Chapter Forty: Online Buzz

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If it were just a single death notice, it might be tolerable. But arriving simultaneously were no less than ten such death notices. The scale and number were truly shocking.

Naturally, some opportunists uploaded all ten death notices online.

"Qin Zhengtian, Chairman of Wande Group, has killed a man, repeatedly used cruel methods to ruin his business rivals, and has even abused multiple girls under sixteen. Such crimes deserve death."

"At midnight three days from now, when the moon is high, the 'Chopstick Hero' will come to claim your head, Qin Zhengtian. May you be graceful enough not to make me return in vain."

Signed: Chopstick Hero.

Of course, Qin Zhengtian was not the only target; there were death notices for nine others as well.

"This death notice is half in classical style, quite amusing."

"Plus, it's imitating the opening of Chu Liuxiang."

"Our Chopstick Hero’s writing style isn't that great," commented a user named 'Laughing Out Loud.'

"Indeed, not great, and the handwriting is truly ugly."

"Calling the handwriting ugly? Come on, whose handwriting is good these days? Clearly, it's deliberately distorted to avoid police handwriting recognition. You try writing legibly with your left hand. Besides, who cares about eloquence in a death notice? As long as the meaning is clear, that's enough. Maybe Chopstick Hero just wanted to imitate Master Xiang a bit. After all, Xiang’s opening line is incredibly stylish."

"In the novels, Xiang is a moonlight thief."

"Now Chopstick Hero is a moonlight thief who takes heads."

"The charm may not match Xiang’s,"

"But the boldness even surpasses him," said user 'Hate Heaven Without Eyes, Hate Earth Without Rings,' a staunch fan defending his idol’s reputation.

"Indeed."

"I agree."

"Chopstick Hero is truly amazing."

"Qin Zhengtian, Chairman of Wande Group, usually appears on TV looking upright, but who’d have thought he was so sinister behind the scenes? Abusing multiple girls under sixteen, plus murder. Such a person deserves death."

"That Lang Feilang isn’t a good guy either."

"Damn, I bought Wang Defu’s so-called Bingquan mineral water, and it turns out there’s something wrong with it. Damn it, paid a high price for problematic water. Where’s the health bureau, the food safety bureau? Problems everywhere with no one caring," raged a user named 'Waiting on the Wall for a Red Apricot,' who even posted an expletive emoji.

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"Damn, I drank Bingquan mineral water too. Wang Defu’s son’s so-called high-end water is treated as premium here in Yangcheng. Many forum members have tried it. Now that’s been exposed, a lot of people are joining the complaints."

"Damn, Zhang Jie’s scholarship website has major issues too. I thought it was legitimate, but haha..."

"Yeah, the scholarship site sounds so grand, but it’s filthy inside—unbelievable."

"Zhang Jie deserves to die."

"There are too many bad people nowadays. If there were more like Chopstick Hero, the world would be peaceful."

"Chopstick Hero boldly threatening to kill people like this is a first; quite eye-opening. But won’t this attract a ton of police? Is Chopstick Hero planning to take on the authorities?"

"Think about it. Chopstick Hero knows the authorities will protect these criminals. So he issued ten death notices. But in three days, he’ll only kill one. This way, the authorities have to spread their forces thin, with fewer officers at each location. Chopstick Hero faces fewer police this way, minimizing direct confrontation."

"Actually, that’s better. Both the authorities and Chopstick Hero uphold justice; no need for direct clashes."

"By the way, who do you think Chopstick Hero will target among these ten on that night?"

"I think Qin Zhengtian is the most likely. After all, Chopstick Hero killed Qin Zhengtian’s son, Qin Yan."

"I think Zhang Jie is more likely. His scholarship site is filthy beyond belief. Not killing him wouldn’t satisfy public outrage," said Xiao Wei, who was rescued from an internet addiction rehab center by Shen Ye. Xiao Wei isn’t good at studying and is now apprenticing as a mechanic. He still spends some free time online gaming.

He recalled his days in the rehab center as if they were a dream.

"I think Wang Defu is the most likely. Damn that bastard, selling substandard high-end mineral water and poisoning me," raged 'Waiting on the Wall for a Red Apricot' again.

"I think the chance is higher for Hun Jiang Long. That idiot, I’ve seen him once at a club. I just stared at him and his thugs beat me up."

"Lang Feilang is also very likely. He’s no good."

A group of netizens speculated wildly. Without the police’s inside information, it was hard to guess who Chopstick Hero truly targeted.

"The time and place are set; it’s definitely these ten people. Why don’t we go watch?" suggested a woman named Yu Xuanji.

"Where would we watch from?"

"People like Hun Jiang Long don’t have fixed residences and are major underworld figures; of course, we wouldn’t dare watch them. But Qin Zhengtian, Lang Feilang, Wang Defu, Wang Zhengfu—they’re businessmen with fixed territories. We can go to their office buildings or homes. Maybe we’ll catch a glimpse of the real-life Chopstick Hero. I’ve never seen him in person; I really want to," said a user named Little Matchstick.

"Good idea. But which one to bet on for seeing the real Chopstick Hero? That’s unknown."

"Just luck."

"True."

"This will be our first offline event as Chopstick Hero fans."

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The official Chopstick Hero website had been established for some time, and fans had long congregated on forums. This being their first offline event, with the chance to see Chopstick Hero in person, everyone eagerly signed up and formed groups to go to places where Chopstick Hero might appear.

...

Wande Group headquarters.

Qin Zhengtian stood with his hands behind his back before the bulletproof glass, gazing out the window.

The vast and beautiful land lay beneath his feet.

His secretary approached and said, "Chairman Qin, the people you asked to act for thirty million are all in place."

"But there is one individual who demands one hundred million and refuses to agree."

"One hundred million? And he still refuses? How much does he want?" Qin furrowed his brow.

"Two hundred million," the secretary said in a low voice.

"Two hundred million? That’s ruthless. Usually, eighty million suffices for someone with his skills. I already raised it to one hundred million, and now he wants two hundred? This is taking advantage of the fire," Qin frowned. "Tell him one hundred thirty million is my highest offer. If he won’t accept, I’ll find someone else."

The secretary nodded, "Understood."

Qin’s eyes narrowed.

Outside, night still enveloped the city.

"Chopstick Hero, Chopstick Hero, let’s see who will triumph."

"A mere warrior dares to challenge me."

"Wande Group will be your tomb."

(About today: I slept in late, participated in the shopping festival in the afternoon. At six in the evening, just as I was about to start writing, the internet went down. I thought it was the router, so I bought a new one outside. Later I found out the entire Jiangxi province’s network was down.

An entire province’s network down!

Finally, around eight p.m., the network came back.

So today’s planned three chapters became two. Now one more will be posted after midnight.

Sorry, sorry.)