Chapter 61: Gathering

After leaving the airport, they got straight into the car, and Qin Menglan had her own driver.

But this is not the kind of treatment one would get from joining Walk Near Science.

This is Qin Menglan's own treatment; Tang Luo is just along for the ride.

Speaking of which, gods and demons walking the earth might not actually enjoy being picked up like this.

Generally, everyone prefers a bit more freedom.

Driving to the hotel, the room was naturally already booked.

The gathering is scheduled for tomorrow noon, not in any public place.

But in a villa area for the wealthy.

After confirming that Tang Luo did not intend to go himself but hoped someone would come pick him up, Qin Menglan left.

The next day.

After walking out of the hotel, not waiting a few minutes, Tang Luo saw a frost-black BMW i8 parked in front of him.

The car window rolled down, revealing Qin Menglan wearing sunglasses, covering most of her face: "Get in."

"Is Walk Near Science really that profitable?"

The car started, and Tang Luo asked.

"If you're willing to work, money naturally follows." Qin Menglan said.

More work, more gain.

Those gods and demons who are just nominally walking the earth only get a basic salary, enough to keep them fed and clothed.

It's not that they can't be supported, but rather that it's not about scarcity but inequality.

Some gods and demons walk the earth with full dedication, maintaining order.

In the end, their treatment is no better than a bunch of salted fish—who would still bother to work?

"Oh, if that's possible, I hope to buy an apartment within the Second Ring Road this year." Tang Luo said.

Qin Menglan gave Tang Luo a speechless look: "Although I shouldn't ask, but is your fate that of a hot-blooded monk, a righteous companion type?"

She knew Tang Luo was someone who had no worries about food and clothing.

And without any family pressure, he wouldn't think about desperately making money.

Hoping to handle various real-world "official tasks," the only possibility would be the other party's "fate requirements."

"Hmm."

Tang Luo nodded slightly.

"Understood. If anything related happens, I'll come find you." Qin Menglan readily agreed, "But don't even think about buying an apartment."

Various supernatural events actually don't happen that often.

"Isn't it said that restrictions are being loosened?" Tang Luo asked.

"Generally, everyone thinks so." Qin Menglan said, "But truly, gods and demons who actually cause trouble in reality are few. Sun Ang's incident was the only major malicious event in these two years."

No matter how you say it.

A safe real world is, for gods and demons walking the earth, a harbor from the storm.

Not many people hope for great winds and waves to come sweeping in.

"Besides us, there are also all kinds of 'demons and monsters' lurking about, the Monster Urban." Tang Luo said.

"That's even rarer than gods and demons causing trouble." Qin Menglan glanced at Tang Luo twice, smiling, "You don't have some special constitution, do you?"

"Perhaps, there could be?" Tang Luo mused.

"Right."

Qin Menglan did not probe into Tang Luo's fate secrets, changing the subject: "You can tell us about the gods and demons you've encountered."

How is Walk Near Science supposed to find gods and demons and develop new members?

One way is like discovering Tang Luo—through abnormal events, finding clues.

It requires time to confirm and also evaluation.

The second way is simpler: gods and demons provide information, and thus some can be found.

Currently, Walk Near Science has confirmed over a hundred gods and demons.

Among them, those like Tang Luo who joined Walk Near Science and are willing to complete the tasks assigned from above exceed fifty.

The rest, part of them are just nominal members, collecting money.

Unmoved, they occasionally attend fixed gatherings.

Another small part, even unwilling to be nominal members, take a stance of drawing clear boundaries: I won't cause trouble, you don't come bother me, well water doesn't violate river water.

Those who truly want to cause trouble are naturally harmonized away.

Of course, personnel cannot remain unchanged.

But are always in dynamic flux.

At their lowest, the numbers were just over eighty; at their highest, they exceeded two hundred.

As for all of Huaxia, exactly how many gods and demons are still hidden?

Walk Near Science doesn't know either.

"I do know two." Tang Luo said, "But I don't have their contact information, only their names and appearances. When the time comes, you can look for them—they're both decent people."

He thought carefully.

He realized that the living gods and demons he knows are only Zhou Zhen'guo and Chu Chongtian.

The rest are all dead.

How come I feel like a jinxed lone star?

"If they join, I hope future gatherings can see them attend a few more times." Qin Menglan said with a tone of some sigh.

As a contact, she has encountered many god-demon walkers, but only had a brief meeting with each.

"By the way, if a god-demon walker dies during a mission, what happens in the real world?" Tang Luo asked.

"Missing, whether dying during a mission or disappearing after repeatedly failing to complete missions, is considered missing." Qin Menglan said.

There is no special way to die and exit.

Enter the mission world, disappear, and never appear again.

That is the only way for god-demon walkers to exit.

"First time participating?" Tang Luo asked.

During the second god-demon mission, the god-demon walker received advance notice and knew to avoid others.

But the first mission came without any warning.

If one dies in the mission world, would it be a sudden disappearance in front of everyone?

"Similarly missing, it shouldn't be that kind of sudden disappearance; there would likely be some concealment." Qin Menglan said.

Actually, god-demon walkers who die on their first mission belong to the "blank zone" in their information grasp.

"By the way, is there no way to withdraw? For example, completing ten missions consecutively?" Tang Luo asked.

"No."

Qin Menglan shook her head, "The more missions completed, the longer the interval between missions becomes, basically a direct proportion."

"I know someone who hasn't participated in a mission for three consecutive years. He has completed at least ten missions."

"Then aren't there many skills?" Tang Luo asked.

"Oh, I didn't mention this to you." Qin Menglan said, "God-demon walkers can only have six skills."

"Is there such a limitation?"

"Well, these six skills do not include the 'passive enhancement' obtained after surviving six missions without dying. After another six missions, one can no longer encounter newcomers."

"Like the Pokémon mode?"

Tang Luo pondered and asked.

What is the Pokémon mode?

It is when skills are full, and upon gaining a new skill, one can choose to discard it or replace an existing skill.

Of course, the skill levels of god-demon walkers cannot be inherited.

One must start from scratch.

"Yes."

Qin Menglan said, "But I have heard a rumor."

"A rumor?"

"Skills are divided into three levels in total, but the third level is not the end; one can continue upward. Mastering skills thoroughly, with no so many restrictions, and no longer occupying 'skill slots'."

"Why is it just a rumor?"

"I have seen many fate holders, but I have never actually seen such a god-demon walker; I have only heard of it, and I myself have not reached it, so I am not sure. After all, everyone likes to hide a trump card, don't they?" Qin Menglan smiled.

"Indeed."

Tang Luo nodded.

"Let's talk about this gathering. Including you and me, there are thirty-five people in total, thirteen of whom are like you, first-time participants." Qin Menglan said.

"What exactly do we need to do?" Tang Luo asked.

"There are no specific requirements; just mutual communication, trading, and mutual assistance." Qin Menglan said, "Everyone goes up to share their mission experiences, get familiar with faces, so if they meet in a mission, at least they are acquaintances."

"Trading?"

Tang Luo asked, "Is it trading equipment?"

"Yes. Also information, 'items'." Qin Menglan glanced at Tang Luo with some surprise, "You wouldn't have any equipment and still want to sell, would you?"

"I do."

Tang Luo said.

"I should say, no wonder you are a fate holder?" Qin Menglan smiled, "Or is it that having such ability allows one to become a fate holder?"

In Qin Menglan's judgment.

Tang Luo is a god-demon walker who definitely has not exceeded six missions.

Yet he is already a fate holder.

And he also has equipment he wants to get rid of.

This means he likely possesses equipment of two tiers or higher.

Can only say, people comparing themselves to others die of anger.

Qin Menglan recalled her first entry into the god-demon game, and immediately wanted to kick Tang Luo out of the car.

Damn lucky one!

"Is trading only barter?" Tang Luo asked.

"Yes."

"So primitive?"

"Yes, exactly so primitive. We once tried to create something like 'contribution points' as 'credit currency', but found the difficulty too great, unable to define prices, and ultimately came to nothing." Qin Menglan said.

"Oh."

Tang Luo nodded.

"But if you are willing to use money, that is also possible." Qin Menglan said.

There are also a small number of god-demon walkers who, for various reasons, choose to sell money directly.

Two hours later, the car stopped outside a luxurious villa.

The surroundings had already stopped many vehicles, mostly luxury cars.

Tang Luo saw in the garden someone strolling with a drink, looking very upper-class.

Qin Menglan took off her sunglasses and got out of the car.

Many people came over to greet her, calling her "Qin Team Leader" and "Qin Sis," their warmth tinged with a bit of flattery.

Qin Menglan responded to each one, her smile making people feel like they were basking in a spring breeze.

This scene reminded Tang Luo of the banquet hosted by the Earl of Sandek in the first mission world.

The god-and-demon walkers still know how to enjoy themselves.

Think about it: in the mission world you have to fight desperately, so naturally you relax and enjoy yourself in the real world.

It's not strange at all.

Upon entering the villa hall, Tang Luo saw a huge white blackboard placed on the right.

Written on it with oil-based markers were many contents.

These were the demands of the god-and-demon walkers, with both sellers and buyers present.

If you're lucky, you can directly find what you want here.

"Come, this is your badge."

Qin Menglan, who had just parted from Tang Luo, returned with a waft of fragrance and handed him a number tag.

It read "35."

This proved he was the last to arrive, and the gathering could now be considered officially begun.

Qin Menglan took the microphone and spoke a few simple sentences, then handed it over to another god-and-demon walker.

That person, with an excited expression, spoke like a storyteller, vividly recounting one of their mission experiences.

Tang Luo could also tell who were newcomers.

Who were the veterans who had participated before.

The newcomers listened with great interest, occasionally showing expressions of sudden realization.

The veterans gathered in small groups, chatting quietly.

"Newcomer?"

Tang Luo heard the voice and turned his head.

A man with a head of dazzling blond hair walked over.

"Yes." Tang Luo nodded slightly.

"You're the one Menglan personally picked up several times." The blond-haired man said, "It seems she values you quite a bit?"

"Well, because I'm strong."

Tang Luo nodded again.

One who is close to achieving success in power as the Fighting Victory Buddha is naturally invincible!