Cultists

Lin Ye looked at Yan Yi and could not help but freeze, as though he had seen his former self.

"No wonder she had developed such a resilient temperament."

He nodded inwardly, considering that contradictory air of fragility and the fact that she had inherited martial arts.

She was probably from a traditional martial arts family. Something must have happened at home, forcing her to become strong.

He just did not know whether anyone above her was still holding things together. If not, he could not imagine how much pressure she had borne.

"Alright, keep it up."

After saying that, he checked the time. It was 18:12.

"Let's call it here for today. Any later, and I won't catch the bus," he said.

Yan Yi felt a little disappointed at Lin Ye's words, then suddenly raised her head.

"Senior Brother, I have a driver's license. Shall I take you home?"

Lin Ye stood up and waved a hand. "No need. I can get back myself."

With that, he turned and left.

Yan Yi followed him out of the private room, looking at his back as though she wanted to say something but held herself back.

What she had really meant was that they could practice a little longer. He did not need to worry about missing the bus.

When Lin Ye left the boxing hall, night had already fallen. The faint evening glow in the distance was gradually swallowed by dark clouds.

He summoned the Monument and looked at the unlock requirement: [Perform a complete, fluid full set of Soul Whale Fist (Incomplete)].

He lightly clenched his fists, feeling the force coursing through every part of his body, and smiled.

The Monument vanished. He raised his eyes slightly, and his gaze gradually sharpened, as though he had rediscovered the feeling from when he had decided to challenge the Ozaki Eight.

"Beep—beep beep!"

A dull horn sounded from behind him. He turned toward the boxing hall and saw a black-and-white-striped vehicle parked at its entrance.

Several people got out and hurried into the boxing hall.

"People from the Police Department?"

A trace of confusion appeared on Lin Ye's face. What were people from the Police Department doing at a boxing hall?

After thinking it over, he did not go back and simply left.

That evening, Lin Ye sat at his computer desk and set down the potted plant in his hand.

Its main stalk resembled bamboo, with a lotus-shaped succulent at the top. It was entirely black, with a texture like dried paint.

"Black Bamboo Lotus."

He had only stopped by the flower market while passing through, yet he had actually found one.

It was not expensive either. Pot and plant together had cost only thirty yuan.

According to the flower shop owner, this Black Bamboo Lotus was neither quite a flower nor quite a grass.

More importantly, it did not taste good, so it had spread uncontrollably across West Continent and was basically given away as a free extra.

After adjusting the Black Bamboo Lotus's position, he opened a search engine and entered the words "Golden-Thread Night Bat."

Before long, an image appeared.

It looked like an ordinary bat, with most of its body black.

Only around its neck grew a thick ring of golden fur, like a lion's mane. This was the so-called "Gold-Transmuted Mane."

He looked at the description below.

"Golden-Thread Night Bat."

"Native to the Lius Archipelago in northern Tin Deer, it was later spread during the Age of Exploration and is now found throughout northern West Continent."

"It is one of the largest known bat species today, with a wingspan that can reach seventy centimeters."

"It mostly inhabits caves. Its saliva contains a potent toxin, and a single drop can kill."

"It is highly sought after for its beautiful appearance and extreme toxicity."

"The price is... 1,800?"

Seeing the four-digit price, Lin Ye temporarily abandoned the idea of buying one.

He closed the webpage, and his gaze fell on the Elementary Potionology Notes.

"I can't keep reading it for now."

"I wonder whether raising my Intelligence attribute would increase my resistance while reading?"

"Spirit and Intelligence should be related."

"Should I try it the next time I get a Potential Point?"

At that thought, he shook his head. It was too extravagant.

He did not yet have a stable source of Potential Points. If he got more, his first priority should still be adding them to Soul Whale Fist.

One Potential Point could provide a hundred experience points. With just one point, he could skip past the first level and directly break through to the second.

That was the greatest return.

Combined with the eighteen-thousand-yuan monthly salary after reaching the proficient level, as well as the advantage of martial strength belonging to oneself...

Taken together, developing martial arts was the optimal choice at his current stage.

With that in mind, he took a sheet of white paper and wrote several lines on it.

[Martial Arts] The current first goal is for Soul Whale Fist initiation to reach the first level. The second goal is to reach the third level of Soul Whale Fist, become an official disciple of the boxing hall, and receive the disciple allowance. "Low danger level."

[Potionology] Currently, there is only one potion formula. Depending on circumstances, the notes can be translated later, with priority given to translating the complete formula for the second potion. "Low danger level."

[Monument Achievements] ...To be determined. The activation mechanism is currently unknown. "Unknown danger level."

[Shadow Realm] Information is lacking. It is known to contain special "creatures," but it is unknown whether there are other dangers. "High danger level."

[Secret Potion] It has been confirmed that contact can be made after school starts. It is not advisable to create unnecessary complications; steady progress is best. "Medium danger level."

After writing all that, he picked up the paper and examined it, lost in thought.

After a moment of silence, he took an alcohol lamp and set it alight.

As he watched the white paper burn to ashes, his gaze passed over the flames and settled on the leaves outside the window, calm and still.

At noon the next day, in private room 007, Lin Ye sat on the bench, breathing lightly as sweat rolled down his bare upper body.

Yan Yi picked up her training uniform, draped it over herself, and sat down as well.

Lin Ye looked over at her. "Yesterday, when I left, I saw people from the Police Department arrive. Do you know what they were there for?"

Yan Yi wiped away her sweat and nodded slightly. "I heard that cultists from outside have crossed the border."

Lin Ye raised an eyebrow slightly. Cultists?

Coast City was located in Biannan Province. From the name alone, it was clear that this province lay on the frontier of the Liya Federation, with the provincial boundary serving as the border.

News of people illegally crossing the border was common enough and nothing new.

Cultists had appeared before as well. The result had been several hideouts uprooted, with the provincial television station broadcasting the executions live—heads rolling in the literal sense, blood flowing like rivers.

"Let's continue. I feel like the heat inside my body is almost condensed to the width of two fingers. I should be able to form a Heat Line tomorrow," he said.

With Yan Yi as his sparring partner, he had progressed rapidly—far faster than he could have through solitary training.

Yan Yi raised her head slightly. There was some envy in her eyes, but after several seconds of silence, she stood up, her gaze firm.

"Senior Brother, please!"

Toward evening, Lin Ye left the boxing hall and headed toward the nearest bus stop.

As he passed Green Pool Terrace, the lake reflected patches of orange-red light beneath the setting sun. Several wild ducks swam by, sending curved ripples across the water.

Suddenly, his gaze fell upon the old newsstand by Green Pool.

"Outlaws have recently entered the city. All residents are advised to watch out for strangers and stay away from suspicious individuals."

"Our department will spare no effort in pursuing the fugitives and ensuring public safety!"

—Coast City Police Department Office.

The news was printed in the Coast City Daily. Lin Ye frowned slightly. It seemed this cultist incident was serious.

Although cultists crossing the border had made the papers before, they had never been described so directly as "outlaws."

Nor would they use words like "spare no effort in pursuing." They would only say, "The suspects will be apprehended as soon as possible. Citizens, please rest assured."

That meant the Police Department was not absolutely confident it could resolve this cultist incident.

What puzzled him was that the Police Department would actually approach the boxing hall over something like this.

If the Police Department could not solve the problem—or found it difficult to solve—could the boxing hall handle it?

Had they contacted only Whale-Kill Boxing Hall, or every boxing hall in the city?

He pulled his clothes tighter and quickly left.

That evening, Lin Ye sat at his computer desk and casually watered the Black Bamboo Lotus.

"Bzz bzz~~"

His phone vibrated lightly. He turned on the screen.

[Dieluo Seed Merchant]: Boss, I've gathered the Dieluo Seeds you wanted. When would be convenient for you?

After the message was a picture. A linen sack the size of a human head was filled with sesame-like Dieluo Seeds.