CHAPTER 277: CHAPTER 277: BALANCE EXISTS AMONG ALL THINGS

"To all students, faculty, and prospective students of Heavenly Lotus Academy:

The wasteland behind the Third Teaching Building is officially off-limits. Anyone who enters without permission will be recorded, and Bracelet Points will be deducted.

Please do not test Spells or Awakening effects on the wasteland anymore.

In addition, after the start of the new term, the academy will officially open [Experimental Venues] for everyone to test Spell effects. Please look forward to it."

At dinner, Ren Suo’s and the others’ cell phones all received this message. Dong Chengling glanced at it and laughed, "So many people were testing Spells at the back of the mountain?"

"Probably," Gu Yueyan said, her eyes on Ren Suo as she spoke with her chopsticks in her mouth.

Then she noticed Ren Suo was frowning and looking at his phone with a troubled expression.

Three days ago, Gu Yueyan suddenly received a phone call from Lin Xianyu and learned that she had already returned. Moreover, Lin Xianyu had mysteriously mentioned the training she and Ren Suo had been doing, prompting Gu Yueyan to immediately ask how she knew.

"Ren Suo told me..."

"Why would he bring that up?"

"Because I went to the back mountain for training and got injured..."

"You got injured?"

Gu Yueyan immediately rushed to the dorm to check on Lin Xianyu, only to find her unscathed. Instead, Lin Xianyu pulled her into her dorm for a private talk.

It turned out that Ren Suo had invited Lin Xianyu to train together after seeing her training alone and covered in injuries. Gu Yueyan thought it was a good idea. However, she was still somewhat annoyed that Ren Suo had extended the invitation privately, even though he had told Lin Xianyu to discuss it with her first.

Why annoyed? She didn’t know.

So for the past few days, Gu Yueyan hadn’t spoken a word to Ren Suo, and since that night, Ren Suo hadn’t mentioned going out for late-night snacks either.

Just as Gu Yueyan began to doubt whether that night had been a dream, Ren Suo, after reading the message, suddenly said, "By the way, are you guys free tonight after midnight?"

"Does sleeping count as being unavailable?" Dong Chengling asked, putting down her bowl.

"What’s it for?" Gu Yueyan asked, biting her chopsticks. "It wouldn’t be for a late-night snack, would it?"

"You got it!"

Ren Suo looked at them and said, "I received an internal message from the Tactical Bureau. The big shots of Fairy Palace might appear in a park in the wee hours. If we encounter them, we might gain some great benefits. How about we try our luck?"

After inviting Gu Yueyan out for a late-night snack, Ren Suo had a realization the next day. Such invitations might be okay once or twice, but frequent ones would unquestionably be declined. Or perhaps they might agree, but Ren Suo knew that in a few days, he would have an even more legitimate excuse to invite them to form the habit of late-night outings.

The Tactical Bureau’s search!

Because in the game, on the fifth day in Shenhai City, the Food Goddess met with Dai Yuxing, a member of the Shenhai Tactical Bureau.

According to Dai Yuxing, the Tactical System would issue orders nationwide within those two days. These orders would internally disclose the whereabouts of the Fairy Palace Food God and direct Tactical Bureau personnel to search parks and other places.

Ren Suo was well acquainted with Li Dan, the current top person in Lianjiang—especially since Yu Kuangtu was away on a romantic retreat. Therefore, Ren Suo was almost immediately privy to this news, considering he could be considered half a member of the Tactical Bureau.

With this pretext, it would be much more straightforward and legitimate for Ren Suo to invite them. "Most people from Fairy Palace are kind and lawful," he’d say. "If you could get close to them, you might receive a stroke of fortune. If you don’t believe me, you could ask Qiao Muyi."

The two girls naturally took Ren Suo’s word for it, though Dong Chengling found it a bit odd. "I didn’t realize you longed for Fairy Palace that much?" she asked.

"Yeah," Gu Yueyan also found it strange. "You don’t seem like the type that craves adventure."

Ren Suo’s expression faltered. Indeed, this longing for adventure didn’t quite fit his Salted Fish persona, so he had to find a way to justify it. "This... it’s because I feel like I should work hard. After all, look... look at Cheng Ling, already at the third turn! Fairy Palace has resurfaced, a new storm has emerged—how can I afford to stand still?"

Dong Chengling gave a slight nod. "I see... but Cultivation requires the right mindset. You mustn’t put too much pressure on yourself."

"Xiao Yan, you too." Dong Chengling turned to look at Gu Yueyan. "You’re still a student and already doing incredibly well. With time, you will surely surpass me."

Ren Suo blinked. "So... do you want to take a chance with me?"

If they weren’t willing, Ren Suo had decided he would have to let it go; he had done his best, after all. Besides, the exquisite meals from the Fairy Palace Food God were just the icing on the cake—missing out wouldn’t be a huge loss for them.

Perhaps, in the future, I could summon a Food Goddess capable of seasoning foods?

"I can go with you," Dong Chengling said earnestly. "But gambling on chance, relying on luck—these things need a limit. Life shouldn’t be wagered on unstable factors. Set a time limit, and I’ll go with you during these days. But if there’s no gain within that period, you’ll need to change this unhealthy lifestyle and get back to a normal routine, okay?"

Actually, Ren Suo had almost gotten sick of eating takeout bought by his clone these days, so he quickly agreed. "Alright, ten days. Search with me for ten days. After ten days, I won’t go out at night anymore!"

"I’ll go too," Gu Yueyan immediately said.

Dong Chengling looked at Gu Yueyan, thought for a moment, and then nodded. "Indeed, it’s not good to leave you home alone, so let’s all go together. Who knows, we might really encounter them?"

There’s no ’who knows’ about it, Ren Suo thought. We’re definitely going to meet someone from Fairy Palace.

At that moment, Ren Suo remembered Lin Xianyu and her Desires. He hadn’t answered Lin Xianyu’s question that day and had left in a hurry because he had no idea how to play wingman.

Moreover, he always felt that this whole wingman business was somehow... odd.

But Ren Suo didn’t want to miss the opportunity to strengthen this powerful Bond. By including Lin Xianyu in the night outing to Lianjiang Park, he was also creating a chance for her. Whether or not she could deepen her relationship with Gu Yueyan was now out of his hands.

Therefore, Ren Suo suggested, "How about we ask Xiaoyu if she wants to come? This way, Classmate Gu will have some company."

"Can students leave and return to the dorms at night?" Dong Chengling asked.

"They can. The dorms also use the Wristband for access; only the entry and exit times will be recorded. During the term, if you go out at night, it will be documented," Gu Yueyan explained, looking at Ren Suo with suspicion.

Acting on the thought, Ren Suo immediately called Lin Xianyu. After he explained the situation, Lin Xianyu responded, "You and the class president are going, and you still invited me?"

"No, besides me and Classmate Gu, there’s also Teacher Dong Chengling."

"..."

"Are you treating us to supper?"

"Yes!"

"Great, then I’m in! I’ll be counting on your supper for the next ten days!"

Ren Suo shrugged as he looked at them. "We’ve got another companion joining us in seeking opportunity!"

"Right," Dong Chengling asked. "You looked really upset after receiving the message from the school. What happened?"

Gu Yueyan’s heart tightened, and Ren Suo sighed.

"Because the school starting an ’Experimental Venue’ has something to do with me."

Gu Yueyan’s eyes widened as she looked at Ren Suo, a hint of anticipation in them, while Ren Suo continued.

"The ’Experimental Venue’ seems to be open once a week and then takes a week for Recovery. But during the open period, the venue needs a complete First Aid team on standby at all times. If the academy has Healing Cultivators, they must also be on standby."

Ren Suo spread his hands. "I probably can’t avoid this task, which means I have to add 32 hours to my work schedule every month."

Gu Yueyan secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Isn’t that great? You now have an extra 32 hours of meaningful work every month."

After Ren Suo finished his meal and washed the dishes, he returned home. Dong Chengling stayed in the living room, and Gu Yueyan went back to her bedroom.

Then, both of them simultaneously took out their phones.

"Zhao Huo, are you really not coming?"

"Nope, screw that! I’m watching a new anime release with others tonight. No way am I going to chance it with you. Midnight snacks? I’d rather play an Abyss run!"

Ren Suo shrugged. He had played the Tactical Bureau’s insider information card, but Zhao Huo was still uninterested, so there was nothing more he could do.

Ren Suo, waiting downstairs by the dormitory, noticed Black Bell just returning from outside. He went over and, ignoring its struggle, picked it up and stroked it twice, chuckling, "Still out this late?"

"MEOW!"

"Alright, alright, I’ll leave you be." Ren Suo put Black Bell down. "Hurry on home."

Black Bell didn’t look back, only showing him its rear.

Ten minutes later, Lin Xianyu came skipping over from the student dormitories, followed by Dong Chengling and Gu Yueyan descending from their dorm building.

"What’s for supper tonight?" Lin Xianyu licked her lips.

"We’ll roam around Yuexiu Park tonight, and if we don’t encounter anything, we’ll eat nearby. I know a stall with really good porridge," Ren Suo said.

The Food Goddess’s event at Cultural Park naturally has to be saved for that specific day, Ren Suo thought. For now, I’ll just take them around for a stroll.

The others naturally had no objections. As they reached the school gate, they saw a car parked at the entrance—Ren Suo couldn’t tell what make it was; he hadn’t even gotten his driver’s license. As they approached, the car window rolled down.

"Get in."

Ren Suo leaned in, his face full of astonishment when he saw Qiao Muyi in her Black Body Armor sitting in the driver’s seat. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard you were helping our Tactical Bureau with the search, so I naturally had to come and be your driver," Qiao Muyi tilted her head. "Didn’t Li Dan tell you that my Seventh Team was assigned to night patrols?"

"Get in. Weren’t you planning to walk there?"

"Yeah..." Ren Suo mumbled.

"Yeah, right." Qiao Muyi touched her forehead. "We in the Tactical Bureau don’t really care much about this Fairy Palace information; the chances are too low. Yet you’re so concerned about it, springing into action the moment you heard it from Li Dan..."

Have I been seen through? Ren Suo’s heart chilled.

"...Don’t you have any ulterior motives?" Qiao Muyi glanced at Dong Chengling, Lin Xianyu, and Gu Yueyan behind him.

"No," Ren Suo replied honestly. His true intention was indeed for the Fairy Palace Food God.

"I call shotgun!" Lin Xianyu suddenly squeezed past Ren Suo, smiled at Qiao Muyi, and sat in the passenger seat. Ren Suo and the other two had to sit in the back.

Qiao Muyi seemed indifferent. She started the navigation and hit the road, but couldn’t help stealing a glance at Lin Xianyu, who appeared to be grinning foolishly beside her.

If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have bothered to come, whether they decided to walk or crawl over, Qiao Muyi thought. But Lin Xianyu is Gu Yueyan’s close friend, and I vaguely feel that Dong Chengling can’t handle things alone!

Balance in all things! she mused.

Besides, night patrols are dull, and I have no one to talk to. My Awakening spell is useless then anyway. Following them might even get me some extra cash.

Meanwhile, Ren Suo, sitting in the back seat on the left—Dong Chengling and Gu Yueyan were naturally sitting together—watched the scenery zip by outside the window.

This car’s pretty big. My sister could fit in here too, right?