41: Chapter 41 You wouldn't have fallen for this kid, would you?

Just summoned, and before even getting familiar with the environment, she was already clamoring to go fight monsters and level up...

If this new partner isn't a leveling maniac, then what is she?

"I know you're eager to improve your strength, but hold on for a moment." Lin Muyang looked at Ao Qingyan, whose face was cold but whose eyes were brimming with eagerness. He shook his head helplessly and pointed at the sky outside, which had already turned completely dark. "Look outside, it's already dark. At this time of day, the Dungeons that have refreshed in the wild areas and secret realms have basically already been cleared by the major guilds and solo teams. It would be very difficult for us to find a suitable high-quality secret realm if we go out now."

He paused, feeling a wave of hunger in his stomach, and continued: "Besides, the three of us have been busy all day, exhausting a lot of energy, and we're all very hungry now. We're about to go out to grab something to eat and replenish our energy. Do you want to come along?"

Upon hearing Lin Muyang's words, a trace of disappointment clearly flashed through the ice-blue eyes of the dragon maiden Ao Qingyan, like a cold moon obscured by light clouds. She pursed her beautifully shaped lips slightly, offered no rebuttal, and simply turned around in silence. She began to eye the direction of the villa's stairs, saying in a flat tone, "No. I need to cultivate."

However, just as she finished speaking—

"Gurgle~~~~"

A clear and drawn-out sound emerged from her lower abdomen, extremely ill-timed.

The living room instantly fell into a subtle silence.

On Ao Qingyan's pretty face, which was usually as calm and waveless as a frozen lake, a faint, rare blush appeared. Although it was fleeting, it was still keenly captured by Lin Muyang. She turned slightly in an unnatural manner, seemingly wanting to hide this sudden embarrassment.

Lin Muyang found it somewhat amusing internally, but remained calm on the surface: "Really not going? Cultivation is important, but if you starve your body, your strength might actually regress. I don't want my new partner to die before achieving success just after arriving."

Ao Qingyan looked somewhat conflicted. Her slender fingers unconsciously pinched the cuffs of her white robe. In the end, she still shook her head, her voice lower than before: "I... don't like places that are crowded and noisy."

"Alright, I respect your habits." Lin Muyang nodded. It seemed this dragon maiden partner preferred quiet, and might even be a bit socially anxious, so he naturally wouldn't force her. "Then what would you like to eat? We'll bring it back for you."

Ao Qingyan lowered her head slightly, a few strands of silvery-white hair falling against her cheeks, and softly uttered one word: "...Fish."

"Steamed or braised?" Lin Muyang asked patiently, feeling like he was taking care of a child who was picky about food but too embarrassed to say so.

"...Steamed." She turned her face away, her gaze drifting toward the window, her voice even softer.

"What kind of fish? Crucian carp, grass carp, bass, mandarin fish, or something else?" Lin Muyang continued to press for details.

"...Anything is fine." Ao Qingyan's cheeks seemed to flush slightly again, as if she wasn't used to being cared for so meticulously.

Lin Muyang took note of her subtle reaction and found this girl increasingly interesting. On the outside, she appeared as cold and aloof as a lotus on a snowy mountain peak, unapproachable to strangers, but inside she seemed a bit introverted and awkward. This contrast made one can't help but want to tease her a little more.

"Alright, then I'll just pick something for you." Lin Muyang knew when to stop and called out upstairs: "Lilia, stop picking a room, come down first, we're going out to eat!"

Before long, the Elf Maiden came running down the stairs with a thud-thud-thud, her face still flushed with the excitement of picking a room. Lin Muyang took her and Elabess, who was already ready to go out, and headed out of the villa.

In order not to attract unnecessary attention, both women changed into clothing styles that were relatively common and conservative in this world. Especially Elabess, who even used her innate ability to cleverly hide the demon horns and small tail that marked her demonic traits, making her look just like an exceptionally beautiful human girl. Otherwise, with their stunning appearances and unique features, it would be hard not to attract a crowd if they walked down the street.

Just as the three of them walked out of the villa courtyard and before they could pass through the quiet, tree-lined path inside the residential complex, they ran into Shen Yanshan and Shen Muyao, the father and daughter, walking side by side.

Shen Yanshan had a relaxed and joyful smile on his face; it seemed he had encountered something good, and his mood was quite excellent.

Meanwhile, Shen Muyao, who was walking beside him, appeared somewhat dejected, with a hint of undisguisable fatigue and disappointment on her exquisite face. She could be said to have given it her all today, grinding Dungeons for the whole day, yet she had only barely reached level 6. At this rate, it would take at least another two days of non-stop effort to reach level 10.

She was a rare class holder with an s-rank talent, already a recognized genius among her peers! If even she felt leveling was this difficult, one could imagine how arduous the path in the early stages was for those Class Transferees with ordinary talents.

However, just this evening, she learned a piece of news from her father that dealt her a massive blow—the "mysterious person" who had snatched several of her bronze Dungeon first clears yesterday had already reached over level ten, and this morning was already soloing a gold rank team secret realm that was, for her right now, of nightmare difficulty!

This leveling speed was simply like riding a rocket, making her feel incredulous, while also generating a deep sense of powerlessness and frustration.

What made her feel even more unsettled was her father's speculation that this super genius was very likely a female.

"Oh, Lin Muyang?"

At this moment, the head-lowered Shen Muyao happened to lift her gaze and saw Lin Muyang and the other two walking toward them. When her gaze swept past Lin Muyang and landed on the Elf Maiden Lilia following behind him, as well as that unfamiliar yet breathtakingly beautiful girl whose eyes were full of charm, Shen Muyao was stunned once again.

She had met Lilia once before and had been shocked by the other party's ethereal, otherworldly elven beauty; both her looks and figure had put pressure on her, a school beauty herself. But the purple-haired girl who appeared today made her feel even more inferior. The natural, intertwined aura of allure and innocence on the other girl was something she had never seen before.

"Lin Muyang, who is this...?" Shen Muyao couldn't resist her curiosity and pointed at Elabess, asking Lin Muyang. She remembered that yesterday he only had that Elf Maiden by his side.

"She's a friend of mine." Lin Muyang's reply was concise and casual, with no intention of introducing her in depth.

Shen Muyao was clearly not very satisfied with this vague answer, her pretty brows knitting slightly, but since the other party didn't want to say more, she couldn't keep pressing.

Lin Muyang had intended to exchange a few pleasantries and leave, but Shen Muyao seemed to remember something and took the initiative to speak, her tone carrying a hint of anticipation: "By the way, Lin Muyang, there's an auction at Hongwu Mall the night after tomorrow. I heard there will be quite a few low-level platinum pieces of equipment suitable for us at our current stage coming out. Do you want to go take a look together?"

An auction at Hongwu Mall?

Lin Muyang's heart stirred. Isn't this the one Hong Wuliang invited him to? He was determined to get that Swordsman's [origin skill book]. After all, his new partner Ao Qingyan was a Swordsman, and this skill book would definitely be a huge boost for her in the early stages.

Of course, he certainly didn't have enough magic crystals on him right now to participate in that level of bidding. But he had absolute confidence in his speed of earning magic crystals. The auction was the night after tomorrow, so there were still two full days. He planned to challenge Dungeons and secret realms above level 20 next; with his efficiency, even he couldn't estimate how much wealth he could accumulate in two days!

"Forget it, I'm not very interested in that equipment." Lin Muyang remained calm on the surface, shook his head, and politely declined Shen Muyao's invitation.

He did indeed need to go to the auction, but he would participate as an anonymous VIP; there was no need to expose himself to the public eye. One could figure out with their toes that a treasure of the level of an [origin skill book] would inevitably attract countless bidders, including various bigwigs, and perhaps even experts from other cities who would make special trips.

Once he successfully won the skill book, he would likely offend some people invisibly. Before his strength was sufficient, keeping a low profile was the wise course of action.

"We're going out to grab something to eat first, let's talk later." Lin Muyang nodded toward the Shen father and daughter, considering it a greeting, and then took Lilia and Elabess, brushed past them, and headed toward the outside of the residential complex.

Watching Lin Muyang's back as he left without hesitation, not even glancing at her again, Shen Muyao stomped her foot in annoyance. This guy, why did he reject her again? Did he really have no interest in her at all?

She had originally thought about using the opportunity of going to the auction together to get closer, and even if she saw platinum equipment suitable for a Summoner, she could help Lin Muyang bid for one or two pieces... but it turned out he wouldn't even take the bait?

Was he too embarrassed to accept her kindness?

"Mu Yao," Shen Yanshan, who was standing to the side, took in his daughter's reaction, a look of surprise appearing on his face. He lowered his voice and asked, "You... don't like this kid, do you?"

He had never seen his daughter, who was usually arrogant and dismissive of most boys her age, be so proactive in approaching a member of the opposite sex. Yet this Lin Muyang was full of peculiarities. The bizarre incident at Hongwu Mall when he clashed with Guan Nailiang, where those guys inexplicably went bald and lost bladder control all at once, remained a mystery to this day.

Shen Yanshan still couldn't determine even now whether there was a connection between that mysterious powerhouse who possessed the terrifying "curse" ability and Lin Muyang, or what kind of connection it might be.

In any case, Shen Yanshan was very clear about one thing: according to the records of the Class Transfer Hall, Lin Muyang's constitution was "Friend of Beautiful Girls"... Just based on this alone, deep down, he didn't really want to see his precious daughter getting too close to Lin Muyang.

"That's not it! Dad, don't guess blindly!" Shen Muyao was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, immediately denying it, a trace of imperceptible panic flashing across her face as she hurriedly changed the subject, "Let's go back quickly, I'm tired."

She linked her arm with her father's and urged him toward their own villa.

Unfortunately, Shen Yanshan could never have imagined that the "mysterious super genius" who had made him so happy this morning and whom he regarded as an important opportunity for Tianqi Tower, was actually the same person as the "Friend of Beautiful Girls" Summoner Lin Muyang, whom he was somewhat wary of at this moment. If he knew the truth, his attitude toward Lin Muyang would probably do a 180-degree turn in an instant!