Chapter 96: It’s All Real

"Oh no, I forgot something!"

After arriving at his new place—a duplex apartment near the wetland park with a monthly rent of 2000—and settling his luggage, Chen Huaian suddenly remembered.

"That bearded guy mentioned there's a bounty for killing monsters, right? Since I'm not part of the Demon-Slaying Division, I'm considered a civilian monster hunter. I can still claim the bounty, can't I?"

He wondered how much that black-furred rat was worth.

Such a weak monster probably wasn't worth much.

At most, a few thousand bucks.

"But it's not a big deal. There are plenty of monsters now. Even if it's just a thousand bucks per kill, as long as I kill enough, the money will naturally pile up."

Thinking about this, Chen Huaian felt a surge of excitement—finally, he could earn money in a way he preferred.

He didn't need to join the Demon-Slaying Division to claim bounties at the Longteng Internet Cafe. Living freely while earning extra cash—how great was that?

Just as he was thinking this, his phone rang.

Chen Huaian glanced at it and saw an unfamiliar number.

"Hello? Who's this?"

[Brother Huaian~] A familiar voice came from the other end.

"Uncle? How do you have my number?"

[I saved it when we checked your phone at the security bureau… That's not important. I'm calling to let you know that I've contacted an awakener who can treat your cancer. Come over in three days.]

"Ah, but I didn't join the Demon-Slaying Division."

[It's fine. I can't just watch you die. I already called you 'brother,' didn't I?]

"But isn't it troublesome for others…"

[It's free.]

"Alright, I'll be there!"

Chen Huaian agreed without hesitation.

As long as it's free, nothing else matters!

[Then, meet me at the Longteng Internet Cafe, third floor, at 9 a.m. the day after tomorrow.]

The bearded man seemed to know exactly how to handle Chen Huaian, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.

"OK, no problem."

The two then chatted about the bounty for the black-furred rat.

Chen Huaian had been mistaken. The bounty for the black-furred rat was as high as 20,000. This was because the rat had been blown to bits and couldn't be recovered. If the body had been intact, the bounty could have doubled.

The money would be transferred to the bearded man after the application was reviewed.

The bearded man would then transfer it directly to Chen Huaian.

…

[Alright, I'll hang up now.]

The bearded man pressed the end call button without saying more.

He was still on the bustling street.

But he gradually realized something.

Although it was disappointing that Chen Huaian didn't join the Demon-Slaying Division, as long as Chen Huaian felt that there was still kindness in the world, he would eventually be moved and join.

"Tsk tsk, old ginger is spicier. I'm such a genius!"

The bearded man praised his own cleverness.

His previously troubled mood eased, and he couldn't help but think of the sword aura youth that Old Li wanted to approach.

"I missed out on Chen Huaian for now, but I absolutely can't miss that sword aura kid. He's the hope of our Tianfu District!"

The bearded man clenched his fist, thinking to himself.

Chen Huaian's resistance stemmed from his dark past, but surely that sword aura kid didn't also have an unfortunate family, a terminal illness, and a cheating girlfriend, right?

"If the world is really that coincidental, I'll eat shit standing on my head!"

…

…

"Sigh, there are still good people in this world." Chen Huaian put down his phone, feeling a wave of emotion. Unfortunately, the good people appeared after he became an awakener. Otherwise, he would have been deeply moved.

He plugged his phone into the charger.

Chen Huaian tidied up the room a bit.

First, he took the talisman off the storage box and stuck it on the door. Previously, he had used it as decoration, but now that he knew its purpose, he treated it as a defensive mine against monster invasions.

Then he opened the storage box.

Inside, Baji looked listless, clearly not in good spirits.

"Maybe it's been cooped up. I'll give you a couple of shots later." Chen Huaian took Baji out and placed it aside, then reached for the motionless big green fish.

He thought the fish was already dead.

But as soon as he touched its tail, slap—the fish flipped half a meter into the air, startling Chen Huaian.

"Holy cow, is this fish a monster? It's been dehydrated for so long and still hasn't died?!" Chen Huaian stared at the big green fish on the floor, its eyes wide and its mouth opening and closing rapidly as if cursing.

From the hotel to the rental place took an hour, and he spent over an hour looking for a place and bargaining.

So, it had been almost three hours since he arrived, and the fish not only hadn't died but was still so lively?!

"Could it be a monster?"

Chen Huaian narrowed his eyes and pulled out a talisman from his pocket.

He had asked the bearded man how monsters appeared.

The bearded man couldn't give a clear answer, only saying that anomalies were likely monsters. If it wasn't a monster, it was an evil spirit. Just kill it.

Now, the big green fish was acting abnormally.

So, kill it!

It's worth at least 20,000 bucks~

[Stupid fish!]

Baji glared fiercely at the big green fish.

If it hadn't been weakened by the talisman's shockwave and couldn't muster any strength, it would have crushed that stinky fish by now.

The big green fish felt Baji's gaze and immediately froze in place, its eyes rolling back and even starting to emit the smell of salted fish.

"Why is it half-dead again? A final flare of life?"

Chen Huaian picked up the limp fish and placed it in the bathtub, filling it halfway with water. Seeing the fish floating belly-up and breathing weakly, he finally relaxed a little.

"It really was a final flare, but at least it's not dead yet."

Chen Huaian put away the talisman: "I'm not a ruthless killer. If you manage to survive, I won't have fish stew tonight."

However, he didn't know.

The moment he closed the bathroom door.

The big green fish in the bathtub immediately flipped over, its eyes wide as it drank water frantically, filling the tub with bubbles.

…

"Meow~~"

When Chen Huaian returned to the living room.

Baji was licking its paw and meowing at him, looking much more energetic.

"Good, are you hungry? I'll get you something nice to eat." Seeing that Baji was in better spirits, he decided not to give it any shots. Instead, he took out his phone and ordered a bag of cat food on Meituan.

Sitting on the sofa, Chen Huaian calmed his mind and began sorting through his chaotic thoughts.

Baji also breathed a sigh of relief.

[Just as I thought, the boss sealed the windows and doors. No escape, absolutely no escape…]

At this point, it had pretty much given up.

As for why it didn't want to get shot…

It already had one lame leg. Although it was faking it now, if it got another one, how would it pretend? Drag itself around on two lame legs? That would be too miserable!

"Bracelet, amulet, grass, Thunderfire Talisman, Black Scale Sword, Spring Revival Acupuncture, Meridian-Opening Acupuncture, and Qinglian Sword Manual." Chen Huaian took out everything he could and placed it on the coffee table.

For the things he couldn't take out, he wrote them down on paper.

Looking at the pile of items on the table, he narrowed his eyes.

Given that the electronic girlfriend game = companion spirit.

And that the talismans produced by the companion spirit were usable.

Then, most likely, the other items obtained from the companion spirit were also real.

"So, what secrets do you hold? Let me delve deep into you, hehehe~" Chen Huaian muttered to himself, his probing gaze scanning each item like an X-ray machine.

…

…