Chapter 26: He Caitou

"Huh? You leveled up to level fifteen just by eating?!"

"Congratulations, Tang Wulin."

After the competition ended and the prize money was collected, Wang Dong and Huo Yutong showed completely different reactions upon hearing that Tang Wulin had leveled up.

Huo Yutong was sincerely happy for Tang Wulin, while Wang Dong wore an expression of disbelief.

"I didn't expect eating a lot could level up, so when I get back should I also..."

"I advise you not to," Tang Wulin quickly stopped his absurd idea. "The reason I can level up by eating is that my main ability is my body; my body urgently needs energy to sustain my consumption, so eating a lot helps me a lot. If you try it, it probably won't have the same effect."

"I see."

Wang Dong's reaction was complicated, unsure whether it was disappointment or relief.

He patted his own face, then took out that little booklet from before and said:

"Alright, lunch problem solved perfectly, now we should go have some fun."

"What shall we play?"

Tang Wulin asked curiously.

He had just skimmed the booklet in Wang Dong's hand; the Opening Festival events held in Sleak City were numerous, clearly half a day wouldn't be enough for the few of them to experience them all.

"Don't worry, just follow this young master and you'll be fine."

Wang Dong wore a smug expression, leading Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong toward the direction he had planned.

It must be said, as a rich family's child, Wang Dong, despite his arrogant demeanor, knows quite a lot.

Huo Yutong and Tang Wulin—one a poor child who has never seen the world, the other a time‑traveling returnee who has seen too much—were completely unfamiliar with the entertainment activities of this modern metropolis.

Thanks to his guidance, Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong spent a relaxed afternoon.

As evening approached, Tang Wulin's party met an acquaintance on the street.

Tang Wulin was the first to greet him.

"Hey big brother, are you also here to have fun in the city?"

"Wulin?" He Caitou turned around in surprise at the voice, "I didn't expect to run into you here; I'm here on Teacher Zhao's orders to collect metal."

He Caitou was someone Tang Wulin met yesterday afternoon when he went to the Soul Guidance Department's testing area for forging.

He is the prized disciple of Fan Yu, the third‑in‑command of the Soul Guidance Department, and can be considered Fan Yu's adopted son—a senior who appears very honest and simple.

Tang Wulin keenly noticed the keyword in his words.

"Collect metal? Isn't that buying?"

"No," He Caitou explained. "In fact, most shops nearby are invested in by our Soul Guidance Department; as long as I show my credentials, I can get substantial discounts at many stores, and the metal supplied to the Academy costs nothing."

"So impressive?"

"Well, after all Sleak City was built with our Academy as its base. Actually, most activities in the Opening Festival have the Academy's influence behind them. For example, the raging morning Big Eater competition was reportedly organized with support from the Deputy Hall Master of the Sea God Hall."

Listening to He Caitou's chatty talk, Tang Wulin felt a bit surprised.

He didn't expect that the Big Eater contest he joined in the morning was backed by the Deputy Hall Master of the Sea God Hall, who specifically supports such events; that deputy hall master is truly a strange person.

He Caitou looked at Wang Dong and Huo Yutong.

"By the way, you are Wulin's friends, right? There are many game activities provided by the Soul Guidance Department here; would you like to join? If I step in, they're free."

No one noticed that as he spoke, a glint of cunning flashed in his eyes.

He Caitou's simple exterior and attitude are just a façade; in fact, he is a shrewd person.

He doesn't know what's happening in the martial soul department, but because the Soul Guidance Department suffers a severe talent shortage, the events they hold essentially serve to scout talent.

He knows how much Qian Duoduo and Fan Yu value Tang Wulin, and knows how much effort they've recently spent to lure him over; he also wants to do his part for them.

In He Caitou's view, Tang Wulin himself is hard to target, so going after his close friends is a shortcut.

If they can lure all his close friends into the Soul Guidance Department, the success rate of persuading Tang Wulin would greatly increase. Huo Yutong was clearly very interested in He Caitou's invitation.

"What activities are there?"

She had already heard about the Tang Sect's experiences from Bei Bei and Tang Ya.

In her view, to save the Tang Sect, they must develop Soul Guidance Devices.

Now that she has a chance to get involved with Soul Guidance Devices, she naturally wouldn't miss it.

He Caitou's eyes lit up, and he quickly said:

"There are many—shooting-type, leisure-type, all of them. Which one would you like to try?"

"Then the shooting-type, please."

Since they are to study Soul Guidance Devices, they naturally need to study the offensive ones.

Moreover, shooting-type Soul Guidance Devices share the same track as the Tang Sect's hidden weapons; both are ranged attack types, and studying them will better aid the revitalization of the Tang Sect.

"Alright, follow me."

He Caitou quickly turned and led the way.

Huo Yutong and Tang Wulin were about to step forward when they suddenly noticed someone missing.

They turned around and saw Wang Dong standing there with a sour expression.

Tang Wulin asked worriedly:

"Wang Dong, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"...," Wang Dong took a deep breath, "Tang Wulin, you and Yutong go ahead; I'm actually feeling a bit unwell right now."

"Are you feeling unwell? Should we go to the infirmary?"

Huo Yutong also asked with concern.

Wang Dong slowly shook his head.

"No need, thanks for your concern."

Not sure if it's an illusion, Tang Wulin always felt Wang Dong's voice was very stiff, as if suppressing some irritation.

He turned away, hid his expression, and said:

"The air in this area makes me uncomfortable. I'll wait for you at the gate of Slake City first; after you're done, just come find me."

After speaking, without waiting for Tang Wulin or Huo Yutong to respond, Wang Dong bolted away, quickly squeezed into the crowd, and vanished.

Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong stared at each other; they both had a strange feeling that Wang Dong's discomfort was less about his body than about being in a terrible mood.

It was as if he utterly despised the soul-guiding device.

Wang Dong weaved through the crowd, biting his lower lip tightly.

As soon as he heard He Caitou say that this area was the soul-guiding system's jurisdiction, he became extremely irritable, and a feeling of disgust welled up from his heart.

He knew his reaction was inexplicable, yet he couldn't control his emotions.

Staying there any longer would make no one happy, so he could only choose to leave first.

"Damn!"

At the gate of Slake City, Wang Dong pounded the wall hard.

His mind seemed forcibly split into two parts: one rational, telling him the soul-guiding device wasn't bad at all; the other emotional, continuously stirring hatred in his heart.

This feeling made him very uncomfortable.

"Why... what's happening to me...?"

Wang Dong's helpless voice was drowned beneath the nighttime city's clamor.

(End of Chapter)