《Deities Are All Just My Food》 Chapter 1 - 1 1 Dragon Cicada Gods Ruins_1 ?1: Chapter 1 Dragon Cicada God¡¯s Ruins_1 1: Chapter 1 Dragon Cicada God¡¯s Ruins_1 In July, Guangqing was as hot as Flame Mountain. Spend half a day outdoors, and you could peel off a layer of skin. The Buddhas at Dragon Temple were known to be very effective, and the temple was quite famous in our city. Every year, before the high school exams, parents would bring their children to make a wish, efficacious or not, at least it brought peace of mind! This year, Lin Baici did surprisingly well on his exams. Whether or not it had anything to do with the Buddha at Dragon Temple, a vow made before the exams meant a vow to be repaid! Three sticks of incense and an offering of fruits and pastries were definitely required. Of course, the funds were provided by Mother Lin. Actually, Lin Baici had planned to secretly pocket one hundred yuan, but Mother Lin had strictly warned him. You can¡¯t be greedy with offering money. Ah! So poor! With no money, you can¡¯t afford anything you want. Lin Baici walked along the cobblestone path and glanced back at the distant Daxiong Treasure Hall. What if, I make another wish to get rich? Would the Buddha think I¡¯m too greedy? Right now, Lin Baici¡¯s biggest dream was to become an UP host, make videos, and earn money. However, he had only uploaded five outdoor videos to Bilibili, and the total number of views didn¡¯t even reach a thousand. His goal to become an UP host with millions of fans and tens of thousands yuan in monthly earnings was still far away. ¡°If you want to do a good job, you need the right tools. Maybe it¡¯ll get better once I upgrade my equipment!¡± Lin Baici encouraged himself. Since he had performed well on his exams, Mother Lin had promised to reward him with a new phone. Lin Baici planned to buy a GoPro sports camera with the money. As for the phone, he would make do for now and go straight for the latest Apple model once he made big money from his videos. Gurgle! A slight pain in his abdomen, and a sudden rush of hunger interrupted Lin Baici¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Hm?¡± Lin Baici¡¯s slender eyebrows rose, like a Lion King spotting succulent prey, his head immediately scanning the surroundings. Who dropped something? From a young age, Lin Baici would occasionally be hit by these sudden hunger pangs several times a year, sometimes even if he had just eaten half an hour ago, he would still feel starving. Lin Baici thought there was something wrong with his stomach, but when Mother Lin took him to the hospital, the doctors found he was outrageously healthy ¨C he could donate 300cc of blood and still play a basketball game right after. In the summer of his first year of junior high, Lin Baici took a walk on campus after lunch and suddenly felt hungry. A few minutes later, he found a wallet on the sports field. Inside the wallet was more than three hundred yuan, a beautiful upperclassman¡¯s student ID, and a love letter. Strangely, as soon as Lin Baici confirmed the contents of the wallet, the bizarre hunger vanished. Lin Baici then conducted three experiments, and numerous similar experiences led him to a conclusion. Whenever he was suddenly struck by hunger, there was definitely something valuable nearby. Without exception. So far, he had found several sets of car keys, five mobile phones, and one junior¡¯s tuition fees. The most expensive item he had found was a gold ring in the green belt. The summer heat was sweltering, and the cicadas¡¯ cries were weak, as if half-dead. Lin Baici was very hungry. He was currently at the small square in front of the Arhat Hall. The stone slabs were cleaned spotless, except for a few cigarette butts, there was nothing to be seen. ¡°It¡¯s likely to be a mobile phone or a wallet!¡± Lin Baici looked up. About a hundred steps to the north and then a left turn led to the Guanyin Pavilion. Turning right, passing through a long corridor, would bring you to the Life Release Pool. The Life Release Pool was one of Dragon Temple¡¯s attractions. In the summer, it was filled with blooming lotuses, a verdant expanse of green, and lotus leaves spreading far and wide. Many tourists came here to take photos and post them to their Moments. With more people, the chances of losing something naturally increased. Lin Baici quickened his pace toward the Life Release Pool. The hunger was intensifying. Based on past experiences, this meant he was getting closer to the ¡®lost item¡¯. To the east was a large lake covered with lotus leaves, where you could hear the sounds of frogs and see koi swimming. To the north was an octagonal pavilion. The pond was too big, so Lin Baici decided to first check the octagonal pavilion. By the time he climbed the steps and entered the pavilion built upon an artificial hill, the hunger was overwhelming. Lin Baici leaned on the railing, looking out of the pavilion. It didn¡¯t take long for him to spot a palm-sized pink cartoon wallet tucked into a crevice between the stones. ¡°Found it!¡± Lin Baici vaulted over the railing and picked up the wallet. He casually opened it. Wow! A thick stack of cash. In addition to red 100 yuan notes, there was yellow paper currency with a denomination of 50,000. Lin Baici knew this was South Korean won, having seen it in some Korean comics. Besides the cash, there were three bank cards, a passport, a card that seemed to be an identity card with Korean writing on it, as well as a photo of a girl. The photo was quite pretty. After checking everything, Lin Baici stuffed the items back into the wallet. He returned to the pavilion, took out his phone, and started playing games, waiting for the owner to show up. About twenty minutes later, a voluptuous Goryeo girl with an anxious expression burst into the octagonal pavilion. She kept looking around, obviously searching for something. But found nothing. ¡°Xiba!¡± The girl with light golden long hair cursed under her breath, lifted her foot to kick the railing, but noticing someone else present, she put her foot down again. ¡°Did you lose something?¡± Lin Baici asked. The girl, around eighteen or nineteen, had an oval face and a great figure, particularly her skin which was extremely fair. Her long legs, accentuated by denim shorts, were strikingly eye-catching, even more attractive than those Goryeo girl groups. Kim Myungjin, who understood Chinese, immediately turned toward Lin Baici. ¡°Oppa, have you seen a pink wallet?¡± Her voice was soft and magnetic, as if she was cooing. ¡°Is this it?¡± Lin Baici took out the wallet and handed it over to Kim Myungjin. Her face matched the photo on the identity card in the wallet, firmly confirming that she was the owner. ¡°Yes!¡± Kim Myungjin grabbed the wallet, checked her passport and identity card, and after confirming they were there, she patted her chest, breathing a great sigh of relief. Losing money was a minor issue, but losing a passport and identification card would have been a serious problem. Having done a good deed, Lin Baici was ready to leave. He didn¡¯t hand over the wallet to the management staff of the scenic area because he was worried that if the money inside was short, it would be hard to explain later. After all, it¡¯s tough to be a good person these days. ¡°Oppa!¡± Seeing the handsome young man who could stand in the center of a top boy band walk away, Kim Myungjin immediately chased after him, stood in front of him, and kept bowing. ¡°Kamsahamnida! Thank you!¡± Kim Myungjin not only expressed her gratitude, but also opened her wallet, didn¡¯t even count, and pulled out a handful of banknotes, pinching them between two hands and extending them to Lin Baici. ¡°It was nothing, no need for money!¡± Lin Baici refused. He hadn¡¯t realized she was also the kind of rich young lady who could spend money without batting an eyelid. ¡°Oppa, please accept it!¡± Kim Myungjin insisted, planning to forcefully stuff the money into the young man¡¯s hands and also to ask if he was interested in going to Goryeo to become a trainee and debut as a K-pop idol, when she saw that he suddenly looked up, his face one of shock as he stared at the sky. Kim Myungjin also looked up, and the color drained from her face in an instant. ¡°God... God¡¯s ruins?¡± A meteor, dragging a long orange-red tail flame, crashed into Dragon Temple at high speed. Boom! Instead of a violent impact, there was a massive surge of black fog, rolling in like a tsunami, submerging the entire Dragon Temple. ... Thirty years ago, a meteor fell, and God¡¯s ruins appeared. Gods emerged from it, preying on humans. Since then, Blue Star faced a new kind of natural disaster. Countries had tried various methods to intercept these meteors, but all failed. Luckily, in a year, the meteors that brought God¡¯s ruins were few, sometimes several, sometimes dozens, not enough to destroy the world. So far, the largest God¡¯s ruins had swallowed up a third of the territory of the Kangaroo Country, with eighteen million citizens, none surviving! ... Lin Baici woke up from hunger! He opened his eyes to see everything enveloped in black fog with visibility less than ten meters. The Korean girl lay beside him, unconscious. ¡°Hey, wake up!¡± Lin Baici grabbed Jin Ying¡¯s shoulders and shook her vigorously. Right! Dial 110! Lin Baici hurriedly took out his phone, but found that it was off and couldn¡¯t be turned on for some reason. Just as he was about to yell for help, he suddenly closed his mouth. By doing this, might he attract monsters? The officials prohibited ordinary people from discussing anything related to God¡¯s ruins, so Lin Baici¡¯s knowledge was limited to some street rumors. Some said that besides gods, there were monsters in God¡¯s ruins. Those trapped inside had become their prey. ¡°We must escape as quickly as possible!¡± Lin Baici shook Kim Myungjin forcefully. Just as he was about to slap the Korean girl to wake her up, Kim Myungjin regained consciousness. ¡°Ah!¡± Kim Myungjin screamed in agony, feeling as if her brain had been stirred by a propeller, causing excruciating pain. [A fresh ingredient, juicy and rich in protein due to regular exercise, recommended to be grilled with lots of cumin!] What on earth? Lin Baici was startled by the voice that suddenly echoed in his mind; he was sure it wasn¡¯t the girl in front of him speaking. ¡°Are... are we trapped in God¡¯s ruins?¡± Kim Myungjin trembled all over and instinctively clung to Lin Baici. [The prey is in fear, secreting a lot of hormones, which will decrease the quality of the meat. Suggest immediate slaughter to preserve the best flavor of the ingredients!] ¡°What are you?¡± Lin Baici asked in his mind, but no one answered. ¡°Oppa, we must destroy the God¡¯s bones quickly, or we¡¯ll die!¡± Kim Myungjin stood up and looked around. ¡°God¡¯s bones?¡± Lin Baici frowned; this girl seemed to know something about God¡¯s ruins. ¡°When a meteor falls to the ground, it produces fog; the area enveloped by the fog is called God¡¯s ruins.¡± Kim Myungjin explained, ¡°In the ruins, there are God¡¯s bones, which are the remains of gods. These bones radiate a kind of mysterious energy that causes contamination to everything around them!¡± ¡°Keep going!¡± Lin Baici listened intently. ¡°You know nuclear radiation, right? Radiation from God¡¯s bones is even more terrifying! Are you feeling dizzy, nauseous, and wanting to vomit now? That¡¯s the symptom of contamination!¡± Kim Myungjin knew that as time passed, the symptoms of contamination would become increasingly horrifying, first driving people mad, then gradually deforming them until they lost their human shape, turning into a pile of senseless mush. ¡°...¡± Lin Baici wanted to say he hadn¡¯t felt anything abnormal. Apart from the unbearable hunger, he didn¡¯t feel anything unusual! ¡°Anyway, if we don¡¯t destroy the God¡¯s bones quickly, we will be contaminated!¡± Kim Myungjin felt like dying of frustration, cursing. Wasn¡¯t it just a trip out? Why face such a huge crisis? ¡°Isn¡¯t it possible to just escape from God¡¯s ruins?¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t understand. ¡°See this fog? It¡¯s like a maze. Without removing the God¡¯s bones, the fog won¡¯t dissipate!¡± Kim Myungjin gave a bitter smile. Her brother was a God Hunter, so she knew a lot of secret information. Lin Baici wanted to ask for more inside stories, but then a crisp sound of a wooden fish came from the fog. Dang! Dang! Dang! ¡°Run!¡± Kim Myungjin¡¯s face changed drastically, and she got up to run, but a three-meter-tall dark Buddha figure had silently appeared behind the two, without any prior indication. ¡°I, Buddha, ask you, is your heart sincere?¡± The great Buddha looked down with wrathful eyes; the chant was not loud, yet it could shatter one¡¯s heart. Chapter 2 - 2 2 Buddha asks you are you sincere_1 ?2: Chapter 2: Buddha asks you, are you sincere?_1 2: Chapter 2: Buddha asks you, are you sincere?_1 Under the shroud of dark fog, the entire Dragon Temple seemed ghostly. Dang! Dang! Dang! The sound of the wooden fish became more urgent. Each beat seemed to strike right on Lin Baici and Kim Myungjin¡¯s chests, making their heartbeat frantic, almost causing cardiac arrest. ¡°Does your heart truly believe?¡± This sudden, mysterious Buddha statue lowered its head, expressionlessly overlooking the two with eyes flickering with crimson light, reminiscent of hellfire. Taboo things are here! Kim Myungjin instinctively tried to flee, but a large hand suddenly grasped her right wrist forcefully. She turned her head and saw the Buddha statue raising the wooden fish toward her. If she ran, her head would surely be smashed by the wooden fish. Cold sweat soaked her back, making her underwear damp. Gulp! Kim Myungjin trembled violently, swallowing hard. Her eyes fell on the face of the boy who could become a top idol with his good looks alone. She knew that if it wasn¡¯t for his intervention, she would already be dead. Lin Baici looked at the Goryeo girl and shook his head slightly. You can¡¯t run, running means death! That¡¯s what the mysterious voice said. [You cannot run. Show your devotion to the Great Buddha, or your head will become a bloody firework smashed by the wooden fish!] Kim Myungjin did not dare to speak and instead used her eyes to question Lin Baici, What should we do? Lin Baici lifted his head to look at the Buddha statue. It was entirely dark reddish-brown, like the color of coagulated plasma, approximately three meters tall, carved out of a single huge stone. Every detail was vivid to life; even the most esteemed masters couldn¡¯t create such a perfect masterpiece. There was also the Buddha statue¡¯s expression, aura, and texture, which seemed almost like that of a living person. It held a wooden fish in its left hand, placed in front of its chest, while its right hand held a large stone mallet, striking steadily, emitting a crisp sound. The Buddha statue noticed Lin Baici¡¯s gaze and immediately stared back at him. ¡°Does your heart truly believe?¡± This was the third time it had asked, and the Buddha statue¡¯s patience seemed to be wearing thin. As it asked, it raised its wooden fish high. It appeared that if Lin Baici didn¡¯t answer or answered incorrectly, his head would be crushed. ¡°Asiba, I¡¯m definitely dead!¡± Kim Myungjin wanted to live, but her mind was a mess without any solutions. [The delivery is here; thanks for the gift from the gods. Let the feast begin!] ¡®Delivery? This Buddha statue?¡¯ Lin Baici wanted to curse; in this situation, it was clear he was at the bottom of the food chain. [Why don¡¯t you eat? Is it not to your taste?] ¡°Even if I had iron teeth and copper jaws, I couldn¡¯t bite through it, could I?¡± Lin Baici roared internally. What exactly was this Buddha statue? And what did that sentence mean? Will I be able to survive if I prove my sincere heart? Lin Baici looked toward Kim Myungjin, wondering if she had any ideas? The Goryeo girl blinked her eyes, looking at Lin Baici with hope, as if he were the sturdiest straw to grasp for in her life. Lin Baici took a deep breath. This is it, This woman is hopeless! I¡¯ll have to rely on myself. As Lin Baici prepared to pray to the Buddha as a last resort, that mysterious voice once again echoed in his mind. [Bow to the Buddha, offer incense money, and don¡¯t be stingy, or it will get very angry.] ¡°You, whose heart is not sincere, deserve death!¡± After the Buddha statue spoke, the stone mallet in its hand fell, aiming for Lin Baici¡¯s head. ¡°Buddha bless me, my heart is as clear as a mirror, visible to heaven and earth!¡± In desperation, Lin Baici shouted, pulling out his wallet and offering everything inside¡ªa hundred and fifty yuan, a meal card, an identity card: ¡°Take it all!¡± Whoosh! The stone mallet halted in front of Lin Baici¡¯s forehead, its wind dispersing his bangs. Kim Myungjin covered her mouth with both hands, eyes filled with panic, almost screaming out loud. ¡°Is that still not enough?¡± Lin Baici felt his heart about to jump out of his throat, with his heart rate surely exceeding 200, he didn¡¯t dare delay and took out his phone. ¡°This too, take it!¡± After Lin Baici spoke, he quickly started to remove his T-shirt and jeans. The Buddha statue inspected Lin Baici¡¯s ¡®incense money¡¯ and its originally ferocious face displayed a satisfied smile. ¡°My Buddha knows, your heart is sincere!¡± ¡°You may live!¡± The Buddha statue opened its mouth wide, drawing in a sharp breath. Lin Baici¡¯s wallet, phone, and clothes were directly sucked into its mouth, chewed a few times, and then swallowed. Whew! Lin Baici let out a sigh of relief. Are we in the clear now? The Buddha statue did not leave but turned its head, looking at Kim Myungjin, its smiling face turning menacing. ¡°Does your heart truly believe?¡± Kim Myungjin was clever; following Lin Baici¡¯s example, she took out her wallet, phone, removed her watch, hesitated for a moment, and then stripped off her denim hot pants and tight top, offering them to the Buddha statue. Lin Baici couldn¡¯t help but glance over. What a body! This must be what they call a ¡®bombshell¡¯, right? The Buddha statue opened its mouth and sucked away the incense money offered by Kim Myungjin, then, playing the wooden fish, vanished into the dark fog. We¡¯re safe! A relieved Kim Myungjin, who had narrowly escaped death, hugged Lin Baici tightly. ¡°We made it! We¡¯ve passed the trial! Oppa, you¡¯re amazing!¡± Mua! Unable to contain herself, Kim Myungjin kissed Lin Baici on the cheek. ¡°Do you know what that was?¡± Lin Baici referred to the bizarre-acting Buddha statue. ¡°Taboo things!¡± Kim Myungjin explained, ¡°These are things that appear in the Divine Ruins, and can¡¯t be explained by current scientific theories. The officials have labeled them ¡®taboo things,¡¯ meaning even the gods fear these forbidden objects!¡± ¡°These Taboo things all possess supernatural rule Strength, which can result in rule pollution. Take the Buddha statue just now, for example, I think if we hadn¡¯t been able to prove our sincerity, we would have been beaten to death!¡± Kim Myungjin, still frightened by the thought, shivered with fear. She had been panicking to death just before, already incapable of thinking. All thanks to this boy! Cool-headed enough to come up with the idea of offering ¡®Incense money¡¯ just in time to prove our sincerity. Otherwise, we would have been dead without a doubt. ¡°Oppa, you are my Superman!¡± Kim Myungjin¡¯s eyes were worshipful as she gazed at Lin Baici. Although she was only left in her underwear now, Kim Myungjin did not complain, and she had even thought about stripping off even that to offer it up. After all, no one knew how much the Buddha statue would consider as the minimum for Incense money! If it wasn¡¯t enough, We would have been killed. ¡°How many Taboo things are there in a Divine Ruins?¡± Lin Baici felt a headache coming on, feeling like he was going to lose it. ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Kim Myungjin suddenly realized that Lin Baici, besides his good looks, also had an incredibly fit body, with muscles well-defined, very tempting to touch: ¡°Do you often work out?¡± This was clearly a man of extreme self-discipline! Kim Myungjin had discovered yet another good quality about this Oppa. ¡°I don¡¯t like exercising!¡± Lin Baici shook his head, looking around. ¡°Ah?¡± Kim Myungjin¡¯s gaze had landed on the eight-pack abs of Lin Baici¡¯s belly, feeling surprised, surely those abs didn¡¯t just grow on their own? Lin Baici knew what Kim Myungjin was wondering about, because he was also perplexed. From childhood to adulthood, his body had always been healthy, especially after entering high school, his body began to look like it had gone through extensive training. ¡°Looking at the situation, are we going to run into other Taboo things?¡± Lin Baici changed the subject. ¡°Definitely!¡± Kim Myungjin looked pitifully at Lin Baici: ¡°So Oppa, it¡¯s all on you!¡± Honestly, the girl was very pretty, and her figure was incredibly striking, even better looking than the top Goryeo girl group members that his childhood friend, Li Wei, liked, but Lin Baici felt no ripples in his heart. Because he was hungry. [Take her with you, she can be used as emergency food. For cooking method, grilling is recommended!] The fog had cleared a bit, the visibility now was around twenty meters. ¡°Oppa, shall we quickly go look for God¡¯s bones?¡± Kim Myungjin felt dizzy and nauseous, as if she had been on a roller coaster for half an hour: ¡°With the way things are, we won¡¯t last long, even if we don¡¯t lose our sanity and go crazy, our bodies will break down!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t want to wait any longer either. Otherwise, he felt he would starve to death before the contamination by God¡¯s bones turned him into a senseless heap of dead flesh. ¡°Is that the Daxiong Treasure Hall over there?¡± This was the largest building in Dragon Temple, and Lin Baici decided to try his luck there. ¡°Not necessarily, a Divine Ruins born after the fall of a meteor can cause changes in the original landscape and environment, creating incredible places!¡± Kim Myungjin answered without any reservations, answering all questions. ¡°Hmm!¡± Lin Baici had barely taken three steps when that voice in his head suddenly reminded him. [Over there is a feast, but judging by your appetite, you won¡¯t be able to eat it, it¡¯s best to avoid it.] ¡°What exactly are you?¡± Lin Baici stopped in his tracks, the voice although inexplicably mostly talking about eating, did indeed help him out just now. No reply, the voice fell silent. ¡°Can you tell me how to get out of these Divine Ruins?¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t give up. [Turn right, this is your jungle area, your appetite has long been desperate to start feeding.] ¡°Right, huh?¡± Lin Baici turned around, deciding to give it a try. Kim Myungjin followed. The two of them cautiously moved forward through the mist. Lin Baici¡¯s calmness gradually affected Kim Myungjin, steadying this blonde girl considerably. ¡°Be careful!¡± Lin Baici suddenly crouched down. Kim Myungjin didn¡¯t stupidly ask why but immediately crouched down, following Lin Baici¡¯s line of sight. About a dozen bodies, lay there dispersed in different directions, not far away. ¡°Run!¡± Kim Myungjin quickly grabbed Lin Baici. [Look, a bunch of unlucky ones who died at the hands of the Merit Buddha, were they all unwilling to donate Incense money to the death?] It seems that it was that Buddha statue that killed these people. Is that monster called the Merit Buddha? Lin Baici figured it wasn¡¯t that these people were stingy with their money, but they simply didn¡¯t know how to prove their sincerity. [Lucky for you, first door and you¡¯re in luck, you can start looting!] ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± With the voice saying that, it should be safe. Lin Baici boldly walked over. Nine men and seven women, all had their heads smashed. ¡°Search around, look for anything we can use!¡± Lin Baici went to a young man¡¯s body, about his own height, and stripped off his Manchester United jersey. The jersey was stained with blood, which made Lin Baici uncomfortable, but wandering around in just a pair of underwear was even more unpleasant. After all, Lin Baici wasn¡¯t a pervert. The personal belongings of these bodies had not been touched by the Merit Buddha, it seems that it didn¡¯t accept Incense money unless it was offered willingly by the visitors. Lin Baici found a Rolex watch. He wasn¡¯t after the small advantage, but rather to check the time and make sure how long he had stayed in these Divine Ruins. In addition, he picked up a backpack, with two lighters, over six hundred yuan, and three cell phones in it. If they encountered that Merit Buddha again, they could offer these to it. ¡°Oppa, there¡¯s no weapon!¡± Kim Myungjin had put on a pure cotton skirt and a white sun protection shirt. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± The two continued to move forward, after about ten minutes they saw a moon gate that, like a beast¡¯s eye socket after the eyeball had been gouged out, stood not far away. Chapter 3 - 3 3 The Game of Divine Taboo_1 ?3: Chapter 3 The Game of Divine Taboo_1 3: Chapter 3 The Game of Divine Taboo_1 On the Moon Gate, there are the words ¡®Bodhi Peach Garden¡¯, and a strange fruit scent wafts from inside. [Eighteen-year-old peaches, plump and juicy, at the peak of ripeness!] ¡°Shall we go in?¡± Kim Myungjin tiptoed, peering into the peach garden. The fog cleared a bit more, revealing low peach trees about forty meters away, their branches laden with fruits. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Baici crossed the Moon Gate, stepping on the gravel path and moving forward. Not having weapons for protection made everyone feel uneasy. Lin Baici planned to break off a tree branch to use as a weapon but hesitated and then gave up on the idea. What if it provoked a terrible Buddhist statue monster? ¡°These peaches are so big!¡± Kim Myungjin¡¯s mouth watered, clearly wanting to pick one to eat. The peaches were not only big, their pink color flawless, resembling the smooth skin of a young maiden, tempting to one¡¯s cravings. ¡°Don¡¯t you think these peach trees are strange?¡± Lin Baici furrowed his brows. The peach trees were stunted, their branches twisted and gnarled, looking, at first glance, as if they were performing some wild dance. ¡°Isn¡¯t it odd for things not to be strange in God¡¯s Ruins?¡± Kim Myungjin¡¯s ears perked up: ¡°I think I heard someone talking?¡± ¡°I heard it too!¡± Lin Baici quickened his pace. At the end of the gravel path, he saw a thatched cottage, in front of which there was a small courtyard with a well and a dead dog. To the east, there was a vegetable plot with crops and birds hopping about. About ten people were staying here. The arrival of Lin Baici and Kim Myungjin immediately made them stare tensely, but upon realizing they weren¡¯t monsters, they relaxed a bit. The men¡¯s gaze fell directly upon Kim Myungjin. This girl was truly beautiful. Lin Baici scanned the area and approached six aunties resting by a stone table in the small courtyard to inquire more. ¡°Aunties, hello, have you found anything?¡± The six aunties, all around fifty years old, dressed fashionably, were obviously the kind that had retired early and often danced in public squares. One, even donning a light blue qipao embroidered with peony flowers, was currently sitting on a stone bench, massaging her sore feet, constantly complaining. The qipao-wearing auntie glanced at Lin Baici but ignored him. However, another auntie wearing a sun hat liked the look of Lin Baici and responded. ¡°There¡¯s no danger here; you can take shelter for a while!¡± They were six friends who played mahjong together, having made plans to go out and offer incense to relax, but they hadn¡¯t expected to encounter such an event, which was infuriating. ¡°Thank you!¡± Lin Baici thanked them politely. [This auntie owns a food factory, has a net worth in the millions, her husband died five years ago, and she¡¯s a little bit interested in you.] Lin Baici was speechless; what was the meaning of this? Do I look like the kind of man who lives off women? He walked towards the thatched cottage, intending to see if there was anything useful inside. ¡°There¡¯s no need to look, we¡¯ve already checked!¡± A round-faced uncle approached: ¡°Got a cigarette?¡± ¡°No!¡± Lin Baici shook his head. This uncle was in his forties, slightly overweight, with his left hand in a bandage suspended in front of his chest, and in his right hand, he held a kitchen knife, but he had no fierce aura, appearing more like a family cook. ¡°My last name is Sima, as in Sima Yi from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and my first name is Mu. What are your names?¡± Sima Mu was very chatty. ¡°Lin Baici!¡± Lin Baici noticed a young couple arguing by the vegetable plot. [That woman has a severe gynecological disease and has had an abortion, but the child didn¡¯t belong to the young man beside her.] ¡°...¡± Lin Baici was shocked; what on earth was this voice? It even knew people¡¯s secrets? ¡°Oppa, let¡¯s go find weapons!¡± Kim Myungjin¡¯s attitude was cold; she didn¡¯t want to talk to Sima Mu, who had improper glances. ¡°Sima, she¡¯s looking down on you!¡± Behind the thatched cottage, a young man came out after relieving himself and seeing Kim Myungjin¡¯s aloofness, deliberately stirred trouble: ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to teach her a lesson?¡± Kim Myungjin moved closer to Lin Baici¡¯s side. When Choi Feng came out, the arguing couple stopped, and the six aunties all stood up. ¡°Big Brother Choi, what do we do next?¡± The qipao-wearing auntie¡¯s face, which usually cost thousands of yuan a month to maintain, showed a fawning smile. ¡°Brother my ass, am I that old?¡± Choi Feng spat out a thick glob of phlegm. The qipao-wearing auntie was embarrassed by the retort but didn¡¯t dare talk back since they needed this young man¡¯s help to survive. ¡°I¡¯m already this old, why would I bother arguing with a girl?¡± Sima Mu acted very magnanimous. ¡°You¡¯re not afraid of this kid, right? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got your back!¡± Choi Feng¡¯s shifty eyes turned towards Lin Baici. Damn it! This height, these muscles, he looked like he could fight! If it were the old days, Choi Feng definitely wouldn¡¯t dare provoke him, but now... Sorry, I can take on ten like him! Choi Feng had a machete on his waist and a torch that was three feet two inches long and as thick as an adult¡¯s wrist in his right hand¡ªthat was his confidence. ¡°Oppa, let¡¯s go!¡± Kim Myungjin tugged at Lin Baici¡¯s clothes. [That¡¯s a piece of garbage food, not worth your stomach, recommending to steam it first, then feed it to the dogs!] The voice was obviously talking about this Brother Cui. ¡°Heh, leaving? Did you ask me first?¡± Cui Feng looked at Kim Myungjin with ill intent. Dragon Temple had become a terrifying God¡¯s ruins, where everyone would die today, so why should he hold back any longer? Just enjoy the pleasure first! A gust of wind blew, the mist started to dissipate, and the peaches on the trees suddenly began to tremble. Rustle! Rustle! On those ripened peaches, a slit cracked open, resembling a mouth. ¡°Eat me!¡± ¡°Eat me!¡± ¡°Eat me!¡± The peaches screamed as they fell from the branches, sprouting four long, scorpion-like legs, and scurried towards Lin Baici and the others. ¡°The monsters are coming!¡± The qipao-wearing lady¡¯s face was stricken with horror; she turned to run, tripped over her own feet, and faceplanted horribly. ¡°Damn, what the hell are these things?¡± Cui Feng¡¯s scalp tingled. Although Sima Mu was bandaged on his left hand, he was the quickest to charge, but had to stop after just running a dozen meters. The peach monsters with scorpion legs were too numerous, at least a thousand swarmed towards them, blocking the exit from the peach garden. ¡°Don¡¯t run, it will enrage them!¡± Kim Myungjin hastened to warn them. It seemed that these peach trees were taboo things, and if everyone wanted to survive, they had to follow their rules. No one ran, because everyone was afraid of dying. ¡°What do we do now?¡± The sun hat-wearing lady looked at Kim Myungjin and whispered her question. From what the Korean girl had said, she seemed to know some inside information that others didn¡¯t. When no one moved, the peach monsters didn¡¯t pursue their attack either. About a dozen of them quickly crawled to a curly-haired lady and started shouting at her. ¡°Eat me!¡± ¡°Eat me!¡± The voices were sharp and miserable, much like a starving baby¡¯s cry. Curly-haired lady trembled, looking at Cui Feng, ¡°Save... save me!¡± Cui Feng remained unmoved, he intended to observe these monsters first before making a decision. [Would you rather eat one fresh peach than a basket of rotten apricots? These just-ripe peaches are delicious and juicy, start tasting them now!] Taste my ass! Lin Baici just felt disgusted. Looking at those peaches with four scorpion legs, if he ate one, it would haunt him for life. ¡°Why don¡¯t you try eating one?¡± Sima Mu suggested. ¡°Who could possibly stomach this?¡± Curly-haired lady shook her head vehemently. ¡°Eat me!¡± ¡°Eat me!¡± Dozens of fist-sized peach monsters surrounded the curly-haired lady, urging her nonstop. Seeing her indifference, they grew frantic, ¡°If you won¡¯t eat me, then I¡¯ll eat you!¡± After the peach monsters spoke, their big mouths suddenly split open, revealing jagged teeth with either peach juice or saliva dripping from them. They pounced on the curly-haired lady. They could easily bite off a chunk of flesh the size of a palm. ¡°Ah!¡± The curly-haired lady screamed in agony, waving her hands frantically to fend off the peach monsters. However, the dozens of them, like piranhas, ferociously tore at the curly-haired lady, leaving her drenched in blood without a piece of flesh unscathed within moments. In less than a minute, the curly-haired lady stopped moving, having been bitten to death alive. The peach monsters did not leave but continued to gnaw on her corpse. The crowd was terrified by the sight, their hairs standing on end. Dozens of peaches crawled up to a double-eyelid lady. ¡°Eat me!¡± ¡°Eat me!¡± The double-eyelid lady trembled, ¡°Brother Cui, help me!¡± ¡°If you eat them, you should be able to survive!¡± Cui Feng wanted to see the consequences of a human eating these peaches. The double-eyelid lady turned her head, looked at the long-legged peaches, retched, and vomited. She couldn¡¯t stomach it! Suddenly, the double-eyelid lady frantically sprinted, attempting to escape. This act was like poking a hornet¡¯s nest, as the peach monsters swiftly charged after her, quickly overtaking her and completely enveloping her. Seconds later, the peach monsters left, and only a white skeletal frame remained on the ground. The other ladies were so frightened they didn¡¯t even dare to breathe heavily. Lin Baici turned his head and asked Kim Myungjin in a low voice, ¡°Does everyone have to go through this?¡± ¡°In the God Hunter Circle, we call this kind of rule contamination ¡®God¡¯s taboo game.¡¯ Usually, each person has to go through this,¡± Kim Myungjin explained, ¡°When facing taboo things, if humans don¡¯t follow their supernatural rules, there¡¯s only one outcome, death!¡± More peach monsters with scorpion legs emerged. ¡°Don¡¯t pick me! Don¡¯t pick me!¡± Not just the qipao-wearing lady was praying ¨C everyone was muttering under their breath. Lin Baici was startled to see the peach monsters crawling in his direction. What to do? Did he really have to eat these damned things? But the question remained, who could guarantee that they¡¯d live after eating them? The peach monsters had crawled up to Lin Baici. Chapter 4 - 4 4 The Dragon Amazes the Garden_1 ?4: Chapter 4 The Dragon Amazes the Garden_1 4: Chapter 4 The Dragon Amazes the Garden_1 These peaches had scorpion legs and a large mouth split with fangs. They were terrifying, but the drool dribbling from the corner of their mouths was sweet-smelling and enticing, almost making one want to give it a lick. [Ugly they may be, but edible!] Was ugliness really the issue here? Lin Baici hadn¡¯t yet figured out what to do when the Peach Monsters paused briefly before scuttling away toward Cui Feng. ¡°What the hell does this mean?¡± Cui Feng wailed. He felt he was supremely unlucky. Phew! Lin Baici exhaled a sigh of relief, only then did he notice that Kim Myungjin was grabbing onto his jersey. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you running?¡± With them being so close, the Peach Monsters might decide to nibble on Kim Myungjin as well. ¡°If we run, we run together!¡± Kim Myungjin had planned to call Lin Baici to escape together. After all, they couldn¡¯t just sit around and wait for death. But to his surprise, the Peach Monsters stopped in front of him and then crawled away. ¡°Oppa, you¡¯re so lucky!¡± Kim Myungjin became even more determined to stick with Lin Baici. This Oppa was handsome, cool, and a bit lucky. Following him, they might actually make it out of God¡¯s ruins alive. ¡°If we can¡¯t think of something, we¡¯ll all die here!¡± Lin Baici worried. They couldn¡¯t run away¡ªthe speed at which those Peach Monsters had chased and bit the double-eyelid auntie was unbelievably fast, almost like rabid dogs. ¡°Eat me!¡± ¡°Eat me!¡± The Peach Monsters surrounded Cui Feng, baring their teeth and screeching. ¡°Fuck!¡± Cui Feng pulled out the firewood knife attached to his waist with his left hand, and with a torch in his right, he struck the ground forcefully, igniting it with a sssk sound, just like striking a match. The torch actually lit up. In the dim peach orchard, the light of the torch illuminated Cui Feng¡¯s face, which was etched with panic. Squeak! Squeak! Squeak! The Peach Monsters seemed to fear the torch, screaming as they hurriedly backed away. ¡°It works!¡± Cui Feng exclaimed in joy. The others were instantly buoyed by this. They could survive! ¡°That torch is a Taboo thing!¡± Kim Myungjin was envious. A normal torch couldn¡¯t be lit just by drawing it across the ground. ¡°Aren¡¯t these kinds of things really dangerous?¡± Lin Baici was puzzled. ¡°Generally, Taboo things are sealed in a black coffin before they can be used. Although their power is weakened, they are safe!¡± Kim Myungjin explained quietly, ¡°Of course, some Taboo things are inherently less dangerous and can be used directly.¡± Lin Baici suddenly understood why these people were following Cui Feng¡ªhe had the torch. ¡°Asiba, can his luck get any better?¡± Kim Myungjin glared at Cui Feng, biting her lip in vexation. So annoying. After wavering for about ten seconds, the Peach Monsters decisively abandoned Cui Feng and crawled toward the cheongsam-clad auntie. ¡°Brother Cui! Brother Cui! Save me!¡± The cheongsam auntie hastily ran toward Cui Feng. ¡°Fuck, don¡¯t come here!¡± Cui Feng, afraid of an accident, quickly tried to stop her, but the cheongsam auntie didn¡¯t listen. Fortunately, the Peach Monsters chased after her for a bit and then stopped again, clearly wary of the torch. This finally put Cui Feng¡¯s mind at ease. Everyone saw the situation and quickly ran to Cui Feng¡¯s side, seeking protection. Kim Myungjin originally wanted to join them, but seeing that Lin Baici hadn¡¯t moved, she retracted the step she had taken. ¡°Brother Cui!¡± The cheongsam-clad lady looked at Cui Feng ingratiatingly, ¡°I¡¯ll give you money, 100,000.¡± Cui Feng¡¯s eyes lit up and he demanded a big amount, ¡°One million!¡± ¡°This...¡± The lady in the cheongsam hesitated. ¡°What? Your life is not worth a million?¡± Cui Feng raised his foot and kicked hard at the cheongsam-clad lady¡¯s thigh, ¡°Then get lost!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pay! I¡¯ll pay!¡± The cheongsam-clad lady forced a smile. ¡°Haha!¡± Cui Feng was pleased. He looked at the lady in the cheongsam, noticing that aside from a small belly, the rest of her body hadn¡¯t gained much weight, and the cheongsam paired with black stockings was quite attractive. ¡°Here, hold the firewood knife for me!¡± Cui Feng thought the torch would suffice, so he handed the firewood knife to the lady in the cheongsam, and after she caught it, he casually pinched her butt. The cheongsam-clad lady was angry but dared not speak up. ¡°Little Cui, since the torch can keep these monsters at bay, let¡¯s hurry and get out of here!¡± Sima Mu urged. ¡°No rush!¡± Cui Feng glanced around and looked at the people around him, ¡°One million per person, and I¡¯ll get you out of here!¡± No one expected Cui Feng to demand money at such a time, and the atmosphere instantly became awkward. ¡°I... I don¡¯t have that much money!¡± Ma Xiao looked at Cui Feng, pitiful, ¡°Can I give it to you after I graduate and start making money?¡± This young girl had an above-average appearance, wearing a light blue dress and looking like a pure girl-next-door, but her voice told of having had an abortion and a severe gynecological disease. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid!¡± Wang Kun saw his girlfriend begging others in a low voice, his heart twisting in pain, and quickly promised, ¡°I will definitely protect you!¡± ¡°Shut up, did I let you speak?¡± Cui Feng kicked Wang Kun in the abdomen, making him stagger backwards. Wang Kun was very angry and wanted to fight back, but Sima Mu stopped him. Cui Feng had intended to say, if you don¡¯t have money, you could be my girlfriend, but his gaze shifted to Kim Myungjin not far away, and suddenly, that college student in the dress lost all appeal to him. She was even prettier. Damn, I never even dared to dream of such a woman before. ¡°Hey, do you want to come with us?¡± Cui Feng made a pass. Kim Myungjin could feel Cui Feng¡¯s malice towards her, and with the high EQ she had developed growing up under her mother¡¯s tutelage, she could toy with this young man as if he were a dog, but... I refuse! Kim Myungjin hugged Lin Baici¡¯s arm, not even deigning to give Cui Feng a glance. ¡°Fuck! This is your choice! Don¡¯t regret it!¡± Cui Feng was infuriated, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Yes! Yes! Let¡¯s hurry!¡± The cheongsam-clad lady was terrified, clinging tightly to Cui Feng. ¡°You don¡¯t regret it?¡± Lin Baici was surprised, not expecting Kim Myungjin to choose him. ¡°I can¡¯t help it, I¡¯m a sucker for good looks, so I chose you, and for the record, I¡¯ve never had plastic surgery!¡± This was Kim Myungjin¡¯s most proud fact. Ever since elementary school, when she went shopping, she was often stopped by talent scouts, and if it weren¡¯t for her mother¡¯s disapproval, she would have entered the entertainment industry a long time ago. The Peach Monsters saw Cui Feng and the others about to leave and immediately became restless, but because they were afraid of the torch, they did not dare to get close. ¡°Haha, we¡¯re safe!¡± Choi Seong was very smug, he looked back at Lin Baici and Kim Myungjin, ¡°You two just stay here and wait to die!¡± ¡°Brother Choi, stop talking nonsense with them, let¡¯s hurry up and escape?¡± The qipao-wearing lady followed beside Choi Seong, pleading incessantly. ¡°Are you teaching me what to do?¡± Choi Seong glared at the qipao lady, then suddenly, his mind twitched, as if he had gone mad. Holding the torch, he forcefully stabbed it into the chest of the qipao lady. Boom! The qipao lady, like a straw man soaked in gasoline, instantly ignited and turned into a human-shaped torch. Everyone was stunned by this unexpected turn of events. ¡°Ah!¡± The qipao lady screamed in agony as her body visibly charred black, and after barely ten seconds, she toppled over, breaking into a pile of ashes, completely dead. ¡°Choi Seong, what... what are you doing?¡± The sunhat-wearing elderly lady asked in shock and anger. ¡°I... I don¡¯t know!¡± Choi Seong was sweating profusely, his expression dazed. Why did I light the qipao lady on fire? But burning things feels so good! Choi Seong thought to himself, extending the torch toward the right to the old lady wearing a gold bracelet. The old lady dodged, but the flame still touched her, and like the flame from a lighter, she caught fire. Whoooosh! A group of people were scared to pee, hastily backing away. ¡°Have you gone mad?¡± The sunhat lady questioned. ¡°He¡¯s not mad, it¡¯s the rule contamination effect from that torch starting to take hold!¡± Sima Mu spat out blood in frustration. Couldn¡¯t we have held out a little longer, wait until everyone escaped the peach grove before getting contaminated? Now it¡¯s all over! ¡°I...¡± Choi Seong wanted to explain, It wasn¡¯t on purpose, but a strong impulse suddenly emerged in his mind, Wouldn¡¯t it feel even more exhilarating to burn myself? No sooner had this idea appeared than Choi Seong was scared to death and wanted to throw the torch away, but his right hand gripped it tighter instead. ¡°Sima Mu, help me!¡± After Choi Seong shouted, he placed the torch on his hair. Boom! Choi Seong was on fire. Seeing this, everyone¡¯s hair stood on end. In an instant, Choi Seong turned into a pile of ashes, the torch fell to the ground, and it went out. ¡°Wang Kun, you go pick up the torch, and lead everyone out!¡± Sima Mu urged. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go?¡± Wang Kun replied resentfully, Do I look like a fool? Without the deterrence of the torch, the Peach Monsters crawled back over. Dozens quickly rushed to Ma Xiao¡¯s front. ¡°Eat me!¡± ¡°Eat me!¡± Ma Xiao shivered uncontrollably, grasping tightly onto Wang Kun¡¯s clothes: ¡°I don¡¯t want to die!¡± Wang Kun looked at the goddess he adored, clenched his teeth, All in! ¡°Xiao Xiao, I¡¯ll pick up the torch and protect you as we rush out!¡± Wang Kun ran towards the torch. After picking it up, he mimicked Choi Seong¡¯s actions, vigorously scraping the torch on the ground. Whoosh! The torch was lit. The Peach Monsters immediately stepped back on their scorpion-like legs, not wanting to get burned to death. ¡°Be careful,¡± Ma Xiao shouted. She dared not get too close to Wang Kun, for fear of being burned to death herself. Wang Kun ran for over ten meters, then suddenly used the torch to set his shirt ablaze. Boom! He burst into flame like a human candle. ¡°Wang Kun!¡± Ma Xiao was in despair. If you die, what will I do? Just hold on a little longer! She actually didn¡¯t like Wang Kun, but his father was the school¡¯s vice-principal, and for the sake of securing a position at the school after graduation, she had accepted his confession. In less than three minutes, four people had died, numbing Lin Baici to his core. Taboo things like these were too terrifying, weren¡¯t they? ¡°Well done!¡± Jin Ying Zhen wanted to clap when she saw that Choi Feng was cold, at least this annoying fellow had died before her very eyes. ¡°Eat me!¡± ¡°Eat me!¡± Ma Xiao dared not face those Peach Monsters and suddenly ran like mad toward the Moon Cave Gate, but she hadn¡¯t gotten far before the Peach Monsters caught up with her, biting and tearing frenziedly. The screams were piercing. The young college woman writhed in agony on the ground. ¡°How can I avoid getting burned to death when using this torch?¡± Lin Baici was ready to take a risk. There was no time to hesitate; he might be the next one to be forced to eat the peaches. ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Jin Ying Zhen saw what Lin Baici was planning and quickly dissuaded him, ¡°Don¡¯t mess around, you¡¯ll die!¡± Lin Baici ignored her, focusing on the torch. [Songmu Torch, when lit, emits a pine scent. It can ignite anything and turn it to ashes in a very short time.] [Everyone who sees this torch wants to pick it up and play with it. As they play, they¡¯ll feel an impulse to burn others, or even themselves!] [But don¡¯t be afraid, just pick it up. It¡¯s easy to cook with, as it makes stir-frying a breeze, a fine kitchen utensil indeed!] A mysterious voice echoed thrice in Lin Baici¡¯s mind. ¡°I don¡¯t have to be afraid? What does that mean?¡± Lin Baici questioned, ¡°I won¡¯t get contaminated?¡± The voice didn¡¯t answer, but Lin Baici guessed that¡¯s what it meant. Because Jin Ying Zhen had mentioned that radiation from God¡¯s bones in the Divine Ruins could cause symptoms like dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, but so far, he had experienced none of these reactions. The Peach Monsters that had eaten Ma Xiao went to rest, and another batch crawled out to the front of the sun-hat-wearing old lady. ¡°Hah, these monsters even know how to queue for food!¡± The old lady mocked herself. Lin Baici didn¡¯t want to drag things out any longer. What if there was another twist of fate? ¡°Stay close to me!¡± After speaking, Lin Baici started quickly and ran towards the torch. ¡°No!¡± Jin Ying Zhen became anxious. Lin Baici picked up the torch and, with all the strength in his arm, dragged it across the gravel path. Whoosh! The torch caught fire, its light dispelling the fog like dawn spreading. ¡°Everyone, run with me!¡± Lin Baici charged forward with large strides while waving the torch. The flickering firelight trailed behind him like a swimming dragon, running through the peach grove, scattering the Peach Monsters far and wide! Chapter 5 - 5 5 Please call me Eater God!_1 ?5: Chapter 5 Please call me Eater God!_1 5: Chapter 5 Please call me Eater God!_1 The old lady was dumbfounded, never expecting the big boy to dare to pick up the torch again after it had just burned two people. Isn¡¯t that too bold? The next moment, the old lady was overjoyed and hurried to follow. If I can leave this place alive, I¡¯ll set up a longevity plaque for you and worship you like my ancestors. ¡°Damn, awesome!¡± Sima Mu was stunned by Lin Baici¡¯s courage. You are a real man! Though Sima Mu¡¯s left hand was bandaged and in a splint, it didn¡¯t hinder his running at all, and the guy was quite smart, keeping a distance of five steps from Lin Baici¡ªnot getting too close. Obviously fearing getting burnt to death. ¡°Should... should I take over?¡± Kim Myungjin suggested. The longer one uses a Taboo thing, the greater the probability of being tainted by the rules. If someone else took a turn, maybe the contamination could be reduced. ¡°No need!¡± Lin Baici not only ran but also set fire, lighting the nearby peach trees, and he was always on alert; if he felt unwell or had certain thoughts, he would immediately drop the torch. So far, everything was normal. Nevertheless, Kim Myungjin¡¯s words had increased Lin Baici¡¯s trust in her a bit more. ¡°Don¡¯t run!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t run!¡± ¡°Eat me!¡± ¡°Eat me!¡± The Peach Monsters were speedy in their pursuit and a few audacious ones even launched a charge at the survivors. ¡°Ah!¡± The old lady screamed as her right calf was bitten. Lin Baici swung the pine torch more vigorously, pushing back the monsters: ¡°Hold on, we¡¯re almost out!¡± The moon-shaped gate of Bodhi Peach Garden was now in sight, just over forty meters away. At this moment, as these people tried to escape, the shockingly shaped peach trees resembling frenzied shamans suddenly twisted together. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The rustling of branches and leaves sounded like a curse that sent shivers down one¡¯s spine. Crack! Crack! Crack! More Peach Monsters fell down, sprouting four legs, and sprinted wildly towards Lin Baici and the others. Some Peach Monsters had already gathered in front of the survivors. ¡°Fight our way out!¡± Sima Mu clenched his scythe, his eyes fierce. Swish! The monsters charged like a tsunami, threatening to devour everything. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid!¡± Sima Mu was about to cheer Lin Baici on when he saw him charging forward, the torch in his hand painting chaotic strokes like a splash of ink, and the fire ignited some of the monsters instantly. Even the sparks that flew off were terrifying, igniting the monsters with the slightest touch. A breeze blew, and ashes drifted down. Lin Baici rushed out of the moon gate and immediately looked back. Sima Mu was second, Kim Myungjin third. The old lady, being older and weaker, lagged behind. ¡°Save me!¡± The old lady cried out. Lin Baici took large strides back into the moon gate, grabbed the old lady¡¯s arm, and flung her back with force. The monsters were closing in. Lin Baici wielded the pine torch, pushing them back, then retreated from the peach garden. The ignited peach trees were now burning fiercely like massive bonfires, spreading to nearby trees. The flames danced. The Peach Monsters gathered in front of the moon gate, screaming ¡®eat me,¡¯ but did not come out. Even those that had bitten onto Sima Mu and the others had willingly let go. ¡°We¡¯re safe now!¡± Kim Myungjin looked at Lin Baici with admiration: ¡°Oppa, you are my superhero!¡± Thump! The old lady¡¯s legs gave out, and she fell to the ground. She clasped her hands in prayer, bowing nonstop to Lin Baici. ¡°Thank you! Thank you!¡± The old lady¡¯s light makeup was now ruined by tears. All five of her mahjong friends had died. So now she was filled with gratitude towards Lin Baici. ¡°That lady didn¡¯t make it out!¡± Kim Myungjin regretted. The last lady, only a little more than ten meters from the moon gate, met her demise when a Peach Monster bit her neck. ¡°Ptui!¡± Sima Mu looked at his wound and spat out a mouthful of saliva. Then he went over to Lin Baici, gave him a hearty hug, and said, ¡°Uncle owes you a life.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind!¡± Lin Baici said with a slight smile. ¡°Oppa, hurry up and put out the torch?¡± Kim Myungjin eyed the torch warily; the thing was too dangerous. ¡°Right!¡± Lin Baici, though he didn¡¯t feel any discomfort, didn¡¯t dare to keep holding it. But how to extinguish it? Lin Baici remembered that when Choi Feng and the other died, the torch went out as soon as they dropped it. So he threw the torch away. In less than ten seconds, the torch was extinguished. Kim Myungjin was impressed. ¡°Oppa, you react so quickly!¡± If it were her, she definitely wouldn¡¯t think of throwing the torch to put out the fire right away. ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right, that torch is too dangerous. Better throw it away...¡± The old lady was halfway through her sentence when she saw the big guy pick up the torch again, which made her gasp in shock. ¡°Young man, there¡¯s no need to take risks with it anymore!¡± The old lady expressed her concern. ¡°It¡¯s okay!¡± Considering the torch¡¯s effectiveness as a weapon for setting fires, Lin Baici planned to use it for self-defense. Then he looked at the peach garden ablaze with growing fires and frowned, complaining in his mind. ¡°Hey, Gourmet, is this the way you pointed out? Do you know I almost died?¡± Because the content of the mysterious voice was mostly related to eating, Lin Baici decided to call it Foodie. [Please call me Eater God!] ¡°I¡¯d even call you a handsome guy!¡± Lin Baici was speechless, as the mysterious entity did not appreciate the term Foodie. Man, I¡¯m so hungry! My stomach is cramping up. [Ripe peaches are very delicious, too bad you burned them. What a waste of heaven¡¯s gifts!] The Eater God complained. ¡°I, Lin Baici, would rather die than eat a peach grown on long legs!¡± The fog dissipated some more. Sitting and waiting for death was definitely not an option, so Lin Baici decided to continue exploring. With this pine torch, the safety factor went up a tiny bit. ¡°Let¡¯s go, if we can¡¯t find the God¡¯s bones, we¡¯ll all die here!¡± Kim Myungjin looked at Sima Mu¡¯s left hand wrapped in bandages, then glanced at the visor-wearing old lady who was clearly low on energy. Asiba! It seemed the two new teammates were not very reliable. They still had to rely on Lin Oppa! The mist cleared a little more, but the terrain had completely changed, and everyone was unable to find a way out of Dragon Temple. Of course, even if they found it, they couldn¡¯t leave. Kim Myungjin had said that unless the God¡¯s bones were removed, the fog wouldn¡¯t disperse, and this place would remain a labyrinth forever. After walking through a corridor, the four people saw a cluster of monks¡¯ quarters. The low tile-roofed houses were connected, looking like a Big Snake lying on the ground asleep. ¡°How about we go check the abbot¡¯s Zen room?¡± Kim Myungjin suggested. ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t know where else to go anyway, so might as well see if the Goryeo girl was lucky. Creak! Sima Mu pushed open the door of one of the monks¡¯ quarters. The sudden noise startled the old lady. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The old lady scolded. Her name was Xu Xiu, and she was a local from Guangqing. ¡°Checking if there¡¯s anyone inside!¡± Sima Mu was quite bold. ¡°Don¡¯t mess around, listen to Baici¡¯s commands!¡± Xu Xiu now trusted only Lin Baici. The four people left the monks¡¯ quarters, passed a pavilion marked with ¡°Xixin Pavilion,¡± and entered a courtyard through a flower-laden gate. The courtyard wasn¡¯t very large, but it had rockeries and a water feature, planted with flowers and greenery, and a mulberry tree stood in front of the door like a loyal old servant. [Hollow-hearted Iron Guanyin tea, when brewed with boiling water, emits a unique fragrance. After drinking it, within dozens of minutes, one will lose all emotion, become as cold-hearted as iron, and turn into a person of hollowness!] ¡°What¡¯s that, tea leaves?¡± Lin Baici looked around, his gaze falling on the plant in the corner of the wall that looked like a tea plant. The Eater God must¡¯ve been referring to that one. [Drink a cup of clear tea, savor the ups and downs of life, view the myriad worlds!] Lin Baici didn¡¯t like drinking tea and simply ignored it. [No way, no way, is there really someone who doesn¡¯t want such tea leaves? After drinking it, you won¡¯t be interested in poetry and distant lands, dreams and women anymore. You¡¯ll directly enter the sage¡¯s time.] [I¡¯m tired. Destroy it, and do it quickly!] Lin Baici¡¯s eyebrows twitched, and he walked over to the corner where the tea plant was. ¡°What happened?¡± Sima Mu was peering into the main room, where there seemed to be someone. Followed by Lin Baici, Kim Myungjin, after seeing the leaves on the tea tree, was stunned: ¡°These leaves actually look like Guanyin?¡± The tea leaves were emerald green, about the size of a fingernail, each leaf in the shape of Guanyin sitting on a lotus flower ¨C it was magical, all naturally grown without any signs of human pruning. Lin Baici reached out and began picking the large leaves. ¡°Could it be dangerous?¡± Xu Xiu wanted to pick some too. She often drank tea, and now, smelling the fragrance of these leaves, she felt her anxious emotions ease a little. This must be something good. ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Lin Baici hadn¡¯t completely trusted the gourmet reviews from the Eater God yet. After all, with different species came different perceptions of food. Lin Baici collected a handful of tea leaves and put them into a backpack he found. Kim Myungjin and Xu Xiu followed suit, collecting some as well. ¡°What are you guys doing?¡± After speaking, Sima Mu looked at Lin Baici and the others and suddenly froze: ¡°Baici, Xu Xiu, your... your necks!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with our necks?¡± Xu Xiu reached out to touch her neck. Huh? There seemed to be something there? Lin Baici looked at the old lady and her face changed. There was a vine as thick as an intestine wrapped around Xu Xiu¡¯s neck, like a noose for execution. Kim Myungjin beside her also had it around her neck. ¡°Get away from that tea plant!¡± Sima Mu urged, feeling somewhat relieved that he hadn¡¯t touched anything arbitrarily. ¡°What... what do we do?¡± Xu Xiu pulled hard at the vine noose, finding it extremely sturdy, completely unmoving. This thing wasn¡¯t going to strangle her, was it? ¡°Sima Mu, you¡¯ve got one on your neck too!¡± Lin Baici touched the vine on his neck, assuming it had nothing to do with the tea plant and that they had encountered Taboo things again. ¡°What?¡± Sima Mu looked dumbfounded, quickly felt it, and upon realizing there was indeed something there, he deflated immediately. ¡°This is too hard!¡± Kim Myungjin felt desperate. If they couldn¡¯t find the God¡¯s bones, they would surely die under the radiation, but in the process of searching, they might fall prey to the rules of the Taboo things and lose their lives. ¡°Into the Zen room!¡± Lin Baici guessed the problem must be inside. Chapter 6 - 6 6 Listening to Scriptures in the Zen Room_1 ?6: Chapter 6 Listening to Scriptures in the Zen Room_1 6: Chapter 6 Listening to Scriptures in the Zen Room_1 Among the four, Sima Mu was the most impatient, striding up the steps and shoving open the door of the Zen room. ¡°Someone¡¯s indeed here!¡± The Zen room was about half the size of a basketball court, with several meditation cushions on the floor and a table with incense on the north side, directly across from the door. A Buddha shrine rested on top, housing a faceless Buddha statue. To the west side of the Zen room, there was another inner chamber. Lin Baici came over, glanced around the room, and saw there were fourteen people. All of these people had a vine noose around their necks. They looked utterly desperate, with no intention of speaking. When they saw someone approaching, they only glanced over before lowering their heads again. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with this thing? Can it strangle a person?¡± Sima Mu roared. No one answered. ¡°Fuck, are you all deaf?¡± Sima Mu clenched his scythe, ready to lash out at someone. [Inside the western inner chamber, there are delicious delicacies, an opportunity definitely not to be missed, or else you might as well delete your account and start over.] Gurgle! Lin Baici¡¯s stomach growled; he was so hungry he felt like he could gnaw off and eat the doorframe. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us it was dangerous here?¡± Xu Xiu complained, believing they could have escaped before being ensnared by the vines had these people only warned them. A portly man spared the old lady a glance, his schadenfreude apparent: ¡°Why should we warn you?¡± ¡°You...¡± The old lady was furious. Wasn¡¯t this just harmful to others without any benefit to oneself? ¡°Are you asking for a beating?¡± Sima Mu, far from looking like a casualty, was furious and ready to throw a punch, wanting to teach the man why the flower was so red. ¡°Let¡¯s not quarrel, everyone. What we need more is to pull together and find a way to escape from here!¡± A short girl stepped in to mediate. She was wearing a blue pleated mini skirt, a white short-sleeved blouse that was slightly see-through, revealing the straps of her undergarments. A red tie was knotted at her chest, and she wore a pair of black round toe leather shoes. This was a popular sailor uniform cosplay outfit. Lin Baici furrowed his brows: ¡°Why does this girl look somewhat familiar?¡± ¡°Yue Yu, stop bothering with them!¡± The speaker was a young woman in her twenties with short hair, of an average appearance, wearing jeans, white sneakers, and a hooded sun protection top. ¡°We can¡¯t just give up, can we?¡± Hua Yue Yu sighed; at nineteen, she was in the prime of her life and didn¡¯t want to die. ¡°Are you Hua Yue Yu from the Shark Station livestream?¡± Lin Baici suddenly remembered when he heard the girl in white sneakers calling her Yue Yu. He seemed to have seen this girl livestreaming games on Shark Station. ¡°Right, are you a fan of mine?¡± Hua Yue Yu managed to squeeze out a smile. Lin Baici shook his head. Hua Yue Yu was a top live streamer on the currently hottest platform, Shark Station, primarily doing game walkthroughs, otaku dances, singing, and occasionally some outdoor exploration content. She was also an UP master, posting videos on websites like TikTok and Bilibili, with a combined following of over five million. ¡°Oh, then you can watch more of my streams in the future, I¡¯m sure I can bring you some fun!¡± Hua Yue Yu took the opportunity to promote her channel, but the thought that she might not survive the day dampened her enthusiasm. Alas! She¡¯d never get the chance to earn a billion yuan, to enjoy life after achieving financial freedom. ¡°Like hell, we¡¯re all gonna die today!¡± The portly man scoffed. ¡°Do you know what¡¯s going on here?¡± Lin Baici tugged at the vine noose around his neck. ¡°I was unconscious when the meteorite fell, and when I came to, I saw a group of people. So I followed them along with Sister Xiao Li and Brother Gu, and we all hid here!¡± Hua Yue Yu had a little round face, and when she spoke, a small tiger tooth appeared on the left side of her mouth, which was quite cute. Sister Xiao Li was the woman in white sneakers with the short hair, while Brother Gu sat beside them, not too old, a Canon camera hanging from his chest, clearly Hua Yue Yu¡¯s photographer. ¡°We had rested for less than ten minutes when these vine nooses suddenly appeared around our necks. We found that when the noose tightens, we have to immediately enter that Zen chamber¡¯s inner room, or else we¡¯ll get strangled to death!¡± These were the rules Hua Yue Yu had concluded. ¡°Can¡¯t we just run?¡± The old lady¡¯s voice trembled, still clutching onto hope. ¡°No use, the moment you step out of that courtyard door, you instantly get your neck snapped!¡± Sister Xiao Li desperately grabbed her hair; nothing was more cruel than waiting for death. ¡°What¡¯s in that inner chamber of the Zen room?¡± Kim Myungjin pressed: ¡°Has anyone come out?¡± ¡°No idea!¡± Hua Yue Yu shook her head: ¡°From the start till now, seven waves of ten people each have gone in, and not a single person has come out!¡± ¡°They all died?¡± Sima Mu¡¯s scalp tingled. ¡°Probably!¡± Hua Yue Yu was the calmest among them, observing everything with great attention. She had a GoPro sports camera clipped to her collar, an unfortunate matter since no electronic device worked in God¡¯s Ruins; otherwise, she would have liked to check the footage for any crucial information for escaping. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say people died outside? I didn¡¯t see any bodies!¡± Lin Baici needed more information. ¡°Those who were strangled to death... their bodies turned to sand and broke apart, turning into dust in less than three minutes.¡± Sister Xiao Li interjected. ¡°What?¡± Xu Xiu panicked even more, clutching Lin Baici¡¯s arm. ¡°Nothing that happens in God¡¯s Ruins should be considered strange!¡± Sima Mu didn¡¯t care about the bodies: ¡°Our priority is how to get this noose off.¡± ¡°Eater God, what do you think?¡± Lin Baici asked inwardly. [Hungry!] The response was utterly off-topic. Lin Baici was about to ask Hua Yue Yu for some more information when a man wearing sunglasses sprung up like a rabbit that had its tail stepped on. The old lady was startled and quickly hid behind Lin Baici. ¡°Their lassos are tightening!¡± Hua Yue Yu touched the lasso around his neck. It wasn¡¯t getting any tighter. Phew! Luckily, he could live a bit longer, but this was probably the last chance to escape. If he couldn¡¯t find a way, he¡¯d have to enter the inner chamber of the Zen room. ¡°Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!¡± The man with the sunglasses cursed helplessly. Running out meant certain death, but there might be a slim chance of survival in the inner chamber. The ten chosen unlucky ones entered the inner chamber, trembling with trepidation. Just as Lin Baici was about to take a closer look, the door slammed shut with a bang. Heh, I get to live for a few more minutes! The portly man gave a self-deprecating wry smile, but deep down, he didn¡¯t want to die. He took the initiative to converse with Lin Baici: ¡°Hey, do you have a plan?¡± He could tell that among the newcomers, everyone looked up to this handsome young man. ¡°No!¡± Lin Baici walked up to the shrine to observe the faceless Buddha and ponder the crisis that might be coming, as well as appropriate ways to deal with it. Kim Myungjin boldly walked up to the door of the inner chamber and listened closely. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t hear anything. ¡°Whatever you did, I¡¯ve done too, and discovered nothing!¡± Hua Yue Yu sat down with her legs bent and hands clasping her knees, chin resting on them. Sigh! We¡¯re all just ordinary people trapped in God¡¯s ruins; I was foolish to expect them to work miracles. I¡¯ve been so stupid! Lin Baici carefully checked around the room and was about to go out to the courtyard when the lasso around his neck suddenly tightened. Pain spread from his neck, accompanied by a slight sensation of suffocation. ¡°Bai Ci!¡± The old aunt was scared into tears. She had heard that people strangled to death stick their tongues out quite a bit. ¡°It¡¯s our turn!¡± Brother Gu stood up, caressing the Canon camera on his chest, and was the first to enter the inner chamber of the Zen room. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ve got no choice!¡± Hua Yue Yu took a deep breath, gathering her spirits, preparing for the last struggle. Lin Baici raised his wrist and looked at the Rolex he had picked up. It had been six minutes since those people went in. ¡°Bai Ci, let¡¯s go into the Zen room!¡± Sima Mu called out. Kim Myungjin and the old aunt had already gathered around too, feeling safer being with Lin Baici. Seeing this, the portly man had an idea and hurriedly followed behind the four of them. The inner chamber of the Zen room was small, with no furnishings, only a meditation cushion that a monk would sit on while chanting scriptures. The cushion was somewhat old and slightly yellowed, and on it sat a small incense burner the size of a fist with three sticks of incense burning inside. A strange fragrance filled the air. Once everyone was inside, the lassos around their necks immediately loosened. ¡°So, what do we do now?¡± The group looked at each other, clueless. ¡°Is this incense burner one of the Taboo things?¡± Lin Baici stared at the incense burner, waiting for the Eater God to give its food critique, but there was no sound in his mind. Creak! The door closed on its own. ¡°Look quick!¡± Kim Myungjin exclaimed urgently. The white smoke rising from the burnt incense morphed into a row of faint words. ¡®Sit in lotus position, listen to my scriptures; those who are as silent and calm as before, steady as ever, will reach the other shore!¡¯ The words appeared for three seconds and then quickly dissipated. ¡°What does it mean?¡± The portly man was completely befuddled. ¡°It seems like we need to listen to scriptures?¡± As Hua Yue Yu spoke, she hurriedly sat down and assumed a lotus position. The floor was a bit cold, sending a shiver through the female anchor. ¡°Listen to scriptures? Who understands that?¡± The portly man despaired. He was the kind of person who enjoyed his lavish feasts and saunas, with not an ounce of Buddha nature in him. Just as he finished speaking, the lasso around his neck tightened again, scaring him so much that he pleaded, ¡°I¡¯ll listen, I¡¯ll listen, could you please start chanting?¡± It wasn¡¯t just the portly man who was affected. Aside from Hua Yue Yu, everyone else¡¯s lasso also tightened, bringing a sense of suffocation. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Sister Xiao Li was panicking. ¡°Quick, sit down, assume the lotus position!¡± Seeing that Hua Yue Yu was unaffected, Lin Baici understood. They all had to follow the instructions provided by the incense smoke to avoid dying. ¡°What is the lotus position?¡± The portly man sat on the ground, crossing his legs, but found that the lasso continued to tighten, making him so frantic he could spit blood, ¡°What you¡¯re talking about, who understands that!¡± ¡°It¡¯s like I¡¯m doing. Put your left foot on your right thigh, then your right foot on your left thigh!¡± Hua Yue Yu demonstrated. To maintain her beauty, she, a face for the screen, learned yoga and meditation and was familiar with such practices. ¡°Bai Ci, follow me!¡± Xu Xiu also understood. However, she had been conned by a fitness coach, having spent six thousand yuan just for a few poses over three months. But now that she could help Lin Baici, the old aunt suddenly felt the six thousand yuan was well spent. At last, I¡¯m of some use! Xu Xiu was worried she might become too much of a burden and be abandoned by Lin Baici. Yet before she could even enjoy a few seconds of relief, she saw Lin Baici too knew how to assume the lotus position. ¡°Oppa, can you manage it?¡± Kim Myungjin knew how to do it as well and looked at Lin Baici with concern, even ready to help him with her own hands. ¡°No problem!¡± Lin Baici had read quite a few books; he had a broad range of knowledge. Finally, the portly man managed to assume the lotus position, and the lasso around his neck loosened. But before he could even catch his breath, a melodious chanting began to resonate within the Zen room. Chapter 7 - 7 7 Guo Er Cheng Song_1 ?7: Chapter 7 Guo Er Cheng Song_1 7: Chapter 7 Guo Er Cheng Song_1 Exquisite fragrance lingers, with a long aftertaste. Lin Baici didn¡¯t know what language the voice was speaking; he couldn¡¯t understand a word, but its pronunciation was full of beauty. Pleasant to the ear! Ethereal! Carefree! It gave him a refreshing feeling, like that of a mountain after new rain! Lin Baici even forgot his hunger, immersed in the chant that was like the music of immortals. Life is like a boat, navigating through winds and breaking waves. At the age of seven, Lin Baici, with a small bucket and a little fishing net, ran barefoot by the creek, trying to catch the little loach that just slipped away. He picked a green apricot, its tartness almost too much for his young teeth. At seventeen, Lin Baici sweated on the sports field, dashed off his pen on exam papers, and would gaze from the classroom window at the cherished girl¡¯s receding back as she walked home. He wanted to catch that cicada, to seize the summer that belonged to him. At twenty-seven, Lin Baici was full of energy in the office, drinking and enjoying kebabs at street stalls, and in the middle of the night in his rented room, he was making life plans. He thought himself capable of anything, able to pluck stars with one hand, ride dragons, and slay whales. At thirty-seven, Lin Baici had achieved nothing and was unemployed at home. No girlfriend, no salary, no friends¡ªhe tightly drew the curtains, dreading the rising sun each day. At forty-seven, Lin Baici was a walking corpse, lying on the bed, waiting for the Death God to knock on his door. Life is like a boat, battered and bloodied from collisions! ¡°Fuck.¡± Lin Baici couldn¡¯t help but blurt out a curse in his native tongue. Is this my life? It must be a joke! Lin Baici was extremely unhappy, wanting to fight ten people to vent his rage. Suddenly, a severe pain erupted from his stomach area, and an overwhelming hunger brought a mouthful of saliva to his lips. Gurgle gurgle! This pang of hunger pulled Lin Baici¡¯s consciousness back, and then he saw everyone sprawled haphazardly on the floor. Everyone¡¯s expression, whether twisted, excited, or angry... Listening to the chant? Everyone had long forgotten about that! What¡¯s more terrifying was that Lin Baici noticed the vine noose around his neck was slowly tightening, and he was already struggling to breathe. [This chanting sound will weave a dream that spans ages!] ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier?¡± Lin Baici roared inwardly, thankful to the jolt of hunger that had pulled him out of the illusion. The pressing matter now was to finish listening to the chant, to complete this Taboo Game. However, because his mind was filled with distracting thoughts, and the suffocating tension was palpable, Lin Baici simply couldn¡¯t calm his mind to listen to the chant. What to do? Lin Baici grabbed the torch lying next to him. Should he light it? He hadn¡¯t taken action when entering this meditation room, fearing that disturbing the Taboo things might lead to his instant suffocation, but now, it seemed he had no choice. The vine noose around his neck was tightening ever more. Lin Baici hung on, preparing to stand, but when his left hand touched the backpack, a spark of inspiration flashed through his mind. Those tea leaves! Interpreted simply, the sentence formed by the incense smoke meant that by adopting a lotus position and listening to the chant, one could remain unmoved and in silence reach the other shore. ¡°The other shore¡± was likely a metaphor for survival. The problem everyone was facing was that the sound of the chant stirred up all sorts of distracting thoughts, making it impossible to concentrate. Lin Baici hurriedly opened his backpack, grabbed a handful of hollow Iron Buddha tea leaves, and stuffed them into his mouth. Biting down hard, the juice burst forth. The Eater God had mentioned that after drinking this tea, one would lose all emotions, have a heart as cold as iron, become a hollow person, instantly losing interest in dreams, women, and the like, and entering a period of enlightenment. Doesn¡¯t that mean it could remove the distracting thoughts? Lin Baici decided to give it a shot, thinking if the Iron Buddha leaves didn¡¯t work, he would set the incense burner on fire! ¡°I wonder if chewing it dry will work?¡± Lin Baici had no time to look for boiling water to brew the tea. However, after swallowing the tea leaves, in just a dozen seconds, all the chaotic thoughts in his head were washed away like dust in a downpour, gone without a trace. Even the ever-tightening vine noose around his neck seemed irrelevant to him now. So what if it¡¯s death! Come on then, I¡¯m all laid out. You might as well put a little more effort in. The chant was clear to his ear, Lin Baici, seated in the lotus position, didn¡¯t miss a word, and the vine noose slowly loosened around him. ¡°It worked!¡± Lin Baici smiled slightly. The others weren¡¯t so lucky. The man with the big belly, who was accustomed to overindulging and not exercising, had the weakest body. His face was now turning blue, and he was close to suffocating to death. Lin Baici glanced at him, grabbed a handful of hollow Iron Buddha leaves, quickly got up, and rushed to Kim Myungjin¡¯s side, ¡°Quick, eat the tea leaves!¡± The woman from Goryeo had her eyes tightly closed and was unresponsive. Lin Baici pinched her chin, forcefully opened her lips, and stuffed the tea leaves into her mouth. He then repeated the process with the old lady. After feeding Sima Mu and Hua Yue Yu, Lin Baici ran out of tea leaves, but luckily, Kim Myungjin had some more, which he hurriedly took. Next were Sister Xiao Li and Brother Gu. Lin Baici finally looked at the big-bellied man. This man hadn¡¯t left a good impression on him, but since it was a matter of life and death, he decided to help him anyway. After administering tea leaves to everyone, Lin Baici quickly assumed the lotus position again. One by one, the people who swallowed the hollow Iron Buddha leaves began to regain consciousness. ¡°What happened?¡± The old lady was completely baffled. ¡°Do you still have tea leaves in your mouth? If so, swallow them quickly. Don¡¯t think about anything, get in position, and listen to the chant!¡± Lin Baici instructed. ¡°Tea? What did you do?¡± Hua Yue Yu felt a taste in her mouth, somewhat like Nutrient Express. Eh? Why don¡¯t I care about whether I can survive anymore? ¡°Oppa...¡± Kim Myungjin knew Lin Baici had helped everyone, and a nervous yet excited look appeared on her beautiful oval face. My Lin Oppa is indeed awesome! The pot-bellied man, stiff from suffocation and lack of oxygen, struggled several times but failed to assume the lotus position, so the vine noose around his neck tightened once again. This was adding insult to injury. ¡°Help... help me!¡± The pot-bellied man¡¯s instincts still drove him to seek help, but because he had eaten the hollow Tieguanyin, he did not scream hysterically. No one saved him, not due to a lack of compassion, but because of the effects of the tea leaves. When the chanting ended, the vine noose around the pot-bellied man¡¯s neck had tightened completely, forcibly breaking his cervical vertebrae. Afterward, his body noticeably dehydrated, cracked, and crumbled as if it had been weathered for a thousand years, leaving behind only a patch of dust. This horrific scene sent shivers down everyone¡¯s spine, causing them to subconsciously touch their necks. Huh? The noose is gone? ¡°Did we pass?¡± A look of wild joy spread across the old lady¡¯s face. ¡°Haha, we survived!¡± Laughing heartily, Sima Mu leapt up and rushed to Lin Baici: ¡°Baici, thanks to you, let¡¯s become sworn siblings!¡± ¡°What did you do?¡± Hua Yue Yu finally had the leisure to seriously observe this big boy. He had a youthful face and seemed naive, probably still a high schooler, tall enough that a little more jumping ability would let him slam dunk. ¡°I fed you guys tea leaves!¡± Lin Baici made up an excuse: ¡°I was very hungry and didn¡¯t have anything to eat, so I stuffed the tea leaves I had picked from the yard into my mouth. I didn¡¯t expect to actually wake up from that delirious dream and calm down!¡± ¡°What tea leaves?¡± Sister Xiao Li was puzzled: ¡°How come I haven¡¯t seen them?¡± ¡°It¡¯s that plant with leaves shaped like Guanyin sitting on a lotus!¡± Jin Ying interjected. ¡°Ah? That one!¡± Brother Gu had seen it, but everyone was afraid to touch the strangely shaped plant, fearing it might be dangerous, especially since they all had vine nooses around their necks. Who would have thought it was the key to survival? In reality, no. As long as one has no desires, sees through the worldly distractions, and keeps the heart undisturbed, one won¡¯t be contaminated by the Taboo things. It could be said that almost any child under the age of three could leave this meditation room alive. ¡°I¡¯ll go pick some!¡± Sima Mu darted out. Seeing this, Little Li and Brother Gu also rushed out. The tea leaves seemed like good stuff, and it wouldn¡¯t hurt to pick some as a precaution. ¡°Baici, you just finished yours, didn¡¯t you? I¡¯ll go pick some more for you.¡± The old lady knew she wasn¡¯t capable of much, so she tried to make herself useful in little ways. Upon hearing this, Kim Myungjin lifted her leg and ran out. I definitely won¡¯t give up the chance to ingratiate myself with Lin Oppa. ¡°Thank you! Let me introduce myself properly; my surname is Hua and my given name is Yue Yu. You¡¯re not older than me, right?¡± Hua Yue Yu actually wanted to hurry and pick the hollow Tieguanyin, but she held back, knowing she should thank him first. After all, if she wanted to survive and leave God¡¯s ruins, she would surely need to rely on this big boy, so it was best to establish a good relationship first. ¡°Lin Baici!¡± Lin Baici looked down at Hua Yue Yu, whose height reached only his chest and who was dressed in a sailor suit: ¡°I¡¯m definitely older than you!¡± ¡°I¡¯m a university student, alright!¡± Hua Yue Yu covered her mouth and giggled lightly: ¡°I just look like an underage girl, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°...¡± Lin Baici fell silent. With women, you could only judge by their faces; guessing their age was impossible. ¡°So dating me wouldn¡¯t be illegal!¡± After saying this, Hua Yue Yu remembered something and quickly added, ¡°By the way, Hua Yue Yu is my real name; it¡¯s written just like that in my household registration book!¡± When introducing herself in the past, people often felt she was reluctant to give her real name, using a nickname instead, as if she were looking down on them. ¡°The surname Hua isn¡¯t common!¡± Lin Baici smiled slightly. ¡°Yeah, the most famous would be Hua Mulan!¡± Hua Yue Yu thought too much. Lin Baici didn¡¯t care whether she gave her real name or not; if you couldn¡¯t get out of God¡¯s ruins, being called the Queen Mother of the West wouldn¡¯t help. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go pick some tea leaves to keep for self-defense as well?¡± Lin Baici, holding a torch, looked at the incense burner. Burn the damn thing and save it from hurting anyone else. ¡°Then off I go!¡± Hua Yue Yu, with her legs clad in over-the-knee black stockings, stepped out of the meditation room. [Pre-dinner exercise finished, time to eat!] ¡°Eat what?¡± Lin Baici was amused: ¡°Are you asking me to chew on the incense burner or swallow the incense ashes?¡± [To use a concept familiar in the Human kingdoms, there is a Divine Grace on this cushion, named Guo Er Cheng Song. If you eat it, you can possess it!] [Guo Er Cheng Song, as the name suggests, means that once you hear something, you can remember it all and immediately repeat it!] Chapter 8 - 8 8 Gratitude for Gods Gifts_1 ?8: Chapter 8 Gratitude for God¡¯s Gifts_1 8: Chapter 8 Gratitude for God¡¯s Gifts_1 The vast amount of information contained in those two sentences from the Eater God left Lin Baici utterly stunned. ¡°Are you saying that this padded mat is actually one of the Taboo things?¡± Lin Baici walked up to the padded mat and examined it carefully. It seemed quite ordinary and unremarkable, unlike the incense burner carved with animal patterns which looked like a valuable antique. This had led to Lin Baici¡¯s misjudgment. Perhaps the Eater God found such a question too foolish to merit a response. Of course, ever since Lin Baici had heard the mysterious voice, the other party had never taken the initiative to respond to him. It had been talking to itself, and most of its words were related to eating. ¡°That Divine Grace, ¡®Passing Ears Recitation¡¯, if I eat it, will I be able to remember everything I hear, no matter the length, after hearing it just once?¡± Lin Baici was excited. With this ability, his learning efficiency would greatly increase. [Report, a Nine-Holes Fish has been found. My explanation was so straightforward, yet it still needs me to repeat it!] ¡°...¡± Lin Baici¡¯s mouth twitched. Was he being looked down upon? Gurgle! Lin Baici¡¯s stomach began to growl again, and ever since he got close to this yellowish padded mat, his appetite started to boil over, almost uncontrollable. It seemed like an incomparable delicacy was luring his gluttonous urges. ¡°How... how do I eat it?¡± Lin Baici licked his teeth with the tip of his tongue. He surely couldn¡¯t just munch on the padded mat as if it were a large pancake, could he? A pair of translucent arms, like condensed starlight, extended from Lin Baici¡¯s shoulders. With a grab in the air above the padded mat, they pulled out a fist-sized orb of light. The orb looked like a colorful soap bubble with a pale golden ball inside, resembling a miniature sun. ¡°Is this the Divine Grace?¡± An intense desire to consume made Lin Baici want to reach out, snatch the ¡®soap bubble,¡¯ and stuff it into his mouth. It was like a refugee who had suffered hunger for half a lifetime and had gone decades without food, suddenly coming upon a table filled with a royal feast. He couldn¡¯t wait to eat! [Open your mouth!] Lin Baici opened his mouth. [Thanks to the benevolence of the Gods!] After the Eater God spoke, the two arms holding the soap bubble poked it into Lin Baici¡¯s mouth. Upon entering his mouth, the soap bubble popped instantly. The pale golden sun was warm and melted upon contact, like a hot cup of milk, flowing down his throat and into his stomach. Lin Baici¡¯s body immediately heated up, and at the same time, his brain was imprinted with mysterious knowledge that seared onto his neurons. He couldn¡¯t forget it even if he tried; it was like an innate talent he was born with. ¡®Passing Ears Recitation¡¯ get¡Ì! A sense of fullness emerged, leaving Lin Baici quite satisfied. ¡°Perfect!¡± Lin Baici snapped his fingers. ¡°Baici, what are you doing? We should leave now,¡± called out Sima Mu from the yard. ¡°Oppa?¡± Kim Myungjin, who had returned from picking tea leaves, asked, ¡°Is everything alright?¡± ¡°All good!¡± Lin Baici looked at the padded mat and asked the Eater God in his mind. ¡®What should I do with this Taboo thing? Can I take it with me?¡¯ Lin Baici had received his first Divine Grace from it and it held sentimental value, so he wanted to keep it. He was just unsure if it still posed any danger. [The Vanilla Padded Mat, if you sit on it while studying, it can keep you energized. You can work for long periods without feeling tired, and you¡¯ll have ¡®Passing Ears Recitation.¡¯] [If you continue to use it, it can permanently enhance your memory, and it has the effect of curing senile dementia.] Sorted. Lin Baici set the incense burner aside and picked up the padded mat. It wasn¡¯t heavy, around three pounds. ¡°Oppa, do you want to bring that with you?¡± Kim Myungjin was worried, ¡°After being sealed by a black coffin, the danger of the Taboo thing will be reduced!¡± ¡°What is a black coffin?¡± Lin Baici inquired. ¡°I¡¯m not sure either, the technology to make a black coffin is absolutely confidential, controlled by the state!¡± Kim Myungjin explained, ¡°Just remember that a black coffin can prevent the rule contamination from Taboo things!¡± ¡°Mhm!¡± Lin Baici was already taking the Songmu torch with him, so what was there to fear from a padded mat that could only weave dreams? He could always drink another cup of tea, if all else fails! ¡°I never thought the padded mat was the Taboo thing.¡± Kim Myungjin wanted to touch it but was also a bit afraid, ¡°It would be great if it had Divine Grace!¡± If it weren¡¯t for the Taboo thing, Oppa surely wouldn¡¯t be taking it with him. ¡°What exactly is Divine Grace?¡± Lin Baici¡¯s curiosity was insatiable. ¡°Thirty years ago, a meteor fell, and God¡¯s ruins appeared. Some Gods emerged from them and fed on humans, and ordinary people didn¡¯t know anything about it, but it¡¯s said that the world almost got destroyed!¡± Kim Myungjin organized her thoughts. ¡°Some people stood up. They killed the Gods and discovered that after their death, the Gods left behind some fragments. When humans consumed those fragments, they would gain extraordinary powers!¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that the Gods are too hard to kill.¡± ¡°Fortunately, not every Divine Ruins contains powerful Gods. Most of the time, what is in the Divine Ruins are the God¡¯s bones, the corpses of Gods.¡± ¡°Destroying the God¡¯s bones would also drop fragments, and after consuming them, humans could still gain extraordinary powers.¡± ¡°People call this power God¡¯s Blessing, or Divine Grace for short!¡± ¡°You continue!¡± Lin Baici listened very carefully. He was just an ordinary high school graduate and had no way of hearing these secrets that were known only to the upper class. ¡°God¡¯s bones have radiation, which contaminates everything. A few items mutate under this radiation and become Taboo things!¡± ¡°Among these Taboo things, a very few are blessed with Divine Grace. These are the most coveted trophies in the Hunter circle!¡± Kim Myungjin¡¯s brother was a God Hunter with great fame in Goryeo, so she knew quite a bit of insider information. ¡°Hunter circle?¡± Lin Baici heard many new terms today. ¡°If we can¡¯t contain or destroy God¡¯s bones in time, the Divine Ruins will spread, contaminating a larger area and making it uninhabitable for humans.¡± ¡°Divine Ruins are more terrifying than floods, earthquakes, or volcanoes, so twenty years ago, they were officially recognized as a new type of natural disaster by various countries.¡± ¡°Humans won¡¯t just sit and wait for extinction. Hence, Breaking Divine Ruins, hunting Gods, and sealing Taboo things, people who do these are officially called God Hunters!¡± Kim Myungjin spoke until her mouth was dry and she licked her lips. Just then, Lin Baici passed her a bottle of mineral water. His thoughtful gesture, made Kim Myungjin¡¯s good impression of him grow stronger. ¡°So are we God Hunters now?¡± Lin Baici thought the job sounded cool. ¡°Not really!¡± Kim Myungjin shook her head, ¡°Ordinary people can¡¯t withstand even the basic radiation in the Divine Ruins. In probably more than ten hours, they¡¯ll turn into a puddle of unconscious dead flesh. Only those who have ¡®eaten¡¯ Divine Grace can stay longer in the Divine Ruins and only such people qualify to be called God Hunters!¡± Those hunters standing on the front line against the Gods are the country¡¯s precious treasures and heroes, and they have significant privileges. Kim Myungjin¡¯s brother could even call on local troops to assist when hunting gods. ¡°Hmm!¡± Lin Baici nodded, apparently, he was now a God Hunter, how sudden! But why didn¡¯t I feel dizzy or nauseous when I didn¡¯t have Divine Grace? ¡°Just like the gaming or entertainment industry, God Hunters obviously have their own circles too, where they sell information to each other, exchange a few Taboo things, or even seek to form a team!¡± Kim Myungjin had used her brother¡¯s account to log into some internal websites and the information there was eye-opening. ¡°Us ordinary people really don¡¯t know anything!¡± Guo Er Cheng Song was cleaning his Canon camera¡¯s lens with a depressed look on his face. They had returned from picking tea leaves and had been listening for a while to Kim Myungjin¡¯s explanations at the doorway. ¡°Ignorance is bliss!¡± Sima Mu laughed, ¡°For some people, knowing the true nature of this world could be devastating!¡± As a leading female broadcaster, Hua Yue Yu had a much larger social circle than Guo Er Cheng Song and the old lady, and she had heard quite a few rumors about the Divine Ruins. ¡°Let¡¯s stop chatting and hurry to destroy God¡¯s bones and get out of here!¡± Xu Xiu had a terrible headache, like he was just waking up from a hangover and then strapped into a roller coaster for half an hour. ¡°Oppa, let me help you carry this!¡± Kim Myungjin eagerly offered to take the mat. The old lady moved her mouth, wanting to show off, but when she remembered that it was a Taboo thing with radiation pollution, she dared not speak. ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Baici was not shy to accept. He couldn¡¯t handle the mat if there were danger and he needed to fight. When everyone walked out of the courtyard, they looked to Lin Baici, waiting for his direction. Lin Baici¡¯s performance allowed him to take the leader¡¯s position of this temporary seven-person team without self-nomination. ¡°Eater God, which way?¡± Lin Baici asked inwardly. The Eater God didn¡¯t respond, but a faint sensation of hunger returned. In the past, Lin Baici knew that when he suddenly felt hungry, there would be lost items nearby, but now, the hunger felt like a radar pointing to Taboo things. ¡°How about we check out the Daxiong Treasure Hall?¡± The female broadcaster suggested. ¡°That could work!¡± Sister Xiao Li tried to lighten the mood, joking, ¡°At worst, we can pray to the Buddha for some good luck!¡± The black mist had dissipated quite a bit, and they could already faintly see the outline of the Daxiong Treasure Hall. ¡°Then let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Baici led the way with a pine wood torch, but after walking only a short distance, the Eater God spoke. [Absolutely! Absolutely! Absolutely! Do not go to the Daxiong Treasure Hall, otherwise you will immediately get on an elevator to hell!] Such a serious warning made Lin Baici frown deeply. Forget it, let¡¯s play it safe! ¡°Let¡¯s leave Daxiong Treasure Hall until last!¡± Lin Baici decided to follow his sense of hunger! A quarter of an hour later, Sister Xiao Li suddenly smelled a sweet fragrance. ¡°It smells so good!¡± Sister Xiao Li followed the scent, chasing after it. Hua Yue Yu and Guo Er Cheng Song quickly followed. ¡°It smells like some kind of porridge!¡± The old lady sniffed deeply and ran over as well. ¡°Bai Ci, let¡¯s go too!¡± Kim Myungjin grabbed Lin Baici¡¯s arm and pulled forward. ¡°Wait a minute, something¡¯s off about this scent!¡± Lin Baici tried to stop everyone, but it was no use. They completely ignored his words, with only the scent on their minds, eager to taste it. The radiation contamination was happening again! Chapter 9 - 9 9 Xiang Ji Kitchen_1 ?9: Chapter 9 Xiang Ji Kitchen_1 9: Chapter 9 Xiang Ji Kitchen_1 Sister Xiao Li and the others followed the fragrance as though they were famished wild dogs about to fight for food after half a month of hunger. This was obviously not normal. Lin Baici shouted several times but couldn¡¯t stop them and knew it was the Taboo things¡¯ mischief again. Five minutes later, the group, panting for breath, charged into a large courtyard and stopped in front of a vegetarian hall. Over the main entrance of the hall hung a signboard that read ¡®Xiang Ji Kitchen.¡¯ ¡°A dining hall?¡± Lin Baici sniffed, it seemed like someone was cooking porridge, It was fragrant! Hua Yue Yu and the others pushed the door open and entered. Creak! The hinges of the door emitted a grating sound that set one¡¯s teeth on edge. Not swayed by this scent, Lin Baici could have left, but he hesitated for a moment, stepped over the one-foot-high threshold, and followed them in. Slam! The door immediately closed behind Lin Baici as he entered. Lin Baici turned around and tugged at the wooden door. It was tight, and wouldn¡¯t open! This vegetarian hall, named Xiang Ji Kitchen, was quite large, furnished with fifty rectangular tables and wooden stools, seating six to seven hundred diners simultaneously. On the north side was the kitchen. Though no busy figures were visible, a rich aroma of porridge wafted out. The old lady found a vacant spot, sat down and began calling out to Lin Baici. ¡°Bai Ci, come sit!¡± Inside Xiang Ji Kitchen, there were many people, Lin Baici glanced around and estimated nearly a hundred, all looking panicked and not in the mood for conversation. In front of each of them was a large sea bowl filled with purple eight-treasure porridge. Both the color and fragrance were incredibly tempting, making one long for a taste with just one look. ¡°Seven servings of fragrant porridge for the guests!¡± A hearty female voice rang out across the hall. To Lin Baici, it felt as though he had entered the den of Sun Erniang from Mount Liang, fearing that any second someone would rush out, hack them to death with random knife strokes, and then turn them into dumpling fillings. Out of caution, he should¡¯ve let someone else ask about the current situation, but Kim Myungjin and the others had nothing but ¡®eating¡¯ on their minds and could think of nothing else. Lin Baici had no choice but to inquire himself. He first scanned the room, then looked at a sixty-something, white-haired old man sitting diagonally opposite him, three meters away. ¡°Old man, what¡¯s going on here?¡± Lin Baici was very polite, but the old man picked up his bowl, slurped a mouthful of porridge and completely ignored him, instead chatting up Hua Yue Yu. ¡°Beauty, why do you look so familiar to me?¡± This old man often watched live streams and loved this sort of young girl. The less they wore, the better. [A lecherous old man who disrespects his age, freeloads off live streams, often pretends to be wealthy to hit on female streamers but in fact is a miser. He always sneaks some items when shopping at the supermarket and, when caught, lies on the ground feigning a heart attack!] [Note, do not help him up if you see him fall, you will be scammed!] [Recommended to char and feed to dogs!] The Eater God¡¯s triple-slam review thoroughly disparaged the old man. Hua Yue Yu didn¡¯t hear what the old man said at all. She craned her neck, her eyes fixed intently on the kitchen as if she could hardly wait. Kim Myungjin and the old lady fared no better. They didn¡¯t have to wait long before a cook, carrying a red lacquered tray, came striding out. On it were seven bowls of porridge. The bowls were large enough to fit a person¡¯s head. Lin Baici¡¯s pupils shrank sharply at the sight of the cook. She was dressed in a cleanly starched rough linen garment, with an apron around her waist and a white kerchief wrapped around her head. Her hands were deft, her smile warm and inviting, but she was nearly two meters tall, with a frame like a bear and arms so thick they could run circles around horses. Lin Baici was certain that facing such a cook, diners wouldn¡¯t be pondering how to dine and dash, but whether they would live to leave the place after their meal. ¡°Seven bowls of ¡®Happiness, Fortune, Longevity, and Joy¡¯ porridge!¡± As the cook¡¯s voice stretched the last syllables, she set down a bowl of porridge in front of each of the seven, emitting steaming heat and diffusing savory fragrance that was irresistible. ¡°Enjoy your meal!¡± After announcing, the cook placed the tray at her lower abdomen, retreated to the side with a demure smile, and watched the diners. Kim Myungjin and the others could no longer wait. They discarded the wooden spoons and tipped the large ocean bowls directly to their lips. Even if it was scalding enough to make them hiss in pain, they didn¡¯t stop drinking the porridge. ¡°...¡± Lin Baici¡¯s mouth twitched from watching. The cook was content but noticed Lin Baici hadn¡¯t touched his food, and her smile vanished, ¡°You... aren¡¯t drinking?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hot, let it cool!¡± Lin Baici offered evasively. ¡°It tastes better hot!¡± The cook explained. ¡°I¡¯m afraid of getting burnt!¡± Lin Baici forced a smile. ¡°Hehe!¡± The old man gloated as he watched Lin Baici, eager to witness his misfortune. Someone had refused to drink the porridge earlier, only to have the cook forcefully pry their mouth open and pour it into them like swill into a garbage can. ¡°I¡¯ll help you!¡± After saying this, the cook slammed the tray onto the table and stood before Lin Baici, rolling up her sleeves as if to help him with his porridge. Lin Baici dared not let the cook take action, quickly lifted the ocean bowl, ¡°No need, I can do it!¡± Gulp! Lin Baici slurped a mouthful of porridge. Damn! It was scalding hot! The cook¡¯s smile returned, she lowered her sleeves, and picked up the tray again. ¡°Drink up, there¡¯s plenty!¡± After speaking, the cook headed back to the kitchen. Lin Baici waited for the cook to turn around, then quickly lowered his head to spit the porridge back into the bowl. Who knows if there¡¯s something wrong with this thing? He certainly isn¡¯t going to drink it. Lin Baici was very cautious, his mouth close to the sea bowl, continuously stealing glances at the cook¡¯s back. If she noticed him spitting out the porridge, he would immediately take another sip. Speaking of the cook, was that a kitchen knife hanging from her lower back? Kind of scary. The cook did not look back until she entered the kitchen. Lin Baici felt relieved and looked at the others. Kim Myungjin and his group of six were drinking porridge, even calling for Lin Baici to hurry up and try it as they ate. ¡°Stop drinking!¡± Lin Baici urged them, to no avail. ¡°How can you resist it?¡± The old man stared at Lin Baici in shock, dumbfounded. The other eight people at the table had the same expression. This porridge was too fragrant. Everyone had been full before they realized something was off, their minds previously consumed with thoughts of drinking porridge. Lin Baici ignored the old man. He was hungry, but not for this bowl of porridge. He was thinking about ¡®eating¡¯ something in the kitchen. The old man¡¯s gaze fell onto the pine torch before returning to scrutinize Lin Baici. This kid, had such strong willpower. He couldn¡¯t hold back just now, drinking porridge like a starving ghost reincarnated. He had overdone it and now felt so full he wanted to vomit. [Food is the God of the people, drink porridge! Drink porridge!] Lin Baici, hearing the Eater God¡¯s words, felt much more at ease. It seemed the porridge was fine to drink. In the dining hall, everyone sat on wooden stools with unpleasant expressions as they drank their porridge. Some had obviously been full for a while, but dared not stop, continuing to force it down. Their bodies were not under their control, attracted here by the fragrance. ¡°Could it be that if we don¡¯t finish the porridge within a certain time frame, we¡¯ll be killed?¡± Lin Baici analyzed. ¡°Eh, why aren¡¯t you drinking? It¡¯s very fragrant!¡± Sima Mu was astonished to see Lin Baici not moving. He had already finished his and was even picking up the bowl, licking the remaining grains with his tongue. ¡°Not hungry!¡± Lin Baici noticed that Sima Mu, having filled his stomach with a bowl, was now not so focused on the porridge. Kim Myungjin didn¡¯t have much of an appetite and could eat no more, slowing his porridge drinking considerably. On the other hand, Hua Yue Yu seemed to have an enormous appetite, unexpectedly. ¡°I advise you to drink up quickly. If the cook comes out later and sees you haven¡¯t touched your porridge, she¡¯ll chop off your head!¡± The old man, irritated that Lin Baici had not touched a single spoonful of porridge, intentionally tried to scare him. If this Fulu Porridge was harmful to the body and the kid didn¡¯t drink it, wouldn¡¯t he escape a disaster? That couldn¡¯t happen! If one was to die, all should die together. ¡°Don¡¯t trouble yourself, I have a weak stomach and can¡¯t eat much. I think the cook will understand!¡± Lin Baici chuckled. This old man had some dark thoughts. As soon as Sima Mu finished his porridge and put down the bowl, belching satisfactorily, the cook brought out another bowl of porridge. The same large sea bowl was placed on the table in front of Sima Mu. ¡°Can you tell how many ingredients are in this Shouxipo porridge?¡± The cook fluttered her eyes, as big as pool balls, full of anticipation as she stared at Sima Mu. ¡°Can¡¯t tell!¡± Sima Mu shook his head. Who could? He glanced at the hot porridge in the bowl and saw well-cooked red dates, longan, peanuts, and various beans. Unrecognizable. The cook seemed disappointed but still mustered a smile, ¡°No problem, drink slowly, take your time to recognize them, no rush!¡± Lin Baici raised his eyebrows upon hearing this. Could it be that to survive, one had to guess the number of ingredients in this Fulu Porridge? As the cook was about to leave, her gaze swept over the bowl in front of Lin Baici and stopped immediately, her eyes bulged, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you drinking?¡± As she spoke, the cook reached behind her with her right hand, grabbing the handle of the kitchen knife. ¡®Heh, let¡¯s see if you dare to keep not drinking!¡¯ The old man was pleased. ¡°I drank some. I¡¯m savoring it!¡± Lin Baici explained, ¡°I want to relish the taste of each ingredient on my taste buds!¡± Hearing this, the cook¡¯s mood lifted, and she excitedly pressed, ¡°Did you taste anything specific?¡± ¡°So far, I¡¯ve discerned five!¡± Lin Baici glanced at it and reported several ingredients he recognized. ¡°Hmm! Hmm!¡± The cook nodded eagerly, quite satisfied, ¡°You are the first one among today¡¯s diners to seriously taste the Fulu Shouxipo porridge. I¡¯ll serve you another hot bowl. Drink up, it¡¯s on the house!¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Lin Baici was very polite. The old man and the other diners at nearby tables were dumbfounded. Drinking porridge in Xiang Ji Kitchen was torture, akin to being punished, but here was someone actually asking for more? ¡°Ignorance is truly bliss!¡± A woman with dyed-red hair sneered. ¡°He got away with it?¡± The old man was speechless. This student¡¯s response had taken him by surprise, especially seeing the cook believe Lin Baici¡¯s ruse and not forcing him to drink the scalding hot porridge. It annoyed him greatly. But when the cook brought another bowl and placed it in front of Lin Baici, advising him to drink quickly, the old man¡¯s spirits lifted. Let¡¯s see how you finish this and deal with the aftermath! Kim Myungjin and the others had drunk most of their porridge bowls. The intense urge to eat had waned, reason returned to their brains, and then sweat poured out in realization of the close call. Even the dumbest among them began to sense the strangeness. ¡°Oppa, what should we do?¡± Kim Myungjin looked at Lin Baici, her eyes wide with hope. Their survival depended on him now. The news anchor, the old lady, and Sister Xiao Li felt the same way. Lin Baici was the village¡¯s only hope. Chapter 10 - 10 10 The Monster Chef_1 ?10: Chapter 10: The Monster Chef_1 10: Chapter 10: The Monster Chef_1 ¡°Based on the current situation, if you can identify all the ingredients in this porridge, you can leave alive!¡± Lin Baici surveyed the others. The ninety-some tourists in Xiang Ji Kitchen hadn¡¯t suffered physical harm¡ªthey were either scared or overfull. ¡°Nonsense, even a fool can see that!¡± The old man retorted, ¡°The real question is, who knows what ingredients were used when the porridge is such a mess, aside from the chef?¡± ¡°Only the God of Eating would be able to taste it!¡± Sitting opposite Kim Myungjin was a three or four-year-old little girl who added in her childlike voice. She was wearing a dress and looked adorable. The old man¡¯s eyes shifted, and he got a sly idea, lowering his voice as if disclosing a big secret that he didn¡¯t want others to know: ¡°You could also guess!¡± Hearing this, the little girl began shaking her head at Kim Myungjin. ¡°Right, the ingredients for eight treasure porridge are just those few types, right?¡± Brother Gu¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Heh!¡± Lin Baici looked at the old man with full of sarcasm. ¡°Wha... what? Am I wrong?¡± The old man felt uneasy. ¡°Baici, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Sima Mu, who was somewhat straightforward, didn¡¯t understand Lin Baici¡¯s attitude. ¡°If you guess, how many attempts would it take to get it right?¡± Lin Baici looked towards the kitchen, ¡°I don¡¯t think that chef girl would tolerate a guest guessing repeatedly until they get it right!¡± ¡°That¡¯s true!¡± Brother Gu thought he¡¯d found a way out, but it was unfeasible, and he was disappointed. ¡°If you guess wrong, they won¡¯t kill you, right? At most, you¡¯ll just be trapped here?¡± Hua Yue Yu looked up around, relieved, as there were no corpses in sight. ¡°That¡¯s a question for this old man!¡± Lin Baici sneered. ¡°Ask... ask me why?¡± The old man¡¯s gaze wandered. ¡°You¡¯re letting us guess the ingredients and seasonings because you want to use us to eliminate some wrong choices, right!¡± Hua Yue Yu was sharp and also considered this possibility. ¡°What?¡± Sima Mu was both shocked and enraged, glaring at the old man across from him. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting?¡± The old man¡¯s secret thoughts were hit upon, and he became angrily embarrassed, but he still stubbornly argued: ¡°I was just worried there might be a limit on the number of survivors, that¡¯s why I secretly told you, to avoid others overhearing, I didn¡¯t expect you to not recognize good intentions, and even wrong me!¡± ¡°Who are you trying to fool?¡± Hua Yue Yu retorted sharply, ¡°With so many people here, I don¡¯t believe no one has tried to guess the recipe!¡± ¡°Er...¡± The old man¡¯s face stiffened. These two were too quick-witted, there was no way to deceive them! In fact, someone had tried guessing and failed three times, before the chef girl chopped off his head. ¡°I originally turned my heart towards the bright moon, but alas, the bright moon illuminates only the ditch!¡± The old man was thick-skinned and felt no embarrassment. ¡°Seems like we need to sneak into the kitchen and take a look at the rice barrel!¡± The old lady suggested a plan. ¡°Who will go?¡± Sima Mu scanned the crowd with his gaze. Obviously, the ingredients used for the porridge would be in the kitchen, but the question was, who would take the risk? Everyone was silent. The chef girl was like a murderous maniac, instilling deep fear in everyone. ¡°I¡¯ll go!¡± Kim Myungjin took a deep breath. She couldn¡¯t always rely on Lin Oppa¡ªshe had to prove her worth and become a woman who could be his teammate. ¡°Little Gu, Miss Kim is quite bold, aren¡¯t you going to accompany her?¡± Sima Mu used reverse psychology. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go?¡± Brother Gu wiped his Canon camera; he didn¡¯t want to take the risk! ¡°How can I do anything with one hand?¡± Sima Mu shook his bandaged left hand, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll mess up and make everyone lose the only chance to peek into the kitchen!¡± ¡°I can stall the chef girl for you!¡± The old man suddenly interjected, ¡°But after you get the information, you have to share it with me!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t believe him, this old man is rotten to the core!¡± Hua Yue Yu¡¯s annoyance flared as she noticed the old man kept stealing glances at her. ¡°Everyone stop, let¡¯s do as Baici suggests!¡± The old lady thought to herself that this was Lin Baici¡¯s call. The chef girl came out. The whole hall instantly quieted down. Everyone dared not speak, heads lowered, fearing they might catch the chef girl¡¯s attention. The chef girl looked around and walked up to a youth in a plaid shirt, asking with a smile, ¡°Honored guest, do you know the ingredients in this bowl of porridge?¡± ¡°Hurry, go to the kitchen while there¡¯s a chance!¡± The old man urged, ¡°I will definitely stall the chef girl for you!¡± He was in a rush because he¡¯d already consumed two bowls of porridge and could be sought out by the chef girl at any moment. ¡°I¡¯ll go!¡± Kim Myungjin was about to slip away from her stool, crouching down, when Lin Baici pressed her down. ¡°Sister, don¡¯t move!¡± The little girl who had been leaning against her mother suddenly cried out in a panic, ¡°Earlier, a big brother left his stool and was immediately targeted by that terrifying chef monster!¡± ¡°After that, he couldn¡¯t answer the chef girl¡¯s question and had his head chopped off!¡± The little girl had seen with her own eyes the big brother trying to fight the chef girl, but with just one swipe of her knife, his head was chopped off just like a tomato. The blood sprayed so high, like a fountain. On hearing this, Kim Myungjin¡¯s face turned pale, and she quickly ducked down, grateful as she glanced at Lin Baici. ¡°Oppa, thank you!¡± If it weren¡¯t for Lin Baici¡¯s quick reaction, she would have already left her stool. The old man, seeing Kim Myungjin back down, was furious to the point of spitting blood and glared viciously at the little girl, cursing her in his heart. ¡°You little brat, nobody asked for your opinion!¡± ¡°Thank you, little sister!¡± Kim Myungjin expressed her gratitude. ¡°No problem!¡± The little girl smiled sweetly. ¡°Actually, even if she hadn¡¯t said anything, I wouldn¡¯t have let you go,¡± Lin Baici looked at those seated at the same table, ¡°With so many people here, I just can¡¯t believe no one else had thought about going into the kitchen. So why haven¡¯t they gone?¡± ¡°Why?¡± The old lady blurted out. ¡°Because it¡¯s dangerous!¡± What made Lin Baici unhappy was that the people sharing his table clearly knew this, yet they said nothing, hoping someone else would try it. If the person who tried it died, it was none of their business, but if they succeeded, everyone¡¯s chances of walking out of this dining hall alive would increase. ¡°Damn, why didn¡¯t I think of that?¡± Brother Gu smacked his head hard, still blaming and annoyed with himself for his cowardice, not realizing that Lin Baici knew from the start this plan was unfeasible. ¡°So what do we do?¡± The old lady was restless with anxiety, ¡°We can¡¯t really rely on guessing, can we?¡± ¡°You could also pray for a five-star chef to be among the next wave of guests lured in by the aroma!¡± Sima Mu was out of options. ¡°Even a chef won¡¯t do, we need a God of Eating!¡± The little girl¡¯s eyes sparkled, believing that if it were a God of Eating, just a sip would be enough to taste all the ingredients used in the porridge, even the spring water from a specific location! That¡¯s how they showed it on TV. As Hua Yue Yu thought of a solution, she glanced over at Lin Baici and noticed how he calmly observed the cook, his expression serene. His demeanor was like that of a customer leisurely enjoying afternoon tea, not someone who might die the next moment due to contaminated rules. When Hua Yue Yu turned her head to look around, she saw that everyone was tense, fearful, afraid, their heads bowed low to avoid making eye contact with the cook. Only Lin Baici, was very calm. What a stout heart he had! Wasn¡¯t he too composed? It was a pity that cell phones couldn¡¯t be used; she really wanted to capture this moment of Lin Baici. After the cook in plaid shirt finished listing the ingredients, the cook shook her head in disappointment. ¡°No!¡± ¡°Let me think again!¡± The young man in the plaid shirt wracked his brain, but he had already used up his three chances. The cook drew her knife. Swish! The sharp cleaver left a silver arc as it chopped through the young man¡¯s neck. Thud! The head fell off, and blood spurted sky-high. Chaos ensued in Xiang Ji Kitchen. After killing the man, the cook wiped the cleaver on the corpse¡¯s clothes to remove the blood, sheathed it at her waist, then picked up the young man¡¯s head in one hand and his body in the other, and headed to the kitchen. Within ten seconds, the cook was back with a bucket and a rag, cleaning up the blood from the floor. Having finished, she wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand and then walked towards the kitchen. As she passed a young woman, the latter, too nervous, accidentally knocked over her bowl. Some porridge spilled out. The cook¡¯s face immediately turned furious. ¡°What a waste of food!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to...¡± The young woman never finished her sentence before her head was chopped off by the cleaver. Thud! The head landed on the table and rolled a bit. Hiss! The room filled with the sound of everyone sharply inhaling, their heads now bowed so low, they nearly stuck them into their crotches. Fear! The old lady trembled and instinctively grabbed onto Lin Baici¡¯s arm. Kim Myungjin turned her head and saw that Lin Baici wasn¡¯t panicking. This reassured her a lot. The cook squatted down and began to wipe the floor, ¡°You¡¯ve been drinking the porridge for a while now. When I¡¯m done with my chores, I¡¯ll start asking questions. Those who can¡¯t answer will serve as fuel for my porridge cooking!¡± Everyone¡¯s hearts clenched. The old man sitting diagonally across from Lin Baici grew increasingly angry, annoyed that he had just come to burn incense and make a wish for long life and great fortune. How had he ended up in such a mess? Had he known, wouldn¡¯t it have been better to have a foot massage? The cook stood up, glanced around, and walked towards Lin Baici¡¯s side. The guests at a few tables went numb, praying to all deities, hoping not to be chosen by the cook. ¡°It... It looks like she¡¯s coming for us!¡± The old lady cried out in fear. The old man kept his head down, pretending to sip porridge, sneaking peeks at the cook, but inevitably his eyes met hers, sending a shiver through him. ¡°It¡¯s over!¡± At that moment, the old man was seized by a vile courage and suddenly kicked the leg of the stool where the little girl was sitting. Oh no! The little girl tumbled over and landed on her behind. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Hua Yue Yu, full of righteousness, scolded the old man as she saw what happened. The old man pretended not to hear. The cook stopped in front of the little girl. ¡°Little honored guest, tell me, do you know what kinds of beans are in the porridge?¡± The cook squatted down and gently stroked the little girl¡¯s head. ¡°I... I...¡± The little girl was very flustered and looked towards her mother. ¡°Please, I beg you, save her!¡± The little girl¡¯s mother was in total despair, chanting non-stop, pleading with everyone. Everyone felt powerless. Lin Baici gripped the Songmu torch firmly in his right hand. He stared at the cook, picked up the porridge with his left hand, and took a sip. Sweet, soft, sticky, and fragrant. It was indeed good porridge. Jin Ying and Hua Yue Yu both noticed Lin Baici¡¯s action, feeling a mix of fear and admiration. ¡°Oppa, let¡¯s chop it together!¡± Jin Ying¡¯s moral standards wouldn¡¯t allow her to stand by and watch a little girl die before her. ¡°Let¡¯s fight it out!¡± Hua Yue Yu gripped the edge of the table with both hands, ready to flip it. ¡°Brother Lin, hold steady!¡± Sima Mu urged. Sister Xiao Li glanced at him with disdain. The dining hall atmosphere was oppressive. Just when everyone thought the little girl was doomed, they suddenly saw a big boy sitting at the same table pick up a large bowl and take a sip of porridge. ¡°Delicious porridge!¡± The big boy exclaimed, and with a thud, he placed the large bowl back on the table, then shouted to the murderous cook... ¡°Another bowl, please!¡± Chapter 11 - 11 11 Lin Da Hungry Man_1 ?11: Chapter 11 Lin Da Hungry Man_1 11: Chapter 11 Lin Da Hungry Man_1 The spacious Xiang Ji Kitchen dining hall suddenly became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. All ninety-three tourists trapped here were looking at Lin Baici. Was this guy actually picking a fight with that cook, had he gone nuts? How terrifying that cook with arms strong enough to race horses was, they had all seen with their own eyes¡ªdecapitating people as easily as slicing watermelons. But when everyone¡¯s gaze fell upon the little girl who trembled like a frightened quail, they all sighed. They understood that the big boy was saving her. ¡°Oppa!¡± Kim Myungjin stood up, ready to face the situation with Lin Baici. Seeing a foreign girl showing such fearlessness, Hua Yue Yu didn¡¯t want to be outdone and immediately stood up too. ¡°Brother Lin, let¡¯s be bold!¡± Hua Yue Yu roared. Like in a game, winning or losing was put aside for the moment¡ªit was all about not losing momentum, rushing headlong into battle. The cook turned her head, examining Lin Baici, ¡°You want another bowl?¡± Lin Baici¡¯s original intention was to attract the cook¡¯s attention, and then take a gamble with the help of the Songmu torches, but after he drank that mouthful of porridge, the Eater God spoke. [Blessed Fortune Porridge, made with red dates, goji berries, longan, dong quai, lotus seeds, white fungus...crafted meticulously with twenty-eight ingredients, through nine processing steps, and simmered for fifteen hours on a gentle fire!] [Once the porridge is ready, its aroma can be detected from ten miles away!] [Drinking this porridge dispels worries, brings joy, promotes longevity, and extends life!] Three sentences, simple and direct, perfectly showcasing the demeanor of a god-level gourmet. Lin Baici immediately changed his strategy. ¡°Such good porridge, it¡¯s a waste for me to drink it alone. It should be tasted by more people!¡± Lin Baici smiled faintly. The old man rolled his eyes, thinking it would be best if he drank it all himself. ¡°No, you said you wanted another bowl, so you must drink!¡± The cook, with legs as sturdy as two stone pillars, took three steps toward Lin Baici, looked down on him with a fiercely menacing glare. ¡°If you can¡¯t drink it, I¡¯ll pry open your mouth and pour it in!¡± ¡°Go scoop up the porridge!¡± Lin Baici sat down, exuding an imposing presence as if he were sitting on a large, golden horse. The cook left. ¡°Brother Lin, at a time like this, you¡¯re still trying to act cool?¡± Sima Mu chuckled bitterly, ¡°Do you really take your life so lightly?¡± ¡°Thank you! Thank you!¡± The little girl¡¯s mother hugged her child, constantly thanking Lin Baici. ¡°Oppa, you looked so cool facing off against that monster of a cook!¡± Kim Myungjin was full of admiration. ¡°Yes!¡± Hua Yue Yu was nodding vigorously. ¡°Even if you¡¯re as cool as a Tyrannosaurus rex, you¡¯ll still die!¡± The old man was reveling in schadenfreude, content that at least the annoying guy would die before him. ¡°Big brother...¡± The little girl knew that it was for her sake that the handsome big brother had attracted the cook¡¯s attention and thus she felt guilty. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, we¡¯ll be out soon!¡± Lin Baici smiled breezily, his demeanor gentle and hearty, like the warm sun of March warming the heart. The cook strode briskly over with a bowl of porridge and plunked it down right in front of Lin Baici. ¡°Drink!¡± Her left hand was already poised to pry open Lin Baici¡¯s mouth. ¡°After I finish the porridge, can I leave?¡± Lin Baici took the large bowl. It was hot! ¡°No!¡± The cook glared at Lin Baici, ¡°In my home, this porridge is only offered to confidants. If you are not a confidant, after drinking it, you pay with money!¡± ¡°How much?¡± Kim Myungjin interrupted. To pay with money? Why didn¡¯t you say that earlier, That¡¯s the least of my worries. ¡°Your life!¡± The cook¡¯s clear enunciation made everyone shudder. ¡°How do you define a confidant?¡± Hua Yue Yu inquired. ¡°Guess the ingredients in this porridge!¡± The cook glanced coldly around at everyone, pulled out the kitchen knife strapped to her waist, and pointed at Lin Baici, ¡°Starting with him, I¡¯ll question each one of you. Those who cannot answer, I¡¯ll use them as firewood for boiling porridge!¡± Many men were exchanging glances secretly. Better to fight than to wait for death! Guessing ingredients in porridge? Even a gourmet would be challenged by this. ¡°Speak!¡± The cook urged. ¡°Sticky rice, black rice, yellow millet, sorghum, red beans, mung beans, kidney beans, lily bulbs, white fungus, lotus seeds, dong quai, goji berries, red dates, longan, rock sugar...¡± Lin Baici¡¯s voice was resonant and emphatic. He mentioned beans, rice, medicinal herbs... All common ingredients, but to taste each one in a pot of porridge was definitely impossible. ¡°You¡¯re just guessing, right?¡± ¡°Obviously, this is a desperate last attempt.¡± ¡°This is a joke. If this guess is correct, it¡¯s more outrageous than winning a lottery jackpot.¡± The tourists murmured among themselves, but compared to the previous twenty or so who guessed at the ingredients, Lin Baici was too composed when he named his list. ¡°Twenty-eight!¡± The little girl was counting along, and as soon as Lin Baici finished, she immediately looked at the cook. ¡°That¡¯s all of them!¡± Lin Baici said with a light smile. Thank goodness for Guo Er Cheng Song; had he not received this Divine Grace, there was no way Lin Baici could have remembered all twenty-eight ingredients from just hearing them once. The cook studied Lin Baici, her stern face suddenly melting like ice in warm spring, replaced by a big smiling face. ¡°Farewell, esteemed guests, and welcome to come again for porridge!¡± The head cook made a welcoming gesture. Creak! The great doors to Xiang Ji Kitchen opened. ¡°He actually got it right?¡± Sima Mu was completely dumbfounded. ¡°Did he just use up all his luck for a lifetime?¡± An old lady muttered. ¡°...¡± Kim Myungjin couldn¡¯t describe her emotions at that moment, Lin Baici¡¯s excellence had once again updated her understanding. The ninety-three tourists felt the same way. This big guy actually got it right? Immediately after, they began to regret. Damn! I didn¡¯t remember it at all. ¡°Did any of you remember?¡± ¡°Do you think I have a photographic memory?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we just ask him again?¡± The tourists murmured among themselves, clearly excited; many of them looked at the opened door, wanting to dash out with all their might, but they finally held back. The cook¡¯s knife was frighteningly fast. The old man was flabbergasted, this guy actually got it right? Following him, I now regret not falling! Damn! I¡¯ve offended someone I shouldn¡¯t have! Now I¡¯m in deep trouble! I wonder if he¡¯ll forgive me if I kowtow to him? ¡°Big brother, are you the God of Eating?¡± A little girl blinked her shiny big eyes, looking up at Lin Baici with admiration. ¡°No, I¡¯m just a hungry man!¡± Lin Baici mused to himself that ever since he had entered Dragon Temple, he had hardly ever stopped feeling hungry; it was almost unbearable. Once I get out of here, I¡¯ll first go have a hot pot feast! Meat only, no vegetables. ¡°A villain?¡± The little girl was puzzled, then shook her head firmly: ¡°Big brother is not bad, he¡¯s a hero! A great hero!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the ¡®hungry¡¯ from ¡®starving hungry¡¯!¡± Lin Baici said self-deprecatingly. ¡°A Hungry Man? You mean a foodie, right?¡± The little girl giggled: ¡°I think Eater God sounds nicer. Big brother, you could taste everything in the porridge, you must be the reincarnation of the Eater God!¡± ¡°Brother Lin, quit fooling around!¡± Sima Mu called out in a low voice: ¡°Hurry up and tell us all the ingredients!¡± We¡¯re saved! The old lady was thrilled, yet a bit worried as she looked at the head cook. Would it interfere with such blatant cheating? The nearby tourists perked up their ears upon hearing Sima Mu¡¯s words. Lin Baici was speechless, do you all think the cook is blind? What if it gets enraged and starts killing people? ¡°The esteemed guest has already announced the ingredients for the Fortune-Longevity-Peace-Happiness Porridge, so there¡¯s no point in repeating them. I will return to the kitchen and add a new ingredient to the porridge!¡± The cook¡¯s words instantly caused an uproar of wails and curses. ¡°The esteemed guest may leave now!¡± The head cook was ready to close the door after Lin Baici left. ¡°Brother Lin, don¡¯t abandon us!¡± Sima Mu pleaded. ¡°Bai Ci, help us!¡± The old lady was still crying. Kim Myungjin and Hua Yue Yu didn¡¯t speak, but they looked pitifully at Lin Baici. Seeing this, the other tourists also began to beg. ¡°Since I¡¯m a confidant of your family, can I take them with me?¡± Lin Baici asked with a smile. The head cook hesitated for a few seconds: ¡°Since you put it that way, I can grant you a special privilege!¡± ¡°If you can tell me how long I¡¯ve been cooking this pot of porridge, you can take them with you. But if you get it wrong, I will chop off your head and burn your body as firewood!¡± ¡°What¡¯s your decision?¡± The head cook, knife in hand, stood again in front of Lin Baici. Whoosh! Everyone looked towards Lin Baici, terrified out of their wits. This big guy¡¯s single sentence could decide the life and death of everyone. ¡°Oppa, maybe you should give up?¡± Kim Myungjin felt guessing the time was too difficult. Lin Baici had narrowly survived this divine trial game; it wasn¡¯t worth risking his life for these strangers. ¡°Shut up!¡± The old man, hearing Kim Myungjin¡¯s words, blew up immediately, then switched to a pleading smile, begging Lin Baici: ¡°Take a guess, any guess will do!¡± What if you¡¯re right? The old man knew that with his physical condition, if a fight broke out with the head cook, he would definitely die. ¡°Bai Ci, if you¡¯re not sure, just give up!¡± Hua Yue Yu was holding onto the edge of the table, ready to flip it over. Even if she were to die, she¡¯d make sure this monster of a cook peeled a layer of skin. ¡°Fifteen hours!¡± Lin Baici, expressionless, declared a time, but internally he was laughing to death. Sorry, But I couldn¡¯t lose even if I wanted to! With the Eater God¡¯s gourmet reviews, I can do whatever I want! Whoosh! Everyone turned their eyes sharply to the head cook, awaiting its verdict. Chapter 12 - 12 12 Black Tripod Bowl_1 ?12: Chapter 12 Black Tripod Bowl_1 12: Chapter 12 Black Tripod Bowl_1 One second! Two seconds! Three seconds! Everyone¡¯s hearts had risen to their throats, like condemned prisoners kneeling at the execution ground at the third watch, wishing for a lifetime of luck in exchange for a ¡°spare the cutting¡± at the final moment. The stern-looking cook suddenly broke into a smile, like the clear skies after rain. ¡°Honored guest, congratulations, you can take them and leave!¡± The cook congratulated. ¡°Fantastic!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve survived! We¡¯ve survived!¡± ¡°Blessed by the Heavens!¡± The tourists cheered excitedly, many of them slumping onto the tables, gasping for air. This time, they really felt like they had been scared to death. Could it be that he actually guessed right again? Such luck was too incredible, wasn¡¯t it? No one believed that Lin Baici could taste the time spent cooking the porridge, because it was too unbelievable. ¡°What does the Heavens have to do with it? It was Oppa who saved everyone!¡± Kim Myungjin pouted. ¡°You guessed, didn¡¯t you? You definitely guessed, right?¡± Hua Yue Yu looked at Lin Baici, her heart pounding so hard it felt like a kangaroo filled with curiosity was jumping inside. ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Baici smiled slightly. ¡®Wow, it¡¯s that calm and collected smile, I love it so much!¡¯ Hua Yue Yu grabbed Sister Xiao Li¡¯s arm, shaking it forcefully. How could I have ever liked those pretty boys before? So shallow! I declare, starting today, Lin Baici is my god! ¡°What are we waiting for? Let¡¯s go now!¡± An old man urged, with a servile smile, speaking to Lin Baici in a fawning tone, ¡°Young man, I was wrong before. Once we get out, I¡¯ll treat you. A table at Fu Jing Building, to offer my apologies!¡± Fu Jing Building was Guangqing¡¯s finest restaurant, with an average cost of around a thousand yuan per person. The old man wouldn¡¯t really part with that, He was only making a false promise, hoping Lin Baici would lead them out of Dragon Temple. ¡°Can we go now?¡± Someone impatiently asked the cook. ¡°Ask him!¡± The cook pointed at Lin Baici. Everyone looked eagerly at him again. ¡°Handsome guy, let¡¯s get out of here, shall we?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go! Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Hurry up!¡± The crowd urged impatiently, wanting to leave the dreadful dining hall not a second longer. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you should say thank you first?¡± Kim Myungjin complained, ¡°You really have no manners at all!¡± The crowd was dumbfounded by the rebuke, followed by awkward hurry to thank Lin Baici. For a moment, thanks were heard all around. ¡°No need to thank me, let¡¯s hurry out!¡± Lin Baici waved his hand, he had helped these people simply because it was convenient, after all, with Eater God present, it was just about saying one more ¡°time.¡± The crowd looked at the cook, and seeing no objection, they swarmed out. ¡°Wait!¡± Lin Baici called out. Whoosh! The group halted, looking puzzledly at Lin Baici. ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking to you!¡± Lin Baici looked at the old man, ¡°Who said you could leave?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± The old man¡¯s expression turned to one of fear, He was scared. Was this young man so vengeful? ¡°Young man, I...¡± The old man squeezed out a smile, his mind racing to find words to convince Lin Baici. ¡°Cook, I¡¯m not dealing with this guy!¡± Lin Baici¡¯s voice was ice-cold. The old man¡¯s behavior was truly disgusting, especially when he knocked over a little girl¡¯s stool to divert the cook¡¯s attention, which was essentially no different from committing murder. Lin Baici would hardly help him even if his brain was rusted! ¡°No! No! I¡¯m kneeling before you! I¡¯m kowtowing to you!¡± The old man, pale with fear, suddenly knelt down and started kowtowing to Lin Baici. Thump! Thump! Thump! ¡°I still have two grandchildren to take care of, I can¡¯t die!¡± The old man cried out, beginning to beg pathetically. ¡°All you have to do is taste and tell how many ingredients were used in this fragrant porridge, and you won¡¯t have to die!¡± Lin Baici chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s quite simple!¡± ¡®Simple my foot, I¡¯m not the God of Eating!¡¯ The old man cursed inwardly, but dared not show the slightest disrespect on his face. The cook walked over and glanced at the old man. ¡°This spineless person, who kowtows so readily, doesn¡¯t deserve to drink our porridge. You¡¯re fit to be kindling!¡± The cook said, grabbing the old man¡¯s hair and dragging him toward the kitchen, clearly intending to stuff him directly into the stove. ¡°Let me go!¡± ¡°Oh hell, I¡¯m an old man, don¡¯t you respect the elderly and love the young?¡± ¡°I was wrong, I apologize, give me another chance.¡± The old man yelled incoherently, trying to struggle, but it was useless; the cook was a fierce woman two meters tall with enough strength to wrestle horses. With one slap, the old man¡¯s teeth were shattered and his jaw dislocated. The group watched this terrifying scene and ran even faster. They also deeply realized how significant Lin Baici¡¯s help had been to them. His single sentence truly could determine their life and death! Everyone had exited the dining hall and arrived in the courtyard outside Xiang Ji Kitchen. Bang! The wooden door closed. Some were trembling, their legs weak, sitting on the ground, and others came over to strike up a conversation with Lin Baici. They weren¡¯t fools and knew that cozying up to him would increase their chances of leaving the Dragon Temple, so they wanted to team up with Lin Baici. The old lady watched anxiously, incessantly fanning herself with her sunhat. If so many people followed Lin Baici, she would become marginalized. ¡°Brother Lin¡¯s tongue is really impressive, could it be that his ancestors for three generations have all been chefs?¡± Guo Ge was curious. ¡°Three generations? Whom are you looking down upon? Brother Lin¡¯s ancestors definitely have produced an Imperial Chef!¡± Sister Xiao Li analyzed. Lin Baici didn¡¯t leave, instead turning his head back to look at the Xiang Ji Kitchen. Was there Divine Grace upon the taboo thing inside? After experiencing the benefits of ¡°Passing Ears Recitation¡±, he had only four words for Divine Grace... Very much wanted it. [Why leave? Find a way to snag it in one go!] [I¡¯ve never seen someone who wouldn¡¯t pick up money on the ground, things that can be taken for free should not be missed, otherwise, even the goddess of luck would spit on you.] ¡°You guys wait here!¡± Lin Baici clenched the pine wood torch and walked towards the dining hall doors. Gurgle gurgle! His stomach grumbled, the feeling of hunger intensified. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Hua Yue Yu instinctively grabbed Lin Baici, unclear of his intentions. ¡°Oppa, are you going to take the taboo thing?¡± Kim Myungjin guessed Lin Baici¡¯s plan and quickly advised, ¡°Only the Taboo things sealed in a black coffin are safe, otherwise, getting close to them carries the risk of contamination by the rules!¡± Kim Myungjin, clutching a Vanilla Padded Mat, was actually very anxious; if she could choose, she would have thrown the thing away already. ¡°No worries, I will play it by ear!¡± Lin Baici reassured her, quickly stepped forward, pushed open the door, and headed straight to the kitchen. Since he had just completed the Taboo Game, the pollution by the rules was temporarily ineffective against him. The kitchen wasn¡¯t very big. Lin Baici quickly glanced around but didn¡¯t see the cook¡¯s shadow; it seemed she would only appear after a new patron was drawn in by the aroma. Inside the stove, flames raged, burning a corpse that had turned black and charred, unrecognizable as the old man he had been. ¡°Which one is the taboo thing?¡± Lin Baici¡¯s gaze moved over knives, chopping boards, iron pots, and strainers... [Look what I¡¯ve found? A Black Tripod Bowl, quite a practical piece of tableware!] Bowl? Isn¡¯t that just a begging bowl used by monks? In Journey to the West, Tang Monk had one. Based on the God of Eating¡¯s words, Lin Baici spotted a black bowl on the stove. It was large, horizontally oval, like a box used to hold Go game pieces. Lin Baici quickly walked over and picked up the Black Tripod Bowl. It was quite heavy! From the outside, it was black, as if it had frozen the moonless night onto its surface, with gold rims along the bottom and the edge of the bowl. Lin Baici knew, it was it. Because when he picked up the bowl, the hunger disappeared. [If you use it to serve food, you just need to let it sit for a minute, and it will purify impurities and toxins from the food!] [With severe pollution in the world, people who eat grains and meats are bound to ingest harmful substances. These accumulate in the body, and over time, they can cause disease and reduce lifespan!] [With this Black Tripod Bowl, even if you¡¯re eating gutter oil food, expired snacks, or drinks adulterated with chemicals, you can eat with peace of mind!] Eater God¡¯s triple review. Lin Baici¡¯s eyebrows twitched, recognizing it as something valuable. However, the holiday was ending, and he was about to report to the university. Throughout his four-year college life, he¡¯d surely be eating at the cafeteria. He couldn¡¯t possibly carry this bowl around every day, could he? Students unaware of the situation might think he was a monk who had returned to lay life, right? No, that¡¯s not right! Even a proper monk wouldn¡¯t use this thing to eat with nowadays, would they? Lin Baici felt dejected. Having a great item but not being able to use it felt like such a waste. [Its greatest effect is that it contains an ¡®internal granary.¡¯ You can store rice, flour, cooking oil, vegetables, and fruit inside. As long as you have this bowl, you¡¯ll never have to worry about starving to death.] Lin Baici¡¯s spirits lifted upon hearing this, ¡°What?¡± [Confirmed, it¡¯s indeed a Nine-Holes Fish, with such a straightforward explanation. Can¡¯t you understand? I suggest retaking nine years of compulsory education!] Eater God¡¯s biting commentary. ¡°No, I mean, I can understand. Are you saying there¡¯s really a ¡®granary¡¯ inside this bowl?¡± Lin Baici stretched his hand into the bowl, feeling around, then turned it upside down, shaking it vigorously a few times, but nothing came out. Those who had lived through the pandemic era knew how vital survival supplies were. So the effect of this ¡®granary¡¯ thrilled Lin Baici. [Please call it a bowl, follow me, boyu!] The pronunciation of Eater God was impeccably standard, as if able to host the CCTV Newscast. ¡°Where¡¯s the granary? How do I open it? How big is the space?¡± Lin Baici pressed further. [Just mumble ¡®drink porridge¡¯ ¡®drink porridge¡¯ at it, and the granary will open up!] Lin Baici immediately held up the Black Tripod Bowl with one hand and brought it to his lips. ¡°Drink porridge!¡± ¡°Drink porridge!¡± After Lin Baici spoke, he saw a vortex-like halo suddenly appear at the mouth of the bowl. He grew excited, peering into it with wide eyes. ¡°How does it work?¡± Lin Baici was brimming with enthusiasm, like an Ultraman who had just spotted a tiny monster. [I am the Eater God, not a nanny!] Eater God refused to provide hands-on instruction. Lin Baici put down the pine torch and picked up a kitchen knife from the chopping board next to him, placing it into the vortex-like halo. He was always vigilant¡ªsince entering the kitchen, he had not let go of the torch, ever ready for a skirmish. Lin Baici waited a few seconds, then reached into the halo, groping around. When he pulled his hand back out, he was clutching the kitchen knife. ¡°Haha, this is fun!¡± Lin Baici was overjoyed. Wait a minute! Although it¡¯s called a granary, there was no rule stating it must carry only food, right? Clothes, shoes, socks, bedding, computers should also fit, So doesn¡¯t that mean, wherever I go to have fun in the future, I won¡¯t need to lug around loads of luggage? ¡°Right, Eater God, how do you know all this?¡± Lin Baici realized that Eater God seemed to have an intimate knowledge of these Taboo things! Chapter 13 - 13 13 Worship Buddha in the Great Hall_1 ?13: Chapter 13 Worship Buddha in the Great Hall_1 13: Chapter 13 Worship Buddha in the Great Hall_1 The Eater God didn¡¯t respond. Lin Baici wanted even more to ask him what exactly this hunger sensation was that had appeared since middle school. Ever since he was young, whenever he felt hunger, there were always valuable lost items nearby. And now, he discovered that his hunger responded even more intensely to taboo things. As long as there were taboo things within a certain range, Lin Baici would feel hungry, and the closer he was to the taboo things, the stronger the hunger would be. When he obtained the taboo things, he would feel as though he had eaten a full meal. So comfortable! ¡°Ying Zhen, come in for a sec!¡± Lin Baici called someone. The Goryeo girl immediately ran over, her dyed light golden hair fluttering, full of energy. ¡°What¡¯s up, Brother Lin?¡± Sister Xiao Li was curious. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go see for yourself?¡± Xu Xiu suggested. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go?¡± Sister Xiao Li rolled her eyes. ¡°...¡± The old lady gave an awkward smile; she didn¡¯t dare to, fearing she¡¯d be scolded by Lin Baici. ¡°Oppa, what¡¯s wrong?¡± As soon as Kim Myungjin came in, she saw the Black Tripod Bowl in his hands. Pretty nice, If it weren¡¯t too new, it would look like a beautifully crafted antique. ¡°Give me the padded mat!¡± Lin Baici wanted to put the Vanilla Padded Mat inside; the item was too large and inconvenient to carry around. He didn¡¯t do this outside to avoid suspicion. After all, the fewer people who knew about his possession of the taboo things, the better. ¡°Oh!¡± Kim Myungjin handed over the padded mat to Lin Baici and then saw him mutter something. Above the bowl, a vortex-shaped halo appeared. Then, the padded mat, which was so much larger than the bowl, was easily placed inside. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s amazing!¡± Kim Myungjin exclaimed, ¡°Right, is there any Divine Grace on this?¡± No need to ask, this bowl was definitely a taboo thing; the rules contamination just now was caused by it. If it weren¡¯t for Lin Baici¡¯s intervention, everyone would have died under the contamination. ¡°Nope!¡± Lin Baici shook his head but he felt that the ¡®purification¡¯ and ¡®granary¡¯ effects were no worse than one Divine Grace: ¡°Let¡¯s go, we need to find the God¡¯s bones quick!¡± According to Kim Myungjin, there was at least one Divine Grace on the God¡¯s bones. The little girl, seeing Lin Baici come out, immediately broke free from her mother¡¯s embrace and toddled over: ¡°Thank you, Eater God brother!¡± The little girl gave a sweet smile, took out a piece of candy, and handed it to Lin Baici. She still remembered Lin Baici sarcastically calling himself a ¡®hungry person¡¯, so she changed ¡®person¡¯ to ¡®god¡¯. Her mother also ran over, continuously bowing to Lin Baici, thanking him! Many of the rescued tourists also came over. Apart from saying thank you, more were looking to team up with Lin Baici. ¡°Does it feel really uncomfortable?¡± Lin Baici crouched down, touched the little girl¡¯s head; her face was pale, and she looked exhausted, as if she were ill. ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± The little girl shook her head; she didn¡¯t want her mother to worry, but in fact, she felt very nauseous, like she had been on a long car ride. ¡°Here, have some candy!¡± Lin Baici peeled off the candy wrapper and stuffed the piece of candy into the little girl¡¯s mouth: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your big brother will get you out of here quickly!¡± ¡°Mhm!¡± The little girl nodded vigorously: ¡°Eater God brother is so strong!¡± ¡°Bai Ci, let¡¯s go find the God¡¯s bones, shall we?¡± The old lady didn¡¯t want to waste time here. Lin Baici raised his hand and looked at his watch. Two hours had passed since the appearance of God¡¯s ruins. ¡°Whoa, a Rolex? Brother Lin is from a rich family, eh?¡± Brother Gu liked watches but couldn¡¯t afford them. Upon hearing this, Little Li¡¯s eyes lit up. Good looks, money, wisdom, a calm heart, and compassion... Smitten! Totally smitten! ¡°No, I found it!¡± Lin Baici told the truth. ¡°Bai Ci is too modest. Is a Rolex something you can just find?¡± Little Li thought Lin Baici was trying to be low-key. Lin Baici thought to himself, in this Dragon Temple, it was indeed possible to pick one up; after all, there were quite a few corpses around. ¡°Handsome, what do we do next?¡± The woman who had previously ridiculed Lin Baici for his fearlessness edged out of the crowd, smiling as she inquired. Dang! Dang! Dang! A piercing, sharp bell rang from above the Dragon Temple. Under the cover of the black fog, they sounded like the roar of a monster, eerie and ominous. ¡°Dear visitors, please head to the Daxiong Treasure Hall to pay homage to Buddha immediately!¡± The sonorous deep voice announced it three times. ¡°Who¡¯s talking?¡± The tourists looked alarmed. Judging by the voice, could this be a monster even more terrifying than the cook? ¡°Bai Ci, we can¡¯t go, we absolutely mustn¡¯t!¡± The old lady was scared. ¡°We can¡¯t not go!¡± Kim Myungjin was depressed: ¡°This is definitely some taboo thing starting to contaminate with its rules, and from the looks of it, it must be an extremely dangerous taboo thing.¡± Lin Baici frowned. The Eater God had warned him that the Daxiong Treasure Hall was very dangerous, but now, there was no avoiding it. ¡°Why can¡¯t we just not go?¡± The old lady argued: ¡°We could just hide, couldn¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Naive!¡± The black fog had dispersed considerably, and Kim Myungjin could now clearly see the Daxiong Treasure Hall, which lay sprawled out in front of them like a giant beast choosing its prey. ¡°Those who don¡¯t want to go can stay behind.¡± Lin Baici would not force anyone. Grasping a Songmu torch and with a firewood knife attached to his waist, he walked toward the Daxiong Treasure Hall. Kim Myungjin and Sima Mu immediately followed. ¡°Yue Yu, what should we do?¡± Sister Xiao Li was reluctant to go. ¡°If we leave him, what do you think are our chances of survival?¡± After saying that, Hua Yue Yu hurried after Lin Baici. ¡°Let¡¯s go, I believe in Brother Lin!¡± Because of his professional habits, Brother Gu lifted his Canon camera, intending to take a picture of Lin Baici, but he forgot that the camera was broken. ¡°Wait for me!¡± The old lady jogged to catch up. The remaining tourists were all hesitating. To go would certainly be dangerous, but what if not going invited punishment? The little girl tugged at her mother¡¯s arm, ¡°Mom, let¡¯s follow the big brother!¡± The mother shook her head! In the end, only a third of the tourists went; the others, either out of fear or with more cunning thoughts, wanted others to scout ahead first before deciding whether to go or not. ... The Daxiong Treasure Hall with its flying eaves and rising corners was covered with golden glazed tiles, looking magnificent and bizarre like a monster clad in golden armor. The grandiose redwood doors of the treasure hall were closed, and everyone could only wait on the ground in front of the steps. More and more people gathered. Some of them were in very poor mental states, obviously having suffered greatly in the Taboo Game. ¡°This is the last warning, please, all guests, proceed immediately to the Daxiong Treasure Hall to pay homage to Buddha!¡± This voice was grand and stern, like that of a cruel jailer who delighted in punishing prisoners. People began to arrive one after another, but many more did not. Lin Baici occasionally glanced at his watch, and after ten minutes had passed, the redwood door of the Daxiong Treasure Hall, studded with brass rivets, opened with a grating creak. A melodious, solemn, and holy chanting began to resonate, as if thousands of high monks were meditating and chanting scriptures. ¡°You know what, this does sound pretty good!¡± Hua Yue Yu didn¡¯t understand the chant, it was definitely not Chinese, but the melody and pronunciation were comforting to the ears. If she could chant this scripture and make a short video, she could surely gain some popularity. ¡°Oppa, let¡¯s wait a bit longer before we enter!¡± Kim Myungjin whispered a reminder. ¡°Mm!¡± Lin Baici was also listening to the chanting; it indeed wasn¡¯t bad. On the stone-bricked ground, over eight hundred tourists gathered, looking around, waiting for someone else to enter the hall first. Suddenly, Eighteen two-meter-tall monks clad in Gray Robes, built entirely of steel, charged out of the Daxiong Treasure Hall. ¡°There¡¯s a monster!¡± Whoosh! The tourists screamed, scattering like ants doused with boiling water. These eighteen monks were clearly not human. Each one had a hulking frame, wielding a thick Zen Cane, and their expressions were ferocious, resembling evil spirits from hell. However, they did not kill anyone. After descending the steps, they immediately split up, heading toward different parts of the Dragon Temple. ¡°Are they... are they going to kill those who did not come to the Daxiong Treasure Hall?¡± Many people were scared and wanted to leave; but after hearing this, they immediately stopped in their tracks. ¡°Those who enter the temple and do not pray to the Buddha deserve to die!¡± A scolding voice came out from the hall. Whoosh! The crowd was abuzz, followed by the sounds of people gasping in fear and relief. ¡°It¡¯s confirmed, those who didn¡¯t come are going to die!¡± Hua Yue Yu breathed a sigh of relief; she was thankful that she had made the right choice. Otherwise, seeing others able to avoid danger and lie low to win, she would have been frustrated. ¡°That little girl...¡± Lin Baici frowned and looked in the direction the girl had come from. Sima Mu and the old lady instinctively reached out, grabbing Lin Baici¡¯s arm. They were worried that Lin Baici would go to save others. After all, the young man seemed very kind. ¡°Eater God brother, we¡¯re here!¡± The little girl pulled her mother along and squeezed through the crowd. ¡°I¡¯m glad you came. Did you see? Those who didn¡¯t will be killed by those monstrous monks!¡± Hua Yue Yu ruffled the little girl¡¯s hair. ¡°We saw!¡± The little girl¡¯s mother was named Zhang Ju, and she was trembling slightly. After Lin Baici had left, her daughter had firmly pulled her along, insisting that the big brother was a good person and that following him might lead to survival. Zhang Ju thought about it and decided that they could first hide outside the Daxiong Treasure Hall, but she never expected eighteen monstrous monks to rush out, panicking her so much that she immediately picked up her daughter and ran over. When those monstrous monks brushed past her, Zhang Ju nearly collapsed in fright. It was truly a choice that determined life and death. ¡°Please, all guests, enter the Daxiong Treasure Hall to pay homage to Buddha!¡± The voice rang out again. [What a sight for sore eyes, there¡¯s even food delivering itself to the door?] The Eater God mocked. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Baici called out to everyone and led the way into the hall. You can¡¯t avoid being polluted by the rules; it¡¯s all the same whether you go in early or late. ... Inside the hall, the domed ceiling towered high, vast and imposing. Directly in front of the Buddhist platform, there was a nine-meter-tall Dark Buddha seated cross-legged, with its right elbow on its knee and the palm supporting its cheek, a pair of sharp eyes taking keen interest in these humans. Excellent! The toys have arrived! Chapter 14 - 14 14 Three Trials before Buddha_1 ?14: Chapter 14: Three Trials before Buddha_1 14: Chapter 14: Three Trials before Buddha_1 In the great hall, the lighting was dim, casting an eerie and terrifying atmosphere. The dark Buddha statue was so conspicuous that everyone saw it. A few timid tourists were even considering whether to kneelson the ground and kowtow three times to the statue first. ¡°Approach!¡± ¡°Kneel!¡± ¡°Worship!¡± The dark Buddha statue, seemingly cast from brass, spoke with succinct clarity, its voice exuding an undeniable dominance. The tourists were restless and uncertain about what to do. ¡°Bai Ci, should we go and kowtow first?¡± The old lady was afraid, ¡°After all, it¡¯s just kowtowing; it¡¯s not like we¡¯d lose a piece of flesh!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s kowtow first!¡± Sima Mu also agreed. ¡°Oppa, the rule contamination must have started, but we don¡¯t know what the deadly effect is?¡± Kim Myungjin felt that this Buddha¡¯s presence was so terrifying, it couldn¡¯t possibly be resolved by merely kowtowing. When there are many people, a herd mentality can take hold. Over eight hundred tourists were looking at each other. Kowtowing wasn¡¯t the issue; the main fear was that being the first to kowtow might lead to an accident. The Buddha statue saw that no one moved and huffed coldly. A spark shot out from its two large nostrils and then scattered, like fireflies in the summertime, drifting to the ground. [Dodge!] Lin Baici heard this and quickly moved towards a corner. ¡°Retreat!¡± Lin Baici warned Kim Myungjin and the others. In fact, without his shouting, everyone instinctively dodged the sparks. The sparks landed and then suddenly sped up, flying towards the heads of the nearest people. Boom! A small flame burst into life on their foreheads. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit hot!¡± ¡°What do we do now?¡± The tourists marked by the sparks were in a panic. ¡°Don¡¯t dawdle, you might die¡ªhurry up and go to the Buddha statue to kowtow and worship!¡± A middle-aged man with short hair growled impatiently. He had no spark on his forehead, and by saying this, he wanted these people to lead the way. If there were traps ahead, these people would trigger them first. Hearing this, the tourists didn¡¯t dare delay any longer and quickly ran to the front of the Buddha statue, knelt down, and started kowtowing. ¡°Bless us, Bodhisattva!¡± ¡°The Buddha is merciful!¡± ¡°I¡¯m a good person; I¡¯ve never done anything wrong, please spare me?¡± The tourists kowtowed, prayed, and many promised to offer incense and worship. The Buddha statue, with its palm supporting its cheek, watched these people with an expressionless face, then suddenly revealed a ferocious smile. ¡°Those who disrespect Buddha, die!¡± As the word ¡®die¡¯ fell, those with a spark on their foreheads faced their doomsday. The spark suddenly burst into flames, igniting their hair and causing them to burn like candles, the fire spreading rapidly and engulfing their entire bodies in moments. Boom! Boom! Boom! Suddenly, there were so many ¡®torches¡¯ in the hall, dispelling much of the darkness. Yet, the surviving tourists felt as if they had fallen into an ice cave, their blood running even colder. The old lady and Hua Yue Yu clutched Lin Baici¡¯s arm, shaking uncontrollably. The seventy-five unfortunate ones, as they were ignited, screamed, wailed, and begged for help... They ran about headlessly, but after just a dozen seconds, they fell to the ground, dead, reduced to charred bodies that emitted a smell of burnt meat into the air. Bleurgh! Bleurgh! Many people vomited. ¡°Approach!¡± ¡°Kneel!¡± ¡°Worship!¡± The dark Buddha spoke again. This time no one dared to delay; except for two or three who were still standing, everyone else knelt down to kowtow to the Buddha. ¡°Bai Ci, kneel quickly!¡± The old lady, seeing that Lin Baici hadn¡¯t knelt, quickly tugged at him. ¡°Brother Lin, don¡¯t worry about pride, staying alive is what¡¯s important.¡± Brother Gu urged him. Whether it worked or not, it was better to kowtow first and discuss it later. The tourists bowed down submissively, but the Buddha statue was not satisfied. It huffed again, and a spark shot out from its nostril. Having witnessed the terror of this thing, everyone frantically dodged with panic, and some even pushed and shoved each other, trying to squeeze into the crowd to use others as human shields. The sparks were fast, and their trajectory was unpredictable, hard to dodge. It was purely a matter of luck. Another sixty or so unlucky ones were marked by a spark on their foreheads. ¡°Lin... Brother Lin!¡± The young photographer cried. He was unlucky, and a spark burned on his forehead. ¡°Kowtowing won¡¯t work; we have to quickly find the correct way to worship the Buddha!¡± Lin Baici analyzed the situation while also asking the Eater God in his heart what to do. But that mysterious voice did not reply. ¡°It seems we can only rely on ourselves!¡± Lin Baici started to take action to save himself and called out to everyone, ¡°Don¡¯t just linger here, let¡¯s search the great hall carefully for clues!¡± In the Daxiong Treasure Hall, besides the dark Buddha statue enshrined on the main altar in front, there were eighteen smaller altars on each of the left and right sides. If Lin Baici was not mistaken, these were the positions of the eighteen Arhat monks that had burst out earlier. Behind these side altars, there were rows of purple-lacquered wooden racks with unlit bronze oil lamps on them. The hall was paved with blue stone slabs, smooth as mirrors, with scriptures carved upon them, but the dome was too high to see clearly. The surrounding walls were carved with colorful murals. There were depictions of the Buddha descending to save sentient beings; devoted men and women praying and reciting scriptures to Buddha; and scenes of plentiful incense offering and the Buddha¡¯s eternal flame... Even the most inconspicuous weed in these murals was carved to look lifelike, and the expressions of each believer were portrayed vividly. ¡°There¡¯s nothing in this great hall!¡± Many people couldn¡¯t find any clues, which led to despair. Lin Baici looked around and then his gaze returned to the mural on the left wall. A group of devotees sitting on vanilla padded mats, reciting scriptures, and worshipping the Buddha. ¡°Do we need to recite sutras?¡± Hua Yue Yu also noticed this and her eyes lit up. ¡°Does anyone know how to recite sutras? Hurry up and chant a few paragraphs!¡± The man with short hair shouted. ¡°I... I can!¡± An old man stood out. He was elderly and in poor health with illnesses, hoping to live a few more years, he began to follow Buddhism. He worshipped a Guanyin statue in his home, reciting sutras daily. ¡°Then what are we waiting for? Hurry up!¡± The man with short hair urged. The old man knelt down, put his palms together, and began to murmur as he recited sutras. Everyone didn¡¯t dare to breathe heavily, all eyes were on him. The dark Buddha listened. ¡°Does it seem to be working?¡± The tourists¡¯ spirits were lifted. The old man stole a glance at the dark Buddha, thinking he had passed the test and was about to relax, when the great Buddha spoke. ¡°A stray dog¡¯s idle barking, noisy!¡± The Buddha looked impatient, lifted his left hand, and pressed it down through the air! A black Buddha palm, formed of condensed light, suddenly appeared over ten meters above the old man¡¯s head and swiftly slammed down. Bang! Dust flew up and blood and flesh splattered. By the time the black Buddha palm vanished, all that was left was a clump of flesh smeared on the bluestone floor. The old man was dead, not even his bones remained! Numerous people felt a tingling on their scalp upon witnessing this. So chanting sutras is also futile? The dark Buddha swept its gaze around. Those tourists with sparks on their foreheads were panicked, bowing even more earnestly; two even began to mutilate themselves to demonstrate their devotion to Buddhism. But it was a pity, it was to no avail. Boom! Boom! Boom! The sparks ignited, setting them aflame. ¡°Yue Yu...¡± The photographer looked at Hua Yue Yu reluctantly, knowing he was about to die, he wanted to confess his feelings but before he could finish, he was ignited. ¡°Oppa!¡± Hua Yue Yu felt distressed. Oppa was conscientious at work, excelled at photography, didn¡¯t smoke or drink, was a good man, and a good partner; she never thought he would die in such a place. ¡°Step forward!¡± ¡°Kneel!¡± ¡°Worship the Buddha!¡± The great Buddha spoke with an indifferent voice. ¡°You tell us to worship the Buddha, but how exactly are we supposed to do that?¡± Someone shouted out loud, indignant. The Buddha did not respond to him but snorted coldly again, shooting out a spark from its nostrils. Whoosh! The tourists retreated hastily, everyone now knew that touching that thing meant certain death. The sparks scattered, like a meteor shower, falling in front of some people¡¯s foreheads. At this moment, status, wealth, and beauty didn¡¯t matter, only luck. A spark passed by Hua Yue Yu¡¯s face and landed in front of Jin Ying Zhen¡¯s forehead. ¡°Oppa...¡± Jin Ying Zhen panicked. ¡°Don¡¯t give up!¡± Lin Bai Ci encouraged her, glancing over the murals while recalling everything that happened after the bell rang and the great Buddha urged everyone to enter the hall to worship. ¡°The ways to worship the Buddha¡ªkneeling, copying sutras, offering incense, presenting tributes, chanting sutras... chanting sutras?¡± Lin Bai Ci had an epiphany. Chanting sutras was definitely a way to worship the Buddha, but the great Buddha was not satisfied¡ªcould it be because it couldn¡¯t understand? Lin Bai Ci looked down at the scripture on the bluestone floor in a language unknown to any ethnicity, then remembered the chanting that echoed at the beginning in the Daxiong Treasure Hall. None were in Chinese. ¡°Ying Zhen, follow me and recite a passage of sutras next!¡± Lin Bai Ci quickly opened his backpack, took out the Black Tripod Bowl, muttered ¡®drink porridge¡¯ ¡®drink porridge¡¯ twice, and took out the Vanilla Padded Mat. Seeing this, Hua Yue Yu was quite surprised. If it were usual times, she would definitely inquire about it, but now that everyone was about to die, she had no curiosity left: ¡°Bai Ci, reciting sutras is useless!¡± ¡°Not necessarily!¡± Lin Bai Ci walked towards the Buddha, ¡°Hurry up!¡± Jin Ying Zhen hurriedly followed. Lin Bai Ci set up the Vanilla Padded Mat and had Jin Ying Zhen kneel on it, then he began to recite sutras. Thanks to Guo Er Cheng Song! He memorized the sutras after hearing them just once. Jin Ying Zhen repeated each sentence after Lin Bai Ci, and since she was kneeling on the Padded Mat imbued with Guo Er Cheng Song¡¯s blessing, her memory was exceptionally good at that moment. Some tourists walked around the hall looking for clues, not giving up, while a few had resigned themselves to fate and simply lay down. Watching Jin Ying Zhen reciting sutras, they thought she was wasting her effort. The old man had already proved with his life that chanting sutras was useless. ¡°Rather than being squashed into a mess, I¡¯d rather be burned to death!¡± An old lady mumbled. Soon, people noticed something was amiss¡ªthe great Buddha wasn¡¯t killing anyone and was listening to the girl with the goose egg face recite the sutras, with the murderous look on its face slightly softening. Five minutes passed. Jin Ying Zhen finished reciting, looking at the great Buddha with a nervous expression. ¡°Step back!¡± The great Buddha waved its hand, and the spark on Jin Ying Zhen¡¯s forehead ¡°pop!¡± exploded and disappeared. ¡°I¡¯ve survived! I¡¯ve survived!¡± Jin Ying Zhen jumped with excitement, hugging Lin Bai Ci like a koala and gave him a big kiss. ¡°Oppa, you¡¯re my superhero!¡± Jin Ying Zhen felt incredibly grateful to Lin Bai Ci after this near-death experience. He saved me again! ¡°So chanting sutras works?¡± ¡°Then why was that old man killed?¡± ¡°It seems like the sutras they chanted were different!¡± The tourists discussed among themselves, gathering around Lin Bai Ci, hoping to learn more. It was clear to all. This girl who resembled a member of a Korean girl group survived all because of this big guy. Chapter 15 - 15 15 Reciting Sutras by the Mural_1 ?15: Chapter 15 Reciting Sutras by the Mural_1 15: Chapter 15 Reciting Sutras by the Mural_1 ¡°We¡¯re alive!¡± The old lady breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°What chant were you reciting?¡± The middle-aged man with short hair forcibly made his way through the crowd to stand in front of Lin Baici. ¡°Can you teach us?¡± Those tourists with sparks on their foreheads were more anxious than the next. ¡°When the doors of this great hall opened just now, didn¡¯t a chanting sound emerge? The chant I had her recite was that one!¡± Lin Baici informed the crowd. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is!¡± The tourists suddenly realized. ¡°You actually remembered it all?¡± Hua Yue Yu was shocked. What kind of superhuman memory was this? Isn¡¯t that too amazing? ¡°Those with sparks on their foreheads, don¡¯t just stand there, hurry to the front of the Buddha and kneel down, follow this handsome guy in chanting!¡± The man with short hair took matters into his own hands. From the current situation, everyone¡¯s survival depended on this student, but whether he would help others or not was up to him, so the man with short hair wanted to listen to the chant again and quickly memorize it. The unlucky ones, having heard this, immediately knelt in front of the Buddha and then anxiously looked at Lin Baici. ¡°Listen carefully...¡± Lin Baici was indifferent, after all, it was just a matter of reciting it one more time. The crowd¡¯s recitation was choppy and stilted, akin to someone who had never learned English suddenly hearing a teacher recite a paragraph in English and having to follow along... It was extremely difficult. Even though Lin Baici paused at each phrase, there were still those who couldn¡¯t keep up, and many pronounced it incorrectly. The Dark Buddha listened to a few phrases, frowning deeply, Is this what you call chanting and paying respect to the Buddha? This is nothing but a buzz of flies, a complete desecration of the scripture. So boom! Boom! Boom! Those unlucky ones were set alight by the sparks on their foreheads, quickly burning into charcoal statues. At this point, the great hall already had more than hundred bodies lying inside, It was frightening. ¡°Why were they killed again?¡± Zhang Ju hugged her daughter tightly, completely clueless. ¡°They must have chanted it incorrectly!¡± Sima Mu thought to himself, if he heard such chantings, he would also feel like hitting someone. The man with short hair listened carefully for a few phrases and, realizing he couldn¡¯t understand or remember, grew puzzled. How did the pretty girl manage that? She did not look like a straight-A student to him. The man with short hair¡¯s gaze fell on the padded mat held by Kim Myungjin. Could it have something to do with this thing? ¡°Step forward!¡± ¡°Kneel!¡± ¡°Pay respects to the Buddha!¡± The Dark Buddha urged on, still snorting, spewing out sparks. It was the fourth batch. Swish! Everyone¡¯s gaze turned to Lin Baici. Lin Baici did not step forward voluntarily, but this time, the sparks from the Buddha drifted in front of his forehead, and Hua Yue Yu was unable to avoid them either. ¡°You kneel on the padded mat and follow me in the chant!¡± Lin Baici told the hostess to prepare the Vanilla Padded Mat quickly. The tourists, wanting to hear more clearly, tried to get closer to Lin Baici, so some began to push and shove, curse, and even fight. Hua Yue Yu was panicked, worried she couldn¡¯t remember, but soon realized she was overthinking it. She could remember Lin Baici¡¯s strange pronunciation after listening to it just once. ¡°Was I always this smart?¡± Hua Yue Yu marveled. ¡°Don¡¯t get distracted!¡± Lin Baici warned. Hua Yue Yu immediately straightened her back, trying to pronounce each word precisely until Lin Baici¡¯s voice no longer resonated, and only then did she realize she had finished chanting. She then looked up at the Buddha, waiting for the verdict. ¡°You two, step back!¡± Hua Yue Yu heard these words and excitedly pumped her fist. Yay! ¡°Bai Ci, thank you!¡± Hua Yue Yu, with tears in her eyes, Brother with the long legs, thank you for taking me on this flight! The other sixty-odd tourists with sparks on their foreheads became panicked; the Dark Buddha had not mentioned them, obviously dissatisfied. ¡°Handsome guy, help us!¡± Before they could plead for help, the sparks set them ablaze. There were casualties all over the ground! The smell of charred flesh was spreading. ¡°It really does have to do with that padded mat!¡± The man with short hair, not caring about those who were burning, dashed up to Lin Baici in a few strides. ¡°Hello, I am Jiang Hong, the boss of Hongji Real Estate. I¡¯ll give you ten million. When it¡¯s my turn to pay respects to the Buddha, could you lend me that padded mat to use?¡± The middle-aged man got straight to the point. In fact, a dozen other tourists also noticed the Vanilla Padded Mat and wanted to borrow it, but Jiang Hong¡¯s name and the ten million immediately overwhelmed them. The middle-aged man said this with confidence. Hongji Real Estate was the leading enterprise in Guangqing City, and Jiang Hong himself, being the city¡¯s richest man, was extremely famous. Who wouldn¡¯t give him face? Ten million should definitely make the student bow down, right? But the money couldn¡¯t be given in cash; he¡¯d give two apartments at market value in exchange, which would be the most cost-effective. Jiang Hong felt sure that the other party would agree. ¡°Ten million?¡± Lin Baici looked at the middle-aged man. So this is the unscrupulous businessman uncle mentioned, huh? ¡°Since you have money, why don¡¯t you finish building the unfinished building of your company?¡± Uncle¡¯s family bought a house from Hongji Real Estate seven years ago for his son¡¯s marriage, planning to make it a marital home, but it¡¯s still an unfinished building to this day. It¡¯s been said that many people can¡¯t move into their new homes and still have to pay mortgages every month; they¡¯ve been terribly scammed. Jiang Hong didn¡¯t feel awkward at all, pointing at Lin Baici with the attitude of an elder, ¡°You don¡¯t understand business!¡± ¡°Baici, I can offer two million in cash, you must help me, okay?¡± Aunt Xu Xiu was sincere, wanting to use the money to buy her life, as she was now scared to end up in the same batch as Jiang Hong. ¡°I¡¯ll pay too, one million. Can I reserve a spot first?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have that much cash, but I have a villa. Once we get out, I¡¯ll transfer ownership to you!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you half of my canned food factory¡¯s profits every year!¡± Some wealthy people began to bid, trying to offer Lin Baici a price that would move him to help them first, but the majority were poor and so remained silent. An average salary of three to four thousand a month left them without even the qualifications to compete. ¡°Aunt Xu, don¡¯t panic, I¡¯ll definitely help if I can!¡± Lin Baici offered reassurance. ¡°Step forward!¡± ¡°Kneel and bow!¡± ¡°Pay homage to Buddha!¡± The Dark Buddha yawned, and this time, he expelled a large spark that directly enveloped over two hundred people. The little girl and her mom, Zhang Ju, Aunt Xu, Jiang Hong, and Sister Xiao Li, all had sparks attached to their foreheads. ¡°Fuck!¡± Jiang Hong cursed, then continued with a smile, trying to persuade Lin Baici, ¡°Young brother, please help, I¡¯ll remember this favor for a lifetime!¡± ¡°Hungry Ghost Oppa!¡± The little girl waved her small hand at Lin Baici when she saw him looking at her. ¡°Handsome, please save my daughter?¡± Zhang Ju cried. ¡°Baici!¡± Aunt Xu trembled. Sister Xiao Li didn¡¯t speak, but the plea in her eyes was clear. Given the slightest chance of survival, who wouldn¡¯t want to live? Hua Yue Yu and Sister Xiao Li were besties, and out of friendship and reason, she hoped that Lin Baici would help Xiao Li, but the little girl was only a bit over three years old, never having even tasted the aroma of her youth. Lin Baici was just a student who had graduated from high school. He should have been enjoying a happy summer vacation, then off to college, finding a girlfriend, and savoring his youth. But now, he had to choose who to help survive. Those not chosen were certain to die. Lin Baici detested making such choices. Whoosh! Lin Baici exhaled a breath of foul air, looking towards the Dark Buddha seated high on the platform, overlooking all beings, ¡°Can I recite scriptures and pay homage to Buddha on behalf of these tourists?¡± ¡°Oppa!¡± Kim Myungjin was startled, wanting to urge him not to be impulsive, but after seeing the look in Lin Baici¡¯s eyes, she gave up. This... Perhaps this was what a hero looked like? ¡°Brother Lin, do you have a death wish?¡± Sima Mu was anxious, as it wasn¡¯t worth risking their lives for these people. ¡°Saving one is saving, saving a bunch is saving, there¡¯s no difference!¡± Lin Baici waited for the Buddha¡¯s response. ¡°You may!¡± The Dark Buddha showed a smile full of wicked delight, pointing with his left hand at the virtuous men and women in the mural, ¡°As long as you can follow them in recitation, completing a session of paying homage to Buddha, I will forgive these ants¡¯ disrespect!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Lin Baici agreed, it was just reciting scriptures. Even if it was long, with the help of ¡®Guo Er Cheng Song¡¯ and the Vanilla Padded Mat, it wasn¡¯t an issue. ¡°Don¡¯t rush, let me finish. If the chanting is interrupted halfway, you¡¯ll die!¡± The Dark Buddha chuckled. Everyone gasped when they heard this. ¡°Brother Lin, don¡¯t take the risk!¡± Sima Mu urgently advised, ¡°Save one you wish to save, doing your best is enough!¡± The Dark Buddha looked on with interest at Lin Baici, ¡°So, will you still chant for them?¡± ¡°Begin!¡± Lin Baici sat cross-legged on the padded mat, concentrating deeply. ¡°Nobody talk, if anyone speaks, I¡¯ll kill him!¡± Jiang Hong bellowed, ¡°Even if you want to fart, hold it in!¡± Life and death were at stake, and Jiang Hong tolerated no errors. Ding! Ding! Ding! Three sharp bell and chime sounds rang out, and then those virtuous men and women in the mural began to chant. Upon hearing a few phrases, the tourists all changed color. The sound was pleasant, but wasn¡¯t it too difficult? It was like listening to the heavenly book. Who could remember that? Despair began to rise within them as they watched Lin Baici. We¡¯re doomed! In the midst of the sacred chants, everyone was touched by the law-rain, beneath the scripture¡¯s voice, they all bathed in Buddha¡¯s grace. What seemed an insurmountable task to others, Lin Baici achieved. He didn¡¯t understand the meaning of the scriptures, but he followed the devotees, not missing a single word, chanting with precise pronunciation. ¡°It¡¯s possible!¡± The tourists grew excited. Hua Yue Yu and Kim Myungjin were still worried, as the chanting became faster, seemingly spitting out thousands of words in one breath. Fortunately, Lin Baici was able to keep up. After a full fifteen minutes, Lin Baici¡¯s lips had gone numb, but he finally awaited the end of the chanting. When he stopped, every tourist had a look of elation and gratitude, as if they had survived a catastrophe. Surely the Buddha could find no fault with such perfect chanting, right? And seriously, how good was that guy¡¯s memory? ¡°Genius!¡± Kim Myungjin looked at Lin Baici, her eyes filled with amazement. She had just utilized the Vanilla Padded Mat, a Taboo object, and although ¡®Guo Er Cheng Song¡¯ was powerful, remembering it didn¡¯t necessarily mean one could speak it out. The padded mat didn¡¯t come with a feature to automatically correct errors in pronunciation. That meant Lin Baici¡¯s linguistic expression and imitation skills were extremely strong, and one must remember, this was all under the immense pressure where failure meant death. Lin Baici had succeeded! His ability to withstand pressure was unbelievably strong. ¡°Is it done?¡± Lin Baici asked with a smile, rubbing his lips with the back of his hand. To improve his English listening skills, he had recited aloud a short text every morning since his first year of high school, and over time, his lips had become well-trained. Chapter 16 - 16 16 Cursed Buddha Baby_1 ?16: Chapter 16 Cursed Buddha Baby_1 16: Chapter 16 Cursed Buddha Baby_1 The tourists all looked up in unison, gazing at the dark Buddha statue. ¡°Hmph!¡± The dark Buddha statue snorted coldly, clearly feeling that this attention was highly disrespectful. Many tourists shivered and quickly lowered their heads again. Lin Baici did not shift his gaze. The dark Buddha statue propped its cheek with its hand and, after giving Lin Baici a playful look, closed its eyes. ¡°What does this mean?¡± The old lady was anxious, desperate for a clear verdict on whether they could live or not! ¡°It must mean that our prayers were successful, didn¡¯t you see it stopped spewing those sparks?¡± Sima Mu breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°So can we leave now?¡± Sister Xiao Li didn¡¯t want to stay here anymore, it was too dangerous. ¡°We probably can¡¯t!¡± Hua Yue Yu could tell with her toes that their troubles were far from over. The tourists were all whispering among themselves, some wanted to leave, but nobody wanted to be the first to move. ¡°Thanks to your effort just now, I owe you one. Also, once we get out, I¡¯ll transfer ten million to you immediately!¡± Jiang Hong was a shrewd man. He stressed the words ¡®favor¡¯, ¡®ten million¡¯, and ¡®immediately¡¯, praising Lin Baici to make him happy, and dangling the bait of money. This young man, facing a crisis of death, was calm, wise, and decisive, but most importantly, he was kind-hearted, which made him easy to deceive. Jiang Hong knew that if he wanted to survive this time, it would depend on whether this young man was willing to help, so he had to win him over first and close the gap between them. ¡°The Buddha suddenly closed its eyes, and we don¡¯t know what it means. I think we should select a few people to see if they can leave this hall?¡± Jiang Hong suggested. ¡°Select who?¡± Sima Mu sized up the real estate businessman. Slightly overweight, with a big belly, his face oozed cunning. ¡°After the crisis just now, everyone owes their lives to you, and they will definitely listen to you. Whoever you select, they won¡¯t object.¡± Jiang Hong said humbly to Lin Baici, putting him on a pedestal. ¡°Oppa, don¡¯t listen to him, he¡¯s using you as a pawn!¡± Kim Myungjin found this guy despicable. Those selected would be cannon fodder; if they died once they left the hall, it could be said that Lin Baici sent them to their doom. Even if they miraculously survived, they would no longer trust Lin Baici. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant!¡± Jiang Hong lowered his voice: ¡°I¡¯ve heard about the horrors of the Divine Ruins. Without a God Hunter, if we want to survive and avoid the rules¡¯ contamination, we have to use human lives to scout ahead!¡± ¡°To put it harshly, although you¡¯ve saved them, many of these people are still likely to die here in the Divine Ruins. Instead of a meaningless death, isn¡¯t it better to use their lives as stepping stones for us?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, when it¡¯s time to get dirty, I¡¯ll get dirty with you!¡± By the end, Jiang Hong patted Lin Baici¡¯s shoulder. Hua Yue Yu looked at Jiang Hong with shock on her face. This man had such a ruthless heart. Sima Mu didn¡¯t speak but glanced at Lin Baici to observe his reaction because what Jiang Hong proposed was the optimal solution under the circumstances. ¡°Survival of the fittest is the law of this world, not to mention you¡¯ve already saved these people once. Isn¡¯t it more valuable to use their lives for some purpose?¡± Jiang Hong tempted. The dark Buddha statue had spat out sparks from its nostrils earlier, burning about three hundred people in four groups. The remaining five hundred or so who were still alive had been saved by Lin Baici. The old lady thought there was some sense in what Jiang Hong said, considering these people owed their lives to Lin Baici. ¡°You become the leader. Although some people will die, some will live. If you don¡¯t do it, then these people are definitely doomed!¡± Jiang Hong didn¡¯t mention that as a leader¡¯s confidant, the chances of survival were obviously higher. ¡°Mr. Jiang, everyone¡¯s life is their own, and how to use it is their decision to make, not mine!¡± Lin Baici stared at Jiang Hong: ¡°Also, don¡¯t try to manipulate my judgement with your words; I¡¯m not that stupid!¡± Jiang Hong gave an awkward smile, feeling worried. This kid, was not easy to hoodwink! If only drinking was an option; after five bottles of Moutai, I could make you kneel and call me daddy! ¡°Oppa, look!¡± Kim Myungjin tugged at Lin Baici¡¯s jersey. An old woman in her sixties, likely scared out of her mind, staggered towards the mahogany doors, trying to escape the place. She crossed the threshold of about a foot and a half and headed straight for the stairs. Just when everyone thought it was safe and they could leave, a translucent Buddha¡¯s palm descended from the sky, and, as if swatting a mosquito, slammed her onto the floor. Bang! When the Buddha¡¯s palm vanished, all that was left was a pool of flesh and blood. ¡°We really can¡¯t leave the hall after all!¡± Each tourist felt both relieved that they hadn¡¯t rashly tried to flee and helpless at the same time. What should they do next? They instinctively looked towards the student who had just helped them through the ordeal. But the next moment, their faces showed horror, and they all took a step back in unison. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lin Baici frowned, what was this about? Why did his shoulder feel so heavy? ¡°Oppa, your right shoulder...¡± Kim Myungjin was startled. ¡°What about my shoulder?¡± Lin Baici turned his head to look at his right shoulder, where a pair of pitch-black eyes met his gaze. ¡°Holy shit!¡± Lin Baici jumped in fright. What the hell is this? On his shoulder was a baby-sized black buddha statue, staring emotionlessly at him. ¡°Ah, Myungjin, you have one on your shoulder too!¡± Hua Yue Yu shuddered violently, quickly looking around and realizing that many people had one of these buddha infants on their shoulders. The buddha infants, naked and black-skinned like tar, emitted a foul stench. ¡°What the hell is this thing?¡± Jiang Hong reached out to grab the buddha infant on his shoulder, trying to pull it off and throw it away. The buddha infant opened its mouth wide, revealing black teeth like a wild dog, and viciously bit down on his wrist. ¡°Ah!¡± Jiang Hong screamed in pain. In just a few seconds, the buddha infants had climbed onto the tourists¡¯ shoulders like ghosts, silent and unnoticed, sparing no one. Hua Yue Yu was disgusted and instinctively reached out to get that ghostly thing off her. Smack! Lin Baici grabbed her wrist. ¡°Nobody move the thing on your shoulder!¡± Lin Baici¡¯s shout echoed through the Daxiong Treasure Hall. Some listened, but others did not. After all, who wouldn¡¯t be scared with such a creature possessing them? ¡°Auntie, Sister Xiao Li, don¡¯t touch it anymore, this ghostly thing grows!¡± Lin Baici urged. The rule contamination had begun again, trying to remove this ghostly thing by hand was definitely impossible. ¡°Grow?¡± Kim Myungjin noticed that the buddha infants on the shoulders of Jiang Hong, the old auntie, and Sister Xiao Li were noticeably larger than those on Lin Baici, Hua Yue Yu, and Sima Mu. She quickly realized, ¡°Are you saying that the more we touch it, the bigger it grows?¡± ¡°That seems to be the case!¡± Lin Baici guessed that once the buddha infant grew to a certain size, the player¡¯s time of death would come. Panic filled the great hall, and cries were endless. Although some people had been burned to death earlier, it hadn¡¯t affected everyone directly. Although scared, they hadn¡¯t panicked yet; but now it was different, every person had a buddha infant on their shoulder, which meant death could come at any moment. ¡°Handsome guy, what do we do now?¡± ¡°You¡¯re telling everyone not to touch it; do you know what this is?¡± ¡°Wuu wuu wuu, I don¡¯t want to die, I haven¡¯t lived enough!¡± The tourists swarmed around Lin Baici, seeking his help. ¡°Stop the noise, quiet down first!¡± Lin Baici yelled several times, managing to somewhat subdue the panic in the crowd: ¡°Just now, I found the key in the mural. Everyone go look for it, and also search the hall again to see if we¡¯ve missed any important information!¡± Everyone immediately looked at the murals on the walls, as if playing a matching game, eyes wide open, searching for clues diligently. ¡°The oil lamps!¡± Hua Yue Yu suddenly shouted as if she had discovered a new continent: ¡°Next to every person in these murals, there is an oil lamp!¡± Lin Baici saw it too. ¡°Then what are we waiting for? Hurry up and get one!¡± Sima Mu urged. Behind the Buddha platforms on both the eastern and western sides of the hall, there were rows of wooden racks painted purple, each holding a line of unlit bronze oil lamps. Lin Baici ran to the wooden rack but didn¡¯t immediately take one. He wanted to observe if there was any difference between the lamps. ¡°Seems like they¡¯re all the same?¡± Kim Myungjin also refrained from taking one, but the old auntie and Sister Xiao Li, less cautious, grabbed one first. ¡°Hmm, there should be no difference!¡± Lin Baici picked up a lamp. The oil lamps were all the same shape, with a tray at the base and above that, a lotus bud the size of an apple, formed as if about to bloom. Inside the bud, there was no oil, just a wick as thick as a chopstick. Lin Baici had been prominent in their survival, so everyone was paying close attention to his every move. Seeing him take an oil lamp, everyone also hurriedly ran to the purple-painted racks to grab one, whether it was useful or not. ¡°This one I saw first!¡± ¡°Why are you snatching? Aren¡¯t they all the same?¡± ¡°Damn it, who pushed me?¡± The tourists argued and cursed over the oil lamps, and if not for the buddha infants on their backs, there definitely would have been fights breaking out. The old auntie held an oil lamp in both hands, asking everyone hopefully: ¡°Is that ghostly thing on my back gone?¡± ¡°No!¡± Sister Xiao Li was disheartened; it seemed that it had nothing to do with the oil lamps. The others also realized that after taking an oil lamp, the buddha infants on their shoulders did not disappear. ¡°The oil lamps next to these people in the murals are all lit!¡± Hua Yue Yu yelled, ¡°Everyone, light the wicks and see!¡± Not just Hua Yue Yu, but others had also noticed this detail. Jiang Hong and Sima Mu both had lighters, but after taking them out, they didn¡¯t light the wicks. Kim Myungjin glanced at Lin Baici. She remembered that after the two of them had escaped from under the merit Buddha with their offerings, they encountered a floor covered in bodies. Lin Baici had picked up quite a few items. Among them were several lighters. Why wasn¡¯t he taking them out? Chapter 17 - 17 17 Add Blood and Ignite the Lamp_1 ?17: Chapter 17: Add Blood and Ignite the Lamp_1 17: Chapter 17: Add Blood and Ignite the Lamp_1 ¡°Why aren¡¯t you lighting the wicks?¡± The old lady was surprised to see that Jiang Hong and Sima Mu hadn¡¯t lit their wicks. Aren¡¯t you afraid of dying? ¡°Look, it¡¯s shrinking! It¡¯s getting smaller!¡± Among the tourists, someone shouted excitedly. Lin Baici turned his head and saw a young man wearing glasses; he had lit the wick. The dim glow was not intense, but it made the Paishen Buddha infant on his back shrink as if it were ice and snow meeting the scorching sun. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief at this sight. There was hope. The male tourists with lighters began to light their wicks. ¡°Hold on!¡± Lin Baici shouted, grabbing Sima Mu¡¯s wrist in a quick motion, ¡°Don¡¯t rush, let¡¯s watch the situation!¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to watch? The ghostly thing shrinks under the light; doesn¡¯t that mean the oil lamp is useful?¡± Someone asked, puzzled. ¡°Shrinking does not mean it will disappear!¡± Lin Baici¡¯s words raised everyone¡¯s anxiety again, ¡°And there¡¯s another problem. There¡¯s only one wick in the oil lamp, and no lamp oil. How long can the oil lamp stay lit?¡± The bespectacled young man¡¯s hands shook, nearly dropping his oil lamp. He looked down and indeed, the wick was burning quickly. That made him break out in a cold sweat. ¡°It¡¯s... it¡¯s over!¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier?¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t I control my hand?¡± There were probably over forty men, acting too swiftly out of fear of death. Seeing the Paishen Buddha infant on the bespectacled young man¡¯s back shrink, they hurriedly lit their wicks. Now they were at a loss for what to do. ¡°Brother Lin, you¡¯re so thoughtful!¡± Sima Mu raised his hand, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a frightened gesture. Jiang Hong looked at the lighter in his hand, feeling it burn. ¡°You... don¡¯t scare me. There¡¯s... there¡¯s no need for lamp oil!¡± The glasses-wearing young man stammered in panic, refusing to give up. He tried using the oil lamp to scare away the Paishen Buddha infant on his shoulder. But it was futile. In less than a minute, the wick had visibly burned out. Woosh! With the flame extinguished, the Paishen Buddha infant on his shoulder swelled up like vengeance itself, ballooning seven, eight times bigger, and hung like a middle schooler on the young man¡¯s back. ¡°Save me!¡± The bespectacled young man panicked. ¡°Get another one!¡± Lin Baici urged. ¡°Oh! Right!¡± The bespectacled young man snapped out of it and rushed toward the purple lacquer rack. More than forty men who had quickly lit their wicks were now frantically dashing to the front of the rack, wanting to grab another lamp to save their lives. The bespectacled young man lit another oil lamp. But it was no use. The Paishen Buddha infant on his back grew even faster. ¡°What...?¡± The bespectacled young man wanted to ask Lin Baici what to do, Suddenly, The Paishen Buddha infant on his back bared its fangs and bit into his throat. Then it savagely tore off a piece of the throat, complete with a chunk of flesh. Bang! The bespectacled young man fell to the ground, unable to make a sound with his neck broken. The Paishen Buddha infant, like a wild dog, crouched beside him, gnawing at his body. The more than forty unlucky ones who had acted too quickly didn¡¯t survive either. When their oil lamps went out, the Paishen Buddha infants on their backs began growing wildly and then tearing, attacking, and consuming their flesh. This terrifying and bloody scene chilled everyone to the core. ¡°Everyone search quickly, see if there¡¯s any lamp oil?¡± Jiang Hong shouted. It was complete chaos. Kim Myungjin, upon seeing this, suddenly understood why Lin Baici hadn¡¯t taken out his lighter. If one person took out a lighter but didn¡¯t ignite the wick, waiting instead for others to make the first move, it would seem too scheming. Like now, in the eyes of the others, Lin Baici was still that harmless student with a bit of kindness. Only Kim Myungjin knew how meticulous this Oppa¡¯s mind was. He had considered every possible consequence of any action and was even crafting his personal image. Now, whatever that boss Jiang said likely didn¡¯t have as much impact as Lin Baici. He might have money, But Lin Oppa could lead everyone to survival! ¡°We couldn¡¯t find any lamp oil!¡± The tourists had searched several times, but to no avail. Watching their back-mounted Paishen Buddha infants growing increasingly larger, they were scared to death. Lin Baici had already considered the lack of lamp oil; it seemed he would have to look for a substitute. ¡°It couldn¡¯t be human oil, could it?¡± Jiang Hong suddenly spoke up, startling Hua Yue Yu. ¡°What did you say?¡± Hua Yue Yu had heard him clearly but was too frightened to imagine the implications. ¡°Human oil, for lighting sky lanterns, haven¡¯t you heard of it?¡± Jiang Hong covered his mouth with his hand, keeping his voice very low, ¡°At this rate, we might need to use human oil to pass this obstacle!¡± Apart from that, Jiang Hong couldn¡¯t think of any other source of lamp oil. Kim Myungjin, the old lady, Sister Xiao Li, and others just thinking about the horrific scenario, turned pale. ¡°You... that¡¯s just a guess; what if human oil doesn¡¯t work?¡± Hua Yue Yu countered. ¡°Let¡¯s think of another solution if it doesn¡¯t work. This thing keeps growing; we don¡¯t have much time left!¡± Out of desperation for survival, Jiang Hong was willing to kill. He turned to Lin Baici, ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t do it!¡± Lin Baici flatly refused. If it meant killing people for their fat, he¡¯d be living in a psychological shadow for life. ¡°Fine, but if my method works, don¡¯t come begging me for help later!¡± Jiang Hong acted decisively and immediately went to gather a group of people. They needed to be strong and capable of fighting. ¡°This guy is just scum.¡± Hua Yue Yu felt Jiang Hong was too inhumane. Lin Baici hadn¡¯t given up; he was observing the oil lamp. The patterns on it were very pretty. [A bronze oil lamp, even if made exquisitely, is useless if you can¡¯t eat it. What¡¯s the point?] Lin Baici was almost angered to death by what the Eater God said¡ªeat, eat, eat, that¡¯s all it knew; couldn¡¯t it say something important? [On a cold and desolate night, when all is quiet, add blood and ignite the lamp, and the Buddha¡¯s light will shine brightly. Eating a vegetarian meal in such an environment could have a unique flavor!] The Eater God¡¯s sentimentality struck a chord in Lin Baici¡¯s heart. ¡°Add blood and ignite the lamp?¡± Lin Baici latched onto a key phrase. Could it be that the oil lamp didn¡¯t use lamp oil but blood instead? Thinking this, Lin Baici pulled out the firewood knife from his lower back, cut his finger, and began to bleed into the lamp. Drip-drop! Drip-drop! The rich red blood dropped into the bronze lamp cup, creating ripples. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Hua Yue Yu didn¡¯t understand. Apart from her, Sister Xiao Li, Kim Myungjin, Auntie Xu Xiu, Sima Mu, Zhang Ju mother and daughter, and about fifty other people followed Lin Baici. Nobody noticed that when Lin Baici was adding blood to the lamp cup, the Buddha statue on the altar, which had been resting with closed eyes in the darkness, suddenly opened its eyes and glanced at Lin Baici. ¡°Uncle, lend me your lighter!¡± Lin Baici saw that blood had filled the bottom of the lamp cup and was about to stop when a voice echoed in his mind. [Fill it once, and it can burn for three years.] What¡¯s that supposed to mean? Lin Baici frowned. He didn¡¯t want to continue bleeding¡ªthe lotus bud lamp cup wasn¡¯t big, but to fill it completely, he estimated it would take about 200cc of blood. But if it wasn¡¯t completely filled, what if the lamp couldn¡¯t stay lit until that ghostly thing disappeared... Lin Baici turned his head, looking at the dozens of corpses that had been messily gnawed on by the shoulder-riding Buddha babies, and suddenly gritted his teeth. Steady! Just blood, right? Once we get out of here, I¡¯ll find a chicken and make it up. ¡°Brother Lin, what are you...¡± Sima Mu wanted to say, if you¡¯ve found something, don¡¯t do it alone, use cannon fodder first; if you die, what will we all do? Lin Baici took the lighter and lit the lamp wick. Whoosh! The light was as small as a bean, pitiable in size, but its glow warmed the heart. Lin Baici felt much more comfortable immediately. ¡°It¡¯s getting smaller! It¡¯s getting smaller!¡± The elderly lady began to exclaim with joy. ¡°Jiang Hong, blood can be used instead of lamp oil!¡± Lin Baici shouted out, feeling he had to tell Jiang Hong, or the man would start killing people for their fat to use as lamp oil. Woosh! The tourists all crowded over. ¡°Really?¡± Jiang Hong pushed through the crowd to reach Lin Baici¡¯s side. He had already persuaded eight people. ¡°See for yourself!¡± Lin Baici held an oil lamp in one hand and a Songmu torch in the other. Unlike the panicking crowd, his face was the picture of composure. As the wick burned, the shoulder-riding Buddha baby on Lin Baici¡¯s back had completely shrunk behind him, not wishing to be touched by even the slight glow of light. Even so, its body was gradually diminishing. ¡°Looks like it really works!¡± Behind Jiang Hong, a young man with an eagle-hooked nose spat out thick phlegm: ¡°Does it have to be your own blood?¡± Upon hearing this, everyone¡¯s heart tightened. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see? Each person can only take one lamp. What if you use someone else¡¯s blood, defile the lamp cup, and can¡¯t light the wick?¡± Lin Baici countered. Kim Myungjin admired Lin Baici¡¯s clever response in silence. This hawk-nosed fellow was a tough character who didn¡¯t listen to reason. It would be hard for Lin Baici to convince him not to harm others, but with such a response, the man was put in a bind. After all, nobody dared to risk their lives on a bet. Apart from Jiang Hong and the hawk-nosed man, some others also thought about using someone else¡¯s blood as lamp oil, but Lin Baici¡¯s rhetorical question stopped them in their tracks. You could say Lin Baici¡¯s words saved quite a few lives. ¡°Forget it, better to be safe!¡± The hawk-nosed man took out a switchblade, flicked it open with a click, and began bleeding his finger. ¡°It¡¯s best to fill the lamp cup in one go!¡± Lin Baici reminded loudly. ¡°Do I have to fill it? It hurts so much!¡± Hua Yue Yu¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears. ¡°Don¡¯t all of you bleed once a month anyway? Aren¡¯t you used to it?¡± Sima Mu joked. Under the pressure of death brought by the shoulder-riding Buddha babies, everyone moved quickly, even fighting over lighters and knives. After some struggle, everyone had added blood and lit their lamps. ¡°Quick, check if the ghostly thing on my back is getting smaller.¡± ¡°It works! It really works!¡± ¡°Young man, you are amazing!¡± ¡°What young man? Show some respect, call him handsome!¡± Seeing the shoulder-riding Buddha babies shrink and feeling hopeful about their chances of survival, the tourists¡¯ tension eased slightly. Lin Baici ignored these discussions; he only thought about quickly finding the God¡¯s bones and destroying them to dismantle the Divine Ruins. Otherwise, if things kept going like this, no number of lives would be enough to lose. ¡°It looks like there shouldn¡¯t be any more problems now!¡± No sooner had Sima Mu finished speaking than a girl screamed. ¡°Why is my blood burning up so fast?¡± Chapter 18 - 18 18 Offering Someone Elses Flowers to Buddha_1 ?18: Chapter 18 Offering Someone Else¡¯s Flowers to Buddha_1 18: Chapter 18 Offering Someone Else¡¯s Flowers to Buddha_1 Slap! Sima Mu raised his hand and slapped himself hard. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The old lady was startled by his sudden action, fearing something had happened! ¡°Damn this crow¡¯s mouth of mine!¡± Sima Mu was depressed, as this kind of rule contamination was really unpredictable. ¡°Handsome guy, please help me check this out!¡± The girl who had just screamed was a long-haired student in a light blue dress, holding an oil lamp and running to Lin Baici for help in a panic. ¡°My blood seems to be burning up really fast!¡± ¡°How fast is fast? Isn¡¯t it all the same?¡± ¡°No, yours is obviously burning much faster!¡± The tourists, hearing the dress-wearing girl¡¯s words, began to focus on the blood in their lamps, and some of them discovered in horror that their blood was burning at different rates. Visibly faster. This scared them. ¡°Look, you can almost see to the bottom of the lamp. Add some more blood!¡± Hua Yue Yu gave helpful advice; she looked at her own and it was fine, no problems. ¡°Oh! Oh!¡± The girl in the dress nodded hurriedly and took the kindling knife from Lin Baici, cutting her finger. Drip drop! Drip drop! ¡°The blood is flowing too slowly, make the cut bigger!¡± Sima Mu urged, ¡°What are you waiting for? Are you still afraid of pain? If you can¡¯t do it, I¡¯ll help you!¡± The dress-wearing girl cried and, enduring the pain, cut her finger again, but unfortunately, the wound was still too shallow. Sima Mu couldn¡¯t stand to watch any longer and grabbed her left hand. The sharp edge of the sickle blade crossed her pale palm, and blood poured out. ¡°Ah!¡± The girl in the dress screamed in pain. The tourists whose blood was burning up too rapidly were all frantically borrowing knives, hastily adding more blood to their lamps. Hua Yue Yu and Jin Ying exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of fear in the other¡¯s eyes. ¡°Why... why is it still so fast?¡± The girl in the dress was shivering, her face drained of color, white without a trace of life. ¡°Damn, what¡¯s wrong? Why is mine burning up so fast? Did I get the wrong lamp?¡± ¡°Handsome guy, what should I do?¡± ¡°Wuuu, I don¡¯t want to die!¡± There were probably more than two hundred tourists whose blood in the lamps was burning too rapidly. ¡°Eater God oppa!¡± The little girl hugged one of Lin Baici¡¯s legs, her mother, Zhang Ju, stood by, holding an oil lamp in one hand. The blood inside it was burning at a normal speed. Sima Mu glanced at his lamp and found no issue, so he was as calm as an old dog, and had the leisure to command others: ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there, keep adding blood!¡± ¡°Looking at it this way, it¡¯s useless to find no reason, adding more blood is of no use!¡± Hua Yue Yu felt that Sima Mu¡¯s advice was unreliable and harmful to others. ¡°How much blood did you add to your lamp the first time? Did you fill it up?¡± Lin Baici asked the lightly made-up girl in the dress with a questioning look. He had a rough idea of the reason. ¡°Fill... did I fill it up?¡± The girl in the dress mumbled. ¡°I need an exact answer!¡± Lin Baici raised his voice. ¡°Not... not quite full... ¡± The tears of the girl in the dress flowed even more torrentially: ¡°It... it was too painful, so I didn¡¯t continue to bleed!¡± ¡°Those of you whose blood is burning up too quickly, didn¡¯t you all fail to fill up the lamps just now?¡± Sima Mu spoke loudly. Buzz! Everyone was stunned all at once. Was that the reason? Dammit, had I known, I would have filled it right up. ¡°So what do we do now?¡± Someone asked anxiously. Sima Mu didn¡¯t know and naturally looked toward Lin Baici, waiting for an answer. Lin Baici was silent because he felt, there was no solution. Lucky for him when the Eater God said ¡®add enough to burn for three years,¡¯ he was cautious enough to fill the lamp with blood right up to the top. Had he been afraid of the pain, had he thought a bit might suffice, then he would be calm now. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking!¡± ¡°Right, what should we do, please tell us!¡± ¡°Please, I¡¯m begging you!¡± Those tourists with ever-growing fetus imprints on their backs couldn¡¯t sit still any longer and were shouting around Lin Baici. ¡°He said everything he needed to say, it¡¯s your own fault for not following his instructions!¡± Hua Yue Yu saw the agitated and crazed expressions of these people and worried they might act rashly, so she quickly explained on Lin Baici¡¯s behalf. ¡°It¡¯s your own fault!¡± Jin Ying reprimanded. Those who listened to Lin Baici¡¯s reminder and filled their lamps with blood were greatly relieved at this moment. The situation was now clear. Blood could act as lamp oil, and filling the lamps with it and lighting the wick could use this light to drive away the fetus imprints on their backs. If they didn¡¯t do this, the ghostly thing would just keep growing until it matured and devoured the person underneath. ¡°Luckily, these ghostly things don¡¯t attack others, they just eat the person they¡¯re on top of.¡± The old lady patted her chest and took a deep breath. Steady! Steady! Soon, in just a few minutes, the blood of several tourists was burned out, and no matter how much more they added to the lamp, it was useless. The shoulder-riding buddha infants on their backs began to grow rapidly and, like mad dogs, they lunged at them, gnawing and tearing fervently. ¡°Fuck, if I¡¯m going to die, you¡¯re all going down with me!¡± A young man wearing Puma sneakers, seeing that he was beyond help and so were the others, suddenly pounced on a woman next to him and started fiercely pounding her head with his fists. Whoosh! The people nearby, worried about getting involved, pushed him away in an instant. It didn¡¯t concern them, so they just hung back and watched. The sneaker-clad young man¡¯s actions stirred some people, and they thought to do the same, to go on a rampage; they were going to die anyway, and neither law nor morality could punish them now. However, at that moment, Lin Baici leapt out like a cheetah, charging behind the sneaker-wearer and hitting him hard on the head with a pine wood baseball bat. Thump! The young man in the sneakers instantly had his face covered in blood and collapsed dizzy to the ground, only to be bitten awake by the shoulder-riding buddha infant the next moment. Thump! Lin Baici lifted his foot and kicked him square in the mouth. ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± Lin Baici roared, his glare holding these people in place. Standing over six feet tall, even though he had never worked out, his body had developed perfectly from childhood due to a mysterious sensation of hunger, with well-proportioned muscles and even a six-pack. Now standing in the Daxiong Treasure Hall, holding a torch, looking furious, he had a menacing presence and a commanding aura, which was quite intimidating. ¡°Instead of killing each other, you should be hurrying to escape, you might still live!¡± Lin Baici bellowed. Those who had been planning to drag others down with them were instantly stunned by his shout and, adding the words he bellowed, it gave them a glimmer of hope, and they started to escape towards the outside of the hall. Seeing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. But Lin Baici knew they were doomed. Thump! Thump! Thump! Every person who escaped the hall and stepped past the threshold didn¡¯t get far before being smashed into pulp by a giant palm of a buddha descending from the sky. Those still inside were too scared to flee, and their oil lamps burned out, causing the shoulder-riding buddha infants to attack. The hall turned into utter chaos. ¡°Oppa, you were so cool just now!¡± Kim Myungjin watched, dazzled, as Lin Baici single-handedly subdued over a hundred people, preventing a likely disaster if those people had started a riot. Hua Yue Yu clenched her pink fists in annoyance and hit the GOPRO camera at her collar, wishing it would work so she could have captured Lin Baici¡¯s domineering posture. ¡°Eater God brother is so amazing!¡± In the crowd, a little girl clutched tightly by her mother looked up at Lin Baici with sparkling big eyes. ¡°Dude, that big buddha has his eyes on you!¡± The eagle-hooked nose man had not expected the student to be so brave. ¡°What?¡± Lin Baici had yet to feel fear, but Hua Yue Yu and Kim Myungjin were startled, instinctively turning to look towards the dark buddha on the altar. It had a smile of ambiguous meaning at the corner of its mouth, sizing up Lin Baici. [In its eyes, you are already six parts cooked, remove the head, and you can be eaten, but rare ingredients like you are worth waiting for a while.] Lin Baici¡¯s brows slightly furrowed. After another agonizing fifteen minutes, everyone suddenly realized that the shoulder-riding buddha infants had disappeared. ¡°They¡¯ve gone, really gone!¡± ¡°We should be safe now, right?¡± ¡°Thank goodness, we¡¯re saved!¡± The surviving tourists cried with joy. Lin Baici counted; there were more than eight hundred tourists who entered the Daxiong Treasure Hall and, after the ¡®worshipping Buddha¡¯ and ¡®lighting the lamp¡¯ two rounds of rule contamination, only 271 remained. ¡°In such a short time, close to 600 people died!¡± Kim Myungjin looked at the survivors; she was completely numb. Because the taboo items had yet to be found and the rule contamination was not over, meaning people would still die, if we continue at this rate and proportion, wouldn¡¯t everyone be wiped out in the next round? ¡°Using fresh blood to replace lamp oil, and you must fill it up at once, it¡¯s such a trap, if I had hesitated because I was afraid of the pain, I would¡¯ve been done for!¡± Hua Yue Yu felt terrified after the fact, the rule contamination was horrifying. The old lady nodded violently. ¡°Handsome guy, thank you!¡± The survivors gathered around to thank Lin Baici. It was all thanks to him that everyone was able to survive these two crises. ¡°Add blood and ignite the lamp, so Buddha¡¯s light shines forever!¡± The dark buddha spoke, its voice was high, solemn, and cold, silencing all the hubbub in the hall, ¡°But don¡¯t you think something is still missing in front of this Buddha?¡± ¡°Whatever you want, as long as we have it, we¡¯ll give it to you!¡± Someone begged, ¡°Please let us go?¡± ¡°I regard offerings as nothing more than dung; why would I want your possessions?¡± The dark buddha laughed, ¡°There¡¯s a saying, ¡®offer flowers to the Buddha.¡¯ You just need to pick a bouquet of wildflowers each, and place it before the Buddha!¡± Lin Baici would not take this at face value, not a word slipped by him, he committed everything to memory. ¡°Go!¡± ¡°Go pick flowers by the Lotus Lake to the east!¡± After the dark buddha finished speaking, it closed its eyes. Everyone looked at each other, unsure of what to do, so they looked to Lin Baici, waiting for him to take the lead. ¡°Do we even need to think about it? Let¡¯s go pick flowers!¡± The man with the eagle-hooked nose ran his right hand through his hair and slicked it back. Nobody moved, not even sparing him a glance; they were all waiting for Lin Baici¡¯s decision. This made the man with the eagle-hooked nose feel awkward. [Remember, all beings, the offering table is too small, it can only hold the flower bouquets of thirty people!] The dark buddha suddenly blurted out another line, leaving everyone utterly confused. ¡°What does that mean?¡± While some were still cluelessly asking, others had already smartly started to run out of the hall. ¡°Hurry and grab the flowers!¡± Sima Mu was anxious. The dark buddha meant that it would only allow the first thirty people who presented their bouquets to live. Chapter 19 - 19 19 Lotus Lake Docked Boat 1 ?19: Chapter 19 Lotus Lake, Docked Boat 1 19: Chapter 19 Lotus Lake, Docked Boat 1 In Dragon Temple, the black fog had dissipated quite a bit, making it easy to discern directions. The surviving tourists were all sprinting towards the east, eager to reach Lotus Lake the fastest, pick wildflowers, and offer them to the great dark Buddha. ¡°Can you guys hurry up?¡± Sima Mu complained to Zhang Ju. She was holding a child, which was too slow; the old lady also couldn¡¯t keep up, gasping for breath after running for a while. ¡°So... sorry!¡± Zhang Ju apologized. ¡°Is sorry going to help?¡± Sima Mu was anxious; he was about to scold someone, but when he saw Lin Baici¡¯s stern face, he swallowed his words back down. Zhang Ju was a clever woman, noticing Lin Baici¡¯s kind heart and thus bringing her daughter over to him. She became a burden straight away. ¡°Ah, Little Linzi is still a student, hasn¡¯t experienced society¡¯s darkness, maintaining this kindness, but might suffer a big loss!¡± Sima Mu sighed. He didn¡¯t dare to persuade Lin Baici to give up on Zhang Ju because that would make him seem heartless. ¡°Let me carry her!¡± Lin Baici reached out; if it were just Zhang Ju alone, he wouldn¡¯t care, would lend a hand if he had the strength, wouldn¡¯t abandon her, but facing a three-year-old innocent little girl... He couldn¡¯t harden his heart! Moreover, that little girl at Xiang Ji Kitchen had warned them not to listen to that treacherous old man¡¯s words, that the monster cook would kill those who left their seats. This was a kind little girl. ¡°No need! No need!¡± Zhang Ju refused, she still had a sense of propriety, aware that following Lin Baici was already troublesome enough, letting someone carry a grown woman would be too much. ¡°Give her to me!¡± Lin Baici firmly took the little girl and placed her on his back. She wasn¡¯t heavy, just over twenty pounds, and with Lin Baici¡¯s stamina, it had no effect; he was still running faster than the old lady and Kim Myungjin. ¡°If only I hadn¡¯t helped those people, better if they all died!¡± Sister Xiao Li regretted. ¡°There are still more than 200 people left, right?¡± Sima Mu didn¡¯t count specifically. ¡°271, if only 30 can survive, that¡¯s about one in every nine!¡± Kim Myungjin calculated quickly. Sss! Hua Yue Yu took a sharp breath, her scalp tingling. ¡®That¡¯s not how you calculate it; nobody knows what accidents might occur during the process of picking flowers, having more people means more cannon fodder!¡¯ This thought emerged in Lin Baici¡¯s mind at the bottom of his heart. He saved people not only because of years of education and morality but also with this thought in mind. The more people there are, the more chances there are to learn by trial and error. Lin Baici¡¯s group of eight passed through an archway and entered a large garden, sprinting across the tender green grass. There was a large lake to the east. The emerald green lotus leaves formed a vast expanse, swaying with the breeze, resembling a cradle in a mother¡¯s hands, full of children¡¯s dreams. Several dragonflies settled on the pink lotus flowers, like a still ink painting. ¡°There are no wildflowers here either?¡± The old lady, panting and sweating profusely, looked around, but aside from green grass, there were no wildflowers. ¡°On that island in the lake!¡± Kim Myungjin¡¯s eyes were sharp; amongst the lotuses in the lake, about fifty meters from the shore, was a small island with a gleaming field of wild chrysanthemums. Faint sunlight penetrated the fog, sprinkling upon them, squeezing out the scent of summer. ¡°How do we get there? We can¡¯t possibly swim over, can we?¡± Sister Xiao Li was both panicked and anxious because she couldn¡¯t swim. ¡°Over there!¡± Kim Myungjin pointed: ¡°There¡¯s a pier!¡± There were boats on the pier, three of them¡ªtwo small and one large. The small ones were sampans that could barely seat four people; the large one was a covered boat that could accommodate about a dozen people. The tourists all rushed towards that pier, the ones who arrived first already fighting over the three boats; after all, whoever got on first could live. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry!¡± Sima Mu broke into a sprint, and even though one hand was bandaged and hanging in front of his chest, he ran quickly. Only thirty people could live, so without anyone urging them, the tourists were all desperate. Gurgle! Lin Baici¡¯s stomach growled again. Hunger arose. ¡°I knew it wouldn¡¯t be that simple!¡± Lin Baici was no longer in a rush. Feeling hungry indicated that there were Taboo things nearby this pond, and with those things around, it wasn¡¯t just about who could run fast or who could pick the wildflowers. Lin Baici and his companions arrived at the pier. Aside from about twenty elderly tourists, everyone else had made it. The ownership of the two sampans and one covered boat had already been determined¡ªit was Jiang Hong and the hawk-nosed man who had claimed them. These individuals totaled about fifteen, all able-bodied and looking strong. On the ground lay about twenty unlucky people who had been injured, some of whom were covered in blood without a breath left in them, showcasing the ferocity of the others¡¯ actions. ¡°Young man, let¡¯s go together!¡± Jiang Hong called out to Lin Baici after he had secured a boat, staying back to wait for him. ¡°Buddy, let¡¯s go!¡± The eagle-hooked nose man didn¡¯t like Lin Baici, but he recognized that the student clad in a Manchester United jersey was quite formidable; having him meant greater security for everyone. Swish! The gazes of the crowd on the shore converged on Lin Baici. There was envy, jealousy, and also anger. However, they admitted that Lin Baici had the qualifications; if they had boats themselves, they would have called for the strong young man to join them. ¡°Bai Ci!¡± The old lady¡¯s voice trembled with fear that Lin Baici would leave. Although Hua Yue Yu hadn¡¯t spent much time with Lin Baici and wasn¡¯t clear about his character, her intuition told her that Lin Baici wouldn¡¯t leave. ¡°Asiba!¡± Kim Myungjin felt depressed, ¡°He was the man I had my eye on first, you all just buzz off.¡± ¡°How many people can I bring?¡± Lin Baici asked casually as he was locating the position of the Taboo Thing through his hunger. ¡°Bro, as you can see, we don¡¯t have enough seats for so many of us, and some have to wait for the second round to make space for you!¡± Jiang Hong explained. ¡°Dude, be content with what you have!¡± The Hawk-nosed man glanced at Kim Myungjin and Hua Yue Yu, suddenly understanding Lin Baici. These beautiful girls who score nine out of ten ¨C the only point deducted because they¡¯re not my girlfriends ¨C I¡¯d want to save them too! And as for Sister Xiao Li? She looked okay, and the old lady still had her charm, but standing beside Hua Yue Yu and Kim Myungjin, she was just unconsciously overlooked... ¡°You guys go ahead, I¡¯m not riding!¡± Lin Baici refused. Whoosh! Lin Baici¡¯s choice took everyone by surprise. What¡¯s this supposed to mean? The Eagle-hooked nose man¡¯s face darkened, ¡°Are you looking down on us?¡± Lin Baici wasn¡¯t looking down on them; he just didn¡¯t like their way of doing things and didn¡¯t want to be with them. Moreover, the most important point was that the Taboo Thing hadn¡¯t been found yet. Who knew if getting on the boat would be safe? These people were so eager to grab the boat and head to the island, they were perfect targets to scout the way. Of course, Lin Baici wouldn¡¯t show this kind of thinking, or Jiang Hong and the others would definitely become suspicious, so he curled his lips. ¡°Heh!¡± The meaning of this mockery was self-evident. ¡°You...¡± The Eagle-hooked nose man was furious, but considering Lin Baici¡¯s previous performance and his own physique, he wisely opted not to start trouble. ¡°Row the oars, let¡¯s go!¡± The Eagle-hooked nose man commanded. ¡°Wait a moment!¡± Jiang Hong interjected. ¡°What¡¯s up, Mr. Jiang?¡± The Eagle-hooked nose man was unhappy. If it wasn¡¯t for this guy guaranteeing him ten million, he wouldn¡¯t bother bringing this dead weight along. ¡°Something feels off. Based on this student¡¯s usual behavior, he doesn¡¯t seem like someone who openly shows his likes and dislikes. So why mock you?¡± Jiang Hong¡¯s thick eyebrows furrowed. Could it be that this kid senses danger on the island and just found an excuse not to get on the boat? ¡°Brother Zhou, let¡¯s wait for the second group to go to the island!¡± Jiang Hong suggested. ¡°Wait for what? We should hurry and take the wildflower back, leaving this cursed place is the right thing to do!¡± The Eagle-hooked nose man had a tough constitution, but he felt dizzy and nauseated, and his muscles were starting to ache and tingle, leading to fatigue. He had heard rumors that in God¡¯s ruins, one might get contaminated by the radiation from God¡¯s bones, eventually turning into a puddle of unconscious, rotting flesh. ¡°What if there¡¯s danger on the island?¡± Jiang Hong worried. ¡°The most dangerous thing is that only thirty people can survive!¡± The Eagle-hooked nose man boasted, ¡°Besides, picking the flower and running off is a matter of minutes!¡± From here to Lake Heart Island, the distance was less than fifty meters. Even swimming across was feasible, and the island wasn¡¯t large, everything was in plain sight. Aside from a field of golden wild chrysanthemums, there was nothing else. ¡°Haha, right!¡± Jiang Hong patted the Eagle-hooked nose man¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Then set sail!¡± Everyone immediately started rowing. Jiang Hong, however, was still uneasy. As he turned his head, he caught Lin Baici¡¯s calm eyes fixed on Lake Heart Island, and his heart skipped a beat. This attitude, was downright that of a scheming dog! He was waiting for others to scout the path! Jiang Hong suddenly lunged forward, leaping onto the shore. ¡°Mr. Jiang, what are you doing?¡± The Eagle-hooked nose man was dumbfounded. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for the next trip!¡± Jiang Hong offered an apologetic smile, quickly placating, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t shortchange you a dime of the money I promised!¡± ¡°Damn!¡± The Eagle-hooked nose man knew that Jiang Hong obviously felt safer with the student. I¡¯m at a loss here! All these big guys, are we really not as good as him alone? In Jiang Hong¡¯s mind, the Eagle-hooked nose man and his crew could definitely take Lin Baici in a fight, but when it came to smarts, it wasn¡¯t so certain. ¡°Mr. Jiang, you¡¯re quite clever, aren¡¯t you? Do you think by waiting for the second wave to go to the island, you can avoid the risk and still easily make it into the top thirty?¡± Sima Mu mocked, ¡°But have you considered, what if someone decides to swim over?¡± Jiang Hong shuddered violently, ¡°Swim over?¡± Damn it! He had forgotten about that! In fact, some people had already started stripping off their clothes, the impatient ones, confident in their swimming abilities, didn¡¯t even bother undressing and jumped straight into the water. Splash! Splash! At least thirty people entered the Lotus Lake. Some tourists, who were still hesitating, saw the number exceed thirty and immediately became anxious and also started swimming. ¡°Why panic? After they pick the flowers and swim back, they¡¯ll definitely be nearly exhausted. By then, we¡¯ll just snatch the flowers from them!¡± A man in his thirties, with a fierce look, was ready to kill in order to survive. ¡°Are you dumb? The grand Buddha said only the wildflowers picked personally will do!¡± Hua Yue Yu was speechless. If Jiang Hong and the others hadn¡¯t figured this out, would they be rushing to the island? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to rob others at the shore? Many survivors on the shore harbored this dark thought, but now confronted with Hua Yue Yu pointing out the truth, realizing it was untenable, they were all stunned. Some quickly got into the water, while many others turned to look at Lin Baici. ¡°Handsome, come up with something quick?¡± Chapter 20 - 20 20 Bodhi Messengers Cassock_1 ?20: Chapter 20 Bodhi Messenger¡¯s Cassock_1 20: Chapter 20 Bodhi Messenger¡¯s Cassock_1 Lin Baici didn¡¯t pay attention to them but watched the black-awning boat, focusing on the lake surface nearby. The intense hunger suggested that there were Taboo things nearby, meaning spiritual pollution could occur at any moment, or might have already occurred. Splash! Splash! The sounds of tourists swimming disrupted the tranquility of Lotus Lake. ¡°Paddle faster!¡± The hawk-nosed man sneered at those who were attempting to swim over; if they dared to get in front of him, they shouldn¡¯t blame him for being rude. The black-awning boat moved quickly, only about ten meters away from Lake Heart Island. ¡°Damn, I predicted wrong!¡± Jiang Hong was vexed, fretting over what to do when suddenly the black-awning boat flipped over and disappeared into the water. Plop! Plop! The hawk-nosed man and his gang fell into the water like dumplings, vanishing in an instant. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°What the hell?¡± ¡°Why did it capsize?¡± The tourists on the shore were still okay, but those in the water nearly died of fright, quickly coming to a halt. The black-awning boat sank without warning, as if a toy ship suddenly got yanked beneath the lake by a giant hand. The tourists on the two small paddle boats panicked. One paddled hard to return to shore, aiming to reach land quickly, but in the next second, it too went splash and sank into the lake, with the tourists falling into the water; after a couple of shouts, they fell silent. Seeing this, tourists on the other boat put all their might into reaching Lake Heart Island, figuring it was closer and best to get ashore first; however, after paddling just three or four meters, it sank as well. The tourists floating in the lake, who had planned to swim over, were thrown into chaos, turning around and swimming back desperately. But it was too late. Splash! Swish! They were pulled under as if the Water Ghosts were claiming their lives. ¡°Save me!¡± ¡°Help me!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t kill me!¡± Shouts for help, curses¡ªall vanished within ten seconds, leaving not a single one of the fifty or so swimmers in sight. Only ripples spread slowly across the lake¡¯s surface. Everyone standing on the shore felt a chill all over. Dozens of people, wiped out in an instant. It was truly terrifying. Jiang Hong, who had just regretted not leaving, now filled his chest with relief. ¡°Thank heavens! Thank heavens!¡± Jiang Hong glanced at Lin Baici, thinking that following this young man was indeed the right choice. After about two or three minutes, the black-awning boat and the two small paddle boats resurfaced, drifting back toward the dock leisurely. But this time, no one dared to fight for them. ¡°Bai Ci, what should we do now?¡± The old lady was drenched in sweat, whether from heat, anxiety, or fear, soaking her clothes through, clinging to her body. ¡°Look around; there should be some Taboo things nearby. Destroy them!¡± Lin Baici finished speaking and stepped on the grass, strolling along the lake. The willow trees planted here were lush, with emerald green leaves like newly spun spider silks. The crowd hastened to follow. Lin Baici ignored them; he was using his hunger to search for the Taboo things, the increasing intensity indicating their proximity. What he dreaded most now was the Taboo things being on Lake Heart Island; that would be troublesome. Sister Xiao Li was about to speak when Hua Yue Yu held her back. ¡°Don¡¯t disturb him!¡± Hua Yue Yu turned back to advise, ¡°Everyone, go look for the Taboo things; don¡¯t just follow him!¡± No one moved. Everyone was worried; what if you sneaked onto the island while we were away? ¡°Stop trying to persuade them; they are all counting on Oppa now!¡± Kim Myungjin looked up, trying to spot any wildflowers apart from those on Lake Heart Island, but after a full circle, she found none. Lin Baici felt even hungrier. He turned his head, looking in the direction of 10 o¡¯clock, thirty or more meters away from the shore, where there was a cluster of stone Buddha statues, roughly thirty in number. These stone Buddha statues were a meter tall, not quite reaching Lin Baici¡¯s waist. Their bodies were feeble, limbs slender, as if they were severely malnourished, starving nearly to death. And yet they had huge heads, especially the eyes, bulging out. ¡°This design is simply disgusting!¡± The old lady felt very uncomfortable. Lin Baici and the others approached. The Buddha statues bore the marks of being weathered by the wind and sun. ¡°They won¡¯t suddenly start moving, will they?¡± Hua Yue Yu was worried. ¡°Don¡¯t scare me!¡± The old lady began to tremble, inching closer to Lin Baici for comfort. ¡°Let¡¯s go in and take a look!¡± Lin Baici noticed one Buddha statue that was different; it was draped in a Kasaya. The crowd followed, but as soon as they approached the group of Buddha statues... Whoosh! All of the Buddha statues simultaneously turned their heads, staring at them. ¡°Ghosts!¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± ¡°Run!¡± Everyone was frightened, except for Lin Baici, who only took a step back while the others turned and ran. Kim Myungjin took a few steps before realizing that Lin Baici hadn¡¯t run; she stopped: ¡°Oppa?¡± [A group of starved Buddhas with big heads is murderous and greedy towards any food, but since they can¡¯t move, they can only watch, not eat!] ¡°Can¡¯t move? Does that mean if we don¡¯t get close to them, we¡¯ll be safe?¡± Lin Baici felt relieved and his gaze fell on the red kasaya. It was sewn from red fabric, just like the kind worn by abbots in ordinary temples, but this one had lines of golden symbols on it, probably some kind of script. Who cares, let¡¯s burn it and be done with it. Lin Baici, holding a pine torch, approached a stone Buddha and forcefully scraped it against the Buddha. Zi la! The torch lit, and its orange-red glow dispelled some of the chill. The others stayed where they were, watching Lin Baici walk into the cluster of stone statues. This... How bold! Suddenly, the big-headed stone statues started tilting their heads back, puckering their lips, and screaming strenuously. Ah! The eerie tone spread throughout the entire Lotus Lake, even causing ripples on the surface of the water. Ouch! Lin Baici covered one ear with his hand. The others fared worse; the screaming was like sharp iron drills being hammered brutally into everyone¡¯s skulls by a giant, piercing their brains. But what was even more terrifying was that along with this round of screaming, there was a loud splash from the shore of Lotus Lake, and a three-meter-tall monster burst forth from the water and charged straight at them. The monster appeared to be a Buddha statue, with knobby protuberances on its head and long ears hanging down, with a string of prayer beads around its neck, but beyond these, there were no other Buddhist elements to be found. The creature¡¯s muscles were knotted, completely bulging, as if it had been fed on protein powder, with veins and tendons protruding on its skin. And this guy was only wearing a pair of leather shorts, tightly wrapped around his body. As it ran frantically, its muscles contracted and expanded, and with each stomp on the ground, mud and grass splattered, leaving half-a-finger-deep impressions. Such a display was simply full of explosive strength and visual impact. Huala! The tourists turned and ran. Kidding me, this monster was so strong it could participate in bodybuilding competitions, killing everyone present in less than a minute would be an understatement. ¡°Oppa, run fast!¡± Kim Myungjin shouted loudly. Lin Baici only glanced at the Buddha monster before immediately sprinting. He was going to burn that kasaya. This ghostly thing, it must have been caused by that. Dong! Dong! Dong! The Buddha monster chased after Lin Baici at full speed. Luckily, he was close enough to the kasaya, arriving just in time, but as he extended the torch to set the kasaya ablaze, the Eater God spoke. [This is a Bodhi Messenger¡¯s Cassock. Wearing it, you can summon a Buddha to do your laundry, cook, chop wood, and feed horses. If you want to fight, it can hand you a knife and bury the dead.]¡± The Eater God suggested: [As a professional gourmet, you need some servants to attend to you. This Buddha Messenger can be made use of for the time being.] ¡°What is this?¡± Lin Baici became utterly confused. This thing can be a servant? If it punches me, I won¡¯t just cry for a long time; I¡¯d ascend to heaven on the spot. Lin Baici was resolute in his will, regardless of what it was, burn it first, otherwise, when that thing comes over, he himself would be the one to die. [Wrap the kasaya around you, and you can enslave it, easy to use.] This comment from the Eater God made Lin Baici move the torch away at the moment he was about to light the kasaya. ¡°That easy?¡± Lin Baici couldn¡¯t believe it. He thought about the dark Buddha in the Daxiong Treasure Hall, and if he had such a Muscle Buddha as a fighter to face that great Buddha, surely he¡¯d stand a chance, right? With that thought, Lin Baici quickly reached out his hand to tug the kasaya from the stone statue. The Buddha monster charged, bent over with a stride, and his right fist, like a meteor chasing the moon, aimed a blow at Lin Baici¡¯s head. ¡°Oppa!¡± ¡°Bai Ci!¡± Kim Myungjin and Hua Yue Yu could not bear to watch any longer. Swish! Lin Baici flicked his wrist, draping the kasaya over his shoulder, neatly covering half his body. The golden scriptures were exceptionally dazzling among the willow stone statues. Whoosh! The wind from the punch rustled Lin Baici¡¯s Manchester United jersey. The Buddha monster¡¯s heavy fist stopped just short of his forehead. ¡°Mommy, that was scary!¡± Only now did Lin Baici realize how dangerous his action had been. If the Eater God¡¯s advice had been wrong, or if he had been half a beat slower in donning the kasaya, his brain matter and blood would already be coloring the stone statues. The Buddha monster stood firmly, straightened its body, then brought its hands together in a bow towards Lin Baici, slightly bent over, and then its entire body faded and disappeared. ¡°Oppa!¡± Kim Myungjin ran over frantically, crying her eyes out, ¡°You almost scared me to death!¡± Although they had not known each other for long, Lin Baici¡¯s wisdom and bravery, and of course, the most important thing, his good looks, had already made this Goryeo beauty develop a fondness for him. If he escorted her home that night, Kim Myungjin would definitely invite him into her bedroom for a bowl of ramen. Lin Baici shrugged his shoulders and properly wore the kasaya. In fact, it was just a piece of cloth that was placed over his shoulders and left arm and tied with a strap. Seeing that the crisis had been averted, everyone came over. ¡°Bai Ci, don¡¯t ever do something like that again, it¡¯s too dangerous!¡± The voice of the elderly lady trembled; she didn¡¯t understand why Lin Baici was unafraid. ¡°Was that Muscle Buddha monster responsible for killing those swimmers just now?¡± Jiang Hong was excited. If that was the case, doesn¡¯t it mean it¡¯s now safe to cross the lake? Speaking of which, where¡¯s that Muscle Buddha? Had Lin Baici subdued it? Jiang Hong¡¯s gaze fixed on the kasaya on Lin Baici¡¯s body; it must be something good. I want it! ¡°Oppa, that kasaya is a Taboo thing, and wearing it could contaminate you!¡± Kim Myungjin was worried. ¡°There¡¯s no choice!¡± Lin Baici figured he had some chance of resisting such rules of contamination, otherwise, the Eater God would definitely not have let him use it. [You won¡¯t be contaminated, but it might beat you up!] Chapter 21 - 21 21 Unbeatable Divine Power_1 ?21: Chapter 21 Unbeatable Divine Power_1 21: Chapter 21 Unbeatable Divine Power_1 ¡°What?¡± Lin Baici¡¯s steps halted. [I¡¯m serving as your servant, taking orders from you, and I can¡¯t even have a little mood? Occasionally punching you isn¡¯t too much, right?] The tone of the Eater God was a matter of fact. ¡°The key point is that punch could kill me!¡± Lin Baici felt helpless, realizing he would need to be more careful in the future. Everyone rushed back to the dock. The lake surface was calm, with only lotus leaves rustling. ¡°Captain, hurry up!¡± Jiang Hong was thick-skinned, not close with Lin Baici, but still called out affectionately. He beckoned while running onto the awning boat, and other tourists were shoving and josteling, trying to grab a spot. Splash! Someone was pushed into the water. ¡°All of you, get the hell off!¡± Jiang Hong jumped onto the awning boat, and roared at those squeezing on with him, ¡°Without the Captain¡¯s word, no one is allowed aboard!¡± ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± Some were indignant, but many others went to grab one of the two sampans, avoiding Jiang Hong; after all, he was Guangqing¡¯s richest man, wealthy. Lin Baici, that outstanding student, merely had to lend him a hand to earn ten million yuan; there was no reason not to make that money. Lin Baici stepped onto the dock, looking at the yelling Jiang Hong, his eyebrows furrowing: ¡°Get off!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Jiang Hong was dumbfounded. ¡°Get off!¡± Lin Baici could not stand people like Jiang Hong: ¡°Don¡¯t make me say it a second time!¡± ¡°...¡± Jiang Hong was embarrassed, his expression as pained as if he had been constipated for ten years. ¡°Get lost!¡± Sima Mu jumped onto the awning boat, waving his sickle at him. Jiang Hong looked at Lin Baici, understanding; that person didn¡¯t want to team up with him. Alas! Better to disembark gracefully, to avoid being beaten up. ¡°Handsome, let me on the boat too, okay?¡± The woman with red-dyed hair wasn¡¯t dead, she pleaded with Lin Baici with a flattering smile. ¡°You guys take the sampan!¡± Lin Baici picked up the oar and began rowing. On his boat were Kim Myungjin, Hua Yue Yu, Sister Xiao Li, the old lady, Sima Mu, and the Zhang Ju mother and daughter. ¡°Give me a spot!¡± Jiang Hong tried to exert his monetary power: ¡°I¡¯ll pay!¡± But unfortunately, everyone wanted to live, and with the more capable men like the Hawk-nosed man gone, the remaining people were all pretty evenly matched, so for a time, it was chaos as everyone wanted to be the first to go. The awning boat reached the shore, Lake Heart Island had arrived. A vast field of golden wild chrysanthemums swayed in the wind, scattering a fresh floral fragrance. ¡°Disembark, pick the flowers!¡± Sima Mu jumped ashore. ¡°So beautiful!¡± The little girl exclaimed. It was only this flower field that did not display the somber and daunting palette of God¡¯s ruins. Bees could even be seen fluttering among the flowers. ¡°How big a bunch of flowers do we need to pick?¡± Hua Yue Yu and her group disembarked and were about to enter the flower field, ready to pick some pretty wild chrysanthemums. ¡°Wait!¡± Lin Baici stopped them. Whoosh! Everyone stood still. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The old lady was frightened: ¡°Is there danger?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± When Lin Baici had obtained the Bodhi Messenger¡¯s Cassock earlier, his hunger had subsided, but it had not completely disappeared. The moment he set foot on Lake Heart Island, the hunger surged forth again. And it was so intense that saliva secreted from Lin Baici¡¯s mouth. [A field of wild chrysanthemums excessively nourished by Divine Power has mutated; their root system will drag any life that enters the flower field into the soil, turning it into nutrients!] [Burn it, it has to go; otherwise, picking some chrysanthemums to make tea can quench fire¡¯s potency.] Eater God commented. ¡°Burn it? Then what about our task?¡± Lin Baici questioned inwardly. Eater God didn¡¯t respond; it was only interested in good food. ¡°Should we pick the flowers?¡± Hua Yue Yu was now listening only to Lin Baici, confident it couldn¡¯t be wrong. ¡°Don¡¯t pick!¡± Lin Baici lit the torch by striking it against the side of the boat, then jumped off and approached the flower field: ¡°You guys stand back!¡± ¡°What are you doing?¡± Sima Mu got anxious: ¡°By the looks of it, are you going to burn them?¡± ¡°Right!¡± Lin Baici looked at Sima Mu: ¡°Do you have a problem with that?¡± ¡°No! No!¡± Sima Mu laughed: ¡°Do whatever you want to do!¡± Lin Baici lowered the torch, waving it through the clusters of flowers a few times. Whoosh! Whoosh! The flames immediately caught and began to devour the entire flower field. On the shore, the tourists suddenly noticed a fire on the island, and panicked. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Thick smoke billowed up with the wind. Travelers on the two sampans rushed to row over. Before reaching the shore, they heard the squeaking screams from within the flower field, as if monsters were being burned to death. They looked at each other in confusion. Those with Hua Yue Yu felt a sense of relief. If Lin Baici hadn¡¯t stopped them from picking flowers, they would likely have already been killed by the creatures within the field. Ten minutes later, Lake Heart Island had turned into a charred wasteland, all the chrysanthemums burned away. Some tourists were displeased, but they dared not speak out. The old lady intended to ask Lin Baici what to do next, but seeing his stern face, she decisively kept her mouth shut. After waiting a bit longer, some wild chrysanthemum sprouts broke through the soil. They¡¯ve sprouted! They grew visibly insane, towering, blooming, and standing firm against the wind. ¡°Bai Ci, you really are divine!¡± Hua Yue Yu exclaimed in admiration. Was Lin Baici just a student? Who would believe that! He must be a God Hunter, and an incredibly formidable one at that! Lin Baici turned around and looked at the people on the sampan, as well as some tourists who had bravely swum over: ¡°We¡¯ll take some first, no objections, right?¡± ¡°No objections! No objections!¡± ¡°Please, you first!¡± ¡°If anyone dares to say a word against it, I¡¯ll beat them to death!¡± The wild chrysanthemums that had just grown were not plentiful, hardly enough to bunch together in several bouquets, but these people were very tactful and didn¡¯t dare to compete with Lin Baici. Consequently, Hua Yue Yu and her group also benefited. After picking a bunch of wildflowers, Lin Baici strolled on Lake Heart Island. What could be so amazing here? Enough to make one¡¯s mouth water? As Lin Baici didn¡¯t leave, Hua Yue Yu and the others had no choice but to wait. A little girl squatted on the ground, picking up stones to play with, and inadvertently, saw a crystal stone the size of a walnut in the soil. It was a pale blue color, spherical in shape, adorned with strange patterns, and shrouded in a faint glow. ¡°So pretty ah!¡± The little girl immediately ran over to Lin Baici on her short little legs, holding out the crystal stone with both hands as if offering a treasure: ¡°Eater God big brother, this is for you!¡± It was this thing! The moment Lin Baici saw it, he wanted to eat it right away. [Using your human terms, it¡¯s called a Meteorite, filled with God¡¯s Ability inside. After consuming it, it can activate and nourish cells, allowing your bodies to evolve to the next level of life!] ¡°Could this be a Meteorite?¡± Kim Myungjin exclaimed in amazement. ¡°You recognize it?¡± Lin Baici needed enlightenment. ¡°Never seen it.¡± Kim Myungjin shook her head: ¡°Meteorites are among the most precious resources in God¡¯s ruins. God Hunters risk their lives to break into God¡¯s ruins, and they do it for God¡¯s bones and this!¡± ¡°Meteorites contain a mysterious energy that, once refined through a special process, can be absorbed by God Hunters to strengthen their bodies and replenish Divine Power.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you before that the more Divine Grace a God Hunter has, the more powerful they are? But if the hunter¡¯s body is too weak, they can easily die abruptly when absorbing Divine Grace. Moreover, using Divine Grace consumes Divine Power, so the value of a Meteorite that can strengthen the body and replenish Divine Power is self-evident!¡± These pieces of knowledge came from Kim Myungjin¡¯s brother. ¡°Can¡¯t eat it directly?¡± Lin Baici frowned. ¡°Not just an ordinary person, even a God Hunter who eats it would become disfigured by the radiation of the mysterious energy contained within it if not operated on to get it out within a few minutes!¡± Kim Myungjin looked at the Meteorite with envy: ¡°In hunter circles, this is the highest currency.¡± ¡°How much is it worth?¡± Lin Baici¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°If converted into money, you¡¯d be financially free on the spot!¡± Kim Myungjin finished speaking and then hurriedly reminded: ¡°But no hunter would trade it for money, they all use it to increase their strength!¡± One simply wouldn¡¯t know how precious a Meteorite is unless they were a God Hunter. ¡°Hmm!¡± Lin Baici tucked away the meteorite: ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Once he got the money, he decided to give the little girl a sum as a token of gratitude for finding the meteorite. In fact, he didn¡¯t have to, since he had saved the lives of the mother and daughter. The awning boat sailed, heading back to the dock. Once Lin Baici left, hostility immediately erupted among the tourists on the island, after all, only thirty people could live. ¡°Eat it quickly, what are you waiting for?¡± The Eater God urged. ¡°Eating it will kill me!¡± Lin Baici explained in his mind. The Eater God didn¡¯t care about that at all: ¡°If you won¡¯t eat, I¡¯ll stuff it into your mouth!¡± ¡°Kim Myungjin said this thing needs to undergo special processing before it can be used.¡± Lin Baici hesitated. He had survived up to now by relying on the Eater God¡¯s food critiques, but to eat something like this raw was really asking too much, wasn¡¯t it? ¡°With your current state, you absolutely cannot kill the deity¡¯s bones in the Daxiong Treasure Hall. Going there would be like delivering takeout.¡± The Eater God mocked: ¡°You don¡¯t think those few worthless companions of yours could be any help, do you?¡± ¡°How am I supposed to eat this? I can¡¯t even bite it.¡± Lin Baici looked at the walnut-sized meteorite and sighed. In fact, there was no choice. Moreover, the hunger was stimulating him to take a bite. ¡°Just put it in your mouth!¡± Lin Baici wiped the meteorite with his jersey and, while no one was paying attention, stuffed it into his mouth. The temperature inside his mouth immediately rose, the meteorite softened, turning into a liquid state. Gurgle! Gurgle! Lin Baici swallowed twice in succession and ate it. A surge of heat exploded instantaneously in his stomach, spreading throughout his body. White steam emerged from Lin Baici, his skin slightly reddened. Everyone noticed this wave of heat, turned their heads, and seeing Lin Baici¡¯s abnormal state, were shocked. ¡°Baici, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Sister Xiao Li was terrified, you are the hope of our village, nothing can go wrong with you. Lin Baici didn¡¯t speak. After about a minute, the steam on his body dissipated, his skin color returned to normal, and became more delicate and tighter than before, good enough to make women who use high-end cosmetics everyday envious. ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± Lin Baici exhaled a breath of turbid air. The awning boat reached the dock. He looked back at Lake Heart Island, clearly seeing the tourists fighting over the wild chrysanthemums. Jiang Hong¡¯s hideous facial expression, he could see it all as clear as day. His vision had improved. Though Lin Baici wasn¡¯t nearsighted, his vision had still deteriorated over the years from studying, but now it was definitely 5.3. If he were to undergo a pilot¡¯s vision test, he would surely pass. Lin Baici recalled the Eater God¡¯s critique of the meteorite. This stone was full of God¡¯s Ability, which could evolve humans toward the next ladder of life. ¡°God¡¯s Ability?¡± Lin Baici clenched his right hand, now able to clearly feel something flowing inside his body. ¡°This thing is Divine Power, and to use Divine Grace, you must have Divine Power!¡± Lin Baici understood that Divine Power was like the mana bar for characters in online games. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Baici jumped off the awning boat and headed for the Daxiong Treasure Hall. That dark Buddha probably wouldn¡¯t expect me to eat a meteorite and come back wearing the Bodhi Messenger¡¯s Kasaya, would he? Chapter 22 - 22 22 Dark Great Buddha _1 ?22: Chapter 22 Dark Great Buddha _1 22: Chapter 22 Dark Great Buddha _1 The wild chrysanthemums grew wildly, entirely because the divine power within the meteorite nourished the soil of Lake Heart Island, benefitting these plants. Jiang Hong and his five newly-recruited companions finally waited for the wild chrysanthemums to bloom. After each of them gathered a bunch, they immediately jumped onto a sampan and paddled back. ¡°Hurry! Hurry!¡± Jiang Hong urged. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so anxious; we don¡¯t know what traps lie ahead. Let that Lin Baici go face that dark Buddha statue first, right?¡± A bald middle-aged man was slacking off, not paddling with effort. ¡°What do you know?¡± Jiang Hong, dissatisfied, said, ¡°Following that Lin Baici is the safest!¡± Aside from the bald man, the others thought the same, so they paddled quickly and soon reached the dock. Jiang Hong didn¡¯t wait for the sampan to come to a complete stop before jumping off. ¡°Hurry up!¡± Jiang Hong hurried them but stopped suddenly after taking a few steps. A tall and terrifying dark Buddha statue materialized before him like a ghost, blocking his way. It was holding a wooden fish and struck it unhurriedly. ¡°My Buddha asks you, are you sincere?¡± The Buddha statue, with its eyes downcast and a fierce look, stared at Jiang Hong. Swish! Cold sweat soaked Jiang Hong¡¯s clothes all at once. ¡°I am sincere! I am sincere!¡± Jiang Hong hastily responded, but the merit Buddha remained indifferent and asked again. ¡°My Buddha asks you, are you sincere?¡± ¡°I am sincere!¡± Jiang Hong shouted, then fell to his knees before the merit Buddha and started kowtowing vigorously. He was in a panic, especially after hearing the merit Buddha asking again; he knew he was done for. Sure enough! The merit Buddha, not seeing Jiang Hong¡¯s sincerity, raised its mallet and smashed it down on his head. Bang! Jiang Hong¡¯s head shattered, his flesh and blood splattered everywhere, and then his headless body slumped to the ground. The merit Buddha turned its gaze towards the bald middle-aged man, appearing before him as if by teleportation. ¡°My Buddha asks you, are you sincere?¡± The bald man was petrified and turned to run. ¡°If Lin Baici were here, he¡¯d surely know how to prove his sincerity, right?¡± Only now did the bald middle-aged man think of Lin Baici¡¯s virtues. The merit Buddha, expressionless, swung out its mallet. Bang! The bald middle-aged man died, falling into the water, and his blood diffused into a wide swath. The remaining three tourists scattered, each fleeing in a different direction. But it was useless! The merit Buddha casually threw out its mallet; it soared like a flying hammer, whistling through the air, and successively smashed the heads of these unfaithful tourists. Afterwards, Whilst the merit Buddha wiped the mallet, its gaze shifted towards Lake Heart Island. There were figures moving about. And so, it boarded the sampan. Ding! Ding! Ding! The clear sound of the wooden fish reverberated over Lotus Lake! There were the sounds of summer cicadas, now even louder. ... ¡°Although we have gathered the bouquets, we don¡¯t know what else might happen. Everyone, be ready to adapt!¡± After Lin Baici finished speaking in a low voice in front of Daxiong Treasure Hall, he jogged up the steps, crossed the threshold, and entered the hall. Immediately, an eerie and bizarre aura assaulted them. The crowd followed. Atop the lotus pedestal in the hall, the dark Buddha sat high above, resting its chin in one hand as it looked down disdainfully at these wretched ants. On its face was scorn, disdain, and thick mockery. ¡°The first to return is indeed you!¡± The dark Buddha appraised Lin Baici, its gaze traversing the torch in his hand and sweeping over the kasaya on his body. Hiss! Unable to refrain, the dark Buddha stuck out its thick tongue and licked its lips. Even from such a distance, I can smell your deliciousness! ¡°We have brought back the bouquets!¡± An old lady managed a smile, her attitude subservient: ¡°Can you let us go now?¡± She didn¡¯t want to spend another second here. ¡°My Buddha is merciful!¡± With a incantation, the dark Buddha stood up, walked down from the dais, and squatted in front of the old lady: ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid!¡± Thud! The old lady immediately knelt down. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid! I¡¯m not afraid!¡± Her voice trembled fiercely. The dark Buddha nodded appreciatively, satisfied with the old lady¡¯s attitude, and even stretched out a finger to stroke Xu Xiu¡¯s head. ¡°Are you willing to become my disciple?¡± The dark Buddha¡¯s gesture was gentle, like a feline owner petting a cat! The old lady instinctively turned to look at Lin Baici. ¡°Why are you looking at him?¡± The dark Buddha questioned, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to?¡± Slap! With two fingers, the dark Buddha pinched Xu Xiu¡¯s head. ¡°I do! I want to!¡± The old lady hastily capitulated, since the dark Buddha¡¯s grip was excruciatingly painful, ¡°A teachable child!¡± The dark Buddha praised, releasing his fingers. Just when the old lady thought she had dodged a bullet, the dark Buddha suddenly flicked her forehead. Crack! The old lady¡¯s head was shattered by the flick, and a pulpy mess of brain matter, skull fragments, and blood splattered out, smearing across the floor. ¡°Ah!¡± Zhang Ju collapsed to the ground in terror, and the others were no better off. No one expected the dark Buddha to be so capricious, killing on a whim. ¡°Are you insane?¡± Lin Baici yelled out, his voice echoing in the grand hall. He knew he shouldn¡¯t be so emotional, but he couldn¡¯t help it. Ever since Dragon Temple was shrouded in dark mists and became God¡¯s ruins, he had been constantly threatened by death. Other rule pollutions were manageable, and survival was possible if endured, but the monster before him had already launched three games of divine taboo and still casually killed at will. Human life meant no more to it than a toy. ¡°Oppa!¡± Kim Myungjin frantically signaled Lin Baici with his eyes, not to butt heads with this thing, as it would lead to great losses. ¡°Baici, stay calm!¡± The female anchor tried to persuade him. ¡°Are you angry?¡± The Dark Buddha laughed: ¡°Good, you should be!¡± No sooner had it finished speaking than it flicked its finger again. Bang! This time it was Sister Xiao Li¡¯s turn to be unlucky. She was already bending and shrinking back with her head down, trying to hide like a nobody, but she still didn¡¯t make it through. The Dark Buddha popped her head like a balloon. Bang! Her body fell to the ground. Lin Baici gripped the Songmu torch tightly. ¡°If you want to live, you should be kneeling and begging me!¡± The Dark Buddha squatted in front of everyone, admonishing these people who had yet to realize their situation: ¡°I am God, I am your ruler!¡± It extended its finger, pressing down on Kim Myungjin¡¯s head. ¡°Are you willing to become my follower?¡± Answering no would certainly mean death, answering yes might offer a glimmer of hope, but... Kim Myungjin glanced at Lin Baici, trembling with fear as he answered: ¡°Whatever Oppa does, I will do the same!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like that answer.¡± The Dark Buddha was about to flick Kim Myungjin¡¯s head off when Lin Baici suddenly roared. ¡°Ask me instead!¡± Those four words resounded with authority, like the thunderous sound of war drums. Everyone turned to look, shocked by Lin Baici¡¯s fearlessness. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll indulge you!¡± The Dark Buddha leaned down, brought its face close to Lin Baici, and looked at him directly: ¡°Are you willing to become my follower?¡± ¡°I will, your mom!¡± Lin Baici bellowed, thrusting the torch at full speed towards the Dark Buddha¡¯s left eye. The Dark Buddha smirked, about to flick Lin Baici to death and eat him when a mighty punch, like a comet tearing through the sky, smashed into its face. Bang! The Dark Buddha was sent flying, its body scraping against the bluestone floor, sliding for dozens of meters before slamming into a wall. ¡°You guys run!¡± After saying this, Lin Baici pounced towards the Dark Buddha. He scraped the torch against the ground! Whoosh! Flames erupted, like Lin Baici¡¯s racing heartbeat. The Muscle Buddha, in shorts, was faster than Lin Baici. He strode with long legs, thumping like a beast as he crashed into the Dark Buddha. Bang! They tumbled away, entwined with each other. Lin Baici ran in front of the Dark Buddha, mustering all his strength, and stabbed the torch onto its body. ¡°Light it up for me!¡± Lin Baici hoped to kill the monster with the ¡®flame that could ignite anything and turn it to ashes in a very short time,¡¯ a divine taboo feature of the Songmu torch. If it didn¡¯t work, he was surely dead today. The moment the Dark Buddha¡¯s right leg came in contact with the torch, it instantly ignited, and the flames rapidly enveloped it, swallowing it whole, not even sparing the Muscle Buddha. ¡°Insects, don¡¯t even think of harming me!¡± The Dark Buddha was furious, wanting to kill Lin Baici, but the Muscle Buddha was holding it tightly in its grasp. [Just a piece of food, and you¡¯re so arrogant?] Eater God mocked. The Dark Buddha was not a god at all, but a Buddha statue simply parasitized by a piece of God¡¯s bones. Moreover, even that piece was just a tiny remnant from a corpse of a deity. It wasn¡¯t enough for the Eater God to feast on. The Dark Buddha was set ablaze, and the flames engulfing its body made it resemble a torch, lighting up the great hall. Bang! Bang! Bang! The Muscle Buddha pounded away at the head of the Dark Buddha. [Even if you crush its head to bits, it¡¯s useless; the parasitic God¡¯s bones are in its left forearm!] Lin Baici, through the Bodhi Messenger¡¯s Cassock, could not only summon a Muscle Buddha but also issue some simple commands for it to carry out. The only trouble was the possibility of being pounded to death by it. Hearing the words of Eater God, Lin Baici immediately gave an order. ¡°Twist off its left arm!¡± Lin Baici did not approach. Both Buddhas were now burning, and as they fought fiercely, the tables, cushions, incense, and Buddha statues they collided with also caught fire. Thick smoke billowed. ¡°Oppa, be careful!¡± Kim Myungjin was worried. ¡°Stop talking nonsense; let¡¯s get out of here fast!¡± Sima Mu yelled. Everyone was just an ordinary person, good for nothing but getting in the way. ¡°Bai Ci!¡± Hua Yue Yu was very concerned and wanted to help but didn¡¯t know what she could do. Zhang Ju, holding her daughter, stumbled toward the hall¡¯s exit. The old lady died right next to her, her brains and flesh splattered on Zhang Ju¡¯s face, making her legs go weak from fright. If not for her daughter, for whom she was still hanging on, she would have fainted already. The Dark Buddha was in the throes of extreme anger. It wanted to kill all these people; otherwise, it couldn¡¯t calm its rage. Seeing Zhang Ju trying to flee, its right hand immediately swung towards a nearby offering table. Bang! The offering table was sent flying, crashing towards the exit. ¡°Be careful!¡± As Hua Yue Yu¡¯s words fell, the seven-meter-long offering table smashed onto Zhang Ju¡¯s back with a bang. The little girl was luckier and wasn¡¯t hit head-on, but when Zhang Ju fell, she was thrown out. ¡°Take the little girl and run!¡± Lin Baici shouted, rushing toward the Dark Buddha, ¡°Brat, you want to kill me, don¡¯t you? Come on!¡± He was provoking the enemy, not only to give Hua Yue Yu and the others a chance to escape but also to attract the Dark Buddha¡¯s attention and let the Muscle Buddha act more freely. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Sima Mu urged anxiously, grabbing Kim Myungjin. The Dark Buddha had already begun its massacre; not escaping would mean death. The Dark Buddha, seeing Lin Baici hopping about and completely treating it as a clown, was about to explode with rage. It clenched its fist and swung its arm, intending to beat him into a pulp. Crack! The Muscle Buddha took the opportunity to grab its left arm, wrapping around it like a python strangling its prey, suddenly tightening its body, twisting, then yanking. Crack! The left hand of the Dark Buddha was broken off. Chapter 23 - 23 23 Escape from Death_1 ?23: Chapter 23 Escape from Death_1 23: Chapter 23 Escape from Death_1 Having lost the God¡¯s bones, the dark Buddha¡¯s body began to crumble with a rattling noise, leaving broken stone debris all over the ground. ¡°Destroy it!¡± Lin Baici urged urgently. Muscle Buddha swung the arm he had just torn from the dark Buddha¡¯s body and suddenly smashed it towards Lin Baici. Whoosh! The arm whizzed past. Luckily, Lin Baici was fully focused and reacted swiftly, tilting his head to the side to dodge the arm. Bang! The arm struck the wall, and with the scorching of flames, shattered into stone powder. Only a palm-sized black substance fell from it, landing on the ground. Lin Baici stared at Muscle Buddha. However, the thing did not attack him again. ¡°It seems that this kasaya should not be used carelessly!¡± Lin Baici remembered Kim Myungjin¡¯s explanation: such Taboo things, once sealed by the black coffin, could be used without worry. Otherwise, it was very easy to be contaminated by the rules. [Begin your feast!] Eater God urged. Without needing a reminder from Eater God, Lin Baici couldn¡¯t help but walk towards the black substance and pick it up. The thing was like a piece of beef jerky that had been air-dried for many years, lacking moisture. Holding it in his hand, it felt warm, and Lin Baici could sense that it was radiating a kind of energy. Lin Baici didn¡¯t know that if an ordinary person came into contact with a piece of God¡¯s bones without any protection, they would immediately lose their human form due to radiation contamination and turn into a blob of rotten flesh. What¡¯s more terrifying was that this ¡®rotten flesh¡¯ was still alive. [What are you waiting for? Are you planning to barbecue it first? With a sprinkle of cumin?] Lin Baici was very hungry, but the thought of eating this mysterious ¡®jerky¡¯ still made him psychologically resistant. [The highest-end ingredients often only require the simplest cooking methods. For God¡¯s bones, eating them raw is the best way!] Eater God provided professional culinary guidance. Lin Baici was still hesitating when a pair of translucent arms that looked like they were condensed from starlight extended from his shoulders and grabbed the God¡¯s bones. Without waiting for Lin Baici to speak, they opened his mouth and stuffed the jerky down his throat. [Thank you for the gift from the God!] It was unclear whether Eater God was praying or mocking. Cough cough! Lin Baici choked uncomfortably, but soon a surge of Divine Grace burst forth inside him, soothing his viscera. This felt even better than swallowing the Meteorite. Suddenly... Intense pain assaulted his brain, forcing Lin Baici to clench his fists and strike his own head hard. Bang! Bang! Bang! After about ten seconds, the pain dissipated, and mysterious knowledge filled Lin Baici¡¯s mind. It was two Divine Graces, Lin Baici felt as familiar with them as if he had known them since birth. ¡°Mantra Buddha Resound?¡± ¡°Floating Night Rain, Wild Buddha blowing a lamp?¡± Lin Baici savored them for a moment and then his lips curled up in a smile, just as blissful as if he had come home from school to be told by his dad that he was actually the son of a billionaire. He had obtained two more Divine Graces, and they were strong. ... ¡°Don¡¯t go in, it¡¯s too dangerous!¡± On the open ground outside the main hall, Sima Mu was pulling hard on Kim Myungjin. After sending the little girl out, Kim Myungjin wanted to rush back in to help. Hua Yue Yu, holding the fainting girl, felt full of guilt and worry. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to help, but she was truly powerless. With the destructive power the dark Buddha had shown, they weren¡¯t even qualified to be cannon fodder; staying inside meant certain death. ¡°Asiba, let me go!¡± Kim Myungjin raised her long legs and delivered two kicks between Sima Mu¡¯s legs. Thud! Thud! Sima Mu was kicked numb, but he did not let go. ¡°Listen to me for once, don¡¯t get in the way!¡± Sima Mu meant well. ¡°I can at least be cannon fodder!¡± At the last moment, Lin Baici told everyone to leave and stayed behind to face the dark Buddha alone, which touched Kim Myungjin profoundly. In her entire life, apart from her mother, no one had ever been so kind to her. ¡°Bai Ci?¡± Hua Yue Yu, who had been intently watching the main hall, saw sorrow cover her tear-streaked face, but then her expression bloomed with joy. She picked up the little girl and rushed towards the main hall. The big boy had come out alive! He, had won! ¡°Oppa!¡± Kim Myungjin was overjoyed. ¡°What the hell, this kid really won?¡± Sima Mu was astonished. ¡°Is everyone okay?¡± Lin Baici looked at Kim Myungjin and the others. Apart from being quite disheveled, they were not seriously harmed, but his gaze lingered on the little girl and he sighed. Alas! The old lady, Sister Xiao Li, and Zhang Ju were just unlucky! ¡°Where are the God¡¯s bones?¡± Sima Mu stood on his tiptoes and peered inside the main hall. ¡°Destroyed!¡± Lin Baici smiled slightly. Eating it was something he would never admit to. ¡°Ah? So does that mean this Divine Ruins will soon collapse and we can get out alive?¡± Kim Myungjin was too happy, suddenly jumping onto Lin Baici and hugging him tightly. ¡°Oppa, you are my Superman!¡± Mua! The Goryeo girl gave Lin Baici a firm kiss. It was so true! In this position, Lin Baici could clearly feel it. The dark fog enveloping Dragon Temple was rapidly dissipating. ¡°Baici, thank you!¡± Hua Yue Yu was full of gratitude, ¡°From now on, you¡¯re family to me. I¡¯ll let you have your way in every argument.¡± The female anchor wasn¡¯t joking; starting today, she had decided to treat Lin Baici as her older brother! After all, without this big boy, she definitely would have been doomed in this temple. Wait a minute! ¡°Baici should be younger than me, does this count as an older cow eating tender grass?¡± Hua Yue Yu wasn¡¯t tall, a bit skinny, and her chest was rather flat. Wearing a school uniform, she looked like a junior high school girl, but she was actually already in her second year of university. ¡°We can talk later, let¡¯s get out of here first!¡± Lin Baici wanted to leave. This time, he had hit a major jackpot, obtaining several Taboo things, and he didn¡¯t want any mishap now. ¡°Right, let¡¯s go!¡± Sima Mu looked up, ¡°Don¡¯t take the main gate, climb over the wall, and go down the small trail behind the mountain.¡± Kim Myungjin and Hua Yue Yu looked toward Lin Baici. They were both girls who knew their limits. In this situation, they wouldn¡¯t rashly express their opinions and relied entirely on Lin Baici to decide. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Baici took the lead. As a local, he had visited Dragon Temple many times and knew the place well. According to Kim Myungjin¡¯s explanation, just after a meteor fell and created God¡¯s ruins, the danger level was relatively low. At this time, God Hunters would come to Breaking Divine Ruins, seal the Taboo things, and collect God¡¯s bones. If they took the main gate, they might encounter them. Lin Baici did not want the Taboo things he had just acquired and not yet warmed up in his hands to be forcibly confiscated. ... At the foot of Jiufeng Mountain, the parking lot. A man in his twenties stood on top of a touring coach, holding a pair of binoculars, observing the top of the mountain. A few days ago, the purple bricks and red tiles of Dragon Temple could be seen, but now only a large patch of black mist was visible, resembling the dwelling of a demon king from Journey to the West, exuding sinister and ghostly vibes. In the blistering heat of summer, cicadas sounded weak and intermittent, without a breath of wind. However, the black mist at the top of the mountain suddenly began to thin. ¡°Huh?¡± The young man was astonished. Once he was sure he wasn¡¯t seeing things and the dark fog was indeed thinning, he immediately pulled out his phone and dialed the bureau¡¯s number. As soon as the call connected, a roaring voice came through. ¡°Little Chen, how many times have I told you? I have no manpower to spare for you. As long as the Divine Ruins aren¡¯t spreading, stop bothering me!¡± The rough, hoarse voice on the other end sounded anxious and deeply concerned. ¡°It¡¯s not that, Director Zhang, the dark fog is rapidly dissipating,¡± Chen Shihe quickly reported. ¡°What?¡± Director Zhang¡¯s spirits lifted, ¡°Are you sure?¡± The dissipation of the dark fog indicated that the God¡¯s bones had been contained, and the Divine Ruins would soon disappear, returning the nearby environment to normal. ¡°Of course!¡± Chen Shihe thought to himself, I¡¯m not blind. ¡°Haha, fortune favors me too!¡± Director Zhang breathed a huge sigh of relief, ¡°Dragon Temple is the most famous attraction in Guangqing City, with many visitors. When the meteor fell and formed the Divine Ruins, there must have been God Hunters inside lighting incense and praying, and so they took the opportunity to contain the God¡¯s bones and break the Divine Ruins.¡± ¡°It could have been done by ordinary people too!¡± Chen Shihe analyzed. ¡°Bullshit!¡± Director Zhang immediately dismissed it, ¡°Look at the time. It¡¯s been only five hours since the Divine Ruins of Dragon Temple appeared. Tell me, which ordinary person has the ability to quickly find and contain God¡¯s bones amidst the contamination of so many Taboo things¡¯ magical rules?¡± ¡°...¡± Chen Shihe was speechless. Indeed, ordinary people would either die from the contamination or from radiation while turning into meat puppets near God¡¯s bones. ¡°Breaking a Divine Ruins in five hours, the God Hunter who took action must be at least a Lion King, and it¡¯s even possible they¡¯re of Dragon Level!¡± Director Zhang was relieved; no matter what, the disaster of the Divine Ruins at Dragon Temple had been resolved. ¡°Sss, Dragon Level?¡± Chen Shihe gasped in shock and awe. ¡°Stop being melodramatic and go support Team Leader Li in Xiu Shui County!¡± Director Zhang instructed. ¡°Should I go into the temple and find that Dragon Level Hunter, ask for help?¡± Chen Shihe suggested. This time, Guangqing City was quite unlucky to have had two meteors fall at once. One fell in Xiu Shui County, affecting over two hundred thousand people. In comparison, Dragon Temple had at most twenty thousand visitors, which is why Director Zhang sent all of the Jiuzhou Security Bureau¡¯s God Hunters to Xiu Shui County, leaving only the two-man team of Chen Shihe to monitor outside Dragon Temple. ¡°Are you stupid? If the Dragon Level Hunter goes there, what¡¯s left for us?¡± Director Zhang was about to explode with irritation. Taboo things, Meteorites, God¡¯s bones ¨C these items, despite being dangerous, were also valuable. Handing them over to headquarters, they could be exchanged for quite a few benefits. After ending the call, Chen Shihe glanced at Dragon Temple one last time, then jumped down from the top of the bus and settled into his partner¡¯s Mazda. ¡°I wonder what Taboo things that God Hunter got? Could it be a colleague?¡± Chen Shihe was curious. Every country has official organisations dealing with Divine Ruins disasters. Chen Shihe belonged to the Jiuzhou Security Bureau ¨C Guangqing City branch. ¡°A God Hunter who breaks a Divine Ruin in five hours is impressive. Director Zhang doesn¡¯t want to provoke them; otherwise, with his penny-pinching nature, he would definitely come over to argue for a share of the Taboo things and God¡¯s bones.¡± His partner teased, started the car, and headed towards Xiu Shui County. ... More than an hour later, the party of five including Lin Baici left Jiufeng Mountain and appeared on a nearby highway. After walking over five li, they finally hailed a taxi. ¡°To the Hilton Hotel!¡± Kim Myungjin spoke up. Hua Yue Yu couldn¡¯t help but glance at the Goryeo girl, not having realized that she was actually a rich sister. The best hotel in Guangqing City was the Hilton, where even the most basic standard room cost over a thousand yuan a night. Chapter 24 - 24 24 Return with a Full Load_1 ?24: Chapter 24 Return with a Full Load_1 24: Chapter 24 Return with a Full Load_1 The group had been tormented by the Taboo game for five hours, enduring life-and-death situations, and were completely exhausted, especially the little girl, who had long since climbed onto Hua Yue Yu and fallen into a deep sleep. ¡°What should we do with her?¡± Hua Yue Yu sighed. The little girl¡¯s mother had been incredibly unlucky; she had been just moments away from surviving and making it out. ¡°Take her to the police station?¡± Lin Baici considered taking the little girl home, but how would he explain what happened to her mother? ¡°When we get to the city, I¡¯ll get off and take her home.¡± Sima Mu touched the little girl¡¯s head and expressed his gratitude toward Lin Baici, ¡°In God¡¯s ruins, I was useless, I survived only by following you, so let me handle this. Otherwise, I¡¯ll feel too guilty.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine!¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t refuse. Sima Mu wasn¡¯t a trafficker; there was no need to be wary. ¡°How about adding each other on WeChat? In a few days, I¡¯ll treat you to a big meal.¡± Sima Mu took out his cellphone, planning to keep in touch with Lin Baici in the future. This person had unlimited potential. It was best to foster a good relationship now¡ªit would definitely pay off in the future. ¡°Your phone still works?¡± Hua Yue Yu was astonished. All three of her phones, her SLR, and her Gopro sports camera were all damaged beyond repair. ¡°Oh, I forgot!¡± Sima Mu smiled awkwardly, ¡°Then, can I leave you my number?¡± ¡°Give me yours, and I¡¯ll remember it.¡± Lin Baici was going to attend university in Haijing City, and he¡¯d definitely need to change his phone number when that happened. ¡°1379026768.¡± After Sima Mu finished speaking, he saw that Lin Baici didn¡¯t seem to be taking note of the number and felt a bit doubtful¡ªcould you really remember it? ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s impossible for me to forget it in this lifetime!¡± Lin Baici laughed. When he memorized the number, he had activated the Divine Grace, Passing Ears Recitation, ensuring he would remember it clearly for at least the next ten years. ¡°All our stuff was forcedly donated to that Buddha statue carrying the Merit Box!¡± Kim Myungjin explained on behalf of Lin Baici. It was to prevent Sima Mu from thinking that Lin Baici was disrespecting him ¨C after all, someone had given his phone number and just hearing it once would seem dismissive to anyone. ¡°Merit Box? Buddha statue?¡± Hua Yue Yu was startled, ¡°Did you also participate in other Taboo games?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Kim Myungjin reflected on it and still felt frightened by the experience. If it weren¡¯t for White Oppa¡¯s power, her own head would have been smashed, turning her into a headless corpse. ¡°Impressive!¡± Sima Mu gave a thumbs up, full of admiration. I thought you were already strong, but you exceeded my expectations. Even for a God Hunter, participating in a Taboo game is a life-or-death crisis. The taxi driver glanced at these people through the rearview mirror. ¡°Am I driving a bunch of lunatics?¡± The authorities wouldn¡¯t publicize any news about the Divine Ruins to prevent panic and unrest among the citizens, so the general population knew very little about such matters. An hour and twenty minutes later, the taxi arrived downtown. Sima Mu got out of the car, holding the little girl, and said farewell to Lin Baici and the other two. ¡°Let¡¯s stay in touch!¡± Only after the taxi departed did Sima Mu enter a mobile service store, used his credit card to buy a new phone, and had his phone number re-issued. He then made a call. Beep! Beep! Beep! After nine rings, the call connected. ¡°Uncle Nine, on my way home for the tomb-sweeping, I encountered a Divine Ruins!¡± Sima Mu sat down at a roadside barbecue stall, ¡°Boss lady, give me two kilos of skewers and ten bottles of beer! Uncle Nine, I met a newcomer, super talented!¡± ... The Hilton hotel was in the center of the city, and together with the adjacent provincial TV tower, it was considered a landmark in Guangqing City. At night, when the neon lights on the TV tower came on, the brilliant colors lent a vibe of a city bathed in neon. The moment the taxi stopped in front of the hotel, the doorman came to open the door. ¡°Charge the driver to my account!¡± Kim Myungjin instructed the doorman. ¡°Tsk tsk, she couldn¡¯t really be the heiress of a Goryeo conglomerate, could she?¡± Hua Yue Yu muttered to herself. Kim Myungjin¡¯s demeanor clearly indicated she was accustomed to being served and ordering people around. Upon entering the hotel lobby, as far away as the reception desk, the three receptionist girls bowed in unison and greeted. ¡°Miss Kim, good evening!¡± ¡°Open two more deluxe suites, go buy two latest Apple iPhones, one Samsung phone, and also get three new SIM cards!¡± Kim Myungjin ordered casually; such petty expenses weren¡¯t worth her meticulous calculation. ¡°Oh, and he¡¯s lost his ID card; that won¡¯t be a problem for check-in, right?¡± Kim Myungjin was referring to Lin Baici. ¡°No problem at all!¡± The receptionist smiled warmly. The person before her was a lifetime member of the Hilton Hotel. The general manager had instructed that she be thoroughly looked after, with all her requests attentively serviced. Of course, being a lifetime member wasn¡¯t the big deal¡ªit was that she seemed to be the Miss of some wealthy Goryeo family¡¯s conglomerate. That was something. And what was the story with this young man? The receptionist¡¯s eyes quickly skimmed over Lin Baici. So tall! And with such good looks, he really did qualify for a life of leisure. ¡°This hotel¡¯s rooms are expensive, right?¡± Lin Baici frowned; he had no money to spare. ¡°Oppa, this isn¡¯t something for you to worry about!¡± Kim Myungjin¡¯s smile bloomed like flowers. The receptionist was taken aback. Something was off about this attitude, wasn¡¯t it? Why did it feel like this Goryeo heiress was chasing after this big guy? ¡°I¡¯ll pay for my own share!¡± Hua Yue Yu didn¡¯t want to take such a big advantage either. ¡°Don¡¯t fuss over such small things!¡± To Kim Myungjin, spending a few tens of thousands of yuan was as common as buying a bottle of mineral water. It took the receptionist two minutes to prepare the room and process the check-in, and after handing the room cards to Lin Baici and Hua Yue Yu, she led them towards the elevator. ¡°Watch your step, please!¡± The lobby floor was clean and even; there was no risk of falling, but the receptionist still kindly reminded them. Upon reaching the elevator, she took the initiative to open the door, blocked the elevator door until Kim Myungjin and the others entered, and only then did she enter, close the door, and press the floor button. ¡°My, my, this service... it¡¯s just short of treating the guests like royalty!¡± Hua Yue Yu marveled. Was this the luxury of the wealthy? This global chain five-star hotel was quite extravagant. The receptionist was also very attractive, dressed in a light blue suit dress with black stockings over her legs and small leather shoes. Her walk, perfected through training, was pleasant to the eye. Hua Yue Yu couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances and then sneakily peeked at Lin Baici, noting that he wasn¡¯t ogling the receptionist¡¯s behind, which was quite virtuous of him. Um! What a good man! Hua Yue Yu felt she¡¯d discovered another virtue in Lin Baici. ¡°If you need anything, you can call the front desk!¡± After opening the room for the three, the receptionist left with the presence of mind to give the guests their private time. [A girl who can be swayed with cash, just three thousand yuan per night, would you like to give it a try?] The Eater God commented, referring to the receptionist. ¡°I¡¯ll take a shower first; we can talk later!¡± Kim Myungjin looked at Lin Baici. ¡°Oppa, shall I run the bath for you?¡± ¡°No need!¡± Lin Baici quickly refused. Kim Myungjin¡¯s enthusiasm made Lin Baici uncomfortable. Lin Baici walked into the luxurious suite, his feet sinking into the soft carpet, which felt great. He took off his dirty clothes and noticed the landline on the desk, so he promptly called his mom to report his safety. He hadn¡¯t gone straight home because he was dirty and had some minor abrasions; returning home would only lead to a barrage of questions. The call connected. Lin Baici lied about staying overnight at his childhood friend Li Wei¡¯s house, easily glossing over the details. After hanging up, he quickly called Li Wei to make sure he wouldn¡¯t accidentally spill the beans. ¡°Where are you off to, spending the night out?¡± Li Wei¡¯s voice boomed. ¡°An internet cafe?!¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t say he was in a hotel since his friend wouldn¡¯t believe it anyway. ¡°Old White, you know, once the summer break is over, we¡¯ll be university students. If you spend the night out then, it should only be because you¡¯re with a woman in a hotel room, not hanging out in an internet cafe?, right?¡± Li Wei earnestly advised, ¡°That¡¯s just too low!¡± ¡°You owe an apology to everyone who pulls an all-nighter at internet cafe?s!¡± Lin Baici thought to himself that this also counted as booking a room with women. Moreover, two of them! And the pretty kind. ¡°Old White, seriously, I¡¯m planning to head to Haijing City in the next couple of days to earn some money over the summer holidays. Gotta save up. Otherwise, once university starts, I won¡¯t even have enough to treat a girl to bubble tea, which would just be embarrassing. How about we go together?¡± Li Wei wanted Lin Baici to join him for company. ¡°I... maybe I¡¯ll wait?¡± Lin Baici came from a single-parent family, supported solely by his mother¡¯s job. They weren¡¯t well off. Although Li Wei¡¯s parents were around, his father had sustained a work injury at a construction site years ago, leaving him disabled and homebound. Thus, Li Wei¡¯s allowance was quite limited. If it had been yesterday, Lin Baici wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to agree, but after his experience at the Dragon Temple Divine Ruins, his thoughts had changed. How much can you really earn from a part-time job? He now carried the title of a God Hunter endowed with Three Divine Graces. He had to ponder on how to monetize it. And honestly, Lin Baici was more interested in becoming a content creator, making videos to earn money. ¡°All right, then!¡± Li Wei didn¡¯t push further: ¡°You just keep having fun for another half a month, and watch me, Li Wei, make a fortune and pile up gold and silver. Then, I¡¯ll cover all your abortion expenses for four years!¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Lin Baici laughed and cursed. After ending the call, Lin Baici stepped into the lavishly decorated bathroom. As the hot shower rained down on him, he couldn¡¯t help but exhale deeply, feeling as though the day¡¯s fatigue was washed away with the water. [For a debut performance, your haul isn¡¯t bad!] The Eater God was satisfied: [You¡¯ve earned the right to reward yourself!] ¡°What exactly are you?¡± Lin Baici was curious. ¡°A Divine Grace?¡± The Eater God didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Forget it, speak up if you want to!¡± Lin Baici felt Eater God had no ill will towards him, so he decided to tally his gains instead. The Three Divine Graces, They were Guo Er Cheng Song, Mantra Buddha Resound, and Floating Night Rain, Wild Buddha blowing a lamp. How to monetize them? Lin Baici wanted to make money so he could buy the latest smartphones, computers, and action cameras. It would also boost his confidence when chasing girls. As for the Taboo things, they included the Songmu torch, Vanilla Padded Mat, Black Tripod Bowl, and the particularly formidable Bodhi Messenger¡¯s Cassock. These Taboo items should be quite valuable, selling just one could probably net a million yuan, right? It¡¯s just that he had no contacts, and recklessly selling them might end up getting him apprehended by some official organization, right? Chapter 25 - 25 25 Goal One Million Followers_1 ?25: Chapter 25: Goal, One Million Followers_1 25: Chapter 25: Goal, One Million Followers_1 After showering, Lin Baici realized he had no clothes to change into. After searching around, he found a white towel in the wardrobe and simply wrapped it around his waist. On the table was a coffee machine, and in the drawer, there were packets of coffee and tea. Lin Baici also found a mini-fridge. Inside there were cola, soda, beer, high-end mineral water, and some snacks, most of which were imported. Feeling somewhat thirsty, he estimated that these items would cost money, so he didn¡¯t touch them. Indeed, he quickly found a ¡°Guest Information¡± sheet on the desk, which listed various notices and some charged items. ¡°Fifty yuan for a can of cola? Are they trying to rob people?¡± Lin Baici was speechless and thought it would be better to just buy some at a convenience store. Ding dong! Ding dong! The doorbell rang. ¡°Oppa, have you finished showering?¡± Outside, Kim Myungjin¡¯s tone was sweet and obedient. ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Baici hurried to open the door. Kim Myungjin, wearing a tight-fitting tank top and shorts, was standing in the corridor, her two long, fair legs on full display, looking quite charming. As soon as the door opened, the Goryeo girl saw Lin Baici and immediately exclaimed in surprise. ¡°Wow!¡± Although Kim Myungjin had seen Lin Baici¡¯s body while at Dragon Temple facing the Eater God, at the time, it was a life-or-death crisis, and she was too anxious, only noting that Lin Baici had a great figure. Now, seeing it again, it truly was explosively good. His arms were sleek, his shoulders broad and waist narrow, and his smooth body lines seemed as if they were handcrafted by the creator, particularly those eight-pack abs... Could she just touch them? The trainee idols under her mother¡¯s entertainment company should use Lin Baici as their model. With that physique, who cares about singing, dancing, or rap? Just strip down, stand on the stage, and a sea of female fans would automatically be harvested. Lin Baici didn¡¯t know where to look. Kim Myungjin was dressed too provocatively. Beneath her shorts, her two long legs stood straight, a pair of flip-flops on her feet, with ten soft and playful toes wiggling. The little tank top she wore could only cover her chest, leaving her fair stomach and the mermaid line visible, but most eye-catching was the deep cleavage. That large, must be a D-cup, right? ¡°Damn, what did I just see?¡± Suddenly, an exclamation came from nearby. It was Hua Yue Yu! Hearing the noise, she opened the door just in time to see Lin Baici and Kim Myungjin, both of whom startled her with their figures. Kim Myungjin doesn¡¯t need any talents; just with that face and figure, if she wore yoga clothes and struck a few poses, she could attract hundreds of thousands of fans. But she seemed to be the daughter of a wealthy family and didn¡¯t need to earn that kind of money. ¡°Xiao Bai, how do you maintain such discipline?¡± Hua Yue Yu, despite being petite, was over a year older than Lin Baici and couldn¡¯t bring herself to call him ¡°Brother Lin.¡± Calling him Bai Ci seemed too distant. After much thought, the female anchor decided to call him Xiao Bai. It was friendly and cute! ¡°Discipline?¡± Lin Baici was puzzled. ¡°Yeah, to develop a good physique like yours, you not only need to stick to working out, but surely you must control your diet, right?¡± Hua Yue Yu believed that as a high school student, Lin Baici must have suffered a lot to build such muscles. ¡°Not at all,¡± Lin Baici shrugged. He didn¡¯t work out, nor did he care about his diet. He frequently consumed cola, fried foods, and instant noodles, but his body was still more perfect than that of an athlete. He didn¡¯t know why before, but now it seemed to be the result of the God Hunter¡¯s effect, a kind of Divine Grace! He just didn¡¯t know when he had absorbed this Divine Grace. ¡°You¡¯re too modest!¡± Kim Myungjin believed that the body never lies. A fat person claiming self-discipline? Only a fool would believe that! ¡°Let¡¯s talk in the room!¡± Lin Baici gestured for them to come in. Hua Yue Yu was wearing a bathrobe. Though petite and not flat-chested, she wasn¡¯t much to look at, so Kim Myungjin stole the spotlight. ¡°You wait here for a while; I¡¯ll wash the clothes!¡± Just as Lin Baici picked up his dirty clothes, Kim Myungjin stopped him. ¡°Why bother washing? Just buy new ones!¡± Kim Myungjin picked up the phone and dialed her usual luxury brands to see if they had outlets in Guangqing. If they did, she would have a tailor come over and make a few sets of clothes for Lin Baici. ¡°No! No!¡± Lin Baici quickly intervened and, seeing that Kim Myungjin was not listening, snatched the phone from her hand, ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary high school student. Just buying some shorts and a tank top is fine for me!¡± Lin Baici wasn¡¯t particular about clothes, and Kim Myungjin¡¯s casual spending really made him uncomfortable. ¡°Then let the staff take it and have it washed in the hotel¡¯s laundry room!¡± Big hotels all offered this service, but it cost money. After Kim Myungjin finished the call, she went to the mini-fridge, opened it, and took out all the snacks and drinks: ¡°Want something to drink?¡± ¡°...¡± Lin Baici was impressed; rich people really don¡¯t care about prices. ¡°This is what I¡¯m striving for!¡± Hua Yue Yu sighed. With her net worth, she could afford to stay at such a hotel but couldn¡¯t be as carefree. You can do it, Yue Yu, to achieve financial freedom! Hua Yue Yu clenched her little fist and cheered for herself in her heart. Ding dong! Ding dong! The doorbell rang again. This time, the hotel¡¯s general manager, a middle-aged man, arrived! ¡°Miss Kim, your dinner and cell phone have arrived!¡± The general manager was friendly. Kim Myungjin looked back, ¡°Oppa, is it okay if we eat here?¡± ¡°Whatever you like!¡± Lin Baici was indifferent. ¡°Then, please bring the food in!¡± As soon as Kim Myungjin finished speaking, a young chef in a white uniform immediately pushed in a cart, accompanied by an older foreign chef. ¡°This is our head chef, Laurent. He¡¯s off tonight, but once he knew you hadn¡¯t finished your meal, he came especially to prepare this dinner for you!¡± The general manager introduced. The head chef was French, and obviously aware of Kim Myungjin¡¯s identity, offered his greetings in the few Korean phrases he had learnt in haste. Kim Myungjin opened her mouth and responded with a fluent French, almost unnervingly authentic. After exchanging pleasantries, the head chef made his point and didn¡¯t dare to disturb the VIP¡¯s dining. ¡°Oppa, check out the dinner and if it¡¯s not to your taste, we¡¯ll change it!¡± No matter how renowned the French chef was, if Oppa didn¡¯t like it, it¡¯d be remade. When the general manager heard Kim Myungjin say this, he couldn¡¯t help but glance at Lin Baici. Tsk! What a great figure! Must be a rich second-generation, right? After all, ordinary people don¡¯t have time to work out! And Miss Kim is really good to him! Kind of like she¡¯s throwing herself at him. ¡°Just eat whatever!¡± If it were up to Lin Baici, he¡¯d go straight to a street stall for skewers. Now, with all this fancy setup, he was quite uncomfortable. ¡°Miss Kim, our hotel has also offered you a bottle of red wine from Portugal¡¯s Porto estate as a complimentary gift. We hope you enjoy your meal.¡± The general manager also withdrew. The wine was expensive, over three thousand yuan a bottle, but there was no need to emphasize that, as Kim Myungjin understood with just one glance. ¡°You must be hungry too, right? Let¡¯s eat!¡± Kim Myungjin wiped down her knife and fork with a napkin and handed them over to Lin Baici, her attitude as earnest as a tea-serving assistant. ¡°This meal must have been expensive, right?¡± Hua Yue Yu felt like she had taken too much advantage and was embarrassed. ¡°We¡¯ve been through life and death together; the friendship we¡¯ve built is something money can¡¯t buy!¡± Kim Myungjin had no intention of showing off the price of these things; she was simply worried about not providing adequately for Lin Baici. The steak prepared by the head chef of the five-star hotel was indeed tastier than the frozen steaks bought at the supermarket, giving Lin Baici a nice taste of western cuisine. ¡°Oppa, what do you plan to do next? Become a God Hunter?¡± Kim Myungjin was curious. Because God¡¯s Ruins had become a natural disaster, if the God¡¯s Bones inside were not contained, the Ruins would continue to spread, eroding human habitats. For instance, Okinawa Island has been completely engulfed by the black fog and turned into God¡¯s Ruins for ten years, reportedly inhabited by a God. Anyway, the Sakura Country hasn¡¯t been able to reclaim it to this day; more than a million people perished there. Therefore, the importance and value of God Hunters, who can hunt Gods and contain God¡¯s Bones, are self-evident. Governments of various countries, in order not to cause panic, do not publicly promote information about God Hunters and God¡¯s Ruins, but in private, these hunters enjoy enormous privileges. Because the state needs them. ¡°No, I¡¯m going to university!¡± Lin Baici had worked hard for three years in middle school, fought through three years of high school, and now that he was freed, of course, he wanted to enjoy the university life that his homeroom teacher had raved about. The most leisurely time in one¡¯s life is those four years. Once graduated, as a member of the workforce, there¡¯s nothing but hard labor, ¡®enjoying¡¯ the blessings of a 996 schedule. That¡¯s if you don¡¯t end up unemployed! ¡°That¡¯s true, you¡¯re still young. Why take that risk!¡± Kim Myungjin showed understanding. God Hunter must be the profession with the highest mortality rate. ¡°However, I¡¯m planning to make videos lately. Yue Yu, got any suggestions?¡± This was the top streamer on Shark Station, a top-tier broadcaster across major platforms, with fans totaling over five million. ¡°Fitness videos are quite popular recently. With your physique, you could easily get a lot of fans just by dancing to a classical prescription!¡± Hua Yue Yu teased. ¡°I can¡¯t!¡± Lin Baici was serious; he really didn¡¯t understand the first thing about fitness. ¡°Actually, whether a video goes viral or not depends on luck, apart from the operation!¡± Hua Yue Yu scratched her head, ¡°This industry is tough. You might work hard and become hot, but you could cool down the very next day!¡± ¡°Are you doing it for money? Or to become famous?¡± Kim Myungjin interjected, ¡°Why not come to Goryeo as a trainee? With your qualifications, my mom will definitely focus on training you, and you could debut in just a year!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the entertainment industry in Goryeo is quite messy!¡± Hua Yue Yu didn¡¯t want Lin Baici to go. ¡°Hehe!¡± Kim Myungjin smiled in response. My Lin Oppa as an idol, who would dare to mess around? Do you think my Kim family is made of clay? ¡°Hmm, got it!¡± Lin Baici was embarrassed to say that he wanted to make videos to earn money. In front of two pretty girls, such a statement felt somewhat embarrassing to him. ¡°If you really want to make videos, we can collaborate!¡± Hua Yue Yu suggested. She was offering to use her popularity to directly boost Lin Baici, but this approach had a problem: her fervent fans would likely attack Lin Baici. At the very least, he wouldn¡¯t be able to shake off the label of ¡®living off a woman¡¯. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll do it myself!¡± Lin Baici thought to himself that, after all, he was a God Hunter blessed with Great Divine Grace¡ªgaining a million fans through videos was only reasonable, right? Then he could earn tens of thousands each month from advertisements. ¡°Baici, which university did you get into?¡± Hua Yue Yu looked forward with hope; it would be great if they were in the same city. Kim Myungjin also perked up her ears, I could have mom arrange for me to go on an exchange program at Oppa¡¯s university. Chapter 26 - 26 26 Are You Really Eating It Properly_1 ?26: Chapter 26 Are You Really ¡®Eating¡¯ It Properly?_1 26: Chapter 26 Are You Really ¡®Eating¡¯ It Properly?_1 ¡°Haijing Polytechnic University!¡± Speaking of school, Lin Baici was quite proud, since he scored well: ¡°I really outperformed myself this year!¡± ¡°We¡¯re from the same city, yay!¡± Hua Yue Yu was happy: ¡°I¡¯m at Haijing University, studying Business Management!¡± ¡°That¡¯s great, the new semester has started, we should get together sometime!¡± Lin Baici knew that his childhood friend Li Wei liked to watch live streams, the kind that freeloading off them, and if he knew Lin Baici had met Hua Yue Yu, he would definitely be excited and fuss about getting a photo together. ¡°Of course, Haijing is my turf. When you come over, I¡¯ll arrange a feast of food and drink, plus a ¡®full service¡¯.¡± Hua Yue Yu was clearly a social butterfly, and whether it was the beer kicking in or they had just grown more familiar, her demeanor became increasingly casual. ¡°By the way, Bai Ci, do you have a favorite female broadcaster? I can set you up!¡± Hua Yue Yu could tell that Lin Baici¡¯s family wasn¡¯t very wealthy, but that was okay, He¡¯s handsome! And he¡¯s a God Hunter now, a super potential stock! Um! As long as he doesn¡¯t perish in God¡¯s ruins. ¡°Not at the moment!¡± Lin Baici shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t be shy, just tell me if you do, Sister Fish has a wide network of connections!¡± Hua Yue Yu was taking charge. ¡®Xiba, is this woman a pimp? She¡¯s actually using these means to please Oppa!¡¯ Kim Myungjin really wanted to say, how many female broadcasters are worth mentioning? I can even summon members of top girl groups to drink with you. But that would seem very superficial. As a Goryeo girl raised with certain principles, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say such a thing, so she smiled and changed the subject. ¡°Oppa, what are you planning to do with those Taboo things?¡± Kim Myungjin reminded him: ¡°Generally speaking, Taboo things need to be sealed by professionals using a Black Coffin before they can be used, or else there¡¯s a risk of rule contamination leaking out.¡± In fact, because of Lin Baici¡¯s Taboo things, the entire Hilton hotel now faced a significant safety hazard. Maybe when you¡¯re asleep at night, that Muscle Buddha might activate and start killing people indiscriminately in the hotel. ¡°How do I find a professional?¡± Lin Baici frowned. These four Taboo things are indeed like ticking time bombs and a real concern. ¡°You can go to the official organization of Great Hua or to the underground black market of the Hunter¡¯s circle, though the black market tends to be more of a rip-off!¡± Kim Myungjin suggested: ¡°You¡¯re still a newcomer, without someone to lead you, you won¡¯t even be able to find the underground black market, and even if you do, you¡¯re likely to get swindled!¡± ¡°Great Hua¡¯s official organization?¡± Lin Baici was curious: ¡°What is it called?¡± ¡°Jiuzhou Security Bureau!¡± Kim Myungjin had learned this information from her brother. ¡°Won¡¯t they confiscate Bai Ci¡¯s Taboo things?¡± Hua Yue Yu was worried. ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Kim Myungjin only knew the name of the organization; she was not familiar with their reputation. ¡°How much are these Taboo things worth?¡± Lin Baici pondered whether to sell one or two of them. The Black Tripod Bowl cannot be sold! When you use it to serve food, just let it stand for a minute, and it will purify any impurities and toxins from the food. Gutter oil food, expired snacks, beverages adulterated with chemical products, and so on, as long as they are placed in the Black Tripod Bowl, they can be eaten without concern. In an era where food safety has become a stubborn major issue, anyone with this Black Tripod Bowl could easily live at least ten more years. Illness from what one ingests? That¡¯s no longer an issue! Of course, the Bowl¡¯s most important feature is its ¡®granary¡¯ interior that can store any item. With it, from now on whenever Lin Baici leaves the house, no matter how many things he has, he can just put them in the Bowl, stuff the Bowl into his backpack, and walk away with ease. The Bodhi Messenger¡¯s Cassock cannot be sold either! Wearing it, you can summon a muscle-clad Buddha clad only in shorts to help with laundry, cooking, chopping wood, and feeding horses. If there¡¯s a fight, it can hand you a knife and bury the body. Apart from the occasional moment it goes haywire and punches the owner, it¡¯s hard to find any fault with it. The Fragrant Rush Cushion seems quite useful too. Sitting on it, one can maintain focus, feel energized, and enjoy Passing Ears Recitation benefits. Even though he has absorbed the Divine Grace from it, other people who use it for an extended period can still enhance their memory and even cure senile dementia. What a pity! If this cushion could cure senile dementia in half a month, then he could simply lie at home and make money. Last is the Songmu Torch! When it burns, it gives off a pleasant pine scent, can ignite anything and burn it to ashes in a very short time. Lin Baici felt there was little chance he would use it because setting fires could land you in prison! Moreover, the torch is too dangerous, as everyone who sees it wants to pick it up and play with it, leading to a strong impulse to end up burning others or oneself. ¡°In the Hunter¡¯s circle, Meteorite Coins filled with God¡¯s Ability are the real hard currency, sourced from Meteorites. If you exchange them for money, it would be a huge loss!¡± Kim Myungjin licked her lips: ¡°If you want to sell, I can ask my brother? I guarantee you won¡¯t get a bad deal!¡± Actually, if it were for money, she could make the call, ten million, twenty million, it would be a piece of cake, but since Lin Baici had saved her life, she couldn¡¯t take advantage of that. ¡°I think you better not sell them!¡± Hua Yue Yu felt that Taboo things were rare commodities, which would not be easy to buy back once sold. ¡°Oppa, no need to rush the decision!¡± Kim Myungjin took a sip of juice and passed the newly bought Apple phone to Lin Baici and Hua Yue Yu. ¡°Thank you!¡± Hua Yue Yu took the phone with both hands and said, ¡°I¡¯ll transfer the money to you later!¡± The phone was the most expensive PRO MAX version, costing over ten thousand yuan, but Hua Yue Yu could easily afford it. ¡°It¡¯s just a phone!¡± Kim Myungjin had no intention of accepting the money, and noticing that Lin Baici hadn¡¯t taken it, she asked, ¡°Oppa?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too expensive!¡± Lin Baici felt embarrassed to accept it. ¡°Oppa, you saved my life!¡± Kim Myungjin stood up, holding the Apple phone with both hands, bowing at a ninety-degree angle as she presented it to Lin Baici with much more seriousness than before. ¡°Just a small gift, no need for ceremony!¡± ¡°Just take it!¡± Hua Yue Yu persuaded him. Despite Kim Myungjin¡¯s casual appearance in shorts, a tank top, and flip-flops, her entire outfit was luxurious. The purple flip-flops on her feet, if Hua Yue Yu remembered correctly, should be from Chanel, costing over seven thousand yuan. To Kim Myungjin, it really was just a phone; she didn¡¯t care about the cost. ¡°Thank you!¡± Lin Baici accepted it. To refuse any further would have seemed too pretentious. Besides, once he had the money in the future, he could give Kim Myungjin the latest model of the Apple phone in return. ¡°Oppa, you don¡¯t need to be polite with me!¡± Kim Myungjin sighed. Oppa¡¯s character was too good. If it were one of those ¡®little milk dogs¡¯ her besties knew, they would have eagerly accepted the gift and fawned over her, calling her princess by now. Hua Yue Yu opened the packaging, took out the phone, and swapped SIM cards. To her surprise, it worked! ¡°Oye, that saves trouble, no need for a new SIM card!¡± Hua Yue Yu had just logged into WeChat when hundreds of messages instantly popped up. Especially in the twenty-some wealthy fan groups, they were all tagging her, as her sudden departure from the live stream had made everyone worried. Ignore them for now! Hua Yue Yu leaned over to Lin Baici and said, ¡°Xiao Bai, are you all set? Let¡¯s add each other as friends!¡± ¡°Just a sec!¡± The phone Lin Baici had been using was a second-hand one handed down by his mother, costing only a little over one thousand yuan; getting an Apple phone all of a sudden, he needed time to get used to it. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you!¡± Hua Yue Yu immediately became a home tutor, guiding Lin Baici on how to use it: ¡°You need to download apps like WeChat and Meituan from this store!¡± The phone operation was very simple, and Lin Baici had activated the Guo Er Cheng Song, which meant he remembered anything he heard immediately. With the Divine Grace of Guo Er Cheng Song activated, Lin Baici could remember anything he had heard clearly for at least three years. If not activated, just casually listening, he would start to forget within a few months at most. ¡°I might even become a top student in the future!¡± Lin Baici was looking forward to it. ¡°Xiao Bai, do you have a bank card?¡± Hua Yue Yu figured Lin Baici didn¡¯t have one. ¡°No!¡± Lin Baici had just graduated from high school and didn¡¯t own such a thing. ¡°It¡¯s inconvenient without a bank card, you should get one!¡± The live streamer suggested. Ding dong! Lin Baici received a transfer notification. It was from Little Merperson! ¡°What are you doing?¡± Lin Baici was puzzled. Little Merperson was Hua Yue Yu¡¯s WeChat nickname, a friend he had just added! ¡°The limit is fifty thousand yuan for a single transfer in one day, don¡¯t find it too little!¡± Hua Yue Yu was a bit concerned, as the amount was rather small. Lin Baici rolled his eyes, didn¡¯t tap accept, and continued fiddling with the phone. ¡°Eh? Take it already!¡± Hua Yue Yu urged, ¡°You have to let me do something for you! Otherwise, I¡¯ll feel guilty!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you preparing a banquet of wine and meat to entertain me?¡± Lin Baici joked. ¡°That¡¯s not the same!¡± Hua Yue Yu became anxious, ¡°I have to do something to repay you!¡± ¡°If you consider me a friend, then don¡¯t worry about these things!¡± Lin Baici definitely didn¡¯t want it. He didn¡¯t save people in God¡¯s Ruins for money. ¡°Mmm!¡± Hua Yue Yu nodded. She would always remember this kindness in her heart. [The goodwill of these two towards you is gradually increasing. If you put in a little more effort, you might be able to ¡®eat¡¯ them!] Eater God suddenly spoke up. ¡®Is your kind of eating legitimate?¡¯ Lin Baici was startled. He still wasn¡¯t used to suddenly hearing a voice in his mind. [Both of them are very healthy, untouched, suitable for fun or for carrying on the lineage. They¡¯re quality partners!] ¡°...¡± Lin Baici felt like he had heard some serious information. ¡°It¡¯s a pity you can¡¯t live stream in God¡¯s Ruins, otherwise it would be a huge hit!¡± Having safely exited the game, Hua Yue Yu began to think about work again. The thrilling excitement of the taboo game would definitely blow the viewers¡¯ minds. Chapter 27 - 27 27 Sister Fishs Husband and the Promising Stock_1 ?27: Chapter 27 Sister Fish¡¯s Husband and the Promising Stock_1 27: Chapter 27 Sister Fish¡¯s Husband and the Promising Stock_1 The moon was bright and the stars were sparse; midnight was silent. The three of them chatted until very late. Lin Baici asked many questions about the Divine Ruins, but since Kim Myungjin was not a God Hunter, he didn¡¯t know much. ¡°Oppa, good night!¡± ¡°Xiao Bai, get some rest early!¡± Kim Myungjin and Hua Yue Yu said their goodbyes. ¡°Good night!¡± Lin Baici turned off the lights and went to sleep, very comfortably. Hua Yue Yu returned to her room, first sending a few messages to her fan group to check in, then logged into her account and started a live stream. ¡°Finally, I¡¯ve been waiting for this moment!¡± ¡°Sister Fish is here, fellow fishers, wake up and let¡¯s party!¡± ¡°Sister Fish, why did you suddenly end the stream during the day?¡± Hua Yue Yu was a top-tier live streamer with high popularity; even if she went live late at night, her fans would join her stream immediately. ¡°Let me tell you, I barely survived today; the things I experienced could make a horror movie, and it would definitely be a blockbuster hit.¡± Hua Yue Yu was very beautiful, she didn¡¯t need makeup or beautifying filters; a bare face on stream could still outshine many female streamers who cranked their filters up to the max. This was also one reason why Hua Yue Yu had so many fans¡ªeveryone came to see the cute girl. Tyrannosaurus Without Teeth: Sister Fish, are you in a hotel? From the decor, it looks very upscale! Wu Gang Cuts Down the Moon Goddess: My Sister Fish, the number one streamer on Shark Station, even the presidential suite doesn¡¯t match her style. Sister Fish¡¯s Rib: Wuu wuu wuu, where is the top donor, come out and prove you haven¡¯t spent a thousand and one nights with Sister Fish. The remark made by Sister Fish¡¯s Rib quickly stirred up a reaction among the viewers. Hot Money Burns Fingers: I¡¯m having skewers with a friend by the street! After saying that, he sent a rocket donation. This person was one of Hua Yue Yu¡¯s loyal fans. ¡°Thank you, Brother Qian, for the big rocket, wishing you wealth and prosperity!¡± Hua Yue Yu grabbed a bottle of drink, initially intending to sit by the window and live stream bathed in moonlight, but then she thought better of it. The viewers were really amazing these days; by looking at the night view outside her window, they might be able to deduce which hotel she was staying in. Hot Money Burns Fingers: Did something happen when the stream suddenly stopped during the day? ¡°Ah, I can¡¯t say!¡± Hua Yue Yu was worried about getting her live stream channel banned. ¡°Did something happen that minors shouldn¡¯t see?¡± ¡°Sister Fish, your figure can¡¯t support a bathrobe!¡± ¡°Shut up, it¡¯s not easy to catch Sister Fish¡¯s bathrobe live show. If she changes, will you compensate me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m so anxious, I can watch this without paying?¡± The viewers were trolling and joking around, making the atmosphere in the stream very lively. ¡°Honestly, today I finally saw what a real man looks like; he faces fear, confronts death, without any dread¡ªI was so scared I almost pissed myself, but that big guy even dared to charge forward!¡± What Hua Yue Yu admired most was how Lin Baici remained calm in the face of the monster; he must have known that certain actions could lead to death, yet he still went ahead and did them. Hot Money Burns Fingers: It seems you have a good impression of that man! This was the top donor speaking, and in front of so many viewers, some things shouldn¡¯t be said, but Hua Yue Yu still admitted, ¡°If we hadn¡¯t only known each other for half a day, I might have chased after him!¡± Sister Fish¡¯s Rib: Unfollow! Unfollow! Tyrannosaurus Without Teeth: Sister Fish, you¡¯ve changed! Wu Gang Cuts Down the Moon Goddess: Is that man really that good? ¡°How should I put it, it¡¯s not love, it¡¯s admiration for a strong person, do you understand?¡± For the first time today, Hua Yue Yu tasted what was called a sense of security. ¡°Is that man next to you? Call him out so we can take a look!¡± ¡°Yeah, exactly what kind of God is he, to receive such high praise from Sister Fish?¡± ¡°Hurry up and call out Brother-in-law!¡± The viewers started making trouble again. ¡°No, at this time, that heiress from Goryeo might have already gone to him to discuss deeper topics; I won¡¯t be the third wheel.¡± Hua Yue Yu rotated her phone around the room. ¡°See that? Hilton Hotel, a five-star luxury suite, staying just one night costs thousands of yuan, and this Apple pro max phone was also bought by the heiress!¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you, her figure is massive!¡± As she spoke, Hua Yue Yu gestured in front of her chest, drawing an exaggeratedly large arc. ... Kim Myungjin had not gone to look for Lin Baici; instead, she was making an international call. She told her brother, Jin Xian, everything that had happened that day. After listening, Jin Xian thought for a few minutes, then instructed, ¡°The frequency of meteorite falls is accelerating year by year. According to predictions, the next two to three years could bring a peak period. Our country is small in territory but densely populated, and God Hunters are very scarce. If a Divine Ruins disaster happens, the loss will be severe.¡± ¡°That Lin Baici you spoke of seems to have great potential. Do your best to recruit him; I can promise him the rank of lieutenant.¡± When Jin Xian spoke of a lieutenant, he wasn¡¯t referring to the ordinary military rank, but to that within the God Hunters. As for the annual salary? That was no issue at all¡ªJin Xian didn¡¯t even bother to bring it up because what he was worried about was Lin Baici not naming his price. As long as Lin Baici dared to ask, no matter how much, Jin Xian would dare to give. ¡°I got it!¡± Kim Myungjin was taken aback, her brother really thought highly of Lin Baici. ¡°If he wants to sell that Taboo thing he has, I can offer to buy it at three times the market price, and ensure he doesn¡¯t lose out.¡± Jin Xian was expressing his sincerity. An ordinary high school student managed to contain God¡¯s bones and break through a Divine Ruins in just five hours. Aside from luck, there must be some reliance. Such wild God Hunters with high potential are targets that all countries strive to woo. ¡°I¡¯ve noted it down!¡± After chatting with Jin Xian, Kim Myungjin expressed her concerns about his condition: ¡°Mom told me you¡¯re going into the Divine Ruins again?¡± ¡°The Busan Divine Ruins that have been silent for ten years started spreading again half a month ago, and we must break through it this time, otherwise the adjacent city of Ulsan is doomed!¡± Jin Xian¡¯s tone was grave. This is the difficulty of a small country. The land area is too small, there¡¯s no escaping natural disasters. ¡°You must be careful!¡± After ending the call, Kim Myungjin lay in bed and couldn¡¯t sleep. Her brother was probably betting on the promising future of Lin Baici by making an investment in him early on, but the Goryeo girl believed Lin Baici was very capable and was bound to achieve greatness. So for her country and compatriots, she also had to recruit him. ... Perhaps it was because he had consumed Meteorite and God¡¯s bones, but Lin Baici woke up at seven, feeling in great physical condition. The morning sun was bright, and a gentle breeze blew. Lin Baici got out of bed and didn¡¯t know what to do for a moment. After brushing his teeth and washing up, he prepared to memorize vocabulary, but then he relaxed, remembering the college entrance exams were over, and started scrolling through videos. At eight o¡¯clock, Little Merperson sent him a WeChat message. ¡°Little Bai, are you awake? Want to go have breakfast together?¡± ¡°I¡¯m awake!¡± Lin Baici replied, ¡°Shall we invite Ying Zhen along?¡± Lin Baici sent the message and Jin Ying replied instantly. ¡°Wait for me to take a quick shower!¡± She had woken up early and already ran five kilometers in the gym. ¡°Are all chaebol sisters this disciplined? No wonder they maintain such good figures!¡± Hua Yue Yu suddenly felt immense pressure and decided she needed to start working out. The breakfast was buffet-style and quite lavish, with both Chinese and Western options. Lin Baici ate two buns, an egg, several slices of bread, and drank a large cup of milk. Jin Ying only had milk and some fruit. Hua Yue Yu, on the other hand, filled a large plate with all the food she liked. Her live stream had started again. A five-star hotel¡¯s buffet breakfast was also a drawcard for viewers, but she was very polite, kept her voice down, and made sure not to let the camera sweep over other guests. Tyrannosaurus Rex without Teeth: Where¡¯s that pretty chaebol sister you mentioned? Let us have a look, see if she¡¯s really that pretty. Sister Fish¡¯s Ribs: Requesting an evaluation! Green Tea Bitch¡¯s Nemesis: That restaurant looks so fancy! ¡°Can¡¯t show you, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll feel inferior, after all, she¡¯s a girl you guys will never be able to chase in your lives.¡± Hua Yue Yu joked, her live stream style often involved bantering with her audience. ¡°What about brother-in-law? We can see him, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not allowed either, I like men, and I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll fall for him.¡± ¡°I dropped my soap, who will pick it up for me?¡± The viewers were joking and bustling about. Hua Yue Yu dared not capture Lin Baici¡¯s face, so she just filmed his hands and upper body. Patriots without Laughter: Damn, those hands are beautiful, it¡¯s a waste if he doesn¡¯t play the piano. Gain Three Pounds: Great figure! Three-legged Son: He would be perfect as a male escort. Three-legged Son has been muted. ¡°Damn, what the hell?¡± Three-legged Son wanted to comment but realized he had been muted. It must have been a mistake, right? He often drove the conversation in Hua Yue Yu¡¯s live stream, in the kind of way that hits you in the face, yet he had never been muted before, and today he hadn¡¯t even sent any over-the-top comments. Three-legged Son quickly appealed, and then a moderator told him it was Hua Yue Yu herself who had muted him. ¡°Why? Just because I said ¡®he would be perfect as a male escort¡¯?¡± Three-legged Son didn¡¯t understand at all. Was Hua Yue Yu being overprotective of that ¡®Sister Fish¡¯s Husband¡¯? After breakfast, Hua Yue Yu checked out of the hotel, Little Li and Brother Qian were dead, and although everyone was only connected by a contractual relationship, Hua Yue Yu decided to visit their families to explain. ¡°We¡¯ll meet again in Haijing when the new term starts. I¡¯ll arrange a feast of wine and meat for you, guaranteed you¡¯ll be too happy to think of home!¡± Hua Yue Yu promised, patting her chest. ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Baici saw off the female broadcaster, and then he too checked out of the hotel. ¡°Where do you want to go these next few days? I¡¯ll be your tour guide!¡± After saying goodbye to Jin Ying, Lin Baici got on a bus and swayed home for nearly an hour. His mother was not there; she had gone to work. There were thirty yuan left on the table for Lin Baici¡¯s meals. ¡°Mom has a night shift today!¡± Lin Baici sighed, looking around the 60 square meter two-bedroom apartment, thinking about his mother¡¯s exhausting daily work and her worn-out face. His desire to earn money grew even stronger. He had to buy a large house as soon as possible. And move out with his mother. He was really tired of living in this old and small community. Without delay, Lin Baici decided to make a video immediately. The goal, One million followers in three months! Chapter 28 - 28 28 Mantra Buddha Resound_1 ?28: Chapter 28 Mantra Buddha Resound_1 28: Chapter 28 Mantra Buddha Resound_1 The morning sunlight was just right. Under the two big banyan trees on the east side of the residential area, the sounds of old ladies playing mahjong floated over. Lin Baici took a diary and looked through it seriously. It was filled with words. These were notes he summarized from watching various videos on websites during his free time, capturing the hottest content at the moment. ¡°Sister Fish are so tempting, as long as they¡¯re not ugly, any casual video will not do too poorly in terms of views.¡± Unfortunately, Lin Baici was a man, inherently. Food videos were very popular, including cooking, big eaters, and food exploration as the three main categories. Because Mother Lin was often busy at work and had to work overtime, Lin Baici, who lived by himself, could also cook, but only to the extent that it was edible. If it was for the camera, it would definitely be lacking a lot, plus he didn¡¯t have spare cash to purchase various ingredients. Not to mention that the old, rundown kitchen at home wasn¡¯t suitable for filming. Making big eater videos was something Lin Baici could actually do because of the Eater God, without needing to force vomiting like some other creators, but the problem was that Lin Baici didn¡¯t have the money to buy the food. And he didn¡¯t want to ruin his stomach either. Food exploration was also not an option; Guangqing city was a food desert, with chicken stew and Sha County snacks littering the streets, what was there to explore? Besides, exploring restaurants really costs money! As a poor student, Lin Baici couldn¡¯t afford it. Funny videos were another big category, but besides creative ideas, it also required filming techniques, script design, and accurate gestures and facial expressions of the characters involved. Lin Baici¡¯s language scores were excellent, and he could write beautiful copy, but that was pretty much the only highlight. ¡°Give it up!¡± Lin Baici crossed out this category with his pen¡ªmainly because he was not good at being humorous. Street fitness was the same; it wasn¡¯t doable. With his thin skin, asking him to work out in a park, only to be surrounded by old men and women, would lead to instant social death. ¡°What strengths do I have left?¡± Lin Baici pondered. Why not sing? During the three years of high school, Lin Baici always sang at the class¡¯s New Year¡¯s parties, and the feedback was good. His voice was very distinctive; it was smooth and cool like a spring flowing over pebbles in a mountain brook and he had a full lung capacity, capable of belting out high notes! ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± Lin Baici immediately opened NetEase Cloud Music and began to select a song. The brightest star in the night sky! This song was good, with a nice melody and an uplifting theme. Lin Baici listened to it seriously for one round. He hadn¡¯t learned vocal music and didn¡¯t understand music scores, but with the aid of ¡°Passing Ears Recitation¡± from Divine Grace, after listening to it once, he was able to hum the melody correctly. But that wasn¡¯t enough! All day long, Lin Baici didn¡¯t even go to the bathroom; he continuously played the song on loop, singing along with it. At dusk, Next door, with a sizzle, the sound of stir-frying vegetables arose. Lin Baici felt that his practice was about right and found the instrumental version of the song, and began to record with his phone. The brightest star in the night sky, can you hear clearly, The loneliness and sighs in the heart of the one looking up, ... The song, at 4 minutes and 12 seconds, was quickly recorded. Lin Baici took a sip of water and listened to it. Compared to the original singer, because he had ¡°Passing Ears Recitation,¡± he was not off-key, and the lyrics were correct; it could be said to be a decent cover, but the problem was, it lacked distinctiveness. To think he could gather a million fans with such a video was pure fantasy! ¡°I need to add a personal style!¡± Lin Baici thought it over; singing style, stage presence¡ªhe had none of that, just a recognizable voice, but he wasn¡¯t sure if the audience would like it. Wait! Why don¡¯t I sing with Divine Grace? After consuming God¡¯s Bones, Lin Baici gained two Divine Graces, one of which was named ¡°Mantra Buddha Resound,¡± When this Divine Grace was activated, it could make the voices of God Hunters full of Zen spirit, turning their words into something that could cleanse and calm the mind, dispel fear, sever thousands of worries, and make listeners feel purified and transparent. Although it couldn¡¯t bring about great enlightenment, it would give a sense of profound insight. Lin Baici decided to act on the idea! He replayed the instrumental and activated ¡°Mantra Buddha Resound.¡± This time when he began to sing, his voice immediately became melodious, distant, and ethereal, reminiscent of early morning sutra chanting in a cold mountain temple, with fishing lanterns and chime sounds, exuding an air of serene non-action. After the song ended, a few minutes passed, and next door, suddenly, Auntie¡¯s roar was heard. ¡°Lao Zhang, what are you daydreaming about? The vegetables are burnt!¡± ¡°Oh! Oh!¡± The man looked at the burnt pot, and while hurriedly cleaning up, he listened with curiosity, ¡°Wife, did you hear the song our neighbor just played?¡± Sound insulation in these old residential buildings was very poor. ¡°No, why?¡± ¡°It was really nice!¡± The man chuckled, ¡°I think, between children, there should be no grudges that last overnight. Since our daughter wants to get married, let her marry. We can do without the dowry; why fight over such a thing?¡± ¡°Have you lost your mind?¡± Auntie snapped back, ¡°Eighteen thousand, not one yuan less!¡± ¡°Money, you can¡¯t take it with you when you¡¯re born or when you die, why let it spoil the happiness of a family?¡± After the man spoke, he was spat on by his wife. Normally, this couple would definitely start arguing, but today, the man had absolutely no intention of arguing. After cleaning the kitchen, amidst his wife¡¯s curse words, he went out. To have a drink, watch the sunset, feel the evening breeze, and watch the ups and downs of the city¡¯s populace, Life isn¡¯t easy, It¡¯s time to be more open-minded! Lin Baici had no idea that his singing had changed the neighbor¡¯s thoughts. He felt that this take was great, with its distinctive personal touch, and so he excitedly turned on his computer, imported the video, and started editing. Busy until ten o¡¯clock at night, Lin Baici had finished the song and was about to upload it to Bilibili when he paused and decided to register a new account instead. ¡°With a new account comes a new atmosphere!¡± Lin Baici stroked his chin, staring at the screen, wondering what nickname to use. Eater God? Forget it, let¡¯s just call him Lin Da Hungry Man! Fifteen minutes later, Lin Baici finished uploading the video. He leaned back in his chair, eagerly anticipating the moment the video would become a hit. Gurgle! His stomach growled with hunger. Lin Baici cooked a bowl of instant noodles, ate, and went to bed. ... The next morning at 7 o¡¯clock, Lin Baici got up on time. After washing up, he put the soaked soybeans into the soy milk maker and turned it on. Then he went downstairs to the breakfast stall outside the residential area and bought a three-yuan youtiao. Once home, he boiled water and cooked two eggs. He then served a small plate of pickles his mother had made before finally having the time to check his phone for the performance of last night¡¯s video. The play count was 98, not yet reaching a hundred, but there were one hundred and twenty bullet comments and over ten messages. ¡°Is that considered not bad?¡± Lin Baici was somewhat discouraged after reading the bullet comments. ¡°Is this a cover sung by the UP master? Your voice is distinct, but it doesn¡¯t sound good!¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t have the same flavor as the original singer!¡± ¡°Is this supposed to be an inspirational song? Why do I feel like I¡¯m listening to Buddhist chants? It¡¯s like entering a temple!¡± There were eleven messages, five of which were from a user called ¡®Flowers Blooming on the Path¡¯. ¡®It¡¯s supposed to be an inspirational song, but after listening to you sing it, I feel like giving up on everything and lying down!¡¯ ¡®Actually, lying flat isn¡¯t that bad. Why struggle so hard to live? In a few decades, we¡¯re all just going to the crematorium and leaving behind nothing but ash!¡¯ ¡®I shared your song, hoping you¡¯ll become one of the top UP masters!¡¯ This Flowers Blooming on the Path user liked it, tossed coins, and added it to favorites¡ªa trifecta. ¡°Does this count as gaining my first fan?¡± Lin Baici replied with a thank you, lay down on the bed, and contemplated the information revealed in these bullet comments and messages. Click-clack, click-clack! It was the sound of the door unlocking. Mother Lin was back! Lin Baici immediately got out of bed and headed for the kitchen. Watching her son bring the breakfast to the table, Mother Lin¡¯s eyes crinkled with a smile, feeling sentimental, ¡°Once you go to college in Haijing, you won¡¯t get to eat the breakfasts you make anymore!¡± Mother Lin was in her forties, and because of overwork, she looked worn out with some white hair showing. However, her features were still delicate, and one could tell she must have been a beauty when she was young. ¡°I plan to save a big amount of money before graduating from college so I can buy a big house in Haijing. Then we can settle in that city!¡± If it were before, Lin Baici would not have dared to make such bold claims, but things were different now. As a God Hunter, he had the qualifications. Selling the four Taboo things he had now would be a loss. Instead, he planned to rely on them to break into another God¡¯s Ruins. He would gather a few more Taboo things and Meteorites, then sell them to Kim Myungjin for a big profit. Lin Baici was not afraid of the dangers within the God¡¯s Ruins, but he didn¡¯t want to take risks. If something happened to him, who would take care of his mother? Besides, Mother Lin would definitely be heartbroken and might even commit suicide. After all, he was her only reason to live. But seeing the exhausted look on his mother¡¯s face, Lin Baici felt heartache. ¡°Good, I¡¯ll follow you to Hajing to enjoy the good life!¡± Mother Lin took a sip of the soy milk and responded nonchalantly. Haijing is a super first-tier city, and a small apartment of several dozen square meters could cost seven to eight million yuan¡ªso expensive that most people didn¡¯t even dare to think about it. Even if her son had an annual salary of a million yuan, it would take almost a decade of saving without spending on anything else. After breakfast, Lin Baici told Mother Lin to hurry and get some sleep. He washed the dishes, then returned to his room. This time, he chose a currently very popular folk song to cover and started singing. By evening, after recording ¡°Idealized Youth,¡± Lin Baici logged into the Lin Da Hungry Man account and uploaded it. The first video had already exceeded five hundred views; the increase wasn¡¯t slow, but the reception wasn¡¯t great either. Most bullet comments and messages said it felt off and strange. Ding-dong! A message from Hua Yue Yu popped up on WeChat. Little Merperson: Sister Fish is doing a room check, hands on your head, squat by the wall! ¡°...¡± Lin Baici laughed, a curve forming on his lips. There was a sense of familiarity in Hua Yue Yu¡¯s words. Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: Haven¡¯t seen you for two days and you¡¯ve become a ¡®sister¡¯? Little Merperson: It¡¯s just a title, don¡¯t mind it. I could even call you daddy! ¡°...¡± Lin Baici was baffled; he didn¡¯t know how to respond to this. Little Merperson: Daddy, did you release a video? If you did, remember to send it to me! Hua Yue Yu was ready to mobilize her million fans to like, share, and favor Lin Baici¡¯s videos. She was eager to repay the favor. Uh-huh! Little Merperson, never owing anyone anything. Lin Baici thought about his few pitiful views and felt too embarrassed to send them to Hua Yue Yu. Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: I appreciate it! Little Merperson: In this life, we¡¯re like brothers, what¡¯s there to thank for? The two chatted for over half an hour. Hua Yue Yu had to start her livestream, so they ended the conversation. Throughout, it was Hua Yue Yu who actively brought up topics, which made Lin Baici feel flattered. If it had been any other girl, she surely wouldn¡¯t have the leisure to do so and would end the conversation with a ¡®I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡¯ Ding-dong! Lin Baici had just put down his phone when he received another WeChat message. Upon opening it, A pair of fair collarbones immediately met his eyes. Keeping up with the Bears! It was a selfie from Kim Myungjin. Ding-dong! Princess of Monte Cristo: Oppa, I can¡¯t sleep on the second day after parting with you! Chapter 29 - 29 29 This video is going to go viral!_1 ?29: Chapter 29 This video is going to go viral!_1 29: Chapter 29 This video is going to go viral!_1 ¡°...¡± Lin Baici looked at the message, unsure how to respond. Aside from studying, he spent his days reading novels, playing basketball, and gaming; he didn¡¯t chat with girls much, so he had no experience dealing with a girl like Kim Myungjin. And that selfie from the Goryeo girl, she was wearing too little, is this something I can see for free? Princess of Montecristo: I feel like I¡¯ve gotten thinner these past two days, what do you think? ¡°Is she asking me to comment on her figure?¡± Lin Baici pondered, ¡°At times like this, I should probably give a compliment, right?¡± Princess of Montecristo: I went to the embassy these couple of days and visited several uncles and aunts, finally got my passport and ID sorted out. It was so tiring. Princess of Montecristo: That Merit Buddha is really annoying, next time I see it, I¡¯ll bash its head in and steal its Merit Box. Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: I¡¯ll help you! Kim Myungjin sighed at such a simple message. Oppa, you really can¡¯t chat! No wonder you¡¯re still single despite having such a handsome face! However, the Goryeo girl soon cheered up again, thinking it meant Oppa didn¡¯t have much interaction with women and was still a nai?ve young man. ¡°I¡¯ll be the big sister who helps you gain some Experience Value then!¡± Kim Myungjin raised her phone, found the right angle, click, and took a selfie. Hmm! Nice! Two-thirds of the photo were her tight, plump tank top. I wonder, is this too stimulating? Kim Myungjin clicked send. ¡°...¡± Lin Baici wanted to cry, please don¡¯t test the bottom line of my integrity, okay? I¡¯m really going to save it! Princess of Montecristo: Oppa, what¡¯s fun and tasty in Guangqing City? When a girl asks like this, she definitely wants the guy to accompany her. Luckily, Lin Baici¡¯s EQ wasn¡¯t that low, and since they had been through life and death together in God¡¯s ruins, he considered Kim Myungjin a friend. As a local, he should fulfill his duty as a host and show the Goryeo girl around properly. In reality, a third-tier small city had no attraction for a chaebol daughter like Kim Myungjin who had played around the world. Kim Myungjin was purely staying to build a good relationship with Lin Baici and to recruit him back to her country. Over the next five days, Lin Baici accompanied her the entire time. Kim Myungjin held great respect for Lin Baici, her savior, and coupled with her high EQ, taking the initiative to care for him was indeed refreshing. ... In the rotating Ferris wheel at the amusement park. ¡°Oppa, how about it, have you fallen for me?¡± Kim Myungjin sat opposite Lin Baici, holding an ice cream in both hands, taking small bites, while staring at him. ¡°Even if I did, it¡¯s useless, you¡¯ll be going back to your country.¡± Lin Baici gave a slight smile. He had a lot of fun these days. ¡°You could come back with me!¡± Kim Myungjin¡¯s invitation seemed casual, but her heart was already in her throat. Lin Baici shook his head. Goryeo? What would I do in that country? Eat kimchi every day? And the language barrier too. Wait a second! I have Guo Er Cheng Song, so language is no longer an issue, I should be fluent in half a year, sounding like a local. Kim Myungjin felt somewhat dejected; Lin Baici really didn¡¯t fancy her country. She didn¡¯t bring up the invitation to recruit him as a God Hunter in her country again. Even though her brother had promised to give him a lieutenant military rank, Lin Baici might think he was being deceived? After all, he didn¡¯t know how influential her brother really was. The Ferris wheel made a rotation and stopped. Lin Baici alighted and stretched lazily. ¡°Oppa!¡± Kim Myungjin watched the sunset, ¡°If there¡¯s a job with an annual salary of a million yuan, would you do it?¡± ¡°Ying Zhen, where do you think I¡¯m worth a million yuan?¡± Lin Baici could tell from the way the Goryeo girl had been spending money these days that she was more than just ordinarily wealthy. He didn¡¯t know Kim Myungjin¡¯s brother wanted to recruit him; he thought the Goryeo girl mentioned this salary as a reasonable way to give him money to thank him. ¡°Looks, courage, physique, potential...¡± Kim Myungjin counted on her fingers as if listing treasures. Lin Baici had never been praised by a girl like this, which made him somewhat embarrassed: ¡°Alright, stop thinking about repaying me, we¡¯re friends, no need to be so formal!¡± ... Lin Baici dropped Kim Myungjin off at the hotel and took the bus home. The Goryeo girl wanted to treat him to dinner, but Lin Baici declined. He couldn¡¯t accept a girl paying, but it was beyond his means to pay himself. During these days of hanging out, he had bought tickets and snacks and had treated Kim Myungjin to meals. He had spent 760 yuan from his usual pocket money savings. ¡°Turns out, chasing a girl really does cost a lot of money!¡± Lin Baici felt that if it weren¡¯t for the fact that he had saved Kim Myungjin, there was no way the two of them could have ended up hanging out. The difference in their family¡¯s financial situations was just too great. The face masks Kim Myungjin used every day cost more than what Lin Baici had for his monthly living expenses. ¡°I really need to start making money quickly!¡± Lin Baici finished dinner, washed the dishes, and then returned to his bedroom. He turned on his computer, logged into BÕ¾, and checked his stats. The first cover video, ¡°The Brightest Star in the Night Sky,¡± had surpassed ten thousand views, with five hundred bullet comments and over a hundred messages. The second, ¡°Ideal Three Decades,¡± had slightly worse stats, with only a dozen or so comments. Lin Baici read through them one by one. ¡°Folk songs can have this kind of flavor? So weird.¡± ¡°The voice is distinctive, keep it up!¡± ¡°My love is dead. Listening to the UP¡¯s song, I felt no emotion, didn¡¯t want to chase that girl back, just felt like becoming a monk, Amitabha!¡± Most comments were about the UP¡¯s voice being distinctive, but the song choice was considered average. Hua Yue Yu: Folk songs are niche and have an edge, making them easy to attract fans, but you need to develop a personal style. Keep it up! Hua Yue Yu: It seems like you have great lung capacity. Why not try hitting a dolphin note? Hua Yue Yu: Why haven¡¯t you posted any new covers? Persistence brings rewards. Although you didn¡¯t start off well, I believe there will be a beautiful outcome. There weren¡¯t many messages, but Hua Yue Yu left quite a few, and Lin Baici noticed them all at a glance. This was his first follower. Lin Baici clicked on her profile to take a look. She was a girl with very little information provided. Hua Yue Yu: Have you given up? Disappointing! This message had been posted that afternoon. These past few days, Lin Baici was busy accompanying Kim Myungjin, and the lackluster response to his cover videos had also dampened his enthusiasm. ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t give up!¡± Lin Baici lay in bed, rethinking his path. Continuing to sing this way definitely wouldn¡¯t work; should he try making funny videos instead? He had no talent for that! Lin Baici reviewed the bullet comments and messages over and over. There were users criticizing his singing, but they were few. The majority of comments focused on his voice being distinctive, the atmosphere being strange, and the song choices being off. ¡°Folk music doesn¡¯t work, and I¡¯m not fond of rock, so what should I sing?¡± Lin Baici grabbed his hair with both hands, So annoying! Maybe he should just recite sutras! Eh? Lin Baici suddenly sat up. Mantra Buddha Resound was originally related to Buddhism, so maybe reciting sutras would complement it? Let¡¯s try it! After all, failing would just waste a bit of time! Lin Baici opened his computer, searched for sutra songs, and found very few. He then looked up some sutras, ultimately selecting the ¡°Heart Sutra.¡± The text discusses the five aggregates, the three realms, the four noble truths, and the twelve links of dependent origination, expressing the Buddhist principle that everything is inherently empty. It posits that prajna, or great wisdom, can overcome all suffering, achieve ultimate nirvana, and attain enlightenment. Translated by Master Xuanzang during the Tang Dynasty, Lin Baici decided to sing the sutra in Sanskrit since he had the ability of Guo Er Cheng Song and could learn it after hearing it once. It¡¯s not difficult! Besides, Sanskrit has an air of sophistication! Lin Baici found a Sanskrit version of the ¡°Heart Sutra,¡± listened to it twice, learned it, then found some pure instrumental music that sounded ethereal, lively, and rich in natural ambiance for the background. He activated Mantra Buddha Resound and started recording. Since it was past nine in the evening, Lin Baici dared not be too loud. Also feeling that this sutra-recitation video might not catch on, he didn¡¯t take it too seriously. Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, When practicing deeply the Prajna Paramita, Perceives that all five aggregates are empty, And is saved from all suffering and distress. ... After Lin Baici finished recording, he listened to it and felt it was not bad. He imported the audio into his computer, accompanied it with two images of Buddha statues, edited it briefly, and uploaded it. As he clicked to post, Lin Baici had a bit of mischief in mind; using Muscle Buddha¡¯s picture as a background might make the video more amusing. Knock knock! Mother Lin knocked on the door and entered, ¡°Baici, go to bed early. I¡¯m off tomorrow, so I¡¯ll take you to buy some clothes. Make a list of anything else you need.¡± There were less than ten days left before university orientation. ¡°There¡¯s no need to buy clothes; I can still wear the ones I have!¡± Lin Baici knew the family wasn¡¯t wealthy and didn¡¯t want to waste money. ¡°You¡¯re going to university, meeting new friends in a new environment; you should have some nice clothes!¡± Mother Lin didn¡¯t let Lin Baici argue, as she didn¡¯t want her son to feel inferior at university. ... The following days were busy for Lin Baici. In addition to buying clothes and preparing luggage, classmates he was on good terms with called him out to hang out one last time. Playing games, hiking, reading comics... And eating popsicles while strolling down the streets. In these last days, Lin Baici even received several WeChat messages from female classmates, asking him to go to the movies. This surprised Lin Baici as he was not the center of social circles at school, nor did he interact much with girls. ¡°It seems I¡¯m quite popular after all.¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t realize that if he¡¯d been more daring, taken the initiative, he might have started several relationships and had his first kiss during the high school graduation holiday. After all, Lin Baici was tall and big, with fair skin, and he was extremely good-looking. Hua Yue Yu and Jin Ying also regularly messaged Lin Baici, keeping in touch; especially the Goryeo girl, who always started conversations with selfies and ¡®Can I watch this without paying?¡¯ Lin Baici was busy and, besides the occasional glance at the ¡®Heart Sutra¡¯ chanting video, had little time to pay much attention to it. After all, the views were growing slowly, especially in the days close to the university orientation, when he had stopped logging into his account altogether. So he didn¡¯t know that, after a week of fermentation, the video¡¯s reputation had improved significantly, with a frighteningly high replay and save ratio. Chapter 30 - 30 30 Listening to Gods Gospel_1 ?30: Chapter 30: Listening to God¡¯s Gospel_1 30: Chapter 30: Listening to God¡¯s Gospel_1 Haijing Art Academy, Block B, Teaching Building, on the third floor, the art studio. The quiet night outside the window and the pale light from the energy-saving lamps, combined with the various colors of paint smeared on the walls, gave the classroom an atmosphere reminiscent of a horror movie. A tall female student sat in front of a canvas. Her long black hair was wrapped in a scarf, bunched into a big bun at the back of her head, to keep it free from paint, while her bristle oil paintbrush dashed and dabbed, creating a surging, tumultuous blue wave on the canvas. That wave spun and seethed into a frenzied nebula, like the gaping maw of a demon ready to devour the entire city beneath the night sky. The girl was painting Van Gogh¡¯s ¡°Starry Night,¡± and it was already ninety percent similar to the original. What was lacking... was that certain breath... Thud! Suddenly, the girl tossed away her oil paintbrush and started staring blankly at the ceiling. Her dark pupils were like dead still water, without a single ripple. After some time, she picked up her old Huawei phone, which was at her side, and opened up the Bilibili app. The phone was very old, causing the interface to lag a bit. That guy named Lin Da Hungry Man, he couldn¡¯t have really given up, could he? The girl fretted and clicked on her follow list. Inside, there was only one uploader, Lonely, like a stray dog that had been abandoned. Updated? The girl¡¯s eyes brightened, and she immediately clicked on the video. Huh? It¡¯s the ¡°Heart Sutra¡±? Without headphones, a pure and gentle male voice began to echo around the art studio. This chanting was not solemn, nor was it serious; it was like a cultured and friendly companion whispering softly, recounting some of the anecdotes he had encountered on his journey to enlightenment. The girl quietly listened. The ¡°Heart Sutra¡± was not long, and soon it ended. The girl didn¡¯t move and slowly savored the chanting. After about ten minutes or so, she clicked to play the video on loop. ... In the morning, the golden rays of dawn spread over the campus, coating it in a layer of gold. As the start of term approached, some seniors had already returned to campus early, busy rushing to finish their graduation pieces. Li Jing got up early, bought a pancake and fruit, and ran towards the art studio¡ªif she didn¡¯t get her work done quickly, it would be hard to find a job. Huh? What¡¯s this? Chanting? It¡¯s actually quite pleasant! Li Jing climbed up to the third floor, where she heard the chanting and hurried to the front of room 302. The door was unlocked! Creak! Li Jing pushed the door open and, like a hamster, poked her head into the classroom to take a glance. ¡°Shen Xin? You¡¯re here early!¡± Li Jing knew this girl. Or rather, as a painting prodigy who had held an exhibition in Paris, France, in her sophomore year, there was no one in the entire Haijing Art Academy who didn¡¯t know her. It was said that the principal had pleaded with her to stay at the school. Distracted by the noise, Shen Xin frowned slightly. ¡°Shen... classmate Shen, I... may I ask you some questions?¡± As opportunities were rare, Li Jing decided to seize the moment and quickly brought out her half-finished painting, asking Shen Xin for guidance. ¡°Excellent painting skills, but no soul!¡± Shen Xin glanced at Li Jing¡¯s modified version of the ¡°Sistine Madonna¡± and said, ¡°If you just want to find a good job, then choose a piece that can showcase your painting skills to the greatest extent!¡± ¡°For example, Kramskoy¡¯s ¡®Portrait of an Unknown Woman''¡± Li Jing was shocked; she didn¡¯t expect that after just a glance at her work, Shen Xin would guess her intentions accurately. When she had applied to Haijing Art Academy, her ambitions were sky-high, intending to create her own artistic school. But now? Sorry! All she wanted was to draw character portraits for big gaming companies, the kind that sold for tens of thousands of yuan each. ¡°Thank you! Thank you!¡± Li Jing hurriedly thanked her, with a polite attitude. Shen Xin put away her canvas, tidied up the paint and brushes, and unwrapped the scarf from her head, releasing her waist-length black hair that cascaded down like a waterfall. Shen Xin lowered her head and opened the comment section. She scanned it briefly, then began to leave a message. Blossoms Bloom in the Lane: Congratulations, you¡¯ve found your own path! Blossoms Bloom in the Lane: The wandering fish will eventually find the ocean that lets it leap freely, and the little bird, too, will fly to a sky spacious enough for it to spread its wings. I¡¯m relieved that you didn¡¯t give up! Blossoms Bloom in the Lane: Keep it up, Hungry Man! Shen Xin put away her phone, ready to leave. ¡°Classmate Shen...¡± Li Jing couldn¡¯t help but speak up again. Shen Xin stopped in her tracks, turned her head, and made a humming sound through her nose. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°That... that...¡± Being watched by such a genius made Li Jing a little fidgety, ¡°The Buddhist music you were listening to earlier, could you tell me about it?¡± ¡°I think it sounded very nice!¡± Li Jing swallowed nervously. What¡¯s going on? Does this girl have such a strong presence? ¡°Go to Bilibili, search for Lin Da Hungry Man!¡± After Shen Xin finished speaking, a faint smile finally appeared on her usually expressionless face. ... In Foshui City, Shiwan Shangyuan Residential Area, Building 12. A fat man was frantically typing on his keyboard! ¡°Dammit, heal, heal, can¡¯t you play, fuck!¡± Riven died, and the screen turned black and white. Fuming, the fat man immediately started hammering his keyboard, cursing fluently, ripping into his teammates. ¡°Have you been eating shit? Why is your mouth so foul?¡± ¡°Dumbass!¡± ¡°Motherfucker!¡± The teammates didn¡¯t take it lying down and retorted immediately. The fat man got even more into it, ready to unleash his 18 years of singlehood-level hand speed in a battle of wits. Thud! The computer screen went black; it had run out of power. The fat man paused, then started to cry woefully. ¡°My love life is over, I can¡¯t win in games, and now when I want to curse someone out, even the power company is against me. Do they really think I won¡¯t pay the electric bill next month?¡± The chubby guy¡¯s surname was Zhang and his first name was Jing. He graduated from high school this year and thought he might not have another chance, so he decided to confess to the goddess he had been secretly in love with for three years. But before he could say anything, he saw the goddess and the school hunk coming out of a hotel. At that moment, Zhang Jing felt his life was shattered, living felt utterly meaningless. ¡°Little Jing, what are you howling about? Xiao Pi is looking for you!¡± Zhang Jing¡¯s mother was full of energy. ¡°Tell him I¡¯m dead!¡± Zhang Jing jumped onto the bed, and his nearly 200 kilos made the bed emit a creaking noise as if it were under unbearable strain. ¡°What in the world are you up to?¡± A skinny guy who looked like a monkey pushed open the bedroom door: ¡°You¡¯ve been holed up at home for half a month, what, trying to become an immortal?¡± ¡°Pi Zi, my love is dead!¡± Zhang Jing¡¯s eyes were brimming with tears. Li Pi Wang was a childhood friend; Zhang Jing was not afraid of making a fool of himself in front of him. ¡°Give me a break, when has your love ever been alive?¡± Li Pi Wang pressed the power button on the computer a couple of times and realized there was no electricity: ¡°What¡¯s so good about women? They only slow down my sword drawing speed!¡± Zhang Jing lay back on the bed, tired in his heart! It would have been better if he had been rejected by the goddess, but the problem was, he saw them coming out of the hotel with his own eyes. The blow was too great! He felt like a sufferer from a comic book. Seeing Zhang Jing like this, Li Pi Wang knew he was deeply upset this time. He sighed, opened Bilibili, and sent him a link. ¡°Listen to this!¡± ¡°What is this?¡± Zhang Jing clicked on the link and was directed to Bilibili. ¡°Buddhist scriptures!¡± Li Pi Wang used to watch videos of girls dancing before going to bed every day, but last night he happened to hear this segment of Buddhist scriptures and he lost all interest in the girls instantly. He was scared out of his wits at that moment, thinking he was burnt out from too much gaming. ¡°Even if Sakyamuni himself were singing Buddhist scriptures to me right now, it wouldn¡¯t help!¡± Zhang Jing chuckled and clicked play. As the chanting began, it took only the first sentence to capture Zhang Jing¡¯s ears. So comforting! His originally irritable, anxious, and resentful emotions instantly dissipated like the Flame Mountain extinguished by snow, vanishing into thin air. By the time it was over, all that was left in Zhang Jing¡¯s heart was peace. He even brought his hands together and murmured a ¡®Amitabha¡¯. ¡°How does it feel?¡± The call came in, Li Pi Wang powered up, ready to battle on the land of Valorant! ¡°I¡¯m thinking about becoming a monk!¡± Zhang Jing honestly shared his current urge to forsake the secular world and join the monastery on impulse. ¡°Haha, that¡¯s exactly how I felt when I first heard it!¡± Li Pi Wang efficiently opened a folder and found a pornographic film: ¡°This chanting is high level, probably from some monastery¡¯s senior monk, right?¡± Zhang Jing was about to say that there were no high monks nowadays, but recalling the chanting full of Zen charm, he shut his mouth. After mulling it over for a few minutes, Zhang Jing suddenly spoke up: ¡°Pi Zi, let¡¯s go travel to Shaolin Temple, huh?¡± ¡°School is about to start, why go to Shaolin Temple?¡± Li Pi Wang thought his buddy was disturbed. ¡°To listen to the scriptures, worship Buddha, seek...¡± Zhang Jing initially wanted to say seek romantic destiny, but then he suddenly felt that it didn¡¯t matter if he had a woman or not. ¡°Stop playing dead, get up, come watch with me!¡± Li Pi Wang urged. ¡°Not interested!¡± Zhang Jing listened to the scripture passage again, liked it, tipped with coins, added it to favorites¡ªa three-hit combo, then left a comment. Zhang San sunny day: Master Lin, do you have an MP3 version? Looking for a download! Zhang Jing wanted to download this scripture to his player, planning to open it whenever he felt upset. He noted that there were quite a few people asking for a download. ¡°Lin Da Hungry Man? That name doesn¡¯t sound like a senior monk!¡± Zhang Jing hit the follow button, thought for a moment, and then upgraded it to special follow. ... September 3, at six in the morning, outside Guangqing city¡¯s high-speed rail station. ¡°Mom, you can go back! It¡¯s enough that you¡¯ve seen me this far!¡± Lin Baici, with large and small bags, laden with a bunch of luggage, got out of the taxi. ¡°I¡¯ll go back after seeing you onto the train!¡± Mother Lin initially wanted to accompany Lin Baici to university registration, but work was too busy, her boss wouldn¡¯t approve the leave, and Lin Baici also said that he was old enough to manage on his own, so Mother Lin decided not to go. But when it was time to go, the thought of her child going to live a thousand miles away for four years in a completely unfamiliar place worried her again. ¡°No need, I won¡¯t get lost, plus you don¡¯t have a ticket, you can¡¯t get in!¡± Not only did Lin Baici feel sorry for his mother, carrying all that luggage was also too uncomfortable. He could have easily put everything into the Black Tripod Bowl, but since he was under Mother Lin¡¯s watchful eye, he didn¡¯t dare to do so and had to carry everything himself instead. Otherwise, given his mother¡¯s character, she would definitely press him for details. If that happened, he wouldn¡¯t be able to keep the secret of the Dragon Temple¡¯s God¡¯s ruins anymore; she would surely worry and forbid him from going to Breaking Divine Ruins. Lin Baici still planned to get his hands on a few more Taboo things and sell them to make a windfall. Every step of the thousand-mile journey of their children is a worry for their mothers. Mother Lin still couldn¡¯t shake off her concern. She now regretted her decision; she should¡¯ve accompanied her son for the registration. ¡°Mom, let me be independent, let me toughen up a bit!¡± Lin Baici cajoled and pleaded: ¡°You can¡¯t take care of me my whole life, can you?¡± Mother Lin was finally persuaded. ¡°Then be careful, keep your wallet and phone safe, and don¡¯t lose them!¡± Mother Lin instructed. ¡°Yeah!¡± Lin Baici, waiting in line, spent half an hour going through the security check, and when he saw his mother was still outside the station, he waved at her through the glass. ¡°Mom, you can go back!¡± Lin Baici sent a WeChat message. He knew that unless he walked out of sight, his mother wouldn¡¯t leave, so he took the elevator to the second-floor waiting hall. In the hall, there was a cacophony of voices, many of them students about to travel far. Lin Baici looked around, intending to find the A12 ticket gate, when a sudden pang of hunger overtook him. Chapter 31 - 31 31 Lost Coast_1 ?31: Chapter 31 Lost Coast_1 31: Chapter 31 Lost Coast_1 The waiting room was noisy, with the arrival of a train, and the announcement calling for passengers to quickly check their tickets and proceed to the boarding gates. Grrrumble! Lin Baici¡¯s stomach growled. He pulled out his phone to check the time. It was now 8:20. There was still more than an hour until the departure of train G1955. He was early. ¡°Train stations have high traffic, and lots of people means lots of lost items!¡± Lin Baici guessed it was probably wallets or luggage. He didn¡¯t pick them up but hesitated for a moment before heading to the restroom. He planned to put these pieces of luggage into the Black Tripod Bowl. All the bags together weighed about fifty pounds, which was not only heavy but also cumbersome to carry. ¡°I hope the surveillance cameras aren¡¯t watching me.¡± Lin Baici was worried that walking into the restroom with a bunch of items and coming out with just a backpack might attract the attention of the station¡¯s security cameras. But carrying them was just too heavy, so Lin Baici decided to take a risk. Still, Lin Baici was cunning; instead of choosing a secluded restroom in the corner, he went to one with a lot of people passing by. Inside the urinal, there were blue toilet balls, the smell was slightly pungent. The floor had been thoroughly cleaned by the janitorial staff. There were quite a few people taking a dump, and after waiting for a few minutes, Lin Baici finally found a vacant one. He walked in, locked the door, and took out the Black Tripod Bowl from his blue backpack. The bowl was flat and circular, like the kind of jade box used to hold Go game pieces but was completely black, as if the color of a moonless night had solidified upon it, with a gold trim circling the base and the rim. ¡°No matter how many times I see it, it¡¯s always so beautiful!¡± Lin Baici, unable to put it down, wiped it and then brought the bowl up to his mouth to whisper. ¡°Eat porridge!¡± ¡°Eat porridge!¡± After Lin Baici finished the phrase, a swirly halo of light immediately appeared above the bowl. The ¡®granary¡¯ opened. Lin Baici placed the rolling suitcase into the halo above the Black Tripod Bowl, and like sinking into a lake, it caused the light to ripple, spreading a layer of golden ripples. When he also placed the handheld travel bag inside, he immediately felt much lighter. The Black Tripod Bowl held so much stuff, but its weight hadn¡¯t increased by even an ounce. ¡°Awesome!¡± Lin Baici was elated. His backpack contained essentials and important items like a charger, journal, wallet, umbrella, tissues, and water bottle, which he had to carry with him, but they only weighed three or four pounds, light as a feather. Having dealt with the luggage, Lin Baici nonchalantly walked out of the stall and over to the sink to wash his hands. When he returned to the waiting room and saw other passengers burdened with lots of luggage, he felt a sense of happiness within. The Black Tripod Bowl was truly a must-have magical artifact for long trips! Grrrumble! The hunger was still there, indicating that the ¡®lost item¡¯ hadn¡¯t been reclaimed by its owner yet. Since there was still plenty of time, Lin Baici decided to go look for it. Do good deeds, accumulate good karma, hope for a blissful four years of college life. Lin Baici hummed a tune as he began his search. Over the years, he had become quite skilled at finding ¡®lost items.¡¯ Hunger was like a radar. The hungrier he was, the closer he was to the ¡®lost items.¡¯ When saliva built up to the point where he needed to swallow, it meant the ¡®lost items¡¯ were nearby. Lin Baici reached the northwest corner of the waiting hall. There were few people here, with a supermarket selling local specialties that had two customers inside. Lin Baici looked around. The cleaning staff had done a thorough job, and the floor was spotless. There was no sign of wallets or mobile phones. Lin Baici also paid special attention to the areas under the chairs, but found nothing. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± A gruff question suddenly sounded. Lin Baici looked up to see a man in his thirties staring at him, frowning heavily. The man had a crew cut, was dressed in a suit, and held a cigarette in his left hand. Lin Baici didn¡¯t respond. So what if you¡¯re a social big shot? I¡¯m a God Hunter! The man in the suit took a drag on his cigarette, assessing Lin Baici with a scrutinizing look, as if Lin Baici were a fugitive. [This guy is arrogant, treating you like a greenhorn student. Can you accept that? Take him down. After killing him, I suggest charbroiling him for the dogs!] The Eater God spoke up, immediately advocating for violence. Lin Baici ignored the Eater God and instead turned his attention to the chair beside the man in the suit, where a black handbag lay. The hunger seemed to be caused by that suitcase. What¡¯s inside it? ¡°Hey, what are you blindly staring at?¡± The suit man had a companion, a young man in his twenties with a big nose, who became annoyed when he saw Lin Baici gazing at the handbag. Lin Baici turned and left. ¡°Ma Yuan...¡± The young man with the big nose stood up and watched Lin Baici walking away, ¡°That kid came over and then left suddenly, seems suspicious, should we interrogate him?¡± ¡°No need. He¡¯s probably just someone who lost something and came looking for it. It has nothing to do with ¡®Lost Coast¡¯!¡± The man in the suit, named Ma Yuan, watched Lin Baici¡¯s retreating figure and took another drag off his cigarette. ¡°Just an ordinary student, don¡¯t worry about it. Let¡¯s keep our focus on our target. They¡¯re carrying an A-level taboo object with a contamination intensity of 5.0. Our mission cannot afford any mistakes!¡± ... After seeing the man in the suit¡¯s black case, Lin Baici¡¯s hunger greatly diminished, confirming his suspicion that the case likely contained taboo things. If it were gold or antiques or some other valuable items, even stolen by the man in the suit, Lin Baici wouldn¡¯t feel hunger. ¡°I wonder if those two are wild God Hunters or official ones?¡± Lin Baici found the A12 check-in entrance. There were quite a few people seated in the four rows of seats nearby. Haijing is a super first-tier city, and many people from Guangqing work there, making this train very popular. Lin Baici looked for a seat to sit down. There was a young woman in her twenties who was eye-catching. She wore a denim skirt, exposing two long, pale legs, with beige studded high heels on her feet, very sexy, and a backless camisole on her upper body. To her left was a small red trolley case. The men around her would steal glances at her from time to time, feasting their eyes. [I advise you not to sit next to her; she has HIV!] ¡°What?¡± Lin Baici hadn¡¯t planned to sit next to the woman, but Eater God¡¯s statement still shocked him. [You don¡¯t even know this? AIDS, understand?] Eater God explained. ¡°No, I know what HIV is, what I mean is that the woman looks very healthy!¡± Lin Baici was surprised, had she looked like an average girl, he would never have guessed that she carried such an infectious disease. [What¡¯s the use of looking?] Eater God felt Lin Baici was quite naive: [Eyes can¡¯t discern the truth.] The young woman was bored scrolling through her phone, but when she caught sight of Lin Baici, her eyes lit up instantly. Such a handsome guy! He still has a youthful look on his face; could he be a university student? However, the young woman couldn¡¯t be sure because he wasn¡¯t carrying large luggage, just a backpack, too casual. Huh? What¡¯s up with this guy? The young woman¡¯s tattooed willow eyebrows furrowed slightly. She was confident in her appearance and figure, and while most men didn¡¯t dare to approach her, they would walk by her and steal more glances. But this guy, he actually went around her. Why? Am I a plague? The young woman was annoyed, but thinking about her condition, her expression suddenly stiffened. Could he be a med student? Could he tell I have HIV? No, that¡¯s not it, I¡¯ve been infected for less than five months, and no significant symptoms have shown up on my body yet. Lin Baici found a seat, settled down, and began observing the waiting passengers. Because Eater God would give commentary. [A hot-tempered man who often beats his wife; he¡¯s currently hungover and got pickpocketed when entering the station. It¡¯s best to stay away from him, careful to get blackmailed!] It was a man in his thirties, balding, with swollen eyes, and seemed not yet fully awake. [A hardworking and optimistic woman; don¡¯t be fooled by her plain and worn clothes; her son was admitted to Peking University, she is a good mother who gave her child love and everything else!] Eater God was referring to a woman with two snake skin bags beside her, stuffed with bedding, bulging. She had been working in Haijing for over a decade to earn money for her son¡¯s marriage and house. She was tired but felt very happy. Now she was just looking forward to her son getting married soon and giving her a chubby grandson. ¡°My mom is great, too!¡± Lin Baici thought of his mother, his motivation to earn money grew even more. [A man who has kidney and heart disease due to excessive toil, he hasn¡¯t noticed yet. If he doesn¡¯t get treated, the best treatment period will be gone!] It was another man in his thirties, with heavy dark circles under his eyes. He had a Huawei laptop on his legs, tapping away at code, occasionally yawning and taking a big sip of coffee from the cup beside him. ¡°Are the things you¡¯re saying accurate?¡± Lin Baici asked, feeling that Eater God was probably right, despite his question. Eater God disdainfully chose not to answer such a trivial question. The train station is indeed the place where one can most vividly experience the full range of human life; some people are high-spirited, looking forward to the future, others are worn down by the hardships of life, only wishing to earn a bit of money to support their families. Some are utterly devoted to love, unwaveringly faithful, while others indulge in massages and foot rubs, blissfully content. Everyone¡¯s bitterness is different, everyone¡¯s joy is also different. After listening for a while, Lin Baici looked down at his novel to pass the time. Ding dong. Lin Baici received a WeChat message. Little Merperson: Where are you? Hua Yue Yu had chatted with Lin Baici last night and learned that he was reporting for duty today. She had already taken leave, intending to visit Lin Baici at Haijing Polytechnic. To help him with various enrollment procedures and get him familiar with the dorm and the school environment. Of course, The most important thing was to have a welcoming feast. Making the new student feel at home is the duty of a senior. Chapter 32 - 32 32 Eater God Reviews Suggests Steaming _1 ?32: Chapter 32 Eater God Reviews, Suggests Steaming _1 32: Chapter 32 Eater God Reviews, Suggests Steaming _1 Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: Waiting for my train, should arrive after 3 p.m. Little Merperson: I¡¯ll come to the station to pick you up! Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: No need, it would be too much trouble for you, and besides, the school has arranged a shuttle bus for new students. Little Merperson: Hmph, I think you just want to flirt with the senior students, right? Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: ... Little Merperson: The senior girls are all wolves, you¡¯d better protect yourself! Hua Yue Yu felt that, with Lin Bai Ci¡¯s face and figure, he wouldn¡¯t lack girlfriends during his four years of university. If he were a bit more of a playboy, he could pull off a ¡°pentakill¡± in a single semester. Time flew by with someone to chat with. ¡°Attention passengers, the G1955 train from Guangqing Station to Haijing South is now boarding. Please proceed to check-in gates A12 and B12, and board at platform 16!¡± ¡°When using the escalator, please stand firm and hold on to the handrails!¡± ¡°Mind the gap between the platform and the train when boarding!¡± The station broadcast sounded, rousing the seated travelers, who, like a school of fish attracted by tourists¡¯ feeding, all began to move toward the check-in gates. Four long queues quickly snaked their way out. Lin Bai Ci glanced at his phone. 9:37, the train¡¯s about to leave. Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: They¡¯re checking tickets! Little Merperson: Be safe! Haijing awaits you! Followed by an emoji hugging. Lin Bai Ci put away his phone, stood up, slung on his backpack, and seeing everyone carrying quite a bit of luggage, with at least a suitcase and a hand-carry bag, felt a surge of happiness welling up inside. He didn¡¯t rush to line up but instead walked toward the programmer with dark circles under his eyes. After the programmer hastily packed up his laptop and scurried to queue, Lin Bai Ci casually took a spot behind him. ¡°Handsome guy, why don¡¯t you get a check-up?¡± Lin Bai Ci knew this kind of approach was abrupt and mentioning someone might be ill could even earn him a punch, but thinking that saving a life was more meritorious than creating a seven-tier pagoda, he decided to speak up anyway. The programmer turned around, puzzled. ¡°You look pale and unwell; you must be sick!¡± Lin Bai Ci spoke with sincere concern. ¡°Thank you!¡± The programmer politely thanked him without taking it seriously. He had recently been feeling unwell, but with a 996 work schedule plus all-nighters, he¡¯d be a fool to expect health. He figured he¡¯d get better after a long holiday following the completion of his project. Seeing the programmer¡¯s expression, Lin Bai Ci knew he wasn¡¯t taking it seriously and thus told a benign lie. ¡°I¡¯m a medical student, and my grades are pretty good!¡± Lin Bai Ci smiled, showing eight shiny teeth, his handsome and sunny appearance radiating gentleness and an affable charm. The programmer, hearing that Lin Bai Ci was a medical student, took his advice to heart. ¡°Thank you!¡± The programmer decided to get a check-up at the hospital once his business trip was over¡ªit¡¯s better to be safe than sorry. ¡°You¡¯re welcome!¡± Lin Bai Ci was merely doing a good deed to accumulate karma. ¡°Young man, can you check me out? Am I sick?¡± An auntie in her fifties suddenly spoke up. Obviously, she was looking for a free check-up. [She¡¯s a diabetic who doesn¡¯t watch her diet, eating recklessly. In two years, she¡¯ll pay the price!] ¡°Auntie, you need to watch your diet. Diabetes requires careful attention to what you eat!¡± Lin Bai Ci advised. ¡°Wow, spot on!¡± The auntie looked astonished. ¡°I was diagnosed with diabetes less than five months ago. How could you tell?¡± Nearby passengers who hadn¡¯t initially noticed started turning their heads at the auntie¡¯s exclamation. The programmer also looked on in surprise. Lin Bai Ci smiled. Eater God, impressive indeed! This must be some powerful Divine Grace! ¡°Young man, can I have your phone number? Which school are you studying medicine at?¡± The auntie believed Lin Bai Ci had good medical skills, so his teacher must be even better, worth paying a visit. ¡°Handsome, can you take a look at me? What¡¯s wrong with me?¡± ¡°Young man, I¡¯ve been losing my appetite recently. What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been having headaches for several months. The CT scan didn¡¯t show anything. Can you have a look?¡± Those approaching Lin Bai Ci were older folks, not so much looking for a freebie, but believing they¡¯d chanced upon a skilled doctor and finding the opportunity rare. After all, who doesn¡¯t want to live a long, healthy life? Lin Bai Ci felt overwhelmed, wishing he hadn¡¯t been so talkative. Luckily, the ticket inspector was quick, and it wasn¡¯t long before it was Lin Bai Ci¡¯s turn. He scanned his ticket and swiftly made his way to the platform. The high-speed train approached, stirring a fierce draft. As the train slowed and steadied, Lin Bai Ci hurried to carriage 07. ¡°Please stand behind the yellow line!¡± A station employee, with a loudspeaker, warned everyone to maintain safety. The door opened, and after letting off the departing passengers, those eagerly waiting surged into the train like sardines vying for food. Since everyone had substantial luggage, and the door was narrow, boarding was somewhat difficult. Lin Bai Ci, over 1.8 meters tall with strength that soared after consuming the Meteorite and God¡¯s Bones, could bench press 100 kilograms with ease. But he refrained from joining the fray. Everyone feared missing the train, so they moved swiftly. Lin Bai Ci didn¡¯t have to wait long until he was the only one left on the platform. He stepped up, crossed over, and entered the carriage. Passengers hadn¡¯t settled in yet, the aisle was filled with people stowing their luggage, and the area bustled. Lin Bai Ci waited near the carriage connector for a while longer. The train began to move. People gradually quieted down, with most starting to play with their smartphones. ¡°18F!¡± Lin Baici, holding his ticket, frowned when he found his seat. The woman he had seen in the waiting hall before, dressed in a denim mini-skirt and beige studded high heels, was sitting in his spot. Lin Baici didn¡¯t dislike her because of HIV; it seemed she had taken his seat by mistake. Seats C, D, and F, with F supposed to be the one by the window. Lin Baici looked down, glanced at the train ticket again, and then compared it with the seat numbers on the train. ¡°Beauty, it seems you¡¯re in the wrong seat!¡± Lin Baici showed his ticket: ¡°I¡¯m 18F, by the window!¡± ¡°Handsome, my name is Song Li, I was just thinking about enjoying the scenery outside, can we switch seats?¡± Upon seeing Lin Baici, a hint of delight appeared on the young woman¡¯s face. She hadn¡¯t expected to be so lucky as to sit next to such a handsome guy. Lin Baici didn¡¯t mind, he placed his backpack on the luggage rack and sat down in 18C by the aisle. The passenger in 18D, a male student, squeezed between Lin Baici and Song Li, looked to be eighteen or nineteen, also a university student about to go on a journey. Song Li was very pretty and dressed sexily, making 18D feel awkward and excited, fantasizing about something good happening during the trip. ¡°Thank you, handsome!¡± Song Li revealed a smile: ¡°Are you a university student? What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Hmm!¡± Lin Baici nodded, feeling no interest in giving his name to a stranger. The boy in 18D felt this guy must be seriously ill. A beautiful woman is hitting on you, and you¡¯re acting indifferent? Don¡¯t you realize you¡¯re wasting a treasure? If it were me, I¡¯d tell her everything, even what my ancestors did for a living. Lin Baici¡¯s aloofness made Song Li feel embarrassed, and a stubborn competitiveness rose in her heart. She turned and smiled at 18D. ¡°What about you? You look like a university student too?¡± 18D, flattered, immediately nodded: ¡°Yes, I took the college entrance exam in June and got an acceptance letter from Haijing Normal University!¡± ¡°So impressive!¡± Song Li displayed an envious expression at the right moment. ¡°Not really, it¡¯s pretty ordinary!¡± Though 18D said so, his face was already brimming with pride. ¡°Handsome, which university are you from?¡± Song Li purposefully squeezed Lin Baici. If his university wasn¡¯t as good as Haijing Normal, he¡¯d surely be frustrated. [This woman is PUA-ing you, recommend steaming her!] Eater God was bristling with murderous intent. ¡°Sister Song, understand, if he doesn¡¯t want to say, don¡¯t ask!¡± 18D looked at Lin Baici and smiled: ¡°Some in our class didn¡¯t do well and don¡¯t like answering this kind of question either!¡± Young teenagers just entering puberty, when they see a fashionable and charming woman like Song Li, simply can¡¯t contain themselves, like a peacock fighting for the right to mate, desperate to show off their most beautiful feathers. Lin Baici wasn¡¯t made of clay, especially after witnessing life and death at Dragon Temple¡¯s God¡¯s Ruins, he too had developed sharp edges. I don¡¯t care about you chasing girls, but using me as a stepping stone? No way! ¡°Is Haijing Polytechnic not as good as Haijing Normal?¡± Lin Baici asked with a serious face. ¡°Uh...¡± 18D was at a loss for words. Are you kidding me? Haijing Polytechnic is one of the top five universities in Haijing City, with a cut-off score over sixty points higher than Haijing Normal. That¡¯s the college entrance examination score, where a single point difference can eliminate tens of thousands of people. Song Li wasn¡¯t familiar with the university rankings, but judging from the situation, it seemed like 18D had been outclassed, by far more than a little bit. ¡°Damn, he¡¯s so handsome, his grades are so good, can there be any justice left in the world?¡± The more Song Li thought about it, the angrier she got, most importantly, why didn¡¯t he pay any attention to her? ¡°Sister Song, would you like some chips?¡± 18D took out a bunch of snacks from his Nike backpack and handed them to Song Li. ¡°Thanks!¡± Song Li was distracted. Usually, if 18D tried so hard to please her, Song Li would also chat with him, add him on WeChat; after all, keeping a fawning dog is no hassle, but with the presence of this indifferent guy as a contrast, she lost interest. Wait a minute, Could this kid be playing hard to get? Song Li suddenly got excited. Playing this game with me? You¡¯re still too green! Song Li began to chat and laugh with 18D. An hour passed, and the indifferent young man was still on his phone. Damn, it was the latest and most expensive model of the iPhone. Wait, The watch on his left wrist, it¡¯s a Rolex! A rich person indeed! Song Li felt she might have misjudged him; he wasn¡¯t playing hard to get, he just wasn¡¯t interested in her at all. Lin Baici¡¯s mobile data wasn¡¯t abundant, he didn¡¯t want to waste it on videos, reading novels was tiring too, so he decided to rest with his eyes closed, planning to take a nap. But less than half an hour later, he was overwhelmed by hunger, causing his stomach to cramp. Chapter 33 - 33 33 The Might of Divine Grace_1 ?33: Chapter 33 The Might of Divine Grace_1 33: Chapter 33 The Might of Divine Grace_1 ¡°What the hell?¡± Lin Baici frowned, straightened up, and looked around. The train had stopped at a station five minutes ago. Could it be that a passenger had forgotten their luggage? That¡¯s not right! The sense of hunger was too strong; it wasn¡¯t something caused by losing an item worth a few thousand yuan. ¡°Could it be that there are taboo things on this train?¡± Lin Baici rubbed his belly, deciding not to figure it out. It was past 11 a.m., and some people began to prepare instant noodles for lunch. The rich aroma of the seasoning packets spread, keeping Lin Baici from sleeping. He put on his headphones and listened to Jay Chou¡¯s songs, continuing to read his novel. Song Li wasn¡¯t the type to pester incessantly. Seeing that Lin Baici wasn¡¯t interested in her, she gave up, started chatting with the sycophants, sent a few selfies, acted coquettishly, and fed them some ¡°dog food.¡± Unluckily for 18D, he repeatedly tried to strike up a conversation with Song Li, offering her snacks and drinks, but she only responded indifferently with noncommittal hums. As noon approached, the shouts of children, conversations of passengers, and the sound of TikTok videos played out loud mixed together, turning the carriage into a noisy market. Suddenly, a roaring curse from a middle-aged woman overpowered all the noise. ¡°This is a public place; why can¡¯t I watch TikTok?¡± The woman, in her forties, had dyed red hair curled up, dressed in a light purple dress, with slack skin around her neck and a gold necklace hanging from it. ¡°You can watch, but please use headphones!¡± The one speaking was a middle-aged man wearing glasses. If it were any other day, he would have let it be, but today his wife was feeling very unwell. She was suffering from motion sickness and was over eight months pregnant, in need of ample rest. So he asked the woman in front to lower her volume, but she was set in her ways. This led to an argument between the two of them. ¡°Wearing or not wearing headphones is my freedom!¡± The woman was adamant: ¡°Besides, wearing headphones might cause my hearing to deteriorate. Will you be responsible?¡± ¡°So you just don¡¯t care about others?¡± The man with the glasses wasn¡¯t very good at arguing. ¡°If you think it¡¯s too noisy, you can switch seats with someone else!¡± The woman spoke rapidly, like a machine gun: ¡°Everyone else isn¡¯t bothered by the noise, only you are. What are you, so delicate, a flower grown in a greenhouse?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not me; it¡¯s affecting my wife!¡± The man with the glasses explained. In reality, everyone was annoyed by the woman playing TikTok loudly enough for the whole carriage to hear, but no one confronted her directly. After all, it might lead to a quarrel. ¡°Looking at your wife¡¯s belly, she¡¯s eight or nine months along, right? Instead of taking proper rest at home, why are you wandering around? Isn¡¯t she uncomfortable due to her own actions?¡± The woman retorted. ¡°Stop arguing!¡± The pregnant woman looked in pain and tugged at her husband¡¯s arm, asking him to sit down. ¡°We are going back to our hometown!¡± The man with glasses had his parents back in his hometown, so having the baby there would mean someone to help take care of it. ¡°Look at you, not young anymore, your wife pregnant and yet you¡¯re traveling such a long distance. Can¡¯t afford to rent a car, or take a plane home? Your life is really fucking pathetic!¡± The woman began to attack him personally. ¡°How can you speak like that?¡± The face of the man with the glasses turned red in an instant. That remark hit a sore spot for him. In middle age, the fear of being labeled unsuccessful and not making much money is all too real. ¡°What? You want to hit someone, huh!¡± The woman jumped up, stood on the chair, and was even more aggressive than the man with the glasses: ¡°Go on, hit me here!¡± The woman patted her face. ¡°If you don¡¯t make me bankrupt, you lose!¡± The nearby passengers were divided, some enjoying the drama, others advising the man with the glasses to let it go. This woman, upon first look, was clearly not meek; arguing further would surely disadvantage the man with glasses. The man with glasses had never publicly argued with anyone before. He was ashamed and flustered, his entire face flushed: ¡°I... I¡¯ll expose you online!¡± ¡°Get on with it, take my photo, expose me as much as you can, post it on several sites!¡± The woman was unfazed: ¡°My son is a well-known lawyer in Haijing. If you dare to expose me, I¡¯ll take you to court!¡± The woman wasn¡¯t foolish; seeing passengers filming her, she used these words as a threat. ¡°Stop arguing!¡± The pregnant woman was in distress. The man with the glasses ceased his aggressive stance, looking all the more defeated, his posture slumped, his expression even more dejected. The woman, as the victor, smugly crossed her legs high, continuing to watch her videos out loud. Lin Baici took off his headphones. If this had been before his visit to Dragon Temple, Lin Baici wouldn¡¯t have bothered to intervene, but now... ¡°I am a God Hunter!¡± Lin Baici stood up and walked towards the woman. Song Li and 18D looked over at Lin Baici. What¡¯s this kid going to do? Does he want a taste of being berated? The two almost pictured Lin Baici returning in shameful defeat. ¡°Ma¡¯am!¡± Lin Baici stopped next to the woman, his attitude indifferent, not even willing to offer a polite ¡°Auntie.¡± Swish! The crowd turned to look. ¡°Who are you calling ma¡¯am?¡± The woman immediately fought back: ¡°Are you blind? Do I look that old?¡± Lin Baici chuckled and stopped calling her ¡®ma¡¯am.¡¯ He leaned over, one hand on the back of the chair, activated Mantra Buddha Resound, and spoke softly to the woman. ¡°At your age, can watching short videos prolong your life? You should be reciting sutras, doing good deeds, striving to accumulate virtue¡ªonly then might you live a few years longer!¡± With the blessing of Mantra Buddha Resound, Lin Baici¡¯s words became wise, rational, and full of zen charm. The woman¡¯s head felt as if it had been struck by the Tathagata Buddha himself, awoken by a single enlightening statement. ¡°Right, watching these short videos won¡¯t extend my life, I should listen to scriptures, do good deeds, and accumulate virtue and morality!¡± The auntie¡¯s eyes lit up. If it weren¡¯t for Lin Baici¡¯s youthful appearance, she would have addressed him as a master right away. ¡°Not causing trouble for others is the simplest of good deeds!¡± Lin Baici persuaded gently, ¡°For example, playing noisy sounds that disturb the public!¡± ¡°Yes! Yes! It¡¯s my fault!¡± The auntie quickly silenced her phone, and the sense of triumph she had felt from winning the previous argument also disappeared without a trace. She felt so childish. Winning or losing, it didn¡¯t matter. ¡°Thank you for understanding!¡± Lin Baici smiled slightly and turned to leave. Truly worthy of Divine Grace, so impressive! The Mantra Buddha Resound, this Divine Grace, allowed the voice of a God Hunter to be filled with tranquility, their words could clear the mind and spirit, drive away fear, and cut through three thousand worries. At the same time, it could make listeners let go of everything, without desires or wants. To put it bluntly, it was entering sage mode. Of course, the influence on listeners affected by the Buddha¡¯s sounds was temporary, lasting only a few minutes at least, and a day or two at most, before this influence would fade away. Lin Baici had no intention of making the auntie become a nun; he just wanted her to stay quiet for this journey. People nearby were all looking at Lin Baici with astonishment. What did this young man do? That daunting auntie actually obediently listened to him and muted her phone? How miraculous! Lin Baici returned to his seat and sat down. Song Li and 18D were dumbfounded. ¡°What did you say to her?¡± Song Li¡¯s curiosity could kill a hundred cats. The passengers in the surrounding seats perked up their ears, too. ¡°Nothing much, just talked some sense into her!¡± Lin Baici gave a noncommittal response. ¡°You¡¯re kidding, right?¡± Song Li clearly didn¡¯t believe it. The glasses-wearing man had also reasoned with her, and even threatened to expose her by video, but ended up being doused in metaphorical dog¡¯s blood. So, what made you different? It couldn¡¯t possibly be because you¡¯re more attractive, could it? Lin Baici merely shrugged his shoulders. It was nearly noon, and many people began to eat. Boxed meals on high-speed trains aren¡¯t cheap, with even the cheapest costing forty or fifty yuan, and few people buy them. Most passengers eat instant noodles they brought themselves, and others who find it too much hassle eat some bread, ham, or biscuits to fill their stomachs until they can eat properly after disembarking. The dining car came by, and the attendant asked if anyone wanted to purchase a boxed meal. ¡°Give me one.¡± The boy in 18D wasn¡¯t willing to mistreat himself, and besides, he was in the presence of a lady; he couldn¡¯t afford to look poor. ¡°Which set meal would you like?¡± The attendant stopped and described the types of boxed meals available. ¡°Give me a chicken rice meal!¡± 18D opened his WeChat app. He had good eyesight and saw the price¡ªit was 45 yuan, not only expensive but also the cheapest boxed meal available. A bit of a rip-off. After scanning the QR code to pay, 18D looked back at Lin Baici, his face expressionless, but his heart was filled with a sense of superiority. After the attendant left, 18D opened his boxed meal, mixed the vegetables and rice, and took a couple of bites, when a girl stood in front of him. ¡°Handsome guy, can we switch seats?¡± 18D instinctively looked up and then was stunned. Wow, what a size! It obstructed the view of the girl¡¯s face as 18D tried to look at her. Lin Baici turned his head to look over and was also taken aback. He had thought Kim Myungjin was peerless, but this girl was even more explosive¡ªwere all the body¡¯s fats concentrated here? ¡°Change seats?¡± 18D finally got a clear view of the girl¡¯s face. About twenty years old, with an innocent appearance. At first glance, she bore a strong resemblance to actress Yui Aragaki; her mouth wasn¡¯t large, her eyes were bright, and when she looked at someone, there was a seriousness that conveyed a sense of power. She wore light blue and pure white sneakers, her long legs wrapped by loose-fitting sports pants, and she donned a sun protection coat with the zipper undone, revealing a flesh-colored sports vest underneath. ¡°Yeah, switch seats!¡± The girl had a loud and clear voice, with a sweet smile. Her long hair was tied into a high ponytail, and it bounced energetically as she turned her head. This was an exceptionally pretty girl! And for 18D, she was the most beautiful woman he had seen in his eighteen years of life, making him feel flustered. Normally, 18D would have agreed without a second thought, but today... He turned his head and glanced at Song Li. At least let me get her WeChat before leaving! 18D felt that with some effort, he could win this girl over and start his four years of university on a high note. Lin Baici saw 18D¡¯s reluctant gaze and couldn¡¯t help shaking his head. If you knew she had HIV, I bet you¡¯d run as far away as possible. The girl saw 18D¡¯s hesitation and didn¡¯t insist, instead turning to Song Li, ¡°Beauty, can we switch seats?¡± Song Li¡¯s female intuition told her that this girl was definitely targeting Lin Baici. She didn¡¯t want to switch, but the girl¡¯s next words made her agree. Chapter 34 - 34 34 Rule Pollution Begins_1 ?34: Chapter 34 Rule Pollution Begins_1 34: Chapter 34 Rule Pollution Begins_1 ¡°A hundred yuan to switch seats, okay?¡± The girl smiled, looking very sunny. ¡°Mhm!¡± Song Li nodded her head. She thought that Lin Baici had a pretty high attractiveness level, and since the journey was boring, she might as well chat with him. Maybe she¡¯d gain another loyal follower + ATM. But Lin Baici was too indifferent, which made Song Li lose interest. Now she could make a hundred yuan just by switching seats? What a great deal. ¡°I¡¯ll transfer it to you via WeChat!¡± The girl took out her phone and sent the money to Song Li: ¡°I¡¯m in seat 12 of carriage 05!¡± Song Li took her suitcase down from the luggage rack, and before she left, she gave Lin Baici another glance. He was back to reading his novel, completely unconcerned with what was happening around him. Song Li gave the girl a smile, muttering ¡®good luck with that¡¯ in her heart, and clicked away in her sexy studded heels. Her long white legs caught the attention of many. ¡°...¡± 18D watched Song Li¡¯s retreating figure, feeling utterly depressed. Logically, having a prettier girl next to him should have made 18D happy, but he wasn¡¯t, because he knew that this high-ponytailed girl was out of his league. There was a wildness about Song Li that was what made 18D bold enough to strike up a conversation. After settling her luggage, the high-ponytailed girl reached over 18D, extending her fair right hand to Lin Baici: ¡°Hi, let¡¯s get acquainted. I¡¯m Xia Hongyao, Red Medicine, you know? Not some kind of drug...¡± ¡°I know, it¡¯s another name for the peony flower!¡± Out of politeness, Lin Baici lightly shook Xia Hongyao¡¯s fingers. Truthfully, this was his first time experiencing such adult etiquette outside of his house, and he felt a mix of excitement and curiosity. 18D felt completely ignored, and it was so embarrassing! ¡°Not many people know that!¡± Xia Hongyao sized up Lin Baici. Her gaze was like that of a little girl scavenging the beach who had found a rare shell, eager to collect it and place it in her fishing bucket. [She is a God Hunter, with Force Speed Double A, Intelligence D, enjoys detective novels, and this girl exercises regularly, so her body is in great shape, making her a high-quality mating partner!] Eater God¡¯s comment: [I recommend monopolizing her. In moments when survival supplies are scarce, you can use her as an alternative milk source for consumption.] Lin Baici wasn¡¯t bothered by Eater God¡¯s frivolous comments. The words ¡®God Hunter¡¯ put him on high alert. However, on the surface, Lin Baici¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°Baici, pay attention to the details, don¡¯t let her notice that I have recognized her as a God Hunter!¡± Lin Baici warned himself silently. He didn¡¯t know what Xia Hongyao¡¯s intentions were in approaching him. Could it be about taboo things? Damn! I use Divine Grace for the first time to uphold justice, and I¡¯m already being targeted? Isn¡¯t that just too unlucky? ¡°Does anyone need a boxed lunch?¡± The attendant pushed the food cart through the aisle: ¡°We also have sunflower seeds, peanuts, and drinks!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take two boxed lunches, please!¡± Xia Hongyao called out, spotting some soda on the cart: ¡°And two bottles of Coke, too!¡± ¡°For the boxed lunch, we have beef rice, chicken rice, and zha jiang noodles...¡± The attendant provided service with a smile. ¡°Two beef rices!¡± ¡°One for 68, plus two Cokes, that¡¯s 156 yuan in total!¡± The attendant handed over the payment code. 18D was surprised; the girl was quite slender, but he hadn¡¯t expected her to eat so much. ¡°Thanks!¡± Xia Hongyao paid the money, took the boxed lunches, placed one on the little table in front of her, and handed the other to Lin Baici. ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten yet, have you?¡± Xia Hongyao¡¯s attitude was easygoing, as if she were talking to a friend she had known for years, showing no sign of being a stranger. ¡°...¡± 18D felt as if he had been stabbed in the knee; his 45 yuan chicken rice suddenly lost its appeal. He had previously felt somewhat superior because he could eat expensive high-speed train boxed lunches while he thought Lin Baici was poor. But now, Lin Baici had one too, not just any but the 68 yuan kind, and he didn¡¯t even have to pay for it. Dammit! Being handsome is that great, huh? I hope you become a gigolo in your next life. ¡°Thank you, I have bread!¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t accept. ¡°No need to be polite. We¡¯re all Gods...¡± Xia Hongyao stopped midway, aptly closing her mouth because the term ¡®God Hunter¡¯ wasn¡¯t something to be discussed in public. ¡°Go ahead, eat. It¡¯s on me!¡± Xia Hongyao pushed the boxed lunch toward Lin Baici, humming a tune to herself, she opened her own lunch and started eating, stirring the food with a disposable chopstick. ¡°I won¡¯t pass out after finishing this boxed lunch and wake up to find my kidneys are gone, will I?¡± Lin Baici chuckled. 18D thought Lin Baici was unreasonable. If a beautiful girl offered me a boxed lunch, even if it contained slightly stinky Marmite, I¡¯d still eat it. ¡°What do I need your kidneys for?¡± Xia Hongyao stuffed rice into her mouth, speaking unclearly. She didn¡¯t care about her image at all. Xia Hongyao had just come back from a business trip. Sitting bored on the high-speed train, she strolled around to observe the passengers to hone her deductive skills. If she happened to come across a fugitive, she could uphold justice, all the better. Xia Hongyao heard the man with glasses quarrelling with the old lady, so she came over and stood at the junction between carriages, watching the spectacle for a few minutes. When the man with glasses was sprayed into silence, she had been thinking about stepping in, but then a tall young man stepped forward. Then he had a few words with that bad old lady and easily took care of her. As a God Hunter, Xia Hongyao could naturally tell that Lin Baici had used Divine Grace, which piqued her interest. The person opposite her had no badge on his collar, and he didn¡¯t understand the code of the Security Bureau I had mentioned, which meant he wasn¡¯t from the Nine States God Shield. A wild God Hunter wasn¡¯t strange, But one so young was indeed precious! Because entering God¡¯s ruins, passing through various taboo games, receiving Divine Grace, then containing God¡¯s bones, and breaking out of the ruins alive was an extremely difficult task. Without the help of an experienced God Hunter, the mortality rate for ordinary people trapped in God¡¯s ruins was as high as one hundred percent, let alone becoming a God Hunter. ¡°If he¡¯s not an officially registered hunter, then he must be a member of some organization, and what about the Divine Grace he used to convince that old woman?¡± Xia Hongyao transformed into Xia ¡¤ Sherlock ¡¤ Hongyao to start deducing. Lin Baici was not someone who feared trouble! It¡¯s a blessing if it¡¯s not a disaster, and if it¡¯s a disaster there¡¯s no avoiding it, so after saying thanks, he started eating his packed lunch. Xia Hongyao didn¡¯t continue to engage in conversation to fish for information from Lin Baici, but instead put on headphones, closed her eyes to rest and continued to deduce with her high-intelligence brain. Passengers in the carriage, having finished lunch, became mostly quiet and began to rest. Lin Baici also closed his eyes, preparing to take a short nap. ... Carriage 18. ¡°Captain, when do we take action?¡± The big-nosed young man Lin Baici had seen in the waiting hall was anxious. He was worried that the target would discover them, losing the advantage of striking first. ¡°Keep waiting. There are too many people on the train. If we start a fight, innocents will be hurt!¡± Ma Yuan¡¯s right hand tugged at his tie, loosening it. Plop! The sudden sound of a splash made Ma Yuan confused. He turned his head and saw a male passenger who had fallen asleep slide into the seawater. However, the passenger showed no reaction, as if he were a corpse dumped into a lake by thugs. ¡°Where did this seawater come from?¡± Ma Yuan muttered, then suddenly startled and stood up abruptly. Damn it! The Black Shark Triton had launched a taboo thing and started contaminating the entire train with rule pollution. ¡°Captain!¡± The big-nosed quartet¡¯s faces showed both urgency and seriousness. As expected from the God Hunters of the Lost Coast, their assault was so swift, peculiar, and unexpected. The silent flow of the seawater rapidly raised the water level, soon submerging everyone¡¯s waists, and the most terrifying thing was that this seawater also had an anesthetic effect. Any ordinary person that came in contact with it fell into a dead slumber, and no matter how loudly the big-nosed youth shouted, he couldn¡¯t wake them up. ¡°Move quickly, kill Black Shark Triton as soon as possible and retrieve the taboo thing.¡± Ma Yuan sprinted out, as failing to stop the rule pollution in time meant everyone on the train would die. ... ¡°Where¡¯s my dragon? Where is my big dragon?¡± Hua Yue Yu, crying distressfully, apologized to Lin Baici, ¡°My dragon is gone, so shall I serve you instead?¡± ¡°No need! No need!¡± Lin Baici refused. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m very skilled, I guarantee to take you to heaven in three seconds!¡± Hua Yue Yu approached Lin Baici with a giggling smile, her hands suddenly shook, unraveling a rope, and in the next moment it was wrapped around his neck, strangling him with force! Lin Baici instantly choked, his limbs flailing wildly. Gurgle gurgle! Lin Baici swallowed several mouthfuls of seawater. Cough cough! Lin Baici coughed, opened his eyes, and seeing himself soaked in the seawater, he started to struggle frantically to stand up. [Hurry up, this isn¡¯t a dream, it¡¯s rule pollution!] The warning from Eater God sent Lin Baici into a cold sweat. The touch of seawater felt real, icy cold, and damp, and the stuff pouring into his mouth tasted salty. Lin Baici, who had thought he was dreaming, immediately woke up and grabbed the back of a seat to stand on it. Why would there be rule pollution on a high-speed train? Lin Baici¡¯s brows furrowed deeply. In the carriage, the seawater had risen to a height of 1.2 meters and was still visibly rising rapidly. Most of the passengers were unconscious, slumped in their seats. In a little while, the buoyancy of the seawater would gradually cause their bodies to float up. There were also a few unlucky ones who had slid into the seawater. Their long hair spread out, resembling a messy clump of seaweed; they seemed to be already dead. Lin Baici felt a sinking feeling in his heart. ¡°I want a girl!¡± 18D muttered in his sleep, turned over to lie more comfortably, and that movement made him slide off the chair and into the water. He didn¡¯t react at all. Lin Baici hurriedly reached out to grab, caught hold of 18D¡¯s collar, and pulled him out of the water. ¡°Hey, wake up!¡± Lin Baici shouted, the guy was surprisingly heavy. [The seawater contains an anesthetic component; normal people¡¯s bodies need severe stimulation to possibly wake up!] ¡°What counts as severe stimulation?¡± Lin Baici asked, but Eater God didn¡¯t respond, so he waved his hand and slapped 18D¡¯s face four times. Slap slap slap! 18D¡¯s body shook, and he woke up startled. Upon clearing seeing his surroundings, he was utterly confused. ¡°Holy shit, what¡¯s this?¡± He instinctively reached to clutch Lin Baici¡¯s arm, not wanting to fall into the water. Chapter 35 - 35 35 Sea Water Train_1 ?35: Chapter 35 Sea Water Train_1 35: Chapter 35 Sea Water Train_1 ¡°Brace yourself!¡± Lin Baici immediately let go and looked at Xia Hongyao next to the window. The girl with the high ponytail hairstyle was a God Hunter, so she should be able to become a teammate. Just as Lin Baici was about to physically wake her up, Xia Hongyao opened her eyes on her own. As expected of a God Hunter, her resistance was stronger than that of ordinary people. ¡°Rule pollution?¡± Xia Hongyao¡¯s willow-shaped eyebrows furrowed, followed by an excited expression on her face. I, Xia Hongyao, have finally found my chance to make a name for myself in one battle. Just you watch, within three years, I will definitely become one of the Nine Provinces Dragon Wing. ¡°Hey, do you know what¡¯s going on here?¡± Lin Baici asked Xia Hongyao. He reached for his backpack on the luggage rack, unzipped it, and reached inside. ¡°There are God Hunters on this train, it¡¯s very likely that the seal on their Taboo things was accidentally released...¡± Xia Hongyao stopped mid-sentence and suddenly shut her mouth, watching Lin Baici warily. This kid is also a God Hunter. ¡°Stop looking, it wasn¡¯t me!¡± Lin Baici said exasperatedly, ¡°If I were the bad guy, you¡¯d be the first one I¡¯d kill.¡± Xia Hongyao was startled. Right! This kid actually woke up a few seconds before me? This means he either has a better physical constitution, higher resistance to rule pollution than me, or he¡¯s extremely experienced, noticed the problem in advance, and prepared for it. Whichever it was, Xia Hongyao felt somewhat outdone. It made her a little frustrated. What? The guy in seat 18D is also awake? You¡¯re joking, seeing how that guy is standing on the seat, grasping the luggage rack, he doesn¡¯t look strong. Plus, there¡¯s a handprint on his face, which clearly means he was slapped awake. Ey! Hongyao, your deductive skills are getting more and more impressive. You do justice to someone who frequently reads Sherlock Holmes¡¯ detective stories! ¡°What do you usually do in this situation?¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t want to reveal the Black Tripod Bowl, so while shielding with his backpack, he took out a Songmu torch. ¡°...¡± 18D saw this and his eyes suddenly bulged. What the hell? Why do you have a torch in your backpack? Are you a savage? Wait, the torch is obviously longer than the backpack. How did you fit it in there? ¡°Taboo things?¡± Xia Hongyao¡¯s eyes lit up, she hadn¡¯t seen wrong, this kid was indeed a God Hunter: ¡°Which organization are you from?¡± ¡°Guangqing City No. 2 Middle School!¡± Lin Baici took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He thought of the man in the suit with the black briefcase he encountered in the waiting hall. ¡°No. 2 Middle School?¡± Xia Hongyao looked confused. Is there such an organization in the hunter circles? She had never heard of it! Was it newly established? Seeing High Ponytail¡¯s expression, Lin Baici knew she had misunderstood, and he felt speechless. She truly was a D-grade intellect. Did she invest all her talent points in strength like Big Bear? ¡°I just graduated from high school, and I became a God Hunter by accident this summer!¡± Lin Baici explained. Next, he certainly would have to use Taboo things and Divine Grace; it was not something he could hide, so he might as well say it ahead of time and give the impression of being honest and straightforward. ¡°...¡± Xia Hongyao didn¡¯t believe him, a wild God Hunter so young? You¡¯re kidding me! Without an experienced hunter leading the team in God¡¯s ruins, you¡¯d have been a maggot-infested corpse by now. Of course, now wasn¡¯t the time to argue about these things. This big guy did indeed not seem to be the source of the rule pollution. ¡°You two stay here, don¡¯t walk around carelessly, I¡¯ll take care of the enemy!¡± Xia Hongyao looked towards both ends of the carriage. ¡°Rule pollution? Taboo things?¡± 18D was dumbfounded hearing these terms. He had seen such posts on the internet before but never expected to witness it in person. 18D instinctively turned to look at Lin Baici. Dammit! This kid is actually a hunter who can hunt gods? ¡°Do you know where the enemy is?¡± Lin Baici perked up, ¡°I can help!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Xia Hongyao was confident, ¡°But I can deduce it!¡± ¡°...¡± Lin Baici felt this girl was unreliable. How can you deduce anything with so little information right now? And seeing the speed of the rising seawater, it could fill the carriage in at most ten minutes, and by then all these passengers would be dead. ¡°Smash the window!¡± Lin Baici urged. ¡°Huh?¡± Xia Hongyao was taken aback, then had a moment of realization, ¡°You want to attract the enemy over here?¡± Good! This kid is braver than I thought! I like it! ¡°Attract nothing, I¡¯m telling you to open the window to let the water out!¡± Lin Baici watched the surroundings vigilantly, not even sparing what was underwater. ¡°Oh! Oh!¡± Xia Hongyao was embarrassed by her wrong deduction. By now, the seawater had already spread over the window, about five centimeters above the lower edge of the glass. If they broke the window, the seawater should be able to flow out. Xia Hongyao clenched her five slender fingers together and threw a punch at the window. Bang! Crash! The glass shattered all over the place. Lin Baici¡¯s eyelids twitched! That was a high-speed train window, and she had shattered it with one punch? What kind of monstrous strength was that? But instantly, Lin Baici had no spare energy to worry about such things because the seawater didn¡¯t flow out through the broken window. It was as if it was blocked by an invisible barrier. ¡°What... what¡¯s going on?¡± 18D panicked. If the water couldn¡¯t flow out, wouldn¡¯t that mean everyone would drown? Xia Hongyao seemed unfazed. ¡°Rule pollution has already enveloped the entire train. To lift it, we must find the Taboo things as soon as possible!¡± ¡°Eater God, give me some intel!¡± Lin Baici called out in his mind. There was no response from the Eater God, but a strong sense of hunger struck him, very intense. Instinctively, Lin Baici looked towards the front of the train where something delicious seemed to be tempting him! ¡°To the head of the train!¡± Lin Baici entered the water. The sea water instantly rose to his navel, making it very difficult for him to take each step. Fortunately, the passengers were all in a drowsy state. If they were to struggle chaotically for their lives, they would certainly block the way. From her backpack, Xia Hongyao pulled out a straight-blade black dagger over a foot long, immediately followed behind, while also eagerly asking for guidance. ¡°Why choose this way?¡± ¡°Intuition!¡± Lin Baici certainly wouldn¡¯t tell anyone that his hunger felt like a radar, able to point him in the direction of valuable items. ¡°Hey, hey, where are you guys going?¡± 18D panicked. ¡°Don¡¯t leave me behind!¡± ¡°Stay here, and wait for our good news!¡± Xia Hongyao reassured. 18D didn¡¯t listen and lunged forward. Splash! Into the water he went. Do I look stupid? Following two God Hunters must be safer than staying alone, right? 18D looked at the silhouette of Lin Baici carrying an unlit torch, his gaze filled with a fair amount of envy and some admiration. Envious because he was a mysterious and powerful God Hunter! Admiring because he wasn¡¯t just thinking of saving his own life; he was staying like a superhero, ready to solve the rule pollution and save the people on the train. ¡°The food delivery has come right to our doorstep, not eating it would really be a waste of this takeaway!¡± There was excitement in Eater God¡¯s voice. Gurgling! Lin Baici¡¯s stomach growled, and he was hungry. In the God¡¯s ruins of the Dragon Temple, that feeling of hunger, so intense he could have boiled his shoes to eat, had descended upon him for the second time. ¡°There¡¯s no meteorite falling now, so there shouldn¡¯t be any God¡¯s bones on the train, right?¡± Lin Baici wasn¡¯t moving fast¡ªnot that he wasn¡¯t in a hurry, but walking in such deep water was just too difficult. The trio walking stirred the water, creating small waves that hit the carriage and rolled back. A female corpse was pushed by the waves in front of Lin Baici. Her eyes were wide open, already devoid of light. Lin Baici, having seen plenty of corpses in the Dragon Temple, still felt some discomfort. He pushed the corpse away with his hand and continued forward. Carriage 06 was reached! Snack bags, instant noodle boxes, food scraps, even a lady¡¯s slipper were floating on the water. Lin Baici didn¡¯t rush in but stood at the junction of the carriages, peering inside. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Xia Hongyao stood shoulder to shoulder with him. ¡°Observing!¡± Lin Baici was cautious. ¡°There¡¯s someone!¡± 18D pointed and exclaimed. In the front half of carriage 06, around seats six or seven, a young man with headphones threw away the items on the rack above him and leaned over it. ¡°A human with decent resistance!¡± People¡¯s speed of turning into dead flesh under the radiation of God¡¯s bones and the rule pollution caused by Taboo things varied. The slower they turned, the higher their resistance and the greater their chance of survival. The man with headphones was panicking. Seeing Lin Baici and the others, he immediately called out. ¡°What the hell happened?¡± Finding another living person at last, the man with headphones was excited. ¡°Ever heard of rule pollution? It¡¯s happening right now. Come quickly, we need to stick together to survive!¡± 18D was not saying this out of kindness but because he felt having one more person would mean one more bait in case of danger. The man with headphones clearly didn¡¯t have such scheming and had also heard about the horrors of rule pollution, and thus he was tempted. He moved to get off the luggage rack. Lin Baici continued forward, but after a few steps, he stopped abruptly. After devouring the Meteorite and God¡¯s bones, not only had his physical abilities improved, but his eyesight had gotten much better as well. Even from over thirty meters away, he could see a shadow under the water surface, seemingly swimming in from the other side of the carriage. ¡°Nobody move!¡± Lin Baici growled lowly, startling the man with headphones. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± 18D was on high alert. ¡°Something¡¯s in the water!¡± Lin Baici explained. ¡°What?¡± 18D¡¯s entire back tensed, and he wanted to climb onto a seat. ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± Lin Baici looked back and glared fiercely at 18D. He was only five meters behind him; if he attracted the monster, Lin Baici was likely to be affected as well. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m here!¡± Xia Hongyao offered reassurance, but she still approved of Lin Baici¡¯s caution. Taboo things are unpredictable and terrifying, and one can never be too careful. 18D and the man with headphones didn¡¯t dare breathe heavily, their whole bodies stiff. More than twenty seconds passed. No monsters attacked. ¡°Did you see it wrong?¡± 18D was skeptical. ¡°The water¡¯s rising quickly!¡± The man with headphones was anxious enough to cry. ¡°We have to get out of here quickly!¡± Lin Baici glanced at the man with headphones, hesitated for a moment, and said nothing. The education he had received and his moral standards did not allow him to deceive the man with headphones into becoming expendable. But if the man with headphones was seeking his own death, then it had nothing to do with him. ¡°It¡¯s pretty quick¡ªlet¡¯s move it!¡± 18D was also urging. ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Baici nodded and slowly took a step forward, then quickly stopped again. He was trying his best not to create any ripples. The man with headphones lacked such meticulous caution. He stepped off the luggage rack onto the floor, and while anxiously moving forward, he called out to Lin Baici and the others, ¡°Hurry up, let¡¯s get the door open!¡± ¡°Come on!¡± Xia Hongyao wanted to go and noticed Lin Baici wasn¡¯t moving; just as she reached out to push him, a shadow suddenly leaped out of the water near the man with headphones and clung to his face. Chapter 36 - 36 36 Lin Holmes Bai Ci_1 ?36: Chapter 36 Lin Holmes Bai Ci_1 36: Chapter 36 Lin Holmes Bai Ci_1 ¡°Monster?¡± 18D screamed in panic, his voice cracking as he hurriedly took cover behind Xia Hongyao. ¡°Stay still, don¡¯t move!¡± Lin Baici growled a warning. He had been watching the headphones-wearing man all along, and with his exceptional dynamic vision, he saw clearly the moment a dark shadow pounced towards the man at a lightning-fast speed. It was a grey octopus, adorned with ring-shaped patterns and some raised fleshy bumps that looked disgusting. Its head was oval-shaped like a large coconut, with tentacles outstretched, measuring over a meter long. Slap! The octopus flew out of the water like a cannonball, landing on the face of the headphones-wearer. Its four tentacles swiftly wrapped around the man¡¯s head, leaving no space uncovered. Two tentacles coiled tightly around his neck. ¡°Help...¡± The headphones-wearer struggled fiercely, frantically trying to pull off the octopus clinging to his face, but the creature¡¯s suckers were too strong, making it impossible for him to remove. The worst part was that the octopus¡¯s body covered the man¡¯s nose and mouth, silencing his cries for help and making it impossible for him to breathe. The remaining tentacles of the octopus reached into the water, hooked onto a seat, and started to exert force. Splash! The headphones-wearer was dragged into the sea. Blub blub blub! A trail of bubbles surfaced. Xia Hongyao, overwhelmed with a sense of justice, clenched her dagger and was about to rush over to save him. ¡°Don¡¯t move, he¡¯s beyond saving!¡± Lin Baici stopped Xia Hongyao. The moment the man was pulled under, Lin Baici heard a cracking sound; the man¡¯s cervical spine must have been broken by the octopus creature. ¡°He... he¡¯s dead... dead?¡± 18D¡¯s entire body was covered in goosebumps, standing on end. In the water, the headphones-wearer¡¯s limbs stopped struggling, floating like a dead fish before slowly sinking. He was clearly dead. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, I¡¯ll take it down!¡± Xia Hongyao, rash as ever, felt no fear despite a person having just died before her eyes. Instead, her fighting spirit was even more ignited. ¡°Stop right there!¡± Lin Baici growled lowly, ¡°Do you know how this monster locates its prey? All its attack methods? How many there are? Do you even have a strategy to deal with it?¡± This high-ponytailed girl had courage, but bravery should not lead to one¡¯s death. ¡°Uh...¡± Xia Hongyao was at a loss for words. Lin Baici had her stumped. Seeing a monster and jumping right in, without considering these things? ¡°Stay put if you don¡¯t know what to do!¡± Lin Baici spoke at a risk. If he had misjudged, and the octopus monster located its prey not just by the ripples in the water surface but also by sound, then he would be its next target. After killing the headphones-wearer, the octopus creature slid under a seat, hiding away. ¡°Where did that monster go?¡± 18D shivered in fear, wanting to leave the car but too afraid to move. ¡°All this you¡¯re asking me, you knew already?¡± Xia Hongyao questioned Lin Baici, staring at the water surface. ¡°Yeah!¡± Lin Baici spoke, his right hand tightly clutching a torch, swiping forcefully along the top of the car. Boom! The torch ignited, casting a warm, orange glow. This was the advantage of being tall with long arms. Lin Baici, at over 1.8 meters tall, could light the Songmu torch without moving his body; anyone shorter wouldn¡¯t be able to create any friction against anything. On the water surface, there was the reflection of the torchlight. Xia Hongyao didn¡¯t notice, but 18D¡¯s eyes were immediately drawn to the light of the torch, unable to look away, feeling an urge to leap towards it and embrace it. ¡°You¡¯re fooling me, aren¡¯t you?¡± Xia Hongyao was incredulous. The monster had appeared for how long? A dozen seconds or so? How could you possibly gather so much intel in that time? Do you think you¡¯re Holmes? ¡°The first shadow I saw was this octopus creature!¡± ¡°Out of caution, I told you not to move, and we weren¡¯t attacked. After a while, when the man with headphones went into the water, the octopus immediately launched its assault and killed him. Now, we¡¯re not moving, and the octopus hasn¡¯t attacked us, which proves it detects its prey by the movement in the water, the ripples it causes!¡± Lin Baici explained. ¡°I see.¡± Xia Hongyao had a sudden realization, finding Lin Baici¡¯s explanation quite reasonable. Turned out this kid had strong deductive skills! Even better than mine by a bit! ¡°What do we do now? We can¡¯t just stand here waiting for that octopus monster to leave, can we?¡± 18D was anxious, knowing that since they hadn¡¯t been attacked, Lin Baici¡¯s analysis was correct, but they couldn¡¯t just stand still forever! The sea level was continuously rising. Among the passengers on the seats, some were quite short, and at this point, the water had already reached their mouths and noses, particularly the children, who were completely submerged. But due to the effects of the anesthetic, they were all in a deep slumber. Suddenly, Lin Baici reached out, pulled down a rolling suitcase from the luggage rack, and threw it into the sea. Splash! A large splash sent ripples expanding in circles, which hit the side of the car and surged back. The nearby passengers also swayed slightly with the waves. ¡°Damn it, what are you doing?¡± 18D was almost scared to death. Lin Baici ignored him, fixing his gaze on the water surface. The monster, hiding somewhere unknown, had not surfaced. It seemed to discern between humans and luggage that fell into the water. ¡°Trouble!¡± Xia Hongyao realized that Lin Baici was trying to lure the monster out, but evidently, the creature was clever. ¡°It must sense and distinguish its targets through the differences in body temperature, right?¡± Lin Baici guessed, pulling down a small backpack from the luggage rack and tossing it toward a middle-aged male passenger two meters ahead, near the aisle with a somewhat balding head. Bang! The unconscious balding passenger was hit, his body tilting and falling into the water! Splash! Water splashed chaotically! ¡°What are you doing?¡± Xia Hongyao was shocked. Before she could finish speaking, a dark shadow swiftly approached from beneath the water and, with a whoosh, burst forth, entangling itself around the head of the middle-aged man who hadn¡¯t fully sunk yet. Lin Baici moved, stepping forward with all his might toward the balding passenger while reaching out. The burning Songmu torch, like a spear, thrust at the octopus monster. The octopus creature sensed danger and shot out a tentacle toward the Songmu torch, but upon contact, it ignited like an octopus doused in gasoline on a sheet of iron, erupting in flames. Lin Baici immediately swung the Songmu torch with all his strength, preventing the monster from getting close to avoid a desperate, mutual destruction. However, he apparently overestimated the creature¡¯s bravery. After catching fire, the octopus monster¡¯s first reaction was to flee, distancing itself from the torch. It let go of the balding passenger and rapidly swam deeper into the water, hiding while trying to extinguish the flame with seawater. But it was futile. Anything ignited by the Songmu torch would not be extinguished by water. In just a few seconds, the octopus monster burned to ashes, scattered by the sea. Lin Baici grabbed the balding passenger and pulled him out of the water, tossing him back onto the seat. After such a shock to his system, the bald passenger awoke, staring blankly at the water filling the carriage. ¡°That dream felt so real!¡± The bald passenger wiped his face and upon seeing the short female passenger beside him soaked in the water, her face pale, nearly scared him to death! After dealing with the octopus monster, Lin Baici breathed a sigh of relief and proceeded to open his backpack, taking out the Bodhi Messenger¡¯s Kasaya and draping it over himself. ¡°...¡± 18D was utterly confused, Why think of Cosplay now? Generally, everyone chooses superheroes, or at worst, an Ultraman, right? Whom are you cosplaying in that kasaya? Tang Sanzang? ¡°Taboo things?¡± Xia Hongyao didn¡¯t expect this guy to have such an item, but she wondered what its effect was. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Baici extinguished the torch, called out to Xia Hongyao, and hurried on. He hadn¡¯t worn the kasaya before because it was too conspicuous¡ªany fool could tell Lin Baici was a God Hunter and needed to be extra cautious. But the appearance of the octopus monster prompted Lin Baici to arm himself completely. ¡°Damn, badass!¡± 18D, watching Lin Baici march forward, thought he was incredibly cool. That¡¯s a real man. Xia Hongyao had originally thought Lin Baici¡¯s using a human as bait was too ruthless, but then she reflected that the balding passenger hadn¡¯t died and was even awakened, which gave him a better chance of survival than the others. Plus, if Lin Baici dared to do so, he must have been confident that no one would die! And to say he used the man as bait because he feared the monsters was untenable, especially since there would undoubtedly be more creatures ahead, yet Lin Baici moved forward alone. If it were any other cold-hearted God Hunter, they would¡¯ve already woken up a few passengers by now to use as cannon fodder to clear the way. The balding passenger, seeing the beautiful Xia Hongyao walk by, couldn¡¯t resist reaching out his hand. Xia Hongyao narrowed her eyes and swung the dagger in her hand, striking it hard against his mouth. Thud! Ah! The balding passenger screamed in pain, collapsing onto his seat as blood and teeth spilled from his mouth into the seawater, diffusing around him. ¡°Trash!¡± Xia Hongyao glared at the balding passenger. ¡°Idiot!¡± 18D mocked, ¡°This isn¡¯t a dream!¡± The balding passenger was stunned, his mouth agape, splashing the seawater with his hand. Damn! It¡¯s actually seawater? Watching the three leave, the balding passenger glanced at the carriage with many shorter passengers now fully immersed in the water. Shivering, he called out ¡°Wait for me¡± and hurried after them. In carriage 04, Lin Baici and his group encountered no octopus monsters and passed through safely. ¡°It¡¯s over, how do we get off the train?¡± 18D was desperate. Standing at the junction of the carriages, he peered through the blurry train windows and saw that the high-speed train was still in motion. Jumping out now, even if the doors were open, would mean certain death. ¡°First, let¡¯s get the high-speed train to stop!¡± Lin Baici had just stepped into carriage 03 when he felt a surge of hunger. A taboo thing was here! Lin Baici¡¯s spirits lifted, but scanning the carriage, he detected nothing unusual! All the passengers were unconscious. The culprit behind this was cunning and cautious, feigning unconsciousness among the passengers, making it impossible to single him out. ¡°Then let¡¯s move quickly!¡± The balding passenger urged. ¡°If we can¡¯t find the enemy, we need to stop the train first, otherwise it¡¯s all over if we hit something!¡± Xia Hongyao suddenly realized that Lin Baici didn¡¯t head for the rear but went straight to the front, possibly already considering this. With a hand stroke of her high ponytail, she gazed at Lin Baici¡¯s retreating figure, contemplating the idea of recruiting him into the Nine States God Shield. Chapter 37 - 37 37 Octopus Balls Coral Sea_1 ?37: Chapter 37 Octopus Balls, Coral Sea_1 37: Chapter 37 Octopus Balls, Coral Sea_1 [High-end hunters often disguise themselves as their prey!] The Eater God commented, but did not provide more intelligence. Lin Baici turned and looked at Xia Hongyao. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The girl with the high ponytail did not understand and instinctively turned her head to glance back. ¡°It¡¯s nothing!¡± Lin Baici slightly pursed his lips. This girl, with her Force Speed Double A and intelligence of D, hadn¡¯t noticed the anomaly in this train carriage, and this made him somewhat dissatisfied with the God Hunters of the Jiuzhou God Shield. Are you all just freeloading? Forget it, it¡¯s better that you haven¡¯t spotted the enemy. At least now I don¡¯t have to worry about you accidentally alerting them. ¡°Keep moving; what are you waiting for?¡± The bald-headed passenger urged; the seawater was relentlessly rising, already reaching chest height, terrifying indeed. ¡°Hurry up!¡± Xia Hongyao also urged because many passengers were seated, and the seawater had already submerged their heads. If we wait another minute or two, they will surely drown. Lin Baici did not move; since the enemy was here, then there must be an octopus monster, right? If it were him, he would surely leave one or two monsters for protection. Because in Lin Baici¡¯s view, both the seawater and the monsters were conjured by that enemy, so the opponent must have a way to control the octopus beasts. ¡°To kill the octopus monster in one blow, one must use the pine torch!¡± Lin Baici extinguished the torch to lower the enemy¡¯s alertness; after all, if someone on the high-speed train held a burning torch, anyone with half a brain would sense something wrong. But now, Lin Baici had no choice. So he raised his arm and struck the torch against the ceiling of the carriage! Whoosh! The torch, like an oversized matchstick, was lit. During this process, Lin Baici kept his eyes on the entire carriage, wanting to see if any of the passengers would react unusually to him lighting the torch. Because it was clearly one of the Taboo things. If there was a reaction, it would mean the other party was a God Hunter. But the enemy was very patient and did not move, continuing to feign unconsciousness. ¡°Such a strong hunger cue means that guy is definitely in this carriage!¡± Lin Baici repeated his old trick. He pulled a backpack from the luggage rack and threw it at a tall male passenger three meters in front of him, near the aisle. Thump! The backpack hit the water, and the tall man slipped into it. A dark shadow darted out from under a nearby seat and quickly swam towards the fire, its tentacles extending and coiling around the tall man¡¯s head. Splash! Water splashed in all directions. Indeed, it was an octopus monster. Lin Baici exerted all his strength and charged forward abruptly, holding the pine torch in his right hand and thrusting it speedily! Splash! The torch, like a spear, pierced through the water, and though slowed by the resistance of the seawater, still grazed the octopus monster. Boom! The octopus creature burst into flames that could not be extinguished, even underwater. The bald-headed passenger, who had been annoyed with Lin Baici for not moving and wanting to hurry him, turned pale with fright at this scene. ¡°There¡¯s a monster!¡± The bald-headed passenger trembled like a sieve. ¡°Help... help me!¡± The tall passenger thrashed about in the water, struggling. If it weren¡¯t for Lin Baici¡¯s throw, he would have drowned while unconscious, suffocating to death. Seeing Lin Baici motionless, Xia Hongmian wanted to pass him to rescue the tall man, but was stopped by Lin Baici¡¯s outstretched hand. ¡°There might be more octopus monsters!¡± Lin Baici warned. The splashing caused by the tall passenger spared him from having to throw more people in as bait. ¡°...¡± Xia Hongyao¡¯s pretty cheeks blushed with embarrassment. This is bad! How did I not consider there might be more monsters? This guy isn¡¯t someone who would ignore people in danger; if he was motionless, he must have had a reason! Now I¡¯m in trouble! He won¡¯t think I¡¯m an idiot, will he? Xia Hongyao decided that once the Taboo things were sealed, she would tell this guy that she often watched Holmes and had excellent deductive abilities. ¡°Looks like there aren¡¯t any more monsters; let¡¯s hurry to the front and stop the train,¡± Lin Baici said loudly. In reality, this statement was made for the enemy to hear, to lower their guard. ¡°Big brother, what¡¯s your name?¡± 18D asked respectfully. He had thought encountering this 18F leader on the journey was the worst luck, but now, he felt nothing but relief and gratitude. Looking at the people submerged by the seawater, they were all dead. A dreadful sight. ¡°My surname is Lin; my name is Baici!¡± As Lin Baici passed seat 21, his saliva secreted, and the hunger cue was so intense that he instinctively looked at the two passengers on his right. 21B was a woman in her twenties with neat short hair and a tall stature, probably about 1.9 meters high. She was wearing an Anta tracksuit, had scars on her fingers wrapped in tape, and seemed like an athlete from a provincial team. Either basketball or volleyball. By the window, 21A was a small-statured young man in a blue T-shirt with a long face and a Qi Fentou hairstyle. His entire body was submerged in the water, motionless as if already dead. ¡°...¡± Lin Baici furrowed his brows, his gaze shifting between the woman and the young man. The feeling of hunger indicated that the enemy was one of these two people. Then the dead should be ruled out! But Lin Baici always felt something was off. This woman looked fresh and clean, with nothing on her but the smartphone on her thigh, while the young man soaked in water next to her carried a waist pack. ¡°If I were a terrorist, I would never let my taboo things leave my side!¡± All signs pointed to this ¡®dead youth¡¯ being the actual enemy. ¡°Eater God, say something!¡± Lin Baici screamed inwardly, but there was no response from the Eater God. ¡°Everyone watch out for the monster!¡± Lin Baici shifted his gaze, only glancing at the young man from the corner of his eye, He knew he didn¡¯t have time to hesitate anymore. Standing here for too long would surely arouse the enemy¡¯s suspicion. ¡°The chance for a surprise assault comes only once, choose wrong, and you¡¯ll face great risk of death!¡± Thinking this, Lin Baici¡¯s right arm suddenly exerted force, gripping the pine torch and smashing it hard on the young man¡¯s head. You¡¯re the one! A dead person, by common sense, poses no threat, but given the existence of unnatural things like rule pollution, what¡¯s widely known as ¡®common sense¡¯ may not be common at all! Whack! The torch broke through the water and struck the young man¡¯s head. Boom! The young man¡¯s hair caught fire, and the searing pain made him scream miserably. His face contorted, his body slipped, like a fish... No! More like an ugly octopus, sliding into the sea. To douse fire with water is human instinct, but this time, the young man miscalculated. Lin Baici, having landed his blow, quickly retreated! A person ignited by a pine torch would burn to ashes, so Lin Baici did not need to risk continuing the attack. He just had to wait to collect the body and loot. ¡°What the hell?¡± 18D¡¯s mind was in disarray. When Lin Baici stood still next to seat number 21, 18D thought the kid had taken a liking to the tall girl, but to his surprise, the next second Lin Baici suddenly struck the young man. Did he look like your romantic rival? Or did you just plainly dislike him? Why else would you attack a corpse? But what frightened 18D more was that the ¡®corpse¡¯ that got hit actually came to life? You must be kidding? 18D had seen with his own eyes the guy soaking in the water without breathing; otherwise, there should have been bubbles floating up. Xia Hongyao¡¯s intelligence wasn¡¯t high, but she wasn¡¯t stupid. Seeing a ¡®corpse¡¯ screaming and diving into the water, she immediately understood what was happening! The enemy! Xia Hongyao gripped her dagger tightly. ¡°This pine torch I lit, before burning to ashes, will not extinguish, so...¡± Lin Baici put on a smug look, scoffing ¡°You¡¯re as good as dead!¡± Lin Baici was not a prideful person. He said this to anger the enemy, to make them lose their composure and also to lead them to believe the torch was his strongest weapon, thus overlooking the Bodhi Messenger¡¯s Cassock he wore! ¡°F*ck your mother!¡± A curse filled the carriage. At the entrance of the opposite carriage, the young man emerged from the water. His skin was red, tender, completely bald on top, looking like a marinated egg! ¡°Huh?¡± Lin Baici was puzzled. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect that, did you? I can shed my skin!¡± In the Lost Coast, the youth known as Octopus Ball revealed a cruel smile, ¡°Want to kill me? Today I¡¯ll swallow you all alive!¡± ¡°Shedding skin? Is it Divine Grace?¡± Lin Baici pondered with a thoughtful look. So there was this trick too! Octopus Ball didn¡¯t answer, but Little Eyes stared at Lin Baici, sharp-eyed yet with a hint of doubt, ¡°How did you discover me?¡± ¡°Instinct!¡± Lin Baici grinned slightly. ¡°You¡¯re bullsh*tting!¡± Octopus Ball didn¡¯t believe it. He wanted to know where he had slipped up, so his disguises would be more perfect in the future. ¡°Really!¡± Lin Baici said with sincere-looking face. ¡°Bullsh*t!¡± Octopus Ball cursed, ¡°For the sake of deceiving my opponents, I even submerged my mouth and nose in water to play dead, and I specifically chose a tall girl as a cover!¡± Why did Octopus Ball sit next to that athlete? Because she was naturally a woman, and women naturally attract men¡¯s attention, especially since she was so tall. When the sea water flooded the passengers in the carriage, only her head could remain visible. That¡¯s a huge red flag! Questioning her as the enemy isn¡¯t wrong, right? Octopus Ball thought his tactics were perfect, yet somehow, this overly young kid still spotted him and acted without hesitation. To the supremely confident Octopus Ball, this was nothing but a massive blow. My brilliant tactic, Useless? Had it not been for the ¡°shedding skin¡± Divine Grace, he would have been done for! ¡°Right, how did you recognize him?¡± Xia Hongyao looked at Lin Baici, her eyes shining. As a mystery fan, the girl with the high ponytail was deeply interested in Lin Baici¡¯s process of ¡®finding the bad guy.¡¯ ¡°Tired, don¡¯t want to talk!¡± Lin Baici was buying time, thinking of strategies. With the torch now useless, how to kill this guy? Lin Baici didn¡¯t have much time left. Because the sea water was still surging, once it filled the entire carriage, the enemy with the ability to breathe underwater could easily drag anyone to death. ¡°You¡¯re trying to buy time, waiting for rescue? Don¡¯t dream, my big brother Black Shark Triton has already turned your comrades into his drinks¡¯ snacks, swallowed them whole.¡± Octopus Ball sneered. Chapter 38 - 38 38 Winner_1 ?38: Chapter 38 Winner_1 38: Chapter 38 Winner_1 The seawater surged, rising to chest level, and most passengers were already completely submerged. In a few more minutes, they would all suffocate to death. The octopus villain eyed the torch in Lin Baici¡¯s hand, burning brightly, and recalled his words, ¡°It won¡¯t extinguish until it burns to ash,¡± causing his skin to tense. So his gaze became even more vigilant. As for the kasaya on this kid? Must be some kind of defensive Taboo thing, right? Damn! Are the Dragon Guards from the Jiuzhou God Shield this badass now? In the Jiuzhou God Shield Security Bureau, the special combat forces responsible for dealing with divine disasters are known as Dragon Guards, hence outsiders call these soldiers Dragon Guard warriors. Simply, Dragon Guards! The most formidable among them are revered as Nine Provinces Dragon Wing, each capable of breaking through God¡¯s ruins¡ªtop-level powerhouses. ¡°Companion? Are there other Jiuzhou God Shield people on this train?¡± Xia Hongyao blurted out. ¡°Ah? You¡¯re not with that Dragon Guards squad?¡± The octopus villain was taken aback, then cursed his bad luck interiorly. What kind of rotten luck was this? His and Black Shark Triton¡¯s tactic was for him to hide at a distance, holding the ¡®Coral Sea,¡¯ and initiate rule pollution to turn this high-speed train into a seawater train. Black Shark Triton¡¯s Divine Grace was extremely well-suited for underwater combat. As long as the octopus villain remained undetected and unharmed, the seawater wouldn¡¯t recede, ensuring their victory. But who could have expected that he¡¯d be discovered by a big boy not included in their plans? ¡°You guys hide, I¡¯ll kill him!¡± Xia Hongyao, being a Jiuzhou Dragon Guard, had a strong sense of responsibility and pride; even though Lin Baici was a God Hunter, she didn¡¯t plan on asking for his help but was preparing for a one-on-one fight. ¡°Hide?¡± The octopus villain let out a mocking laugh: ¡°Today, you all die!¡± As his words fell, his whole body ducked and plunged into the water. Xia Hongyao swam forward but suddenly, the clear seawater was flooded with bursts of black ink, turning the originally clear water pitch black, blinding everyone. This was another Divine Grace of the octopus villain, allowing him to squirt ink and cloak his presence, a very powerful ability whether used for fleeing or ambushing. Lin Baici immediately activated Guo Er Cheng Song, listening carefully to the movements beneath the water. This Divine Grace was mainly for enhancing memory, but it also slightly increased auditory sharpness. The tall passenger flailed in the water, trying to escape the carriage. But he hadn¡¯t swum far before it seemed something entangled his legs, dragging him down with a sudden jolt. ¡°Help...¡± Blurp blurp! A stream of bubbles rose to the surface. ¡°Don¡¯t panic!¡± Xia Hongyao wanted to help, but before she could get there, the tall passenger¡¯s body floated up, his head twisted unnaturally, clearly having suffered a broken neck. ¡°Big brother, kill him quickly!¡± 18D originally wanted to run, but seeing this scene, he didn¡¯t dare to move and could only plead helplessly with Lin Baici. In his heart, this peer was more formidable than Xia Hongyao. The bald passenger who had been woken up by a luggage smack from Lin Baici had been following at the back of the group. Seeing this situation, he quietly moved back. Suddenly, Slash! The water broke, and the octopus villain¡¯s head emerged, grinning viciously at the bald passenger: ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± The bald passenger was petrified with terror, just about to beg for mercy when a large hand clamped onto his neck and then squeezed with force. Crack! The bald passenger¡¯s neck snapped like a fragile stick of chocolate in the grasp of the octopus villain. ¡°I told you, you¡¯re all going to die!¡± The octopus villain dove back into the water. As the ink spread quickly through the water, turning it dark, Lin Baici and Xia Hongyao were unable to pinpoint the octopus villain¡¯s exact position. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, he¡¯s killing to frighten us, to apply psychological pressure and make us fall into disarray!¡± Lin Baici said, moving towards Xia Hongyao. The two closed in on each other, to help out in case of trouble. But the octopus villain was faster. Smack! A thick tentacle suddenly shot up from below and wrapped around Lin Baici¡¯s right hand, yanking fiercely towards the water! Slash! The torch entered the water, and the flame weakened immediately but did not go out. ¡°Catch the torch!¡± Lin Baici yelled, stretching out his left hand and grabbing the torch from his right, throwing it towards Xia Hongyao. ¡°Dream on!¡± The octopus villain shot through the waters like a torpedo, appearing in front of Xia Hongyao, and reached out with a tentacle, capturing the torch first. ¡°Haha, I¡¯ve got it!¡± The octopus villain rejoiced. He had killed the two passengers not just for intimidation and to create panic, making Lin Baici and his enemies fear and lose their composure, but also to conceal his real method of attack. He possessed another Divine Grace that allowed him to grow four three-meter-long tentacles under his ribs. That was his trump card. But now, he¡¯d try out the newly acquired Taboo thing. The octopus villain swiftly turned and thrust the torch at Xia Hongyao, attempting to set her alight. But to his surprise, he discovered that the pretty girl with the high ponytail wasn¡¯t there; instead, a towering figure like a Buddha filled his view. No! It should be called a Muscle Buddha. It was bulging with muscles all over, formidable as if it could move mountains and fill seas. Too tall to stand upright in the carriage, it had to bend over. The octopus villain sensed an immense scent of death and instinctively wanted to dive and flee, but he was too slow. The Muscle Buddha swung its fist! Ora ora ora ora! With fighting spirit amassed, furious fists pounded like the road of life and death shaking the mountains and rivers from within and beyond! The ferocious punches of the Muscle Buddha hammered the face of the young man known as the octopus villain, producing thumping sounds akin to a battle drum. The parts hit by the heavy fists instantly deformed, swelled, and then burst. Flesh splattered chaotically! The heavy impact of the iron fist, transmitted through the water, created ripples that spread rapidly in all directions. Lin Baici and two others couldn¡¯t stand firm, pushed up and down by the surging waves. Passengers who were soaked in the water looked like floating corpses, also swaying with the currents. ¡°What the hell?¡± Xia Hongyao, clutching onto a chair to steady herself, stared blankly at Muscle Buddha, who wore nothing but tight shorts, brutally beating the octopus. Wasn¡¯t this scene too violent? ¡°Trying to trick me? Dream on!¡± Lin Baici said with a confident smile. He had anticipated that the octopus would try to snatch the Songmu torch. Because this Taboo thing posed a great threat to him, so when his right hand was restrained by the octopus¡¯ tentacles, Lin Baici appearerd panicked and tossed the torch towards Xia Hongyao. But in reality, it was all within his calculations. The octopus was fast in the water. If Lin Baici had recklessly summoned Muscle Buddha, he might have missed, but with the Songmu torch as bait, there was no problem. The octopus thought it had snatched the torch, unaware that Muscle Buddha had silently and timely appeared right behind it. 18D was completely shocked, then ecstatic! Damn, Big Brother, you actually have such an ace up your sleeve? Why didn¡¯t you use it earlier? I was scared to death! After beating the octopus for a full eighteen seconds, Muscle Buddha stopped his fists, brought his hands together in prayer, bowed to the octopus, and chanted. Amitabha! The octopus was no longer breathing, its body mangled and bones shattered, looking like a pile of mush floating on the water. A heavy stench of blood wafted through the air. Lin Baici rubbed his nose and swam towards the octopus, meanwhile canceling the summoning. Otherwise, he was afraid Muscle Buddha might give him a punch too. ¡°This Fitness Buddha, was it summoned by that Kasaya you¡¯re wearing?¡± Xia Hongyao curiously asked, ¡°I thought it was a defensive artifact!¡± Lin Baici grabbed the octopus¡¯ body, tore off its waist bag, opened it, and saw a brown leather wallet, an Apple smartphone, and a palm-sized red coral covered in tiny hairs that were slowly wriggling. [Taboo Thing, Coral Sea. Once activated, it can fill a semi-closed area with water. Cannot be used in open spaces.] The Eater God commented. ¡°There¡¯s no Divine Grace on this?¡± Lin Baici licked the corner of his mouth. [No!] The Eater God¡¯s reply left Lin Baici disappointed, and he casually tossed the Coral Sea to Xia Hongyao. ¡°Ah?¡± Xia Hongyao was shocked. She had been pondering how to persuade Lin Baici to give her the Taboo thing, since it was his spoils of battle, not expecting him to have already given it to her. Generous to a fault. She wanted the artifact mainly because she was worried that Lin Baici wouldn¡¯t know how to use it, unable to immediately seal it. ¡°Do you know how to use it?¡± Lin Baici just didn¡¯t want to fuss over it. He hadn¡¯t forgotten that the octopus had companions. If he kept the Coral Sea, wouldn¡¯t that mean he was the one who killed the man? Better to have Xia Hongyao attract the heat as cannon fodder. ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ve heard of this Taboo thing!¡± Xia Hongyao might have an intelligence of D, but she was an employee of the Jiuzhou God Shield, having gotten in on strength, and frequented the archives, so she knew quite a bit about various Taboo things. She grasped the Coral Sea, injected Divine Power, and took control of it. The water in the train, losing the mystic power of the Coral Sea, started to flow out from various gaps. Crack! Crack! Several windows couldn¡¯t withstand the pressure of the water and after holding on for several seconds, burst open. Roar! Roar! Water gushed away, drastically lowering the water level in the carriage. ¡°All clear!¡± Xia Hongyao, seeing many passengers¡¯ mouths and noses now above water, breathing deeply, felt relieved. ¡°Little Linzi, you¡¯ve saved many people!¡± Xia Hongyao looked at Lin Baici with admiration and amazement in her eyes. A wild God Hunter, so formidable! And he¡¯s still so young! She really wanted him! ¡°Little Linzi, join the Jiuzhou God Shield, become a member of my team?¡± Xia Hongyao invited. ¡°Little Linzi? What the hell is that? Are we that close?¡± Lin Baici rolled his eyes but the proposal to join the Jiuzhou God Shield did make his heart skip a bit. After all, living on the government¡¯s dime, one doesn¡¯t worry about food and clothing! Mother Lin¡¯s biggest wish in life was for Lin Baici to become a government official. ¡°Surviving a life-and-death situation together, isn¡¯t that close enough?¡± Xia Hongyao was puzzled. ¡°...¡± Lin Baici was at a loss for words. Xia Hongyao might not have exerted much effort just now, but she didn¡¯t flee, and several times she allowed Lin Baici to escape first, she wanted to face the enemy head-on. Such courage and resolution in a girl were admirable. Lin Baici didn¡¯t know, his decision not to run and to confront the octopus head-on also greatly elevated Xia Hongyao¡¯s impression of him, otherwise winning her friendship would not have been easy. Being logical also played a big part in Lin Baici¡¯s reasoning abilities. Xia Hongyao liked making friends with intelligent people. It was even better if they were fans of Holmes. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s first stop the train, then take care of the remaining enemies!¡± Xia Hongyao ran towards the front of the train. The guy that Lin Baici killed had mentioned Black Shark Triton¡ªa notorious member of the mysterious organization called Lost Coast. Dead or alive, capturing one warranted a bounty of a million yuan from the Jiuzhou God Shield Security Bureau. Chapter 39 - 39 39 I really admire him!_1 ?39: Chapter 39 I really admire him!_1 39: Chapter 39 I really admire him!_1 Carriage 28, corpses strewn all over! The passengers¡¯ blood had completely dyed the seawater red, which, smeared by the waves onto the carriage walls, turned this place into a slaughterhouse. Splash! The water surface broke, as a fat man stood up. He was short and had a shaved head. Underneath each of his ears, on both sides of his neck, there were six horizontal slits that resembled shark gills. Lin Baici had seen this large-nosed young man in the waiting hall, now being gripped by the neck in his mouth. The young man¡¯s limbs were limp, his head drooping down; he must have been dead already. The fat man fixed his gaze on Ma Yuan standing opposite him, grabbed the young man¡¯s hair, and yanked forcefully, as if he were gnawing a bone stick with meat on it... Rip! The large-nosed young man¡¯s head was torn off, a large chunk of flesh left in the fat man¡¯s mouth. Blood from the wound in his neck gushed out, splashing into the surrounding seawater. ¡°Jiuzhou Dragon Guard...¡± The fat man glanced at the corpse in his hand and sneered with contempt, casually tossing it aside, ¡°Is this all?¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking for it!¡± Enraged, Ma Yuan¡¯s face turned beet red as he rapidly lunged at the fat man, but the seawater in the carriage greatly slowed him down. ¡°Haha!¡± Laughing heartily, the fat man swam like a fish into the water and vanished from sight. Ma Yuan was somewhat desperate. He realized he had been careless. His squad was responsible for tracking down the fat man, thinking they had gone unnoticed, but the enemy had been aware all along and used this train to lay a trap. There was very little information about the fat man in Jiuzhou God Shield¡¯s records; all they knew was his nickname in the Lost Coast, known as Black Shark Triton. Now, Ma Yuan understood why he was given that nickname! The guy could breathe underwater and move incredibly fast, his combat power multiplying several times in the water. If it were on land, not to mention a five-on-one fight from their squad, Ma Yuan himself had the confidence to have an even fight with Black Shark Triton. However, in the water, his four dead teammates had said it all. Ma Yuan had tried to breach the carriage to let the water out, but to no avail; this seawater was the rule contamination caused by taboo things. Without locating the taboo things, there was no way to make the seawater disappear. ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to take him out with me.¡± Ma Yuan was prepared for the worst, but Black Shark Triton didn¡¯t press the attack. He reemerged, his expression grave as he looked towards the front of the train. Why was the seawater receding? Was something wrong with Little Maruko? Black Shark Triton looked over his shoulder at Ma Yuan, torn with indecision. Should he take advantage of the remaining seawater to kill this Jiuzhou Dragon Guard first, or should he go support Little Maruko? Ma Yuan was no pushover; killing him would take a few minutes, minutes in which Little Maruko might die. But if he didn¡¯t do it now, once the seawater was gone, his own combat power would be greatly reduced. Quickly, Black Shark Triton made a decision. He dived into the water and swam as fast as he could toward the train¡¯s head. In the Lost Coast, he had always teamed up with Little Maruko because both of their Divine Graces related to water, creating an effect where 1+1>2. That was a tactic they often used. Little Maruko would stay hidden, using Coral Sea to fill a semi-enclosed environment with water while Black Shark Triton drew the enemy¡¯s attention and led the offense. The seawater battlefield doubled Black Shark Triton¡¯s combat power. Most enemies, realizing Black Shark Triton could breathe underwater, subconsciously assumed that he was the one who caused the seawater, and that killing him quickly would dispel the rule contamination. Once an enemy thought that, they were as good as dead. If Black Shark Triton could win, he would fight; if not, he would wear them down with guerrilla warfare until the enemy was nearly exhausted. Then Little Maruko, who had been conserving strength, would join the battlefield as fresh reinforcement. However, most of the time, Little Maruko didn¡¯t need to take action. Because when seawater filled the semi-enclosed battledome, anyone who couldn¡¯t breathe in the water, even God Hunters, were sitting ducks. With this tactic, Black Shark Triton had killed many powerful adversaries and had gained a formidable reputation among the dark hunters, even receiving an invitation to join from the leader of the Lost Coast. But no one knew of Little Maruko¡¯s exploits. This was also a decision made after the two discussed. That way, everyone would think that Black Shark Triton always acted alone, and upon seeing the encroaching seawater, they would conclude that killing him was their key to survival. But today, there was an accident! ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Little Maruko? Before boarding the high-speed train, I had clearly confirmed that there was only Ma Yuan¡¯s five-person Dragon Guard squad!¡± Black Shark Triton¡¯s face was grave. By the time he reached Carriage 03, the water level had already dropped to the level of his calves. He didn¡¯t call out for Little Maruko but quickly scanned the carriage before looking towards Little Maruko¡¯s seat. Little Maruko was slumped over the desk, head bowed, looking like a pile of rotten flesh. Swish! Swish! Swish! Black Shark Triton, treading the water, hurried over. ¡°Little Maruko!¡± he cried out, his face showing extreme anxiety and concern, seemingly preoccupied with the safety of his companion. But in reality, his nerves were stretched to the limit, and he was vigilantly on guard against his surroundings. If something had happened to Little Maruko, the enemy could be lurking nearby, ready to ambush him! Every passenger in this carriage was a suspect. Despite being heavyset, Black Shark Triton was agile. He dashed to the row 21 seats, saw the woman in her twenties, over 1.9 meters tall, wearing an ANTA tracksuit, and without thinking, swung the dagger in his hand towards her neck. By virtue of its position, this spot next to Little Maruko was the most suitable for an ambush. Better to kill wrongly than to miss an assailant. Just as the female athlete¡¯s head was about to be severed, a Muscle Buddha appeared behind Black Shark Triton. Whoosh! A heavy fist swung! Sensing the strong wind coming from behind, Black Shark Triton pushed off with his feet, springing up like a flea, and with a roll, he dodged over the seats. Boom! Black Shark Triton landed in the aisle, also spotting the person who had ambushed them. It was a Buddha statue wearing only a pair of shorts, its muscles knotted like snakes, veins and blue cords bulging so much so that even bodybuilders who have consumed protein powder since childhood could never achieve such a form. ¡°Taboo things?¡± Black Shark Triton¡¯s gaze sharpened, his face filled with deep wariness. From that punch from Muscle Buddha just now, he sensed a tremendous threat; getting hit by it would mean either death or serious injury. A God Hunter capable of possessing such a terrifying taboo thing was very likely a formidable opponent. Damn it! He hadn¡¯t expected there to be another God Hunter on this train. Black Shark Triton thought it was Octopus Ball¡¯s bad luck, definitely having provoked the other party by triggering the Coral Sea, leading to a deadly fight. ¡°Sir, this is a misunderstanding, and I am willing to compensate you!¡± Black Shark Triton spoke with respectful demeanor. In reality, this was an act; his goal was to lure out the opponent, because even if he managed to take down this Buddha statue, there was no use in doing so if he couldn¡¯t kill its owner. ¡°Compensation?¡± A refreshing voice, like the sunshine of spring, rang out. Black Shark Triton immediately turned his attention to it. A young man, no, a high school-aged boy, stood up from seat 5B. He was wearing a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, looking as ordinary as a freshman about to register at a university. No! He wasn¡¯t ordinary. Because this big guy was not only tall, but also handsome, with a charm capable of making rich old ladies wave their money around, eager to adopt him as their little pet wolf. ¡°Money is no object,¡± said Black Shark Triton, continuing to probe. ¡°But I just killed your comrade, is that it?¡± Lin Baici¡¯s lips curved with a smile, his body exuding the sunny disposition of a gentle guy-next-door, but his words were somewhat frightening. [A tyrant of the waters, if you were in the water I would advise you to run away fast. With such people, you either don¡¯t provoke them at all or blow them out of the water the moment you do, you can¡¯t let them become a lingering threat!] Snap! Lin Baici snapped his fingers. Muscle Buddha immediately charged forward, closing in on Black Shark Triton. ¡°We can discuss anything!¡± Not wanting to face off with brute force, Black Shark Triton retreated swiftly, but he had underestimated the speed of Muscle Buddha. Taking just three steps, Muscle Buddha was right in front of Black Shark Triton, swinging his fists! Ora ora ora! The wind from the fists was so sharp it was like being slashed across the face. ¡°So strong!¡± Black Shark Triton¡¯s nerves were taut, eyes wide as he watched Muscle Buddha and the big guy in the distance, fearing any additional surprise moves. But the next instant, from his left rear side, a black dagger, swift as lightning, tore through the air. It was too close, and too fast! Under normal circumstances, Black Shark Triton might have just managed to dodge this dagger, but he was currently being restrained by Muscle Buddha, with most of his attention diverted, leaving him vulnerable. Shhk! The dagger plunged into Black Shark Triton¡¯s left rib. ¡°We did it!¡± Xia Hongyao was overjoyed, her right hand exerting force with the knife, intending to cleave open Black Shark Triton¡¯s ribs and slice through his heart. ¡°Don¡¯t be greedy for achievements!¡± Lin Baici shouted. Black Shark Triton turned around, his machete aiming for Xia Hongyao¡¯s head. Xia Hongyao had to dodge; otherwise, even if she succeeded in stabbing Black Shark Triton to death, she would also be left with life-threatening injuries. Boom! Muscle Buddha struck Black Shark Triton. Black Shark Triton used the momentum to roll away like a kicked ball. After tumbling a few times, he stood up again. ¡°Little Bai, we¡¯ve succeeded!¡± Xia Hongyao¡¯s face shone with joy. Right after stopping the train, Xia Hongyao urged Lin Baici to hurry and find Octopus Ball¡¯s companion, but he stopped her. Lin Baici said that first of all, rushing over so hastily would waste energy, and there was a high chance of falling into a trap, allowing the enemy to wait at their leisure. It was better to stay behind and set an ambush. Lin Baici reasoned that judging from the name Black Shark Triton, his Divine Grace had to be related to seawater. Even if he didn¡¯t care about Octopus Ball¡¯s life, he would undoubtedly care about the ¡®Coral Sea¡¯ taboo object, so there was a high likelihood he would come to retrieve it. As it turned out, Lin Baici¡¯s guess was right on the mark. Then they both returned to this train car. Xia Hongyao wanted to sit near Octopus Ball, thinking this spot was ideal for an ambush, but was once again stopped by Lin Baici. His reasoning was that a member of a terrifying organization like Black Shark Triton would be ruthless. Whether out of caution or anger at a comrade¡¯s death, there was a high chance he would first kill anyone near Octopus Ball. The result proved once more that Lin Baici was correct. Had he not intervened in time, the tall female athlete sitting next to Octopus Ball would have been killed. Tsk! I really do admire his intellect. I absolutely have to recruit him into Jiuzhou God Shield, to be a member of my team! Xia Hongyao considered that with Lin Baici¡¯s addition, she was at least one-tenth of the way towards her goal of establishing the strongest hunter team in the Nine States. Chapter 40 - 40 40 Pollution Intensity 50_1 ?40: Chapter 40 Pollution Intensity 5.0_1 40: Chapter 40 Pollution Intensity 5.0_1 In the train compartment, the scene was in complete disarray, with unconscious passengers sprawled haphazardly across the floor. Lin Baici heard a series of hurried footsteps and immediately turned around. Ma Yuan was there, his suit wrinkled and disheveled in a state far removed from the polished elite image Lin Baici had seen in the waiting hall, now looking much more pitiable. ¡°Xia Hongyao?¡± As soon as Ma Yuan saw Xia Hongyao, he blurted out, ¡°You know me?¡± Xia Hongyao tossed her ponytail. ¡°You should be asking, who in the Security Bureau doesn¡¯t know you sisters!¡± Ma Yuan couldn¡¯t help but glance at Xia Hongyao¡¯s chest. He had never met her in person, but he had seen her photos and now, comparing them with the real person, he found her to be much bigger than the pictures had suggested. Is that beyond a D cup? Immediately after, Ma Yuan shifted his gaze to Black Shark Triton. The hefty man was clutching the wound on his ribcage, from which blood was seeping through his fingers, soaking his clothes. Compared to his earlier arrogant demeanor, this core member from Lost Coast was now looking much more subdued. ¡°Very good, I never expected that today, I, Black Shark Triton, would fall into the hands of two youngsters!¡± Black Shark Triton bit down on his back teeth, glaring at Lin Baici with deep resentment, frustration killing him. He had been very cautious upon entering, but still, he walked right into an ambush. The opposition was even more meticulously prepared than he had anticipated. ¡°Actually, I only did some trivial things. The main strategy was all Little Linzi¡¯s design!¡± Xia Hongyao was honest and didn¡¯t want to take undue credit. ¡°No need for you to say that, it¡¯s obvious to me!¡± Black Shark Triton glowered at Lin Baici, his eyes filled with venom. He had thought that the Muscle Buddha in shorts was the main attack, but in reality, it was a feint, meant to divert his attention. The real trump card was this girl with the ponytail. Why could he make such a judgment? Because this ponytail girl¡¯s expressions were too obvious, and with such a large chest, she didn¡¯t seem like someone who would use her brain. Of course, the most important reason was Lin Baici¡¯s demeanor when he got up and had those few words of dialogue¡ªhe was too composed, too much like a senior commander. This was also why Black Shark Triton had subconsciously paid attention to him and been extra wary. ¡°Red Medicine, this man is...?¡± Ma Yuan had been sizing up Lin Baici all this time. Upon hearing Xia Hongyao¡¯s remark, he took the opportunity to ask. When did the Bureau recruit such an impressive new member? But wasn¡¯t the assessment for this year yet to begin? ¡°My friend!¡± Xia Hongyao did not reveal Lin Baici¡¯s identity, worried that Ma Yuan might try to poach him. ¡°The partner I killed, was it you?¡± Black Shark Triton¡¯s tone was icy, his eyes full of malice. ¡°I killed him!¡± Xia Hongyao quickly chimed in. Worried that Black Shark Triton might escape and seek revenge on Lin Baici, she took the blame herself. ¡°Just you?¡± Black Shark Triton sneered, disbelieving. ¡°What, looking down on me?¡± Xia Hongyao was not pleased. ¡°The stab you gave me was quick, accurate, and cruel, but...¡± Black Shark Triton shook his head: ¡°Such knife skills are still not enough to kill Takoyaki!¡± Xia Hongyao did not argue back. She recalled the process by which Lin Baici killed Takoyaki¡ªit was a sequence of carefully calculated moves, twinkling with the light of wisdom. ¡°What, you dare to kill but not to own up to it?¡± Black Shark Triton taunted. ¡°Heh, listen well. The murderer is from Haijing Polytechnic, Lin Baici!¡± Lin Baici straightened the kasaya on his body. ¡°Revenge?¡± ¡°Am I someone who is frightened easily!¡± ¡°Come at me if you can!¡± Xia Hongyao and Ma Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up upon hearing Lin Baici¡¯s words. ¡°Dominant!¡± Ma Yuan gave a thumbs up: ¡°Do you want to join my squad? I can be your sponsor, vouch for you!¡± A God Hunter looking to join the Jiuzhou God Shield Security Bureau needed to go through several rounds of selection, but it would be much easier with a guarantee from a team captain. ¡°Hey...¡± Xia Hongyao furrowed her brows. Do I not exist to you? This is the team member I¡¯ve set my sights on! Lin Baici glanced at Ma Yuan, thinking to himself that this loser couldn¡¯t even manage to wear out the enemy! The reason he asked Xia Hongyao to lie in wait in this train compartment, instead of providing support, was one he hadn¡¯t shared with her. It was to let the Dragon Squadron fight Black Shark Triton; if they won, both he and Xia Hongyao could avoid a fight. If they lost, he could take advantage of the situation and confront a seriously wounded Black Shark Triton. However, when this core member of the Lost Coast arrived, he was only slightly injured, with not much loss to his combat capabilities. ¡°Haha, that¡¯s insane!¡± Black Shark Triton sneered with a sadistic smile: ¡°Do you think you¡¯ve got me cornered?¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t he dead yet?¡± Lin Baici frowned. His bantering with Black Shark Triton wasn¡¯t out of idleness, but rather, he was waiting for him to bleed out. ¡°Haha, the stab that girl gave me was very vicious. A normal person would have bled out and gone into shock by now, but I am a God Hunter!¡± Black Shark Triton was proud: ¡°Even if I don¡¯t take action myself, I have three ways to kill you all!¡± [Hurry up and kill it!] Eater God suddenly spoke up. Without needing Lin Baici to urge them on, both Ma Yuan and Xia Hongyao sensed the danger and bravely lunged at Black Shark Triton, but it was already too late. No sooner had the fat man stopped speaking than he produced a palm-sized conch and blew into it forcefully. Wuu wuu wuu! A transparent bubble emerged from the conch and enveloped him. At the same time, Lin Baici and the others were suddenly engulfed by a whirlwind of yellow dust, so dense that it blotted out the sky and obscured their vision, as if they had been swallowed by a sandstorm. ¡°Rule contamination?¡± Lin Baici immediately summoned the Muscle Buddha and even tried to light a torch, but the swirling yellow sand stung his eyes, preventing him from seeing anything. Fortunately, the sudden sandstorm didn¡¯t last long, disappearing after six or seven seconds, but the environment around had changed. ¡°Where is this place?¡± 18D was completely baffled. Wasn¡¯t I in the high-speed train carriage just now? This was an endless red clay pond, with 18D¡¯s feet sinking into it up to his calves, the wet and slippery mud feeling terribly uncomfortable. ¡°Damn, it¡¯s rule pollution!¡± Ma Yuan cursed bitterly. The thing he feared most had still happened. ¡°Little Linzi!¡± Xia Hongyao took steps deep and shallow through the mud pond to reach Lin Baici¡¯s side. ¡°What Taboo thing caused this, do you know?¡± Lin Baici inquired. Besides the four of them, the passengers on train G1955 had all been affected and subjected to rule pollution. Some lay in the red clay pond, still unconscious, while others had begun to wake up, looking around confused and lost. Xia Hongyao turned to Ma Yuan. Ma Yuan pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Xia Hongyao. Taboo identification: A-025 (Temporary). Pollution Intensity: 5.0. Taboo characteristics: A clay human sculpture. Once rule pollution begins, it will form a mire of a red clay pond, and a Clay Human monster will appear, forcing those polluted to mold clay humans. Sealing method: Black Coffin Seal. Disaster assessment: High rank. Special precautions: Do not attempt to flee, as you would be killed and lose the qualification to craft clay figures. ¡°5.0?¡± Xia Hongyao took in the number and gasped in shock. ¡°Is it serious?¡± Lin Baici frowned. ¡°Quite serious!¡± Ma Yuan managed a wry smile. After decades of continued exploration and summarization, various countries had begun to understand the disasters from God¡¯s ruins to some extent and had established a uniform disaster assessment standard. A pollution intensity of 5.0 indicated that the disaster caused by this Taboo thing was equivalent to a minor God¡¯s ruin. For ordinary people, the survival rate was pitifully low. ¡°What is this place?¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Why are my clothes all wet? Where¡¯s the high-speed train? What about my luggage?¡± The awakening passengers were in a state of panic, asking each other questions, their eyes filled with wariness! ¡°Apprentices, come over here, the apprenticeship examination is about to begin!¡± A dry, parched voice came from the nine o¡¯clock direction, echoing over the red clay pond. People turned their heads, looking in that direction. ¡°Apprentice? Who?¡± 18D looked at Lin Baici: ¡°Us?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, there¡¯s no choice!¡± After Xia Hongyao finished speaking to Lin Baici, she clapped her hands vigorously to attract the passengers¡¯ attention: ¡°Everyone, come this way. We¡¯ve been affected by a Taboo thing¡¯s rule pollution. Only by listening to it do we have a chance to survive!¡± The passengers were dumbfounded. Many of them knew the words ¡®God¡¯s ruins¡¯ and ¡®Taboo thing¡¯ from the internet and other sources, had heard they were terrifying, but no one had seen what they were like. Now, suddenly hearing that they were polluted, they were horribly afraid. ¡°Are we going to die?¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°What exactly is rule pollution?¡± The passengers all looked at Xia Hongyao, waiting for an answer. ¡°Just go over there, and soon you¡¯ll know!¡± Xia Hongyao would have liked to explain, but there was no time, because the rule pollution would kill everyone before she could finish schooling them. Lin Baici walked towards the direction of the dry voice. 18D hurriedly followed, pleading in a low voice. ¡°Brother, if I have offended you just now, I ask for your forgiveness!¡± 18D followed Lin Baici all the way, witnessing his brilliant performance, knowing that staying close to him meant a greater chance of survival, so he took the initiative to curry favor. This red clay pond was like a wetland swamp, too difficult to traverse. 18D hadn¡¯t walked far when the shoe on his left foot got stuck in the pond, unable to pull it out. Many people were having the same problem. A series of three-character swears ricocheted all around. Lin Baici walked over two hundred meters and saw a round red earth platform built up, about half the size of a soccer field. On the platform, there were kilns about a meter high, half a meter in diameter, rounded like Mongolian yurts, all built from red earth. Next to each kiln was a pile of charcoal and a wooden box about the size of a trolley case. Lin Baici knew that object was called a bellows, a tool used in the countryside for cooking meals in the past. A two-meter-tall clay human stood atop the platform, scrutinizing these apprentices. ¡°Can¡¯t we just kill it and be done with it?¡± 18D noticed that the clay human was lifelike. At first glance, it seemed like a real person covered in mud, and even the eyes were animated and intimidating. But upon closer inspection, it could be seen that the whites of the eyes were the color of the soil, and as its eyeballs moved, some clay dust would softly fall away. ¡°Generally speaking, no!¡± Ma Yuan¡¯s answer was cautious. [Warm-up before meals, let¡¯s start.] The Eater God joked: [I hope you have a good appetite when you eat later!] ¡°How do we get through this Taboo game?¡± Lin Baici queried in his heart. ¡°Killing this clay creature is useless, just follow its instruction and mold a clay human to pass the test.¡± The Eater God briefed. ¡°The apprenticeship examination begins now, follow my lead!¡± The clay creature announced loudly and then, with long strides, walked into the mud pond. Chapter 41 - 41 41 Mudman Challenge_1 ?41: Chapter 41 Mudman Challenge_1 41: Chapter 41 Mudman Challenge_1 Everyone¡¯s gaze was upon the mud monster. Some were cautious, keeping silent and hiding within the crowd, fearing to be noticed; others wanted to ask questions but were too afraid of the mud monster, waiting instead for someone else to take the lead. ¡°Pay attention, everyone,¡± Xia Hongyao warned loudly, ¡°I estimate that if we fail to meet its demands, we will die!¡± In fact, speaking out like this was very dangerous, as she could easily be deemed to have violated the rules of the trial and be sentenced to death. ¡°What the hell is that thing?¡± The one who asked Xia Hongyao was a man with a big belly, short hair, round eyes, and a sharp chin, who spoke as if there was phlegm stuck in his throat. ¡°It¡¯s a rule pollution!¡± Before Xia Hongyao could finish, she was interrupted by the mud monster. ¡°Silence!¡± The mud monster glared at Xia Hongyao and the big-bellied man: ¡°Otherwise, I¡¯ll strip you of your qualification for the trial!¡± Upon hearing this, everyone tensed up. Although they didn¡¯t know what it would mean to be stripped of the qualification, it surely wasn¡¯t anything good! ¡°Next, I¡¯ll teach you on the spot how to make a clay figure. Those who succeed will become a master.¡± The mud monster walked in the muddy red clay pond, squelching with every step it took. ¡°What if we fail?¡± Xia Hongyao asked, actually guessing that the answer would involve death. ¡°Failure means starting over again!¡± The mud monster snorted coldly. Xia Hongyao wanted to ask whether ¡°starting over again¡± meant to relearn and try making the mud figure once more, rather than a literal interpretation of being thrown into a kiln and burned to death. ¡°Why don¡¯t you talk less?¡± Ma Yuan couldn¡¯t handle it¡ªwas this woman as clueless as a bear? This was a rule pollution disaster with a pollution intensity of 5.0; couldn¡¯t she be more cautious? ¡°Black Shark Triton isn¡¯t here!¡± Lin Baici¡¯s gaze roamed through the crowd. There were about 820 people on the scene by visual estimate. Kim Myungjin had mentioned that rule pollution could not be exempted, so excluding those who died in the sea, the rest who were on train G1955 should be here. But Lin Baici didn¡¯t see Black Shark Triton. ¡°Didn¡¯t that guy take out a conch before the rule pollution and blow a bubble around himself?¡± Ma Yuan smiled wryly with a hint of envy: ¡°That conch is called a parrot conch, one of the few taboo things that can exempt someone from rule pollution!¡± It appeared that the core members of the Lost Coast team indeed had some trump cards up their sleeves. ¡°Is it expensive?¡± Lin Baici raised an eyebrow. ¡°Of course, parrot conchs are priceless in the black market.¡± Xia Hongyao knew the situation: ¡°Because God Hunters often enter God¡¯s Ruins to collect Meteorite and God¡¯s Bones, they are usually hit by rule pollution a few times. Although the parrot conch only grants immunity once, it can save a life if used at a critical moment.¡± ¡°Uh-huh!¡± Lin Baici glanced at Xia Hongyao and Ma Yuan. Black Shark Triton probably hadn¡¯t left but was waiting for everyone to die from rule pollution to loot their corpses and take their bags. If Lin Baici survived this divine taboo game, he would face Black Shark Triton. If he could kill him, how would he split the parrot conch? Could he keep it for himself? [You haven¡¯t finished what¡¯s in your bowl and you¡¯re already eyeing the pot?] [Good, having ambitions is the spirit of a truly hungry person!] [I admire you!] Eater God praised. Upon hearing Eater God speak this way, Lin Baici took two deep breaths and cast aside his distractions. First, he had to get through this trial! ¡°Listen up!¡± The mud monster stopped and began to explain loudly: ¡°First step, take the clay!¡± Anxiety, worry, and tension hung on the faces of the travelers as they all watched the mud monster more than thirty meters away, unsure of what to do. The mud monster squatted down, plunged his hands into the mud pond, and, like playing with mud, he started pushing aside the moist red clay on the surface. ¡°What should we do?¡± 18D looked to Lin Baici. ¡°Just do what it says!¡± Xia Hongyao squatted down and grabbed a handful of mud. To shape a mud figure, the first step was obviously to collect the clay. That was what most of the travelers thought, so they all squatted down. Lin Baici looked around and, activating Guo Er Cheng Song, asked Eater God in his mind: ¡°Will it be dangerous if I approach this mud monster?¡± [What if it is dangerous?] Eater God countered. Lin Baici hesitated for only two seconds before heading toward the mud monster. The red mud pond was too mucky, like a marshland, which made it very difficult for Lin Baici to lift his feet. His shoes felt as if they were about to come off. Seeing Lin Baici¡¯s actions, Xia Hongyao was startled: ¡°What are you doing?¡± Ma Yuan was about to squat when he heard her and glanced over. ¡°Better get a closer look; it¡¯s clearer!¡± Lin Baici explained. Thirty meters wasn¡¯t far, and with Lin Baici¡¯s eyesight, he could see quite clearly, but he was worried about missing some detail. ¡°Are you insane?¡± 18D cried out in shock, then quickly shut her mouth, quickly checking if the mud monster had noticed her. Only after confirming it hadn¡¯t did she feel relieved and began to advise in a softer voice: ¡°You tired of living? Worried the mud monster won¡¯t bother with you, right?¡± ¡°This distance isn¡¯t long; nothing will be missed!¡± Ma Yuan thought Lin Baici was a good person, worth befriending, so he tried to persuade him kindly. But Lin Baici said, ¡°I still want to get closer.¡± Lin Baici wouldn¡¯t be dissuaded. Squelch! Squelch! Lin Baici was reminded of his childhood when he played in the muddy ponds. Almost all of the travelers had squatted down. Those who hadn¡¯t didn¡¯t dare to move about, worried about drawing the mud monster¡¯s attention. Only Lin Baici was walking toward the monster. So, naturally, he stood out from the crowd. ¡°Little Lin!¡± Xia Hongyao didn¡¯t want Lin Baici to run into trouble and quickly got up to follow him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of the mud monster?¡± Lin Baici retorted. ¡°Being scared is useless!¡± Xia Hongyao¡¯s face showed an eager expression, ¡°Besides, I¡¯m confident that with my wisdom, I can clear this taboo game!¡± ¡°...¡± Lin Baici was taken aback and his gaze unintentionally fell on Xia Hongyao¡¯s chest. You say Bear Grills, I admit! Wisdom? Do you have that thing? Lin Baici hadn¡¯t forgotten that the Eater God¡¯s rating for this high ponytail girl was Force Speed Double A, intelligence D. ¡°Speaking of which, have you discovered something?¡± Xia Hongyao covered her mouth with her hand and asked in a low voice. Previously, Lin Baici had found the octopus balls by reasoning and killed him, making Xia Hongyao recognize his intellect and feel that his opinion should be of reference value. ¡°Do you think that mud monster squatted down randomly, or did it pick a specific spot?¡± Lin Baici wanted to hear others¡¯ opinions. ¡°Ah?¡± Xia Hongyao was startled, ¡°It has chosen a spot? Didn¡¯t it just squat down casually after saying ¡®take a clay slab¡¯?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, so I want to get closer and take a look!¡± Lin Baici explained. Xia Hongyao furrowed her eyebrows, pondering the difference between the two, and then she suddenly realized¡ªif the mud creature seemed to squat down at random but actually picked its location, it meant that it wasn¡¯t just any clump of red clay that would do. And now, many travelers were directly squatting down, ready to take the red clay in front of them. Lin Baici¡¯s concern might be overthinking, but this meticulous thinking was impressive. ¡°No wonder you are the team member I had my eyes on!¡± Xia Hongyao was very satisfied with her own judgment. Lin Baici stood one meter away from the mud monster, smiling, but in reality, his body was tense, ready to summon Muscle Buddha at any sign of movement from the creature. The mud monster¡¯s emotionless eyes stared at Lin Baici. The scene was terrifyingly quiet, suffocating. The travelers couldn¡¯t believe what they were seeing in Lin Baici. Has this guy gone mad? To actually approach that mud creature? One second! Two seconds! Three seconds ... After a full ten seconds, the mud monster lowered its head, ¡°First step, take the clay slab, push aside the wetter mud on the surface of the pond and take the red clay from below, which should be drier.¡± As the mud monster spoke, it demonstrated the action. Xia Hongyao squatted down and followed suit, while Lin Baici kept his gaze fixed on the mud monster, not blinking, not missing any detail. Among the travelers, there were over sixty meticulous and cautious ones. They thought of the reason Lin Baici neared the mud monster, and seeing that he had not been attacked, they also mustered up the courage to come over. There were also quite a few travelers who couldn¡¯t think of this point but were followers. Seeing so many people approaching the mud monster, they felt that they would be at a disadvantage if they didn¡¯t come over, so they hurriedly followed. Soon, more than two hundred people gathered around the mud monster. ¡°What are you doing? You¡¯ve blocked our view! Move aside!¡± The big-bellied man shouted. These people were relatively fearful and dared not get close to the mud monster. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you taken your clay slab yet?¡± Xia Hongyao had dug out a lump of red clay the size of a coconut. Crouching, Lin Baici pushed aside the slurry in front of him and dug about fifteen centimeters down before revealing the drier red clay. Lin Baici grabbed handfuls of red clay, squeezed it, looked at the handprints left on it, and then stopped. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xia Hongyao didn¡¯t understand why Lin Baici had stopped. ¡°I feel that the stickiness of this clay isn¡¯t quite right!¡± Lin Baici recalled the mud monster¡¯s action when it dug the red clay. It first dug out a few handfuls and then squeezed them; this action should be to test the stickiness and hardness of the clay, or perhaps its dryness, before continuing. ¡°The stickiness isn¡¯t enough?¡± Xia Hongyao¡¯s brows knitted tightly enough to trap a crab. She looked at the lump of red clay in her hand, ¡°How did you figure that out?¡± ¡°Handprints!¡± Lin Baici replied succinctly. ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense, aren¡¯t you? Can you tell the stickiness of red clay from a handprint?¡± Song Li questioned. She was barefoot, standing in the mud, with her beige studded high heels held in her left hand. The shoes were quite expensive, over seven hundred yuan, and she was reluctant to discard them. She thought Lin Baici was an honest man, and since he was quite strong, following him would give a sense of security, so she came over. ¡°The key is, can you remember how deep the prints left by that creature were in the red clay?¡± Ma Yuan was curious. ¡°I think the red clay here shouldn¡¯t differ much, right?¡± 18D thought Lin Baici was overthinking. Lin Baici couldn¡¯t be bothered to explain, so he squatted down in another spot to dig for red clay, but after two minutes, he stood up empty-handed again. He wasn¡¯t satisfied. ¡°You can¡¯t search aimlessly like a headless fly, think about what¡¯s special in the spot chosen by the mud monster?¡± Lin Baici looked around the mud monster¡¯s surroundings. There was a bit more standing water, and when you stepped in, your foot sank deeper than in other places. Lin Baici started looking for a spot based on this criterion. He found it! Lin Baici picked a waterlogged pit, squatted down, pushed aside the red clay in front, and matching the depth of the pit the mud monster had dug for its clay slab, he dug more than ten centimeters deep until he finally chose a suitable piece of red clay. Ma Yuan felt that Lin Baici was making a mountain out of a molehill, overly cautious. ¡°The red clay here is all good; do you want to take some?¡± Lin Baici asked Ma Yuan and 18D. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask me?¡± Xia Hongyao was puzzled. Chapter 42 - 42 42 Deadly Steps! ?42: Chapter 42: Deadly Steps! _1 42: Chapter 42: Deadly Steps! _1 ¡°You¡¯re lucky; the red clay you dug up should qualify!¡± Lin Baici looked around and said, ¡°I feel like most of the red clay around the clay creature¡¯s body is fine, similar to the piece it took!¡± Ma Yuan frowned and looked at the other passengers more than thirty meters away. The implication of the young man¡¯s words was that the clay these people got was not up to standard? ¡°What about mine?¡± Song Li was worried. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s good enough!¡± Lin Baici frankly said, ¡°But this is a matter of life and death. It¡¯s just a suggestion, so it¡¯s up to you to decide. Don¡¯t complain to me later if something goes wrong, saying I was selfish and didn¡¯t remind you.¡± Song Li fell silent. 18D remembered Lin Baici¡¯s previous performance on the train and made up his mind, ¡°Bro, I trust you!¡± Xia Hongyao saw that Ma Yuan didn¡¯t move and offered a piece of advice, ¡°I advise you to listen to him!¡± ¡°Alright then!¡± Ma Yuan actually felt there was no difference between the clays and that it didn¡¯t matter which one was used. When Song Li saw that both Ma Yuan and 18D followed Lin Baici¡¯s advice, she did the same. ¡°After picking the right clay, follow me!¡± The clay creature stood up, holding a lump of red clay the size of a coconut, and walked back to the clay platform. On the north side of the platform, there were many long stone slabs about an inch thick, more than two feet long, and over a foot wide; they looked like cutting boards. Besides them, there were also some small wooden boxes the size of a palm stacked up. ¡°See those stone slabs and wooden boxes? Take one of each!¡± The clay creature instructed. The passengers immediately ran over, eager and scrambling to pick first. Lin Baici scrutinized carefully and, after confirming there was no difference in the stone slabs, randomly chose one. It was quite heavy! At least ten or so pounds! After that, he picked up a wooden box and opened it to see an iron carving knife inside, as long as a forefinger. ¡°Follow what I do!¡± Once everyone had returned, the clay creature placed a stone slab on the ground, knelt beside it, picked up the clay, and began to slam it onto the slab. Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! ¡°Hold the clay high above the head with moderate force and slam it down one hundred and twenty times!¡± The clay creature explained the key points. ¡°How much is moderate force?¡± The programmer who once had significant dark circles around his eyes boldly asked. He hated such vague instructions. ¡°You¡¯ll have to feel it out yourself!¡± The reply from the clay creature nearly infuriated everyone. ¡°When Chinese chefs teach cooking, how much of each seasoning to use is always ¡®to taste.¡¯ I never expected sculpting a clay figure would be the same!¡± The potbellied man cursed. ¡°Hurry up, I won¡¯t wait for anyone. As soon as half of you finish this step, I will immediately start explaining the next one!¡± The clay creature warned. That statement instantly created intense tension among the crowd, and everyone began to slam their clay onto the slabs, afraid of falling behind. Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! The crisp, loud sounds of clay being slammed onto stone echoed intermittently. ¡°Don¡¯t slack off; strictly follow the instructions I gave you!¡± The clay creature reiterated. Its arms lifted, raising the clay above its head, then slamming it back down. Throughout the process, its expression was meticulous, and its movements were filled with a kind of beauty of strength. It looked like the very picture of a master sculptor. Each passenger¡¯s lump of red clay weighed over three pounds. At first, the slamming was easy, but after several dozen times, their arms began to grow weary, trembling, with the muscles aching from strain. Many passengers¡¯ movements slowed down, even distorting and becoming inefficient. ¡°I feel like an idiot!¡± The diabetic lady who had once asked Lin Baici in the waiting area about her own illness grumbled angrily. She was already in poor health and obese with hypertension and other issues. Now, doing such physical labor, she was exhausted just after more than thirty attempts. Her clay was no longer raised above her head; she only lifted it to neck height before letting it drop. Song Li, after sixty or so slams, was tired and uncomfortable kneeling on the ground of the clay platform with her legs bare. Finally, she couldn¡¯t bear it any longer and was about to cheat. But just as she raised the clay to her chest and was about to slam it down, the aloof young man spoke up, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, do exactly as that creature said!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Song Li was startled, ¡°Death?¡± ¡°No... surely not, right?¡± 18D interjected, stealing glances at the clay creature, ¡°As long as it doesn¡¯t see us, taking a little shortcut should be okay, right?¡± ¡°You only have one life; are you willing to gamble?¡± Lin Baici countered. Swallowing uneasily, Song Li decided to keep going. ¡°Bro, don¡¯t scare me!¡± 18D¡¯s face was sullen, as she had planned to slack off when the clay creature wasn¡¯t looking, but now she didn¡¯t dare. In less than ten minutes, some people had finished, even faster than the clay creature. Shortly after, the clay creature also finished, making a ball of clay and setting it on the stone slab before standing up to walk among the crowd. Many passengers, watching the clay creature¡¯s teacher-like proctoring, felt nervous. Since it had said it would start the next step once half of them finished, everyone quickened their pace. Some, already weary, began to cheat in their slamming motions subconsciously. Song Li finally finished, her arms aching and sore. She looked on with a hint of schadenfreude, watching those travelers who hadn¡¯t completed the 120 strikes on the red clay, waiting for the clay creature to punish them. But the clay creature did not move. It patiently waited for these people to finish the first step. ¡°Fucking hell, playing tricks on us, huh?¡± The pot-bellied man cursed. Those travelers who were anxiously rushing to finish were not pleased; knowing this would happen, they would have preferred to take their time! Song Li looked at Lin Baici, her eyes filled with a touch of blame. ¡°Little Linzi was right to be cautious!¡± Xia Hongyao spoke in Lin Baici¡¯s defense. ¡°Well-smashed clay is matured, suitable for the second step, the body sculpting!¡± The clay creature picked up an iron carving knife, ¡°Body sculpting refers to carving and modeling the clay figure¡¯s body, and this time, we¡¯re making humans!¡± ¡°Please make a clay figure that is the same gender as yourself.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t need to be exquisite, but individual characteristics must stand out!¡± As the clay creature explained, it moved the carving knife swiftly. The iron knife danced around the rounded lump of mature clay like a butterfly, slicing off chunks of clay. Clay dust scattered. Putting aside its identity as a clay creature, its carving posture was light yet precise, possessing a unique beauty that was pleasing to the eye. The travelers watched intently. In just three minutes, the lump of clay under the clay creature¡¯s knife transformed into a ten centimeter tall miniature figure, looking exactly like itself, just without facial features and hairstyle. ¡°You may begin now!¡± The clay creature set down the freshly completed work, seriously reminding them, ¡°Please try your best to sculpt, make the clay figure resemble you. That way, you¡¯ll have an easier time scoring high and passing during the final grading and commenting phase.¡± ¡°You have thirty minutes to make it, please hurry!¡± Upon hearing they had so little time, the crowd once again became panicked and anxious, promptly picking up their knives to begin carving. Luckily it was just sculpting clay, not performing surgery; even if they made a few mistakes, it could still be fixed. Lin Baici picked up the carving knife, pondering where to start: ¡°Eater God, don¡¯t you plan to give me any advice?¡± [The choice of clay lump is excellent, ten points. The process of maturing it into clay is perfect, ten points. For the carving? Just do as the clay creature instructed!] Lin Baici had performed well, leaving Eater God without a need to interject. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you to compliment me!¡± Lin Baici rolled her eyes, ¡°What should I be careful about in this step?¡± Eater God fell silent. Lin Baici¡¯s mouth quirked, she would do it herself! A regular person who had never touched clay sculpting before, picking up a carving knife for the first time and expecting to create a lifelike clay figure, was undoubtedly daydreaming. Fortunately, this step did not require lifelikeness. Lin Baici recalled the clay creature¡¯s explanation. ¡°Make a clay figure of the same gender as yourself, it doesn¡¯t have to be exquisite, but individual characteristics must stand out!¡± Lin Baici had an idea. The clay figure¡¯s clothing should match her own; then, through the muscles, she would express a robust body, especially the six-pack abs that must be conspicuous. This could be shown by the contours that stood out when the clothes were fitted to the abdomen. The clay creature didn¡¯t require lifelikeness, but she still intended to sculpt the figure to resemble herself as much as possible, with the same clothing, same physique, and even the shoe brand should match. Lin Baici held the iron carving knife in her right hand and began to carve the clay lump! No one spoke. To survive, all the travelers were fully focused on sculpting their clay figures. ... Black Shark Triton stood on the railway, looking at the swirling sand around him, gasping in lingering fear. If not for the bubble spat out by the conch, which granted him immunity from rule pollution, he would have faced another terrifying Taboo game. A pollution intensity of 5.0 could indeed cost lives. This time, Black Shark Triton and Octopus Ball were responsible for transporting the Taboo thing, officially called the Clay Idol, which they snatched from a wealthy individual according to the information from Nine Dragons Hall. After succeeding on the Lost Coast and worrying about being pursued by the Jiuzhou Dragon Guard, the team leader had the eight members of the team split up and travel in pairs in different directions. Black Shark Triton and his partner were strong, but the team leader was still worried, so he lent them the conch, directing them to activate the Clay Idol in a moment of crisis. Black Shark Triton and Octopus Ball both thought the team leader was making a fuss over nothing. Up until then, they had never failed a mission they were responsible for. Mainly because their combination, with the Divine Grace they possessed and the Coral Sea, was simply unbeatable. But they hadn¡¯t expected to meet with an accident this time! ¡°Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!¡± Black Shark Triton cursed, kicking the railway tracks forcefully. What was the background of that guy? How could he find Octopus Ball so quickly and kill him? It was unbelievable! After all, when water filled the train, ten minutes was the maximum time. Not even Holmes could have found Octopus Ball in such a short time. ¡°Damn, not being able to kill him with my own hands is such a regret!¡± Black Shark Triton spat out a thick loogie, looking at the faint outline of the train through the sandstorm. He was sure Lin Baici was done for! There was no way he could survive a Taboo game of pollution intensity 5.0. Black Shark Triton followed the leader¡¯s instructions, tying a remote-controlled bomb to the black coffin that sealed the Clay Idol. If he encountered an unbeatable enemy, he could blow up the coffin, destroy the seal, activate the Taboo thing, create rule pollution, and use the Taboo game to eliminate the enemy. ¡°But I can still desecrate the corpse!¡± Black Shark Triton lit a cigarette, waiting patiently. He wondered what Taboo things he might find when collecting the bodies this time. Looking forward to it! Chapter 43 - 43 43 Details Determine Success or Failure_1 ?43: Chapter 43: Details Determine Success or Failure_1 43: Chapter 43: Details Determine Success or Failure_1 In the red clay pond, on the round clay platform, travelers were sitting or squatting, engrossed in sculpting clay figures. Apart from the rustling sound of iron carving knives slicing through the clay, there were also the heavy breaths of some travelers, caused by fear, which made the stillness on the platform even more terrifying. Song Li lifted her arm, wiping the sweat from her forehead. Unknowingly, her underwear was soaked, sticking to her skin uncomfortably. She was panicking because the clay figure she carved looked as if a dog had chewed on it; not to mention meeting the requirements of the clay monster, she couldn¡¯t even bear to look at it herself. ¡°At this rate, I¡¯m definitely going to fail!¡± Song Li looked towards 18D and then glanced at Ma Yuan. Fortunately, Both of them, like her, lacked artistic talent and were all thumbs. When she looked at Xia Hongyao, She felt envious. The girl with the high ponytail had sculpted a clay figure that was eerily lifelike. It¡¯s a pity she couldn¡¯t ask her to do it on her behalf. Song Li then looked at Lin Baici. Huh? His sculpture wasn¡¯t very good either, the hands and feet were rough, but anyone with eyes could easily see that he was sculpting himself. Why? After observing for several minutes, Song Li understood. Lin Baici had focused mainly on the clothing of the clay figure. ¡°Right, clothes make the man, and the most important part of a personal impression is the attire and accessories, isn¡¯t it?¡± Song Li became excited, as if she had discovered the secret to getting full marks. The sneakers Lin Baici wore were from Anta, and he even carved out the logo. My pair of beige studded high heels, claiming to be either on a woman¡¯s feet or on a man¡¯s shoulder, are very distinctive. Song Li kneaded the clay figure in her hands into a clump, rolled it, and started over. The clay monster patrolled the site, walking on the platform. It would occasionally stand next to a traveler, look for a few moments, and while it wouldn¡¯t comment, it would shake or nod its head. The clay monster came to 18D, looked at the clay figure in his hands, and shook its head. 18D was serious and didn¡¯t dare to look around. The clay monster then looked at Song Li, nodded after a few seconds, and left. ¡°How did it go? Did it nod or shake its head?¡± Song Li asked in a low voice. ¡°Nodded!¡± Ma Yuan was gloomy. The clay monster hadn¡¯t paid attention to him, leaving him unsure whether his work was adequate? ¡°Haha!¡± Song Li¡¯s heart was suddenly at ease. Safe! Song Li stole a glance at Lin Baici, with a hint of regret, Wouldn¡¯t it be great if he were my boyfriend? ¡°What about me?¡± 18D was nervous, his hands trembling. ¡°Shook its head!¡± Ma Yuan snorted: ¡°You need to redo it!¡± ¡°What?¡± The expression on 18D¡¯s face turned mournful: ¡°I¡¯ve already put in a lot of effort!¡± ¡°You have to carve out your features!¡± Song Li, applying what she just learned, quietly shared the secret she observed with 18D. First, do someone a favor, sell a good feeling! Maybe she could even gain back more than what was given when the time comes. ¡°That¡¯s how it is!¡± 18D suddenly saw the light and quickly expressed his thanks: ¡°Thank you, Sister Song!¡± Alas! Sister Song is really nice, with fair skin, long legs, and an A-shaped waist. If she agreed to be my girlfriend, I¡¯d sell blood or steal batteries and still wouldn¡¯t let her suffer even a bit. Lin Baici listened to their conversation, frowning slightly. Were his clay figures up to standard? The Eater God hadn¡¯t given any comment; it should be safe! The patrol, resembling that of an exam supervisor, was making the travelers nervous and the atmosphere oppressive. Suddenly, a middle-aged woman as if she had seen a ghost screamed in terror. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? What¡¯s the matter? Why has my clay figure melted?¡± Everyone turned to look upon hearing the sound. The clay in the hands of the middle-aged woman was melting as if it was ice cream under the scorching noon sun, rapidly dissolving. Plat tat! Plat tat! Some red clay dropped to the ground, forming puddles. Everyone was startled and hurriedly examined their own clay figures. ¡°Mine seems to be melting too!¡± ¡°What the hell is going on? Is it too hot, or is the carving technique wrong?¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t your clay figure melting?¡± The travelers started clamoring, many of them finding their clay was melting too. This consistency made it impossible to mold a shape any longer. ¡°What... what¡¯s going on?¡± The big-bellied man¡¯s clay figure was also a melted mess, and he, furious and astonished, confronted the clay monster. The clay monster glanced at him, Without speaking a word! ¡°Damn it, are you mute?¡± The big-bellied man was frantic; the melting of the clay meant direct failure, no need for further assessment. The middle-aged woman was in a panic, looking around. Seeing that some people¡¯s clay figures hadn¡¯t melted was puzzling. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t your clay figure melted?¡± She kept asking several people but got no answer because no one knew why. The middle-aged woman saw Lin Baici, who had once helped her with a medical issue at the station, and she was impressed by him. When she realized his clay figure wasn¡¯t melting, she immediately rushed over. ¡°Young man, why hasn¡¯t your clay softened?¡± Lin Baici looked at the lady with diabetes, her face filled with urgency: ¡°Did you not do as the clay monster instructed?¡± ¡°I did!¡± The lady with diabetes emphasized, ¡°One hundred and twenty times, not one less!¡± ¡°No, I mean, did you lift it over your head with each press?¡± Lin Baici explained. ¡°This...¡± The diabetic auntie was dumbfounded. By the time she had smashed the clay over forty times, her arms grew sore, so she got lazy and didn¡¯t lift it over her head anymore: ¡°Do I... Do I have to lift it over my head for it to count as one?¡± ¡°That should be the case!¡± Lin Baici nodded. Others heard what Lin Baici said and thought this reasoning was very likely. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask the people who melted during the clay beating? Then you would know, right?¡± Xia Hongyao suggested. The diabetic auntie immediately shouted out, ¡°Did none of you lift the clay over your head when you were smashing it?¡± Everyone looked at each other. Soon, everyone figured out that this was indeed the reason. ¡°Damn it, if I had known, I wouldn¡¯t have slacked off!¡± ¡°Are we sure this is the reason?¡± ¡°No doubt about it!¡± The travelers whose clay had melted regretted not cutting corners, while those who hadn¡¯t been lazy heaved a sigh of relief, grateful for their diligence. Gurgle! Song Li swallowed hard, still shaken. She was lucky that the tall guy had stopped her earlier; otherwise, she would have slacked off too, and she¡¯d be the one suffering now. ¡°What do we do now?¡± The diabetic auntie looked eagerly at Lin Baici, waiting for him to come up with a plan. ¡°What else is there to do? Hurry up and get the red clay, and start all over again!¡± Ma Yuan lifted his wrist, glanced at his watch, ¡°Hurry up, there¡¯s only a quarter of an hour left!¡± ¡°Right! Right! Do it again!¡± The diabetic auntie rushed towards the red clay pit. The travelers whose clay had melted also came to their senses, one by one they ran to the pit, grabbed some red clay, and hurried back, smashing it onto the stone slab with the fastest speed. This time, no one dared to be lazy, they all lifted the clay above their heads. Smack! Smack! Smack! The noise was continuous. Time ticked by, neither hastily nor slowly, but the travelers¡¯ mental state became more and more tense and frantic, especially those who hadn¡¯t completed the ¡°body sculpting,¡± sweating profusely in their urgency. ¡°Done!¡± Xia Hongyao placed the clay figure on the stone slab, crossed her arms, and looked around. Beautiful! That¡¯s worthy of being my work. ¡°This should be okay, right?¡± 18D had finished too, but was unsure if it was up to standard, so he looked anxious. ¡°It should be fine!¡± Song Li replied nonchalantly, as hers was certainly no problem. ¡°Seven minutes left!¡± Ma Yuan stood up, scanned the area, and noticed that most travelers who had strictly followed the Eater God¡¯s requirements for smashing the clay had almost finished ¡®body sculpting.¡¯ Even those still carving were just doing some final touch-ups on their clay figures, as there was nothing else to do. ¡°We should be safe with this step!¡± Song Li slipped on her studded high heels that were placed beside her. She wanted to look gorgeous, So she could seduce Lin Baici and have him take care of her. ¡°Handsome, you....¡± Just as Song Li was about to strike up a conversation, she suddenly heard a horrific scream. ¡°Honey, why did your clay figure melt?¡± Whoosh! Everyone turned their heads to look. ¡°It¡¯s the pregnant woman!¡± 18D blurted out. She was in the same car as him, and her husband had quarreled with an auntie who was playing music loudly on her phone, all to make his wife more comfortable. In the end, he was utterly defeated, and it was only with Lin Baici¡¯s intervention that they dealt with the cantankerous TikTok auntie. Now, this pregnant woman, wearing a loose dress, her legs covered in mud, was sitting on the ground, one hand on her belly, the other looking at her husband¡¯s clay figure, her face filled with terror. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The pregnant woman cried, tears and sweat mixed together, along with some dirt, forming a blotchy face. Her husband, who wore glasses, was frantic. ¡°I... I don¡¯t know!¡± He tried to fix the clay figure, but the red clay kept melting like candle wax, unable to stick back together. The Eater God patrolling nearby happened to walk near him and watched him emotionlessly. ¡°Why did it melt?¡± The man with glasses couldn¡¯t understand, ¡°I lifted the clay over my head every time I smashed it!¡± The Eater God did not answer. ¡°You must be remembering it wrong!¡± Ma Yuan shouted at him. ¡°No way!¡± The man with glasses shook his head vehemently, he had always been honest, diligently completing any task assigned by parents, teachers, or bosses at work. ¡°Saying it doesn¡¯t help, your clay figure melted because you slacked off. Go get some red clay again!¡± A traveler interjected. ¡°I didn¡¯t slack off!¡± The man with glasses¡¯ face turned red. ¡°Honey, don¡¯t worry about that now, hurry up and get the red clay!¡± The pregnant woman urged, struggling to stand up to help her husband. ¡°Don¡¯t move around, you might miscarry!¡± The man with glasses was worried. ¡°We¡¯re about to die and you¡¯re worried about a miscarriage?¡± The man with a big belly muttered irritably, his arms aching terribly, but he had to endure it and hurry to make the clay figure. But when the carving knife once again touched the semi-finished clay, it started to melt, and the man with a big belly could clearly feel the clay softening. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± The man with a big belly broke into a cold sweat. Even without understanding anything, he knew that with the clay in this state, he couldn¡¯t sculpt anything. The man with a big belly panicked, suddenly looking up to see others¡¯ clay sculptures, and then he heard the diabetic auntie¡¯s terrified scream. ¡°Why has my clay figure melted again?¡± Chapter 44 - 44 44 Elimination equals death!_1 ?44: Chapter 44 Elimination equals death!_1 44: Chapter 44 Elimination equals death!_1 The platform erupted with a cacophony of noise. Not only the pot-bellied man and the diabetic aunt had their clay figures melt, but many other travelers¡¯ clay effigies had dissolved as well. ¡°When I was slapping together the clay, I didn¡¯t slack off even once; I lifted my hands above my head every time!¡± ¡°So did I!¡± ¡°Could it be that I¡¯m just unlucky?¡± The travelers clamored, looking anxiously towards the clay figure monster. Lin Baici glanced at the Rolex he had found at Dragon Temple. There were six minutes left until the end. The clay figure monster stopped in its tracks, its gaze as cold and indifferent as that of gods on high observing mere ants, showing not the slightest intention of clearing up the travelers¡¯ confusion. ¡°What¡¯s going on here, can you tell us?¡± The pot-bellied man bellowed. ¡°Please keep quiet and don¡¯t disturb others!¡± The clay figure monster cast a glance his way, speaking in a tone of admonishment. ¡°Fuck your peace!¡± The pot-bellied man felt murderous. Lin Baici believed the problem lay with the improperly dug clay. He looked at the pregnant woman and couldn¡¯t bear to see a child born without a father; he wanted to share his theory with the bespectacled man, but what if he was wrong? This was literally a matter of life and death. Until the very last second, Lin Baici couldn¡¯t guarantee there was no issue with the clay figure he had fashioned. [Be more confident; your analysis is correct. The issue is with the clay!] The Eater God spoke up. Upon hearing this, Lin Baici immediately shouted towards the bespectacled man, ¡°Uncle, the clay you dug up is substandard, which is why the clay figure you sculpted is melting!¡± Whoosh! All eyes turned in unison, first landing on Lin Baici and then falling upon the slab in front of him. There was a clay figure on it, bearing a striking resemblance to him. ¡°Young man, are you saying there¡¯s something wrong with the clay?¡± The diabetic aunt¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Baici nodded. ¡°Where is the problem?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t they all clay? Is there a difference?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t tell!¡± Not just the travelers with melting clay figures, but also most of those who had successfully molded theirs were baffled, as they too had simply dug up clay at random. ¡°Then where should we dig for clay?¡± The diabetic aunt looked at Lin Baici anxiously, waiting for an answer. Among these people, some were smart. Five of them took off running towards the spot where the clay figure monster had previously dug for clay. ¡°Damn, I should have done this sooner!¡± The pot-bellied man cursed regretfully. In fact, many travelers were too scared of the clay figure monster to approach it. The pot-bellied man, the diabetic aunt, and others like them immediately ran towards the spot where the clay figure monster had dug for clay before. ¡°Leave some for me!¡± The diabetic aunt called out desperately. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, it¡¯s all right!¡± The bespectacled man assured, then went to scramble for clay but was held back by his wife. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The bespectacled man didn¡¯t understand. ¡°With so many people there, can you really get any clay? And can you guarantee the clay you dig this time will be okay?¡± The pregnant woman, covering her belly with one hand, was anxious: ¡°Since the student knows it¡¯s a problem with the clay, he must know what proper clay should be like. Let¡¯s ask him!¡± After saying this, the pregnant woman walked towards Lin Baici. ¡°Stop moving, I¡¯ll go!¡± The bespectacled man rushed to Lin Baici, pleading with hands clasped, ¡°Buddy, can you help me out?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Baici scooped up the clay figure on the stone slab and ran towards the red clay pond. ¡°Is this kid too cautious?¡± Ma Yuan was speechless; couldn¡¯t you trust me a little? After all, as a Dragon Guard of the Security Bureau, he would certainly keep the clay figure safe. Despite his frustration, Lin Baici¡¯s small action still made Ma Yuan regard him even more highly. Details-oriented people are more likely to succeed. ¡°Dig here!¡± Lin Baici chose a puddle: ¡°It has to be at least fifteen centimeters deep!¡± The bespectacled man looked around and then turned back to look at where the clay figure monster had been digging. The place was swarming; there had to be over three hundred people all cramming in, and to fight for the best spots near the pit where the clay figure monster had dug up the red clay, they had even started shoving and scuffling. If it weren¡¯t for the crowd, he still would¡¯ve preferred to go there! Lin Baici understood the bespectacled man¡¯s hesitation, for it involved life or death. ¡°What are you fighting over? Is it that hard to dig up a qualified lump of clay?¡± The clay figure monster couldn¡¯t stand it any longer. The behavior of these people was painfully embarrassing. To fight over clay, they actually resorted to violence. Many who heard this looked as if to say, ¡°Just as I thought,¡± especially those travelers who had successfully dug the right clay, who were secretly pleased with themselves. ¡°What kind of clay is considered suitable?¡± The diabetic aunt pressed for an answer. The clay figure monster didn¡¯t respond, instead staring at Lin Baici and warning, ¡°This is a Master qualification exam, every step must be done by the apprentice themselves. If you help others again, I will punish you and strip you of your qualification for the exam.¡± Lin Baici shrugged his shoulders. He was always cautious and wouldn¡¯t have spoken out if he hadn¡¯t felt sorry for the pregnant woman potentially losing her husband. The bespectacled man was honest but not stupid; upon hearing what the clay figure monster said, he got the hint immediately. The student was right. Without hesitation, the bespectacled man squatted down and thrust his hands into the pond, starting to dig up the clay. So, it should be at least fifteen centimeters deep, right? ¡°Bai Ci, come back quickly!¡± Song Li shouted. She had gotten Lin Baici¡¯s name from Xia Hongyao. Thank God I met him; otherwise, I¡¯d be as desperate to dig up clay as if my ass was on fire. Thinking of how she had just decided to trust Lin Baici, following him to dig for the red clay, Song Li felt ecstatic. I really do have good luck. That¡¯s why she was now so concerned for Lin Baici¡¯s safety. As long as this big boy was alive, she had a strong leg to cling to, increasing her chances of survival. ¡°...¡± Ma Yuan was frightened retrospectively. Was there really something wrong with that clay? He almost acted recklessly. ¡°How about it? This kid is impressive, right?¡± Xia Hongyao boasted. This is a potential team member I have my eye on! Yes! Once we deal with this Taboo thing, I must quickly call my sister and ask for a guaranteed spot without testing. 18D, listening to Xia Hongyao¡¯s praise of Lin Baici, felt envious. Why can I only think of panic and helplessness, unable to act like Lin Baici? Is the gap between people really that huge? However, when 18D saw the tourists still digging in the red clay pond, she felt relieved. Those were the reactions of ordinary people! ¡°Young man, do you think this clay is up to scratch?¡± The lady with diabetes hurried over to inquire after digging up some clay. Time was running short; she didn¡¯t have a chance to do it again, so she had to make sure she succeeded on her first try. About twenty tourists had dug up red clay and were running back to the platform to shape it. Seeing the diabetic lady hustling over to Lin Baici and muttering questions prompted three quick-thinking individuals to also grab their clay and approach. Clearly, they planned to have Lin Baici confirm whether their clay was adequate. Lin Baici didn¡¯t speak. ¡°It¡¯s okay, that clay creature is patrolling elsewhere and isn¡¯t looking this way. Just tell me quickly!¡± The diabetic lady urged, ¡°Please!¡± ¡°Can you stop hurting people?¡± The man with glasses scolded the older woman. He was worried that Lin Baici was young and inexperienced, too eager to help, and might impulsively reveal the answer to the woman. That could lead to trouble. ¡°Shut your damn mouth!¡± The diabetic lady glared at the man with glasses. When she turned back to Lin Baici, she put on a pitiful, pleading expression, like a professional beggar on the street. ¡°Handsome, help me check mine too!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to speak; just nod or shake your head, any signal will do!¡± ¡°My piece should be fine, right?¡± A few tourists asked softly, smiling. [Don¡¯t talk too much, or you really will die!] Eater God warned. Lin Baici didn¡¯t say a word and silently walked towards the platform. Seeing that they couldn¡¯t get an answer, a few tourists cursed and hurried back to their stones, beginning to shape their clay. Slap! Slap! Slap! This time the sounds were closely packed together; the tourists were working at their fastest pace. The diabetic lady wanted to hurry as well, but she was already tired from going through the process twice, her arms aching to the point where she couldn¡¯t speed up even if she wanted to. Especially now, after shaping the clay a dozen times, her arms trembled uncontrollably like she had Parkinson¡¯s disease, unable to lift the clay overhead anymore. ¡°Oh God, you¡¯re taking my life!¡± The diabetic lady cried out in despair. No one cared about her; everyone was busy fighting for the last moments, perfecting their clay sculptures to score as high as they could. The atmosphere was oppressive and tense, like a noose tightening slowly around everyone¡¯s neck. The clay creature surveying the area suddenly stopped and, after looking around, announced loudly. ¡°Time¡¯s up, the molding of figures has ended!¡± Slap! Slap! Slap! About fifty tourists were still shaping their clay, most of whom were elderly. Lin Baici glanced at the man with glasses. He didn¡¯t put down his carving knife and continued sculpting his figure since he was more skilled this time. The clay creature looked at these people with disdain. ¡°You can¡¯t even shape the clay properly into a figure, what a waste of space, eliminated!¡± Although they didn¡¯t know what would happen after elimination, it surely wasn¡¯t good, so these people argued. ¡°It¡¯s your fault for not explaining clearly, leading us to do it a second time!¡± ¡°Give me another chance, please?¡± ¡°My previous figure was beautifully done!¡± Some complained, some pleaded, but no matter what they said, the clay creature didn¡¯t care, raising its hands and clapping three times forcefully. Slap! Slap! Slap! Around the edge of the red clay pond, lumps of earth rose from the ground, writhing and forming two-meter-tall figures within ten seconds. They lacked facial features, but strode forth with long legs, stepped onto the platform accurately, and swiftly approached the eliminated. The diabetic lady panicked, turning to run, but one of the clay figures, standing more than five meters away from her, raised its right hand and extended it swiftly, capturing her ankle like a python seizing its prey. As the clay figure¡¯s arm retracted slowly, it also turned and walked toward the center of the clay pond. The diabetic lady was dragged across the ground, leaving a trail behind her. ¡°Save me!¡± ¡°Please, somebody save me!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to die!¡± As the clay figure¡¯s arm returned to its normal length, the diabetic lady was pulled into the red clay pond. She struggled futilely. The clay figure, standing in the middle of the pond, grabbed her shoulder with one hand and her hair with the other, pushing her head down into the clay. There was no chance for the lady to scream for help; she could only flap weakly like a dying catfish, as death loomed over her! The clay figures began clearing out those who were eliminated, drowning them directly in the clay pond upon capture. Chapter 45 - 45 45 Lucky E_1 ?45: Chapter 45 Lucky E_1 45: Chapter 45 Lucky E_1 On the platform, many passengers shivered uncontrollably, their faces drained of blood, like prey clenched in the fangs of a ferocious beast. This... This way of dying is just too cruel, isn¡¯t it? Song Li moved closer to Lin Baici, grabbing tightly onto his arm. To be drowned alive in a mud pond? How terrifying! The diabetic lady stopped moving, like a dead fish floating in the mire. The Clay Human grabbed her hair, lifted her up to have a look, and upon confirming her death, casually tossed her aside. The fifty or so passengers who had not completed sculpting their mud figures, except for those caught off guard, all rushed into the mud pond, trying to escape. ¡°Don¡¯t run! You can¡¯t escape! Kill that mud monster!¡± The man with a big belly roared. He was scared, but he could still think. This mud pond stretched as far as the eye could see, with no prominent landmarks, and running into it would surely lead to getting lost and eventually, death. To kill these long-armed Clay Humans? These were creatures summoned here, and likely, for every one killed, the mud monster could summon another in its place. So, the only way out was to kill that mud monster. Easy to say, but bravery isn¡¯t something everyone possesses. Only three men, upon hearing the big-bellied man¡¯s words, looked at him and said, ¡°Let¡¯s charge together!¡± The mud monster turned to look at the big-bellied man, its previously expressionless face suddenly stretching into a smirk. Full of mockery! ¡°Kill it!¡± The big-bellied man charged. The other passengers frantically dodged out of the way. Xia Hongyao¡¯s fists tightened, and she took a step forward, seemingly intending to help. ¡°Don¡¯t go, it¡¯s no use!¡± Lin Baici held back Xia Hongyao. [A bunch of rabble!] Eater God¡¯s comment: [They¡¯re doomed!] Running the thirty-meter distance, the big-bellied man sprinted and appeared in front of the mud monster, only then realizing how imposing the two-meter-tall Red Clay Human really was. The Clay Human swung its arm. Whoosh! Its wheel-like, massive right hand whistled through the air and slapped across the big-bellied man¡¯s left cheek. Thump! The big-bellied man¡¯s head, like a cherry crushed by a giant hand, exploded on impact. Red blood, grayish-white brain matter, splinters of bone, and an abundance of flesh chunks sprayed out in a fan shape, smearing the platform. In the air, some black strands of hair floated gently down. The other three men who had intended to attack the Clay Human saw this and lost all nerve, their courage vanishing as they turned to run. The long-armed Clay Humans did not chase after them, but they also couldn¡¯t run fast. Helpless! The red clay mud pond was too oozy; even the shallowest parts sunk to the ankles, while the deeper parts reached the knees, preventing anyone from picking up speed. Squish! Squish! The three men had taken only a few steps when suddenly their bodies sank down, unable to pull their feet out! ¡°Help!¡± ¡°Give me another chance!¡± ¡°Damn it, I won¡¯t let you go even as a ghost,¡± The three passengers cursed, struggling, and in under a minute, they sank completely into the mud pond as if they had never existed. Atop the red clay platform, there was dead silence. The bodies soaked in the mud pond reminded them of the fate awaiting those who were eliminated! ¡°Considering this is your first time sculpting with clay, I will lower the requirements for this step. As long as the clay figures you make have arms and legs and look human, they are considered passable!¡± The mud monster announced. Upon hearing this, the passengers all sighed in relief. The man with glasses looked at the mud monster anxiously. He managed to sculpt something resembling a human when the long-armed Clay Humans were dealing with the eliminated ones. But he didn¡¯t know if he would be accused of cheating! ¡°It¡¯s fine!¡± ¡°It will be fine!¡± The pregnant woman clung to his arm, continuously comforting him and praying. This time, it seemed the goddess of fortune favored them, as the mud monster did not pursue the matter, but instead returned to its stone slab and picked up the clay figure. ¡°Sculpting and slamming seems simple but is quite the opposite. Whether the force is a bit stronger or lighter doesn¡¯t matter. What is important is to lift it over your head, as this is a form of respect for ¡®clay sculpting,¡¯ a ritualistic action. Only then will the red clay come to life in your slamming!¡± The mud monster explained. ¡°Isn¡¯t that after the fact?¡± 18D complained quietly. ¡°Come to life?¡± Lin Baici¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°Next, is the third step, face sculpting!¡± The mud monster detailed the key points, ¡°Life holds a variety of feelings, from joy to anger, sorrow to pleasure. As long as one is alive, one must continually savor the bitterness and sweetness of life.¡± ¡°Sweet enough to remember for the rest of your life, bitter enough to soak into one¡¯s sorrows with wine.¡± ¡°The third step is not only to carve the clay figure¡¯s facial features, hair, and eyebrows to resemble yourselves as closely as possible, but also to include an expression.¡± The mud monster on its own clay sculpture¡¯s face, carved out a wide smile on the left and teary eyes on the right. ¡°One smile, one cry, you choose!¡± The mud monster surveyed the crowd, ¡°You have fifteen minutes, begin now!¡± ¡°57 people are dead!¡± Xia Hongyao bit her lower lip. The unfortunate souls caught in this rule-contaminated event numbered 826 in all, all passengers from the G1955 train. Now 769 remain. ¡°Is now the time to worry about the number of deaths? If we fail this step, we¡¯re dead too!¡± Song Li felt the girl with the high ponytail was too carefree, How could she not be afraid? ¡°This challenge seems simple!¡± 18D looked at Lin Baici, ¡°Are you going to carve a smiling face or a crying face?¡± Both expressions were fairly straightforward: a smile curving the mouth upwards and squinting eyes into crescents, while a crying face involved a wide-open mouth, loud sobs, and tears sliding down. ¡°I think a smiling face is easier to carve!¡± Song Li suggested, ¡°Shall we choose this one?¡± Ma Yuan, having been cautious since the previous step¡¯s pitfall, was waiting for Lin Baici to make a decision. ¡°I choose a crying face!¡± The Jiuzhou God Shield Security Bureau is the official department specially responsible for handling taboo things, and Xia Hongyao, as a Dragon Guard, felt incompetent seeing so many travelers die before her eyes. With this mindset, she felt that carving a smiling face would be too ironic. Xia Hongyao picked up the clay human and the carving knife, ready to begin. ¡°Hold on a second!¡± Lin Baici stopped her, ¡°What if we choose the wrong expression and die?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Song Li was startled, ¡°No way?¡± Lin Baici thought about the words of the clay figurine monster and recalled the process it used to model the faces on the clay humans, trying to find some clues from the details. Which expression should she choose? Among the travelers, there were those with meticulous thoughts. The programmer with heavy dark circles loudly asked, ¡°If we choose the wrong expression, will we die?¡± Swish! Many people looked up in astonishment at the programmer, then turned their heads to stare at the clay figurine monster. The travelers who had already begun carving expressions, Hurriedly stopped. One second! Two seconds! Three seconds! ... After ten seconds, the clay figurine monster once again grinned, And laughed! ¡°You¡¯re quite smart, aren¡¯t you? Yes, if you carve the wrong expression on the clay humans, you¡¯ll die!¡± Whoosh! The words of the clay figurine monster immediately caused an uproar. Many people didn¡¯t expect there to be such a trap! They were almost fooled. ¡°...¡± Song Li was horrified; these rules were too terrifying, weren¡¯t they? There was no way to guard against them! She subconsciously glanced at Lin Baici and noticed that his expression hadn¡¯t changed; he was unbelievably calm. Given Lin Baici¡¯s previous performance, he wasn¡¯t scared silly; it was purely because his heart was strong enough to withstand this kind of pressure. Such resilience! Song Li¡¯s gaze turned to admiration. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me; I won¡¯t tell you the answer. It¡¯s a choice between two, a fifty percent chance of survival!¡± The clay figurine monster essentially spelled it out. In the step of face sculpting, carving the facial features wasn¡¯t difficult; the real challenge lay in choosing the expression. If wrong, You die! The atmosphere on the earthen stage became deathly oppressive once again. What was thought to be an easy step to pass turned out to hide such a huge pitfall! No one dared to start carving. They were all hesitating! Lin Baici pondered, searching for the key to breaking the deadlock. ¡°Stop thinking about it; this step is all about personal luck; there¡¯s no pattern to follow!¡± The Eater God suddenly spoke. ¡°It¡¯s all luck?¡± Lin Baici frowned. ¡°Life is based on fate; then comes luck, followed by Feng Shui, then good deeds, and lastly education. Some people are just naturally lucky, finding money on the road, encountering influential people in their careers... ¡± ¡°Such luck cannot be envied by the average person!¡± ¡°Then I choose a smiling face!¡± Lin Baici simply disliked crying, thinking that such expressions weren¡¯t a good omen ¨C it was either too cowardly or too sorrowful! ¡°Hehe, for men to smile and women to cry, congratulations, your luck isn¡¯t bad, you¡¯ve passed the test!¡± The Eater God congratulated him. ¡°You mean men have to choose a smiling face, women a crying face? They¡¯re not the same?¡± Lin Baici was astonished. This taboo game was downright treacherous. Lin Baici really felt like he was screwed. Most of the time, a small group would choose the same expression,which meant that someone in that group was definitely doomed. The Eater God did not answer. ¡°How should we choose?¡± 18D was anxious, ¡°Brother Lin, say something, will you?¡± ¡°I suggest we go with a smiling face!¡± Xia Hongyao was very decisive. ¡°Don¡¯t rush; let¡¯s think it over!¡± Ma Yuan stroked his chin with his right hand, desperately thinking, trying to reason out the correct answer. ¡°We have only fifteen minutes for face sculpting, and five minutes have already passed!¡± Xiao Hongyao reminded, ¡°We still need to reserve time for carving the expressions, at least seven or eight minutes, right?¡± Everyone felt even more anxious after Xia Hongyao¡¯s words. Indeed, They had to allow time for carving. ¡°Listen to me, choose a smiling face; smile at life, and the hardships will dissipate!¡± Xia Hongyao picked up the iron carving knife and the clay human, ready to get started; she didn¡¯t care about the others, she was going to carve a smiling face for sure. ¡°That works!¡± Ma Yuan couldn¡¯t find the right answer and felt that Xia Hongyao¡¯s reasoning was also good. So they chose a smiling face. ¡°Brother Lin, what do you think?¡± 18D decided to wait for Lin Baici¡¯s opinion. Song Li was anxiously pulling at her hair. Lin Baici looked at Xia Hongyao. You are Force Speed Double A, intelligence D, plus luck E, right? ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Xia Hongyao blinked her big eyes. Her eyes were lively, expressive, innocent; she looked like someone who hadn¡¯t been beaten down by life, carefree and optimistic. ¡°If you choose wrong, you will die!¡± Lin Baici reminded her. ¡°I won¡¯t; I believe in my reasoning!¡± Xia Hongyao was confident. Chapter 46 - 46 46 Opening the Cellar Into the Furnace Deciding Life and Death!_1 ?46: Chapter 46: Opening the Cellar, Into the Furnace, Deciding Life and Death!_1 46: Chapter 46: Opening the Cellar, Into the Furnace, Deciding Life and Death!_1 ¡°Deduction?¡± Lin Baici was shocked. Smile through life, and hardships will scatter? This is why you came up with the smiling face? And you, a bear of a woman rated with an intelligence of D by the Eater God, do you even possess something like intelligence? ¡°Yeah, I often watch Holmes!¡± Xia Hongyao gave a V-sign and self-assessed, ¡°I should have seventy percent of his caliber!¡± ¡°...¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t know about Xia Hongyao¡¯s deduction skills, but her confidence, was off the charts. ¡°Alright, stop babbling and hurry up to sculpt the smiling face!¡± Xia Hongyao urged. ¡°You¡¯d better choose the crying face!¡± Lin Baici reminded kindly. ¡°Why?¡± Xia Hongyao looked up, puzzled. ¡°Because if you choose the smiling face, you¡¯ll die!¡± Lin Baici said in his heart and sighed. He could only make up a lie: ¡°What is sculpting a clay figurine? It¡¯s about creating life, didn¡¯t you hear what that clay figurine monster just said?¡± ¡°Kneading the clay 120 times, lifting it over the head, it¡¯s a sense of ritual, to let the clay come to life with vitality!¡± ¡°This means, the clay figurine is alive!¡± ¡°Alive?¡± 18D was startled. ¡°Don¡¯t interrupt!¡± Ma Yuan scolded quietly. ¡°You continue!¡± Xia Hongyao listened attentively. The thirty or so travelers nearby also gathered around. ¡°Clay sculpting is a traditional craft, and since it¡¯s traditional, it naturally follows some old customs, like the ancient preference for boys over girls, with a boy¡¯s birth bringing joy to the whole family, while a girl¡¯s birth meant the daughter-in-law couldn¡¯t lift her head.¡± Lin Baici made it up as he went along, but sounded earnest, his expression dead serious. As he spoke, he kept his voice low, constantly watching the clay figurine monster in the distance, ready to shut up instantly if the creature showed any abnormal behavior. ¡°That¡¯s right, I heard that back in the old days, some poor families were even harsher, sending away newborn girls they had just delivered, or if they couldn¡¯t find anyone to take them, they¡¯d throw them in the river to drown!¡± 18D nodded vigorously, feeling that Lin Baici made a lot of sense. ¡°Your deduction seems more reasonable, so I¡¯ll choose the crying face!¡± Xia Hongyao gave a thumbs up and continued sculpting. ¡°...¡± Lin Baici was speechless. You believed that? Without questioning further? Lin Baici was still organizing his language, aiming to be more persuasive, but now he could save his breath. Turns out a girl with intelligence rated D can be useful after all! At least she¡¯s easy to deceive. Ma Yuan, obviously not as easily swayed, looked at Lin Baici with confusion, ¡°Are you sure?¡± I get the feeling you¡¯re making this up on the fly? ¡°Do you have a better answer?¡± Lin Baici retorted. ¡°No!¡± Ma Yuan lowered his head and sculpted the smiling face. ¡°Then I¡¯ll also sculpt the smiling face!¡± 18D decided. ¡°That theory kinda makes sense!¡± The nearby travelers also bought into Lin Baici¡¯s words and reached their own decisions. In their minds, choosing the faces in this challenge had to follow some logical relationship; the idea that it was down to luck never crossed their minds. ¡°Wait! Wait!¡± Song Li, seeing everyone starting to sculpt, panicked, ¡°This is a matter of life and death, won¡¯t you reconsider more carefully?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Little Linzi just deduce it?¡± Xia Hongyao smiled contently, ¡°The logic chain is perfect, no problem!¡± ¡°But... but what about the yin and yang faces?¡± Song Li thought further, ¡°Is there a possibility of half a smiling face and half a crying one?¡± ¡°...¡± 18D was stunned and stopped his sculpting to look at Lin Baici, ¡°You know, that could be possible!¡± ¡°Right!¡± Song Li, excited to have support, said, ¡°Maybe the clay figurine monster telling us to choose a face is a misdirection, and the real answer is to sculpt a clay figurine with a face half smiling and half crying like itself!¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite the clever one!¡± Ma Yuan chuckled, ¡°Such a decision involves life, and if you don¡¯t trust others, then go with your gut!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, you only have one life, and the decision is yours to make!¡± Xia Hongyao, not much older than twenty but already a God Hunter who had been through several life-and-death crises, was quite indifferent to these kinds of decisions. ¡°Little Linzi, don¡¯t bother persuading her, everyone¡¯s life is their last chip, it¡¯s best they decide for themselves. That way, even if they lose, they can only blame themselves!¡± Lin Baici had intended to persuade Song Li, but Xia Hongyao¡¯s words made him change his mind. Exactly! He was not qualified to make decisions for others; after all, he had already told them the correct answer. Whether they listened or not was their problem. And what if the Eater God was wrong? Though the chances were slim, it was not impossible. Lin Baici hurried to sculpt the smiling face. After hearing Xia Hongyao¡¯s words, 18D looked at Song Li¡¯s panicked face, then at the composed Lin Baici, and he bowed his head to sculpt the smiling face. I trust Brother Lin! ¡°You all...¡± Song Li, seeing that nobody minded her anymore, was so angry she could spit blood. ¡°We¡¯re running out of time!¡± 18D reminded kindly. ¡°I know, you don¡¯t need to tell me!¡± Song Li roared back, looking down at the clay sculpture with hesitation. In plain terms, she was a selfish person. At this critical moment of life and death decisions, she wanted to make her own choices. Just as Xia Hongyao had said, even if she made the wrong choice, it was her own choice, and she deserved her fate. But Song Li wanted to drag a few others along with her. That way, if there was a mistake, everyone would be wrong together, and that was some consolation. It was just that these people wouldn¡¯t listen to Song Li, which annoyed her. ¡°Fuck!¡± Swearing, Song Li chose the smiling face. Lin Baici held the carving tool, carefully carving the clay figure¡¯s facial features, hair, and even the Adam¡¯s apple, ear contours, down to the fingerprints... In short, anything a person¡¯s body should have, he tried his best to carve out. The clay monster patrolling the scene suddenly stopped and announced loudly. ¡°Time¡¯s up, stop carving!¡± Most of the travelers put down their carving knives, but about twenty people were still hurriedly working, having wasted too much time hesitating over which face to choose. The clay monster didn¡¯t repeat itself; it raised its hand and clapped three times. Snap! Snap! Snap! As soon as the clay monster¡¯s clapping sound ended, the clay figures in the hands of these twenty-odd people suddenly came to life. They catapulted onto their faces like giant fleas with a pop. Thud! The twenty-odd unlucky ones were struck by the clay figures, their heads thrown back, but what was more terrifying was that the clay figures melted the moment they hit their faces, forming a mask of red clay that tightly adhered to their faces. Being blinded was one thing¡ªseeing nothing¡ªbut with their mouths and noses blocked, they couldn¡¯t breathe. They clawed desperately at their faces, trying to pry off the red clay. They wanted to call for help, but with their mouths sealed, they couldn¡¯t make a sound. The other travelers trembled as they watched this horrifying spectacle. As their suffocation worsened, the punished individuals fell to the ground, writhing and struggling, some pounding their cheeks with clenched fists to no avail. Gradually, they all stopped moving. Only after these people were dead did the clay monster speak again. ¡°Open the kiln!¡± With the elongated call of the clay monster, the half-spherical kilns on the platform, over a meter tall and half a meter in diameter, opened up like Mongolian yurts. ¡°Into the kiln!¡± The clay monster threw up its hands, scattering a handful of clay powder. Drifting with the wind, the clay powder spread over the platform like snowflakes, landing on the clay figures in front of the travelers on the stone slabs. ¡°Look!¡± 18D exclaimed. These newly molded clay figures began to twist their entire bodies, making soft rustling noises. In just five or six seconds, some of them started moving. They moved their stubby legs and walked toward the kilns. ¡°My... my clay figure is moving!¡± Song Li was panicked, unsure if this was good or bad. Song Li quickly turned her head to observe her surroundings. ¡°Why aren¡¯t ours moving? Should we wait a bit?¡± 18D was panicking. Neither he, Lin Baici, Xia Hongyao, nor Ma Yuan¡¯s molded clay figures were moving. ¡°Husband, why isn¡¯t your clay figure moving?¡± Seeing that the clay figure of the man with glasses hadn¡¯t budged, the pregnant woman was terrified, with tears instantly flooding her cheeks. This meant that one of them was definitely not up to standard. ¡°It¡¯s okay! It¡¯s okay! As long as you can survive, that¡¯s good!¡± The man with glasses struggled to smile, comforting his wife: ¡°The clay monster said ¡®into the kiln¡¯, so the clay figures that aren¡¯t moving must have a problem!¡± ¡°Husband!¡± The pregnant woman cried inconsolably. ¡°It¡¯s okay! It¡¯s okay! You need to stay alive!¡± While the man with glasses held his wife with one arm, he touched her belly with the other, his expression tender yet pained: ¡°Wife, let¡¯s abort it!¡± ¡°What?¡± The pregnant woman was dumbfounded, not understanding the nonsense her husband was talking about. ¡°Having a child, you won¡¯t remarry easily!¡± The man with glasses also hoped his wife would give birth to their son to continue the family line, but with the burden of a child, how could his wife remarry? ¡°Stop... stop talking!¡± The pregnant woman clung tightly to the man with glasses. ¡°We must have passed!¡± The programmer with dark circles under his eyes pushed up his glasses with his index finger, calming those around him. Just as the man with glasses had said, the clay monster¡¯s command was to go into the kiln, so now whoever¡¯s clay figure entered the kiln was qualified. Logically, after molding the clay figure, it should be fired and set, right? ¡°I¡¯ve passed this step smoothly!¡± As the programmer breathed a sigh of relief, he looked towards Lin Baici. This young man had left a deep impression on him. Too bad! His clay figure hadn¡¯t moved. This meant he was going to die. Alas! If he survived, he could definitely become a highly skilled doctor in the future! Noise erupted all around. The programmer¡¯s explanation spread quickly across the platform; players whose clay figures had moved were overjoyed, their faces showing the luck of the survivors, while the travelers whose clay figures hadn¡¯t moved were all downcast. ¡°Brother Lin, what do we do?¡± 18D¡¯s voice trembled: ¡°We can¡¯t just sit here waiting to die, right?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s fight, hit it!¡± Xia Hongyao focused on the clay monster, ready for battle. Ready for a last stand. As for her failure because of listening to Lin Baici¡¯s reasoning, she didn¡¯t care and had no complaints. ¡°Don¡¯t be happy! Don¡¯t be happy!¡± Song Li warned herself not to laugh, as it would be too stimulating for Lin Baici and the others. Still, she couldn¡¯t help but feel jubilant inside. I was right, but you guys didn¡¯t listen to me, and now look where that got you. ¡°Lin Baici, if you had listened to me, you could have survived this time!¡± Song Li lamented, mourning for Lin Baici and his comrades. Chapter 47 - 47 47 Major Reductions_1 ?47: Chapter 47 Major Reductions_1 47: Chapter 47 Major Reductions_1 ¡°Don¡¯t speak too soon!¡± Ma Yuan¡¯s eyes widened as he stared at the clay figures walking toward the kiln, believing there was still hope until the very last moment. ¡°Heh!¡± Song Li chuckled softly, turning to look at Lin Baici, only to find his expression calm, not at all like a man facing death. Something¡¯s not right! Why isn¡¯t he scared? Could it be that whoever¡¯s clay figure moves, that person dies? Is that why he¡¯s so confident? Song Li thought of this possibility and immediately broke out in a cold sweat. ¡°Lin Baici, aren¡¯t you scared? That monster said ¡®into the furnace,¡¯ and according to the steps of making clay figures, there¡¯s definitely a drying step. Your clay figures haven¡¯t moved; you¡¯re doomed for sure. Think of something quickly!¡± Song Li muttered to herself. ¡°You should now attack that clay figure monster, kill it, and perhaps there¡¯s still a chance to survive.¡± Lin Baici suggested. Afraid? Sorry, I¡¯m afraid this Taboo game is too simple and can¡¯t kill me at all! The travelers¡¯ self-made clay figures approached the nearest kiln. Then, with a leap, they jumped into the kiln. Bang! Bang! Bang! The lid of the kiln immediately shut tight. ¡°Ignite!¡± The clay figure monster¡¯s voice was melodious, with a strange inflection as if a shaman from a primitive tribe was chanting spells, exorcising demons and summoning spirits. Boom! Boom! Boom! The wood stacked in the furnace beneath the kiln instantly caught fire. The orange-red flames rose and flickered, like a siren dancing. The noise on the platform slowly subsided. The travelers stopped talking and stared at the kiln instead. The programmer with the dark circles under his eyes was not lacking in intelligence and preferred planning before acting. He believed that even if they passed this step, the following ones would still be fraught with dangers, so he started inciting those travelers who had failed. ¡°Your lives are counting down. If you want to survive, you need to unite and fight to the death against that clay figure monster!¡± The programmer urged the travelers around him to fight for their lives, even if they couldn¡¯t win, at least they could find out the monster¡¯s weakness. These people hesitated. To be honest, if it weren¡¯t for the fact that the pot-bellied man had his head smashed to pieces by one slap from the clay figure monster, showing its terrifying lethality, they would have attacked much earlier. Disappointed to see these people too scared to act, the programmer shook his head and quickly walked toward Lin Baici, ready to talk to him. This boy could take decisive action at the crucial moment, and with him leading, these losers should dare to make a move. However, after taking more than ten steps, the programmer suddenly felt very hot and started to sweat, followed by a feverish feeling, as if his arm had carelessly brushed against a grill while eating barbeque. ¡°What¡¯s happening? Are guests not allowed to move freely?¡± The programmer frowned and looked around, then to his horror, he realized it wasn¡¯t just him who was in trouble. ¡°Why do I feel so hot?¡± ¡°It¡¯s burning! It¡¯s burning! What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Damn it, what now?¡± The travelers were in an uproar; women screamed in terror. ¡°Bai Ci... ¡± Ma Yuan¡¯s face lit up with joy. He was worthy of being a God Hunter; his reaction was quick. He noticed that all the people crying out about the heat were the travelers whose clay figures had jumped into the kiln. Song Li was no longer at ease as she felt increasingly hot, like being in a sauna, with sweat flowing like pulp, drenching her clothes in just over ten seconds. Then her body began to burn, feeling scorched by a red-hot coal. ¡°Brother Lin, look at her...¡± Fear was written all over 18D¡¯s face. Not only Song Li, but many travelers¡¯ skins had turned red, as if scorched by a red-hot coal, with blisters bubbling up one after another. ¡°Brother Lin, save me, I don¡¯t want to die!¡± Struggling, Song Li lunged toward Lin Baici, seeking rescue. The tears in her eyes had barely rolled down her cheeks when they sizzled and evaporated. Ma Yuan stepped forward and kicked Song Li in the thigh. Bang! Ah! Song Li screamed as she fell to the ground, then was unable to get up, writhing in pain. ¡°Save me! Please!¡± Song Li¡¯s skin visibly dehydrated, wrinkled, and blackened, like lamb skewers on a barbecue grill. On the platform, all the travelers whose clay figures entered the kiln seemed to be roasted by fierce flames, suffering excruciating pain. ¡°Why am I the one who¡¯s wrong?¡± The programmer roared in anger, his cries heart-wrenching. He thought Lin Baici was the one who failed, but it turned out he was the pathetic clown. ¡°If you want to survive, attack that clay figure monster right now!¡± Xia Hongyao shouted. About a dozen travelers stumbled towards the clay figure monster in their desperate situation, but even more ran toward the kiln, trying to take out their clay figures. However, the kiln was too hot, the flames too fierce. When they placed their hands on the kiln mouth, there was a sizzling sound, and their palms were instantly scorched. A smell of burnt fat and flesh began to waft above the red clay pond, pungent and nauseating. ¡°Lin... Brother Lin...¡± Song Li¡¯s voice was hoarse, her once fair and smooth skin now burnt, wrinkled, and completely unrecognizable from her previous beauty. Because her body was so hot, even her riveted high heels began to melt, sticking to her flesh. Alas! Lin Baici sighed and focused on the clay figure monster. It stood in the middle of the platform, inhaling deeply the scent of char floating in the air, then showing an expression of enjoyment. ¡°Brother Lin, we passed!¡± 18D was ecstatic, wildly waving his fists. If Song Li and the others were dead, didn¡¯t that mean the creators of the remaining clay figures, which stayed in place, all passed? On the brink of death, Song Li heard this and was suddenly overwhelmed with immense regret and remorse, like uncontrollable weeds rapidly filling her chest. I hate this so much! Why didn¡¯t I listen to that student? If I¡¯d just sculpted a crying face, I could have survived! ¡°Wife! Wife!¡± The spectacled man was so anxious he was jumping around, wanting to embrace his pregnant wife, but her body was like a piece of red-hot charcoal, unbearably hot to the touch. ¡°Husband!¡± The pregnant woman was in so much pain that she curled up into a ball, tears streaming down her face. She was deeply worried about the baby in her belly that hadn¡¯t been born yet. Why did this little life have to suffer such a fate? ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯ll go and kill that monster!¡± The spectacled man clenched his teeth, his face twisted with ferocity and murderous intent, the only solution he could think of to save his wife and child was to kill that clay figure monster. ¡°Don¡¯t go!¡± The pregnant woman reached out to pull on her husband¡¯s pant leg, but fearful of scalding him, she withdrew her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t go, try to survive!¡± The pregnant woman begged. Because she knew, once her husband left, he would undoubtedly die. ¡°Eater God, is there any way to save them?¡± Lin Baici clenched his fists. [No!] The Eater God¡¯s answer was crisp and to the point. This was rule pollution, a supernatural power that human effort could not defy. To survive, one must abide by the rules of the Taboo things. The clay figure, subjected to high temperatures in the pot furnace, would have its effect reflected on the creator¡¯s body. And so, a few minutes later... The programmer died! The pregnant woman died! Song Li also died! In addition to them, 478 tourists who had sculpted the wrong expressions also died a fiery death. Their bodies were completely dehydrated, charred, and shriveled up like burnt pieces of charcoal, emitting a heavy stench of burning that wafted from their corpses. Ugh! Ugh! Some couldn¡¯t bear such a gruesome scene and bent over to vomit. ¡°Brother Lin, ugh...¡± 18D tried to speak but ended up vomiting out the lunch he had eaten. Lin Baici also felt some physical discomfort. ¡°Wait until you join the Security Bureau, start Breaking Divine Ruins, and seal Taboo things, you¡¯ll see death scenes more horrible than this!¡± Ma Yuan patted Lin Baici on the shoulder. ¡°We¡¯re down to 288 people now!¡± Xia Hongyao counted the number of people remaining. With so many people dead, the platform suddenly became much quieter. The clay figure monster didn¡¯t even glance at those corpses, loudly declaring, ¡°Congratulations, your facial sculptures passed the test. Next up is the fourth step, baking to set!¡± Ma Yuan, upon hearing the word ¡°passed,¡± excitedly slapped Lin Baici on the back. ¡°Aren¡¯t my team members great?¡± Xia Hongyao boasted, quite proud. ¡°Any apprentices willing to step forward to be the first group of examinees?¡± The clay figure monster asked. The tourists looked around at each other, and not one made a sound. The first batch to go up were more likely to be unlucky than not. Lin Baici was also waiting, wanting to understand what this step entailed to come up with a way to pass, but then the Eater God spoke. [Volunteer for this batch, your chances of survival are the highest!] After hearing this, Lin Baici immediately raised his hand. ¡°I¡¯ll participate!¡± Swish! The tourists all turned their gazes toward him, with surprise, confusion, but nobody looked at him as if he was a fool. Because Lin Baici¡¯s performance up to now had been excellent, helping many people through the previous molding step. This kind of person, would not do something foolish. ¡°Little Linzi, have you discovered something?¡± Xia Hongyao was very curious and asked quietly. In her eyes, Lin Baici¡¯s reasoning ability was strong; he must have noticed some clues or patterns. Ma Yuan and 18D looked at Lin Baici, waiting for an explanation. ¡°I haven¡¯t discovered anything, I just feel that joining the first batch may receive some preferential treatment?¡± Lin Baici made up a reason on the spot. ¡°You are very good!¡± The clay figure monster grinned, but it looked akin to a man-eating smile: ¡°Please take your clay figure to the front of a furnace!¡± [Choose a furnace that¡¯s close to the clay pond!] The Eater God reminded. ¡°If anyone trusts me, follow me!¡± Lin Baici shouted loudly. Everyone looked at each other. Xia Hongyao picked up the clay figure she had sculpted and followed Lin Baici. ¡°Red Medicine, don¡¯t be rash; the best strategy is to wait for a group to go first and see what this step involves?¡± Ma Yuan advised. According to the norms summarized by the God Hunter circle, in the rule pollution, those who went up in the first wave were almost all cannon fodder, primarily used to gather intelligence. ¡°I trust him!¡± Xia Hongyao had great confidence in Lin Baici¡¯s intelligence: ¡°Plus, he¡¯s my potential team member, I can¡¯t let him risk it alone!¡± Lin Baici was taken aback: ¡°Potential team member?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Xia Hongyao smiled broadly, planning to call her sister to secure a special entry spot for Lin Baici in Haijing, once this Taboo thing was sealed. A talent like him appears once in a decade, right? I must get him on my team! Ma Yuan was conflicted, should I go up or not? 18D didn¡¯t hesitate and picked up his clay figure to follow. Although he hadn¡¯t been with Lin Baici for long, the latter was not only outstanding, but his luck was explodingly good. Every choice Lin Baici made had been correct! By clinging to such strong support, one could live! Chapter 48 - 48 48 Add Charcoal! ?48: Chapter 48 Add Charcoal! Add Charcoal! Add Charcoal!_1 48: Chapter 48 Add Charcoal! Add Charcoal! Add Charcoal!_1 [The red mud in the pond, damp and clammy, possesses the effect of insulating against high temperatures; using it to make beggar¡¯s chicken, the chicken wouldn¡¯t cook.] Eater God commented. Upon hearing this, Lin Baici¡¯s eyebrows twitched. Beggar¡¯s chicken, he knew, involved cleaning the chicken, brushing it with fat and seasonings, then wrapping it in lotus leaves and clay before roasting it in a fire pit. Reminded of how Song Li and the others had died, Lin Baici immediately rushed toward the mud pond. Crack! With a dive, Lin Baici flung himself into the mud pond, then began to roll around, covering himself in mud. Still not satisfied, he started to grab more red mud and smear it on himself, getting ready to coat himself with it. ¡°Brother Lin, what are you...¡± 18D was dumbfounded. Lin Baici certainly hadn¡¯t gone mad. ¡°What are you waiting for? Come over and smear mud on yourself, the thicker the better!¡± Lin Baici urged. No wonder the Eater God made one choose those kilns close to the mud pond; this was the reason. Xia Hongyao, with her long legs, dashed to the edge of the mud platform, then with a leap, jumped into the mud pond. After rolling around a few times, she grabbed a handful of red mud and smeared it on her face. The girl with the high ponytail was very beautiful¡ªthe type of girl who would typically disdain such image-ruining activities, but Xia Hongyao seemed to be having a riotous good time. Just like a sled dog! Hmm! In terms of intelligence, Xia Hongyao was just a tad smarter than sled dogs, right? Having witnessed this scene, Ma Yuan made up his mind. Follow him! With the meticulousness and caution that Lin Baici had shown, how could he possibly take risks? Even if he did take risks, He must have some assurance! Follow him! A sure win! Ma Yuan picked up a ¡°mud person¡± and ran towards the mud pond, rolling around like a wild boar, coating his body with mud. The Mud Creature stared expressionlessly at these four people, then its gaze fell on Lin Baici, and it curled its mouth into a playful smirk. ¡°Any more apprentices willing to step forward?¡± The Mud Creature swept its gaze across the area. The bespectacled man, holding back his torment upon seeing his wife¡¯s corpse and the bulging stomach, ultimately couldn¡¯t contain his rage. ¡°Fuck this shit!¡± The bespectacled man bellowed and sprinted towards the Mud Creature. He had lost his mind. The Mud Creature stood there, unmoving, and when the bespectacled man approached, it casually swung its large hand, striking the man on the head. Bang! The bespectacled man¡¯s head exploded, blood, brain matter, and fragments of bone scattering in a radial pattern. Thud! The body hit the ground. ¡°Who else wants to challenge me?¡± The Mud Creature inquired, casually flicking off the flesh scraps from its hand. To kill a person was as easy for it as swatting a fly. No one answered when the Mud Creature¡¯s gaze fell on them; they all lowered their heads, not daring to make eye contact. [What a bunch of useless trash. When given an opportunity you can¡¯t even grasp it. Such ingredients are too low-end; even dogs wouldn¡¯t eat them!] Eater God expressed his contempt. ¡°There are too few apprentices in the first batch; it¡¯s not enough. Since you aren¡¯t volunteering, I will choose for you!¡± The Mud Creature pointed at random. You! You! You! It selected six people, making the total count ten. Lin Baici glanced over and recognized one of them¡ªit was the aunty who had been playing TikTok videos aloud on the train. [Yeesh, this stewardess is quite pretty. Too bad she¡¯s going to be roasted into charred corpse!] Eater God lamented: [Otherwise, steamed gently, she¡¯d be delicious!] Among the six, there was a woman, probably in her twenties, dressed in a red skirt, with a white short-sleeved shirt and a red vest over it. Her black stockings were ripped in many places and muddy, and she had lost one of her low-heeled black leather shoes. Her outfit was that of a high-speed rail stewardess! ¡°Hurry to the mud pond and wrap yourselves in mud!¡± Xia Hongyao urged. ¡°Quickly choose a kiln. The assessment will begin in ten seconds!¡± The Mud Creature hurried them and began counting down. Now, the six people had no time to spare; regardless of how reluctant they were, they had to rush to pick up their mud figures and hastily look for a kiln. ¡°Choose one close to the mud pond.¡± Lin Baici shouted, but no one listened. The Mud Creature¡¯s countdown made them panic, like sheep being chased by hungry wolves, they each chose the kiln closest to them. ¡°You ten, listen to my explanation and follow it strictly.¡± The Mud Creature warned, ¡°I will only explain once!¡± As they had no more time, the six people listened intently. 18D tensed up as well, pricking up his ears. ¡°Heh!¡± A smirk crossed Lin Baici¡¯s mouth. He had the skill of Guo Er Cheng Song; he could remember any spoken words after just one listening, and wouldn¡¯t forget them for at least three years. ¡°Open the kiln!¡± ¡°Mud figure into the furnace!¡± The passengers didn¡¯t have to do it themselves. As soon as the Mud Creature announced it, the mud figures they had crafted began to move, walking to the front of the kilns and then leaping inside. ¡°Ignite the fire!¡± Boom! Boom! Boom! The charcoal in the furnace ignited. These charcoals were palm-sized, one inch thick, and very uniform in shape. ¡°Ventilate to increase the temperature!¡± After the Mud Creature uttered this fourth sentence, it shut its mouth. The passengers stared at it, muttering the four steps to themselves. Lin Baici, however, was observing the state of the kiln. Wasn¡¯t it supposed to ventilate to increase the temperature? Why was there no movement? The next moment, Lin Baici realized that it was up to them to act now. He immediately squatted at the mouth of the furnace and grabbed the blower¡¯s handle tightly, pulling it vigorously. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! As air blew into the furnace, the flame surged, and the charcoal burned even more fiercely. Ma Yuan and Xia Hongyao snapped to action and hurriedly pumped the bellows. ¡°Brother Lin, are you sure this step is correct?¡± 18D was worried and wanted to wait to see if the mud figurine would issue any new orders. ¡°Not sure.¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t speak with absolute certainty, what if he was wrong? The other six people also began their operations. But the flight attendant was clearly a city girl, who had never seen bellows, a tool only found in remote rural areas, and looked utterly perplexed as she grabbed it. Fortunately, her adaptability was decent. After watching how Lin Baici and the others used it, she also gritted her teeth and started pulling hard on the bellows. ¡°Add coal!¡± The mud figurine instructed. Next to the charcoal stove, there was a pile of black coal. Everyone immediately grabbed a piece and threw it into the furnace. Some black coal dust smeared on their hands, but no one cared about such trifles. ¡°How much should we add?¡± 18D threw in seven or eight pieces before she raised her head, and seeing that the mud figurine had not spoken, she asked Lin Baici. ¡°Don¡¯t know!¡± Lin Baici had only added one piece of coal. Although he didn¡¯t understand firing pottery, such work, similar to making porcelain, must have strict requirements for the heat, so he did not rashly add more. Moreover, he was still waiting for the Eater God¡¯s comment, but the mysterious voice didn¡¯t come. ¡°There were ten pieces of coal in the furnace at the start, how about we add ten more?¡± Ma Yuan suggested. The ten passengers didn¡¯t need to hesitate, as the mud figurine spoke again. ¡°Add three pieces of coal!¡± A very clear instruction. People immediately threw two more pieces of coal into it. But 18D, the TikTok aunt, and two other passengers were dumbfounded; they had just impulsively thrown in several pieces at once. ¡°Brother Lin, what should I do?¡± 18D was about to cry. ¡°Adding three more pieces should be okay, right?¡± The TikTok aunt¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°Do you think that¡¯s possible?¡± Ma Yuan was speechless. It was clear that not following the mud figurine¡¯s instructions would definitely result in a failure to produce a figurine. ¡°So what do we do?¡± The TikTok aunt was on the verge of tears. ¡°Take the coal out!¡± Lin Baici¡¯s expression was grave. ¡°What?¡± The TikTok aunt and 18D looked around immediately, but they didn¡¯t see any tools to take the coal out of the furnace. ¡°There¡¯s not even a fire stick or shovel or something here?¡± 18D complained. There wasn¡¯t even a single blade of grass on the red mud platform, let alone other vegetation. 18D couldn¡¯t even snap off a tree branch to use as a fire poker. ¡°Use your hands!¡± Lin Baici knew this answer was cruel, but it was the only way. ¡°What?¡± 18D, the TikTok aunt, and two other passengers who had added extra coal were astonished. With their hands? They looked toward the furnace, where flames blazed fiercely. If they put their hands in there, would they even have hands left? ¡°There are no tools, you can only use your hands, and you don¡¯t have much time left to hesitate!¡± Ma Yuan added, ¡°Because you added too much coal, the heat will differ from the others, which is sure to result in problems with the figurines you produce!¡± The four of them panicked. ¡°Brother Lin...¡± 18D looked at Lin Baici, pleading, ¡°Think of something!¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do!¡± Lin Baici shook his head. ¡°Damn it, why didn¡¯t this guy make it clear when we were told to add coal?¡± The TikTok aunt cursed, but it was of no use. ¡°Did I tell you to stop pumping the bellows?¡± The mud figurine questioned. Everyone was startled and quickly started to pump the bellows again. ¡°Add coal!¡± ¡°Three pieces!¡± The mud figurine spoke up once more. Lin Baici and the six others quickly grabbed the coal and threw it into the furnace. ¡°I...I added six pieces just now, so I don¡¯t need to take any coal out now, right?¡± The TikTok aunt was elated. 18D¡¯s face turned pale. He had to remove one piece to match the number specified by the mud figurine! [Four self-righteous fools, at a time like this, one simply cannot hesitate. Now they have already missed the chance to remedy their mistake¨C the difference in heat has dropped the success rate of the figurines coming out of the furnace to seventy percent!] The Eater God mocked them. Seventy percent might seem not too low! But bear in mind the firing process had just begun, and who knows how many more steps there would be! ¡°If you want to live, strictly follow the instructions of this monster. 18D, you¡¯d better remove the excess coal quickly!¡± Lin Baici warned. 18D looked at the furnace glowing orange with the flames, unable to bring himself to reach in. ¡°Add coal!¡± The mud figurine spoke again. ¡°Add coal!¡± ¡°Add coal!¡± Within a quarter of an hour, the mud figurine called out to add coal three times in total, and since he never instructed them to stop pumping, Lin Baici and the others kept pumping the bellows with all their might. After absorbing the Meteorite and the God¡¯s bones in Dragon Temple, Lin Baici¡¯s physique had been enhanced, and he could still hold up under this kind of physical labor. Xia Hongyao and Ma Yuan were also fine, but it was tough going for the others. Especially for the delicate flight attendant and the TikTok aunt, who took turns pumping the bellows even though their arms were sore and they felt miserable. ¡°If this were a square dance competition, I could win first place!¡± The TikTok aunt was frustrated. Just as everyone was finding it hard to go on, a new instruction arrived. ¡°Lower the flames!¡± 18D cried, like a student who just realized they couldn¡¯t even do the easiest bonus question on the final exam. ¡°How do we lower it? We can¡¯t possibly scoop the coal out of the furnace, right?¡± Chapter 49 - 49 49 Withdraw the Charcoal Extinguish the Fire Open the Furnace!_1 ?49: Chapter 49 Withdraw the Charcoal, Extinguish the Fire, Open the Furnace!_1 49: Chapter 49 Withdraw the Charcoal, Extinguish the Fire, Open the Furnace!_1 ¡°Idiots, stop fanning the bellows!¡± Ma Yuan roared out a reminder to everyone else. After he shouted, he quickly glanced at the mud creature. It did not seem to intend to punish him for his outburst, which relieved him. ¡°Right! Right! We can do it this way!¡± 18D suddenly realized. Everyone stopped, rubbing their sore arms, finally able to catch their breath. But before two minutes had passed, the mud creature spoke again. ¡°Reduce the fire!¡± This time, the group was dumbfounded. If they stopped fanning the bellows, how could they reduce the fire? There was actually another solution, which was to pull out the charcoal. With less charcoal, the flame would definitely weaken, but the problem was... This thing really burns hands! Lin Baici looked at the fiery furnace, picked up the pine torch, preparing to use it as a poker. [These furnaces, with their strong fires, will turn anything thrown into them, other than the fire tender, into ash.] The Eater God warned. Lin Baici¡¯s brow furrowed deeply. This meant, I can only use my hands? ¡°Bai Ci, quickly grab the charcoal. After you¡¯re done with that torch, lend it to me!¡± Ma Yuan urged. ¡°If you use the torch, or anything else, you¡¯ll die!¡± Lin Baici reminded him. ¡°What? Then what should I use?¡± Ma Yuan thought Lin Baici was being overly cautious. ¡°Use your hands!¡± Lin Baici glanced at his left hand, covered in a thick layer of red mud, and swiftly and resolutely extended it into the furnace. Whoosh! Lin Baici¡¯s index and middle fingers gripped a piece of charcoal and yanked it back with force. Crack! The charcoal was pulled out of the furnace and fell onto the muddy ground. ¡°Holy shit!¡± Ma Yuan was stunned, weren¡¯t you being a bit too reckless? You obviously had a torch, but for the sake of a ¡®possibility,¡¯ you actually didn¡¯t use it and chose to grab the charcoal with your bare hands? Fierce! Absolutely fierce! Ma Yuan felt that within two or three years, this guy would definitely become famous in the God Hunter Circle! ¡°It¡¯s okay. It doesn¡¯t burn!¡± Lin Baici quirked the corner of his mouth, ¡°You guys hurry up and grab some too!¡± ¡°I think Xiao Bai¡¯s concerns are right!¡± Xia Hongyao said, reaching for the charcoal. Thanks to her strong physical constitution and martial arts training, her movements were quick and nimble, so fast that Lin Baici didn¡¯t see clearly. Truly worthy of being Force Speed Double A High Ponytail! ¡°Hmm, indeed it doesn¡¯t hurt. It seems wrapping in red mud was the right choice!¡± Xia Hongyao breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that without the layer of red mud, her whole hand would have been burned. After seeing Ma Yuan reduce the fire by removing charcoal, 18D gritted his teeth and also reached his hand into the furnace, scraping out a piece of charcoal. ¡°Eh? Not hurt!¡± 18D was ecstatic at his unharmed left hand, as if he had gotten a huge bargain, ¡°Brother Lin, your foresight is simply too strong!¡± The others, seeing this, immediately ran towards the mud pit to get covered in red mud. [Anyone who does not decrease the charcoal to reduce the fire within five seconds will be deemed a failure!] [Failures die!] The mud creature announced. The group froze on hearing these words. Their faces went pale in an instant. In such a short amount of time, they had no chance to run to the mud pit, let alone cover themselves in mud. The onlooking passengers, while afraid, were also relieved that they weren¡¯t the first ones up. Many among them ran towards the mud pit, starting to coat themselves in mud quickly so they wouldn¡¯t run out of time later. The Douyin auntie was afraid of dying; she still wanted to play mahjong everyday, dance in the square, and collect free eggs at the supermarket. So, with a loud cry, she plunged her hand into the furnace, scraping out a piece of charcoal. ¡°Ah!¡± The Douyin auntie screamed in agony; her whole hand was scorched red, especially the three fingers that had touched the red-hot charcoal, which were now covered in blisters the size of grapes. ¡°Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!¡± The Douyin auntie cursed loudly, jumping from the pain. ¡°Quick, go coat yourself with mud in the mud pit!¡± Xia Hongyao shouted a reminder. The Douyin auntie bolted. ¡°Hurry, there¡¯s no time left!¡± Xia Hongyao urged. ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m going for it!¡± The female flight attendant made up her mind. Just as she was about to reach into the furnace, her body suddenly burst into flames. It was the mud figure she had squeezed in the furnace issue that had been ignited due to the slow cooling. The damage the mud figure took was fully reflected onto its creator. ¡°Ah!¡± The female flight attendant writhed on the ground in pain. Her red uniform, hair, and even her leather shoes caught fire. The other three unlucky ones didn¡¯t manage to reduce the charcoal in time and were all set ablaze. They ran and rolled around like human torches. However, it didn¡¯t take long for them to fall to the ground, silent. The Douyin auntie, looking at the few scorched and smoking corpses, suddenly felt that the blisters on her hand weren¡¯t so painful anymore. ¡°Reduce the charcoal, lower the fire!¡± The mud creature spoke out. With their previous experience, everyone was calmer this time, except for the Douyin Auntie who was so badly burned that she screamed loudly. ¡°Add coal! Stoke the fire!¡± The Potter Creature didn¡¯t want the travelers to idle around. The group from 18D was in a frantic rush, grabbing pieces of charcoal, about to toss them into the furnace, when Lin Baici stopped them. ¡°Wait, use new charcoal, don¡¯t use these burnt ones!¡± Lin Baici reminded. Ma Yuan caught on immediately. Lin Baici was worried that if they didn¡¯t need to remove coal to reduce the heat later, then a piece of charcoal that had already been burned wouldn¡¯t provide as much heat as a fresh one. This could lead to an error that might cause the firing of the potter creature to fail or not be perfect enough. ¡°This kid really has nerves of steel!¡± Ma Yuan marveled. To think that within rules that could kill at any time, Lin Baici still managed to maintain his composure and think clearly, that was impressive. Another twenty minutes passed and after a series of complicated and busy operations, the fourth step of firing was finally completed. ¡°Remove the coal!¡± ¡°Extinguish the fire!¡± ¡°Open the kiln now!¡± The Potter Creature sang in a melodious tone. ¡°I survived! I survived!¡± Douyin Auntie wept with joy, only for her expression to quickly turn into a twist of agony as she gritted her teeth. Her entire body soaked with sweat, she looked as if she had been fished out of water, and her entire left arm was severely burned, covered in grape-sized blisters clustered together, looking utterly disgusting. After Lin Baici and the others removed the glowing red chunks of charcoal, the kiln door banged open. It was open! A wave of hot air carrying sparks rushed out. ¡°Retrieve the potter creatures!¡± The Potter Creature urged. In the furnace, the temperature was extremely high, but the group had no choice but to retrieve the potter creatures with their bare hands. Fortunately, the red clay in the pit had an insulating effect, so Lin Baici and the three others wouldn¡¯t get burned; however, Douyin Auntie wasn¡¯t so lucky. If she reached in with that arm, it would surely be ruined, so she immediately ran to the red clay pit to smear clay on her arm. As she ran, Douyin Auntie kept her eyes on the Potter Creature. If it didn¡¯t allow her, she would stop immediately. But this time, luck was on her side, and the Potter Creature didn¡¯t stop her. Lin Baici and the three others retrieved their potter creatures. [Smug and inferior beings, you are doomed. The residents who have been disturbed by her square dancing music for years can now celebrate with champagne!] After applying a thick layer of red clay to her body, Douyin Auntie ran back to the kiln, clenched her teeth, endured the pain, and reached her arm into the kiln mouth to grab the potter creature. The next instant, the potter creature suddenly moved, grabbing Douyin Auntie¡¯s wrist and yanking it back harshly! This was the consequence of not retrieving the potter creature immediately. Ah! Amidst Douyin Auntie¡¯s screams, she was pulled into the kiln, followed by a heart-wrenching scream and calls for help. The travelers on the platform turned as pale as death. Gulp! 18D swallowed nervously, watching the potter creature assigned to him placed on the ground with a sense of dread. The Potter Creature raised its right arm, then brought it down in front of itself. ¡°Those on the left side of my arm are in the second batch, begin your assessment. Please pick up your potter creatures and wait in front of a kiln!¡± The chosen unlucky ones were frustrated. They cursed, complained, but were helpless and had to follow the Potter Creature¡¯s instructions. Having seen Lin Baici¡¯s group as an example and gaining experience, they scrambled for kilns near the edge of the clay pit, leading to pushing and arguing. Kilns in good locations could increase the chance of survival, so at this point, gentlemanly manners were abandoned, and some even came to blows. Some travelers once again ran into the mud pit to slather the damp clay on their bodies. ¡°Start the kiln!¡± ¡°Potter creatures into the furnace!¡± The potter creatures fashioned by those travelers immediately sprang into action, hopping into the nearest kiln. Those who were still in the mud pit and covered in clay, hearing this instruction, rushed back towards their assigned kilns, still holding their potter creatures, but it was too late. ¡°Ignite!¡± At the Potter Creature¡¯s command, the kiln lids slammed shut and the charcoal inside ignited. Those potter creatures not in their kilns at that instant developed cracks on their surfaces and immediately fell apart with a series of snaps. Their masters didn¡¯t even have a chance to cry for help before they, like their potter creatures, fell to pieces and lay in pieces on the spot. Crimson blood flowed, moistening the platform. ¡°36 are dead!¡± Ma Yuan sighed. Most of the deceased were women who had been more focused on coating themselves with red clay to avoid burns, neglecting the urgency regarding the kilns, thinking they could just pick any due to their small and frail physique. But had they considered whether the Potter Creature would give them enough time to reach a kiln? The Potter Creature began giving instructions. Every traveler tried their best to be perfect. Having mentally prepared themselves, they didn¡¯t hesitate during coal reduction, and with the insulation of the red clay on their arms, aside from feeling a bit hot, they weren¡¯t burned. This reassured them a lot. They could survive! Hope shone in the eyes of each traveler. Lin Baici looked at his Rolex, timed against the commands given by the Potter Creature. ¡°Why are you always looking at your watch?¡± 18D asked anxiously, ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°No!¡± Lin Baici replied, his brows knitting together. Something¡¯s not right, It was time to reduce the coal and lower the heat, so why hadn¡¯t the Potter Creature issued the instruction? Lin Baici raised his head to look at those standing in front of the kilns, listening intently, waiting for the Potter Creature¡¯s next instruction. If this continued, They would all die! ¡°We need to reduce the coal now!¡± Lin Baici shouted, keeping an eye on the Potter Creature, ready to stop talking immediately if it didn¡¯t allow him to speak. Chapter 50 - 50 50 Scoring Comments_1 ?50: Chapter 50 Scoring Comments_1 50: Chapter 50 Scoring Comments_1 On the platform, aside from the crackling sound of burning charcoal, it was very quiet. The travelers lightened their breaths, afraid to make a noise and miss the clay figure¡¯s instructions, so Lin Baici¡¯s cry was jarringly loud. Whoosh! Everyone turned their heads to look at Lin Baici. Lin Baici didn¡¯t speak immediately but stared at the clay figure, ready to abstain from any additional reminders if it reacted violently. The clay figure turned its head to look at Lin Baici, its eyes, seemingly made of mud, expressed surprise. It hadn¡¯t expected that Lin Baici could remember every step of the clay figure¡¯s firing process. ¡°Time to reduce the charcoal!¡± Lin Baici shouted. ¡°But this creature... this guy didn¡¯t give any instructions, right?¡± The speaker was a man in his thirties, with patchy bald spots and swollen eyes. ¡°It must have omitted them on purpose!¡± Lin Baici explained. He knew this man; in the waiting hall, the Eater God had commented on this drowsy, hungover man, saying his life revolved around alcohol. Whoosh! Everyone looked at the clay figure. The clay figure suddenly grinned but said nothing. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°How can he be sure? He couldn¡¯t possibly remember every step, could he?¡± ¡°But he has no reason to deceive us, right? Plus, he helped everyone before!¡± The travelers murmured among themselves, unsure of what to do, but almost all of them dismissed Lin Baici¡¯s words and waited for the clay figure to give instructions. After all, a mistake meant death. ¡°I¡¯ve said my piece, believe it or not, it¡¯s your decision!¡± Lin Baici sighed, giving up on persuading them. No wonder the Eater God said the first group had the highest survival rate, as the clay figure would deliberately omit a few steps in the subsequent evaluations. If the participants couldn¡¯t remember the entire process, death was certain. ¡°Brother Lin, can you really remember when to add or reduce charcoal, and when to stoke the fire to raise the temperature?¡± 18D asked, curious. ¡°Mhm!¡± Lin Baici nodded. During the firing of the clay figure, he had been constantly watching his watch and quietly speaking the time, memorizing everything through the technique of Guo Er Cheng Song. ¡°No wonder you kept watching your watch!¡± Ma Yuan suddenly understood. ¡°Hiss!¡± 18D drew a sharp breath; such a memory was terrifying, wasn¡¯t it? Wait a minute! If Brother Lin was right, then these people... This time the reduction of charcoal wasn¡¯t to be done once, but three times. The clay figure didn¡¯t mention it, and the travelers didn¡¯t do it, so tragedy befell them. Just as the hungover man was about to ask the clay figure whether Lin Baici was correct, his body suddenly burst into flames. Like lamb chops in an oven, he visibly dehydrated and turned charred black. A billow of black smoke spread. Ah! The hungover man screamed. Without needing the clay figure¡¯s instructions, he wanted to remove the charcoal from the furnace, but it was too late. Seeing this, the others acted, but it was too late for them as well. All the travelers participating in this evaluation suffered because they reduced the charcoal too late, causing the clay figures in the kiln to be damaged and the harm to be reflected onto their bodies. They were all ignited, like a collection of human torches. The onlooking travelers turned pale with shock and hastily retreated, worried about being affected. Two minutes later, the ground was littered with charred corpses. One hundred nineteen people, all dead. The air was filled with the nauseating stench of burning fat and muscle. The remaining travelers, witnessing this horrifying sight, couldn¡¯t help but look towards Lin Baici. If they had listened to him, they probably wouldn¡¯t have died. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there, hurry up and apply the red clay!¡± Lin Baici roared. The others quickly took action. With so many corpses on the platform, it was a frightening sight, but the clay figure proceeded nonchalantly: ¡°Those who remain, take your clay figures and wait in front of a kiln!¡± In the chaos, some even lost their shoes. Learning from the previous group¡¯s lesson, everyone acted quickly this time. ¡°Open the kiln!¡± ¡°Put in the clay figure!¡± ¡°Start the fire!¡± The firing of the clay figures began. While the monstrous figure strolled casually, inspecting the platform, it issued various instructions. As the travelers followed the instructions, they kept looking at Lin Baici. ¡°Handsome, if there are any steps it deliberately omits, you have to tell us, okay?¡± ¡°Stop talking, don¡¯t disturb the handsome guy, focus on the instructions!¡± ¡°May the heavens bless us! May the heavens bless us!¡± The travelers were visibly tense, as jumpy as scared birds. Fifteen minutes later. ¡°It¡¯s time to reduce the fire and charcoal, three yuan!¡± Seeing that the clay figure didn¡¯t speak, Lin Baici quickly reminded them. This time, no one hesitated, and they immediately removed charcoal from the furnace. ... The firing process of the clay figures lasted less than thirty minutes, but to the travelers, it felt as long as traversing the eighteen levels of hell. Finally, when the clay figure uttered the words ¡®remove the charcoal,¡¯ ¡®extinguish the fire,¡¯ ¡®open the kiln,¡¯ the travelers felt a sense of relief as if they had been freed. Several women, overwhelmed with tension, relaxed their nerves and wet their pants. The travelers were crying tears of joy. After taking the clay figures out of the kilns, they immediately ran over to Lin Baici to thank him. ¡°Handsome, thank you!¡± ¡°Pretty boy, I owe you one!¡± ¡°Do you have a girlfriend? I have a daughter, she¡¯s eight this year, in the third grade, and she¡¯s very beautiful!¡± The passengers surrounded Lin Baici, thanking him and also trying to get familiar and build a good relationship, so that when Lin Baici saved people, he would save them first. ¡°[The young mother who said she had an eight-year-old daughter is fair-skinned, beautiful, and plump¡ªquite appetizing, worth considering!¡±] Upon hearing this, Lin Baici turned his head and glanced over. The woman was covered in mud, her face weary and wretched, and long gone was any hint of charm. ¡°[Of course, the highest quality ¡®milk source¡¯ is this Xia Hongyao. It¡¯s recommended to purchase the best fruits, vegetables, and grains to nourish her carefully.] ¡°[No pain, no gain¡ªdon¡¯t be afraid of trouble!] ¡°[A bottle of milk a day keeps the man strong at heart!¡±] ¡°Can you stop with the nonsense?¡± Lin Baici really wanted to know how to take down this mud creature. ¡°Very well, next up is the final step, the evaluation and scoring phase!¡± The mud creature declared loudly, ¡°Who volunteers to go first?¡± Everyone exchanged glances, full of apprehension, and finally their gazes settled on Lin Baici. Lin Baici remained unmoved. ¡°Since no one is stepping forward, I¡¯ll choose for myself.¡± The mud creature was clearly impatient and then pointed, ¡°You, come forward!¡± The unlucky one chosen was a middle-aged man. He immediately looked towards Lin Baici in panic and asked for help, ¡°Handsome, can you help me?¡± ¡°Come forward quickly, or you¡¯ll get zero marks!¡± The mud creature urged. The middle-aged man didn¡¯t dare to delay, hurriedly ran up to the mud creature, and when he saw it extending its hand, he nervously handed over his crafted mud figure. ¡°The facial features are not clear, lacking eyebrows and ears.¡± ¡°The limbs are mismatched in length!¡± ¡°Over-fired, covered in cracks!¡± ... The mud creature rattled off seven flaws at once, shaking its head in disappointment, having lost interest in further critiquing the mud figure. ¡°An eyesore, garbage¡ªzero points!¡± After saying this, the mud creature smashed the mud figure on the ground. Bang! The mud figure shattered, broken into pieces. The middle-aged man screamed and fell to the ground, his body as if having fallen from a skyscraper; he was bleeding profusely, bones smashed, twisted into an unrecognizable mess. The passengers shuddered and backed away, hoping to use the bodies of others as shields, because the flaws that the mud creature pointed out were also present on their mud figures. If they were chosen, it was a road to certain death. ¡°You, come here!¡± The mud creature chose another. ¡°Buddy, come up with something fast!¡± The doomed man looked at Lin Baici with pleading eyes, seeing him as their last straw. ¡°[Next, you go up!] [Remember, once this creature finishes evaluating and tells you to step back, immediately smash the mud figure in your hand! Otherwise, it will come alive soon and snatch your heart!¡±] ¡°It¡¯s not over yet?¡± Lin Baici was startled; he thought that once the mud creature finished the evaluation, they¡¯d get through this god-fearing game, but now he had to fight the mud figure he shaped? Truly a pitfall. Sure enough, a 5.0 intensity contamination on the rules, the survival rate extremely low. The middle-aged man scored forty points, which was not considered passing. As the mud creature smashed the mud figure, the middle-aged man bit down hard, launching a desperate attack, but he didn¡¯t even touch the mud creature before it crushed his head with a slap. ¡°Next!¡± The mud creature seemed as if it had squashed a mosquito, completely indifferent, and its right hand lifted, ready to call the next name. ¡°I¡¯ll go!¡± Lin Baici raised his hand. Whoosh! Everyone looked over, their faces filled with shock. ¡°Little Linzi, have you figured something out?¡± Xia Hongyao¡¯s expression was excited. Ma Yuan and 18D also looked on with anticipation. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try first. If I can make it, you guys follow what I do!¡± Lin Baici said this and walked toward the mud creature. ¡°Brother Lin, there¡¯s no need to take risks yourself, let others go first!¡± 18D quietly urged, ¡°The people here would surely be willing to try your way to survive.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go!¡± Lin Baici smiled. ¡°Little Linzi, I¡¯ll go!¡± Xia Hongyao grabbed Lin Baici, ¡°You¡¯ve helped me so much, it¡¯s time for me to step up. After all, I am the team leader. If the sky falls, I should be the one to bear it, rather than letting my team members take the risk!¡± ¡°...¡± Lin Baici was taken aback; he found that Xia Hongyao was very serious when she said that. ¡°[This girl is sincere. What a noble soul, indeed. Look at that scent she gives off, so tempting!¡±] ¡°[I want to eat.] [Recommend steaming it!¡±] Eater God¡¯s tone was filled with salivation. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve always been lucky!¡± Xia Hongyao patted Lin Baici¡¯s shoulder, took her mud figure and headed towards the mud creature. Smack! Lin Baici grabbed her arm. ¡°Stop messing around!¡± Lin Baici couldn¡¯t help but smile, though he also felt a bit moved. This High Ponytail girl, She¡¯s considerate! ¡°You all just wait safely!¡± In full view of everyone, Lin Baici walked towards the mud creature. He wasn¡¯t displaying any signs of nervousness, fear, or the kind of resolute expression that comes from facing death. Instead, he was completely calm, as if what he was about to confront wasn¡¯t a terror who killed at will, but rather a lame, old dog rummaging for food in a pile of trash. ¡°Good courage!¡± Ma Yuan inwardly praised! Chapter 51 - 51 51 Raw Food Expert Lin Baici_1 ?51: Chapter 51: Raw Food Expert Lin Baici_1 51: Chapter 51: Raw Food Expert Lin Baici_1 On the red clay platform, silence reigned supreme. There was no breeze to dissipate the residual warmth from the kiln, making the heat oppressively muggy. The clay sculpture monster scrutinized Lin Baici¡¯s work intently. ¡°The facial features are clear!¡± Even the ear¡¯s helix had been sculpted; the two eyebrows were also very similar to the actual person. ¡°The limbs are slender!¡± The T-shirt clung to the clay figure¡¯s stomach, revealing the abs underneath. The clay sculpture monster turned its head toward Lin Baici¡¯s own stomach. Lin Baici stretched his right hand behind him and pulled back on his shirt, making the T-shirt tightly contour his abdomen, highlighting the muscular definition. ¡°Distinct personal characteristics, it¡¯s a sculpture of himself!¡± The clay sculpture monster handed the clay figure back to Lin Baici, ¡°Apart from not being as lifelike and having some differences from the actual appearance, the rest is quite good. Ninety points!¡± The corner of the clay sculpture monster¡¯s mouth curled up, revealing a smile. This time, it was not mockery but satisfaction and appreciation for Lin Baici¡¯s craftsmanship. An ordinary person who had never touched clay sculpting could achieve this level on the first try¡ªan indication of overflowing talent and rare gift. ¡°He indeed passed!¡± ¡°Genius is genius, they can perfect the same task that others cannot!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t argue with that!¡± The travelers were green with envy. ¡°Step down!¡± The clay sculpture monster looked at the crowd, ready to pick the next person. ¡°Thank you!¡± Lin Baici seemed respectful, but as soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly exerted all his strength in his right hand and smashed the clay figure in his hand into the face of the clay sculpture monster. Logically, smashing it on the ground and stomping it to pieces would have been the most rational approach, but Lin Baici, having participated in such a terrifying taboo game, had a fire brooding in his belly. He simply couldn¡¯t swallow his anger without landing a blow on this monster. Bang! The clay figure hit the clay sculpture monster¡¯s face, dismembering its arms and legs, but most of the body didn¡¯t shatter. ¡°Ah?¡± The travelers were stunned, their exclamations filled with shock. What are you doing? You¡¯ve passed the test, so why hit that clay sculpture monster? But what scared them even more was the appearance of a three-meter-high Buddha statue. Hmm! It should have been a Buddha statue¡ªit had head bumps that resembled those of the Tathagata Buddha, with long, drooping ears and a string of prayer beads around its neck... But the problem was, this thing¡¯s body was covered in bulging muscles, as if it had been fed protein powder since childhood. Veins bulged on its skin like earthworms, exuding a violent and ferocious aura. Right, It was only wearing a pair of leather shorts. The Muscle Buddha appeared, twisting its waist and swinging its limbs; its right fist like a cannonball first struck the clay figure that hadn¡¯t yet fallen, and then continued, heavily slamming it into the clay sculpture monster¡¯s face. Bang! The clay sculpture monster was sent flying, its face somewhat indented. The clay figure that Lin Baici had sculpted was, under this ferocious punch, turned directly into a clump of clay dust that dispersed into the air. ¡°Fuck it!¡± Lin Baici held a pine torch in his right hand, swiftly drew it across the ground to ignite it, but in the next instant, he disappeared from the spot. ¡°Where did he go? How could he disappear like that?¡± ¡°Could it be that smashing the clay figure means you can leave?¡± ¡°He must have left this cursed place, right?¡± The travelers looked around anxiously yet with a glimmer of hope. A male traveler, whose clay figure was poorly made and who knew he definitely couldn¡¯t pass, threw his clay figure forcefully on the ground and stomped on it repeatedly. This was his last hope. Thud! Thud! The clay figure shattered. Everyone turned to look. ¡°Why haven¡¯t I left this place? That¡¯s not fair!¡± The male traveler cried out in despair. The next instant, his body burst with a bang, exploding into pieces, with blood and viscera splattering everywhere. ¡°It seems you can only leave if you smash the clay figure after it¡¯s been reviewed!¡± Xia Hongyao muttered as she lifted her foot to approach the clay sculpture monster for a review. ¡°Don¡¯t rush, let others try first!¡± Ma Yuan pulled Xia Hongyao back. ¡°There¡¯s no time, with Lin Bai out there, he¡¯s definitely going to be targeted by Black Shark Triton. I need to help him!¡± Xia Hongyao tried to break free from Ma Yuan¡¯s grip. ¡°Red Medicine, stay calm!¡± Ma Yuan didn¡¯t let go. You must be joking, This was Xia Hongmian¡¯s younger sister. If she died here, he¡¯d definitely be blamed by Xia Hongmian, and the consequences would be worse than death. The thought of Xia Hongmian¡¯s terrifying achievements made Ma Yuan¡¯s grip on Xia Hongyao¡¯s hand even tighter. ¡°Let¡¯s wait a bit more, surely someone will try Lin Baici¡¯s method. Let¡¯s not be rash.¡± Ma Yuan advised, ¡°Besides, Lin Baici is so smart and has already witnessed Black Shark Triton¡¯s strength; he will surely run away!¡± Xia Hongyao, upon hearing this, also felt it made sense. Lin Baici, unable to defeat Black Shark Triton, would surely be able to escape, given his intelligence that rivalled that of Holmes. ... In front of Lin Baici, a sandstorm raged. He looked around and found he was still in a train carriage, except that the carriage¡¯s windows were broken, and a layer of sand had already accumulated on the floor. ¡°I¡¯m out!¡± Lin Baici swung his fist in excitement. Gurgle! A strong sense of hunger struck instantly, causing his stomach to cramp. [A delicious meal awaits at the end of the train!] Lin Baici began to run. In the carriage, there lay numerous corpses. It took Lin Baici only two minutes to rush to the end of the train car. His gaze swept around before finally settling on the luggage rack above seat number two. There was a silver pull rod suitcase on top. Lin Baici hurried over and took down the pull rod suitcase. After letting Muscle Buddha smash it open with an iron fist, Lin Baici saw inside a mud doll about a foot long. The mud doll was genderless, wearing no clothes, its limbs grotesquely twisted. Its belly was large, as if pregnant. On its face, half was a smile, the other half a cry, its large tongue sticking out, making a mocking grimace. ¡°What is this thing?¡± Lin Baici frowned deeply. At first glance, he felt physically uncomfortable, much like those props used to scare people in horror films. [An ugly mud doll, liked by no one but perhaps the mentally ill. Yet, on this doll, there is a trace of delicious Divine Grace!] ¡°Divine Grace?¡± Lin Baici¡¯s eyes brightened, but then he became worried, ¡°Won¡¯t absorbing it cause damage to the body?¡± Who knew if this mud doll was like those poisonous mushrooms, that after eating them, one would start to see little people and even dance with them? Eater God didn¡¯t seem inclined to answer. It directly took action. From each side of Lin Baici¡¯s shoulders, a translucent arm that seemed to be made of condensed starlight extended. They reached above the mud doll, and with a grasp in the air, they pulled out a fist-sized ball of light from the body of the mud doll. The ball of light was like a soap bubble, iridescent, with a pale golden sphere inside, like a mini sun. [Thanks be to the God¡¯s gift!] After Eater God finished its prayer, it stuffed the ball of light into Lin Baici¡¯s mouth. The soap bubble burst, and the golden sphere melted upon entry, pouring into Lin Baici¡¯s stomach like a cup of warm milk. A feeling of fullness immediately arose, making Lin Baici as comfortable as a wild cat basking in the gentle spring sun. Along with that came some mysterious knowledge imprinted in his mind. However, this delightful sensation lasted less than three seconds before Lin Baici had time to comprehend the knowledge, such as what ¡®Red Rolling Stone¡¯ meant? A stronger sense of hunger was born. This time, Lin Baici felt like a famine victim who hadn¡¯t eaten for half a year, his stomach beginning to spasm. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Lin Baici instinctively looked towards the mud doll, feeling an urge to devour it raw. [There¡¯s actually a piece of God¡¯s bones inside this mud doll?] [I¡¯ve hit the jackpot! Hit the jackpot!] [Indeed, a horse won¡¯t get fat without night grazing, and a person won¡¯t get rich without unearned wealth!] [This meal is so filling, I¡¯d have to walk against the wall!] The voice of Eater God was filled with delight, like someone who went out to buy groceries and casually picked up a lottery ticket that won a million yuan. ¡°God¡¯s bones?¡± Lin Baici¡¯s expression brightened, and he immediately flipped the mud doll over for inspection, hoping to find a seam to extract the God¡¯s bones. But there were not even slight cuts on the mud doll, let alone any seams, its entire body seamlessly one. [Smash it and take out the God¡¯s bones!] [My stomach can no longer bear this hunger!] Eater God urged. Lin Baici did not hesitate. Xia Hongyao and the others were still suffering from rule pollution, and without the black coffin, Lin Baici couldn¡¯t seal the Taboo thing. If he wanted to save them, he had no choice but to destroy it. Now that there¡¯s still a piece of God¡¯s bones inside, there is even less reason to show mercy. Lin Baici placed the bizarre-looking, unsettling clay figurine on the ground, raised the pine torch, and smashed down hard. Bang! Cracks appeared on the clay figurine, but it did not break. Lin Baici struck again. Bang! More cracks appeared, and a piece of the clay figurine¡¯s finger fell off. ... After bandaging his wounds, Black Shark Triton anxiously waited while keeping an eye on the surroundings. Thanks to the Nine States government¡¯s tight control over information related to Divine Ruins, ordinary people knew very little about such calamities. The sand was whirling here, and even if someone saw it, they¡¯d think it was just a sandstorm. Moreover, this place was remote, surrounded by mountains and rivers, with only a few scattered fields and hardly any people in sight. But it wasn¡¯t just the Nine States; other countries also refrained from disclosing information about God-related disasters, mainly because the nature of Gods was beyond comprehension, and nobody had figured out their origin so far. Like the God that appeared in Montana, Pretty Country 26 years ago, a local television station reported it and published a photo taken by a citizen by chance. The result was that all 400,000+ citizens who saw this image on TV were contaminated, their intelligence regressed to the level of an infant. The radiation contamination brought by Gods was terrifying; it was indefensible, so since then, discussion of such topics has been banned in all countries. Upon discovery, content would be immediately censored and accounts deleted, and in severe cases, one would be invited for a coffee. ¡°Once the rule contamination ends, recover the ¡®Clay God Doll,¡¯ scavenge the corpses, lick the spoils, and get the loot¡ªI¡¯ll immediately cross the mountain to leave, enter a nearby village, and steal a motorcycle to use as transportation!¡± Black Shark Triton planned his route to avoid being tracked as much as possible. ¡°Huh?¡± Black Shark Triton suddenly looked up. The sand flying in the air was falling with a rustling sound, becoming sparse and increasing visibility. The ¡®sandstorm¡¯ was shrinking! This meant the rule contamination had ended. All the people on the train, including those annoying Jiuzhou Dragon Guards, were dead. ¡°Haha!¡± Black Shark Triton laughed out loud and immediately ran towards the end of the train¡ªhe was going to retrieve the ¡®Clay God Doll.¡¯ But when he rushed into the carriage, he saw the boy who had killed the octopus ball holding a torch and fiercely smashing the Clay God Doll. ¡°F*ck, what¡¯s going on?¡± Black Shark Triton¡¯s eyes bulged as if they were two big light bulbs. Why is there still someone alive? This is a taboo game with a contamination strength of 5.0; even Leopard Head would die if involved. In the Nine States, God Hunters also had levels. The so-called Leopard Head referred to a God Hunter who possessed ten Divine Graces and had played a main role in conquering three Divine Ruins. A look of shocked anger appeared on Black Shark Triton¡¯s face. Although he didn¡¯t want to believe it emotionally, his reason told him that the beardless boy in front of him had successfully emerged from the Clay God Doll¡¯s rule contamination. A genius! He would achieve great things in the future. But running into me, your bright future will end today! Chapter 52 - 52 52 Floating Night Rain Wild Buddha Blowing a Lamp!_1 ?52: Chapter 52 Floating Night Rain, Wild Buddha Blowing a Lamp!_1 52: Chapter 52 Floating Night Rain, Wild Buddha Blowing a Lamp!_1 On the train, Black Shark Triton¡¯s killer instinct surged, but the next instant, his gaze involuntarily fell on that mud figure god puppet. Its stomach was shattered to more than half, revealing a meatball the size of a walnut. ¡°God¡¯s... God¡¯s bones?¡± Black Shark Triton was utterly shocked; this should be Divine Remains, but why would it be inside the belly of a mud figure god puppet? Wait a minute! Could it be that Nine Dragons Hall knew there was this thing inside the stomach of the taboo thing all along? The employer for this mission to the Lost Coast was none other than Nine Dragons Hall. That head of the hall had offered a hefty sum. Black Shark Triton stared intently at that meatball, his face covered in ecstasy. This was God¡¯s bones, priceless, a valuable resource that all major organizations would go to any lengths to plunder! If the Lost Coast had a piece of Divine Remains, its value would skyrocket in an instant, becoming a target that all parties would actively seek to ingratiate themselves with. [The ingredient has arrived, and due to its strong body odor, it is recommended to char-grill it and add plenty of spices.] Eater God¡¯s culinary note. Lin Baici turned his head, facing Black Shark Triton¡¯s ferocious and greedy eyes. ¡°Get lost!¡± Black Shark Triton roared, ¡°It¡¯s mine!¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t back down; he stuffed the hem of his kasaya into his belt and raised the burning torch. Muscle Buddha appeared in front of him. ¡°Don¡¯t touch the God¡¯s bones, and I will spare your life!¡± Black Shark Triton glanced at the torch in Lin Baici¡¯s hand, this taboo thing; he didn¡¯t care about Lin Baici himself but was mainly worried that the boy would damage the Divine Remains. Even losing a sesame-sized piece would be a huge loss. ¡°Get lost!¡± Black Shark Triton scolded. Lin Baici was still contemplating tactics when suddenly a crack appeared on that walnut-sized meatball on the ground, like the eye of a god opening. A pallid eyeball emerged. Swish! The eyeball moved. A terrifying spiritual pressure swept across the entire scene. In that instant, both Lin Baici and Black Shark Triton felt their hearts tremble, nearly stopping dead, as they felt themselves to be meager and insignificant, like insects, being looked down upon by a god. Thump! Black Shark Triton¡¯s legs gave out, and he instinctively knelt down, bowing his head, not daring to maintain eye contact with that eyeball, as if that were an act of presumption and offense. Lin Baici stood still, unmoved. ¡°Is this the eyeball of a god?¡± Lin Baici¡¯s thoughts churned like turbulent waves, a mess in his mind. That pallid eyeball took a deep look at Lin Baici, then the crack closed, but Black Shark Triton was not much better off. He felt dizzy, nauseated, like throwing up, his whole body shaking as if clutching a piece of deck in a 40-degree fever, struggling through a stormy sea. ¡°It¡¯s the radiation from the God¡¯s bones!¡± Black Shark Triton knew his state was due to the horrifying radiation from the Divine Remains, having experienced it once before, though not as overwhelmingly as now. He even felt he was about to die. His bodily functions were rapidly deteriorating. Couldn¡¯t delay any longer! Black Shark Triton glared at Lin Baici, fiercely bit the tip of his tongue, and forcefully spat out a mouthful of blood. The blood did not hit the ground; in midair, it coalesced into several blood-colored sharks. In a swoosh, like bullets, they sped towards Lin Baici. Blood Shark Bite! This was Black Shark Triton¡¯s strongest Divine Grace, his trump card of survival. As these blood sharks sped towards Lin Baici, they also rapidly divided, grew larger, and in the blink of an eye, they were over a meter long, thirty or forty of them. Muscle Buddha swung his fists, intercepting. But he only blew up three. With a flick of their tails, the blood sharks easily dodged it, continuing straight for Lin Baici. Lin Baici didn¡¯t panic. He quickly retreated, took a deep breath, and activated his Divine Grace! A Buddha figure manifested behind Lin Baici. The Buddha figure¡¯s eyes were tightly closed, seated in lotus position upon a lotus seat. In front of its chest, its hands were bound inside with interlocked thumbs, while the index and middle fingers of both hands stood erect and united, forming a mudra of truth. Suddenly, a fine rain began to fall in the air, quickly wetting everything inside the carriage. ¡°What kind of Divine Grace is this?¡± Black Shark Triton¡¯s expression became severe, also filled with a tinge of terror. When those fine droplets of rain fell upon the blood sharks, a flame appeared atop their heads, like oil lamps being ignited. Black Shark Triton looked up, and although he couldn¡¯t see anything, he knew there was also a flame above his head because he could feel the warmth. It was the flame of life, the warmth of the soul. ¡°Damn, why does this guy seem unaffected by the radiation of God¡¯s bones?¡± Black Shark Triton noticed another problem. The swarm of blood sharks had already rushed up to Lin Baici, one already opening its big mouth, biting his arm. However, in the next instant, Lin Baici¡¯s big move arrived. The seated Buddha figure behind him suddenly exhaled a breath. Floating Night Rain, Wild Buddha blowing a lamp! Whoosh! There was no raging wind, no flying sands or rolling stones, just a cool night breeze as refreshing as that on a summer evening. But after being swept by this gentle wind, the flames on top of the blood sharks instantly extinguished, just like the flame of an oil lamp blown out. Pop, pop, pop! The bodies of the blood sharks shattered the moment their flames went out, dispersing into the air. Black Shark Triton was completely numb. This kid¡¯s Divine Grace, so strong! Black Shark Triton¡¯s condition was terrible under the radiation of the Divine Remains, and after witnessing this horrifying scene, he suddenly felt the urge to retreat, but it was already too late. A breeze, brushed across his face, so cooling that Black Shark Triton couldn¡¯t help but hum with pleasure. Then the next moment, he crashed to the ground with a thump, breathless. The flame atop his head, his life flame, had been directly extinguished by the breath of the Wild Buddha. Lin Baici, holding a torch, prepared for battle, only to be stunned as Black Shark Triton crashed to the ground. ¡°Dead?¡± The opponent seemed to have stopped breathing. Was ¡°Floating Night Rain, Wild Buddha blowing a lamp,¡± this Divine Grace, really that powerful? [The creature¡¯s bodily functions had already declined significantly under the radiation from God¡¯s bones, which is why your Divine Grace was able to kill it instantly!] The Eater God commented. ¡°You¡¯re not planning on making me eat this thing, are you?¡± Lin Baici¡¯s head ached. If God¡¯s bones were still like the kind he had seen before at the Dragon Temple¡¯s God¡¯s ruins, akin to dried beef jerky, Lin Baici might have taken a bite, but this one was an eyeball and apparently still alive. [Upon consuming God¡¯s bones of this rank, humans will be immediately irradiated by God¡¯s Ability, turning into a monstrous mutation, what humans call monsters.] ¡°What do I do now?¡± Not having to eat the thing, Lin Baici sighed with relief. But if he was honest with himself, there was still an urge to take a bite. The Eater God did not respond. Lin Baici did not expect the Eater God to have all the answers. He quickly ran towards the corpse of Black Shark Triton. Since he dared to use Taboo things, he must have brought the Black Tripod Bowl with him. How else would he seal it? Lin Baici did not know if the Black Tripod Bowl could seal God¡¯s bones, but it had to be safer than just putting it straight into the Black Tripod Bowl, right? Black Shark Triton was thoroughly dead. He had a fanny pack. Lin Baici undid it and opened it to find a compact wallet, a set of keys, and a cell phone. Besides that, there were two cherry-sized black mechanical metal spheres. ¡°These must be the Black Tripod Bowls, right?¡± On the mechanically-inclined black metal sphere, there was a button. Lin Baici, holding the sphere, ran back to the Little Clay Man deity, smashed its belly open, and scooped out the ¡®meaty ball¡¯-shaped God¡¯s bones. He pressed the metal sphere against the God¡¯s bones and pressed the button. Click! Click! Click! The metal sphere opened, releasing strips of black mechanical ribbons that instantly wrapped around the God¡¯s bones tightly, making them look like a mummy. Lin Baici briefly inspected them before placing them in the Black Tripod Bowl and then picked up the pine torch to completely smash the Little Clay Man deity. The swirling yellow sand vanished rapidly. ... ¡°The facial features aren¡¯t clear enough!¡± ¡°Personal characteristics are not distinct!¡± The Little Clay Man monster was critiquing the figures baked by 18D. ¡°Fifty points, unsatisfactory!¡± 18D trembled all over, his mind completely dazed. I¡¯m going to die, aren¡¯t I? 18D wanted to fight back, but recalling those unfortunate souls who were smacked to pieces by the Little Clay Man monster as if swatting mosquitoes, he lost all courage. He simply put his hands over his head, closed his eyes, and played the turtle by shrinking back. But after waiting for more than ten seconds, he wasn¡¯t attacked. Huh? Could it be that I¡¯m special? The chosen one of fate? This Little Clay Man monster is planning to spare me? When 18D opened his eyes, he noticed that the red clay pit, the kiln platform, and the most terrifying Little Clay Man monster had all disappeared. The disordered carriage and those passengers who had survived a disaster came into view. ¡°I¡¯m back?¡± 18D was stunned and then he burst into tears. Mom, I want to go home! I want to eat the braised pork you cook! ... When Xia Hongyao and Ma Yuan rushed over, Lin Baici was getting used to the Divine Grace he had just absorbed from the ¡®Little Clay Man deity,¡¯ one of the Taboo things. This Divine Grace was named ¡®Red Rolling Stone.¡¯ Lin Baici hadn¡¯t figured it out yet and when he saw Xia Hongyao and the other person, he immediately stopped releasing God¡¯s Ability, and the red clay Little Clay Man he had summoned crumbled into dust in an instant. Divine Grace, a powerful trump card like that, obviously couldn¡¯t be let known to others. ¡°Little Linzi!¡± Xia Hongyao rushed over, full of curiosity, ¡°What happened? Why did the contamination of the rules end?¡± Ma Yuan, being more meticulous and observant than Xia Hongyao, noticed Black Shark Triton lying on the ground at first glance. ¡°Dead?¡± Ma Yuan was shocked and hurried over to check the body. Did this young man kill him? Surely not, right? This man was one of the main members of the Lost Coast, incomparable to those wild God Hunters who fended for themselves. ¡°I got lucky and ambushed Black Shark Triton, killing him!¡± Lin Baici shrugged. ¡°Did you really kill him?¡± Ma Yuan was flabbergasted. But why are there no wounds on this body? What method did you use to ambush him? It seems this kid has a strangely powerful Divine Grace. ¡°Ah?¡± Xia Hongyao was startled, then burst out laughing, and heartily slapped Lin Baici¡¯s chest, ¡°Impressive, indeed the man I¡¯ve set my sights on!¡± Hearing this, Ma Yuan wanted to roll his eyes. Xia Hongmian was such a cunning woman; how could she have a sister with the same intellect as Sled Dogs? Are you two even blood related? Don¡¯t you have any doubts about what this kid is saying? Chapter 53 - 53 53 Million Dollar Prize_1 ?53: Chapter 53: Million Dollar Prize_1 53: Chapter 53: Million Dollar Prize_1 Not far away, the cries and arguments of travelers could be heard. ¡°Little Linzi, don¡¯t be so reckless in the future, run when you should!¡± After Xia Hongyao finished laughing, she solemnly reminded Lin Baici, ¡°You¡¯re a newcomer, facing against the main members of the Lost Coast, there¡¯s no shame in running away, and you might not be so lucky to win every time!¡± ¡°Mhm!¡± Lin Baici nodded. He gratefully accepted High Ponytail¡¯s kindness. His Divine Grace and Fusheng Night Rain, coupled with Wild Buddha blowing a lamp, although powerful in damage, it wasn¡¯t easy to kill Black Shark Triton. This time it was entirely because that guy was severely injured by the radiation from the eyeball God¡¯s bones. Under normal circumstances, Black Shark Triton could not defeat Lin Baici but could easily escape. ¡°Regardless, I admire your courage to confront such a formidable enemy!¡± Ma Yuan extended his right hand towards Lin Baici, ¡°Let¡¯s get to know each other again, Jiuzhou Security Bureau, Qiantang Sub-bureau, Ma Yuan, thank you for your assistance!¡± ¡°Lin Baici, prospective newcomer of Haijing Polytechnic.¡± Lin Baici smiled and shook hands with Ma Yuan. ¡°This kid is really handsome!¡± Ma Yuan was envious; with looks like that, even if he was as poor as church mice, penniless, he wouldn¡¯t lack girls in university. But having killed Black Shark Triton, he wouldn¡¯t lack money either. Ma Yuan laughed heartily, ¡°Bai Ci, the Lost Coast is a dark organization, they¡¯ve done a lot of evil deeds, so the Security Bureau has issued bounties on these villains.¡± ¡°Bounty?¡± Lin Baici¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°How much?¡± ¡°The head of Black Shark Triton, one million yuan!¡± After Ma Yuan spoke, he sighed, not because he envied Lin Baici for getting the bounty but because this should have been their mission, and they had failed. It would be embarrassing if this got out! ¡°One million?¡± Lin Baici was shocked, with one million, wouldn¡¯t he live a fantastic university life for four years? ¡°When can I get it?¡± ¡°You need to wait until the official personnel confirm Black Shark Triton¡¯s body, making sure it¡¯s the genuine article, and after understanding the detailed process!¡± Ma Yuan was familiar with the process, ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here, I will help you urge them to speed up the process, trying to get you the bounty within two months!¡± ¡°Thanks, Brother Ma!¡± Lin Baici was grateful. Once the bounty comes in, buy a good phone, a laptop, and a GoPro action camera. Work hard on making videos, striving to earn a million fans soon and make big money, to buy a big house for mom. ¡°No problem!¡± Ma Yuan was amiable. This boy had performed exceptionally well this time, and seeing Xia Hongyao¡¯s attitude towards him, she seemed to appreciate him very much, looking to recruit him into the Jiuzhou Security Bureau. With his ability, he was likely to rise to prominence quickly. It was good to get on friendly terms with him now for future cooperation. In the hunter circle, powerful God Hunters are sought after by everyone. Because entering God¡¯s ruins with a strong teammate greatly increases everyone¡¯s survival rate. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s not that complicated, I saw it with my eyes, I¡¯ll just let my sister... uh, let the deputy minister approve the bounty for you!¡± Xia Hongyao took charge confidently, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯re a member of my team, no one dares to withhold your money!¡± ¡°...¡± Ma Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched upon hearing this. Dammit! When it comes to showing favor, he couldn¡¯t compete with Xia Hongyao! ¡°Bai Ci, what about Black Shark Triton¡¯s Taboo things?¡± Ma Yuan started to handle the official matters according to the procedures. ¡°Here!¡± Lin Baici pointed to a pile of dirt on the ground, ¡°It was a clay figurine. To save you all, I smashed it!¡± ¡°Ah? Smashed?¡± Ma Yuan, distressed, immediately ran to the pile of dirt, squatted down to inspect, and could vaguely make out parts of the clay figurine¡¯s body. Such a shame! A Taboo thing capable of creating a pollution intensity of 5.0 disaster could have been a great feat if brought back intact. Wait a minute. Wasn¡¯t there also a nautilus shell? Ma Yuan turned his head, glanced at Lin Baici, then at Xia Hongyao, and discreetly refrained from asking. Ah! How envious! That was a Taboo thing capable of resisting pollution once, highly sought after in the black market underground. Ma Yuan did not know that although the nautilus shell was good, the most valuable thing was the eyeball God¡¯s bones. ¡°Brother Lin!¡± 18D had searched for a while and finally saw Lin Baici, immediately running over. ¡°Brother Lin, from today on, you are family to me, my wife is your wife, and I have a sister who¡¯s a high school freshman this year...¡± 18D rambled. ¡°Looking for Bai Ci as your brother-in-law is a gain for your sister, right?¡± Ma Yuan joked. 18D took one look at Lin Baici¡¯s face and decided, no need for his matchmaking; if his sister saw him, she would definitely chase after him. ¡°I get what you mean, no need to thank me!¡± Lin Baici smiled. Some travelers also found Lin Baici, quickly came over, and thanked him. It could be said that every living person now owed Lin Baici their life. ¡°It was just a helping hand, no need to thank me anymore!¡± Lin Baici looked up at the sky. The sun was setting, It was evening. ¡°Can I go now? If I miss the university enrollment period, the school will think I¡¯m not attending anymore!¡± Lin Baici was worried. The registration time was just three days in total. ¡°According to the normal process, professionals would ask you some questions and make some confidentiality reminders, telling you not to talk recklessly,¡± Ma Yuan laughed, ¡°Of course, you don¡¯t need to!¡± The Security Bureau didn¡¯t want ordinary people to know too much about divine disasters, so they had always been blocking various kinds of information, conducting strict investigations. Any posts on the internet vaguely related to such content would be immediately censored. If netizens used illegal means to browse foreign websites, they could expect a visit from the Security Bureau the next day and be invited for a ¡°tea session.¡± ¡°Thank you, Brother Ma!¡± Having connections made things much easier; otherwise, going through the full set of procedures, Lin Baici would be lucky to leave the day after tomorrow. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it!¡± Ma Yuan patted Lin Baici¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Captain Ma, I¡¯ll leave the aftermath here to you!¡± Xia Hongyao was never interested in the nitty-gritty work of wrapping things up, and besides, she had to talk to Lin Baici and didn¡¯t have time to stay. ¡°Alright!¡± Ma Yuan glanced at Lin Baici enviously. In his time, Ma Yuan had gotten his position by passing the Security Bureau¡¯s assessment and then climbing up the ranks step by step through his own efforts. But Lin Baici clearly didn¡¯t need to do that; with Xia Hongyao¡¯s guarantee, he could gain entry without an exam, and as a member of such a leader¡¯s team, there were many benefits. However, thinking about Lin Baici¡¯s previous performance in the Taboo game, Ma Yuan felt relieved. The man deserved Xia Hongyao¡¯s generous affection. ¡°Little Linzi, let¡¯s go!¡± Xia Hongyao already had arrangements, ¡°Let¡¯s leave here, hail a taxi on the highway, find a hotel in the nearest city to stay for the night, then set off tomorrow morning. What do you think?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Currently covered in mud, Lin Baici was a mess. He figured he couldn¡¯t catch a taxi without overpaying, as drivers would avoid him for being dirty. After retrieving her luggage from the train, Xia Hongyao set off with Lin Baici. They left the railway, walking for about half an hour until they reached a rural road. Asking for directions and hailing a cab took nearly two hours, but they finally arrived at the nearest city, An Yao. It was already dark. Xia Hongyao was much less fussy about living standards than Jin Ying, casually picking out a budget hotel and leading Lin Baici inside. The receptionist was a girl in her twenties, surprised by the sight of Xia Hongyao and Lin Baici covered in mud. What happened here? Could it be that couples are now into some new kind of PLAY? And both of them are so good-looking. The receptionist¡¯s gaze inevitably drifted toward Xia Hongyao¡¯s chest. So big! The receptionist could hardly resist the urge to give them a squeeze. After spending five minutes to check in, Xia Hongyao and Lin Baici headed to the third floor room via the elevator. ¡°Go take a shower. We¡¯ll meet up here in fifteen minutes to buy a phone and grab some dinner,¡± Xia Hongyao said after making arrangements and entering her room with her room card to shower. Lin Baici couldn¡¯t stand being dirty anymore from the time in the red mud pond, so he quickly used his card to enter his room and shower. Compared to a five-star Hilton, this budget hotel¡¯s facilities were much more modest, and the bathroom was pitifully small, but it didn¡¯t matter. After all, it was only for one night. As Lin Baici undressed, he took out his phone and tried to turn it on by pressing and holding the power button once again, but there was no response. ¡°Ah!¡± Lin Baici sighed. Xia Hongyao had already mentioned it in the car. The radiation caused by Taboo things, if the pollution intensity reached 5.0 or above, like today¡¯s ¡®Mud Man God Puppet¡¯ which formed a ¡®mini God¡¯s Ruins,¡¯ would damage all electronic devices inside. Hence, the iPhone that Jin Ying gave Lin Baici was done for. ¡°Disappointing!¡± Lin Baici was heartbroken; it was the latest model, the best configuration¡ª a PRO MAX that cost more than ten thousand yuan¡ª and now it was broken. Lin Baici quickly showered. Fortunately, most of his belongings were safely stored inside the Black Tripod Bowl and had not been soaked by seawater. He changed into a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and slipped on a pair of Erke sports shoes. His backpack was all muddy and couldn¡¯t be carried on his back, but Lin Baici didn¡¯t want to leave the Black Tripod Bowl in the hotel room¡ª what if it got lost? So he had to carry it and planned to buy a new backpack as soon as they went downstairs. When Lin Baici opened the door, he saw Xia Hongyao waiting for him in the hallway. She wore pale blue quick-drying sports pants, a yoga tank top covered with a sun protection shirt. On her feet were a pair of flip-flops. [A very healthy and delectable woman, advisable to keep domestically, and then each morning you¡¯ll have a cup of delicious, nutritious fresh milk to drink!] ¡°All clean?¡± Xia Hongyao greeted Lin Baici with a smile when she saw him come out. Her attention then fell on the Black Tripod Bowl in his hands, her face filled with astonishment. What¡¯s he planning to do with that? Go begging for alms? ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Baici nodded while Xia Hongyao¡¯s still wet black hair was tied up in a High Ponytail, exuding a vibrant and energetic vibe. ¡°This thing...¡± Xia Hongyao began to reason, could it be that Lin Baici had a hygiene fetish and couldn¡¯t use public eating utensils? No, that can¡¯t be it! Even if he had a hygiene fetish, he wouldn¡¯t carry a begging bowl from a monk, right? That would be too conspicuous, drawing the entire restaurant¡¯s attention, and there was a high chance of being secretly recorded and turning into comedic video material online. Lin Baici wasn¡¯t that foolish, so there was only one possibility left. That bowl was a piece of Taboo item, that¡¯s why he had to keep it close to avoid losing it. As she arrived at this conclusion, Xia Hongyao¡¯s face showed excitement, and she eagerly looked at Lin Baici, awaiting his explanation. Chapter 54 - 54 54 Detective Enthusiast Xia Tuan - 1 ?54: Chapter 54: Detective Enthusiast Xia Tuan ¨C 1 54: Chapter 54: Detective Enthusiast Xia Tuan ¨C 1 ¡°It¡¯s called the Black Tripod Bowl, a Taboo thing,¡± Lin Baici explained. Xia Hongyao meant no harm, and with her intelligence D brain, even if she thought up ways to trick Lin Baici, he was confident he could see through them. Of course, the most important reason was that, through Ma Yuan¡¯s attitude towards Xia Hongyao, Lin Baici could tell that this girl seemed to have quite the background, and it appeared she had taken a liking to him and wanted to recruit him to her team! Lin Baici knew too little about the Divine Ruins, and now that he had encountered an official personnel worth befriending, he naturally wanted to convey his friendship by being honest. Furthermore, Lin Baici had already exposed himself, and with the resources of the official forces, finding out his details would be all too easy. Just like in today¡¯s situation, Lin Baici could tell that Ma Yuan wanted to ask about the whereabouts of the conch shell on Black Shark Triton, but since Xia Hongyao did not bring it up, he tactfully refrained from asking. As slow as Xia Hongyao might be, being an official personnel with duties, she couldn¡¯t possibly make mistakes on something as significant as a Taboo thing, since such items could cause rule pollution, leading to a severe casualty event. This high ponytail girl didn¡¯t mention the conch shell, obviously protecting Lin Baici and helping him secure advantages. Lin Baici remembered this favor. ¡°Hmm!¡± Xia Hongyao nodded, her expression composed, but her little tongue was so thrilled it nearly leaped for joy, ready to burst into song. Great Detective Xia, You¡¯re amazing! Xia Hongyao gave herself a thumbs-up. ¡°By the way, where is your torch? Don¡¯t leave it in the hotel, it¡¯s a minor issue if it¡¯s stolen, but if it causes rule pollution to leak out, that would be troublesome!¡± Xia Hongyao reminded. She was actually very curious about the effects of this ¡®Black Tripod Bowl,¡¯ but she also understood that some secrets shouldn¡¯t be pried into carelessly. For a God Hunter, Taboo things are their trump cards. Whether it¡¯s Breaking Divine Ruins, sealing Taboo things, containing God¡¯s bones, or fighting amongst hunters, if a Taboo thing is employed effectively, it could have a definitive impact. Therefore, God Hunters never ask or discuss the Taboo things others possess, and they don¡¯t even disclose whether an item is a Taboo thing or not. After all, even God Hunters often can¡¯t differentiate between ordinary items and Taboo things, and some average God Hunters still can¡¯t find the source when a Taboo thing causes rule pollution. ¡°Right here!¡± Lin Baici jiggled the bowl. ¡°Ah?¡± Xia Hongyao was stunned, then sharply inhaled a breath of cold air, ¡°Are you saying it has an internal space?¡± ¡°Right!¡± Lin Baici briefed her on the effects of the Black Tripod Bowl. ¡°Toxin purification? A big granary?¡± Xia Hongyao was envious indeed. After all, who wouldn¡¯t want to eat clean and healthy food? And that granary effect, wasn¡¯t it just too convenient? ¡°Little Linzi, if I may ask rudely, how did you become a God Hunter?¡± Xia Hongyao was curious. Lin Baici signaled Xia Hongyao to go back to her room, then briefly recounted his experience at Dragon Temple. After listening, Xia Hongyao was dumbfounded. ¡°Five hours, breaking a Divine Ruins?¡± Xia Hongyao looked at Lin Baici, ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°At most five and a half, but definitely no more than six!¡± Lin Baici recollected. ¡°And there were no other God Hunters present? Just ordinary people?¡± Xia Hongyao was astonished. ¡°Hmm!¡± Lin Baici nodded. ¡°...¡± Xia Hongyao was speechless, unsure how to reply. Each year, the meteorites that fall to Earth and manage to form Divine Ruins number in the dozens. Without the assistance of a God Hunter, it¡¯s almost impossible for ordinary people to walk out of there alive, let alone absorb Divine Grace and become a God Hunter. How do countries recruit their God Hunters? They select high-quality individuals from military academies or the army, and train and nurture them for five years, then accompany experienced God Hunters into the Divine Ruins. With luck, out of a hundred individuals, one or two become God Hunters. Within hunting circles, there¡¯s a concept of a ¡®wild¡¯ God Hunter, which refers to an ordinary person who, accompanied by a God Hunter, walks out of rule pollution and fortuitously absorbs Divine Grace from a Taboo thing. But even ¡®wild¡¯ hunters have to have a God Hunter¡¯s help to survive. A case like Lin Baici¡¯s¡ªa high school graduate who single-handedly passed at least five Taboo games, garnered Three Divine Graces, and then broke out of the Divine Ruins alive... According to what Xia Hongyao knew, in the past five years, there had only been three others with such an impressive debut. Now, those three are the brightest new stars in their respective countries. Thinking of this, Xia Hongyao grew excited, looking at Lin Baici as if seeing a precious stone covered in dust. I want him! With him, my team can surely become one of the top ten elite hunter teams in Nine States! Xia Hongyao didn¡¯t doubt Lin Baici¡¯s words, because such matters could be easily verified, and even if only fifty percent of what Lin Baici said was true, it would still suffice to demonstrate his remarkable abilities. ¡°Could you tell me more about your experience at Dragon Temple?¡± Xia Hongyao switched into detective mode, not only analyzing how much truth was in Lin Baici¡¯s story but also wanting to become more familiar with her new team member. This would give her more confidence when she asked her older sister for the quota-free entry spot. ¡°Let¡¯s walk and talk!¡± Lin Baici¡¯s phone was still broken. Hua Yue Yu and Jin Ying must be sending him messages every day, and since he hadn¡¯t replied for a day, he didn¡¯t know if they would be worried, but his mother definitely would be. ¡°Okay!¡± Xia Hongyao was moved as she listened to Lin Baici recount his experience. ¡°Little Linzi, you¡¯re so straightforward, unlike many hunters who are all secretive, deeply afraid others will learn about their meager possessions!¡± Xia Hongyao made up her mind to appoint Lin Baici as her deputy team leader. ... In the city, neon lights glittered. It was past eight o¡¯clock, and aside from various barbecue stalls, small restaurants, and massage parlors that were still open, establishments like service centers and phone stores had all closed. Left with no choice, Xia Hongyao hailed a taxi. ¡°Driver, take me to the nearest Wanda Plaza!¡± When Xia Hongyao got into the car, the taxi driver saw in the rearview mirror that the entire backseat was crammed full with two huge teddy bears. Mama mia, This girl is really generous! The taxi was driving a bit slow, and Xia Hongyao urged the driver several times. When they reached Wanda, Lin Baici wanted to pay, but Xia Hongyao stopped him. ¡°I¡¯m the team leader, let me take care of it!¡± Whenever Xia Hongyao went out with her teammates for food and fun, they never went Dutch; she always footed the bill. The two entered the well-lit mall. ¡°Do you have any particular preference for smartphone brands?¡± Xia Hongyao scanned the mobile phone experience stores on the first floor¡ªHuawei, Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo¡ªit was quite complete. ¡°No!¡± Lin Baici wasn¡¯t very familiar with these brands. ¡°Then let¡¯s go with Huawei!¡± Xia Hongyao quickened her pace, heading into Huawei¡¯s experience store. A male sales associate walked over: ¡°What model can I help you with?¡± Xia Hongyao glanced back at Lin Baici and knew from his expression that he was clueless. ¡°It¡¯s too late today, just buy two flagship models¡ªgood for taking photos, gaming, watching videos. Use those for now, and we can shop around when we have more time!¡± Xia Hongyao made a decision. ¡°Aren¡¯t they expensive?¡± Lin Baici was worried. Flagship models? Phones with such specs would definitely not be cheap. It¡¯s somewhat embarrassing for a man to express concern about affordability in front of a girl, but when Lin Baici thought about how the tuition and living expenses he brought with him were hard-earned by his mother, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to splurge. It¡¯s fine, Being poor now doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll be poor forever. Lin Baici consoled himself. ¡°The ones with similar specs, six or seven thousand?¡± Xia Hongyao wasn¡¯t picky about electronic products, as long as they worked. ¡°That expensive?¡± Lin Baici frowned. This price was equivalent to his living expenses for three months. ¡°You might want to consider this P series, there are some discounts with the purchase now!¡± The sales associate introduced. He quietly observed the two, listening to their conversation, unable to figure out their relationship. A couple? Doesn¡¯t seem like it! Friends? They don¡¯t have the local accent, so why are they in An Yao? This place isn¡¯t a tourist city either! And man, the attractiveness levels of this pair are off the charts. The sales associate couldn¡¯t help but take another look at the large teddy bear. ¡°Thanks, but no need.¡± Xia Hongyao declined, picked up a flagship demo unit, casually tapped a few times, tested the smoothness of opening APPs, then handed it to Lin Baici: ¡°Little Linzi, what do you think? Do you like the exterior?¡± ¡°Too expensive!¡± This was a significant issue. He was a student and couldn¡¯t afford it. ¡°Then this one it is!¡± Xia Hongyao turned to the sales associate: ¡°Please bring us two!¡± The male sales associate was somewhat bewildered; wasn¡¯t their decision made too hastily? It hadn¡¯t even been three minutes since they entered the store and made their choice! The sales associate didn¡¯t move, mainly worried that after all the hustle, if the customers decided against the purchase, it would lead to a hassle. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you going? Don¡¯t you have it in stock?¡± Xia Hongyao raised an eyebrow. ¡°Boss Xia, it¡¯s too expensive, let¡¯s look at others.¡± Lin Baici had just met Xia Hongyao, and calling her ¡®Hongyao¡¯ felt too intimate, but adding a surname seemed too distant, so he ended up settling for ¡®Boss Xia.¡¯ Xia Hongyao paused, not expecting Lin Baici to address her like that, and then a pleased expression appeared on her face. Boss Xia? This title is awesome! ¡°In less than two months, you¡¯ll get a million; what¡¯s there to worry about?¡± Xia Hongyao joked: ¡°By then, not to mention a phone, you could even buy a car worth over a hundred thousand!¡± ¡°...¡± Lin Baici thought to himself, the money hasn¡¯t arrived yet; what if it falls through? ¡°...¡± The sales associate, upon hearing this discussion, his eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Lin Baici. A million? A whole one hundred W? How do you get it? Where do you get it from? Just thinking that this tall young man was a millionaire made the sales associate feel like he¡¯d been given a mouthful of lemons, sour to the core. ¡°Haha, just teasing you. Your phone broke because of ¡®work,¡¯ so it can be expensed!¡± Actually, Xia Hongyao never intended to have Lin Baici spend money. ¡°Expense it?¡± Lin Baici certainly knew what that term meant, but I¡¯m not part of your Security Bureau, am I? ¡°Under normal circumstances, it couldn¡¯t be expensed, but this time it¡¯s a special situation!¡± Xia Hongyao considered Lin Baici a member of the preparatory team, and naturally, she wanted to secure such benefits for him. Of course, it was also to let Lin Baici enjoy the perks of joining the organization beforehand¡ªwhat if he refused? Right? He wouldn¡¯t refuse to become a Jiuzhou Dragon Guard, would he? Chapter 55 - 55 55 Annual Salary of 600000!_1 ?55: Chapter 55: Annual Salary of 600,000!_1 55: Chapter 55: Annual Salary of 600,000!_1 ¡°Will it cause you any trouble?¡± Lin Baici was worried. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just a matter of getting a smartphone reimbursed. The director won¡¯t make things difficult for me!¡± How much is that anyway? To break into Divine Ruins, God Hunters risk their lives, so the Security Bureau always ensures they¡¯re well-supplied. ¡°Besides, you saved the lives of over a hundred people!¡± Xia Hongyao patted Lin Baici on the shoulder, signaling him to feel free to use it. Lin Baici deserved it. The male clerk was even more envious. So you get your company to pay for everything without spending a dime of your savings? Who can tell me where their company is? I really want to report them, what should I do? The male clerk had all sorts of schemes running through his mind, but he was quick on his feet. ¡°Please wait a moment, I¡¯ll go get the smartphone!¡± The male clerk ran off. He knew he had misjudged, that the young man wasn¡¯t poor but habitually frugal. As Xia Hongyao went to the counter to pay with a card and was still waiting for the receipt, the clerk ran back. Lin Baici and Xia Hongyao unpacked the box, checked the phone to make sure there were no problems with its appearance, and then inserted their SIM cards into it. Power on! ¡°Let¡¯s go, time to eat!¡± Xia Hongyao was hungry and planned to treat Lin Baici to a big meal to celebrate their new acquaintance and surviving the rule pollution. ¡°Hold on, I need to download some apps!¡± Concerned about his data usage, Lin Baici smiled at the male clerk, ¡°Handsome, can I use your store¡¯s WIFI?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± The male clerk gave Lin Baici the password but internally he was ranting. You¡¯re a millionaire! You¡¯ll soon have a hundred thousand yuan in your bank account, yet you still want to use our shop¡¯s internet? After Lin Baici downloaded WeChat and validated his login with his phone number, dozens of messages immediately popped up. Little Merperson: Have you arrived at school yet? Little Merperson: Hey, hey, where¡¯s my Little Bai? Did I lose one so big? Lost? Little Merperson: Sister Fish is patrolling, quickly dress up, hands on your head, squat against the wall. Little Merperson: What¡¯s the matter? Where are you? At first, Hua Yue Yu was just casually chatting and joking around, but after sending seven or eight messages and getting no response, especially when Lin Baici should have already arrived according to his train schedule, she became worried. She made several calls, but none went through. Kim Myungjin sent fewer messages; the first one was predictably a ¡®Can I see this without spending money?¡¯ selfie to start off the conversation. The second and third messages were asking about Lin Baici¡¯s exact time of arrival at school and if he needed anything, telling him not to hesitate to ask. Lin Baici¡¯s mom was at work today, and when she didn¡¯t get through to him on a call over lunch, she sent a message asking where he was. Lin Baici continued to download common apps like QiDian, AutoNavi Maps, Taobao, and then he called his mom. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve arrived, I¡¯m fine, everything went smoothly.¡± ¡°Dinner? I¡¯ve eaten already, don¡¯t worry about it, my roommates are all nice!¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to take a walk around the campus, gotta hang up now!¡± To prevent his mom from worrying, Lin Baici told a little white lie and then opened Hua Yue Yu¡¯s WeChat messages. Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: Ran into a little trouble, it¡¯s resolved now, I¡¯ll arrive at the school tomorrow. Then he replied to the God Hunter¡ªalso known as Kim Myungjin¡ªand her WeChat. Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: I¡¯ll be there tomorrow, everything is fine, I don¡¯t need anything, thanks! Right after Lin Baici finished sending the messages, his phone started ringing. It was Hua Yue Yu. Lin Baici picked up. ¡°Little Bai, what kind of problem did you encounter?¡± Hua Yue Yu¡¯s tone was full of anxiety. Lin Baici could hear Hua Yue Yu¡¯s concern, which felt heartwarming, ¡°I ran into some trouble on the high-speed train!¡± ¡°Do you need help?¡± Hua Yue Yu was worried. ¡°It¡¯s already taken care of!¡± Other than his childhood friend Li Wei, Lin Baici didn¡¯t have many friends, especially not female friends, so Hua Yue Yu¡¯s concern gave him an unusual feeling. ¡°What kind of problem leaves you with no time to reply to WeChat?¡± Hua Yue Yu¡¯s heart brimmed with remorse: ¡°I heard that when someone doesn¡¯t reply to your WeChat, it¡¯s because you¡¯re not important to them!¡± Hua Yue Yu genuinely considered Lin Baici a friend. She wouldn¡¯t even bat an eyelid if he asked to borrow a million yuan right now¡ªshe¡¯d hand over her bank card without leaving anything for herself. So Lin Baici not responding to her messages made her feel like she wasn¡¯t very important to him, which left her feeling downcast. Lin Baici glanced at the male clerk, then walked outside the store to avoid being overheard, ¡°I encountered rule pollution on the high-speed train and it was a matter of life and death this afternoon.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Through the phone, Hua Yue Yu exclaimed in shock, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± ¡°No!¡± Lin Baici thought about the several hundred passengers who had died and sighed. ¡°Where are you now? I¡¯ll come to see you!¡± Hua Yue Yu was anxious; she was already getting dressed. ¡°I¡¯m in Anrao, far from Haijing!¡± Lin Baici was overwhelmed as he heard Hua Yue Yu busily chatting with her fans in the background. He didn¡¯t know that as he was sending a message to Hua Yue Yu on WeChat, she was streaming live. After deciding to go find Lin Baici, she turned on her mic, apologized to her fans, and said that something urgent came up, so she had to end the stream early. ¡°Small Fish, don¡¯t stress yourself out at this hour!¡± Lin Baici quickly persuaded her, ¡°Besides, by the time you¡¯ve bought your ticket and are waiting for the train, I might already be on one again!¡± ¡°Well... okay then!¡± Hua Yue Yu gave up and then sighed, ¡°Can you believe your luck? You can¡¯t even make a trip without encountering pollution of rules!¡± ¡°Good luck?¡± Lin Baici thought to himself, scoring a Divine Grace, a nautilus, and a piece of God¡¯s bones ¨C he totally hit the jackpot! Right! There was also the one million yuan bonus and the friendship with Xia Hongyao. ¡°You better come to Haijing soon. I¡¯ve already prepared a feast of plenty for you, at which we can thoroughly dispel your bad luck!¡± After chatting for a bit more, they hung up the phone. While Lin Baici was on the phone, his WeChat had chimed several times, and he had also received two calls. Upon checking, he saw they were all from Jin Ying. The calls were from the Goryeo girl as well. Lin Baici returned the calls, and after a short conversation, as it was an international call, they wished each other good night and ended it quickly to avoid racking up phone charges he couldn¡¯t afford. ¡°You have friends in Goryeo?¡± Xia Hongyao was surprised. As a God Hunter with very keen senses, she had heard the words ¡®Oppa,¡¯ ¡®Oppa,¡¯ coming from the phone. She knew that ¡®Oppa¡¯ meant brother in Korean! ¡°Mm-hmm, a friend I met at Dragon Temple!¡± Lin Baici saw that several important apps had finished downloading and went to have dinner with Xia Hongyao. ¡°Barbecue or hot pot?¡± Xia Hongyao had taken the opportunity while Lin Baici was on the phone to search for food on Meituan and looked at what was good to eat. ¡°Whatever!¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t mind. Xia Hongyao chose hot pot. There was a sports shop named Decathlon on the second floor. Xia Hongyao went in, did not try anything on, and picked out two sets of sportswear to wear as a change of clothes. The hot pot restaurant was on the fifth floor. A yin-yang pot was ordered, with two pounds of fatty lamb and beef brought to the table, along with tripe, fish tofu, and baby cabbage among various other ingredients to swish in the broth. After a long day¡¯s hustle, Lin Baici and Xia Hongyao were hungry and spent about forty minutes devouring their meal voraciously. The bill came to two hundred and sixty yuan, which Xia Hongyao paid. Lin Baici didn¡¯t insist on paying because High Ponytail had said it could be expensed. ¡°Expense reimbursement, what a beautiful phrase!¡± Lin Baici reflected. On their way back, Xia Hongyao bought six cans of beer, some chips, peanuts, sunflower seeds, and duck necks at a supermarket. When they got back to the hotel, Xia Hongyao followed Lin Baici into his room, obviously planning to talk deep into the night. Lin Baici, a young man in his prime, used to be able to stay up for several nights in a row without feeling tired. Now, having consumed the Meteorite and God¡¯s bones, his physical condition had improved even more. Psst! Psst! Xia Hongyao popped open two cans of beer, handed one to Lin Baici, and kept one for herself. She sat cross-legged on the bed, took a sip, and then, with wide eyes, gazed intently at Lin Baici. ¡°The crouching Buddha baby? Add blood and ignite the lamp? That sounds terrifying, tell me more!¡± Although Xia Hongyao verbalized her fear, her expression conveyed otherwise ¨C she was actually excited, like a fan of horror films eagerly awaiting the release of a long-anticipated new scary movie: ¡°How did you figure it out? Tell me all the details.¡± Xia Hongyao loved solving mysteries. Lin Baici had no choice but to recount the whole story in detail. In truth, Lin Baici was a bit proud of himself; the final showdown with the crouching Buddha baby, Add blood and ignite the lamp, and offering flowers before the Buddha in the three taboo games, defeating the dark Buddha statue ¨C this debut battle was definitely one for the history books. ... ¡°Just like that, after twisting off the dark Buddha statue¡¯s arm, I broke through the Divine Ruins!¡± Lin Baici shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Brilliant!¡± Xia Hongyao exclaimed in praise and took several large gulps of her beer, ¡°It¡¯s such a pity, if only I had been with you in Dragon Temple!¡± Xia Hongyao imagined herself firing on all cylinders, deducing the key to the pollution of rules through various bits and pieces of evidence... She would have been as cool as Holmes descending upon the scene. ¡°Heh, there will be chances in the future!¡± Lin Baici remembered Xia Hongyao¡¯s performance amidst the rule pollution of that day. She might have been a bit slow, but she was brave and wouldn¡¯t abandon a friend. She was ready to take matters into her own hands. This girl with the high ponytail, was definitely someone he could hang out with! When Xia Hongyao heard this, she intended to wait until she had obtained the qualification for exemption before inviting Lin Baici, but now she couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. ¡°Xiao Bai, how about joining the Jiuzhou Security Bureau and becoming my teammate?¡± Xia Hongyao¡¯s eyes sparkled like stars, clear, bright, innocent, with a kind of shining light. Lin Baici raised an eyebrow, ¡°You mean I can just join? Isn¡¯t that kind of organization supposed to be confidential?¡± ¡°With your performance, securing an exemption isn¡¯t hard!¡± Xia Hongyao was certain that organizations like the God Hunter Organization would be clamoring for a rookie like him. ¡°...¡± Lin Baici fell silent. He was seriously considering it. He had become a God Hunter by accident, so what was he supposed to do from now on? Seeing that Lin Baici was silent, Xia Hongyao thought he was hesitant and began to persuade him, ¡°The pay is great at the Security Bureau, with a basic annual salary of 600,000 yuan!¡± Lin Baici¡¯s train of thought was interrupted, and he blurted out, ¡°How much?¡± He thought he¡¯d heard wrong. Chapter 56 - 56 56 The Soul of Dragon _1 ?56: Chapter 56 The Soul of Dragon _1 56: Chapter 56 The Soul of Dragon _1 ¡°An annual salary of 600,000 yuan!¡± Xia Hongyao introduced, ¡°As long as you become a member of the Security Bureau, you can earn at least 600,000 yuan and ten Meteor Coins every year.¡± ¡°Meteor Coins?¡± It was another term that Lin Baici didn¡¯t understand. ¡°There¡¯s a mysterious mineral in the ruins of God, called Meteorite, which contains a type of mystical energy. God Hunters call it God¡¯s Ability. When refined through special methods, this mystical energy can be absorbed by the human body, enhancing it. It is said it can even push humans towards further evolution!¡± Xia Hongyao explained. ¡°Hmm!¡± Lin Baici listened carefully. ¡°The scientific researchers of the Security Bureau have smelted a special metal that can act as a container for God¡¯s Ability. Meteor Coins are made of this metal, and each coin contains a certain amount of God¡¯s Ability. That¡¯s why it¡¯s become a universally accepted currency.¡± Xia Hongyao disseminated knowledge. Lin Baici remembered how he directly consumed Meteorite in the ruins of Dragon Temple to strengthen his body, Wait, I even ate God¡¯s bones, which tasted even better than Meteorite. ¡°Ten Meteor Coins is a high salary, and the Security Bureau offers other benefits as well.¡± ¡°If you go on a mission into the God¡¯s ruins, there¡¯s an additional bonus. The amount depends on the difficulty of the ruins and the tasks the hunters are responsible for. However, even just patrolling the periphery can earn you a minimum of one million yuan, but you only get one Meteor Coin.¡± ¡°Lastly, based on the findings and after confirmation by the Security Bureau, you will receive a significant dividend!¡± ¡°When Dragon Guards perform their duties, if civilian casualties occur and the number is within a certain range, Dragon Guards are not subject to legal punishment. You can think of it as a license to kill.¡± ¡°Moreover, Dragon Guards are national public officials. Whoever harms a Dragon Guard, no matter how distant, shall be punished!¡± Xia Hongyao explained patiently. Lin Baici licked his lips. 600,000 yuan a year, that¡¯s 50,000 yuan a month. 50K a month! Lin Baici¡¯s mother often worked night shifts to save more money for him, and even with overtime, she made only a bit over four thousand yuan a month. ¡°With my consent, I can earn in one month what my mother makes in ten!¡± Lin Baici was moved. Not to mention the Meteor Coins. Lin Baici was past the growth stage, but after consuming the God¡¯s Ability from the Meteorite, he grew a few centimeters taller, and his senses became sharper. Such enhancements are priceless. A steady monthly income of Meteor Coins wouldn¡¯t be too bad either. ¡°Besides the annual salary, there are also benefits like social insurance and housing provident fund; there are allowances for business trips, and during traditional holidays such as the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, National Day, New Year¡¯s Day, and Spring Festival, employees receive holiday benefits.¡± Xia Hongyao¡¯s introduction was very detailed: ¡°There are fifteen days of vacation each year. If an employee is summoned back to duty by the Security Bureau during vacation, they must return immediately without conditions. Of course, after the mission, they will be compensated with double the missed vacation time!¡± ¡°As expected!¡± Lin Baici showed understanding. Meteorites don¡¯t care whether God Hunters are on vacation or not when they fall. For the sake of the people¡¯s safety, the Security Bureau must break into the ruins of God as quickly as possible. ¡°For daily necessities, such as mobile phones and laptops, employees can apply through the bureau. It¡¯s also okay to purchase them on your own. As long as the reason is justified and the price isn¡¯t too extravagant, they can generally be reimbursed!¡± At this point, Xia Hongyao laughed, ¡°But with an annual salary of 600,000 yuan, you won¡¯t be worrying about that bit of money!¡± ¡°Will the salary increase later?¡± Lin Baici was hopeful. ¡°Of course!¡± Xia Hongyao took a sip of beer, ¡°I¡¯m a team leader now, making one million yuan and fifteen Meteor Coins.¡± ¡°...¡± Lin Baici instinctively glanced at High Ponytail Bear. I was wrong! I didn¡¯t expect Xia Hongyao to be a big boss with an annual salary of one million yuan! My apologies! My apologies! Seeing Lin Baici¡¯s interest, Xia Hongyao was very happy. The first team member was almost in hand, but some things still needed to be made clear. ¡°Little Bai, the Security Bureau¡¯s benefits are very good, but correspondingly, you should be prepared for what it may cost you!¡± ¡°You say!¡± Lin Baici listened intently. ¡°You¡¯ve probably seen for yourself that exploring God¡¯s ruins is also a very high-risk venture for God Hunters, and once a task is assigned by the Security Bureau, Dragon Guards can¡¯t refuse it without special reasons!¡± Xia Hongyao solemnly warned, ¡°This means, no matter how contaminated the ruins you¡¯re facing, if you¡¯re told to go in, you must go!¡± Lin Baici nodded; he had guessed this much. With such substantial compensation offered, they certainly wouldn¡¯t tolerate any slackness. ¡°Of course, the Security Bureau won¡¯t casually send God Hunters to their deaths. As your team leader, I also won¡¯t allow such things to happen!¡± Xia Hongyao made a promise. What she didn¡¯t say was that when exploring the ruins of God, she would always be at the forefront. ¡°Are you sure I will be assigned under you?¡± Lin Baici was curious. Following Xia Hongyao, with her good character, Lin Baici wasn¡¯t worried about being at a disadvantage. ¡°Haha, don¡¯t worry!¡± Xia Hongyao laughed heartily, gulping down some beer, ¡°I¡¯ve just been promoted to team leader and have the right to form a team of ten people. I will personally pick all the team members.¡± Xia Hongyao looked at Lin Baici with a face full of satisfaction and appreciation, ¡°You¡¯re the first one!¡± ¡°Thank you for your kindness, Team Leader Xia!¡± Lin Baici thanked her. ¡°Hehe, I have high standards!¡± Xia Hongyao gave a proud snort, ¡°By the way, if we are sacrificed during a mission, there will be a compensation payment for your family!¡± ¡°What are the main responsibilities of the Security Bureau?¡± Lin Baici took a sip of his drink; words like ¡®sacrifice¡¯ were heavy, but even in death, leaving behind a sum of money for his mother felt worthwhile. ¡°Our Security Bureau, officially called the Jiuzhou Security Bureau, has a self-explanatory name. We are the sacred shield guarding the Nine Provinces of China. As long as the shield standing, the Nine States survive.¡± Xia Hongyao sat up straight, her tone serious, ¡°The Security Bureau is responsible for handling all matters related to God¡¯s disasters, including exploring the ruins of God, investigating the illegal circulation of Taboo things on the market, purifying rule pollution, hunting Gods, and so on!¡± ¡°Also, ordinary citizens are not allowed to possess Taboo things. So, until your hiring process is complete, it¡¯s best not to use those Taboo things you have!¡± Xia Hongyao reminded him seriously. ¡°Got it!¡± That was also the reason Lin Baici wanted to join the Security Bureau. Taboo things were many times more lethal than firearms. Ordinary people weren¡¯t even allowed to own air guns, let alone real guns, so Taboo things were certainly out of the question. ¡°The God Hunters on duty at the Security Bureau are known as Dragon Guards, with their own exclusive uniforms and badges.¡± Xia Hongyao sized up Lin Baici, With his dashing looks and great physique, he¡¯d be ultra-stylish in the Dragon Guard uniform, undoubtedly becoming the most dazzling boy in the bureau. ¡°My team wants to break into the ranks of the Top Ten Elite Dragon Guard Group. We need to independently break through several Divine Ruins that lasted for decades, but to become the most handsome group, we just need Lin Baici to join!¡± Xia Hongyao was thrilled. Even if the next men to join the team looked like trolls, Lin Baici could still raise the average attractiveness. By the way, I can use Lin Baici to lure over that strongest rookie from last year, Ying Baili, right? I heard those team leaders fought tooth and nail for her. Xia Hongyao didn¡¯t dare to dream of snagging a rookie like Ying Baili, but now with Lin Baici, it might be worth a try. ¡°Here¡¯s to that!¡± Xia Hongyao clinked glasses with Lin Baici. The two chatted into the night, with Xia Hongyao still in high spirits, but mindful of Lin Baici¡¯s need to catch an early train the next day, she had to call it a night. ¡°Get some rest early!¡± Xia Hongyao bid farewell, then, returning to her room, she took a hot shower. Afterward, she wasn¡¯t sleepy at all so she unlocked her phone and opened a WeChat group called ¡®The Soul of Dragon.¡¯ This group didn¡¯t have many members, but all were team leaders within the Security Bureau, each with the proud record of breaking through a Divine Ruin solo that lasted for decades. Xia Hongyao sent out a red packet of a hundred yuan, and then @everyone, ¡°Don¡¯t sleep, get up and have fun!¡± Crane Prime Minister: Thanks Great Detective. He grabbed it first, 55 yuan and 90 cents. Hotpot Fairy: Ditto! Eating Brother: @Hotpot Fairy, that¡¯s insincere. Take it back and say ¡®Thank you, Captain Xia!¡¯ quickly. Hotpot Fairy: Eat sh*t! He and Eating Brother joined at the same time and got along well, always teasing each other. My Daughter is the Best in the World: Red Medicine, got something happy happening? Eating Brother: The only things that can make Great Detective Xia happy are either not getting scolded or finding a new teammate. I bet it¡¯s the latter! Great Detective Xia: Hehe, on my way back from a business trip today, I bumped into Black Shark Triton from the Lost Coast, and guess what, that guy actually had a partner. Xia Hongyao typed out a storm, introducing the Black Shark Triton duo¡¯s tactics. Eating Brother: I see. If I rashly encountered this duo, I¡¯d also take a big loss. Thanks for the intel, Great Detective. Hotpot Fairy: Great Detective, when you come to Guangdong Capital, I¡¯ll treat you to hotpot. Crane Prime Minister: @Great Detective Xia, aren¡¯t you hiding something? Knowing Xia Hongyao well, Crane Prime Minister believed she couldn¡¯t have killed those two; they were the Lost Coast¡¯s main forces, not just any wild riff-raff. A Lingering Red Ghost: Same question. Eating Brother: Look, even Ghost has come out, indicating how impressive the Great Detective¡¯s achievement this time is! Great Detective Xia: You¡¯ll know in a few days. Xia Hongyao lay in bed, smiling from ear to ear. As if I¡¯d tell, what if you all poach Lin Baici away? For a whole minute, no one in the group spoke. Xia Hongyao bit back her brag, but couldn¡¯t resist wanting to show off her new teammate. Hmm! I¡¯ll just show off a little. Great Detective Xia: I came across a high schooler. He¡¯s a wild God Hunter who took down Black Shark Triton and his partner, did most of the heavy lifting, and even purified the God¡¯s Ability rule contamination himself. Hotpot Fairy: See, I knew she couldn¡¯t resist and would spill the beans herself. Eating Brother: Great Detective, can¡¯t you hold back a bit? Crane Prime Minister: High schooler? God Hunter? Sounds exaggerated. Can you tell us more? Great Detective Xia: No way! If I told you, you¡¯d definitely come to poach him. Giant Serpent Princess: Male? Is he over six feet tall? Everyone was used to it, as Giant Serpent Princess always started with this. In her view, men under six feet didn¡¯t count. Great Detective Xia: A big guy, around six foot one. Giant Serpent Princess: Is he good-looking? Great Detective Xia: If you saw him, you¡¯d knock him out and drag him straight to the civil affairs office to get a marriage certificate. Crane Prime Minister: Really? A Lingering Red Ghost: Same question! Eating Brother: Same question! Hotpot Fairy: Same question! Everyone knew Giant Serpent Princess was crazy about good looks. Even Li Tianshi, unanimously recognized as the most handsome and charismatic guy in the Security Bureau, scored just a seven out of ten in her book. Giant Serpent Princess: Got any pictures? If not, quick, snap one secretly. After sending the message, she casually sent out a big red packet of a thousand yuan. Crane Prime Minister: The Empress is so generous! Hotpot Fairy: Why can¡¯t I ever beat you? Crane Prime Minister had never lost a red packet grab; he might not get the most, but he was always the fastest. Eating Brother: Good at nothing else, but a champ at grabbing packets. My Daughter is the Best in the World: Old Crane, I bow to your single-for-fifty-years hand speed. Great Detective Xia: I can¡¯t snap a picture secretly, not unless you give me White Rudraksha. Giant Serpent Princess: If that high schooler is really so handsome that I scream, I might consider giving you White Rudraksha. No one believed that. White Rudraksha was Giant Serpent Princess¡¯s most valued junior, whom she had invested a lot of effort and resources into. Even the headquarters wanted her to join the Dragon Cavalry, but Giant Serpent Princess hadn¡¯t agreed. A Lingering Red Ghost: Tell us about the Taboo game you encountered! Out of professional curiosity, everyone was interested in any God¡¯s Ability rule contamination because it might be something they¡¯d face in the future. The more experience they had, the better their chances of survival. Chapter 57 - 57 57 Xia sisters_1 ?57: Chapter 57 Xia sisters_1 57: Chapter 57 Xia sisters_1 Xia Hongyao didn¡¯t hold back, and actually she wanted to brag about her first team member, so she spoke at length. In the ¡°Soul of Dragon¡± group, everyone was an old fox, especially the Prime Minister Crane, who, amidst his rambling, teased all of the information out of Xia Hongyao. Although Xia Hongyao called herself a great detective, everyone knew that her intelligence was average. Well! It might even be below average! But there was nothing that could be done about it; after all, who would dare to overlook her impressively towering chest? According to the law of conservation of energy, something¡¯s got to give, right? Prime Minister Crane: This high school graduate is quite strong! That was the impression everyone got after listening to Xia Hongyao¡¯s narration. Hotpot Fairy: Solving the Divine Ruins alone, impressive, the Black Shark Triton duo didn¡¯t die in vain. Eating Xi Ge: Red Medicine, make sure you protect him well, get his paperwork done swiftly for joining. Having angered the people of the Lost Coast, they will definitely seek revenge. I don¡¯t want to go to his wake. Great Detective Xia: I understand. If Lin Baici was a wild God Hunter, the Lost Coast would definitely seek revenge, but since Lin Baici had become a Dragon Guard, then the members of that organization would definitely have reservations. After all, everyone understood the trouble that could follow from provoking someone with official backing. Nonetheless, which rookie just starting out could possibly eliminate the core members of a notoriously infamous organization like the Lost Coast? The bounties issued by the Jiuzhou Security Bureau weren¡¯t substantial in amount; they represented an attitude more than anything, a warning to those with bounties on their heads, announcing that they were being watched and should not cause trouble on the Nine States¡¯ turf. Either behave and stay within the Nine States or roll out to some other country and make waves there. If those rascals really stirred up trouble, the Jiuzhou Security Bureau wouldn¡¯t wait for those wild God Hunters to hunt down their heads; they would dispatch the Dragon Guards immediately to pursue them to the ends of the earth. A God Hunter joining the Jiuzhou Security Bureau meant, firstly, the most elite God Hunters, the majority of whom were part of this organization, which was akin to enjoying the shade under a big tree; naturally, teaming up with experts also meant a higher chance of survival. If they were truly trapped within the Divine Ruins, colleagues would come to their rescue, and if they were injured, they could receive the highest level of medical treatment. Secondly, it was for the protection of their family. Who doesn¡¯t have family members they care about in this life? Taking care of oneself is fine, but what about family members? As a God Hunter, one must contain Taboo things, Meteorite, and God¡¯s bones, these scarce and valuable resources, making enemies was inevitable. Thirdly, of course, some did it out of a desire to serve their country. Prime Minister Crane: Oh right, according to the latest news, the God¡¯s ruins of Qin Palace have shown signs of spreading again! This message immediately caused a huge stir in the group. The God¡¯s ruins of Qin Palace were brought about by a meteorite that fell eleven years ago. At that time, the Jiuzhou Security Bureau sent three hunter teams into the ruins within a month; all were annihilated. Three months later, two Dragon-level grand team leaders led a hundred-person team in, but they too never returned. Since then, these Divine Ruins located in Qinling have been named the God¡¯s ruins of Qin Palace. Most of the time, Divine Ruins keep spreading, the radiation from God¡¯s bones contaminates cities, farmland, villages, and rivers, creating no-man¡¯s lands. To protect their homeland, the Jiuzhou Dragon Guards would enter the Divine Ruins to recover God¡¯s bones and break Divine Ruins, even if they knew they were marching to their deaths. However, after the headquarters issued a conscription order, these Divine Ruins, for some unknown reason, stopped spreading. To minimize losses and maximize benefits, the headquarters then opened up the God¡¯s ruins of Qin Palace, allowing God Hunters from other countries to come and explore. In the first five years, confident God Hunters entered the ruins from time to time, but not one survived. Afterward, the various hunter organizations listed the God¡¯s ruins of Qin Palace as certain death and gave up on exploring it. I never thought that eleven years later, Qin Palace¡¯s Divine Ruins would start to spread again. Prime Minister Crane: It won¡¯t be long before the headquarters issues the recruitment order. Everyone fell silent. In a Divine Ruin like that of Qin Palace, which had existed for over a decade, many items would become contaminated into Taboo things due to the long-term radiation from God¡¯s bones! The more Taboo things there are, the more rule pollution occurs, and naturally, the death rate for God Hunters would greatly increase. The leaders of the Jiuzhou Security Bureau were not unfeeling butchers who would force God Hunters to break into such Divine Ruins; instead, they would issue recruitment orders. They would incentivize the Dragon Guards with generous rewards to voluntarily enter the Divine Ruins. Eating Brother Xi: Ah, I¡¯m going to have to take over for quite a few of my colleagues this time. No one accused Eating Brother Xi of being a jinx because based on past experience, the death toll among Dragon Guards when conquering a major Divine Ruin of ten years would be very high. My Daughter is the Best in the World: My daughter just woke up, I¡¯m going to go sing her a lullaby. Hotpot Fairy: Everyone, come to Guangdong Capital when you¡¯re free, let¡¯s have hotpot together. Eating Brother Xi: Time to sleep, sleep! Everyone left, and the group chat quieted down. ¡°If I could lead a team and conquer the Divine Ruins of Qin Palace, I would make a name for myself in one battle!¡± Xia Hongyao felt moved, but it was just a fleeting thought. Since the birth of that Divine Ruin, more than ten Dragon Level Hunters had died inside it; Xia Hongyao might be impulsive, but she wasn¡¯t foolhardy enough to take on such a challenge. Checking the time, it was half past two in the morning, Xia Hongyao dialed her older sister¡¯s number. There was no need to worry about disturbing her rest because at this hour, her sister would surely be working overtime. The phone rang three times before connecting. ¡°Big sis, give me a quota for exemption from the tests!¡± Xia Hongyao got straight to the point. ¡°Your reason!¡± On the other end of the phone, Xia Hongmian¡¯s voice was calm, betraying no hint of emotion, leaving Xia Hongyao unable to gauge her mood. ¡°Today on the train, I experienced rule pollution...¡± Xia Hongyao spoke very quickly, briefly recounting the day¡¯s events on the high-speed train. She didn¡¯t need to overemphasize Lin Baici¡¯s credit, because it was entirely due to his own abilities that he had taken down Black Shark Triton. ¡°Such a talented newcomer has to be recruited into the bureau as soon as possible. What if another organization gets to him first? So, I need a quota for exemption from the tests!¡± After speaking, Xia Hongyao nervously waited for her older sister¡¯s reply. There was a four-year age gap between her and her sister Xia Hongmian, and their relationship was average. Often being reprimanded had instilled a fear of Xia Hongmian in her, and since Xia Hongmian, as the deputy director of the Kyushu Divine Shield Security Bureau Haijing Branch, was very busy with her work, the two of them did not have much time to develop a close emotional bond. ¡°No!¡± Xia Hongmian refused. Upon hearing these two words, Xia Hongyao instantly became anxious, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not lying. Captain Ma Yuanma from the Qiantang Sub-bureau can testify, you can call him and ask.¡± ¡°Really, Lin Baici is very excellent!¡± Xia Hongyao was both anxious and angry, saying a lot in one breath. ¡°Anything else?¡± Xia Hongmian¡¯s voice remained very calm. ¡°How will you ever believe me?¡± Xia Hongyao retorted. ¡°I believe you, that Lin Baici is very talented, but it¡¯s still not enough!¡± Xia Hongmian insisted. ¡°Why?¡± Xia Hongyao shouted. ¡°According to what you said, he graduated from high school this year and became a God Hunter during the summer vacation, so he definitely doesn¡¯t have a license!¡± Xia Hongmian explained. In Jiuzhou, every God Hunter must take part in an official exam organized by the Security Bureau, and only after passing and obtaining a license do they qualify to possess Taboo things and engage in Divine Ruins exploration activities. Otherwise, it is illegal, and getting caught results in immediate imprisonment. ¡°Lin Baici is very strong, getting the license will be a breeze for him!¡± Xia Hongyao emphasized. ¡°Since it¡¯s so easy for him to get the license, he should even more so go for it. It¡¯s as relaxing as a leisure trip, isn¡¯t it?¡± Through the microphone, one could hear Xia Hongmian sip her coffee. ¡°But this year¡¯s license exam isn¡¯t until December. Moreover, what if he performs too well and all the team leaders come to snatch him up?¡± Xia Hongyao was fraught with worry. During the annual license assessments, those Dragon Level team leaders would come and directly poach the outstanding candidates. As a newly appointed team leader with no seniority or combat achievements, what could she use to compete for talent? Bear Force? Exploring Divine Ruins is a job with an extremely high mortality rate. Who doesn¡¯t want strong comrades by their side? ¡°Hongyao, you just became a team leader, and your first member is being brought in without an exam. What do you think others will think?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll think you¡¯re not capable enough, that without the card of exemption from the exam, you can¡¯t recruit anyone!¡± Xia Hongmian patiently analyzed the situation for her sister: ¡°And you¡¯ve only spent a better part of a day with this Lin Baici. Are you sure about his character?¡± ¡°You¡¯re aware of how terrifying that organization called ¡®Lost Coast¡¯ is. A high school graduate killing two of their core members¡ªdon¡¯t you have your doubts?¡± ¡°The Divine Grace and Taboo things he possesses, has he been contaminated before¡ªdo you know any of that?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know anything. Why do you dare to ask for the exemption?¡± Xia Hongmian¡¯s series of questions left Xia Hongyao speechless. ¡°I... I believe in him!¡± Xia Hongyao stubbornly replied. She understood that her elder sister was looking out for her best interest. If Lin Baici was granted entry to the Security Bureau without the exam, then she, Xia Hongyao, would be the referrer; should Lin Baici cause any issues in the future, like being a traitor or defecting, Xia Hongyao would bear joint responsibility. ¡°Even if he¡¯s trouble-free, you shouldn¡¯t be so reckless when making decisions. You are a team leader now, every decision you make might relate to the life and death of your members in the future.¡± Xia Hongmian didn¡¯t actually want her sister to be a Dragon Guard, It was too dangerous. With her intelligence, she wouldn¡¯t be able to cope. But it was their father¡¯s decision. ¡°I... I¡¯ve already promised him, if you disagree now, where will I put my face?¡± Xia Hongyao wanted to cry, this was too embarrassing. ¡°If he¡¯s as outstanding as you describe, he definitely won¡¯t get upset over such a trivial matter. Instead, he will participate in the God Hunter License assessment and take first place to prove himself!¡± Xia Hongmian sipped her coffee lightly: ¡°If he doesn¡¯t go for the assessment this year, then no matter how extraordinary this person is now, it¡¯s not worth your time and effort!¡± ¡°Why?¡± Xia Hongyao couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°True geniuses have a pride in their hearts that won¡¯t allow them to be looked down upon!¡± Xia Hongmian snorted: ¡°My refusal is to question him. Do you think a genius would tolerate this?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t argue with you!¡± Xia Hongyao saw that there really was no chance and hung up the phone directly. In Haijing, at the Security Bureau departmental building in the minister¡¯s office, a young woman wearing slacks, a white shirt, and a tie sat on her desk, looking at the city¡¯s nightscape through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows. After sipping her coffee, she dialed a number. The phone connected. ¡°Minister!¡± The voice on the other end was male and respectful. ¡°At Haijing Polytechnic, there¡¯s a freshman named Lin Baici this year. Investigate him!¡± ¡°Ma Yuan¡¯s whereabouts for the last six months, people he¡¯s come in contact with, and information related to Lost Coast¡¯s Black Shark Triton¡ªhave all that information clear and sent over in three days.¡± Xia Hongmian hesitated briefly before deciding against secretly protecting Xia Hongyao. It was time for her to witness the viciousness of the hunter¡¯s circle. However, she did need to take care of Lin Baici¡¯s family. After ending the call, Xia Hongmian brewed another cup of coffee and prepared to continue with her work, but her sister called again. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I get the one million yuan bounty? I personally saw the corpses of Black Shark Triton and his partner!¡± If her elder sister disagreed, Xia Hongyao was prepared to pay out of her own pocket. She absolutely couldn¡¯t allow Lin Baici to think that she, as a team leader, was incompetent and unreliable. ¡°Fine, it¡¯ll be allocated to you within half a month,¡± Xia Hongmian replied, then heard Xia Hongyao hang up the phone. Xia Hongmian wasn¡¯t concerned about her sister¡¯s tantrums; she lowered her head to look at a file on her desk. The Divine Ruins of Qin Palace, should I go take a look? ... Early the next morning, Lin Baici and Xia Hongyao rushed to the train station to catch the high-speed train to Haijing City. Chapter 58 - 58 58 Origin Forum_1 ?58: Chapter 58 Origin Forum_1 58: Chapter 58 Origin Forum_1 It takes over four hours to travel by high-speed train from Anrao to Haijing, but the journey wasn¡¯t boring with Xia Hongyao for company. The train was still noisy. Every half an hour or so, the attendants would push a cart through, selling sunflower seeds, peanuts, and soda. Lin Baici and Xia Hongyao huddled at the junction between carriages, conversing in hushed tones. Most of the time, it was Lin Baici who asked questions. Xia Hongyao was quite patient with her first teammate. It seemed as though even if Lin Baici asked her about the date of her menstrual cycle, she would tell him. ¡°Are all God¡¯s bones the same?¡± Lin Baici recalled the eyeball he had accidentally acquired from the Taboo thing ¡®Clay God Doll¡¯; that thing seemed alive. When that eyeball suddenly opened and met his gaze, it gave him a huge scare. ¡°God¡¯s bones are the corpses of deities, of course they¡¯re all the same, the differences lie in size and the body part!¡± Xia Hongyao glanced around the carriage to ensure no one overheard them. ¡°The bigger the God¡¯s bones, the higher their value. If you find a complete set of God¡¯s bones, you can pick whatever you want from the Security Bureau¡¯s collection of Taboo things!¡± Taboo things, once sealed in the Black Coffin, could be used as weapons. Powerful Taboo things could boost the combat power of a God Hunter, greatly increasing their survival rate in God¡¯s ruins. ¡°Have you ever seen a God¡¯s bone shaped like an eyeball?¡± Lin Baici¡¯s question seemed casual. Last night, Xia Hongyao had asked him how he dealt with the God¡¯s bones from Dragon Temple. It wasn¡¯t that she wanted them, but such materials were too dangerous and could easily cause secondary radiation contamination if not contained in a special container. Lin Baici couldn¡¯t possibly say that he had consumed them. He guessed she wouldn¡¯t believe him and would think he was joking, so he made up an excuse that the God¡¯s bones had crumbled into dust and were scattered by the wind. Xia Hongyao believed him and didn¡¯t press further. Otherwise, Lin Baici would have certainly been troubled. Thus, there were benefits to interacting with a girl whose intelligence was rated D. ¡°No!¡± Xia Hongyao shook her head: ¡°So far, almost all discovered God¡¯s bones have been like dried beef jerky, muscle tissue. No such things as organs, eyeballs, or limbs have been found!¡± ¡°And we don¡¯t even know what the deities look like, so it¡¯s possible they don¡¯t have organs like eyeballs or hearts.¡± ¡°By the way, what I said might not be accurate. With my position, I have very limited access to core secrets!¡± Xia Hongyao knew her sister, as one of the six department heads of the Security Bureau, definitely knew many secrets. She had asked before, but Xia Hongmian never disclosed anything. ¡°Hmm.¡± Lin Baici sighed internally, realizing he¡¯d have to unravel the secret of that eyeball himself. [What exploration? Hurry into God¡¯s ruins, collect Meteorites and God¡¯s bones, consume them to enhance your physique, and then you can devour it!] The Eater God urged him. It was hungry. ¡°So according to you, I can consume ordinary God¡¯s bones, but if I eat this eyeball, I¡¯ll be irradiated and deformed. Does that mean this eyeball is of a higher level?¡± Lin Baici inquired. The Eater God remained silent. ¡°What are deities?¡± Lin Baici was curious, but the Eater God remained silent. ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t answer!¡± Lin Baici pouted. Speaking of which, what exactly was this voice that called itself the Eater God? Divine Grace? When did he acquire it? He had no memory of it whatsoever! ¡°For concepts like God¡¯s ruins and Taboo things, a few words can¡¯t explain it clearly. I¡¯ll give you an invitation code. Register an account on this forum and take a look for yourself!¡± Xia Hongyao took out her phone, opened a forum called ¡®Origin¡¯, logged in, went to her profile, located an invitation code, and sent the website link and the 18-character invitation code to Lin Baici through WeChat. ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Baici opened the link. The webpage was a pale gold color, the background depicting a rising sun at dawn. Apart from an invite-only registration field, there was nothing else. ¡°This website doesn¡¯t allow guest visits, only registered members can browse the content!¡± Xia Hongyao explained: ¡°Do you know how precious its membership is?¡± ¡°How precious?¡± Lin Baici was about to enter the invitation code but stopped when he heard this. ¡°They don¡¯t open registrations here, only veteran members who have been registered for over three years can get an invitation code. New members can register only with these codes!¡± The invitation code from Xia Hongyao was something she begged and nagged her sister for: ¡°New members who violate the forum rules and get banned will cause their inviter to also be banned, and they will not be allowed to register again. So you can imagine how valuable this membership is, right?¡± ¡°And starting from the moment a veteran member gives their invite, they will have to wait another three years to receive a new one!¡± The guilt-by-association ban was so daunting that people hesitated to give out invitation codes. Since it takes three years to earn one, no one would share it without trustworthy cause. ¡°Is this website useful?¡± Lin Baici frowned, not wanting to be in anyone¡¯s debt. ¡°Everyone active there is a God Hunter from around the world. Besides idle chit-chat and bantering, people also sell intelligence, Taboo things, post jobs, offer bounties, recruit partners... In short, many people in the Hunter community mingle there, even some famed Dragon Level legends occasionally show up.¡± Institutions like the Jiuzhou Security Bureau, with their generous benefits, also have many rules, which some people dislike, especially after becoming a God Hunter and feeling above others. They want to be free and unbound, including those who may have had issues and were unwanted by the Security Bureau. These independent God Hunters often join international corporations¡¯ Deity Hunter Groups or simply form small teams and go solo... Before venturing into Divine Void for exploration, many would come to this forum called ¡®Origin¡¯ to buy intel or recruit partners, and sometimes trade or purchase Taboo things. ¡°Eh? Why haven¡¯t you registered yet?¡± Xia Hongyao saw that Lin Baici¡¯s phone was still on the initial interface. ¡°This invitation code is too precious.¡± Lin Baici was conflicted. He wanted to check out the forum, but this favor would mean owing someone. ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it. After all, you saved my life in yesterday¡¯s Taboo game!¡± Xia Hongyao patted Lin Baici¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Besides, I¡¯ll be your captain from now on, so looking after you is only right!¡± In the underground world, some big boss was willing to pay ten million yuan for this invitation code, but those old members wouldn¡¯t even give it a glance. After all, membership on this site came with joint responsibility. If one member violated the rules and got banned, the member who gave them the invitation code would be implicated as well. Moreover, the Origin Forum was a circle formed by Deity Hunters, which had its barriers. No matter how rich some bosses were, amassing billions in assets, without possessing Divine Grace, they couldn¡¯t even dream of getting in. ¡°Thanks, Captain Xia!¡± Lin Baici responded with a beaming smile, as brilliant as the splendid morning sun in March, looking stunningly handsome. Xia Hongyao suddenly thought that sending Lin Baici to woo away Big Snake¡¯s favored beauty, Bai Liuli, might actually work. Lin Baici entered the invitation code, and the webpage redirected to the registration interface. Nickname: Lin Da Hungry Man. Mobile number: 180****1024. Email: Optional! Verification Code: 2587AS. Password: ******** Repeat Password: ******** After filling in the details, Lin Baici checked the box ¡®I have read and agree to the Origin Forum User Agreement and Privacy Policy.¡¯ He hesitated as his gaze landed on his nickname. His username on Bilibili was Lin Da Hungry Man. If he used the same one here, what if someone pieced together the clues to find him? Although the chances were slim, he couldn¡¯t be too careful. After a moment, Lin Baici changed the nickname to ¡®Eater God¡¯ and clicked register¡ªonly to get the notification ¡®This nickname has already been registered!¡¯ ¡°...¡± Lin Baici was speechless. He figured all the good names were probably gone, so he simply filled in ¡®Raw Eating Expert.¡¯ Congratulations on successfully registering. Please read the rules before browsing the forum. Violators will be deleted and banned. Because Xia Hongyao made the invitation code sound so precious, Lin Baici dared not neglect it and read the rules carefully. There weren¡¯t many¡ªjust three key ones. 1: Do not disclose personal information of forum members. 2: For transactions involving money, please be honest and keep your promise. 3: Do not maliciously attack individuals or groups. ¡°The main ones are the first and second rules¡ªthose must be followed. The third one is okay; the Japanese and Koreans often have intense exchanges and don¡¯t get banned. But the most annoying ones are A Three, always acting like they¡¯re the best in the world.¡± Xia Hongyao shared her experience. ¡°Got it!¡± Lin Baici clicked into the homepage. ¡°Origin Hall, this section is for chatting, casual talk, and ranting, and some even post ¡®benefit pictures¡¯!¡± Xia Hongyao explained. ¡°Huh?¡± Lin Baici was stunned. Such a high-end website also had those kinds of pictures? And Captain Xia, you seem to know quite a bit? ¡°It¡¯s a Deity Hunter¡¯s forum, of course it will have related content, but many of them are Photoshopped.¡± What Xia Hongyao referred to as ¡°benefit pictures¡± were photos of various God¡¯s bones, Taboo things, and the terrifying snapshots of those who died in rule pollution. A perennially hot thread in the forum was a review of the ten most horrifying, most inconceivable, and most despair-inducing Taboo games of the decade. The second section was ¡®God¡¯s Bar.¡¯ This was primarily for posting news about God¡¯s ruins and recent updates in the Hunter circle, such as news of a meteorite landing somewhere or a powerful new Deity Hunter emerging in some country. Lin Baici scrolled down on his screen. ¡°The third section is ¡®Bounty Help.¡¯ When people encounter unknown Taboo things or don¡¯t know how to resolve certain rule pollution, they post bounties asking for help. If someone comes up with a solution, they can get a reward!¡± Xia Hongyao thought herself to be quite intelligent, and after many years, she had read Holmes¡¯ detective cases dozens of times. Confident in her deduction skills, she often lurked on this board, helping others solve difficult problems. ¡°I¡¯ll let you in on a secret¡ªI¡¯ve made two hundred thousand here!¡± There was a playful pride in Xia Hongyao¡¯s beautiful brows and eyes. The amount of money didn¡¯t matter; what was important was that her deductive skills had been proven. ¡°Two hundred thousand?¡± Lin Baici saw a way to make money. If you, with a D in intelligence, can make two hundred thousand, then doubling it to four hundred thousand for myself shouldn¡¯t be too much, right? With a tap of his finger, Lin Baici entered the section. Before he even started browsing the posts, hunger struck first. Chapter 59 - 59 59 Offering a Reward for Help Ten Thousand per Character_1 ?59: Chapter 59: Offering a Reward for Help, Ten Thousand per Character_1 59: Chapter 59: Offering a Reward for Help, Ten Thousand per Character_1 Lin Baici¡¯s current feeling was like being in a chat group in the middle of the night where someone suddenly posts pictures of barbecue, beer, and hotpot out of nowhere, saying they¡¯re having a late-night snack. It was incredibly annoying. [Buy, buy, buy, buy all these Taboo things!] Eater God was excited, like a woman who had just received her paycheck and opened Taobao, wanting to buy everything but unable to make a decision. ¡°Easy for you to say, do I have money?¡± Lin Baici felt like rolling his eyes. [Go earn it. Your face and body are very valuable, there are plenty of wealthy women who would want you.] Eater God¡¯s evaluation of Lin Baici¡¯s body was quite high. As long as he had no shame, he could live off a sugar mama until he was sick of it. Lin Baici didn¡¯t want to entertain Eater God anymore and casually clicked on a post. ¡°Help, this should be a Taboo thing, but it hasn¡¯t been sealed by the Black Coffin for five years, yet it hasn¡¯t caused any rule pollution. Does anyone know what¡¯s going on?¡± The poster added three pictures of an antique that looked like a chamber pot, taken from different angles. Finally, there was the monetary reward, fifty thousand yuan. The reward period was one month, and as of today, only ten days had passed. There were replies below, a total of seven, in the ¡°only the poster can see¡± mode, so there was no way to know if anyone had given the right answer. ¡°Xia team, is it true that we can get 50,000 yuan for answering this question?¡± Lin Baici was still somewhat incredulous; after all, this method of making money was too fast. ¡°Absolutely.¡± Xia Hongyao glanced at the screen of Lin Baici¡¯s smartphone: ¡°No matter the era, ¡®information¡¯ is always very valuable.¡± ¡°You think fifty thousand yuan is a lot, but for the poster, if they don¡¯t know about this Taboo thing, it¡¯s junk. But if they find out, it can be flipped for a lot of money!¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Lin Baici nodded, ¡°If I answered their question, how would I get the money?¡± ¡°The poster has already transferred the money to the forum¡¯s account. Once they confirm your answer is correct, the poster will notify the moderator to transfer the money to you.¡± Xia Hongyao explained, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the poster not acknowledging the correct answer after receiving it, because the moderator will verify it. To be honest, a few hundred thousand yuan to a God Hunter is just small change.¡± ¡°Nobody would risk getting banned over such a small amount of money!¡± Lin Baici was too poor; he had not only never seen how billionaires spend money, but he hadn¡¯t even experienced the life of an ordinary rich second-generation. In hot weather, he would only choose the cheapest ice lollies, And those rich people? A bottle of red wine in their liquor cabinet could be worth tens, if not hundreds of thousands of yuan. With one sip of red wine, they could spend Lin Baici and his mother¡¯s living expenses for a whole year. Xia Hongyao glanced at the post Lin Baici was looking at and asked curiously, ¡°Do you know why this Taboo thing isn¡¯t radiating rule pollution?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Lin Baici shook his head. ¡°I think you don¡¯t know either!¡± Xia Hongyao wasn¡¯t a top student, but she had studied hard. During her time studying at the headquarters of the Security Bureau, she had read all the literature in the large library. Among them were quite a few about God¡¯s ruins and Taboo things. Xia Hongyao could earn those few rewards purely because she read a lot, and it had nothing to do with deduction. Lin Baici, a high school student who had never come across any related content before, definitely wouldn¡¯t know. She decided to slowly teach him and make up for the lack of knowledge. Xia Hongyao prepared to leave, intending to sort out some basic materials to send to him first. ¡®But I have Eater God!¡¯ Lin Baici browsed through posts; those with a lot of reward money didn¡¯t need a second look¡ªthey were definitely difficult. After all, nobody is a sucker, offering easy questions for others to make money off of. At the front of each post was the specific reward amount; Lin Baici opened a few and browsed casually. Even though he didn¡¯t know the answers, it was quite enlightening. There really was a great variety of Taboo things. ¡°Help, does anyone know the meaning of the patterns in these three pictures?¡± The reward was ten thousand yuan for each picture. The reward period was two months; as of today, fifty-six days had passed. Lin Baici looked at the contents of the pictures, which were unintelligible, like occult symbols. He was about to close the post when Eater God spoke up. [Dragon], [Sword], [River]. Lin Baici¡¯s finger, about to close the post, hesitated. ¡°Are you saying that the contents of these three pictures are three characters?¡± Lin Baici was curious. Eater God didn¡¯t answer, clearly considering such a question too asinine. Lin Baici reviewed the three pictures again and didn¡¯t find anything corresponding to those three words, but based on Eater God¡¯s previous performance, its ¡®gourmet¡¯ reviews were without a single mistake. ¡°Should I try answering?¡± Lin Baici was somewhat excited. If he got the answer right, he could make ten thousand yuan per word¡ªthat was three months¡¯ salary for his mother. Lin Baici, newly initiated as a God Hunter, knew nothing of the hunters¡¯ circle and thought he should stay low-key. But ten thousand yuan for a single word, just for replying to a post? The money was as good as given away¡ªif he didn¡¯t take it, even the goddess of fortune would roll her eyes and spit disdainfully at Lin Baici. The goddess herself has given you an opportunity, and you¡¯re not taking it! ¡°Stay low-key! Low-key!¡± Lin Baici muttered to himself, but his hands were not cooperative, opening the post and replying. ¡®The patterns on the three pictures are each a word. From top to bottom, they are Dragon, Sword, River!¡¯ Lin Baici finished editing and clicked to publish. Done. Now waiting to get paid. ¡°By the way, Captain Xia, should I send my bank account information to you?¡± Lin Baici asked Xia Hongyao for guidance. ¡°Ah? Did you answer the questions?¡± Xia Hongyao, who was playing with her phone, furrowed her brows upon hearing this and looked up at Lin Baici¡¯s screen, ¡°Little Bai, although answering these posts incorrectly won¡¯t result in punishment, it does affect one¡¯s reputation!¡± God Hunters cherish their reputations greatly, and if they¡¯re not certain of an answer, they almost never write it down. They definitely don¡¯t guess answers. In this section, those who can solve difficult problems are respectfully referred to as experts and are very popular. ¡°Uh-huh!¡± Lin Baici nodded, casually explaining, ¡°The first post, just trying my luck.¡± ¡°You...¡± Xia Hongyao shook her head but still patiently told Lin Baici where to enter his bank account information. No, this can¡¯t happen! Little Linzi is too poor, answering questions recklessly for money, and might even be poached by others with high salaries in the future. I have to prevent that. Xia Hongyao decided that as soon as they arrived in Haijing, she would immediately go to her elder sister to claim the one million yuan reward, and also pestle her about the exemption admission spot. At the very least, she had to start paying Lin Baici a salary. If it came to it, she would front the money herself. Xia Hongyao was determined to keep Lin Baici on her team. Having a beautiful woman for company meant even sitting in silence wouldn¡¯t be boring, not to mention they had many topics to talk about. Xia Hongyao was optimistic and cheerful, open and straightforward in character. She treated Lin Baici as both a team member and a friend. This genuine approach allowed Lin Baici to let go of his last bit of caution and start to see Xia Hongyao as a friend as well. The G1708 train, after over four hours of travel, arrived at Haijing South Station at 11:40 a.m. Haijing is a big city to begin with, plus it¡¯s early September, the time when various schools see new students registering and existing students returning to campus, so the train station was swarming with people. Lin Baici had strong physical fitness, but even so, he was sweating profusely by the time he got off the train and made his way through the ticket barrier. Xia Hongyao bought two bottles of mineral water from a vending machine and handed one to Lin Baici, ¡°It¡¯s lunchtime. Let¡¯s eat first, then go to the school. Otherwise, if you go now, you¡¯ll be busy with all kinds of procedures and won¡¯t have time to eat.¡± ¡°The restaurants nearby must be really expensive!¡± Lin Baici was thrifty with money. Xia Hongyao giggled and lowered her voice, ¡°You can claim expenses!¡± ¡°If you¡¯re going to say that, I won¡¯t hold back!¡± Although Lin Baici¡¯s words seemed like he was about to fleece Xia Hongyao for a meal, in the end, they chose a noodle house and ordered a cold dish, one platter of smoked meat, and two bowls of beef noodles. ¡°You don¡¯t need to save money for me!¡± Xia Hongyao was dumbfounded. ¡°One should be frugal!¡± The cold dish was twenty yuan, the smoked meat platter thirty-eight, and the two bowls of beef noodles eighty, with hardly any meat on them. All that for 138 yuan¡ªit was painful for Lin Baici to pay. ¡°I hope you keep this frugal habit even after you get your one million yuan reward!¡± Xia Hongyao teased. After lunch, Lin Baici took the initiative to settle the bill. It was mainly due to his male pride. No matter if Xia Hongyao could claim the meal or not, as a man and a friend, especially dining with a girl, it just didn¡¯t seem right to let her pay. Of course, those women who treat men as walking ATMs, don¡¯t expect Lin Baici to spend even a single penny on them. ¡°I told you you could claim it!¡± Xia Hongyao suddenly felt she couldn¡¯t figure Lin Baici out. You¡¯d think he loves money, but when treating friends, he¡¯s not stingy, and he doesn¡¯t take advantage of the opportunity to claim trivial expenses like these. ¡°Next time it¡¯s on you, and it better be a feast!¡± Lin Baici laughed heartily. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s take a taxi to Haijing Polytechnic now!¡± Xia Hongyao planned to first drop Lin Baici off at the school to help him with all the procedures, and then return to the security agency. ¡°No need to trouble yourself, I¡¯ll take the school bus, Captain Xia, goodbye.¡± Lin Baici, with his backpack and dragging his suitcase, bade farewell to Xia Hongyao. Just after lunch, he went to the public restroom, took his luggage out of the Black Tripod Bowl, and was now ready to head to Haijing Polytechnic. He didn¡¯t want to use Taboo things on campus. If someone caught him on their cell phone, that would be a disaster. ¡°I¡¯ll take you!¡± Xia Hongyao insisted. ¡°Taxis are too expensive, the school bus is pretty good, and I might even make some alumni friends!¡± On the west side of the train station¡¯s plaza, there were over a dozen buses parked, their bodies bearing the names of their respective schools and red banners welcoming new students. Very conspicuous. ¡°Goodbye, Captain Xia, call me if you need anything!¡± Lin Baici ran off with his luggage. ¡°This kid, too much of a stranger!¡± Xia Hongyao shook her head with a smile, then walked to the edge of the road, hailed a cab to go to the security agency, and claim Lin Baici¡¯s reward money. Over at the bus side, there were already many students around. When Lin Baici approached, several school sisters responsible for welcoming new students immediately turned their attention to him. This guy is really good-looking. Wonder which school he¡¯s from? Probably an art school student, right? Chapter 60 - 60 60 God Rewards with Food_1 ?60: Chapter 60 God Rewards with Food_1 60: Chapter 60 God Rewards with Food_1 In the vast plaza in front of the train station, the crowd ebbed and flowed, as the opening days of various universities fell during this period, resulting in a large number of students. Young, energetic faces were filled with youthful abandon and high spirits. Being young is an asset. It gives you the right to squander time and the privilege to enjoy youth. Buses sent by various universities to pick up freshmen were parked, displaying the names of their institutions and welcoming slogans, with senior students serving as volunteers awaiting the newcomers. The freshmen certainly had no need to worry about getting on the wrong bus. As Lin Baici approached with his suitcase, the seniors in front of the buses immediately turned to look. ¡°Damn, isn¡¯t he too handsome?¡± A senior with a bob cut and a bunny hair clip exclaimed enthusiastically as she saw Lin Baici approaching, ¡°The bus for Beijing Drama Academy is over there!¡± ¡°Beijing Drama Academy?¡± Lin Baici was puzzled and followed the direction the senior pointed. In front of the green-painted bus, several student volunteers who had been idly chatting were already looking over, their faces filled with amazement. ¡°Holy shit, that¡¯s some serious good looks, he could compete for the title of freshman heartthrob this year!¡± ¡°Compete? Just look at his body, those muscles, those lines, it¡¯s clear he¡¯s worked out. I mean, there are others in freshman year who match his looks, sure, but physique? Sorry, he outshines them all!¡± ¡°Yeah, his physical condition is too good!¡± ¡°He¡¯s got the gift of the gods, you can¡¯t envy that!¡± Beijing Drama Academy, commonly known as the Beijing Drama, is one of the top three film academies in Nine States. Many well-known stars graduated from this institution. One could say that getting into Beijing Drama is like catching a fast train to stardom. However, to become a star, at the very least, one must possess a good appearance and an exceptional physique. Of course, if you have a powerful family background, or own mines, it¡¯s not impossible to take a shot at becoming a star, but the chances of success are slim. The volunteers were senior students from Beijing Drama. After undergoing training in both posture and internal quality, plus their naturally above-average looks, they stood out in the crowd. New students sitting on the bus waiting for departure couldn¡¯t help but steal glances at them from time to time. After all, who wouldn¡¯t fantasize about being so gracefully outstanding that just standing there would make them the center of attention? However, the moment the tall, over one-meter-eighty guy arrived, the seniors from Beijing Drama were immediately overshadowed. It wasn¡¯t just his looks and physique, but also his temperament. Having undergone the life and death refinement at God¡¯s ruins and after killing the Black Shark Triton duo, Lin Baici had developed a composed and unflappable demeanor. Besides, he would have a million credited to his account in two months at most, so from the inside out, he exuded confidence. Lin Baici saw the name of the school on the bus and smiled as he shook his head, ¡°Senior sister, I¡¯m not from Beijing Drama Academy!¡± ¡°What?¡± The bob-cut senior was taken aback. In her mind, most academically proficient males weren¡¯t very handsome¡ªjust nerds. A guy as good-looking as Lin Baici no doubt had poor grades. ¡°I¡¯m a freshman at Haijing Polytechnic!¡± Lin Baici said with a bright, sunny smile as he pulled his suitcase towards the Haijing Polytechnic bus. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not from Beijing Drama?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t his good looks going to waste?¡± The students were abuzz with talk. The seniors from Beijing Drama were momentarily stunned, not expecting the new student to be from another school, but they soon became cheerful. Yes! One less powerful competitor. ¡°What are you happy about? With his looks, he¡¯s aiming for lead roles in auditions, not competing with you for extras,¡± retorted the senior leading the team. She didn¡¯t understand why, but she was really irked. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because we lost a kickass junior alumnus!¡± the senior mumbled to herself. ¡°Looking good doesn¡¯t necessarily mean he can be the lead!¡± one of the senior boys muttered jealously. He didn¡¯t even believe his own words; in today¡¯s film industry, a person doesn¡¯t need outstanding work to become popular like before. As long as someone looks good enough and their agency is willing to spend money on online promotions and hire paid advocates, that person can become famous, gain fans, and harvest the crops. That guy was the absolute image of a young heartthrob with no lack of rich sisters willing to invest in him. Aboard the bus, a Beijing Drama teacher enjoying the air conditioning while playing on his phone also brightened at the sight of Lin Baici, immediately thinking the heartthrob of the year had arrived. If this guy had decent emotional intelligence and passable talent, he would definitely be snatched up by major companies. The teacher was surprised to find out he was actually an engineering student. ¡°What a waste!¡± The teacher shook his head in regret and was about to go back to his videos when he noticed students in the vicinity eying the guy. A thought struck him, and he got off the bus. He wanted to ask for his phone number to recommend to the dean. The dean¡¯s daughter owned an entertainment company, and perhaps she would sign him. Acting often depends on innate attributes, and being handsome is a huge advantage, not to mention the guy also had a great figure. How do entertainment companies operate nowadays? They spot a student with potential and sign them up right away. It doesn¡¯t cost much¡ªjust provide a living allowance each month. Later, they can arrange for gigs where playing an extra would be considered a good opportunity. Shameless companies may even ask beautiful girls to accompany clients. As long as the newcomer gets a little famous, the company won¡¯t lose out, and if the newcomer finds other opportunities, what then? Pay out of pocket to buy out their contract and the company turns a quick profit. Selling people has become standard practice for these smaller companies. And that Haijing Polytechnic guy has such a good figure, he could totally be a model. He doesn¡¯t lack job opportunities, so entertainment companies signing him would be making a profit. If this works out, I can also show my face in front of the dean and earn some favor. ... ¡°Ah? Someone from our school?¡± The senior leading the team adjusted his glasses in surprise as he looked at Lin Baici. With your good looks and being a top student, do you leave any room for the rest of us to live? Haijing Polytechnic ranks fifth among all universities in Haijing, and their acceptance scores are certainly not low. ¡°Yeah!¡± Lin Baici nodded. ¡°Then... then go wait in the car...¡± Before the senior could finish speaking, the girl by his side jumped in. ¡°Go wait in the car, we¡¯ll leave when everyone is here!¡± The upperclasswoman took a bottle of mineral water from a bag on the ground and handed it to Lin Baici. ¡°No need for that.¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t accept it. ¡°Don¡¯t be polite, it¡¯s a new student benefit, everyone gets one!¡± If she weren¡¯t concerned about her image, the upperclasswoman would¡¯ve already asked Lin Baici for his WeChat. Not giving Lin Baici another chance to refuse, she stuffed the bottle of Nongfu Spring water into his hand: ¡°Just go wait in the car, it¡¯s quite hot here!¡± ¡°Thank you, senior sister. Thank you, senior brother!¡± There¡¯s nothing wrong with being sweet-mouthed. Lin Baici would not feel superior just because he is a God Hunter with powerful Divine Grace. ¡°Junior, let me take your suitcase!¡± The bespectacled senior had now also reacted, smiling as he went to take Lin Baici¡¯s suitcase to place it in the luggage compartment on the right side of the bus. ¡°No need, I can do it myself!¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t like bothering others. ¡°No, let me do it. You¡¯ve been riding for a while, you must be tired.¡± The bespectacled senior was very enthusiastic, insisting on taking Lin Baici¡¯s trolley suitcase and putting it away, then pulling out his phone: ¡°Junior, add me on WeChat? If you have any questions, either about studies or daily life issues, you can come to me!¡± ¡°Good job, Old Cai!¡± The upperclasswoman Tao Yun praised silently and also took out her phone: ¡°Junior, add me too. If you can¡¯t find a girlfriend, I¡¯ll help you out!¡± On the bus, around twenty new students sat watching as the two very friendly upperclassmen proactively exchanged WeChat contacts with the newly arrived junior, realizing only then that they could have been more enthusiastic. But that didn¡¯t apply to themselves. ¡°Yeah!¡± Lin Baici took out his phone and opened WeChat. [Cai Zhiheng, rising senior, student union officer. Don¡¯t be fooled by the glasses and the honest look, he¡¯s actually quite cunning. He added you because he noticed the Rolex on your wrist!] [He has a long-distance girlfriend, but their relationship is mediocre and will probably end soon!] After scanning and adding Cai Zhiheng as a friend, Eater God offered its commentary. [Tao Yun, she just thought you were handsome and impulsively wanted to add you as a friend.] [She hasn¡¯t had a relationship in three years of college, likes drinking cold water, and her menstrual cycle is often irregular. If this continues, she¡¯ll become infertile.] [Coming from an impoverished mountain area, she knows that knowledge can change one¡¯s fate. She spends her days in the library and has already gotten five certificates in her spare time, working hard to find a good job with a decent monthly salary.] Lin Baici paid his respects earnestly. Hardworking people deserve respect. He¡¯ll find the right opportunity to tell her not to drink cold water. Since everyone here was from the same university, Lin Baici couldn¡¯t hustle like he did with the diabetic lady at the train station by claiming he was a medical student. Lin Baici wasn¡¯t in a hurry to get on the bus, taking advantage of the good atmosphere to inquire about the school situation and get mentally prepared. But he had only chatted for a few moments when a man around thirty came over. ¡°Fellow student, I¡¯m a teacher from the Beijing Drama Academy, surnamed Feng, Feng Yi. I notice you carry yourself well, speak eloquently, and have a great demeanor. Have you received any related training?¡± Mr. Feng smiled, extending his right hand to Lin Baici. ¡°Hello, Mr. Feng, no, I haven¡¯t!¡± Lin Baici shook hands with Feng Yi, and even though the other party wasn¡¯t a teacher from Haijing Polytechnic, he still addressed him respectfully. After all, being overly polite doesn¡¯t hurt. ¡°Oh? Then it seems you are quite talented!¡± Feng Yi complimented Lin Baici a few times, reducing any sense of strangeness between them, then casually mentioned the recent success of two major films, talking about how such-and-such popular young actor was a graduate of the Drama Academy. Cai Zhiheng and Tao Yun didn¡¯t know what Mr. Feng was up to and were confused until they heard him inviting Lin Baici to visit the Beijing Drama Academy. ¡°Are you interested in acting? Would you like to attend a few classes?¡± Feng Yi prided himself as a cultured individual and didn¡¯t state ¡®I¡¯m offering you an opportunity¡¯ so blatantly, but the message was conveyed. Typically, as long as the other party wasn¡¯t too foolish, they¡¯d understand. Tao Yun, dumbfounded, poked Cai Zhiheng softly and muttered under her breath, ¡°Did Lin Junior just get scouted?¡± Cai Zhiheng nodded, feeling a bit sour inside, as if he had just eaten a raw lemon. Being handsome just brings more opportunities! But Cai Zhiheng knew that for a career as a star, acting skills didn¡¯t matter much. What mattered was looks, and with investors pumping in money, purchasing hot search spots, and pushing traffic, anyone could become famous. That¡¯s just how providence works. Chapter 61 - 61 61 Man at the Top of the Food Chain_1 ?61: Chapter 61 Man at the Top of the Food Chain_1 61: Chapter 61 Man at the Top of the Food Chain_1 ¡°Not interested!¡± Lin Baici declined. Is acting more appealing than being a God Hunter? The profession is extremely dangerous, but the profits are high. Xia Hongyao said that God Hunters can continuously enhance their bodies by absorbing energy from Meteorites, reaching the point where their flesh can withstand a nuclear explosion. Improved immunity, not getting sick for years, 24 hours of gaming or watching videos without vision deterioration, eating without worry of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or gout... Even a newbie God Hunter like Lin Baici already possesses a physique far stronger than that of an ordinary person. ¡°Uh...¡± Lin Baici¡¯s decisive answer left Feng Yi at a loss for words. Most people, when offered the chance to act, would at least say they¡¯d consider it even if they weren¡¯t interested. This guy, however, was downright forthright in his refusal. ¡°Then... how about we add each other as friends? There are some plays coming up at Haijing Theatre, and they¡¯re rehearsing quite well. You can check them out to improve your aesthetic appreciation and broaden your horizons.¡± Feng Yi chuckled as he waved his cellphone. If Lin Baici hadn¡¯t been so strikingly outstanding, assuring a surefire profit if signed, Feng Yi would have walked away immediately. Do you know how many people spend money trying to get into Haijing Theatre but can¡¯t? ¡°No need, I¡¯m not interested in plays!¡± Lin Baici still refused. ¡°...¡± Cai Zhiheng, speechless. ¡°...¡± Tao Yun, speechless. ¡°...¡± Feng Yi truly ran out of words this time. He had his pride, and being rejected twice in a row was infuriating: ¡°Fine then, Student Zhu, I wish you a future as bright as your prospects!¡± After that, Feng Yi left promptly, not wanting to stay another minute. ¡°Damn, Lin Junior, you¡¯ve got guts to pass up such a good opportunity?¡± Cai Zhiheng was so shocked that he swore: ¡°Do you know how many beautiful girls there are at Haijing Theatre, and how many luxury cars are parked outside every day?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want a star girlfriend?¡± Tao Yun was surprised. ¡°No, I don¡¯t!¡± Lin Baici subconsciously thought of the photos Kim Myungjin sent him every night with the caption ¡®Can I see this without spending money?¡¯ The beauty of the Goryeo girl surpassed that of current top female stars. Right, Lin Baici remembered that Kim Myungjin mentioned her mother had a very famous entertainment company with many contracted trainees. Those were idols in the making! ¡°I¡¯m impressed!¡± Cai Zhiheng felt Lin Baici must be from a small place and completely unaware of Haijing Theatre¡¯s fame. He would definitely regret it once he found out. ¡°You have guts.¡± Tao Yun found Lin Baici to be someone he could get along with, not like other boys who racked their brains to get a girlfriend from Haijing Theatre. After all, showing off such a partner is indeed very prestigious. The nearby students had different thoughts after witnessing this scene. The freshmen believed they would also wait for their own opportunities, while the seniors thought Lin Baici was a bit silly and cute. He¡¯s quite handsome, but he seems a bit lacking upstairs. How many good opportunities come in life? When you encounter one, you should try your best to seize it. Haijing Polytechnic is good, but even a graduate from a hot major only makes about ten thousand yuan a month, at most twenty thousand. Being a star is different. A bit-part actor in a popular drama once disclosed that he was unemployed for nearly a year. When he checked his account balance, he found he had only a little over a million left, which made him panic. The rate at which stars earn money is truly fast, and it¡¯s easy. [Many nearby people think you¡¯re an idiot, tsk, they simply do not understand what makes you special, you are a top predator on the food chain, Breaking Divine Ruins, feasting on God¡¯s bones, is what you¡¯re meant to do!] [These lowly ants aren¡¯t even worthy to grovel at your feet and sing praises of your great name!] [In this city, there is the scent of a god!] [Stop conversing with these insects, go rest up on the bus, and prepare for the hunt of a god.] Eater God spoke a lot in one breath, and although the information overload was a bit much for Lin Baici, he noted the pointers on food chains and predators as mere jests. But the line about the presence of a god in the city was quite frightening. ¡°To my knowledge, there are no Divine Ruins near Haijing or its surroundings, so where could a god come from?¡± Lin Baici inquired. Cities like Beijing, Haijing, and Guangdong Capital, all top-tier metropolises, have Jiuzhou Security Bureau branches with many Dragon Guards stationed. If a Meteorite falls nearby and forms Divine Ruins, the Dragon Guards immediately spring into action, entering to explore, securing God¡¯s bones, and preventing their spread. Eater God was silent. ¡°In the end, what is a god?¡± Lin Baici was curious. Eater God didn¡¯t answer. It was as if he had fallen asleep. Lin Baici didn¡¯t mind, as he hadn¡¯t expected an answer from Eater God anyway. As for turning down an opportunity that might have made him an actor, Lin Baici couldn¡¯t care less. Not to mention whether that Hai Opera teacher was reliable or not, even if he was, how difficult would it be for Lin Baici to climb the ladder step by step once he¡¯s given a chance? The man couldn¡¯t possibly have the power to arrange a major supporting role for him right from the start, could he? There¡¯s no need to even think about the lead role! If there really was such an opportunity, why wouldn¡¯t he promote his own people, whom he knows through and through? Put simply, that teacher was akin to a talent scout; seeing that Lin Baici was handsome, he just cast a net to try his luck. If Lin Baici became famous, the scout would make a profit, and if not, he wouldn¡¯t lose anything. If Lin Baici really wanted to become an actor, he¡¯d be better off going to Kim Myungjin, who comes from a wealthy family owning their own entertainment company. Money and connections! ¡°After all, I¡¯m about to be an employee of the Jiuzhou Security Bureau earning an annual income of six hundred thousand yuan and 120 Meteorite Coins. With such a high annual salary, dating my senior, playing games all night, sleeping in every morning until I wake up naturally, isn¡¯t enjoying four beautiful years of university life a sweet deal?¡± This was the life he could have right now, and Lin Baici was quite satisfied with it. He definitely wouldn¡¯t dive into the entertainment industry for a chance to possibly become a star. When Lin Baici thought about this, he frowned slightly. Although Xia Hongyao had made a promise to him, the decision was ultimately up to the director of the Security Bureau. If the director didn¡¯t agree... No worries, I still have a one-million-yuan bonus. Lin Baici took out his phone, opened the Origin Forum, logged into his account, and found the reward post he had answered that morning. The original poster hadn¡¯t replied yet. It seemed he would have to wait a few more days. One word for ten thousand yuan, the money comes easily, but the wait is torturous. Lin Baici chatted with Cai Zhiheng and Tao Yun for over ten minutes, and then new students started to arrive. With the two of them needing to attend to the newcomers, Lin Baici boarded the bus. On the first row of the bus, on the left side by the window, there was a young teacher taking a nap; he was in charge of leading today¡¯s group. However, welcoming new students was such a simple task that it could be left to the students to handle. Lin Baici found a seat near the middle, sat down, and continued to browse the forum. The new students kept coming aboard, and after about half an hour, the bus was more than half full with nearly forty people, and it finally set off. ¡°Lin Junior, if you need anything, give me a call!¡± Tao Yun shouted to Lin Baici. ¡°Okay, senior!¡± Lin Baici waved back at Tao Yun. As the bus left the train station, he looked out the window at the cityscape. As expected of a metropolis, the roads were wide, and cars were everywhere. Sports cars that couldn¡¯t be seen in Guangqing would occasionally speed past. Lin Baici couldn¡¯t name them, but from their design, he knew they weren¡¯t cheap. The women on the street were dressed fashionably and boldly, and some were in business attire, exuding the sharp and efficient aura of urban female white-collar workers. The vegetation in the green belts was lush, but the ground was almost free of fallen leaves and debris; the cleanliness of the environment was well-maintained, and sanitation workers could be seen busy at work. Ding-dong! A message came in on WeChat. Little Merperson: Xiao Bai, have you arrived? Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: I¡¯m on the bus to the school. Little Merperson: So annoying, the dean called me for a talk. I might be delayed a bit before I can come to see you. Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: If you¡¯re busy, you don¡¯t have to come over. Little Merperson: No way, you just arrived in Haijing, and as your senior, I must take good care of you. Don¡¯t worry, if the dean is too long-winded, I¡¯ll just slam the door and leave. I don¡¯t need that diploma or degree certificate. Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: Don¡¯t talk out of anger, also, he didn¡¯t call you for anything serious, did he? In Lin Baici¡¯s view, being called to the office by a school leader generally wasn¡¯t a good sign. Little Merperson: No, according to the hints dropped by the counselor, it seems like the dean wants to use my internet celebrity status for some publicity around the school¡¯s outstanding students. Hua Yue Yu was annoyed because, since the dean himself was involved, she couldn¡¯t refuse; otherwise, she would have come to Haijing Polytechnic to find Lin Baici earlier. Little Merperson: Gotta go, see you later! Then a cat waving goodbye emoji, very cute. Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: See you later. The driver, probably with thirty years of experience, drove the coach very fast. However, when they reached Fu An Road, where Haijing Polytechnic was located, the speed slowed down. Due to the multitude of parents sending their children, the street was congested with traffic, plus the waiting for traffic lights meant the bus took more than ten minutes just to get to the main gate. Haijing Polytechnic¡¯s main gate was quite imposing. In front of the automatic gate was a large space with a huge feng shui rock engraved with the words ¡°Haijing Polytechnic.¡± The calligraphy was bold and striking. The bus moved slowly along the main campus road and finally stopped in front of Building A. In front of the building was a large square, where many banners were hung and over thirty tables were set up, bustling with new students and their parents. ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± The driver called out, opening the bus door. The new students exited like penguins that had just left the Arctic and entered a new world, finding everything novel. They were excited yet apprehensive, careful about their image for fear of making a fool of themselves on the first day of registration. ¡°Everyone, please take your luggage, then go to your respective department¡¯s registration area to sign up and collect your living supplies. As for the tuition fees, please go to the school¡¯s West Building to pay within one week.¡± ¡°Campus cards are also processed at the payment center. You¡¯ll need them for eating in the school cafeteria, showering in the bathhouse, and getting water from the water room. Once you have it, please keep it safe!¡± As the bus came to a stop, a senior accompanied by some student union volunteers came over to help the newcomers take their luggage off the bus and direct them, sharing some tips to heed. ¡°Thank you!¡± Lin Baici picked up his trolley case and joined the queue at the Electrical Engineering College¡¯s registration booth. His first choice had been software engineering at Haijing Polytechnic, and he had been accepted. Chapter 62 - 62 62 New Student Registration_1 ?62: Chapter 62 New Student Registration_1 62: Chapter 62 New Student Registration_1 Today is the second day of university enrollment. With so many freshmen, and parents accompanying their children, the campus is bustling, teeming with people and filled with a cacophony of chattering voices. There are nine people in front of Lin Baici, and it¡¯s not his turn yet; meanwhile, a dozen more have lined up behind him. The ones in charge of registration are a senior girl and boy from our faculty. ¡°The senior boy looks very ordinary, with thick glasses and an honest demeanor. The senior girl is beautiful, tall with long legs, a slim A-line waist, wearing light makeup¡ªgorgeous!¡± ¡°Just that her skin is a bit dark!¡± ¡°Out of ten, I¡¯d give her a seven!¡± The boy in front of Lin Baici murmurs to his phone. ¡°Take a peek? No, that¡¯s not right; without her permission, I can¡¯t film. That¡¯s a principle of mine!¡± ¡°Alright, for the sake of my followers, I¡¯ll go for it, but just a quick glance, okay!¡± As he speaks, the boy points his phone toward the wheat-colored senior girl. ¡°Do you see her? I didn¡¯t lie to you, did I?¡± The boy is smug: ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the senior girls from our Electrical Engineering Faculty to be of such high quality; I can look forward to the upcoming campus life!¡± ¡°Thanks to Green Head Fungus for subscribing; thank you!¡± ¡°Thanks to Mighty¡¯s Three-Foot Rule for subscribing; thank you!¡± This boy is thanking his viewers for their donations, his voice loud enough to draw the attention of the nearby students. Close enough to get a clear view, Lin Baici takes in the sight. This medium-height, slightly overweight freshman is also a streamer on Shark Station. He¡¯s wearing a pair of white Adidas Yeezys, cropped casual pants paired with a Japanese-style branded T-shirt, sporting a baseball cap and coffee-colored sunglasses. He has an outgoing personality, a real social whiz. If it were Lin Baici, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have the nerve to stream live under everyone¡¯s gaze. ¡°You want WeChat? Are you trying to get me socially killed on my first day of school?¡± ¡°Do you know how awkward I¡¯ll be if I get rejected?¡± ¡°Whether it works or not, donate a plane? Shouldn¡¯t it be at least three planes? Isn¡¯t such a beautiful senior girl worth three planes? Alright, I¡¯m going all out today!¡± The self-proclaimed Mister Official is quite showy, interacting with his viewers in a heated atmosphere. When it¡¯s his turn, he holds out his phone in one hand and his admission notice in the other. ¡°Senior, what year are you in?¡± The boy grins broadly, showcasing his affability: ¡°My name is Xu Daguan, ¡®Daguan¡¯ as in ¡®double person,¡¯ ¡®greatness,¡¯ ¡®smooth,¡¯ and ¡®humble,¡¯ amassing ¡®great views¡¯ of the world from a righteous perspective!¡± Xu Daguan loves to announce his name, believing it has class and sophistication. At every mention, others look on in awe, puzzled but impressed. ¡°Senior year!¡± Zhou Ya responds politely. ¡°I¡¯m a broadcaster on Shark Station with a million followers. Could I ask you to say a few words to my viewers? They¡¯re all Nine-Holes Fish, who have never seen a beautiful and talented girl from a prestigious university. Would you satisfy their curiosity?¡± Xu Daguan is not lacking in emotional intelligence, and his words are sweet. He not only flaunts his million followers, indirectly boasting his status as a top broadcaster but also compliments Zhou Ya on her beauty and talent. The freshmen lined up around him watch as Xu Daguan confidently chats with the senior girl without any stage fright. They are both surprised and impressed. Is this what being a winner in life looks like? Envy. Zhou Ya once considered becoming a female broadcaster to earn tuition and living expenses but never tried it. Thus, presented with a chance to stream, she¡¯s not opposed¡ªuntil she sees the new student standing behind Xu Daguan. He¡¯s quite tall, over one eighty-five, with sharp facial contours, pronounced features, handsome looks, especially a pair of very expressive eyes. Zhou Ya and Lin Baici¡¯s eyes meet. ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t like being on camera.¡± Zhou Ya turns him down. For some reason, she doesn¡¯t want this male student to think she¡¯s frivolous and unreserved. ¡°Senior, help these guys out. How about I treat you and the other seniors to coffee later?¡± Xu Daguan is not discouraged. The atmosphere in the live stream is good, with viewers clamoring to see the senior girl. Xu Daguan won¡¯t pass up this chance to boost his popularity. Zhou Ya shakes her head, quickly glancing at Lin Baici, sweeping her eyes over his entire body, pausing slightly when her gaze lands on the Rolex on his wrist. [He has athlete¡¯s foot, likes collecting adult movies, especially the JK genre, and is a regular at the roadside hair salons.] [He enjoys taking secret photos, so watch out for your privacy!] [His flesh stinks, even dogs wouldn¡¯t eat it!] Lin Baici looks down at Xu Daguan¡¯s feet, realizing that Eater God¡¯s comments are about him. It seems even expensive shoes can¡¯t cure athlete¡¯s foot. [A senior girl stands at a crossroads in life, recently realizing the power of money can change a lot.] [She wants money, lots of it!] [Difficult to conceive, recommended char-grilled with a sprinkling of cumin!] Eater God¡¯s comments are about Zhou Ya. ¡°I also want money, to buy my mom a big villa!¡± Seeing Xu Daguan, Lin Baici suddenly remembers that he¡¯s forgotten about his video on Bilibili. He hasn¡¯t checked in days and wonders how the views are doing. ¡°Junior, here¡¯s your proof of registration. Go to dormitory building number 2 to get your supplies!¡± The senior wearing glasses isn¡¯t pleased with this freshman, who¡¯s trying to hit on a senior girl right after arriving, You¡¯re quite arrogant! If you actually managed to pursue her, wouldn¡¯t our four years as seniors in college have been wasted? But judging by the attire, this Xu-named freshman seems quite wealthy. Being a livestreamer really is a lucrative career! Xu Daguan took the certificate, still pestering Zhou Ya. For the sake of three big planes, Zhou Ya had to show her face. ¡°Senior, thank you for your trouble!¡± Lin Baici handed over the admission notice. ¡°Holy shit!¡± The bespectacled senior blurted out. This freshman¡¯s looks are so outstanding; he¡¯s the handsomest newcomer he has seen so far, and standing there, he really did stand out from the crowd. Damn it, with these looks, this physique, in these four years of college, causing chaos is the least he could do; he might as well aim for a hundred-person notch on his belt. The bespectacled senior, envious, swiftly finished processing Lin Baici¡¯s certificate and took the opportunity to remind him of some matters to note. ¡°How do I get to Dormitory 2?¡± Lin Baici looked around; nearby buildings seven and eight, as well as the lecture halls, blocked his view. ¡°From this side...¡± The bespectacled senior was about to direct him when Zhou Ya interrupted. ¡°Little Sun, I¡¯ve got a bit of a headache, I think I might have heatstroke. I¡¯m going to lie down in the dormitory for a while. Can you and Little Xiao handle things?¡± Zhou Ya raised her hand and pinched the bridge of her nose with her forefinger. ¡°Ah? Then you should hurry back to rest. I can manage on my own!¡± The bespectacled senior was very confident. All these volunteers were members of the student councils from various faculties, and they participated in welcoming the freshmen out of their own will. There was no obligation, so leaving early was no issue. ¡°Junior, it just so happens that I¡¯m heading the same way. Let me walk you there!¡± Zhou Ya smiled, walked to Lin Baici¡¯s side, and reached to take his suitcase: ¡°Let me help you with that!¡± ¡°No need, thank you, Senior!¡± Lin Baici frowned slightly. What was going on? He certainly didn¡¯t have such an inflated opinion of himself that he believed he could make a senior girl throw herself at him. Wait a minute, she¡¯s doing this to get rid of that Xu Daguan, isn¡¯t she? Lin Baici looked at the freshman who was still livestreaming. The newcomer also froze, knowing, even with his thick skin, that the senior was subtly rejecting him. Moreover, the livestream was still on, and although his water friends couldn¡¯t see the situation here, they could hear it, leading some of them to jest. Eater God, just the head: What¡¯s going on? One-handed jungler: I heard the senior call for a junior, did she find another freshman? Green Head Fungus: Haha, Mister Official, you have failed before you¡¯ve even begun, draped not in glory but in burial cloth. I¡¯ve had a brain injury: What need is there for burial cloth, with such a big green hat? Just take it apart and wrap it around. OxO three feet: Haha, you really think you¡¯re some Mr. West the Official, don¡¯t you? Dumb Ox! ¡°The senior has heatstroke, a headache; you have to understand, when girls show their faces, they always want to look their most beautiful!¡± Xu Daguan defended himself verbally, though he knew this was a good time to play the victim and collect a fair amount of sympathy donations. But seeing the senior dragging the suitcase, laughing and talking with the new student as they left together, his mood soured, and he grumpily wanted to stuff his smelly foot into both the senior¡¯s and the freshman¡¯s mouths. ¡°Forget about that senior. I¡¯ve found someone even prettier. Come on, I¡¯ll take you for a look and we can tour the campus at the same time!¡± Xu Daguan quickly got over it. No rush, There are four years of college ahead, plenty of time. I will surely turn this school into my own personal fishpond. ... Zhou Ya, pulling the suitcase, walked alongside Lin Baici on the path, occasionally pointing out and introducing the buildings to him. ¡°That five-story building to the east, the one that looks like a toilet, is the library. I don¡¯t know who designed it; it¡¯s either someone¡¯s taste gone terribly wrong, or the school¡¯s leadership was bribed. Either way, this ¡®Toilet Building¡¯ is pretty famous among Haijing universities.¡± Zhou Ya laughed as she divulged some school-specific jokes to Lin Baici: ¡°When students here say they¡¯re going to study, they don¡¯t say ¡®heading to the library,¡¯ they say ¡®heading to the toilet!''¡± ¡°Senior, may I carry it myself?¡± Even though the rolling suitcase wasn¡¯t heavy, Lin Baici felt embarrassed letting a girl pull it while he only carried a backpack. ¡°What? Are you afraid I¡¯ll steal your stuff?¡± Zhou Ya retorted. ¡°No...¡± Lin Baici quickly shook his head. The senior girl was down-to-earth, and her approachable tone and humor made Lin Baici quite fond of her. ¡°Lin Junior, do you work out regularly?¡± Zhou Ya was curious. Lin Baici was wearing short sleeves, exposing his arms, which showed off his firm muscles. Plus, standing close, Zhou Ya realized just how tall this junior was ¡ª she only came up to his chest. If they were to kiss, she¡¯d have to stand on tiptoes and still wouldn¡¯t reach his lips. Chapter 63 - 63 63 Senior Sister! ?63: Chapter 63: Senior Sister! Senior Sister! _1 63: Chapter 63: Senior Sister! Senior Sister! _1 ¡°No!¡± Lin Baici was busy studying every day, and he used his free time for reading novels and playing games; he simply had no time for fitness. ¡°Then why is your physique so good?¡± Zhou Ya reached out, pretending to poke Lin Baici¡¯s biceps. The muscle lines looked beautiful, unlike her own boyfriend, whose flesh was soft and flabby. ¡°Natural growth, perhaps?¡± Lin Baici figured it had to do mostly with the Eater God. ¡°Hehe, junior, you¡¯re too modest. In university, there¡¯s no need to hide your light under a bushel. When it¡¯s time to perform, you should show off your talents so that people are aware of your excellence, and then you¡¯ll get more opportunities.¡± Zhou Ya shared her advice, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid of others¡¯ envy, remember one thing, ¡®If you don¡¯t arouse envy, you¡¯re mediocre!''¡± Recently, burpee jumps had become popular and were all the rage among the girls. Zhou Ya and her roommates also practiced them in the evening. It was exhausting, so she knew the effort and self-discipline Lin Baici had to put in to maintain such a figure. ¡°Like joining the student union or applying for Party membership, you definitely should actively seize such opportunities¡ªthey can be very helpful for job hunting in the future!¡± Zhou Ya had the intention of befriending Lin Baici. After all, having a handsome and rich male friend was something to be proud of. And you never knew when he might lend you a hand. Zhou Ya¡¯s gaze fleetingly swept over the watch on Lin Baici¡¯s left wrist. A Rolex. Yes, it seemed to be called a Submariner; Zhou Ya wasn¡¯t very clear on the details but knew her boyfriend called it the Green Ghost. As the watch face and bezel were both green, it got its name. Zhou Ya thought the name Green Ghost didn¡¯t sound nice and didn¡¯t understand what was good about this particular watch, but her boyfriend absolutely loved it. He had stored various photos of it on his phone and would look at them whenever he had the chance. Her boyfriend said it was his dream watch, aspiring to buy one with a month¡¯s salary after working for ten years after graduation. So, how much does it cost? Over eighty thousand yuan, Renminbi! Now, her boyfriend¡¯s dream watch was casually worn on the wrist of this junior. Ah! Some were born in Rome, while others had to be mules! Zhou Ya was a senior and had long since passed the age of innocence. She accompanied Lin Baici to the men¡¯s dormitory building not just to get rid of Xu Daguan, who she detested, but more importantly because of the watch. There might not be another opportunity like this. There might be no chance to get to know Lin Baici in the future. ¡°Thank you, senior, for the advice!¡± Lin Baici verbally expressed his gratitude but didn¡¯t really care about it. He was now a God Hunter, and soon he would become a Jiuzhou Dragon Guard with an annual salary of six hundred thousand yuan and 120 Meteorite Coins. Even if he didn¡¯t make it, it didn¡¯t matter. As long as he had the qualifications to enter God¡¯s Ruins and could bring out Taboo things without being seized by official agencies, Lin Baici was confident he could become a billionaire. He had seen on the Origin Forum, people were buying Taboo things and were paying money based on their features, with even the cheapest ones going for millions. The housing prices in Haijing were too high; if you wanted to buy a new house in a good location, don¡¯t even think about it without ten million, so waiting for a salary was too slow. It was September now. Lin Baici planned to take advantage of the seven-day National Day holiday in October and asked Xia Hongyao to join him in breaking into the Divine Ruins to fetch Taboo things. He couldn¡¯t do it without Xia Hongyao, because a God Hunter without a license was prohibited from possessing Taboo things, let alone entering Divine Ruins casually. He didn¡¯t even know how to apply for a license. He needed to get one as soon as possible! ¡°Look, that lake is called Qingliu Pond, but we all call it Little Taihu!¡± Leaving the Teaching Building complex, composed of twelve large buildings, along the main road, there was a huge flowerbed filled with brightly colored flowers. To the west, there was a large lake. The lake was lined with willow trees. When the summer breeze blew, the willow tendrils fluttered, and the greenery provided shade. Even from a distance, you could feel the coolness. ¡°Despite the lovely scenery here, it¡¯s plagued by mosquitoes in the summer and too cold in the winter. Only the freshmen who have not yet suffered come here for romance. The veterans don¡¯t bother with such places for lovey-dovey talk!¡± Zhou Ya figured Lin Baici mustn¡¯t lack girlfriends and hoped he wouldn¡¯t turn into a playboy. ¡°Look further away, to the north. That three-story building clad with white tiles is the number one cafeteria. The small stir-fry on the third floor is good, but a bit expensive. Behind the building, there¡¯s a small Halal cafeteria. Except for the beef dumplings, which are decent, the rest is not good at all¡ªI don¡¯t recommend trying it just for the sake of novelty.¡± ¡°Past the cafeteria, going north, you¡¯ll find the sports field. Do you like playing basketball? Our school has a sports hall with excellent facilities. With your height, you should be able to dunk, right?¡± Zhou Ya held some anticipation. The boys of her faculty weren¡¯t up to par, and their basketball skills were poor. Every year, the Electrical Engineering faculty couldn¡¯t even make it through the group stage of the school basketball tournament. ¡°Not bad!¡± It was after four o¡¯clock, and Lin Baici could already smell the fragrance of food coming from the number one cafeteria. In front of the cafeteria, there was a small square. At this time, there were over a dozen sun umbrellas set up, with several mobile operators selling SIM cards, seniors selling used books and postgraduate study materials, and students starting their own businesses selling snacks and sodas. Passing through the plaza, there was an H-shaped dormitory building with a total of twenty-six floors. ¡°That¡¯s the number 2 male dormitory building, you guys seem to call it the Underpants Building.¡± Zhou Ya pointed it out to Lin Baici, ¡°Our view is blocked by building number 2, behind that is the dormitory area, with a total of thirty-six dormitory buildings. You freshmen are quite lucky, this year you¡¯ll live in buildings that were just built less than three years ago!¡± ¡°Oh, and when you go to fetch water and take showers, you¡¯ll pass by the girls¡¯ dormitory building, so no peeking!¡± Zhou Ya teased. ¡°Wait a moment, senior sister!¡± Lin Baici said, then ran over to the cafeteria. Zhou Ya was puzzled. Was the junior brother hungry? Next to the entrance of the cafeteria were two vending machines, filled with mineral water and beverages. Lin Baici ran up to the vending machine, took out his phone to scan the code and pay, and bought a bottle of Nongfu Spring water and a bottle of juice. ¡°Have some juice, senior sister, to replenish some vitamin C.¡± Lin Baici came back, unscrewed the cap of the juice, and handed it to Zhou Ya. ¡°Junior brother, did you have a lot of girls chasing after you in high school?¡± Zhou Ya initially planned to refuse, but seeing that Lin Baici had even thoughtfully unscrewed the cap, for some reason, her heart softened. She wanted to taste the juice handed over by the junior brother and see if it was better than what she bought herself. ¡°I¡¯ve never been in a relationship!¡± Lin Baici, a poor student, where would he have the time for a girlfriend? His days were spent studying hard, trying to get into a good university, earn a lot of money, and lighten his mother¡¯s burden. ¡°Your female classmates have no taste then, to let you come to the university all clean and single?¡± Zhou Ya joked. Lin Baici¡¯s Nongfu Spring water cost 2 yuan, and this fresh-squeezed orange juice was 7 yuan. From this detail, one could see that the junior brother was generous and knew how to get along with people. In Zhou Ya¡¯s view, Lin Baici not buying himself juice wasn¡¯t about lack of money; it was purely because he felt it was too sweet and not refreshing. But giving mineral water to her instead would seem too cheap. Zhou Ya didn¡¯t care whether it was water or juice; she wouldn¡¯t even mind if Lin Baici hadn¡¯t bought her anything, but now that she received a bottle of juice with the cap unscrewed, her mood was extremely good. She felt a sense of happiness as if the world was treating her tenderly. After all, everyone wants to be cared for and respected. Downstairs of dormitory building number 2, there was a surge of people. The new students were all lining up to receive daily necessities. ¡°You wait here, I¡¯ll go get them for you!¡± Zhou Ya rolled up her sleeves, ready to tackle the task. Actually, she was planning to just drop Lin Baici off downstairs and be done with it, but the junior brother¡¯s bottle of juice made her change her mind. ¡°No!¡± Lin Baici quickly grabbed Zhou Ya¡¯s arm, ¡°Just watch my luggage for me!¡± If he really let Zhou Ya go collect his stuff, he might be seen as a pampered pretty boy who couldn¡¯t handle life on his own, couldn¡¯t he? The fact that Lin Baici didn¡¯t buy juice for himself was simply because it was too sweet for his taste. After waiting in line for twenty minutes, Lin Baici received a bulging light green bag from the storage keeper, a set of green military training clothes, a folding stool, a thermos, and other daily necessities like a tooth mug, toothbrush, towel, and wash basin. In the big bag, there were two sets of quilts and mattress pads, and four bed sheets and quilt covers, patterned with small green and white squares, devoid of any designs, monotonously plain. ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll help you take them up!¡± With so many items, Zhou Ya reached out to carry the big bag in Lin Baici¡¯s hand. ¡°I can do it myself! I can do it myself!¡± What a joke, he could bench press a hundred kilograms, he could lift her over his head with one hand, what were these items in comparison? If it weren¡¯t for the crowd being too big, Lin Baici would have called on Muscle Buddha to come and be the laborer. Stepping up the stairs, Lin Baici and his companion entered building number 2, and after showing their admission notice to the Auntie in charge, she gave Lin Baici two keys. ¡°9th floor, room 906.¡± That was Lin Baici¡¯s dormitory room. There were two elevators in the building, but since it was so crowded that day, it took them fifteen minutes to get onto the elevator and reach the 9th floor. The hallway was crowded with people, innocent-faced freshmen mixed in with parents worried about their children adapting to college life. On every face, there was concern and care. Lin Baici arrived in front of room 906. The door was closed, Lin Baici first raised his hand to knock on the door, waited around five seconds, and then pushed it open. This little gesture made Zhou Ya grow even fonder of Lin Baici. Lin Junior was considerate of others. To knock first as a way of alerting others rather than barging in directly was important; otherwise, they could stumble upon scenes that weren¡¯t meant for others to see, making things awkward. For instance, if someone in the room were crying for the first time away from their parents, or if the parents were telling their child some private words not meant for outsiders to hear... Chapter 64 - 64 64 I Know All Your Secrets!_1 ?64: Chapter 64 I Know All Your Secrets!_1 64: Chapter 64 I Know All Your Secrets!_1 Lin Baici grasped the doorknob and took in the entire dormitory at a glance. The place wasn¡¯t big. It was furnished with three bunk beds, each topped with wooden planks painted a kind of ink-green. This color was just ridiculous. Had Haijing Polytechnic¡¯s principal been cuckolded or something? Otherwise, why would both the fitted sheets and the beds be green? There was absolutely no sense of aesthetics whatsoever. Lin Baici¡¯s evaluation could be summed up in one word, Ugly! In the northeast corner and the middle of the dormitory, there was a desk each, with an old-looking, probably seven or eight-year-old, landline phone on the corner desk. Does anyone even use this thing nowadays? ¡°The balcony is inside, with a sink, and your luggage lockers are also placed there!¡± Zhou Ya introduced the dormitory layout. ¡°Hmm!¡± Lin Baici nodded, there were now six people in the dorm. A tall guy, probably just over 1.8 meters, was sitting on the lower bunk of the bed near the door, spinning a basketball on his left index finger. He was dressed in a yellow Lakers Team uniform emblazoned with the number 23, and on his feet were a pair of AJ32 basketball shoes. When he saw Lin Baici come in, he stood up politely and asked, ¡°Need any help?¡± ¡°Thanks, but no.¡± This roommate must be a basketball fan, average in looks but built solid with dark skin, clearly from playing basketball outdoors for years. [Wow, a muscular guy. Because he plays basketball frequently, his muscles are well-defined and chewy. I suggest grilling, with plenty of sauce!] [Medium-rare, don¡¯t complain about it being tough to chew, that¡¯s the best texture.] ¡°...¡± Eater God started its food commentary again, which made Lin Baici speechless. ¡°My name is Fang Mingyuan!¡± Number 23 reached out to Lin Baici but quickly retracted his hand, remembering he¡¯d been playing with the basketball and his hand wasn¡¯t clean. However, Lin Baici didn¡¯t mind and shook his hand anyway. ¡°Lin Baici!¡± Lin Baici flashed a smile. [A big boy who prefers activity to thinking, enjoys basketball, and aspires to join a professional team. He doesn¡¯t show much interest in women ¡ª after all, what woman has biceps as full and pretty as his?] [You can take him along when exploring God¡¯s Ruins, using him for manual labor, and if supplies run low, as emergency rations!] [I suggest setting aside time every week to play basketball with him, focusing on his thighs to ensure that after a year, the meat will be very tasty!] ¡°Let me know if you need help!¡± Fang Mingyuan gave a smile, nodded to Zhou Ya, and then sat back down, continuing to play with his basketball to maintain his touch. On the balcony, a guy was on the phone. He was about 1.7 meters tall, with a long face and a Qi Fentou hairstyle, great hair quality, and bangs long enough to slightly cover his eyes ¡ª in a word, very handsome. His clothes, too, were very trendy, all brands that Lin Baici couldn¡¯t name, his personal style reminiscent of members from idol groups in Sakura Country and Goryeo. [He looks a bit effeminate, but he isn¡¯t gay. He has a bit of a temper, and his emotional intelligence is inconsistent.] [Not just rich, but very rich!] [He¡¯s loyal to friends, but often gets taken advantage of. I suggest not eating his brain, it could make one dumber!] [He has a weak constitution and gets sick often, currently suffering from kidney deficiency.] Kidney deficiency? Lin Baici was stunned. Isn¡¯t an eighteen-year-old man supposed to be brimming with energy? How could there be a deficiency? But after taking a look at the guy¡¯s face, Lin Baici understood. Rich and handsome, how could he possibly lack girlfriends? ¡°I said we¡¯re breaking up, can¡¯t you understand that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like long-distance relationships!¡± ¡°You expect me to visit you every weekend? No, I want to sleep in!¡± ¡°Come see me? Don¡¯t, it¡¯ll interrupt my sleep.¡± Qian Jiahui¡¯s patience quickly ran out as his voice grew louder. ¡°That¡¯s it, we¡¯re done!¡± Qian Jiahui didn¡¯t care about his girlfriend¡¯s fussing, ended the call abruptly, walked out from the balcony, and after noticing Lin Baici, gave him a quick once-over. ¡°Hello, Lin Baici, from Guangqing.¡± Lin Baici greeted with a smile. ¡°Me, Qian Jiahui, from Beijing!¡± After Qian Jiahui spoke, he took out wireless earbuds, put them on without asking Fang Mingyuan for permission, started humming a tune, and just sat on his bed to play a mobile game. Fang Mingyuan shifted to the side a bit. There was another guy on the balcony, in front of him was a basin of water, and he was crouched against the wall, scrubbing at stains on the floor and wall. Next to him were a broom and dustpan. The dustpan contained several cigarette butts, a few crumpled balls of tissue paper, and three socks and a pair of underwear all dirtied beyond recognition. It seemed like the previous occupants of this dormitory were not the tidy type. ¡°Hi, hello there!¡± Lin Baici called out to greet. The guy immediately stood up, forced a friendly smile, and greeted Lin Baici warmly, ¡°Hello! Hello!¡± ¡°My name¡¯s Lin Baici!¡± Lin Baici could sense the guy¡¯s awkwardness. He was about 1.65 meters tall, skinny, with short hair, and a thumb-sized scar above his left forehead. ¡°I¡¯m Hu Wenwu!¡± ¡°Lin Junior, this upper bunk is yours!¡± On the railing of each bed, there was a student¡¯s name tag, and Zhou Ya found Lin Baici¡¯s bed, she directly opened her large bag, took out the bedding, and started making the bed for him. ¡°I can do it myself!¡± Lin Baici felt overwhelmed; was this senior sister a bit too enthusiastic? ¡°You rest, chat with everyone!¡± As a senior, what kind of student hadn¡¯t Zhou Ya seen? That guy named Hu Wenwu, you could tell he was from the countryside right away. Coming to a super first-tier bustling city like Haijing for the first time could completely shock one¡¯s worldview, seeing those spirited and carefree peers around the campus would inevitably make one feel constrained, even inferior. If one couldn¡¯t overcome this feeling, they would feel inferior for four years and be left with some not-so-pleasant memories. If they did get past it, they would transform and mature, making these four years of college a cornerstone for their future success. Zhou Ya thought of herself. Different family backgrounds meant different goals for everyone in college. Some, with capital, could enjoy their college days, gaming and dating like wild horses running free, while others, aiming for a good job, started studying hard from the first year, wearing out the chairs in the study rooms. That Qian Jiahui, in branded clothing from head to toe, a true second-generation rich kid. Fang Mingyuan? Sorry, such people were too common in university; Zhou Ya couldn¡¯t be bothered to pay attention. ¡°Then I¡¯ll trouble you, senior sister!¡± There were three other people in the dorm room: a middle-aged man and woman, and a round-faced boy wearing black-rimmed glasses. The woman was making the bed, instructing her son about daily precautions, while the man stood by the bed smoking, his brows furrowed and obviously lost in thought. The boy was repeatedly saying ¡®I know, I know,¡¯ while scrolling through TikTok on his phone with his head down, not very loud, but audible throughout the room. When Lin Baici entered the room, the round-faced boy glanced at him and made eye contact. Lin Baici was about to say hello, but the boy looked at Zhou Ya, sized her up, curled his lip dismissively, and continued to scroll through videos. The other party had no intention of greeting, so after exchanging names with Hu Wenwu, Lin Baici couldn¡¯t be bothered to speak with the round-faced boy and instead helped Zhou Ya with the bed. The smoking man frowned upon seeing this, looking Lin Baici up and down with a clear expression of displeasure. His own son was being ignored. It made him think that this student was impolite. [A self-centered mama¡¯s boy, with a strong sense of territory, always petty, and one should never owe him favors, because he will definitely find ways to get back double.] [He¡¯s obsessed with black stockings, secretly bought and wore them, and during high school, he stealthily added something to the water bottles of three classmates he disliked during an unattended naptime.] ¡°What kind of substance?¡± Lin Baici frowned. [Heh!] The Eater God didn¡¯t say, but Lin Baici could roughly guess. From now on he had to be careful; carrying a water bottle with him at all times, in case someone added ¡®something¡¯ to it, drinking it down would be disgusting. Wait a minute! With the Eater God present, what he ate and drank should be pretty safe! [A petty official who thought he was somewhat powerful and superior, who once took a liking to a classmate¡¯s mother during his son¡¯s second year of junior high parent-teacher meeting, tried to leverage his position to woo her, and after being recorded, he spent fifty thousand yuan to settle the matter.] [Likes to put on airs of being a leader!] Listening to Eater God¡¯s commentary, Lin Baici was somewhat astonished. The roommate¡¯s father had a square face, which looked very stern when he frowned, giving him an upright appearance, but he had done such sordid deeds. [A woman who likes to brag and gossip about others¡¯ families, always exaggerating rumors, has caused two harmonious couples to break up.] What kind of extraordinary characters made up this family? Lin Baici was speechless! Couldn¡¯t he get a room change? He really feared that someday the round-faced boy, feeling unhappy, might add substances to everyone¡¯s water bottles. Zhou Ya climbed down from the upper bunk, clapped her hands, ¡°Junior, it¡¯s all set up!¡± ¡°Thank you for the trouble, senior sister.¡± Lin Baici felt quite embarrassed. ¡°Don¡¯t be so formal!¡± Zhou Ya took out her phone, checked the time, ¡°It¡¯s after four o¡¯clock, I¡¯m heading back to my dorm. I have clothes to wash.¡± ¡°Dinner together tonight?¡± Lin Baici invited. After all the help she had given, it was only right for him to treat her to dinner. ¡°Today¡¯s your first day of enrollment, you should talk more with your roommates, build some rapport!¡± Zhou Ya saw that Lin Baici had ignored the round-faced boy, knowing this one was also proud. If you respect me a little, I¡¯ll respect you more. You want to be rude? Fine, I won¡¯t treat you as a person, too! ¡°Anyway, we have WeChat, we can meet up anytime!¡± Zhou Ya waved goodbye to Lin Baici. On the way to Dormitory Building No. 2 just now, they had exchanged WeChat contacts. ¡°Senior sister, take care!¡± Lin Baici wanted to accompany Zhou Ya out of the dorm building but was stopped. ¡°It¡¯s too crowded to take the elevator. It will take half an hour for you to go down and come back up, don¡¯t bother.¡± Zhou Ya shook the juice in her hand, ¡°Next time, treat me to a milk tea!¡± ¡°No problem!¡± After seeing off Zhou Ya, Lin Baici returned to the room where Fang Mingyuan slapped the basketball and teased with a smile, ¡°Not bad, Student Lin, you¡¯ve managed to charm a senior sister the moment you arrived!¡± When Fang Mingyuan registered, it was this senior sister who had processed his paperwork. In his heart, Hu Wenwu was envious. He had seen that senior sister at the registration booth, she had a lovely smile and a nice voice. He had even sneakily thought to himself that in the four years of college, he should work hard to improve himself and find a girlfriend of her caliber. Even if he couldn¡¯t land someone as pretty, she shouldn¡¯t be too far off. But he hadn¡¯t expected that his new roommate would achieve it on the first day! Chapter 65 - 65 65 This Palace has arrived Little Linzi come to greet_1 ?65: Chapter 65 This Palace has arrived, Little Linzi come to greet_1 65: Chapter 65 This Palace has arrived, Little Linzi come to greet_1 In the dormitory, everyone was busy with their own things, but when Fang Mingyuan said that, they all looked up at Lin Baici. Qian Jiahui smiled. It wasn¡¯t surprising that girls were chasing after their new roommate, given his looks. After all, he had experienced this kind of thing far too many times. The section chief Liu looked down on Lin Baici with a condescending gaze, while his wife had a displeased expression. The girl who had just come in was pretty and well-groomed, just a bit short. If she were to marry their son, it wouldn¡¯t be acceptable unless her family background was good. However, she could date their son to let him gain some experience and avoid being tricked by women in the future. Now that she heard this girl already had someone, she naturally felt uncomfortable, like a peach she fancied had been bitten into by someone else. Bad luck! ¡°Sister Zhou isn¡¯t my girlfriend!¡± Lin Baici quickly clarified. Who knew if Zhou Ya had a boyfriend at school¡ªif someone overheard this, it could easily lead to misunderstandings and harm Zhou Ya¡¯s reputation. ¡°Oh, she¡¯s your fellow townsman?¡± Fang Mingyuan was a bit embarrassed, guessing wrong. ¡°No, she¡¯s not!¡± Lin Baici went to the balcony and picked up a rag from beside the sink to wash: ¡°Wenwu, where else needs wiping?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, I can do it myself, there¡¯s not much left.¡± Hu Wenwu wanted to do more work to leave a good impression on their new roommate. ¡°Not a fellow townsman? Then why did she bring you here?¡± Fang Mingyuan asked, puzzled. Lin Baici shrugged, indicating that he didn¡¯t know either. ¡°Student Lin, you have to seize the opportunity!¡± Fang Mingyuan teased, ¡°Since the sister brought you here, if you¡¯re willing to take the initiative to pursue her, you¡¯ll definitely be the first one in our dorm to get out of singlehood!¡± Lin Baici smiled and said nothing. Zhou Ya was not bad, but compared to Hua Yue Yu and Kim Myungjin, she was far behind. However, if he had to choose, of course, he would pick Xia Hongyao. Because of Bear. ¡°This is university; what¡¯s so embarrassing about dating?¡± Fang Mingyuan, who was straightforward and didn¡¯t think too much before speaking, saw Lin Baici starting to clean and joined in with a broom. He had asked Hu Wenwu earlier if he needed help, and since Hu Wenwu said no, Fang Mingyuan didn¡¯t do anything and played basketball instead. Qian Jiahui, a rich second generation, lived in a villa and had maids at home; it wasn¡¯t that he was lazy or disgusted by dirt, but cleaning was simply not something he was accustomed to. If it were up to him, he would just pay for a cleaning service. Liu Yu sniffed and glanced over at the three of them before heading out with his phone: ¡°Mom, a high school classmate sent me a WeChat message; I¡¯ll go make a call!¡± In fact, nobody was looking for Liu Yu; he just wanted to find an excuse to leave. It¡¯s not that I won¡¯t clean; it¡¯s that I¡¯m busy with something else. Hu Wenwu thought Fang Mingyuan was right; if Lin Baici pursued the girl who had taken the initiative, he would undoubtedly succeed. He wanted to join the conversation, but the words got stuck on the tip of his tongue, and he was too nervous to speak. ¡°Cough!¡± Section Chief Liu coughed and dropped his cigarette butt on the ground, grinding it with his foot: ¡°The four years of college are the most important time of your life. If you don¡¯t study hard, you¡¯ll be unemployed upon graduation, and you¡¯ll have wasted your parents¡¯ hard-earned money!¡± The section chief spoke in a lecturing tone, quite stern. Hu Wenwu shrank his neck and forced a smile. Fang Mingyuan looked at the section chief and kept quiet. As for Lin Baici, he didn¡¯t even glance at him. After hearing Eater God¡¯s comments about him, Lin Baici didn¡¯t have a good impression of him anymore; what good could come from someone trying to use his position to hit on someone¡¯s mother? Section Chief Liu saw that apart from Hu Wenwu, the other three boys did not show a respectful attitude of eager listening, and his face immediately darkened. ¡°You guys are too self-righteous, always thinking you¡¯re right. When you graduate and get a taste of society¡¯s harsh reality, you¡¯ll know how valuable my words are today!¡± Section Chief Liu shook his head: ¡°Such an unteachable youth, how many four years does one have in life?¡± ¡°Uncle is right!¡± Fang Mingyuan laughed hollowly, placating him with a remark. ¡°Mingyuan, do you know much about the girls at our school? I plan to chase after the campus belle for fun!¡± Lin Baici asked. ¡°What?¡± Hu Wenwu froze upon hearing this and glanced at Section Chief Liu subconsciously. Student Lin is clearly counterattacking! ¡°I¡¯ve worked hard for three years in junior high and three years in high school; can¡¯t I enjoy myself now?¡± Lin Baici loathed being preached to by others. ... Fang Mingyuan thought to himself that this one didn¡¯t like to be at a disadvantage, but it was satisfying to listen to. And you, Uncle Liu, who are you to act like an elder and lecture others? ¡°Pfft!¡± Qian Jiahui couldn¡¯t help but laugh, finding his new roommate quite amusing: ¡°Let¡¯s pursue her together?¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll change my target!¡± Lin Baici looked at Qian Jiahui¡¯s idol-like face and thought if he sang, danced, or even rapped, he probably wouldn¡¯t stand a chance at winning. ¡°No need to change, let¡¯s compete. If you win, I¡¯ll cover your meals for the next four years of college!¡± Qian Jiahui had no malice, it was all in good fun. Liu¡¯s mother, upon hearing this, looked at Qian Jiahui in amazement. She knew that the clothes he wore were designer brands, but she didn¡¯t realize he was so wealthy. Covering his roommate¡¯s meals for four years of college, How much money would that take? She needed to tell her son to get on good terms with this Qian something-or-other. ¡°Being handsome is great, huh? Betting on the campus belle?¡± Fang Mingyuan lamented, ¡°Watch out, or I¡¯ll treat you to a month of spicy food so you end up with pimples on your face and hemorrhoids on your butt!¡± Don¡¯t joke about it, with Lin Baici and Qian Jiahui¡¯s looks, they really could have a shot with the campus belle. Hu Wenwu wiped stains off the wall, grinning as he did so. He found his new roommate quite humorous and thought to himself that he was in for a pleasant four years of college life. Section Chief Liu was ignored, which he found displeasing, and he called out to his wife, ¡°All done? Once we finish here, let¡¯s go see Vice Dean Wang, I have a dinner appointment with him today!¡± After speaking, Section Chief Liu turned to Qian Jiahui, ¡°Do you guys want to come along? Though Vice Dean Wang isn¡¯t from your Electrical Engineering Department, having his care could make your lives much more convenient in the future!¡± ¡°No thanks, I have other things to handle later!¡± Qian Jiahui had no intention of going. He had already had lunch with his father and the school¡¯s principal, and he did not want another meal; he was planning to wander around campus for a bit. ¡°Thank you, uncle, but there¡¯s no need.¡± Hu Wenwu hurriedly declined and thanked him. Fang Mingyuan and Lin Baici did not respond, they were not as naive as Hu Wenwu; they knew Section Chief Liu¡¯s invitation was merely a formality, solely extended to Qian Jiahui. ¡°Let¡¯s head out!¡± Section Chief Liu left the dorm. ¡°You are going to live together for four years, help each other out if there¡¯s anything that comes up.¡± Liu¡¯s mother told Lin Baici and the others with a smile, ¡°Our little Yu has been weak and sickly since he was a child, and he¡¯s not very good with words, but he has a kind heart. If there¡¯s a quarrel, please be patient with him.¡± ¡°Next time I visit, I¡¯ll bring you guys some local specialties!¡± When Liu¡¯s mother left, Hu Wenwu walked her out. Fang Mingyuan and Lin Baici didn¡¯t move, and Qian Jiahui, playing with his phone and with head bowed didn¡¯t even glance up. ¡°Isn¡¯t everyone their own baby?¡± Fang Mingyuan pursed his lips. Lin Baici felt discontented. A person who spiked his classmate¡¯s drink during nap time, not just once but three times, could have a kind heart? If not for Eater God, Lin Baici would have just regarded Liu Yu as a mama¡¯s boy spoiled by his mother, but spiking drinks? That was too scummy. The three of them spent over ten minutes and finally finished cleaning up the dorm. Fang Mingyuan, eager to play, picked up his basketball and spun it on his index finger, ¡°It¡¯s not too late yet, want to go play for a bit?¡± ¡°You like basketball that much?¡± Qian Jiahui didn¡¯t like sports because they made him sweat. ¡°I was admitted through sports recruitment!¡± Fang Mingyuan looked at Lin Baici, whose physique was quite impressive, ¡°You too?¡± ¡°No!¡± Lin Baici shook his head. ¡°How about a match?¡± Fang Mingyuan challenged him, as playing basketball was his way of fostering relationships. ¡°No thanks, I¡¯m not very good at it!¡± Today was just about checking in; why play basketball when there were so many other things to get done, ¡°Maybe another time, I need to go buy a campus card!¡± ¡°Alright then!¡± Fang Mingyuan slapped the basketball, realizing nobody was responding, ¡°I¡¯ll go by myself then!¡± Lin Baici took out his luggage, put it into the closet, stuffed his suitcase under the bed, and tidied up his bed. After placing a toothbrush, toothpaste, and towel on the sink, he called out to his new roommates, ¡°Wanna go down and take a look around? We can pick up some stuff, too.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pass, gonna watch some live streams.¡± Qian Jiahui declined and opened the Shark APP, looked for Hua Yue Yu among the streamers he followed, and entered her stream only to discover that she had posted an announcement about being unavailable for the day due to an emergency. ¡°Stood up?¡± Qian Jiahui felt gloomy. He had just broken up with his girlfriend today and was officially single again; he had actually planned to send a few big rockets in Hua Yue Yu¡¯s live stream room to cheer up, and now he was missing the chance. Oh well, there¡¯s always tomorrow! Qian Jiahui opened a WeChat group called ¡®Fishermen,¡¯ where all the members were die-hard tippers who had thrown over 100,000 yuan to Hua Yue Yu. He scrolled through the chat history, which suggested that a friend of Hua Yue Yu was starting college today, and she went to welcome and celebrate with them. ¡°Ah, I wish I could have dinner and sing karaoke with the Little Merperson too!¡± Qian Jiahui had tried to ask Hua Yue Yu out several times, but it never panned out. ¡°I... I¡¯ll go!¡± Hu Wenwu grabbed his backpack, which held his important items like his phone, wallet, and bank cards¡ªhe had to carry them with him. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Baici also shouldered a backpack. He had no choice but to keep the Black Tripod Bowl with him, not only for fear of losing it but more for fear that it might suddenly release rule pollution, and then all the new students in the building might end up being cooked into porridge. Right as he entered the elevator, his phone rang. Ding-dong. It was a message from Hua Yue Yu. Little Merperson: This royal highness has arrived, Little Linzi, hurry and come greet me! Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: Where are you? Little Merperson: Guess? Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: Definitely not behind me. Little Merperson: I¡¯m at the small square in front of the cafeteria. The quality of the new students at your school this year isn¡¯t great, especially the girls. That makes me relieved. Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: ??? Lin Baici¡¯s question marks were in response to Hua Yue Yu¡¯s comment about feeling relieved. Little Merperson: Relieved that my Little Bai won¡¯t get snatched away. But you don¡¯t like those old women in their third or fourth year, right? After sending the message, Hua Yue Yu suddenly realized she was a year older than Lin Baici. But it didn¡¯t matter. She was forever sixteen. With a sailor suit on and white silk shoes, she was cuter than a middle school student. Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: ... Little Merperson: Hurry up, I¡¯ll treat you to a feast! Hua Yue Yu was naturally sociable, and after years of live streaming and making videos, she became sociability cubed. The fact that she didn¡¯t run over Lin Baici¡¯s face leaving tire marks in their chat showed she was already being quite restrained. Chapter 66 - 66 66 The Grateful Fish_1 ?66: Chapter 66: The Grateful Fish_1 66: Chapter 66: The Grateful Fish_1 It was getting close to evening, and the small square in front of Dormitory #2 still bustled with people. The scent of food from the cafeteria wafted over, involuntarily inducing salivation. [Departure, destination cafeteria, seek out the chef, enjoy the feast!] The Eater God urged. On the distant asphalt road, many cars were still parked, belonging to parents who had come to drop off their children. Those like Lin Baici, who came by train alone, were not so common. After all, a mother worries over a journey of a thousand miles, and parents still want to see their children¡¯s schools for themselves. ¡°Bai Ci, what kind of card are you planning to buy?¡± Hu Wenwu, hailing from a poverty-stricken mountain area, hadn¡¯t touched a mobile phone during his three years of high school, so he wasn¡¯t very familiar with them. He wanted to ask which card was the cheapest, but the words stopped on his lips, too embarrassed to say it out loud. ¡°Buy whichever one¡¯s worth the money!¡± Although he was about to receive a million yuan in prize money and possibly even a six hundred thousand yuan annual salary, benefits not included, it hadn¡¯t landed in his hands yet. And even if he did get it, he would save it to buy a big villa for his mom. Hu Wenwu saw Lin Baici speak these words openly and without any shame for buying something cheap, a mentality which he envied. He still cared too much about the financial value of these things. Lin Baici was tall and leggy, standing there with an air that seemed to dwarf all the surrounding hills and took the entire square into view with just a glance. Didn¡¯t spot the female anchor. Forget it, Let¡¯s not look for her right now. First get a SIM card, then later I can exchange new phone numbers with Hua Yue Yu. ¡°Find me where they¡¯re selling SIM cards!¡± Lin Baici sent a message to Hua Yue Yu and headed towards the stall with the ¡®Mobile¡¯ blue sign, not because he favored the brand, but because the girl selling there was rather pretty. She was dressed in a blue Mobile company vest, and though wearing light makeup, she seemed to be a university student working a part-time job. [A girl skilled in sales talk who can really push products, I advise you not to go or you¡¯ll end up spending more and buying unnecessary things!] The Eater God commented. ¡°In your eyes, do I have such little self-control? Unable to resist temptation?¡± Lin Baici sneered, feeling underestimated by the Eater God. Even if she were a goddess and her spiel more impressive than Guo Degang¡¯s, she wouldn¡¯t get me to spend an extra cent. [Heh heh, a school sister¡¯s waist, a bone-scraping knife!] ¡°I just don¡¯t believe it!¡± Lin Baici and Hu Wenwu approached the Mobile stall, and without even saying anything, the part-time sister there already smiled, her eight white teeth making her seem all the more approachable. ¡°Young lad, you want to buy a SIM card?¡± The part-time sister picked up two flyers and handed them to Lin Baici and Hu Wenwu, ¡°Do you make lots of calls, or watch videos often?¡± Hu Wenwu didn¡¯t understand and looked to Lin Baici. ¡°Is there a difference?¡± Lin Baici quickly glanced over the flyers. ¡°If you make a lot of calls, you should go for the options with more free talk time; if you watch videos and play games a lot, you should choose the plans with more data!¡± The part-time sister¡¯s voice was sweet, but she began hinting, ¡°Generally, freshmen like to choose plans with lots of data, as they often feel homesick in a new environment and need to contact their parents frequently. Plus, there are lots of new classmates to video chat and play games with, which also uses a lot of data. Basically, without 30G per month, it won¡¯t be enough.¡± ¡°If you run out of data later, buying data packs separately will be much more expensive!¡± ¡°So I suggest you go for this 59 yuan Campus Dynamic card, which offers 30G of data per month, a hundred minutes of calls, free domestic incoming calls, and 500GB of cloud storage.¡± ¡°This is the popular package right now, most students are using it!¡± Hearing 59 yuan, Hu Wenwu immediately lost his interest. He took a look at the packages on the flyer and found that even the cheapest was 19 yuan. That¡¯s expensive. The part-time sister watched them both, noticing the short-haired boy on the left, whose expression was serious as he read the flyer¡ªhe was no longer a target customer. The other one... ¡°Mother of God, Is that a Rolex on his wrist? Great, If I don¡¯t fleece you for a good sum, I¡¯ll write my name ¡®Xiao¡¯ upside down!¡± ¡°Young lad, if you feel like you¡¯re talking to your girlfriend a lot and the data isn¡¯t enough, you could consider the 399 yuan package, with 150G of data, 1500 minutes of calls, and 1000M of fiber-optic access.¡± ¡°You guys have just arrived and definitely need to set up broadband, and our Mobile signal is excellent!¡± The part-time sister was pushing the most expensive package, which was hardly sold unless it was to a wealthy person or someone involved in livestreaming. ¡°That¡¯s too expensive!¡± Lin Baici wasn¡¯t interested. ¡°Then there¡¯s this 299 yuan one...¡± Before the part-time sister could finish, Lin Baici cut her off. ¡°That¡¯s too expensive!¡± Worried that the sister would introduce other costly plans, Lin Baici made his stance clear, ¡°What plans do you have under 30 yuan?¡± Meow meow meow? The part-time sister looked at Lin Baici in astonishment. You must be a rich second generation, right? You should be a rich second generation, right? Why so frugal? Don¡¯t save money on behalf of your dad! Plans under 30 yuan? Not even a dog would look at those! Inside, the part-time sister roared, feeling the commission she was about to pocket suddenly sprouting wings and flying away. ¡°I¡¯m just not sure if this 29 yuan plan with 5G of data will be enough?¡± Lin Baici pondered. Now in university, he was bound to spend more time on his phone. ¡°If you don¡¯t watch TikTok, browse Bilibili, shop on Taobao, or play games, only using it for WeChat and browsing the web, it should be just about enough!¡± The part-time sister wanted to say, with that package, the Rolex on your arm will cry, you know? ¡°I think I¡¯ll be watching Bilibili!¡± Lin Baici remembered the video he posted chanting Buddhist sutras, too busy these days to check on the views. Mainly because the data on the first two videos was so bad, Lin Baici didn¡¯t have much motivation. ¡°I seriously recommend this 49 yuan Joy Card package to you!¡± Baby feels bitter inside, baby needs a hug. A rich second generation walked past me; am I selling for just 49 yuan? Write my ¡®Xiao¡¯ upside down! Although she inwardly complained, this Miss Xiao didn¡¯t give up. She had to pluck a feather from an iron rooster to show off her skills. ¡°Wenwu, what do you think?¡± Lin Baici sought her roommate¡¯s opinion. ¡°Maybe... shall we take a look next door?¡± Hu Wenwu thought all these packages were expensive, better to check out the telecommunications company instead. ¡°Sounds good!¡± Lin Baici was indifferent. ¡°Damn it, I can¡¯t make even 49 yuan?¡± The part-time working sister nearly lost her mind, quickly rearranging her sales pitch to retain the two when a cute, round-faced girl hurried over and slapped the handsome junior¡¯s back. ¡°Xiao Bai!¡± Hua Yue Yu, with one hand on her chin and the other across her chest, observed Lin Baici with a cheerful smile: ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you in more than ten days, why do I feel like you¡¯ve grown taller again?¡± Lin Baici turned around, looking at the female broadcaster with her upturned eyelashes: ¡°Jealous, aren¡¯t you?¡± These past few days, Lin Baici also noticed that he had grown another three centimeters, now roughly 188 centimeters tall, probably thanks to eating Meteorite and God¡¯s bones. ¡°I really wish I could chop off your legs and attach them to myself,¡± Hua Yue Yu swung her right hand, making a chopping gesture. ¡°Are you buying a phone card?¡± ¡°Yep!¡± Lin Baici nodded: ¡°Let me introduce you first, this is my roommate, Hu Wenwu!¡± ¡°Wenwu, this is my friend, Hua Yue Yu!¡± ¡°Hello!¡± Hua Yue Yu waved her hand. ¡°Yo... you hello!¡± Hu Wenwu was awkward. Shy and introverted, he barely spoke to girls during three years of middle school and high school, let alone such a pretty girl. So now he was very nervous, his palms sweating. ¡°Definitely a rich second generation.¡± The part-time sister internally muttered, judging by this girl¡¯s appearance, only a rich second generation would dare to court her. Although she was short, she was beautiful, especially when she smiled, very cute. She wore a sky-blue tank top with a romper skirt featuring a ruffled hem reaching her thighs. She didn¡¯t wear stockings, her bare legs in a pair of sandals. Her medium-length hair was styled with a cartoon hair clip above her bangs, and she carried a Pikachu-shaped golden backpack, exuding an overwhelmingly cute and sweet aura. The part-time sister really wanted to tell Hua Yue Yu, ¡°Your boyfriend is super stingy.¡± ¡°Buy a package with lots of data.¡± Hua Yue Yu took the pamphlet from Lin Baici¡¯s hand, scanning it quickly, ¡°Get this one for 299 yuan, 100GB of data a month, that should be enough.¡± The part-time sister¡¯s eyes immediately lit up as she turned to Lin Baici. Your girlfriend has spoken, do you dare to be stingy now? ¡°That¡¯s too expensive!¡± Lin Baici shook his head: ¡°Plus, I won¡¯t even use that much data!¡± ¡°You can video chat with me!¡± Hua Yue Yu said matter-of-factly: ¡°Bother yourself with this package, bring over the list of numbers, and we¡¯ll pick one.¡± Usually, the more expensive packages come with better phone numbers, and they generally don¡¯t include the number 4. ¡°Yue Yu, stop fooling around.¡± Lin Baici planned to just buy any package for now and switch to a suitable one after one or two months, depending on the situation. ¡°I¡¯ll gift it to you!¡± Worried that Lin Baici would refuse, Hua Yue Yu quickly took out her phone from her small bag, ready to scan and pay. Slap! Lin Baici seized the broadcaster¡¯s hand. Hua Yue Yu, no matter how swift, couldn¡¯t outpace Lin Baici. ¡°Xiao Bai, give me a chance to repay you!¡± Hua Yue Yu brought her hands together, bowing to Lin Baici: ¡°Otherwise, with such a big favor owed, I can¡¯t eat or sleep well!¡± The part-time sister looked at the two of them, unable to grasp their relationship. Repay what favor? What are you, a White Snake? The part-time sister glanced at Lin Baici and thought, seeing his build, if he played Xu Xian, he could pin down a demon-catching Fahai on the ground and pound him. ¡°Do you consider me a friend?¡± Hua Yue Yu looked at Lin Baici: ¡°If we¡¯re friends, stop being so calculative. You know, tens of thousands of yuan mean nothing to me!¡± The female broadcaster spoke earnestly, leaving Lin Baici embarrassed to refuse anymore: ¡°Then let¡¯s switch to another package, this one¡¯s too expensive, and we won¡¯t use all that data.¡± ¡°Get the one for 49 yuan, can¡¯t go any lower!¡± Hua Yue Yu insisted. The part-time sister handed over a list of numbers: ¡°Apart from the ones crossed out in red, any can be chosen!¡± ¡°Pick this one, 13826261001, how¡¯s that?¡± Hua Yue Yu scanned quickly, selecting a number that coincidentally matched her birthday on October 1st. ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Baici smiled: ¡°Hopefully the number you picked will bring me good luck!¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Hua Yue Yu stood proudly with hands on her hips, letting out a proud hum. Seeing Lin Baici pulling out his phone, she quickly scanned to pay with fingertip verification: ¡°Don¡¯t fight with me!¡± 2500 yuan received in Alipay. ¡°Your phone card will be activated within the latest 24 hours.¡± The part-time sister was secretly pleased about selling another card, but upon hearing the amount, she cursed under her breath; she had entered the wrong sum. The payment code was for the store; refunding it would require calling the boss and be very troublesome. Chapter 67 - 67 67 The Mighty Fish Host_1 ?67: Chapter 67 The Mighty Fish Host_1 67: Chapter 67 The Mighty Fish Host_1 ¡°Charge all the money into this phone card!¡± Hua Yue Yu instructed. ¡°What?¡± The part-time working senior was startled, wasn¡¯t there a mistake? Oh right, Forty-nine yuan a month, two thousand three hundred and fifty-two yuan for four years, she topped up two thousand five hundred yuan, so if only the monthly fee is used each month, it would be enough for the four years of university. Sorry! I was wrong, you¡¯re not the girlfriend of that rich second-generation kid, you¡¯re the rich sister herself, the kind that plays with steel wool balls super slickly. The part-time working senior silently thought she had misjudged the situation. Could it be that this junior¡¯s Rolex was also bought by this girl? Hu Wenwu was in shock. Buy a phone card for two thousand five hundred yuan? He didn¡¯t understand; that amount was two semesters of his living expenses. And that girl is so caring towards her roommate! ¡°Xiao Bai, give me a chance to repay you!¡± Hua Yue Yu looked up at Lin Baici with a pitiful expression. The guy opposite her had once saved her life, yet she hadn¡¯t done anything for him in return, which made Hua Yue Yu, who never liked to owe favors, feel uncomfortable. ¡°One isn¡¯t enough, at least three, right?¡± Lin Baici joked. He had realized there was no need to waste energy on such matters. Being together is what counts, as long as everyone is happy, it doesn¡¯t matter who spends the money! The bonds formed through life-and-death experiences don¡¯t need to be accounted for so meticulously. As soon as the part-time working senior handed over the phone card to Lin Baici, Hua Yue Yu immediately grabbed Lin Baici¡¯s clothes, ¡°Let¡¯s go eat, I¡¯ve booked a spot at Jixiang Residence, I heard their seafood pot is great!¡± ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Lin Baici was pulled forward a few steps, then turned back to look at Wenwu, ¡°You go buy the card first. After you¡¯re done, let¡¯s go eat!¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯m not buying anymore. Oh, you guys go ahead and eat, I won¡¯t go!¡± Hu Wenwu felt uneasy about going to dinner with the two of them. ¡°Come on, the more the merrier!¡± Lin Baici invited. ¡°No, that¡¯s okay, I still have bread left over from noon, it¡¯ll go bad if I don¡¯t eat it!¡± Hu Wenwu had never eaten with a female classmate before, and felt nervous. Hua Yue Yu wanted to have dinner alone with Lin Baici, but seeing him sincerely inviting Hu Wenwu, she too smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s go, after this meal, you are my man. If Xiao Bai is ever tricked by a bad woman, you have to tell me in time.¡± Hua Yue Yu¡¯s charisma was off the charts, always making her interactions with her live-streaming audience feel as refreshing as a spring breeze, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have become a top-tier host on Shark Live in just over a year, and her current popularity was terrifying¡ªshe already had the capability to compete with Shark Big Sister. ¡°Well... then I¡¯ll impose on you guys!¡± Since he had been invited several times, it would be rude not to accept, and Hu Wenwu was also worried that his refusal might make Lin Baici think he didn¡¯t want to be friends. Honestly, out of the whole dorm room, Lin Baici had given Hu Wenwu the best impression. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Hua Yue Yu stepped into the golden afterglow of the sunset on the cobblestone path, filled with joy, ¡°By the way, Xiao Bai, did you change your phone?¡± Lin Baici was now using a Huawei. ¡°Yeah!¡± Lin Baici gave Hua Yue Yu a look, indicating that in front of outsiders, they couldn¡¯t discuss this topic. ¡°I understand, it got damaged on the train, right?¡± Hua Yue Yu was actually quite curious. That was a mysterious and dangerous Taboo thing, and who knows what strange rule contamination Xiao Bai had encountered? In the past, Hua Yue Yu could only listen to rumors, but now, she had a friend who was a God Hunter. She could get more of such news, and might even see pictures of a God, which felt awesome! ¡°Ah!¡± Hua Yue Yu suddenly exclaimed, ¡°I forgot to ask, are you hurt?¡± Lin Baici was completely intact and looked healthy enough to endure One Night Nine Stabs, making Hua Yue Yu forget to ask if he was injured. ¡°No!¡± Lin Baici laughed heartily. The Taboo game last night was hugely profitable for him. He received the Divine Grace ¡®Red Rolling Stone,¡¯ the Taboo thing nautilus shell, and a mysterious eyeball from God¡¯s bones, met Xia Hongyao, had a chance to join the Jiuzhou Security Bureau, and would get a six hundred thousand yuan salary, one hundred and twenty Meteorite Coins in benefits, not to mention countless other perks. Oh yes, and a one-million-yuan bonus. The three chatted casually as they walked out of the east gate of the university. Haijing Polytechnic has two main gates, front and back. The main entrance is on Fu An Road, a major street where urban management bans street vending, so fruit stalls, snack stands, and the like are all concentrated on the back street, which is the street coming out of the east gate. With more foot traffic, restaurants, barber shops, flower shops, and internet cafes have also set up shop here. The whole street caters to the student economy. Jixiang Residence is a two-story building. Turning left when exiting the school and moving one hundred meters forward, you¡¯ll find it with a big sign, featuring an antique design complete with two red lanterns hanging. Since today is Haijing Polytechnic¡¯s freshman registration day, Jixiang Residence, being the top restaurant in the vicinity of this school, is naturally crowded, with cars already filling the curbs nearby. As Lin Baici and the others stepped onto the stairs and entered the lobby, they indeed saw a bustling crowd. A waiter dressed in a deep blue restaurant uniform immediately came to them, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, you three, our restaurant is fully booked. If you want to eat, you¡¯ll need to wait for a table!¡± ¡°I reserved a private room, number 208.¡± Hua Yue Yu had anticipated this situation, so she had reserved a room in advance, and even gave a five hundred yuan deposit. Otherwise the owner might give the room to someone else. ¡°Oh, please wait a moment, I¡¯ll check for you!¡± After speaking into the walkie-talkie with someone at the front desk, the waitress apologized with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but Room 208 is already taken.¡± ¡°Taken?¡± Hua Yue Yu¡¯s delicate eyebrows immediately furrowed, ¡°Why would there be someone else? I paid a deposit, do you want to see the transfer record?¡± ¡°This... I¡¯m not quite sure. Will you three still be dining? You could take a number and wait. The guests in Room 208 should be finishing soon.¡± The waitress offered an apologetic smile. ¡°Take a number? Go call your manager!¡± Hua Yue Yu was furious. It was her first time inviting Lin Baici to dinner, and such a thing had to happen ¨C it was thoroughly disappointing. After notifying the manager via walkie-talkie and saying a few more words, the waitress smiled apologetically at Hua Yue Yu, ¡°If you¡¯re here to eat, you can have the table once the current guests are done. If not, I¡¯ll refund your deposit.¡± They have the payment record on Alipay, so there¡¯s no denying it, ¡°What?¡± Hearing this, Hua Yue Yu exploded like a wild cat whose tail had been stepped on. Your restaurant makes a mistake, and instead of the manager coming out to apologize, you think a waitress can shoo me away? Normally, Hua Yue Yu wouldn¡¯t care too much; she would simply go elsewhere. But today, she was treating Lin Baici to a meal! This was the person who had saved her life. Hua Yue Yu could no longer suppress her anger. ¡°Don¡¯t make me repeat myself. Get your manager here!¡± Hua Yue Yu had over six million followers online, not bought with money but real fans. With her status as a top livestreamer on Shark Station and an annual income of several million, she wasn¡¯t short of financial clout. That was Hua Yue Yu¡¯s confidence in demanding justice. In the Jixiang Residence¡¯s hall, roughly thirty tables of customers were waiting for their seats; upon hearing the commotion, they all looked over. With someone making a scene, the manager couldn¡¯t afford to drag his feet and had to come over quickly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, truly sorry. We¡¯re just overwhelmed with customers today. Please understand. I¡¯ll refund your deposit immediately!¡± The manager, a man in his forties with a parted hairstyle and small, shrewd eyes, had not a trace of sincerity in his apology. He seemed intent on quickly getting rid of these people so as not to disrupt his business. ¡°Am I short of that 500 yuan deposit? You¡¯ve wasted my time. How do you plan to compensate for that?¡± Hua Yue Yu demanded. ¡°Heh, trying to extort money?¡± The manager snorted coldly, seeing through her intent to seek compensation. It wasn¡¯t happening. Hua Yue Yu was almost driven to fury upon hearing this, ¡°Who is trying to extort you?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not extorting, then take the deposit and leave!¡± The manager¡¯s attitude was cold, ¡°Show me the transfer record, I¡¯ll refund your money.¡± He thought the girl was quite pretty. ¡°Is this about the money?¡± Hua Yue Yu bit her Little Tiger Tooth. ¡°Yue Yu...¡± Before Lin Baici could finish, Hua Yue Yu interrupted him. ¡°Little Bai, don¡¯t get involved in this. Let me handle it!¡± If I couldn¡¯t deal with the pollution of the rules in God¡¯s Ruins, and I can¡¯t even reclaim what I¡¯ve lost in reality, then what right do I have to be friends with Little Bai? ¡°How do you intend to handle this?¡± The manager crossed his arms, leisurely watching Hua Yue Yu, ¡°I¡¯m very busy, so please be quick!¡± Hua Yue Yu checked her phone, ¡°I reserved the room for six o¡¯clock; it¡¯s five minutes away. At six, I¡¯m going to sit in there and have my meal!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but the air conditioning in Room 208 is broken; we can¡¯t accommodate guests there.¡± The manager unhesitatingly lied. He had dealt with similar situations multiple times before. The manager wouldn¡¯t let the room remain empty; if the people who reserved it came, he¡¯d just offer them an alternative. It¡¯s just that today, there were too many customers. ¡°Manager Fan!¡± A young male waiter whispered a reminder, ¡°I think she¡¯s an UP host!¡± Hua Yue Yu was carrying a Pikachu backpack, with a GOPRO sport camera clipped on the strap across her chest. ¡°There are tons of UP hosts out there!¡± Manager Fan grimaced, having no affection for that profession. Recently, checking out restaurants had become trendy in Haijing, with UP hosts dining and introducing delicacies. Some of them would outright say they¡¯re UP hosts who could promote the place, asking if their meal could be on the house. It¡¯s pretty much begging in style. Manager Fan certainly didn¡¯t agree, but lately, business at three competitors had spiked. After inquiring around, he discovered they had hired several popular internet celebrities for promotion. They spent a lot, with even the cheapest costing a hundred thousand. Manager Fan didn¡¯t want to waste the money, but stiff competition from his peers left him no choice. He also had a Shark Station host review his restaurant under the guise of an eager guest. Manager Fan was cunning in scheduling it during the enrollment period of Haijing Polytechnic; with more diners, the place appeared bustling and popular. ¡°I¡¯m going up to check. If it¡¯s not broken, what will you do?¡± Hua Yue Yu might have been small in stature, but she had plenty of presence. ¡°Do you think this is your home?¡± The manager scoffed. Hua Yue Yu didn¡¯t respond and began walking upstairs. ¡°Stop her!¡± Manager Fan commanded. Two waiters immediately stepped in her way. ¡°Don¡¯t use force!¡± Lin Baici shouted, taking a stride to stand in front of Hua Yue Yu. Chapter 68 - 68 68 Free Order_1 ?68: Chapter 68 Free Order_1 68: Chapter 68 Free Order_1 The two male waiters suddenly found themselves in darkness, as this tall and leggy young man with a solid build stood before them, like a steel bulwark blocking out even the light that fell into the hall. His gaze was incredibly sharp, akin to a razor-edged long knife, piercing into the eyes of the two waiters. This made the skin on their necks tighten, and they subconsciously clenched up. Hu Wenwu stood to the side, and had it been him who had suffered this slight, he would have endured it, but this time it involved his friend, and he couldn¡¯t persuade him otherwise. Seeing that a conflict was about to erupt, he didn¡¯t think twice before quickly taking his place beside Lin Baici. ¡°Wenwu, this doesn¡¯t involve you, sorry, you should go back first!¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t want Hu Wenwu to get involved. Hu Wenwu didn¡¯t respond, but he didn¡¯t leave, clearly ready to stand or fall together with Lin Baici and Hua Yue Yu. ¡°You¡¯re already affecting the business of my restaurant, if you don¡¯t leave, I¡¯ll call 110!¡± Manager Fan threatened. Lin Baici was slyly intent on blowing things up, to ruin the reputation of Jixiang Residence, so he yelled out loud. There were quite a few people eating in the lobby, all of whom were startled. Now they were craning their necks and peering in this direction. Watching the commotion is human nature after all. ¡°Go ahead and call!¡± Lin Baici said calmly, looking at Manager Fan. He really thought he could scare the Eater God? ¡°Fuck!¡± Manager Fan cursed under his breath, pretended to reach for his phone to intimidate the two students, but in reality, he had no intention to call the police. Once the police arrived, if the situation blew up even further, could they still do business? Really, what a shitty day. Not to mention ¡®reserving a private room¡¯¡ªeven things like finding cockroaches, hair, or cleaning rags in food, Manager Fan had smoothed over a dozen times just this year. Most of the people who came to eat here were students from Haijing Polytechnic, very young and easy to handle¡ªa free dish here, or simply replacing a dish for those in good spirits. But the person today was a bit more troublesome. Manager Fan hadn¡¯t figured out what to do when the two big livestreamers, whom he had spent 100,000 yuan to invite, suddenly walked quickly out of the crowd. ¡°Sister Fish?¡± The two big livestreamers looked like they had seen a deity, walking up to the round-faced girl. Their expressions were excited, and it looked like they were about to ask for a photo together but were afraid of being refused, so they didn¡¯t dare to speak. Damn! Manager Fan was a shrewd one and felt that trouble was brewing. ¡°Big Fatty? Little Fatty?¡± Hua Yue Yu remembered that these two were a newly rising male and female livestream team called the Food Theft Society, specializing in outdoor ventures and restaurant exploration content. Being a top-ranked livestreamer like Little Merperson meant being adept at learning. In addition to her own thinking, she would also watch others¡¯ livestreams and absorb their strengths. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Big Fatty, an outdoor livestreamer.¡± Big Fatty, who had a few pimples on his face, looked to be in his twenties, chubby and somewhat simple-looking but quite worldly-wise. As soon as the conflict started here, he temporarily shut down his livestream¡ªotherwise, if it had gone out, wouldn¡¯t it affect the reputation of Jixiang Residence? ¡°Sister Fish!¡± Little Fatty greeted her, lamenting the missed opportunity. Had they been able to livestream, just one appearance by Hua Yue Yu could have led to a ton of interaction, and the Food Theft Society could have attracted quite a few followers. After all, Hua Yue Yu was Shark Station¡¯s youngest top livestreamer, and her recent rise to fame was frighteningly fast. Were it not for the top anchor having a financial backer and strong support from the agency, Hua Yue Yu would likely have already taken the top spot. ¡°Manager Fan, is there a misunderstanding here?¡± Big Fatty wanted to play peacemaker, getting acquainted with Hua Yue Yu and earning a favor from Manager Fan for potential future cooperation. Of course, for his efforts now, he was expecting a little extra in his payment, right? ¡°This person is...¡± Manager Fan wanted to first confirm Hua Yue Yu¡¯s identity. ¡°The top streamer on Shark Station, our Sister Fish. Just call the Fishman to gather here, and you might see a dozen or so people stand up in your restaurant!¡± Big Fatty¡¯s praise wasn¡¯t an exaggeration¡ªmost of the people eating here were students, the main audience for livestreams. With Hua Yue Yu¡¯s fame, if they weren¡¯t her fans, they had at least heard of her. Manager Fan¡¯s face turned sour. ¡°Manager Fan, please resolve this quickly. The money you¡¯re paying me, multiplied by five, wouldn¡¯t be enough to invite her. If she starts a live broadcast now, I¡¯m afraid your restaurant is finished.¡± Big Fatty advised earnestly. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t dare, and if she does, I¡¯ll sue her!¡± Manager Fan was just putting on a tough front, not wanting to appear weak, but in his mind, he was already considering how to calm the situation. ¡°Manager Fan, you have no idea about the influence of Fish Big Broadcaster. Spend a bit of money, have her throw a fan meeting in your restaurant, livestream it, and won¡¯t the fame of your Jixiang Residence skyrocket?¡± Big Fatty was planning to sort things out with Manager Fan first, then take credit with Hua Yue Yu. A few words on his part could make tens of thousands for Sister Fish, surely that would qualify him to get her WeChat number? ¡°Manager, I checked, and she really is a top broadcaster¡ªnot just on Shark Station, but she also has several million followers on Douyin!¡± A female waiter whispered to Manager Fan. ¡°Fuck!¡± Manager Fan cursed again and then put on a smile as he stepped closer to Hua Yue Yu: ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry. It¡¯s all my fault. But as you can see, we¡¯re just overwhelmed with patrons today.¡± ¡°A crowd is no excuse for your failure to honor a reservation!¡± Hua Yue Yu was furious. She had invited Lin Bai Ci out to eat, and here they were, involved in an argument¡ªhumiliating, losing all face. ¡°Yes, yes, my fault. I¡¯ll compensate you with double the deposit and, from now on, you¡¯ll get a 30% discount whenever you come here to eat!¡± Manager Fan was all smiles. With the profit margin of the restaurant, even a 30% discount would still be profitable; Manager Fan wasn¡¯t losing out. ¡°Do you think I care about your deposit or discount?¡± Hua Yue Yu almost burst out laughing. There are so many upscale restaurants and private kitchens in the city with an average price of three to four thousand yuan per person; which one couldn¡¯t I afford? Isn¡¯t it just because it¡¯s close to Haijing Polytechnic, so Little Bai has to walk a few fewer steps? And the fact that the food here is expensive makes it seem high-class, that¡¯s why I came, right? ¡°Yes, yes, not bad. Little Willow, go and check if anyone has paid their bill. Hurry up and clean the private room and invite the honored guests to have some tea.¡± Manager Fan played another card: ¡°Today, this table is on the house.¡± ¡°Sister Fish, I think Manager Fan is being quite sincere, and it¡¯s not great to keep things tense in the hall like this!¡± Little Fatty persuaded. Hua Yue Yu was not an unreasonable person. Seeing Manager Fan giving in, she didn¡¯t argue any further and turned to look at Lin Baici. Since it was treating Little Bai today, it naturally depended on what Little Bai said. When Hua Yue Yu turned like this, it made Manager Fan, the two livestreamers from the Foodie Society, the surrounding waiters, and the onlooking travelers all turn their attention to Lin Baici. The others didn¡¯t react much, thinking it was normal for the girl to ask for her companion¡¯s opinion since they came together. But for Big Fatty and Little Fatty, the two livestreamers, it was a surprise. What¡¯s the situation? This woman is almost the top host on Shark Station; wherever she goes, she¡¯s the focus and the center. And now, she¡¯s actually looking to a guy for what to do? Big Fatty, with high emotional intelligence and lots of experience, could tell that Hua Yue Yu was treating this man with a kind of cautiousness, afraid of neglecting him. If he didn¡¯t agree, Hua Yue Yu would definitely continue to make a scene. After Little Fatty¡¯s surprise, his eyes were filled only with Lin Baici¡¯s good looks. If he were willing to be my boyfriend, even if he asked me to lick his feet, I would be willing. Brother isn¡¯t that good-looking. If I had this guy¡¯s looks and height, why would we siblings have to work so hard doing outdoor livestreams? Sitting at home and chatting awkwardly, we¡¯d still get rewards from female fans! Lin Baici looked at Manager Fan, with Eater God¡¯s review echoing in his mind. ¡°This restaurant, in order to save on costs, has mixed in some low-quality cooking oil, with benzo(a)pyrene and aflatoxin levels exceeding the standard ¨C oh, and these two things are carcinogens!¡± ¡°The kitchen hygiene leaves much to be desired, with generations of rats living together.¡± ¡°Because of an unhealthy lifestyle, there¡¯s an HIV carrier, one year and three months along. Be careful he doesn¡¯t take revenge on you by adding something to your food.¡± Lin Baici frowned heavily. With this kind of thing going on, they can still run a restaurant? ¡°Judging from the finished dishes, the chef who made the Squirrel Fish has some rather impressive cooking skills!¡± Eater God gave a positive evaluation. ¡°The hygiene isn¡¯t up to standard. Even if a cooking god makes me a meal, I wouldn¡¯t want to eat it!¡± Lin Baici muttered internally and looked at Hua Yue Yu, ¡°Do you still want to eat?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll listen to you!¡± Hua Yue Yu didn¡¯t really want to eat anymore; what¡¯s the use of having the meal comped? The appetite was gone, and not even the most lavish feast would be appealing anymore. ¡°Refund our deposit. Don¡¯t worry about comping the meal, we¡¯re not going to eat. We¡¯ll find another place.¡± Lin Baici made the decision. ¡°The two of you, I apologize for my lack of proper attention and for any disrespect caused. Please, later on, you must try our chef¡¯s Squirrel Fish. It is the flagship dish of our restaurant!¡± Manager Fan pleaded. ¡°No need. Just hurry up and refund the money!¡± Lin Baici urged. ¡°Alright then, next time you two come, the restaurant will comp your meal. From now on, no matter how many friends you bring, you¡¯ll always get a 30% discount,¡± Manager Fan said some words into the walkie-talkie, instructing the front desk cashier to quickly refund Hua Yue Yu¡¯s deposit. A few seconds later, the notification from Alipay showed that 500 yuan had been received. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Lin Baici called to Hua Yue Yu. Big Fatty and Little Fatty wouldn¡¯t miss this chance to get to know Sister Fish better, so they saw them out. Manager Fan didn¡¯t have the same attitude, though. As soon as he saw the trio of Hua Yue Yu leave, he immediately announced: ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for any inconvenience caused by the guests who tried to defraud us, disrupting everyone¡¯s dining experience. Each table will receive a complimentary fruit plate, please enjoy.¡± It had to be said that Manager Fan handled it well. The cost of a fruit plate for each table wouldn¡¯t exceed two hundred yuan in total, but it minimized the impact of the incident on Jixiang Residence. The onlooking guests who received the benefit were more likely to speak well of Jixiang Residence because of the gift they¡¯d received. After waiting a few minutes and seeing the two anchors from Foodie Society come back, Manager Fan immediately greeted them: ¡°Have they left?¡± ¡°They¡¯ve left!¡± Big Fatty sighed, ¡°Manager Fan, you¡¯ve missed a great opportunity!¡± ¡°Heh, with your livestream, the effect is the same!¡± Manager Fan flattered Big Fatty: ¡°About earlier...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Manager Fan, I turned off the live broadcast just now. No one saw it. Hua Yue Yu didn¡¯t livestream or record a video either, I¡¯m certain!¡± Big Fatty knew what was concerning Manager Fan. ¡°You¡¯ve taken a lot of trouble!¡± Manager Fan smiled, his concerns alleviated: ¡°Let me add a few dishes for you and bring a bottle of Maotai.¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have, Manager Fan!¡± Big Fatty thanked him. Once Manager Fan left, the corner of his mouth twitched: ¡°He thinks a bottle of Maotai will do? He¡¯s really underestimating us!¡± ¡°Right? A live broadcast with Sister Fish would have brought in a rush of popularity. We could have easily made tens of thousands more in rewards tonight, which is a lot more interesting than a fixed food tour, right?¡± Little Fatty was unhappy. If it weren¡¯t for the contract they¡¯d signed with Jixiang Residence to finish the live broadcast, she would have wanted to leave already. Isn¡¯t riding on Hua Yue Yu¡¯s popularity more appealing? ¡°What is the relationship between that guy and Hua Yue Yu?¡± Big Fatty wondered curiously. ¡°If he is her boyfriend, letting people know about this relationship could be huge news!¡± ¡°That guy is too kind. If it were me in this situation, I¡¯d be sure to fleece this restaurant hard. If I didn¡¯t bleed them dry, I wouldn¡¯t be able to let it go.¡± Little Fatty sighed. That Lin Baici has too little experience in society and not maximizing his own interests is problematic. ... The Lin Baici considered kind was standing on the curb of the western road outside Jixiang Residence, next to him, a large, lush Chinese parasol tree. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Hua Yue Yu was puzzled. Why wasn¡¯t Little Bai moving? Chapter 69 - 69 69 Handsome and Kind-hearted Lin Baici_1 ?69: Chapter 69 Handsome and Kind-hearted Lin Baici_1 69: Chapter 69 Handsome and Kind-hearted Lin Baici_1 The setting sun vanished between the city¡¯s towering buildings, as neon lights began to brighten, painting the urban landscape with a kaleidoscope of colors. The breath of night started to permeate the air. ¡°That Manager Fan should be punished!¡± Lin Baici¡¯s voice was disinterested and flat. ¡°Huh?¡± Hua Yue Yu was startled, realizing that Bai Ci also harbored unresolved feelings, ¡°If you¡¯re upset with him, I¡¯ll expose this restaurant!¡± The GoPro action camera pinned to the strap on Hua Yue Yu¡¯s chest had been running all this time. She brought it partly out of professional habit, to capture video material, and partly because it was a significant occasion after many days to meet with Lin Baici again¡ªrecording the encounter for posterity and reminiscing about it later. ¡°Is that car really expensive?¡± Lin Baici was referring to the black Mercedes parked beneath the parasol tree, which, given its elongated shape, appeared to be something ordinary people couldn¡¯t afford. ¡°Yes, a Mercedes S-Class, worth over a million yuan. Only big bosses drive those!¡± Hua Yue Yu didn¡¯t understand and thought that Bai Ci¡¯s train of thought was leaping too much, right? ¡°How about we perform a little act, what do you say?¡± Lin Baici asked with a smile. Manager Fan had violated his contract by accepting a deposit without providing service, showing a lack of integrity. The kitchen management was chaotic, the hygiene conditions were worrying, and there was even the use of carcinogenic substandard cooking oil, which was already a severe issue. But what was truly terrifying was that the guy had HIV, and yet he was still working in the catering industry. Didn¡¯t he care at all about the health of his diners? Lin Baici had always felt that when running a restaurant, ensuring health and hygiene was paramount. After hearing Lin Baici¡¯s plan, Hua Yue Yu was taken aback, ¡°That manager has HIV?¡± ¡°Mhm!¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t want people to know about the existence of the Eater God, so he took out his phone and sent a message to the Little Merperson, ¡°Don¡¯t forget that I am a God Hunter, blessed with Divine Grace, and I can see his health condition!¡± Hiss! After reading the message, Hua Yue Yu immediately gasped in shock and felt a chill when she remembered standing just five meters in front of Manager Fan, having a spat with him. ¡°HIV doesn¡¯t transmit through spit, does it?¡± Hua Yue Yu hurriedly opened her browser to search, and only after confirming that saliva doesn¡¯t transmit the disease did she finally relax, then felt petrified thinking about what just happened. Luckily she hadn¡¯t dined at this restaurant. What if Manager Fan was vindictive and had dripped blood into her food or soup... The female anchor didn¡¯t dare to continue the thought. Hu Wenwu looked at the two of them, completely bewildered. What are you guys talking about? Why can¡¯t I understand a word? What¡¯s HIV? Is it some kind of illness? ¡°Wenwu, sorry about today. You go back to school first; we¡¯ve got something to deal with.¡± Lin Baici apologized. ¡°If there¡¯s an issue, I definitely can¡¯t leave!¡± Hu Wenwu felt Lin Baici was a nice guy, and he should lend a hand if he could. Otherwise, leaving just like that would make it awkward when they lived together for the next four years, wouldn¡¯t it? ¡°Then go to that Yang Er Barbecue over there and reserve a spot. Order 100 yuan worth of mutton skewers; I¡¯ll join you there to eat in a bit!¡± Lin Baici instructed. Hu Wenwu wanted to refuse, as he preferred to stay together, but Lin Baici convinced him, ¡°Just keep watch there, and if I indeed run into trouble, you can come over then!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Hu Wenwu agreed, realizing that he was the secret weapon in their plan. As Hu Wenwu walked away, Hua Yue Yu couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter. Bai Ci was the God Hunter¡ªwhat could possibly happen to him? Besides, if he could not win the fight, he could always don the kasaya and call for Muscle Buddha to back him up. Today was the enrollment day for the new students at Haijing Polytechnic University, and some of the students¡¯ parents were truly the pride of humanity, successful in their careers. The luxury cars parked within the school grounds made that abundantly clear. After finishing his meal, Boss Wang simultaneously warned his son to behave in university and not to keep chasing after girls, lest he impregnate someone and cause trouble, while he also swelled with pride. Having his son admitted to Haijing Polytechnic was indeed a feather in his cap. The young driver rushed to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, opened the door, got in, started the engine, and turned on the air conditioning. After waiting for twenty minutes, Lin Baici and Hua Yue Yu exchanged glances, signaling that their target had arrived. According to their plan, as the owner of the Mercedes was approaching the car, Hua Yue Yu, standing under a Chinese parasol tree, showed an anxious expression and worriedly asked Lin Baici, ¡°What should we do now? Could we get infected?¡± No matter the circumstances, a beauty always draws attention, especially a top-tier beauty like Hua Yue Yu. Boss Wang and his son had already set their sights on her. ¡°I don¡¯t think so, right?¡± Lin Baici ran his lines, feeling that Hua Yue Yu¡¯s acting was excellent. Indeed, as a live streamer, her little expressions were so convincing they even tugged at his own heartstrings. ¡°Who told you that the manager has HIV? Shall we go and ask?¡± Hua Yue Yu¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t very loud, but it was loud enough for Boss Wang and his family to hear. Their expressions immediately jolted in shock. HIV? That¡¯s frightening! Boss Wang immediately frowned. Had his car not been parked nearby, he would have had no desire to walk in this direction. No matter how beautiful you are, once you¡¯re associated with that virus, you are seen as a plague to be avoided at all costs. ¡°While I was using the restroom inside, I overheard two waiters whispering. They said that Manager Fan might have HIV and they were afraid to continue working. They¡¯re planning to resign after getting their salaries these next couple of days!¡± Lin Baici glanced back at Jixiang Residence, intending to show a fearful expression of contracting the disease himself, but his acting fell short by just a bit. However, Boss Wang had already stopped paying attention to this detail. He was completely taken aback by the mention of the manager having HIV. ¡°Excuse me, who did you say has AIDS?¡± Boss Wang inquired. Lin Baici didn¡¯t immediately answer but gauged Boss Wang with a wary look. ¡°Hurry up and tell me!¡± Boss Wang was anxious: ¡°Is it the manager of this Jixiang Residence?¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t speak, but Hua Yue Yu expressed urgency: ¡°Who knows what the owner of this restaurant is thinking, hiring someone with HIV as the manager. Could they possibly be relatives?¡± Hua Yue Yu was spot on with her guess. But the owner himself had no idea about Manager Fan¡¯s condition; otherwise, he would never have employed him. Boss Wang didn¡¯t care anymore about their relationship and headed straight towards the restaurant. Lin Baici had a bunch of excuses prepared, such as if the owner asked him to confront Manager Fan inside, he had plans on how to refuse, or if the owner decided not to confront Manager Fan but instead to go to a hospital for a blood test, he was ready to persuade him otherwise. However, Boss Wang¡¯s direct approach saved Lin Baici a lot of trouble. Boss Wang started as a construction contractor, took risks, stumbled upon opportunities, and became a real estate developer with a net worth exceeding hundreds of millions. Yet before he could enjoy his wealth for long, he had just had a meal, and now the restaurant manager was rumored to be an AIDS patient? If this was confirmed, he would burn down the Jixiang Residence. Boss Wang had considered rushing to the hospital for a blood test straight away, but how could he endure the anxious hours of waiting? Once upon a time, he had a close call while entertaining clients with a full-service outing. After the blood tests, waiting for the results was tormenting. He had no desire to endure that experience again, and such blood tests would be embarrassingly scandalous! So why not ask that manager just one question, it¡¯s the simplest way. If it¡¯s a mistake, just apologize and compensate him ten thousand yuan. Lin Baici watched Boss Wang stride toward Jixiang Residence and chuckled, ¡°Let¡¯s go, have some barbecue and enjoy the big show!¡± ... Boss Wang entered the restaurant, and a waiter immediately greeted him. ¡°Boss, did you leave something behind?¡± The waiter remembered this boss who had just gone out. ¡°Call your Manager Fan!¡± Boss Wang suppressed his anger. Manager Fan came over quickly, smiling and asking, ¡°Boss, what happened?¡± ¡°Do you have AIDS?¡± Boss Wang got straight to the point and then stared fixedly at Manager Fan. Manager Fan¡¯s face stiffened, and panic flashed across his face: ¡°Who... who has AIDS?¡± If it were someone else, they might not notice anything odd about Manager Fan, but Boss Wang, having started his own business, had dealt with everyone from high-ranking officials and rich businessmen to lowlife thugs. His piercing gaze chilled him to the bone when he saw Manager Fan¡¯s expression. ¡°I¡¯m calling the police!¡± Boss Wang took out his phone and continued to probe. ¡°Don¡¯t... don¡¯t call the police!¡± Manager Fan was so startled that he subconsciously tried to stop him. If they didn¡¯t involve the police, the problem wouldn¡¯t be too big, and it could be settled privately. Boss Wang¡¯s heart went cold, and he could no longer restrain his fury. He grabbed a stool from the side and smashed it at Manager Fan. If it were any other day, he would have just slapped him, but today he didn¡¯t dare, afraid of getting infected. ¡°You motherfucker have AIDS and still be a fucking restaurant manager?!¡± This roar from Boss Wang silenced the entire hall, and then everyone instinctively spat out the food in their mouths. The waitstaff were also in a state of panic, What the hell? What¡¯s wrong with Manager Fan? They were ready to break up a fight, but now they all froze on the spot. A young waiter who didn¡¯t know what HIV was, thought about going over to help and get noticed by Manager Fan, but a colleague held him back. ¡°What are you doing going over there? Want to get infected?¡± The mere mention of AIDS causes fear¡ªthis is people¡¯s direct understanding of the disease because to this day, there¡¯s no effective treatment, only waiting for death. Who wouldn¡¯t be scared? Soon, the restaurant¡¯s main hall was in chaos, and in five or six minutes, the guests in the upstairs private rooms also found out, and no one felt like eating anymore. So Jixiang Residence got lively. About a dozen hot-tempered people grabbed stools and furiously smashed them at Manager Fan. Manager Fan had no chance to argue. A blood test would confirm everything. ... At Yang Er Barbecue, Lin Baici was casually chewing on a skewer of lamb at a low table by the road. ¡°What do you think the result will be?¡± Hua Yue Yu was curious. ¡°Manager Fan getting beaten up is certain, and he might even end up in the hospital!¡± Lin Baici took a sip of draft beer: ¡°I don¡¯t know about the law, so I¡¯m not sure if he¡¯ll go to jail, but if he meets a tough customer, he¡¯ll probably have to pay up!¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s all about causing a scene now!¡± Hua Yue Yu nodded. This Jixiang Residence was quite popular in this area, but after this incident, it was probably doomed. Lin Baici and his companions were halfway through their roasted lamb leg when a police car arrived with flashing lights, and just a few minutes later, an ambulance also arrived. Hua Yue Yu ran over to watch. Soon, Manager Fan, his face covered in blood and his chest soaked, was carried out on a stretcher. His left eye was swollen shut and he couldn¡¯t even open it. ¡°Everyone step back, don¡¯t touch his blood!¡± The nurse shouted. They didn¡¯t bandage Manager Fan because they were afraid. Just get him to the hospital quickly. Lin Baici watched Manager Fan being loaded into the ambulance, raised his cup in a toast, Wishing you a bright future! Take care! Glug, glug! Lin Baici drained his beer. The people who beat him were also taken away by the police, but this incident was tricky to handle. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect such a sensational event!¡± Big Fatty laughed with glee. After what happened in the restaurant, he immediately changed the title of his live stream to ¡®Restaurant Manager is an HIV Carrier, Current Number of Infected Unknown,¡¯ which caused the popularity of his live room to explode rapidly. Out of professional ethics, Big Fatty shouldn¡¯t have started the live stream, but such traffic was a gift from heaven that he couldn¡¯t just ignore. ¡°We¡¯re not in trouble, right?¡± Little Fatty was worried. ¡°No worries, as long as we keep ourselves clean, we won¡¯t get HIV!¡± After Big Fatty finished, he saw Hua Yue Yu in the crowd, and his face immediately lit up with happiness as he ran over, ¡°Sister Fish? You haven¡¯t left yet?¡± ¡°Hmm, we were eating barbecue nearby, saw that something seemed to have happened here, so we came over to look.¡± Hua Yue Yu looked curious, ¡°Why was that manager beaten up?¡± ¡°Good thing you didn¡¯t eat here...¡± Little Fatty babbled on and on and then sighed, ¡°Your friend is handsome and kind-hearted, even waived the deposit. As for that manager, he got what he deserved from heaven¡¯s punishment!¡± ¡°Hehe!¡± Hua Yue Yu laughed straightaway when she heard this. Handsome and kind-hearted Lin Bai? All of this was Bai Ci¡¯s own design. The Divine Grace is really impressive! After chatting with the two from the Steal to Eat Society¡¯s live stream for a bit, Hua Yue Yu said goodbye and left. Before she¡¯d even returned to the barbecue stall, she took out her phone and sent a message to Lin Baici. ¡°Do I have a chance to become a God Hunter?¡± Chapter 70 - 70 Regarding the plot from these two days some of my thoughts_1 ?70: Regarding the plot from these two days, some of my thoughts_1 70: Regarding the plot from these two days, some of my thoughts_1 My initial conception for the book was a dual storyline, one in the ruins of God and one in daily life, Otherwise, if I kept writing about the divine ruins, purifying rule pollution, eating God¡¯s bones, I worried that you all might get sick of it. We can¡¯t feast on delicacies every day, right? {Actually, you might not easily get tired of it. I designed quite a few divine ruins, each containing several different games involving taboo things, with no repetitions; but I can¡¯t guarantee that, I can only say I¡¯ll try my best to write them.} For the daily life storyline, my idea was to transition from normalcy to collapse, and to depict this gradual change. Otherwise, if I wrote about how the world became what it became later on, you might find it too sudden, Another point, I feel that giving the protagonist an everyday life will increase the realness and engagement in a book; the worldview will become more three-dimensional. However, some readers may think I¡¯m padding it out. I¡¯ll take note of this and control my use of words more carefully in the future, In fact, the characters I write, who seem useless, are all groundwork; they will all be used later on. For example, some readers have guessed that this school will eventually... well... I can¡¯t spoil it for you, otherwise, it would ruin the fun when it happens. As for the college opening sequence that is currently unfolding, I can¡¯t condense it any further because I am currently writing about The Second Ruins of God. The plot that has been released is backlogged material. If changed, everything that follows would need to be altered, and that workload is honestly a bit too much. Plus, my mind is entirely occupied with the protagonist and their struggle for survival in The Second Divine Ruins. I¡¯m writing with such a thrill, I don¡¯t want to break this momentum! Additionally, I write these daily life segments to establish the characters, build the world, and flesh out the protagonist¡¯s interpersonal relationships. If book friends aren¡¯t familiar with these characters, what difference does it make whether they enter the main storyline or die? It wouldn¡¯t be exciting, right? Showboating and face-slapping, I¡¯ve tried it before but found it not to my taste, and it felt pointless. So with this book, I want to construct a worldview, which seems to be working well so far. At least during the new book competition, I snagged all the recommendations, even scored a major promotion and got the little trumpets. [Here, I would like to thank the editors Biscuit Giant and Midnight Giant for their great support.] How does a book attract people? I think it boils down to two words: Interesting. That¡¯s why I spent so much effort on the conception of God¡¯s ruins and the taboo things, hoping to bring forth new ideas, This way of writing really taxes the brain, Are you calling my writing filler because I¡¯m not quickly progressing towards the ruins of God? Right, I haven¡¯t misjudged, have I? You were drawn to this book because you found these rule pollutions interesting, weren¡¯t you? Or maybe it was to see the girls? Let me know what you¡¯d like to read about; it would give me some directions. Otherwise, I can only write according to my own thoughts, I¡¯ve been suffering from insomnia again these past few days, even though I just had surgery in May. The doctor told me to maintain good rest, but now my schedule is all over the place, I consulted the editor, who said that my readership hasn¡¯t dropped and is quite stable, which reassured me a great deal, The story of our protagonist, Lin Baici, has just begun. Please give him your patience and look forward to it; I¡¯ll do my best to craft a captivating tale. We will enter The Second Ruins of God before the book is shelved. For this, I haven¡¯t dared to go live with over 210,000 words already written. At least for now, these daily life pieces are in the public domain and won¡¯t be charged. Last but not least, thanks for your support. Without you, this book wouldn¡¯t have come this far, Nowadays, on starting point, recommendations are decided by follow-readership. With no readers following, a PK failure means even top authors cannot get recommended, Thank you all. I will stockpile more chapters, then unleash a torrent of updates after going live! Love you guys, Dou Niang! Chapter 71 - 71 70 The Viral Sutra Chanting Video_1 ?71: Chapter 70: The Viral Sutra Chanting Video_1 71: Chapter 70: The Viral Sutra Chanting Video_1 Lin Baici seriously considered for a moment before replying to Little Merperson. Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: There is, but the mortality rate for this job is very high, it¡¯s better to be a streamer and stay safe. If Hua Yue Yu were just an ordinary college student and her streaming career wasn¡¯t going well, not making enough money, then it might be better to become a God Hunter for a potentially life-changing gamble. But Hua Yue Yu¡¯s life currently is quite comfortable, so there¡¯s no need to take risks. Little Merperson: Dad, give me some advice! After sending the message, Hua Yue Yu added a kowtowing emoji. Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: By acquiring a thread of Divine Grace, one can become a God Hunter, but it¡¯s incredibly difficult to obtain. Even if you have a lot of money, you probably can¡¯t buy it, so the only option is to go into God¡¯s Ruins and find it yourself. Little Merperson: Dad, next time you enter God¡¯s Ruins, please must take me with you! Little Merperson: I¡¯ll kowtow to you again. Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: It¡¯s too dangerous, and I haven¡¯t decided when I¡¯ll enter God¡¯s Ruins again. Lin Baici estimated that after he became a member of the Jiuzhou Security Bureau, it should be soon. Hua Yue Yu came back, sat next to Lin Baici, and picked up her glass, ¡°Come on, Lin Bai, Wenwu, let¡¯s toast to Manager Fan¡¯s downfall. Bottoms up!¡± Hu Wenwu quickly raised his glass. He hadn¡¯t drunk at home before, so he wasn¡¯t accustomed to such gatherings. Bang! The three of them clinked glasses. Lin Baici took a few sips and reminded Hua Yue Yu, ¡°All the things I told you are circle-inside secrets that are forbidden to be leaked. Don¡¯t tell anyone else!¡± ¡°Mhm, got it!¡± Hua Yue Yu quickly nodded. Sure enough, getting to know a God Hunter means knowing much more. Let¡¯s see who dares to brag about having insider information in front of me from now on. Speaking of which, do you know a God Hunter? The BBQ seasoning was liberally applied, and the flavor was strong. Hua Yue Yu didn¡¯t eat much to maintain her figure, while Lin Baici didn¡¯t mind. ¡°Wenwu, we¡¯re all friends here, don¡¯t be shy. Eat and drink to your heart¡¯s content.¡± Hua Yue Yu ordered a barbecued lamb leg weighing over six pounds, a hearty portion: ¡°Eat up. If we leave any, it¡¯ll go to waste!¡± Hu Wenwu wanted to say the leftovers could be eaten tomorrow, but then he thought with such hot weather, the lamb would probably go bad by then. The owner pulled over an extension cord, moving the shop¡¯s fan closer: ¡°Need more drinks?¡± Hua Yue Yu looked at Lin Baici, waiting for his decision. ¡°First day of college, let¡¯s drink less!¡± Lin Baici declined. ¡°Alright!¡± Even though he didn¡¯t get to sell the high-profit drinks, the owner wasn¡¯t disappointed, since the dishes ordered by Lin Baici¡¯s table had already totaled to over a thousand yuan. Otherwise, why would he bother bringing a fan over to their table? ¡°Boss, have you got another fan? We¡¯re hot here too!¡± A short-haired young man called out. ¡°Sorry, we¡¯ve got only one!¡± the owner replied with an apologetic grin. ¡°I¡¯ll buy a few more in the next couple of days, so you¡¯ll also have one to use!¡± Since the owner said so, the young man had no other choice. After the owner left to attend to other things, the short-haired young man grumbled, ¡°This boss is such an old miser. We¡¯re all guys at this table. If there were a few girls, we¡¯d definitely get a fan!¡± The short-haired young man thought Lin Baici¡¯s table had snagged the fan entirely because Hua Yue Yu was beautiful. Who would have thought such a beautiful girl would eat barbecue by the roadside? Don¡¯t they usually go to those fancy, up-scale restaurants? ¡°Forget it, do you know how much that roast leg of lamb costs? At least a thousand yuan, as much as what our five tables ordered.¡± The short-haired young man¡¯s companion, his fellow countryman and a senior in his third year with more social experience explained, ¡°That¡¯s a big order. If the owner serves them well and they become repeat customers, just one visit with an order for a lamb leg will mean a big profit!¡± ¡°I see!¡± The short-haired young man suddenly understood. He was a freshman and felt that he was learning something new. ¡°A... a thousand yuan?¡± Hu Wenwu¡¯s mouth, which was chewing lamb meat, froze. He knew this meal wouldn¡¯t be cheap, but he hadn¡¯t expected it to be this expensive. ¡°Eat your fill, try not to leave any leftovers!¡± Hua Yue Yu poured wine for Lin Baici and Hu Wenwu. She was as docile as the girl next door. The three of them ate for an hour and a half, finally finishing off the whole lamb leg. It was getting late, but the entire city was brightly lit, bustling with noise. The night economy was just beginning. ¡°Are you both full?¡± Hua Yue Yu looked at the two nodding heads and took out her phone, calling the owner, ¡°Boss, the check, please!¡± ¡°The total comes to 1,267.7 yuan. I¡¯ll round down the change, just give me 1,267!¡± The owner handed over a payment QR code, a look of surprise flashing across his face. This girl is paying the bill? Usually when boys and girls come here to eat, the boys pay. Seeing a girl pay, especially for such an expensive meal, happens no more than three times a month. Hua Yue Yu scanned the code and paid. Alipay received a transfer of 1,267 yuan. ¡°Take care on your way out!¡± The owner took a glance at Lin Baici and clicked his tongue in amazement. He couldn¡¯t be living off his girlfriend, could he? As for Hu Wenwu? Sorry, he¡¯s too ugly, clearly a freeloader. ¡°Holy shit!¡± The dumbstruck junior couldn¡¯t believe his eyes, was that a freshman? Having dinner with such a pretty girl and she¡¯s paying for it? Respect! ... ¡°Just grab something casual for today. Once the military training is over and your college life gets on track, we can party with wine and dine!¡± Hua Yue Yu scheduled the plan, ¡°I¡¯ve already asked a few female broadcasters I¡¯m on good terms with. They are super hot and have sweet voices. They¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re not coming back sober!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t waste the favor, I¡¯m not into female broadcasters!¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t like watching live streams, mainly due to lack of time. Plus, inviting those female broadcasters would likely cost Hua Yue Yu some face, and she wouldn¡¯t be able to refuse attending get-togethers she didn¡¯t like next time. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯re all friends!¡± The gatherings Hua Yue Yu planned wouldn¡¯t be awkward for anyone. ¡°What time are you heading back?¡± It was getting late, and Lin Baici was worried that it¡¯d be dangerous for Hua Yue Yu to go back too late. ¡°Do you want me to walk you back?¡± The Little Merperson was an understanding and nice girl. She actually wanted to stroll the campus with Lin Baici at night, but now that he said this, she gave up on the idea. ¡°I¡¯ll head back now, you don¡¯t have to walk me.¡± Hua Yue Yu smiled, ¡°It¡¯s your first day registering, so you should also get used to the new environment and have a chat with your new roommates to bond. I won¡¯t disturb you any longer!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve had some drinks, are you sure you¡¯ll be alright?¡± Lin Baici wanted to hear Eater God¡¯s commentary on Hua Yue Yu¡¯s current state, but Eater God remained silent. ¡°I only had one bottle, oh come on, don¡¯t worry about me. Go back to your dorm. A taxi ride to Haijing University will take at most forty minutes!¡± Hua Yue Yu suddenly started running towards the distance, stopped after about a dozen meters, and waved to Lin Baici: ¡°I¡¯m off, we¡¯ll keep in touch through WeChat!¡± Little Merperson arrived dressed up and left as if she was the carefree Cinderella who vanished from the King¡¯s ball before midnight. Once Hua Yue Yu¡¯s figure disappeared from view, Lin Baici gazed at the male dormitory number 2 shrouded in the night: ¡°Let¡¯s go, back to the dorm!¡± ... Dormitory 902. Fang Mingyuan went to check out the basketball gym. It was small, with average equipment, and except for the school team, it wasn¡¯t open for regular students. That was quite annoying! However, the playground of Haijing Polytechnic was very spacious. Apart from a soccer field, there were ten basketball courts with plastic flooring. The problem was, it was too crowded. After playing basketball for more than an hour and breaking a sweat, Fang Mingyuan ate a big bowl of ramen in the cafeteria, returned to his dorm, grabbed his washbasin, towel, and shower gel, and went to the communal bathroom on the ninth floor to take a shower. The communal bathroom had a row of faucets and shower stalls, but no hot water. Yet, with all the young guys, full of vigor, cold showers were no big deal. After his shower, Fang Mingyuan returned to his room, plugged in his wireless earphones, picked up his phone, opened the Bilibili app, and went to his favorites to find a chanting video. He hit play. Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, While practicing the profound Prajnaparamita, Perceived that all five skandhas are empty, And passed beyond all suffering. ... The Sanskrit chanting was something Fang Mingyuan didn¡¯t understand, but the singer¡¯s voice was melodious and resonant, transporting him as if he were at the foot of Hanshan Temple, clad in the afterglow of fishermen¡¯s fires at dusk, listening to the evening chants echoing from the temple, ascending steps of green flagstones toward the mountain gate. On this first day of registration, Fang Mingyuan felt restless, tense, but also expectant and excited. At this moment though, all those feelings vanished. His heartbeat slowed, and he felt as still as the surface of a polished mirror. Fang Mingyuan cherished this state. Ever since a high school friend recommended this video to him, he couldn¡¯t get enough of it; it became his lifeline. As a student with sports as his specialty, Fang Mingyuan often needed to quickly adjust his mindset to get into the game. But mental state isn¡¯t something you can just adjust on a whim, especially during assessments that could affect his future. It was impossible not to feel nervous. However, ever since he stumbled upon this chanting video, he found himself calming down instantly, achieving a state of mental clarity every time he listened. That was kind of awesome. After half a month, Fang Mingyuan had formed a habit of listening to this chanting frequently. After each session, he naturally calmed down, allowing him to have a deeper understanding and reflection on the day¡¯s training or basketball games. After finishing the video, Fang Mingyuan replayed it and opened his private messages. He sent a private message to Lin Da Hungry Man, the uploader of the video, asking for a high-quality MP3 version for convenience. But eight days later, there was still no reply. And this time, there was no news either. Fang Mingyuan felt disappointed and scrolled through the comments section. ¡°Holy shit, what kind of godly video is this? After listening to the chanting, I felt desireless and on the verge of enlightenment!¡± ¡°I listened to this video for three days and broke up with my girlfriend. My mental state¡¯s amazing now; I don¡¯t suffer from insomnia or restless sleep anymore¡ªso comfortable!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve found this thing to be a cure-all for addiction. After listening, I just didn¡¯t feel it anymore!¡± ¡°Exactly, I got scared the first time I listened. It made me think I had some sort of dysfunction.¡± ¡°I bow to you, please release an MP3 version!¡± With over thirty thousand comments, most people were amazed by the miraculous effect of the chanting, and the rest were pleading for the MP3 version. A premium member named ¡®Sun Wukong Lost His Ruyi Jingu Bang¡¯ transcribed the video into an audio format and uploaded it to Baidu Cloud, sharing the link in the comments for others to download. There were more than a thousand replies under this comment. After posting another comment asking for the MP3, Fang Mingyuan clicked on Lin Da Hungry Man¡¯s ID, went to his profile page, and then to the option to ¡®Charge Up¡¯ for him. A page to select the amount to charge appeared. Fang Mingyuan chose to customize the amount, input 100 yuan, and proceeded to pay by scanning the QR code. Bang! The door to the dorm suddenly burst open with a loud force, startling Fang Mingyuan. Chapter 72 - 72 71 Campus Ghost Stories_1 ?72: Chapter 71 Campus Ghost Stories_1 72: Chapter 71 Campus Ghost Stories_1 ¡°Family, this is my dorm room, 906. Tsk, looks pretty neat!¡± Xu Daguan held his phone, walked into the dorm room, and rotated it 180 degrees to show his viewers the surroundings. Upon seeing this, Fang Mingyuan felt somewhat unhappy. Isn¡¯t this guy paying too little attention to others¡¯ privacy? What if I were doing some needlework and ended up being socially destroyed because of it? ¡°Hey, my name is Xu Daguan, but you can call me Mister Official. Wanna say hi to my viewers?¡± Xu Daguan looked Fang Mingyuan over. ¡°Please don¡¯t film me!¡± Fang Mingyuan warned, shifting to the side. He didn¡¯t want to be on camera. ¡°Oh, oh, don¡¯t worry, I respect personal privacy a lot!¡± Xu Daguan laughed heartily. This one is thin-skinned. He knew some people were naturally introverted and didn¡¯t like putting themselves out there. I have to say, the live streaming industry really isn¡¯t for everyone, but me, I¡¯m eating from this bowl. Awesome. Xu Daguan was feeling pleased with himself. After noticing only one of the three bunk beds was without bedding, he realized the others had already arrived, ¡°Are our roommates out checking out the senior girls?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Fang Mingyuan was scrolling on his phone. ¡°I checked this afternoon, our polytechnic university really doesn¡¯t have high-quality senior girls. When you have time, you should check out Haijing Normal University. Lots of girls there.¡± Xu Daguan was a chatterbox. He took out a phone stand, stuck it on the table, then positioned his phone in it and continued to livestream as he unpacked his luggage. A person can die, but the livestream can¡¯t stop. ... Lin Baici and Hu Wenwu returned to the dorm to find Xu Daguan eating takeout and chatting with his viewers. ¡°Yo...¡± As Xu Daguan heard the door open and looked up, about to greet them, he saw Lin Baici¡¯s face. Damn! Why is it this kid? Xu Daguan¡¯s expression fell. He hadn¡¯t forgotten how this afternoon, when he went to register, a beautiful senior had ignored him, pretended to have a heatstroke headache, and told this very guy it was on her way to take him to the male dormitory. Many viewers had heard that scene, causing him to lose a bit of face. Lin Baici was also feeling gloomy. Why did it have to be this smelly-footed guy? Eater God said he had athlete¡¯s foot, liked to collect JK-genre movies, and that wasn¡¯t a big deal, but he also frequently visited cheap hair salons and, what was more terrifying, he liked to take sneak shots. Lin Baici glanced at the phone. The new roommate was obviously livestreaming and didn¡¯t seem to care one bit about other people¡¯s privacy. ¡°Hello, my name is Hu Wenwu!¡± Hu Wenwu took the initiative to greet. ¡°Hello, Xu Daguan. You can call me Mister Official, a streamer from Shark Station!¡± Xu Daguan and Hu Wenwu shook hands. Looking at his clothes and demeanor, he¡¯s definitely from the countryside, but I wonder what his personality is like. So far, he seems like the kind of guy who wouldn¡¯t notice even if his wife cheated on him. Well, if he can ever find a wife, that is. Xu Daguan pondered in his mind if Hu Wenwu could help increase his viewership, while his eyes moved to Lin Baici, smiling as he extended his hand, ¡°Hello, handsome. With you here, our dorm room shines.¡± Xu Daguan flattered Lin Baici a bit to lower his guard. This kid has a high level of attractiveness. If used well, he could be part of a stunt to get a wave of viewers. [A scheming dog, in its eyes, whether a person is worth befriending depends on whether they can bring in viewers!] ¡°Hello!¡± Lin Baici also smiled, revealing eight white teeth that sparkled brilliantly, creating a favorable impression. To get by in life, you need to have some tricks up your sleeve, and even if you wish the other person would move out immediately, you can¡¯t show it on your face. After washing his hands and face and changing into slippers, Lin Baici stood on the balcony and admired the campus night view. Soon after, Liu Yu and Qian Jiahui came back one after the other. Xu Daguan quickly greeted them as well. ¡°One a mama¡¯s boy, the other a second-generation rich kid!¡± Xu Daguan had a knack for judging people, ¡°Brother Qian, from your accent, you sound like you¡¯re from Beijing?¡± ¡°Right!¡± Qian Jiahui lay on his bed, leaning against his pillow, boredly scanning through WeChat messages all from his ex-girlfriends, So annoying! ¡°Stop sending me messages!¡± Qian Jiahui copied and pasted, replying to each one by one. ¡°Beijing isn¡¯t bad either. Why did you come to Haijing?¡± Xu Daguan made conversation. ¡°Beijing is too close to home!¡± Qian Jiahui¡¯s reason left Hu Wenwu stunned. He wished he could attend a university right next to home. ¡°Haha, nice reasoning!¡± Xu Daguan laughed heartily, ¡°Family, let me tell you, we have a young and rich handsome guy in our dorm. Do you want to see him?¡± ¡°Female fans, cover your eyes for a moment. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll fall for him and forget about me, Mister Official.¡± Xu Daguan spoke loudly, not directly speaking to Qian Jiahui, but he did give him a boost. If it were middle or high school, Qian Jiahui would be the most handsome in the dorm, but now, there¡¯s Lin Baici on the balcony. So Qian Jiahui showed no reaction, what if Xu Daguan was talking about the other guy? Fang Mingyuan looked at Qian Jiahui, then glanced at Lin Baici. Their looks were neck and neck, but in terms of physique, Qian Jiahui didn¡¯t measure up; he was short and skinny, seeming rather underwhelming. Fang Mingyuan could take six of those kinds of guys. ¡°Are you livestreaming?¡± Liu Yu looked at Xu Daguan¡¯s phone and frowned, ¡°Can you turn it off?¡± ¡°Ah? Did it bother you?¡± Xu Daguan¡¯s mind cursed Liu Yu for being a stickler but remained smiling on the outside. ¡°Please be mindful of our privacy. With the livestream on, everything in the dorm is exposed!¡± Liu Yu complained. He was average-looking with quite a few pimples on his face, so he didn¡¯t want strangers seeing him. And for some reason, watching Xu Daguan interact with his fans, it just irked him. ¡°Alright then!¡± Xu Daguan looked at his phone, ¡°Family, I¡¯m going to have a heart-to-heart with my new roommates today to foster our relationship, so I¡¯m signing off. See you all tomorrow!¡± ¡°Bye-bye!¡± After Xu Daguan turned off the live stream, he looked at Liu Yu, ¡°Satisfied now?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Liu Yu nodded, switched to slippers, then picked up a bottle of mineral water and guzzled a few mouthfuls. There was no atmosphere for chatting in the dorm room. ¡°I¡¯ve got to tell you guys, there have been some scary rumors going around our school lately!¡± Xu Daguan couldn¡¯t keep his mouth shut. ¡°What rumors?¡± Qian Jiahui asked casually, out of boredom. ¡°They say someone saw a human-faced dog on campus.¡± Xu Daguan, being a live streamer, sure knew how to grab people¡¯s attention. ¡°What the heck?¡± Qian Jiahui was startled. The others also turned to look at Xu Daguan. ¡°Human-faced dog, as in a dog with a human¡¯s face!¡± Xu Daguan chuckled, ¡°They say it¡¯s the face of a pretty woman!¡± ¡°How pretty?¡± Liu Yu chimed in. ¡°So pretty that you wouldn¡¯t care that her body is a dog.¡± Xu Daguan exaggerated. ¡°What breed of dog?¡± Qian Jiahui was curious. ¡°You should be asking me if it¡¯s male or female.¡± Xu Daguan gave Qian Jiahui a ¡®you know what I mean¡¯ look. ¡°Haha!¡± Qian Jiahui laughed, ¡°Lin Baici, stop chilling on the balcony, come in and join the chat!¡± Lin Baici came back into the room, took out snacks from his bed that he hadn¡¯t finished on the train, and placed them on the table, ¡°Let¡¯s eat and talk!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got some too!¡± Fang Mingyuan also piled his snacks on the table. ¡°How about we order some takeout and grab a case of beer?¡± Qian Jiahui suggested. ¡°Brother Qian, on your very first day of college, you¡¯re already letting yourself go like this? What if the dorm warden catches you?¡± Xu Daguan joked. ¡°Stop drinking, it¡¯s not good to get seen!¡± Liu Yu interjected, not wanting to get into trouble so soon into the semester. ¡°Back to that human-faced dog, it seems to have already bitten over a dozen students, all bitten on their way back to the dorms after studying late at night in the teaching buildings!¡± Xu Daguan had picked up quite a bit of gossip today. ¡°That¡¯s it? Anything else?¡± Qian Jiahui didn¡¯t find it thrilling enough. ¡°In the past half a month, two students have died on campus, their organs allegedly scooped out, so there have been a lot fewer people around the campus at night lately.¡± These words from Xu Daguan made Liu Yu frown. He hated this kind of gross conversation. ¡°Organs scooped out, what the hell is that?¡± Qian Jiahui didn¡¯t believe such rumors, they were too exaggerated. Glancing at his phone, he noticed that someone mentioned in a group chat that Hua Yue Yu was starting her live stream. Qian Jiahui clicked on Shark Station and casually asked, ¡°Do you guys like watching live streams?¡± ¡°This live stream you¡¯re talking about, is it decent?¡± Right after Xu Daguan spoke, his phone screen lit up. It was a notification. It was from Shark Station, ¡®The broadcaster you follow, Hua Yue Yu, is currently live.¡¯ ¡°Nonsense, if it isn¡¯t decent, what¡¯s the point of watching?¡± Qian Jiahui was speechless. How could going to a hotel for a live show not be more thrilling than watching this? ¡°You¡¯re someone who¡¯s never hungry, so you don¡¯t understand the hunger of others!¡± Xu Daguan exclaimed. Qian Jiahui, decked out in Hermes worth tens of thousands, was the perfect image of a rich second generation. Plus, with that face, how could he possibly lack a girlfriend? ¡°I only watch game live streams!¡± Fang Mingyuan didn¡¯t like female broadcasters dancing. Liu Yu sneered, feeling annoyed, ¡°What are you pretending to be so proper for?¡± I don¡¯t believe there¡¯s anyone who doesn¡¯t like watching Goryeo girls dance. Liu Yu not only watched them, but he also saved them. ¡°Lately, I¡¯m really into Hua Yue Yu. Guys, her little tiger tooth is just amazing!¡± Xu Daguan put on a wireless earbud and opened Hua Yue Yu¡¯s live stream. ¡°Hua Yue Yu?¡± Hu Wenwu heard the familiar name and paused for a moment, then looked toward Lin Baici. It couldn¡¯t be the same girl they had dined with that evening, could it? ¡°I know this broadcaster, she¡¯s popular!¡± Liu Yu looked at Xu Daguan, ¡°You¡¯re a broadcaster on Shark Station too, right? Have you ever seen Hua Yue Yu without makeup? Is she pretty?¡± ¡°She never uses beauty filters!¡± Qian Jiahui interjected. ¡°With today¡¯s beauty filter technology being so advanced, can you even tell if she¡¯s using it or not?¡± Liu Yu was skeptical. Xu Daguan couldn¡¯t be bothered with such topics, ¡°Hua Yue Yu initially announced she wouldn¡¯t be streaming today, but she ended up doing it anyway. No idea why?¡± ¡°Today, her friend registered for college. She went to welcome her friend and end the celebration. Now that she has started streaming, it¡¯s probably because the gathering has ended.¡± Qian Jiahui explained. ¡°What?¡± Xu Daguan looked puzzled, ¡°How do you know that?¡± ¡°Someone mentioned it in a group!¡± Qian Jiahui casually explained, but Xu Daguan had already figured it out; this rich second generation was definitely in Hua Yue Yu¡¯s exclusive fan group. Rich fans, of course, would be more informed about a broadcaster¡¯s activities than the average fans. Chapter 73 - 73 72 Little Merperson Friend_1 ?73: Chapter 72: Little Merperson Friend_1 73: Chapter 72: Little Merperson Friend_1 Xu Daguan picked up a bag of tomato-flavored potato chips, tore open the top, grabbed a handful, and started chewing loudly with a crunching sound. ¡°How much money is needed to join this group?¡± Xu Daguan was curious. ¡°There¡¯s no specific amount, but it¡¯s got to be at least 100,000 yuan, right?¡± Qian Jiahui explained, ¡°Or gift enough in one go!¡± When Qian Jiahui had just started his senior year in high school, he broke up with his girlfriend. Bored with nothing to do, he happened to come across Hua Yue Yu¡¯s live stream. He thought the hostess was pretty and personable, so he gifted 100 super rockets and was then added to the group. Liu Yu had been listening to his roommates chatting. He didn¡¯t follow Hua Yue Yu and only glanced at her stream occasionally. Unfortunately, although the hostess was cute, she had neither boobs nor butt, and didn¡¯t dance either. Liu Yu preferred those with good figures who wore skimpy clothes. Hearing Qian Jiahui talking about how expensive it was to join Hua Yue Yu¡¯s wealthy fan group, he was shocked, ¡°You mean 100,000? In yuan?¡± ¡°What, did you think it¡¯s in Vietnamese Dong?¡± Qian Jiahui laughed. ¡°Is there so much money? Are there any benefits to being in the group?¡± Liu Yu was a little excited and wanted to ask Qian Jiahui if he could sneak a peek at a couple of photos. ¡°Not a damn thing, what do you take Sister Fish for?¡± Qian Jiahui frowned. Forget about benefit photos, there are hardly even any personal photos. The advantage of joining the group is being able to @Little Merperson and chatting and shooting the breeze together. ¡°Heh!¡± Liu Yu didn¡¯t speak, but in his mind he was thinking the word ¡°Idiot.¡± Spend over 100,000 and not see a hair, who¡¯s the idiot if not you? Ah! These are the kind of people who become rich second-generation; fate really is unfair. ¡°How much have you gifted Hua Yue Yu in total?¡± Xu Daguan was pondering how to turn this rich second-generation into his own patron. ¡°Never counted!¡± Qian Jiahui was speechless, ¡°Do I look like I¡¯ve got nothing better to do than to track such things?¡± ¡°You¡¯re awesome!¡± Xu Daguan was convinced and gave a thumbs-up, see, that¡¯s a real tycoon. For him, a few hundred thousand is just peanuts. Fang Mingyuan had no interest in female broadcasters, but upon hearing their discussion, he opened Shark Live and entered Hua Yue Yu¡¯s live room. He just happened to see the super rocket effects appear on the screen. Three rockets in a row. ¡°Old Qian, is that ¡®Money Burns¡¯ who just gifted three super rockets you?¡± Unlike Xu Daguan, who still didn¡¯t know Qian Jiahui¡¯s birthday, he called him Brother Qian. ¡°No.¡± Mentioning this made Qian Jiahui gloomy; he was born with the surname Qian but never dared to call himself ¡°Money Burns¡±: ¡°I am Dream Hunter!¡± Liu Yu wanted to laugh when he heard this ID. What¡¯s with this Mary Sue nickname? ¡°You¡¯ve also gifted quite a bit!¡± Fang Mingyuan saw the ranking of ¡®Dream Hunter¡¯; although not in the top ten, he was hanging within the top thirty. ¡°Just average!¡± Gifting was a matter of mood for Qian Jiahui, who liked to make himself happy. He casually opened the recharging page, Ready to start tipping! The screens of Fang Mingyuan and Xu Daguan¡¯s phones immediately lit up with the special effect of super rockets blasting off, one after another without pause. Ten in a row! ¡°Damn, a super fire, Brother Qian, you¡¯re loaded!¡± Xu Daguan was so envious he almost cried, ten super rockets, each one 2,000 yuan, and Qian Jiahui had just gifted them like it was nothing. Fang Mingyuan glanced at Qian Jiahui, gaining a new understanding of his new roommate¡¯s financial strength. He tipped 20,000 yuan with such nonchalance, as if it was just a few yuan. Liu Yu knew the price of a super fire, and hearing Xu Daguan say this, he was stunned and looked at Qian Jiahui unbelievingly, muttering ¡°Idiot¡± under his breath. ¡°Brother Qian, come support my live stream tomorrow!¡± Xu Daguan passed over the chips, ¡°Here, a bag for Brother Qian, wishing you good health and a new bride every day!¡± ¡°Forget the bride, women are too much trouble. When you stream tomorrow, just remind me, and I¡¯ll gift a few rockets!¡± Qian Jiahui was big-hearted, and it was his duty to support his roommate. ¡°Thanks, Brother Qian!¡± Xu Daguan was about to receive some money, feeling that he also shouldn¡¯t be stingy and needed to show off his wealth in front of his five new roommates. Since Qian Jiahui liked Hua Yue Yu, he would tip her one rocket. After all, he also thought the female host was good, so gifting wouldn¡¯t be a loss. After Xu Daguan tipped, the special effects came up during the live stream, and he immediately told Qian Jiahui, ¡°Brother Qian, that ¡®Mr. Xu¡¯ who just gifted Hua Yue Yu two rockets, that¡¯s me!¡± ¡°I guessed it!¡± Qian Jiahui nodded. Hu Wenwu didn¡¯t know much about live streaming, so he could only sit on his bed and listen quietly. However, he was certain that the name Hua Yue Yu was the same girl they had dinner with that evening. Because at the restaurant, those live streamer man and woman had called Hua Yue Yu ¡®Sister Fish¡¯, and it was because of her fame that Manager Fan had backed down. ¡°I hope Sister Fish uses this money to buy some high-end cosmetics, doll herself up nicely, and stream hard for everyone.¡± Xu Daguan joked. Hearing this, Hu Wenwu couldn¡¯t help but glance at Xu Daguan. That evening at dinner, it was Hua Yue Yu who had paid for the meal, which cost over 1,000 yuan. ¡°By the way, since you¡¯re in Hua Yue Yu¡¯s group, you must have her personal WeChat, right?¡± Xu Daguan wanted to get it. ¡°No!¡± Jiahui shook his head, ¡°Hua Yue Yu once said she wouldn¡¯t friend anyone!¡± ¡°Even a tip of over 100,000 yuan isn¡¯t enough?¡± Xu Daguan was shocked. ¡°No!¡± Jiahui shrugged his shoulders, ¡°The top spender on the leaderboard didn¡¯t manage to add Hua Yue Yu on WeChat even after spending so much money, and even made a fuss about leaving the group!¡± ¡°It seems like you can¡¯t chase Hua Yue Yu unless you throw a few million at her!¡± Xu Daguan sighed, ¡°But she really is beautiful, and she¡¯s also funny when she talks!¡± ¡°Right, she¡¯s not just a pretty face; she¡¯s also got a one-in-a-million soul!¡± Jiahui had tried to friend her a few times, but had been rejected by Hua Yue Yu each time. Hu Wenwu lowered his head to look at the old phone that was getting very laggy in his hands, and opened WeChat. Aside from his mom and two male classmates, there were hardly any contacts. The nickname of Hua Yue Yu was Little Merperson; she had just been added today. She was also the first girl he had added on WeChat since he got the phone in his senior year of high school. ¡°Bai Ci, which streamer do you like?¡± Jiahui noticed that Lin Baici was lying on the bed, having been quiet the whole time. In his view, among the entire dorm room, Lin Baici and Fang Mingyuan left the best impression on him. As for Hu Wenwu, he probably wouldn¡¯t fit in with the group. Xu Daguan¡¯s behavior reminded him of those lackeys who used to follow him around in high school, and Liu Yu? He¡¯s too self-centered. He speaks whenever he wants, and when he doesn¡¯t feel like it, he just minds his own business; it¡¯s very disrespectful. ¡°I don¡¯t have a favorite female streamer!¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t lie, including about Hua Yue Yu. ¡°Then what are your hobbies?¡± Jiahui changed position to lie more comfortably. ¡°Definitely working out!¡± Fang Mingyuan interjected, ¡°I feel like his physical condition is even better than mine, and I¡¯m a sports specialty student!¡± Lin Baici wanted to say that he never worked out, and his hobby was making videos and being an UP host. However, recently, he had become a little interested in God¡¯s Ruins. The topic soon shifted to personal hobbies. Ding-dong. A WeChat message came in. Little Merperson: Xiao Bai, several wealthy bosses just tipped, I think we can upgrade the ¡®wine pond meat forest¡¯ level; Dragon, we can get a few more too. Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: Don¡¯t squander it, save the money, for the dowry. Little Merperson: My goal is to earn a billion yuan before I¡¯m thirty, achieve financial freedom, and then enjoy life. Marriage? Sorry, not considering it! Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: Keep it up. Little Merperson: You¡¯re God Hunter now, you will definitely be rich in the future. If I haven¡¯t made a billion by the time I¡¯m thirty, will you make up the difference? Behind the text was an emoji with a sly smiling face. Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: No problem. Little Merperson: Oh yeah, I¡¯ve taken a screenshot to keep as evidence. I feel like I can just relax now and wait thirty years to collect a billion from you. Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: Rich sister, I¡¯m poorer than you now. Little Merperson: No worries, I¡¯ll support you for now. After sending that message, Hua Yue Yu¡¯s mouth twitched. I¡¯d actually like to support you, but I¡¯m afraid that little lady from the wealthy family will compete with me. Alas! When it comes to wealth, who can compete with Jin Ying?! The money I have is all from streaming eight or nine hours a day, earned through hard work, unlike people like Jin Ying from the big capitalists who just drink people¡¯s blood. Mourn for the people of Goryeo! Lin Baici sent a laughing emoji. Hua Yue Yu really was amusing, like a pistachio. No wonder her live stream style was beloved by so many. Ding-dong! A new message, from Princess of Monte Cristo. Lin Baici opened it, and as expected, there was Bear appearing, dazzlingly white. This time, it was a photo of Jin Ying in tight yoga pants working out. Princess of Monte Cristo: Oppa, do I look pretty doing this camel pose? Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: Don¡¯t know yoga. Lin Baici honestly replied. Princess of Monte Cristo: That¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll teach you later. Princess of Monte Cristo: Oppa, have you arrived at school yet? Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: I have. Princess of Monte Cristo: Got it, get some rest early. Then there was an audio message. Lin Baici casually tapped to play it. Annyeong haseyo, chom muya. Lin Baici didn¡¯t understand the meaning. Xu Daguan, who was in the bunk below, heard this and immediately smirked at Lin Baici teasingly, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect someone as upright as you to enjoy watching Korean girls dance too!¡± Xu Daguan had no idea that Lin Baici knew the Korean girl and thought he was just watching live streams. Liu Yu muttered, ¡°Sly!¡± Lin Baici couldn¡¯t be bothered to explain and was ready to switch topics when suddenly a message notification appeared on his phone. It was from the Origin Forum. Lin Baici was energized and immediately opened the forum and logged into his account. In the top right corner, beside the nickname, there was an envelope icon with a red +1. That meant there was a new message. Lin Baici promptly clicked on it. It was an official message from the Origin Forum. Chapter 74 - 74 73 The First Bounty Received_1 ?74: Chapter 73 The First Bounty Received_1 74: Chapter 73 The First Bounty Received_1 ¡°Thank you for your enthusiastic answer. Your response has been accepted, and the reward money will be transferred to your reserved bank account within three working days. Please check it!¡± ¡°Thank you for your contribution to the Origin Forum. You have been awarded 10 Reputation points and 10 God Coins!¡± ¡°Wish you a pleasant life!¡± Lin Baici looked at the messages from the forum, feeling excited, anticipatory, and a bit incredulous. Had he just earned thirty thousand yuan? Since the official forum had sent a message, they wouldn¡¯t go back on their word, right? Alas! Why wait for three days? It¡¯s so hard to endure! But Lin Baici thought about it, and simply by answering a post, telling the original poster what the patterns on three photos meant, he could easily make thirty thousand yuan, easier than picking up money, so waiting three days wasn¡¯t unacceptable. He didn¡¯t know what use the Reputation points and God Coins had, but since he couldn¡¯t use them at the moment, he didn¡¯t need to pay attention to them. Lin Baici closed the messages and entered the third ¡°Help and Reward¡± section. The original post ¡°Help, what do the patterns on these three pictures mean? Does anyone know?¡± had already closed the reply function, marking the post with a big red ¡°Reward ended, resolved¡± at the front. Lin Baici looked at the other posts, noting that if the help request wasn¡¯t solved within the reward time, the title would read ¡°Reward ended, unfortunately, unresolved.¡± [Buy, buy, buy, buy all these Taboo things!] Eater God suddenly spoke up, startling Lin Baici. ¡°Do you think I can afford that?¡± Lin Baici was speechless and wanted to hint at Eater God to tell him more answers to the help requests. This section had three sticky posts at the top, which were the most concerning help requests of the forum members at the moment, with lots of replies, but they were just bumping the thread. Lin Baici clicked on the first post. ¡°Help, the current number of Taboo things in the Qin Palace Divine Ruins and detailed intelligence!¡± Reward money: one piece of intelligence on a Taboo thing, ten million yuan! Reward time: six months. As of today, it had been seventeen days. This post was new, but it had many replies, over two thousand. Although Lin Baici didn¡¯t know where the Qin Palace Divine Ruins were, he figured this Divine Ruin must be very famous, otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t attract the attention of so many God Hunters. Of course, it was also difficult, which could be inferred from the amount the original poster was offering. As Lin Baici browsed the page, he saw the post he had seen for the first time. ¡°Help, this should be a Taboo thing, but it hasn¡¯t been sealed by the black coffin in five years, yet it hasn¡¯t caused rule pollution. Does anyone know why?¡± After waiting ten days, the original poster apparently lost patience, stopped being secretive, and posted more photos of the Taboo thing. It was a piece of porcelain, shaped somewhat like a urinal from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Even if it wasn¡¯t a Taboo thing, it should be an antique and could probably sell for a lot of money. [Ugh, a very disgusting Taboo thing that makes one lose all appetite just by looking at it.] [After mixing the urine of five different creatures and pouring it into the jug, a urine pool will immediately unfurl. One must swim out a thousand meters and cannot stop during the swim to escape from the rule pollution.] Lin Baici pursed his lips, realizing the activation method was so bizarre, no wonder the owner of the Taboo thing couldn¡¯t find a way to deal with it. He scrolled down the page, and the replies were all ¡°only visible to the original poster,¡± so Lin Baici didn¡¯t know if anyone got it right, but he figured the odds were against it. The reward money for this help request, fifty thousand yuan, was as good as in his pocket. Lin Baici was ready to reply, but hesitated. Don¡¯t rush, Wait until he gets his hands on the thirty thousand yuan reward first to confirm he won¡¯t be scammed by the forum, then he can answer. ¡°Guys, it¡¯s getting late. Shouldn¡¯t we go to sleep?¡± Liu Yu had chatted for a while and was planning to sleep, suggesting an end to the dormitory night talk. ¡°What time is it even?¡± Xu Daguan was a night owl and felt uncomfortable without staying up late. ¡°Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise!¡± Liu Yu found an excuse, ¡°School just started, let¡¯s try to establish a good routine!¡± ¡°Alright, alright, let¡¯s wash up and sleep then!¡± Xu Daguan could see that Liu Yu was very self-centered; once he wanted to sleep, nobody else could keep chatting, otherwise, he would find various reasons to interfere. A troublesome person. Xu Daguan didn¡¯t like Lin Baici purely because he had lost some face at the check-in spot that afternoon, but he understood that with the other¡¯s handsome looks and the Rolex he wore, he indeed couldn¡¯t compete. In other respects, Lin Baici was fine as a person. This could be seen from the attitudes of Fang Mingyuan, Hu Wenwu, and Qian Jiahui towards him; managing to be on good terms with three definite misfits and seeming willing to try to be friends with him proved that Lin Baici had charm. ¡°Then I¡¯ll wash first!¡± Liu Yu went to the balcony, stood by the wash basin, and started his nighttime routine. Hu Wenwu lay in bed, unable to sleep. He felt the difference between him and his new roommates was simply too great. One was a rich second-generation who treated money like paper, spending in one night on a female livestreamer what his father made in a year. Another was an energetic sports student, and Hu Wenwu envied that fellow¡¯s healthy and robust body. And then there was the livestreamer, Xu Daguan, who could already support himself while still in university, making Hu Wenwu envious and admiring at the same time; he, too, wanted to be self-reliant and earn big money quickly. Liu Yu was ordinary, but he had a section chief father. Seeing how that uncle reprimanded people, he must be big official, right? Also, Liu Yu was very confident, speaking his mind freely, certainly much stronger than Hu Wenwu himself, who was quite spineless. And then there was Lin Baici, who slept in the bunk above him. He was handsome, kind-hearted, and as for family conditions, he didn¡¯t wear Nike or Adidas. Although his clothes were definitely better than Wenwu¡¯s, they seemed to be just from an ordinary blue-collar family, right? Those two rich second-generation officials, that is in their lineage: something a person isn¡¯t born with and most likely will never have in their life. Being a student with a sports specialty is like being fed by the heavens, plus hard work... Lin Baici could never become a host. Hu Wenwu thought it through and felt that Lin Baici was pretty average, the only one he might have a chance to catch up with. ¡°Bai Ci, it¡¯s your turn for the shower!¡± Qian Jiahui came out from the balcony, shaking off his wet hair. ¡°Wenwu, Xu Daguan, do you two want to shower first?¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t make a move. ¡°You go first!¡± Hu Wenwu didn¡¯t care; after all, it wouldn¡¯t take but a few minutes to wait. ¡°I¡¯m too tired today, not showering!¡± Xu Daguan was already stripped down, lying on his bed in just a pair of boxer briefs, not even covered by a blanket. ¡°...¡± Lin Baici was instantly speechless. Dude, you¡¯ve got athlete¡¯s foot, and after traveling all day, you won¡¯t even wash up? Forget it, this is personal freedom, none of his business. Lin Baici jumped off the bed and had just taken off his T-shirt when Fang Mingyuan exclaimed in shock. ¡°Damn!¡± Fang Mingyuan immediately rushed over in his slippers and reached out to touch Lin Baici¡¯s abs: ¡°How did you get these muscles?¡± Thwack! Lin Baici slapped Fang Mingyuan¡¯s hand away. Qian Jiahui looked over, utterly dumbstruck. That physique was too muscular, wasn¡¯t it? Now Xu Daguan only had one thought: he did not regret losing in the afternoon at all. The senior girl truly knew her stuff; she had recognized at a glance that Lin Baici had more to offer. Even as a guy, he was impressed! Liu Yu took a sip of water to suppress the jealousy welling up inside him. ¡°I was wrong. Student Lin definitely isn¡¯t ordinary. How could a common person discipline themselves enough to build that kind of muscle?¡± Hu Wenwu reflected on himself. ¡°Xiao Bai, can you train me? I don¡¯t aim to get muscles like yours, just half would do, and I¡¯ll pay you three hundred thousand yuan!¡± The moment Qian Jiahui named his price, everyone¡¯s faces were instantly adorned with shock, and then envy. In Liu Yu¡¯s eyes, there was also a hint of jealousy. Given Qian Jiahui¡¯s generous tipping attitude during the livestream, Lin Baici would definitely get the three hundred thousand yuan if he agreed to train him. That¡¯s three hundred thousand yuan! You could buy so many things with that! Fang Mingyuan, being a student with a sports specialty, had a goal to join the provincial team or at least to strive to become a fitness coach; earning three hundred thousand yuan a year was his ideal salary. ¡°Xiao Bai, why don¡¯t you hurry up and agree?¡± Xu Daguan chimed in to persuade. ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t know much about fitness, I can¡¯t help you!¡± Lin Baici was unable to assist. ¡°If Xiao Bai doesn¡¯t know about fitness and rashly teaches you, it might cause physical injuries. After all, everyone¡¯s body is different and requires a tailored fitness plan.¡± Fang Mingyuan did know a bit, but Qian Jiahui didn¡¯t require his help. ¡°Alright then!¡± Qian Jiahui was quite disappointed. Liu Yu thought Lin Baici was a fool. He could casually teach for a month, and if it didn¡¯t work out, he surely wouldn¡¯t get three hundred thousand yuan, but based on Qian Jiahui¡¯s personality, wouldn¡¯t he still be given fifty to sixty thousand yuan anyway? It seemed that all of Lin Baici¡¯s talents went into his looks and physique. Fang Mingyuan and Hu Wenwu felt that Lin Baici, faced with the temptation of three hundred thousand yuan, did not go against his conscience to teach Qian Jiahui, which spoke volumes about his character... Top-notch! Everyone had just arrived in a new environment and was too excited to sleep. Xu Daguan tried to initiate a conversation several times, but was stopped by Liu Yu. In the end, left with no choice, Xu Daguan suggested they chat in the corridor. ¡°Let¡¯s go, how about we play cards for a bit?¡± Qian Jiahui and Fang Mingyuan both got up, and also called Lin Baici along. He couldn¡¯t keep sleeping either, so he put on a pair of shorts and got out of bed. In all the student dormitories, the lights were scheduled to turn off at 11 p.m. sharp, but the corridor lights stayed on. ¡°Seems like no one can sleep!¡± Fang Mingyuan noticed there were many people in the corridor. Apart from Liu Yu, the five of them chatted and played cards until past 2 a.m. before going to sleep. Lin Baici lay in bed, hoping for a colorful university life over the next four years. He had planned to find a part-time job to earn his living expenses and reduce his mother¡¯s burden, but now it wasn¡¯t necessary. Even if he didn¡¯t get the job at the Jiuzhou Security Bureau, by answering questions on the Origin Forum, he could make some money. However, to get rich and afford a house in Haijing, he would need to enter the Divine Ruins and collect Taboo things. The only problem was, without a God Hunter License, freelance hunters weren¡¯t allowed to possess Taboo things, let alone enter the Divine Ruins. If he did get his hands on Taboo things, they would be confiscated by the Security Bureau. So no matter when, joining an official organization, taking the government¡¯s rice, and holding a secure job, was the most comfortable option. ... The next morning at eight o¡¯clock, Lin Baici woke up hungry. Chapter 75 - 75 74 Kim Myungjin is Here! ?75: Chapter 74 Kim Myungjin is Here! (Thanks to the Alliance Leader Gentleman Such as Heng Yu Yi Yao for the Generous Reward!)_1 75: Chapter 74 Kim Myungjin is Here! (Thanks to the Alliance Leader Gentleman Such as Heng Yu Yi Yao for the Generous Reward!)_1 Taboo things? Lin Baici¡¯s spirit perked up, and he immediately looked around, his right hand quickly reaching for the clothes at the head of the bed. The clothes were rolled into a ball, wrapping the Black Tripod Bowl. What caught his eye was a slightly messy university dormitory, with the snoring of Xu Daguan and Qian Jiahui rising and falling in turns. The early morning sunlight, like a thief, slipped into the balcony and spread across the floor. Outside the window, youth was in full bloom, and the clamor of young voices could be heard. Phew! Lin Baici exhaled. He had been dealing with information related to God¡¯s ruins lately, so he might be overreacting. This is a university, after all; where would you find Taboo things? It was just hunger, purely a need for food. Lin Baici looked down. Fang Mingyuan¡¯s blanket wasn¡¯t folded and was carelessly thrown on the bed. The Spalding basketball that used to be under the bed was gone; he must have gone to the court to play. Hu Wenwu was also gone, although it was unknown what he was up to. Liu Yu lay on his bed with headphones on, watching a video and muttering some syllables. With Lin Baici¡¯s current hearing, he could make out that he was reciting English words. When Liu Yu saw Lin Baici wake up, he immediately turned off the video and switched to the Weibo screen, ¡°The trending topics are getting more and more boring. Seven out of ten are related to celebrities, and the remaining three are about women boxing.¡± ¡°...¡± Lin Baici was astounded. Was this the kind of person who worked hard in secret and stealthily outperformed others? Liu Yu¡¯s app-swapping was so practiced he¡¯d obviously done it quite often. Lin Baici smiled and got out of bed to wash up. Because Xu Daguan and Qian Jiahui were still asleep, Lin Baici tried to move as quietly as possible. Turning on the tap, squeezing toothpaste, brushing teeth... Lin Baici looked into the mirror on the wall at Lin Baici, who was covered in a mouthful of white bubbles, and his lips stretched to the side to reveal a big smile. ¡°The new life begins!¡± After washing his face, Lin Baici politely called out to Liu Yu, ¡°Want to go eat?¡± ¡°No, you go!¡± Liu Yu was planning to take advantage of the morning¡¯s better retention and study for a while longer. His goal was to be the top of his department and win a scholarship. ¡°Alright!¡± Lin Baici stuffed the Black Tripod Bowl into his backpack and left the room to go downstairs. Alas! Even though the ¡®granary¡¯ of the Black Tripod Bowl had spared Lin Baici much trouble, having to carry it around every time he went out was too much of a hassle, wasn¡¯t it? If he didn¡¯t bring it with him and left it in the dorm, Lin Baici wouldn¡¯t feel at ease. If it were lost or suddenly a Rules Pollution outbreak occurred, that would be a big mess. Lin Baici exited the dormitory building, and as soon as he reached the small square, he instantly smelled the fragrance coming from Cafeteria No. 1. There were quite a few people; they seemed to be freshmen. Lin Baici walked into the cafeteria and was immediately greeted with noise and a wave of heat, which even the air conditioning couldn¡¯t keep at bay. There were no hawkers, only students lingering at each window, craning their necks and scoping out the offerings. New students had just arrived and didn¡¯t yet know which chefs made delicious food or which auntie was generous with the portions during meal serving. Lin Baici decided to start his meal from the first floor. [An ordinary university cafeteria, today¡¯s ingredients are all wholesaled from the vegetable market, no substitutions with inferior products, no rotten or spoiled goods.] [The sanitary conditions are acceptable, with rodent extermination and cockroach removal having been carried out three days ago!] [Counting from the right, the sixth window, the chef has diabetes, is lazy, and although he washes his hands after using the toilet, he does it perfunctorily. If you don¡¯t want your food a bit sweet, don¡¯t buy!] Lin Baici looked over and saw that the window was selling buns. The cook couldn¡¯t be seen, but the lady serving the food was in her forties, quick and nimble, with a warm smile when she laughed. As the auntie lifted the lid of the steamer, the steam rose along with a rich fragrance that tantalized the taste buds. In front of the window, over twenty students were queuing up. Honestly, if it weren¡¯t for the prompt from Eater God, Lin Baici would have wanted to buy a few buns to try. Soy milk, deep-fried dough sticks, millet porridge, eight-treasure porridge... There was a wide variety. Lin Baici was visiting the cafeteria for the first time and looked at every window before he settled on a bowl of millet porridge, a tea egg, and a sweet flatbread. The cafeteria of Haijing Polytechnic didn¡¯t require students to bring their own bowls and chopsticks. Several food carts were evenly placed near the serving windows, with stainless steel plates and bowls on them, and disinfected chopsticks and spoons. Students could simply grab a set before getting their food. Lin Baici carried his breakfast on a tray, feeling quite novel about it. The cafeteria¡¯s tables were steel-made, combined with chairs in a single piece, each accommodating six people. The tabletop was blue, and the chairs were orange. Lin Baici found a seat and sat down, whoa, it was a bit cold for his bottom. Whether it was because it was morning, or the boys preferred to sleep in and skip breakfast, there were a disproportionately high number of female students. After eating, Lin Baici began wandering around the campus, intending to walk around and familiarize himself with the surroundings. On the sports field, many students were exerting their hormones. Lin Baici stepped on the polymer track and found it felt quite nice, so he sprinted over ninety meters, like a hurricane, like a galloping horse. A girl jogging not far away saw this and was dumbfounded. Wasn¡¯t that way too fast? The guy wasn¡¯t even wearing running shoes, and he had a backpack on. Wow, those long legs were really eye-catching! He must be a sports-specialized student, right? At 10:30 am, after touring the campus, Lin Baici decided to go to the on-campus department store to buy some stuff. Just then, his phone pinged with a message. Lin Baici took it out to look and immediately beamed with joy. Your account ending in 6012 received an income (transfer from another bank) of 30,000.00 yuan at 10:31 on September 3 at ICBC, with a balance of 41,175.93 yuan. The other party¡¯s account name: Origin Forum, the other party¡¯s account ending in: 0001[ICBC]. Awesome! Lin Baici, excited, clenched his right fist and swung it down three times. This remittance had to come from Origin Forum; it must be the reward he got for providing the correct answer to that help-post. Yesterday, Lin Baici received a message from the forum, stating that the reward would be credited within three days, but he didn¡¯t expect it to be so quick. ¡°It seems the staff at Origin Forum are quite efficient!¡± With the money in hand, Lin Baici was relieved and then started to feel happy again. In the future, the reward-seeking version of the forum would be his sheep pen; he could go in and shear the sheep whenever he had nothing better to do, feeling absolutely delighted. Thirty thousand yuan! As Lin Baici looked at the text message, his first thought was to call his mom right away and tell her to stop working overtime for such meager overtime pay. He would earn his own living expenses from now on. His mom could take it easy. But as he was about to make the call, Lin Baici hesitated. How to explain the source of the money? Tell the truth? If his mom knew he had become a God Hunter, she would definitely worry every day, preferring to work overtime herself rather than let her son risk his life. Make up some excuse, like winning a lottery? His mom wasn¡¯t foolish; there was no way that would fool her. Ah! Better keep it secret for a month or two. Later, he could say he won a scholarship or was involved in a senior student¡¯s startup project, writing an app program that made some money. This senior student could be played by Xia Hongyao, helping him invent a story. But with her D-level intelligence, would she manage not to spill the beans? With a considerable sum of money credited to his account, Lin Baici decided to buy some good food to reward himself. He entered the supermarket, approached the freezer section, and got ready to pick out an ice cream. But then he saw the price tag, Whoa! Why is it so expensive? Jasmine, oh jasmine, so fragrant and full of grace... His phone¡¯s ringtone sounded, and Lin Baici answered the call. ¡°Oppa, I¡¯m here to see you; where are you?¡± The respectful voice of Kim Myungjin came through the phone. ¡°You¡¯re at Haijing Polytechnic?¡± Lin Baici was surprised; just yesterday in their conversation, Kim Myungjin had been in Goryeo. ¡°Yes, last night¡¯s flight!¡± Knowing that Lin Baici had arrived on campus yesterday, Kim Myungjin immediately booked a flight and probably reached Haijing airport around three in the morning. The Goryeo girl took the Mercedes shuttle from the airport to Tingzhi Garden, didn¡¯t rest, but went straight to the garage to check the gift she had prepared for Lin Baici. Tingzhi Garden is a famous villa area in Haijing, and the house of the Goryeo girl there was bought by her father. However, Kim Myungjin had never stayed there before, and if it weren¡¯t for preparing a gift for Lin Baici this time, needing a place to store it temporarily, she wouldn¡¯t have come. ¡°Where are you? I¡¯ll come to you!¡± Kim Myungjin¡¯s voice was full of excitement; she couldn¡¯t wait to meet Oppa. ¡°I¡¯m at the supermarket. Hmm, it¡¯s close to the school gate, I¡¯ll meet you at the main gate on Fu An Road!¡± As Lin Baici spoke, he hurried towards the exit of the supermarket. Incidentally, from the Goryeo girl¡¯s tone, it seemed like she had come especially to see him? Today was Registration Day, so there were a lot of people near the main gate and still a heavy flow of traffic. Worried that Kim Myungjin wouldn¡¯t be able to find him, Lin Baici stood in front of the feng shui stone that bore the big characters ¡®Haijing Polytechnic¡¯. About twenty students and parents were taking pictures in front of this noticeable stone for keepsakes. After a bus transporting new students drove by, a Mercedes came into view, its pure black paint glistening under the golden sunlight, with a corpulent yet luxurious body, making it appear like a black Samurai marching onto the battlefield, ready to decapitate the enemy general. This was a new car, so beautiful it looked like a piece of mechanical art, enticing many onlookers to glance its way. The Mercedes made a small arc-shaped turn and stopped about five or six meters in front of the feng shui stone. The car door opened, and a girl with light golden hair got out. ¡°Oppa!¡± Kim Myungjin called out and ran towards Lin Baici, ¡°Ying Zhen!¡± Lin Baici had barely finished speaking when Kim Myungjin had already pounced on him, embracing him tightly. Swish! Dozens of gazes from all around landed on Lin Baici. The girls were okay, but the boys felt sour, as if they had been force-fed a stomach full of lemon water. Did he really have such a beautiful foreign girlfriend? She was good-looking with a sweet voice, And right, She came in a Mercedes, so she must be quite wealthy, too. ¡°Let¡¯s talk somewhere else?¡± Lin Baici¡¯s head hurt; he didn¡¯t want to be watched like a monkey on display. ¡°Okay!¡± Kim Myungjin looked down the street, ¡°Is there a coffee shop nearby, or should we go straight to a hotel?¡± The Goryeo girl¡¯s pronunciation was very standard, which made the words ¡®hotel¡¯ crystal clear, unsettling the nearby boys. They almost felt like crying out of envy and jealousy. To a hotel? They¡¯re probably just going to chat, right? They wouldn¡¯t do anything else, would they? Please don¡¯t play poker! Chapter 76 - 76 75 High-Priced Poaching_1 ?76: Chapter 75: High-Priced Poaching_1 76: Chapter 75: High-Priced Poaching_1 Today, Kim Myungjin was wearing tight blue jeans that accentuated her legs perfectly, white casual shoes on her feet, and a pure white chiffon blouse on top, with short sleeves exposing her fair arms. On her left wrist, she wore a Cartier ladies¡¯ watch, elegant yet lively. When Lin Baici usually went out to play with his childhood friend Li Wei, if they were tired, they either bought a Coke and sat down on the curb or went into KFC to order some stuff and rest. But today was clearly different. With Kim Myungjin¡¯s attire and temperament, it would not fit in with those roadside shops, and even Lin Baici, who was not very high in emotional intelligence, knew it would be inappropriate to do so. ¡°Let¡¯s go to a cafe?!¡± Having just received thirty thousand yuan, Lin Baici spoke these words with a lot of confidence. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Kim Myungjin ran to the right side of the big Mercedes, opened the front passenger door, and said, ¡°Oppa, please!¡± ¡°No need to be so formal!¡± Feeling that everyone around was looking at him, Lin Baici quickly got into the car. Kim Myungjin had long been used to such attention. Because when you¡¯re outstanding enough, people naturally pay attention to you, scrutinize you, and then some will admire you, and of course, some will despise you. Don¡¯t mind those looks, just be yourself. University students have strong spending power, so each university neighborhood is packed with all kinds of shops. Turn right out of the school gate and go sixty meters forward, there¡¯s a two-story coffee shop named ¡®Emerald Town¡¯ decorated with Italian flair, giving off a touch of exotic charm. ¡°Let¡¯s go with this one!¡± After parking the car, Kim Myungjin and Lin Baici walked in. Inside the coffee shop, there were brown floors, wind chimes hanging from the ceiling, and light music that swept past the ears, gentle like waves brushing the shore, intoxicatingly soft. A female staff member in a coffee-colored uniform approached. ¡°Do you have a reservation?¡± The staff member¡¯s smile was very professional. ¡°No!¡± Kim Myungjin looked around; there were quite a few customers, mostly couples, and the more private booths were all taken: ¡°Is there a private room? Or a more secluded spot?¡± ¡°Sorry, but we¡¯ve been quite booked these last few days. All the private rooms are reserved, and we only have a few spots left on the first floor. How about that one by the window?¡± The staff member emphasized, ¡°You can enjoy the view!¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t Budapest, Hungary. What¡¯s there to see on a street?¡± Kim Myungjin complained, but she still respected Lin Baici¡¯s opinion, ¡°Oppa, what do you think?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just sit here!¡± They were just going to chat; no need to be so picky. ¡°Right this way!¡± The staff member led Lin Baici and Kim Myungjin to a spot by the window and handed them each an exquisite menu. ¡°Our hand-ground coffee is very good!¡± Kim Myungjin was too lazy to look at the menu¡ªwhat good coffee could a student-oriented coffee shop have? Lin Baici, on the other hand, was shocked. A pot of coffee for one hundred and eighty yuan? And that¡¯s the cheapest? He hadn¡¯t seen the pot, but he reckoned it couldn¡¯t be big. Besides coffee, there were desserts, cakes, ice cream, and soft drinks. ¡°What do you want to drink?¡± Lin Baici sought Kim Myungjin¡¯s opinion. ¡°Anything!¡± Kim Myungjin didn¡¯t mind. ¡°Let¡¯s choose this one. One pot of it, plus a large fruit platter. Do you eat cake?¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t recognize any of the coffees, so he simply chose the most expensive one, worried that the cheaper ones wouldn¡¯t suit the aristocratic taste of this heiress. ¡°No!¡± Kim Myungjin was keen on maintaining her figure and wouldn¡¯t eat just anything. ¡°These two cakes, one of each, and a box of these little biscuits!¡± This was Haijing Polytechnic, so Lin Baici felt he should play the host and treat Kim Myungjin well. ¡°Oppa, you don¡¯t need to order so much!¡± Kim Myungjin was touched. Lin Baici was ordering the most expensive items; this showed he treated her as a friend and didn¡¯t want to be a poor host. Let her pay the bill? Although they hadn¡¯t known each other for long, Kim Myungjin knew that Lin Baici was not that kind of person. ¡°Oppa, are you going to eat dirt for half a month after this meal?¡± Kim Myungjin teased. ¡°Do you look down on me?¡± Lin Baici laughed heartily; before long, he would have a million yuan prize money coming in, and if he ran out of money, he could always scalp some wool on the Origin Forum. ¡°Oppa, did you change your phone?¡± Kim Myungjin noticed that Lin Baici¡¯s phone had changed to a Huawei. ¡°I encountered rule contamination on the way here!¡± Lin Baici casually explained a few words, without going into detail. After listening, Kim Myungjin hesitated for a moment before speaking, ¡°Oppa, why don¡¯t you come to Goryeo to play for a few days? Our girl groups seem to be quite popular in the Nine States. Do you have a favorite girl group member? I can call them over to hang out!¡± Female stars were an option too, but it seemed that people from Jiuzhou didn¡¯t really watch Korean movies or dramas; they might not know those celebrities. ¡°I just started school!¡± Lin Baici had never been abroad. ¡°Actually, now that you¡¯re a God Hunter, it doesn¡¯t really matter whether you attend college or not!¡± Kim Myungjin didn¡¯t know how to broach the subject; mainly because Goryeo really paled in comparison to the Nine States, and the chances of successfully luring someone away were very low. ¡°Learning more knowledge is always beneficial.¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t see it that way, as most of the progress of humanity was driven by those who possess knowledge. If a God Hunter didn¡¯t learn, they were likely to remain just a fighter until they died. ¡°In the Nine States, without a license, you aren¡¯t allowed to explore God¡¯s ruins. We Koreans have this rule too, but my brother is a very capable God Hunter. He holds an important position in the military. If you want to explore God¡¯s ruins, I can introduce you to him. Don¡¯t worry, you can keep seventy percent of all profits!¡± When God Hunters from other nations explored God¡¯s ruins, they had to pay a portion of taxes, as after all, the ruins were located on the land of others, not unclaimed territory. ¡°Is seventy percent considered a lot?¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t understand. ¡°I asked my brother, and he¡¯s offering the maximum rate!¡± Kim Myungjin didn¡¯t mention the lower price that her brother Jin Xian had offered. She felt it was too low, so she wanted Lin Baici to enter God¡¯s ruins with her brother. As long as Jin Xian saw Lin Baici¡¯s capabilities, he would definitely offer a better price. When trying to enlist someone, offering an exceptional price right from the start was far more effective than incrementally raising the offer. Because that showed sincerity. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it later!¡± The food they ordered arrived, and Lin Baici invited Kim Myungjin to have coffee. ... ¡°Xinyan, that cafe? ahead is ¡®Emerald Town,¡¯ and their iced coffee is really good!¡± Huang Tao kept looking for topics to prevent the conversation from becoming dull. ¡°Hmm!¡± Ji Xinyan was entirely uninterested. This Huang Tao was the son of her mother¡¯s bestie, a sophomore this year. After the aunt learned that she was also attending Haijing Polytechnic, she told her mother that her son could look after her. A joke, do I even need looking after? In fact, Ji Xinyan knew that the aunt wanted her son to marry her. After all, her dowry was substantial. ¡°Holy shit, is that a Mercedes AMG E63S?¡± Upon spotting the Mercedes parked in front of the coffee shop, Huang Tao exclaimed loudly, moved closer, and took out his cellphone, snapping photos excitedly. ¡°Hmm!¡± Ji Xinyan was aware of the car. ¡°You know about it too?¡± Huang Tao became excited, as if he had found a kindred spirit, ¡°Look at this, 20-inch light alloy wheels with PS4S performance tires, six-piston brake calipers, quad exhaust pipes at the rear, and a ducktail spoiler on the trunk, it¡¯s just too sexy!¡± ¡°See the V8 BITURBO logo on the wing, isn¡¯t it just oozing with style?¡± Huang Tao moved to the front of the car and caressed the hood. ¡°Inside here, there¡¯s a 4.0 V8 twin-turbocharged engine with over 600 horsepower. It¡¯s the heart of a beast. On the road in this car, you¡¯re the king. Just a tap on the gas pedal, and you can easily overtake all other vehicles!¡± ¡°You seem to know a lot about cars?¡± Ji Xinyan replied casually. Huang Tao didn¡¯t catch on and continued excitedly, ¡°Not really, but this Mercedes is my dream CAR. My goal is to be able to buy one within two years with my salary after I graduate!¡± ¡°Two years?¡± Ji Xinyan¡¯s beautiful willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed. Upon hearing her, Huang Tao inwardly cursed, thinking Ji Xinyan found his life goal too trivial, and quickly explained, ¡°This car fully equipped would cost about two million yuan. Even with an annual salary of a million, it would take two years to afford!¡± ¡°That is quite expensive!¡± Ji Xinyan, uninterested in cars, said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯m thirsty, I want some coffee!¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Huang Tao walked along, still occasionally turning to look back at the Mercedes parked by the curb. So beautiful. It was like a sleeping Transformer, waiting for its master to take control! Ji Xinyan and Huang Tao entered the cafe where there were only a few seats left. With no choice, they picked one by the window. After sitting down, Huang Tao discreetly ordered and politely asked Ji Xinyan what she liked. ¡°Whatever!¡± Ji Xinyan was playing with her phone but her eyes caught sight of Lin Baici. Wow, so handsome. Ji Xinyan silenced her phone and stealthily took a side profile picture of Lin Baici, then posted it to a high school classmates¡¯ group chat. Your conscience is lying: @Pink Meow, @Jumping Candy, how about our school alumnus? High quality, right? The patrons here at the cafe were likely students from Haijing Polytechnic. After placing the order, Huang Tao couldn¡¯t help but take several more glances at Kim Myungjin. Great figure and pretty, but she seemed Korean? Though their voices were soft, due to the proximity of the booths, he could still hear, and when the girl with dyed golden hair called the guy oppa, Huang Tao confirmed, This was a Korean young lady, With a hint of kimchi. Ji Xinyan was engaged in the chat. Jumping Candy: Can I still apply to Haijing Polytechnic? Pink Meow: @Your conscience is lying, want his WeChat! Want his WeChat! My girlfriend though: This Miss is so pretty, big sister Xinyan, I want a frontal photo. Your conscience is lying: Scram! Taking photos of guys was one thing, but taking photos of girls was a matter of character, not to mention posting it in a group for the guys to see, which was absolutely unacceptable. Who knows what these guys would do with the photos? My girlfriend though posted a crying emoji. Pink Meow: @Your conscience is lying, hurry up, my lady needs to get his WeChat within three seconds! Chapter 77 - 77 76 Jealousy Makes Me Ugly_1 ?77: Chapter 76 Jealousy Makes Me Ugly_1 77: Chapter 76 Jealousy Makes Me Ugly_1 In the cafe?, light music flowed melodiously, creating a leisurely and comfortable atmosphere, perfect for whispering sweet nothings. Your conscience is lying: Are you joking? When have I, Ji Xinyan, ever asked for a guy¡¯s WeChat? They¡¯re the ones who always hit on me first, okay? Ji Xinyan rolled her eyes. She would never lower herself to do such a thing. Pink Meow immediately sent a contemptuous emoji, and then the classmates quickly fell in line, turning their collective outrage on Ji Xinyan. But it was all in jest. Ji Xinyan, pretty and approachable, got along with both male and female classmates, making her extremely popular and the undisputed centerpiece of the class. Ji Xinyan ignored these buddies in the group, instead giving Huang Tao a sidelong glance. Damn! You ask me out for coffee, and you keep sneaking glances at that kimchi girl? What¡¯s the deal? Is it just because she has a better figure than me? You men just don¡¯t get it. This type of figure will definitely sag after turning thirty. Ji Xinyan was annoyed, and after taking a sip of her coffee, she deliberately set the cup down on the table with a ¡®thud¡¯. ¡°Xinyan, how¡¯s the coffee? Is it to your taste?¡± Huang Tao was somewhat preoccupied. He used to think those Goryeo girl group dance videos were so saucy. Now, seeing one in the flesh, he found her exuding a kind of hormonal appeal that was tantalizing. Huang Tao watched as Kim Myungjin lifted her cup to her rose-tinted lips and took a sip, the edge of the cup pressing against her red lips... Mama mia! Huang Tao shifted his position in his seat. ¡°Just average!¡± Ji Xinyan pouted. She was ready to leave because sitting together with that pickle girl made her feel outdone. [A man with filthy thoughts in his head and he even dares to covet your emergency rations, suggest charring him and then feeding him to the dogs.] Eater God suddenly commented, causing Lin Baici to raise an eyebrow and casually scan the room, his gaze landing on Huang Tao. Is it this guy? Huang Tao met Lin Baici¡¯s gaze with a smile and nodded, behaving quite like a gentleman. Kim Myungjin followed Lin Baici¡¯s line of sight. Huang Tao noticed this scene, and just as he was about to smile at Kim Myungjin and maybe even raise his cup for a toast, she had already turned her head away. That casual attitude was as if she was merely glancing at a stray dog passing by on the street. This left Huang Tao feeling extremely awkward and his self-esteem took a severe hit. I¡¯m not handsome, but I have talent! If Kim Myungjin had heard this, she would have surely laughed herself to death before telling him. Do you know how many students graduate from Hancheng National University, Goryeo University, and Yonsei University, the top colleges of Goryeo each year, lining up to join my family¡¯s company, waiting to be employed? And I¡¯m a face-connoisseur. Being good-looking moves me more than talent does. [Hey, an interesting woman. Although she doesn¡¯t match up to your emergency rations, she might still be worth a taste. After all, you can¡¯t always eat main dishes, right? That would make the menu too monotonous.] [She¡¯s like a wild cherry. You see it, pluck it, pop it in your mouth, chew it to change up the flavor, then spit it out!] Lin Baici slightly frowned. Who is Eater God talking about? Emergency rations, that¡¯s Kim Myungjin, right? Then the wild cherry... Lin Baici looked towards the girl at the next table. She wore a light yellow floral dress that made her skin appear even more fair, and on an arm so delicate Lin Baici felt he could break it with one touch, she wore a silver bracelet. Her eyes were big and moist, and on her bewitching fox-like face, it seemed like she was throwing flirtatious glances at everyone. Ji Xinyan noticed Lin Baici¡¯s examination and, with an air of aloofness, lifted her coffee cup without any intention of locking eyes with him. She was putting on an act, but before the coffee could reach her lips, the guy had already turned away. Shoot! You looked at me for less than three seconds. Ok, I¡¯ll remember you. Ji Xinyan silently fumed. The shortest time she had ever been sized up had just been updated, and in just one instance, cut down by six seconds¡ªit was infuriating. ¡°Oppa, what do you think of the car outside?¡± Someone sat down in the neighboring seat, and Kim Myungjin did not continue the topic of the God Hunter. ¡°Looks pretty lavish!¡± Lin Baici peered through the window to see the Mercedes parked beneath the trees, like a dormant beast, undoubtedly a luxury car unattainable for the common man in a lifetime. ¡°Haha, lavish? It¡¯s not a Rolls Royce. It¡¯s just a car for getting around!¡± Kim Myungjin felt obligated to help Oppa reestablish his sense of value. Huang Tao didn¡¯t appreciate the comment. Do you understand cars? A nearly two million yuan Mercedes AMG E63S is just a ride in your eyes? Can you afford it? You could break your back live-streaming Korean dances every day and still couldn¡¯t earn enough to buy that car. ¡°Oppa!¡± Kim Myungjin¡¯s expression was deferent as she pulled out a hi-tech-looking car key, handed it over to Lin Baici with both hands, and bowed: ¡°This is a back-to-school gift I¡¯m giving you. Please don¡¯t look down on it.¡± Pff! Huang Tao spat out a mouthful of coffee. What¡¯s happening? That car belongs to the kimchi girl? And she wants to give it to this guy? I¡ª damn it... Huang Tao felt like the universe was mocking him. Ji Xinyan was equally shocked. What was the deal with this couple? What had that guy done to make the Goryeo girl give him a luxury car? Ji Xinyan, although not into cars, knew enough about them to tell that this car, with its paint, was brand new, probably not even half a month old with its plates on. ¡°This gift is too expensive!¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t accept it. ¡°Oppa, give me a chance to express my feelings!¡± Kim Myungjin explained, ¡°I was afraid you¡¯d find it too expensive and too ostentatious, so I didn¡¯t dare buy a sports car. A Mercedes is already the most basic model I considered.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°...¡± At that moment, Huang Tao and Ji Xinyan had only one thought in their minds, Listen to this, is this what people say? How rich are you exactly, that a Mercedes is considered the most basic model in your eyes? ¡°I accept your sentiment!¡± Lin Baici was genuinely moved. ¡°Oppa, you¡¯re in college now, you¡¯ll be hanging out with classmates often, right? You can¡¯t always rely on the subway or taxis, can you? That¡¯s too inconvenient!¡± Kim Myungjin persuaded, ¡°And when you have a girlfriend, are you going to let her cram onto a bus?¡± ¡°???¡± Huang Tao was dumbstruck. What the heck? You¡¯re not even his girlfriend? Ji Xinyan too looked surprised. ¡°But I don¡¯t have a driver¡¯s license!¡± Lin Baici shrugged his shoulders. Kim Myungjin had already thought of that and pulled out a driver¡¯s license from her purse, handing it over to Lin Baici with both hands. Lin Baici took it and was stunned. It was his driver¡¯s license. The photo on it was taken when the two were playing together in Guangqing. ¡°How did you manage this?¡± Lin Baici was astonished. He knew the Kim family was affluent, probably quite influential in Goryeo, but was their reach as strong in the Nine States? ¡°It was pretty simple. I got you a Goryeo driver¡¯s license first, then asked the company¡¯s legal department to liaise with the relevant agencies in your area to convert it into a Nine States driver¡¯s license!¡± Kim Myungjin explained softly, not knowing exactly how the legal department had done it. She just assigned the task, and her subordinates took care of it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the whole process is entirely legal and legit. The only minor issue is that you haven¡¯t driven in Goryeo, so Oppa, you¡¯ll need to practice regularly.¡± Kim Myungjin, without intending to, showcased the power of capital. Huang Tao on the side was green with envy. Ni Ma, I busted my chops all summer, got sunburned to death, and still haven¡¯t passed my driving test, while you guys have it easy. ¡°Thank you!¡± Lin Baici didn¡¯t know what else to say. The car mustn¡¯t be cheap, but what was truly precious was the thought Kim Myungjin put into it. She must have been planning this college gift for a while, and upon hearing he arrived at school, she flew straight over from Goryeo. This friendship touched Lin Baici deeply and he took it to heart. He decided not to make a fuss about it anymore; it was just a car, and in the future, he could give Kim Myungjin an expensive gift in return. Lin Baici had this confidence. Even if he couldn¡¯t secure the iron rice bowl job at the Jiuzhou Security Bureau and become a government employee, as long as he managed to get a God Hunter License, he could still enter God¡¯s Ruins. Once there, he could seal a few Taboo things and sell them off in the underground black market¡ªtens of millions would be a piece of cake. ¡°Oppa, don¡¯t be polite with me!¡± When Lin Baici accepted the gift, it set Kim Myungjin¡¯s mind at ease, and she happily nibbled on a small biscuit, popping it into her mouth. Lin Baici fiddled with the keys and suddenly thought of a problem, ¡°Where should I put it?¡± It couldn¡¯t just be left on the street, could it? If it got scratched or bumped by other cars, wouldn¡¯t that be heart-wrenching? ¡°I¡¯ve booked a luxury suite at the Hilton Hotel, the closest to your university, for a year, so you can use the parking space there. You can park the car there and drive it whenever you want, or just call, and the hotel will arrange for employees to bring it over!¡± Kim Myungjin had already thought of everything. ¡°You booked a luxury suite at the Hilton for a year? How much did that cost?¡± Huang Tao knew it was a five-star hotel, super expensive to stay just one night. He and his ex-girlfriend didn¡¯t dare consider such a hotel for Valentine¡¯s Day. Ji Xinyan was also flabbergasted. Is this girl a bootlicker or what? Definitely a bootlicker, right? And a purebred at that! ¡°You¡¯re wasting money again!¡± Lin Baici was exasperated. ¡°I just spent a little bit of my pocket money!¡± Kim Myungjin stretched out her left hand, pinching the nail of her little finger with her thumb, and showed just how little she had spent by indicating a tiny gap. ¡°Oppa, stop worrying about these things. Are you really going to take a girl to one of those hotels where you can be heard by the next room with just a couple of shouts? Could you really enjoy yourself there?¡± Kim Myungjin had taken a real liking to Lin Baici, not just because of the so-called ¡®suspension bridge effect¡¯ that occurred in Dragon Temple but also because of the charm Lin Baici displayed while Breaking Divine Ruins, which she admired. Of course, Lin Baici¡¯s handsome appearance, which was exactly to Kim Myungjin¡¯s taste, was also a bonus. Finally, there was the task her brother had given her to poach talent; Kim Myungjin naturally pulled out all the stops. To people like them, anything solvable with money was not a problem. Seeing that he couldn¡¯t dissuade Kim Myungjin, Lin Baici gave up. After all, he was just a kid from an ordinary family, brought up for eighteen years on thrift, simplicity, and not to waste. They chatted for a while longer, then called the waitress over to settle the bill and get ready to go eat. ¡°Your total is eight hundred and twenty yuan. Will you be paying cash or by card?¡± The waitress presented the bill. Chapter 78 - 78 77 Military Training Begins Flagbearer Candidate_1 ?78: Chapter 77 Military Training Begins, Flagbearer Candidate_1 78: Chapter 77 Military Training Begins, Flagbearer Candidate_1 ¡°Pay with Alipay!¡± Lin Baici took out his mobile phone and scanned the code to pay the bill. The bulk of this morning tea had gone on that pot of coffee. Kim Myungjin didn¡¯t fight to pay the bill as men tend to have a macho mindset, plus, with other customers around, paying by herself might have made Oppa feel embarrassed. After settling the account, the two left. Huang Tao stared hard at the buttocks tightly enclosed by Kim Myungjin¡¯s skinny jeans, and only when they had left did he realize that he had been so caught up in their conversation that he had neglected to attend to Ji Xinyan. Soon, the couple got into the almost 2 million RMB Mercedes parked under the shade of trees, started the car, and drove off the curb. ¡°Just a freeloading scumbag!¡± Huang Tao sneered, ¡°I will earn that car myself one day!¡± ¡°Heh heh!¡± Ji Xinyan laughed, ¡°You think he can charm a super-rich Goryeo girl with just his face?¡± Ji Xinyan could tell that the Goryeo girl was very respectful towards the boy, even speaking with extra caution. ¡°Got Pick-Up, Artist-ed, right?¡± Huang Tao curled his lip in disdain, ¡°Simply put, that Goryeo woman is cheap!¡± Ji Xinyan took a sip of her coffee and couldn¡¯t be bothered to join the conversation anymore, deciding that no matter how her mother persuaded her, she would not come out with Huang Tao again. He was just too superficial. ... Lin Baici and Kim Myungjin had lunch and then he accompanied her around the campus before sending her to the main gate. ¡°You can head back, I know the way!¡± Kim Myungjin hugged Lin Baici. ¡°Be careful on the road!¡± Lin Baici reminded her. ¡°Okay!¡± Kim Myungjin got in the car, waved to Lin Baici, and headed back to the Hilton Hotel. This was something the two had agreed upon, the car would be parked at the hotel¡¯s parking lot for Lin Baici to use whenever needed. After sending off the Goryeo girl, Lin Baici used the Meituan app to search for a large supermarket near the university and found a Yonghui. He shopped around, buying some daily necessities and snacks before returning to the dormitory. None of his roommates were in. It seems everyone had just arrived at school and was curious about everything. Lin Baici took a stool, sat on the balcony, and began browsing the Origin Forum to accumulate as much knowledge as possible so that he wouldn¡¯t be clueless during his next exploration of God¡¯s ruins. In the evening, the roommates returned one after another. Hu Wenwu read books, Xu Daguan live-streamed, Liu Yu watched videos, Qian Jiahui aimlessly played with his laptop, and Fang Mingyuan was not around, obviously out playing basketball. At 11 o¡¯clock, all the dormitory buildings turned off their lights on time. No one talked anymore as they all started to sleep because today was the end of registration, and military training would officially begin tomorrow. ... Early the next morning, everyone wore the military training uniform and rubber shoes issued by the school and assembled on the sports field. New students were grouped by their majors. Software Engineering had a total of nine classes, over 300 people, forming four squads with male and female students split into two squads each. An excess of about twenty male students were added to the electrical engineering squad. Lin Baici was 188 centimeters tall, so he was placed at the very back due to his height. The instructor was a man in his twenties, solidly built, speaking with a northwestern accent, full of vigor, and on the first day he showed his authority by having everyone stand under the sun for thirty minutes. Falling in, marching in step, left and right turns¡ªit was the traditional military training content, nothing to write home about. The only enjoyment, perhaps, was watching the girls. Everyone was wearing the green military training uniform and the same hat; if you could still stand out from a group of female students and catch someone¡¯s eye as being beautiful at this point, then you truly were attractive. The first day passed just like that. In the evening, apart from Lin Baici and Fang Mingyuan, even Hu Wenwu, who often did farm work, was so tired that he didn¡¯t want to move and went to bed early after washing up. ¡°Old White, you¡¯re a beast!¡± Qian Jiahui was envious as he saw that Lin Baici looked untroubled by the day. Fang Mingyuan was also surprised; he was a student with a sports specialty who trained regularly, so his lack of fatigue was normal, but what about Lin Baici? His physical condition seemed to be even stronger than his own. The next day, military training continued, but there started to be cases of heatstroke among the female squads. ¡°All dismissed, rest for fifteen minutes!¡± After Instructor Li spoke, he shouted towards Lin Baici, ¡°Lin Baici, come over here!¡± Some looked at Lin Baici, curious about what the instructor wanted with him, while others didn¡¯t care and sat down to chat with those around them. You weren¡¯t allowed to have your mobile phone during military training; it was unbearably boring. ¡°Instructor!¡± Lin Baici thought it over, quite sure he hadn¡¯t made any blunders! ¡°Would you like to be a flagbearer?¡± Instructor Li got straight to the point. ¡°Huh?¡± Lin Baici hadn¡¯t expected it to be about this. The military training would last nine days, and on the tenth day, there would be a report performance for the whole school, where school and military leaders would come to review the new students¡¯ progress in military training. The flagbearer, the person holding the red flag and walking at the very front of all the squads, could be said to be the most dazzling. Of course, there were high standards for personal appearance; you couldn¡¯t be ugly or short. ¡°What do you mean ¡®huh?¡¯ Do you want to be it or not, speak up!¡± Instructor Li thought highly of Lin Baici. This student had excellent physical fitness, long arms and legs, and a sharp and lively gaze. If he had gone to the military, he would definitely have made prime material for a soldier. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter!¡± Lin Baici spoke honestly. If it had been before, he definitely would have stepped up to challenge himself, but now, as a God Hunter, these showy acts seemed trivial. ¡°What do you mean it doesn¡¯t matter!¡± Instructor Li¡¯s voice dropped, ¡°After the military training, there will be awards for outstanding individuals and groups. If you get an outstanding individual award, it will greatly benefit your entry into the student council or the party. And being a flagbearer can also get you noticed by the faculty leaders!¡± ¡°At the very least, showing your face makes finding a girlfriend easier later on!¡± Every year, the instructors like Li would oversee military training at various universities and were well aware of these matters. ¡°I¡¯ll listen to the instructor!¡± Now that the instructor had made it so clear, it would be rude to refuse. ¡°Alright, go on then, prepare well. If you¡¯re selected, there¡¯ll be separate training!¡± Instructor Li patted Lin Baici¡¯s shoulder. Such a waste of a good body; if only he could have been my soldier! Xu Daguan had been watching this whole time. As soon as Lin Baici returned, he quickly came over: ¡°What did the instructor want?¡± ¡°What else could it be, being a flagbearer!¡± The speaker was a tall guy named Zhang Zhixu, who wore glasses and was as thin as a stalk of sorghum. He was also in the last row, to the right of Lin Baici. They were all from Software Engineering Class 01. ¡°Flagbearer?¡± Xu Daguan was surprised. ¡°Yeah, with Lin Bai¡¯s physique and looks, he¡¯s definitely the number one flagbearer of all time!¡± Zhang Zhixu was tall enough to be a flagbearer, but too skinny and ordinary-looking with his glasses. ¡°Being a flagbearer isn¡¯t about looks.¡± Xu Daguan muttered jealously, but he also understood: with his height, he wasn¡¯t even as tall as the flagpole. He would never get the chance to be a flagbearer in his life. The break ended, and training continued. There was no wind or clouds, only the sun hanging unapologetically in the sky, scorching the earth. Soon, there were exclamations from the female formation. ¡°Can¡¯t they train less on such a hot day?¡± ¡°I want to pretend I have heatstroke!¡± ¡°Do you think the school medic is there just to mess around?¡± The students were drenched in sweat, their military training uniforms soaked through. Finally, another break came, and everyone sat on the ground, listless, some even stripping off their uniforms to cover their heads. A few students had brought water and, after reporting to the instructors, ran to drink it on the side of the field. Lin Baici licked his lips. He could endure it, but why should he? He stood up to talk to an instructor, then came back, ¡°Mingyuan, Wenwu, come with me to buy some water!¡± Upon hearing this, several people looked toward the instructor. ¡°Those who want to buy water, go now, five minutes!¡± Instructor Li glanced at his watch. Whoosh! Many students immediately stood up and ran toward the nearest Cafeteria No. 2; the first floor had a supermarket run by a relative of one of the school¡¯s leaders. The three, Lin Baici, Fang Mingyuan, and Hu Wenwu, reached the supermarket. Fang Mingyuan headed straight for the fridge, grabbed two chilled Cokes, tossed one to Lin Baici and one to Hu Wenwu, and then took one for himself, twisting the cap off and gulping down several mouthfuls. ¡°Refreshing!¡± Fang Mingyuan let out a breath of satisfaction. Hu Wenwu didn¡¯t drink. ¡°Don¡¯t be polite with Mingyuan!¡± Lin Baici actually wanted water, but since Fang Mingyuan had given him Coke, it would be rude to refuse, so he also took a few sips before approaching the cashier. ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡¯d like to buy some more water. Do you have a tricycle or something to carry it with?¡± There was a middle-aged woman behind the cashier, dressed quite fashionably. She lifted her eyelids and looked at Lin Baici, ¡°How much are you buying?¡± Lin Baici thought about the number of people, ¡°Give me ten cases of Nongfu Spring.¡± One case was one box, containing 24 bottles. ¡°There¡¯s an electric tricycle outside, can you ride it?¡± ¡°I can!¡± Hu Wenwu had ridden these in the village before. ¡°Move the stuff yourself, and bring it back when you¡¯re finished.¡± The store owner instructed. ¡°No problem!¡± Lin Baici told Hu Wenwu and Fang Mingyuan to get started while he settled the bill. Because they weren¡¯t allowed to carry phones, he had a reasonable amount of cash on him for emergencies. It cost a total of 380 yuan, and the store owner didn¡¯t give a discount, but she did throw in three cans of herbal tea. ¡°Why are you buying so much water?¡± Fang Mingyuan was puzzled. ¡°It¡¯s for our class; in this heat, it¡¯s good to hydrate to avoid heatstroke!¡± There were 32 people in Lin Baici¡¯s Software Engineering Class 01, including 13 females. ¡°You¡¯re really generous!¡± Fang Mingyuan would at most buy water for his friends. ¡°We¡¯re going to be a class from now on. It¡¯s good to look out for one another and build some class cohesion.¡± Lin Baici wasn¡¯t stingy even when he had little money, and now that he was earning significantly more, he had even more confidence. Riding the electric tricycle with mineral water, Lin Baici, and Fang Mingyuan aboard, Hu Wenwu attracted the attention of many freshmen as they approached the field. It was important to note that there were thousands of new students undergoing military training on the field at that moment. Chapter 79 - 79 78 Warm Man_1 ?79: Chapter 78 Warm Man_1 79: Chapter 78 Warm Man_1 Hu Wenwu hung his head low, not daring to face those gazes, ¡°Old Hu, our lives are all in your hands, don¡¯t screw it up!¡± Fang Mingyuan teased. Hu Wenwu parked the tricycle on the track of the playground. ¡°You two, unload the cart!¡± Lin Baici picked up a case of mineral water, returned to the formation, tore open the packaging, casually took out a few bottles, tossed them to the students of Class 01, and then single-handedly gave one bottle to Instructor Li. ¡°You¡¯re quite generous, kid.¡± Instructor Li chuckled, his fondness for Lin Baici growing. He had been responsible for training college students in military drills for seven or eight years, but he had only seen three students buy water for their classmates until now. ¡°Classmate, don¡¯t we get any?¡± A playful male student chimed in. ¡°Get it yourself, what, you¡¯re waiting for me to feed you?¡± Lin Baici finished distributing the mineral water from the box and returned to the side of the electric tricycle: ¡°Let¡¯s go, grab a case each, and head over to the girls!¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Hu Wenwu was stunned and then shook his head: ¡°You guys go, you two can carry three cases of water!¡± ¡°Dumb, Old White¡¯s giving us a chance to make an impression!¡± Fang Mingyuan instantly understood Lin Baici¡¯s kindness, otherwise, with his physique, carrying five cases alone wouldn¡¯t be a problem. Hu Wenwu was shy by nature and didn¡¯t dare to go. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to get rid of your single status?¡± Fang Mingyuan picked up a case of water and handed it to Hu Wenwu. ¡°Old Hu, now that you¡¯re in college, change a bit!¡± Lin Baici was not only talking about Hu Wenwu; he, too, was ready to change and become a better version of himself. Hu Wenwu bit his teeth and nodded. The three of them, each carrying a case, made their way to the formation of the female students of Software Engineering Class 01. The girls had already noticed the three of them. Fang Mingyuan was into sports and had an outgoing personality: ¡°Girls of Class 01, come out and have some water!¡± ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t be shy!¡± The girls from Class 01 hadn¡¯t expected the mineral water to be for them, and they suddenly felt blessed as if treated gently by the world. Following that, a sense of superiority welled up inside them. It couldn¡¯t be helped, everyone was training together, enduring the scorching sun, and now they suddenly got to drink mineral water. They couldn¡¯t help but feel superior. Their male classmates were generous and considerate; it looked like the next four years would be quite enjoyable. Some girls were too shy to take the water, but Ji Xinyan stepped forward to distribute it. ¡°Don¡¯t waste the student¡¯s good will!¡± Ji Xinyan said, glancing at Lin Baici who was handing water to the instructor. She hadn¡¯t expected that the boy she had seen in the cafe yesterday was actually in her class¡ªfate indeed! ¡°If you can¡¯t finish it, give it to someone else!¡± Lin Baici instructed Ji Xinyan. With three cases, totaling 72 bottles, Lin Baici figured the girls of Class 01 definitely couldn¡¯t finish it all. ¡°Who paid for this water?¡± Ji Xinyan asked seemingly offhandedly. ¡°The boys pitched in together!¡± Lin Baici had already thought of an answer. Hearing this, Hu Wenwu was startled. Why had Old White said that? Fang Mingyuan wasn¡¯t about to take credit and immediately contradicted: ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him. He paid for it himself. We¡¯re just the errand runners.¡± The girls, who had initially thought all the boys in the class were nice after hearing Lin Baici¡¯s reply, were suddenly surprised by Fang Mingyuan¡¯s explanation and all turned to look at Lin Baici. If it was your money, why say it was the boys¡¯? Wouldn¡¯t that lessen the gratitude they felt towards you? ¡°I just thought of it first. If I hadn¡¯t bought you water, someone else would have!¡± Lin Baici said with a hearty laugh. At times like this, one needed to be humble. And when the girl asked, he couldn¡¯t very well say it was his money¡ªthat would be too showy. ¡°That¡¯s not the case!¡± Ji Xinyan seamlessly interjected. ¡°Alright, we won¡¯t disturb you anymore. Take care to rest. Don¡¯t get heatstroke!¡± Lin Baici bid them farewell. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Ji Xinyan inquired, and other girls, even those not from Class 01, were very interested in Lin Baici¡¯s name. ¡°He¡¯s Hu Wenwu, good in both arts and martial arts, the highest scorer on the college entrance exam in our dorm. This one is Fang Mingyuan, amazing at basketball, a member of the school team. I¡¯m Lin Baici, pretty average!¡± Lin Baici introduced himself. ¡°An ordinary Lin Baici, huh?¡± Ji Xinyan thought to herself, with that face of yours, you dare to call yourself ordinary? Believe it or not, rich ladies would be fighting to have your babies! After the Lin Baici trio left, the girls immediately began to chat and evaluate. ¡°That Lin Baici is kind of handsome!¡± ¡°What? Just kind of? You set a high bar for handsome.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a warm man!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t speak too soon. He might just be a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. Just look at you now; with just a bottle of water, he¡¯s already got you all swooning!¡± ¡°A wolf? Isn¡¯t that even better? I like bad boys!¡± The girls giggled and chattered, all forming a favorable impression of Lin Baici. After the water-delivery interlude, military training continued, but with a change: the boys from other classes didn¡¯t want to be outdone. On the third day, during a break, everyone went to buy water for the girls in their classes. Every evening after training, Lin Baici would chat with Hua Yue Yu and Kim Myungjin after washing up, then check the Origin Forum. Without his mom nagging, he was living a carefree life. On the fourth day, Lin Baici participated in the selection for the flagbearer, involving standing at attention and marching. On the fifth day, Lin Baici saw at the edge of the playground a tall, handsome boy practicing marching with the red flag. In the evening, after dinner at eight o¡¯clock, there was an emergency assembly. Everyone brought their stools to the playground, where, under Instructor Li¡¯s orders, they sat in a circle. ¡°Tonight is the mixer, come on, let¡¯s mix up the seating¡ªguys and gals alternating.¡± Instructor Zhang, who was in charge of the female platoon, was quite strict and not much of a talker. ¡°Anyone got a special talent to show off, hurry up and give us a demo. You never know, a girl might just start secretly liking you!¡± Instructor Li encouraged. After ten minutes of silence, a short-haired boy took to the stage. ¡°Let¡¯s give him a round of applause!¡± Instructor Li led the clapping. The short-haired boy sang a Cantonese song, and he was pretty good¡ªit was clearly a talent he¡¯d been saving. ¡°Girls, it¡¯s your turn, don¡¯t let the boys outshine you!¡± Instructor Li provoked. Once someone started, everyone became more lively, taking turns to show off. It must be said, the freshmen nowadays really are a group of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Fang Mingyuan also got on stage, showing off some freestyle basketball moves, while Qian Jiahui played a piece on the guitar. ¡°Who¡¯s next?¡± As soon as Instructor Li finished asking, Xu Daguan started calling out to Lin Baici. ¡°Old White, your turn!¡± Xu Daguan was somewhat vengeful, hoping Lin Baici lacked talents and would make a fool of himself in front of everyone. Lin Baici shook his head. He had sung two songs before and uploaded them to Bilibili, only to receive a lukewarm response that took a toll on his confidence, so he wasn¡¯t really interested. ¡°Old White, don¡¯t be so secretive, we¡¯re all waiting to be dazzled by your skills. Come on, show us something!¡± Xu Daguan started clapping rhythmically. Everyone else also started egging him on, joining in the clapping. Because of the water delivery incident that day and coupled with his good looks, Lin Baici had gained some popularity among the new software engineering students. ¡°Show us something!¡± ¡°Show us something!¡± ¡°Show us something!¡± The crowd chanted in unison. Lin Baici had no choice but to stand up and walk to the center of the circle. ¡°Then I¡¯ll sing ¡®The Brightest Star in the Night Sky¡¯.¡± Lin Baici sang casually, without using Divine Grace. After he finished, everyone applauded. ¡°Your singing is just so-so!¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, at least he wasn¡¯t out of tune!¡± ¡°Who cares if he butchered the song? Am I here to listen to music or to look at him?¡± The girls chattered away. The mixer was boisterous, and by the time it was dismissed, Instructor Li called Lin Baici aside, ¡°Baici, come here for a moment!¡± Lin Baici guessed it had something to do with being the flagbearer. Instructor Li hesitated, unsure of how to broach the subject. Lin Baici looked at the glowing windows of the female dormitory, patiently waiting. ¡°Ah, about that flagbearer thing, it¡¯s not happening.¡± Instructor Li sighed. ¡°You¡¯ve been troubled, Instructor.¡± Lin Baici expressed his gratitude. ¡°A student named Zheng Haixuan has been appointed as the flagbearer, designated by your vice dean!¡± Instructor Li disclosed. Despite all instructors having recommended candidates for flagbearer and having held selection trials the day before, in truth, those candidates were just for show, doomed to be passed over. Instructor Li felt uncomfortable as it was he who had encouraged Lin Baici, only to end up with such disappointing results. ¡°I understand!¡± Lin Baici nodded, truthfully he didn¡¯t care much about being the flagbearer or not. ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re taking it so calmly!¡± Instructor Li patted Lin Baici¡¯s shoulder, appreciating his carefree attitude. ... Time, like fine sand in the hands of a young girl, slipped by swiftly! The nine days of military training were over, and tomorrow would be the performance review. ¡°I can¡¯t wait for this to be over!¡± Xu Daguan was thoroughly irritated by such formalities. Lin Baici lay on his bed, chatting with Xia Hongyao. Great Detective Xia: The vice minister has already signed off, the process is underway; you should be able to get the prize money within a week at most. Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: Thanks for the hassle. Great Detective Xia: It¡¯s my duty. Great Detective Xia: Are you guys going to have a few days off after military training? Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: Three days; we¡¯ll officially start classes next Monday. Great Detective Xia: Are you free the day after tomorrow? I¡¯ll take you to a fun place. Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: How fun is it? Great Detective Xia: Fun enough to make you forget home! ¡°Lin Baici, Instructor Li is looking for you!¡± In the corridor, someone suddenly shouted. ¡°Got it, I¡¯m on my way!¡± Lin Baici got out of bed. Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: The instructor¡¯s calling for me! Great Detective Xia: Go ahead. Oh, and keep an eye out for me¡ªhave you noticed any suspicious individuals lurking around your school lately? Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: What¡¯s up? Great Detective Xia: There have been five fatal incidents on the two streets next to Haijing Polytechnic lately, and we suspect they¡¯re caused by Taboo things. Lin Xia Dai Yue Gui: Got it. Lin Baici put away his phone to meet the instructor, while considering whether he should take a walk outside. Perhaps he could use Eater God¡¯s sense of hunger to locate the Taboo thing. But that would definitely be dangerous. Instructor Li was at the stairwell, anxiously smoking a cigarette, and upon seeing Lin Baici, he hesitated for a moment before finally speaking up, ¡°Baici, can you do a favor for Brother Li?¡± Chapter 80 - 80 79 One Man Formation_1 ?80: Chapter 79: One Man Formation_1 80: Chapter 79: One Man Formation_1 The smell of cigarettes was slowly spreading. ¡°You say!¡± Lin Baici felt that Instructor Li was quite reasonable. Although he seemed stern, he was quite lenient during military training, giving plenty of rest time. If a student asked for leave, he was also quite approachable, unlike some instructors who would relentlessly make you stand at attention and march with utmost precision. It was hard to tell if they were sadistic or just vying for the reward that came with their team placing first¡ªeither way, they were merciless. The freshmen who fell into their hands were simply tormented. Those instructors had no idea how many times they were cursed behind their backs, but they didn¡¯t care. After military training was over, they would just leave; they were together for at most ten days. ¡°That Zheng Haixuan twisted his ankle during dinner last night!¡± Examiner Li smiled helplessly. ¡°That has nothing to do with me, right?¡± In fact, Lin Baici now possessed a new Divine Grace called ¡°Red Rolling Stone,¡± which he hadn¡¯t yet used. If he wanted to deal with Zheng Haixuan, he could pick a night to use Flying Stone to break his leg without anyone being the wiser. ¡°He can¡¯t participate anymore, so we need a replacement!¡± Instructor Li informed truthfully, ¡°The company commander dumped the task on me in the end!¡± Although being a flagbearer required little technique, by normal procedures, it still necessitated a few days of individual training. Now, it was like rushing ducks onto a perch. Who would dare take on that role? If there were a mistake, it would mean losing face in front of all the important leaders and new students of the entire school¡ªa direct loss of mating rights for four years of university life. All the instructors found reasons to shirk the responsibility. Instructor Li wanted to evade it too, but the company commander was not pleased with him, so the task fell onto him. ¡°Bai Ci, how about you become the flagbearer?¡± Instructor Li pleaded. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t do it well!¡± Lin Baici spoke the truth. ¡°Being a flagbearer isn¡¯t hard, and with your physical condition, it would truly be a waste not to take on the role.¡± Instructor Li indeed thought this way, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have directly recommended Lin Baici a few days ago. Fang Mingyuan was actually not bad either, but Instructor Li had chosen Lin Baici. Seeing Instructor Li¡¯s worried expression, Lin Baici agreed, ¡°Alright then!¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s no time to lose, let¡¯s go down and take a few laps, and I¡¯ll explain some key points to you!¡± Instructor Li was filled with gratitude towards Lin Baici. After the military training was over, he would definitely have to drink a few bottles with him. By the time Lin Baici returned to the dormitory, it was already an hour later. ¡°Where have you been?¡± Liu Yu adjusted his glasses, very concerned about what Instructor Li wanted with Lin Baici. Could it be something good that he¡¯s keeping from everyone? Xu Daguan and Qian Jiahui were also curious. ¡°He asked me to be the flagbearer!¡± Since he was going to perform the next day, there was no need to hide it. ¡°Ah? You replaced the original flagbearer?¡± Liu Yu was astonished. It seemed his roommate also had connections¡ªwondering which leader of the school he knew? ¡°The original flagbearer twisted his ankle!¡± After Lin Baici said this, everyone was taken aback. Liu Yu¡¯s mood suddenly improved¡ªso your family doesn¡¯t have connections, you¡¯re still a commoner. That made him feel more at ease, but in a flash, he felt a tinge of jealousy. Why did Instructor Li choose Lin Baici and not someone else? Surely this guy must have greased palms to become the flagbearer. Sly tactician. ¡°Old White, it¡¯s not easy being a flagbearer, you should have refused!¡± Fang Mingyuan advised with good intentions. ¡°Why hesitate when it¡¯s an opportunity to be in the spotlight?¡± Liu Yu curled his lips, acting too clever by half after receiving an advantage. ¡°Old White hasn¡¯t received flagbearer training¡ªif there¡¯s a mishap, it will be a huge embarrassment!¡± Qian Jiahui expressed his concern. Liu Yu raised an eyebrow¡ªso it was a dirty job! ¡°Old White, you can do it, we¡¯re all behind you!¡± Xu Daguan spoke sincerely, but in reality, he was already anticipating Lin Baici screwing up. ... On September 14th, the sky was clear, and the breeze was mild. At Haijing Polytechnic¡¯s main sports field, on the northern side, the podium had already been set up, and the school¡¯s leaders along with the military officials were taking their seats. Colored flags fluttered, and the People¡¯s Liberation Army March played grandly through the loudspeakers, resonating across the field. ¡°Where is Lin Baici? Hope he didn¡¯t get a stomachache,¡± The performance was about to begin and Lin Baici, who was supposed to be on the left, had not yet arrived, which made Zhang Zhixu a little worried. He was also from Class 01 and lived in the next dormitory. Ever since he shared a drink of water from Lin Baici a few days ago, he considered him a good guy and a friend. The others were also looking expectantly. ¡°Bai Ci went to be the flagbearer!¡± Overhearing the conversation from four seats away and at the back row, Fang Mingyuan offered an answer. ¡°What?¡± Everyone was astonished. They stood on their tiptoes to search and soon found Lin Baici at the very front of the formation, holding the five-starred red flag, standing there. ¡°Old White can do it!¡± Zhang Zhixu felt envious. ¡°The original flagbearer twisted his ankle; Old White was chosen as a scapegoat!¡± Fang Mingyuan promptly added an explanation for Lin Baici, worried others might think he played tricks to become the flagbearer. But he worried too much, given Lin Baici¡¯s tall and upright figure, everyone was convinced he was fit to be the flagbearer. At 9 a.m., the principal announced that the entrance ceremony had officially begun. Lin Baici was somewhat nervous, his heart pounding fiercely. After all, this was also a grand occasion, and if there were a mishap, if nervousness led to a wrong turn or a misstep, it would be utterly embarrassing. But Lin Baici was prepared. He took out a small handful of hollow iron Tieguanyin leaves, about seven or eight sticks, and popped them into his mouth. He chewed vigorously and swallowed them down. Soon, Lin Baici¡¯s heartbeat calmed down. Nervous? Nonexistent. Lin Baici now lacked emotions, like a hollow man, to the point that even if he streaked in public, he would feel no shame. Amidst the passionate voice of the announcer and the stirring and high-spirited March of the Chinese People¡¯s Liberation Army, Lin Baici was the first to pass the main stage, holding the red flag in hand. He changed from walking at attention to marching. At the same time, he thrust the red flag forward and held it at an angle! Whoosh! Lin Baici¡¯s shoulders were level, his hands steady, and the entire movement was swift and clean, like a bayonet being unsheathed, shining the sword at the enemy. That cool and indifferent expression on his face, along with his tall stature and distinct facial features, made Lin Baici resemble a hero who, amidst the flames of war, had run out of bullets, yet held his bayonet against a ferocious enemy charge with contemptuous calm. Standing resolutely with a rifle, the military flag wrapping a corpse! Everyone seemed to see fearlessness, perseverance, and sacrifice in him... They saw the glory of a warrior. There¡¯s no denying that Lin Baici¡¯s personal image was outstanding, especially since he had actually killed people and seen over a thousand bodies. With the hollow iron Tieguanyin washing away those emotions, he became as cold as a statue of a blood-soaked war god. Lin Baici¡¯s presence alone even overshadowed the hundred-person square formation behind him. The principal, admiring Lin Baici, remarked to the secretary beside him, ¡°This new student has a very distinguished aura!¡± ¡°One man forming a line!¡± The secretary chuckled, ¡°He must be from a military family, right?¡± The female announcer, seeing Lin Baici pass the main stage, was also impressed. With this junior present, it did not matter if the rest of the freshman boys were lackluster. She resolved to find an opportunity to get to know him. ¡°Damn, Lin Baici¡¯s posture is spot on. Has he been trained?¡± ¡°If you told me he served in the army, I¡¯d believe it!¡± ¡°It¡¯s over! It¡¯s over! This guy has already taken the lead for courting rights for the next four years!¡± The freshmen in software engineering were lined up beside the field, waiting for their entrance, and when they saw Lin Baici¡¯s performance, they became noisy. ¡°...¡± Xu Daguan felt somewhat naive for having wanted to see Lin Baici make a fool of himself. Such a person was too outstanding. Given an opportunity, they would shine brilliantly, dwarfing all others. The female formations were also chattering. ¡°Lin Baici is so handsome, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Did you hear? Girls from other departments are already asking for Lin Baici¡¯s name!¡± ¡°If any of you have ideas, act fast. We can¡¯t let outsiders get to Lin Baici.¡± In that moment, the girls in software engineering became united in their animosity. After Lin Baici walked past the main stage, he continued along the track for a good half circle before entering the field. Across the track and right in front of the main stage, he stopped. This was the flagbearer¡¯s glory, for holding the red flag meant standing at the very front, becoming the most dazzling presence. Of course, being in the spotlight also meant being scrutinized. One could say that over half the eyes in the field were taking measure of Lin Baici. Any small movement, such as scratching an itch or tilting his head, would be seen by all. Not everyone could withstand that kind of pressure. But Lin Baici did, for after ingesting a few pieces of hollow iron Tieguanyin, Lin Baici stood there, unshaken and immovable as if standing across the ages. At that moment, shoulders squared, back straight, chest out, he stood as rigid as a javelin, or like a statue erected on the field. From his position, Lin Baici could see any girl passing by on the track in front of him, but he was wholly uninterested. His mind was empty. [Wow, is this a buffet?] [I see some nice pieces of meat, hey, and a few delightful desserts. Mmm, that girl with long hair has a scent of malt!] [What are we waiting for? Let¡¯s dig in!] If the Eater God had saliva, it would already be drooling. As the formations marched on, about half had passed when suddenly, from the western side of the field where formations had completed their entrance and were lined up waiting, screams erupted. The recruits dressed in military training uniforms scattered like a herd of deer startled by a lion attack while drinking at a lake¡¯s edge. Whoosh! The recruits fled. If viewed from above, they were like a green tide splashing across the field. The commotion had naturally attracted everyone¡¯s attention. Lin Baici remained indifferent. ¡°There¡¯s a mad dog!¡± ¡°Run!¡± ¡°Damn!¡± The noise was deafening. The school leaders were no longer interested in inspecting the formations. One by one, they stood up, and the instructors waiting outside the field rushed towards the center of the disturbance. Lin Baici finally turned his head and saw through the crowd a dirty adult Border Collie frantically darting to and fro. It suddenly leaped forward, pounced on a recruit, and tore off a piece of flesh from his face with its bite. ¡°Ah!¡± The unfortunate recruit let out a piercing scream. The Border Collie¡¯s features were twisted, its eyes bloodshot, and a lot of drool sprayed from its mouth as it lolled its tongue, clearly a mad dog. After biting the male student, it continued its mad dash towards a female formation. Boom! The girls scattered in all directions, screaming in terror. In the dense crowd, collisions occurred, and some girls fell and were trampled several times. [A mad dog contaminated by radiation from God¡¯s bones!] By the time Lin Baici heard this assessment, he had already dashed out. At the same time, his right wrist spun rapidly, rolling the red flag around the flagpole.