The weather was muggy again,
Binjiang in August was humid, a river dividing the city in two, the west side facing the sea. Many people visited Binjiang during this season.
They went from places they were tired of to places others were tired of.
The beach was crowded, and He Li couldn't understand why they enjoyed playing on sand dug from deep mountains.
But this didn't stop him from praising his hometown, and he did so generously.
Bai Fei still had five days before he could be discharged from the hospital. Such severe injuries healing in just a week was a testament to the excellent physique of spiritual warriors.
No wonder many women liked dating spiritual warriors.
A good body was the greatest asset...
Susan's confession confused He Li. He wasn't being overly suspicious, but rather, he felt a profound lack of security in this world, forcing him to overthink things. Was it truly possible to be carefree? Or was it due to his current weak state?
He Li couldn't do that. But what puzzled him most was the blood demon. They had just discovered its abilities in the villa when it suddenly appeared. It fought for a long time but neither killed Bai Fei nor ate him; instead, it seemed to be… playing with them.
Then, Susan arrived, and without even resisting, it was crushed.
While Susan's immense power was a factor, how could a Level Two demon die so ignominiously?
Or perhaps, a Level Two demon was simply that insignificant in Susan's hands.
"He Li, we're going to the Bayfront Restaurant for dinner today."
Tao Xue, carrying a designer handbag, emerged from her room, followed by Susan from another office.
Min Liang and Sister Jiang from the monitoring room also emerged, each holding a tablet.
"Oh, alright," He Li replied. He knew the Bayfront Restaurant; it was one of Binjiang's top high-end establishments, known more for its price than its taste.
The five of them went directly to the underground parking lot on the first basement level.
Susan tossed a car key to He Li. He Li drove, taking them straight to the Bayfront Restaurant. He didn't need navigation; he was very familiar with the restaurant because he had worked there during summer break. After all, such high-end restaurants had strict requirements for their waiters, especially regarding appearance and demeanor.
Clearly, He Li fit the requirements perfectly in this regard.
Rugged, high-performance SUVs were among men's favorite large toys. He Li drove the SUV to the entrance of the Bayfront Restaurant and parked.
He turned off the engine,
and affectionately patted the steering wheel.
He Li really liked this powerful beast.
Susan, sitting in the passenger seat, smiled and said, "If you like this car, I'll give it to you."
"Give... give it to me?" He Li was stunned.
Susan replied, "Of course, it's no problem. After all, you risked your life to protect Binjiang, isn't that worth the price of a car?"
He Li fell silent. What else could he say? Susan's words ended the discussion.
The car was now He Li's.
It was that simple.
The three in the back seat didn't mind. Cars, what were they? Could they increase spiritual power or unlock gene locks? They were just transportation. They preferred taking the subway, which didn't have traffic, or simply leaping from rooftop to rooftop.
They got out of the car,
and tossed the car keys to the doorman, who went to park it. This service came with no tip; the tips for the bellhops and waiters were already included in the table charge. How they divided it, He Li didn't know, as he wasn't a regular employee at the time, just a summer worker.
And summer workers were not eligible to receive tips.
The task of ordering dishes was always handled by the experienced Tao Xue. After Tao Xue ordered a few of the day's specials, she took out a business card from her small bag. It was then that He Li realized the restaurant belonged to Tao Xue's family.
Heh... a down-to-earth rich second-generation, bringing friends to eat at her own family's restaurant. How playful.
...
Boyaa Building, top-floor office,
"Fu Cheng, have you witnessed Susan's power?"
"Yes, Mr. Molin. A Level Two blood demon, in the hands of that woman Susan, was crushed without even a scream, like an ant. I've never seen anyone so powerful before."
Molin lit a cigarette with a smile, playing with an exquisite lighter in his hand, and said with a chuckle,
"She is, after all, one of the elites in the Hunter group. For them, a Level Two demon is essentially no different from a Level Five demon."
Fu Cheng stood respectfully opposite Molin and placed a file on the table in front of him. "Here is some information on He Li. More detailed investigation files are in the top-secret archives of the Spiritual Management Association headquarters. Without a department-head level access card, they cannot be accessed."
"The Spiritual Management Association's 'Spirit Awakening Project.' The participants at the time were disbanded and reassigned to various parts of the world by the Spiritual Management Association's General Bureau. The new person in charge only received a pile of classified documents."
Molin flipped through the file and then tossed it onto the table, showing little interest. "What you've managed to investigate are all trivial details."
Fu Cheng glanced at Molin, pondered for a moment, and then tentatively asked, "Mr. Molin, are you certain He Li is a Spirit Awakener?"
"I don't know," Molin smiled and shook his head. "There are only thirteen Spirit Awakeners in the world. Moreover, Spirit Awakeners are not what you perceive them to be – people born with spiritual power. They are gods who have not awakened their 'true power.'
There are many people in the world with innate spiritual power; are they all Spirit Awakeners?"
Fu Cheng fell silent. He didn't quite understand Molin's meaning. Not everyone born with spiritual power was a Spirit Awakener.
"Have you met He Li?" Molin flicked the ash from his cigarette and asked.
"Yes, I went to the bookstore where he works to buy books."
"What kind of person do you think He Li is?"
"He is very knowledgeable, speaks gently, is patient, and is a very polite young man."
Molin tapped the folder on the table. "Alright, that's all. You can go back to your work. Your investigation into He Li is concluded. Also, don't provoke Susan. If she senses you, and you get killed by her, I will be very disappointed."
"Understood, Mr. Molin." Fu Cheng bowed slightly and then exited the office.
"Hiss... whoosh..."
Molin exhaled a long puff of smoke. The smile that had been on his face gradually faded. He opened the file on the table, and He Li's photograph appeared in his sight.
Molin pressed the half-smoked cigarette into the ashtray and crushed it fiercely.
"He Li... your true kin... are us."
...