The knights gazed reverently at the Boy Who Survived-
No, they should have called him Saint Peppa now!
Shen Ye froze.
Saint... Peppa?
Shen Peppa?
Didn't that fucking expose my surname too?
Fine, fine, fine. So that's how you're playing it.
I'm done!
No one could put up with this kind of humiliation!
I'm leaving!
Filled with grief and indignation, Shen Ye was about to summon the Gate and leave when a line of faintly glowing text appeared:
"Congratulations! You did it!"
He stopped.
Something came to mind.
Right... I don't think I came here to be Peppa. I've got a fucking mission!
Faintly glowing text kept appearing in the air:
"You survived successive encirclements by the undead and humans." "The undead have set aside their hostility toward you." "So have the humans." "The undead left you the White Bone Medal and bestowed upon you the code name 'Matchstick-Selling Little Boy';" "A prince of the human Empire bestowed upon you the name Saint Peppa and held a sacred ceremony for you." "This means both races consider you one of their own, worthy of trust and cultivation." "Evaluation: as an ordinary human, the highest-grade entry you can obtain is white. However, in an environment where you could not defeat anyone at all, you leveraged others' strength to resolve your predicament, change their impressions of you, and even make them willing to help you. This is the fundamental reason you qualified to obtain this entry as an exception." "Congratulations." "You have obtained the evaluation entry: One of Us for the third time."
The air shuddered.
An ethereal gate quietly appeared, invisible to everyone except Shen Ye.
Lines of large, blazing letters appeared on the gate:
"You have obtained the Special Honor Entry: 'Ordinary person who obtained the same evaluation entry three consecutive times as an exception.'" "This was impossible, yet you accomplished it." "This honor entry has automatically been sacrificed, triggering a powerful resonance and adding a Hidden Ability to your 'Gate':" "Time Fluid." "Beginner level." "Description: when you cross the Gate, you can freeze time on one side at the moment you left it, while time continues to flow normally for everything on the other side." "This ability can last for 3 seconds." "After each use, it cannot be activated again for one week, measured relative to you." "-A special spacetime power, a hidden rule: the power of the Gate between two worlds, unseen by all living beings." "In addition, the next time you break through an evaluation grade and obtain a blue (excellent) or higher evaluation entry, the 'Gate' will acquire a new ability."
Shen Ye quickly finished reading.
Never mind when he would obtain another high-grade entry.
Just this "Time Fluid"-
It lasted only three seconds.
An ability that lasted a mere three seconds.
Yet it needed an entire week to cool down?
How am I supposed to work with this?!
Luckily, he had no girlfriend. Otherwise, she would probably demand to break up with him immediately.
Tsk.
This ability...
Even if I went to the Imperial Military Academy in the future, and a teacher asked, "Child, what's your ability? How long does it last, and how long does it take to recover?"
Would I dare tell them?
Shen Ye felt both indignant and dejected.
But he knew how to adjust his mindset. After carefully thinking it over, he soon steadied himself again.
What was truly precious was the nature of this ability-
It actually involved time!
Or does the "Gate" ability have astonishing potential for development to begin with?
If I keep strengthening it, maybe it'll last longer?
Time!
Control over time!!!
If that's the case, my future is bright!
Shen Ye convinced himself.
Under these circumstances, when he reconsidered the name, it seemed like a trivial matter, utterly unimportant.
At worst, once he returned to Blue Star someday, he would immediately change his household registration and his name!
"I'll pretend I saw nothing today. You and your partner must be more careful from now on. Don't give yourselves away," Prince Norton said.
"Yes, Your Highness," Shen Ye said.
"Tell me in advance if anything comes up. If you render meritorious service, I won't be stingy with rewards," Prince Norton added.
He handed Shen Ye a Magic Envelope.
The white-haired old man explained to Shen Ye how to use it.
After all, this Saint Peppa had an informant in the Undead Race, and that informant seemed to deal only with Peppa.
If Saint Peppa could obtain some confidential intelligence-
As long as he reported it, His Highness the Prince would naturally be generous and openhanded.
Once everything had been explained.
Everyone waved to him, then turned and headed toward the Human Race's Military Camp.
Royal Court Archmage Eudria stayed behind specifically to whisper:
"Saint Peppa, let me tell you, the name Peppa actually represents a secret."
"What secret?" Shen Ye immediately lowered his voice to ask.
"The ancient legends actually contain a secret: Peppa's weapon changed unpredictably. One moment it was a saber or sword, the next a spear or bow, and it could even become strange weapons unknown to humans," Eudria said.
"His equipment was peculiar, so he was called Peppa. Is that it?" Shen Ye murmured.
"You truly deserve to be Saint Peppa. You understand with just a hint!" Eudria marveled.
"Thank you for the compliment," Shen Ye said numbly.
"Remember, you must work hard too. Strive to become a master proficient in all kinds of weapons," Eudria admonished.
"Wait!" Something suddenly occurred to Shen Ye, and he hurriedly asked, "Are there many people named Peppa?"
"Quite a few. I know five myself," Eudria said.
For some reason, Shen Ye breathed a sigh of relief.
Since he was not the only one, that made it much easier to bear.
But another question arose.
"They're all called Peppa? Then how do you tell them apart?" he asked.
"It's actually very easy-"
Eudria recalled, "For example, the people I know are Old Peppa, Little Peppa, Red Peppa, Big Peppa, and Fat Peppa."
Perhaps to encourage him, or perhaps for some other reason, Eudria patted his shoulder and said:
"But Saint Peppa requires a personal appointment from the Kingdom Royal Family, so you're the only one."
"Well, I really must thank you, then," Shen Ye said expressionlessly.
"Keep it up. The prince thinks highly of you." Eudria smiled at him.
She turned her horse and rode off to catch up with the main group in the distance.
Only Saint Peppa and Big Skeleton remained.
Saint Peppa examined the Magic Envelope in his hand.
Inside was a precious sheet of Magic Letter Paper-
Anything written on the magically woven paper would immediately appear on another sheet of Magic Letter Paper in Prince Norton's possession.
It was quite an interesting thing.
Saint Peppa put away the Magic Envelope and picked up the skull.
"We should get going too, Peppa," the skull said casually.
"You're asking to die."
"Huh? Why are you angry?"
"...Don't call me that. Call me Shen Ye. Got it?"
"Got it, Peppa."
"Didn't I tell you to call me Shen Ye? I'm leaving you behind!"
"Wait for me! I was wrong, Peppa!"
"Damn it, can't you remember anything?!"
Saint Peppa headed deep into the forest, kicking the skull along as he went. Only when he reached an extremely secluded spot did he open a gate, kick the skull through first, and then step inside.
He returned to his dorm room.
First things first-
Devour "One of Us."
Shen Ye gave the silent command.
The evaluation entry was instantly devoured.
His Attribute Points went from "7" to "10."
10.
Shen Ye pondered for a while.
He remembered how, when he revealed "3" points of Mental Power, Qian Rushan had been so excited that he signed him on the spot.
If he added his Attribute Points now, his Mental Power could reach "11."
How would Qian Rushan react if he knew?
In any case-
He had done his utmost to complete "One of Us" three times, obtaining "Time Fluid" and three Attribute Points.
That was enough for today.
He would keep working hard at the same time tomorrow.
Shen Ye stretched, ordered a heap of Calcium Supplement Liquid, and then took a shower.
He had just finished showering when the delivery arrived.
It was a good opportunity to change the water in the Fish Tank, then toss in a bunch of turtles for Big Skeleton to gnaw on.
This time, he had teeth and no hole in his head, and he ate happily.
A short, thick section of spine grew out.
It was rather cute.
Shen Ye watched for a while, then could not help rubbing his eyes.
Sleepy.
The clock on the wall already showed six in the morning sharp.
Now.
He could finally rest.
It was already six!
Lights off, lights off. Hurry up and sleep.
He lay in bed, tossing and turning.
He could not fall asleep at all.
After all, far too much had happened over the past day and night.
His shoulders and neck were uncomfortable too.
After fifty-nine minutes of wandering thoughts, Shen Ye finally drifted off to sleep.
Seven o'clock.
Someone knocked.
"Who is it?!" Shen Ye demanded angrily.
"It's me! Hurry up, we're about to leave!" Qian Rushan's voice rang out.