeves to his shoulders, revealing a scorpion-like creature tattooed on his arm, pushed the door open, and immediately rushed out to intimidate those Wandering children, shouting, “You brats, look carefully! This is the territory protected by the Sandworm Gang. If you dare to cause trouble within one Moon, I’ll break a leg for each of you, understand?!”

The children, around seven or eight years old, immediately scattered and fled.

Su Hao thought to himself, watching them go, “It seems that Silin City is indeed controlled by various gangs.”

Then he paused, what did he just hear? ‘Within one Moon’ – what did that mean?

The braided young man walked back in with a grin, saying, “Alright, I’ve handled it for you. If any trouble arises within one Moon, you can find me to sort it out.”

Su Hao’s mouth twitched, and he said expressionlessly, “What about after one Moon?”

The young man replied, “After one Moon, I wouldn’t know. After all, this money is only enough to cover protection for one Moon, and I even gave you a discount. If you want to continue receiving the Sandworm Gang’s protection after one Moon, you can come find me and pay the full management fee.”

Su Hao nodded and said nothing more.

The braided young man was happy about the successful transaction today and left humming an unknown tune.

After the braided young man was long gone, Su Hao couldn’t help but complain, “What kind of gangs are these? They’re so greedy!”

Su Hao quickly moved all his belongings into the small house. There wasn’t much, mainly warm clothes and blankets. After a little tidying up, it was ready to be lived in.

Although it was simple, it was still a normal haven, after all.

He sat on the eaves, staring blankly at the empty Small Courtyard. He was suddenly reminded of the Small Courtyard at Teamount Outpost in his previous life, where his father Wu Cloud Sky often sat at the stone table drinking tea. He then thought of the small villa where his parents and younger brother stayed during Luo Zhaohui’s time.

Su Hao murmured, “The more people I meet, the emptier I feel inside…”

(End of Chapter)