Chapter 152 A Pie Falls from the Sky (First Update)
The person who came to offer a toast reeked of alcohol and had clearly drunk quite a bit, but after swaying a couple of times, he still recognized the name tag.
He quickly forced a smile, "Excuse me!"
After saying that, he turned and left, muttering to himself, "Good heavens, Instructor Red Pine?"
The Red Pine Martial Academy doesn't have a particularly large influence in Tianjing, but its base isn't far from here.
Even after returning home, this person couldn't keep his mouth shut and revealed Daiqisi's identity.
The people at the surrounding tables didn't find it strange either; there were just too many Knight in Tianjing. However, no one bothered them anymore.
Wu Youren always eats very quickly, but today he was trying to relax and enjoy this rare moment of leisure.
Even so, half an hour later, he was 90% full.
Most martial artists have springy bellies; in extreme cases, they can easily eat until they are 12 or 13 tenths full.
Seeing that Daiqisi had only drunk a little over a liter, he slowed down even more, chatting with her casually.
His main purpose was to inquire about the " World-Left Weapon," since he wondered how he could have had a chance if the other party hadn't been drunk.
Just then, three more people walked into the restaurant: one woman and two men, who looked very capable.
The waiter timidly indicated that they were about to close, but the other party said, "Hurry up and make it, we can take it to go!"
On Wu Youren's shoulder, the Toad Glasses that had been on the verge of death suddenly tightened its grip.
The boy glanced at it, thought for a moment, and then subtly released his senses.
The next moment, his expression changed slightly, and he looked at Daiqisi, making a subtle gesture.
The female instructor's eyes, which had been somewhat dazed, instantly snapped back to reality upon seeing the gesture.
Her lips twitched, and she slurred, "Are you serious?"
Wu Youren nodded. "Of course, I never lie."
"You've lied quite a bit," Daiqisi said with a half-smile, her hand unconsciously stroking her wristwatch.
"There's no need to say that," Wu Youren shook his head. "Why don't we leave now?"
"Let's wait a bit," the female instructor said, somewhat unwilling. The appearance of the Weird Race in the bustling downtown area of Tianjing was definitely no small matter.
The boy didn't want her to notify anyone, and even wanted to actively distance herself from the vortex—how could that be?
This has little to do with a sense of justice; it's mainly because the reward is generous!
"You've drunk this much," Wu Youren said speechlessly, rubbing his forehead.
He was willing to kill the wild Weird Race, but those from Tianjing —he didn't care whether he killed them or not.
"Then I'll call Manna to help me," Daiqisi eyes sparkling. "You won't have a chance tonight, though."
"Okay," Wu Youren picked up the cup beside him. "Please, I only drink milk, what could I possibly have done to me?"
Daiqisi sent a message using her wristwatch, and two minutes later, Manna walked in.
"You two are really something," she said angrily. "I wasn't involved in the meal, but you only think of me when you've had too much to drink?"
"It's ready, it's ready," Wu Youren said, pointing to a waiter. "Bring the food boxes over."
The three walked out of the restaurant, turned the corner, and immediately saw Hong Da standing there with a cold face, his short boots stepping on the one-eyed middle-aged man.
Her deep, husky voice was languid, but it couldn't hide her anger.
"I'll let you off the hook, but tell me, how many horses have I let go of—are you planning to open a horse farm at home?"
The previously defiant middle-aged man could only smile bitterly and reply in a low voice, " Hong Da, I had no choice in the matter."
"That's what you said when you dragged me, Instructor Red Pine, into the casino," Instructor Hong sneered.
"I'm just asking you, are you capable of cooperating?"
"Yes, there must be!" The one-eyed man lay on the ground, nodding repeatedly. "My life is worthless, but I don't want to die."
Instructor Hong gestured with his chin toward the Namuzha beside him, "Take him first, then go kill those brats!"
" Hong Da," the one-eyed man struggled a couple of times, "It's not winter yet! That's my winter rations!"
Upon hearing this, Wu Youren's eyelids twitched involuntarily.
But the Instructor Hong's face remained expressionless. "If they don't die, you will!"
Namuzha led his men away, Hong Yan turned his head and asked, " Weird Transformation or invasion?"
Daiqisi couldn't answer the question, so she could only look at the boy.
To avoid alerting the other party, she didn't dare to release her senses.
Wu Youren thought for a moment before answering, "It feels like... I picked up a little bit somewhere."
"So that's it!" Instructor Hong nodded slightly, then narrowed his eyes and stood there motionless.
Wu Youren could sense a faint fluctuation in the space, and he was slightly startled.
He had previously experienced Hong Da's perception abilities; they possessed a certain degree of pressure and some penetrating power.
It's that feeling of being "seen through from top to bottom".
In addition, there was a faint feeling of suffocation, or rather, palpitations.
Not only the Chief Instructor Hong, but the perception process of the other Great Knight felt similar.
The object being perceived usually gives rise to the feeling that "something is watching me".
The only difference is strength or weakness.
But this time, Hong Da was clearly also sensing the other party, though he was much more discreet.
Wu Youren secretly reminded himself that not only had he become stronger, but others were also making steady progress.
The path of cultivation is truly like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall behind. Even if you have special advantages, you can't afford to be complacent!
Instructor Hong only sensed for three or four seconds before dispelling the state and looking at Daiqisi.
At this moment, the female instructor was no longer drunk; her eyes shone like morning stars.
"You—" Instructor Hong frowned, then shook his head helplessly, "You're reckless with alcohol, is that all you're capable of?"
"We've been cooped up in the Weird Domain for too long," Daiqisi replied nonchalantly. "Making our move now will definitely be fine."
"It's nothing serious," Hong Da said casually. "Just a few gutter bugs, but they should be on their guard."
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged Knight nodded thoughtfully. "Those degenerate lunatics?"
A depraved madman? Wu Youren knew this; to put it more vividly, he was a heretical cultivator within the Knight system.
In the formal system, blood-eating mainly involves dietary supplementation. There are times when wild animals are eaten raw, but certain foods would have their efficacy greatly reduced if cooked.
These heretical cultivators not only primarily consume raw food, but more importantly, they also eat humans, and even primarily consume humans.
Besides these, there are other differences, which I won't go into detail about.
In short, they are heretical cultivators, and most people call them Fallen Knight, a group that everyone in Liang hates.
"No," Instructor Hong shook his head, thought for a moment, and replied, "They worship the Weird Race."
"Damn it," the middle-aged Knight muttered, a curse escaping his lips, "Didn't they kill them all and sever the lineage?"
Manna blinked. "A fallen... Ability User?"
"Yes," Hong Da nodded, "As long as humanity still has ambitions, they can't be wiped out. We can slowly try to pass on the legacy."
Then she looked at the boy, "You've met Ershan from the Intelligence Agency; the route he took was very likely the middle one."
Even after he killed that guy, the Intelligence Agency didn't react negatively! Wu Youren nodded slightly, without saying a word.
"It's not appropriate for us to get involved in this matter," Instructor Hong said, unusually speaking so much, and there was a reason for it.
Red Pine is just Martial Academy; matters involving public order are handled by the government's relevant agencies.
The main issue is that it involves a wide range of aspects, not just the arrest process, but also the possibility that there is a large organization behind the perpetrator.
Daiqisi indicated that she could accept it, and the boy remained silent.
Wu Youren was somewhat interested in participating – mainly to see how the experience points would be awarded.
However, Hong Da had already made his decision; he didn't want to be the first to oppose it.
" The City Guard Bureau has senior students from Red Pine," Instructor Hong, walking to the side and making a contact using his communication wristwatch.
The one who deserves to be addressed as "senior" by her is undoubtedly the Great Knight.
This is no small achievement, so she definitely has to consider it and can't let anyone embezzle it.
After making the contact, she turned around and instructed, "Everyone, cooperate in keeping watch. Daiqisi, go back. You'll get your reward."
The female instructor was still a little reluctant, Hong Da snorted coldly, "It was originally Little Wu's credit, but you're getting it all credited? You're losing out?"
Daiqisi realized what was happening, "I just want a minor one."
"You're at a crucial moment," Instructor Hong casually remarked. " Little Wu, just give me a perfect mission next year, any problem?"
She said the last sentence to the boy.
"No problem," Wu Youren answered readily, a hint of a smile in his clear eyes.
He wants the reward from the Liang government—what good is that? Is he trying to deliberately incite hatred against the Hostage Prince Corps?
It was a promise from Hong Da that he would help him complete next year's tasks ahead of schedule, giving him more free time. This was a very thoughtful reward.
After Daiqisi left, Instructor Hong asked the boy again, "How did you realize something was wrong?"
Wu Youren firmly believes that he can't display any more supernatural abilities; he's already been high-profile enough, isn't he?
So he directly stated that it was the baby bird on his shoulder that sensed something was wrong.
This guy hasn't eaten for over a day, and he's tried everything to feed him but to no avail. He might die any minute now.
"Is that so?" Hong Da a skeptical gaze.
She knew the boy didn't want to be high-profile, and she understood that, but wasn't this excuse a bit too far-fetched?
"Master," Manna spoke up, "This fledgling comes from the Weird Domain; it might really be able to sense things."
"It seems—" Instructor Hong pondered for a moment, then spoke uncertainly, "... it seems like it could be trained into a spirit!"
"It won't eat anything," the boy said helplessly, spreading his hands. "Whether it will survive today is another matter entirely."
"I'll ask around for you in a bit," Instructor Hong casually said. "If we can train him, he'll be a good helper."
As soon as she finished speaking, a figure suddenly appeared, along with a strong smell of alcohol.
A middle-aged man with a full beard arrived, panting as he asked, " Little Hong, where is she?"
Upon hearing this, Instructor Hong raised an eyebrow. "What did you call me?"
" Instructor Hong, Hong Da Sister Yan!" The bearded man bowed and spoke with a fawning smile.
"I was halfway through my drink when I ran over here. You're truly my savior!"
Chapter 153 Playing it Cool (Second Update)
The Instructor Hong sized up the bearded man, "Can you manage alone?"
"My men are all on their way," the visitor replied with a smile, "And I've also booked some help. We'll decide whether to call them over depending on the situation."
"Mainly, I need to confirm the situation first. Don't worry, since you thought of me first, you'll definitely get something out of it!"
Wu Youren was somewhat speechless: Was the City Guard Bureau's KPI assessment really this strict?
"Don't give me that nonsense," Instructor Hong said unmoved. "If you don't take credit for yourself, then you have any conscience at all."
"How could that be?" The bearded man patted his chest. " Red Pine's informant was recruited by me!"
This person was quite straightforward, directly outlining the terms—a truly win-win situation.
After confirming the location, the bearded man took out a round plate and waved it at the group.
"I'll give it a try. I'll trouble you all to keep an eye on things."
Shortly after, he confirmed via his wristwatch that it belonged to the Fallen Ability User System.
He's just a nobody, probably just running errands; he needs to keep an eye on the big fish.
With that, Red Pine and his group had completed their mission, and they turned to head back to their lodgings.
Namuzha appeared just in time, dragging the middle-aged, one-eyed man along. " Hong Da, it's done."
"Hmm," Hong Yan waved his hand, "Let him go. Remember to send intelligence to Red Pine on time. If you fail to do so, I'll chop you into pieces next time!"
Back in the courtyard, everyone shared the dinner Wu Youren had brought back before going to their rooms.
Luo Xi had already eaten dinner, just a little something else, but his main interest was in the baby bird.
If this thing can detect Weird Qi, it will be a real help in the future.
But just as Wu Youren said, this little guy really doesn't eat anything.
Luo Xi specially prepared some fresh meat to feed him, which the Toad Glasses swallowed and then spat out.
An hour later, Instructor Hong stood in the second-floor corridor and beckoned the boy to come out.
She consulted someone about how to cultivate a creature with potential into a spirit, and even compiled some clues.
The two-and-a-half-story building was a single-story structure. The two people looked at the night view of Tianjing and talked in hushed tones.
When Wu Youren heard that he could try feeding the baby birds with powder made from Resentment Qi Crystal, he was instantly petrified.
Considering that the Toad Glasses did indeed attempt to swallow the Weird-Repelling Jue, he felt that this suggestion might have some merit.
But that's the Resentment Qi Crystal —could there be any more wasteful birdseed?
He has now escaped abject poverty, but he is only slightly better off financially.
Forget financial freedom, we're barely even making ends meet!
"Why don't you give it a try?" Instructor Hong handed him a small bottle.
"This is Weird Lure. If Resentment Qi Crystal work, it should work too—you haven't tried feeding it this before, have you?"
The boy could only manage a wry smile, not even taking the bottle. "Why would I try this? I simply can't afford it!"
"It's just a fledgling, it won't eat much," Instructor Hong replied casually. "This is just supplementary food, not the main course."
"I think it's still too expensive," Wu Youren glanced at the Toad Glasses on his shoulder. " Hong Da, how about I sell it to you?"
Giving gifts is out of the question. We must fight for the interests we deserve. The Liang really don't know how to be polite. We must make things clear.
"Sell?" Instructor Hong was a little taken aback. Do you know how much others are willing to pay to get in touch with me?
Forget it, she's just a pathetic creature who's been raised in captivity since childhood! She couldn't be bothered to argue with her.
"If you want to sell it for a good price, you'll need to figure out the feeding routine."
"A young beast with the potential to become a spirit or monster commands an astonishing price," a voice sounded behind the two.
The speaker was the middle-aged Knight, who was quite knowledgeable. "If I were you, I would definitely give it a try."
He wasn't the only one listening in from behind.
The disciplinary inspector also spoke up, "Many Ability User like to keep spirits as companions; they don't consider the costs."
"If you're not willing to try, then I'll give it a shot," Manna said most enthusiastically. "Anyway, the bird is yours, Weird Lure is your master's."
of."
"Hmm," Wu Youren nodded, "He's the type who loves watching the drama unfold, right?"
Manna turned around and took out a strip of meat with some broth on it from the house—a dish that the young man had brought back for everyone.
Weird Lure are dangerous. Once you get them on you, the smell is hard to remove and takes at least half a day to dissipate naturally.
Even though we're in the city of Tianjing right now, it's best to avoid taking unnecessary risks.
She poured the Weird Lure onto one end of the meat strip, just a tiny pinch, roughly equivalent to—an eyelash?
"I just fed it," Luo Xi said, "But it won't even eat."
However, before Manna could hand over the meat strips, the Toad Glasses opened his mouth wide and started chirping incessantly.
"What the heck!" Wu Youren stared in astonishment. Since leaving the military camp, the Toad Glasses hadn't made a sound at all.
As soon as the meat strip approached, the Toad Glasses stretched out its neck and took the meat strip into its mouth.
The meat strips were about the thickness of an index finger, the length of two finger joints, and about five centimeters long. In a restaurant in Liang, this size was already considered quite refined.
The fledgling bird, no bigger than a palm, stretched its neck twice and swallowed the meat strip whole in one gulp!
"Wow—" Luo Xi exclaimed in astonishment, "It's opened its eyes, but we'll have to see if it throws up."
Everyone stared at each other, waiting for quite a while, including Chief Instructor Hong.
Seven or eight minutes later, the middle-aged Knight spoke up, "Looks like there's no problem. Just for this one bite, this little bird starts at a hundred gold!"
One hundred gold coins equals ten thousand silver dollars. The key is that the meat strips have Weird Lure on them, so this bald little bird can be swallowed whole in one gulp.
He offered a balanced opinion, but unexpectedly, a gaze swept over him, seemingly cold and sharp.
When he looked back, the other person had already looked away; it seemed like his imagination had just been playing tricks on him.
The middle-aged Knight was a little puzzled: What did that look from Namuzha mean?
"Ten thousand it is," Manna said without hesitation. "It can detect Weird Qi and has amazing potential. Will you sell it?"
"What are you selling?" someone slurred, but it was Daiqisi spoke up. "Not selling, keeping them."
She had received substantial benefits, so naturally she wanted to stand up for the boy. "You can afford to buy him, but you can't afford to raise him, so why bother?"
"I bought it for my master; it'll be a good helper," Manna replied casually. "My master will take good care of it, right?"
The Instructor Hong looked at her, both amused and exasperated. "What nonsense are you spouting!"
" Little Wu, I suggest giving it to Hong Da," Namuzha said, "It's good for you!"
Interestingly, as he said this, his left cheek was twitching, the spasming muscles indicating that he was not at peace.
"Well... alright," Wu Youren hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
In his heart, he had already sentenced someone to death—if he couldn't have them, he didn't want them to be mine either. What did I do to deserve this?
"No, I can't afford to lose face like that!" Instructor Hong said decisively.
Then she snorted coldly, "Young birds recognizing their parents? I suggest you think twice before you buy!"
She's absolutely right. Among wild animals, most birds are very difficult to tame.
Or one could say that easily tamed birds were already tamed by our ancestors long ago.
"Really? I'll give it a try," Manna reached out and grabbed the Toad Glasses on the boy's shoulder.
Wu Youren didn't move his shoulder, but simply said, "I'm willing to sell, starting at three hundred gold coins."
Regardless of whether he can sell it for that price, he has to show that he's not someone to be bullied.
"Three hundred gold coins?" Luo Xi looked at him in astonishment. Have you forgotten who you are?
"You're being a bit argumentative," Namuzha chimed in, but his voice was quickly drowned out by the noise.
Manna reached out and scratched him a couple of times, only to find that this little guy was incredibly stubborn, clinging tightly to the boy's shoulders and refusing to let go.
She can certainly use brute force, but if she breaks a claw or something, the penalty is at least a hundred gold.
"Wait until I take off my clothes!" Wu Youren couldn't take it anymore. The first time he got rid of his Toad Glasses, he had to take off his clothes to do so.
"You bird—your clothes are in the way, take them off!" Manna was also a little impatient, her voice a bit loud, "I'm afraid I'll ruin them."
A flurry of clothing rustled in the wind as more than a dozen martial artists leaped out from downstairs, peering up at the first floor. "What are you doing?" they asked.
Although Daiqisi had drunk quite a bit, she was quick-witted and nimbly turned off the corridor light. "What do you want to see?"
The next moment, intermittent sounds came from upstairs, a woman's voice saying, "Why is this bird so listless?"
"Don't try it, this shouldn't be yours!" another female voice said.
"Don't make it vomit, or none of us will be able to play with it anymore," it was actually a male voice!
Upon hearing this, the martial artists downstairs exchanged strange glances.
Finally, someone couldn't hold back any longer, "Is this the main branch of Red Pine? Holy crap—are they going for something this fancy?"
"Screw you!" a hoarse, husky voice rang out. "Get back here, we're training birds!"
"I know you're training birds!" The one who spoke was quick-witted and also the fastest to run, disappearing back into his room in a flash.
Putting aside these irrelevant reactions, the final test results are in: the Toad Glasses really only recognized the young man from the Jin!
It seems fine if someone else feeds it, but if you try to hold it in your hand or put it on your shoulder, the little guy will run away.
Don't let its Toad Glasses, tiny paws, and two short, bare wings fool you; when it gets restless, it can be incredibly persistent.
Strangely, the Toad Glasses, with only a tiny slit that barely allowed light to pass through, were able to precisely lock onto the boy.
Even if Wu Youren is two or three meters away, it can still stumble and stagger after him on the ground.
Even Hong Da was amazed. She had killed countless lives, yet she made an exception and asked a question.
How did it recognize you?
Wu Youren felt there was nothing wrong with talking about it, so he recounted the events of that time.
Of course, he wouldn't mention that he was on guard against a possible sneak attack; he would simply say that he had a stitch and had to rest.
"I treat you like my own bird!" Hong Da said, then turned and went back to his room.
"Wow, your luck is incredible," Luo Xi exclaimed, looking at the boy with awe. "You're unbelievable."