Three months later, in Huaxia.

A gray minibus sped swiftly along the winding mountainous road, heading away from Huahai City. The bus was loaded with goods piled high on its roof, swaying as it traveled, causing people to worry that it might topple over on a flat road.

The bus was overcrowded; with only 30 seats available, it now carried almost 80 people. Those standing in the aisle were packed so tightly together that they couldn't move. If someone fell asleep while standing, they wouldn't need to worry about accidentally falling over while the bus was moving.

This was a common occurrence in this area. Although the bus station had strict regulations against overloading, the driver, seeking extra income, would frantically pick up passengers along the way. Consequently, the bus was often packed with people squeezed together, shoulder to shoulder. Until an accident occurred, safety concerns were generally ignored.

The driver didn't care because as long as there was money to be made, taking some risks seemed justified.

Passengers didn't mind either because that was just how things were done. Even if some passengers cared, they were too powerless to make a difference, and they needed the ride, otherwise, they'd have to walk.

In the most cornered spot by the window, a slightly thin figure, with flowing black long hair swaying in the wind, covered most of his face. He wore large, dark sunglasses. From the exposed angles, one could glimpse the face of a handsome young man.

At that moment, his sunglasses-covered eyes were gazing out the window, watching the scenery quickly retreating behind him.

This person was Luo Chao. He had heard from others about a river near Ruili, Yingjiang, close to the Myanmar border, called the Gold River, where one could pan gold.

It's said that the lucky people could pan dozens of taels of gold every day, and it wouldn't be long before they became rich. Moreover, in this generation, the place was in utter chaos, with gangs rampant everywhere. Luo Chao had vowed to become a nemesis of crime, so he felt that this place would be his best destination.

He also believed that here, he would unravel all the questions about himself.

Withdrawing his gaze from the window, Luo Chao glanced at the overcrowded bus, feeling a mix of sadness and bitterness.

Luo Chao had once seen people back home using tractors to transport pigs, pushing each pig onto the vehicle one by one, making them stand side by side in the compartment without being able to turn, move, or lie down.

At this moment, that was exactly how Luo Chao felt. The driver was like the person herding pigs, hustling everyone onto the bus, driving them away, leaving them to sway and drift in the compartment while he only cared about collecting fares.

Is this what life is?

As long as you have capital, you can arbitrarily manipulate others, treating them like pigs and dogs, and others still find it amusing.

Why can't this world have a little more harmony, a little more equality?

"Luo Chao, remember, wherever there are people, there will be strife. Where there is strife, there will be inequality. This is an unchanging law of survival in this world. When one day there is no oppression and everyone is equal, then the world will lose its meaning. Remember, if you don't want to be the oppressed, you must strive to become stronger, so when the time comes, the world will be yours to control." The voice of his Master echoed in Luo Chao's ears.

"Hiss!" The bus came to a sudden stop, followed by the slightly anxious voice of the driver, "Those standing, get off quickly. There are traffic police ahead. We'll drive past this section first, then get back on the bus."

As everyone got off, the driver drove forward barely a hundred meters, turned at a bend, and saw traffic police stopping traffic. Since he wasn't overloaded, the driver went through smoothly without any trouble from the police.

These traffic police were also resourceful, intercepting just after the bend. However, the driver was even more skilled, having known in advance that the police were waiting, proving once again that where there's a road, there's a way.

The driver drove ahead a hundred meters, waited at a bend out of the police's view, and after ten minutes, he had picked everyone up again and resumed the journey.

"Please pull over for inspection!" The bus drove barely a hundred meters before a megaphone voice and an authoritative shout came from the police behind.

"Damn it!" The driver cursed and not only ignored them but drove even faster.

"Woo… woo…" Sirens blared as the police car immediately caught up and intercepted the bus from the front. Helplessly, the driver had no choice but to pull over.

"Hello, we're conducting a routine check! Please open the door and cooperate with the inspection!" A traffic officer in uniform walked over to the driver's window, saluted, without showing any negative emotions due to the driver's failure to stop.

"Officer, can't we just look the other way?" The driver forced a smile, pulled out a wad of hundred-yuan bills from his pocket, and offered it.

"Friend, please respect the rules and cooperate!" The officer glanced at the money in his hand and then casually looked over the packed bus, with a hint of an unexplainable look in his eyes, and saluted the driver again.

"Please, Officer, help me out here!" The driver pulled out a few more bills from his pocket, smiling apologetically.

"Open the door! Xia, why waste words with him!" came a loud shout from the other side of the bus near the door.

Ultimately, having no choice, the driver reluctantly opened the door. The inspection revealed a 56-person overload.

"Hello, please show your driver's license!" The officer who had been addressed as Xia saluted the driver.

The driver, exasperated, unwillingly handed his license to the officer.

"In this journey, you overloaded by 56 people, seriously violating traffic regulations. Therefore, your driver's license is revoked, and the vehicle is impounded. Additionally, each of the overloaded passengers will be fined 200 yuan. This is the ticket. Please pay the fines at the sixth traffic police brigade by the specified date to retrieve your vehicle, thank you!"

The officer spoke calmly and amicably, but his words nearly made the driver faint in anger. Driving licenses revoked, vehicle impounded, and with 56 people, each fined 200 yuan, totaling 12,000 yuan. The maximum he could earn from this trip was 4,000 yuan, but now this mess meant he didn't gain and indeed lost much more — as the saying goes: trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to lure it.

"Passengers, please get off. We will arrange other vehicles to take you to your destination!" Officer Xia said to those on the bus.

Half an hour later, three more minibuses arrived to pick everyone up. After getting on the new bus, the corners of Luo Chao's lips curled slightly in a faint smile. Could this be karma?

The smile dissipated in the wind—

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