[Accumulate a total increase of 100 points in Physical Constitution to obtain the attribute-Knotted Muscles] [Points currently obtained: 47]
Three hours passed before he knew it.
Only when the text popped up before his eyes did Gu Qing realize how much time had passed.
"It's almost seven, Senior. Let's go eat at the dining hall together."
Xia Shuran wiped the sweat from her face and said, "Sensing and mobilizing your vital energy isn't that easy. It's perfectly normal not to get it in a day. We'll carry on tomorrow."
Gu Qing said, "Sure, let's go eat."
Throughout the entire afternoon, he hadn't let Xia Shuran know that he could mobilize his vital energy.
Back when he thought he was the only one with supernatural powers, he hadn't had so many concerns. He had shown them off whenever he wanted.
But now that he knew supernatural beings might exist in this world, he needed to keep a low profile until he had thoroughly figured out the situation.
He had to be especially careful around Xia Shuran.
Of course, he wasn't guarding against her, but against her family's Old Ancestor.
Gu Qing had no idea how powerful her family's Old Ancestor was, much less what kind of person they were.
What if they're one of those villainous demonic cultivators from cultivation novels, coming out of seclusion after all this time just to find someone to possess? If I reveal my absurd physical talent to them, wouldn't I be a lamb walking into a tiger's jaws?
In any case, everything could wait until he had earned that hulking musclehead attribute, Knotted Muscles.
Only when he was strong enough himself could he look down on everything and fear no threat.
PS: Holding out my bowl, begging for monthly votes and recommendation votes!
Chapter 30: The mysterious killer
The days passed one by one.
Gu Qing's schedule was packed every day.
He studied with Yang Yuntong in the morning.
At noon, he searched all over campus for rats.
In the afternoon, he practiced martial arts with Xia Shuran.
In the evening, he played basketball with Gao Fei.
Perhaps it was because he'd had such a great time gaming together last time, but over the past few days, that doctoral student with the [Biochemical Maniac] tag had approached Gu Qing to team up several days in a row.
To get to know him as quickly as possible and meet the tag's attribute acquisition requirements.
Gu Qing had answered every invitation, using his exceptional gaming skill to carry him through one winning streak after another.
Before he knew it.
Saturday morning had arrived.
Gu Qing woke up bright and early, but instead of immediately getting up to wash, he summoned the panel with a thought and checked his attributes for the first time in a while.
[Name: Gu Qing] [Age: 21] [Devouring (upgradable or fusible): Your digestive ability is greatly enhanced] [Lightning-Fast Reflexes (upgradable or fusible): Your reaction speed is greatly enhanced] [Exceptional Comprehension acquisition progress: 58/100] [Knotted Muscles acquisition progress: 74/100] [Blood Essence Enslavement acquisition progress: 2/100]
Looking over the attribute data above, Gu Qing felt a stir.
My physical constitution has increased by a total of 74 points.
Just 26 more points before I can earn Knotted Muscles.
If I can grind for thirteen hours a day, I'll be able to earn Knotted Muscles this week.
Gao Fei has to spend the weekend with his girlfriend, so he'll barely have any time to play basketball with me.
Hmm, looks like I'll have to work my Junior Schoolmate hard and get her to practice martial arts with me all day.
Gu Qing picked up his phone, opened WeChat, and sent Xia Shuran a message.
[Gu Qing: Hey, are you awake? Want to practice martial arts on the field?]
He waited for over ten minutes.
Xia Shuran still hadn't replied.
It was a little past seven in the morning, and Gu Qing figured her Junior Schoolmate probably hadn't woken up yet.
Since he couldn't find anyone to grind attributes with this early, he might as well go out and look for rats.
He could see if he could gather any useful information and track down that sick cannibal as soon as possible.
Just as he was thinking this.
A red notification dot suddenly appeared on WeChat. Someone had sent him a message.
Thinking his Junior Schoolmate had finally replied, he hurriedly tapped it open.
It turned out not to be the Junior Schoolmate he'd been eagerly waiting for at all, but the [Biochemical Maniac] doctoral student.
[Zhou Yuan: Want to team up?]
Seriously, this doctoral student gets up bright and early and comes looking for me to game instead of doing experiments in the lab. He's really hooked...
Without thinking much of it, Gu Qing quickly replied.
[Gu Qing: Sure, but it'll have to be duo queue. My roommates aren't awake yet.]
[Zhou Yuan: Duo queue works too.]
[Gu Qing: Give me a bit, then. I'll head to an internet café now so I don't make too much noise gaming and wake my roommates.]
[Zhou Yuan: Which internet café are you going to?]
[Gu Qing: Tianqi Internet Café, the one across from campus.]
[Zhou Yuan: I happen to be off campus right now too. Let's meet at Tianqi Internet Café.]
[Gu Qing: Okay, I'll head out now.]
After sending that last message.
Gu Qing got up, washed, put on his shoes, and headed straight off campus.
After walking for about fifteen minutes, he arrived at Tianqi Internet Café.
He found Zhou Yuan already waiting at the entrance, the [Biochemical Maniac] tag floating above his head.
"Yuan, you got here fast."
"Yeah, I happened to be nearby. It was only a short walk."
"Oh, I see..."
Gu Qing nodded, then smiled. "Let's head in and team up, Yuan."
"Let's go!"
Zhou Yuan was itching to play too.
Over the past few days, with Gu Qing carrying him, he had barely lost a single match. He'd been having the time of his life.
He was even willing to sacrifice sleep to get up early and play a few rounds with Gu Qing.
"I probably can't play for too long. Two hours at most."
"No problem, Yuan. Whatever works for your schedule. I'm fine either way."
Gu Qing was very accommodating toward his friends, especially friends who let him grind attributes.
He had been coveting that [Biochemical Maniac] tag above Zhou Yuan's head for ages.
He needed to get close to Zhou Yuan as soon as possible so he could trigger the tag's attribute acquisition mechanism.
As the two chatted and walked into the internet café.
A burly middle-aged man followed them inside and took a seat across from them.
The moment the man entered his field of vision, Gu Qing's attention was drawn to his tag.
-[Killer]
A killer?
Gu Qing was puzzled.
He couldn't understand what a perfectly good killer was doing in an internet café.
Playing games to unwind?
But logically, a killer would never come to a public place like an internet café to relax if he wanted to conceal his whereabouts.
So what's this guy's deal?
Before Gu Qing could dwell on it, the game began.
But he couldn't settle down and focus on the game at all. He kept watching the middle-aged man across from him out of the corner of his eye.
He observed him for nearly an hour.
Seeing that the man was focused on gaming the entire time, without doing anything unusual, it seemed he really had come to the internet café to relax.
Only then did his taut nerves ease a little.
Still, he didn't let his guard down. He kept the man in his peripheral vision, watching his every move.
"Sick!"
"That was way too slick!"
"Holy shit, a solo kill with barely any health left!"
"Take me as your apprentice!"
"Their Rock Golem is so dumb. All the Rock Golems in the world really do share one brain!"
"They don't stand a chance!"
Amid one delighted shout after another.
Two hours passed in a flash.
They played six matches in total, winning all six and crushing the opposing team every time.
Zhou Yuan had thoroughly enjoyed himself. Even as he took off his headset, he couldn't stop smiling.
"That was so much fun. I've got something to take care of later, so I'll head out first. Let's play again another day."
Before leaving, he added:
"Oh, right. You mentioned being pretty interested in the lab. There should be a chance tomorrow afternoon. I'll get in touch then and sneak you inside for a look around."
"Sure, I'll wait to hear from you tomorrow, Yuan."
Gu Qing smiled.
After teaming up with this [Biochemical Maniac] doctoral student so many times, he was finally getting something out of it.
When I visit the lab tomorrow, I have to do an hour of research experiments with him.
Hopefully, by then, we'll know each other well enough to meet the tag's attribute acquisition requirements.
Then I'll be able to find out exactly what attribute the [Biochemical Maniac] tag provides.
"Well, keep playing. I've got things to do, so I'll head off."
As he spoke, Zhou Yuan rose from his gaming chair.
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