Chapter 139: The First Meeting Between Suannai and Green Vegetables

There are only fifty-seven Basic Runes in total.

When humanity first mastered extraordinary abilities, all spells were combinations and applications of these fifty-seven runes.

Every subsequent level of advanced runes is more powerful and specific than the previous one, and naturally, they are also more numerous. At the same time, the shadow of a rune from the previous level can be found in every higher-level rune; it could also be said that they are derived from the refinement, perfection, and strengthening of a certain rune from the previous level.

There are already over five hundred First-level Runes.

Almost all Basic Runes and First-level Runes have already been discovered, unless the world gives birth to new runes again.

At the same time, they are used globally; there is almost no such thing as a rune mastered only by a certain country or organization. Except for some extremely backward regions, even if you are born in a small country, you can still learn these runes.

There are thousands of Second-level Runes.

It is currently generally believed in the world that all Second-level Runes have also been discovered. However, unlike Basic and First-level Runes, the major countries of the world have non-disclosure agreements regarding a very small number of Second-level Runes, and not everyone in every country or organization can access these Controlled Runes.

However, the control is not too strict.

In Yiguo, you might need to be engaged in certain specific work and reach a certain level to access these runes, otherwise, you would have to use special means—for example, having a group of willful teachers who do not take national policy seriously, or purchasing them on the Deep Net.

Currently, Second-level Runes are still what experts among the common people commonly use.

The control of Third-level Runes is very strict.

Due to their complexity and power, the major countries of the world are constantly searching for new Third-level Runes, while simultaneously strictly controlling a portion of newly discovered, uncirculated Third-level Runes that possess special significance and value to prevent them from leaking out.

Therefore, even if you add up all the teachers at Yujing Academy, they might not be able to master all the Third-level Runes of Yiguo, especially Third-level Runes with penetrating functions.

Plus, the number of Third-level Runes is truly too large...

The runes themselves are already complex, and they are difficult to apply; if the quantity is also large, experts among the common people express that Second-level Runes still look more approachable.

Penetrating Runes are the key area of control.

Being able to participate in this research project and come into contact with so many penetrating Third-level Runes and their operational principles is truly no easy feat.

Chen Shu even selected a Third-level Rune that was not so strictly controlled but had decent effects, applying it into the rune design for Jiang Lai as the core rune of this offensive Rune Group's penetrating component.

Even though his application was still relatively rough, it could still elevate the performance of this Rune Group by another notch.

Speaking of which, the Rune Group designed for Jiang Lai is almost ready. The work being done recently is optimizing the operational mechanism of this Third-level Penetrating Rune, fully utilizing its performance, and coordinating its cooperation with other runes.

This is the final step.

However, Chen Shu did not tell Jiang Lai this morning.

He felt the timing was not very good.

Because he wanted to invite Jiang Lai to go to Qingshan Ridge with him to do manual labor as a pig-herder, and he happened to know that Jiang Lai was a good kid, so it wouldn't be very good to bring up the rune design before or after the invitation; he decided to just talk about it in two days.

Six o'clock in the evening.

Chen Shu, who had been stealing techniques all afternoon, still wanted to mooch a meal from the teachers, but upon hearing they were going to eat local Yujing cuisine, he gave up.

That stuff is not even as good as the cafeteria.

So he left the laboratory and started walking toward the Dormitory.

But just when he was about a hundred meters away from the Dormitory, he suddenly encountered a figure leaving—

It was no longer cool in Yujing in mid-March; it was no longer cool in most parts of the country. Today was another sunny day, and the sun was scorching hot. That tall girl was wearing a pair of wide-leg jeans and an oversized T-shirt, seemingly trying her best to hide her figure, but her legs were truly too long—long in a way that no matter how loose the pant legs were, they couldn't be hidden—plus her outstanding height, which made her still stunning and eye-catching.

Chen Shu couldn't help but take an extra glance.

A navy blue baseball cap embroidered with a web pattern, tea-colored sunglasses; her face shape was a melon-seed face, very small, with a somewhat pointed chin and snow-white skin.

The two were separated by a road several meters wide, heading in opposite directions.

Chen Shu's first reaction was that this young lady must be very beautiful and must have a great figure, but just as they passed each other, he suddenly realized that this person looked like someone he had seen in a photo before.

Therefore, his gaze couldn't help but shift slightly.

At this very moment, the other party also seemed to have a premonition; she instantly filtered out the gazes of all other passersby and turned her head to look at him.

Chen Shu did not panic; he revealed a slight look of confusion at the right moment, scratched his head, and looked at her again, but his footsteps did not stop as he continued walking toward the gate of Huaiyuan.

A Sword Cultivator's Spiritual Sense is truly terrifying.

It is said that whether it is the Traditional Sword Cultivator represented by the Sword Sect or the Modern Sword Cultivator represented by the Royal Court, they all value Spiritual Sense highly. When recruiting disciples, in addition to testing the disciple's Spirit Power Talent, they also test their talent in this aspect.

It is said that their Spiritual Sense can not only detect killing intent, attacks, and stares, but can even detect the changes in the eyes of those who are staring at them.

A Sword Cultivator genius must have outstanding Spiritual Sense.

Chen Shu looked back again, then walked into Huaiyuan.

Fortunately, he wasn't stopped.

This person was most likely Zhang Suannai.

Most likely.

But why did she come here...

Chen Shu quickly took out his Mobile Phone.

Chen Shu: Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the most handsome man in the world?

Xiaoxiao: It's Brother-in-law.

Chen Shu: Are you in the Dormitory?

Xiaoxiao: Yes.

Chen Shu: What's for dinner?

Xiaoxiao: Sister just went out, said she was going to the cafeteria to buy rice porridge, and wants to eat the Bath Kimchi and Sour and Spicy Cowpea that Brother-in-law brought back.

Chen Shu: What about you?

Xiaoxiao: I'm eating that too.

Chen Shu: That hateful sister! Only giving Xiaoxiao rice porridge!

Xiaoxiao: That hateful sister!

Chen Shu opened his emojis and quickly found a custom emoji he had made himself.

Chen Shu: /Down with the Demon King Sister

Xiaoxiao: /Down with the Demon King Sister

Chen Shu: Then what about the other roommate? She isn't eating porridge with you guys, is she?

Xiaoxiao: I don't know.

Chen Shu: How do you not know?

Xiaoxiao: Zhang Suannai went out and hasn't come back yet.

Chen Shu pursed his lips.

It really is Zhang Suannai.

Chen Shu: Why did she go out?

Xiaoxiao: I don't know.

Chen Shu: Is she dating someone?

Xiaoxiao: I don't know.

Chen Shu: Didn't I tell you to get along well with Zhang Suannai? Why aren't you concerned about anything?

Xiaoxiao: I am getting along well with her.

Xiaoxiao: I chat with her often.

Chen Shu: I don't believe you.

Chen Shu: What did you talk about?

Xiaoxiao: Yesterday, Zhang Suannai heard I have a brother-in-law, and today she asked me a lot of questions about him.

Chen Shu: What did she ask?

Xiaoxiao: /Suspicion

Chen Shu: Look, you really are lying.

Chen Shu: /Pointing a finger

Xiaoxiao: I'm not!

Chen Shu: Tell me quickly.

Chen Shu: Be more detailed.

Chen Shu: I'm very interested.

Chen Shu: She must find it hard to believe that someone like my sister would actually date someone, hahahaha, just thinking about it is funny.

At this moment, he had returned to the Dormitory and sat down on the sofa, silently watching the messages sent by the little girl—in order to make her brother-in-law laugh happily, the little girl explained her conversation with Zhang Suannai from this morning to him in great detail in the messages.

Including Zhang Suannai's shock, Zhang Suannai asking her for his photo, telling her to look in his Flying Letter feed, and also asking if he was handsome or not.

It was just that the little girl had slightly modified her own parts of the answers.

She even included the chat content between Zhang Suannai and Ning Qing as a bonus, telling her brother-in-law everything so he could be even more thoroughly happy.

Chen Shu finished reading and was indeed very happy.

Especially Ning Qing's original reply; it satisfied him greatly.

However...

Zhang Suannai probably still sensed something wrong, which is why she came to squat at Yujing Academy after confirming the "identity" of Qingcai Keke. This person is still quite clever to have realized something was amiss even with such an information asymmetry.

Chen Shu fell into thought.

He currently has another identity, which is Ning Qing's boyfriend.

As a roommate's boyfriend, it is normal for him to have seen her photo and be able to recognize her, so the fact that she noticed his gaze today cannot be used as the sole basis for her to deduce that he is Qingcai Keke.

Plus, since he is also Meng Chunqiu's roommate, it is more likely that Zhang Suannai would deduce: he provided help during Meng Chunqiu's investigation of her.

Or even: the reason Meng Chunqiu was able to investigate her identity so quickly with just a photo was because she used Ning Qing's photo, and after Meng Chunqiu received the photo, he showed it to him, and he recognized at a glance that this was his girlfriend who wasn't dating anyone.

But it won't be able to be hidden for much longer.

Paper cannot wrap up fire.

If Zhang Suannai is determined to confirm whether Meng Chunqiu is Qingcai Keke, unless he convinces Brother Meng to act together, Zhang Suannai only needs to go up and greet Brother Meng for the truth to be revealed.

But then again...

What is there to Fear?

That is where the fun lies!

Chen Shu looked at his Mobile Phone.

Xiaoxiao: Brother-in-law, are you happy?

Chen Shu: Happy to death.

Chen Shu: You cracked me up.

Xiaoxiao: Brother-in-law, have you eaten dinner?

Chen Shu: Not yet.

Xiaoxiao: My sister is already back.

Chen Shu: Then you go eat, I'm going to eat too.

Xiaoxiao: Brother-in-law, what are you eating?

Chen Shu: My roommate said he brought me food.

Xiaoxiao: Okay.

Just as he was speaking, the sound of a door opening came from the entrance.

Beep beep beep... Click!

Zhang Suannai walked into the Dormitory.

Passing through the corridor outside the little girl's room, she arrived at the living room and dining room.

Zhang Suannai saw the two sisters sitting at the dining table eating at a glance; in front of each was a bowl filled with porridge. It looked like they had just started eating. In the middle of the table were a dish of fish-fragrant eggplant and a dish of shredded stir-fried potatoes, two side dishes to go with the rice. It didn't seem simple, but it certainly couldn't be called sumptuous either.

"Oh my!"

Zhang Suannai greeted them: "Eating so lightly? Is it because the weather is hot and you don't have an appetite?"

Ning Qing ignored her.

Instead, the little girl looked up and said: "Sister Suannai, have you eaten?"

"No."

"Sister said you definitely hadn't eaten, and said you would be back soon, so she bought a bowl of porridge for you too." After the little girl finished speaking, as if she had completed a task, she lowered her head to focus on eating, with the air of 'I am not going to talk anymore.'

"Eh?"

Only then did Zhang Suannai notice that a third bowl was placed to the side, also filled with porridge.

So she blinked her eyes, lightning-fast, scooted over, sat down next to Ning Qing, and pulled the bowl over, asking with a grin: "How did you know I was coming back soon? And that I hadn't eaten?"

Ning Qing was expressionless; she turned her head to look at her own left shoulder, then looked at her own right shoulder, the distance between the two not exceeding twenty centimeters:

"You can go sit over there."

"But I want to sit next to you!"

"If not necessary, keep your distance."

"Are you like this with that someone of yours too?"

"……"

"Fine, don't tell me then."

Zhang Suannai picked up a chopstick-full of this pickled vegetable that looked like cabbage and lowered her head, preparing to shovel in some porridge, but before her mouth reached the edge of the bowl, she lifted her head again—

She had originally thought this was just a common side dish, like cold-dressed cabbage, but it turned out to be pickled, and it was even more stunning than she had imagined.

It was very crunchy upon entering the mouth, with only a slight acidity, the saltiness was just right, and if one tasted it carefully, one could detect a hint of sweetness, with a lingering trace of spiciness in the aftertaste. The flavor was very refreshing, yet it was coated in a bit of red chili oil, which added a mellow and rich texture to it.

If one were eating this in the middle of summer, it would definitely be great.

"Slurp!"

Zhang Suannai lowered her head and shoveled a large mouthful of porridge, then looked at the little girl and asked: "Did your brother-in-law make this too?"

The little girl was eating shredded potatoes; hearing this, she frowned, not really wanting to answer, but thinking of her brother-in-law's instructions, she still raised her head: "Mm, brother-in-law brought it for us yesterday, and we only just took it out this morning."

"What is it called?"

"Bath Kimchi."

"Bath Kimchi? Why is it called that?"

"……" The little girl was silent for a moment, a glint flashing in her eyes, "Because it's made with bathwater."

"……"

Zhang Suannai's chewing motion stopped.

At this moment, Ning Qing's voice came from the side, light and calm: "Because the pickling time is very short, as if it only took a bath in the jar."

"Oh, oh..."

Only then did Zhang Suannai let out a sigh of relief and continue chewing.

Immediately, she was startled again, keenly realizing something, and looked at the little girl: "Wait, didn't you say you couldn't lie?"

The little girl raised her head again, a long, thin potato shred slowly disappearing into her mouth, and then she said with a serious face: "That wasn't a lie, I just wanted to make you happy and played a joke on you."

"Is that so?"

Zhang Suannai was stunned again; she hadn't expected the aloof little girl to actually try to make her happy and joke with her, and she was a bit unaccustomed to it for a moment.

Once she reacted, she grinned and laughed out loud.

Her heart felt sweet.

Jokes, of course, don't count as lying; this must be a sign that the little girl is starting to accept her and starting to like her, right?

Zhang Suannai was filled with Joy, and picked up a bit more of these pickled cowpeas.

The acidity of the pickled cowpeas was heavier than the Bath Kimchi, but they were coated in a lot of chili, so they tasted both sour and spicy, with the fragrance of chili. They had the refreshing, appetite-stimulating quality of common pickled cowpeas, yet weren't too bland, making them more palatable and better with rice than non-spicy pickled cowpeas.

Ning Qing glanced at her calmly.

Ten minutes later.

Zhang Suannai actively went to wash the dishes; after she finished, Ning Qing had already returned to her room, and only the little girl was left in the living room watching TV.

Zhang Suannai walked to the balcony of her own room to take a look, confirmed that Ning Qing was on the balcony watering and fertilizing the Chinese roses, and only then returned to the living room, sitting down next to the little girl but not too close—the little girl was just like her sister, not liking others to sit too close to her, though unlike her sister, the little girl would usually just move away silently, at most secretly glancing at that person.

Zhang Suannai had already experienced this.

"Xiaoxiao."

"?"

"How tall is your brother-in-law?"

"Over a meter."

"Xiaoxiao, potatoes." Zhang Suannai turned her head and looked at her seriously, reminding her, and only then explained why she asked: "Because I think your sister is quite tall, taller than many boys, and I don't know if your brother-in-law is as tall as your sister."

"A little bit taller than sister."

"Only a little bit taller?"

"Only a little bit taller."

"What are you wearing today?"

"?"

"Ahaha, it's like this, I had something to do at Yujing Academy this afternoon, and on the way, I saw a man who looked average and was wearing a pair of flip-flops; those flip-flops seemed to be the same style as your sister's, so I wanted to confirm if it was him."

"I'm not stupid."

"It's true, I swear it to my master, the Sword Master; if I'm lying, may the Sword Master be struck dead by lightning."

"..."

"Is it light-colored casual shorts, a slightly oversized short-sleeved t-shirt, grayish, with a little chrysanthemum on it?" Zhang Suannai asked.

"Yes."

"Ahahaha, what a coincidence."

Zhang Suannai laughed it off and didn't continue asking.

She still didn't manage to stake out Meng Chunqiu at the Dormitory entrance this afternoon, so she still hadn't confirmed whether Meng Chunqiu was Qingcai Keke.

Zhang Suannai was a bit angry about this—

Have the descendants of the Imperial Family become this degenerate? A whole afternoon, eh? Even if there were no classes in the afternoon, didn't he have any other study plans?

"Sigh..."

In any case, deep down, Zhang Suannai hoped that Qingcai Keke was not Xiaoxiao's brother-in-law.

Otherwise, not only would her previous investigation be overturned, with the possibility of becoming a laughingstock in the group, but she would also likely be so angry she'd drop dead on the spot. It just so happened that she had eaten so much of that person's food; even if he made her furious, she wouldn't have the nerve to beat him up.

May the Sword God protect me...

Zhang Suannai prayed silently in her heart.

A little girl's serious voice came from beside her: "Sister Suannai, your credit limit has been used up. You owe me two potatoes now. I won't answer any more of your questions until you pay off these two potatoes."

"Got it, got it." Zhang Suannai waved her hands repeatedly and said, "Same old rules, you absolutely cannot tell your brother-in-law about this!"

"Okay!"

The little girl agreed earnestly and continued watching television.

Only when Sister Suannai felt that the science documentary she was playing was too profound to understand and went back to her room to play games did she blink her eyes and take out her Mobile Phone.