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[1] "No matter how I fly, I can't escape this dazzling world" (怎么也飞不出，花花的世界): Lyrics from "The Drunken Butterfly" (酒醉的蝴蝶), a 2019 song that went viral on Chinese social media. The song uses a drunk butterfly as a metaphor for being hopelessly trapped in romantic confusion.
Shen Wushuang had essentially pointed out the combat deficiencies of every single student. Apart from Chen Shu and the others who barely earned his approval, everyone else was absolute garbage. Though his words were harsh, the students obediently took them to heart.
"Alright! That's enough for today. Tonight is free study for academic subjects!"
Unlike other classes, the Special Training Class treated Beast Taming as the primary subject, with academics relegated to self-study in the evenings.
The students filed out of the Beast Taming Arena one by one.
Chen Shu and his two companions walked arm-in-arm, each wearing a smile more shameless than the last...
Chen Shu was in an excellent mood. Not only had he proven the Golden Slime's strength, but he'd also obtained an exclusive skill. And the first-place reward definitely wouldn't be shabby either—as the hope of Nanjiang Second High, the school would pour massive resources into cultivating the Special Training Class.
...
Xie Sunan spoke up. "Chen Pi, you've been an old hand at this school for a while now. Isn't there any good food nearby?"
Both of them were new to Nanjiang Second High and knew nothing about the surrounding area.
Chen Shu replied with a magnanimous expression. "Of course there's specialty food! Hold on, my treat!"
With that, he rushed off toward the bathroom...
Xie Sunan and Xu Xingxing could only wait in place, questions in their eyes.
After a while, Xie Sunan spoke up. "Xingxing, you don't think he's getting us... local specialties from the toilet, do you?"
Xu Xingxing shuddered, a hint of horror in his eyes. "If it was anyone normal, I'd say he definitely just went to the bathroom. But with Chen Pi... I'm not so sure..."
Of course Chen Shu wasn't in the bathroom collecting local specialties. He wasn't that much of a degenerate!
He'd entered a bathroom stall and pulled out the exclusive skill book the system had just rewarded him.
Sleep Kill: Upon active use, the Slime can maintain its sleep state during combat and will not be awakened by any negative status effects. Lasts for a certain duration!
Chen Shu's expression lit up with joy. He slapped the skill book, and the Slime instantly comprehended its new exclusive active skill.
Though the effect seemed unremarkable at first glance, Chen Shu could appreciate its true value.
The first benefit came from the Slime's two talents: Sleepy (increased defense while sleeping) and Thick Armor (passive defense boost, tripled effect while sleeping).
Combined with Sleep Kill, the Slime's defense would skyrocket.
The second benefit was that the sleep state couldn't be broken, meaning the Slime would feel no pain during combat and have no fear.
If it could comprehend more sleep-related talents in the future, its power would only grow further.
Chen Shu left the bathroom in high spirits, grinning like an idiot the whole way.
He was already imagining the Slime snoring away while rampaging through enemies.
"Something's off! That smile is not right!"
The moment Xie Sunan saw Chen Shu's grin, he instinctively jumped back a step.
Especially when he noticed Chen Shu had his hands behind his back—he couldn't help but wonder if those hands were clutching some "local specialty"...
Xu Xingxing was equally on guard, looking Chen Shu up and down.
"Lost your minds?"
Chen Shu's mouth twitched. Why were these two looking at him like he was a mental patient?
Xie Sunan asked cautiously, "Your hands aren't covered in shit, right...?"
"They're fine. What's the problem?"
Chen Shu looked confused and spread his hands open.
Seeing that, the two finally relaxed.
"You two are being weird. Come on, I'm taking you somewhere for high-end specialty food!"
Xie Sunan and Xu Xingxing perked up. "High-end?"
Ten minutes later, the three of them arrived at a snack street near the school.
"This is your idea of high-end?"
Looking at the ramshackle maocai stall before them, the two fell into prolonged silence.
"What do you know? Real fine dining needs only the simplest decor!"
Chen Shu expertly loaded up on various meats and vegetables, then sat playing with his phone while waiting for the food.
Xie Sunan's eyes wandered, and he suddenly noticed a person at the neighboring stall.
He whispered, "Hey, look at that guy. It's boiling hot out and he's wearing a duck-bill cap and a puffy winter coat—and it's pink of all colors."
"I'll bet anything that guy's either sick or an escaped convict. You believe me?"
Xu Xingxing shook his head. "I don't!"
Chen Shu chimed in. "You think convicts are stupid? Dressed that flashy, he's obviously trying to draw attention. Probably just some performance artist."
"No matter how I fly, I can't escape this dazzling world..."[1]
Chen Shu's phone suddenly rang.
"Wang Qian?"
He raised an eyebrow and answered the call.
"Hey, Uncle Wang?"
"Little Chen, those two fugitives you reported yesterday—we've already caught one. The other one's still on the run. You'd better be careful."
Chen Shu replied, "That's some efficiency. Didn't think you'd nab one so fast."
He hadn't expected that just one day after filing the report, they'd already caught one of them.
"Uncle Wang, don't worry. There's only one left. If he comes looking for me, I'll handle him no problem!"
"Mm, just be careful. He should be somewhere near your school."
Chen Shu nodded, then suddenly looked up at the man in the pink winter coat.
Gazing at that familiar silhouette, a hint of suspicion crept into his mind.
Chen Shu whispered, "Xingxing, go secretly photograph that guy!"
"Chen Pi, are you crazy?! Secretly photograph some weirdo?!"
Though he said that, Xu Xingxing still got up, a hint of excitement in his eyes.
Not sure who the real weirdo was here...
Xu Xingxing nonchalantly moved to a spot across from the man, pretending to be a customer playing on his phone.
Just then, he pressed the shutter!
Click!
A blinding flash went off. Things got a bit awkward...
Chen Shu and Xie Sunan both widened their eyes. Was that supposed to be secret photography?!
"You sick?!"
The man frowned and shouted, but didn't do anything drastic.
Xu Xingxing gave an awkward laugh and returned to Chen Shu's side, pulling out his phone.
"Holy shit! It really IS that baldy!"
Chen Shu's eyes went wide. He instantly recognized the bald criminal who'd attacked him yesterday.
"Shh!" Chen Shu made a silencing gesture while covering his own face.
Xie Sunan was clueless. "What's wrong? Need to use the bathroom again?"
"That guy's got a problem."
Chen Shu covered his face with his hand, speaking in a low voice.
As he finished, options appeared before his eyes.
[Option 1: Shout at him: "Criminal! Your time has come!" Completion reward: Medium Beast Taming Power]
[Option 2: Walk up and use your silver tongue to convince him to turn himself in! Completion reward: Slime's obedience +5]
[Option 3: Follow the criminal and observe the situation before acting. Completion reward: Slime's body size +1%]
Chen Shu frowned slightly. None of the three options had great rewards, and the first two were way too dangerous.
This was a snack street. If he provoked the guy, ordinary people would definitely get caught in the crossfire.
The second option was even more ridiculous. Looked like he could only watch and wait.
The three of them sat in silence, eating their maocai while keeping an eye on the man.
Half an hour later, the man left the stall and walked toward the street's exit, getting into a black sedan.
Chen Shu and his companions skulked after him and hailed a taxi.
"Driver! Follow that car!"
The taxi driver's spirits instantly lifted, excitement gleaming in his eyes. "No problem!"
He slammed the gas, and the taxi's speed shot up.
"Slow down! Slow down!"
Xie Sunan was thrown left and right. Are you driving or piloting a spaceship?!
Ten minutes later, the black sedan up ahead came to a stop.
Chen Shu and his companions paid and got out. The taxi driver pouted—all that excitement over one traffic light.