Urban Legends

In the bedroom, Lin Ye lay back in his chair and let out a soft breath.

He put away [Night of the Black Goat] and thought for a moment before taking out the earlier failed concoction.

[Ingredient Name: Night of the Black Goat (Failed Product)]

[Ingredient Category: Potion]

[Ingredient Rank: Mortal Rank]

[Edible Part: Entire Body]

[Effect: Grants yin-energy corrosion. After consuming it, you can die peacefully at one a.m. that day. Your body will not decay after death, and there will be no signs of poisoning.]

Looking at the ingredient's name, he had to admit the Monument really was rather careless with its naming.

His gaze fell on the final effect, and he raised an eyebrow.

"Corrosion... nourishment... a double-edged sword?"

Yin energy was the only supernatural force he had encountered so far. He had to treat it with due respect.

Used well, it could make him stronger quickly. Used poorly, he might not even know what killed him.

"Good thing I didn't actually take a sip that day. Curiosity really does kill the cat."

After settling his thoughts, he turned on the computer.

"Bzz... bzz..."

The screen lit up with the sound of the computer starting.

He opened a search engine and entered "urban legends."

A moment later, a flood of results appeared, and Lin Ye couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath.

After filtering by location, the results were cut by ninety-nine percent, but plenty remained.

After browsing for over ten minutes, Lin Ye closed the page and gently rubbed his temples.

In Coast City alone, there were three documented supernatural incidents with multiple witnesses, one of which was the "Dark Predator."

There were also more than ten other incidents experienced by only a handful of people.

Including rumors, the total number was over thirty.

But this was good news for him. These unusual places might also contain "Flowing Shadows."

The achievements might trigger uncontrollably, but as long as he didn't unlock them, it would be fine.

By the time he was strong enough to stand against the monster in the Church, he might have accumulated plenty of achievements.

Then he could unlock them all at once, and his strength might surge, letting him turn the tables and kill it!

After killing it, he could unlock achievements related to the monster, and perhaps even get special ingredients to boost his strength again.

Then he could look for new Flowing Shadows, unlock more achievements, grow stronger, unlock more, grow stronger, unlock more, grow stronger, and—

"Smack!"

Lin Ye slapped himself across the face, his gaze clearing.

The danger posed by "Flowing Shadows" was unknown. For now, he shouldn't invite trouble.

As he was thinking, he suddenly sensed something and summoned the Monument.

His gaze landed on the achievement that had been triggered, and his eyes contracted.

[Explore "Flowing Shadow: Dark Predator" to at least 50% (17%)]

The progress had increased by five percent! What had just happened?!

He thought back over what he had done. The only variable was that he had searched for urban legends about the "Dark Predator."

"Flowing Shadows are polluted history."

The words suddenly surfaced in his mind.

He still didn't understand exactly what they meant, but "polluted history" might mean that Flowing Shadows were connected to events that had taken place in the present world.

If an urban legend had evolved into a "Flowing Shadow," then the legend must have had an "original incident."

An original incident in the present world—an urban legend—a Flowing Shadow.

This might be the entire process of transformation.

And the catalyst might have something to do with the so-called "yin energy."

Without hesitating, he immediately searched for urban legends about the "Dark Predator."

Over half an hour later, Lin Ye rubbed his aching brow.

The legend of the "Dark Predator" had been circulating for twenty years.

But aside from rumors that the Dark Predator liked to eat stray cats, there was almost nothing else to be found.

His gaze swept over the Monument. The exploration progress had risen to nineteen percent, confirming that he was on the right track.

He guessed that the Cat-type Spider Puppet in "Flowing Shadow: Dark Predator" might have been made from the stray cats hunted by the Dark Predator—in other words, the Dark Spider Mother.

He lifted his head and looked out the window, moonlight reflecting in his eyes.

If he could raise his exploration progress above fifty percent while outside the Flowing Shadow, he could unlock the achievement the instant he saw the Dark Spider Mother next time.

Four Potential Points would make a tremendous difference to his Soul Whale Fist. Perhaps they would let him stand up to the Dark Spider Mother!

Even if they didn't, his chances of staying safe would undoubtedly improve.

With that in mind, he made up his mind: he had to get his exploration progress above fifty percent while outside!

Time was like water swirling down a toilet. It didn't look like much was going, but plenty had already disappeared from sight.

Time flew. Two weeks later.

July 22, 2028. Saturday. Sunny.

Whale-Kill Boxing Hall, second-floor head coach's office.

Lin Ye, Yan Yi, and Wei Qian stood in a row. Lin Fei stood in front of them with her back turned and her hands clasped behind her, striking the pose of a lofty master.

"Brother Lin, are you asleep?"

A few minutes later, Wei Qian spoke up.

Lin Fei kept her eyes closed and tilted her chin up slightly, a wicked smile curling her lips. Then she slowly turned around.

"At the boxing hall, use my title. Call me Your Excellency, Head Coach."

Wei Qian rolled his eyes. "Your Excellency, Head Coach, are you asleep?"

"Whoosh!"

Lin Fei made a sound effect with her mouth, then snapped her eyes open and scrutinized the three of them.

After a moment, she nodded in satisfaction. "You're all looking lively."

"Your special training ends today."

"Your combat experience is already on par with that of students who've trained for three to five years."

"Congratulations, congratulations! Hahaha!"

"Of course, the most important factor was my careful guidance as your head coach."

"But I've never cared for fame or fortune, so I won't take credit for myself."

Lin Ye and the other two lowered their eyes helplessly. After spending two weeks with Lin Fei, they had long grown used to her antics.

Lin Fei's gaze fell on Wei Qian.

"Your physical advantage might disappear once your Soul Whale Fist breaks through to the second layer."

"But don't be discouraged. That's actually a good thing. It means you can improve again. Right?"

Wei Qian nodded. "Your Excellency, Head Coach is right."

Lin Fei flashed another wicked smile of satisfaction, then turned to Yan Yi.

"Your body's almost fully recovered. I thought it might take you five years to reach the third layer."

"But now that I've seen your progress, maybe you won't even need three?"

"It's fine if it takes more than three years, though. You're more talented than Wei Qian anyway, so you're bound to be faster."

Wei Qian drew a helpless breath. You really don't have to compare me to him.

Yan Yi nodded slightly. Aside from their special training, the head coach had arranged several treatments for her over the past two weeks. Her old injuries had now almost completely healed.

"Thank you, Your Excellency, Head Coach."

Lin Fei pursed her lips smugly. "Of course, of course. No need to thank me."

She looked at Lin Ye last, her expression growing a little more serious.

"You've done well."

"You've made it this far in just two weeks. I'm genuinely impressed."

"You might break through to the second layer before the end of the month. As for when you'll reach the third, I can't say."

"You're more talented than I am, but Senior Sister and Second Senior Brother started martial arts before I did, so there's really nothing to compare you to."

"Just keep working hard. I'll be waiting for you at the main hall."

Lin Ye nodded slightly and smiled.

"I've only made it this far thanks to Your Excellency, Head Coach's guidance. I'll reach the third layer and join you at the main hall as soon as I can."

His gaze fell on the Monument: [Soul Whale Fist (90/100)].

Over two weeks, they'd trained for eight days in total. That worked out to five or six experience points a day on average—a remarkably high rate.

The extra progress came from reviewing what he had learned during breaks in training. That method was remarkably slow by comparison.

Lin Fei was pleased by Lin Ye's words. She nodded, then rolled her eyes and turned to Yan Yi and Wei Qian.

"And I'm waiting for you two as well. Don't accuse me of favoring outsiders or treating anyone differently."

Lin Ye's smile stiffened. Favoring outsiders? Who are the outsiders here? Me?

"All right, then. If there's nothing else, you can go."

Lin Fei paused suddenly. "Oh, right. I'm heading back to the main hall for a mission. I'm the one leaving."

She scratched her head and looked around.

"I don't have anything to pack, so I'll get going. You're free to do whatever you want."

"Oh, and don't come see me off. It'd be so awkward."

"None of you come, all right? You're not allowed to!"

Lin Ye: "..."

Yan Yi: "..."

Wei Qian: "..."

"What's with those looks? Why aren't you saying anything? You're not actually going to stay here, are you?"

"Have you no conscience?"

"Lin Ye, say something! I'm the one who hit you the most—uh, I mean, took the best care of you!"

"Yan Yi! I nearly gave up my dignity to get those medicinal ingredients for your treatment—no, not gave it up, borrowed them!"

"Wei Qian! I personally helped clear the stagnant blood in your body! May you live to a hundred!"

"I'm begging you. You have to come, okay? Otherwise, I'll look so pathetic..."

At the boxing hall's entrance, Lin Ye and the others stood silently, watching the flashy blue sports car speed away with a hint of sadness.

For a moment, they had wondered if Lin Fei had asked them to come along just to show off her sports car.

"Don't just stand there staring. The main hall's in Coast City too."

"With the boss's driving, she'll be there in less than twenty minutes if she makes one phone call."

"I don't get what you're so sad about."

Lei Long spoke, unable to hide his grin.

With Lin Fei gone, he was now in charge of the branch. He wouldn't have to teach beginner classes anymore.

"I feel great all over!"

"The boss, seriously. Why'd she have me teach beginner classes? How was I supposed to teach that stuff properly?"

Lin Ye and the others returned to the head coach's office on the second floor and tidied up before heading downstairs.

With Lin Fei gone, the office would no longer be open to them. It would be kept for her.

"Brother Lin, Brother Yan."

Wei Qian suddenly spoke up.

Lin Ye and Yan Yi looked at him. Wei Qian smiled warmly.

"It's the last day. It feels like something's missing—a proper send-off. How about the three of us have a match?"

"We can treat it as our graduation test."