412: Chapter 56 Chen Duo

Seeing Zhang Kun launch a sneak attack from underground, trying to pull him down, Meng Li was a bit surprised, then took a step.

Instantly, a flash of blue and white lightning appeared, and Meng Li materialized out of thin air several meters away.

Zhang Kun, meanwhile, was struck by the lightning, twitching and numb all over.

Lightning Swift Step!

This was a small technique Meng Li created by combining his lightning ability with Swift Step: while dodging the sneak attack, he left a flash of lightning in his original spot to catch the attacker off guard—a form of counterattack.

Almost simultaneously, Meng Li executed Swift Step again, flashing twice, landing a slap with each flash.

Zhuge Qing and Fu Rong couldn't react in time and were sent flying one after the other, though they weren't injured.

Because they hadn't intended to hurt Meng Li beforehand.

After returning the favor, Meng Li stood still not far away and said leisurely, "Is there anyone else who wants to spar with me?"

No one responded.

Just as Ma Xianhong was about to speak and brush this matter aside, a buck-toothed man ran over quickly from the distance and whispered something to Ma Xianhong.

Afterward, Ma Xianhong said, "Mr. Meng, I have something urgent to attend to, so let's call it a day here."

Immediately after, he said to the others, "It's getting late, everyone go back and rest."

Upon hearing this, the group of Superior Roots members immediately dispersed in twos and threes.

Meng Li didn't linger and returned to his lodging to sleep as well.

The next day.

After finishing breakfast, Meng Li was wandering around Biyou Village. Not long after, he saw a small yellow-furred dog running wildly, with a young girl chasing after it.

The girl had long hair simply tied behind her back, emerald green eyes, and wore earrings. She was dressed in a beige jacket and cyan trousers.

She chased it while calling out, "Chen Junyan, slow down!"

Meng Li's eyes fixed on her; he recognized the girl—she was the Gu Body Saint Child, Chen Duo.

Coincidentally, the puppy called "Chen Junyan" stopped right in front of Meng Li.

Meng Li reached out, picked it up, and teased it, then looked at Chen Duo, who had stopped nearby, and said, "Chen Junyan—that doesn't sound like a name most people would give a puppy. Are you using it to stand in for a person named 'Chen Junyan'?"

Chen Duo was stunned for a moment, then nodded.

"Then you must really hate him."

Unexpectedly, Chen Duo shook her head and said seriously, "No, I don't hate him."

Meng Li said in surprise, "You don't hate him? You've given a dog his name; how could you not hate him?"

Chen Duo furrowed her delicate brows, deep in thought, and then asked, "Does giving a dog a person's name mean I hate them?"

Meng Li nodded, "Generally speaking, associating a person with a dog is used as an insult."

"And people only insult someone when they hate them."

"Did you not know that?"

Chen Duo shook her head.

She had learned many things in the Dark Fortress, but she had never been exposed to insults.

"That's truly strange," Meng Li said softly, then added, "Let me introduce myself. My name is Meng Li, and I'm a doctor. What's your name?"

"Chen Duo," Chen Duo replied.

"Chen Duo, the legendary Gu Body Saint Child?" Meng Li feigned surprise.

Chen Duo nodded.

Meng Li said, "I've heard your Gu Art is very impressive. Could you let me see it?"

Chen Duo shook her head, "It will cost you your life."

Meng Li smiled, "Since your Gu Art is so impressive, you must have some Gu that won't kill people, right?"

Chen Duo thought about it and nodded.

Meng Li immediately said, "Then give me some of those. Of course, I won't take them for free; I can trade you something for them."

As he spoke, he put down Chen Junyan and took out a white gauze dress and a handheld game console from his storage ring, introducing them: "This dress is a Magical Artifact I crafted. Like the clothes I'm wearing, it can change color and style according to the wearer's thoughts."

After speaking, Meng Li focused his mind, and his attire shifted from a black and white tracksuit to blue and white casual wear.

Chen Duo looked on with wonder.

Meng Li continued, "With this dress, you can change your outfit anytime, anywhere."

"As long as it's something you've seen and can imagine, whether it's clothes or a dress, it can transform into it."

As long as it's seen and can be imagined, it can transform?

Chen Duo gently rubbed her chin with her index finger, recalling a dress she had seen while shopping during her training at the Dark Fortress.

The dress was displayed in a glass window and was very beautiful. She had fallen in love with it at first sight and couldn't help but press against the glass to admire it. But before she could look enough, she was pulled away by the accompanying Dark Fortress personnel. Later, she never even had the chance to go shopping again, let alone see that dress or wear it.

If this dress in front of her was truly that magical...

Before Chen Duo could finish her daydreaming, Meng Li began introducing the handheld game console: "This is the latest model, and it has many fun games on it."

After finishing, he put away the white dress, took the game console, walked to a nearby tree stump, sat down, and opened a King of Fighters game.

After entering the character selection screen, Meng Li looked up and asked Chen Duo, who had followed out of curiosity: "This game has many characters to choose from, and each character has different skills. You can choose three each time; which three would you like to pick?"

Choose?

Chen Duo blinked, stared at the many character avatars on the console screen for a few seconds, unable to decide.

Meng Li smiled, "This is your first time playing this game, right?"

"Mm."

Meng Li said, "Then don't overthink it. Just follow your instincts—whichever three characters look good or pleasing to you, just pick them. After all, it's just a game. Even if you pick wrong or lose, it doesn't matter; you can just restart."

Upon hearing this, Chen Duo followed his advice and designated three characters.

Meng Li selected them as she said, then started the match.

Seeing that Meng Li had actually adopted her choices, Chen Duo felt a sense of being acknowledged, her lips curling slightly upward, and then she watched the game intently.

When she saw Meng Li use the characters she chose to sweep all three opponents and win, she felt that her choices were correct. The curve of her lips couldn't help but rise again, and at the same time, she felt an itch to try it herself.

At this moment, Meng Li proactively handed the console over: "Try playing a round."

Chen Duo's eyes lit up. She took the console and started playing, and then... unsurprisingly, she lost.

This made her frown.

Meng Li smiled, "You were just watching the characters fight and didn't notice how I used the skills, right?"

"Mm."

"Then leave this next round to me, and pay close attention."

"Okay."

Chen Duo's learning ability was extraordinary. Before long, she learned how to use the skills, and subsequently successfully cleared the game with the characters she had chosen.

Seeing the game end, it was obvious she was somewhat reluctant to let go.

Meng Li said, "You've seen the interesting parts of both the dress and the game console."

"As long as you give me some Gu that won't kill people, you can choose one of them."

"Which one do you want to choose, the dress or the game console?"

Chen Duo thought about it seriously and replied, "I want to choose both, is that okay?"

...

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