Chapter Fifty-Six: My Little Darling

As they walked past the end of the street and turned onto another road, a delicious aroma drifted toward them.

"I’ve been to this place once with my classmates," Zhang Xiaorou said, her mood much improved since they left the bookstore. Perhaps her appetite had returned, for she sounded enthusiastic. "The signature dish here at Fragrant Sesame Pavilion is roast tailless rabbit from the meadows ten miles east of the city. Rabbit meat is really tasty."

"Is it a fearsome beast?" Xiao Nan suddenly felt uneasy, a hint of embarrassment flashing across his face.

He patted the few bills in the pocket of his trousers—pocket money Tan Qiuyi had given him just that morning. For an ordinary meal, it would be more than enough, but if it was meat from a fierce beast, he probably couldn’t even afford a taste.

"No," Zhang Xiaorou glanced at him, amused, as if she could read his thoughts. "It’s not expensive at all. Those silly rabbits just grow really big—each can reach twenty or thirty jin—and they’re not aggressive in the least."

Though it was mealtime, the barbecue restaurant wasn’t very crowded. Occasionally, a customer would enter, but most took their food to go.

They found a table near the corner of the room, and only after the waiter brought tea did Xiao Nan finally relax.

By now, the pain from his broken arm and the bruising in his chest and abdomen had quietly faded away. He squeezed his forearm and found there was little discomfort left.

"It seems that earlier optimization of my body was comprehensive… from bones to muscles, even tendons and blood vessels have changed, and all my injuries have healed."

He wasn’t sure what kind of deep transformation had occurred, but overall, it was a pleasant surprise.

"Well, not without side effects—I feel hungrier and hungrier!"

Xiao Nan thought he could devour an entire cow. He forced himself to look away from the sizzling, juicy chunks of meat on the grill and took a sip of tea, trying to quell the hunger burning inside him.

He looked around, hoping to distract himself.

At a distant table, a couple were feeding each other, exchanging smiles now and then—a sight that was almost blinding.

Xiao Nan winced and quickly averted his gaze. In one corner of the restaurant, a TV was broadcasting the midday news. The announcer, with her precise diction and gleaming white teeth, was talking about the college entrance exams.

“…According to the forestry department, this spring’s abundant rainfall has caused wild grasses and plants to experience another round of explosive growth… Experts have raised concerns that these conditions resemble the early signs of the second Origin Tide outbreak a decade ago. There are fears that Origin Energy may surge again.

A friendly reminder: with such rampant vegetation, it’s possible that wild beasts may mutate and local beast tides might erupt… Citizens leaving the city should exercise caution and remain vigilant of their surroundings.”

The outbreak of the Origin Tide was a major event Xiao Nan remembered well.

The first outbreak was the invasion from another world; the second saw Earth produce a wave of powerful martial artists, public fervor running high, and the authorities launching a counter-offensive.

Of course, that campaign ended in defeat.

If a third outbreak was brewing, who could say if it would be for better or worse?

“…Education is the foundation of a nation, the root of a strong people… This year, all major universities have announced plans to expand enrollment. According to Fang Wensheng, director of admissions at Lijiang College, the martial arts entrance exam this year will have a slightly lower threshold for local students.”

Origin Tide surging, universities expanding enrollment—was something monumental brewing?

Xiao Nan looked out the window at the bustling crowds, people moving through their own worlds, seemingly oblivious to any sense of urgency or danger. He couldn’t help but reflect: the world of martial artists and that of ordinary people, it was as if they inhabited two separate societies.

Not far away, just two streets over, beastmen had appeared in the “Wenhua Garden” bookstore. Yet here, on the street, people still walked their cats and dogs, men and women strolled about, everything peaceful and serene.

Perhaps the comfort and safety of the people was the true value of martial artists’ existence.

…

Zhang Xiaorou, brimming with energy, was flipping through a bestiary she’d brought from the bookstore—ever the model student, never forgetting to study.

After getting the shopkeeper to bring her some water to wipe away the dust, her skin glowed rosy and fresh, the very picture of youthful vitality.

Suddenly, Xiao Nan realized he’d overlooked something.

"Xiaorou, when things got dangerous earlier, did you call your dad for help?"

"Oh!" Zhang Xiaorou looked up blankly, her mouth forming a surprised ‘O.’

She fumbled in her small purse, pulling out her phone, muttering in a stream, "Oh no, I forgot all about it. Dad’s probably worried sick."

Xiao Nan was speechless.

The call connected, and before she could speak, a hoarse, exhausted voice came through, urgent: "I just rushed back to the city—I’m almost to Evergreen Road. Sweetheart, are you alright?"

"I’m fine, Dad. I’ll wait a bit before heading home to cook. Don’t worry." Zhang Xiaorou stuck out her tongue, shrinking back in embarrassment, looking rather comical. "The beastman was killed—Xiao Nan was amazing."

It seemed "amazing" was the only adjective she knew.

"Zhang Xiaorou, listen to me. If you ever find yourself in a situation like that again, run, as far as you can. And another thing, stop hanging around that boy—he’s a walking disaster, nothing but trouble every time you’re together…"

She hadn’t put the phone on speaker, but Xiao Nan’s keen ears picked up every word. He quickly took another sip of tea to steady himself.

He could tell: Zhang Yi, on the other end, was brimming with resentment.

Most likely, it was the anger of a father whose precious daughter had been ‘snatched away,’ leading him to blurt out such nonsense.

"Dad, what are you talking about? This was just an accident—who could have expected trouble in a bookstore?" Remembering she was the one who’d recommended the shop to Xiao Nan, Zhang Xiaorou felt a twinge of guilt, thinking her father was being unreasonably overbearing.

"Tell me, what kind of beastman did you encounter? The city’s been unsettled lately—I have no idea how those creatures managed to get in."

"It looked like a bear, huge and ferocious, and it ate people."

"Bearman?" The voice on the other end shot up in pitch and then fell silent for a moment. "Enough, it’s all over the news. Come home now. And I’m warning you again, Zhang Xiaorou, stop hanging around that boy…"

As he finished, there were some muffled voices in the background, and the call abruptly disconnected.

Xiao Nan’s memory had become exceptionally sharp; he recognized the voices beside Zhang Yi—one was a voluptuous woman he’d once seen practicing archery, the other the knife-wielding youth with a voice like a thin monkey.

Had they just returned from hunting beasts outside the city?

Zhang Xiaorou pouted, clearly displeased. How could anyone blame Xiao Nan for what happened? Then she remembered the mention of the TV.

She looked up toward the corner of the shop, recognizing the broadcast.

The news anchor wore a somber expression, speaking gravely.

"We now break with this report on the incident at the ‘Wenhua Garden Bookstore’ on Evergreen Road…

A total of ten people died at the scene. Fortunately, the beastman was slain on the spot and did not escape. We must thank the anonymous student from Yuanjiang No.1 Martial Arts High School.

Eyewitnesses say that the student, who was also buying books at the time, did not hesitate to confront the beastman when it attacked, risking life and limb to win the battle…"