02. Tracking
"What contract? I need to know what kind of monster you are before I can write a contract."
Pipi was exasperated: "Something that could be settled with a drop of blood has become so troublesome and strange with your human contract methods! They're getting more and more complicated!"
Tang Xi smiled and instructed, "I'm going to get some food. You stay home and don't run around, okay? It's getting dark, and there are a lot of bad people outside. If they see a strange monster like you, they might capture you and dissect you."
!!
"Click".
Tangxi and Guanmen left. The room remained silent for a long while, then Pipi chuckled ominously a few times, before throwing his hands on his hips and laughing wildly.
"Hmph... Hahaha, simple and foolish humans! Once I retrieve my primordial soul and grow into a demon, my race will surely wipe out all human cancers and conquer the Immortal Continent! Hahahaha!"
·
Commercial street.
As dusk fell, the golden-orange sunset bathed the surrounding area. The Chinese-style food street stretched out in a dazzling hue, its enticing aromas wafting from the alleyways leading to the shops. This street was under the school's jurisdiction, and an underground array prevented flying in the public areas. Tangxi, seeing everyone walking obediently on the ground for the first time in a long time, felt a little dazed.
If it weren't for the vendors' magical sales pitches and hawking, he would have almost thought he was back in his original world.
"Beginner-level Intoxicating Fragrance Pill! Only 15 Immortal Coins per pill! One pill is all it takes to get a pleasant buzz!"
While calling out his wares, the stall owner simultaneously tossed a jade-green pill into a glass cup. The pill exploded upon entering the water, instantly creating a layer of smoke that floated like a cloud at the rim of the cup. A few seconds later, the smoke dissipated, and the jade-green pill vanished without a trace, leaving a blooming green crystal hibiscus flower submerged in the glass cup.
"Rising Sun Dew Drink! 12 cents! Buy a drink and get a free pendant!"
"Crystal fragments! All five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth are present!"
"Begonia Flower Snake Eggs! 10 cents! Second one half price! Spicy, salt-baked, whatever you like, we have them!"
"Boss, I'd like takoyaki ice cream, a wasabi cone, and a little less ginger, please..."
Tang Xihe walked straight through the bustling streets and headed towards a corner. The further she walked, the fewer people there were. Until there was no one around, Tang Xihe stopped in front of a wall and raised her palm in mid-air.
A pale blue halo was cast on the wall, and words appeared out of thin air:
Identity confirmed - Tang Xihe, a third-year student majoring in Earth Immortals.
Points: 0
Number of tasks: 899
Access to the [College Alley] is permitted on the first, second, and third floors.
As the words in the air dissipated, Tang Xi and the wall in front of her vanished like dust, and another space suddenly appeared. Tang Xi stepped in, and the moment she leaped into the wall's range, dust rose and the wall closed.
This place is practically a lawless land. Many people use magical artifacts to fly through the air, and those who fly at supersonic speeds leave a trail of cheers in the air. The noise is even more exaggerated than the streets outside.
Tang Xihe walked straight in a certain direction, and someone recognized her.
"Hey, isn't this so-and-so from the Tang family? What are you doing here?"
Who is it? Where?
"The one with the black hair."
"Tangxi and? He's finally out and about? Is it him?"
Several people dressed in golden robes circled around Tang Xi and Gu Jing twice with smiles on their faces. Finding that Tang Xi and Gu Jing remained unmoved and continued walking forward without even bothering to look away, they flew away somewhat bored.
Some students around glanced at Tang Xi and Hehe, following her words, before quickly looking away. The surrounding vendors seemed unfazed, glancing at the mischievous students before exchanging knowing glances and continuing with their own business.
Tangxi went straight to a stall and said, "Boss, two portions."
The stall owner, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them upon hearing the voice and grinned when he saw it was Tang Xihe. "You've arrived?"
"Delicious." Tang Xi scratched her belly.
The vendor deftly flipped two iron shovels in his hands, and with two crisp clinking sounds, the food on the stall suddenly came to life, jumping into the smoking iron pot on its own.
The stall owner glanced sideways at the food being cooked and asked, "Two portions today? Xiao Chun finished her exams and is on vacation? It's only April."
"No, we just have more guests at home."
"Oh...a guest?"
The stall owner's expression changed slightly. He paused, then lowered his voice: "Your family? Did they send someone to urge you because they saw your points weren't going up?"
“They wouldn’t come if they weren’t from the Tang family,” Tang Xihe chuckled. “They’re just new friends we met on the road.”
The stall owner relaxed and chuckled, "Haha, you scared me... I was just asking casually! In all my years, I've never met any cultivators from the other eight great families besides you!"
Tang Xi forced a wry smile.
"Tangxi and!"
A small shadow fell over the stall, quickly growing larger until a small group of people descended from mid-air and landed near the stall. The leader, blond and blue-eyed, with a burly build, roared, "I'm talking to you! Didn't you hear me?"
The deafening shout startled the stall owner, who instinctively reached out to protect the sweet potato noodles on his stall. His eyes widened as he stared at the man. The automatically stirring sweet potato noodles, sizzling with oil, remained motionless, while the pickled beans and scallions scattered wildly on the floor. The stall owner hurriedly muttered the "three-second rule" in a panic, banging his spatula several times to bring the scattered food back to its place.
—We've been waiting for you.
Tang Xi glanced at him indifferently, "What's wrong?"
Xuan Yingxian stopped abruptly. What's wrong? Of course, they're here to cause trouble.
"You've finally decided to come out? Let's duel!"
"Why do you want to duel the moment you see me?" Tang Xihe raised an eyebrow. "I'm so scared, I'm too afraid to go out."
"..."
How disgusting!
Xuan Yingxian, too lazy to argue, flicked his wrist, producing a meteor hammer, which he slammed heavily onto the ground, kicking up dust and cracking the earth. The meteor hammer faintly shimmered with pale golden lightning: "Hurry up! Let's duel!"
"Next time, I have something to do." Tang Xi gently raised her hand.
It's happening again!
Xuan Yingxian was dissatisfied. This hypocrite! Why does everyone like teaming up with him?!
"you--"
"I really have something to do, and it's not convenient for me today." Tang Xi turned around and said, "I need your help."
"Me? I'll help?"
Xuan Yingxian, hands on hips, said smugly, "Who did you mess with this time? I'm not going to help you sort this out, unless..."
"Aren't you and the knowledgeable senior 'Know-it-all' roommates? I'd like to ask you to introduce me to him."
The noisy Xuan Yingxian immediately shut up, flicked his wrist, and the meteor hammer disappeared into thin air. He looked at Tang Xihe with a strange expression: "You want to get to know him?"
"Yes, I need his help."
Someone behind Xuan Yingxian was getting anxious:
"Brother Xuan! We can't trust this kid!"
"Exactly! Tangxi has lied to you so many times!"
"He's very cunning; he kept you in the dark for three whole years!"
"We can't back down, Xuan-ge! Let's issue him a challenge now! Let's show the might of our Martial Arts Department! Let's shatter those rumors!"
Tang Xihe fixed her gaze directly on the hesitant Xuan Yingxian and said sincerely, "If you can help me with this, I will agree to a duel with you. However, I will decide the time."
Xuan Yingxian's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but grin. Then she realized something was wrong: "How can I trust you? What if you try to cheat me again? Swear an oath now!"
Tang Xi and her nose twitched slightly: "If you introduce me to Guangboshi, I'll swear an oath to fight you... Uncle, one of the dishes doesn't need to be spicy... I definitely won't run away this time, I'll fight you seriously, I still want to accumulate enough points to graduate as soon as possible."
"Hmph, he's playing the victim again. People of the Earth Immortal realm fall for that! You get points for completing a mission. Didn't Tang Xi used to lead people on missions every day? He's making it sound like he has very few points!"
"There are no Earth Immortals here, so who are you trying to fool with your pitiful act?"
"Brother Xuan, he's suddenly become so well-behaved, it's a bit strange, be careful!"
"Hmph, with so many of us, he wouldn't dare do anything! Brother Xuan! Let's challenge him! We can't back down!"
Tang Xi's pale purple eyes fixed on Xuan Yingxian, slowly sweeping over him, and looked at the people behind Xuan Yingxian. "Why did you all encourage Xuan Yingxian to come and challenge me instead of doing it yourself?"
A group of noisy people fell silent for a few seconds, then began to murmur and discuss amongst themselves.
"Is he serious this time?"
"Something feels off..."
"He's definitely cheating again! I just don't know what he's up to!"
Xuan Yingxian narrowed his eyes, his vertical pupils fixed on Tang Xi as he pondered.
"Two orders of roasted sweet potato noodles are ready," the stall owner handed the packaged box to Tang Xihe, "Deduct 20 coins, you have 530 coins left."
Xuan Yingxian's brow twitched, instantly forgetting what she had been thinking: "You, haven't you gotten tired of eating roasted sweet potato noodles for three years? Don't you have money to go to the cafeteria?"
What a jerk! He spent hundreds of in-game currency just to eat roasted sweet potato noodles.
"It's delicious." Tang Xihe picked up the takeout box and pretended to leave. "Do you agree or not? I'm leaving?"
"Fine! This time, I absolutely won't let you get away!" Xuan Yingxian sneered, raising her palm towards the void. "Come and swear an oath!"
Tang Xi and He Yi raised their palms simultaneously, several meters apart. Spiritual energy condensed in their palms at the same time, and an array appeared in mid-air:
[Departmental Challenge - Internal Challenge Letter from Huaxia University of Arts and Sciences]
Challenger:
Magic Academy - Martial Arts Department - Xuan Yingxian
Magic Academy - Earth Immortal Department - Tangxi and
"Are we really going to fight?"
"These two are finally going to face off? Come and see!"
"Holy crap! Open the betting! All in on Xuan Yingxian!"
The array hummed, and Xuan Yingxian's robes fluttered. He noticed that there seemed to be resistance in the array in mid-air and frowned slightly.
[Challenge Letter Failed]
What!
Xuan Yingxian and the others were stunned, and then they saw the words in mid-air change again:
Challenger - Xuan Yingxian, with 1437 points
The challenger is Tangxi He, with a score of 0.
If the score difference between the two sides is greater than 100 points, only Tangxi can initiate the challenge; otherwise, there is a chance of being judged as bullying. Xuan Yingxian, please abide by the rules.
[A warning for those specializing in combat.]
"how so?"
The onlookers were all shocked. Xuan Yingxian stared incredulously at the fading words in mid-air: "How could your score be 0? Weren't you frantically helping people complete quests in your freshman and sophomore years... Tang Xi and?"
Tang Xi had already slipped away, leaving Xuan Yingxian furious.
He carefully concealed his presence, flipped over and leaped up to the second floor, arriving at a small shop.
The shop was very quiet. Tang Xi took off her purple cloaking wings, revealing her true face. "Boss, I want to look up some information about the demon race in the encyclopedia."
The gray-haired girl was engrossed in reading at the front desk. Upon hearing this, she spread her hands without looking up and said, "Student ID. Food is not allowed. Please store it in your storage ring or temporarily at the front desk."
Tangxi and Guaiguai handed in their student IDs and placed two boxes of roasted sweet potato noodles at the front desk. After waiting a few seconds, they took their student IDs back, entered the bookstore, and skillfully pushed open a hidden door.
...
The Encyclopedia of Demons does not contain any information related to Pipi.
Tangxi compared photos in her phone's album with the information in the book, and after a few minutes of searching, she decisively gave up.
He carried the roasted sweet potato skins, donned his invisibility wing, and carefully concealed his presence. After Xuan Yingxian and his underlings had left the bustling academy alley, Tang Xi and Cai swaggered out, walked to a wall, and slipped through.
He spent a few minutes looking up information in the bookstore. It was pitch black, the sky a deep, inky black filled with stars. He carried his takeout across the street.
A crowd of students had gathered at the traffic light, most of them having come to the commercial street for a meal after class. Tang Xi and Yin were waiting for the light to change when they felt a gaze seemingly probing them.
He glanced around discreetly, and several passersby met Tang Xi's gaze before quickly looking away.
We found nothing.
Tang Xihe quietly moved two steps towards a more crowded area and quickly followed the crowd across the road.
Perhaps influenced by the demon's spirit, Tang Xihe clearly felt that her perception of her surroundings had been greatly amplified. When relaxed, this perception was not so obvious, but when tense, her five senses seemed to be magnified dozens of times. All smells and noises rushed in like a tide, and even the detection of spiritual energy could not escape Tang Xihe's perceptive network.
Two steps behind, a young man wearing thin-rimmed glasses walked silently with the group, his steps leisurely, holding a compass and gazing quietly at the wildly spinning pointer.
"Hey, Brother Zhang, have you eaten? Want to eat together?"
Someone struck up a conversation with him.
The bespectacled man smiled politely at the speaker, "No, I have other things to do."
As soon as he finished speaking, the compass needle suddenly stopped, pointing steadily in the direction of Tang Xihe. The bespectacled man's gaze sharpened, and a wisp of pale blue spiritual energy rose from his palm as he held the compass, channeling it into the compass.
The speaker glanced at the object in his palm. "A strange compass? Aren't you supposed to be writing your graduation thesis next year? Are you looking for thesis materials?"
The bespectacled man shook his head slightly, not having time to pay attention to this person, and followed Tang Xihe in the direction he was going.
"...Tsk, just an investigation team, what's with the attitude?"
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