Chapter 76: Fang Xiaocao : Jackpot! Jackpot!
It is often said that a dying person’s final words are kind—perhaps that sentiment perfectly encapsulates Scarface’s last moments.
Clearly, he had the opportunity to fight back, to continue his descent into madness, yet he chose to willingly step into the dream and seek liberation.
The line between a great demon and a great Buddha lies within a single thought.
A madman’s reasoning is beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.
Fang Xiaocao speculated that perhaps, at a certain moment, Scarface had experienced what Buddhist teachings describe as “sudden enlightenment.”
That was why he chose to free himself from his suffering.
She turned to Aquarius and asked in a serious tone, “Are you hurt?”
“Yeah, took a bullet to the shoulder,” Aquarius nodded.
Fang Xiaocao’s gaze shifted to Aquarius’ left shoulder. Sure enough, a bullet hole was there, still oozing fresh blood.
A slight probe with her mental senses revealed that the psychic link with Pisces had disappeared at some point.
Fang Xiaocao figured it must have happened when she was hypnotizing Scarface.
That was the only time she had been so mentally focused that she couldn’t perceive any other psychic disturbances.
Clearly, Pisces had already been killed by Aquarius.
“Bandage yourself up,” Fang Xiaocao instructed.
She didn’t express much concern for Aquarius’s wound. To her, Aquarius and Scarface were both ruthless criminals, soaked in the blood of countless victims. They were no different in essence. Neither deserved her sympathy or compassion.
She believed that what Aquarius was doing now was merely a result of her hypnosis, granting him a chance to redeem himself.
Fang Xiaocao didn’t even realize that her way of thinking had been quietly changing.
The once slightly soft-hearted Fang Xiaocao had unknowingly faded into the past.
“Understood, Princess,” Aquarius responded, tearing fabric from his clothes to bandage himself.
Meanwhile, Fang Xiaocao crouched beside Scarface’s corpse, scavenging for loot.
One makeshift pistol!
She pocketed the gun.
One dagger!
She pocketed that, too.
One notebook!
This must be what Scarface had mentioned before dying.
Opening the notebook, she saw the title page:
“Blacklist – Zodiac Leader – Gemini”
Beneath it were a website and two strings of numbers.
Seeing the familiar format, Fang Xiaocao’s pupils constricted.
She instantly knew what it was.
Flipping to the next page:
“I am a member of Blacklist, Zodiac leader Gemini, real name Jia Long…”
The first half of the notebook chronicled Scarface’s sorrowful life story.
It also explained the purpose of the website and the numbers on the first page.
As she suspected…
It was Bitcoin!
Scarface’s entire life savings were stored in Bitcoin.
A total value of eight million!
Bitcoin accounts are anonymous.
As long as one has the password, they can access the funds.
And now, those funds belonged to Fang Xiaocao!
The second half of the notebook was filled with Scarface’s hypnosis insights.
Every word was a gem of wisdom, and Fang Xiaocao absorbed them eagerly.
“He was the real master of hypnosis,” she thought, closing the notebook and tucking it away securely.
With a windfall of eight million and a hypnosis manual akin to a martial arts secret tome, Fang Xiaocao was in a fantastic mood.
Even Aquarius seemed more pleasing to the eye.
“Can you still move?” she asked her.
“Princess, I’m good to go!” Aquarius assured her.
“It’s a through-and-through wound?” she questioned.
“Yeah, bullet went clean through,” Aquarius nodded.
“Take off your mask. We’re going to rescue people.”
Fang Xiaocao ordered.
Without hesitation, Aquarius removed the human-skin mask, revealing an unremarkable face.
Fang Xiaocao studied her carefully.
Her facial features were incredibly ordinary—so much so that she could disappear into any crowd without attracting a second glance.
A born killer’s face.
“Let’s go,” she commanded, stepping into the camp.
Aquarius followed closely behind, her eyes scanning the surroundings vigilantly.
—
“Luoshu, wake up,” Fang Xiaocao whispered.
She chose to wake Yun Luoshu first.
The reason she didn’t wake up Wan Xiaozhou—who had combat skills—was simple: she didn’t trust her.
At Fang Xiaocao’s call, Yun Luoshu slowly regained consciousness, blinking in confusion.
“Xiaocao?” she murmured.
“It’s me,” Fang Xiaocao reassured her with a nod.
“Don’t worry, the bad guys are taken care of.”
Yun Luoshu froze.
Then, an expression of joy bloomed on her face.
“Really?”
“Xiaocao, how did you do it?” she asked excitedly.
“Aquarius had a change of heart and switched sides,” Fang Xiaocao said with a casual smile.
She didn’t want to dwell on this topic, so before Yun Luoshu could ask more, she diverted the conversation:
“Can you stand?”
“I think so.”
Yun Luoshu tried and nodded.
“Good. Get up. We’re heading back to camp,” Fang Xiaocao said, pulling her up.
“How did you two get captured?” she asked.
Yun Luoshu scratched her head, thought for a moment, and then recounted everything that had happened to her and Wan Xiaozhou after leaving camp.
After listening, Fang Xiaocao glanced at the still-unconscious Wan Xiaozhou.
“She’s not as kind as she seems,” Fang Xiaocao muttered.
“Huh? What did you say?” Yun Luoshu asked in confusion.
“Nothing,” Fang Xiaocao replied with a cheerful smile.
“Carry Wan Xiaozhou. We’re leaving.”
“Alright!” Yun Luoshu agreed, hoisting Wan Xiaozhou onto her back.
With Aquarius leading the way, they quickly returned to the camp.
By then, everyone had woken up and was gathered around the bonfire, engaged in deep discussion.
Fang Xiaocao smirked and called out playfully,
“Hey—did you miss me, my darlings?”
Everyone froze in shock.
They turned, eyes wide with astonishment as they took in the sight of Fang Xiaocao, Yun Luoshu, and Wan Xiaozhou.
Then their gazes locked onto Aquarius—a bloodied stranger with a bandaged shoulder.
The air instantly tensed with unease.
Wan Xiaozhou had woken up during the journey back.
Realizing that Fang Xiaocao had saved her, she wisely refrained from asking unnecessary questions.
However, her gaze toward Fang Xiaocao was filled with wariness.
“Xiaocao, who is she?” Zhi Qi asked cautiously, eyes fixed on Aquarius.
“Her name is Aquarius,” Fang Xiaocao explained with a smile.
“She was once our enemy, but now she’s been reformed by me.”
She then recounted the “sanitized” version of the events.
Of course, she omitted all details about the Blacklist.
Instead, she made it sound like they were dealing with an ordinary gang.
Hearing her story, Su Wanqing, Wen Shi, and even Yun Luoshu—who had personally been kidnapped—believed her completely.
Only Zhi Qi’s gaze held a trace of doubt.
(End of Chapter 76)
