Time flew by as the bell rang, signifying the end of the class. The thirty-plus students slowly receded from the classroom. As for Shen Xiu, she had departed even before the class ended. Clearly, the lady was stressed and annoyed that a student dared to humiliate her, a teacher. From the looks of it, she seemed to be heading towards the direction of the Dean's office.
Nie Li glanced at Ye Ziyun, eyes filled with complicated emotions. When his eyes landed at Shen Yue who was nearby her, his eyes had flared in a crimson hue. 'Shen Yue...Sacred Family...So what if the temporal demon book has made changes, I'll still eradicate your existence upon this world!'
....
The classes of the Holy Orchid Institute had ended in the afternoon. The ruthless sun scorched the students who were trudging within the corridors. Although it was sunny, they were laughing in their groups as they headed towards the gate with a height of around ten people.
Within the end of the corridors, a purple-haired lady was staring at the group of three people. Ye Ziyun bit her lips while simultaneously hesitating about the question she wanted to ask the orange, spiky-haired youth.
Although everyone treated Nie Li as a boaster, she didn't share the same opinion and had a belief that the spiky-haired youth knew something. During the class, his eyes had shone with firm confidence as if he had seen it personally. And only when the hateful Shen Yue stepped up did he withdrew. Just by this, Ye Ziyun was sure enough Nie Li was hiding something.
When she finally lifted her confidence to approach them, a voice suddenly came from behind him. "Is something wrong, Miss Ziyun?"
Ye Ziyun turned around. She had kept this voice on the heart, and understand it was none other than the hateful silkpant, Shen Yue. When she was about to speak at him coldly, she recalled instantly that this scoundrel had addressed her as 'Miss' and not so intimate which he usually referred her as 'Ziyun'.
Seeing that he had respected her today, she didn't become so distant on her voice, but at the same time not too close. She said in a tone of a stranger, "Is there something you need from me?"
Shen Yue gave out a faint smile. "I'm sure you're wondering how did fellow student Nie Li knew about those lands, am I right?"
Shen Yue had assurance that the words of Nie Li back then had the tone of reliance and conviction. Seeing that the protagonist had spoken up about this book, it only meant that he was speaking about it base on his past experiences.
As the villain, Shen Yue had to do something about the meeting between Ye Ziyun and Nie Li. In the meantime, Shen Yue didn't want Ye Ziyun to know about Nie Li this early, so he interrupted Ye Ziyun from approaching the protagonist and co in the neck of the time.
"Eh, how did you know?" Ye Ziyun asked.
"Just guessing. When the Dean had shelved in this book in the library back then, it wasn't so popular." Shen Yue chuckled.
"That means to say this book had appeared in the library?" Ye Ziyun felt that it made sense now. No wonder that orange, spiky-haired youth had sounded too sure with his statement.
"Indeed, but don't be mistaken. It has only been placed for a week, so when I wanted to read it again, it was gone." Shen Yue followed Ye Ziyun as they sauntered from the corridors.
Ye Ziyun nodded her head, but she fell into deep silence. Only a while later did she spoke in a somehow sarcastic tone. "Fellow student Shen Yue seemed well-informed. Had you seen the book meant you knew those places existed in the book?"
"That's indeed true." Shen Yue rubbed his nose in embarrassment. "But she's my aunt after all. Furthermore, Nie Li seems to be aiming at my Sacred Family. If I let him speak as he wishes, I'll be a disgrace to my family."
Of course, Shen Yue didn't mean that. If not for the system, he wouldn't even bother saving face for this so-called family.
Ye Ziyun glanced at Shen Yue, her heart felt a sudden confusion. To be honest, she hadn't seen this side of Shen Yue. If he had been this type of guy, perhaps she would have treated him as a decent classmate.
She dispelled these thoughts quickly. Who knows this guy was simply acting...
"Miss Ziyun, I have matters to attend so I'll have my leave." Once they had emerged from the gates, Shen Yue had thought this act was enough. He had to take it slowly so that his relationship with Ziyun would mend up, and only then could he address her directly by her first name.
Ye Ziyun stared at the departing Shen Yue. As he disappeared from her vision, she frowned before proceeding to her way.
....
"Oi, what's the point of buying crossbows?" Strolling within the bustling market street, Lu Piao asked Nie Li who was next to him.
Nie Li laughed, "Didn't I told you I have a way to farm money? Lu Piao, I'll be counting on you on this matter."
"Fine." Lu Piao shrugged. "Anyway, how many crossbows do we need?"
"Thre-no, two is enough." Nie Li nodded as he stared at Du Ze. "While Lu Piao gathers the equipment, let's collect the remaining components."
When Lu Piao headed out, Du Ze took the opportunity to ask this question. "There's more?"
"Yup. We still need to buy Black Pool Grasses. As for the last ingredient, Zoysia Grass, it requires time since we have to collect it ourselves."
"A paralyzing effect?" Du Ze felt uncertain. "Nie Li, what insanity are you going to do this time?"
Nie Li rubbed his nose and replied, "Not much, but to farm some sheep."
" Sheep?" Du Ze was dumbfounded. Stunned, he looked at Nie Li not knowing what expression should he make.
God knows if this was enough to farm those muscular beasts.
.....
Within the compounds of the Sacred Family—
"Young Master, here's the information you needed."
Within the spacious room, an old man in black with a protruding beard handed out some documents to a young man reclining in the study chair.
" This information includes all the people I ask you to investigate?" Shen Yue asked.
"Fortunately enough, we have gathered the information. Although it was quite hard to collect that boy, Nie Li, information, those two Du Ze, and Lu Piao took us no effort." The old man replied.
"Is that so?" Shen Yue lightly tapped his study desk as he immersed himself in the documents presented upon him. Seeing that the second young master had his attention on the paper, he cupped his hands, leaving the room in silence.
After a while later, Shen Yue folded the documents as he frowned. "They indeed have the potential to be well-written characters. Especially that Du Ze, his background was enough to contend for the position of the protagonist. If Nie Li hadn't existed, he would probably be the protagonist."
After reading the documents, Shen Yue now was informed about the things he needed to do.
Shen Yue strolled towards the window and nodded his head. When he had the opportunity, he should try sending some subordinates to assassinate this protagonist. As for the supporting characters, he had to make them suffer at least, or try to pull strings behind the friendship they had with Nie Li. This was his only option at this moment in time.
While he stared outside, Shen Yue couldn't help but frown. To be honest, he felt uncomfortable not knowing what exactly was Nie Li's plan to had the confidence to reach bronze rank within two months. With his red soul talent, it shouldn't be possible, unless he knew something that Shen Yue had no prior knowledge of.
"Young Master," As he was pondering, a voice sounded out. Within the floor behind Shen Yue, a hue of darkness emerged. Surprisingly, this darkness began to distort as it crawl up, leaving the surface. After emerging, it transformed into a human-like rat.
"Did they see you?"
The human-like rat cupped his hands and respectfully replied. "I had followed second young master's order, and fortunately, I was successful. As per your instruction, I had transformed into my demonic form, then finally using my demonic ability, Shadow Implementation. After burrowing myself in the shadows, I secretly trailed them, and had brought some news..."
After that, the human-like rat reported everything that he saw; from where Nie Li instructed Lu Piao to buy the crossbows, the conversation he had with Du Ze, and the two types of grasses.
"Black Pool and Zoysia grass?" Shen Yue frowned. "Get me the plants and grasses book!"
The human-like rat immediately worked on as he burrowed himself within the ground. Soon after, he reappeared within the room with a thick book in his hands.
"You can leave."
With the order of his master, the human-like rat left the room. Shen Yue then opened the book.
He didn't read them at the beginning and immediately hopped into pages 49 and 287 of the B and Z list respectively.
Thereafter, the information of the two kinds of grass popped up.
Black Pool Grass: A grass used to treat minor wounds and to relieve pains. It also has a poor paralyzing effect.
Zoysia Grass: Use unknown. Fun fact: Horned sheep hate stumbling upon it.
Reading them, Shen Yue frowned. He scratched his head and stroked his chin. With such things, was Nie Li planning to kill some beasts? Did he want to earn money through this method?
But with his current strength...was it possible for them to hunt?
"But the Black Pool Grass seems quite useful. It has a paralyzing effect. Smeared within the tip of the arrow, it would even affect weaker beasts. If Nie Li knew the uses of Zoysia Grass, then him hunting might be possible."
Shen Yue nodded on this hypothesis. He stood up and yelled, "Steward Qi, bring me the bestiary book!"
The black-clothed old man stationed outside shouted back. "Leave it on me, young master."
Shen Yue stared outside the window while formulating his plans.
If you wanted to hunt, it will not be that easy..."