In a barbecue restaurant not far from Qishan Wutong Archery Hall, Ji Xinghuo and Lu Yunhai raised their glasses and clinked them together before downing the beer in one go.
"I'm really so happy," Ji Xinghuo beamed.
"Xinghuo, winning that championship, you really did us proud!"
Lu Yunhai, his face flushed from drinking but his mind still clear, just a bit louder than usual, slung an arm around Ji Xinghuo's shoulder.
"On the way back from Zhongnan Mountain, the other coaches at the archery hall looked at me differently."
"Fang Sister even asked about you."
Lu Yunhai laughed suddenly when he mentioned Fang Yinpeng, then continued, "Being able to coach a student like you is the best testament to my coaching skills. Although I haven't taught you for many days, it's all down to your own talent and practice, but they don't know that, hahaha..."
"I won't tell anyone else," Ji Xinghuo joked.
"It's fine if you do," Lu Yunhai shook his head boastfully, "Anyway, in the past few weeks at the hall, everyone saw me teaching you archery."
Ji Xinghuo smiled and glanced at the trophy placed on the table.
The trophy itself wasn't valuable.
But the championship it represented was significant, and as soon as the competition ended, the 200,000 prize money was already in the account.
After taxes, more than 180,000!
It was the first time he had ever made so much money, instantly multiplying his savings several times, a sense of achievement that was incredibly satisfying and filled him with joy.
"Another round." Ji Xinghuo filled his glass.
Lu Yunhai drained his glass in one gulp, then asked, "Xinghuo, what are your plans moving forward?"
"No plans for the moment," Ji Xinghuo shook his head. As a primary Level Mutant, his strength was weak, and the most important thing for now was to increase his power.
After three weeks of cultivation, his Star Power value had reached 56, and the progress of Thousand Spirit Skillful Hand had increased to 10/47.
Feeling progress with every step made every day's cultivation full of vigor.
As long as he followed the steps, his strength would increase.
Ji Xinghuo felt like he was like his Fifth Brother Wang Zizhen, addicted to a virtual game called "reality," wanting to grind for experience all day long, wishing there were 48 hours in a day, with only one goal: to level up!
But Lu Yunhai seemed a bit impatient, "Don't you want to participate in more archery competitions, win more championship prize money?"
"There's another amateur Level competition next week. The championship prize isn't as much as 'Leaf Shooting Cup,' but it's still around 100,000. You would definitely win if you went."
"And in the middle of next month..."
He casually mentioned several competitions of different Levels, with prize money ranging from tens of thousands to several hundred thousand.
Ji Xinghuo appeared contemplative.
He originally had the idea to earn money through archery competitions.
But today's situation made him hesitate. Although the "Leaf Shooting Cup" was only a semi-professional competition and not large in scale, the organizers were quite influential, especially with several archery hall directors being Super Mutants, like Yang Tianqing.
Ji Xinghuo sensed that Yang Tianqing was very interested in him, not the kind of interest one has in a champion, but one that seemed to carry other emotions or motives!
He had been a bit too high-profile.
If he continued to participate in other competitions and frequently won championships, the attention he would draw would not be limited to just Yang Tianqing.
"I'll hold off on the competitions for now," Ji Xinghuo decided.
Lu Yunhai looked surprised, not understanding.
In his view, those championship prizes were all well within Ji Xinghuo's grasp, legal and fair, and participating in competitions wouldn't take up much time. Why pass up free money?
"I'm not in need of money right now," Ji Xinghuo thought for a moment and disclosed some truths, "My birth father gave me some money, about ten million."
Lu Yunhai's eyes bulged, nearly exclaiming aloud, "You're not kidding me, are you?"
Once he confirmed that Ji Xinghuo was telling the truth, his face was filled with envy, and he couldn't help but lament, "I'm not a public child, and I used to think that was quite fortunate. Now I feel like you're having a much better time than me; my dad can't even cough up a million, playing games all day, not working."
Ji Xinghuo knew about his family situation.
A thought crossed his mind, and he asked, "How much have you saved up now?"
"That much?" Ji Xinghuo was slightly surprised.
With a monthly salary just over ten thousand, and Lu Yunhai having started part-time work since university, Ji Xinghuo had thought it would be at most two or three hundred thousand.
"Hehe..." Lu Yunhai wore a smug look, "I'm a senior coach, and my performance has always been among the top few in the archery hall, plus I have some extra income, I can save up two or three thousand every month."
Ji Xinghuo couldn't help but see him in a new light.
"Why are you asking about how much I've saved? You're not thinking of lending me money, are you?" Lu Yunhai's eyes lit up.
"Exactly," Ji Xinghuo smiled, "You can start preparing for the second fusion with an Alien Species. In a few days, I'll transfer 700,000 to you."
Lu Yunhai had always wanted to become a "Hunter"; this profession template's core Ability is "Eagle Eye," with a market price of about 1.5 million Ya Yuan.
He had tried it once in university, but unfortunately, it had failed.
The second attempt at fusing with an Alien Species required more preparation, was more difficult, and the success rate was only half of the first attempt.
But now Lu Yunhai hesitated.
"If I fail again, it might take years before I can pay you back," he considered the consequences of failure and became apprehensive.
Fusion failure with an Alien Species, although not life-threatening, required several months to a year for recovery.
The more failures, the longer the recovery period.
If Lu Yunhai failed for the second time, he wouldn't be able to work for at least a year, and he might even lose his job as a coach at the archery hall.
"You'll definitely succeed!"
Ji Xinghuo cheered him on, "Don't worry about paying me back; if it comes to it, I can just earn it back by entering a few archery competitions."
Lu Yunhai took a deep breath, "I won't say much to thank you, this one's for you!"
He picked up the filled glass and drained it in one go.
Ji Xinghuo also finished his drink, and then the two chatted about the fusion with Alien Species. After a hearty meal and drinks, they enjoyed themselves and then each headed home.
Wearing Power Shoes, Ji Xinghuo swiftly shuttled along the walkway, the wind slapping against his face, sobering him up a bit from the alcohol.
His phone suddenly vibrated.
He didn't check it, but after a few seconds, it vibrated again.
While gliding, Ji Xinghuo took out his phone and glanced at it; it was a safety alert.
"Citizens receiving this message, please be advised that there is a Class A fugitive on the loose in your area. Seek immediate shelter nearby; if at home, please do not leave. If you suspect you have seen something or are in danger, flee immediately and call the police!" The message came with an attached face photo.
Several messages with the same content refreshed on the screen, sending a shiver down Ji Xinghuo's spine.
In the Asia-Pacific Community, a person identified as a Class A fugitive by the Security Department generally falls into two categories.
One, they have committed heinous crimes, their hands drenched in blood, utterly ruthless and evil.
Two, the fugitive's strength is extremely formidable, at least a high-level Mutant, if not stronger.
Or it could be a combination of the two.
The scope of this alert message was roughly five kilometers.
Ji Xinghuo had never received such a message before and was startled, then involuntarily glanced around in all directions.
Since it was quite late, there weren't many people around. Everyone who received the message hastened their steps running towards their homes or ducked into nearby shops.
Ji Xinghuo also increased the speed of his Power Shoes to the maximum.
He sprinted alertly and soon reached the street beneath his apartment building, where he could already see the floor where his apartment was located.
Ji Xinghuo let out a slight breath of relief.
Crossing the street and heading to the main entrance of the building, Ji Xinghuo walked in.
As he entered, he continued to observe his surroundings.
His gaze suddenly paused.
On the side of the building's main entrance, over a hundred meters away under a bridge pillar of a superconductive highway, in shadows where the streetlight couldn't reach, there seemed to be a man standing still, like a statue.
Ji Xinghuo's right pupil faintly flashed with light, and he saw everything clearly.
It was indeed a person!
A man with golden hair and dark eyes, in his thirties, with relatively structured features, likely of mixed Asian and Western heritage, was the Class A fugitive from the alert message!
He was wearing a suit, but it was torn in several places and stained with blood.
The man blended into the shadows, and passersby had no idea he was there.
"A Shadow Escape with a high level, but you've been seen by me!"
Ji Xinghuo recognized the man's profession and ability, and at that moment, the man also looked in his direction.
Their gazes met for a split second.
A chill went down Ji Xinghuo's spine; the alcohol effects dispersed completely, but he kept walking without stopping, disappearing from the fugitive's view as he entered the doorway. From the fugitive's eyes, he saw surprise, which quickly turned into an unmistakable intensity of kill intent.
"He wants to kill me!"
An extreme sense of danger burst in his mind, sharp as needles, and his spirit felt suffocated, as if drowning, his life on the verge of death!
Ji Xinghuo's right pupil lit up with a soft glow, the rings of light becoming distinct and clear.
The Wanxiang Star Pupil seemed to have been fully activated.
His field of view filled with streams of illusory light, complex yet distinct, evolving in front of his eyes in an incomprehensible way.
Ji Xinghuo's brain received a flood of information in an instant.
He understood everything all at once.
Ji Xinghuo saw what would happen in the next few seconds; the Shadow Blade emerging from the shadows, charging towards him with a sharp ghostly light in hand, cutting through the air where it passed.
"There's no escaping."
"There's only one way out for me, to kill him!"
In a critical moment, Ji Xinghuo calmed to the extreme, his thoughts as smooth and firm as ice, with no other emotions mixed in.
He did not consider the consequences of failing to counter-kill, and he acted immediately.
He took off the bow pack and opened it.
With his left hand, he grabbed the compound hunting bow and held it; at the same time, his right hand seized three arrows, positioning one on the bowstring and clutching the other two in his palm.
Under the strange state of the Wanxiang Star Pupil, his Thousand Spirit Skillful Hand became even faster. It took Ji Xinghuo less than a second to complete these preparations.
He nocked an arrow, drew the bowstring to the full extent, and without hesitation took a step to the outside of the door.
Instantly, the Shadow Blade reappeared in his line of sight.
The man also saw Ji Xinghuo.