Zhou Qi peered through the gate, idly scanning the courtyard.
"Woof, woof." A large black dog peered through the gate, growling incessantly and barking at Zhou Qi with its front legs lowered.
The sudden movement startled Zhou Qi.
His backpack, slung behind his back, rustled, and a Centipede head emerged from within, its crimson compound eyes fixed on the black dog.
"Woof woof woof" As if sensing some danger, the black dog tucked its tail between its legs and fled.
Zhou Qi smiled wryly.
Soon after, a beautiful woman with a short-sleeved vest and tight jeans appeared, her tall figure outlining graceful curves.
She looked at Zhou Qi, smiling slightly, her smile extremely infectious.
"I apologize, I was busy just now."
Zhou Qi repeatedly said it was nothing; people always spend some time waiting for beautiful things or people, provided they are truly beautiful.
With that, she opened the gate and invited Zhou Qi in.
The two chatted as they walked, and it turned out her surname was Liang, and her given name was Xiao Xi.
They slowly entered a place resembling a farmhouse, which had excellent insulation.
Inside the farmhouse, Zhou Qi was dazzled by all sorts of small insects.
Glowworms emitting faint light, ladybugs with seven spots on their backs, rhinoceros beetles with a single horn on their heads, strong longhorn beetles…
"The group chat is indeed full of insect enthusiasts," Zhou Qi thought.
"Here, these are the glowworms. See if they are what you want," Liang Xiaoxi said to Zhou Qi.
"Yes, they are what I need. How much do you charge per one? I'll take 100 for now," Zhou Qi said, his eyes gleaming.
Liang Xiaoxi looked at Zhou Qi, her beautiful face breaking into a slight smile, and said magnanimously,
"Most people in the group chat are from all over the world. You're the first from Yingtian I've met. Consider these my gift to you."
Zhou Qi was stunned and didn't utter any polite formalities.
"Alright, then thank you."
After speaking, Liang Xiaoxi found a glass bottle and, using a small sieve, began catching and putting the glowworms inside.
Just as she finished putting the glowworms away,
A knock suddenly came from outside, but Zhou Qi heard it more like a banging sound, with the iron gate rattling loudly.
The dog barking and banging on the gate echoed incessantly in the courtyard.
Liang Xiaoxi's expression changed. She grabbed a wooden stick from beside the house and hurried out.
Zhou Qi saw that the situation was not right and followed her. Neither of them spoke.
In the courtyard, separated by the hollow iron gate, 5 or 6 burly men who looked like bad news were arrogantly banging on the gate.
The black dog looked fierce, growling lowly, wanting to rush over.
"Beautiful woman, when are you going to pay back the money your family owes?" The leader of the burly men said with a lecherous look, his eyes darting to Zhou Qi beside them. "Oh, you even found a helper."
"The money I owed you was paid back long ago, and besides, it wasn't even me who owed it. If you want to find someone, go find Liang Yongquan," Liang Xiaoxi said indignantly.
"Heh, who said it's paid back? I lent 500,000 three years ago, and the interest has already risen to 1,000,000. You think it's over after only paying back 700,000?"
"Besides, who told Liang Yongquan to be your dad? I can't find him now, so I can only come to you. If you don't pay today, we're not leaving," the leader threatened.
"Beautiful woman, if you really don't have money, why don't you come with us brothers for a bit?" Another man behind him said with ill intentions.
The others all joined in the jeering.
Liang Xiaoxi gritted her silver teeth, her beautiful face turning a bit pale, clearly angered by their words.
Zhou Qi looked at the scene and felt he had to say something.
Indeed, sometimes free things have already been priced elsewhere.
"Why are you big men bullying a woman? What kind of decent person's interest can double in three years!" Zhou Qi shook off Liang Xiaoxi's hand, which was trying to pull him back, and stood in front of her.
"Oh ho, a hero saving the beauty, huh? Then you'll pay for him?" The leader curled his lip, and with a nasal vibration, instantly spat a mouthful of phlegm at Zhou Qi's feet.
Oh my, if Zhou Qi were to be digitized at this moment, the words "Rage Value +1, Rage Value +1" would constantly flash above his head.
Zhou Qi glanced around, not finding any cameras.
Immediately, he also spat a mouthful of phlegm directly at the leader.
"Damn, you dare, if you don't dare, then you're not Wang Er!" The leader turned his head to dodge the "fatal phlegm" and yelled furiously.
The younger brothers behind him all rushed forward.
Seeing this, Liang Xiaoxi picked up the wooden stick and was about to charge, truly a heroine.
Zhou Qi protected Liang Xiaoxi behind him. Constantly facing all sorts of strange things during this period, Zhou Qi felt very suppressed.
The Five-Tier Annam Centipede was about to strike, but Zhou Qi's thought stopped it from coming out.
Instantly, a tattooed man, the first to swing his fist, charged over.
Zhou Qi's figure flashed, easily dodging, and then he delivered a side kick. Relying on the enhancement brought by his Cockroach Body, he directly kicked the burly man flying, sending him crashing into a trash can beside the gate.
The others, seeing this, swarmed him.
Zhou Qi took a deep breath. Relying on his Physique, which far surpassed ordinary people's, he threw left hooks and right straight punches, each punch landing solidly.
Everyone felt that hitting Zhou Qi was like hitting solid rubber, only making their hands and feet ache.
And every time Zhou Qi hit them, their whole bodies trembled with pain.
Zhou Qi's movements were fluid and precise with every strike. In just a few moments, several people were sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain.
Wang Er, seeing this, instantly turned vicious and pulled out a dazzling dagger from his waist.
He thrust it directly at Zhou Qi's vital spot. "Clang," Liang Xiaoxi blocked it with her wooden stick, preventing him from succeeding.
Zhou Qi looked behind him, his eyes narrowing, emitting a chilling gaze.
He had truly underestimated these people's bottom line; they were using a knife in broad daylight!
Thinking this, Zhou Qi spun around and delivered a powerful side kick.
Before Wang Er could react, he was already kicked several meters away and immediately fell unconscious.
The other younger brothers, seeing this, quickly scrambled up, carried Wang Er to the car, and sped off.
From Zhou Qi's backpack on the ground, a black shadow instantly flashed out, speeding towards Wang Er and their vehicle.
This group of people was originally a vicious gang specializing in collecting high-interest debts.
Zhou Qi felt no guilt in dealing with them, as countless people had been ruined by them.
"Thank you. If it weren't for you, I really wouldn't know what to do," Liang Xiaoxi said, her beautiful face now slightly teary-eyed.
"It's nothing. Rather, I was impulsive today. I don't know if offending them this time will make things even worse for you," Zhou Qi said with a touch of apology.
He also felt a sense of warning in his heart; after the Fusion with the Cockroach Body, he felt that he had indeed become more irritable than before.
According to the old Zhou Qi, if he were to face several tattooed strong men, let alone directly fight them, he would even soften just talking to them.
"How about you come to my place to hide for a while?" Zhou Qi then tentatively suggested.