Chapter 37: Xia Ling’s Invitation

Xu Han arrived at the city gate.

A number of people were undergoing inspection by the City Guard. He glanced around, intending to enter the city, when a City Guard captain approached with his subordinates.

“Wait!” The captain gestured for him to stop, calling out loudly.

Xu Han halted, turning his head in confusion.

The captain scrutinized Xu Han, as though interrogating a suspect. “If you’ve just returned from outside the city, you must first go to the Investigation Bureau to cooperate with inquiries.”

A City Guard behind him whispered, “Captain, I think this is the guy in the photo.”

The captain took out the photo, glanced at it, and nodded. “Your name is Xu Han, correct?”

Xu Han nodded.

“Then there’s no problem. You can go. If anything comes up, we’ll contact you, but for now, don’t go to the eastern part of the city. Train elsewhere to avoid trouble,” the captain advised.

Xu Han was even more bewildered. “What happened?”

The captain patiently explained, “You didn’t hear about the beast attack on the city today?”

He went on, “The authorities are investigating who was behind it, but you’re not involved, so you can go.”

Xu Han nodded and left straight away.

The others undergoing interrogation were instantly dissatisfied.

“Hey, why does he get to leave? That kid doesn’t look like a good person!”

“Exactly! If you’re investigating, check everyone, not just us!”

“Isn’t it obvious he has connections in the City Guard? You’re letting him go too easily! I suspect the City Guard is linked to whoever’s behind this!”

“That’s right! We strongly protest! We want to report this to the Zhenhai Headquarters! None of you will get away with this!”

“Silence!” The captain’s brows furrowed; he slammed his spear against the ground with a thunderous boom.

The solid concrete cracked instantly, spiderweb fissures spreading across the surface.

Everyone fell silent, not daring to speak.

The captain swept his cold gaze over them and spoke, “You know nothing!”

“This young man is this year’s national college entrance exam top scorer!”

“At his age, he’s already reached level 15!”

“Not only that, he’s been specially admitted to Dragon Kingdom University, and even the City Lord has praised him highly.”

“Anyone admitted through Dragon Kingdom University’s special recruitment has a spotless background!”

“To put it bluntly, I’d believe the City Lord was behind it before I’d believe he was!”

The crowd was dumbfounded.

It was true.

Dragon Kingdom University’s admissions background checks were thorough enough to trace eighteen generations back. The slightest blemish meant no admission.

Xu Han, of course, knew nothing about this.

He hurried home, intending to eat all the beast meat he had collected.

He counted carefully: fifteen types of beast meat.

Ten more to go.

But he wasn’t greedy.

He’d look for the rest tomorrow.

He threw all the meat into a pot and made a hearty stew, devouring it all.

The system prompt sounded.

“Host has consumed Tier One Ironhorn Deer meat for the first time, gaining 10 Strength, 10 Agility.”

“Host has consumed Tier One Earth Magic Rat meat for the first time, gaining 10 Strength, 10 Agility.”

...

“Host has consumed Tier One Thunderwolf meat for the first time, gaining 10 Strength, 10 Constitution.”

“Host has gained Thunderwolf’s skill: Lightning Chain.”

After eating fifteen kinds of beast meat, he’d gained a substantial amount of attribute points.

Xu Han opened his attribute panel.

[Name: Xu Han]
[Race: Human]
[Class: SSS-Rank Gourmet]
[Level: 19]
[Strength: 1120]
[Constitution: 990]
[Agility: 555]
[Mental: 190]

Each attribute had increased by a hundred points. He had also acquired a new skill.

He opened the skill panel.

Lightning Chain Lv.1: Summon a bolt of lightning to attack enemies. The lightning bounces between multiple foes, dealing damage, with a 1% chance to paralyze. Cooldown: 30 seconds.

A crowd attack skill.

Used well, it could prove exceptionally effective.

He opened the Gourmet’s Compendium.

The task bar on the right now read 40/50.

Ten more kinds of beast meat, and he would unlock the next reward tier.

Xu Han tossed a few pieces of meat to his little cub.

The cub ate with delight.

Once it was done, he returned it to the pet space, then headed towards the market.

He intended to sell items he didn’t need, and perhaps buy some necessities.

He went directly to the trading market.

He listed all his unwanted items for sale.

After browsing the stalls, he was about to head home when a woman in a flowing white robe, radiant and spirited, strode up to him.

It was Xia Ling.

“Xu Han, it’s been a while,” Xia Ling greeted him warmly.

Xu Han nodded slightly.

“By the way, are you free tomorrow evening?”

Xia Ling asked suddenly.

Xu Han looked puzzled. “Is something up?”

“I’d like... to invite you to my birthday banquet, if that’s alright?” Xia Ling asked cautiously.

“I saw the notice today—I’ve also been admitted to Dragon Kingdom University! We’ll be classmates now, so I thought we should get acquainted.”

Xu Han considered for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. What time tomorrow, and where?”

Xia Ling’s face lit up with a smile. “At my home. Just take a cab to Rose Garden, my butler will be waiting for you outside.”

Xu Han agreed.

He returned home, lay down to rest, and prepared to continue training the following day.

He hoped to reach level twenty within the next few days, so he could undertake his advancement quest.

Meanwhile.

In a certain villa.

A middle-aged man was feeding a plump eyeball to the black bird before him.

The eyeball, no bigger than a thumb, was swallowed whole by the bird.

With a raspy voice, the bird exclaimed excitedly, “Delicious, delicious...”

Knock, knock, knock...

The door sounded.

The middle-aged man spoke slowly, “Come in.”

A man in black entered, bowing respectfully. “Sire, we’ve just received news.”

“Equipment and items belonging to Dark Zero and his group have appeared on the trading market.”

A flicker of surprise crossed the middle-aged man's eyes. “Oh? Interesting. That fellow actually dared to put those things up for sale?”

“Investigate—find out who the seller is.”

“Since he’s chosen to show himself... let’s grant his wish. Find him, and send him on his way!”

“Yes!” The man in black nodded and left swiftly.

The middle-aged man toyed with the black bird, a cold murderous gleam in his eyes.

...

The next day.

Xu Han tidied up casually and prepared to leave the city.

This time, he chose the west gate.

Beyond the western city lay a river—Hengjiang.

Around Hengjiang were many water-type beasts.

Most of these creatures possessed tough, armor-like shells, resistant to physical attacks.

Few melee classes sought trouble with them.

It was not worth the effort; breaking a beast’s shell could take ages.

But for magic classes, this place was a paradise for leveling up.