[A-Long, remember to set up the dormitory and main gate before we return to the academy.]
[Received!]
Tongzhou City had a riverside area, and the hotpot restaurant they chose was located right by the riverside.
They chose an outdoor seat since hotpot had a strong smell, and eating outside helped air it out.
The menu circulated between the mother and daughter twice as they ordered dishes the family loved. Father Tang and Tangxi Xuan went to the sauce station to prepare dipping sauces and returned shortly after.
“This restaurant has been open for many years. Your dad and I occasionally come here for a meal. The flavor is truly good.”
Hearing her parents’ approval, Tangxi Xuan, who had just sat down, chimed in, “Right, last night I had a gathering with classmates here, and we went to the barbecue stall afterward.”
In fact, not only was the flavor excellent, but the ingredients used were also very fresh.
Must-order items like tripe and beef omasum were ordered by the restaurant early in the morning and sold out once gone, so they didn’t manage to get any.
However, other dishes were still available, such as shrimp paste, which was generously portioned.
Especially snacks like pumpkin cakes and glutinous rice cakes with brown sugar—all were made fresh and incredibly delicious.
They didn’t know how many servings other tables ordered, but they knew their own table had ordered five servings of each, and they even packed five more to take away.
“There’s an event by the riverside tonight. Let’s go check it out!”
The activities along both sides of the riverside varied daily—sometimes lantern festivals, sometimes fireworks displays, or even intangible cultural heritage performances like iron flower displays.
In any case, once night fell, both sides of the riverside would become particularly lively.
Having been away from her hometown for many years, she took the opportunity tonight to revisit those unfamiliar yet familiar memories.
“Great! Mom and Dad can take us around and introduce things.”
“Having Mom and Dad introduce things is no match for me. I know way more than they do!”
“Fine, you do it. If you can’t explain things properly, you’ll have to run back to the academy tonight…”
Father Tang and Mother Xu: Still as childish as when they were little, even at this age.
A dark figure unexpectedly fell from an osmanthus tree into the nearby greenbelt, just as Yi Baizhou happened to pass by.
“Sir, you…”
Looking at the man’s complexion in his arms, Yi Baizhou was greatly alarmed.
He wondered inwardly: How is this situation exactly like the people in the hospital a few days ago? Judging by his condition, he probably wouldn’t even make it to the hospital.
“Officer, how about handing him over to me to try?”
Sigh!
She just came over craving a few cups of chilled shrimp dessert, and now she’s run into an unlucky fellow with Spiritual Qi entering his body. Her parents were still waiting for her to come home!
Yi Baizhou protectively held the man in his arms and sternly demanded, “Who are you?”
“Officer, instead of asking who I am, why not let me try a desperate remedy? I might just save his life. But if you don’t hand him over to me, he’ll take you and everyone around here away from this world.”
Tang Ximo, carrying the chilled shrimp dessert, opened a cup and stood nearby sipping it. This wasn’t her exaggerating or trying to scare anyone.
When she arrived, she had already noticed it. She just wanted to see if the unlucky fellow could pull through on his own.
The result… was obvious.
Yi Baizhou looked down and felt the man’s body temperature rising higher and higher, his face turning redder and redder. If no solution was found soon, he would truly burn to death from the high fever.
Gritting his teeth, he pushed the man toward Tang Ximo and took out his phone from his pocket to call 120.
With the Spiritual Qi Recovery on Blue Star, those with the aptitude and luck might experience Spiritual Qi entering their bodies. However, mishandling it could accelerate their death.
Solving the problem was quite straightforward: either help them guide the Spiritual Qi out of their bodies or assist in channeling it into their Dantian, achieving the goal in one step.
Tang Ximo held the unconscious man’s wrist, her gentle Spiritual Power flowing through his meridians to examine the condition inside his body.
After completing one full cycle, she discovered that the man’s meridians had already been damaged by the rampaging Spiritual Qi, leaving only fragile connections in some places.
How tragic!
If he hadn’t been lucky enough to encounter her tonight, the man’s final fate would undoubtedly have been complete annihilation.
With his meridians severely damaged, a one-step approach was no longer suitable—the stimulation of Spiritual Qi rushing through his meridians would be too much for him to bear.
Tang Ximo had no choice but to slowly guide the Spiritual Qi out of him, repairing the nearly severed areas in the process to avoid secondary damage from the Spiritual Qi. The process was somewhat slow.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go faster, but this man’s meridians were truly extremely fragile. If he couldn’t hold on and truly exploded, this soon-to-retire police officer would surely drag her away for a “chat” on the spot!
Under Tang Ximo’s meticulous assistance, the man’s condition visibly improved. Yi Baizhou’s scrutinizing gaze focused on the smiling Tang Ximo.
“You…” Yi Baizhou’s words were cut off before he could finish.
“Officer, I see you have extraordinary bones—truly a heaven-chosen talent. Would you like to reserve a spot at my Cultivation Academy?”
“…”
Yi Baizhou was speechless, his expression indescribable as he thought: This girl must be crazy!
But regardless of what the other thought, Tang Ximo had genuinely taken a liking to this police officer’s talent.
This was the first time she had ever seen a Five Elements Spiritual Physique!
The Five Elements Spiritual Physique, as the name suggests, was a genius nurtured by the five Spirit Roots of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. They complemented, countered, and supported one another.
In Cultivation, there was no need to deliberately separate Spiritual Qi of other attributes, as they would ultimately be absorbed by the Five Elements Spiritual Qi, which would then feed back other attributes’ Spiritual Qi to the Cultivator to temper their physical body.
While increasing their Cultivation Base, they could also refine their physical form. Such talent absolutely had to be scooped into her bowl!
“Do you even hear the nonsense you’re spouting? If you keep talking like that, I’ll take you back for a chat right now.”
His brows furrowed, though his tone wasn’t as stern as before.
“Ah, Officer, you’re mistaken. You witnessed with your own eyes how I saved a critically ill person just by holding their hand. How can you still think I’m talking nonsense?”
Noticing the subtle change in his expression, Tang Ximo moved to within half an arm’s length of Yi Baizhou, holding the chilled shrimp.
Seizing the opportunity, she pressed further: “Besides, are you really unaware of his condition?”
“What do you know?”
Seeing him grow wary and guarded again because of her words, Tang Ximo stood up briskly, no longer beating around the bush.
She stated bluntly: “I know a vast amount of things. I’m aware of truths you don’t understand. So… Yi Baizhou, would you like to seriously consider joining my academy?”
What she had just done truly wasn’t a phenomenon that science could explain. He had recently come into contact with people from the Bureau of Anomalous Management due to a mission and knew the world was undergoing changes.
Yet, it was still hard for him to believe that this young girl wandering around in slippers was some kind of expert.
He felt he needed some time to process this, preferably by consulting professionals to understand the situation.
“Back to the same question: who exactly are you?”
This time, Tang Ximo didn’t say anything else. She simply put away her playful smile.
Lowering his gaze, he introduced to Yi Baizhou with utmost seriousness, “The Dean of Taichu Cultivation Academy—Tang Ximo!”
“Here, this is a temporary pass for my Cultivation Academy. If you’ve made up your mind, wait for me at the foot of Taiwei Mountain on September 20th.”