4: Settlement Rewards

Shen Bei also saw Professor Gu Xinrou's face cloud over as soon as she answered the phone.

"Teacher, what's wrong?"

Professor Gu Xinrou put away her phone, her expression frozen. She stood up, then gracefully sat back down. Although her posture was quiet and elegant, a cloud of worry was visible between her brows.

She said gravely, "My brother is back."

Shen Bei tilted his head.

He had heard of Professor Gu Xinrou's brother, who seemed to be named Gu Changfeng.

He was a public security officer in Lingnan City, a Second-Rank Martial Artist.

In a small place like Changtu County, he could be said to have considerable prestige and no small amount of strength.

But if Gu Changfeng was returning from the city, why was Professor Gu Xinrou so worried?

Soon, Shen Bei learned of a shocking major case.

Professor Gu Xinrou spoke again, "My brother is back on official business this time, pursuing an outer member of the Headhunter Tribe."

Hearing this, Shen Bei took a deep breath, suppressing his suddenly quickening heartbeat.

Headhunter Tribe!

This was a world-renowned Advanced assassin organization.

It was said that the top tier of the organization had Eight Great Killers, who roamed every corner of the world.

As long as the money was in place, there was no one they dared not kill!

At the same time, the Headhunter Tribe was also the target of encirclement and suppression by various countries.

But the Eight Great Killers were exceptionally mysterious, appearing and disappearing without a trace.

There was even debate about what they looked like.

As long as the Eight Great Killers lived, the Headhunter Tribe was like weeds, unburnable and endlessly regenerating.

And to become a member of the Headhunter Tribe, the most direct test was to kill!

Even in some small countries, their presence was felt every time a regime was overthrown.

It could be said that every member was an elite among Martial Artists.

And most of these members came from unconventional backgrounds.

Their Martial Skill fighting styles were extremely mysterious and unpredictable, constantly changing.

Their routines were flexible, not rigid.

They were extremely difficult to deal with.

According to unreliable rumors, among the Eight Great Killers, there was a Martial Artist named Nine Lives Raven, who loved collecting the faces of handsome men.

Each face was made into a specimen and displayed in a secret room.

Whenever students discussed the terrifying figure of Nine Lives Raven, they were all filled with dread.

Shen Bei even had the urge to disfigure himself.

At this moment, Shen Bei asked with a question, "Could it be that this outer member has fled to our Changtu County?"

Professor Gu Xinrou nodded, "It's rare for your brain to have a bright moment."

You're just insulting me... I'm the kind of person neighbors say, "This child is very smart, he just doesn't put his mind to studying"!

However, Shen Bei didn't want to argue with Professor Gu Xinrou about his intelligence, fearing that Professor Gu Xinrou would drag his intelligence down to her level and then defeat him with her rich experience.

Teachers, after all, were very good at that sort of thing.

Shen Bei asked bluntly, "Even if a criminal has fled here, Teacher, you don't need to be so nervous, do you?"

"It's not that simple."

Professor Gu Xinrou's lips, like solidified cream, pursed slightly, and with a troubled expression between her brows, she continued:

"My brother said that this criminal seems to love brutally murdering 18-year-old boys and girls, digging out their hearts to refine medicine. It's said to replenish Qi and blood and prolong life."

Hearing this, Shen Bei felt a chill.

He also understood why Teacher Professor Gu Xinrou was so extremely nervous.

All the students at First High School who were about to take the Martial Arts Exam were eighteen years old!

In other words, including Shen Bei himself, many students were potential targets for this criminal.

If this criminal was not apprehended soon, it would likely cause city-wide panic and pose a fatal threat to the students.

As for whether refining medicine from 18-year-old hearts had any effect, that was a matter of much debate.

It was like geoduck; you say this thing is a great tonic for the 'little brother'...

Who knows if it really works.

It was also possible that it was more of a psychological effect.

Professor Gu Xinrou's home visit was very short.

She had to rush back to school to discuss with the principal whether to close the entire school.

This was to prevent students from encountering misfortune on their way home from school.

At the same time, Professor Gu Xinrou also warned Shen Bei to keep his mouth shut, stating that if the news leaked, Shen Bei would face severe consequences.

Shen Bei clicked his tongue. What a joke, this kind of thing was scary even in dreams, who would be bored enough to spread it around?

After Professor Gu Xinrou left, Shen Bei washed up.

He got into bed, pulled back his small quilt, and snuggled in.

He pulled out his phone.

He happily scrolled through videos.

Shen Bei had cultivated this video account for a long time, so big data had accurately identified his preferences.

A beautiful Young Miss was provocatively dancing in front of the camera, seemingly forced by life, skillfully playing the edge.

"Alas, these Young Misses really go to great lengths to please me."

"Truly, a sister's waist is a deadly blade."

"I have accumulated good deeds my whole life, so it's only reasonable that I come across this video."

"But thinking that I can't get involved just annoys me..."

...

The next day.

Shen Bei stretched and got out of bed.

The first thing he did was grab his phone and check the group messages.

Professor Gu Xinrou had not announced any class cancellations today.

Shen Bei found it a bit strange.

That was an outer member of the Headhunter Tribe, after all.

Someone who specialized in killing young men and women.

And they weren't even taking a holiday?

Shen Bei didn't think much of it. He cooked a pot of rice porridge and picked a spicy, salty cucumber from an old jar.

Two steamed buns were placed in the steamer.

While breakfast wasn't ready, he went to the bathroom to wash up.

Just then.

Shen Bei's eyes twitched.

Several lines of text emerged.

[Yesterday's settlement rewards are as follows:]

[Completed wall-smashing work: Gained Money +120, Strength +1, Precision +1]

[Completed moving work: Gained Money +200, Strength +1, Physique +1, Spirit +1, Jian Shan's Favorability -100.]

[Completed food delivery work: Gained Money +50, Agility +1, Spirit +1, Someone's Attention +50]

Shen Bei roughly scanned it.

He hadn't expected some unusual information to intrude.

The first item, wall-smashing, increasing Strength, was within Shen Bei's expectations.

But why did "Precision" also appear?

That wasn't even part of the four-dimensional attributes.

If one had to say, it was a term used in hot weapons like firearms.

It was important to know that although this was a high-Martial world, hot weapons still held a certain status.

Especially modified large-caliber pistols and sniper rifles, which still posed a certain threat to low-level Martial Artists.

Some Martial Artists even used large-caliber modified pistols to engage in a shootout first. Even if it just broke the opponent's skin or embedded a bullet casing in their bone, while not fatally threatening, it could provide a huge advantage in subsequent close-quarters combat.

This showed that weapons like pistols never went out of style.

He simply ignored the first entry.

The second entry also added a Spirit attribute, which should be compensation for Jian Tong patting his shoulder and scaring him so badly.

As for the employer Jian Shan also appearing in the settlement rewards, with his favorability plummeting, it was probably because his "father-in-law" comment on his way out had broken Jian Shan's composure...

As for the last entry.

That left Shen Bei utterly confused.

He had delivered more than ten orders last night.

Which meant there were more than ten employers.

The panel didn't indicate which employer had developed an interest in him.

After much thought, Shen Bei's sphincter tightened again.

"Damn it, it couldn't be that rainbow guy, could it?"

Shen Bei immediately thought of that effeminate guy.

After all, he was simply too handsome.

"So annoying!"

Shen Bei flashed his pearly whites at the mirror, admiring himself.

Shen Bei decided that if he ever got another order from the rainbow guy, he'd just throw it away for the dogs.

After breakfast.

Shen Bei leisurely walked out, intending to report to school.

After all, while taking the Martial Arts was the top priority, signing in at school was also an indicator.

It showed that he was a student, not a street loafer.

To follow the proper Martial Artist path, one's background was also a factor in the assessment.

Upon arriving at First High School.

He ran straight into Professor Gu Xinrou.

Shen Bei chased after her, but his foot slipped, he couldn't stop, and he rear-ended her.

He plunged headfirst under Professor Gu Xinrou's skirt...