Chapter 18: The Legendary Creature—Colorful Beard Kun
Editor: Henyee Translations
Xu Zhong caught the last train of the night.
Due to the late hour, the train was sparsely populated, creating an almost eerie emptiness.
Seated across from Xu Zhong was a seemingly unconventional couple.
In his forties with a receding hairline and heavy bags under his eyes, the man appeared as if he'd been perpetually intoxicated.
By contrast, the young woman beside him, in her twenties, exuded an air of innocence often associated with a newcomer to the workforce.
Two disparate souls sharing the late-night subway ride created an almost cinematic sense of romantic intrigue.
However, their age gap was rather pronounced, which inevitably raised suspicions.
She was either involved with a wealthy individual or embroiled in an affair.
True love?
In Luo City, "tears" didn't inspire much faith.
Xu Zhong decided to visit a nearby internet cafe and research the computer.
His primary objective was to explore potential avenues for earning money.
Xu Zhong had been contemplating whether he should plagiarise to secure funds.
Initially, he balked at the idea of such a shameless act as copying the works of others. However, the urgency of his situation forced him to consider a more flexible approach as a time traveler.
Which type of novel was the most lucrative? "The Legend of the Sea God, His Late Wife?" Sigh. Most people devote their spare time to martial arts cultivation, leaving little room for optimism regarding the future of novel writing.
Forget it. Let's do some investment. When did Old Ma and Xiao Ma begin?
…
After much contemplation, he decided to search online for answers.
As night fell, Xu Zhong found a secluded, dimly lit internet cafe he had heard about from his classmates but never personally visited.
He tried to mimic his classmate's demeanor upon approaching the front desk. "I'd like to open a temporary card."
"Is it for an all-night session?" The gum-chewing internet cafe attendant asked casually.
Xu Zhong was momentarily taken aback. He blurted out, "You offer that service here?!"
"What service?" The girl rubbed her eyes and stared bewilderedly at Xu Zhong's astonished expression. What did I say?
"Never mind, forget it," Xu Zhong quickly waved off his misunderstanding.
Why was his awareness so lacking?
In certain places, all-night internet cafes were called "night charters."
Xu Zhong scratched his head embarrassedly. "I don't need it for the whole night. I'll just… I'll just take a temporary card."
"Fifteen yuan an hour."
"D*mn, it was only ten yuan the last time I was here."
"Temporary cards are always fifteen at night," the network attendant stated impassively.
By using the bargaining skills he'd honed from haggling with market vendors, Xu Zhong attempted to negotiate. "Boss, I'm a frequent customer here. How about cutting me a deal?"
The attendant looked disdainfully at Xu Zhong and taunted, "Do you even know my name?"
Xu Zhong was still speechless.
The attendant asked, "How old do you think I am?"
Xu Zhong was still speechless.
"Which days of the week do I usually work here?"
Xu Zhong was still speechless.
The webmaster said, "I…"
Xu Zhong relented. "Alright, I'll take an hour's temporary card for 15."
Innocent and straightforward!
After settling the payment, Xu Zhong opted for a secluded corner to sit down.
Due to the cafe's somewhat lackluster facilities, it wasn't particularly crowded.
Only one girl, dressed in a punk style, was busy typing away at her keyboard.
"Bronze level, it's unbearable! I won't tolerate this misery!"
Xu Zhong paid no mind to the girl and found himself in a quiet corner before firing up his computer.
Rather than jumping right into his search, he began by looking up the term "martial artist."
Soon, a wealth of information filled his screen.
As a time traveler, Xu Zhong did not understand what it meant to be a "martial artist."
The initial results that greeted him were a series of peculiar headlines.
[Breaking News! Lia Group Chairman Attains A-rank Martial Artist Status, Hua Country's Situation Might Have a Big Change.]
[Exciting Announcement! New Fang, Lan Xiang, and Other Universities Offer Scholarships for Students Who Have Vitality Scores of 40 or Higher and Not Passed The Martial Arts Vitality Qualification Test]
[Urgent Report! S-rank Martial Artist Caliber Legendary Creature Spotted in Mystic Realm 003!!]
[Alert! Seductive Fox Spirit Monster Roaming Luo City. This Kind of Seductive Fox Loves to Pass Through The Streets and Alleys to Prey on Unsuspecting Victims in Isolated Locations.]
Xu Zhong paid particular attention to the report concerning the Seductive Fox species.
The Seductive Fox employed a technique rooted in its innate charm, using illusions to trap its victims and render them defenseless. Once entranced, it would proceed to drain the essence from its prey. However, one could easily dispatch the creature by effectively countering its charm technique.
I won't fall for the wiles of a seductive vixen.
He disregarded the other notifications and turned his attention to a pinned post.
"Approximately 400 years ago, rifts in space began to appear worldwide, leading to the emergence of various mystic realms. These realms occasionally released foreign creatures on Earth. The mystic realms altered Earth's flora and fauna, enhancing many animals' physical characteristics, such as scales, claws, and teeth.
In response to the challenging environment, human martial artists came into existence.
These martial artists pursued various paths, some joining the military and others affiliating with the Red and British Alliance as official martial artists. Some found a place within prominent financial groups or wealthy families, while others became independent cultivators.
The presence of these martial artists played a crucial role in containing terrifying beasts outside the city limits, preventing large-scale devastation and upheaval in civilized society.
After reviewing the introductions, Xu Zhong deduced that for most low-level martial artists, there were three primary methods to quickly earn money.
They could either teach at martial arts schools. However, high-level martial artists often found such work beneath them and participated in underground boxing competitions.
Or engage in specialized martial artist-level competitions.
The last option was the most difficult—to venture into mystic realms, hunt ferocious beasts, and exchange their hides and meat for money. This route offered the swiftest financial gains, with direct rewards and no intermediaries skimming profits.
In contrast, the first two methods involved sharing earnings with martial arts schools or competition organizers, which Xu Zhong found unappealing.
He then proceeded to investigate news related to mystic realms online.
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