Chapter 007: The Stunning Beauty Overlooked

Xin Lang pondered for a long time, but still couldn’t find the answer. He could only continue to experiment with the upgrade device in the days to come, hoping to figure it out bit by bit.

Clang! While Xin Lang was carefully preparing the Flower Qi Dew, his dormitory door was suddenly thrown open with a crash, startling him so much that he nearly dropped the potion bottle in his hand.

Seeing that the culprit was the chubby Gu Ge, Xin Lang snapped angrily, “You damn fatty, can’t you be more careful opening the door? My whole afternoon’s work almost went up in smoke thanks to you!”

Gu Ge paid no heed to Xin Lang’s scolding. Instead, he burst out excitedly, “Buddy, I heard all about it! You went out of your way to stand up for me, and you gave that bastard Qian Baidu a good thrashing! You’re amazing! You’re my benefactor, my idol! From now on, I’m following you, boss!”

“Uh...” Xin Lang was speechless.

He didn’t quite know how to explain to this chubby fellow that there were two reasons he’d fought Qian Baidu—first, because they’d sought trouble with him, and second, to earn experience points for his upgrade device. It had nothing to do with Gu Ge’s one copper coin.

Seeing the grateful look on Gu Ge’s face, Xin Lang couldn’t bring himself to crush his plump spirit.

That afternoon, Xin Lang skipped class and had Gu Ge help him ask for leave. He stayed in the dorm, focused on concocting potions.

Gu Ge was right: anyone willing to spend money at the Spring Pleasure House every day surely didn’t care about a few coins, and their money was easy to earn. As long as Xin Lang’s potions were effective, he wouldn’t have trouble selling them.

The aphrodisiac was easy to prepare—Flower Qi Dew already had restorative properties. All he needed to do was add some potent herbs and retention agents to strengthen the effect.

As dusk fell and Xin Lang was still mixing potions, Gu Ge burst in again, startling him.

“Damn fatty, if you make me drop my potion and break it, I’ll have Qian Baidu thrash you again!” Xin Lang fumed.

“Boss, I’ve got earth-shattering news for you!” Gu Ge howled.

“Not interested!” Right now, Xin Lang cared only about gaining experience for the upgrade device.

Gu Ge refused to give up, crowding close and shouting, “It’s a beauty! An absolute stunner! Even Yan Ruyu, our academy’s flower, can’t compare! That face, that figure, those curves, those hips...”

Gu Ge was so entranced, drool pooled at his feet.

Xin Lang grabbed Gu Ge’s chubby face and shoved him aside, then continued his work, saying, “I’m not interested. Don’t get in the way.”

“Uh... Boss, seriously? She’s a beauty! An absolute stunner!” Gu Ge persisted.

Xin Lang, growing impatient, put down his work and turned to Gu Ge, “Even if she’s a heavenly fairy, what does that have to do with me?”

“It’s got everything to do with you!” Gu Ge declared. “Today she asked about you!”

Despite Gu Ge’s words, Xin Lang remained unmoved. He divided the potion he’d just finished into ten small bottles and said, “This is my new formula—Six-Flavored Imperial Dew. It’s far more potent than anything you’ll find on the market. Try it at the Spring Pleasure House tonight and see for yourself.”

Gu Ge still wouldn’t let it go. “Boss, are you really not interested in beauties?”

Ignoring him, Xin Lang continued, “The cost per bottle is around one silver coin. I don’t really understand you lot’s spending habits, so just set the price as you see fit.”

“Uh...” Gu Ge stared at Xin Lang like he was a monster, a little frightened. “Boss, are you sure you’re not inclined toward Brokeback Mountain?”

Xin Lang answered seriously, “I don’t lean that way, but if you keep nagging, I might develop violent tendencies.”

Seeing Xin Lang’s unfriendly expression, Gu Ge gathered up the ten bottles of Six-Flavored Imperial Dew and hurried out of the dorm.

After chasing Gu Ge away, Xin Lang began his daily tasks. To unlock the ‘Martial Arts Skill Zone’ of the upgrade device as soon as possible, he needed to secure today’s experience point, bringing his total to six.

Xin Lang had just advanced to Martial Apprentice level four today, so each daily task now required four hundred repetitions. The ones he’d done in the morning didn’t count. Though his body had improved to level four, completing the daily tasks still left him exhausted. Fortunately, he had Flower Qi Dew for recovery—otherwise, he wouldn’t even have the strength to crawl onto his bed.

Once finished, his experience points rose to six.

Because the daily tasks had increased, Xin Lang got up earlier the next day than usual. At dawn, he went to the small grove in Rising Sun Academy for his morning practice.

Jab... straight punch...

Front kick... side kick...

Xin Lang practiced the moves over and over, tirelessly.

Yesterday’s brawl with Qian Baidu was the first fight in both his lifetimes. He didn’t have much experience, but discovered these basic moves were useful, so now he practiced them with extra diligence.

Ten moves, two hundred repetitions each in the morning—totaling two thousand. By the time he finished, his clothes were drenched in sweat and daylight had fully broken; more people were out in the campus for morning exercise.

Gu Ge, likely worn out from his “tilling” at the Spring Pleasure House last night, was nowhere to be found as Xin Lang trained; wiping his sweat, Xin Lang headed back to his dorm.

Just as he reached his door, the room to his left opened and a girl of sixteen or seventeen stepped out. She was slender, with a round, delicate face, lips like cherry blossoms, brows like painted ink, cheeks tinged with pink, and an aura of youthful vitality.

Seeing Xin Lang, the girl smiled and greeted him, “Hello, classmate. I’m a new scholarship student—my name is Meng Chuchu. Please take care of me from now on!”

She finished with a playful wink from her beautiful, captivating eyes.

Xin Lang glanced at her, barely pausing, and replied with a simple “Mm,” before pushing open his door and entering his room.

“Uh...” Meng Chuchu was left frozen at her doorway.

She had never been so thoroughly ignored before. Meng Chuchu was absolutely confident in her looks; anyone who saw her—man or woman—would marvel at her beauty. Apart from her sister Meng Linglong, she believed no woman could surpass her. Yet Xin Lang hadn’t spared her a second glance!

She had been ignored—unprecedentedly ignored!

PS: Everyone, let’s work hard! If we make it onto the new book rankings, five chapters will be released as thanks!