40: I'll treat you to eight yuan of spicy hot pot.

"One piece of good news, and a bunch of bad news. Which do you want to hear?"

As soon as she entered, Jian Tong started chattering.

Shen Bei was suddenly startled.

He clearly remembered Jian Tong wasn't wearing this outfit when they ate in the lobby earlier, but now she had changed into a different one.

Jian Tong was wearing a loose black gauze top with light lace and a black bow tied at the hem, a short denim jacket, and a khaki-colored long skirt that accentuated her graceful waist and hips, the hem extending all the way down to her slender ankles and sandal-clad feet.

Shen Bei took a deep breath and asked, "What's wrong?"

Jian Tong counted on her fingers and said, "The good news is... Teacher Professor Gu Xinrou just said that Gu Changfeng used his connections to transfer her to Lingnan City Martial Arts University!"

Shen Bei was surprised to hear that.

Professor Gu Xinrou... Martial Arts University!

This was indeed good news.

Originally, Shen Bei had thought that after he started attending the Martial Arts University, he would return to Changtu County whenever he had time to make his presence known to Professor Gu Xinrou.

She was an exquisite beauty, quite delicious.

If someone else were to trick her into becoming a wife... that wouldn't be pleasant.

Now, with Professor Gu Xinrou teaching at the Martial Arts University, they could meet all the time, and perhaps even take their relationship a step further.

Just thinking about it was exciting.

As for what Jian Tong would discover?

How could that happen!

What kind of Martial Artist couldn't even handle a love triangle?

Only children make choices; adults want it all!

Shen Bei suppressed his excitement and then asked, "What's the bad news?"

"There's a lot of that."

Jian Tong said with a hint of resentment, "While you were away, the teachers at the Martial Arts University started recruiting students early, so you missed a great opportunity."

Shen Bei didn't think so, saying, "Having Teacher Professor Gu Xinrou is enough for me."

Jian Tong rolled her eyes: "Suit yourself. I'm not planning to follow Teacher Professor Gu Xinrou anymore. The teacher I'm following is an expert in secret arts, which can better utilize my mental attribute specialty."

Shen Bei nodded; this choice made perfect sense.

"And also," Jian Tong continued, "I saw that the Martial Arts University teachers only rated you as average..."

"Huh?"

Shen Bei was stunned: "Average? I'm the Champion!"

"But your attributes are too balanced; there's nothing outstanding. According to the Martial Arts University teachers, you're a jack-of-all-trades."

Jack-of-all-trades... that's not a good term.

Good at everything, but proficient at nothing.

For students at the Martial Arts University, specialization and excellence are the primary goals for cultivation.

Other Martial Artists, without special opportunities, are basically cannon fodder.

Shen Bei didn't care about this evaluation; he'd just wait and see!

"There's one more piece of news."

Jian Tong said mysteriously, "There was an earthquake in Sichuan West, and it's possible a Dungeon appeared. Now the country is mobilizing Martial Artists to go and support."

Earthquake!

Dungeon!

These four words were not ordinary.

In this world, besides stabilizing the nation, another mission for Martial Artists was to eradicate Dungeons.

The so-called Dungeons were actually invasions by intelligent beings from another world.

According to legend, the world inside the Dungeon was a place called the "Sea of Hopelessness."

It was vast, incredibly vast.

Larger than Earth!

Each earthquake would connect the two worlds, forming a Dungeon.

The creatures inside, or rather, humanoids, wanted to rush out and plunder the resources of this world.

If left unchecked, the entire Earth would fall.

Therefore, once an earthquake occurred, the country would be on high alert and would strive to eliminate them.

Of course, Martial Artists also wanted to enter Dungeons to plunder resources.

Various herbs and strange items would enhance a Martial Artist's overall strength.

In short, whether it was the Sea of Hopelessness or Earth.

The two sides were locked in an endless struggle!

Shen Bei stroked his chin and said, "These past few years have been a bit unsettled; there have been quite a few earthquakes."

Jian Tong shrugged: "It's not just domestically; it's the same abroad. But thankfully, our early warning systems are good, so not many civilians die, though there are still economic losses."

"Oh, right, I heard Governor Yu even dispatched Martial Artists from within the province to go and support."

Shen Bei said, "Oh," and didn't pay much attention.

Ningbei Province was far from Sichuan West.

There was no fear of humanoid creatures from the Dungeon killing their way over.

At most, the provincial defense forces would be somewhat depleted.

Not a big problem.

But Jian Tong's problem was very big.

It was fine if she didn't mention the word "Yu."

As soon as she brought it up, he thought of that little vixen, Yu Qiuyi!

Jian Tong's clear, transparent eyes gazed at Shen Bei, carrying some strange emotion, and she said, "What's your impression of Yu Qiuyi?"

Shen Bei sniffed and said, "Who kicked over the old sauerkraut and vinegar jar?"

Jian Tong's beautiful and bright face instantly flushed crimson, like a brilliant sunset: "You—who—I'm not jealous at all!"

Shen Bei put on his jacket and said with a grin, "Ah... right, right, right."

Shen Bei couldn't help but marvel at the profoundness of Chinese characters.

A double affirmation, yet it still implied a negation.

Shen Bei said again, "Let's go, let's go out for a late-night snack."

"Alright," Jian Tong jumped off the sofa, "I didn't even dare to move my chopsticks when we ate in the lobby earlier."

"Playing the lady, are we?"

"Nonsense, you have to act the part when necessary. Not acting when you should, that's truly acting."

"I just like your genuine nature."

...

The two left the hotel.

They strolled leisurely on the street.

The streetlights were brilliant, the crowds were shoulder to shoulder, and it was bustling.

As they walked, and walked.

Suddenly, a lewd man threw a business card into Shen Bei's arms and quickly left.

Shen Bei was startled for a moment, glanced at it, and saw that the man didn't just give one to him; he practically forced a business card into the hands of every man.

"What did he give you?"

Jian Tong asked curiously.

Shen Bei looked down.

The front of the card had a suggestive photo.

Below the photo, it said, "Delivery available city-wide, contact information, etc."

The back introduced a bunch of housekeeping services.

Shen Bei's mouth twitched. It turned out to be a high-risk profession, providing housekeeping services specifically for single men.

Shen Bei said nonchalantly, "They're doing housekeeping services; it's not easy for them to earn a living."

"Oh," Jian Tong said, acting like an innocent sweet girl, "It's true that it's not easy for ordinary people to make money."

Shen Bei secretly spat, a business with no capital, that's already good enough.

He had to put in effort to earn money himself.

But then he thought, it seems these girls who like to do housework, though they don't have to exert themselves, they do have to endure a lot.

Just then.

Among the crowd on the street, someone suddenly held up a loudspeaker, their face extremely fanatical, and shouted with raised arms:

"Dull people! Frequent earthquakes, demons descending, this is the True God's punishment and warning to the human world!"

"Join us, become the True God's limbs, and receive salvation!"

"In this world, only the True God can save humanity from the depths of suffering!"

These shouts.

Immediately made the crowds on the street scatter in fear, making way.

Shen Bei and Jian Tong both looked at him with disdain.

These people were all fools with their brains full of mush.

They were all brainwashed fanatics.

Normally, when they're well-fed and have nothing to do, they like to recruit people into their cults.

Like the street grannies on Blue Star, they'd see you and say, "My friend, are you interested in learning about..."

You absolutely must not engage with such people; once you say a word, they'll become like sticky plaster, following you home to preach.

They were simply impossible to guard against.

However, this man wouldn't be causing trouble for long.

Soon, plainclothes police officers appeared in time, directly pinning him to the ground, putting a hood over his head, and taking him away.

"Let me go! I am the True God's representative on Earth, a child of the True God!"

"Disrespecting me is disrespecting the True God!"

"When the True God descends, he will settle all your sins one by one!"

"Ah... stop hitting, don't hit, boo hoo hoo."

Shen Bei had seen this kind of scene several times in Changtu County.

Usually, a good beating would suffice.

After all, being beaten by the police hurt a lot more than the True God...

After the small interlude.

Shen Bei took Jian Tong to a snack stall.

"I'm treating you to a big meal!"

"Spicy hot pot?"

"That's right! But you're only allowed to eat eight yuan worth, not a penny more, not a penny less."

"Is there a special meaning to that?"

Shen Bei chuckled, saying somewhat lewdly, "Of course there is..."