180: Chapter 180 The Confused Shrine Maiden

Early the next morning.

Qian Shuying stood at the door of Lu Cheng's room and knocked.

"Lu Cheng."

No one answered.

She frowned slightly and knocked again.

"Lu Cheng, aren't you supposed to leave for the Imperial Capital early today?"

Lu Cheng's somewhat muffled voice finally came from inside the room.

"Come in..."

Qian Shuying pushed the door open.

Then, she froze in the doorway.

Lu Cheng was still lying in bed.

The quilt covered him to his chest, his hair was a bit messy, and it was obvious he hadn't fully woken up yet.

That wasn't the point.

The point was that he was holding a snow-white Little Spirit Fox in his arms.

The Little Spirit Fox had half its body curled up in Lu Cheng's arms, its tail draped over his arm, and its head resting on his chest, sleeping extremely comfortably.

Qian Shuying's expression changed bit by bit.

She remained silent for three seconds.

"Lu Cheng."

"Hmm?"

Lu Cheng opened his eyes halfway.

Qian Shuying looked at the fox in his arms, her voice level.

"Aren't you going to the Imperial Capital today?"

"Why are you still sleeping?"

Lu Cheng rubbed his eyes.

"I was practicing late last night."

Qian Shuying's gaze remained on the Little Spirit Fox.

"What is... this thing?"

Lu Cheng looked down.

The Little Spirit Fox woke up at this moment too.

It opened a pair of ice-blue eyes, first rubbed against Lu Cheng's chest, and then slowly looked at Qian Shuying at the door.

Lu Cheng said: "A Little Spirit Fox."

"A spirit pet I just acquired."

Qian Shuying frowned even deeper.

A spirit pet?

She took two steps closer and carefully examined the little fox.

It was snow-white all over.

It had a star pattern on its forehead.

The tip of its tail shimmered with a silver-blue light.

It certainly didn't look like an ordinary exotic beast.

But for some reason, looking at it, Qian Shuying felt that something was amiss.

Especially the way this little thing was staying in Lu Cheng's arms, as if it were the master of the room.

Qian Shuying told herself in her heart.

I must be overthinking it.

It's just a spirit pet.

A fox.

A beast.

What is there to care about?

The next second.

The Little Spirit Fox lifted its head from Lu Cheng's arms and let out a soft cry at Qian Shuying.

"Ying."

The voice was very soft.

But those ice-blue eyes clearly held a hint of indescribable smugness.

Its tail even brushed lightly against Lu Cheng's arm.

As if declaring ownership.

Qian Shuying: "..."

Her fists clenched.

They really clenched.

Lu Cheng hadn't noticed the change in atmosphere and reached out to rub the Little Spirit Fox's head.

"It's quite affectionate toward me."

The Little Spirit Fox immediately narrowed its eyes in cooperation and rubbed its head against Lu Cheng's palm.

Qian Shuying watched this scene, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly.

Slutty fox.

This word popped into her mind almost instantly.

No.

It's just a fox...

Qian Shuying took a deep breath.

Calm down.

Qian Shuying, you need to calm down.

You can't bicker with a spirit pet.

That's too embarrassing.

Besides, Lu Cheng always managed to get these strange things, so she decided to leave him be.

Qian Shuying turned to walk out.

When she reached the door, she stopped again.

"Get up quickly."

"Otherwise, you'll be late."

Lu Cheng nodded.

"Got it."

Just as Qian Shuying was about to close the door, the Little Spirit Fox let out another "Ying."

She looked back.

The Little Spirit Fox was lying on Lu Cheng's chest, its tail swaying gently, its ice-blue eyes curved into crescent moons.

The expression didn't look like a fox.

It looked like a little goblin that had won a fight and was deliberately acting cute.

Qian Shuying's temple throbbed.

Bang.

The door was closed.

Lu Cheng looked at the door.

Then looked down at the Little Spirit Fox in his arms.

"What's wrong with Shuying?"

The Little Spirit Fox blinked.

"Ying?"

It looked completely innocent.

Lu Cheng was silent for two seconds.

"Forget it."

"Get up."

The Little Spirit Fox curled its tail and burrowed into his arms again.

Lu Cheng grabbed it by the scruff of its neck and lifted it out of the quilt.

"Don't pretend."

"You have to come along to the Imperial Capital today too."

The Little Spirit Fox's four little paws waved in the air, and the star pattern on its forehead glowed slightly.

"Ying!"

Outside the door.

Qian Shuying stood in the hallway, looking down at her fists.

She felt that she had been impulsive just now.

How could she be in a bad mood because of a fox?

Too childish.

She was Qian Shuying, after all.

The possessor of the Geng Metal Tiger Pattern.

The person destined to become the core of the battlefield in the future.

The next second, Lu Cheng's voice came from the room.

"Little Spirit Fox, stop rubbing, I need to change my clothes."

Qian Shuying: "..."

Her fists clenched again.

...

When Lu Cheng carried the Little Spirit Fox downstairs.

Chu Xiuxiu was sitting at the dining table, holding a cup of hot milk with both hands, her cheeks puffed out...

There was still a hazy sleepiness in her eyes.

The Little Spirit Fox had originally been curled up in Lu Cheng's arm, its tail drooping lazily, looking like "I am a noble fox, mortals do not approach."

But as soon as it saw Chu Xiuxiu, its ears suddenly twitched.

"Ying?"

Chu Xiuxiu also saw it.

The little girl's eyes lit up instantly.

"Wow!"

"What a beautiful little fox!"

Before Lu Cheng could speak, the Little Spirit Fox had already leaped lightly from his arms and landed on the back of the chair next to the dining table.

It moved very lightly, like a ball of snow drifting over.

Chu Xiuxiu cautiously stretched out her hand.

"Can I touch it?"

The Little Spirit Fox tilted its head.

Then it took the initiative to nudge its head forward.

Chu Xiuxiu touched it gently, and her eyes brightened even more.

"So soft!"

The Little Spirit Fox narrowed its eyes, its tail wagging, and the pale gold star pattern on its forehead glowing slightly.

Lu Cheng was a bit surprised.

"It's quite close to you."

Chu Xiuxiu hugged the Little Spirit Fox, rubbing her little face against its fluffy fur.

"Maybe because we are both very cute!"

Little Spirit Fox: "Ying!"

Lu Cheng was silent for two seconds.

"You two are certainly good at praising yourselves."

Qian Shuying stood to the side, watching the Little Spirit Fox acting so well-behaved and harmless in Chu Xiuxiu's arms, her eyebrows raising slightly.

Why did it provoke her?

And act cute with Chu Xiuxiu?

This fox definitely had a problem.

The Little Spirit Fox seemed to sense Qian Shuying's gaze, secretly poking its head out from Chu Xiuxiu's arms to glance at her.

Then it naturally buried its head back into Chu Xiuxiu's arms.

The action looked incredibly innocent.

Qian Shuying: "..."

After breakfast, Lu Cheng prepared to set off for the Imperial Capital.

There weren't many people going together this time.

Only Shen Guhong would be going along, responsible for leading the team and ensuring safety.

Airship Area.

When Lu Cheng walked into the boarding hall carrying the Little Spirit Fox, he immediately attracted quite a few gazes.

It wasn't because of Lu Cheng, exactly.

At first, some people did recognize him.

After all, after the Qian Family broadcast, his face had high recognizability in the academy and online.

But soon, everyone's attention was stolen by the Little Spirit Fox in his arms.

"What spirit beast is that? So cute!"

"Is it a Snow Fox? No, the Snow Fox doesn't have a star pattern on its forehead."

"The tip of its tail has silver-blue light, so beautiful..."

"Is it looking at me? Ah, it looked at me!"

The Little Spirit Fox nestled in Lu Cheng's arms, half-closing its eyes, its tail draped elegantly over his arm.

Its expression seemed to be saying: Foolish humans, be conquered by the beauty of this fox.

Shen Guhong stood to the side, blindfolded, holding the boarding pass.

Although he couldn't see, his perception was very keen.

"A new spirit pet?"

Lu Cheng nodded.

"Yeah, just acquired it last night."

After the airship took off, the clouds on the route to the Imperial Capital quickly filled the portholes.

Lu Cheng leaned against the window, and the Little Spirit Fox in his arms was already asleep.

It curled into a ball, like a white fur ball, its tail tip swaying gently, occasionally emitting a bit of silver-blue light dust.

Lu Cheng opened his terminal, originally just wanting to check messages.

As a result, as soon as he clicked it open, he saw that the No. 3 High School class group had already been flooded with over a hundred messages.

[Only one month until the martial arts exam, brothers, charge!]

[My blood energy measured 142 units today, I feel steady.]

[Don't talk about it, my dad signed me up for a sprint class, practicing every day until I want to vomit.]

[Heard the martial arts exam difficulty will increase this year?]

[Normal, the exotic beast zones have been fluctuating more frequently recently, and martial arts universities have expanded enrollment.]

[Where is Lu Cheng? @Lu Cheng, come out and bubble!]

[You dare to @Brother Lu? Brother Lu is someone who can fight War Generals now.]

[Damn, we are still preparing for the martial arts exam, he has already gone to fight evil cults and ancient gods.]

[Is this the gap between people?]

Lu Cheng looked at the messages in the group, suddenly feeling a bit dazed.

Martial arts exam.

This term, to him, hadn't passed long ago, yet it felt like a long time ago.

At that time, the Meridian Opening Realm was already a distant existence in their eyes.

The War General Realm was an important figure who only appeared in the news.

And now...

Lu Cheng looked down at his palm.

His Nine Luminaries Meridian had already opened to the fourth luminary.

Blood energy was approaching a thousand hertz.

Source Power was approaching three thousand points.

He had even fought more than one War General.

He replied in the group.

[Lu Cheng: Good luck with the martial arts exam.]

As soon as the message was sent, the group exploded instantly.

[Holy crap! A live Brother Lu!]

[Brother Lu has manifested!]

[Quick, quick, worship, bless me to pass the martial arts exam.]

[Brother Lu, what realm are you in now?]

[Brother Lu, can you share your experience in getting strong quickly?]

Lu Cheng looked at the last message and was silent for two seconds.

Then he typed.

[Lu Cheng: Eat more, sleep more, drink less Douzhi.]

The group was quiet for a second.

Then it was full of question marks.

Shen Guhong sat next to him and asked faintly: "What are you laughing at?"

Lu Cheng put away his terminal.

"Nothing."

"Just remembered my old classmates."

Shen Guhong nodded and didn't ask further.

The airship flew through the clouds, and the outline of the Imperial Capital gradually appeared in the distance.

Tall buildings, tracks, suspension bridges, the huge Arena, and those towering Source Power towers reflected silver-white light under the sun.

The Imperial Capital was still the Imperial Capital.

Prosperous, vast.

Like a machine that would never stop.

The accommodation arranged by the academy this time was in the center of the Imperial Capital's commercial street.

It was a high-standard hotel specially hosting young talents from various major forces.

Downstairs was the commercial street, surrounded by various restaurants, weapon shops, potion shops, spirit pet supply stores, and Imperial Capital specialty snacks.

After the airship landed, the academy's special car drove Lu Cheng and Shen Guhong directly to the vicinity of the hotel.

Before the car stopped, the Little Spirit Fox poked its head out from Lu Cheng's arms.

Its nose twitched, and it seemed to smell something delicious, its eyes lighting up instantly.

"Ying!"

Lu Cheng pressed its head down.

"Don't run around."

The Little Spirit Fox scratched his sleeve with its paws in dissatisfaction.

After getting out of the car, the bustle of the commercial street rushed toward them.

The crowd was dense, and signs were everywhere.

By the roadside, there were people selling grilled spirit bird skewers, source energy ice drinks, and many specialty snacks from various places.

Holographic advertisements were scrolling in mid-air.

[The Imperial Capital welcomes the arrival of exchange delegations from various countries]

[Youth Martial Arts Exchange Tournament, about to start]

Just as they walked near the hotel, Lu Cheng suddenly stopped.

Not far away, a long-haired girl was standing at the entrance of the commercial street.

She was wearing a beige long coat with a simple black uniform skirt inside, the hem just above her knees, revealing a slender, fair lower leg.

Her long black hair hung to her waist, the ends tied gently with a thin red string, swaying slightly with the evening breeze.

The girl's features were exquisite, her eyebrows and eyes cold and clear, her nose bridge small and straight, and her lip color very light.

She stood at the entrance of the busy commercial street, but it was as if she had walked out of a quiet shrine, carrying a clean and aloof temperament.

It was just that her actions and temperament at this moment didn't quite match.

She was holding a photo in her hand.

While looking down at the photo seriously, she looked up at the surrounding shops, her eyebrows slightly frowned, her expression as serious as if she were carrying out some secret mission.

Lu Cheng frowned slightly.

This person...

He had seen her in the materials given by Mei Wushuang.

Sakura Island shrine maiden, Jinguji Ayane.

Why did she arrive so early?

And what is she doing standing at the entrance of the commercial street alone?

Lu Cheng's Seeking Good Fortune and Avoiding Bad Luck faintly sensed some problems!

There is a conspiracy!

Jinguji Ayane looked down at the photo, then at the milk tea shop next to her, her eyebrows slightly frowned.

She walked forward two steps and stopped again.

Then she turned to look at a barbecue skewer shop.

She seemed even more confused.

Lu Cheng watched for a while, and finally couldn't help it.

The mask that could change faces was still on him, so he changed his face and walked over.

Shen Guhong didn't stop him, just stood behind, keeping a distance that was neither far nor near.

Lu Cheng walked to Jinguji Ayane's side and spoke in a polite tone.

"Hello, do you need any help?"

Jinguji Ayane heard the voice and turned her head.

Her eyes were deep black, her pupils clear, and her expression was somewhat cold.

But that coldness was soon broken by a bit of nervousness.

She looked down at the photo in her hand, then looked up at Lu Cheng.

Then she said in very broken Chinese:

"Hello."

"I, am looking for, this thing."

"Do you know, where it is?"

She handed over the photo.

Lu Cheng looked down.

In the photo, there was a plastic bowl.

The bowl contained a gray-green liquid.

There were also two scorched rings next to it...

Lu Cheng was silent...

He took another look...

That's right.

He would recognize this thing even if it turned to ash.

Douzhi.

Lu Cheng's expression instantly became complicated.

Jinguji Ayane saw Lu Cheng not speaking, thinking he didn't understand, and added very seriously.

"This, is the Imperial Capital... famous food."

"I heard, coming to the Imperial Capital, must, drink."

Lu Cheng: "..."

Who told you that??

Lu Cheng looked at Jinguji Ayane's serious and slightly expectant face, and suddenly remembered the soul-out-of-body expression on Chu Xiuxiu's face when she drank Douzhi.

The scene was too tragic.

So much so that now when he saw the photo of Douzhi, he had a conditioned reflex.

"Are you sure you want to find this?"