Ghost Shadow Squid

Before long, Shen Qinghan came running downstairs, afraid that Lin Zichen would have to wait too long.

"Why did you come out in your pajamas?"

"I came down in such a hurry that I forgot to change."

"Then go back and change."

"I'm too lazy to go back. Let's hurry to the mall and buy things. Dad just gave me 200 yuan, so now I'm a little rich girl. Whatever you want to buy later, I'll pay!"

Shen Qinghan skillfully plopped herself onto the back of Lin Zichen's bicycle. Holding two brand-new hundred-yuan bills, she waved them in front of him, her delicate little face full of smug delight.

Lin Zichen felt the 1,000 yuan in his pocket. He didn't want to dampen her spirits, so he smiled and said:

"Sure. Miss Shen is paying tonight."

"Enough talking. Hurry up and get going, or we won't have much time to shop. Mom and Dad will definitely call and urge me to come home early."

"Then hold on tight."

"I'm already holding on!"

Shen Qinghan wrapped both arms around Lin Zichen's waist, her face wreathed in smiles.

Lin Zichen didn't waste any more words. He pushed down hard on the pedals, and the bike shot forward.

Huamao New World, main entrance on the first floor.

Lin Zichen found a place to park the bicycle, then quickly went upstairs with Shen Qinghan to the mall's top floor.

If it were daytime, he would have taken Shen Qinghan around the ordinary shopping area downstairs first, treating her to food, drinks, and fun.

But it was already late, and he had to hurry to the Exotic Beast commercial area on the top floor and touch some Exotic Beast Meat to test his theory.

"Xiao Chen, what are you buying? Why did you bring me here?"

In the Exotic Beast commercial area on the top floor, Shen Qinghan looked at the dazzling array of products before her, at a loss.

Every item she saw was more expensive than the last—and outrageously so. The 200 yuan in her hand didn't even feel worth taking out.

Lin Zichen answered honestly, "Actually, I'm not planning to buy anything. I just wanted to take a close look at some Exotic Beast Meat."

Shen Qinghan nodded, understanding.

Lin Zichen had loved researching Exotic Beasts since he was little. It was perfectly normal for him to want to see what their meat looked like in person.

"Then let's hurry and look around. I'm pretty curious about Exotic Beasts too."

When she was little, Shen Qinghan had often read books about Exotic Beasts with Lin Zichen. She'd even accidentally wet several of his books, a memory she still vividly recalled to this day.

Soon, the two of them began browsing the Exotic Beast product area.

Besides Exotic Beast Meat, there were also plenty of products derived from Exotic Beasts.

Jewelry made from Exotic Beast scales.

Figurines modeled after Exotic Beasts.

Specimens of small Exotic Beasts, and so on.

Lin Zichen wasn't interested in any of that. He accompanied Shen Qinghan as she looked around, then soon headed straight into the section selling Exotic Beast Meat.

He looked at quite a few cuts and discovered that all the Exotic Beast Meat had been cut and processed already. There was no way to tell what kind of Exotic Beast it had come from.

More importantly, it was all sealed beneath transparent plastic wrap. He couldn't touch it, which meant he couldn't test the devouring effect of [Survival of the Fittest].

Unwilling to give up, he carefully made another circuit of the area.

Finally, he spotted some meat he could touch in a corner.

It was freshly butchered meat, with an employee nearby portioning and packaging it.

"Hanhan, wait here for a moment."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to touch that Exotic Beast Meat."

"Huh?"

Shen Qinghan didn't understand.

Lin Zichen didn't explain. While the employee was distracted, he quietly slipped over through the other person's blind spot.

Then he reached out toward the nearest piece of fresh Exotic Beast Meat.

The instant his hand touched it, Lin Zichen sensed the vitality contained in the meat.

It was incredibly vigorous, dense, and powerful!

By instinct, he wanted to devour every last bit of the Life Origin within the meat.

No, I can't do that!

If the meat loses its vitality, it'll probably go bad.

If I want it, I should just pay for it...

Lin Zichen's reason overcame his instincts, and he came to his senses in time. He didn't steal the vitality from the Exotic Beast Meat.

Although he could have done it discreetly, and probably wouldn't have been caught if he only did it once,

once he took that first step, he couldn't imagine what kind of person he might become.

He would most likely turn into a lawless criminal who liked getting something for nothing, cheating and swindling people, and plundering through murder and arson.

He didn't have to be a good person, but he couldn't be a bad one. At the very least, he couldn't lose his integrity.

With that thought in mind, Lin Zichen quickly returned to Shen Qinghan.

As soon as he came back, Shen Qinghan asked curiously, "Xiao Chen, how did that Exotic Beast Meat feel? Was it any different from ordinary meat?"

"It didn't feel much different. If I had to name one difference, it seemed a little fresher," Lin Zichen replied casually.

By then, he had confirmed his theory: only Exotic Beast Meat contained enough Life Origin for him to devour.

That meant he'd have to find a way to earn money so he could buy Exotic Beast Meat to devour.

Without dwelling on it, Lin Zichen continued wandering around the section with Shen Qinghan.

They looked here and there, finding everything new and fascinating.

Aside from a few inexpensive products derived from Exotic Beasts, most related goods were extremely costly luxury items that ordinary families couldn't get their hands on.

It was hard not to be amazed at seeing so many all at once.

They'd had a good look around.

Their eyes had been opened to a whole new world.

Lin Zichen stopped in front of a counter selling Exotic Beast Meat. Pointing at a kind called "Ghost Shadow Squid," he said to the saleswoman:

"Hello, I'd like to buy a jin of this."

After wandering around for so long, Ghost Shadow Squid Meat was the cheapest Exotic Beast Meat he'd seen—and the only kind he could afford.

It cost 998 yuan per jin.

The next cheapest kind cost 2,000 yuan per jin.

With such a huge difference in price, there was no question which one to choose.

"You want to buy this? Where are your parents? Are you here by yourself?"

The saleswoman looked at Lin Zichen in his Shanhai High School uniform, her face full of confusion. She couldn't understand why a middle school student had come here to buy Exotic Beast Meat.

Lin Zichen took 1,000 yuan from his pocket and placed it on the counter. Calmly, he said, "Yes, I'm here by myself. I want to buy a jin of Ghost Shadow Squid Meat."

"No. You're too young. I can't sell it to you." The saleswoman refused to sell Lin Zichen the meat.

The amount was too large. Selling it to a minor carried considerable risk, and afterward his parents would most likely come after her to settle the score.

Lin Zichen understood her concerns. He could only start a video call with Zhang Wanxin and get her permission to buy Ghost Shadow Squid Meat in front of the saleswoman.