Chapter 54: Doubting One’s Own Intelligence
It was called a base, but it was really just a two-hundred-square-meter warehouse.
It was divided into two areas. The section near the main entrance was a training ground, surrounded by some exercise equipment. A few men were sparring shirtless.
It wasn’t just simple hand-to-hand combat; it was mixed with superpower confrontations. The "Hidden Weapon" that had almost flown into Shen Lu’s face just now was an energy ball that one of them had accidentally sent flying off course.
They fought fiercely, with sparks flying. Uncontrolled bursts of energy shot out from time to time, and anyone nearby who wasn’t careful would get caught in the crossfire.
’No wonder Xue Can said, "It’s fine as long as you’re not scared."’ It was indeed a little dangerous for someone like her, who didn’t have any superpowers.
Xue Can led her through the training ground to the office area at the back.
The office area was just a few desks arranged haphazardly, along with a sofa set that seemed to be specifically for receiving guests.
Shen Lu sat on the sofa, curiously watching the men spar with fiery intensity.
Xue Can took off his gloves and sat down across from Shen Lu. He pulled out a cigarette and a lighter, then lit one for himself.
Shen Lu wrinkled her nose. She didn’t like the smell of smoke.
But Xue Can showed no intention of accommodating her, taking a couple of drags on his own.
"Boss Shen, where did you run into this mutant beast?"
Xue Can’s question pulled Shen Lu’s attention back. "Is this really a mutant beast? I seem to remember mutant beasts not looking like this."
The original owner of her body hadn’t paid attention to current events, but she had seen some news about mutant beasts.
In the original owner’s memory, mutant beasts were just mutated animals. But the monster she encountered today had no animalistic features whatsoever.
"These are a new type that appeared recently. You probably haven’t seen the news."
’Shen Lu couldn’t argue with that. She really hadn’t seen the news, mainly because she had nowhere to watch it.’
"I ran into it in the Fifteenth District. I was passing an alley when it suddenly grabbed my bag." Shen Lu tried hard to recall. "Aren’t mutant beasts only supposed to be outside the city? The urban area has a protective wall, so how did it get in?"
"I don’t know. You’d have to ask the government about that."
Just as they were speaking, the main door opened and a few people in police uniforms walked in.
Xue Can went over to negotiate with the cigarette dangling from his mouth. Less than two minutes later, the police left, and Xue Can sat back down on the sofa.
"Were they here to deal with the mutant beast?" Shen Lu asked.
"Yeah. They wanted me to hand over the mutant beast. I refused."
"Why? Are you going to keep it for research?"
Xue Can glanced at the girl, whose face was filled with curiosity. "Because I can sell it for money."
When the police catch a mutant beast, handing it over counts toward their performance metrics. When his group catches one and delivers it to a research institute, they can get a sum of money.
Why would they hand over something they could make money from to the police? In this new era, the police had long since lost their original meaning. Only civilians with no ability to protect themselves held any reverence for them.
After finishing his cigarette, Xue Can rubbed the bridge of his nose and started to discuss payment with Shen Lu.
"Boss Shen, I saved you again today. Shouldn’t you thank me?"
He posed it as a question, but his tone was that of a statement.
Xue Can never did anything for free. Even if subduing the mutant beast hadn’t taken much effort, he had, in fact, saved Shen Lu’s life.
"How many Star Coins does Mr. Xue want?"
"I don’t want Star Coins. If it’s convenient, just get me some more food."
’He couldn’t do without the food Shen Lu made anymore. After eating it for days on end, he even felt signs that his Spiritual Sea was slowly improving.’
"That’s no problem. I sell a lot of things now: mint water, egg waffles, Malatang, fried rice and noodles, and braised dishes. Just tell me what you want in advance so I can prepare."
"I’ll come by tomorrow to take a look."
"Okay."
Shen Lu pounded her legs a bit and glanced at the sky outside. It had grown completely dark. ’She needed to go back.’
Xue Can sensed her thoughts, stood up, and said, "Let’s go. I’ll walk you back."
Shen Lu stood up as well. "Sorry to trouble you, Mr. Xue."
Xue Can said, seemingly nonchalantly, "No trouble. Even without me, Boss Shen would be able to get home safely, wouldn’t she?"
’Shen Lu was confused. What was he implying with that cryptic remark?’
Seeing the flash of confusion on her face, a dark glint flickered in the depths of Xue Can’s eyes.
This was Shen Lu’s first time walking outside at night. The streetlights in the Lower City District were dim, and she had to focus to see the path under her feet.
The two walked in silence, and the quiet atmosphere made Shen Lu feel inexplicably creeped out.
But she didn’t know how to start a conversation with Xue Can, so she could only complain to her system in secret.
Shen Lu: "I was scared to death today! Don’t you guys have any kind of protection for novice players?"
[Why don’t you try a draw, Host? The blind box lottery machine should have something.]
Shen Lu: "You’re actually making me rely on luck? You guys are so cold-blooded. It’s outrageous."
System: ...
Shen Lu: "Who asked me to be the chosen unlucky soul? Guess I have no choice but to draw."
Grumbling to herself, Shen Lu used the Lottery Ticket she had received as a reward for completing today’s task.
[Congratulations, Host, you have drawn prize #200 from the blind box: 100% Damage Reflection.]
[100% Damage Reflection: When the Host is attacked by an external force, a protective barrier will automatically activate, reflecting 100% of the damage received, achieving the effect of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.]
[Note: This ability can be used three times a day. It resets at midnight.]
Shen Lu: (ノ￣▽￣)
’Excuse me, I take back what I just said. Tongzi, you guys aren’t cold-blooded at all. You’re the best Tongzi in the world!’
The young woman beside him must have thought of something amusing, as she suddenly let out a chuckle.
Xue Can’s gaze shifted down, his eyes probing.
’Is there really a master protecting Shen Lu?’
Ever since saving Shen Lu just now, Xue Can had been pondering this question.
’If there really was someone, why didn’t they appear when she was being chased by the mutant beast?’
’Is Shen Lu, as he suspected, some young heiress out here to experience life?’
’If so, after Ma Laosan caused trouble for her last time, would she really have let them off so easily?’
’A young heiress this kind and soft-hearted... she’d be a rare sight indeed.’
’At any rate, it was the first time he’d ever seen one.’
’Then could he have misunderstood?’
’Xue Can narrowed his eyes. What if that unseen master wasn’t protecting Shen Lu at all, but was just some passerby who liked to meddle?’
’That seemed more logical.’
’In that case, if Shen Lu has no backing whatsoever, then he could...’
When they reached the entrance to the Seventeenth District, Shen Lu stopped and turned to thank Xue Can.
"Mr. Xue, thank you for walking me back. It’s getting late, you should head back soon too."
’Shen Lu was still a bit wary of Xue Can. Unlike Wang Daguo, Cai Su, and the others, he wasn’t an ordinary person.’
’He had a superpower and could control her life and death at will. She wasn’t sure if her stun gun would even work on him. It was better not to let him get to know her too well.’
The streets at night were very quiet, with a deathly silent air.
Xue Can’s hand, wreathed in flames, was glaringly bright in the darkness. To Shen Lu’s wide-eyed shock, he suddenly grabbed her wrist.
But the next second, the fire flared violently, piercing through Xue Can’s own palm. The smell of burnt human flesh filled the air.
Xue Can gritted his teeth against the pain and let go of her hand.
’Dammit.’
’For the first time, he began to question his own intelligence.’