Before the Advance, Then the Bow; Stalking Cat

Zhao Linchuan released his grip, and the Dragon Pattern Staff hit the ground with a loud clatter.

He did not even glance at Li Yusong, his tone flat yet carrying a condescending indifference.

"Arrogant at first and submissive later—it is laughable to think about."

He turned his gaze toward the father and son who were still slumped on the ground, dumbfounded, and his voice softened slightly. "Their money."

Upon hearing this, Li Yusong rushed to the small wooden box, fumbling as he counted out ten Gold Soul Coins. He held them out with both hands to the pair, bowing respectfully with a smile on his face that looked worse than a grimace.

"Here... here you go, take it, please take it..."

The father and son took the money with trembling hands, looking from Li Yusong to Zhao Linchuan as if they were still in a dream.

Zhao Linchuan said no more. He turned, took Xiao Wu's hand, nodded slightly to Ning Rongrong, and walked back the way they had come, leaving only a light, airy sentence echoing at the empty village entrance.

"You lot, look after yourselves."

Ning Rongrong giggled and hurried to catch up.

Xiao Wu looked back at Li Yusong, who was still bowing and afraid to lift his head, and stuck out her tongue.

Zhu Zhuqing, who had been standing quietly on the sidelines, hesitated for a moment before silently following, keeping a moderate distance from the three of them.

Not until the figures of Zhao Linchuan and the others disappeared around the corner of the path outside the village did Li Yusong dare to straighten up. He slumped onto the ground, gasping for air, his face deathly pale as if he had just returned from the gates of hell.

Just then, Ma Hongjun wandered out, muttering, "Teacher Li, what's all the noise about? Can't a guy get some sleep in the middle of the day... Huh? Where did everyone go?"

"Isn't today the academy enrollment? How come not a single applicant showed up?"

He looked at the empty village entrance and then at Li Yusong, who was sitting on the ground in a daze, a look of confusion crossing his chubby face.

Li Yusong looked up at Ma Hongjun, opened his mouth, but could not say a word.

Enrollment? There was no point in enrolling anyone now.

This year's recruitment... was a complete disaster.

Not only was it a disaster, but he had also offended an unfathomable "senior."

What a mess!

"...Excuse me, do you know which way to Shrek?"

As night deepened, the night market in Soto City was just beginning.

Lanterns of all colors bathed the streets in a brilliant glow, while the aroma of food, the cries of vendors, and the chatter of pedestrians wove together into a bustling, noisy scene.

Zhao Linchuan walked in front, holding Xiao Wu's hand, while Ning Rongrong flitted about like a happy little bird, curiously looking left and right, occasionally pulling Xiao Wu aside to chatter about the novel trinkets along the road.

Zhu Zhuqing followed a few paces behind, her black attire nearly blending into the shadows of the crowd, her cold eyes occasionally resting on Zhao Linchuan's back.

She pursed her lips, seemingly wanting to say something, but she lacked the courage to speak, merely following in silence.

Without realizing it, the group stopped at a small fork in the road.

On the left was the Li Mei BBQ Shop, thick with the smoke of daily life; the charcoal fire flickered, and the scent of grilled meat permeated the air aggressively.

On the right was the Lao San Roast Chicken Shop, which looked to be of some age, its sign oily and gleaming—clearly a long-established business.

"BBQ? Or roast chicken?" Xiao Wu bit her finger, her large eyes darting between the two signs, struggling with the choice.

Ning Rongrong wrinkled her small nose. "They both smell so good... why don't we try both?"

Just as the three hesitated, the curtain of the Lao San Roast Chicken Shop on the right was lifted, and a middle-aged man wearing a greasy apron and a face full of smiles hurried out.

His gaze swept over Zhao Linchuan and his companions, and the smile on his face grew even more enthusiastic as he bowed and greeted them:

"Oh my! Distinguished guests, you look unfamiliar—you must be from out of town, right?"

"Come, come, please, come inside!"

"Our Lao San Roast Chicken is a specialty of Soto City; I guarantee you'll want to come back for more!"

Zhao Linchuan glanced at him, then at the relatively tidy interior of the shop. After a moment of contemplation, he nodded. "Very well, let's have a taste."

"Right away! Please, distinguished guests, come in! Watch your step!" The boss beamed with joy and quickly stepped aside to lead the way.

The three walked into the shop and found a clean table by the window.

Zhu Zhuqing paused at the entrance, then silently followed them in, sitting at an empty table a short distance away, her head bowed as if lost in thought.

The boss wiped the table with nimble movements and rubbed his hands together as he introduced himself. "Dear guests, I am the owner here. The neighbors call me Lao San; you can call me that too!"

As if performing a magic trick, he produced a beautifully bound menu, complete with illustrations, and presented it to Zhao Linchuan with great zeal, spitting as he introduced the dishes:

"Take a look, everyone! These are our shop's signatures: Secret Honey-Glazed Roast Chicken, Fuli Roast Chicken, Beggar's Chicken... all made with the finest ingredients and ancestral techniques!"

"I'm not bragging, but we reserve these delicacies specifically for discerning out-of-town guests like yourselves!"

"As for those local bumpkins, hmph, they wouldn't even get a chance to taste this!"

Upon hearing this, a strange look appeared on Ning Rongrong's pretty face, and she couldn't help but ask:

"Lao San, that's quite a thing to say... You run your business here in town, so why don't you keep the good stuff for the local neighbors instead of 'reserving' it for us outsiders?"

Lao San bowed, the smile on his face carrying a sense of uncomfortable obsequiousness and an inexplicable air of superiority.

"Oh, my dear young lady, you've hit the nail right on the head!"

"Who are the locals? Low-lifes! Crude brutes!"

"They spend all day haggling over a few Copper Soul Coins. How could they possibly appreciate, or deserve to eat, the honey-glazed roast chicken I, Lao San, have meticulously prepared?"

"Only distinguished guests like yourselves, who clearly have seen the world and know how to enjoy the finer things, are worthy of the flavors from my shop!"

Zhao Linchuan and his two companions were left speechless, the corners of their mouths twitching in unison.

This boss's "business logic" and "regional discrimination" were truly refreshingly unconventional.

"Alright, that 'Fuli Roast Chicken'—give us three, and add a few refreshing side dishes." Zhao Linchuan couldn't be bothered to listen to him boast any longer and ordered casually.

"Coming right up! Three Fuli Roast Chickens! Please wait a moment, honored guests, they'll be here in a flash! I guarantee you'll be satisfied!" Lao San took the order and scurried off to the kitchen, beaming with joy.

Just as Lao San left and the sounds of activity drifted from the kitchen, Zhu Zhuqing, who had been sitting quietly not far away, seemed to have finally made up her mind. She lifted her head, her gaze complex as she looked toward Zhao Linchuan's table.

At almost the same moment, the familiar chime of the system sounded quietly in Zhao Linchuan's mind—

[Detected current plot environment: 'Stalking Cat'.]

'In the original fate line, under the pressure of cruel survival, Zhu Zhuqing gradually tamed herself into a silent, declawed "docile lamb," pinning all her hopes on a fiancé who was equally prone to running away.'

'Now, Dai Mubai's unexpected "write-off" seems to have severed her final reliance, and the strength you displayed today is like a light piercing through the darkness, attracting this lost and helpless "little cat."'

'She yearns to draw near, yet fears being scorched.'