You Remind Me of a Friend from My Grasslands

"Ahem."

Su Chen saw the little fox was lost in thought and gave a light cough to remind her.

"Keep staring, and you're going to walk right into a tree."

Hearing Su Chen's words, Hu Liena's pretty face turned red in an instant. She shot him a glare and quickened her pace into the cafeteria.

Just as Hu Liena had said, she was indeed treating Su Chen to a fine meal this time.

As soon as they entered, she ordered the best and most expensive dishes. All the meat used in the dishes came from spirit beasts that were centuries, millennia, or even ten millennia old, and the chefs who prepared them were top-tier, with any single dish costing over a hundred gold spirit coins.

This level of luxury was something Su Chen hadn't even dared to dream of in the three months since he started working at Spirit Academy!

Sigh!

A meal like this must cost several thousand gold spirit coins, right? Being this generous right off the bat makes me feel too embarrassed to ask you for a loan.

Su Chen calculated in his heart while he ate.

...Although Tang San is headed to Shrek and it's still early before he discovers the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, since I have the strength now, I should go harvest those herbs as soon as possible!

Only by giving people herbs will they be willing to work like horses and oxen for me.

Hu Liena didn't eat much; she kept stealing glances at Su Chen, wondering what was on her mind.

"Su Chen, I remember you saying before that your spirit was a chicken, right?"

"Pfft!"

Hearing Hu Liena's words, Su Chen instantly sprayed the food in his mouth right out.

Big sister, please be a little more refined!

Hu Liena, however, asked with a suspicious look on her face:

"Is there something wrong with what I said?"

"I remember you telling me before that your spirit was a chicken and your innate spirit power was two and a half levels, right?"

Su Chen wiped his mouth and nodded.

"That's right, my spirit is a chicken, but it mutated last night."

"What!"

Hu Liena was instantly startled.

"Your spirit mutated?"

"Quick! Quickly let me see your chicken."

Uh.

Su Chen was stunned for a moment, completely at a loss for words.

Do you even hear what you're saying?

"Let's not do that; I'll show you when we're somewhere private."

Hu Liena had her suspicions; she was certain Su Chen must have received a reward last night and that his spirit had mutated into something incredibly powerful. She continued to press him:

"Why is it so difficult?"

"Spirits can't be hidden anyway. Hurry up and release your spirit; I want to see what your chicken spirit has mutated into."

Just as the two were caught in a "show me, please" and "don't do this, Brother Jie" dynamic, two figures walked over from not far away.

Xie Yue and Yan.

One was Hu Liena's brother, and the other was Hu Liena's Boiling Sheep.

"Nana."

Upon seeing Hu Liena, Yan quickened his pace, looking exceptionally happy.

But when he saw Su Chen sitting at the table with her, his expression darkened visibly, and the envy, jealousy, and hatred in his eyes were undisguised.

Damn it!

What kind of blind luck does this bastard have to be eating alone with Nana?

Hu Liena glanced at Yan with a look of disgust and warned him:

"I don't have the energy to deal with you, but I'm warning you: Su Chen is my friend. Put away your usual antics. If you dare to do anything to him, don't blame me for turning against you!"

"And another thing, don't call me Nana."

Hu Liena knew Yan's temperament well; whenever there was a man near her, this guy would always try to provoke them.

Xie Yue looked at Hu Liena, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

When Su Chen was first brought back by Hu Liena, both Xie Yue and Yan were there. However, Xie Yue couldn't figure it out: this meal cost several thousand gold spirit coins, and since Su Chen was an orphan, where would he get so much money to treat his sister to a meal?

Yan sat down beside Su Chen, while Xie Yue sat down beside Hu Liena.

A brief silence followed.

Just as Hu Liena was about to speak, she saw the diary in her mind update.

[Love Continent, indeed!]

[The two things this continent lacks the least are the love-struck and the pathetic simps.]

[Feng Xiaotian, Oscar, Yan, Flender.]

[The first two simped their way to winning their beauties, while the latter two spent their lives in misery.]

"Sigh."

Su Chen turned his head to look at Yan beside him and couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.

What a pity.

Simps end up with nothing.

Yan erupted instantly, snapping angrily:

"What do you mean by that? You petty Spirit Master, if it weren't for Nana's sake, do you believe I could slap you against the wall so hard you wouldn't even be able to be scraped off!"

"Nothing, I just saw you and was reminded of a very familiar friend from the grasslands." Su Chen spoke earnestly; indeed, upon seeing Yan, he had thought of, 'Boiling Sheep, Pleasant Sheep has no strength, hurry up and give him a push.'

"Hmph."

Yan let out a cold snort and said nothing more.

Su Chen didn't pay him much mind. Once he had finished eating, he looked at Hu Liena and said:

"Actually, I came to find you today because there are some things I need your help with."

"First, I would like to borrow some money, and second, I would like to borrow a map of the Sunset Forest. If possible, could you also help me request a leave of absence? I have business that requires me to head to the Sunset Forest in the Heaven Dou Empire."

"If you ever need anything in the future, I can help you once."

Yan chimed in with a sarcastic remark: "You, going to the Sunset Forest? Don't forget, if we hadn't run into you last time, you would have died on the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest long ago."

"A mere petty Spirit Master, Nana will never have any use for you in this lifetime..."

"Shut up!"

Hu Liena glared at Yan, then looked at Su Chen with a gentle expression:

"Very well."

"But are you going to the Sunset Forest all by yourself?"

Yan was trembling with rage on the side; the double standard was far too obvious.

Damn pretty boy.

Aside from that handsome face of yours, what else do you even have!

Su Chen nodded heavily, feeling somewhat pleased:

"I'm just going to take a look around the outside, I won't be going deep in, so there won't be any danger even if I'm alone."

Su Chen couldn't be bothered to deal with this "Boiling Yan-yan." If it weren't for the fact that Hu Liena was helping him, he would have sent him flying with a single Wind God Leg.

What Golden Generation?

I, Long Aotian, never consider the consequences when I do things!

Hu Liena took a Gold Soul Card from her person and handed it to Su Chen, saying:

"This is my secondary Gold Soul Card, take it and use it. Then, wait for me at the academy gate at noon. I'll help you request your leave this morning and find a complete map of the Sunset Forest while I'm at it."

Regarding this.

Su Chen hadn't actually held much hope. After all, Hu Liena and he didn't share much of a bond. If he could use his face to save some trouble, that would be best, but if she didn't help, it wouldn't have mattered.

However, Hu Liena's attitude made Su Chen doubt his own life.

Does one really just rely on their face to get by on the Love Continent!?

Bah.

Are you trying to teach me how to do my job?

"Hu Liena, I'm truly grateful. From now on, you are the first friend I, Su Chen, have here."

Su Chen finished his meal, patted his backside, and walked away.

Hu Liena's pretty face flushed red as she watched Su Chen's departing back in silence.

Yan's face turned green... Why the hell are you patting your own backside?

Xie Yue hadn't said a word from start to finish, but at this moment, he couldn't help but grumble internally: "Little sister! What are you blushing for! The guy just said he wanted to be your friend, have you already thought of names for your children?"

"Ahem!"

Xie Yue gave a light cough to remind her, and Hu Liena snapped back to reality, saying:

"Brother, go pay the bill, I have something to discuss with Master."

"What?"

"I didn't even eat, why should I pay the bill?"

Xie Yue was filled with helplessness.

Yan couldn't help but lash out directly:

"Damn it!"

"That pretty boy is mooching off us for food, drink, and money!?"

Hu Liena ignored the two of them and quickened her pace, heading toward Spirit Hall.