Su Ye walked into the kitchen.
Fangyuan City was close to the coast, so seafood was cheap and fresh. Su Ye had loved it since he was little.
Liu Ruxin also liked using seafood to give her children extra nutrition. Of all the dishes Su Ye made, his flash-fried prawns were the best.
Liu Ruxin had put a dozen or so prawns, each twenty to thirty centimeters long, in a basin of water. They jumped from time to time.
Ever since the resurgence of spiritual energy, it had filled the world. Things native to this world had absorbed it too, growing larger and developing tastier flesh.
The prawns before him, for example, were the most ordinary kind sold at the market, yet every one was bigger than his hand.
He picked up a prawn, and it immediately thrashed violently. It was surprisingly strong.
Gripping its head, he slammed it hard against the cutting board to stun it, then removed its head and deveined it...
[Slaughter value +0.1]
Huh?
Su Ye froze.
Even this earns slaughter value?
That makes sense. This prawn was a living creature, after all, and one that contained spiritual energy at that.
Though it only contained a little.
So...
Did the 444.4 slaughter value already on my panel come from things I killed in the past?
Su Ye suddenly perked up.
[Slaughter value +0.1] [Slaughter value +0.1]
By the time he finished preparing the prawns, Su Ye's slaughter value had increased by 1.2.
Sitting in the Su Family's cramped living room, Su Ye ate lunch with his family. Then, amid their well wishes and birthday song, he took a bite of the cake they had bought especially for him.
"Mm, this cake is too sweet. Baobao, help your big brother finish the rest."
With a look of "disdain," Su Ye pushed the cake away.
Su Baobao, who had long been practically drooling over it, immediately reached to pull the cake toward herself. Still, she looked at Su Xiangdong and Liu Ruxin first. Only after getting her parents' approval did she pull it in front of her.
With an eager chomp, she ate a little mouthful of cream.
"Wow, it's so sweet! So yummy!"
Su Ye smiled as he watched the little girl savor every bit of the small slice of cake. She even scraped every last trace of cream off the fork and plate.
He couldn't help sighing inwardly.
The Su Family was still far too poor.
He had to find a way to make money.
So his parents could move into a big house, a little villa.
So his little sister could have cake whenever she wanted.
Fangyuan City Second Middle School.
After having lunch with his family, Su Ye headed to school.
The teachers' office.
Su Ye knocked and entered, but he didn't find his class teacher, Lan Jingfei. Perhaps because it was the lunch break, there was only one male teacher in the office.
"You're... Su Ye? Why are you back?"
The male teacher was named Ren Ke. He also taught geography to Su Ye's class.
His eyes lit up when he saw Su Ye.
"Perfect timing. Go downstairs and buy me two coffees."
Su Ye: ...
Su Ye immediately remembered that Ren Ke had always loved sending students to buy coffee for him. And the worst part was... he never paid them back!
So you're even freeloading off students, huh?
Su Ye smiled faintly.
"Of course, sir. What would you like?"
"How about two extra-large caramel macchiatos?"
Ren Ke gave Su Ye an approving look.
Not bad, kid. You even know to pick the most expensive option. You've got a future.
"Sure, let's go with that."
"All right, sir. I'll be right back."
Su Ye left the office and actually did as he was told, going to the café outside the school to order two large caramel macchiatos.
Then, while waiting for the coffee, he opened the class group chat.
[Night God]: Anyone who bought coffee for that cheapskate and never got paid back, send me your payment receipts.
It was noon, and plenty of his classmates were idly scrolling on their phones after lunch. When they saw the message, the previously quiet class group chat immediately came alive.
[Grandpa Xia is Super Fierce]: Holy shit, Su Ye, you're finally back!
[Grandpa Xia is Super Fierce]: Su Ye, did that cheapskate make you buy coffee too?
[Misty Rain]: Welcome back to the class, Student Su.
[Night God]: I'm back.
[Night God]: I've got a way to make that cheapskate pay up. Send me the receipts.
As soon as he said that, several classmates began sending Su Ye screenshots. One even sent more than a dozen in a row.
[Misty Rain]: Compilation.PDF
[Misty Rain]: Su Ye, I've organized all the receipts into a file for you.
[Night God]: Awesome. You're the best, class monitor!
The coffees were ready just then. Carrying both cups, Su Ye turned and headed straight into the print shop next door.
The teachers' office.
Su Ye stood outside the door for a while before finally spotting a familiar figure.
Pale blue high heels, long hair falling over her shoulders, and, as she approached, a faint scent of perfume.
It was his class teacher, Lan Jingfei.
"Su Ye? You're back?"
Lan Jingfei was surprised to see him too.
Su Ye had left a deep impression on her.
Although this student had little talent for cultivation, his academic grades were excellent. He was particularly outstanding in the sciences.
At the start of his senior year, Lan Jingfei had even spoken to him privately and recommended several universities that didn't focus on martial arts, suggesting that he pursue scientific research.
Unfortunately...
Just after the second semester of his senior year began, Su Ye had suddenly taken a leave of absence.
Lan Jingfei had regretted it for several days.
She hadn't expected him to suddenly show up again after applying for leave.
"Ma'am, I'm back to attend school."
At that moment, Su Ye felt rather grateful that Su Zhengdao and Xuanyuan Mingmou had wanted to keep a low profile back then. They hadn't publicized his identity, and had only arranged a leave of absence rather than withdrawing him from school.
"Have you taken care of everything? That's good... You've only been away for two weeks, so you shouldn't have missed much academically. I'll take care of the paperwork now, and you can attend classes this afternoon. If you run into any more problems, just let me know."
Lan Jingfei didn't pry.
For him to request a leave of absence at such a crucial point in his senior year, something serious must have happened.
Since he could return now, things must have been mostly resolved. She only hoped it wouldn't affect him too much.
As she spoke, Lan Jingfei reached out to open the teachers' office door.
Only...
Su Ye didn't leave.
Instead, he followed Lan Jingfei inside.
"Su Ye, is there something else?"
Lan Jingfei asked in puzzlement.
Meanwhile, Ren Ke, who had long since grown impatient waiting, spotted Su Ye and walked over with a broad smile.
What else could it be? Obviously, he's here to deliver my coffee.
However...
Su Ye smiled faintly.
"Ma'am, I've awakened."
Lan Jingfei: ...???
Ren Ke: ...???
Su Ye said, "Ma'am, I've awakened a supernatural ability. According to school rules, doesn't that mean I get a reward?"
Before you continue